Happy Valentine's Day!

We didn't get prepared early enough to perform our family Valentine tradition...but at least we got to make the treats together. We did go out later to deliver the treats...a day late. Oh well! Here's a few pictures of the fun making cookies together:

Michael really enjoyed his Valentine cookie!

The handsome Daddy (he's such a great helper!)

Adam after helping with the cookies. Thank heavens for washing machines!

Our happy little family. Here's wishing you a Happy Valentine's Day!

On a funny-totally-unrelated- note: Adam just found one of Michael's birthday presents and has been walking about the house petting it and talking about how great it is. Sorry, kiddo, it's not for you. He was bummed. Guess who'll be a good sharer?

A Few Feelings...In Pictures

The past few days have been wonderful weather--it has seriously been about 60 for 2 days! This is how Michael feels about opening the back door and feeling the breeze and sun:

(When did my baby grow so big? He's such a cutie!)

This is how Adam feels about having his haircut:

And this is how he feels after we've promised a fruit pop after the haircut...maybe it's not so bad:

Michael expresses beautifully our feelings about being away from family:

We're all happy that hopefully we won't be seeing this until next winter:

We're all sad we don't get to see family often, but hopefully these pictures will help ease the distance a little. More to come soon!

This makes me Grateful

The past week has been, well, awful. Last Monday night, Adam started moaning, whining, and crying. Then he started throwing up. That lasted until Wednesday morning. Then, he got the runs. Thursday morning I went in to get Michael to discover he had thrown up in bed. That lasted until Friday night. Then he followed the same pattern as Adam. Brian and I have both been targets multiple times and let me say, our boys have great aim! Brian got sick Friday. Mom got sick Saturday night. We were thinking today was getting back to normal. Mom made yummy soup. She was rocking Michael to sleep when he started swallowing hard. I have never seen so much come out of such a little boy. And he didn't eat well today, he's been really grumpy. Babies should not have to throw up. I'm guessing the runs will continue a while longer. I'm grateful we have such a great washer and dryer--they have sure been used a lot this past week.

This week has definitely made me grateful that my kids are usually healthy. And mostly well-behaved. This week has been the pits. I guess we're house-bound for another four days...as long as there's no more throwing up. I'm also grateful that I got sick on the weekend, so Brian could take care of the kids and I wouldn't have to worry. Oh, the joys of family!

Bah! Catch up time...

It's been a while...sorry. Here's a few pictures and a funny story:

The trip to Oregon for my aunt's funeral was great. It was wonderful to see all of my dad's family that I haven't seen for a long time. While it was heart-wrenching to see her husband and her children grieve, the service was peaceful and there was an underlying sense of peace and understanding. What a great perspective we gain from the Gospel. Below is a picture of the view from Aunt Vallace's grave--it was so beautiful, looking out at the ocean and hearing the seals.

We also were able to go and visit my grandparent's grave in Lincoln City, OR. We had not been back to see the headstone, so it was a neat opportunity. My grandparents passed away together in an accident on 2004. They died of carbon monoxide poisoning in their home, as did their dog, Annie, and she is buried in the same plot.

This is how excited Michael was to decorate the tree before Christmas.

And the day after Thanksgiving, the Christmas Elf stopped by and left some Christmas jammies for the boys. How nice!

We went with some friends in our ward, Rocky and Anne, to the Santa Train and Christmas parade. We had a lot of fun! We even got to see the Judds. Neato. Adam was enraptured with the fire engines--he just doesn't like the sirens. :)

Now for a quick funny story. We were driving to Scouts on Wednesday night and we were talking about the soup I made for dinner. Adam was asking what was in it and so I was going over the ingredients. "What's in the soup Mom?"

Mom: "Well, there are tomatoes, onions, celery, carrots, broth, milk, cheese...and basil and oregano, Honey."

Adam: "Is there pooh in the soup?"

Mom: (Stifling a laugh) "No, Honey, there's no pooh in the soup."

Seriously? Did my child just ask me that? Last week were driving down town and Adam says, "We're going to see Christmas lights."

Mom: "Adam, Christmas is over and so most people have taken their lights down. I don't think we'll see Christmas lights."

Adam: "Jesus is getting born....did you know that?"

That's my boy!

A Great Woman

Today was a rough day. Michael was up a few times last night, thus so was I. The boys were into mischief most of the day. And I found out that my aunt passed away this morning. It came as a complete shock to everyone. I'm torn in how to feel: part of me feels so happy for her--she's a good woman and led a righteous life; she knew how to get where she'll be going and did everything she needed to do. Yet I feel such grief and sadness for her sweet husband, her loving siblings and her wonderful children and grandchildren.

Talking to my mom tonight, it was fun to wonder whom might have been there to greet Aunt Vallace. Perhaps it was Great-Grandpa Orval. He's had such a powerful hand in this family, on both sides of the veil. I look at our family line and I know there are some not-so-great things, like all families have, but there are truly wonderful people--good people--running rampant in our line. I believe it was Orval that ran off with his sweet young bride, causing his father to chase after him in his wagon, but was too late. And yet, a good man, a good family, a testimony of the Gospel. It's a good family.

I am sad that Aunt Vallace has passed, but excited that I'll be with my family again, if only for a short while. I wish that my family (extended) got together for more than just weddings and funerals. I know it's hard now that most of us are spread throughout the country. I'm sure it will be hard, under the circumstances, but I'm happy I'll get to see my cousins and aunts and uncles.