{Instagram 2013: Week 19}

5/5/13:

{Cinco De Mayo Dinner: Homemade Burrito Bowls!}

5/6/13:

{Tomorrow is looking crazy!  Life with 3 kids and church activities is busy!}

5/7/13:

{Celebrating Kindergarten testing with fro yo, that's how we roll!}{

5/8/13:

 {Fun night cooking, Iron Chef style, with the Young Men and Young Women at church}

5/9/13

{Mother's Day Program at James' Preschool. Cute kiddos!}

5/10/13:

{NDPA swim party with these crazy kids!}

5/11/13

 {While at the park, Stella started yelling, "Those boys are NAKED, Mommy!" at the top of her lungs}

At least I make good banana bread...

Mother's Day at our house was a little strange.

My husband has been dizzy for a week now and is pretty much down for the count.

We followed through with the typical Sunday breakfast and church,

but didn't go out to the Pond party to celebrate with Preston's mom because being in the car

for 2 hours while dizzy will pretty much kill you...especially a guy who doesn't even like roller coasters.

The kids still gifted me with cute, homemade cards.

Preston tried his best to help out.

We were able to play and hang out outside as a family in the newly arrived warm temps

and enjoy a nice dinner off the grill.

It was pleasant.

I'm a realist and don't think motherhood is 100% bliss,

but I try not to whine about it too much either.

I do know it's my most important calling in life and my biggest struggle,

and I do know that I need to do better at it.

When James gave me his Mother's Day card from church

I was honored that on 2 of the petals he listed that I made good banana bread.

Pretty darn impressive for a mom that doesn't bake.

Then I felt bad when he left "She teaches me..." blank.

He said he couldn't think of anything I taught him.

Guess what?  I couldn't think of much either.

That made me feel a little sad.

Maybe I should teach him to make good banana bread...

Some may say this motherhood business is ordinary, but I won't buy it for a second.

I'm a warrior. I'm mighty. I'm a mother.

I may not play with my kid all day, or teach them everything they need to know, and boy do I know I can do much, much better,

but I will always fight for them.

This is pretty powerful...

I'm doing "Kingdom business. Jesus work."  I love that.

It keeps me going on this crazy ride of motherhood.

At least I don't have to do it while dizzy...

Happy Mother's Day!

What a treat!

Today was James' Mother's Day Program at preschool.

It was pretty adorable.

He has loved going to Miss Evelyn's!  I'm amazed every week with how much more he knows about letters, numbers, science, music, holidays and life!  It has been great for him, and he has met so many little friends!

They were such a cute bunch!

Miss Evelyn said, "I know you all are wonderful.  I don't know you, but your children are wonderful, and they have to have wonderful mothers to be this way".  She's so kind and loving.  James adores her.

Only 2 more weeks of preschool and this kid will be headed to Kindergarten in the Fall!!!

I love being his mom!

my piece on peace

Life has been crazy lately.

I'm blaming it on 3 kids.

2 of which play 2 sports and 1 a musical instrument.

1 of which pees and poops in their pants & wakes 3 times in the night asking, "cuber me up?".

My husband may just be to blame too.

He's been out of town 25 out of the last 30 days.

This leaves me to deal with the 3 said kids (and their extracurriculars) alone.

Insane, I tell you.

And I brought it all on myself...I chose 3 kids and 1 husband.  Still a pretty good choice, I think.

BUT, I did get a day and a half break from it all.

Last weekend was our scrapbook getaway

and it was much needed and much loved.

I scrapbooked much, of course...

...

chatted in peace,

ate in peace,

peed in peace,

slept in peace,

ran in peace,

laughed in peace,

and basked in peace.

...

Needless to say, it was peaceful

and pleasant

and wonderful

and I can't wait to do it again!

Until then, I will brave the storm...

{Instagram 2013: Week 18}

4/28/13

 {He will read a book in one day, as long as it's one of these gems!}

4/29/13

 {These were a staple at my house today! Between horrible allergies, a flooded laundry room, & disobedient children, I just may finish off the box in a day!}

4/30/13 

 {If you want pizza the size of your head, go to Costco!}

5/1/13

 {Chick-fil-a has new yummy salads with new toppings- go get some extra protein!}

5/2/13

 {My newly painted gray hallway has some decor now!}

5/3/13

 {Scrapbook Getaway}

5/4/13

{Daddy is always the fun one...taking the kids for campfire s'mores while mom's away!}

