To the man of my dreams for Father's Day

When Aaron and I first met I knew he was something special. We met after attendance to the investigator class of our singles ward in October of 2005. I was fellow shipping a gal that the missionaries were teaching and he brought 4 of his baseball buddies to class. I wasn't going to go to class that day because my gal wasn't there but something whispered to my spirit that I needed to go. I walked in and there he was. Like a breathe of fresh Utah air. He was the first one in the class to say "On my mission,". He had me at that. He would ask me 2 years later "Had I not served a mission, would you still have wanted me?" At first I couldn't answer because of course I wanted to say that no matter what I would always want him which to this day is still true but after a week of thinking hard about it I came back to him and answered honestly. At the time, probably not. I know that sounds brutal but when I was looking for my eternal companion, I wanted a returned missionary. I wanted an Eagle Scout. I wanted someone who was active in college and education and had dreams and goals. I wanted someone who was quirky like my dad. Someone who I could constantly laugh with. Someone who was patient and kind. Someone who would speak sweetly to me and our children. Someone who loved and respected his mother. Someone who put The Lord first, me second, and then everything else. Someone who could take me to the temple over and over again. Someone who had an amazing family with a great legacy. Someone who would always give 110% to everything and everyone. A tall someone with brown hair and blue eyes(not kidding). I have been blessed with exactly what I wanted and then some. He is everything I have ever dreamed about. He is a dream to our two little girls who I know will rate whomever they date next to their daddy and first love. He is a walking talking living breathing example of what I expect my son to be. The bar is high as it should be. This man has made my life, is my entire life, and will still be my life in the world to come. He is my proof and testimony that The Lord truly knows us and what we need. He is every answer to every prayer I have ever had or ever will have. He is the man of my dreams and the man that I celebrate this Fathers Day. Down to the eye color, he is everything I could ever ask for.

Potty training success...again!

So it's funny how every time Aaron and I decide to break the girls from something, we do it on a whim. When breaking from pacifiers with both girls, we only did it because we lost all of the pacifiers we already had and we were too broke or too tired to go buy more, hence no more pacifiers for the girls. With sleeping in their own beds, it was only because Aaron and I were tired of getting smacked in the face during a restful slumber and a queen size bed really is only big enough for two adults, not two adults and a face smacking toddler, bod-a-bing girls sleeping in their own beds. With potty training we simply ran out of diapers. So Monday morning came and I noticed we had 4 diapers left. Now these 4 diapers would typically only seem like diapers but to an eight month pregnant women who dreads the grocery store with two extremely energetic little girls, these 4 diapers are gold. I didn't want to go to the store for more so we simply decided Monday morning we would commence with the potty training. Here I am thinking I'm all smart starting training so I wouldn't have to go to the store, yeah I was wrong. We had to go to the store anyways to buy a little potty, new pretty panties, and incentives. Three packs of diapers would have been cheaper. Yup, I'm a smart one!  First 2 1/2 days were brutal and I actually threw in the towel at 9 am on the third day but then I thought about how hard the first two days had been, how exhausted I was, and how determined I was to see this thing through to success. My mommy second wind kicked in and to boost overall energy and moral we came up with a potty dance. That was the key! Excess celebration! The rest of the day went great and she even woke up twice last night by herself to go potty. So I sit here now, exhausted but happy because my baby is potty trained (just in time to start buying diapers for another pipsqueak). Potty training success in a little less than four days. Oh and we still have four diapers left. So "The End" to potty training for child #2, at least until her next accident. 

For my family.

Overwhelming to me lately how blessed I am, truly. I have the love of three (soon to be 4) of the most incredible people ever to walk this earth. I wonder daily, no every minute of every day, what I ever did to deserve the love and happiness I have been blessed with. Talking to my sweet grandparents today on the phone, my grandfather asks "So how is that old man doing that ya live with(Aaron)?". I giggle because my grandfather is the goofiest dude I have ever known, and reply without thinking, "He is perfect. He is the most incredible man I have ever known in my life.". Grandpa paused and responded lightly "I would have to agree with ya there. You got a good one." We both sat in silence for a bit, me crying and also knowing he was doing the same on the other end. It pleases me beyond words to also know that the people whose opinions matter most to me in this life look at my little brood and see exactly what I see everyday; near perfection. My little beauties make my heart melt when they look at me with the same huge blue eyes that their dad has. It should be illegal for little girls to bat their eyelashes the way mine do. They will always get away with murder. Their laughs or should I say shrills are ear piercing, but that also tells me that I have some happy little girls in my home. It reassures me that I'm not a failure. With one look I know my husband sees me. I don't mean just looking at me, but he sees through me. He knows my soul. His heart knows my heart. Our spirits speak to each other because they have known each other so much longer than just this life. We have been each others best friend and confidant since the pre existence. I know how abnormal my marriage is to the world. But my marriage is not of this world. It surpasses limits of time. I believe in eternity and I know that I live with endless possibilities everyday. This post is deep, and I am deep. I see things rosier than the typical person but I have also made a very rosie reality for myself. Everything, life, people, every trial and triumph is what you make it. Life and The Lord have been so very sweet to me. Not without heartbreaking, mind breaking, body breaking, emotion breaking trials. But so sweet. For all of this sweetness there is no end. Just as there doesn't have to be an end for anyone. Life's happiness will continue because we work so hard daily to keep it alive. We will forever carry with us life lessons and experiences. Why not look at every glass half full and make this precious second of eternity the best it can be.

