Goodbye summer

Summer has just flown by and now it's time to get back to the real world. There are many things about our two part-timer worker job scenario that aren't great. No vacation or sick time, paying for private insurance, the inconsistency of hours, etc. But one thing that is wonderful is the Michael gets to be around so much especially during the summer. This summer he wasn't teaching at all and just had school in June and July. With me working slightly more this summer (20 hours a week instead of my normal 12) it still left tons of time for family. So while I long for the day when he's done with school and working full time, I am so thankful for the time we have now. Not many kids get to spend so much fun time with Daddy and they love it!

We honestly didn't do as much as I would have liked this summer as my first trimester tiredness lasted most of the summer. But we did have lots of fun at home and hit up Seven Peaks from time to time.We tired out best to keep cool in record breaking heat, ate lots of yummy fruit, played tons of dress up, made it on one hike and one camping trip. Mostly we enjoyed those stinking cute little "twiners".

Now it's back to reality. Michael will be teaching two classes at UVU again this year. He was also offered a job at BYU and is teaching one class there! It's so exciting to see him getting more and more experience and we're thankful for this huge blessing (well Michael is until he remembers he has to shave more now haha). Add to that the two classes he will be taking for his Masters, teaching institute one night a week, and his new calling on the high counsel and he is going to be one very busy guy!

Thankfully I was able to cut back my hours again and will be working from home half the time so that will be great. I plan to home school Hazel for preschool again this year both to save money and because I'm not ready to send her off just yet:) I think I'll be a wreck when it's time to send her to Kindergarten next year. Here's to an exciting new school year! 

Here's what you get when you ask your husband to take a first day of school picture:)

Temple to Temple 5K

We have had the wonderful opportunity to live in Provo during a very exciting time. The Provo Tabernacle which was severely damaged in a fire several years ago is being re-built in to a Temple. (For more information on Temples click here).

I had several fond memories of the Provo Tabernacle from when I was attending BYU. I heard President Uchdorff and his wife speak there shortly after he was called as an apostle. Shortly before we were married Michael and I had the interview for our sealing with the Stake President in one of the small side rooms off the main assembly hall. I attended my brother-in-law's graduation when Hazel was about 9 months old there; during the ceremony she dropped her pacifier from the balcony down on to the stage and nearly hit someone in the head:)

It's a wonderful building and I'm so excited to see it become a temple. Our stake is the "home stake" for the tabernacle which has made the whole process even more exciting. Recently they held a Fireside with the project manager overseeing the construction. He went in to detail about some of the amazing things they've done as they've turned this 100+ year old building in to a temple that will stand for generations to come.

Part of the process has involved suspending the building on stilts then digging 40 feet below it to create a basement. We visited the construction site last month and it is incredible to see what they've done.

At another point in the fireside our Stake President shared an experience that really touched me. He was the Stake President when the fire occurred. He, like so many, loved that building. But he felt the additional burden of "why did this happen on my watch? I'm supposed to be overseeing this building." He was with the fire investigation team in the days after the fire. When he saw this famous painting he felt an overwhelming sense of calm. He also felt as if the Lord was speaking to him saying "LeGrand, you know whose house this is. If I want to do a bit of re-modeling to my house, what's it to you?" (I love how our Stake President talks in such a down to earth tone haha).

He then went on to describe how often our "houses" (our lives, our plans, our families, etc) need to take a major shift for the worse so the "remodeling" can begin. It is in the times of trial and change that the Lord is making our houses become the exulted Temples we want them to be. But it's hard! It's hard to have faith in those times of great trial. And yet, if we can but endure the Lord has planned much grander, more beautiful houses for us.

I love the perspective his talk put on our lives. I often feel frustrated by not knowing where our family will end up (for goodness sake, we have no idea where we will be living a year from now). But it is such a comfort to know the Lord is guiding us. It also helped me realize that should I be called to face one of those "burn your house to the ground" type trials it would be on the path to transforming my house in to a temple.

To raise awareness about the temple and promote family history work, our stake hosted a "Temple to Temple" 5K Run/Walk on Pioneer Day. Where else in the world can walk from one temple to the next? No where!

We got up bright and early to start at the Provo Temple (Mike was running so he had already moved in place to start when we took the picture).

Then we finished just over an hour later at the new Provo City Center temple. (An hour is pathetic I know. Remember Gabby and I had 3 children with us and Hazel walked most of the way)

Afterwards, Hazel and Eliza enjoyed some more time hanging out with Brenny before she headed home.

We feel so blessed to be here as the Temple is built!

Hazel at 4

 

How is my baby 4 years old? Hazel is still as smart and independent as ever. She loves to learn and play. She also still has quite the sassy streak. Today I literally had a slammed door and a deep sigh from her. Talk about 4 year old attitude! Thankfully, most of the time she's actually very sweet and helpful.

