Love it!

I was just reading a book to Skyler and Andon.  In it, Maisy and her friends ride a subway train...

Me: "Do you know what a subway is, Skyler?"
Skyler: "It's where you go to get a sandwich."
Me: "Yes, that's true, but do you know what a subway train is?"
Skyler: "It's what you ride on to get to Subway."

It was hard not to laugh out loud at this point, but I did maintain my composure and explained to him that it is actually a train that goes underground, and under buildings and streets in a city.

I then realized that his thinking process, while it sounded funny, made complete sense.  In Wilsonville, we often rode the "donut train." And where did it take us, you ask?  To get donuts!

Love it, love it!

Last Minute Kid Pics

I took these yesterday because the kids were dressed up to go to a Service of Remembrance at Sacred Heart Medical Center for Anneca.  I thought they turned out so cute, I just had to share:).

I love these kids!

"Children are not an interruption of my work, but the mere purpose of it."

Anneca's Birthday

Anneca's first birthday (Wednesday, September 24) was a beautiful day.  I cherished it and her, and felt the love of so many.  I felt like I was in a really good place.  I had been dreading it in the weeks leading up to it, but as it got closer, I decided I could choose joy, rather than sorrow.  I was asked to give a talk in church the Sunday before her birthday on Charity and the pure love of Christ.  As I studied and prepared for that, my heart slowly changed and I decided to accept His love and allow the pain to be swallowed up in His love.  It was a beautiful gift to me, the best I could have asked for.

I also kept myself busy.  I asked two friends (Chrissy Thomas and Whitney Lathen) if they would have lunch with me and they gladly agreed:).  And it was very fitting that I spent part of the day with them because they were very involved in helping us when Anneca died.  My kids were at Chrissy's house when we went to the ultrasound and found out she no longer had a heartbeat.  The kids ended up staying there all afternoon, she fed them dinner and took them home and got them ready for bed.  Her husband came over and assisted Kyle in giving me a blessing, then they came to the memorial service.  They helped in many other ways.  Whitney came over and watched my kids the day Anneca was delivered so my parents could come to the hospital and see her, among other things.  So, it meant a lot to me to be with them on her birthday.  We had a nice lunch together and just talked while the kids played (at Chrissy's house).  They gave me a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

When I got home, I got a few things done then ran to pick the kids up from school.  When we got back, my parents were here!  They brought gifts and goodies for the kids (for Anneca; so sweet!), beautiful roses and chocolates for me, and mums to take to the cemetery.  Then we all went up to visit the cemetery.  It was so nice to be up there.  We walked around a bit--the kids showed them the statue of Adam and Eve.  I called Kyle while we were there (he was in Hawaii on business).

Then we headed home and got ready for soccer and went to soccer practice. I am coaching Skyler's team, and we had a good practice. My dad took lots of pictures.

Then we headed to dinner and met my friend, Sara Edge.  The original restaurant we chose had a long wait (and it was already 6:30), so we went to a pizza place next door, which was still yummy.  We had a nice dinner together.  Sara brought presents (beaney boos) for all the kids and flowers for me.  My parents gave me the card/present from my family (parents and siblings and spouses).  It was the most thoughtful, meaningful gift and meant so much to me.  They gave us 90 pink tulip bulbs, a tree/plant of our choice, and a personalized stone with Anneca's name and birthdate on it.  All to put in Anneca's garden.  (We are going to create a little garden area in our yard for Anneca.)  I was so touched.  (I am so excited to create that part of our yard, but it's going to have to wait until next spring.  I got the tulip bulbs planted, but will transplant them when we get the right area ready.)

Then we went home and had a little birthday party for Anneca.  We had angel food cake and sang her "Happy Birthday".  The kids all blew out the single candle.  Then I showed them the few mementos we have from her birth and I talked about what she looked like.  Kyle had left scriptures and thoughts from the Apostles (on peace) around the house for me when he went to Hawaii, so for family scripture time, we read all of these together.  It was so peaceful and the spirit was there.  I shared my testimony about eternal families and how I know Anneca is our angel watching over us (and Calvin).

