The Sallays

remember this?

2016-11-25T16:46:00.001-08:00

Seems like forever ago that Charlotte had this short of hair.. yet it hasn't even been a year.

(ps, I sure wish blogger had emojies... Because, you know.. I pretty much just text emojies..)

Austin

2016-10-12T17:06:00.001-07:00

A few months ago Charlotte asks me

"mom, do you know Austin?"

And I responded that I didn't.

I began to ask her some questions but didn't think to much of it.

Then a few days latter she is talking about him again.

How they went someplace.

Then about how he was someplace with us.

After a few days of her talking about Austin I realized

he isn't going anywhere..

Austin is her imaginary friend.

He lives in a special West Virginia that you have to fly to.

He lives there with his mom and his little brother.

His age changes.

I think she dreams about him, because everyone once in a while she wakes up talking about something they did.

Its gotten to the point where I am telling people because she asks EVERYONE if they know him.

I find it kinda creepy...

Preschool 20016

2016-10-12T10:07:00.002-07:00

Today was Charlotte's first day at preschool for the year.

She was so excited!

Last night I took her to H&M and she picked out this lovely outfit for her first day of school.

If it doesn't scream CHARLOTTE I don't know what will..

A Kitty sweater, leopard dress with leopard pants to match her boots that she has worn every day since we got them.

along with two orange bows.

Here is to her last year in preschool!

I can't believe she will be in Kindergarten next year!!

Love you baby girl!

Apple bucking

2016-10-11T19:16:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite things to do in the fall is to go apple picking.

But it has to be cold..

We went Monday and it was perfect!

It was cool and everyone had a blast.

The girls have asked to go back.

I didn't even have to pick one apple, they were also super good at making sure they got good ones.

Which meant I could focus on the important things.. Like taking pictures..

{Nellie had her pants on backwards, by choice and refused to turn them around..}

Waggily bones

2016-10-06T11:30:00.001-07:00

Current favorite activity?

Waggily bones..

AKA dressing up in their glow in the dark pj's and running around screaming...

dinner with the missionaries

2016-10-05T19:27:00.001-07:00

What a day here at the Sallay house.

I had two hours to go to the store and to make dinner (soup and bread sticks.. The missionaries were coming for dinner.).

One might think that was long enough.

Except when you have a 6 year year old that insists on today being the day for her to get her costume for Halloween.

Your 1 year old spills water all over, and the garlic butter.

So then you have to put the dog away so he does't eat it and get sick all over.

I told the girls to, but they did not succeed, so I did it.

I had to peal and cut potatoes, cook the meat, make the bread, let it raise (twice!), put the soup in my handy dandy pressure cooker (which has always been AMAZING!).

It wouldn't work..

I tried for 20 minutes to get to to work.

It wouldn't work..

The bread didn't raise long enough.

most the butter was still sitting on the floor from when nicholas pulled my cookbook off the counter which happened to be the cook book the bowl of butter was sitting on.

The Missionaries are actually on time.

John isn't home, so I send them away for a few minutes.

Pressure cooker still isn't working..

So I put pasta on and pull out my jar of tomato sauce...

John gets home.

I give a missionary a haircut while the pasta cooks.

My pressure cooker starts working.

Pasta and soup are both done at 5:30.

My girls have been kissing/ licking the missionaries.

Nellie was bossing them around telling them to

"write a letter to Jesus."

Nicholas has been crying "down!" from his highchair.

The soup was to bland..

The bread sticks helped..

But the Missionaries were in a hurry to eat..

They were so kind, and ate almost all of it.

They also told me it was delicious.

And that missionary from Mexico has one good momma.. He couldn't help but want to help, looking at my mess of a kitchen wondering where to start..

I was a mess..

But dinner was made, hair was cut, they were here for less than an hour.

And maybe the broken crockpot was an answer to one of the Elders Prayers..

He only ate the pasta.

Now to figure out what to do with those letters to Jesus...

{now for some pictures of another mess to clean..)

Rehoboth

2016-10-04T18:58:00.003-07:00

In early September I convinced John to let Nellie take a sick day and we all headed to Rehoboth to visit with Aunt Alli and baby Savannah.

