Washington County Pool

We went to Jaxon's beloved St. George for a family reunion over Labor Day. The kids were so excited!! On Saturday we took the kids to the pool to cool down. This is one of the best pools I have ever taken the kids to. There was a high speed floating river (no tubes = higher speeds), a play area for babies and a big kids play area that had slides and a huge bucket that filled with water and dumped on the kids. It was a great time to spend time together and play. Jaxon loved the water cannons and getting in water wars with his mom and sisters and Kyah loved the fountains she could step on that sprayed her in the face. (Sorry about the small pics, I will have to get that fixed.)

Reflections

Playing with the kids and taking these pictures the other day made me realize how much has been changing. We have come along ways and still have a long way to go. But, as I sit and look at the reflections of my children I have so many questions: Do my kids reflect who I am? If so, is that good or bad? As I look at the past and reflect, am I learning or repeating? Am I making the choices today to reflect the future I want for me and my children? Am I enjoying them? Will they understand the decisions I am making? Will the wear and tear remain or will it fade to a distant memory? When am I going to cut Jaxon's hair?

I love my kids and would do anything to keep them happy, safe and feeling loved. I hope that is enough. The scripture goes that "after you have done ALL you can do..." I will have to do more, there is always something else that can be done.

Kyah's 2nd Birthday

Blow Kyah Blow! She did it the first time, no problems, but then she wanted to do it again and again. You only turn 2 once. Check out Jaxon's face - priceless!

She had to have Boots on her plate.

She was so excited to open all her fun new presents. Unfortunately, she wasn't surprised by what was in each present, while Harley and I were upstairs finishing getting everything ready for the party, Jaxon and Kyah were in the basement suposedly watching a movie but in all reality they were unwrapping all of Kyah's presents that I had stayed up late wrapping the night before. Then Jaxon (full of pride) walks upstairs and announces that he unwrapped all of Kyah's presents. Little stinker was so proud of himself. So, I quickly re-wrapped them right before everyone got there for the party

Kyah's cake is a bit of a sore spot. I was excited to make some cute girl cake, but she insisted on "Boots." So, that's what she got even if it was a little on the ugly side. The good news is that it tasted great and I learned a lot. I learned fresh raspberries don't do great in between layers of cake covered in fondant (notice the bulge on the top layers and the red line on the yellow) and I learned that I am not a huge fan of modeling things out of fondant - that little monkey kicked my butt.

She is two! Bring on the tandtrums! Kyah I love you and all the spunk that comes with you. I'm so grateful that you are mine and for all the wild rides we will inevitably go on!

I can do hard things!

The sad but honest truth is I am sick of having to repeat this to myself! I have been in a bit of a funk, some would say it has to be the lack of sleep, maybe it's the lack of good nutrition, a good chunk of people would say it's the high level of stress over such an extended period of time, regardless of the cause this is what it looks like.

But, again, just like every other time I would decide to get out confetti and streamers and throw myself one heck of a pitty party I remember all the things I have to be grateful for. For starters I have the cutest kids in the whole world (I know, I know, yours are cute too), but I mean seriously cute!

JAXON - He does and says the sweetest things. He is a pro at telling me the exact level that music should be played at in the car and anytime an appliance is too loud (i.e. the vacuum, the hand mixer, etc.). The other morning I caught him trying to wake up Kyah by singing her his wake up song, it would have been better if it weren't 6:59 on Saturday, but still. He tells me I am the greatest Mom in the world and that he loves me "this" (arms stretched as far as they can possibly go) much. He also loves to talk and to be listened to, he reminds me of me. He will even go as far as to tell you in loud tones to "Please listen to me!"

KYAH - Makes me more grateful for Jaxon - I am completely kidding of course. The fire that can come out of that child makes me think. Why is she so impatient? Is her little spirit just too old to handle her little body? She is strong and she is brave and she will fight for what she loves and what she believes in. I love the fire that is in my little girl. And I love her kisses, she gets into kissing moods and she has to kiss everyone who is around her, multiple times, including the kissy fishy. She is rough and tumble and fits in with a pack of little boys, but oh how she loves to be pretty. She can be such a girl - and those curls. I always want to play with her perfect curls!

Beyond that I am thankful for family and friends who love and stand by me and listen even if I am sick of listening to myself. I am thankful for my knowledge of the truthfulness of the Gospel and all of the strength that I find in it. I am thankful for my Savior, Jesus Christ who made it possible for me to make it to heaven, even when I screw up so much.

Okay, fine - I can do hard things! (And learn to be happy about it.)

Random Us...

This doesn't look forced does it???

We had a jam packed weekend, but in the midst of the craziness we had a chance to take a few pictures. I can't believe how much the kids grow and change. Kyah is going through a phase where almost everyday she says something new. She cracks me up, between her speech, her attitude and all that hair I am a goner. Jaxon well he's got his own stuff going on, I swear he is a middle school drama student instead of my should be sweet four year old. He is SO dramatic lately. Most of the time it is cute and funny, but can most definately be exasperating. Dang kids I just love them too much for words.

Zollinger Family Reunion

The Zollinger Reunion in Logan in the middle of August - fooled you! It was raining and freezing, but fun nonetheless. I love family and my cutest Great-Grandpa Z. I love the reliability of this reunion. I have fond memories of this reunion from my childhood. It's always a good time, the rain definately put a damper on the range of activites, but we were still together.

To Blog or Not to Blog...

This question has weighed on my mind and I figure - what the heck! Maybe I will be able to keep up enough that family and friends might have a clue as to what's going on in my life. Don't expect anything profound or too exciting, just the tales of a busy mom with two of the cutest kids ever.