Luke's B-day

I know this is a little late, but those of you who know what has been going on in my life totally understand. The day of Luke's birthday was pretty low key. He went to school and then when he got home he went outside to play with Gabby, Ethan, Matty, and Lily. They played in this nice muddy hole at the end of our street, but hey it was his birthday. All he wanted to do for his birthday was eat at Golden Coral. The reason?! Well when we moved here we had no food and on the way home from dropping off the truck in a town 20 min from where we are we spotted a Golden Coral and stopped. Luke was AMAZED that you could pick anything you wanted and if you didn't like it you didn't have to eat it and you could just go get something else. Add that to the rolls and he was SOLD! So even though he had come home from school sick the day before and hadn't really eaten anything all day we decided to honor his wish. After Nate got home we opened presents and set out to the restaurant. I think DeNae's kids were excited too because they were all bouncing off the walls!! Luke didn't really eat much and ended up lying down on the chairs, but he didn't want to leave. The rest of us ate our fill, really everyone ate a ton, and then we headed home. Our neighbors have taken a liking to us so they were eager to come say happy birthday to Luke too. As soon as we walked in the door they came over and we all sang to Luke and had cake and ice cream. Everyone that is but Luke. He went to bed because his belly was hurting. Poor kid. He ended up staying home the next day because he didn't feel good at all. (But that didn't keep him from playing with everything he got!!) All in all it was a good day even though he didn't feel totally well.My handsome seven year old!!So happy with his presents!!Our neighbors Angie and Steve with their son and his daughter.

I love friends!!

If you are my friend, I love you! (Even if you aren't sure, you are!) I have been so blessed in my life to have friends that are there for me throughout my life. I may move away and not talk to them for years, but then there comes a time when we are reacquainted and it just like we never left off from the friendship! I love that! And I love that these wonderful friends deal with my insanity and stick around even when it gets tough!! One such occasion was this last few days. My good friend, Kristen Steele Duncan, who lives in Kentucky (just 2 hours away) was able to come stay with me for a few days and it was great! I wish that I had gotten some pictures, but we were so busy I never got around to it. (Actually I am just a slacker.) Kristen is the person who is largely responsible for me meeting and dating my WONDERFUL husband Nate. He was her home teacher and one day she told me she had found the "perfect" guy for me. Wow, she is good isn't she?! Anyways I am so grateful for her friendship and for her taking the time to drive all the way out here to see me! (Even though I kept her up until 2 am talking!!!) We had fun just hanging out and talking and eating ice cream and shopping, you get the idea. I really do love her and her cute kids. Paul's a good guy too :). I know I say this every time I see an old friend, but we really should get together more often! So I just want to say thanks to all my friends. You all mean something special to me and someday I will blog about each and every one of you... I hope :). Thanks again Kristen for a fun couple of days! (And thanks Paul for going on a business trip so she would have a reason to come!!!)

My Sweet "Little" Luke

I can hardly believe that SEVEN years ago I became a mother. Seven years ago my life changed utterly and completely. Seven years ago I began to learn what it really means to love and give selflessly. Seven years ago I welcomed my sweet little Lukey into this world!! Words could never even begin to describe the complete joy and happiness this child has brought into my life. He has been and continues to be an enormous example to me. He has more love and tenderness for others and genuine concern for others then most kids I know. He is the BEST helper anyone could ever ask for and more importantly he is mine!! I know I posted something similar to this last year, but really truly it is how I feel. I feel so incredibly blessed to be able to be Luke's mom. I know most parents feel that way about their kids, and how wonderful it is that the Lord sent us the type of child that would invoke those feelings into us!! I know that Luke was hand picked for me. He helps me be a better mom and a better person. I love this little guy more then I can ever express!! Happy Birthday Luke, I love you!!!

Cute kids!

We get to have some friends stay with us for a few days while their parents are visiting a family member who is in the hospital. I have blogged about them before, the Isrealsen's. I knew DeNae while we both worked at the Earth Science Museum at BYU and have been friends for years. Our husbands are also good friends and have made many Moab and other biking trips together. Anyways Ethan and Matty are staying with us and it has been so much fun. It has been a little cold and rainy the past couple of days so we were itching to get outside today. After breakfast was over (and DeNae they ate 3, yes 3, courses!! I am not kidding!!!) Ethan looked outside and said, hey it looks like a nice day, maybe we can go outside!! So we got all bundled up and headed to the park. Things were still a little wet, but that didn't stop them from having a great time.This is Ethan, Gabby, Matty (Mathew) and Lily. (We miss Leah, but know she is having so much fun with Ana and co.)

Ok, obviously I tweaked this photo a little, but seriously they almost look like they are posing for an engagement photo!!See DeNae, they are happy and doing just fine ;)!

Since Lily had her hair all done and looked pretty cute, if I do say so myself, I decided to try to take a few pictures of her for her grandparents. However, true to her nature, she did not cooperate. I love that she is such a ham though, so maybe that is what I should send. It is her.

This last picture is when I had Gabby, Ethan and Matty try to make her smile. They were making faces at her and apparently she try to imitate them! I love it!!

So while the reason for our guests is not under the happiest of circumstances, we sure are glad that we get to have these fun kids to hang out with!

P.S. Happy Birthday DeNae!!

Free at last!!

