11 and Counting

This will make 11th year that Don and I have been married.  I am so grateful for the promises we have made to each other and God that have held it all together through the years. Eternal love is wonderful and so rewarding.  Love you through all eternity Lover.

Here is the poem I wrote for him this year. Nothing awesome I know, but hey I tried.

Gifts from Time

by Sunshine

(August 2015)

It started with just two.

Two people full of hope for the future.

Time allowed hard things to pass and fun to be created.

Time passed.

Then there were three.

The first little boy was born.

Time showed us what was important.

Time passed.

                                                                                              

Three became four.

Another little boy filled life with joy.

Time taught us to cherish time.

Still time passed.

Five voices filled the house. 

This house was far away from everyone we knew.

Time created a strong family here. 

And time passed.

Six was the number now.

Money was tight but life was good.

Time brought us back to childhood roots.

Time passed.

Seven!

A little angel girl joined the home.

Time gave us a place to plant our own roots.

Time passed.

Even with seven there were still two.

Two that still found laughter when together.

Time had made something eternal.

Time continues to pass.

Time may stop passing one day.

But what time has given will never end.

July Photos 2015

 Camping at Strawberry Point with Papa & Uncle Aaron

4th of July Parade

We love Grandma Grape!

Uncle Shane's 4th of July root-beer

Aunt Melody's Popsicle's

Landon's 4th Birthday Party

Twinners

Ice-cream at the Red Barn.

My cooking helper.

First pig-tails

Boy's love helping me garden!

One of the joys of summer, zucchini pizza.

Landon Is 4

That's right Landon is 4 years old.  This little boy has helped me develop more patience than I ever thought that I would have.  He is very stubborn and demands to be independent.  But that is part of my job as a mother, to help them grow up and be able to be their own person.  Hoping that he is able to learn balance between independence and allowing others to help when he needs it as he grows into his own man. He gets frustrated very easily.
Just an example would be the buttoning his pants issue.  There are a few pair of pants that the button is just too difficult for him to do on his own.  He avoids those pants at all costs.  When we went camping I happened to pack one of the hard to button pants.  He insists on buttoning it himself, which ends in him just laying down and crying because he can't, or me buttoning it and him still lays down and crying because I helped him. Oh the struggles.

Landon likes to sing songs.  His most awesome performances this year have been to the songs "Human" by Christina Perri, "Phantom of the Opera", "All of Me" by John Legend. 

Landon is quick to give hugs and kisses when I ask.  When I tell him I love him he responds with "I love you too" or "I know".  Both excellent responses. 

Landon knows most of  his letters, we still struggle with pbd and ZN  they are kind of confusing.  He is still working on writing his whole first name independently.  He can count to 29 like a breeze. 
He enjoys looking/"reading" books and playing the Wii. 
Landon has been working on learning to ride a bike with training wheels but again, the independent/frustration issue often develops.
Food wise Landon is hit and miss, but he always loves his fruit.  Honestly I could not tell you his favorite meal, he is kind of picky and often won't eat the same dishes consistently. Pizza and bread-stick is probably the one that he eats every time. He also loves most vegetables.  Breakfasts are also a hit with him.

This little boy is so much fun to have around and we just love him t pieces. 

His birthday party was a great hit.  Complete with watermelon, and Olaf cake, and water games.  Don and I filled 500 water balloons the night before the party.  Those were lots of fun to have at the party for batting and pitching practice.  We also had a water slide, that was sliding practice.  We had such great support from family and friends.  He was really worried that he wouldn't have enough "friends" to his party.  He kept asking who would be there, if there would be as many as Jaron's party.  So I really appreciate all those that supported him and made him feel special.

June Photos 2015

Eldon & Landon's Preschool Group

Quarters with Grandpa Gray

Zoorasic Park

Syracuse City Day's

May 2015

A little late I realize, but I think I will cut myself a little slack with the move and everything.
May started out on a high not with the Payson Temple open house.  What a beautiful temple.  I might just be partial, but as a whole, it is my favorite. The dark wood, art work, and celestial room are just gorgeous.  I also really love the apple blossom, so that made it even more beautiful.  The children really weren't all that awesome when we went through.  Landon and Eldon were difficult.  Kayla on the other hand was silent.  Don really feels that she knew were she was and could see more than we could in the temple. 
Tuesday May 19th Don and I signed the papers to close on the house.  We didn't record until the 21st.  Which means that the loan and everything wasn't final until the 21st.  Sat. we hired someone to paint several rooms. We moved in on the 25th.  We were so blessed to have so much help from family and ward members on both ends of the move.  During the purchase process we met several of our neighbors, one of which informed the ward we were moving into the house on the 25th, so we had some ward members come and help us move in.  It was so nice to welcomed with such open arms.
Since we moved in we couldn't be happier with the home.  The owners took such great care of it.  We also love the location.  The boys have made several friends very close by.  Landon is loving primary.  He went the first week without a fuss and is having a great time each week.  The ward members have been more than kind to us and quick to visit and reach out. 
We had four family members graduate this month. Ericka, Marisa, Brayden, and Kyle. Sadly Ericka and Marisa graduated on the same day so I went down to St. George for Marisa's and Don and the kids attended Ericka's.  We are so happy for these graduates!
Kayla is running all over the house now, she is getting faster every day.  She also has started to do this little shrug with one shoulder.  She often does it when she is trying to act like something isn't a big deal.
All the boys are loving summer break and growing way too fast.  Jaron and Bryson are able to help out with a lot of things and although still kids, are really helpful.The other two boys are still learning, but that is just fine and part of life. All the kids are loving the space a big yard of the new house. We kept all the kids on the top floor with us.  The three oldest in one and Kayla and Landon in the other.  That is working out great.
This month was the end of the fiscal year for Don at work.  They were procedure audited recently and have had to make several changes to the way they do things at the station.  This has made fore some LONG meetings, like 5 hours long, and some really long hours.  Don has been stretched a little thin at work these past week, but things seem to be settling down slightly now that we are almost to the end of June.

May Photos

Payson Temple Open House

April 2015 Pictures

Easter

Spring Break

Kayla's 1st Birthday

Pinewood Derby. Jaron took 2nd place. 1st place for our Ward.