Deer

This is what was in our backyard this morning....Why did Uncle Robert go all the way to UT to get one?

Perfect Dinner

Tonight we discovered the perfect dinner. I got thank you's from all of the kids. The menu?....Shrimp, french toast and cold pizza...yum

It's snowing

See the white dots...it's snow

Making cupcakes with Grandma

Ben's Mom is here for the week. His Dad is here too, but he opted not too stay with us...Bum. She took Sadie and Henry to the Zoo yesterday (Brrrr....), but forgot the camera. Here are some of the kids making cupcakes for Family Home Evening.

After Grandma turned on the mixer covered in batter, and got it all over the kids, Henry decided to fashion himself some protection.

My kids might be related to me after all

Well, Samuel anyway....

Notice any similarities?

Me in kindergarten

News Article

The following is a news article from the Tampa Tribune. The hospital where I had my miscarriage is trying very hard to help parents who have lost pregnancies (far enough along to deliver) with their grief. They have called me numerous times in the last 8 months, and sent cards. This, in addition to the loving care and pictures that were taken at the hospital by the staff. The pictures were then put on a cd and set to music. We were also sent home with blanket, booties and hat that the baby wore while we were holding him. They have actually won awards for their perinatel bereavement program. The latest addition to this program is explained in the following article.

There are times in your life when you are really touched by the love of others (both those who love you and complete strangers). This was one of those times for me. This has also been a time when it is clearly evident that Heavenly Father knows us individually and is aware of our own individual needs and circumstances. So many things could have played out worse than they did this past February....we were blessed in a multitude of ways, for which we are very grateful.

By YVETTE C. HAMMETT The Tampa Tribune > > Published: October 15, 2008> > BRANDON - A candlelight ceremony will illuminate a special garden tonight> at Brandon Regional Hospital, built in honor of the many babies lost before or> shortly after birth.> > The ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Adam's Garden, an extension of> the hospital's perinatal bereavement program that has received worldwide> recognition because, in part, of the keepsake memorial DVDs the nurses create> for grieving families.> > The garden, built with the help of volunteers and a number of local> businesses, features tile images with babies' names listed on them, a> granite bench, plantings and mosaic art.

Thank you Kirsten for taking the time to take the pictures for me. Thank you also to all of you who helped us through this.

I am Grateful for...

Cold cereal and chicken nuggets. No, I am not kidding. Both Ben and I (and Samuel) woke up with a stomach bug of some kind yesterday and consequently spent most of the day on the couch or in bed. Neither one of us was up to doing anything. Thankfully the kids can get their own cereal and Henry can make chicken nuggets. The kids were all very good through this mini ordeal. The worst part however is that it was Stake Conference and Elder Bednar of the 12 was the speaker. Thankfully, I had gone to the Adult session on Saturday night, so at least I got to hear him.

Having Kids Finally Pays Off

3 Kids, 3 Bathrooms...it's a perfect match.

Sadie's Inheritance

This summer I took the kids to UT for 3 weeks. While we were there we spent a couple of days with my mother-in-law "helping" clean out her parent's house. I was very careful to tell the kids not to ask for anything, but couldn't resist when she took a shine to this particular item in the toy boxes.

This is her "wheel purse" she takes it with her almost everywhere. I had a mom tell me at ice skating that when she walked in with it she thought it was bagels on a string....wouldn't that be handy? What are those wheels you might ask? They are from a children's shopping cart.

Henry ice skating

Here are some pictures of Henry ice-skating. He finally decided that he liked it and wants to keep taking them...we'll see.

My Birthday

Yes, I know that it was like a month ago, but I never blogged about it. I felt it really needed pictures to do it justice and I just got around to taking them. These pictures are what Samuel gave me for my birthday. The first are 2 bracelets made out of metallic pipe cleaners. The second was supposed to be a necklace, but the elastic is too short, so it is also a bracelet. The object on the 2nd bracelet is a robot foot off of the free robots you can make at Epcot.

Ben also made me a chocolate raspberry truffle cheesecake...YUM!

Piano Lessons

Yesterday was piano lessons, which are going well I think. The best part is that Henry does his practicing by himself. Samuel, on the other hand likes for me to sit in their with him. Anyway, they each have 3 books, but haven't used all of them yet. Yesterday Samuel opened the teacher's piano bench and saw a book his color that he hadn't been given yet, but he really wanted to use it. The teacher is great and told him that he could trade her one of the books that he hadn't used for this new one. He is very excited and has been given some songs to practice in it. Guess why he wanted the new book?
That's right...those are baseball players on the front (and in pictures throughout the book). I guess the pictures make all the difference when you are 5.

Beautiful Shoes

The other day Sadie and I went to Goodwill to get Henry more pants. You know, Samuel has been wearing the same size for what seems to be years. Henry on the other hand needs new pants every couple of months it seems like. Anyway, as we were about to leave the store I saw this grocery cart full of new summer shoes for girls. Most of them still had their Target tags on them. There was no price, so when I asked I was elated to find out that they were $1 a pair. I went crazy, I even bought some little girl clogs for some of the dozen or so women at church who are pregnant. Anyway, for $1 a pair I let Sadie pick some out for herself (she is very picky about shoes.) These are the ones she picked out that she has been wearing since we got them. They are her beautiful diamond sandals. I think that they are adorable. I'm also glad that even though she is very much a product of two older brothers (she knows Pokemon and Ben 10, but not Strawberry Shortcake or the Disney princesses. She even wears Lightning McQueen pull-ups to bed instead of the princess ones.) that she loves her diamonds.