Has It Really Been A Decade?!

Danny and I have been married for ten years!! How crazy is that? In so many ways, we still feel like the same kids that fell in love and decided to give eternity a shot. But in so many more ways, we feel like we've experienced more than a decade's worth of life together!

I could never have imagined where our life would take us when we were kneeling at the alter ten years ago. All I knew was that I loved Danny more than I had loved anyone before. That he made my heart flutter when he smiled at me, and that I wanted him to be the father of my children. More than anything else, I trusted his devotion to our Heavenly Father. I knew I wanted to be his wife more than I wanted to be anything in the whole world.

Now ten years have passed us by in the blink of an eye. We've welcomed five amazing children into the world. And we held each other as we said goodbye to one incredible son, watching him leave this world behind for bigger and better things. We finished a college degree together, moved our family a handful of times, changed jobs a couple of times, and bought our first home together. We've added two dogs to our family (at different times), got and got rid of a cat (never again!), and grown out of around six cars together. We supported each other in our church service, and have attended the temple together. We've discovered that we're the couple that loves to cook together, hike as a family, and load everything but the kitchen sink in the car for vacations with our kids. 

I could go on and on and on! We feel like we've aged more than a few extra years in the last little bit, but we are so happy with our life. We love each other, and we are loyal to each other. This life we have built together already far exceeds anything we imagined...and we're just getting started! 

So how do you celebrate a love and marriage that is so amazing? Well, last year we had grand plans for an amazing week-long trip with just the two of us. We were thinking Mexico or Hawaii. And then two little pink lines on a dollar store pregnancy test threw those plans right out the window! But we still love you, Joey! ;) That trip will happen someday. But for now, we decided on the next best thing: a massage and food.

On Saturday morning we took the kids over to my Mom's house to spend the day. All the kids! This was the first time I was leaving Joey for more than an hour or so, but it was worth it. We kissed the kids and then made our way to Beyond Spa for an 80-minute couples massage. It's going to have to be an anniversary tradition for sure. Afterwards, we went home (so I could pump) and watched a movie together at home. In the middle of the afternoon! It was like being kids again. :) Then we headed into Salt Lake for dinner at The Roof...which was sooo yummy. After we stuffed ourselves to the brim, we enjoyed walking around Temple Square before headed back to Grandma Candy's to get our kids. They had a blast, and Joey was such a good baby. It was a wonderful anniversary date, and the time together was sorely needed.

Danny and I have learned better than to try to anticipate what life has in store for us. But we are confident that we can face anything together...and more than that, we WANT to face it all. Together. Forever. :)

Happy Birthday, John Boy!

We didn't have any huge plans for Johnny's birthday with it being a school night and all. And of course we would be doing cake and presents with the family on Sunday night. So we kept it low-key. Johnny picked what he wanted for his birthday dinner, and we were all excited! Meatball subs!! Johnny and I baked his cake during the day, and he handled the decorating all by himself. It turned out pretty awesome! While he was going to have to wait until Sunday for most of his presents, he did get to open the gift that Danny and I got him. A big box of Legos! Johnny loved it. :)

On Sunday evening, the family all gathered at our house to celebrate Johnny. When everyone asked what Johnny wanted for his birthday this year, I told them that he wanted more Nerf guns so he could have wars in the backyard. Well, everyone jumped on the Nerf wagon and Johnny got a full arsenal!!

Everyone was dying to get out and shoot those guns! We locked the kids inside just long enough for cake and ice cream before we set them loose. :) 

It was an epic battle! A perfect way to enjoy our last summer evening gathered together as family celebrating our favorite John Boy. Happy Birthday, Buddy!

To My Johnny, On Your Birthday...

Johnny...you're six years old! How did that happen?! I'm pretty sure I told you last year when you turned five to knock it off, but you didn't listen. :)

What a year you've had! Last year, I talked a lot about how you handled losing a brother. And this year you've gained a brother! What a blessing Joey has been in your life...from the time he was just a little embryo growing within me to today. One of the hardest parts of losing Luke for you was not having someone to take care of. You are so nurturing to those smaller than you, and Luke left a void. Once you found out I was pregnant, you channeled all that nurturing spirit into taking care of me! You loved our afternoon snuggles, where I would nap and you'd cuddle next to me. You asked me multiple times a day, when I was struggling with morning sickness, if my tummy hurt. You'd ask if you could get me something. You'd feel bad for me when I threw up. When your Dad and I found out we were having another boy, you were beyond thrilled! The minute we told you we were considering the name "Joseph" and we'd call him "Joey", that was the end of it for you. Baby Joey it was! We could have named him "Peter", and you'd still call him Joey. :) You would say goodnight to my tummy every night, and you even decided to stay home from Megan's wedding so that you'd be able to spend the most time with Joey in the hospital. And you insisted on being the first one to hold your baby brother. Since Joey joined our family, you don't feel so lonely as the "only boy". You are anxious to teach Joey how to play with you, and you always want to help take care of him. You ask me every day if you can hold your "Poseph"...a nickname you started by calling him "Joseph Woseph Poseph". You are such an amazing big brother, and Joey looks at you with such awe, wonder, and love. I'm so excited to see you two grow together.

