"For the beauty of the Earth..."

It amazes me what beauty there is in this world when we take the time to stop and look! The other night I had Nate go throw something away in the trash outside and he came running back in claiming we had to come see this! Boy was it worth it!! A beautiful rainbow after a day of down pour!! I had never seen one reflected on top of itself this many times before. It was amazing! The pictures don't really do it justice, but it made me so happy to see this. I think it reminded me that sometimes we have storms. And they can be big or small, but the Lord usually provides a beautiful rainbow afterwards! I am living in that rainbow right now, and I have to say it feels pretty good!!

As if the rainbows weren't enough, I turned around to this fabulous sunset. Again, these pictures don't do it justice, but I just basked in the beauty of that evening and am just grateful I was able to do so. And with the love of my life by my side! It doesn't get much better then that.

I am one lucky woman!

Sunday Stroll

It was such a beautiful day here on Sunday that we decided to go look for some duck to feed. We went to the two little ponds that we knew of but didn't have any luck. The kids were super sad, but Nate was determined to find ducks. He started driving around all the places in town we had never been. Just as we were about to head home, he turned down one more road and found DUCKS!! Lily was bouncing in her car seat with excitement!
Gabby threw her whole piece and it was instantly snatched up, so Lily had to share her piece with her. And Nate had to teach them to throw little pieces. Luke was trying to get close enough to touch one, even though his mother told him that was not a good idea. But there ducks weren't fooled by him and evaded his efforts.

It was such a fun time just to spend together as a family. Later that evening we finally celebrated Lily's birthday, but that will be a separate post.

I can't tell you how nice it is to have our family whole again. It just feels wonderful!

Trunk or Treat

Nate got home in time to join us for our trunk or treat at the church and the kids were so excited about that!! Originally Gabby and Lily were going to be Rapunzel and Luke was going to be Super Man, but with all that went on over the last few weeks I wasn't able to get the costumes made. So we went to the store to find something for the girls. Luke found a Super Girl costume and showed it to us saying, "Look someone could match me!" Lily saw it and said, "Yes!!! I want to be Super Lily!!!" And Gabby didn't want to be left out so we have Luke-Super Man, Gabby-Super Girl, and Lily-Super Lily! I thought it was pretty cute! (Gabby is sad she isn't a princess but since this costume is shiny and has a skirt she is OK with it) I think my kids are so cute as super kids!!! Lily LOVED her costume!

Gabby didn't want to wear her glasses because she said Super Girl didn't have glasses, but since she can't really see without them I told her she had to wear them.

Luke picked his costume at the end of last year and could not wait until he got to finally wear it!!

Lily has not let her dad out of her sight since he got home, I'm NOT complaining!! ;)

We didn't have the biggest turn out so Luke decided to go around not once, not twice, but THREE times!! (I kept trying to tell them we were still going trick or treating later so they didn't have to get ALL their candy that night!)

They also had some fun games inside with prizes for the kids.

Lily didn't really want to do any of the games, but she hung around with the other kids.

We had a really fun evening and it was even better because we had Nate with us! Did I mention how glad I was to have him home?!

"I'm so glad when Daddy comes home...."

"...glad as I can be!!" These kids were in HEAVEN when Nate got home today!!! He actually got in at 3:45 A.M. after driving all night to get home. He surprised and scared me to death when he walked into the house in the dead of night after he told me he had to work late and would be home closer to dinner the next day!! I must say it was an AMAZING surprise!! Of course he was tired, so I didn't tell the kids he was home when they woke up, but told them if they cleaned their room he may just come early. (I know that was a little mean, but it worked!!) By the time they were done it was about 9:30 and Lily starts to come down the stairs and sees the truck outside. She yells, "MY DAD IS HOME, MY DAD IS HOME, I SEE HIS TRUCK!!!!" Then she sat on the stairs and said she was waiting for him to come in. Then he surprised her by jumping around the corner and coming up the stairs. I think the WHOLE neighborhood heard the kids squealing with delight as they realized he was home!! I think Lily's first words to him were, "Daddy I really missed you, you left me!!"

Lily has hardly left Nate's side all day and we were able to just have a fun day together. We did have the ward trunk 'or treat but I'll post that later.

As you can see, I am NOT the only one who was dying for him to come home!! We are all SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO glad to have daddy home and hope we get to have a little time together before he's super busy again!

Lily Elizabeth

Today my baby, my sweet little Lily, turns 3! I can hardly believe that is has already been three years!! I know there were years that existed when she wasn't with us, but I honestly can't imagine how we went through life without our little Lily bug!! She has the ability to make me so happy and so angry all within 10 minutes!! She is such a sweet heart and such a goof ball I can't even think about her without smiling! She isn't overly friendly though, you have to earn her affection and her trust, which is NOT easy!! For a long time I struggled because she obviously preferred her dad, but finally I can say she loves me again just as much as she does her daddy!! (Even though at times she still prefers him...) She has such a fun personality and it has been so fun to watch her develop it.

