Peace

That's the word that sums up my day.

When we lived in Sierra Vista, AZ the nearest temple was in Phoenix, a 3 hour drive each way... so a trip to the temple would be an all day event... I am sad to say we never made it. That makes it a long time since we have been to the temple.

Today, while Ally's was in school, and my mom watched Devin, Alex and I had that chance. We went to the Oquirrah Mountain Temple. I was stressed that I had forgotten everything, and wouldn't know what to do, but all of that melted away once I entered those sacred doors.

After the session as Alex and I sat quietly on a white sofa in the Celestial Room, I remembered the peace that can be found in no other place.

And I knew I was the luckiest woman in the world to be sitting beside my husband. We have been through rough patches, but after almost 10 years he is still mine... not just for now, but for forever. How blessed I feel to have been sealed to him, and to my babies. I look forward to the day when our little family will all be in that room together... how great shall be my joy...

Today has been a beautiful reminder of what it all is for.

The Living Planet Aquarium

Today, we took the kids to the Living Planet Aquarium. I took the kids this past summer, but we went again today and Alex got to go with us.







Last time Ally freaked out to first touch the sting rays, but this time there was no hesitation.


Devin really wanted to touch them too, and was able to once.


Devin loved looking at the sea urchins through this plastic bubble the most... so much in fact that he kept kissing it.


We had lots of fun!

Toddler Conversations

Shame on me for trying to give Devin an apple with breakfast... he told me, "No Mama, Nana".



So, I gave him some "nana" (banana) and he said "thank you".



After a little while he said, "Mama nana"


(sometimes he likes to share)

I love how vocal he is becoming! - I also love that my happy boy is back, rather than the monster that had replaced him lately!

Guilt

is such an ugly thing.

I feel so guilty for "making" Alex move back to Utah. I didn't force him, but he wouldn't have moved if he wasn't trying to make me happy.... but now he is the one that is unhappy.

He hates his job here... he loved his one back in Arizona, and now he is miserable here. It's amazing that the same job can be made horrible by who he works with and who his boss is.

He doesn't blame me... he rarely complains, but oh, how I feel SO incredibly guilty. In so many ways I wish we would have just stayed. I love being by family, but that is it. I loved Arizona, the schools, Alex's job, the weather, the small town feel (NEVER thought I would say that one), Ally's friends, the freedom... such a trade-off that I made my little family give up... did we make the right decision? I wish I could freely say "yes" and not feel this horrible guilt.

Whatever it Takes

Alex had the day off today, so instead of listening to Devin cry we decided to try and distract him. We took him to McDonalds... however, we can't stand their food, so we bought a diet coke and then watched him play.



As you can tell he wasn't really smiling and happy, but I *think* he had fun and at least wasn't crying.



This is the best McDonald's (for a toddler) that I have ever been to. This slide plays music as the kids slide down it.



The guitar plays when the children touch it.


(Devin is clapping to the pretty music he made).

And the huge piano he could play with his feet:



Then we took him to the Monte L Bean Life Science Museum at BYU. However, the life-sized texidermy animals (think elephant, giraffe, lion, polar bear...) were too much for him. No, not too scary, but he threw complete fits that he couldn't pet them, so we had to leave. Luckily it was free. We will have to try it another time when he is in a better mood.

After Ally got home we went to the Krispy Kreme factory and they watched the donuts being made and even got to eat one.

We were so busy... but every unbusy minute was filled with non-stop, loud CRYING! Ahhhhhhh, this kid is going to kill me!

If I walk 2 steps away from him he will start screaming, "Mama! Mama! Maaaamaaaa!!!" He won't let Daddy take him... every time I go to the bathroom he is pounding on the door screaming that I am through a closed door.

It's a good thing I love him so much...

This is all I see these days

Devin has been so unhappy and whiney for over a week now! I can't see any teeth coming in, he isn't sick... I have NO CLUE what is wrong with him! He was up crying for over 4 hours in the middle of the night last night... this mommy is sooooo tired. I took him to the doctors today to have him checked out... he checked out perfect. When the dr was trying to look in his ears he said to her, "I don't like it"... the dr was majorly impressed... me too, I've heard 2 or 3 word sentences but that was the biggest. He probably says over 100 words now, I think it's because he has to talk a lot to be heard over his sister.

Also, he was kind of dehydrated... he refuses to eat and drink most everything right now, and she heard a heart murmer... Alex had one as a kid too, and it isn't showing any side effects to Devin at all. So, we will just watch it.

I am all out of ideas. If anyone can think of anything else for me to try, let me know...

