Happy Anniversary Amy Noelle

To my ever loving wife: Thank you for 8 years of laughs, love, tears and trials. Thank you for surviving through 7 years of having your husband be a student, and working hard to meet a meager budget. Thank you for being willing to follow me to 6 different places of residence, and making all of them a home. Thank you for sacrificing physically and spiritually through 5 different pregnancies (And still being one hot mama). Thank you for 4 beautiful children, who are our life. How could we be without them? You have laid down your life for them, and they will be eternally grateful for you. Thank you for your commitment to 3 more years of residency which promises more lonely nights, long hours of wrangling monkeys alone, and missed important events. Thank you for 2 eyes that have always seen the best in me, 2 hands that have always supported me, 2 ears that have always been willing to listen, and 2 feet that have tirelessly walked a long and winding road. Thank you for 1 sacred promise made 8 years ago on this day, that made me the 1 and only for you, and you the 1 and only for me; a promise that will bless us eternally.

I'd do it all again in a heartbeat as long as I had you to count with. I love you Amy Noelle.

LIFE Update!

My Beautiful kids on Saturday morning.

Saturday morning, we had a lot of fun going to a ward Easter party, but before we could go, mom had to take advantage of this photo op.

I had to put this picture on, because I just think she is so beautiful! She is growing up so fast.

Our primary presidency is amazing. They do a great job. The kids got some spiritual and a lot of fun.Deeken won this sucker, I mean "GIANT LOLL-LI-POP." It was as big as his head, and he loved it!

This was a fun Easter egg hunt that some of our friends and I put together. It was so nice that the rain stopped long enough for us to have it.

What a beautiful girl. It was pretty chilly but she kept smiling.

This kids many faces makes me giggle. I Loved you too Deeken!

We colored Easter Eggs on Sunday after church. We had a really great time together.

Micah's rainbow egg...made with Daddies help.

Josie has given new meaning to monkey. She adores these kitchen chairs. She will get herself sitting up on them and then start knawing on the bars. She did get her first tooth at almost exactly eight months, and it seems everything is a teething ring. She is growing way to fast!

Ahhh, and our house. Well, they got it backfilled , so we don't have a hill in the backyard anymore.That happend early in the week, and then this happend. Snow in April really!?!

But today it cleared up again, and they were able to pour the floor in the basement.

and they poured the garage floor too. My mom says they did a really good job, and that means a lot coming from a perfectionist. I know the house monitoring is in good hands. Thanks again wonderful parents. Also, thank you to Mark and Joanne and Heidi and Travis. Thanks for making us feel like you are super excited to have us back in Utah and in your neighborhood. Last Sunday we were wishing we could go take a drive or even walk and go see our house. That night we received e-mails from both these siblings with pics of our house. It meant A LOT to us! THANK YOU!

PS I have decided to go private because the Internet can be used as such an evil tool. Nothing has happened to my family personally. I love blogging...personally it is the best journal I have ever kept, and it just makes me happy to read about my friends lives. I like knowing peoples frustrations and joys. Anyway, I want to keep blogging but just want to protect my family, so go ahead and sign up if you want to keep in touch with our lives through blogging.

Private!

All right, I'm done. I through my hands up and am going private. Gotta protect my beautiful babes, so if you want to keep viewing our blog leave a message or e-mail me! Peace out!

Wow! We have a House! Well, part of one.

It is hard to believe that it is less than two weeks since we signed the paper, that said "GO" build us a house. Here is the progress thus far...

On Tuesday they dug the hole. On Wednesday they poured the footings. On Thursday, despite rainy weather, they were able to pour the foundation. Today they took off the forms so that the walls can dry over the weekend.

It is so exciting!!! I wish we were there to be watching it all go on. I told my mom at this pace it should be done by 60 days. She informed me things will go a lot slower after this. The big stuff just happens first, obviously, but other changes that have to take place will be much more suttle.

Either way, it is SUPER exciting for us. John and I have been married 8 years, and this will be our first house. Having it be built, makes it VERY fun.

Thanks mom and dad VERY, VERY much for keeping an eye on everything for us...and taking LOTS of pictures. We LOVE you!

What is Micah watching over and over again?

This really is so beautiful and appropriate at this time of year(and all year). I just LOVE Liz Lemon Swindle's Artwork. Watch it!

Son of Man

Wait for it...and our VACATION is over!

