Understood

I thought this should be written in my private blog/journal, just for me.  But I've felt a lot more lately that I need to be recording my thoughts and feelings - and especially my testimony of my Savior on here too.  So here goes.

It's hard to not be understood.  Tonight I had Leah in the tub (she sleeps better if she takes a bath with a little chamomile and lavender oil before bed time) and had Clara and Gray in the bathroom too watching scripture stories on the computer.  I had already put Graham to bed.  Tonight I really wanted them to understand how brave Joseph was for denying potipher's wife.  I wanted them to understand how important it is to stand up for what you believe.  I wanted to Leah to understand that if she turned her head she would get another mouthful of water.  I wanted Clara to understand that if she was dancing around on the wet tile she would slip.  I wanted Grady to understand how important it is that we are reverent during family prayer - even when we do it sitting on the side of the bathroom tub.  But none of those things made it through.  Not one of them.  I was just kind of ornery and quick -  and leah chocked a little and Clara slipped and Grady pulled funny faces in the mirror while we prayed.   Sometimes i do a really poor job of explaining myself.   But I can' even begin to express how grateful I am that my Heavenly Father understands me.  That he knows my heart - he made it.  He understands my thoughts - he gave them to me.  He gets why I try to do the things I feel I'm supposed to, even when I do a really lousy job of it.  In this world of mass chaos and confusion, I'm so thankful to be understood by Him.

Life with Leah

She's dang cute.  I can't really say that life with Leah is a lot more work than it was before she came.  She just makes me really happy.  Even though she doesn't sleep like she used to.  I still really like her and she is just happy.  She smiles and coos at whoever will listen to her and smile back.  She is adored by her brothers and doted on by Clara and we are all really glad she is here because she just fits - and she makes our family that much better.

 Funny how Grady just wants to take pictures with her all the time - just the two of them.  And somehow he is completely oblivious to the fact that most of the time she is screaming her little guts out!

 About 6 weeks old

 Peanut butter cocoa smoothies are super awesome.

 Ahhhhh......

 CHOO!!! He he he  - for some reason all my babies have thought that sneezing is really really funny.

 Pre-blessing sister snuggle time.

 Brandon blessed leah in the middle of May.  He gave her such a pretty blessing - I remember most him telling her spirit would be a shining star in our family - and thats how I feel about her.  You can tell that her little spirit is just bright.

How darn cute and happy is she?  She makes our home feel even more complete.

Clara Belle is 6

I love her.  She turned six in April and this lucky duck got two parties - one with cousins while we were in St. George and one at home with her best friend Kerin (who I really like, some friends kind of drive you crazy you know -  but this little girl is darn cute.  she's also about as opposite a kid from Clara as you can imagine as far as likes go, but they are both very kind and sweet girls and I really like when she comes to play) going to Kangaroo Zoo first.  Grandpa John was here too, so that made the day even more special.

 side note - after this picture was taken and we were packing up to leave I grabbed all our gear and headed to the car.  I was about halfway there when I looked down at Graham's feet and realized he didn't have his shoes on so we turned around and THEN i realized my mom was still holding Leah.  I hadn't just forgotten shoes, I had forgotten my 3 week old baby!!!! Rhonda was just sitting there laughing, wondering when I was going to come back.  awesome...

 After kangaroo zoo and an ice cream sundae party the kids put on a magic show for us.  They're pretty dang cool.

 And they love taking about 100 close up pictures of everybody too.

Happy Birthday Tootie!