Happy 3rd Birthday Sarah Diane!!

Happy birthday to my sweet Sarah girl! You are three years old and you are a pure delight. Here are some pictures of your birthday party and the prettiest princess I have ever known.

You insisted on being Belle for your party, but when everyone got here you changed your mind to be Cinderella. Still how cute are you!!

This is you getting the hair all curled. I love that smile!!!

This is your face before you were crowned the official princess.

All the boy cousins came as knights and all the girl came as princesses. Notice you are now Cinderella. Who says a girl can't change her mind on her birthday...not me.

We had all the kids stay inside and all the adults sat outside and then you came out one by one and we introduced you just like at Cinderella's ball. Daddy was very clever with all your title's and you each got to do a spin and everyone clapped for you as you made your entrance. Sarah you loved this part!

We then played a knight game. The knights had to battle the evil black knight to save one princess. Daddy was the black knight and you girls were so cute screaming to be saved. Luckily the knights were skilled just enough to fight off the evil black knight and you were all brought to safety. 

We then had a ball where everyone danced and sang to their favorite songs. Flowed by a princess cake and ice cream. Mommy wore her Queen's dress as well and you loved it! I surprised you and came out all dressed up and talked like a Queen the whole time and we had the best day ever.

Happy birthday to the perfect little girl. You are such a girl in every way and I love it!! When I dreamed of my future little girl, Sarah you were exactly what I hoped for. Happy 3rd birthday, sweetheart. I love you, Mommy

Perfect Sunday morning surprise

It is a beautiful Sunday morning and both kids crawled into bed with us about 7:30 a.m. As Daddy and I are laying there trying to catch a few more winks, I hear my sweet Ethan whisper to Daddy that he wants to do, "a surprise for mommy because she is always doing nice things for us." Well Daddy said just one minute sweetheart (Daddy was a little tired as we stayed up until 1:00 a.m. the night before), then you hear this little voice say, "I'll help you Ethan. I will, I really will." That would be our sweet Sarah. So the two of you climbed out of the bed and into the kitchen you went. We could hear the fridge opening and closing, toaster getting out, and a lot of talk about cheese. That was the real mystery, what could they be doing with all that cheese? So Ethan you came back into the bedroom and said, "Daddy, what kind of sandwich would mommy want?" So by this time Daddy jumps up and begins to help. As you left the room, Ethan you turned to mommy and said, "Mommy, just...um...lay there...um...were not doing anything in there." A few minutes later that bedroom door opens up and in walks my beautiful little family, holding a serving tray with, toast with strawberry jam and butter, yogurt, cereal, and apple juice. Ethan you were so excited and said, "Mommy you know why we did this? Because you always do nice things for us and my brain told me this morning, let's do something nice for mommy and it kept saying it over and over again, and that's why I did it." Well of course I begin to cry and try to express my gratitude, but mostly it's just a lot of smiles and tears. Then you all wanted to eat in my bed with me, so I said, "what if mommy comes out and eats in the kitchen with you at the table." As I walked into kitchen it did make me laugh, because every different kind of cheese was out on the kitchen table, as well as several containers of yogurt, and the leftovers from the night before. You were really working some magic before Daddy came to help. It was adorable! So we all enjoyed a wonderful breakfast together and mommy felt very loved and very very appreciated.

I just want to tell you both how much mommy loves you. I could have never dreamed that motherhood would be so rewarding. I love that I am with you everyday all day long. I love that I never miss out on any of your firsts and that I am there with you to discover new things each day. You are the best children and I love you so much. I hope that you will always know that you are my whole world and that the best decision Daddy and I ever made was to have you and to have me stay home with you. We live in a little house, we don't have every fun toy in the world, but we have time together and that for me is priceless and in the end I will never have regrets about the memories we have made together. Thank you for being my children. Thank you for loving me and for always trying really hard to do what is right. You are the best children in the world and the thanks I get everyday is the way you look at me when we play a game together, or when were doing learning time and you need a little help, or the way we laugh as we run through the house playing superheroes or princess time. Thank you so much! I love you with all my heart and being your mother is the greatest blessing and reward in all the world. Thanks for a perfect Sunday morning.