Family work...

Aaron and I had the opportunity to perform some of my grandfather's family history work last night. Nothing world shifting happened to us but as we sat together in the chapel overlooking the font awaiting our turn, the last bits of daylight shining through the immaculate opal windows, it occurred to me that though this event wasn't world changing for us it was for the people whose names we held in our hands. They have been waiting so long for these saving ordinances to be performed in their behalf. I know that as my grandfather's granddaughter that these family members knew him, knew me, and knew exactly what was taking place for them. I'm so grateful to have a knowledge of the truth! I'm grateful for a worthy priesthood holder that walks beside me and will continue to hold my hand through the eternities. I'm grateful for loving grandparents who entrusted me to perform this sacred work for their loved ones who have passed on. I'm grateful for the legacy that gets left by our fathers for each new generations. I'm grateful to look in the mirror and know with out a doubt that the face I am looking at comes from someone, from people past. I love this very real work!

A long update!

Holy cow!!! In the last 7 months, what hasn't happened? Well let's try and start off from my last post. I miscarried last August and that pretty much started off what would be some of the hardest months of my life. I never could have comprehended just how painful an experience like that could have been. I was barley far enough along to talk about it but it doesn't still mean the pain wasn't there. In October we found out we were expecting again! We were overjoyed!!! This pregnancy has kicked my trash though. I was far sicker with this one than I was with either of my girls. But for 20 weeks we all chugged along and the last several weeks have been glorious! I finally cleaned my house after being sick for so long. I just gotta say my incredible hubby is a trooper!!! He picked up all the slack and truly I don't know what I do without him!!! He is my lifesaver! In December we had a good little scare. During our trip to Vegas I became crazy sick and we actually thought for a couple days that .i was miscarrying again. Our hearts were broken. Come to find out I had actually just hemridged. Thank heavens! In February we started the closing process on a sweet little home in Utah county but after much prayer we decided that there were just to many squirly things going on with the sellers and we backed out. No worries though. Decided to wait out the pregnancy and get our sweet little BOY here before we acted on a house. A house and a baby is almost to much for a single year. So for now the house hunt is on pause and our little man will be here in 15 weeks or less. My tummy is just starting to poke out of my ribs and at times my stomach looks like its alive. Haha I forgot how much I love this stage!!! Nesting and a very real human growing inside me. So this is where we are right now. Aaron is doing great! Still just working crazy hard and waiting on an apprenticeship to open up in the company! He is the strongest most incredible person I have ever known and I feel truly honored that he picked my crazy butt to spend eternity with! Oaklee is growing like a weed and can write and draw and recognize basic words. This child is truly amazing and gifted! Maisy is obsessed with her sister and follows and copies everything Oak does! She is speaking full sentences, singing songs, and counting. I am so proud to be the mother of these little girls. I will keep my postings more current.

Summer Part 1(picture overload)

Summer so far in a nutshell. Brady reunion, Gpas 90, blessing dress and accessories, Hogle zoo, 24th celebrations, home cooked goodness, bridesmaid and wedding decor, Utah fairs, warm roadside veges, lots of traveling, lots of visitors. Good ole family time! I think I got it all. I have no idea what order the pics will post in but enjoy.

Wednesday

Got the house cleaned today. Oak and Mais are walking all over the house holding hands and playing together. They are precious! Can't wait for Aar to get home so I have someone to run with. Starting to make a blessing dress for a sweet little baby that my beautiful friend p is carrying. Going to the Gateway tomorrow to see my sister/friend try on a wedding dress. This weekend is the Brady Family reunion and grandpa's 90 birthday celebration. Talking in church on Sunday and mom and step-dad are coming to listen. Fabulous week and beautiful day!