Winter sicknesses - round 1

My boys have had croup this last week (Noah did not officially have croup because he is too young - but he had the virus that causes croup)- so while it has been a (maybe our last) week of nice weather we have been stuck inside - it was torture. To pass the time Brock and I sure did bake a lot of cookies, blow a lot of bubbles, throw A LOT of balls, read a lot of books, color a lot of pages, and take a lot of naps. I really hope that this is not a precursor to the rest of our winter. Brock did not get sick at all last winter - and I plan on keeping the same track record!

By Friday they were both doing better so we made a quick run to the park. Brock LOVED being outside - he did not waste any time - he got right down to business.

Noah was great too. He just sat in the sun and looked around. It was a good day. (Except for the fact that we went to the grocery store and bought a whole cart worth of groceries and when I got to the counter and they told me how much it was I realized I forgot my WALLET (not to mention both the boys were screaming)! It was so embarrassing!! - Everyone looked at me like "oh that poor woman with those 2 young boys - her life must be so crazy she can't even remember to take her wallet to the store." I really never do things like that - so it really bothers me when I do.)

I believe

I am sure many of you have heard this quote in the past few weeks - it is on several blogs. It is so prophetic and inspiring. I love Elder Maxwell - he had such a wonderful way of putting things - and I love when they make the gospel black and white. The past few weeks many members of the church have tried to make things look gray - but lets remember what faith really is.
(I bolded some of my favorite lines)

"Make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters, in the months and years ahead, events are likely to require each member to decide whether or not he will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions. President Marion G. Romney said, many years ago, that he had 'never hesitated to follow the counsel of the Authorities of the Church even though it crossed my social, professional or political life.' This is hard doctrine, but it is particularly vital doctrine in a society which is becoming more wicked. In short, brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ. . . . Your discipleship may see the time when such religious convictions are discounted. . . . This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions. Resistance to abortion will be seen as primitive. Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as un-trendy and unenlightened.... Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes will be lost. Even in these, however, let us leave a record so that the choices are clear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel. There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probable, but others will step forward, having been rallied to rightness by what we do. We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds which was, till then, unconscious of itself. Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves, 'summer is nigh.' Thus warned that summer is upon us, let us not then complain of the heat."

"Elder Neal A. Maxwell, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints"A More Determined Discipleship", Ensign, Feb. 1979


He tells us to leave a record. Here is my record. I stand with the church in all things. I am a believer, therefore I will act like one. (1 Tim 4:12)

Yesterday morning Jason says to me,

"Why don't I take the boys all day and you can go do what ever you want."

Wow! Unfortunately I could not take him up on it - but I definitely got a rain check. What a nice guy! Then when I got home from a family party that night he had done the dishes and the laundry.

Say "cheese"

Noah is starting to smile a lot. I tried to capture it - but was unsuccessful. But some still turned out cute.

Brad's Blessing

My sister blessed her baby last week. These two are 3 weeks apart.

Trying to get a good picture of 2 new born babies is hard.

Me and Katie with our boys

Out and About

Since I knew the nice weather would soon be gone - we went on some sort of outing everyday for the last 2 weeks. One was to the duck pond.

Noah is starting to like having his head out - it is making it a lot more fun to take him places.

Then we took a picnic lunch to the temple. I was determined to have Brock identifying temples by the time we left. I took some other pictures of temples with us. It is still 50/50 - he says "temle" (no "P") when he sees the Provo, Washington DC, and Jordan River temples. It was a beautiful fall day. I had only planned on being there a half hour or so (I did not think it would hold his attention), but we ended up being there for two and a half hours. It was a lot of fun.

Fun with the Hanna family

On Halloween day my sister and I took our kids to Kangaroo Zoo. If you dressed up you got 50% off. I decided to do a "family theme" - I wore Jason's high school football uniform, Brock was a basketball player, and Noah was a baseball player.

It was pretty fun. I am glad I went when it was 50% off because Brock needed help to do pretty much anything. I think I will go again when he is two and it will be more worth it.

Then we went to my brother's football game. I had a great time - as you can see both my kids are being occupied by my family. Thanks!

**Note: My sister Ashley is WONDERFUL! I could not have survived this last year with out her. She took such good care of me and Brock when I was on bed rest - and now she ALWAYS takes Noah for me when I have my hands full with Brock. She is the best aunt and sister ever! Both my kids love her. Thanks for all you do Ash.

How Brock plays with Noah

I was making Brock's breakfast and when I went back into the living room Noah's swing was full of balls.

Halloween

This was carving the pumpkins. Jason believes that Brock and Noah should decide where the eyes, nose, and mouth go. We sat there holding the pumpkin up to Noah until he waved his arm around and touched the pumpkin in 4 places.
Brock was a mouse - and after taking 8 pictures - this one turned out the best. This is the same costume that I wore when I was his age (same with all my brothers and sisters)

Noah was a pumpkin (but for only a few minutes - he had a hard Halloween)

Brock with his spoils. (actually mine and Jason's - he does not understand that it is candy and actually did not eat any, he just thought it was fun going to the houses.)
Not the best pic of me - but it was the only one of the whole family!

The Bells

So the Bell's are probably my favorite people in the whole world. Karli has been my best friend for years, then she met and married Skyler and him and I got along great - then I married Jason and he gets along great with Sky and Karli. It is not often you find couple friends where all 4 of you not only like each other - but genuinely get along and have fun. Then we started having kids and things just got better. (It was rough for a few months when Payton wanted to play with Brock but he was too young - but I think we are out of the woods now.)

Karli and I try to do something with the kids once a week (it turns into once every other week). Last weeks we went to Cornbellys at Thanksgiving Point. It was probably the funnest activity so far. We were there for 2 1/2 hours - and we could have been there for 2 more. Noah was fussy - but Kar stepped in and really helped with Brock (she is LITERALLY wonder woman/mother!!)



Despite ALL the fun things to do - leave it to Brock to find the one ball. He would have been here all day and hit this ball. It kept coming back and hitting him in the face - he would look at me and say "nose". But then he would hit it again.

The next day we went to Tucano's. It was just the 4 of us (it was like we were newlyweds again!). It was fun - we have not been together without kids since Payton was born. We had a great time. They talk as if they are going to leave Utah when Sky graduates - I pretend as if it will never happen.