Love, Mommy

Happy 4th of July 2011

Happy 4th of July! Right now we should be at the parade where we set down blankets last night with our family, but instead I am sitting here writing this blog. Why, you ask? Well I got up and this morning to workout with my partner in crime, Julia and when I came home and everyone was still sleeping I thought well I should weed my planter beds. So I was enjoying the quiet morning and the weeding that I was getting done, when Matt walked out to greet me. He asked me if I would like him to make breakfast and called me a few minutes later, for a delious breakfast of strawberry and blueberry pancakes and eggs. After breakfast I decided it was time to shower and get ready for the parade only to realize that our sewer line is backedup and is coming up through the bathtub. AAAUGH! Let's just say this...I love my little, old house, but I very much dislike my old pipes that go with this old house. About three times a year, sometimes not so often, but this year, we are on our third go around I believe and at $90.00 a pop to get it fixed it's not the greatest 4th of July treat. So that being said, we have had a wonderful holiday season.

Friday we started the weekend off with a birthday party for Abby. It was a lot of fun and Ethan and Sarah you swam, jumped on the tramboline, and played on the playground at the Gardner's house and had the time of your life. We stayed until swim lessons and then went for our last day of instructions. Daddy got off early and came to see what you had both been learning

Grandpa singing that the Layton park in the Men of Song. Easily one of my favorite things to go to each year. When they sing the Hail to Arms song and all the past or current military people stand and they sing their songs, I cry every time! It's beautiful and the crowd always gives them a standing ovation.

Here is our Sarah girl, loving the performances! If there is singing and dancing Sarah will not move an inch.

Sweet Ethan enjoying the show!

Family fireworks at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

If there is a show, Aunt Cassie says there must be treats! Sarah loving her sucker.

Ethan I love that smile!!

Ethan trying out his sparkler in front. Daddy and Sarah playing with the sparkler behind.

Ethan and Britton enjoying the running and sparkler magic!

Sarah wasn't really sure about the sparkler, but she is enjoying it now.

Mr. Parkin and myself enjoy the show and celebrating the fact that ten years ago today we went out on our first date. Look at those blue eyes!! How couldn't I fall in love with this amazing and wonderful man. You are everything I could have ever hoped for and so much more. I love you, Geeves. Happy first date anniversary! 

These are the days of our lives...

