Our new diggs

When we decided to move, Treavor's parents graciously invited us into their home. We feel so blessed to be living with them for a while and the boys couldn't be happier! Owen says just about every day "I'm so glad grandma Kat's house is my new home!" We are grateful for the opportunity to spend so much time with Dennis and Kathryn and among a million conveniences I can't get over showering in soft water and not getting on the freeway to get to the store. Marley has a backyard to play in, Owen gets to sleep in the play room and Lewis gets to cuddle with Grandpa Dennis every day. When I was recently talking to a friend I told her we are the luckiest homeless family!!

This was the cute sign on the fridge greeting us the day we moved in.

Owen asks me to read it to him every day at breakfast.

Playing in our new home

wearing the new shirts Grandma Kat gave them.

A year with Lewie

Happy day sweet baby Lew!

You were born on a rainy spring day one year ago, and have filled our life with busy sunshine ever since.

Sorry that you didn't love the hat your crazy mamma put on you.

It was a dream

We have moved. I think I've established quite well in this journal of our life, how I do with change. I usually don't handle it with grace and ease, and even though this was a very welcomed change, it's been a bit of a struggle saying goodbye to where the majority of our married life has taken place. From the moment we moved into this town home I knew it was temporary. I knew we wouldn't raise all our children there, and from that very moment I've been preparing myself for the time that we left. There are so many things in our future that I am excited about, we were so ready to move on to the next step, so then why did packing up that cozy home and putting the spare keys in the drawer hurt my heart all the way up to my throat?!

It's because of the memories that took place within those 4 little walls. I will forever cherish all that came with this house. It had it's problems, like a leaky shower and a mice infestation to name a couple. It was not a dream home by any means, but life there was such a dream!

• It was a dream bringing two baby boys home from the hospital.
• It was a dream graduating from college and watching Treavor do the same.
• It was a dream watching our marriage grow into a whole different kind of love than we had 5 years ago.
• It was a dream meeting wonderful friends.
• It was a dream having neighbors who took such good care of me.
• It was a dream growing up in a way in this house.
• It was a dream learning how to be a better mom every day.
• It was a dream learning about service.
• It was dream having 3 parks in close walking distance.
• It was a dream putting the boys to bed at 7:00 on the dot and having date nights in the front room.
• It was a dream watching Owen race cars around the kitchen table for hours and hours without taking a break.
• It was a dream having a blossoming tree outside my bedroom window in the spring.
• It was a dream listening to the freeway as I rocked my babies in the night.
• It was a dream watching the para-gliders at the mountain out the back window at breakfast time with Owen.
• It was a dream Knowing the second we walked out our door, there would be friends to play with and moms to chat with.
• It was a dream having our first family nights and watching Owen be excited about learning the gospel.
• It was a dream when Treavor would take a late night maverik run and always return with more treats than I requested.
• It was a dream watching babies learn to walk.

The last five years have had it's ups and downs, stresses and joys. But overall it has been a dream. And that is why it hurt to say goodbye.

Some pictures to remember where those millions of happy moments took place. This house will forever hold a special place in my heart.

It's in the air.

We've had some happy days around here. For lots of reasons, but mostly because spring is in the air. I knew I wanted Spring, but I honestly didn't know how bad. Today was beautiful! We went to the playground and the sun on my skin was euphoric. I missed the warmth and the breeze and the fresh air so badly. I loved watching Owen on the playground. He is bigger and stronger. His legs are longer and he easily did things he couldn't do last year. I loved pushing Lewie in the swing. He was grinning ear to ear enjoying the wind in his pudgy bare toes. The season is so very welcomed by all of us.

A few pictures from the last few days:

I know this looks like two people anxiously awaiting their warm delicious cookies right? I forgot the baking soda. Then I scraped the hard, flat, crusty, gross wafers into the garbage and complained to Nicole that I'm a grown women and I should be able to make a good batch of chocolate chip cookies, and that she just makes them perfect. I'll keep practicing.

chopped

Lewie got his first haircut! A big boy cut with clippers -that's how much hair he had.

