Primary Presidency

Jordan Willows 5th Ward Primary Presidency.

Becky, Andrea, me, Kira, and Ashley!

Why?

Why is that I cannot stay caught up on my blog? My intentions are good. As soon as I upload photos I plan to update my blog and my scrapbook pages. It sounds good in theory but doesn't always happen.

It's not like I'm doing anything else (cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, errands, taking pictures, playing catch, playing dolls, etc) We wake up, watch a cartoon, have breakfast. Sometimes we run errands and some days we just play. I love sitting at my computer but tend to edit photos, look at blogs, and write in my journal.

I know it doesn't really matter but I feel better when I am caught up on things like this. So I just posted a few different events and dated them the original date. They are all in April but mixed in with previous posts.

I wrote about Afton's new bed, the Blue and White game, Easter, our vacation to Zion, updated scrapbook pages, and Afton's new watering can.

Hopefully now that I am caught up on my blog I can stay focused long enough to decide which pictures to use for April's scrapbook pages!

Watering can

Grandma Sandy gave us this cute red watering can for Easter. Afton couldn't wait to get outside and water some flowers!

I am also loving this outfit. Christmas p.j.'s and galoshes!

Easter

Easter is over and I still have 8 white hard boiled eggs in the fridge. I have an untouched Easter basket in the back bedroom, 12 plastic eggs containing little goodies in a bag, also in the back room and an Easter dress on it's way back to the store because no one wanted to wear it!

Oh well!

We did have a BBQ and Easter egg hunt at Grandma and Grandpa Keetch's. Afton loved running around with her cousins looking for candy filled eggs. As she would find one she would open it, eat what was inside and then return to the hunt. Daddy helped her fill her bag and soon she had a nice little pile! She even got a 1$ bill! Time for a piggy bank!

One of the highlights of the evening was looking in a real nest at beautiful blue eggs. Uncle Steve lifted Afton high up in the air so she could look down into the nest. She was very excited.

On Easter Sunday we headed to my parent's house for lunch. It was delicious. Ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, salad, and yummy Tres Leches dessert that Melis made.

Holdy, Tally, and Afton loved the Easter egg hunt. They each had their own fun bucket to fill with treats. They loved opening each egg to see what was inside. Sometimes Afton would take a bite out of something, put it in the bucket and open a new egg.

 

 

 

 I am grateful for my amazing husband, my beautiful little girl, my wonderful parents, my favorite sister, my loving brothers, my adorable nieces and nephews, and my loyal friends! I am also grateful for the opportunity I have to experience this life and strive to be a better person.

Upstairs

This morning Afton and I were talking about Heavenly Father and Easter and I pointed as I said Heavenly Father is in heaven. She looked at me for a minute then pointed to the ceiling as I had done and said, "or maybe he's upstairs".

Grateful

Today I took Afton to Farm Country at Thanksgiving Point. It is one of her favorite spots. She loves going for a pony ride. She loves feeding the ducks and the chickens. She loves putting her quarter in the slot to get the corn. She likes to turn the knob and makes me put my hands underneath to retrieve the falling corn.

It was a little chilly today but we wandered aimlessly enjoying the spurts of sunshine.
The farm was full but we seemed to float in between pockets of people and Afton had plenty of time and space to wander, run, climb, investigate, and laugh. At times she tried to play with some of the kids but they would eventually run to catch their group and Afton would move on as well.

Most of the crowd belonged to a field trip or two.
For so many years I would bring my First Graders here for our spring field trip and as I would wander with my class I would see mom's with strollers and snacks and toddlers running this way and that. I have to say I was a little envious. My future as a mom wasn't so certain and I wanted to be in their position.

The mom's seemed so care free, just wandering around following their children, enjoying the sun, talking to other mom's. I wanted that.

So today as I watched the school children with their teachers and parent helpers I found myself thinking back to my own field trips and was so unbelievably grateful that I am now the mom wandering the farm with snacks and a rowdy little toddler. I was so glad I didn't have an agenda or a bus to catch. Just time with my favorite little person to do whatever we wanted, at any pace, for any amount of time.

I love teaching and I'm sure I'll go back someday but as long as I have a little person to share my days with I will be home soaking up the sun, riding ponies, feeding ducks and being grateful!

Zion and St. George

This last weekend we spent time in Zion National Park and St. George.

Afton had been sick for a week (throwing up and diarrhea) and we weren't sure if we should keep our plans. We decided if Afton went 12 hours with any problems we would consider going. We were supposed to leave Friday morning and ended up leaving Friday afternoon. We finally decided to go thinking Afton might enjoy some fresh air and sunshine.

