A Long Life

REWIND

2011-01-16T18:27:00.000-08:00

So, I've been informed by multiple people that I need some kind of recap of the last two years. So, here goes...

We sold everything; Moved from Florida to Utah; Mark went back to school in order to qualify for more school (Med school); I got a job at a Residential Treatment Center for Teenage Boys; I loved my job and the people there; Maribelle started kindergarten, dance and piano; Campbell developed genius abilities on the computer; I got pregnant (which I never ever thought I would do again!); Mark finished his prerequisites; We fill out a million Med school forms; Mark takes MCAT; Maribelle starts first grade and Campbell starts Pre-school; Both kids excel at reading; I quit my job to be home with baby; Mark gets accepted into Med school; I am proud of Mark; Sweet baby Jonas is born; I adopt my iphone as my fourth child; Mark got a job at an elementary school; My Grandpa passed away; I miss my Grandpa; We create a ton of fond memories with friends and family; We are sad and excited to move to Erie, Pennsylvania in five months...

A FEW WORDS FROM CAMPBELL

2011-01-10T13:25:00.000-08:00

As I was sitting at the computer, Campbell came and sat on my lap and asked if he could help with the blog. So, here's a message from him...

"scool is fun

but sometimes i want my famly."

That's all folks. More later.

NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT

2011-01-09T20:56:00.001-08:00

So it's been a while since I've blogged. Okay, it's been almost two years. Yikes!

I was overwhelmed at the prospect of going back over those two years and recapping it all. So, I've decided to start with the present.

These pictures are of our Saturday trip up American Fork Canyon to Mutual Dell Lodge (aka-"the cabin" as the kids would say).

The morning was super hectic and I felt frustrated at the thought of dragging the baby all the way up there...yada, yada, yada...but I'm so glad we did. As we drove through the mountains I thought to myself, "This is some of the most beautiful scenery on Earth and I get to see it."

Lessons learned: Just because a day starts off bad doesn't mean it will stay that way and a little inconvenience can pay off.

The kids had so much fun sledding. My in-laws came too (Grandma, Grandpa, aunts, uncles, and cousins). It was time well spent with the people we love. Especially as we prepare to move to Pennsylvania in a few months. There are so many loved ones we will miss.

Lovely In-laws

2009-01-26T13:53:00.000-08:00

I just came across this picture on my sister in law's facebook account and loved it. It is my mother and father in law and three of my sister in laws (Bonnie is not in the picture...it would be perfect if she was:). I just thought it showed how close we are. I'm thankful for in-laws that I actually love.

Prayers for little Rock Stars

2009-01-26T00:02:00.000-08:00

So, I just wanted to post a little reminder that prayers, even about the littliest things, are answered.

We recently went to McDonald's playland with some friends. Usually I keep Maribelle's shoes by me, but this time she put them in the shoe cubbies. It's important to mention that these shoes weren't just any shoes...they were her "Rock Star" boots.

Fast forward-It's time to leave the playland and I told Maribelle to put her boots on. She came back distraught because she could only find one boot (you know...the magical boots that, once placed on your feet, turn you into a Rock Star!). I was sure that she had just over looked her boot and went to help her.

Sure enough, one of her boots was gone, but there was another boot that looked a lot like hers. Evidently another little girl with the same size shoe and very similar boots had taken one of Maribelle's home. So, now Maribelle had a mismatched pair of boots (No, no...this would not do...mismatched boots do not have Rock Star powers!). We left our phone number with the McDonald's manager in case someone called about a missing boot.

Maribelle was sincerely upset and cried all the way home. She didn't even want a new pair. I was sure the boots were long gone, but Mark suggested Maribelle say a prayer. In the car, we said a family prayer that the other little girl's family would call so that we could exchange boots. As soon as we got home, tears still wet on Maribelle's cheeks, I got a phone call. "Is this Jody?" I think my little girl accidentally brought one of your daughter's boots home." This father then brought Maribelle's boot home and the exchange was made...sighhh.

Summary: Maribelle can now resume Rock Star status and she now knows that prayers (no matter what they are about) are answered-Let that be a lesson to us all:).

UTAH

2009-01-20T12:31:00.000-08:00

The kids and I got to Utah before Mark did. We stayed with Mark's parents for over a month while looking for jobs and figuring out living arrangements. During that time we got to spend a lot of time catching up with Mark's family and made lots of good memories.

I also got to spend a lot of time just playing with the kids.

When we were living in American Fork I liked to take the kids to the park and library. The park was right outside the library. Whoever thought of that idea was a genius.

The reading time program was really great at this library. Maribelle and Campbell got to learn all about dinosaurs and make dinosaur crafts (above).

While in AF, we were pretty close to Mark's sister Bonnie's family. The kids have really enjoyed getting to know their cousins.

Campbell with Bonnie's dog Fuzz

Maribelle, Macey, and Makelle

I love that while living with Mark's parents the kids got to do lots of fun things with their Grandma and Grandpa (aka Buella and Papa).

