November... fall, family, and Thanksgiving!

November came and went a little faster than October.  (It is a whole day shorter than October!) Lots of leaf raking... as seen below.   

I was trying to re-create a picture from last year, one that is on the desk top of my laptop. The kids couldn't open their eyes because the sun was actually shining. It was too cute!
Look out!  She's armed and dangerous!  Amos and I let them destroy our leaf piles ONE of the many times we had to rake our yard. They sure had fun!  Mia is actually quite helpful! 
My brother, Mike, took this picture after we sat for a while taking family pictures with my family. It was getting dark and the kids were not exactly the most willing of subjects!  But, a family picture is never easily acquired, so it is treasured that much more!
This is my ADORABLE little nephew, Jack!  He is my BUDDY!  I just love his adorable smile and sweet personality!  This picture was taken after we hiked the "Y" on the day after Thanksgiving.  
Gabriel!  What a sweetie! This was taken on Thanksgiving Day at my parent's house. 
This is my nephew, Jack, with my mom at my parent's house after hiking the "Y."
The day after Thanksgiving-- Mike, Tiffany (Mike's girlie-friend) and Mia, enjoying some leftovers!
Look at that wicked grin!  You just know that girl is up to no good, right?!? 

October...Pumpkins, Parties, Family and Friends

October was full of fun, family, friends, pumpkins, and parties!  We were blessed to have family from Maine out to visit-- Uncle Gerald and Aunt Carol. We really enjoyed their visit!  Mia had a Halloween party at school, one at church, and of course, Halloween night!  The kids had so much fun visiting the corn maze and pumpkin patch in Orem and Gardner's Village. 

Mia and Daddy carving her pumpkin 
Mia and Gabriel, before the ward's Halloween Party. 
Mia opted for the petting zoo at Gardner's Village
Gabriel, riding a pony at Gardner's Village
Mia and Gabriel trying on witch hats in Gardner's Village

Uncle Gerald, my dad's brother, visiting from Maine

Gabriel and his cute, sweet cousin, Jade, having a blast at Gardner's Village.
Gabriel, coming down a slide at the Vineyard Pumpkin Patch in Orem.
Mia coming down the same slide... what a pose!
Mia, Jade, and Gabriel peeking through the pumpkins at Vineyard Gardens in Orem.

I am SOOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!!!

Hello family and friends!  I am so excited to tell you this news!  My brother, Joel, and my sister in law, Bonnie have a new daughter!  Joel and Bonnie have been married since 2003 and have been excited to start their family.  They have not had an easy five years; but their faith, diligence, patience, and devotion to the Gospel has brought an amazing miracle to pass!  Their daughter is 16 months old and was born in Guatemala. Her name is Katelyn, and she is a sweet little girl. She had beautiful, thick brown hair and the most beautiful brown eyes. She seems very at home with Joel and Bonnie, who are going to be the greatest parents ever!  We are all so excited for them!

There has been a series of miracles that have taken place

 to bring this little girl to her parents. I know that the Lord is truly mindful of us, each of us, and that He has a plan for us. I know that He hears and answers our prayers, and that our trials serve to increase our faith in Him.

I'll have to post pictures of her with her parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins! 

Sorry about the first picture-- we cannot figure out how to flip it!  The lady in this picture is the case worker.  :-) 

St. George Vacation

Dinosaur Tracks! 
Mia and Gabriel got a chance to be archaeologists
Mia and Gabriel at the coloring table having fun with dinosaur stencils

Before school started, Amos and I took the kids down to St. George for a few days.  We stayed at a time share condo (which was awesome--kitchen, laundry, gym, pool) from Monday evening until Friday evening. We had a good time-- read lots of books, took the kids swimming, visited local museums, etc.  It was nice to get away as a family and have a little time together before school started. 

Summer Fun and Cousins

This summer has been all about fun, family, keeping very busy, getting the air conditioning fixed in early August, and having more fun. We've been to Thanksgiving Point, the Children's Museum, the reservoir in Spanish Fork, Grandma and Poppy's pool, playgrounds, water parks, and hanging out with cousins and friends.

We still have a few more weeks of summer and can only hope to have a little more fun. 

One Birth in the Family

My sister, Emily and her husband, Jason have a new addition to their family!  Her name is Grace Elizabeth Baird. She was born early in the morning on July 8th, the day my mom and I had to leave for Girl's Camp. We were able to be there for the birth, go home and sleep for a while, and head up to camp. 

Emily is the woman!  She delivered naturally. I have never seen a delivery like it. Emily's nurse was amazing and very sweet. After Grace was born her nurse said, "Look at her lips!  They look like little rosebuds. She's so girlie!"  She is beautiful. 8 lbs 1 oz and 21 inches long. 