While you are a fantastic big brother...you excel at being a pest of a little brother. :) You love your sisters, and you miss them so much when they're gone at school. But boy, do you aggravate them! You and Sophie especially. Dad and I say that the two of you are like fire and ice. You are either totally copacetic, or at each other's throats. I have prayed and prayed that the Lord would send you some friends to play with. And then little Livi moved next door, and she was brave enough to go to both our house and Adri's house and just knock on the door! Now the three of you play together every chance you get, and we hope the fence can hold up to all the back and forth! I love it though, and it makes me so happy to see you playing with kids your age. I dare say it's made you a happier boy too.

This was your last year in preschool, and in fact you started kindergarten yesterday! You've been so excited to start school. Since January, we've been reading the Book of Mormon as a family every day. And since then your reading as sky rocketed!! It's been amazing to watch, and you just love your turn to read. You've become rather inquisitive as to why things are the way they are, and it's becoming evident that you have an engineer's mind...just like your Daddy. Kindergarten is going to be a breeze for you! You're the oldest, tallest, biggest kid...but your Dad and I hope that while a lot of the subject matter will be too easy for you, you'll take the opportunity to grow socially and build a solid foundation in Spanish.

So back to your Book of Mormon reading...you absolutely love the stories in the Book of Mormon! You've taken to listening to the stories on your Kindle and I'm always amazed at the details you remember. When we're reading as a family, you'll often exclaim "OH! I know this one!" and proceed to tell us all about what's happening. I love it! You enjoy Primary, and I know you're among the most reverent kids. You bore your testimony in Sacrament Meeting a month ago, and it brought tears to my eyes to hear you talk about your knowledge of eternal families. To listen to your testimony and understand your speech so well was such a tender experience. You have such a mighty spirit, John. I know the Lord is preparing you for great things.

You continue to grow in your athletic abilities. We have yet to get you on a team sport, but we're anxious to do it. You love to play, and you are very competitive! But you don't really have sportsmanship going for you yet. :) You've discovered "America Ninja Warrior", and now everything around you is a potential obstacle. :) You love football, and can't wait for the season to start. I look forward to watching you and your Dad bond over football.

We love you so much, John! You are a delightful boy (most of the time). You are so funny, and you can be so caring and tender. You can also be the most pig-headed, obstinate, frustrating child I have ever known! But we're still optimistic you'll grow out of that. :) Happy Birthday, Johnny!! 

Love, 

Mom

Johnny's Birthday Photo Shoot

Johnny and I had some time together on the morning of his birthday since he didn't have school, so we decided to do a little birthday photo shoot! I just love this six year old and all his craziness! And darn it all, he's one handsome boy! Love you, Johnny!

Back to School...And Finally Starting Kindergarten!

I guess it had to happen...

Summer is over, and school has begun!! As ready as I was for the kids to start school this year and re-establish a routine for our life, it's always sad to see the summer go. And it's always a little heart-wrenching for me to see how much my children have grown and changed over the year. This year, Claire is in fourth grade, Sophie is in second grade, and Johnny is starting kindergarten!! At long last! That poor boy has waited and waited.

All three kids are still in the Spanish Immersion program, and Sophie ended up with Claire's second grade teachers, and Johnny has Sophie's kinder teacher. I loved all of them, so we're very happy about that! And we have heard nothing but the most wonderful things about Claire's teachers, so we are looking forward to everyone having a great year.

The first day of school is a little different for the kindergarteners. I got to go to class with Johnny so he could meet Mrs. Fleming and see his classroom. After a little bit of an introduction by Mrs. Fleming, the kinders got to play outside while the parents got all the info we'll need for the school year. Then the kids got to go home with the parents, and save for a quick kindergarten assessment sometime over the following three days, don't return for their real first day of school until the next week. Johnny was so excited about his new classroom, but was not excited about leaving Joey! He wanted Joey to come to kindergarten with him. :)

Monday the 29th was Johnny's real first day of kindergarten. It was so crazy to drop the three kids off at the corner together and watch them walk away to school. Sophie had strict instructions to stick with Johnny and make sure he got lined up in the right place before she left for her class, and she did a great job. Johnny asked if Joseph and I would walk to pick him up, and so we did. Johnny said he had a fantastic day of school!

But he missed Joey...that was the only bummer part of kindergarten, he said. :) So I let him push Joey home. And it gave me the opportunity to get a pic of his wicked awesome back pack! :)

Here's to another fantastic year of school!!