Lydia's 2nd Birthday!

So our littlest lady has turned 2! She has been making sure that we know it as well! The day of she threw a huge fit at Tori's kindergarten orientation, and been sure to crush crackers into the carpet, dump out water all over Gabe's homework, and shred lettuce leaves I needed for dinner. Maybe that's just her too.

We threw a BBQ and invited friends and family. That was fun to do after 5 years of not being able to! With about 45 people, we had a great time. Even Lydia didn't want to open her gifts, she was enjoying everyone so much. We really appreciated everyone coming, even from great distances! It was a lot of fun!

I got a haircut

At the Real Game! Who is that cute man I hooked up with? My stylist. J/K

As I was driving from the salon, and looking at the road of course.

Yep. I cut my hair. Actually, I hired someone. And it was a cool experience. My friend Kiersten Dewey, who is so awesome!, took the kids so I could go do that. She's so cool. It's shorter and quicker, and I like it. I did want it a little longer, but hair grows thank goodness!

ReAl Salt Lake Game!

Our crew. I grabbed a guy with a kid to take it. He was nice to get us all in!

Gabe took this!

She only smiles for dad in pictures. She had fun!

Kansas' goalie Hartman.

This is, wait, this is Tori's soccer team! Go Mandarins.

We were front row! Awesome! Like I said, Aunt Sarah rocks!

Tori with her friend Courtney

Gabe and Dad having fun!

Sarah and Coby Jones with their sons

Leo the Lion came and said hello!

Last night we were able to go to our first soccer game played by the pros at the Real Salt Lake Center just a few miles from us. All I can say is that Aunt Sarah rocks! (she hooked us up with the awesome seats) That was fun! It was completely packed and our kids loved it. We also had dinner with some friends we made from Gabe's t-ball league named the Jones'. We all had fun, and after an hour, decided the wrestling match with the kids had been a good one, so we came home.

Thanks for a great time Sarahs and we should do that again! Go Real!

On Mother's Day

My brother Nate
Rob's wife Jen

My sister Sarah and James

My sister Emily and Cory and baby Ella

My brother Rob

My sister Becky, Aarol, their daughter Grace, and son Max

My mom! and dad!

My sister Racheal and daughter Leah

My handsome honey and 3 reasons I love being a mom!

Mother's day barbecue at my brother Rob's house.

We also got to enjoy a fabulous dinner on Mother's Day at my brother Rob's house in Benjamin. Speaking of Benjamin, we also got to speak to him on his mission and he is in Manchester, New Hampshire right now! I was so close to him once upon last year. I am the only sister not pregnant and not to have had a child within the last 2 months. Maybe next year!

Mother's Day 2009

The clan!

Love those cute cousins!

My crew (it stunk in this room! as shown by Tori)

Lovely Mindy and Abby!

Lydia's favorite: Isaac as he lifts her up to see monkeys (so cute!)

This giraffe was so close!

Me and the girls on the carousel. Thanks Mindy!

The man of my dreams.

My flowers.

I loved Mother's Day this year! Shaun is so awesome to make it special. He always does. On Thursday I came home to flowers, cute pictures from each kiddo, and a yummy chocolate cream pie! Oh so delicious! We celebrated from Thurs-Sun., so I felt extra special.

We also went to the zoo with Justin and Mindy Hill and their cute kiddos the Saturday before. We hadn't been to the Hogle Zoo for several years, so that was fun! We all wore t-shirts that got us free icecream treats, a craft for mom, and a massage, that was booked out before we had a chance to check it out. Oh well, Shaun covered that when we got home! Thanks sweetheart!

Lots of visits!

So far this April, we are loving having a home to have lots of visitors! From Maine, we got our great friend Jamie Harris who came and said a quick hello as she passed through!

From Wyoming we had Kris and Celeste Cluff and their sons Jaxon and Shaun. We love Shaun's sister and her husband and sons and totally welcomed them into our home. The only sad part is that they had to leave. We loved having them here. The kids checked on them every morning.
And we also enjoyed some aunts showing off their sweet new babies! Becky with her new little Max and Emily with Ella. We loved having them at our home! It's great to be close again!

Valentine Knight

For Valentine's we got to sign on our house and get the paperwork all done. I was stressed from the kids, even though they are good. I just had so much on my mind and to do! As soon I got done downloading to Shaun, I looked around the room we were in at the title company, and saw this huge bouquet of flowers! I just thought they looked pretty, until I saw my name on the card! And a box of chocolate covered strawberries just for me!

Shaun got some serious brownie points for this! Wow, what a great surprise. And everyone in the room just kept commenting and smelling them! Great job honey!

The kids and I also made some sugar cookies which we consumed rapidly. They were delish. This was a wonderful Valentine's though. Shaun is so great at making each one special! I sure think he's so hot and wonderful!

We Got The House

Yes, we finally got the official contract on this house we had made an offer on about a month ago. It is banked owned, so we were lucky we got the bid and heard back in a shorter time.

Victoria Florence

At the Portland Head Light in June 2008.

Our first week exploring our neighborhood in Maine.

Her 5th birthday party with a gorgeous cake and dress with crown!

With Gabe at the temple lights.

Our oldest daughter, Victoria Florence, just turned 5. She is such a sparkly one for us. She loves dancing and singing, playing games and winning against me, eating yummy foods, and helping out with her younger sister. We just love having her as our daughter!

Most of the time now, she is always holding Gabe's hand telling him he is her best friend. She also has such a tender heart and admits when she does something wrong to me, because "Mom, it is hard to be a good kid all the time". I think I am too hard on her. She is such a help to me and I can explain things and where they go to her really easily. She gets that.

Tori, as we call her, has a special place in her heart for the gospel. She tears up watching "The Testaments" because people get healed by Christ. I told her about going to the temple and that they play music inside. Last weekend we got to go, (Shaun and I), and I told her I heard "I love to see the Temple". She was so excited! "Mom, can't I go now?". Then she said, "I am going to go on a mission, just so I can go to the temple. I don't want to get married and leave you guys." She loves things like that.

I love my little Tori. I love that she loves pink, ponies, princesses, and playing. She is just so funny and sassy, it is great fun to have her. I hope I show that to her enough. She deserves the best in this life, as all my kids do. I just am so happy to be her mother.

Our Move

On our way through the Rockies. There is the moving truck.

Shaun and Andy(on left).

Our cabin.

We were so excited to get to Utah after 5 days of 14 hour driving. We had snowstorms on our tail, and we tried to dodge them (it was snowing all day the day we moved and the day we loaded up). We felt like we did a good job starting out, but the largest snowstorms were just ahead and we caught one after a minor mishap early one day. On the freeway we ended up doing about 25 MPH. It was awful! It felt like no progress.

Towards the middle, I was feeling so worn out and tired of driving, so it was great to see Andy and Sara Griner in Kansas to break up the routine. We hadn't seen them in years, so it was more fun than we had time for. We tried to get some sleep, and did with their great accommadations! Thanks Andy and Sara and family.

The last day was quite a day knowing we planned on getting there, but also getting to Shaun's parents (the final resting until we get a house), at 11:30 PM. It was excruciating for me! I was so tired at 7 PM. But once we got out of the Spanish Fork Canyon, I saw light... literally. It was great to see cities again.

The next day we still had to unload and get somewhat settled, but I am so glad for the holidays and more especially for family that makes it so special!

What's Going On-

Wow, this is what I looked like on the last day of driving. Fabulous. I think I'll go throw up.
We got to spend the night with Andy and Sara Griner in Kansas! That was such a highlight. It made the trip more tolerable and broke up the redundency.
Here is a last look at the road in Maine on which we lived. Miss you!