The drive went well, Afton actually ate some lunch and took a little nap. When we got to Zion we found the campground where Brett's family was and stayed for dinner. Afton loved hanging out by the fire but was tired and stayed curled up on Dad's lap.

By the time we found our (clean but ancient with a pool out of a horror movie) motel room Afton was asleep. We put her in p.j.s, laid her down and she seemed content. At 11:30 she woke up crying hysterically. She was a mess and didn't want anything to do with me. I felt so helpless and frustrated. She didn't know what she wanted but continued to scream (I'm sure the entire motel loved that). She wanted Brett, but not to close, she wanted milk, but not to drink, she was confused. We (Brett) finally got her to sleep and we tried to sleep. Sure enough, a couple of hours later she was up again, and again, and again. It was one of those nights that no matter how tired you are you wish for morning so you can get up and end the chaos.

The next morning, bright and early, we were up. Afton seemed happy and we headed to the campground for breakfast.

After breakfast we headed into Zion along with a lot of other people because we soon found out it was free admission week! Yikes!

Afton loved driving through the tunnel with Kenna and Riley and was happy to get out of the car for lunch. After that we jumped on a shuttle (school bus according to Afton) and went on some little hikes and walks. At this point Afton was exhausted (nap time) and hungry and grumpy. Brett and I weren't sure what to do. Toward the end of our journey we watched a documentary and that put Afton right to sleep. Too bad it wasn't longer!

We were really glad to get Afton back to our room, thinking she would unwind a little but instead she proceeded to throw a huge tantrum and spent time out on the bed. We finally went to camp for dinner and left early to turn in for the night. Afton still woke up a couple of times and still only wanted Brett.

On a side note, this was really hard for me. Afton and I are buddies. We hang out all day long. We play, we laugh, we run errands, we talk, we do everything together. And to have her either busy playing with cousins, throwing a tantrum, or crying for dad left me feeling really sad. I felt like my connection with her wasn't there and it wasn't until Sunday that I started to feel it again. (This is where Brett rolls his eyes but tries to understand.) I missed her. I wanted to hold her and help her fall asleep. I wanted her to tell me why she was crying and I wanted to make it all better. I have a feeling this is just the beginning of a life long journey of wanting to help my little girl through everything.

And maybe I bought Afton two stuffed horses at this gift shop because she wanted them and they look like Spirit (Afton's favorite movie) and Spirit's girlfriend or maybe because it made me feel better! :)

The next morning we went to Matt and Rachel's in St. George. We stayed at the house for a bit before heading to one of their favorite skim boarding spots. Afton was in heaven! She sat and played in the water, walked in her bare feet through the sand, basked in the sun, and even tried to skim board! I loved spending time with Matt and Rache and it was fun to see Zane and Ivy skim boarding.

This was the best way to end our vacation. I was smiling as we left!

Scrapbook pages

I am finally getting caught up with Afton's scrapbook. I have been doing 2 - 3 pages per month. I just printed about 30 pages and I am excited to get them in her little album. I still LOVE my 6x6 album. This is the perfect size for little hands. Afton loves looking at old pictures and gets excited when she sees someone she knows!

I only chose a few and they are out of order but you get the idea.

Most of my pictures are of Afton but sometimes I have pictures of me and Brett or just one of us. Any ideas on how to incorporate those into an album. Separate album? Or just throw them all together? (which is what I'm doing now)

Blue and White

This year we went to BYU for the Blue and White game. It was freezing cold and snowing most of the time but Afton didn't mind.

We found a great seat right down in front and a little off to the side so no one was next to us. Afton had plenty of space to run and play. She loved going up and down the steps and managed to jump in every puddle she could find.

Zealand, Zoe, and Porter were there to keep Afton company but Z and Zoe were pretty content to sit on the blanket, under an umbrella, eating snacks. Porter on the other hand was excited to run around!

We managed to snap a few photos between storms and the brothers were all excited to get some guy time in with their cousin Joe who is the new running back coach. It was very exciting. They were able to meet some of the players and give some high fives!

Big girl bed

This morning I woke up to a little voice saying, mom? mom? but it wasn't in my monitor. It was in my doorway. Afton finally started climbing out of her crib. We knew it would happen sooner or later but we were really hoping for later.

Brett took the front off of her crib which turned it into a little daybed. Afton LOVES climbing in and out. She has a new found sense of power and control and I have a new challenge at nap time!