The Boulton Blog: Christ the Lord is Risen Today

This week has been busy, but we're only 10 short days away from David's wedding which means I'm this much closer to a couple of months free of parties! I'm not usually one to say that, but man, my family has had some serious parties recently, and I'm getting worn out. I can't even imagine how my mommy must be feeling right now.

David: He's growing, and ornery. He learned what a spanking was this week since he's been telling me "no" at every given opportunity and running away from me when I want to change his diapers. He scared us a couple of times getting too close to the road, and still loves dogs. He seems to talk more and more every day and even fell asleep in his big boy bed a couple of times this week, but I have to take the ladder to the top bunk and put it away each morning or he'll get stuck up there 20 times a day and cry until one of us comes into get him down.

Caleb: He's my little love. He figured out that hugging me distracts me from punishing him, but I picked up on it when he used it a few too many times with his cries of "Mommy mommy mommy!...I want you" Man that can get annoying after the first 15 times in one morning. So he's learning that he still has to clean up his own messes, nap time really is mandatory every day, and not every toy in the house is for him, some things really are for David.

He loves wearing suspenders and ties, which I kind of love, since it makes Sunday mornings a lot easier (I'm pretty sure he would still wear sweats to church if it were an option), and has decided he likes dogs after all since every one thinks it's so cute that David loves them.

Byron: He's been riding his bike to work every day this week, rain or shine (even with a couple of very rainy days) and is such an awesome husband. He took me on a wonderful date Friday night, and is so wonderful and patient with the boys each evening when he comes home. Last week his scout troop did a physical fitness test. The 3 boys that were able to come did about 18 push ups each in a minute. Boyce, the other leader who came, was able to do 26, and Byron, my beloved husband, did 50! In a minute! I'm not bragging or anything, but still....Wow. (This coming from the girl that might be able to do about 5...on a good day. haha

Tuesday and Thursday evening he helped Alyssa with some of her statistics math homework. I was thrilled once again to have a husband so adept at math since I am not...and haven't been since about 7th grade when we did pre-algebra and I had an amazing teacher...

Arielle: Last Saturday was Alyssa's graduation party!!! It was huge, and carnival themed, and I was exhausted by the end of it, but we had an awesome turn out and it was a lot of fun. She leaves in about 2 weeks and I'm so excited for her!

Wednesday morning I had gotten a great night's sleep and was feeling motivated by the amount of spring cleaning my mommy had been doing, so I decided to tackle the boys room. It took me about 4 hours, 2 loads of laundy, 3 trash bags and a goodwill bag, plus a mop and some serious elbow grease, but their room is clean, organized, and beautiful! I can't remember if I ever posted pictures of it since I started the remodel (last January...wow. I really should finish putting the baseboards in. haha) but the boys are in bed already so if not, I'll have to wait and post them next week. Here's to hoping it will stay clean until next Sunday. :)
Now if only I had that kind of energy every day...maybe the rest of my house would be clean too!

Wednesday evening I went to the church with Byron and joined the ladies that meet monthly for their "anything with yarn group" I had picked up a kit that had yarn, a hook, and a book that teaches you how to crochet little woodland animals. I have all of the little pieces made for a little fox, I just have to put them all together now. After I find a yarn needle. :)

Thursday Chandler came for a couple hours to watch my boys while I went out with my mommy, Alyssa, and Nana Pence (a widowed sister in our ward who was my "adopted grandmother" when I was in Young Women's). We went to lunch at BJ's and walked around Home Goods afterwards. It was really fun and I loved spending time with such incredible women without my little loves to distract me.

Friday morning my mommy and I went out for a couple of last minute Easter things and some food for the weekend and I found a powerwheels Dune Buggy on clearance. At first I was going to just walk away from it, but they announced the clearance toys were all an extra 25% off so I decided to go for it. My mom helped me load it on the cart and a kind store employee was patient and kind while I stuffed my carseats into the trunk and finagled the thing into my backseat. We dropped it off at home and I wanted to show it to my boys right away, but I figured Byron and I should give it to them together, so we waited until the next morning.

In General:

Friday night Byron and I went out to BJ's. We shared and entree and stuffed ourselves full on their pizookie trio dessert (3 cookies about 4" in diameter with a scoop of ice cream on top of each). Then walked around Khols. He had wanted to go into Field and Stream but since he was wearing the argyle sweater and khakis he had worn to work and I had put on a dress for our date, I didn't feel comfortable going in when we drove into the parking lot and were surrounded by jeans, hoodies, and flannel shirts.

Saturday morning was Roger's baptism! It was beautiful, and I loved feeling the spirit as he was immersed in water. I knew he was making and incredibly important choice and I am so glad he has chosen to follow the example of our Savior, and set a good example for those around him.

After wonderful refreshments and a quick lunch, we watched the first session of Saturday's Conference at the church. The boys were getting incredibly tired by the end though, and brought them home for the naps and watched the second session at home. As soon as it was over we headed to my parents house and Caleb got to dye a couple of Easter eggs with his aunts and Uncles. He did an awesome job and had a good time.

Sunday morning Byron was up with David bright and early, and kindly let me sleep in an extra hour. I heard the pitter patter of Caleb's feet running across his room around 7:30 though and decided maybe it was time to get up. Byron read the story of Easter morning to the boys and we talked to them again about the resurrection before letting them get their Easter baskets. David had noticed that I brought my camera out so he wasn't interested in the basket of candy, but Caleb was excited about the nerf bow and arrow and couldn't wait to use it.

They also finally got to use their dune buggy this morning after getting dressed (those batteries take forever to charge) and had a good time driving it around on the driveway and yard.

We went to the church building again for the first session of conference and had a wonderful meal with my parents, siblings, and the missionaries from our 2 wards between sessions, complete with an Easter egg hunt for the missionaries and all of the kids. It was a busy 2 hours, but the food was wonderful and the children had an awesome time with the egg hunt.
Byron got pretty sick during the egg hunt though so after my Mommy performed the fastest clean up job I've witnessed in a long time, we came home and watched the last part of conference here at home.

Overall, we're incredibly blessed, we love you, we feel inspired and uplifted, and are so grateful for the knowledge we have of the atonement, and why we are here.

Have an amazing week!