SUMMER!!!!!

Summer has been awesome to say the least! I was so worried we were going to be bored and unproductive- honestly the way I kind of remember summers as a kid (sorry Mom), but we have been staying more than busy and having a blast! I love summer and having my kids at home. I made job charts for my kids, and if I would have known how much mileage I would have gotten out of them, wow, I would have done them a LONG time ago. I guess I have done them before, but slacked after Aidan was born, and I am back!

I took my storm door off our front door and let me say, I feel empowered! Ya, I realize it doesn't take much. It was on it's last leg, scratching the cement every time you open the door, and I was always self conscious about knocking little kids off our tiny cement square atop our steps. It feels more inviting now... yes, I am easy to please, and I did it myself!

Also, I got a great desk from my sis-in-law which was supposed to be for Ethan and Ava, but the only place it will fit is in our bedroom, so... I may just have to use it for myself! Again, put it up myself and am proud! Now it is time to start some real projects!

We have also been having a blast this summer! Today we went to Park City and rode the Alpine Slide, Alpine Coaster and the kids did the mega tramp thing. It was awesome! We have been boating, hiking, played with friends, painting, playing soccer, reading, learning bits of Spanish, and loving the summer!

I hope these are not the best days of my life, because I don't want to think that it goes down hill from this point. But I have to say, it has been a fantastic summer. I am sure I will be wallowing before long, but today the outlook is good! Have a great summer!

Ava about Aidan

The other day I had been cleaning out Aidan's clothes... you know, putting away the ones that are too small and getting out the new size. Ava was looking at them and asked why I was packing them up.

Me: They are too small for Aidan. Don't you think we should put them in the basement or should we just leave them here just in case we have another baby.

Ava (completely serious): Leave them here. I think we should take Aidan back to the hospital and trade him for a girl baby.

Me: WHAT?? You want to give Aidan back? We love Aidan!

Ava (looking like she knew she did something wrong): I want a girl baby! Or we can keep him and have two babies.

Glad she feels like she is making the decisions... too bad she is not. Hmmm...maybe she is not as attached as she leads us to believe.

Mother's Day 2010

All weekend David kept telling me that he had not had time to get me anything and was really worried. He said one thing, really really small, to which I said, "You always say that and you are always lying" to which he gave me a really bugged look... what if this time he was serious? I didn't want him to feel too bad... (ok I totally would actually, but he actually did great so no worries).

Well, I heard David and Ethan making breakfast early Sunday morning, and because of the rough night sleep, I just hid under the blanket and fell back asleep. I was not in the mood... then I remembered last years Mother's Day. I was grumpy... and bugged. I had expectations... some were met and some were not. The day started out ok, and went south in the afternoon. And here I was grumpy again because I was so tired. And then I remembered- I am a Mother.

I had a friend last week say, "Is it so bad that the one thing I want for Mother's Day to to be away from the people who call me Mother?". Another and I were talking about our favorite time of day being at night when they all are asleep. Motherhood is tiring. Monotonous. A constant battle for me... listen to the whole story, even if it is 22 minutes long; don't yell, don't yell, don't yell... they are almost in bed; don't sweat the small stuff, people are more important; I am so sorry I ________!!!;

Yet nothing is so wonderful, so satisfying, so heart melting, so slobbery, so fulfilling and motivating and hopeful as being a Mother. I love it! I am thankful every day multiple times that I have the opportunity to be ... a mother! Being a wife and mother are by far the two roles I hold dearest, and the ones that make me happiest. I am stretched and beaten down countless times, but I would not get up and try try again (HELP ME!!!!), if it were not for these I hold dearest.

This year Mother's Day was wonderful... even though I was the only one awake at my house by 7:30 pm. (Dave did wake back up a bit before nine). I thought about being a mother, and read about being a mother. I want to be deliberate, to help them find and create their dreams, to be so busy living and loving, that I don't have time to get mad (until tomorrow when they won't clean their room after I have asked 76 times). To be focused on the blessing of being a mother. I love it. My expectations were not high this year, and they were more than met.

We also went and saw my angel mother. She is amazing to me. I don't have her temperment. I wish I did. I don't have here patience, her listening ear, her calm nature, her controlled tongue- I wish I had all these qualities. I never remember her getting mad at me in my entire life. She tells me it is selective memory. I think of her often as I am mothering our children. Do-bi-do bi- doo she hums still as she goes about her daily tasks. I am thankful for her, and have high hopes of developing part of one of her qualities I mentioned above. Do-bi-do-bi-dooo. Just need to start humming. Happy Mother's Day!!!

April 1st- the best day of the year and that is no joke!

April 1st is an amazing day here at the Howell Residence. Not only is is April Fool's Day (always fun), spring is in the air, summer clothes fill our closets (from the boxes down stairs, not the stores) but we have our DAD/HUSBAND back!!!!! And this year to top it all off, we went to the happiest place on earth... it was awesome!!!!!













Princesses, Jedi's, roller coasters, treats, Splash Mountain, Pirates, Mickey and everything else that comes with Disneyland. We have never been on a real family vaca before... I mean a couple of small things here and there, but this was so much fun. We worried about the lines being spring break and all, but the rain kept many away the first day and after that...we used fast passes and parent swaps and had a blast! Disneyland for two days and Legoland for one. We were within walking distance to Disneyland and our kids did great! I think we started a new tradition- having a trip planned and BOOKED the week after busy season is over!!!

Happy Easter 2010

Yes, it was early...





But oh so so fun!!!!

After Easter morning festivities we watched the morning session of General Conference and left to California!!!!! The happiest place on earth!

For my sister who lives on another continent... some pictures of Aidan

Aidan Mark Howell


Aidan being held by his Great Grandma Howell (3 weeks old)


Aidan, Ethan and Ava


Aidan on his blessing Day


I was informed today by my sister-in-law (it was fun to chat with you!) that Aidan is the number 1 name for 2009... I have decided that not only are we not unique in any way, shape, or form, we are completely and totally one of the masses when it comes to naming our children. I would like to think we are trend setters, but millions of others are setting the same trend at the exact same time as we are... dus, not trend setters. Our kids were born in the late fall... Ava (born 10/06) was the most popular baby name for a girl in 2006 (that did not come out until 2007 mind you) and Ethan (11/03) was the second most popular boy name for 2003 (which again was not public knowledge until 2004, and yes, both of these were after we named our children). Hmmm... next time we are going to have to go with something like Dandylion...I am guessing that won't top any charts...I have some new ones of Aidan smiling Ames ... I will download them sometime when it is not so late :)

Have a good day all!

Christmas Day!

Up early to see if Santa has come... ok. let's be honest, Ethan caught before 6am looking into the living room that was being guardrd by stools...bar stools :). This picture was taken late, alittle before 7 am.


Ava got a new baby doll- it sits down and stands up by itself, plays peekaboo, cries when it falls down and a lot of other things-crazy!

Ethan the Ninja Turtle Native American... what can I say...

Ava posing for the camera- never a problem!

It was a wonderful Christmas!