Motherhood

It’s hard for me to describe myself without mentioning that I’m a wife and a mother. It’s who I’ve always planned on being ever since I was a little girl and I’m doing it. I’m might not be as wonderful at it as I’ve imagined…some days worse, other’s better, but it’s who I am. It’s what I’m most proud of and brings me the fullest joy. I am thankful to Laun and our children for letting me be me- wife and mother.

We didn’t get a digital camera until 2007, right before Cooper was born.

Here’s just some pictures of my motherhood journey:

Cooper and I

All these pictures were taken in UMC in Tucson, AZ.

We never got to bring Cooper home- He was taken by c-section at 31 weeks and only lived for 2 weeks.

This was when we lived in Whitney, Idaho. It’s what makes me want to buy a home in the country. I was pregnant with Marlee and my boys all looked sharp in their suits (they all wore them for Cooper’s funeral).

Turley Family Reunion (Marlee was just a little baby still)- Yellowstone & Jackson Hole.

Back in Tucson again- I still can’t believe how much Clayton has grown since then! He’s way taller than me now!

A fun spot in Tucson- one of the Saguaro National Parks.

Carter was born in the same hospital as Cooper, pretty special.

And today, not only do we have these cute kids, but we have another sister due on July 11th and we are excited. I forgot to get a picture with the kids after church, so car selfie it was, on our way to Aunt Julie’s for dinner.

 

And how can I have a Mother’s Day without thinking of my own mother, who was such a great example to me of motherhood.

I love this picture of my family growing up. My dad was really 35 years old, not 36, they didn’t realize the candles were wrong until after the picture. I truly love this mom of mine who packed me around in so many body casts. I’ve never felt that I can repay her, but I guess I am in another sort of way as I follow her example and have cared for Carter in his body casts.

mom & her girls

I’ve often called my mom angel, because she is.

Some things I’ve really appreciated her for is:

reading to me as a child

teaching me to turn to the scriptures when I was scared

caring for me after all my surgeries

home cooked meals & treats

sewing me so many dresses for school dances

loving me unconditionally

talking with me

being so content and positive

raising me with the gospel and living the gospel

l love you mom!

 

And I am ever so grateful for my mother in law, Lucy.

I love this picture of her with her Hall children. It wasn’t taken long after Mike passed away and if you look closely you can see a picture of Mike and her young family on the end table.

Clayton and Lucy- this was taken in 2008, right before we moved to Idaho.

Lucy with all her children, except for Jonathan-November 2015.

 

Some of the things I love and appreciate about her:

She gave birth to an amazing human being, my husband and father to my children, Laun.

She persevered so much while being a mother. Her husband died when she had 6 kids ages 7 years old to 7 months young. And she was a single mom for a long time and even finished her degree to care for her family, amazing! Even when she got married later on and had a 7th child and step children, she still worked and helped her family in endless ways.

Lucy was my young women's leader for awhile, she taught me a lot.

She can sew and has done a lot of it in her lifetime.

When we used to live close by, she was my grocery shopping buddy.

She is a wonderful grandma.

She’s thrifty and can cook pretty much anything.

She has amazing faith in God.

I love you Lucy!

dad-gardener, barber, fisher, buddy

Laun really is such an amazing dad. He teaches his kids and does so much for them.

He had the kids help him plant a garden.

Carter “helping” Laun water the garden.

He also cuts our kids hair (he’s even trimmed my hair and cuts his own hair).

He takes them fishing. Today Carter and I went with him to Spanish Oaks Reservoir.

He loves to wear his daddy’s sunglasses and I love how his little nose can barely hold them up.

He and Laun both caught many fish.

One fish trying to get away…

This catch and release thing is the way to go-no work when you get home.

It rained on us and it came down even harder on our drive home.

It hailed like crazy. When we got home we checked to see how bad the garden got hit, but it survived.

When all the kids got home from school, the boys skipped track and soccer and we headed out to fish some more. We had Trent and Lindsie’s family join us for fishing and dinner-so glad they only live 10 minutes away.

All the kids caught fish. Everyone at the reservoir knew Marlee got a fish as she screamed with excitement.

Porter caught a bunch and helped his cousins catch some, too. He’s such a sweet boy.

Clayton was a fish slayer tonight.

