Indians Game

Since Julie works for the Orem Owlz baseball team she has connections. The coach of the Owlz has a son that just happens to play on our Cleveland Indians team! She was able to get tickets for Nate and the kids and take them to a game while she was here :). They were so, SO excited for this! Evie and I stayed home, which ended up being really good since the weather decided to play games on us and drop about 20 degrees!! They all froze just a little, but they still had a fantastic time.

 Bundled together, trying to keep warm!

 They played the Texas Rangers.

 Julie brought Luke a glove that one of the players had left at her house. He took it to the game SO hoping he would get to catch a ball. Unfortunately that didn't happen. Maybe next time :).

They had a great time, Thanks Julie for making awesome memories for these kids during a rather stressful time!

Julie Time!!

After my parents left my Julie came to visit! She came in October when it was rainy and cold, but this time we had some great weather! We had to take her to Lake Erie to show her the "beach" as we know it here in Ohio ;). We were all so excited to have her here and to show her around a little more. We hadn't planned to get in the water, so we didn't have swim clothes on, but that didn't stop the kids!! :)

Evie stayed in the car with Nate. She wasn't quite ready to go out yet at that point, but they wanted to at least come in the car with us. It was so great to have Julie come!! We had so much fun while she was here! (More to come on that!) Thanks for the great visit and the fun memories Julie!!

Nana and Pa's Visit Continued

Once we knew Evelyn was stable, we decided to see a few things before Dad had to go home. First we went to visit Lake Erie. We were about the only people there, it was at sunset and beautiful. As we looked for shells and waded in the water we watched as a storm blew in. In about 30 seconds the temperature dropped 15 degrees and the wind started blowing like crazy, so we headed out. All of those pictures are on my phone and I have no idea how to get them on here.

The next morning, before Dad's flight, we headed over to Kirtland to see the church historical sites. It was a little cold, since that storm blew in, but we still had fun.

 

 

 

(The kids were having too much fun running around since they had been stuck in a hospital room for two weeks!!)
We had a great time with Nana and Pa and we can't wait til we get to see them again!! Thanks again for coming mom and dad!! 

Nana's Birthday

We were lucky enough to have my mom here on her birthday! Let me tell you, I have not been with my mom for her birthday in over 5 years! I was pretty excited that we got to celebrate, and that we were out of the hospital to do so!! It was great. While I was finishing making her cake, the kids went outside and ended up inviting a few of the neighbor girls to come in and sing to mom. That and they wanted cake :). Dad had already gone home, but he sent her some beautiful roses. (And darn it, she couldn't take them on the plane so guess who just had to take care of them ;)!!) We had a fun day. I am so grateful for my mother and I don't know what I would do without her!! LOVE you mom!!!

Nana and Pa come to Visit

When Evelyn had her surgery, my parents were able to come help us out. It was so great to have them here!

 Because of the situation, we decided to have Evie's baby blessing at home, the night before the surgery. As I said before, I really wished we could have had everyone there that we wanted, but it just didn't happen. So I got Evie dressed us and my parents, our friend in the bishopric and the kids listened as Nate blessed her. It was wonderful and emotional and special.

My mom will be mad, but I had to post this of her and Evelyn. (She had just gotten off the airplane and had travelled all day)

 Evie in her beautiful dress that Nate's mom had specially made for her. Each of of my girls has gotten one, it is my most favorite gift ever!!

 When my mom is around, there are pictures of me :).

 Evie was having a hard time so we really didn't get any good pictures of her in her dress. I am planning on dressing her back up and taking some more pictures, but I figured I better not wait any longer to post about it or it might not happen ;)!

It was a very special occasion and I wish I could write more about it. I will hold it dear to me and hope that my kids remember it as well.

Easter Sunday

I love Easter! I love it for so many reasons, but mostly because it reminds me that my family can be together forever because of what my Savior did for me. That meant more to me then ever this year. I really didn't know if Evelyn would be staying with our family, but I knew that she would always be a part of it. It made this Easter very special to me.

As always I had to take a million pictures of everyone all dressed up and looking great! I had planned on making my girl all matching dresses, but alas, it didn't happen. Again. :( I am hoping they will come to be next year... but I won't hold my breath! ;)

My family. My joy.

 I am the luckiest mom in the world!! I just adore these little faces!

 My sweet baby Evelyn

 Lily Bug

 Gabby Girl

 Lukey

 Evie in her cute little bunny outfit that auntie Oriana and uncle Travis gave her!

 She is such a great big sister!!

We had a wonderful Easter, even if it wasn't our typical Easter. We didn't get to participate in all of our traditions, but we had a good day and we spent it together. That is really all that matters! 

Easter Eggs!

Before Evelyn's surgery was Easter. That seems so long ago! I meant to get it all blogged before the big day, but that obviously didn't happen.

Every year we color eggs together as a family. Nate's schedule had been, and still is, really crazy. He had been working over 90 hour weeks and we hadn't seen him much. So Saturday morning, the day before Easter, he was finally home, post call with 2 1/2 hours of sleep. We snagged him before he went to rest and we colored our eggs!



 Luke really loves coloring eggs and was such a big help to Lily and Gabby!

 This girl is ALWAYS smiling!

 So was so proud of the eggs she colored!

 After coloring eggs, the ward had an Easter egg hunt! We headed over to the church to join in the fun. Luckily it was sunny and dry! (It had been cold and rainy all week)

 The kids had a lot of fun and it was nice to get out into the sun!

I love family traditions and I am glad that even with all the craziness that has been in our lives, we were able to keep with some of them!