Melts My Heart

My children have the sweetest relationship. I always felt bad that they aren't closer in age, to be buddies, but the truth is I think they are better friends because of the age difference.

We only live a block from Ally's school so everyday after school Devin and I walk down to meet her. Devin will hold my hand the whole way, until he see's Ally (or "Gee Gee," as he calls her) and then he is off running as fast as his short, little legs will carry him. She will start running and calling for him as soon as she sees him as well. Then they clash in a huge embrace and then Ally will take his hand and they will walk back to me, hand-in-hand. It is one of the highlights of my day.



Today, Devin came back with something in his hand, eating it... this kid will eat ANYTHING so I am a little freaked at the smooshy brown thing he has smeared in his hand, eating... turns out Ally had saved half of her cookie for him she got at school, from another student's birthday. Now THAT is love!

I love watching how much they love each other, and it makes my heart melt!

A Day Dedicated to the Kids

Alex had the day off yesterday so instead of getting everything we needed to get done, we played with our kids all day.

First, while Ally was in school we took Devin to The Museum of Ancient Life in Lehi... aka the Dinosaur Museum.



He didn't weigh enough to be any dinosaur.


Devin by the Megolodon...


Devin, deciding the Megolodon was just too big to be that close...


His favorite part was digging for dinosaur bones.


Then, after Ally got out of school we decided to go to Chuck E Cheese.



So we ate nasty pizza.


Devin loved the cheesy moving "puppet" show.


We played games.



Dare Devil Devin liked this ride.


Afraid Ally wouldn't even try it.

(notice what Devin is doing in the background?)

Ally is holding what she liked most in this picture:

We spent $50 buying tokens so she could win and use her tickets to trade for a HSM Troy notebook and lip gloss she can wear on her wrist.

Even though my house is messy, it was all worth it!

A Blast from Ally's Past

I converted a whole bunch of pictures from our old 3 1/2 inch discs (back from our first digital camera we bought 8 years ago) and found a bunch of Ally's baby pictures.

6 weeks Old


3 Months Old


6 Months Old


8 Months Old


A few weeks before her 1st Birthday


Sometimes I wish I could turn back the clock an experience her so small again.

Buttons and Zippers

No, not on our pants... They are our two dogs.



We got Buttons first. She will be 6 years old in May. She is spunky, hyper and the best hiker in the world.



Zippers came later. He will be 5 years old in March. He is mellow, sweet, lazy and the best companion you could ask for.



They are both rat terriers. We have papers for both, however if Zippers is pure bred I will french kiss him...

The day is finally coming... February 6

Ally turned 8 last November, but due to moving, sickness and holidays she hasn't been baptised yet. However, she had her interview with the bishop today and the date is set for February 6.

She will finally get to wear the dress that my mom made her for her birthday... her second white dress.

Here are a bunch of pictures of my beautiful little model.


(Her facial expression is so serious, but I just love how this picture shows her gorgeous dress).


(Can you believe my mom MADE this dress?... It took her forever!)


(Isn't she the most beautiful little girl you have ever seen?)


(LOL!)


(I love this picture, because it represents a moment of her laughing at something silly I told her... it's her beautiful face full of life and happiness).

TGIF!!!

2010

Doesn't it just seem like it was 2000?... wow, this decade is flying by!

My parents have a big party every 5 years a their house, and it started in 1989. They have a time capsule and we filled it back then... I was 11 years old. The first one we opened on New Years Eve at midnight starting 2000. My neices and nephews were so young and I had my friend, Josh with me that night. After that my parents have done it every 5 years instead of 10. I still have my letters I wrote to myself and put in the time capsule... it is so much fun to go back and read them and what I thought I would be doing at the next opening of the time capsule.

The party in 2005 was a Star Wars party... this one was a Harry Potter party. So Harry Potter was playing all day long... I don't think anyone really watched it though. This year, Ally dressed up as Hermoine.


It took an hour, tons of gel and hair spray to get her hair even that curly.

This is Ally with the big time capsule.



The my dad started opening it up.

(Devin really wanted to help)

Ally had fun reading the questionaire she wrote 5 years ago... where she said she would someday marry her cousin Nathan... but hey, he wrote the same thing.


This is her cousin Neal, with her. He liked that she wrote the president at the time was "Jesus".

Devin gave up trying to pull things out and decided climbing the ladder was more fun.



Then we left Ally to sleep over with the everyone else while we went home so Alex could work the next day.


(Cameron secretly loves Hannah Montana and princesses and tried to steal Ally's bed... how can he be turning 16 next month???)