Yesterday while all the cousins were here going on the waterslide and I was filming them, Brinely and her cousin went off to the side of the house to play on the fourwheeler trailers like they sometimes do.

I didn't think anything of it or worry about it because they play there often.

When I came up the hill from filming, my mom looked worried and told me she'd found Brinley playing with an antifreeze container that was leaking.

Brinley had antifreeze around her mouth.

She hurried and gave Brin a big drink of water and ran inside to look up poison control information on antifreeze.

I asked Brinley if the antifreeze had just been on her mouth or if it had gone down her throat.

She said it was on her tongue.

After talking to her more, we decided she'd probably just gotten a tiny amount on her tongue and around her mouth, but we watched her closely to make sure she didn't start showing any signs of poisoning.

She seemed fine the rest of the night, but my mind kept going over what would have happened if she'd gotten the lid off, or what if my mom hadn't checked on them when she did.

That night, I knelt by my bed and thanked Heavenly Father over and over again for whatever heavenly help watched over her and protected her that day and encouraged my mom to check on her when she did.

I felt terrible for being distracted and not being there for her myself.
I love that little girl so much.
I made sure to stare at her extra hard the rest of the day; take her all in.
And give her extra kisses that night as she slept.

Today could have ended so differently.

I'm so thankful that my children aren't just my own....that they're Heavenly Father's children too.

And that He is so aware of them and is here to help us protect and take care of them.

I love Him and thank Him so much for that.

Today has been a long day.

But a good day.

Chad left for the 6th Annual Boys campout this morning.

Boy was that boy excited: )

Brecon came and helped him load the truck and off they went.

I know they're gonna have a blast.....and I'm glad: )

Poor Em's though.

She cried and cried for an hour straight tonight before bed because she missed her daddy so much.

I think she genuinely had that home sick, longing kind of feeling.

I felt bad for her.

We said a prayer and sang some silly songs....

and she's now finally asleep.

It's 10:30.

And I finally get to eat dinner!

Did I mention it's 10:30.

haha!

Oh well, such is the life of a mother.

I wouldn't change it for the world: )

The girls and I went to the Osmond Elementary to play today.

My old stomping grounds.

Chad always jokes that Little Chiefs (his elementary mascot) kill Cougars (my elementary mascot) easy, peasy.

I just tell him Cougars stalk Little Chief's and tear there faces off in the night.

So yep.  Pretty much I win.

It was so fun watching the girls play together at the school yard and playground.

They ran through the sprinklers, rode there little bikes around as fast as their little legs would let them, and made up this super awesome game in which they had magical powers and I was the bad witch that stole their baby brother.

Of course I played along and ran away holding Austin while laughing my best evil laugh.

Austin totally nailed his role as kidnapped baby brother.

He's a natural. : )

But honestly, it's hilarious watching Em and Brin play pretend together.  They instantly jump into character. And all the expressions and the commentary......funny, funny stuff: )

After the magical powers game died down in intensity, they discovered the awesomeness of acoustics. We each took turns belting out songs at the top of our lungs in the big entry way of the school building. 

Heck, that entry way even had me sounding good.

They were stinkin' adorable standing on top of their cinder block stages, making up random words to random tunes.

I remember making up the same kinds of songs.

Only with more vertebrata: )

I think Em's song said something about not falling in love with someone you love because your sister loves them more than you.....and Brin's song was an eclectic mixture of completely random words ending with the word NATURE! (sung with both arms reaching out and her head held back).

At least it had some spunk to it.

I think it must have been hip hop: )

While the girls finished up their singing, I layed on the grass with Austin on my tummy and stared into his face.

Man, there is something about looking into this little boys eyes.

He is wise.

So wise.

I can just feel it.

We stopped and picked up snow cones on the way home.

Unfortunately, they didn't accept cards.

And as I was jogging between two different stores trying to find somewhere I could get cash back, while an awesome lady from an old ward of ours who just happened to be there held my baby and watched my girls  (Thank you so much awesome lady!)  I thought to myself....

We go through the chaoticness (pretend that's a word) and all the crazy moments because we love our kids so much.

On the way home, I watched Em and Brin through the rear view mirror as they slurped away on their snow cones and laughed like crazy about something or other.

All the jaunting back and forth between stores...totally worth it.

Yep, pretty good day.

But I'm still gonna miss sleeping by the ol' BFF tonight.

Kinda like that boy.

p.s. Tomorrow's goal: Post Austin's birth story.

Sheesh, he's only three and a half months old....you'd think I'd have it out by now: )

Isn't the fact that we can sit at a screen in our own home and connect with people and stories and experiences from all over the world pretty incredible? It's mind boggling if you actually think about it, but I just wanted to share some things I've read lately that have inspired me and changed me for the better.

The first is from a friend of mine from Snow College. She is pretty amazing if you ask me and her little family has taken on an adoption adventure that is completely inspiring. Read there story here. You can go back through her blog to read older posts up until her newest posts. I'm so excited to see their journey unfold. They remind me that you can do GREAT things in this life, even when you are young and that if you will follow the whisperings in your heart miracles will follow.

Grab This!

The next is another adoption story I came across. It's written so beautifully and brought a perspective and understanding that my heart and mind hadn't considered before. Read it. It's amazing. Start here and then click on "newer posts" to get the full story. It has 5 parts.

