Where have my babies gone?!

I have had a lot of those where did my baby go moments lately.  The weather is warming up down here so I pulled out the summer clothes box and couldn't believe that my little Taite now fits into these clothes that I swear Haydn was just wearing.  Really how do they grow up so fast?  And how can I make it S.T.O.P!!  I just want to remember everything they do and say and I'm afraid my silly human brain will not absorb it all.

I don't know what it is about boys and there obsession with carrying things around, but it is a must!  Haydn always had 1-3 cars with him.   Taite has a love affair with tools.  He always has some kind of tool with him.

Haydn is loving having the trampoline.  It is amazing how much he has come out of his shell in the past 6 months.  He is loving the park and finally going down all the slides and climbing up everything.  

Slow down boys, please slow down.

I have an office!

I am so excited about my new office.  It is just a little corner of our bedroom (I know, I know, way to kill the romance), but I love having my own little space.  The turquoise is a magnetic board that Riley made me and I love how it turned out.  Bright and cheery.  I hope to get LOTS of inspiration in this space. 

Now if anyone knows where to get cute organization stuff and magnets let me know.

Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam

Last Tuesday afternoon Haydn brought me a piece a paper and said it was his ticket from Primary.  When I looked at it I realized they had asked him to talk on Sunday and he was just giving me the paper now!  Thank heavens he gave it to me at all.

I asked Haydn what he would like to speak about and we talked about a few of his favorite things about Church and primary.  We narrowed it down to the scriptures or treats.  Mom used her executive powers and decided on scriptures.  I asked Haydn why he like the scriptures and he said because they are about families.  From there we developed his talk.  We practiced it several times a day.  It took a few tries to get that mom whispers, but Haydn talks loudly.  

By Sunday he was really excited.  He sat at the chairs up front and as the other Sunbeams were scared or nervous, Haydn kept asking if it was his turn.  Here is the final result.

And here is what mom was whispering:

"The scriptures are full of stories about families.  The Bible has Adam and Eve.  They were our first family.  In the Book of Mormon we can read the story of Lehi and his family traveling to America.  The Doctrine and Covenants recorded events of the life of Joseph Smith and his family.  I am thankful for my family.  I know they will be blessed by the scriptures."

Haydn, we are so proud of you.  We are grateful that you love the scriptures and your family.  We are so glad that you love Primary and will be able to learn so many wonderful things that will help you in your life.

Happy Valentines Day

Now that both of the Grandparents have received theirs I can share with the rest of the internet world. I did a collage of the valentines shoot I did with the boys earlier in the month. I printed it mounted and on metallic paper and I love, LoVe, LOVE how it turned out.

see more from this shoot here

Draper and Darby

Last Sunday before heading home from Salt Lake we were able to tour the new Draper temple.  We had a rocky start as our tour was scheduled at 12:30.  I was so preoccupied with getting the boys and myself in our Sunday best and loading up the truck that it didn't even dawn on me when we left that it was lunch and nap time.  So by the time we drove out to Draper both of the boys were fast asleep.  We woke both boys up where they quickly realized they had empty stomachs.  We were also at the wrong entrance so we stood in the cold weather for awhile trying to figure out where our tour guide was.  We were pretty frustrated after waiting almost an hour and were tempted to just get on the road and head home.  Luckily we didn't and had a wonderful experience taking our boys through to see this new temple.  If you live in the area I highly recommend going to see it. They are dedicating it in March so don't delay.  You can take your kids, family with out temple recommends, or non-members who have wondered what all the fuss is about those temples anyways.  It really is a beautiful temple, probably in my top three!  After we loaded back into the snowy truck to head home, as we were driving away Haydn said from the backseat, "Thank you for taking me to the temple.  I really loved it."  Ahhh,that makes it all worth it!

In other news, the dinner for Darby last night was very successful!  They had a line out the school for most of the night.  All the money raised went directly to Darby's family to help out in this difficult time.  It was wonderful to see all the support this community gave and made us proud to be a part of it.  If you were unable to attend, but would still like to help out there is an account set up for the family at Village Bank.

A Forever Family

       

We had the most amazing experience this weekend.  We were able to witness the sealing of our friends, Brian and Jaime's little girl Meisha in the Salt Lake Temple.  Brian and I went to Physical Therapy school together and we have seen them go through all the ups and downs of trying so desperately to have a family.  We were so honored to write a letter of recommendation for them as they started the adoption process and when they were chosen to be the parents of this little girl we couldn't have been happier.  But nothing compares to the overwhelming joy we felt seeing them in the temple sealed together as a family for eternity.  

      

While we were waiting for the temple workers to bring Meisha up from the nursery area the sealer said some beautiful words about how Meisha will have every right and privilege given to her just as any other child of God, with no distinction of how she came into this world.  As soon as Meisha entered the sealing room she had the biggest smile on her face that never disappeared.  She looked at her parents and smiled, she looked around the room at all the people there and smiled, she looked at her grandma that was holding her and smiled.  It was amazing like she knew how loved she was and how this was such a special event.

       

Prior to the sealing Riley was honored to perform their adoption.  We feel so blessed to have such wonderful friends and to be reminded of the wonderful blessing that family is.

For Sale - SOLD

Canon Rebel XTi SLR camera with 18-55 mm lens. $450

This is an awesome camera and only 1 1/2 yr. old. Let me know if you are interested.

Dinner for Darby

Darby is a 4th grader who lives in our neighborhood that has been diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma.  There is going to be a benefit event for her on Tuesday, February 10 from 6-9 PM at Washington Elementary.  It should be a great time for the whole family with dinner, crafts, a bake sale and a silent auction.  I am auctioning off a photo session, so come on down and support a great cause!

{image via Care Pages}

It's a contest!

Click on over to erika snow: photography to enter yourself into a contest!

Nap time?!

In our ongoing efforts to make more room we have started the bunk bed shuffle.  We took the bunk beds apart when Taite first transitioned into a bed, but decided we would like some more space in their room so we put them back as bunk beds.  Haydn is loving being on the top bunk and feels so big that he can go up and down the ladder.  This also means that Taite can now get out of bed by himself since he doesn't have a railing that goes all the way around.  It has been an adjustment for this little trouble maker.  The other day I went to go check on him while he was taking a nap and this is what I saw.  

And this is what was in his bed!  At least someone is using it, right!