When it Rains it Pores!

I just have to write down the morning I had the other day.  It was a great Saturday morning and Seth and McKenna were going skiing.  Isaac had a baseball game that I was going to take the kids to because it was a nice day and Elias had a birthday party.  Well, I didn't have a present for Elias's birthday party, so I had to go to walmart and pick that up before the party and Isaac's game at 10am.  I had arranged for Elias to go to the party early so I could be on time to Isaac's game and I thought I have everything under control.  I load all the kids in the car and head to walmart.  I leave them in the car (with isaac watching) and get a present.  While I was checking out, Seth called and McKenna had forgotten her jacket and wanted to know if I could meet them half ways since they were almost at the ski resort.  I said sure.  I went back home to get the jacket, dropped off Elias (an hour early) to his party  and then knocked on the door of a neighbor who is also on Isaac's baseball team to see if they could take Isaac because now I was going to be late.  Then I met Seth and got McKenna her jacket.  Now I was on my way to the baseball game.  We pull up to the game and I hear something in the back.  I look back and Micah is throwing up all over the back of the car.  He had gotten car sick and lost his cookies.  By this time I was laughing.  I got Micah cleaned up, got out of the car took a drink to a dad that was watching the game and asked him to give it to Isaac and if he would take him home when the game was over.  I got back into the car and went home.  It was just after 10am and I was done.  You just have to love when things get a little crazy.  

Pothier Family Reunion

Here is my awesome family (minus my great sister in law Kara who stayed home with her kids, but sent my brother steve) I love all these guys so much.  All my siblings married such amazing people.  We stayed at Deer Valley for four days.  We all stayed in a big house and our kids played all day (and night) long.  The adults stayed up way too late, for me anyways, and we laughed!  We try to get together as often as we can, but it doesn't happen enough.  I am so grateful that everyone makes the effort to be together and strengthen our relationships.  I love these guys so much and I miss them already.  
This is a picture of my parents and all their nine children.   What is funny about this picture is that none of the siblings or my parents wanted to take this picture because we consider the in laws just as much a part of the family as anyone else.  All the in laws made us though.  
Here are the girls
And the boys.

Skiing!

I grew up skiing and every spring break since I can remember we drove to Utah as a family, stayed with my cousins and skied for the week.  I loved it.  My dad is a really good skier and he taught all of his kids how to ski and then made sure that we did it as much as we could growing up in Arizona.  The past three years we have carried on this tradition with my brothers and sisters and their families.  What is great is that everyone is turning into quite the skiers and at this past reunion everyone skied, but the four babies.  I would have to say it was so much fun to see everyone on the mountain, it was also a lot of work to corral all the kids.
Here are some of my siblings on the mountain.  I was able to ski with them for a couple of hours and it was great.
These boys loved to tear it up on the mountain.
We took Elias skiing for his first time and to say my dad has the touch is an understatement.  Seth and I worked with him for an hour or so with no luck.  Then my dad comes along, takes him for a couple of minutes and he is skiing down the hill by himself and making turns.  I love that my dad is teaching my kids just like he taught me.

Isaac's Birthday!

I can't believe how old this kid is getting.  We celebrated Isaac's birthday last week and I think he had a great time.  The past few years he has celebrated with cousins that have come into town for Spring Break.  This year it was the same and it was fun to have them all here.

Isaac won his school spelling bee about two months ago to my surprise, but not him.  He went into it thinking that he could win and he did it.  He is in 4th grade and the spelling bee was with all the 4th, 5th, and 6th graders.  He went to district, but fell short.  We were so proud of him.
Isaac loves to play whatever sport that is in season.  He recently finished basketball and is now moving onto baseball.
Isaac also plays the piano.  Of course I make him, but he does really well and I can always pray that he will want to stick with it.

It makes me so sad to see this guy grow up, but he is growing up so well and I couldn't be more proud.  (I know I'm not suppose to be proud, but it is hard).  

Simple LIfe

I live what I call the simple life.  Some may say it is boring (the world), but I like to think of it as just simplified.  I don't have a lot going on in my daily life.  We don't travel.  In fact I think in the past three years we have left Utah a total of three times.  I don't have a job, which I am so grateful for. I don't have any fabulous talent that I can do from home.  Except, I guess, for six weeks in the summer when I teach swim lessons and that is pretty cool.  I love it and it allows me to really get to know the kids and parents in the neighborhood.  I was reflecting on this and I was wondering why I wasn't more disappointed that my life wasn't exciting and eventful.  I decided I like it this way.  I love having dinner each night with my family.  I love that my kids aren't in a ton of activities and that we go support each other as a family when they do.  I love that if someone needs my help that I usually don't have to switch much around to help them.  I love the quiet moments I get to do what I like during Ella's nap and Elias going to preschool.  I love that I live in a fabulous neighborhood where the kids just play.  Since the weather has been getting better the kids are at the school playing on their ripsticks (the favorite activity for now). I love that at night we sit around and watch american idol together.  I love to organize and so I like to implement that in my own home.  I love to exercise, scrapbook, and try new recipes.  I'm not a great homemaker, but I love it. I didn't get to this place over night.  I struggled, like many, with the grind of young children and the stress that brings.  Wanting to get away, for just a little while.  I couldn't control the fact that we didn't have the money to go places and experience fun and wonderful things. I struggled with those things and thought that would bring me happiness.  I now know that it doesn't and I'm so grateful to be at this place. I know the world would say that I'm not accomplishing much, but I think I am.  I am also glad to be surrounded by those that feel the same way I do and that we enjoy the simple things together.  Life is good and I have been blessed greatly.  

McKenna

I am loving having an 11 year old and so responsible Girl.  She is so helpful and a wonderful babysitter.  It is so nice to be able to go out with Seth and not worry about the kids, or finding a babysitter because to be honest, McKenna knows how to run this house just as much as I do.  I try not to place too much on her, but she does it so well.  I love that she loves to cook and she starts breakfast all the time before I even know what is up.  We went to the mall a couple of weeks ago and this lady did McKenna's hair curly with a flat iron.  I figured it out and so did she so she started to curl all her friends hair when they came over.  Well last sunday she also did my hair as well.  I loved just sitting in the chair and letting her work her magic.  I am entering a new stage of motherhood which means I'm getting older, but watching my children grow and develop their talents is so rewarding.