Family

Family means EVERYTHING to me. All through my growing up years, I lived minutes away from the majority of my extended family. We visited my grandparents almost every Sunday. We had large family birthday parties and summer cookouts with our cousins. Having family close by was the norm for me. It is what I expected my life to always be like. It is what I dreamed of. I've never been able to imagine my life away from my family. I don't even know how life works without family.

Sadly, my sisters' lives are taking them in different directions.

My older sister, Savanna, and her family moved away to New Mexico a few years ago. We only get to see them about once a year. We get to talk on the phone and Skype, but it just isn't the same.

In less than 2 days, my baby sister, Abby, and her two boys are moving away to Washington D.C. to be reunited with Nate who joined the army about 6 months ago. I know how important family is and I know that they need to be together. I get it, but I can't help but feel like I am losing them!

The dreaded day is quickly approaching and I feel like I am grasping at straws to slow down time or spend as much time with them as possible.

Last weekend, between General Conference sessions, we got together for a special Halloween lunch, art projects, and the inevitable bath that followed.

Today, while Abby worked on moving out of her apartment, they boys came over and Adam and I braved pumpkin projects with all 4 boys! They washed the pumpkins, colored them, and played in pumpkin guts/brains.

Of course it is crazy when we are all together, but we have so much fun and I am really going to miss them!

And I think it is safe to say, that these boys are really going to miss each other too! I pray they can keep some of the memories we tried to create for them. I pray they will always be friends. For now, farewell to the fantastic four.

Sisters, I will try to be strong without you. God be with you til we meet again.

Hello Again

Hello again blogging world. It has been awhile... a long while, but I figure it is about time for an update since it has been 5 months, the children are soundly sleeping, and the laundry is done! Where do I even begin?!

I have an awesome chalkboard that my AwEsOmE sister Abby and brother-in-law Nate made for us. Currently it says, "The days are LONG but the years are short." Isn't it soooo true? I mean look how fast my boys are growing up! And, let's be honest, being a parent can be really crazy (understatement) but small moments like this make it all worth it.

Little Guy Tidbits:

Eli is 21 months now. He is quite a talker, but mostly in private. One of his favorite things to tell me is, "No way!" He likes to sing his own versions of "Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam" and "Old MacDonald". He loves his sheep stuffed animal and has to take it with him to nursery.

18 months

Liam is almost 9 months old. The poor boy is getting about 6 teeth right now! One of his favorite activities is rolling himself up in rugs or playing underneath them. He is working on his crawl. Right now it is a one legged army crawl type thing. He is getting a lot better at sitting up too.

6 months

So, what did we do this summer?

Played in the sandbox that daddy built.

Summer walks.

Visiting the zoo.
Playgrounds.
Playing with cousins.
Fourth of July Parade and fireworks.

Trips to Utah.
Tracey Aviary.
Water Parks.

Salt Lake City Pioneer Day parade.
Boating in Jordanelle Reservoir.

Playing in Grandma and Grandpa's yard while it was irrigated like mommy used to do when she was a little girl.

Eli took swimming lessons with daddy.

Gardening and canning.

Haircuts.

Playing in tunnels (Eli thinks going under anything is playing in a tunnel.)

Climbing on the ladder that daddy built.

What will this fall bring?

Spring Travels

The little guys have probably had their fair share of travelling for awhile... grown ups too! First off, we took a last minute road trip with Adam's family to Kanab, UT. We all had adventures driving ten hours in and RV with a 15 month old a three month old and of course trying to sleep in the same RV with the same babies!

Watch out! Eli will steal your Root Beer Float.

We also explored Zion National Park and the Coral Pink Sand Dunes. When we visited the sand dunes, it was Eli's first time playing in sand. He. Was. In. Heaven!

To play in the sand with or without pants is the question (for Eli, not us grown ups)?! We chose without... which resulted in a diaper full of sand and a bum caked in it too...

A week later we climbed back in the car and traveled to Bear Lake to spend conference weekend with Adam's family at the time share. Liam got to go swimming for the first time and also got to visit with some VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE while we were there.

What else have we been doing this spring?

"Keep Eli Busy" Projects.

Helping daddy make St. Patrick's pancakes.

Coloring Easter Eggs.

Yard work.

Celebrating Easter.

Being cute.

Practicing sitting... That needs more work...

Oh Happy Days!

What a wonderful week we have had!

We celebrated Dr. Seuss's birthday at the local library.

We celebrated my Grandma's 80th birthday. She is an amazing woman who just keeps pushing through life, even when it hurts.

We were sealed to Liam for time and all eternity in the Rexburg temple.

Liam had his blessing at church too.

Aren't my boys so handsome?! (All three of them! Adam is looking pretty great! He has lost 25 lbs!)

Everything was so special because Liam's birth family came to celebrate with us. They are so great!!! We are so lucky that they are our family now too!