She loves to make people laugh, loves to have her siblings attention, and loves to cause mischief and mayhem. She loves her daddy, loves to read book, loves to sing, and LOVES to have everything HER way!! ;) She is so strong willed and stubborn , but so loving and tender. She is a neat FREAK!! (No comments please, she IS worse than me!!) She won't eat ice cream because it gets too messy, same with cake or anything that gets on her. She could be starving and have her favorite food in front of her but the moment some of it gets on her, her hands, face whatever, she is done. She will wait for someone to feed her or go without food! It makes me laugh... most of the time! She is very concerned about everyone else being happy. When someone is not smiling it really bothers her. She loves to give hugs, on her terms of course, and is always there to comfort you when you are sad. I could go on and on about this little gem of mine!! Lily you are such a joy and I love you with all my heart!! Happy Birthday sugar booger!!

P.S. Since her daddy is still on Philadelphia we aren't "celebrating" her birthday until he gets home on Saturday or Sunday.

Luke's Baptism

On Saturday October 9th Luke Daniel Tracey was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints by his dad!! I can hardly believe that this day came so soon! I still feel like a newly wed but when I consider we are on our tenth year of marriage and my son just turned 8 I realize I am no longer in that phase of life. It was such a special day for us all. Luke had been looking forward to this day for a long time now and he was so ready to be baptized! Nate was able to fly in for the day, of course we wouldn't have been having a baptism if he hadn't.. but anyways. The kids were so excited to see him after so long, and were not ready for him to go back to Philly when he left. Luke was grinning all day and even though things didn't work out exactly the way we had planned it was a fabulous day and one we will remember always!

After the meeting was over we met together for treats and to sing happy birthday to Luke. (He wanted to wait until his Dad and Nana and friends could be there to have his cake.) I wasn't feeling too well so Nana was kind enough to fill in and make Luke's pirate cake. I did feel a little weird having a pirate cake in the church, but oh well. Our good friends the Brannams came as well as the Israelsen's and McLemore's. It was great to be surrounded by loved ones to celebrate this terrific young boy!! Luke I am so proud of you and am constantly amazed and impressed by you and your choices. You are one special little guy!!

That's one perfect little boy right there. I thought it would be fun to include a picture of Nate when he turned eighth, just as a comparison. What do you think?? (Personally I think they look A LOT alike, but that is just me ;)!)

My Baby Turned 8!!

Last week my sweet baby Luke, who is NOT a baby, turned eight years old!! First of all I can not believe I have had this wonderful boy for 8 years already and secondly I can not believe I am old enough to have an 8 year old!! It was hard because Nate is still in Philadelphia and missed the birthday, but since he was getting baptised on the weekend we had grandma there to celebrate with us! It was great, the kids were super happy to have her. (Later we were joined by Nana and then by daddy for only one day) Luke was so excited for his birthday this year, and really excited for his baptism (more on that later...). He told us all night before, "It's 7 more hours til my birthday mom." "Hey mom, tomorrow it's my birthday!!" Just in case I wasn't already aware of that fact ;)!! When he got home from school he could not wait to open all his awesome gifts from those who love him. We got him a Star Wars lego ship, the kids is obsessed with Star Wars and Legos (and I totally approve!!)

Aunt Pamela, Uncle Keith and fam sent this baptism towel, he was very excited about it!

And as per tradition, Nana and Pa sent the special wooden box and pocket knife that all eight year old males in my family receive. (The girls get the box but not the knife.)

He got a transformer from grandma, a CTR ring and tie tack from Allen, dino excavating eggs from Aunt Jana and more things that I am sure I am forgetting. Thanks everyone!! He had a great day and requested Subway for dinner. He ate a whole foot long all by himself! I can't tell you how much I love this kid. He has saved my sanity while Nate has been gone, he has been such a great helper! He is so tender hearted and concerned for those around him. He is a great student, no surprise there ;), he wants to do the right thing and he is a joy to be around! I am the luckiest mom alive to have him as my son, and as my first born. Luke I love you to pieces and I am so glad you are in my family!!

Ponytail?!

Kids say the funniest things sometimes. I love to see how they interpret the world through the things that they say. Today Lily was at DeNae's house hanging out while I rested at home. She had a wet diaper and was getting changed and Leah, DeNae's daughter and Lily's best friend, said "Lily's not poopy?" DeNae replied, "No, she's just pee pees." Lily interjects at this moment with, "No, I don't have a pee pee. I don't have a ponytail down there." DeNae, completely flabbergasted at this moment says, "Um, what do you mean Lily? Who has a ponytail down there??" Without skipping a beat she replies, "Baby Koyo (our friend Chisa's little boy) and about 4 other babies I know." ???!!! (it is true that all the babies we know are boys, but wow, I didn't think she paid attention to that) A ponytail....ok.