Asher's Birthday

Asher and his Thomas cake!

Wow it has been a long time and I have some catching up to do.  Let's start with Asher's 3rd birthday.  I think this has been the hardest birthday for me to get through so far.  Asher is my last baby, there are no more planned for the future. 

I look at him now and he is no longer a baby or toddler.  He is a boy.  He has lost that awkward toddler walk with his little belly poking out.  His  body has thinned out to big boy proportions.  He talks to much and says the most grown up stuff.  I terrifies me. 

Yesterday I was spelling something to London so he wouldn't understand and he turned around and said "Secrets secrets are no fun, secrets secrest hurt someone."  Guess I can't get anything by him anymore.  He started preschool one day a week. I thought it would be so nice to go to the store without any kids and have 3 whole hours to myself.  Instead I felt so lonely and cried the whole way home.  I am going to miss my little shopping buddy.

Opening presents.

Since Asher is 3, here are 3 things I love about Asher

1. He is always looking out for his sisters.  Today he went downstaitrs with Pyper because she was afraid of the dark.  He held her hand so she wouldn't be afraid.  What a sweet guy.  His sisters adore him as well and will do anything to help him.



London and her original Thomas shirt she made just for his party.  I couldn't be mad that she ruined this shirt when it was so cute!



2. He is all boy.  Sometimes it drives me a little crazy that every object he picks up is a gun and he has to make very loud sound effects to accompany every car and gun that he plays with.  He runs full speed every where he goes with no fear for injury and he always has some bruise or goosebump on his head.  He now knows when we go to the toy store when we are in the pink aisle and will yell "No girl toys!"

3. He still let's me snuggle him at night before he goes to bed and will sing "You are my sunshine" to me if I catch him in just the right mood. 

Back to School

I know this post is very late.  We have had some internet issues around here and needless to say, Qwest is not my friend,but internet is working intermittently so we will give this a try.

My girl's started school a few weeks ago.  London started the 2nd grade. She has a man teacher who plays the guitar and loves to do art projects.  She is in heaven.  She might have a little crush.  I am so glad that she loves her teacher. 

Pyper started kindergarten and she loves being able to walk into school with her sister and tells me about all her adventures.  She feels so grown up.  She told me I am not allowed to help her into the car when I pick her up.  She can do it by herself.  I am the only mom sitting inside the car and not getting out to open the door for their excited kid.  I feel very lazy sittng in there while she struggles 2 or 3 times to get the door open by her self, but I am trying to let her have this independence and I am trying not to cry when I think of how grown up she is.

One of my favorite moments everyday is watching these two sisters hold hands as they walk up to the school everyday.  I am glad they are together.  They even see each other for a moment when they are coming and going to recess.  When Pyper told me she saw London at recess on the first day, I said "Let me guess, you two ran up and gave each other great big hugs."  Pyper responded with "How did you know that mom?"  I know because I see how much these two love each other and watch out for each other and I think this is going to be a great school year.

Family Pictures

We were so lucky to have Jen take our family pictures last week.  The kids had so much fun and want to go back to the location every day.  Please check them out here and leave a comment.  We get a free picture if we get 20 comments!  Thanks Jen!

It's been nice...

Having Kevin home for the last six weeks has been nice. (For those of you who didn't know, his company closed down their SLC office at the end of June.) We have gotten lots of projects done and gone to Yellowstone twice not to mention lots of boating and hanging out. But I have to say that I am really glad that he got a job, and he is back to work this week. It has just reaffirmed to me that God is aware of us and our little problems. The fact that Kevin got such an amazing job in this economy is nothing short of a miracle. Thank you for all of those who have kept us in their prayers. Here are a few pictures from our summer vacations!

4th of July

We had an awesome fourth full of water fights and fun with cousins.   Hope yours was amazing too!

Where did June go?

This month has flown by and now summer is 1/3 over and I have yet to post anything. So much has happened the last few weeks I don't know where to begin. Kev and I went on an awesome cruise to Mexico to kick of the summer. It was a gift from his parents and the whole (adult) family went. It was amazing! (Thanks Mom and Dad!)

London and Pyper started soccer the week after we got back so we have been busy with that. We went to the princess festival in Lindon. If you have a little girl, it is a must. They met all their favorite princesses and went on an amazing adventure! (Thanks Grandma Dorothy). We have also been swimming and visiting the library. (London has been reading constantly. She can always be found tucked away with a book in her hand.) Now if I can only get them to sleep in. Any time past 7:00 would be great. Isn't that what summer is for? I tried to get sleeping beauty to talk to them about the importance of sleep but so far they are not taking the hint.

We also welcomed a new member to our family. Holden Lloyd was born on father's day to my brother and his sweet wife. He has had quite the struggle to get her. His poor mom had to stay on bedrest practically her whole pregnancy and had to stay almost 5 weeks in the hospital before he was born. He was born at 27 weeks and is just 2lb 5oz, but I got to meet him yesterday and he is amazing. You can tell already that he is such a fighter. Can't wait until he can come home and meet the whole family. It is amazing to see Rachel's strength and her amazing testimony during this whole ordeal. I am so lucky to have such an amazing sister-in-law. For more of her story click here.

I don't see summer slowing down anytime soon, but I will try to post a little more frequently.

Land of the Free

These last few months at school London has been learning about the beginning of our country. It is amazing to see the spark in her eyes as she tells me about the founding fathers. I thought I would help her out a bit so we have been watching a series called Liberty Kids at home. I had no idea how much of an impression this would have on my children. I went outside to call Pyper in for lunch the other day and she was sliding down the slide yelling "Give me liberty or give me death!". Asher was right behind her chanting "Death, death death!". Whether this was in answer to her demand or him trying to copy her I have no idea.

Later that afternoon there was a Boston tea party reenactment on the swing set and aldo of Paul Revere's ride. Pyper could be heard yelling "By sea, by sea!" while London jumped on her "fast horse" to tell the colonists that the British were coming.

I have been having doubts about the state of our country lately. It seems that our nation is forgetting it's roots. We are forgetting that our country was founded on a belief in God and that hard work and determination is what got us where we are. It seems now days that everyone expects a hand out and we have to tip toe around so as not to force our beliefs on anyone.

It has given me hope to see how my children cling to the stories of the beginning of our country. It is like they can feel the truth and rightness of it. It has restored my faith in what the future holds for them and for our country. This year London memorized the preamble to the constitution. I had no idea she was doing this and it brought me to tears when she came home from school and recited it for me. I cannot thank her teacher enough for instilling in her a love for this great document. Here is a little video clip of her reciting it.