And finally, I came across this post on a blog I frequent. It's a story that speaks a lot to my heart. I get it. And I love it. She explains so much in a simple story and I'm grateful I had the chance to read it. Go ahead and check out her entire blog and story. You won't regret it. She is an amazing person who has been through and overcome so much. I don't even know her, but I want to be more like her.

Oh...and this is pretty awesome too: )

What have you read lately (or not lately for that matter) that's inspired you, changed you, reached you? I would LOVE to know, so seriously go ahead and share! : ) Love you all whoever and wherever you are.

These little moments.....

Emyri encouragingly says, "Brin you want to try?!" as she hold her arms out to her little sister. Brinley excitedly smiles and ever so trustingly lets her big sister pick her up and lift her little body onto the rubber swing in the Boondocks play place. By the look of anticipation on their faces both of them know Brin is in for the ride of her life. Em pulls her back slowly, then lets her go with a burst of joy. Immediately they both giggle in delight as one sister steps back to watch the other twist and turn and swing. Neither of them can stop the ear to ear grin from spreading across their faces nor the abundance of happy little girl noises erupting from inside of them somewhere.

And I sit and watch in awe through the net barrier between us and soak it all in; the love, the trust, the sharing in each others delights. The smiles, the sounds, the look on their faces and in their eyes. I wonder how this simple moment can mean so much to me, but realize that's what being a mother is all about. These simple moments that reach to your core and speak a million thoughts and feelings all at once.

Heavenly Father knew what He was doing sending us here to families, letting us be parents. My soul has deepened and widened in ways I never even knew existed before I held one of my babies in my arms. My view has grown and grown and only continues to grow. My eyes are opening into His eyes, what He sees and how He loves. And I'm so thankful for the chance.

Baby Bump

So I entered Z103's baby bump photo contest and didn't make it to the finals, but thought I'd share our pictures anyway: )

They were fun to make.

And can you believe it? Only 9 weeks left 'til little bro-man makes his grand entrance!

Craziness.

I've officially entered nesting mode and am currently taking on reorganization of our entire storage room.

Yeah, pretty sure our front room is a disaster zone, but ahhh the satisfaction of de-junking and organizing.

I think I'm an addict.

And if you wanna go check out the baby bump finalists and cast your vote, you can see them

HERE.

Lest I forget.

Favorite moments from today....

-Emyri with no forewarning nor hesitation walking straight up to the pulpit and retelling her talk from the Primary program for her testimony during testimony meeting: )

-The content and spirited look on her face as she walked back. priceless.

-Getting to sit by Chad during Gospel Doctrines class for the first time in a year. I just got released from my Primary calling. Loved being able to razz him, poke him when needed, and run thoughts past him. Love that kid.

-Sitting back and watching Brin's hyper self after church.

Good night that girl was on one and it was good stuff: ) I should have been filming. She's into cool head gestures, talking in funny slurred hick accents, and saying things like, "rock and roll!", "big daddy", and "tooter-ma-goots".

(The latter being said almost continually in response to anything. It's her catch phrase. In fact, when she randomly called out "tooter-ma-goots" during dinner at Wingers the other night, Em rolled her eyes and blandly said, "Knew that was coming." We do Brin; know it's coming. And we somehow still think it's hilarious every.time. And the best part is you do too.)

-family dog pile on dad turned into "pretend we're on a mountain".

-Baby brother's continual kicking fest on my ribs all day long.

It's no 60 minute spa massage, but I love knowing he's there, moving, living.....working on his field goal kicking.

-Walking in the front door, home from church, to the smell of my very first crock pot roast cooking away.

mmm,mmm...

Mom, it smelled like Sunday: )

-Tonight, eating a grapefruit with sugar sprinkled on top; just the way my old friend Frank would make them for me when I was little and sitting across from him on his rickety two person table.

Loved every bite.

Can't get enough grapefruit nor the memories: )

-Seeing my two girls take a quick break from playing to cuddle on the couch with their daddy while he rested; smiling and thinking to myself, "Their first love really is their daddy."

This.....

Favorite moments from the last few days....

-Hearing the girls laugh uncontrollably from the other room as they rough housed, climbed on each other, and were thrown about by 'daddy'. They didn't get to see him all day. Pretty sure they missed him: )

Pretty sure I missed him too.

-Brinley consoling Emyri when she was scared in bed tonight. Brin kept patting her on the back and looking her in the face while saying, "But Sisser, Brinley's here." All of this followed by kisses on the hand and cheek.

-The other day Brin hurt her arm and was crying. Em has a hard time when she knows her little sister is hurting. While Chad and I were comforting Brin, Emyri went down stairs and got Brin her favorite puppy and care bear....then a soft blanky...and then the kindle fire: ) She knows how to make a little sister feel ALL better: )

-Me: "Brin, do you love Sisser (Emyri)?"

-Brin: "She's my best friend."

I look at these two little girls and am amazed by the love they have for each other. Of course they don't get along all the time, and sometimes they bug the bu-jeebees out of each other, but when it all comes down to it, they love each with a depth and a fierceness that is incredible to be a beholder of.

I feel so blessed that Chad and I were able to bring them together in this life, to be sisters forever.

So blessed that I get to be their momma: )

Seriously love their guts.