Luke is HERE!

On July 24th, Luke was born. No words can describe the anxiety I felt when I got the call from Benita that she was starting to have contractions.  I felt so excited and nervous at the same time.  Benita was finally going to have her baby!  I desperately wanted to be with her but it just wasn't possible.  I would find myself busting into tears and my heart breaking when she was on the phone with me in pain.  I probably would have ran to her house if I could, but I knew that was not possible.  But he came, safe and sound.  Beautiful baby boy!!  I love this little man and I love that Benita got her little baby.  So as soon as I could I made my way down to Arizona.  I brought my own little baby lover, Olivia and my baby Mason.  We had fun loving on Luke, giving him baths and just hanging out.  The time was too short of course and it was hard to say goodbye.

Mason had a hard time understanding that was his swing and his blanket and pretty much his binkie but he couldn't have them cause we gave them to Luke!  He fell on his face and got quite beat up!!  BOYS!

Quick Visit to Blanding

I am never going to say no to a quick trip through Blanding! Benita and Scott were on their way to his parents cabin in Colorado and it was sixes to come my way or another way.  So of course I win!  We loved it!  Got to snuggle up with this cute baby.  Olivia didn't object to it either.  They stayed and hung out all day. Benita went on errands with me and took the boys to practice.  It was fun.  So easy with Beni. 

We had a couple of pictures of us smiling at the camera but J pretty much keeps snapping the camera whether we are ready or not.  He got this one and I kind of like it cause it's just of me and B talking.  It's funny.  Love this girl! 

Summer at The Field

This is the place where you would find us most mornings.  Cohen and Livvy were champs about getting up and walking pigs.  Luckily, Grandma Lyman would meet us down at the Field to help ward off the other animals and clear the field so we could just focus on walking pigs without horses running at us.  I know that shouldn't be freaky but it is!!

Pretty much every morning, Livvy would keep her eyes out for any critter that she can catch.  This morning when I was trying to take 4H letter pictures, she was trying to catch a bunny.  She had caught it before as a baby but now that the bunny was older he could get away faster from Livvy.

Cohen is a magical wonder to me.  He is so great at chores.  Never to neglect or put off anything.  He would just rather get it over with.  One thing that was really hard this summer was to work as a team.  If we didn't, we would spend our morning frustrated chasing after those pigs getting muddy.  Those days are not fun.  But when we could work together, and we all held our tongue not to criticize and just did our part as a team, those were the good days.

Livvy's pig was a fat one and she practiced all summer to jump on her.  So gross if you ask me but this little lady loved it.  The pig didn't seem to mind either.

Really, the best thing I could do for Mason is tie him up in a stroller.  Just watch.  He will have his day.

Cohen's a fast little monster when he wants to be and he really enjoys getting a rise out of Olivia.  He thinks he's so funny....until it isn't.

Cohen is not a huge fan of animals or pigs.  He never had the attachment to the animals like Olivia does but one thing Cohen will always do ... his job.  He can't stand an assigned chore to be ignored.  So he is first to get up in the morning and the first one to the car.  I love him even when some days just involved him sitting on the ground working through his frustrations.

I have a feeling Coy cannot wait for the opportunity to have a pig.  It's real cute when morning came and he wants to wake up and go with us.  The summer was a good experience for us.  It taught a lot of patience.  Well...I think we have a lot of practice in patience especially me but I can't wait to master it a little more though cause most days it got the better of me!  All I know is I love these two rug rats.

McCoy's Birthday Party

Nana had sent us these Dinosaur sprinkles and we could not pass up putting them on cupcakes for Coy's birthday party.

 Top Row: Kessia, Dodger, Taylee, Palmer  Bottom:  Adison, Aspyn and Trace

 MCoy is a girl lover.  He loves his friends very much.  He has a great time, especially with Adi.  Whenever he sees any princess thing or girly thing he is asking me to buy it for Adi.

 I'm not really sure what I was thinking about taking a bunch of four year olds bowling, but I think they had fun!  After an hour and a half though, we decided, end of game or not, we were out!  Good thing I had Stacy by my side to help me out with the cute little ones.  I think they had more fun walking around the table and chairs in a game then the actual bowling!

 This little girl is Kessia.  Coy thinks she is his girlfriend and in their conversation I overheard that she thinks he is her boyfriend too.  They play so well together and it is craft city!

Happy Birthday to Coy!

