Motherhood: An Eternal Partnership with God

So true! I love it.

walking, swimming, & more

We had a fun dinner with Todd and Cherish a few weeks ago.

Suzie is just one day older than Levi, but possibly a few months ahead

of Levi in smarts :)Bronson and Levi had lots of fun playing with a new friend.

Levi's eczema on a bad day

I had our "jump" out the other day but the wind was blowing so hard I had to take it down after only a few minutes. It had blown over to be partly on the patio and while I had it deflating Bronson took a nice leap on to it (on the grass) then his second leap was on the concrete and he smacked his head. He had a huge goose egg within a couple of seconds. OUCH!

I guess we can officially call it summer now, we went swimming.

I was a little worried because it wasn't the warmest of days but once we got in it was perfect. Bronson asked to jump in when he saw another little boy that was too scared to do it. I kind of surprised me because he's a bit of a scared-ee cat himself. Once he started he couldn't stop, he loved it. Levi also had a lot of fun which again surprised me because he hasn't ever been swimming before. I think I have two little fishies on my hands. We just may be at Cami's every Saturday this summer.

I didn't get any pics of Levi swimming but after a while his eyes were getting a little heavy so we went on a stroll and he had a nice little nap in his stroller. This is just after he woke up.

This past weekend was the Bear Lake 10K. I made a goal to run a 10K by the end of June. However Bronson woke up with a fever the morning we were going to be leaving. He had strep throat. Levi two days later, the same, plus another ear infection. This makes his fourth since he has gotten his tubes. Boy are we thankful for those tubes. So what was supposed to be a great getaway turned into a sick, rainy, cold, no sleep, cabin fever weekend. There could be much worse things I guess. Actually we did take the boys to the Aquarium. Levi loved it, Bronson was once again a little scared. Jared bought a year pass so I'm sure we'll go back. So for now we are on the mend and doing the best we can. :) (and looking forward to toy story 3 coming out this weekend :)

Levi has been walking for a few weeks, even though he's almost 16 months

old he still seems like my little baby just doing big boy stuff.

May daYs part II

Memorial Day

Levi checkin' out the balloon with Cami

of course we had to stop at Farr's after the cemetery

I love that even though you can't see his mouth you

can tell it's wiiiiiiiide open

"Mmmmm, it's good."

I guess not everyone likes to go for rides

on Grandpa's tractor

Bronson - smart, funny, polite, not too interested in potty training yet, still drinking a bottle at bedtime (probably more for his parents benefit than his own) stinker, loves to help mom and dad and do things all by himself, loves playing with cousins, going to the park riding in the new bike trailer, and sharing with Levi, watching movies, and singing :)

Levi - at 15 months he's official a walker and getting better each day, he wants more independence than he can handle sometimes, but on the other hand sometimes he wants nothing but to be completely dependent, he loves playing with Bronson, and pushing toys around the basement, he also loves being outside, he's not quite talking yet but definitely making sounds that are starting to sound a bit more like words, he has been teething quite a bit this past month and continues to get ear infections but they are much better with tubes, he loves popsicles and ice cream cones, and it's always a thrill when daddy comes home :)

Jared and I had a nice little break last weekend. Bronson and Levi stayed at Grandma's while we vacationed at home for 48 hours - it was VERY NICE to say the least. Tonight Bronson is having his first sleep over (not including Grandma's house) at Woll's. Brock and Bronson have become good buddies, and Steph reported in a text that he did very good going to bed. Jared has been working in Hogan's office for the past couple of months as project engineer. I think he likes it (as much as you can like sitting in front of a computer all day) it's been a good change for him and just another step up the project manager ladder. Speaking of Jared, I just have to say how much I love him. Everyday I'm always thinking how lucky I am to be with him. He helps out with the boys so much and is always looking out for me. He truly is my best friend.

Hmm what else . . . oh yes, Morgan is graduating High School tomorrow. She is an amazing girl. I don't know how she been able to do all that she has done but she is one tough cookie! It's crazy that our family is entering into a new phase of life, AGING. But I think life really does get better with age so I'm going to try to always enjoy where I am rather than grown about where I used to be. The only other thing I can think of is that I'm going to run the Bear Lake 10K in about 10 days. I definitely have my stumbles but over all life is moving in a positive direction, physically, spiritually, mentally, even socially, so that's a good thing I think. I said it before but I'm glad that I can be continually learning and discovering new things I can do to better myself. Actually they aren't new things at all, I just have a new appreciation for them I think.