So I keep thinking that I am going to journal funny things and that I will never forget anything adorable that my children do, but I do. So I am attempting to capture so of my favorite moments from the last few months. Let's start with Ethan. So we are reading the scriptures before bed time and for several nights in a row we have been talking about prophets and what does it mean to be a prophet. Ethan turns to me and says, "Mommy I've been thinking (most of your statements start out with that line) you know you and Daddy are like a prophet." I say, "ya, what do you mean?" Ethan: Well prophets are supposed to tell us what we should do and how we should live and that is what you and Daddy do for me and Sarah. That makes you like a prophet." I told you I was very proud of you and that I like the way your applying what we are studying. I thought that was pretty cute and profound. The next night were reading the scriptures again and you say, "Mommy can I tell you something?" I say of course and you say, "Mommy I am going to be a prophet." I stop and stare at you for a minute (because like all moms I think you are perfect and that really could be a reality for you) then I say, "Ethan I believe that is true." You then say, "Ya Mommy and when I am the prophet, I'm going to preach the gospel to all the world. I am going to find Satan and teach him the gospel and if he doesn't listen, do you know what I am going to do. Of course I say, no. Then I get this finish, "well if he won't listen I am going to blow up his house!" I sit there for a second and try to keep a straight face because you are dead serious and so proud of what you just said. I try to explain to you the condensed version of the pre-mortal life and how we all made a choice to come here and that Satan isn't going to change. That he already made his choice, but you were still determined that you could make him see the light. You got to love being five years old and seeing the world with such innocent eyes. Okay so number three story with Ethan. Both kids are watching movies in two different rooms in the house. I tell you that when the show is over that you need to turn the t.v. off and go play. Well you listen and turns the t.v. off, meanwhile Sarah's show is still going in the family room. You start playing in your room, but remember that you left a toy in the family room. You run in the family room and come straight to the kitchen (I'm cooking dinner) and say, "Mommy I made a mistake and I am sorry it was an accident." I say, "Honey what are you talking about." You say, "my eyes just looked but I'm sorry and I didn't mean it. Only one eye looked will you forgive me?" I had no idea what you were talking about and told you to back up and tell me again what was going on. You said, "Mommy, I went in the family room to get my toy and my one eye saw Sarah's movie that was playing. I didn't mean to look it just happened. I am really sorry." I turned to you and I gave you a big hug and said, "Ethan I don't care if you finish watching Sarah's movie I just didn't want you to start another show. You are not in trouble at all and I am so proud of you and your willingness to be so obedient." I get a big hug back and smile and you run off to play. Sometimes I watch you, Ethan and you are so pure in heart, I just can't believe how much you want to please. Ethan you are my little angel and I love you so much! There are great things ahead for you. Some of the things you love right now are the pink panther, inspector gadget, lego indiana jones, lego batman, and lego star wars. You love strawberry oatmeal and a banana for breakfast, and a ham and cheese sandwich for lunch. If you could pick dinner every night it would usually be a burrito. You have your favorite potatoes that we have named Ethan potatoes and you love them! You will eat anything and everything and you always praise my food every night. You make it a delight to cook for you. When you get dressed in the morning you love to put your pajamas back on over your clothes and come running out like you didn't get dressed and then start laughing while you take the pj's off, only to reveal your clothing underneath. You love school and you love Mrs. Hafen. You sit at the green table right now and love sitting with, Kaden Fisher, Kaden Borego, Lindae, and Kennedy Cowley. You have an extremely active imagination. You never stop dreaming or playing. Any object in your hand becomes something amazing! A pencil, now a rocket ship. An eraser, now a boat. A program from church, now an airplane, anything can be fun for you. You are a great reader and love math and science (just like your daddy). You have an incredible memory and memorize things so quickly that I have to cover the words when you read so you won't just read it once and then memorize the book for the other times we read it. Writing time is your least favorite part of school. You have never liked to color, draw, or anything really with a pencil. You love building instead. You love your trio blocks, puzzles, star wars, batman, spider man, and there is always room for cars. Just last night you lost your two bottom teeth. Daddy pulled them out with floss tied around them and you were really brave. You said, "Mommy how much money will the tooth fairy leave me." I said, "I think she will leave you a dollar for both teeth." You said, "Mommy you know what I am going to do with that money, I am going to give it to you and Daddy so you will be rich!" I am blessed to be your mother. You love to cuddle with mommy or daddy. We walk every morning to your classroom holding hands and you give me the double squeeze the entire time were holding hands (which means I love you). You have no problem giving me kisses and hugs before you go into the classroom and you are my little man. I love you sweetheart. Now to Sarah. Sarah you are a gem! You are all girl. You love everything princess, pink, and fluffy. Every morning when I finish doing your hair you look in the mirror and say, "I am a beautiful princess." You love to run out of the bathroom to find daddy because you want him to reaffirm what you just said in the mirror. He always stops and says, "You are a beautiful princess." Which gets a big smile from you and usually a big hug right after. Two nights ago I was sick a daddy came home with roses and a magazine for me (I know I am spoiled) and the first thing out of your mouth was, "Are those roses for me daddy?" Daddy smiled and said, "There for mommy sweetheart, but next time do you want me to bring you roses?" Sarah: "Oh yes daddy!" Then you came running into my room with the roses and in your soft voice said, "Mommy, Daddy got you roses and they're beautiful." You then put your hands together and put them up to the side of your face as you always do when something is beautiful. The final touch is the slow motion eye closing and opening. I told your dad that he has ruined you for any boy to come your way because he has raised the bar so high. I can just see you saying well my dad always rubs my moms feet, or my dad always gets my moms coat, or my dad always dances with my mom in the kitchen, and the list goes on and on. You are quiet the little lady. Last night we were getting ready for bed and I told you to go get your pajamas on and you came out with a dress and said, "I want to wear this, because I am a princess." I tried to persuade you to wear something else but you were adamant that this needed to be worn at that moment or the world would end. So I let you play in it for about forty five minutes and then you happily got in your pajamas. You are learning that comprise isn't such a bad thing and that it usually ends up with all of us happy. Your favorite line these days is, "Your my best friend." Also wherever we go you ask me what every one's name is. We walk complete strangers and you say, "Mommy what's her name?" I say, "I don't know." You reply, "yes yo do mommy, come on what is here name." Then you will turn to the person and say, "Are you a stranger? I am Sarah." You always charm people right off the bat and then tell them who I am and that Buddy (Ethan) is your brother. Where ever we go the blanket, binky (I know it's terrible but she is still 2), and some princess doll go with us. You love your bell doll and your sleeping beauty polly pocket. You love you littlest pet shop animals and your favorite one is a hamster that you have named Brynlee after your cousin. You count to fifteen, you know your shapes, and colors and love to ask lots of questions about everything you see. You are very bright. You love to cuddle, especially right after a nap. You love to go to Target. You love Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Curious George, you could easily watch them all day long if I would let you. You love strawberry oatmeal for breakfast and chicken nuggets for lunch. You love to eat dates with your daddy. You love all fruit and are learning to love all veggies. You have an obsession with apple juice and it's the first thing you ask for when you wake up in the morning, and then we have to remind you the rest of the day that you already had your glass of apple juice and have to wait until the morning for your next one. You are beyond polite and are always blessing everyone and anyone when they sneeze, saying excuse me for anything that should be kept to yourself, saying please for everything you ask for, you are very polite and I love it! You love to play with your purse and do mommy or daddy's hair for that matter. You love to color and you love to do stickers in your sticker book. When Ethan is doing homework you always want to be at the table doing your "homework" as well. Sarah you are what every mother dreams off when they are having a little girl. I love you with all my heart. I look forward to your future and the amazing woman you will be become. As for Matt and I we are pretty much the same. He is still the manager over the mechanical engineers at his company and loves the people he works with, especially Pete Shay. He has been an amazing mentor and friend to Matt. He is the first counselor in the young men's and loves those boys and the fact that he gets to go camping several times a year. He is the best husband and father in the world and I adore everything about him. He is giving, self-less, a spiritual rock, my best friend and the person I most want to talk to everyday. I literally count down the hours until he is home. When Matt is home he brings a spirit of peace and joy that only he can bring. He is my everything. As for me I am still serving as the education counselor in the relief society and I love the people I serve with. They teach me a great deal and it's been a year of a lot of growth spiritually for me. I love being a mom to the two most wonderful children and I hope to have many more. We did have a ectopic pregnancy in December and lost that baby, which was physically painful and a loss knowing that we would have to wait longer for another child. But hopefully soon the Lord will bless us with another child. I love my Savior. He is my Redeemer and my friend. I know through His atonement I can become clean from the mistakes I make everyday. He knows me personally and he heals me and comforts me. I am nothing without Him. It is through Him that all things are possible and if I could tell my children anything it is that He is real, He knows them, and He loves them. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the true and living church on the earth today. Personal revelation is a gift from our Heavenly Father and He is waiting for us to turn to Him. The scriptures are His words and can bring you more comfort than anything else. Through the blessings of the temple our family is sealed and will be bound together for all time and eternity. We have a prophet today that leads and directs our church through the hand of God. When life is hard never doubt the one thing that is sure, Jesus Christ is real and He walked this earth so he could succor His people. He know you and loves you and you will never suffer anything he can't understand and relieve. He loves you. He is REAL! I love Him with all my heart and it's through Him that I will one day meet again with my Father in Heaven. I love you Matt, Ethan, and Sarah. Love Mommy.