They got lots of horsy rides from Buella

Buella and Papa are very diligent about food storage and the kids reaped the benefits of snacking while they prepared food.

Here's cam learning about a walking stick bug.

Buella and Papa's backyard is full lots of fun (now it's covered with snow).

This is our backyard in Orem. While remodeling, Mark's mom built a swing from a door for the kids.

More fun in Buella's backyard.

HALLOWEEN FUN

Hannah and Brooklyn (my neices-they're twins!) on Halloween night.

For family home evening before Halloween, we drew on pumpkins together. Here's Makelle imitating her pumpking.

Olivia and Maribelle

HALLOWEEN NIGHT

Every year at Halloween I have a goal: To have awesome costumes for my kids for under five dollars. They still get to pick what they want to be and then it's my job to be creative. This year Maribelle was dying to be a rock star and Campbell wanted to be Shrek. Here are the five dollar results.

My rockstar and little Shrek

I love these munchkins.

FAMILY HOME EVENING

We always try to have family home evening even when time is scarce. Though my kids are young, I can still tell when we're not as unified as a family. Every time we have FHE we feel close again. That's a testament to me of 1) How early family unity can fall apart (even if your kids are two and four) and 2) How something as simple as FHE can keep your family together.

This is Maribelle and Campbell doing the Hokey Pokey during FHE. Their favorite part is to put their booty in and "shake it all about".

They also love Do As I'm Doing. They never do the typical moves. Here they are doing carpet angels...fast....and slow.

Campbell is currently having problems keeping his drawing on the paper. He loves to color on himself.

Here are my little ones all bundled up.

GOOD BYE FLORIDA

2009-01-20T11:15:00.000-08:00

We lived in Florida for five years. You can learn a lot in that amount of time (and we definitely did) and you meet and grow to love a lot of people too. We knew that we were supposed to move, but saying good bye was still hard.

My Grandma and Step Grandpa live in Bradenton Florida. This is a picture of me with my grandma before moving. I'm not sure when I'll get to see her again. I love them very much.

My sister Katy came to visit us in Florida before we moved and, of course, we went shopping. After a while Campbell had had enough and just sat down in one of the racks. I asked him what was wrong and he said, "I'm very frustrated."

Here's Katy aka "KayKay" helping us shop for winter coats (we had zero warm clothing:)

Polly was moving too so when Katy visited we had a girl's night out. I love girl's night with my sisters. It's one of my favorite things in the world.

Maribelle and Iris (cousins) lived close to each other in Florida from the time Maribelle was born. They became best friends. This is the last picture taken of them before we moved. Tears come to my eyes just thinking of them apart.

FAREWELL PARTY IN DAYTONA

Our awesome friends in the DB threw us a going away party. We love all of our friends in Florida and miss them very much. These are just a few of the pictures (we were having too much fun to get more pics).

Maribelle and Tyler

Tyler, Joel, and Cammers

Campbell and Tyler

Susi and Ryan

Momma Shilo, baby Shilo, Maribelle and Cam

Shilo and Shilo, Jennifer and Emily, Diane and Riley

Mark and Matt

Diane, me, and Manda

The DB Girls...Holla!

Me and Sarah

Moving to Utah

2008-08-20T16:59:00.001-07:00

Since deciding to move to Utah, I've been feeling the need to get this blog up and running to stay in contact with all of our loved ones. So, here's a few pictures from the last month to get it started.

Cam's first visit to the Dentist

2008-08-20T16:52:00.001-07:00

Today, Campbell had his first visit to the Dentist.

He kicked and screamed and clamped his mouth shut tight during the whole process. He was totally freaked out. The dentist had to pry his mouth open to clean his teeth, but he was still proud of himself when it was all over.

Here's his beautiful smile:)

Diva

2008-08-20T16:48:00.000-07:00

Maribelle grows closer to Diva status (albeit a nice Diva) with each passing day. She has very strong opinions about fashion already.

These pink sunglasses are one of her favorite accessories. She even wears them while watching TV.

Ready for battle

2008-08-20T16:44:00.000-07:00

We were cleaning out our hall closet and came across a knight costume.

Mark persuaded Maribelle to try it on and then coached her on acting like a knight ready for battle.

2008-08-20T16:42:00.000-07:00

Pretty convincing if you ask me.

Motorcycle Men

2008-08-20T16:37:00.000-07:00

We recently sold Mark's motorcycle to make our upcoming move to Utah easier. But, before we did, we got some fun rides in. Here's Cam on his first and last ride.

Good bye Red Ninja...Oh, how we'll miss you!

Maribelle the Babysitter

2008-08-20T16:30:00.000-07:00

Our friends recently had a baby (2 months early). They've asked us to watch baby Shilo a couple of times and Maribelle adores her. Maribelle doesn't let the baby leave her side!

2008-08-20T16:24:00.000-07:00