A Little Thought Provoking Reminiscing For Me

I've been looking over old photos of my kids as they have grown.  Here is the summary:

 Maren - birth to eight years old

Eliza - birth to six years old

 

 Henry - birth to four years old

Emiline - birth to two years old

 I tried to pick from about the same month each year.  I have come to the conclusion that not only are my children are growing to fast but that time seems to be going by more quickly than it used to.  I've noticed that the things that seemed so important years ago don't carry the push they once did. 

This month Jon and I will be celebrating our 12 year anniversary. Here is to the next dozen years:

It hasn't always been fun, but all our experiences have been for our good and have helped us to grow together.  I feel very blessed to be married to such a man.

I am very happy to be where I am at in life.  I find a lot of joy in everyday experiences and pray I can handle each of those experiences appropriately. 

Catch Up

 It was about last March, Jon and I started talking about moving.  He loved his job, but the probability of his job being able to continue to pay for our families needs was not likely.  Since before we were married, when talking about where we'd like to live permanently, the Mid-West was always the answer.   So, we began fixing up our house to sell it.  We listed it the beginning of June.  It was sold by the end of August.  Jon started a new job in South Eastern Iowa (still in Probation and Parole) the 1st of July.  We found a nice little rental property to live for now in a rural area.  We love the school and the area.

Since I wrote last... We each have had a birthday. Henry is now 3 1/2, Eliza is 6, Maren turned 8, and Emiline turned 2. 

We are getting to know the people in our town and at our church.  The girls are making friends at school.  I think the only thing preventing us from feeling completely settled is that we are renting.  We have plans to purchase a home in the area as soon as what is available and what we basically need comes up for sale.

(On the left is a picture of the girls first day going to school 2013-2014 school year.)

The Girls get to ride the bus to and from school each day.  It is really nice that they are the last ones to be picked up and first to be dropped off each day and the bus stops right in front of our house.  It has been an exceptionally cold winter for this area.  We have had many snow days so far this year.

Eliza has lost her first two teeth (both front bottom).  She was so upset about the tooth fairy taking her teeth that we ended up telling her the the tooth fairy is really just a game adults play with their children.  This made her feel better that when she wants to see her teeth they are available.

Halloween 2013 Maren dressed up as Cleopatra and Eliza (wanted to be a mustache but got scared that kids might make fun of her and so settled on) a pirate for their school parties.  We stayed home from trick - or - treating to hand our candy.  We did make it to the Nauvoo Pumpkin Walk though.  They had hundreds of Jack-o-lanterns carved and many on the shops handed out candy.  It was fun to walk up and down the main road to see all of the many jack-o-lanterns. 

 On Sunday, November 3rd, Maren chose to be baptized by her father as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  Since her baptism we have had the opportunity to feed the missionaries several times.  Their visits have helped her to see even more clearly the choice she has made and how that choice has and will continue to bless her life and the lives of those around her.

I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the path that being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints puts me and my family on.  There is so much joy that I receive from the knowledge that my family has been sealed to me for time and all of eternity by men who have authority and by keeping the commandments and the covenants I have made.  Being a Mother is the best "job" in the whole world.

Who is who?

The kids and I were having fun looking at old photos this morning.  It got me wondering if our friends and family would be able to guess which one of my childrens' 12-14 month picture in the bathtub is which child.  So ...

 

Is it easy to tell?  Is it obvious who is who?

 

As for an update on our going-ons:  Maren earned all "A's" on her 3rd quarter report card.  She is now off until the Monday after Easter for Spring Break at school.  All month Maren and Eliza have been taking swimming lessons twice a week.  They enjoy it and seem to be learning. Maren can float on her back if she has help up.  Eliza can put her face in the water without tears.  These are both big accomplishments, and we are proud. 

 

Henry is a sweet boy and loves "cars crashing", having books read to him, and does not want to be potty trained. Emiline has found her attitude. She knows what she wants and knows how to get it. She walks and crawls equally as often. She is my child that giggles when being put down in her crib for a nap. She is a good climber and can go up and down the stairs well enough that I don't have to worry to much. Emiline turned one in January.

 

We are trying to work on a few projects around the house that have been neglected.  We have finished demolishing the downstairs bathroom and replaced the broken board by the stairs.  We are hoping to refinish the deck and repaint the house this summer.  I guess we'll see what we can get done. 

 

We are looking forward to Easter and spending time with our cousins.