Pretty much it was wonderful.

The weather was great and the company was just what we needed.

I could NOT have done it with out my carrier though..

It got disgusting from the salt water and wet diapers..

But it was worth it.

Right Nicholas?

He had a blast..

{even though in EVERY picture he looks like he is hating it.. Inside, he loves it..}

6 (ONE MORE POST)

2016-10-04T18:51:00.001-07:00

Nellie is 6!!!!

I can't even..

6 Years ago this little baby made me a mom.

{I know this is like the 3rd post about nellie being 6... But it's kinda a big deal..}

This year we did no party, but when she asked

"when is my party so I can get more presents"

I knew it wasn't going to happen..

Per her request we went to the local Mexican Restaurant which she calls the
"new quesadilla store"

Followed by her going to walmart (her request I tried to convince her to go to the DQ) and got a chocolate cake.

Which she ate 3 slices of.

Because it was her birthday.

6 things I LOVE about Nellie.

1. I her green eyes, just like her daddy.

2. I love how much she loves to learn.

3. I love how she is a rule follower.

4. I love how much she tries to be interested in things other than the TV.

5. I love when she plays well with her sister

6. I love how when I ask her to bring me toilet paper she brings me one. ONE square..

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NELLIE ELIZABETH!!!

raging storms

2016-10-03T18:20:00.004-07:00

Take one simple step forward with faith-and then another.

-Rosemary M. Wixom

These past few months have been life altering.

Finding myself and getting lost in the

"how long must I go on in my suffering and long must my patience endure before my soul can rest."

I have pleaded to find peace and to feel rest in my busy and self induced stress of life.

~~I have a good life.~~

I have such a blessed life.

I have been given so much.

My most precious and treasured blessing

are my husband and three little children.

(and children yet to come.)

I have such desires to have peace and calmness in my home and my life.

I feel as though I have started to see some light in my storm I have been facing.

To be happy, not constantly searching for it.

To love my children, and not looking for ways to.

Most importantly to be calm, and not praying for it.

I have come to find that a step in Faith of just doing and not waiting for it to happen has brought me more happiness than I have felt in a long time.

In the storm of a world I intend to have shelter and peace.

No matter the choices my children make, or where life takes them.

I want the to know they are always welcome with welcome arms and they bodies and souls can find peace in my home.

I pleaded with my Heavenly Father to help me to just do, I got so tired of waiting.

He hears.

He really does.

As I prayed I asked to be able to have peace even if I had to suffer longer.

I needed peace.

I needed my soul to be lifted.

And I needed His help and the help of my Savior.

I have these beautiful children.

As I look at them I feel deep in my to be able to teach them and for them to know of the love and peace the Gospel can bring if we let it.

I am so very grateful for my storms in life.

I am even more grateful when they are over.

green and gold

2016-10-03T18:02:00.000-07:00

Green and Gold are the current colors of Virginia.

Hopefully soon we can add a few other colors.

Like red and orange.

Green and gold with a little fog is pretty perfect though.

Stay on the Lords side, and you will win every time.
-Richard G. Scott

walk

2016-10-03T17:54:00.000-07:00

Charlotte LOVES animals..

Like LOVES them..

On Saturday in between conference sessions we went for a drive to try to spot some changes of the seasons..

We were not overly successful.

But I did capture some great photos of Charlotte being Charlotte..

Using tuckers leash to take her dog for a walk..

2016-09-30T17:08:00.000-07:00

This is the time of year that makes me heart happy.

To see the leaves change and the rain and the cooler weather just makes my heart flutter.

It also does the same thing in the spring and the new leaves come and everything turns a brilliant shade of green.

The winters are long and not much fun.

But fall is pretty perfect, except that it turns to winter.

It has been chilly and raining here the past few days and it has made Nellie and I pretty happy.

Nicholas seems to enjoy it also.

Charlotte on the other hand has said several times that she

"can't wait to see the sun."

6 years of Nellie.

2016-09-21T05:03:00.002-07:00

oh how my baby has grown.

She is still as beautiful as the day she was born.

We think she is pretty awesome.