New beginnings...

Ethan you are everything I could have ever dreamed of in a son. I love spending every minute with you. You are my little best friend. We talk about everything, you are great company, and I love having you around. So as the time was approaching for you to go to kindergarten, well to put it mildly I was devastated, in fact I tried to think of every way of keeping you at home with me. It made my soul ache to know that you would be away from me every day for two and a half hours. I worried and cried, until I started to think about you and the amazing person you are. I came to realize that the only person who would be truly happy you were home every day would be me. You are ready to grow and expand as a person and I would be holding you back. I love you sweetheart. You are our first born and you have made our life wonderful and fulfilling. I look forward to what the future holds for you and I know this is just the beginning of an incredible journey.

So here you are on your very first day of school. You look so big!

Sarah wanted part in the pictures as well, but the blanket and the binky had to be in the picture also.

Your adorable!

Here you are proudly smiling in front of your very own classroom. Your teacher is Mrs. Hafen and she is wonderful!! I couldn't be more relieved.

Another answer to prayer, was this sweet little girl standing next to you, Sarah Hartvigsen. Knowing that you and Sarah are in the same class gave me such relief. You are the dearest of friends.
Here you are on the reading rug.
Here is Daddy and Sarah checking out the class.
Ethan at the art desk. Cross your fingers that you will be an artist like your daddy.
This is the camping station. Your in the tent.
This is Mrs. Hafen. She was reading the Kissing Hand and you sat right up and said, "Hey my mommy read me that book last night." Then a few minutes later you said, "Excuse me, I have a bike and a helmet with fire on it." You are adorable Ethan! You are always so excited for life. You have so much joy and happiness within you that it radiates from you. I am so excited for this new stage for you. I will miss our mornings and cuddling and watching cartoons together. I will miss our little talks in the morning and having my buddy by my side, but I am happy for you. What even makes it better is that you love it! You have never once asked to stay home and you can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring. Right before you left for school on your first day I was putting your coat on you and you said, "Okay mommy you and Sarah have so much fun playing while I'm at school and tell me all about it when I get home, okay!" That is you Ethan. Perfect little you. I love you sweet boy.