 Hazel is so excited for the baby to join our family. She always wants to feel my tummy and look at pictures in "What to Expect when You're Expecting." Friday I took her with me to my appointment so she could hear the baby's heart beat and she was over the moon. She has also taken to playing pregnant and taught Eliza to play too. It's common to find them with a stuffed animal under their shirt or rocking their crying lovies. (Funny side note, when Eliza's lovie is a baby it's name changes from Ellie to Fella. She will ask me, "Mom where's Fella?" Silly girl!)

Hazel has become so curious about the world and life. She is always asking me questions as she tries to figure out how the world works. She is learning that some things are made up (like mermaids and unicorns). Since she figured that out she will often ask me if things are "real on earth." Today it was "Mom are flamingos real on earth?" "Yes" "Do they really stand like that on earth?". I love helping her sort out what's "real on earth"!

Another funny story with her curiosity... I was clipping Hazel's nails when she asked me if people could grow new fingers. I told her no, just the nail. Her response, "But the Primary song says you can" So I asked her which one. "I hope they call me on a mission, when I have grown a foot or two". It took me a minute to understand how that related! Of course if you can grow feet fingers should be no problem!

One of the greatest things to watch as she grows is how Hazel is beginning to learn more about the gospel. It often seems like she doesn't listen or remember when we have lessons or read Scriptures, but then she surprises me. The other day we were talking about how pioneers had to leave many of their things to trek West. Hazel said, "That's just like Lehi. He left his stuff then whet back for scriptures. Then they had to go back again for wives." I was impressed how much she knew. One night she was struggling to fall asleep when to decided to kneel down and say a prayer. She asked Heavenly Father to help her follow her sleep rules. Then the next morning she was so excited - "Mom I followed my sleep rules because Heavenly Father helped me!" She has such great faith and such a sweet spirit.

Of course Hazel is still a total princess. At a friends birthday party recently her mom taught them a song: "I'm a princess tall and clean and patient too. I will smile and thank and always serve and do." I had used that song one day to teach her that princesses are patient which means to wait nicely. Well today in the car I was saying how I couldn't wait for something and she started singing this to me then said "Mom remember a princess is patient!" We love you Princess Hazel! Thanks for all you teach us and the joy you bring to our lives.

Eliza at 2

Little Eliza is two! I cannot believe she's growing up so fast. As she grows we see more and more of her sweet personality. She is always thinking of others. If she gets a snack for herself she always makes sure to bring one to Hazel too. Or if she hears Hazel crying she will always go check on her. She has a very giving heart and I'm so thankful for the Spirit she brings to our home.

That being said she is also very much a 2-year-old. The tantrums over the littlest things have started. It's funny because when Eliza gets very upset she runs to another room in the house and throws herself on the floor to cry. Then when no one follows her she will eventually calm down and come back.

She recently has wanted to move out of her crib to a big girl bed so badly. We have been looking for bunk beds and trying to hold her off. But we haven't found anything we like that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. In the mean time, I turned the bus play area someone gave us in to a "head board" and put her mattress on the floor. Eliza loves her "bus bed" haha.

At her two year check up she just barely missed breaking 20 pounds - 19 lbs 15 oz. She's always going to be a petite little thing. But she's doing great and her blood seems to be doing well too! Here are a few of the adorable things she's said or done in the past few weeks....

I walked in to get her out of her crib one morning and she told me "Mom, your hair cay-zee!"

She told me "Hazel no, no nice to me." when I asked her why she was upset.

She's starting to assert herself against Hazel more. The other night during their bath they both wanted to be Ariel. Hazel kept telling Eliza "Eliza, say 'Hazel you're Ariel and I'm Natina'". In the past Eliza would say whatever Hazel told her but this night she said " Hazel your Natina and I'm Ariel!" It was funny to see Hazel's reaction when she realized Eliza would no longer be bossed around.

Eliza has caught the dress up bug from Hazel big time. She LOVES dressing up and will often sing and dance in a way matching her costume. Twirls to 'Once upon a Dream' when she's Aurora, jumping and running all over to 'When will my life Begin' when she's Rapunzel, and piles while she hums when she's in her leotard. I love to see her love of music and dance growing (even if it is exhausting keep up with her 20+ costume changes per day!)

Eliza has a thing for drawing on herself. We are always catching her covered in marker, paint, Sharpie, etc. Her uncle TJ likes to joke she will grow up to be a tattoo artist (Mommy is not amused!) 

Since it's been so hot Eliza usually just wears a onsie to bed. When she needs the snaps done up she walks around singing "Buckle, buckle, buckle" She never asks us to buckle it, she always sings it!



Eliza we love you so much! We're proud of your giving heart and love your sweet smile! Keep being you.

Fourth of July 2013

I have a sad confession to make with this post - I've decided I like a lot of things about living in Provo. I know I never thought I'd admit to something like that! The city government is very well run and the town itself is clean, well-maintained, and beautiful. It doesn't feel like living in a college town when you're not the one in school (that is until you forget you live in a college town and go to the grocery store at 10pm on Friday night to find it twice as busy as it ever is during the day time haha!). You get to drive past the MTC and see the enthusiastic smiles of new missionaries. There's BYU ice cream and chocolate milk, tons of family activities, and cheap artistic events (because I'd never to be able to afford going to ballets anywhere else). If Provo wasn't in Utah I'd say I love living here but I'll be honest I have an equally long list of reasons I don't like living in Utah.

