Oh how I need this...

For some reason, the past couple of days have been hard. I have been sad and frustrated and a little on the hopeless side. I have watched this probably a dozen times. Each time it has brought tears to my eyes and peace to my heart. I am glad to know that even though my heart is aching that it WILL get better. I really needed that...REALLY!! I am working hard to have faith in the promise of good things to come. We are very blessed and certainly don't want to sound ungrateful but I am looking forward to some of those GOOD THINGS!!

Hogle Zoo...

One of Noah's field trips this year was to Hogle Zoo. He was beyond excited. They needed adult chaperones and I asked Noah if I could come. Normally Noah is less than thrilled when I show up to help with anything. He won't even let us come in to Primary when he gives his talks. We have to stand in the hall and listen. I am not sure but I think we make him nervous. I was fully prepared for him to tell me I couldn't come but he didn't. He said it would be fine! I was shocked but didn't argue since I really wanted to go. Me and one other mother were in charge of three rowdy little boys. We really had such a good time. The only thing that I didn't enjoy was the bus ride. The boys wanted to sit all the way in the back which was fine except that our seats were right over the wheels. This makes for one very HOT rear end by the end of your one hour ride. BOTH WAYS!! The zoo was a lot of fun. My favorite was the giraffe house and Noah loved the gorillas. It was fun to see Noah with his friends. He is such a sweet boy and I am so glad he let me spend the day with him. Thanks to my littlest sister for coming all the way to Wyoming to watch my other three wild kids. She is just about the best babysitter. She does laundry and makes dinner...all for free!! I should probably just have her move in. My kids listen to her better anyway!

Finley's picture...

After we delivered Finley, the hospital sent us home with lots of sweet things to remember her by. They took molds of her hands and feet and dressed her in a tiny gown and booties and wrapped her in beautiful blankets. They had a gold ring that they put on her arm along with a teddy bear that she held. They took pictures of our sweetheart and sent all of it home in a little box. You should never have to look in a box to remember your child. It just isn't right. I was determined to put it all into a shadow box that we could hang on our wall. Here is what I came up with. Thank you to my sister, Ashley for helping me. I am by far not the most talented or creative person but I did it all with more love than you will ever know. I wish like anything that I could change things and have her in our arms but at least her picture is on the wall with her brothers and sister. That is where she belongs because she will always be a part of our forever family!!!

The bump...

Whenever we go to my parent's house, we make sure to take the big hill. There are quite a few bumps that will tickle your tummy. Asher loves it! Since Nate always drives he never sees Asher's reaction to them. I took this video on Nate's ipod. Asher was so tired and ready to sleep but he still enjoyed his ride!

While the other kids sleep...

After we put the big kids to bed we usually come out and watch TV and I hold Asher while he goes to sleep...it is bad...I know. Most nights he goes right to sleep but some nights he is on one and goes crazy. I think he likes having all the attention and no one to compete with. He grabbed Noah's winter hat and a punching balloon and went nuts! He kills me sometimes!! Love this kid...seriously...A LOT!!

Why I love Glee...

I love Glee...A LOT!! I made Nate download the music for me. I like to clean to it. Asher likes to dance to it. His dancing makes me like Glee even more!

Getting their awards...

Here is a video of the kids getting their medals after gymnastics. They were supposed to pose after they got their medal and Talia was much to excited to do it but Aidan was actually listening and following directions! They are such fun kids!

The only medal they may ever earn...

The kids got a medal and certificate at their last gymnastics class. They were beyond thrilled and so proud of themselves. I think they are pretty darn cute! Aidan still likes to wear his to the grocery store sometimes!

Gymnastics...

Aidan and Talia took a gymnastics class at the rec center thanks to Grandma and Grandpa with the puppy. We enrolled them in the last of four sessions because it was the only one that Aidan was old enough for. They had so much fun. I don't think the Olympics are in our future...Special Olympics are a maybe. Lets just say that they have a very limited attention span and a little bit of hearing trouble! All in all, they had the BEST time. Aidan LOVED the trampoline...or jumpoline as he calls it. Talia really liked the balance beam and she actually got better as the class went on. They got to do the uneven bars and the still rings. They worked on cartwheels and somersaults. They both do a pretty great somersault if I do say so myself. It was worth every dime and I am glad they got to do something fun.