{on being a responsible mom}

We cut the boys hair tonight, washed all of our 4 lovelies. Then the boys decided that they wanted Strawberry shortcakes for dinner. Yup, Dinner.
After all... beries are fruit, & you need carbs, right? & how about dairy--whipped cream anyone?
They got to work with their supervisor, Dad while I helped Presley splash & play in the tub.
The children were thrilled with their victory, as they saw it. Dessert for dinner! A little Sclater's dream come true. Maybe not my most responsible move as a mom, but sometimes its just too fun to shake things up a bit.
The meal was sweet, but the frightning storms that followed had my jaw clenched & my knees shaking! My prayers are with those who lost loved ones & homes in the night's terrible tornados.
















-the end-

& now the watches & warnings have expired & I can go to bed knowing my sweet ones are safe & sound.
Very grateful.

{Easter}

(I did not get a lot of pictures, madds needed some momma.)

The children were thrilled to find that the easter bunny had nibbled on the carrots they had left him. & that their empty baskets were no longer empty, but rather filled with colorful bottles of bubbles, plastic eggs, pinwheels, & outdoor toys. The boys happily ate breakfast...well all but one. Maddox. Our sweet maddox is struggeling. He is in a box & I cannot seem to get the boy out. I want to rescue him. I love that sweet boy. We rushed around to get everyone ready for church, all while Maddox cried & screamed in distress. five minuets before we would have to leave for church Rod stopped tying his tie, & like a good & inspired Dad, looked at his son, then looked at me & said he thought he should stay home with Maddox. I hadnt even considered the idea, because well...he wasnt sick...so we were going to do what we do every sunday. go to church. But today Maddox was in need of some extra love, & so the big boys, presley & I left, while Rod snuggled Maddox & calmed him. I am so grateful that my husband saw a need & met it. Maddox needed a calm morning. Rod created it for him.
When the children & I returned home Maddox was happy to greet us. We ate a snack & the babies were hurried off to naps. By 3pm we were loading the car with mashed potatoes, green beans, salad fixings & (gluten free) chocolate peanutbutter cupcakes. We joined the Ballard Family at the Sowby home for a big Easter Dinner. It was a beautiful day & there were 3 dogs in the yard. a perfect recipe for a fun afternoon for the boys.
The children were filthy by the time we reached home. everyone smelled of dog kisses & chocolate brownies. We tossed them all in the tub & scrubbed them till they shined.

All went to bed full of sugar. (milk for Presley)
I think the thing I will remember most about this Easter is (& going back to Maddox) the evening prayer Rod & I shared. I had always prayed that Heavenly Father would help me to help Madds. I still pray that, but last night I felt this strong feeling (lets call it the spirit, shall we?) that I needed to specificaly pray that heavenly Father would directly help Maddox. that HE would help to heal what ever it is that is making him so incredibly sad every day since his birth. It is hard for a mother to see 1 of her children struggle to find happinesss & a way to communicate. I felt a burden lifted when I prayed those words...I felt Heavenly Father's love. I know Maddox will be okay with some extra love & support. He is a special little guy.
We are a very blessed family to have all these diffrent little personalities. I love this family of mine!

{Tutus & tippy toes.}

I am slackin.
Lifes moving pretty fast right now for us.
graduation, parties, moving.
But Im going to try to get this thing up to speed.

our little Buddy, Suede turned 4.
She wanted a ballerina party. No boys aloud!
We (baby Presley & I) had a lot of fun & I was asked to teach a few of my old tricks from a LOOONNNNGGGGG time ago.

{the weekend.}

Life is going at lightning speed. Between T in school, soccer & Rod finishing his last rotation ever, making plans for the move to the lonestar state, wrapping things up here with parties & graduation. & mostly getting used to the idea of leaving our home here.

This weekend we did the usual & then added in a primary eater party & a dinner with friends which lead to

rides on Craig's vintage vespa.

