Waiting for Dad

With Mike working up in Seattle now, his arrival home is usually unpredictable. So when the phone rang and he said he was on his way home...you can imagine our excitement. He would actually be home before 8:00pm?! Peter and Emma were so excited to watch patiently for daddy's black car to round the corner and drive down our street. This night was dedicated to dad...and boy did the kids have fun. First he read the scriptures with them (something he will miss for the next couple of months), then they all played our made up "Bruce the Shark" game, then it was upstairs for ring around the rosies, pillow fight, and the never ending "Throw me in the air" game. Thank you DAD for making their night the best ever!

What a BRUISER

To think that I actually thought my little girl would breeze by the two's without those terrible bruises is crazy, I know! On Friday as we were waiting for Andrew during his piano lessons, Emma desperately wanted to get out of her car seat and sit in the passenger seat next to me. I usually keep her in her car seat while we are waiting but I thought that maybe just this once it would be ok. Andrew had reclined the seat all the way back before his lessons to rest a bit from a long day at school. It didn't take too long before Emma discovered how much fun it would be to click and unclick the seat belt. With the seat reclined and her laying down, it wasn't a problem. Until....WACK! The seat belt pelted her right in the eye and she received her first trauma to the face. It's funny because everyday she wakes up I think it will look a little better. I should know better....bruises always look worse a couple days out. So here we are in the yucky yellow brown phase. If this wasn't bad enough. On Monday before Family Home Evening, I was sitting at the piano ready to play our opening song and could hear Peter and Emma running towards the stairs and then all I heard was crying. Emma had gotten knocked down and was probably more in shock than hurt. As she ran sobbing to me (I must be pregnant because I didn't bolt up to get her) she stumbled over her feet and hit the molding around the window. ANOTHER BRUISE...yikes. It sure makes you feel like the dumbest mom when you walk around and your child has not one but TWO bruises on her face. This is the life of a 2 year old!

Good Times

There is nothing more romantic and rejuvenating than a trip for two to an island getway for a week. I was so happy to join Mike during a Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii! Who wouldn't jump at that opportunity?! I am so thankful for wonderful parents who watched our children so we could enjoy each other and celebrate 10 years of being married. Although we missed our kids and talked to them everyday, we enjoyed being together and being somewhere warm. With only a couple of hours in the morning for the conference, we really had so much time to spend together. The day before the Conference started we headed up the coast to the North Shore. On our way we stopped at the Temple and BYU Hawaii. Our first night was spent eating a fabulous dinner at the Turtle Bay Resort and watching the sunset as we ate. It couldn't have been more perfect. The next couple of days were relaxing, spending every moment in the sun either at the beach or by the pool. We also had so much fun getting reacquainted with some good friends from medical school who currently live there. One of the highlights of our trip was our adventure on a Catamaran where we sailed out a bit to go snorkling. We saw lots of really cool fish and a few friendly sea turtles. We came within 3 feet of a sea turtle and just watched in awe as this amazing creature swam next to us. So what did I love most about our trip---a great man to share precious moments with, the warm sun, not having to cook, sleeping in, and the amazing sunsets. Good times!

It's DEFINITELY a GIRL!

Her face profile



How we know she's a girl



Baby Abigail's Foot



Five fingers...YEAH! How cool that her hand was spread out and not closed.

What a blessing it was to be able to see so many great pictures of our little baby girl. It truly is a miracle that in five short months a little baby is formed and growing. We learned that she is head down, face down, and snuggled nicely in there. It was fun to be able to see her moving around. At one point we could see her mouth opening and closing...I wonder what she is gabbing about in there?! I keep thinking that it is too good to be true to be having another girl. We feel so lucky and blessed that the pregnancy is going well and she is looking to be healthy and whole so far! We are Half-Way there!!!

A True Example

After watching the funeral services for our beloved Prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley, I was touched and again reminded how deeply grateful I am for his example and life. There are so many legacies that President Hinckley left us. Those that will always stand out in my mind are his FAITH, HARDWORK, COMPASSION, and SERVICE. I have never seen anyone else with as much faith and dedication as I have seen President Hinckley show to all the world. His faith in Jesus Christ was undeniable and his faith in the people of the Church of Jesus Christ was so strong. He worked hard in all he did and always showed compassion and love for all. My faith in Jesus Christ is stronger because of the life and example of President Hinckley. I am grateful for all the leaders of this church who also show great faith and compassion. I know that the Lord's church will continue to progress because of the strength of its members and leaders. There are times in our lives when we reflect on our dedication to the things that matter the most to us in life. My dedication to my family, church family, and my Lord Jesus Christ are the driving forces in my life. To follow the example of President Hinckley, I am motivated to rededicate myself to increased Faith, Hardwork as a mother/wife and in my church callings, Compassion towards others, and Service to my family, friends, and neighbors. I have a testimony of Jesus Christ. I know that we will be able to live with our families forever if we will continue to live in accordance with the commandments of our God. I am grateful for parents who taught me in my youth the things that will be of most importance in my life. To them I say THANK YOU!