Things are looking up......

It's been a rough year. We have had many ups and downs, but things are looking up and we are finding strength in our experiences. I won't go into the details now about the trials of the year or the blessings that have come but I do want to remember a little date I had last night. It was Matthews Birthday yesterday. He has been working in SLC lately and we don't get to see him as often as we like, so time together is really precious. We didn't do anything real exciting but it was nice to be together taking our time to find the right restaraunt enjoying talking so much that we decided not to go to a movie and then talking about the MIRACLE of us even starting to date in the first place, as we ate our dinner. You see, I thought for SURE I would marry a country boy and live the country way of life, in a small town with my horses and my husband who worked doing something on a ranch. That actually was my dream. Matthew grew up In Maryland, close to D.C. ALL CITY BOY!! When he finally decided to come to Utah( one thing he said he would never do.) He felt a little out of place here. Then we ran into each other. He met a girl who loved her country music and who he said looked like a cowgirl, and I met a boy who NEVER listened to country music and didn't even know how to catch a fish. Over dinner last night he looked at me with tears in his eyes and let me know that I have always been his favorite person to talk to and his best friend. We are still best friends, and it's amazing how much deeper that friendship can get. I love him so much, I am thankful for how hard he has been working to support our family. I know that we will make it through anything and that our trials will make us even stronger as a couple. There is a lot of unknowns about our future A LOT, and it is sometimes overwhelming and scary, but there is also faith and hope and even excitement that comes from knowing I am sealed to my best friend for EVER!! I love you Matthew....HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Primary

We spent quite awhile discussing Primary with the boys. Explaining how it would be different than nursery and also that we would be in primary with them but we would be sitting with different kids because we were Primary teachers...but not theirs. Matthew and I expected there would be some tears from the boys and it would be a little bit of an adjustment for them being able to see us but not be with us. So when the day finally arrived we watched our two sweet boys happily march into primary with big smiles on their faces. They sat down with their class and then turned around smiling and waving saying "Hi, mommy and daddy." I then look at Matthew and realized he had the same reaction I did. We were the ones in tears.

I don't know what it is about seeing your children as they are learning the Gospel, but it brings me so much joy. I love that they sit on the toilets in public restrooms and sing in unison "book of Mormon stories." I love that they think to pray when they are scared or sad. I love to see their excitement for the scriptures and how they are always "reading" them. One of my favorite statements....."mom I have to go read my cripkers." I am thankful that they are reverent at church and walk down the halls with their arms folded. I truly am so proud of them. They are special boys born with such a huge light inside of them. I feel a great responsibility to teach them and help them as their testimonies are growing.

Watching Daniel as he gave is first scripture in primary was a proud moment for us. Before he got up to the microphone the Primary president gave all the kids participating that day a sticker. Of course Daniel stuck his right in the middle of his forehead and then all the other kids followed his example. So he marched right up to the podium gave his scripture loud and clear with a big smile and a sticker on his head. It was a proud day for us. We love them so much.

Here they are with their "CBR" necklaces. Only one child gets one each week. It means they were "caught being reverent" this wee they both received a necklace. It was a great day!!

Dear Nathan and Daniel,
I am so happy that we were able to spend your birthday this year celebrating with both sides of the family. I love how important your grandparents are to you and how often you tell them how much you love them. It was so fun to see you with all of your cousins at Grandma and Grandpa Noel's house. Everyone was so excited to see you open your bike helmets and then find your new big boy bikes! We had so much fun singing you happy birthday and seeing your excitement over the Guitar cakes that you both requested.

You are also so lucky to share your birthday with your wonderful Aunt Brenda. She loves you so much and has always been happy to share her special day with you. We love seeing you with your cousins on Daddy's side and it made us so proud that you really wanted your own scriptures for your birthday. I hope you always remember the excitement you had to receive your own Book of Mormon with your name on the front and your own scripture bag to carry them in. You really are getting to be such big boys and you make us so happy.

I hope you boys know how much you mean to so many people, especially your mommy and daddy. You bring us so much joy and laughter. You are sweeter than I ever thought possible for little boys and you are such good listeners. We are proud every single day that we have such good happy boys. Being four years old is a great accomplishment and you are learning and growing each and everyday. We love you so much. Happy birthday to the greatest little boys in the whole world!!

We love you to the moon and back and all around the world forever and ever!!!


LOVE, Mommy and Daddy

At Daniel's request.....

Out of the blue Daniel asked me if I would take a picture of him. So I got out my camera and this is the pose he had in mind. It is like he had been planning this picture for quite some time. Not real sure what this means but it was important to him so I figure it ought to make it to the blog and be important to us.

Snow can bring smiles

Matthew spent a long time playing in the snow with these boys. They built a fort, had a snowball fight, wrestled, and then of course Matthew had to throw his mother and I into the snow when we were not at all dressed for it. He requested hot chocolate for them to drink outside. We got a lot of fun videos of them laughing and wrestling. It was a bright spot in a sometimes dreary winter. .

Tough little guys with really soft hearts

These are my tough little football players. Because of daddy they are into ALL sports. These football uniforms were from Grandma and Grandpa for Christmas. They love tackling and wrestling with each other and daddy.

Even with all that toughness they are still so tender hearted and kind, even a little to the extreme. If one starts crying the other one will. I will ask "why are you crying now?" and Nathan will say "because Daniel is crying." They don't always get along but I don't think they could get along at all without each other.

"mommy I scared"

Daniel has always fallen asleep before Nathan, it just takes him longer to wind down. Without fail as soon as Daniel falls alseep we all know because Nathan will come in and tell us he is scared. The easy fix that works EVERYTIME is giving Nathan one of his dads hats to sleep with. He takes the hat climbs into bed and falls asleep just like this. He has always been a daddy's boy and I think it is so precious that he finds so much comfort just from sleeping in or with his dads hat.