Happy Happy Birthday May and Thomas!

 May and Thomas are 6 and 2! We got together at the park for cupcakes and ice cream.

                                        Lots of wonderful cousins!

 Betsy with ice cream on her nose and that permanent smile of her's. She is the definition of joy-full

My big boy with cake on his face. He is growing so fast. He is the sweetest, tender hearted little boy! Life has been a little hard lately with mama so busy with Lilly. He calls her Lolly and loves her a lot.

Back to School!

May on her first day of the first grade.

I can't believe that summer break is over! I can't believe that my daughter is dressed in something I could have worn when I went to first grade. I sure miss her when she's gone, and I sure wouldn't miss the tired, cranky girl that comes home after a long day. She eventually gets used to the early hours, but for the first few weeks it is kind of rough for everyone. May is definitely a sleep-in type of girl, bless her! 

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...

+ Mathan and I just celebrated 7 years of marital bliss. We had such a lovely weekend. We have been so   very blessed and life is so good. Home can be a heaven on earth.
- Someone I love is going through hard, hard times and my heart is breaking for her.
+ Last night as I put Lilly to bed I shed a tear of joy for this sweet little life. I love her so much!
- I don't know how, but I always seem to forget how hard it is to do something from start to finish when there is a newborn around. I forget how demanding even the best of babies can be.
+ I helped teach the 5th Sunday lesson and really felt good about how I did. I know that Heavenly Father takes our weak efforts and  somehow accomplishes his work. So many people were so nice and complimented my lesson.
- We have mice. (shudder)  Send help.
+ We have work
- It is out of town. Again... send help

Summertime and the livin' is CRAZY

Here are a bunch of pictures of our doings lately. Mathan wrote the captions. Most of them are from the  Tenney reunion with some random pictures of the kids. Fun times!

The girls had fun at Jantzen's birthday party.

 I wonder what it will be like to have a little sister . . .

. . . Will she want to play with me? . . .

 Hey guys, pay attention! I think they're looking at us . . .

Ruth, Treven and Lilly, born in April, May, and June.

Ellen looking pretty at the park.

May and Ellen love their daddy.

Mathan, sneaking a kiss.

Lilly in a dress made by her great great grandmother, Mildred McCarty.

With a head band made by her aunt Amy. I think the dress was made for a doll, but Lilly was so tiny it fit her if we didn't button it all the way.

Sunday afternoon nap with dad.

If you climb a tree, the grand canyon seems to be even deeper!

We took a day trip to the Grand Canyon with G&G Peterson. Our camera ran out of juice right after this so we didn't get a lot of pictures.

 A happy moment before we left for church.

The family keeps on growing!

Welcome Lillian!

  

Lilly was born on Flag Day at 6:31 pm. She weighed 5 lbs 15 oz and was 19 inches long. Here she is just minutes after she was born. We both were so blessed. The labor was only three and a half hours with no complications. The best part for me was no iv, stitches, or drugs and minimal monitoring! We really didn't have time for any of that because we were only at the hospital for an hour before she came. Plus the maternity ward was packed and they seemed to be a little understaffed. 

Grandma Peterson came the next morning with the kids. I thought this was such a sweet picture. I'll post more later.

Lilly has been an angel so far. She likes her sleep and only wakes to nurse once in the middle of the night. Things have gone so well I can hardly believe how blessed we've been. I healed up quickly and adjusted to nursing again with only one infection, which is a miracle for me! Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers and sends many tender mercies everyday. We all love our little Lilly. I'm so grateful for my little ones that still have the breath of heaven about them.

Thanks to all the many helpers that have made life easy! We love you!

True Confessions Tuesday

~I haven't done a Memories Monday for a while. I just haven't been feeling very reminiscent.
~We had a speaker in church a while back who said that most of a child's values and habits are developed in their first five or six years. Umm, is anyone else a little scared at that thought? I know I've heard similar ideas before, but now that May is almost six it makes me wonder if we've done enough.
~I love having a lot of family over for a birthday party, and having a dozen kids running around because when they all go home my three seem so quiet and peaceful!
~Our baby is due in 17 days! I'm excited to meet her. I'm praying that I'll be able to bounce back quickly this time. I feel like I have so many responsibilities that I can't allow myself to crash and burn as I have in the past. I've been given the advice to let the housework and callings go for a while, but I think it's better for me to get back to normal as soon as I can. My dad says the best remedy for depression is work and that has proven true for me.
~This weather makes me want to go to Mexico so badly!
~The smoke would make anyone want to leave! Over 200,000 acres have been burned and it's still hot and windy. Every few days the smoke comes right at us. We're praying for the wind to stop and rain to fall.
~I think they called me to young women's because I have a van. haha!

Happy Birthday Ellen!

Sweet Ellen is four today! We're so blessed to have her as part of our family. Lots of laughter and love have come with her. With each birthday I am more surprised at how much she has grown and learned! It wasn't very long ago that this little angel came to us and the years are flying away so fast! I love these days filled with giggles and twirls and dancing. I wish I could keep her safe from the days of struggle and disappointment and growing pains that are ahead of her. But that would defeat her purpose wouldn't it? She is a daughter of God with the potential for greatness. I love her with all my heart. Happy Birthday Ellen!