Amy won!

To some it's working on scrapbooks, to some it's blogging, to some it's making cute cards, pillows, blankets, and whatever else you creative people can do...but for me it's organizing. It's a sickness really, I know it. However, today I did something that I have been wanting to do for seven years of marriage...are you ready, I figured out the perfect filing system for warranties, for everything we have ever bought. It's beautiful. I got done with it and sat and stared at it for several minutes in complete and total appreciation of the beautiful job I had finished. Ah, the satisfaction to know that at a moments notice, someone may say, "Amy, where is the manual for the digital camera," and with a flick of the wrist and a pull a drawer...BAM...you have it in your hand. Organizing closets, file cabinets, drawers, book shelves, it doesn't matter, it's all the same kind of high for me. I love a house of order and today in the battle of Amy vs Home (dramatic pause)...Amy won!

1, 2, 3 Cheese...

Ethan and Sarah, we took these pictures on November 25, 2009. You might be asking yourselves why on earth would our mother wait five months to post them, I say to you purely for the joy of anticipation for something great! So every time I went to get your pictures taken, literally every time, Sarah would fall and get a huge bump on her head. So the day finally came and Sarah bumped her head again and the bruise was small so I went ahead, fearful that the day would never come when I could actually get your pictures taken together. Ethan you were four years and nearly six months, while Sarah was fifteen and a half months. We took you to Target which is really a hit and miss when it comes to good photographers and their ability to capture the right moment. With that said I was happy with Ethan's smile, but they weren't patient enough with Sarah. Sarah you are a funny little girl that loves her mommy and if I am not standing right next to you at all times, the world feels like it might crash around you (I love it). There is one of the pictures where they get a side view of you smiling at me and that is you, honey. I love you guys. So here is a look of the day, mommy ventured alone to do the pictures, which I won't be doing again...that is why you have a husband (I was trying to be your Aunt Lisa, but I am just not that good). Plus daddy is so good at making everyone laugh, while mommy worries about the picture taking. I still love every picture because they are of you and your perfect. Enjoy!

I love when they can capture the cute kiss pictures. I hope you always adore one another.

This was the best together picture they could get. You two are such good friends. Your getting to laughing stage at one another and it melts the heart.

I love this sepia picture of both you and Ethan. Sarah one day you will truly appreciate the eyes the Lord gave you and so will every boy you meet.

I just had to post the colored picture, so you could see those baby blues.

This is one of the two pictures they could get with you smiling. Sarah you are more precious than gold to me and your father. The joy that is shown in every smile and in those eyes is priceless to us.

Here you are! The smile, the eyes, that look...that's my girl.

If only I could know you could fit in this dress forever, I would make you wear it everyday. I love it. The full skirt, the sound of swishing when you walk, it's a total little girl dress.

I love the way your dress looked when you were sitting. Sarah you are sweet and tender. You have a dear love for your brother Ethan. You are incredibly smart and speak like no child your age. You add a new dynamic to our family and made us realize there is always more love to give. You have a love for curious george that is as real as my love for. You love every animal that comes you way and you always want to cuddle. You have captured our hearts my dear and we love every minute with you.

Could there be a better picture of you Ethan...NO! You have so much joy in your soul and it is always just bursting to get out of you. I think this shot captures you perfectly. Perfect smile, eyes, and joy! We love you sweetheart.

This is the colored version, because along with your sister you were blessed with your daddy's eyes. Well and let's just face it, you, Sarah, and Daddy know you have mom wrapped around your little fingers.

Ethan you did this pose on your own when we were in the studio and it's just you. No one had to ask you to smile or to listen up, you just did it. I just think you look so big, your my little man.

I just had to post these next two because you were laughing so hard, because they were teasing you with a stuffed animal and you think everything is hilarious. You were in a full belly laugh in this picture.

The way those eye brows are raised it makes me laugh every time I see this picture. You always raise your eye brows just before you have a big idea and need a little backup.

This is you buddy (as Sarah calls you)! I love that we had a full body of both you and Sarah. Ethan you are an amazing little boy. You are sensitive and kind. You are a thinker, nothing gets passed you. You have to know why and how everything works. You talk to everyone and anyone. When we go to the store you tell the cashier everything we have done that day and what your cousins are probably doing while they are away from you. You are the easiest to entertain and everything makes you laugh. You are our little man and we love and adore you! Never change, I know great things are ahead for you. I love you!