We survived the drive home! Although let me state, I am glad I only have to make that drive one more time...and only one way mind you! But we did see some fruits from our labor! YEAH!!! After much deliberation, months of searching, John and I decided to do what we had not even considered before driving down...we are going to build! We both had very strong feelings about this area, a certain house imparticular. But when things weren't going to work out with that house(it cost to much...couldn't budge), we decided to move on and went crazy searching for houses. Always wondering why we had such strong feeling towards this one area. After being in Utah a few days and feeling extremely frustrated because everything is going to short-sales, we struck gold!

A builder whom my dad had known for a long time, was building in that same area of before mentioned house, and was willing to build a house for us to fit our budget. Things started falling into place, and we are now 6 days into the 90 that our home will be built in(or so we hope.) This is basically what the front of our home will look like, but with the floor plan flip flopped. We feel extremely blessed and grateful. For those who are wondering where this area is, It is called Robert Farms, and is just over the Kaysville border in West Layton. Our kids will get to go to school with cousins from both sides of the family. I am SUPER excited about that, and so are my kids!

The vacation in whole, went by VERY fast, and felt nothing like a vacation. There are a LOT of decisions to make when building a home, and when you won't be there to make them, you have to make them before you leave, which is what we tried to do. It was fun but hectic. Here are a few pics from our trip... John's mom with the kids. She was a saint, and my kids loved having her around. I know some people can drive hundreds of miles alone with their kids(Sierra), but I couldn't and was so grateful to have her along.

Every Spring ever since I was little I remember my father always bringing home baby chicks, for me to see. I always enjoyed it, even when I was a teenager. I am glad my kids got to enjoy it this year.

Our GREAT friends the Markhams also brought their kids over. They have the cutest kids. I miss you Kennedy. PS Thanks for all your hard work trying to help us find a home! We love you guys and can't wait to hang out more when we come home!

Cutie Lincoln! He looks like he is actually going to pet it. There are no pics with Josie. She has fast hands, and can squeeze pretty tight.

Thanks to my wonderful parents who endured my crazy family for two weeks and who are going to have to put up with us for a few weeks while our house finishes getting built. We appreciate you more than words can say!

Thank You's for babysitting and support are also deserved by KT! I seriously can't say thanks enough! and John's sister Heidi and her family! We love ya tons! Lagoon here we come!

Wahoo, I can't believe it is over(BIG YAWN, literally)! I'm pooped, but oh so ExCitED!

Things Us!

It is so funny how time flies. How things you think will never come, always come...and the night before you are wondering why you didn't prepare better for this thing that you knew was going to come. AAAARGH! I feel frazzled and nervous to drive to Utah tomorrow. I am so glad John is coming later so he can bring anything that I have forgotten. I feel as though I am going to go crazy, and yet in all my madness, for some insane reason, I feel I must update my blog before I take off on this adventure. So here is a list of Farr odd and ends that have happened since I posted last.

• We have ants taking over our home. Some of them fly! Between ants and mice, I am so ready to leave this house!
• Noah has learned to jump rope. His high is 40 in a row. We are VERY proud!
• Noah had a note sent home from school telling me he is consistently late, and that I need to shape up as a parent. SUPER SWEET!
• Micah got her hair cut! She looks so grown up, and as beautiful as ever.
• We have been to the park two times. Neither trip lasted too long. It is still to cold. Come soon please Spring!
• John has been working swing shifts. I am so glad they will be over(for 3 weeks anyway) when we get back. I miss talking to him at night, but have enjoyed sleeping in!
• Deeken is in full terrible twos. It is only his smile that is saving him from continual time outs. He broke the door on the front of our entertainment center, and says "No" to EVERYTHING I ask him.
• Deeken has been pooping on the toilet since this time last year. He is so reverting in toilet training. I swear it is he who is training me in patience, not I training him to pee-pee on the potty!
• Josie is sweet, I love her, but I should learn never to say out loud, "My baby sleeps through the night." Argh! I should have knocked on wood. I hope the waking up ends soon! I am exhausted.
• I thought I was going crazy... from sleep exhaustion and other things, turns out I have low thyroid. Fun stuff!
• John's mom flew in on Thursday night to help me drive down to Utah. My kids have so loved having grandma time! We have been to Chuck E Cheese, the temple and out to dinner(adults only) (Thanks to all who helped with baby sitting!) PLus, I got to run numerous errand by myself! HEAVEN!
• My three really EXCELLENT friends celebrated birthdays! Brenley, Stephanie and Chelle! Love ya! Wish you all lived closer!

I know there is so much I forgot, but this will satisfy my blogging inkling for a while. I will let you know how things go in Utah.