Update

It has been a long time since I posted anything. I know I need to post some photos of our new house, but I want it to look really cute and I can't seem to get everything together just yet. I am still driving back and forth taking care of our previous house because the owners have not returned home yet. I have been so stressed and felt very out of sorts ever since we started packing up for the move. So much change and disorder and stress can do a number on a slightly obsessive compulsive person such as myself. I am finally starting to feel settled here and there are only a few boxes left unpacked. I've met a ton of new people in our ward and I can see us being really happy here for a long time. We really love this house. The timing and the circumstances were a little crazy but in the end it all just fell into place. I promise I will post photos soon!

Mother's Day

Allary made these cute little coupons for hugs and kisses in Primary today for Mother's Day.


I had Allary finish these sentences:

I love my mom because... it's true.
My mom's favorite thing to eat is... chicken.
My mom always says... do the things I do.
My mom likes it when I... do something, like play games, or don't grab anything.
I like it when my mom... plays with me.
My mom likes it when I give her... surprises!
My mom always likes to... color with me.
My mom is always doing... the things I tell her. (?)
Something that my mom does that is funny is... silly faces.
Something that makes my mom happy is... me, Allary!!!

I told Allary today, "Allary, I love being your mom." And she said, "And I love being your little sweetheart."
She is my little sweetheart and I love her dearly. I feel so blessed in my role as a mother.

Swim Lessons

Allary is taking swim lessons. (She is on the far right in the photos) She did two sessions last summer in Level 1 and did awesome. Her teacher told me last summer that she was the only one in the class to pass off all the skills required for the class. She said I could technically move her up to the next level, but she pointed out that Allary is still very young and very small and may have a hard time in the deeper end of the pool where Level 2 is held. I thought about it and talked to one of the teachers and decided to see how she does in Level 2. I'm so glad I did. She just amazes me. She loves the water so much and she just has a natural ability when it comes to swimming. (She definitely did not get this from me. I'm not sure they would let me out of Level 1.) She looks so small next to the other kids in her class, but she is doing just great. Her biggest obstacle has been shyness, and she tells me after class, "I talked to my teacher Mom, and he talked to me, so can I have a treat?" :)
I am so proud of her.

Playgrounds, Play-Doh, and Just Plain Cute

We are so sick of the nasty cold and dreary weather. Any chance we get when the sun is out, we head to the park.




Allary has many adoring grandparents and every once in a while she gets a card in the mail with some money just for her. She loves this and now seems to think that that's how we get money... through the mailbox. :) She's been saving her money in a jar and the other day we decided she had enough to go to the store and pick something out for herself. So we headed off to Target and she picked out a Play-Doh set. She was so happy to give the cashier her money from her gold rhinestone purse and I just had to laugh as she proudly strolled out of the store with her shopping bag and her purse slung over her shoulder. I took this picture of her when we got home, my little shopper.

So much fun! It's a little messy, but for the time it entertains her, it's worth it.

This last picture is just one I took of Allary when we got home from church. I just thought she looked so cute in her new dress.

5 Years!

Jeffrey R. Holland Video

For those who haven't seen the video, I just wanted to make it available. It is a great Easter Message and a wonderful reminder of what the Savior did for all of us.

Easter weekend

Jason had the whole weekend off and so we had a wonderful Easter weekend together as a family. We were supposed to go down to spend the weekend with Jason's family, but Jason has been sick and so we decided to stick around here and take it easy.
We painted Easter eggs on Friday evening.


I'm looking at these pictures thinking, why did I not wash her face off first? Oh well, still cute.



There we go. Clean face, silly girl.

I think she was pretty pleased with her eggs.


This is what the Easter bunny left for Allary. Candy, candy, a coloring book, and more candy. She saw those big chocolate bunnies in the grocery store and was begging me for one. I told her maybe the Easter bunny could bring her one. So she wrote a letter to the Easter bunny firstly informing him to come to our house instead of Grandma's house, and secondly, pleading for a big chocolate bunny.


Searching for eggs.






She wore the same Easter dress from last year. I love this dress so much. I think she looks so angelic in white.
Oh, and I don't know why she poses for pictures like this now.


And, as if she needed more sugar, Sunday night we frosted chick-shaped sugar cookies.

It was such a great weekend and I'm so glad that I got to have some time with my hubby.
Allary learned a new word this weekend..."resurrection." We talked about how Jesus died for us and was resurrected because He loves us so much. Allary kept asking "how did He die?" and "who did that to Him?" and "why did they do that to Him?" and "That is really NOT nice!" She was really upset that someone could be so mean to Jesus. I love teaching Allary gospel principles and helping her to know how much her Heavenly Father loves and cherishes her. I don't think it's possible to love anyone or anything more than I love this girl.