Look at this super cute little face! How could anyone ever get mad at a face like that?! I will tell you how. She has a new obsession. What of all the possible things in the world could she be obsessed with, what will cause her mother the most grief (or at least a fair amount...)... Taking off her own diaper, that's what. Oh and we aren't just talking taking it off, we are taking ripping the tabs completely off so it can't be reattached so that I have to use the entire box of diapers in one day! Well no, not really... I just use packing take to keep it on!! Yeah, really I do. After the first few times I got smart and started just taping them back on, but that hasn't stopped her. I even put onsies on her to deter her, but nothing seems to work very well. I think she must like the "free" feeling, really she does it probably 10 times a day. Last night she went to bed just fine (oh and we moved her into her toddler bed) then 5 minutes after we left her in her room I hear the baby piano being played. I go into the room and there she is, in her bed smiling at me.... with a piano, two balls, Luke's lightsabor, a Frisbee and almost every stuffed animal we have in the room. She was so proud that she was still in bed. I took it all out, save "monkey" (pictured above and with which she almost never parts) bear and cougar (also favorite stuffed animals, we take them all everywhere... I know, I know...). ( and yes these are all her names for her stuffed animals, very inventive I know) Anyways so I expect to hear her get up again, but it is quiet... all night. Success, I think!! Wahoo, that wasn't so bad. Think again, we go to get her this morning and guess what?! That's right she took her diaper off last night and then fell asleep!! So we have pee pees all over the bed, clothes, blankets and all over her bear!! It could be worse, I know, I have heard of the poo getting "painted" on the walls etc., so I will count my blessings, but please if anyone knows how to get her to STOP taking her diaper off, share the secret!! I really don't want to have to do laundry every time she takes a nap or gets up in the morning. I mean I am all about cleanliness, but that is a bit excessive for me!

Park Fun

The weather is still pretty nice out here. We are still getting up into the 80's during the day and cooling down into the 50's at night. But we know that colder weather is on it's way so we are trying to make the most of our last few day/weeks etc. of good weather. A few days ago we decided to go to the park after school. Nate was lucky enough to be home, he is doing a Pediatric rotation right now and has had some more time for family. (But that will all change in few weeks when he starts internal medicine... ) Anyways we went to the park and the kids had so much fun asking him to spin them on the merry-go-round. Now they have to ask him to spin them because thanks to too much "fun" on them as a kids I can't hardly look at one without feeling the need to loose my lunch. They could hardly get enough of it!!

Gabby had to prove she was just as brave as Luke.
Luke wanted to really feel like he was flying, so he tried hanging off the edge, but not too far :).

Lily is always sooooo happy to have her dad around. Sometimes I get a little jealous that she so OBVIOUSLY prefers him, but I try to remember that being the mom I have a lot more of that special one on one stuff so it is good for him to have a pal too.

Isn't this park just so pretty? It has older and newer equipment, but the kids prefer the part that has the old stuff. Go figure.

As I look at these pictures I can't help but just feel so lucky to have my little family. They are so wonderful and I treasure every minute we have together, even the times I want to rip my hair out. :) I can't believe how big my kids are getting and how incredibly independent they are becoming. It scares me to death to think of them in this world the way things are going, but it is inevitable. I can only hope I prepare them well enough. But for now I will just hold onto these sweet memories, simple pleasure like afternoons at the park.

Gabby Girl

A few days ago I was at the store with the kids. I was looking at some earring and Gabby says to me, "Oh mom these are so beautiful! I want to have earrings like this, that go through my ears!!" I was thinking, oh sure eventually... But I told her to ask her dad. I did this because I was SURE Nate would say, not until you are 8 or 12 or something like that. Well she asked him on Sunday and he said, "Sure, I don't see any reason why you couldn't." :0!! What?! REALLY?!?! I mean I wanted her to get them someday if she wanted, but she is so little still!! But he told her yes, so what could I say. So we went to the mall and got it done. I was trying to convince her on the way there that she wanted to wait, but she was certain she wanted it now. And I tell you what, she didn't even cry, wince, or ANYTHING!! She was smiling the whole time and never stopped! The lady doing it was AMAZED, she said she had never had such a good 4 year old before! And she is still loving them and admires them in every mirror she sees!!

I tell you what, that is one happy little girl!! I am glad that she is so happy!
Gabby also started dance class yesterday. She has been dying to start dance class and could hardly contain herself all day waiting to go. I wanted to get some pictures of her all decked out in her cute dance clothes, isn't she adorable?!!

She thinks she is all ready to dance on her toes like her aunts Oriana, Tori and Cassie! It was hard explaining to her that it wouldn't work like that. She actually thought she was going to get to go up on stage today! Then once we got to dance I found out that their year end performance, the one she is DYING to perform in, is on Sunday. I was so upset. How was I ever going to tell her the one thing she wants most, she won't be able to participate in. It was a hard decision for me. I talked to her teacher who assured me it was a "celebration" and therefore not work. I almost bought it, but Nate said it was just justification. He wanted to pull her out all together, but I knew that would crush her. So we have decided to just do class and then not attend the final performance. Wow, I never thought it would be that hard to make those kinds of decisions. Luckily for me I asked Gabby what she thought keeping the Sabbath day holy meant and she told me no playing or dancing on Sunday. I explained to her the situation and she said it was ok because she wanted to do dance even if she couldn't go on stage. Whew! Still I feel like a horrible mom destroying her dreams...Here she is with her class learning the rules. Her teacher really loved her and told me she would rather have Gabby in class and not at the performance then not in class at all. So I think we will stay. Wow, who knew dance would be soooo complicated for a 4 year old?!