cousin time

We had our Bell cousins over for a "Frozen Party". All of these kids LOVE the Frozen movie, so we decorated cookies and watched it. Owen was SO excited for this and loved every second. I loved listening form the other room to all 4 kids belting out the songs and reciting lines together perfectly on cue.

A trip to kangaroo zoo was hot, sweaty, tiring, loud and lots and lots of fun! Lewis was terrified when we walked in. He was clinging to me and refused to try any of the slides, or even stand on any of the fun equipment. After I forced him to go down a slide on my lap he was hooked and cruised all over the place. One of my favorite things about being a mom is watching my kids get brave, try new things and love it.

raspberries

"Me wove wibarieth"

Lewis went to town on a bowl of raspberries one morning, all the while raving about how delicious they are and calling them libraries. 

Aquarium

We visited the new aquarium last night and all three of the kids were completely captivated. The shark tunnel is really incredible and soothing. After we were all in a frozen trance for about ten minutes, watching the beautiful creatures swim all around us and over our heads, Lewis turned to me and said "lets get out of here before I get eaten!!"

mission reunion

Dennis and Kathryn held a reunion for their mission. It was fun to listen to stories, and to see how much theses missionaries love and appreciate their mission president and his wife. They were so young when they were called to move their young children and their whole life all the way to Mexico. Their faith and excitement to serve are an amazing example to me, and something I think of often. Treavor was only six at the time of their call and I love the way this part of his life has contributed to his unwavering testimony of sharing the gospel. Kit came with us and kind of felt like the star of the hit of the party.

sweet little thing

I just came across these sweet little pictures of Kit at about 10 weeks old. 

3.

The night before Lewie's birthday, we spent the evening with Grandma Kat and Grandpa Dennis. He blew out candles and ate his orange (by request) cake made by Grandma Kat. They gave him frozen and then we watched it together. that is the gift that keeps on giving. Both the boys sing and quote the movie just about all day long. The sweet, oblivious, happy go-lucky snowman olaf happens to remind me a lot of Lewis.

We came home, the kids crashed and I kissed those soft cheeks for the last time with lewie as a two year old. 2 was good on Lewis. He does so many things well, and he did two years old really, really well.

The birthday was fun and low-key. We went to lunch with Gram and Andrew. We watched Frozen, ate cafe rio and opened gifts. Lewis is always happy and has zero expectations. We asked him a few times before the big day what present he wanted and he said "I want shoes, the shark slippers that I already have". He makes things easy on me. He loved each gift and immediately played and played with each toy until Owen reminded him that he needed to open another one. 

The joy that this boy brings me is impossible to put into words. His life and the miraculous being that he is makes my heart physically feel something that is beyond love and gratitude. I want to bottle him up at this very moment and the closest I could come was interviewing him. 

what's your favorite color?  pink and bweue and green (looking at the colors on a cup)

what's your favorite animal? Me wike thith fish (pointing to the fish on the cup)

what's your favorite toy? my toyth and prethenth

what do you want to do when you grow up? Me want to be a thpider for Chrithmath and thcare peopow.

do you want to be a daddy when you grow up? no. me want to be a thpider

what's you favorite food? ummmm thandwicheth?

what's your favorite thing about Owen? when him pway rafici on wion King.

what's  your favorite thing about Kit? when her waughth.

what are you going to do in the fall? jump in weafth

are you going to go to school? ya me gonna go to thcoow and I fink me can pway captain america when me jump in weafth outthide.

what's your favorite place? nowhere. Me fink i'm not gonna write anymore wif you cauth I fink me tired. 

A few of the reasons

Here are a few of the reasons we chose the name Kathryn for our angel girl.

  

Kit's Grandma Kat - Kathryn Peters

Kit's great great aunt Kathryn Kimble

and 

aunt Lindie Kathryn Bell

I wanted Kit's name to mean something special. With these beautiful women as her namesake it is sure to mean something to her. Each of them are overflowing with light and joy They love deeply and they beam with virtue. The name Kathryn means pure. If I had to describe these 4 Kathryns in a nutshell it would be pure. She's blessed to have each of them as an example and a legacy.