-Tell us a little about your family and why it is special?
My oldest, Kayden, is 10. He’s amazingly talented at sports and is into wrestling and basketball currently. He’s also my most sensitive, requiring the most attention and consoling. He is an amazing student and recently got nominated for national awards for both his academic leadership and talents in art.
Kyler is 8, was recently baptized and is obsessed with sharing the gospel. He is fearless, quick to forgive and sometimes tactless in his truth telling. He came out the womb singing and hasn’t stopped. He speaks his mind sometimes too often and has us always laughing at the absurdities he thinks of. He is also a great big brother and a darn good wrestler.
Kashton is 4 and the funniest kid you’ll ever meet. He is so aware of everything around him and comes up with the funniest observations. He once told me that it “smelt dangerous outside”. He’s a busy body, loves to Facetime anyone who answers my phone {I’m sorry to those of you who get these calls all the time} and is super independent. He’s also an electronic genius and can maneuver a phone or iPad faster than anyone I know.
Channing is my baby girl… my sweet sweet, desperately loved little girl. I questioned my sanity in wanting a 4th when she first arrived {3 months of constant crying}. She has turned into such a happy baby, though. She is constantly smiling and goes with the flow of anything we do. She has her mom’s curse though, and never sits still. Even while cuddling her little feet will roll around in circles. She’s almost 8 months and is just learning to crawl, heaven help me.
-What do you do for work/volunteer outside of being a wife and mom?
In addition to being a mom of 4 beautiful humans I have been in the fashion industry for over 5 years, and am currently a professional photographer based out of Eastern Idaho. I thrive on building business. After nearly 15 years of being a business owner it has become an obsession. I hate the phrase “serial entrepreneur” but it really defines who I am. I love combining what I learned from one business into the next idea or passion I find. The list of things I love and want to do is endless. All of my children have grown up with me working from home and I don’t think any of us would know what to do if I didn’t. Being a working mother makes me a better mom. My me time is work.
That being said, being a working mom can sometimes take a toll. As we all know, being a mom is a 24 hour job all by itself. Trying to work is usually classified by sporadic minutes here or there {all day long}… followed by late nights and early mornings. I have to choose to be diligent in blocking out time that is for work only, and time that is for kids only… but more often than not my work time is taken over by kid time. Who can say no to those faces begging for mom? Priorities, right?
The older my kids get the busier life seems to become. Each kid is so very different, with interests and needs all their own. They each have unique qualities that make them special and OH so loved.
-Is there something your family does on a regular basis for quality time?
I have been very blessed with a family who truly love to be together. We all love doing the same things which makes it so much easier to plan. My entire family is obsessed with traveling. We all thrive on experiencing new things together and are a bunch of adventure junkies. We plan a few trips a year, and are currently working on seeing all of the LDS temples in the United States. My boys are also big into trapping and hunting, and no I don’t do that with them… GROSS! No walk is complete without noticing every animal track we pass and that is the extent of my involvement with that. We love the outdoors and spend a lot of time just being together outside. We ride bikes and walk nearly daily. But our go to activity is ice cream and movies. We spend a lot of time cuddled in our {now too small for 6 people} bed watching movies and cuddling.
-How do you take time for yourself to recharge?
Beth asked me to share what I do to take time for myself and I had to really think… what is this “Time for self” thing she’s talking about? I work! Truly though, its something all us moms need. I enjoy so many things that I just don’t have enough time for, but things that I try to fit in and really help me tune in are: dancing, reading and photography. If I lived closer to the ocean that would have been my answer. Nothing calms me more than spending time near water. My favorite go to pick me up is turning off my computer and making my kids giggle. Baby laughs lift a soul like nothing else can.
-What is your go to, never fail and in a pinch recipe?
I don’t cook! Go to recipe… Go to… Go to… Papa Murphies Pizza? Although I do make a mean Cinnamon Roll like once a year.
-What is the one product you can not live without?
Favorite products totally depend on the context of the product… Clothing? Beauty? Kids? I am a product junkie and have shelves full of things that look cool and don’t get used. A few items that never stay in stock though: Moroccan Oil for my hair, and Mary Kay Oil Free Hydrating Gel for my skin. And if I do happen to cook I actually do use my Stoneware from Pampered Chef for non-meal items like the cookies I eat daily and shouldn’t.
See JamieFindlayPhotography.com to see some of Jamie’s amazing work!