Such Sad Times But Happy Times

My Baby turns 1 this week!!! I can't believe it has been a year. It went so fast and yet there have been many long never ending nights. Mikell has been such a joy to have in our home and we will miss the baby stage but look forward to the fun times of learning and personality to come!

At least its an update.

A few new pictures of the kids. I haven't gotten around to doing much. Nathan is growing so fast and it has been so fun to just spend time with him. I wish I could have spent the same kind of time with the girls as I have been able to with Nathan. I guess we just enjoy what time we do have and cherish those moments. It has been fun to watch the girls grow up too and it is weird to have a more big people conversation with them. I have been very blessed and am very grateful!!!!
The girls had a tea party and decorated their own hats and had lunch and a craft after. It was fun and they all had a great time.
Nathan decided to try writing on the walls so I had him wash the walls. He didn't mind doing either one.
Todd likes having a boy who loves BYU and all kinds of sports. Nathan likes hanging out with dad when sports are involved.
I have decided I need to be better at taking pictures I don't have a whole lot.

When did they get so big?

Well for those of you who don't know I am almost 15 weeks along and we are expecting a wee one in Aug. So on the days I don't have to get up I try to stay in bed as long as possible so I avoid the yuckiness that comes with this fabulous time. So I did just that this morning. I was pleasantly awakened by my girls however, when they brought me breakfast in bed. They had made mango/passion fruit juice, pancakes from scratch ( Lauri's recipe) and decorated the tray with flowers had the utensils in a cup and napkin. They even went as far as giving me coupons to use later. No Todd was not helping he was gone before 7:00am they did it on their own. When did they get so big? I have to say it was nice and tasted good too. Now I need to see if they can just get the house clean before I wake up. That would be wonderful too, but then what dreams would I have if that were to happen.

We have a lot to be Thankful for!!!

Well if you haven't heard yet Todd has a job!!! After a year and a half Todd was offered a job at NuSkin he will be starting there in Dec. We are so grateful to all of you for your help, support, prayers and encouragement. We are excited to have a job again.
Here are a few fall pics and of course Todd was gone but he was in our thoughts.

Nathan is such a joy to have in our home. He likes to stay up late so he can watch the news and waits for the sports.
Sydnee has informed us that the BIG CRUSH is over from the boy at school from last year. She will be turning 7 in a couple of weeks.
Kayla is thoroughly enjoying learning songs on the piano as well as in the school choir. She will be performing in a couple of weeks at the Mall.
Alison just hit her year mark as Young Woman's President and stays pretty busy with that most of the time with training meetings, mutual, and is awaiting a new counselor after losing hers in Oct.
Todd has been gone most of the last three months doing dance competitions, when he is home he has been editing music and now is no longer looking for work (yippee!)

We are grateful for the good health we have had and the everyday blessings we have received. It has been nice to know we have so many who love us and we love all of you! Thanks again.

Todd and I just had our 13th anniversary yesterday.
I am very thankful for him. I Love You!!

Our First Family Outing So Far

We finally did it we went camping this summer!!
We went down to Fairview canyon and spent Friday and Saturday in the mountains. It was nice to get away and have some fun with our good friends the Longs(Dan, Alicia, Jordan, Asher, Alexa). Nathan is now big enough I could let him wonder around and not be to worried and he enjoyed it immensely. He was all over. He loved throwing rocks into the stream and would jump up and down and clap every time he did. Kayla and Sydnee loved it too. They kept asking when we were going and we "finally" made it.( As Sydnee said) The girls were in the creek first thing and were having fun finding creatures that were in the water. We found out the mosquitoes adore Sydnee as she came home with a few bites (14 to be exact) and that is with bug spray every couple of hours. Todd made a wonderful dutch oven dinner, spare ribs, potatoes, and of course cobbler. (All in different ovens) It was great. We had visitors for that dinner: Gaylene and Brance, Alan and Aimee, Brian and Shayla, Suzanne and Josh. It was fun to have them come down and enjoy the cool mountain air and food with us. W had a great breakfast , breakfast burritos that Alicia made. The kids enjoyed roaming and hiking around camp and going on a ride on the four wheeler and shooting guns. We also watched for any kind of wild life, we mostly saw deer. It was great and we got out just in time. As we were loading up a big storm hit and hit fast. It was really windy and cold rain. We did get drenched loading up the four wheeler and a few items on the trailer but were glad we had everything else done and inside. We were also glad to have the Longs jump us so our car would start and we weren't stuck up there. It was a great weekend and we can't wait to go again!!!

Now we can start summer!

Now summer starts for us. I just returned from girls camp which was awesome! Things we had planned didn't happen and yet it couldn't have been better. We went down to Fairview and camped and visited Manti for the pagent and Pallisades for a day of fun. I got about 13 hours of sleep for the whole week. My house was standing when I got home and all the kids were accounted for. Thanks to great in-laws and a great husband and mom and friends who made it all possible. I now can think of other things and not girls camp! Summer here we come!

What can I say...

What can I say... Easter Morning didn't turn out how I imagined. Todd was out of town, I had to be to church early, Nathan woke up crying and cried all morning and I ran out of time to get nice calm pictures. Not exactly how I wanted things to go. However, we made it through and it turned out to be a much better evening then it started out to be. I made the girls and I matching skirts. Sydnee was very excited and couldn't wait to wear them and not that anyone could tell so she told everyone.




My Boy is... getting so big. We gave him a haircut the other day. He thinks it tickles and it is challenging to cut it without him shrugging his shoulders or moving at all. We have had to shave it all real short because he is so quick.

He also loves to run over to the neighbors if ever given the chance to get out the door and see if he can play basketball. I love this picture. It reminds me that our challenges may seem overwhelming at the time, but if we have faith in the Lord's time table things will work out and we will eventually get it. We just keep trying.
Can't you see him saying to himself "I'm almost there, just a little bit harder." He'll be there before I know it. He thinks he is so close already.