So...Christmas was fun..

I know, shame on me for not posting about Christmas. We had a great time and no one was seriously harmed in the making of this picture.

Looks like the makings of a wild party huh?

It was so great to have the whole family together. There was lots of laughter, noise, and good food. We had so much fun that there is a shortage of good pictures, but we had a wonderful Christmas time.
Some highlights were:

Having Mathan home for a week

Watching May and Ellen have a ball with their new toys.

Playing risk with my brothers

Having Mathan home for a week

Playing Christmas music with Ben

Playing in the snow at Great Grandad's

Breaking a pinata for Hyrum's birthday (all the hard candy was beat to a powder before it actually broke open!)

Meeting up with some old friends

Hearing from Elder Tenney in Madagascar

Having Mathan home for a week

Having a tea party with Aunt Maria

Compiling pictures for mom's digital picture frame

Putting together the calendar for Mathan's family and

Having Mathan home for a week...

Can you guess what my favorite part was?

Giving Thanks

I feel so blessed. I know the holiday is over, but here are a few things I'm grateful for...

My husband. He's always patient, and never critical. He works hard all day and then comes home and helps with my work (the kids). He always notices my efforts and thanks me for them. I'm so grateful for our marriage. It has become more apparent over the years that we made the right choice. I needed someone like him.

My babies. They have taught me more about God's love than anything else in my life. They love everyone and recognize the divinity in everyone. They make me laugh. Ellen just said "happy birthday punkin baby!" Tell me that didn't make you smile!

My extended family. They give and give and love and help without fail.

The Gospel. This should be at the top of my list, because all of my greatest blessings are people that are striving to live a righteous life. Keeping the commandments is a recipe for a happy family and a happy life, trials and pain included. I could write a book about it, but it's already been written by wiser people than me.

Health. I'm so grateful to have healthy kids, and that so far we have escaped serious health problems. Heavenly Father is watching over us and blessing us tremendously.

My home. We have a comfortable home with everything we need. It isn't fancy or expensive, but it is more than adequate for our family.

Employment. Mathan works so hard for us and so far we have never felt serious want, despite work being slow. Again Heavenly Father has blessed us every step of the way.

The list goes on and on. Suffice it to say life is good, and God is gracious.

Peace!

I love fast Sunday. Today I got up to give my testimony. I had so much to say and my heart was just overflowing. I'm afraid I don't make a lot of sense sometimes. I do know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints is true, and I guess if I was able to get that out of my mouth than it wasn't a waste of time. I haven't posted this yet, but I was released from primary a few weeks ago. Since then I have felt how much Heavenly Father was helping me to do my calling. You can't really tell until the mantle of the calling is gone and then you realize that you were just a simple tool in the Lord's hand. A hammer can't build anything by itself, it has to be used by a builder. I love primary so much and I'm going to miss it. I already miss being able to stand up and move around. Just sitting for three hours hurts! I love going to sunday school with Mathan, and I love having an adult discussion. I was called to be a Relief Society teacher today and I'm excited to develop a different set of spiritual muscles. Its been a long time since I taught R.S. in college. I really want to do a good job and I want the sisters to feel the spirit.

Thomas is getting so big! He's almost 7 weeks old. I actually saw a baby that is older than him who is smaller than him. You don't know what that's like for me. May and Ellen were both so small. May is still small for her age. I'm used to hearing about how tiny my babies are. I love being here for every milestone they reach and watching them grow. It is monotonous some days, but when I look back I'm so glad I've been there to see them progress.

Thomas Reed

Finally! Here are some pictures of our sweet baby Thomas! I've been busy in baby land and haven't taken the time to post. I have a lot to catch up on. Thomas was born on August 22nd at 4:16 pm. He weighed 7lbs 7oz and was 21 inches long and he has already grown so much! The labor and delivery went really smoothly. What a blessing! It only took six hours and we did it without medication. Yeah me! The post partum time is really a challenge for me. That's partly why I haven't posted because I've been trying to just get well and get a handle on taking care of three kids and everything else. Mathan has been wonderful and helps as much as possible but he can't take over what I really want him to... nursing! I'd rather do the unmedicated labor and delivery all over again rather than break in the nipples. Still, I'd rather go through all the pain of nursing rather than use formula. It's supposed to get easier with subsequent babies but not so for me. Boo! Not to mention being a hormonal train wreak on top of it. I am getting better though. Thomas is worth it. I'm so excited to have a boy. I can't wait to watch his personality emerge, and see him learn. Every milestone is a miracle to me. The girls just love him! Ellen holds out her arms and says "let me take it" and coos "Thomas" at him. May has been so helpful. She is such a good listener and she is able to help in so many ways. Both of them have been carrying baby dolls around and playing mommy. Ellen tried to put a diaper on hers. It was so cute. She has had a hard time waiting for things because Thomas usually comes first, but I'm so glad she doesn't dislike him for it. All in all we have been so blessed. I'm so grateful for Mathan. He has held me together during the hard times when all the kids are crying and mom can't help but cry too. Good thing that doesn't happen too often! I think my emotions are finally leveling out so hopefully the mole hills wont look like mountains any more. Thanks everyone, for taking care of us! We love you!

Count Down!

We're on pins and needles waiting for this baby to arrive! I'm due in six days and I can't wait for the magic cure to most of my discomfort these days. It's funny how you forget all about heartburn and swollen ankles and a hundred other pains, not to mention labor, when you finally hold your baby. I refuse to post a picture of myself. I don't think that part of my life needs to be documented. Lets just say I'm not one of those ladies that puts on the bare minimum of weight. Plus I'm normally so small that every pound looks like ten. I am blessed that the weight isn't hard for me to loose though. Nursing takes care of that. Anyway we're so excited! Wish us luck!

Happy Birthday May!

Missy May is four today! We had a fun party with the Peterson bunch and then with the Tenneys. I love that we live close to both of our families. It's amazing that it has been four year! What is even more amazing is how much information that a little person gathers in that time. I wish I had learned that much every four years of my life. I can't believe that she will be going to school next year! I'm going to try to not be one of those crying mamas that can't leave their baby at school, but no guarantees! We're a vanishing breed, we mamas that cry when the kids go to school. So maybe I'll cry and be proud of it! I think that May has the type of personality that will love school and really thrive on the structured schedule. I'm glad I have another year to mother her all day every day though. We Love You May!!!