Time Flies

Has it really been 4 years since my last blog post?!?! Sad but true. As I read through the past several old posts, I realize that so much has changed yet so much is the same. In the past 4 years, we have moved to the country, had several good friends relocate, took a leap of faith and had our 4th (and final) child, and in addition to my full time stay at home mom responsibilities, I took a Registered Nurse joh at Kaiser. Whew. It's no wonder I haven't written anything! I actually have a list of things I'd like to write about and I am hoping to use this to share my experiences and thoughts in more detail, not for anyone else, but for me. I have many thoughts that I think would be nice to put down on paper. 

Great quote

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Marianne Williamson

April

I turned 30 last week and in reflecting on my last 30 years I have so much to be grateful for! I am happy with my life and consider myself to live a pretty charmed life thanks to the hard work of my wonderful husband.

With that said, no day is perfect; my house was clean until two little boys came over to play but that's what life is about right; making the most of each day and children have endless energy and sure know how to have fun!

This kid is a milk man. We like to joke that we should buy a cow!

For Easter the kids got chia pets and the seeds were sprouting! The kids were so excited!

 Owen is 100% not meant to be cooped up in a house! We are outside a lot and it's never enough! The good thing is that he's happy outside which keeps my sanity!

 These three boys have been friends since birth and have SO much fun together! They can play for hours and complain that they didn't get to play for very long.  I love how well they get along and their imaginations.

I had to laugh because I made cookies and they asked how many they could eat, I told them as many as you want! Their eyes got big and they polished them off! My Carson isn't a big eater and has THE best self control EVER; he only had 2 and I know the other boys ate at least 5 each---I hope they still had an appetite for their dinner!  Sorry!

 Mr. Knight was skeptical of my fort making skills so he gaurded from the couch.  

 My kids love pillow fights, even Owen.  He is our baby but he wants to be BIG.  

stop growing please!

Caitlin is missing from these pictures because she was at the beach partying it up without us! Our house just wasn't the same without our little princess.

To see what the other Bloom Girls have been up to check out Holly Bullock

March

Lately I have ran into many nannies {whom I assumed where the mom's} of young kids while at the park or the library and it surprised me and has made me realize how lucky I am!  I am so grateful to be able to stay at home with my kids.  Not everyday do I share this excitement but I truly am grateful for this privilege and try to make the most of our time! 

“The homemaker has the ultimate career. All other careers exist for one purpose only - and that is to support the ultimate career. ” -C.S. Lewis

This month crept up quickly for me! It's March! Spring is in the air and we have been enjoying our time outside.  I love to be out and fresh air and space to move around is good for the kids.

 

  

Owen has been waking up at 5 for the past few days and getting up has not been fun!

 

My daily chore.  There used to be a time where the whole house would be sparkling clean all at once but now one job gets done a day. It's not ideal but it works!

  

Typically when it's just Owen I am trying to get stuff done whether that's straightening up or prepping dinner so I decided to take him for a walk to see the sheep-he loved it! What a beautiful day! I wasn't thinking photography so luckily I had my phone!

Caitlin loves to help but her endurance isn't great so we have been working on finishing what we start.  I also love her ingenuinty and creativity on putting the silverware away!

Waiting for Carson to get home--the kids are always thrilled to see him even though he is gone a total of 4 hours!

Home Sweet Home

Carson's 1st t-ball game! He was totally against me taking any pictures 

{he was covering his face with his mitt} but I was able to get these action shots without him knowing and I LOVE them!

"I sustain myself with the love of family." Maya Angelou

Check out Sabrina Wong and see what she captured for her 10 on 10!

Caitlin's 3!

 The first guest and cousin arrived with Mimi; June bug!

Ok, so last year I was in newborn fog with Owen and did not feel up to doing anything extra especially throwing a birthday party so I didn't! I kind of felt guilty so I wanted this year to be special.  I decided to do a baking party because Caitlin loves to help, cook and eat-winning all around!

When the girls arrived they got a chef hat adorned with their name and little flower and a homemade apron.

! Now these aprons seemed like a great idea until I started making them-they took FOREVER! I am happy with the way they turned out and they looked so cute on the girls so it was worth it!

They each got pizza dough to flatten and mold and then got to put their own toppings. 

 

 I just couldn't help myself!

 I had to laugh because Caitlin doesn't like pepperoni's on her pizza but insisted on putting them on.  When her pizza came out of the oven, she immediately said, "I don't like pepperoni's!" and took them off one by one.  Silly girl!

The pizza was so delicious! I think this just  might be a new tradition around here!

 The dough kind of stuck to the table cloth...as you can see!

Next step, cake decorating! While we were waiting for the pizzas to cook, the girls got to frosting their cake{and licking the frosting of course}

 They were all so into it!

 Handful of sprinkles-on the cake or in the mouth?!         Ta-da! All done! I think she did a great job!

 Oh yeah!

The cakes turned out cute and the girls got to take them home in their very own cake boxes!

I really wanted to get a picture of all 5 girls together and although they all aren't looking every time, I see so much of their personalities and I am happy that Caitlin has such sweet friends! The best part of it for me too is that I am such good friends with their mom's so that makes it special for me too!

 Anna, Caitlin, Anna Kate, Aubree, Gracie

I love Gracie's face-oh my, like she's not sure what to think of this! {yes, it's ok to sit on the ledge!}

 

 hooray!

silly faces! 

 I think these might be my favorite because their personalities really shine through! 

 Happy Birthday to YOU!

Happy Birthday to YOU!

 Happy Birthday to Caitlin...

 Happy Birthday to YOU!

 Caitlin is pretty shy but I can tell by the look on her face that she was proud to have blown out the candles all by herself!

February

This 10/10 was fun for me because the things I captured are normal things that I routinely do.

"We love the things we love for what they are." Robert Frost

 I love where I live! It is absolutely gorgeous! I run 3-4 times a week {last year I ran 500 miles! 500! that's crazy!}at an unquestionably early hour and the great thing about that is that I get to see the sunrise so often and it is never the same and always makes me appreciate this Earth and all that I have to be thankful for. I love how I feel when I run.  Alive.  I also love the friendships and bond I have with the girls that I run and have done races with.  Each one of them is amazing and I am lucky to have so many great friends who are incredible people.

Start of our run

End of our run

Good morning sunshine! He loves his ba (ball)

Carpool to school {100th day of kindergarten!}

This little miss is turning 3 this month and when I was taking her to a friends for a play date so that I could go into Carson's class and volunteer, I pulled over for an impromptu photo because she is too dang cute!

 

Carson is such a happy boy and always has been.  He always humming or singing and I love seeing him in his element.  I often wonder what he is thinking. hmm.

When Carson saw that I was there to volunteer he ran up to me...I think my heart melted right then!

I love how much he loves learning and his teacher says that he is a good listener and student.

Searching for the perfect spot

We brought home a rocket from Montana a few summers ago and for one reason or another never used it.  After much insistence and reminders I built the rocket.  I was pretty impressed with myself and what better way to finish off his 100th day of school than with a fun memory!

After the rocket went up and came down, Carson ran over to it and found this ignitor.  It was still warm and smelled like sulfur-he thought it was pretty cool!

Check out Aimee Confer from CePennsylvania Photographer:
http://www.aimeeconfer.com/2013/02/10/10-on-10-february/