Kyle also had a special day.  Even though he wasn't here with us, he was able to be with his adopted Hawaiian family.  (The ones who gave him his Hawaiian name.)  He had dinner with them at their home and brought a Haupia (coconut) pie, which they put a candle in and all sang "Happy Birthday" to Anneca, too.  Their little granddaughter blew out the candle.  It was sweet to me that they would honor her in that was, too.

So many people emailed, called, or messaged me that they were thinking of us and Anneca.  I felt so loved and am so grateful for the goodness of people around me who love and support our family in so many ways.

Here is the stone my family had made for Anneca's garden.  I love it!  It will stay inside this winter until we are ready for it outside.

September--Catching Up

A LOT of our energies this summer went into our yard.  Here are a few more progress pictures.  It was an exciting day when they poured our concrete, and the kids had fun pressing their hands in to the concrete.  It was harder than I thought it would be, but I like the finished product.  It is on the back walkway right next to our back patio.

 We widened the front step, and made a walkway to the backyard. 

 

They put a concrete stamped border on either side of the driveway and walkway, and put in a concrete edging to go around our lawn.  The kids have had fun on the "balance beam".  Hopefully it will keep our lawn contained and looking nicer.

  

Thursday, Sept 25 we worked on the final prepping for the sod all day.  EIGHT pallets of sod were delivered first thing Friday morning (4,100 square feet!), and we started laying it.  Crazy enough, I had a Presidency meeting to go to, so I left while my mom and dad started laying it.  A member of our ward who owns his own landscaping business showed up with his son, and the four of them finished our entire front yard while I was at my meeting!  I couldn't believe it.  It took my breath away to drive up to that.  That afternoon we hit the back yard.  We had several friends show up, one even bringing an Air Force buddy on their way home from work.  Kevin Thomas, Staci Nielsen and her hubby and their friend, and Tina Spencer came to help, and the Elders came for about an hour, and we got it all laid!  It was amazing how fast it went once it was all prepped.  Kyle got home from Hawaii at midnight on Friday (I know, rough! Hee, hee), and Saturday morning we got up and went back to work.  We had planned on overseeding the parking strip area between the sidewalk and the road, but we had enough leftover sod that we decided to do that, too.  So we spent all of Saturday prepping that (pulling out lots of old grass, bringing in dirt, raking, etc.) and laying the sod.  The last section was a bit of a tetris job, but we had just the right amount of grass to do it all!  I never thought we'd use all 4,100 square feet of sod (and was overwhelmed by how much they delivered), but we DID!  The end result has been enjoyed every day since then.  I love it.

 The kids had been waiting all summer to put the sprinkler underneath the trampoline.  I really wanted to wait until their was grass (less mud), so on Saturday, they went at it and had a blast.  It's so nice to have it there; even Andon can get on and off completely by himself!

The second week of September we welcomed part of the Schnell family to our house!  They are our dear friends from Salem, and we have missed them.  Christian and Julie were taking their oldest daugther, Margaret, to her Freshman year at BYU-Idaho, and stayed here one night on their way.  It was so fun talking and laughing and being together.  Kyle was in Alaska that week so missed the fun, and we missed not having the other four kids here, but it was still so much fun.  Margaret was their FAVORITE babysitter in Salem, so it was cute to see the kids playing with her again.  We hope they come again soon!

 One thing about our current yard: it is a boys' heaven!  Dirt, dirt, and more dirt, everywhere you turn.  One day in September when Landon and Brigham Thomas were here playing, I let them have free reign of the dirt, and they had a BALL.  They were all in heaven, digging, scooping, and building in the dirt.  Dust was flying everywhere, and all four boys got a much-needed bath following the fun.  They rode the jeep around, jumped on the tramp, loaded up the dump trucks, and built up lots of immunity from all the dirt they were inhaling.  It was a great time!

I love these pictures I captured of Kyle and Andon reading a book together.

Progress!

We have grass!  It is hard to believe, but we did it!  The difference is amazing.  We laid 4,100 sq feet of grass in two days, after an entire summer of prep work!  We still have a lot of work to do on the bed and garden areas, but I love looking at the difference thus far!  Hip, hip, hooray!

 The finished product from the street:

Another HUGE shout out to my parents: they came last Wednesday and were here for Anneca's birthday, then helped us get ready and lay the sod on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  It was a huge help, as always.  We could have never gotten this far this fast without them.  They are both a huge help and I just try to keep up with them while they are here!