Good Friends

Cute (mostly unrelated) map from Ellie :)

Years ago, a good friend of mine (who was pregnant with her fifth child at the time, as I was pregnant with my second) commented on how grateful she was for friends who just helped each other through the days so much. We were going visiting teaching together, and as she dropped off her kids at another friend's house, she mentioned how her whole day was just full of helping and being helped in so many ways - in watching kids, pick ups, carpools, lessons, etc.

And it seemed like a nice thought, but I was also kind of new to being a mom with my one little Landon and I mostly just did my own thing so I didn't really get it! 

Today (like many other days) I was reminded of that little interaction.  I spent a few minutes in the morning emailing friends for help with a project, and answering emails helping friends with what they're working on. A friend's sitter got sick, so I was able to watch her sweet toddler for a few hours, I took Porter to another friends' for preschool, then Porter and Isaac both went to another friends' while Jordan and I helped with the Lego Robotics club at the school, then Porter and Owen ran over to join in on the soccer practice with another friend who coaches her team at the park here. And in between were texts and rides and other little normal every-day things. 

That's all kind of jumbled, but I was just so grateful today for these good friends and all the help they give to me and my family and for little chances to help too. 

Spring Break so far

Our neighbor sets this spinner out every year, and our kiddos just love it!

We decided to stay home for Spring Break this year, and it has been a fun few days so far.

A few highlights:

+ Early morning Kingsburg & Power Grid for Landon and Owen

+ Blueberry muffins to share by Ellie and Porter

+ A family lunch-break lunch to Macey's

+ The end of 5 kingdoms for Jordan and Landon

+ Church basketball fun x 2 (Today I asked Landon and Owen if they thought they could each make 'age' baskets while we were there and they both far surpassed my challenge. I just hit my age and thought that was pretty great! :)

+ Landon's first soccer practice of the season.

+ A morning rotation schedule by Landon for all the boys with bubble blowing, hammock swinging, spinner spinning, and wagon rides.

+ Story of the month prep with Ellie("The Story of the Stolen Unicorn Horn" coming soon April!)

+ A morning walk  (I'm hopeful that maybe I can get back into this habit...)  and some chilly park play time. (With a surprise that the giant apple tree there disappeared sometime since the Fall!)

+ And a little Wii time/movie time/job time/play time etc.

Daily Walk Pics

A few years ago (2015) I went for a walk each day and took a picture in this same spot. I had loved watching how these mountains by our house changed with the seasons, and decided I wanted to document it. (And having this goal helped me stick with my daily walks that year too!) This is one picture for each month that year (Feb-Jan).

Today was such a beautiful Spring day, and every time I stepped outside or looked out our windows toward the park, I felt so grateful to live in such a beautiful place! (And I guess that is what inspired me finally gather these pictures together!)