6

2016-09-21T04:46:00.005-07:00

My Beautiful girl is 6.

6 years ago she made me a mom.

She was the best baby around and hardly ever complained.

She is such a light in our lives.

We sure love you Nellie bellie.

1st grade

2016-08-31T15:54:00.002-07:00

1st grade!!!!!!

how can it be??

I can't believe that we have now entered the stage of school.

That is what I have spent the last 6 years preparing for, I knew it was coming..

But seriously!

School.

My heart breaks that she is gone so long.

That for 9 months out of the year she will be away from me longer than she is with me.

My time to teacher, snuggle her and just be with her is so small now.

Those first 5 years are so important, to teach them so they are ready for school.

Because school is out life now..

for the next 9 months.

For weeks I would cry and tell her

"Nellie, mommy will miss you so much!!!"

she would always respond

"I know. But I will come back!"

I have written her love notes for her lunch and today she wrote me one.

"I miss you mom"

and gave it to me before she left for the bus.

My little Nellie, I miss you sooo much when you are at school.

{I am also so extremely grateful for the neighbor girls who are like 10 who watch after her on the bus and school.}

(after i took the pictures I realized my ISO was on HI.. seriously! the pictures are less than perfect quality.. But the memories are the same.. }

Then Charlotte when and walked home and hung out doing whatever she wanted to do.

Play baby, doctor, snuggle, doggy......

2016-08-11T18:38:00.001-07:00

Not a lot has happened..

But a lot has.

Most importantly

I love my family.

The Temple can bring such peace.

I am grateful that we have them to feel close to our savior.

We are attempting to go with the children once a month.

So far so good..

No Flavor

2016-07-25T18:31:00.001-07:00

When did Nellie turn 10?!?!!?

Geez! She looks so grown up..

I can't even think about her going to school.

It gives me anxiety!

ALL DAY!

She will be gone ALL DAY!!!!

It makes me sad..

As hard as days can be with the same things over and over again.

I am going to miss her face so much for those 7 hours she is gone.

(7hours?!?!)

Today we made her favorite.

No flavor cookies (aka surgar Cookies)

I happened to have some frosting left over from valentines day..........

(Charlotte was there too.. But she was busy tasting the cookies... They were also pretty excited about the aprons I whipped up in a few minutes this morning..)

Swim coach

2016-07-22T16:04:00.002-07:00

Me: Nellie do you like your new swim coach? Coach Andrew?

Nellie: Yeah. I do.. He is so handsome.

(coach Andrew is total surfer dude.. He's got long curly hair and talks like the turtle from finding Nemo.)

But now she is embarrassed so she just says "he is to ugly.."

The best part of the day

2016-07-21T04:48:00.002-07:00

Grocery shopping with the kids is always super fun..

Being a mother

2016-07-20T09:11:00.002-07:00

Being a mother is a great privilege to me.

It isn't something that everyone gets to do.

It also is something that I find very hard at times.

If there is one thing that I hope to teach my children it is that being a mother is hard work and for a time it isn't about you.

It is about them. They come here not knowing anything and my Heavenly Father trusts me to teach them everything.

It is my responsibility as a mother ( and Johns as a father) to show by example what we want to teach.

What is most important is always changing, because there are so many important things.

But I know that as I trust my Heavenly Father is what is most important at that time then I will be able to teach them.

All I can do is take each moment to help them.

If they do something wrong just yelling at them to stop isn't going to help them.

But if I take the time to explain why what they are doing isn't right they will better understand why I want them to stop. Otherwise they they don't know.

I have to teach them.

I signed up for this.

I signed up for teaching them and helping them be the best little people they can, and hopefully the best grown people they can.

I have not always loved being a mother and there were (and still are) times when I yell at my kids more than I should or about things that don't really matter.

But as we grow and realize what really is most important we will start to make changes to better our children.

We can never love them enough.

And if Charlotte wants to play
"baby" every day for hours then I will try my best to.

Because most likely in a few years she wont want to..

At things stage of my life I love being a mother. I love loving my children. And I love knowing that my Heavenly Father trusts that I will do a good job.

Cox farms

2016-07-05T18:14:00.000-07:00

We LOVE cox farms.

