SURVIVOR

 It has been a week of reflection and celebration. 

Oh how grateful I am that we are on this end of this past year. 

We are survivors!!

We celebrated in the backyard with the friends and family who pulled us through.

Including a cherished surprise...

Meredith brought Shelly...THE SHELLY, to meet me.  (I can't get the picture of all three of us to upload.) I was so touched and excited that they would put all the effort of travel plans and expenses, and all the work it takes to leave home for a couple days, to come and make it such a special occasion for me.  And, James kept it a secret!!

     Lyle and Rex go at their birthday cake. 

          After Grandma got them all cleaned up.

          Lyle in his "Lyle, Lyle crocodile" jammies.

          Rex in his T-Rex jammies.

 

This was shortly before the party.  Both babies had woken up ornery so I was rocking them and they both fell asleep on my lap.  Instead of fretting about everything I wasn't getting ready, I just decided to enjoy it.  Pretty soon, Hyrum came and fell asleep at my feet.

Happy Birthday!

One year check-up

"...has the day of miracles ceased?...

...Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought..."

(Moroni 7:35 & 37) 

(at about 4 lbs. one year ago)

 

Today:

Rex 20 lbs. 3 oz., 30 inches

Lyle 20 lbs. 7 oz., 30 inches

Hooray!

Double Ear Infection

I guess I can't complain when we've had double the chances and still didn't have an ear infection for nearly a year.  Poor Lyle got a "twin dose" though, both ears.  Not our happy little Lyle.

On the scale yesterday, Lyle was 20 lbs. 8 oz.  My 4 lb. baby made it to 20 pounds by his first birthday!!

Lately...

Addie got married!

 

 Cousins at the temple.

 Sariah's only "sister"

Time Out for Women with my mom and all my sisters!  It was a wonderful, short weekend.  (But not for James.)  These women really are incredible.  Just briefly...

(From the left)

Jennifer, Dax's wife, is the best self-educator I know and can always get a screamin' deal.

Me.

Taneil is super creative, especially as a mom.

Laryn, the "baby," just completed her first year of college and proved she's all grown up.

Haley is the planner of details, always taking care of everybody.

Blaire loves my babies and willing does so over and over and over.

Brielle is adventurous and willing to try doing just about anything.  I'm especially impressed with they way she's learning to homemake.

Mom, the saint.

Two other amazing women, Meredith the mother of twin boys and my example, and Lizza my "angel".

Three sisters in three different states end up with the same dress!

Saying good bye to Taneil.  (Vard will never miss a photo op.)

 Bathtime is more like tsunami time with twins.  (Ask Aunt Rhonda!)

 Two sets of purple toenails. (I've never been so bold!)

 

 A few nice days, and the kids think it's time for water and popsicles.

and...

  DREAMING!

Golden

Sariah came home from church today and wanted to "study the scriptures."  Even though I was really anxious for a Sunday afternoon nap, how could I pass up such a golden teaching opportunity?!  I had her gather her marking pencil, pen and paper, and her scriptures.  We started with prayer, read parts of Mosiah 8 (part of my Sunday School lesson) and talked about "seers."  She marked the words "seers," "revelators," and "prophets" in her scriptures and then wrote them on her paper.  We talked about what the prophet counsels us to do and she drew a picture of herself saying her prayers.  We ended with a prayer.  It just doesn't get much better than that!

Walmart

I used to be pretty pleased with myself when I toted Hyrum around the grocery store in the hiking backpack with Sariah as my "helper" for the low shelves.  I wonder what I would have thought then if I could have seen myself in the future a couple of years --- on, yesterday.  Lyle in the hiking backpack.  Rex in the baby seat of the cart.  Hyrum in the cart.  Sariah in tow.  I didn't even get one comment!  I must have left everyone speechless.

Yard Initiation

 

Saturday was absolutely perfect.  Not uncomfortably warm, not uncomfortably cold. James was off working on his final paper for this semester, and was gone all day, so we were outside all day long to keep sane.  We cleaned off the patio, weeded the flower beds and mowed the lawn.  We did inside chores during naptime.  By about 6 o'clock we were ready for dinner outside when James showed up with fried chicken.  After baths, we initiated the fire pit for the year as we read Wildwood.  There is no doubt, of everything I will miss about this house, I will miss the backyard the most.  (I just noticed the teddy bear in the first picture and the last picture.  Funny.)

Admiring the view on Sunday Morning