I love how Carter and Wyatt are fishing with Laun.

beautiful evening- this place is a little magical to me

Laun is Carter’s best buddy. I found them asleep on the couch tonight. Life is a little exhausting lately and I’m so excited for school to be out and sports to be over. I want to have a relaxed June because the baby comes in July and life will be busy again!

We can always count on Carter to make a mess-I think it’s time for the card games to be moved out of his reach.

Laun- you are the best, love you!

Cinco de Mayo

Porter and Carter went to the library with me today. I love how Carter slides right down the steps to get to the children area. Also, I hope this place doesn’t have a no shoes-no service policy, because I realized when I got there that he didn’t have any socks, so barefoot it was.

Tonight we had our traditional Cinco de Mayo meal after 8 pm, since Laun got home so late from work. It was worth the wait, especially since Laun grilled the meat. We have carne asada burritos with lots of toppings and our favorites: homemade guacamole and salsa. We also drink Mexican apple soda.

I also made homemade flan. Usually, I use a box, but this time I made it from scratch and it was really good.

joy

This baby boy makes me smile, even when I’m feeling the pregnancy sicknesses/lightheadedness.

Marlee had her last soccer game of the season. She played great and had a fun time. Apparently, more than 1 mom brought after game snacks, she had quite the loot!

She really liked her coach and being on a team with lots of her school friends. To celebrate we had flatbread pizza and Izzie sparkling juice. Way to go Marlee!

the man can cook

Laun can pretty much do it all. He took lunch to some dairies today, that he made himself, (because he’s the coolest cow nutritionist there is) and I pulled a little out for me and Carter before he left. And let me tell you, he makes the best smoked pork ever. He smoked that meat all night long and it was amazing. He also makes the best beans.

Porter

I love when people share pictures they’ve taken of my kids.

Here’s some I’ve gotten of Porter from this season so far…

Sunday-renewal

I’m not sure what’s going on with me lately, but for the last several days I’ve cried and cried. It’s like I’m a faucet and anything sets me off. Not sure if my pregnancy hormones are going nuts or what? Anyways, I was still emotional at church, but I felt renewed by the time I got home. I love Sunday’s because we have lots of family time. I like sitting with my fmaily during sacrament (when Carter actually behaves and stays in the chapel, but he usually has to have Laun take him out each week) and watching my boys pass the sacrament or sit on the stand when it’s their week to help. Porter got to hold the microphone for one of his young men leaders as they blessed their baby. The baby blessing made me even more excited that we will have a baby here in 10 weeks for Laun to bless! I thought of how impressed I was with my boys and what great examples they are to me. They left with Laun for a meeting before church, then passed the sacrament, and after church they collected fast offerings and then after dinner they went back to the church for the youth stake choir (they will perform at stake conference in June). What great service. And Marlee has already at the age of 7 gotten up to bear her testimony, not this fast Sunday, but in a past one. And she even fasted until 10:30am, which I find impressive. And Carter tries to sing a long to the hymns during sacrament meeting and whispers during the prayers and folds his arms (that’s how he says prayers. And now loves going to nursery. What great examples my children are to me. And Laun has been so great getting the boys on time to pass the sacrament and attending meetings with them. I love that he’s in young men's with them. And how he talks to our kids quietly during the sacrament and teaches them.  I think I have taken this all for granite. I think I’ve stressed about getting out the door on time for church and keeping the kids reverent and not really enjoying the sacrament and the day meant to remember Jesus and spend with my family. I also love that Laun almost always makes Sunday dinner. He usually has a yummy roast meal in the crockpot before church and we come home to a house of good smells. And then he makes the best lemonade. At night we often have popcorn and I make a dessert and we relax. I love that we are home and Laun doesn’t have to work and we don’t run errands or go to ball games. We just go to church and spend time together as a family. It’s like this renewal each week. I really want to be better at delighting in the Sabbath day. I also got ready in time to walk to church (it’s only down the street) and I love the spring time here.

I had to take a prego picture today. I’m 30 weeks tomorrow! I’ve got 10 weeks left which feels short and long all at once. I’ve never been this big before, but babies are worth it.

Tonight Laun and Porter did a little rip sticking and I love how Carter put a helmet on and chased after them. He was so happy being outside.