Success!!

I must be doing something right!

It's the simple things..

Park day!

Back in March, in between way cold days, we had one nice and sunny day.  Just one. :)  Because these days were rare, when we happened to be all together, and the day was actually nice, we decided to bust out the bikes and take the kids over to our little neighborhood park. 

Carter had been SUPER sick the 3 previous days, we're talking couldn't-leave-the-couch/had-to-carry-him sick.  This was his first day out and about, so you'll see that in the first couple of pictures he's happy and on the bike.  But the rest of the time he was miserable.  He pretty much crashed once we got there, and when we left he didn't even have the energy to ride his bike home.  Poor little guy.  It's no wonder.  He really was that sick.  He hadn't eaten ANYTHING since before he was sick, and this was his first day of recovery, so he was extremely weak.  Bo had been gone for work pretty much the entire time Carter was sick, and by the third day of dry heaving, no eating, and no leaving that couch, I was in tears and had to track down some friends and get them to come over and give him a blessing.  I believe strongly in the power of blessings, and this furthered my testimony, because that night Carter's fever FINALLY broke (by the time he got his blessing he was at a 103), and the next day he was able to eat a little.  So yeah, I might have been way emotional, but no mom likes seeing their baby sick like that. Thankfully that is over and done with and no one else in the family got whatever he had.

 

Me and the Bigs

I forgot that I had taken these pictures!!  We joined our local Y, and since it has an indoor pool, the kids have been begging me constantly to go swimming there.  One night, I caved.  I left Derrick at home with Bo and took Carter and Megs to the pool.  They had so much fun.  Afterwards I decided to take them to Burger King to get a treat.  It was really fun, and I'm glad I gave in and took them.  It was a nice date with the two of them, and I hope that it is the start of many more fun outings!  I want them to have fond memories of doing things like this with me. :)

 

"camping"

Megan and Derrick are currently "camping" in my half bathroom.  My guess is that they chose this room because it lacks windows, and therefore makes an awesome room to have a headlight on in.  That's right, a headlight.  :)  Megan took some of my fake candles (battery operated) in there too.  I'm thinking I should be on the lookout for the marshmallows that are sure to follow?
Earlier they were in the laundry room using the dryer, with it's door open, as their source of light.  I have no clue why they changed rooms. Maybe Meg's realized the importance of proper plumbing when on a campout?  If so, clever girl.  She's learning young!
I'd take a picture, but that would require me getting away from the computer, plus lets be honest, it'd probably ruin the moment we are all having.  You know, the moment when the kids are getting along really well, and giving you some alone time to, you know, waste time on the computer. :)
Oh.  Megan is informing me now that the bathroom is now their house instead of their campsite.  Whatever works kids, whatever works.

Seattle's Childrens Museum

This is my last Washington trip post.  Next will be our Spring Break trip to Nauvoo.  You're excited, aren't you?

 

We went to the Children's Museum while we were in Seattle.  And by we, I mean me and the kids, Chistina and her kids, Travis with his kids, and Grandma Sandy.  We were quite the group.  Travis made me laugh because pretty much the whole time he was going around counting heads, making sure we didn't lose anyone.  With 4 kids under 2, you'd have to. The kids had a blast, and it was great that we didn't have to split the day between each side of the family, and instead had everyone all together to hang out. 

 

 Carter and Ellie.  Ellie pretty much idolized Carter after this.

 Count the babies.

 How many babies in this picture?

Sandy, Derrick, Lane, and Palmer

Museum of Glass

We went to the Museum of Glass over in Tacoma on one of the days we were in Washington for the funeral.  At the museum there are galleries where you get to see glass art, and there is also a different section where you can actually watch professionals make blown glass art.  SO COOL. The kids had fun watching the artists make a Sea Lion out of the blown glass.  We didn't get to see the finished product, but it was still really cool to see how the whole process is done. 

Travis and Rozzie had lots of fun watching the making of the Sea Lion, but the kids were getting pretty restless, so Sandy (Bo's Mom) and I took the kids though the galleries.  Sandy is a wonderful Grandma and the kids love her so much. 

 

 

 Megan and the "Sockless Monster"

 Pondering this peace.  hahaa

 This "diver" was the boys favorite piece. 

L to R is Carter, Lane, and Palmer.

 

Change of plans, forget the Diver, and check out this giant BUG!!  

He's a charmer

Carter brought me this tonight saying "I know it's really leaves, but it looked so much like a flower that I picked it for you."i

No place like a Play Place!

Our first time getting together with Travis and Rozzie and fam while in Seattle was when we met at a Burger King. We needed to eat, we needed the kids to play, and this was the answer!  I brought along Rebekah, Ivin's daughter, too.  It was a fun afternoon and we had a great time catching up.  Carter and Megan were excited to see Lane and Palmer.

 

 Megan and Derrick

 Megan, Derrick, Rebekah, and Palmer's legs.

Rozzie, Travis, Palmer, and Lane is below the table.

Too many diapers!

Couldn't resist taking this picture one morning while we were at Ivin and Christina's!  That's a lot of babies, that's a lot of diapers!

 

Seated: Ellie, Christian, Esther, and Derrick

 

Annie's Funeral

Our little niece, Annie, passed away in early February at just 5 and a half months old.  Her parents are Travis and Rozzie (Travis is Bo's brother).  She was born with lots of complications to her heart and abdomen, but she was a tough fighter until the end.  Knowing that in times like this family is the most important thing, we were fortunate to find affordable tickets to Seattle at the last minute, and were able to be there for the funeral.  Actually the kids and I were able to come a week before the funeral, and Bo joined us just for the weekend of the funeral.  We got to spend a lot of time with Travis and Rozzie, along with their two boys, Lane and Palmer. Grandma Sandy was there too.  We pretty much hung out with them every day, and in the evenings we crashed at Ivin and Christina's. 

I didn't get many pictures, okay two, from the funeral because one, it was freezing cold, two, who takes pictures at a funeral? And three, my camera's battery was dying.  I'll have to steal some from Terra...

Annie's funeral was emotional but wonderful.  You could definitely feel the love of those attending, and more importantly, the Spirit and love from our Savior. This trial has really strengthened our testimonies and we are so extremely grateful that families get to be together forever.

 

The Beus sisters/sisters in law!  Terra, Amanda, Rozzie, me, and Michelle.