Owen got a much needed chop as well.

Thank you aunt Tara!

The After treat.

Today

It began with gratitude. With Lewis waking up at 6:15 because he was hungry. I went downstairs to get a bottle. I looked out my kitchen window into the pitch black cold morning and through my blurry, groggy eyes saw gobs of headlights sparkling up the freeway. I thought of all those people who were already out their door and on the road. I thought of my dad. He was one of them. I'm sure he was out the door at 6:15. I thought of my husband. his alarm would go off soon and he'd roll out of bed into the daily grind. I said a little prayer of gratitude as I filled up the bottle. I was so grateful for hard working people who get up early day after day to provide. I was grateful for a warm house and a cozy bed protecting me from that bitter cold. I was grateful for the knowledge that Lewis was going to gulp that bottle down and then grunt and purr in content back to sleep. I was grateful for my cozy, cozy bed that I could crawl right back into for another hour.

Later I got angry. I was drying my hair. Every time I dry my hair I am angry. I've had years and years of drying my hair, and just recently have I realized that I am so completely irritated, agitated, and aggravated every. single. time! it's hot, uncomfortable, takes way too long, and usually is not looking how I want it to. If you've ever asked me a question while I was drying my hair, I am sorry. I'm really not a nice person for those minutes of the day.

Then I was proud. Owen and I went to speech with Lori. Our session was full of good news. he's come a long way in the last few weeks and she is so good at making him feel confident.

Then I was embarrassed because I was brought to tears in that little office watching Owen work so hard to conquer the little disfluencies in his speech.

I was happy because the rest of the day was spent at both Grandma's houses. Life is good at the grandma's.

We got home and I was frustrated. Frustrated at myself for not doing a single thing about my messy house that day.

Dinner was prepared and eaten. Lewis spent the meal crawling in and out of our shoe basket and Owen spent it talking about how Roli was proud cause he had "lots of smooth talking". boys were bathed, kisses were given, Treavor went to play basketball and I decided I'll clean the mess tomorrow.

January

I don't particularly love the month of January. So many people say they love it. They love the fresh start. A new year. Setting goals. Organizing. Do you know what I say? I liked last year. Why do we need a new one? I don't want to set goals that I might fail at. It means family time is gone. The Holidays are over. The winter is no longer beautiful to me when it isn't sparkled by lights and Christmas tress. It is just cold and dead. I'm doing my best to not let those tired naked trees outside get me down. It's a good thing January was full of lots of happy moments.

The happiest moment: Layton popped the question! He is engaged to sweet Lauren. The proposal was perfectly romantic. picture them alone in the capitol at night. picture a beautiful room with a breathtaking view. picture her favorite flowers and Frank Sinatra playing on surround sound. Picture a strong and loving, mature relationship that has been years in the making. Picture two beautiful people who are so in love and take such good care of each other.

So, We celebrated. We got to have dinner with Lauren's kind family.

Congratulations to this lovely and fun couple. Life will never be boring for them.

Also last month: Owen spent about 31 hours in the bath and never wanted to get out.

He practiced speech a lot and his stutter has improved a tiny bit. It's been a very slow process, but still extremely rewarding to watch his brain work hard and witness little successes.

He started interacting with Lewis more and more and made him laugh a lot.

He started waking up way too early. even when he goes to bed late. He's in this weird habit, and is bright eyed and bushy tailed at the crack of dawn. We're working on changing that.

Lewis made us happy

He learned this cheesy smile and how to do a fake cry.

He got more teeth.

He can stand for a little while and takes one or two steps. He looks like a wably new calf and gets so proud when we cheer for him.

He ate a lot of waffles and out - eats me and Owen at breakfast time.

I celebrated Mally's 21st birthday with my sisters and parents.

That is one reason I love January, it brought me my first sister and one of my best friends.

Treavor's work moved to a building right by our house! His commute is now 3 minutes and we see him at lunch time and more in the evening.

And now we're a month closer to spring.