Anyways, back to the point, another thing I enjoy about Provo is the Freedom Festival. The Fourth of July in Provo is awesome! This year we walked a few blocks from our house up to the parade. The girls LOVE parades. Thankfully we got a great spot in the shade because it was HOT!

You can tell Michael love getting up early on a holiday to walk to a parade can't you? Thanks for being a good sport honey!

Cutest 4th of July girls!

Then we spent the afternoon lazing around the house and enjoying a BBQ before heading up to BYU to watch fireworks from the Stadium of Fire. The fireworks are so close you feel the huge booms and the show lasts a long time! Eliza slept through the whole thing but Hazel enjoyed herself. And as long as you know where to park and take back road home, you get out of there without hitting any traffic. 

Enjoying olives before dinner.

Glow stick princess.

So thank you Provo for the wonderful festivities and making living it Utah almost tolerable.

Happy Birthday Hazel! Happy Birthday Eliza!

Happy 4th Birthday Hazel!

Happy 2nd Birthday Eliza! 

Hazel and Eliza celebrated their birthdays last Monday. I cannot believe they're getting so old!! For their party the girls agreed upon a "Fancy Nancy Birthday Dress-Up" theme. Okay, I may have pushed them a bit to the idea because A)we had a princess tea party last year, and B) I love that Fancy Nancy's style doesn't involve any matching or planning - just grabbing every fancy thing in the house and throwing it all together. Just what the pregnant, tired mamma needed! But really they were very excited about it!

We had family and a few friends over to the house for cake and some snacks, played outside, opened gifts, and had a blast.

Hazel's one request for the party - a Fancy Nancy club house. Thanks Daddy for making one!

Olivia, Miles, Eliza, and Hazel. Sadly Thomas and James got sick and couldn't make it. 

Present time! So I had decided months ago I wanted to make the girls dress ups for their birthday. They live in them about half the day and the costume ones are so poorly made all our dress ups are just falling apart. So I got ambitious and sewed each of them two dresses. It was a lot of work but I'm so pleased with how they turned out! 

Cinderella and Aurora for Hazel. 

Minnie Mouse and Rapunzel for Eliza. 

Hazel was thrilled when she opened hers! The one thing she told us she wanted was a new Cinderella dress. She also got a Cinderella doll to go with it.

Eliza saw hers and immediately had to try them on. She was literally out of her other dress before we could stop her! She loves them! 

Another huge hit was these crocheted crowns from my cousin's wife Megan. She had an AMAZING talent. Every year she makes hand makes the girls something and every year they LOVE it!

Eliza LOVED her stroller from Mom and Dad and her Barbie from Gram Holly (my mom's twin sister). She sleeps with the Barbie and if the crown falls off she's saying "Where my Ba-bee cow-en!"

We ended the party with yummy cake. The girls went back and forth so many times over what they wanted on their cakes. Shockingly Hazel didn't end up with a princess cake! 

Hazel's Butterfly Cake.

Eliza's Princess Cake. 

The party was a definite success - a simple, sweet celebration that our two leading ladies loved. What I thought was so cute was how for now they love sharing a birthday. To them, having a birthday with your sister is the best thing ever. We'll see how long it lasts.

Happy Birthday to my beautiful, smart, sweet girls! 

You may have heard...

This picture made it's way on to Facebook a few weeks ago, but I'm just now getting it up on the blog. Baby number 3 will join our family in January! We are excited to welcome another sweet little one in to our home. Hazel is really looking forward to the baby. She pats my tummy and give it kisses all the time. She has even told me that she is going to practice being a big sister. "I was one with Eliza, but it's been a long time so I need to practice." I love how excited she is for the baby. Eliza is pretty much indifferent to the whole thing. Or she's in denial that she'll no longer be the baby!

I started noticing my belly growing much earlier this time around. I was seriously convinced I was having twins! But the first ultrasound confirms there is only one baby - whew! Speaking of twins, I have the craziest dreams while I'm pregnant but I must share one that tops them all. I dreamed that it was twins and they ended up being a few weeks early. Baby A was born on December 31st and Baby B was born January 1st.  So we had Hazel and Eliza with the same birthday and twins with not only different birthdays but born in different years!! Because it was such a cool story we were on the Today show!  I woke up so excited because I've always secretly wanted to be on the today show. Haha! Like I said CRAZY dreams.

Things have been going as smoothly as can be expected in the first trimester. Thankfully I don't get sick (though I've been much more nauseous with this one than the girls) but I am so tired I don't get much done. With the girls I would sleep like 10 hours a night and be fine during the day, but with this one I've had a hard time sleeping so I've been really lethargic and had a "foggy" brain all the time. Can't wait until I have the energy to do more than bare minimum cleaning! Whether it's from lack of sleep or just a different symptom I've also been a lot more moody this time around. Maybe it's a boy? Regardless, we're excited!