The Miracle Pageant

 Really bad pictures...
But this is the greatest view when driving in to Manti.
One of my favorite places on earth.

We decided to take the 4 youngest over to see the Miracle Pageant
Thursday night.
Hayden and Hyrum have been staying with my mom and dad,
and the other kids have decided they have lives outside of us...
darn them! (ha)
It was a wonderful night and they seemed to enjoy it.
Especially when Moroni stood on top of the temple!
That was Nate's favorite part at least!!!

Emmett's Newborn Pictures

 I wanted to share Emmett's newborn pictures!
This little boy is so beautiful and sweet.
I cuddled with him last night and counted my blessings
knowing that we have the privilege of watching our children
raise the next generation,
and what a great job they are doing!
There is nothing more heavenly than a newborn snuggled in your arms,
and I am grateful every single day
that my children find the same joy in babies that I do.
That they cherish life...
and are willing to sacrifice to give life to these precious gifts!

Emmett George... We love you!!!

 

Mining Expo

 

 Things were busy the first week in June...
Beside graduation,
We did our very first mining expo.
We all wanted it to go well and we spent a bit of time
preparing and setting up.
Jan came out from Utah to help us get the booth set up,
and it really turned out great.


This year was a lot different than most years
since school wasn't out yet and graduation was Friday afternoon,
But Thayne was able to get some good contacts
and next year we will be pros at setting up and tearing down!

And.... just because he is so adorable to me, and because he LOVES coming to the shop,
I had to add a couple of pictures of my baby boy.
I love him!!!

Emmett is here!!!

 

We are very, very excited to announce the birth of

our beautiful new grandson...

Emmett George!!!

He was born on Saturday, June 22nd at 5:17pm

weighing in at 8lbs 6oz and 20.5 inches long.

With a head full of blond hair!!!

 

He is perfect!!!

Tiffany's midwife gave her a little jump start and it wasn't long

before we knew that this would be the day.

Tiffany is one tough girl and as usual I am amazed by her strength!

Yes!  She does it all natural!!!

 

His name is pretty awesome too.

We started doing family history and found the name Emmett.

When Garrett and Tiffany saw the name they loved it.

George...

Well, George is a family name also.

Thayne always wanted to name one of our boys George.

I always said no.

Garrett decided that he was going to use it for his son instead.

I think Thayne will probably always call this little man George.

Garrett will probably drive him crazy saying,

"I will call him George, I will love him, and pet him and squeeze him..."

(From the old Bugs Bunny cartoon!!!)

 

 

Yesterday I stopped to count my blessings...

my heart was so full of love for Tiffany,

and her willingness and joy in giving birth to these children.

I see my son, as a father,

who finds joy in his family.

I feel so grateful that another beautiful spirit joined our family.

That he is healthy, and that the delivery went well.

 

I spent time counting my blessings...

each and every one of them.

 

Welcome to the world Emmett...

You are loved, and wanted, and will be cherished every day of your life!

 

I love this picture...
but I suppose you had to be there...
The nurse turned him on the side and he rolled into the side of the bassinet,
threw his arm over it, and those big, full lips were pressed against the glass
and he instantly stopped crying! 
I tried to get a picture of his face before the nurse picked him up but I missed it!
 

Garrett and his three sons moments after their births.
In the red shirt he is holding Isaac, white shirt is Gabe and blue shirt is Emmett!

Preschool graduation

 Sometimes it is hard to believe how far this little man has come.
Sometimes I think about those long, terrifying nights in the hospital,

wondering if we would miss out on all of the little things in his life.

Or some of the not so little things!
Like Preschool graduation.

 

Kailee got to be one of his preschool teachers this year.

That was one of the greatest parts of his whole year.

That and he was right next door to where we work so he often got to run next door

after he got out of school and hang out at the office for a while.

 

I still look at this little boy in complete amazement.

I still remember the simple question I had in my heart while we flew to Salt Lake,

watching him fight for his life.

Would he have the chance to experience life here and now?

Would he grow up, go to school?

Would he overcome the health issues that seemed to over take him in an instant?

Would he live?

Would I get to send him off to kindergarten?

How would I feel to send him off to kindergarten???

 

I did not go with Thayne when he registered Nathaniel for kindergarten.

I sent him alone... to fill out the paperwork
(and let's admit it... I have filled out paper work for 14 other children,

year after year, so I really didn't even feel bad!!!)

I just couldn't face it... not yet!

I know I will be fine when he goes next year,

it's just the thought of it right this moment!

Ms. Kailee and Ms. Kim were fantastic with the kids.

Kailee has loved doing this, and loved having her brother in her class.

I cannot believe how quickly the months have flown by...

watching him grow up so quickly!!!

 

It was fun to be there with so many of his brothers and sisters

to celebrate with him.

It's so bittersweet. 

I wish I could freeze time and slow down these amazing moments!!!

 

 

Way to go Buddie.  We love you so much tater bugs!!!

 

Graduation 2013

Kinzee did it!!!
She set a goal to graduate a year early..
And she did it!

She has such big plans and if this is any indication
of how she will work on those dreams,
I know she will do really great things!!!

 

I am so proud of her, and how hard she worked.
I love this girl so much.
Sometimes I feel like we are battling wills because
she is so determined and so head strong about growing up

so fast!

But then, she always has been older than her years!

As her mom,  I guess the only thing I can really do

is what I have always tried to do...

teach her what we believe,

give her the knowledge that she is loved,

and that she has the ability to do anything she sets her mind to do,

and then stand back and give her wings...

Knowing she is cherished,

and that she always has a home!

 

 

Way to go Kinzee and Checotah!!!

We had their graduation party together.

Because we have been so blessed to have friends

that are more like family,

and these two girls are amazing!!!

Congrats girls!

We know you are going to fly!!!!

 

 

 

 



living in the twilight zone

It seems many people live in a parallel universe,

 and their alternative reality sometimes seems to clash with real life.

Who knows....

 Maybe we all do.

 Maybe that's why we need to be gentle in our judgment.

I would hope they aren't KNOWINGLY being dishonest

in how they represent

 another's character and reputation.

 

I have wondered about this lately.

Do any of us really see ourselves as we are?

Do we lie so often that we start believing the lies we tell?

Are we harder, or more gentle, judging ourselves than we are with others?

Do we want others to protect our 'truths'

yet lie to make us feel better about the situation?

 

I wonder why we demand more from others

than we do from ourselves.

Why would a person expect you to not say anything about a situation,

yet turn around and lie

to make themselves look, and feel better?

Why would a person tell lies about someone who helped them,

cared for them, and trusted in them, and treated them as a friend?

 

I guess I never really understood that kind of behavior.

I suppose I never will.