Our One Good Snow Storm

What a bummer of a winter!!!!! 

We maybe got one good play-in-the-snow storm this year. The rest were advertised by the weather men to be 'the storm of the year' only to produce a light dusting that only lasted a day or two. We sure did get the cold, but without the snow, it's just no fun! 

One night in February, we were preparing for a big snow storm to come in. When the giant flakes started falling, Owen was SOOO excited. He had to go outside and 'taste' the snow. 

The next day did not disappoint. We had enough snow to actually shovel and the kids got hours of play time building snow men and making jumps for their sleds. I only got this one shot of my bundled up beauties...

Until next year, Old Man Winter. Remember, you had your chance and you let us down. No unexpected surprises this Spring!

Elder Green

 We are so incredibly lucky to live so close to family. Right next door to us lives my aunt and uncle and their six kids. My aunt Karrie is more like a sister to me, and I feel more like an aunt to her kids. The youngest three of her bunch happen to fall right in line with my first three, and they are the best of pals.

In late January, the oldest of her kids, Andrew, left on his mission to Helsinki, Finland. I used to babysit this guy when I was 12 and he would come to all my cross-country races and cheer me on. He was even the 'greeter' at my wedding with his now 17 yr old brother CJ, in their little bow ties. 

I cannot believe he is old enough to serve a mission now! 

Time flies....

I snapped a few pictures at his farewell luncheon. Here is Andy (Elder Green) with his girlfriend Katie. We love Katie and hope she becomes part of the family someday.....

 

Owen has a knack for making best friends for life. Kaden lives in Southern Utah, but whenever we see him, he and Owen pick up right where they left off...Kaden (16) is good sport to 'hang out' with his four year old cousin!

 

Of course, we had to have a shot of Reese and Bailey. 

Joined at the hip cousins! (and neighbors!)

 

Elder Green, live it up while you can!! 

This is a photo of my grandma and her three daughters. 

On the left is my aunt Karrie (next door neighbor), my mom, my aunt Kim and my grandma. 

Love these ladies!

Owen and his great-grandma. 

He loves this lady so incredibly much! 

I was trying to capture them in their little conversation...

Andy is now in the MTC and working hard to learn the Finnish language. He departs for Finland mid-April. We are so proud of you Elder Green!!

Reese's Baptism

To kick off 2012, we had a special event in our family! 

Reese Olivia MacArthur was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Saturday January 7, 2012. She was baptized and confirmed by her daddy, it was such a special day for her!

 When we woke up that morning, we had a blanket of snow on the ground. I told her it was for her, because today she becomes 'pure and white as the snow'. It was one of only a few snow storms we had this winter...

The actual baptism and confirmation were held at our church, we didn't take pictures during this event due to the sacredness of it.

 Reese was the only baptism from our ward, so we had control of the program. Reese's older brother and sister gave the opening and closing prayers, I gave a talk on baptism followed by a special letter read to Reese sent to her from her grandparents in Chile. It was a special surprise for her! Then all the cousins sang a special musical number, and Reese's grandma Chris gave a talk on the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

The front cover of the program

Inside the program. Reese's aunt Lindi did a great job designing this!

What a special event it was, just with our extended family. I couldn't have asked for a better day to be surrounded by our loved ones.  

After the baptism and confirmation at the church, we came back to our house for a brunch with our extended family.

There was lots of good food and lots of great company.

Where's Owen?

Caught mid-chew!

 

One thing this family is NOT short on, is COUSINS. They were found in every corner of the house.

Ally, Dani, Rhyan and Bailey. I LOVE living next door to cousins!!! 

Jake, Sam, Cooper and Brayden

More cousins! Reese was beaming the entire day!

Reese, Reagan and Claire: BCF- Best Cousins Forever

I am so proud of my little girl for making this choice! She will be blessed throughout her life because of the promises and covenants made on this special day...

Being of Good Cheer

If it seems like I've dropped off the face of the Earth....well....I have. I feel like I am in the twilight zone living an entirely different life. I don't feel like me anymore. I have this other, alter ego: One that stays up all night taking care of sick people while the rest of the world sleeps. One that starts her day at 5:00pm and ends it the next morning at 8:00am. One who is working around 50 hours a week. One is who constantly tired and stumbling around even on her days off.

Yes, I am tired, my feet hurt, my brain doesn't work, BUT I am so grateful I have this opportunity to help out my family. It feels so good to contribute.

And my husband, my amazing husband. Always there to greet me at the door when I shuffle in after a long hard night and tuck me into bed. Always willing to get the kids off to school before he starts his day. Taking care of the details I used to take care of. The best.

My kids, so sweet to play quietly while I sleep. So understanding when I can't make it to their basketball games. I love them so much. I am doing this for them, and for him. For us.

It won't always be like this, and we'll look back one day on this time in our lives and our kids will understand the sacrifices we are making for them. We are pressing forward, we are very optimistic about life, we are working hard. We are repeating over and over...

"Be of good cheer, for the future is as bright as your faith" -Thomas S. Monson.

Grateful

Feeling so grateful for life.
For love.
For health.

Feeling so grateful for hope.
For peace.
For happiness.

Feeling so grateful for my family.
My children.
My one and only.

Feeling grateful for trials
Tests of faith
Lessons learned.

 Happy Thanksgiving.

The Little Things Make Me Happy

Heart. All heart.

Pink Cowboy Boots

Remembering a happy place

A love letter from a little one

Wrinkled toes after a day at the pool 

I Can Do Hard Things

This phrase has been coming to my mind so much the past few months, so I decided to make it our family motto for the school year...

I Can Do Hard Things

Our family has been through our share of hard things these past few years, and through it all this saying keeps popping into my head and I remember that I won't be given anything I can't handle. That I have the strength to get through anything....

So I printed this out and hung it on our wall. No matter the hard thing, whether it be moving across the country twice in 3 years, leaving beloved friends and family behind, a math test, a piano piece to learn, working graveyards, anything. As a family we can do hard things. 

And we'll do it together.