Doing Well

“We want to be ladies in very deed, not according to the term of the word as the world judges, but fit companions of the Gods and Holy Ones. In an organized capacity we can assist each other in not only doing good but in refining ourselves, and whether few or many come forward and help to prosecute this great work, they will be those that will fill honorable positions in the Kingdom of God. . . . Women should be women and not babies that need petting and correction all the time. I know we like to be appreciated but if we do not get all the appreciation which we think is our due, what matters? We know the Lord has laid high responsibility upon us, and there is not a wish or desire that the Lord has implanted in our hearts in righteousness but will be realized, and the greatest good we can do to ourselves and each other is to refine and cultivate ourselves in everything that is good and ennobling to qualify us for those responsibilities.” Eliza R. Snow

"Good women always have a desire to know if they are succeeding. In a world where the measures of success are often distorted, it is important to seek appreciation and affirmation from proper sources. To paraphrase a list found in Preach My Gospel, we are doing well when we develop attributes of Christ and strive to obey His gospel with exactness. We are doing well when we seek to improve ourselves and do our best. We are doing well when we increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek out and help others who are in need. We know we are successful if we live so that we qualify for, receive, and know how to follow the Spirit. When we have done our very best, we may still experience disappointments, but we will not be disappointed in ourselves. We can feel certain that the Lord is pleased when we feel the Spirit working through us. Peace, joy, and hope are available to those who measure success properly." Julie Beck

“Of all the creations of the Almighty, there is none more beautiful, none more inspiring than a lovely daughter of God who walks in virtue with an understanding of why she should do so, who honors and respects her body as a thing sacred and divine, who cultivates her mind and constantly enlarges the horizon of her understanding, who nurtures her spirit with everlasting truth.” Gordon B. Hinckley

I am very grateful that no matter how much we know, or how much we think we know we can always keep learning on ways to improve ourselves and strengthen our families. I'm glad that I feel like I can be happy now, rather than I can be happy when. I am grateful to be me and love my life!

May Days

Steph and I had a fun adventure taking the kids to the Aquarium in Sandy. It was pretty neat, kinda far, but pretty neat. Bronson gets kinda scared when he's up close with animals. He did okay and some parts and others he was climbing up my head or hiding in the stroller.

On Jared's birthday I kidnapped him from work and we went to lunch at Robintino's, then found a little place in Bountiful that makes Hawaiian shaved ice, Mmmmmm! It wasn't quiet the same when you are shivering to eat it but it was still pretty good. I'm sure we'll be back. It was nice to have a little break together without the boys. That night got a little crazy so it didn't go quite as planned but it was fun being together. Levi helped me make a cake and Bronson helped put on the candles as well as blow them out. I love his smile at the end of the birthday video. On Friday we went to Outback with Buckley's and afterward Grandma and Grandpa came over to check out Bronson's new "scooer" which he absolutely loves! He has quiet the technique in his riding.

Bronson and Levi have both loved playing with the birthday balloons. On Jared's birthday we had some balloons float up into the vault of the ceiling so Jared got a barstool and lifted Bronson up to reach them. The next morning we had some more get away from us and up the the vault they went. Levi went over to the barstool, pushed it over to the back wall and was pointing up to the balloons. He's getting pretty smart and after a few weeks of taking a few steps at a time he has gotten much better. He can usually make it across the room, as long as there aren't any distractions or toys (or big brothers in his way). I still need to video him walking, I'll be sure to get on that.

Jared and I have ordered bikes and a trailer for the boys and I'm getting so excited. Finding time and energy to exercise is not an easy task for me so hopefully this will help, and hopefully I'll run a 10K before the end of June. (I'll keep my fingers crossed for that one) So there is a little more of what's been going on in May. One more thing - last Saturday I quit facebook and I've also drastically changed my blogging network. Yes, I'm going through withdrawls and wanting to change my mind, hopefully with a little more time, practice, and help, I can get used to this.

a new social network

Hello blogging family. I wanted to let you know that I will soon be changing the privacy settings on my blog to be for my eyes only. I also won't be checking your blogs any longer but want to say thank you for all the laughs and support you've shared with my family. Believe me this hasn't been an easy decision, but I know it will be a good one.

my email is mhbuckley@gmail.com

and phone # is 801-779-4081

See ya in real life :)