Another first in our new home

Last Sunday we had our first Sunday dinner in our new dinning room. I don't know why but there's something so special about Sunday dinner for me. I think perhaps growing up dinner was always a time for our whole family to be together. I was so excited to "break in the new dinning table" that I had to take a picture. Here is our first photo in this dinning room, and soon to be many more special memories to take place there.

Farewell, to our first home!

We just moved into a new home, and sold our old home in west Layton. There are so many mixed emotions that go through you when you move. I really didn't know what to expect. I thought that since we had been considering moving for a while I'd be well prepared for the final good bye, but I wasn't. It was especially hard going to our last day of church. I realized that all those who had influenced, and served our family for so many years would no longer be apart of our every day lives. It was especially hard for Kate. She would no longer be able to run next door to play with her friends. I've been reminiscing about our old house. It was the first and only place Dan and I had ever lived in together. All of our memories as a married couple, and a young family are there. It was really hard to just drive away. We are now moved in, and just attended our first Sunday in our new ward. I feel much more at home. I know that this is definitely where we are meant to be. We both feel so peaceful about it; the whole process went so smoothly. We couldn't have asked for a better moving experience. Last Sunday we went to our neighborhood walk about. Every month our neighborhood selects three homes to host a little social for two hours. It gets everyone outside, and visiting and meeting each other. Kate and Kirk had a ball, they both met new friends. One of the best parts of our move is that we are so close to family. Saturday we Celebrated the fourth of July. Usually we end up spending alot of time driving between family functions on holidays. Yesterday however, we were able to just walk through our back yard and we were at Dan's parents. We were also very close to my side of the family as well. I'm so excited for the convince of living close to family. The Fourth of July was a blast. Every year we have the tradition of eating breakfast with my family, then heading over to the Layton Parade together. It was the best parade experience we've ever been to, mainly due to that fact that it was cool and cloudy. We usually aren't lucky enough to find a spot in the shade. So often we end up standing in the scorching sun. But Saturday was gorgeous cool weather. Afterwards we went to the fair. The kids were each able to pick out a prize. Kirk got a sword (fittingly), and Kate got a fan (no surprise there). It's funny how Kate is such a girly girl, and Kirk is just all boy. Then we headed to my grandma Woolsey's house for her annual fourth of July BBQ. We always sit under the shade of a huge walnut tree. I was able to visit with my aunts, uncles, and cousins. Then we headed home got ready for swimming and hit the Mower's pool. We all swam, (except for Benjamin, he severely needed a nap). Then it was time to eat again. The dinner was fabulous terriyaki chicken, hot dogs, salads, and homemade ice cream. We planned to go to the fire works as a family, but I was totally spent. So Dan took Kate and Kirk to his brother's house to light fire works, while I stayed home with the baby and took bath and went to bed. I think I definitely got the better side of the deal on that one. My only regret is that I didn't get any pictures. I need to carry a camera in my van so that I can whip it out at any time.

I was trying to capture Benjamin smiling, and laughing. My camera doesn't snap photos very quickly so it's hard to get that perfect expression. He really is the happiest sweetest baby. He smiles all of the time.

Kirk did such a funny thing today. I've just begun Kate's birthday party preparations. (I feel like birthday parties are beginning to become a hobby of mine. The plans get bigger and more elaborate every year). So he has begun anticipating his birthday party. He said that he wanted a knight party. Our neighbor brought over a delicious chocolate cake to welcome us into the neighborhood. I offered my sister and her children some, and Kirk started to today freak out. He started saying that I shouldn't eat his birthday cake. I told him that it wasn't his birthday cake, but he was way past reasoning. So the only way I could calm him down was to let him stick one of his toy knights on it. We then all sang "Happy Birthday" to him! Afterwards I thought wow, I've really let this whole birthday mania get a little out of hand.

Our Beautiful baby boy is blessed

Today has been a wonderful day. Benjamin was a perfect angel on his blessing day. Last night we set up all of our tables, and chairs. I was so excited to have our family dinner outside for a change. Our other babies were blessed in fall and spring, and it was just to cold to hold the dinner outside. But of course this morning I woke up to a torrential down pour. I haven't seen rain like that in a very long time. I felt really upset at first. Part of the reason we waited to bless Benjamin was to have beautiful June weather. I realized that it doesn't matter how much we try and plan out our lives perfectly, sometimes we need to fall back on "plan B". The blessing turned out perfect anyways. Benjamin was a little angel during the blessing. Dan's Father said that he was wide awake, and just looking up at all of the men with his big blue eyes. Dan gave him a very thoughtful, beautiful blessing. Benjamin is such a sweet baby, with a special spirit. Kirk and Kate enjoyed sitting by their cousins at church today. They had been talking about the babies blessing for a few days now. When we woke up this morning the first thing Kirk said was "is it Benjamin's party today?"