In the fall it is fun to go down the slides and in the spring they have flowers.

In the summer they have flowers and fruits and vegetables.

It's fun.

The girls are always asking to go and see the garden.

They love flowers and they loved picking some out to plant at hour home.

Now if they were just as excited to water them..

I am not my body

2016-06-28T19:08:00.003-07:00

I can't recall when my symptoms started.

It all seems like a blur really.

Since my baby is over a year and in a few months it will have been 2 years since I surprisingly found out I was pregnant.

I will say it started shortly after then.

I was tired all the time, I was out out of breath, it was hard to focus and concentrate,

I was always angry or upset, the list really goes on and on..

I brushed if off as "i am pregnant.."

Then as it continued it was

"well I have a newborn"

Then when Nicholas started to sleep through the night and he stopped nursing and I was getting plenty of sleep, and exercising and doing all the things your supposed to do to loose weight I wasn't.

I went to one doctor who said

"your depressed."

Which I knew I wasn't.

I wasn't sad, or unmotivated.

I was very motivated but not getting ANY results.

I tried pretty much everything one could think of over the next several months.

Nothing.

I had not lost 1 lb since I gave birth.

I was so ~~tired~~ exhausted all of the time.

More tired after waking up in the morning than I was when I went to bed at night.

I finally called up a friend and was like

"who's your Doctor.. I have had enough.."

I went to her Doctor and got blood work done and she put me on something that was supposed to help

"jump start" the slump of my metabolism (which it did not..)

After a few weeks I got an answer.

An answer that I was hopeful would have some more answers.

I have been diagnosed with Hashimoto disease.

It is in autoimmune disease.

My body is creating antibodies that are destroying my thyroid and there is nothing I can do about it.

I can try the diets

(I am currently really really trying to be gluten free....)

I can try whatever else is out there, but its genetic.

My chances of reversing it are slim.

My Grandma had it, I have an aunt who has it and another who has Graves Disease (hyperactive Thyroid).

So now I get to suffer my symptoms of brain fog, muscle fatigue, weight gain/ no weight loss, chronic fatigue and several others until my thyroid is destroyed enough (or my doctor finally decides to put me on meds, or miraculously these strange things that I am trying actually help) that I am put on medication.

Due to the fact that the antibodies are present I have Hashimotos, but my thyroid levels are not out of the "normal" range.

Along with this Hashimotos I am also more prone to other autoimmune diseases and diabetes. Which both run in my family..

(and due to the fact that I can't loose any weight and the benefits of exercising don't really apply to me do to my thyroid not being able to function properly... I am sure these will come sooner rather than later)

Everything that I am trying is not working.

So here I am at the age of 32 waiting for my body to fall apart.

I am that "fat girl" you see at the gym who you judge should

"lay off the hamburgers and fries".

(which BTW I do not eat hardly at all... even though I desperately want to...)

I am that mom that has to say no to play dates and getting together.

Not because I want to but because I honestly just can't do it most days.

As I have become the "fat and lazy mom" that I desperately do not want to be each day I try to be the best that I can and to love my family the best way that I can.

Each day is different and I don't always feel awful, so I try to take full advantage of the days where I feel good enough to go out.

So before you judge us "fat and lazy" moms, maybe you should really consider that we really are trying..

And some days all we can do is take our kids the the park and sit on our phones..

(at least my kids are at the park and not watching TV...)

4 year pictures

2016-06-18T13:59:00.001-07:00

I couldn't decide.. She was in the mood for pictures and they all were so cute..

We love you our Charlotte!!!

Charlotte

2016-06-18T07:22:00.000-07:00

Dear Charlotte,

We are so blessed to have you in our family.

You love to make people laugh and you always like to be doing something.

You love makeup, sparkly things, shoes, wearing dresses, and not being told what to do.

You love your family and you love your friends.

We sure love you baby girl!

1st day and last day

2016-06-14T18:24:00.000-07:00

That first year of school went by to fast.

I can't believe she will be in 1st grade!!!!

It's pretty crazy for me.

I sure love my little Nellie..

Here is to an AWESOME summer!!!