Monday, August 23, 2010

I always Want to Remember...

the little things that bring the joy to motherhood.

I always want to remember tiny fingers, tiny toes, tiny pigtails, gummy grins.
I always want to remember how Drew opens his arms wide open and puckers his lips signaling to me its time for a hug and kiss.

I always want to remember Hannah's little prayers "Hen Fodder, faiful foi fammy, pees bess..."
I always want to remember what happens when we put food in front of Hannah before we've said a blessing; she somewhat bows her head and totally shovels food in during the whole prayer.

I always want to remember Madelyn's compassion. When Jed felt sick, he laid down to rest while I finished dinner. I asked her to kindly go bring him to dinner. When she came back in tears, I asked what was wrong, she was just so worried about her daddy being sick.

I always want to remember Lily's big eyes. Whenever she hears Hannah coming or is startled her eyes get so big the whites of her eyes nearly glow.
I always want to remember our Friday night pizza parties.
I always want to remember the time in primary where the sharing time teacher was explaining that the water we drink comes from rivers. "No it doesn't!! It comes from WELLS!!" said Madelyn. Funny.

I always want to remember the snuggles.
I always want to remember laughing together.
I always want to remember Drew and Madelyn brushing and playing with my hair while I read to them.

I always want to remember how sometimes when I lay down at night and have a chance to think, I am overwhelmed with how much I love my husband and kids that it brings me to tears.

I always want to remember Hannah's crazy escapades, such as the birthday suit cleaning the church incident that escalated from there...
I always want to remember our little adventures: lizards, hiking, campfires, getting eaten alive while wearing herbal armor, getting lost on dirt roads perhaps going to be attacked by wild coyotes...

I always want to remember how Hannah was ready to move on in life while we were roasting marshmellows. She randomly said "bybye daddy, bybye mommy, bybye dwooby, bybye sissy..............taint you." Then she wandered off a bit past the car and then turned around.

I want to remember these things and SO much more because before you know it they'll be in 1st grade, and their fingers too big to put olives on, and just because I really do have the greatest job and family that I love so much!!


These guys are the greatest!!

Monday, August 9, 2010

Lily's Blessing

Lily's Blessing was August 1, 2010. We had so many family members come and support Lily and our family which really made the event wonderful! It was great to spend time with so much family.


I took a few pictures of Lily on her big day. My sister-in-law Julie taught me how to make the fabric flower for her headband and I thought it turned out really cute!! (thanks Julie!)



I caught the tail end of a smile here. I thought Lily looked just beautiful. She is such a sweetheart and we love having her as part of our family. I could snuggle her all day long and really wish that I could because she has already grown so much!!

We got a picture with all of my side of the family and here they are. We took pictures with Jed's side too, but unfortunately not on my camera.

My sister Julie also called from Nova Scotia and she got to talk to most of our family that was here visiting. It was nice that even though she is so far away, she still got to be part of the big day too!!

Some unfortunate things also happened this day. After work the next Monday Jed told me two of his brothers had been throwing up and feeling sick. I contacted all of my side of the family and the reports escalated from there. Pretty much every family that were in attendance reported sickness, except for our little family and my parents. Our family ate leftoevers all week long and never got sick, so I'm pretty sure it wasn't the food. We think it must have been some sort of bug because everyone ate different things and still got sick. A pretty aggressive bug!! I still feel so sorry and embarrassed that it ever happened. Hopefully everyone can regain their trust in me..... :)

Keeping It Cool!

So far this summer, the kids and I have ventured up to Rexburg to the Splash Park a couple of times. It is so fun to have a little water park like that not too far away, plus they get to visit Grandma and Grandpa Nelson afterwards. The first time we went Hannah just wandered around mooching off everyone's picnic. The second visit she braved some water fountains, of course with the accompaniment of her bag of chips and sippy.





Soggy chips....mmmmm

I am grateful for this flourescent "swimsoup" that helps me keep track of this little girl.


Drew and Madelyn racing down the slides.


Hannah sharing her soggy chips with Lily!