I'm so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. I thought about how the rain reminded me of our Savior's atonement. I'm so grateful for his cleansing power in my life, I know that because of him I can be with Dan, and our children forever.

Just an Update

Well the past month has flown by in a total blur. I can't believe my baby is already two months old. He is sleeping much better at night now, and he is so adorable. He is the sweetest little thing. I love him so much! Kate also graduated from preschool on Friday. They had an adorable program. I wish my video camera was working. They sang some adorable songs. She looked so cute and did a really great job.
Benjamin almost 2 months old

Daddy's little pal. Dan loves holding this little guy.

Kate's preschool graduation! She has learned so much this year!

The next few weeks are going to be incredibly busy. Dan and I have been working non stop on our home to get it ready to sell. Yes, we are moving. The last six years of being here in Chelsie Park have be great, but we've found a home, and feel really at peace about moving there. It was a hard decision, but when Benjamin was born we realized how quickly we were beginning to out grow our home. It was time to either finish the basement, or move. There's a home right next to Dan's parents house that had been on the market for a whole year. We looked at it last year, but it was a bit to pricey. Now with the real estate market crashing, and with interest rates at an all time low, we felt it was worth looking into again. After a lot of thought and prayer, we put in an offer. We've been so blessed, they excepted our offer. We will close next week, if the inspection goes well. I'm so excited! It really feels like a dream come true. It all happened so fast that I feel like I might wake up after all and find that I'm only dreaming! Keep your fingers crossed that every thing will continue to go smoothly, and that our house will sell quickly. We've only had one call on it in three days. The market is really slow! But we have high hopes that it will happen for us!

Baby Benjamin's Photo's

My Friend did a photo shoot of Benjamin last Saturday. He was only two and a half weeks old. I love the way the pictures turned out. My friend did a great job capturing the sweet little cuddly stage that he's in right now. Benjamin is my little snuggle puppy. He is so sweet and just molds into you. He loves sleeping in our bed, and is totally spoiled. They grow up so fast that I find myself never wanting to set him down. I love this stage of development right now. He is such a little sweetie! And as you can see from the pictures that he is totally gorgeous.

On a humorous note, I got home from enrichment night tonight and found Dan watching the Jazz playoff game with the kids. I guess the game was a little boring............

We've discovered the easiest way to get our kids down at night.... You just wait until their soooo tired they just drop over and sleep were ever they happen to be! Just kidding we actually try to get our children to bed at decent times.

Easter Fun, and more Benjamin pictures

Well the last few weeks have just past so quickly. I can't believe Benjamin will be three weeks tomorrow. So just a quick update on what we've been up to lately. When we were in the hospital after having the baby a nurse noticed that Benjamin had a heart murmur. I knew that a heart murmur wasn't uncommon in newborns so I didn't worry to much about it. We followed up with our pediatrician, he was concerned enough that he sent us down to Primary's children's hospital for an echo cardiogram. It turned out that he has a heart murmur, as well as a very small hole between the two ventricles of his heart. Fortunately the doctor said that neither of these conditions should effect his hearts ability to circulate his blood. We are hoping that the hole will close by it's self, in most cases it does. We are so thankful that Benjamin is okay. We also celebrated Easter with our families. The kids went on three egg hunts the Saturday before Easter. They found tons of candy, and had a blast. It was the first time we took the baby out. It was nice to get out and visit with family. Easter morning the kids loved looking for their Easter baskets. I heard Kate from upstairs squeal, and say "he got me just what I wanted". Kate got a my little pony, and Kirk got a toy gun. (I don't love the idea of kids playing with guns, but it's better than having him pretend that the markers are guns, and getting marker all over the house)! Here are some fun pictures of the kids.

Benjamin getting an EKG. Poor Baby, even though he was getting tests done he was so good.

Primary's had volunteers giving stuffed bunnies away to everybody. The hospital was so great!

Kate and Kirk collecting eggs at their grandma's house.

We had little Benjamin

The past two days have been so wonderful. We feel so blessed and happy to have such a sweet, and darling addition to our family. At 12:36 Monday night I delivered baby Benjamin. He weighed 8lbs. 12oz. This little guy was excited to get here, once I was complete, he came very quickly. He also wanted to make a big entrance. As soon as his head was out he started to cry. The Doctor said that babies rarely do that. He said he's only seen it happen maybe once in a thousand babies. We think he is one in a million. He is a very good baby, and so cute. The kids came up yesterday to meet him. Kirk and Kate were both so excited when they saw him. They both were able to hold him. Kirk really wanted to take him home with him yesterday. I think our new little guy is not going to be lacking in love and attention. He is very much loved and his whole family is so excited to welcome him to our home.