Two Birthdays

Gabriel celebrated his 3rd birthday on June 8th. We had a fun party for him, and I'm still gathering pictures from other people since my old camera was acting up. He still talks about his "Thomas the Train" birthday party.

Mia celebrated her 5th birthday on July 10th. Since I was at Girl's Camp on her birthday, we had her birthday party much later, but at least we got to swim at Grandma and Poppy's house! She was also able to share the day with her cousin, Kaylee, who had a birthday later in July. 

Mia and Gabriel both got bikes for their birthdays.  Amos put them together and they have been rolling ever since.  Mia has already skinned parts of her nose on one of her wipe-outs. But for the most part, they are really enjoying their bikes! 

Summer School

I'm trying to (finally) update my blog posts to make life more interesting for those who actually care to read them.  

This summer, Mia attended preschool at BYU. She had a wonderful experience and is looking forward to starting kindergarten at BYU on August 25th. 

She celebrated her 5th birthday in July, and we brought doughnuts to share with her class. 

What We've Been Up to Lately...

On Saturday, May 31, Micah and Julie rolled into town with their travel trailer and their 5 kids, Myla, Jeffery, Joseph, Michelle, and Mackenzie.  Micah has been interviewing for jobs here for the past couple of weeks. We are really excited for them to move to Utah!  Mia has really enjoyed having her Coletti cousins live so close!  

We have been trying to keep busy with Stories and Crafts and Canopy Capers at the library, going to the Children's Museum in Salt Lake with Lea, Hunter, and Cole, going on walks and to the playground.  

On Saturday, June 7, we celebrated Gabriel's 3rd Birthday!  We were wanting to have it at a playground, but when we woke up that morning, it was raining and cold!  Poor Gabriel!  So with the help of lots of people, and patience from those we invited, we moved the party to our church building's cultural hall.  He had a really good time and has enjoyed playing with his new toys.

On Saturday, June 14, my sister Emily took me to get a massage (compliments of my parents) for my birthday. We also went to Nordstrom for a "makeover." Then up to Salt Lake to eat dinner with my family for Father's Day.  My dad treated us all to Buca di Beppo.  On Sunday, my mom had my little family over for dinner and we watched the Celtics game. On Monday evening, we had dinner at my parent's house to celebrate my sister, Carrie's birthday along with mine.  It's been quite the celebration!  I've never had a birthday that was celebrated for three days!  

Let's Play Music!

Mia just completed her first year of the "Let's Play Music" program. A friend of mine referred me to the program, and I am very happy with it.  She has learned so much, and we are very proud of her.  She loved her teacher, Miss Melissa, who helped make the first year very positive for us. During her concert, she played along to "Do Re Mi" on the bells, and sang along with the other songs that were performed by other classes. It was so fun to watch!  It lasted a full 15 minutes! I guess that means she's already had her 15 minutes of fame. Well, until next year at least! 

A few things that I recently read...

In honor of Mother's Day, I just wanted to share a couple of things that I recently read. 

3 John 1:4  "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."

President James E. Faust "I fear you sisters do not realize in the smallest part the extent of your influence for good in your families, in the Church, and in society. Your influence for good is incalculable and indescribable."

Pres. Faust "I also believe that there is no greater good in all the world than motherhood. The influence of a mother in the lives of her children is beyond calculation."

"I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life."  President Abraham Lincoln

"When God thought of mother, He must have laughed with satisfaction, and framed it quickly--so rich, so deep, so divine, so full of soul, power, and beauty was the conception." Henry Ward Beecher

"A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts."  Washington Irving

Happy Mother's Day to all the women who may read this, mothers or not. 

We'll have fun, fun, fun...

Amos has been out of town for a week, and I promised the kids that we'd do a lot of fun things while Daddy is gone.  Mia got to spend the night with Grandma, which was a BLAST for her. I took Gabriel to the playground a couple times while I had him alone. On Monday, we went to a new park and playground with Grandma, Emily and Jade, Heather and Kenzie and Camden, and Carrie and Baby Jack.  Monday night for FHE, we went to a jumping place called "Jump on It" in Springville. Today, we went to visit Grandma Steed in Bountiful, then to the Discovery Gateway Children's Museum.  It was a lot of fun!  I highly recommend it to anyone who lives around here!  And give us a call if you want us to go with.  We bought a 6 month pass!  The pics are of Captain Mia, flying the helicopter and of Officer Gabriel, on traffic duty in his cruiser.  

I Hope This Lasts...

Gabriel was just relaxing on his bed, reading one of the books on his shelf.  I couldn't resist!  I had to capture the moment digitally.  He's a sweet boy.  Hopefully, he'll love books this much in... 5, 10, 15 years!