Joy

These are not the 1st baby smiles, but the 1st ones we've been able to capture on camera. I love that smiling is one of the 1st things we learn to do in life. I think it's so telling. It's such an essential thing for us to learn. Before we learn to walk, talk, or even feed ourselves, we learn to smile. I think that fact illustrates the scriptural principle "Men are that they might have JOY."

D and Miss H's definition of joy? Candy...

...cousins...

...and more CANDY! Sheer Joy!

Nephi Trailer

The young men & young women group I work with at church have been making "movie previews" as if the scipture stories were soon-to-be-released films. The story of Nephi from the Book of Mormon was accidentally deleted, so when I went to make it all I had were a few seconds. Not wanting to refilm, I just inserted music & it turned out to be the best one. Enjoy!

Happy Halloween

Here are our lil' monsters... This week our church had a fun fall carnival with a cupcake walk, fishing pond, trunk-or-treat, etc. The kids had such a great time! D was Thomas the Tank Engine. He loved helping me paint the box. Miss H was Blue from Blue's Clues. She also has a cute Dorothy costume for tomorrow, compliments of her Grandma.

My husband won the brownie bake-off for the evening. (The award winning recipe if you're interested: Mix brownie batter according to box instructions and pour into baking dish. Then cream 4 oz. cream cheese, 1 egg, 1 tsp. vanilla, & 1/4 c. sugar. Pour the cream cheese mixture over the brownie batter & run a knife through it for a marbled look. Bake as directed.)

Baby Blessing

This weekend our baby was blessed in church by his Daddy. It was very sweet. My husband's family all came to be a part of it. We all had a great time together- it was fun to catch up & the cousins loved playing together & swimming at the hotel. We appreciated them traveling to see the baby. He sure is fun to show off!

More Baby Pictures

Sleepy Baby. . .
. . . welcome to our world!

We couldn't be happier to have you!

Baby's Here!

Everything went so well with the baby's arrival. We had a planned home birth w/ a Certified Professional midwife who was wonderful. He was born in a birthing tub, which helped so much through those intense contractions. The kids are thrilled as you can see & I am thrilled to no longer be pregnant!

He is healthy & precious & loved!

Living at the Park

I've never met a kid who is happy about leaving the park. Mine are no exception. D recently protested the end of our visit to the park & wanted to know why we couldn't live at the park. The question prompted his parents and G'ma to count the ways children could be jealous of the homeless. Here's what we came up with:

1- You can live at the park
2- You rarely have to bathe
3- No one insists you eat a healthy, balanced diet
4- You don't have to memorize your phone number
5- Did I mention you can live at the PARK?
6- No worries about making your bed
7- Actually, every job on the chore chart no longer applies
8- You can adopt stray pets all you like
9- You can wear your favorite shirt 10 days in a row without your mom stealing it to wash
10-You can LIVE at the PARK!!!

I for one am grateful for my home and washing machine, but kids have their own perspective.