{Instagram 2013: Week 17}

4/21/13

 {Sisters in Salt Lake.}

4/22/13

 {Goodbyes suck.}

4/23/13

 {When it's strawberries & pasta for lunch we dine shirtless.}

4/24/13

4/25/13

 {I never thought this kid would stick to his promise to take care of his fish, but he cleans the tank once a week all by himself!}

4/26/13

 {It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood!}

4/27/13

{I was a soccer mom and took my boys to the RSL game.  Too bad they lost 2-0}

{Instagram 2013: Week 16}

4/14/13

 {James reading his Book of Mormon at Stake Conference.  He wanted to get to page 2 before the meeting was over.}

4/15/13

 {Starting the day off right...hot chocolate and WHIPPING CREAM!}

4/16/13

 {This "Bean" ate 3 bowls of soy beans at dinner tonight!}

4/17/13

 {Kindergarten Round-up: my middle man is growing up!}

4/18/13

 {My favorites are here visiting!}

4/19/13

 {We are "all in" to cheer on our runners!}

4/20/13

{And they are off to the start line! It's racing day!}

a marathon of memories...

My sisters came into town to run a marathon.

It was a nice, long weekend with just the 6 original Lunds (and Makenzie, my niece).

It was blissful for me, but I was just the hostess and cheerleader.

I think my sisters enjoyed it too, especially after the 26.2 miles were over.

I'm still in awe that they accomplished such a feat (in the pouring rain)!!!

We spent most of the weekend downtown at City Creek Center,

dining, shopping, and resting at the Marriott.

I wanted to scrapbook it all before I forgot about all of the little details, so here it is!

The best parts of the weekend by far were laughing hysterically with my sisters and parents ("Flap jack on a Momma!),

but a few other highlights were...

 Seeing Jef Holm (from the Bachelorette) at the finish line, just behind my sister, Keely.

He was very gracious, taking a picture and congratulating her.

Then when I uploaded my pictures I realized that I also got a shot of him running...

Was too busy cheering on my sisters to realize these 2 runners photo bombing.  I can't imagine being at mile 19 and having this much energy...AWESOME!

And the big finale, Sil's Cafe.  They earned a scone the size of their heads and a handful of honey butter for all of that running!

I love my family and am so proud of them!

If you want to laugh hysterically too, watch this (or any other Nonsense videos)!

the best house guests...

My parents are homeless right now.

Well, not really.  They are living in a rental in Missouri while they wait for their home to be ready for move in.  But they aren't 100% settled so "home" is a loose term.

We have taken advantage of this time and have had them come stay with us for quite a bit.

They just left yesterday after being here for 3 weeks.

It was wonderful- not the leaving- but the fact that they were able to come stay for that long!

Every time I am with them I am more amazed by how lucky I am to have them as parents!

I have so much fun with them!  I can't count how many times I laughed so hard that I cried over the past few weeks.  They know how to have fun and they know how to work.  I would simply mention something that I needed to do and the next thing I knew it was DONE!- painting, weeding, door-knob replacing, mowing, kids needing something, out of milk, and the list goes on!

If they were willing to stay in this crazy house forever I would let them!

I think we make a great team!

Stella just asked me today, "How come Grandma and Grandpa don't live at our house anymore?".

I'm wondering the same thing, baby girl!

a berry fun party!

Stella wanted a Strawberry Shortcake party for her 3rd birthday.

This energetic girl doesn't really stop to watch TV much, but for some reason really loves Strawberry Shortcake and will watch an entire episode while holding pretty still!  

I agree that it's a cute show so we went for the "berry" fun party.

It was complete with good friends, Stella's dinner choice (pizza), another amazing cake (strawberry cake pops) by Aunt Nellie, berry fun games, great presents and homemade burnt almond fudge ice cream (the Pond tradition).

I think everyone had a good time and the birthday girl was berry happy with her party!

{Instagram 2013: Week 15}

4/7/13

{All ready for Conference with Conference Candy Bingo!}

4/8/13

{She just might follow in her mommy's footsteps....fast pitch softball?}

4/9/13

{When a restaurant can't get a darn Coke right, share it with your friend who loves Diet.}

4/10/13

{Rushed home to put on  my ring after a man approached me and asked if I was married because his balding, 50 year old friend thought I was cute.  CREEPY!}

4/11/13

{Did you know there are a gazillion shades of gray paint to chose from?  I don't want greige or greenish-gray or anywhere near purple.  Just plain old gray.  This process is driving me crazy!}

4/12/13

 {It was fun celebrating, Strawberry Shortcake style, with friends and family tonight!}

4/13/13

 {First baseball game of the season. Got beat by an all girls team but still smiling after a good hit!}