Oh the Places I Will Go

 Can I just say I wish I could ride my bike everywhere.  I LOVE my bike.  It makes me feel like a little kid again.  As a kid I always day dreamed about taking off on my bike to see the world.  Every time I hop on I feel like I am going on some amazing excursion. I love feeling the air brush against my face.  It just makes me feel so alive.  

I don't know what it is about Spokane Washington but I feel like it speaks to my soul.  I can't explain it, but something about seeing seasons change is just breath taking.  I love the fresh crisp air, and I love seeing how excited people are to be outdoors again.  My hubby took the kids to soccer practice and I met up with him later.  I wanted to ride my bike and just see what interesting things would call to me.  When I have the kids in the bike trailer sometimes its tough to look around because usually I am breathing very heavy trying to get them to point A to point B, and second usually at some point in the trip I am trying to get the boys to stop teasing one another.  What I found out was that it was hard to take pictures while riding my bike. My kick stand sucks.  Every time I got off my bike to take a picture it just toppled over.  So, I ended up only taking pictures once I got to my family. What I realized though is that they are my favorite subject to photograph.  Everywhere we go has been amazing because they have been right by my side.  I think that is why I have fallen in love with every place we have moved to. They just make everything even that much more beautiful.

 Nani decided she wanted to play photographer.  Not bad right?

 She loves her hair down! She takes off any braid or pony tail I make her as soon as she can.  She is my free spirit.

 Nani took this one too!

Everything is a Bloom

What a year it has been! I know people always look to New Years to feel like they are getting that fresh start but I feel like that happens to me on Easter.  I am in love with Spring! In the month of February I started to feel like I needed some extra sunshine and warmth again. And just like that, hit March the clouds, and gloom parted and the sun made its way back into my life.  Everything is blooming right now.  I am beyond giddy right now because everyday is a new surprise.  It's my first spring in this home and I didn't know how many wonderful surprises it had for me come spring.  These flowers are blooming on my tree.  Aren't they so pretty? I love flowers! And then I have like Tulips or some family related to them springing up everywhere in my front yard.   And the grass is turning a vibrate green.  There are so many trees in town that are starting to bloom and they have the most beautiful lime green hue to them.  When the sun hits it just right it is breath taking.  

I feel like this spring feels extra special, because I feel like my family back home is blooming just like everything here.  I feel like my family had a little dormant period and I feel like something is stirring.  I love my family so much! And I am so happy we are starting to get our stride back.  I have learned so much from them about forgiveness, love, endurance, trials.  I am just so grateful that in my youth my parents taught me about my Savior.  I feel like there have been wonderful times in my life, and there have been times when things have felt still and bitter like the winter cold.  But, because I have been taught to love and rely on my Savior, I have always been lucky to have him thaw away at the bitter cold that tries to engulf us.  The days are feeling a tad warmer.  And my heart today feels warm and overjoyed with the knowledge that my Savior lives. 

Happy Easter Everyone! Much Love from our family to yours.

This is such a cool video.  If you have time you should definitely watch.  

5 and Counting

Happy Birthday Viggo! You are officially Five years old.  We have had such a fun birthday week together.  Lucky you that your birthday landed on the week of spring break.  We got to have lots of cousin time, sleep overs at Grandma and Grandpa's, hiking through Grandpa's property, roasting hot dogs, fun at Manito, getting to know your new niece, and you got to eat lots and lots of cake. 

I don't want this week to end.  There has been no shortage of fun.  So much so, that sometimes I thought you and your siblings looked like little hand grenades who's pin had been taken out.  And at nights end I was looking out for any signs that you might implode from having fun overload.  

Things about Viggo at 5

- When I found out I was having a boy at my Doctor's appointment I was so nervous.  But five years later there is not a day that goes by that I don't think how lucky I am that you brought your energy into my life

- You love building! Not just legos.  You love just constructing things out of anything.  You will take paper, or whatever is lying around and you will create the coolest little inventions.

- At five I think you officially have your first crush.  Her name is Leila.  The other day I found you laughing and and I asked you why? You said, "Mom Leila is so funny.  "She just makes me happy."  First crush I believe is the first indication that you are not so little anymore.  

