My three little blessings

Since it was my birthday today, I asked Jake if he would be willing to take some pictures of me with the kids since I am always the one behind the camera. It is nearly impossible to get three kids to sit for a picture. We had to bribe them with candy, wii playing time, angry birds, pretty much anything and everything. We were able to get a few before Ava ran away and Jack was screaming "I hate pictures, no more pictures, you always take pictures and I hate them!" I guess that tells me just how often I do take pictures! Maybe we will have to try again another day!

Wrapped around her finger

All I have to say is this little girl has us wrapped around her finger! She is one spoiled two year old! How can I say no when I look at that face?! She let me take pictures of her, but only under her conditions. She chose where she wanted to sit and how she wanted to pose! I couldn't be happier with how they turned out! Love you Ava Lynne!

Life doesn't get much better than this

I love nothing more than to see the love that my kids have for each other! It is amazing to see the relationship that these two have! It isn't always easy having them only 18 months apart, but they sure are the best of friends! They both watch out for one another, especially Sam. He is so great about including Jack when friends come over to play. He is always willing to share everything he has with his brother. I love these two little monsters! I will forever cherish these pictures. I took these just after we had finished making our Valentines cookies, which is why there is flour all over them!

Angry Birds

Here are my loved ones enthralled in a game of Angry Birds on Daddy's phone! All of them could play for hours! I love Jack's impressions of an angry bird!

Frosty the Snowman

Last Thursday I agreed to let the kids go outside and play in the snow. The boys have been begging me to build a snowman and that is exactly what they did. They built the whole thing all by themselves! I asked if they wanted help but they informed me that they could do it. So I sat back, took pictures and watched my two boys work together! I only helped get the the carrot, raisins. I was really impressed with how well they did on building him! Jack informed me that he needed an hat and broom because a snowman always has those things! I sure do love my boys! It is so nice sometimes to just be able to enjoy my kids and forget about all the many things I have on my to do list.

Friday was a great day, Sam didn't have school so it was so nice to be able to cuddle and talk with each one of my kids in their beds that morning instead of running around rushing making sure everyone eats breakfast, gets dressed, brushes their hair, brushes their teeth, goes to the bathroom, piles on the winter coats, boots gloves and hats, has homework done and in the backpack and is ready to be out the door at 8:30 in the morning! I am looking forward to tomorrow also as there in no school again!

Today was our ward conference in church and it was wonderful! There were several talks on teaching our children the gospel, teaching them to recognize the spirit, showing genuine interest in the things that are important to them, developing and maintaining personal relationships of trust and love with each child, setting good and consistent examples of the values and behaviors you want your children to acquire and implementing those values that are important to you with repetition and most importantly love. I realize just how important is is for us as parents to love and teach our children the ways of our Heavenly Father. I am so grateful to my Father in Heavan for trusting me with his precious children! I love each one of my children and feel so blessed that they call me mom! Jack told me tonight "Mom, I love you through and through!" He remembers those words from a book they got for Valentines Day, but just the fact that he said that to me melted my heart! I realize that my kids tell me countless times a day that they love me but sometimes I just reply I love you too without thinking much of it. I want each one of my children to know just how much I love them and how much I love hearing those sweet simple words come out of their mouth!