{to the little guys}

My little boys, that’s right… Britt & Mads. I’m talking to you. There are gazillion things I absolutely love about being your Mommy & in Mads' case, your Mama. But do you want to know the truth? There is something I detest about being your mother. I hate that I do not have enough hours in my day to split between the two of you. You both are incredibly different. I cannot begin to comprehend how both of you came from me. Britton you love trouble. It is your middle name. & Maddox you can make my world shake when you cry. You, Britt have been changing. You are a few weeks shy of a 4th birthday. That’s a big deal buddy! Lately I have noticed how aware you are of the needs of your siblings. Maybe it’s because of the chaos that is associated with running with a crowd. It hurts me to see you sitting so quietly so patiently...& almost somber-like while I tend to the more demanding children. You wait for me to read that book you brought me about dinosaurs an hour earlier. You wait for me to get that snack I promised you. You wait for me to put the watermelon toothpaste (your favorite) on your toothbrush. I can tell that your little heart can see that I am stretched, & you have probably observed that whoever screams loudest wins in our house. Its not right. Its horribly backwards, but I’m trying to make it through these early years the best I know how. And so...instead of yelling or throwing yourself on the floor... you wait. Quiet & still. It makes my heart ache. I almost wish you would join the choir of fit throwers & say "IT’S MY TURN!" because it is Britton! It is your turn! Even though you’re often last, you are the first to come to me & while petting my cheek say "Mommy I just love you so much." I wish I knew what I did that was so good to deserve your love. You are a good boy Britton. You love to make me crazy with your mischief & craziness, but the expressions of love you offer those around you seem to create the perfect balance of sweet & sour. When those rare stolen moments occur, when it is just you & me, it is just that. YOU & me. I hold onto those moments. I hope you feel all my love for you. Maddox, while Britt is patient...you are his polar opposite. Waiting is not the name of your game. You subscribe to the ideology that the "squeaky wheel gets the grease." You know me too well little guy! I love you for your way of being you. You still don’t talk to me, & I still do not understand all your interpretations of baby signs. I think its because of this, & your desperate way of looking at me--as if to say--"I wish you understood mom! Help me!" that I tend to give you the graham crackers first, or let you play with the play-dough kitchen set before everyone else. I see myself just trying to help you stop crying. I probably give you the most of my day. Which is ironic, because I feel like you need even more of my day. I believe that If you & I could sit together, pretend together, read more together, or even color together that we could be on the same page. You need so much! I love that Heavenly Father entrusted you to me & Daddy so we could learn from you. You teach me so much, but I feel like there’s so much to teach you...but not enough hours of day light to do it in. I want to help you develop sounds, then words, then sentences. Each day I see you trying to talk to Britton or Tre, & you are so excited, big arm motions, great facial expressions, & yet they cannot understand you. I want to help you. You want to be held, but my hands always seem busy. You are who I think about at night while I lay in bed. How can I help him? What does he need from me? I am here for you darling! You are so loved! If I could have a wish it would be that my love would be enough for you two boys, & your siblings too of course! I don’t know if its fear of my middle children feeling lost or neglected that makes me anxious over you two boys, or just your cute little faces & your big personalities. Whatever the reason is, I want you two little boys to know that your mommy, if she could, would hold you more, kiss you more, chase you around the house with tickle fingers more. But with all those wishful mores...know this.... I COULD NOT, NOT, NOT, LOVE YOU MORE! xoxox, Mommy/Mama

{Homecoming}

One of the ward's missionaries came home this past week. a whole 2 years older. We got together to hug the boy to death. The family we have created here is one of a kind. I feel confident that we will NNNEEEVVVVEEERRRR find such a warm & loving group anywhere else. not ever! I love them. I wont go. its final. I just wont leave!

enjoyed confrence today!

but before we sat down & snuggled under a blanket to watch it

we froze our tails off at T's soccer game.

MY SON IS A ROCK STAR

on the field this season. I think having a dad around to play/practice with has totaly changed the game for the kid. He amazes me!

(he has come a LONG way from skipping around & kicking at the mud.)