Sunday, November 29, 2009

My heart aches today. Aches because a friend lost her husband yesterday in a motor cross accident. He was young, healthy, and full of life. He left behind a pregnant wife due to deliver their third child in the next few weeks and two other young children. I am still in shock. I hate thinking about it but it has once again served as a reminder that I need to refocus my life and my priorities.

As I helped my children hang the Christmas ornaments on our tree yesterday, my perspective changed. Rather than hurrying to "fix" what they had already hung to fill in spots that needed decorating, I just watched my kids faces as they helped with excitement. So, if you visit and think that my tree looks a little heavily decorated with ornaments on the bottom right side, you are right.

I think my dad summed it up earlier today when he wrote this: In perhaps my favorite novel, Chaim Potok's wise father, David Malter, says it this way,

"I learned a long time ago...that the blink of an eye in itself is nothing. But
the eye that blinks, that is something. A span of life is nothing. But the man who lives that span, he is something. He can fill that tiny span with meaning, so its quality is immeasurable though its quantity may be insignificant. A man must fill
his life with meaning, meaning is not automatically given to life. It is hard work to fill one's life with meaning."

The "meaning" of our life is worth pondering. My heart goes out to this young mother who is now left to raise three beautiful children on her own. How lucky we are to know and understand the plan of salvation. She will be reunited with her sweet husband someday. For now I like to think he is there preparing their unborn child to take care of his mother.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Austin is THREE!


Happy Birthday to my handsome boy Austin. He is 3 today but if you ask him he will tell you he is 6. He makes us laugh every day with his funny comments and his stubborn acts. He loves doghnuts, pizza, rootbeer and anything sweet. He loves cars, balls, Dragon Tales, Brady & Easton, playing "monster" with his dad and hide and go seek with his siblings. He was my hardest baby but has been my most fun toddler! We love you Austin!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Rolling, rolling, rolling...

Sweet Summer has been rolling for a while but only back to front. I put her on the floor yesterday to play while I scrubbed a bathroom. I heard her crying and went to check on her and she had rolled across the room to my entry tile...about 3 feet from the top of the STAIRS! Time flies. Before I know it she will be crawling. Time to baby proof once again!

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Cheeks!

Is it just me or are these cheeks super kissable!??!

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

October Tradition...kind of!

Welcome to Halloween in Utah where it is rarely warm and often snows just in time for the trick-or-treaters to be out! I love the seasons in Utah but hate that Halloween is usually a very cold and miserable holiday. I am kind of scrooge when it comes to Halloween anyway. I hate spending money on costumes and I hate buying candy. I like to eat candy but I don't like to have an endless supply around for myself and the kids to munch on. Does anyone dislike this holiday as much as I do?

We kept our October tradition this year and carved pumpkins. We usually get together at my parents house the Sunday before Halloween, but because we are a family full of coughs and runny noses we decided we would stay away from the twins and the new baby and invited our neighbors to join us instead. It was a really fun night and though I missed our usual tradition it worked out great and the kids loved it...which is the point, right? My mom, Kelsey and Wes came and joined in the fun which made the night almost as perfect as it would have been otherwise. The Gibson and Holland kiddos.
The Holland kids.
The Gibson kids.
Mr. Nick working hard on his pumpkin which ended up being two faced...happy and mad.I posted this picture just because. I think these two are pretty cute girls if you ask me...but then I might be a bit biased! :)

Thanks to the Gibson's for joining in the fun of pumpkin carving!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Fall Break Fun

With Tyler out of town and the kids out of school I decided to load the car and head to Logan for the weekend! The weather was PERFECT! We had a great time hanging out with Grandma & Grandpa Holland and the Cache Valley cousins. We went to the Heritage Center on Thursday afternoon and the kids had a ball riding horses, jumping in the haystacks, getting lost in the corn maze, going down the "big slide", enjoying ghost stories told by witches, and riding the train! It was well worth the $6.00 entrance fee! The view from the visitors center...it makes me miss Cache Valley...for a minute!
The kids and the goats. They spent 30 minutes petting all the nice smelling animals. The goats were their favorite!
A trip to the Heritage Center wouldn't be complete with out not ONE, not TWO but THREE rides on the train.

I think I will make a trip to Logan over Fall Break our new tradition. Cache County was out of school the week before so the Heritage Center was not busy at all. It was the perfect way to spend a few days having fun while dad was gone!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Welcome Baby LUKE!


Congrats to Sarah and Ryan on their newest addition! He made a quick entrance into the world early this morning and is just perfect. I have yet to meet him but LOVE this little guy already! Welcome to the world Luke!