Family Pics

Finally got some new family pics.  Here are a few random selections.  (The one of Brady and I is unedited...obviously!)

Growing Up

I was in Rexburg today.  I don't go there often because I don't care for it.  I realized why today.  I really never did know why before.  I saw college students walking down the road to and from grocery stores and restaurants, in groups and alone.  I saw them driving around and having fun.  Walking around the park and talking.  I was not happy as a single person in a college town dating and hanging out with roommates.  Having been forced to grow up at such a young age, it all seemed uninteresting to me.  I was unhappy for many of those years, until I met Brady.  I am happier now than I have ever been.  I am where I want to be.  I didn't like being single or dating.  Don't get me wrong, those things are good and appropriate and fun.  It just wasn't my cup of tea.  I am a different breed of cat altogether and I am willing to admit it.  Those times are for learning and growing and exploring.  I was pretty world weary by the time I graduated from high school, and the inherent instability that comes with being a young single adult was not fun for me.  I needed stability.  And finality.  And I really just wanted to get on with life.  I had learned what I needed to learn about life and relationships when I was in junior high.  I don't regret this since it has made me who I am, and I am happy with me.  I am so grateful for a husband who is a rock.  Who is the least selfish person I know.  Who is a worthy priesthood holder.  Who works hard to support and take care of us.  I am so thankful for my beautiful babies, who make me work harder and give me a greater reward than anything else could.  So, while those college days are great for most, for me, not so much.  So, just one more reason to be thankful that we are all different and get to make our own way in this life.

This is the best love song.  At least, I think it is!  It sums up how much I love my hubby and my babies and how blessed I am to have them!


"I Got You" by Craig Morgan


I've had big dreams come true and I believe in
Angels although I can't see them
They're watching over everything I do

Ain't no easy street around the bend on my road
No pot of gold at the end of my rainbow
But I don't mind 'cause baby I got you

The rain keeps the flowers from dying
The sun lights the world when it shines
The midnight sky has a blanket
Of stars and the moon, and
Baby I got you

I can't imagine one day without you in it
Life alone just wouldn't be worth living
Love would be a wish that never came true

Lord knows I got more than I deserve
But I don't question the prayers I've been answered
I did something right 'cause Baby I got you

The rain keeps the flowers from dying
The sun lights the world when it shines
The midnight sky has a blanket
Of stars and the moon, and
Baby I got you

Keeps the flowers from dying
The sun lights the world when it shines
The midnight sky has a blanket
Of stars and the moon, and
Baby I got you, yeah

Baby I got you
Baby I got you

I have been overwhelmed lately by the goodness of the people that are around us.  My kids have been sick for weeks and I have been stressed and worried and worn out.  Not to mention that my poor babies are miserable.  One particular day in the middle of this mess, I had no less than 5 people call me and offer to help me with my kids, my errands, and various other things.  I have had people offer to watch my kids so I could nap or go get groceries.  I have had people offer to go get groceries for me and to take the child who was well so I could take the other one to the doctor.  I have had people offer to bring in meals and teach my Sunday School class for me.  I have flaked out on people because my kids were sick and the reaction was only kindness and love and concern.  I have had doctors in my neighborhood come to my house to check one of my kids because both of them were sick and I just couldn't face dragging them both out the door to the doctor...again.  At the end of all of this, I am left feeling only love and gratitude for the people around me, and I am humbled by the outpouring of compassion for us.  I only hope that I can do the same when someone needs me.

My Babies

Caleb is the sweetest little man.  He smiles constantly and is completely content.  After his traumatic entrance to the world and his illness so early in his life, he has pleased us with his progress.  He is a little eater and is growing like a weed.  He weighs almost 20 lbs.  He started at just over 6 lbs when he was born a month early.  He is 8 months old now and I don't know what we would do without him.  He loves to play on the floor and will just roll and roll and roll.  He is up on his knees ocassionally, and I think he will crawl any day.  He has absolutely no interest in sitting, because that would mean he wasn't moving!  He is a little mama's boy and I don't mind one bit.  He is nice and chubby, so he is squishy and cuddly.  He weighs 3/4 of what Katie weighs, so he is definitely a handful!  I love his big grin and his big green eyes.  We just love our sweet boy and are so thankful he is part of our family. 

Katie will be 3 in April and she is more like 3 going on 16.  She is way too big for her britches.  She is always telling me how funny she is and how silly she is, and she is right.  She is constantly cracking us up.  She is so smart and she can recognize all of her numbers and most of her letters.  She loves to tell us what color everything is.  She is a super-sweet big sister and she adores her baby brother.  She talks baby talk to him that is just hilarious and smothers him with love and kisses.  She loves to read and do puzzles and she is a little bit of a tomboy.  She loves Cars and Toy Story more than princesses and loves to play with balls.  She does, however, have to make sure her socks match and that she has a bow in her hair.  She is a nice mix of tomboy and girlie-girl, which I love.  She is a major daddy's girl and the adoration is mutual.  We are so thankful for our sweet Katie and don't know what we would do without her.

REJOICE!

"He whose birth we commemorate this season is more than the symbol of a holiday. He is the Son of God, the Creator of the earth, the Jehovah of the Old Testament, the fulfillment of the Law of Moses, the Redeemer of mankind, the King of Kings, the Prince of Peace. . . .

"And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

"For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father--

"That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God."(D&C 76:22-24).

"And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."  (2 Nephi 25:26)

We are thankful for our Savior and for what he has done for us.  He has provided a way for us to return to him, if we will take advantage of his Atonement and improve ourselves and repent.  We are thankful for the opportunity to be an eternal family.  We are thankful for the gospel in our life and for the happiness it brings to our home.  We hope you all feel the love of the Savior this Christmas season, and that you can also know that he is the source that we look to for everything we have that is good. 

Family Pictures

Some random pics from our photo shoot today.