- You are super athletic.  At your first day of preschool you impressed everyone with your ability to get through the big kid stable monkey bars.  Your teacher was so happy.  That is her goal for all of you to reach by the end of the school year. You are now working the swinging monkey bars like a champ.

- TANTRUMS- you have come a long way! But there are days when you mix up your emotions of feeling embarrassed or insecure and you react with frustration and anger.  But you are have improved soooo much!

- You have the faith of someone that believes they could move a mountain.  The other day I got lost, and you may have sensed my frustration ( maybe from the "mumbling" about how I detest my GPS sometimes) and you encouraged me to pull over and say a little prayer.  That was a pretty humbling moment.  Yup, mom of the year over here.  

- You are the best body guard ever.  You feel the need to protect me all the time.  The other day we had some weirdo look through our door at night. I guess he just stared at Ariana for a little bit.  I guess he has been staking out our neighborhood.  Anyways we had the talk about not talking to strangers.  And you gave me the look of no problem mom. No one is going to miss with this.  Adorable but sometimes scary because I really do think you think you are invincible.

-  You want to be just like your Dad.  You think he is so strong.  Every time someone asks you what you want to be when your grow up, your response is "I want to be like my Dad."

- You argue with your sister and brother often.  But you love them like nothing else. You are fiercely loyal. And you just enjoy being a brother to both of them so much.  

- Favorite food.  You are all about being a fit kid.  So right now it's anything that you think is healthy.  But you do concede for cupcakes or a slice of cake. You take after me in that way.

I love you Viggo! I love seeing who you are becoming.  It is remarkable to see how much you do take after us, but I love that you have the ability to charter your own path as well.  It's amazing to be here and get to watch you grow.  Happy 5th birthday big guy! 

 

 

We Survived Winter!

David's winter quarter ended Tuesday! We are in heaven!! Winter quarter felt long but he got through it and back on the home front we made it too!!! David got through long nights and days of studying (two to three hours of sleep he got sometimes) and I made it through bed times, colds, and tantrums (my craziness is a little bit better in that they are loaded with cuteness, and give me wonderful hugs and kisses.  David's studying does not come with that nice added bonus.)  It's so nice to get to see him without a binder full of scary objectives in front of him.  

Today we went on a Gondola ride at River Front Park because the falls are so gorgeous right now.  I was standing on one of the bridges made of concrete and you could feel it shaking from the strength of the falls.  The pictures do not do it justice. Standing there seeing and feeling the force and strength behind the water was truly breath taking.  Don't make fun of me but I tried something new.  It's not really my style but I messed around with HDR pictures today.  The water movement was gorgeous and so was the sky so I thought why not give HDR a try.  I have to practice more on it, but it was fun playing around with something new. 

Not a very good picture because I had to hold my heavy camera with one hand.  But I love it!! He never holds my hand.  He is such an independent little fella. He thinks he is so big.  But he was a little nervous about the Gondola so he held on tight to my hand for the whole first part of the ride.  

Not all the glass encasement on the Gondola had clear windows.  But I had to take it.  There was a rainbow! 

She has lost so many of her teeth this winter! 

Count Down to baby!

This is my sister in law Cari! She is getting ready to pop any week now.  I'm soooo excited! Baby shoes, socks, onesies, boppy's, strollers, crib bedding, are all making their way into the Rodger's home.  I am so thrilled for them.  

 Isn't Cari gorgeous?!! It's those Ettinger genes!  

She has her momma's rosy lips!

This little one is beyond happy to get to meet her new sister.  Very soon you will get to snuggle your baby sister, sing sweet lullabies, snuggle her in the wee morning when you hear her cry for your momma, and you will get to just love her from her itty bitty toes to her itty bitty nose.

All Grown Up

My sister in law came over today to get ready for her winter formal dance.  When I first met her she was I think eight years old.  And now she is a Senior in high school.  Crazy! She is so gorgeous! I had so much fun helping her get ready. It was cold and we were running out of light so we took some quick shots.  Hope you had fun pretty lady.