More fun in Kansas with our Cousins!

This is such a cute picture of Lydia and my Dad snuggling....aaaaawwwwwwhhhhh!

Then, Sydney was being a big girl in the bathroom and Lydia followed her...all of a sudden Heidi heard Sydney saying, "No, no, Yydia" (it's so cute how she says her name!) And.....here's the mess. We're pretty sure Lydia did it all...that's my Lydi!

Charlie and Daxton (3 yrs. old--Ben & Kara's twins) found a toad and Aunt Anita was brave enough to pick it up (yuck!) and the kids had a GREAT time...except for Sydney! This picture of her says it all! :)

The last picture is of ALL the cousins (that were there...we missed the rest of LaDawn's kids!) with Grandpa and Grandma. I'll try to tell you who is who, starting at the top left:

Top row---Sadie, Trieste, Colette & Lili (Dan's), Liam (Anita holding Marley)
On Couch---Harper, Charlie (Ben's) Grandpa holding Ethan--who was VERY fascinated with Grandpa and wouldn't look at the camera! (LaDawn's) Grandma holding Brooklyn (Heidi's) Daxton (Ben's)
Floor---Gracie (Anita's), Briggs, Ella (Dan's), Sydney (Heidi's) & Lydia

Who knew Kansas could be this fun?

So, since everyone was together, we truly had a blast---amidst the tears and worries. But I think one of the things that our family does best is pull together with lots of love and comic relief. Mom appreciated that (except for the times we made her laugh so hard that her stitches hurt!) and said she wouldn't have it any other way (really...a house full of LOTS of family when you're trying to recuperate! :)

 

Anyway...here are a lot of FUN photos of our time there.  Dad got a riding lawn mower and Sadie & Liam were in HEAVEN because they got to DRIVE! AUGHHH!  The little boys had so much fun chasing after it That's Briggs, Charlie & Daxton (Ben & Kara's Twins) and then the photo with Chuck in it also has Harper, their darling little girl.  Lydia loved playing with her (and stealing her cup, and tormenting her:) and yesterday she was going through the house looking in every room saying, "Harper....Harper????" It was so cute! 

 

There's also a cute picture of all of them in the tub. Mom's tub will never be the same!

Thanks for your prayers for my Mom

As many of you know, my mom had a hysterectomy last Friday and was also diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer.  It's Stage 1, so we're very thankful for that and very prayerful and faithful that the chemotherapy will work and that she'll be with us for many more years.  I want to thank everyone for their love and prayers.  I've had calls & e-mails from Texas, Stillwater, Utah, Kansas, Nevada etc....and they were all so sweet.  You truly are strengthening us and we feel your love and prayers. 

 

We obviously went to Kansas to see Mom as soon as we heard the news----and so did the rest of the family!  We had a "mini" reunion with 16 of the 20 grandkids there (poor mom!) and every sibling but Dan was able to make it. He's in Iraq but since he's and OBGYN and this is his area of expertise they have given him a few weeks to come home! Yahoo!  So, he's actually here and will go to see Mom this week.  Mom joked around that she had to get cancer to have everyone come see her!  NOT TRUE!  But like I said before, she's doing well.  Thanks for your love!

ZOO TIME!

We had a fun day at the Zoo with Brigham's preschool...he's Mr. Photogenic! He posed for every photo including some really cute ones with the girls in his class. He's quite the charmer and one of the mom's jokingly asked if we could have an arranged marriage between Briggs and her cute Gracie!  Gracie's best friend, Libby, is also after him.  Libby's Dad works with Chuck and he came to work one day and said, "I'm mad at Briggs! Libby told me last night that I am no longer her Prince Charming....Briggs is!"  Hee, hee! The other little boy in the photos is Oden, Brigham's best buddy. (And Lydia's there too, of course!) 

Our favorite young singer!!

Sadie performed a solo at her school's talent show a few weeks ago. We were so proud of her. The song was written for children suffering from cancer but the message is profound for all of us who are striving to make the most of a sometimes challenging life. We hope you'll enjoy her performance as much as we did. What a blessing to have such a talented daughter.

We love you Sadie!

Happy May Day!

Ok, so I'm a few days late posting this blog because May Day is May 1st---oh well! 

 

When I was growing up my mom always had us make May Day Baskets and deliver them, filled with flowers from our yard (and a few from our neighbors!) to our friends. I especially remember picking the lilacs from our backyard---their smell is still one of my favorites---so much so that we included lilacs from that very lilac tree in my wedding bouquet.  Mom and I picked them together (I think Dan even helped!) on the morning of our wedding day and made a bouquet filled with love and memories. I get so many comments on that bouquet because it's so unique and beautiful!  It's funny the things that make us tear up and smile when we think of those simple little traditions and expressions of love that our Mom's did for us growing up.  

 

Every May 1st I remember making May Day baskets and this year I finally decided to do it myself!  We made one for each of the kids and they got to choose who to give it to....Liam couldn't think of who to share it with and so I suggested....ME! :)  I've just always wanted my own May Day Basket!!!

 

I love this time of year...flowers are one of my favorite things and a true expression of love...the simplicity of the gift, their heavenly fragrance, but also the awe of their beauty and God's creations all remind me of love! I also love this time of year because May Day, our anniversary, Mother's Day & Chuck's birthday are all within a 2 week time frame.  I've always felt a little "cheated" because it's all so close together (and sometimes our anniversary is ON Mother's Day!) but I realized today that all the things that mean the most to me and are my "treasures & blessings" are celebrated in that 2 week span so from now on, these 2 weeks are going to be my favorite 2 weeks of the year!!! HAPPY ME! :):):)