MCCOY!!! My cutest little 4 year old buddy! This kid is so much fun to be around he makes being a mom a cakewalk.  He always looks for reasons to be happy.  I like to sneak up on his play and just spy on him.  It makes my day.

 He does love his little girl friends.  This is Addi.  They play so great together.  He has so many little girls that he plays with and loves.  He is definitely a gentle dude.  Although, when it gets too girly in play time he lets them know it.  Sometimes, it has happened before, that his dinosaurs will eat the princesses. 

Coy longs to be "a big kid" and likes to try out his independence.  He loves to walk home from Grandma's house.  He likes to run ahead of my car.  It's pretty cute how he runs and holds up the back of his pants so they don't fall down!  Then he will dead stop and wave to me and then take off running again. 

For Coy's birthday dinner we made homemade macaroni and cheese and chicken nuggets.  They were soo good! Even though Coy was so excited about his dinner, he didn't really eat that.  I guess we made it too much of an adult version!  :)

Coy's favorite thing is dinosaurs.  He loves loves them.  He asked that all his gifts be dinosaur-related.  I did my best with a few exceptions. 

Coy and Grandpa Lyman

Dear Coy,

There is a big difference between age 3 and age 4.  Four is big!!!  You are growing up so fast and are as sweet as ever. Right now, your life revolves around dinosaurs.  HA!  It is so funny to watch how you learn everything about them and are always correcting me on the name of each dinosaur.  You make me laugh!  You are always playing fun tricks on me!  Stinker!  One of my favorite things you do is you always give me the "I Love You" sign language symbol.  You could be crying on the floor but your little hand will come up and give me the sign.  I am pretty sure your heart is made of sugar.  You always tell me that you aren't tough, you're brave and I think that's so true.  Your Heavenly Father loves you so much and is very mindful of you.  I love your tiny prayers.  You speak to Heavenly Father like you know him.  And I think it is very legit that you ask that nice dinosaurs can come alive again.  I could squeeze you forever little man!  I love you to the moon and back!

Love, Mom

A Change...

Ever since Olivia was a baby I have enjoyed being in YW.  Every baby I had I thought there was no way I could keep being in YW.  It was hard to leave with little ones and a family to tend to.  Sometimes I would drive to activities with tears and a prayer in my heart that everything would be OK and that I could be a good leader.  The blessings my family have received from my calling are not countable.  Each temple trip, activity, fireside, Sunday lesson, Wed activity grew my testimony.  The thing is, I might have gone into YW thinking that I could teach the girls a thing or two but the opposite happened to me.  They taught me more than I ever thought possible.  The youth of our church are strong.  They choose the right.  They are not afraid.

When I was released from my calling I had so many mixed emotions.  First I didn't really think it was going to happen.  I was finding myself wondering what I would do with my extra time.  Then I began to fear what calling I was going to get next.  I wondered how I would hear about the girls' dates, their fears, their happy moments. How was I going to get them to do personal progress if I didn't know what they were up to?  Would the new leaders care for them as much as I did?  All these emotions came through as tears as I got released that day.

I realized that my testimony got stronger somehow between all the hectic days, all the planning and preparing.  I have a testimony in the Savior Jesus Christ.  I know without a doubt he loves the youth and he will take care of them as new leaders come and go in these girls' lives.  I am grateful to be such a small part of that because it made me be a better person, have a stronger testimony and have faith in our future in this crazy world we live in.  I am so so so grateful for my husband who supported me for the past 7 years to be able to do everything necessary for my calling.  I was gone a lot which meant he had to take on more responsibilities.  I couldn't have done it without him.  I will be forever grateful.  I guess for now, I have many letters to write as my YW head out in the mission field!

 The best thing that I finished in YW is ... I got my personal progress necklace ...again!  Loved every minute.

Strawberry Days

It was so nice to be in town for Strawberry Days. I am not sure how we always manage to be there at the right time but I love it. There is nothing like a bowl full of strawberries and cream. The kids had lots of fun on rides and we got to meet up with Jolynne and her family at the tail end of their vacation to Utah.

Maxon is the sweetest guy.  Cohen and Maxon make the perfect team.  Cohen was sad to say goodbye. 

Seriously.  I was paying for McCoy's sugar stick and I turned around and he had eaten the whole thing.  I am pretty sure I screamed.  That kid and his sugar. 

Livvy is growing up so fast.  She is more responsible than ever!  Love her guts.