We took a St. George trip

** Thank you so very much to my sweet husband for the birthday post, and too all of you for your kind comments. It made my birthday a very happy one! **

We had a blast!

Owen played with Claire and spent lots of time in the water.

Lewis spent lots of time all up in everybody's business. Oh ya, and he fell in love with Jaydia and had his first kiss.

 Treav went golfing with the guys and well...did guy stuff.

I had fun shopping with the girls, hanging out with my family and trying to keep Lewie out of everybody's business.

Happy Birthday Sara

Yes, this is Treavor taking over "our" blog today. Since this is our journal of sorts for our family I thought it would be appropriate that I add my feelings about my sweet wife on her birthday.

I secretly love this blog. For so many reasons; first, Sara has a talent and that talent is the ability to put into words how she feels. So this blog truly is Sara and that is why I love it so much.

I love that she has shared her love for the simple things of life, because that is the joy of knowing Sara. She doesn't need lavish, expensive or grand things to make her happy; all she needs are things like; a heating pad, a yummy treat, rain on the windows, a funny commercial, something cozy, etc. The list could go on and on. It makes the life of her husband very easy when warming her up a heating pad is the equivalent of buying her 12 long stem roses.

As much as I love all that stuff, what I love most of all about this blog is that Sara has given you an insight into how much she loves her boys. I think even her great writing skills have fallen short of expressing how much she truly loves them. She loves them with a love, I can only compare to the love our Heavenly Father has for us. Owen, Lewis and any other future children we may have will never look back on their life and wonder about how their mother felt about them, it will be very clear, they are loved. She epitomizes motherly love. She constantly is worried about their every need, and works so hard to make sure they are met. I have never seen someone so in tune to the way their child thinks and feels, it truly is a gift. I am amazed at times when she comes to me with an insight into the way Owen or Lewis might be feeling and what we can do about it, and sure enough she is spot on.

The Bells have a wonderful birthday tradition, each birthday they go around the room and everyone says one thing they love about the person on their birthday. So here is your chance people; let Sara know on her birthday why you love her in the comments.

I have taken the liberty of listing a few of them already, but I will share one last one.

I love Sara because...

she made the decision to be my eternal companion. I consider this the choicest blessing I could have received in this life. I get to love her for the rest of eternity and it will take me that long to figure out to express my deep love for her.

I love you Sara! Happy Birthday!

(That is my favorite picture of Sara. I don't have a digital copy so it isn't the best quality, but this is my beautiful bride!)

magic

Dear sweet Owie boy,

You are growing before my very eyes. You're kind of at a magical stage because all day I think about how long your feet are and how much your brain knows. And then I check on you at night and look at your pudgy cheek smashed on the pillow and the creases in your neck. I kiss your soft skin and smell your sweet breath, and you're a baby again. You are the best of both worlds.

I love that you make me feel so good! Like when you said

"I think Heavenly Father and Jesus made you a girl cause they knew you would be such a good mommy"

and when you said

"mom, I love the way you are"

I even love it when you get angry and say

"mom that makes me SO 'set at you!!"

Or when you're crying cause we're leaving Gram's house and you say with such attitude

"It doesn't even matter that we have to leave!!!"

I love that you want to watch "Tom and Cherry every day" and that you're into big boy stuff like "guys" (action figures) but that you still like to cuddle in my bed with a sippy cup of "chocolate milky"

I love that Saturday night you told me you couldn't go to your new primary class

"cause you had the hic ups"

and I really love that after you were convinced to go you asked your teachers to call you

"Owen Howard"

We went to walmart today. You were a very good boy and asked for a plain cheeseburger

"cause you don't like the red stuff "

As we walked to the car and I held your hand we were pretty happy. You, because you were holding a plain cheeseburger (we checked) in a little white to-go bag. Me, because I was holding your hand and watching you smile.

Scenes from Celebrating

We loved celebrating Lewis last month. We gave him a big green ball and he was over the moon.

We invited some friends over for a party, where he soaked up

the attention, and knew he was pretty special.

He was glad his friend Truman came

He devoured two pieces of pizza and a chocolate doughnut!

He loved opening a gift from Grandma and Grandpa Peters

And celebrating with the Bells

Easter

One of my favorite memories associated with Easter is the picture of Christ in my basket with a heart-felt, deep and sincere testimony written on the back from my parents. These little notes were such powerful reminders to me at all different ages of Christ's life, His love for me as an individual and the comfort he brings. Since my boys are young and the holiday has come and gone with them tucked into bed, I didn't want to miss the chance of sharing my feelings with them. So I'm doing it here.

I had the opportunity attend the Carl Bloch exhibit at BYU last year and was so very moved with this particular painting. It was my favorite and I have found myself thinking about it often. This painting was spoken of in our beautiful sacrament meeting today and I was so happy to be reminded of it on Easter Sunday.

I love the depiction of Christ being comforted by an angels in his dark hour of agony. I'm so very grateful for a Heavenly Father who will not leave us comfortless and for the atonement that brings me safety, peace and love daily. How blessed I am to know that he suffered for me, that he died for me and that he lives resurrected for me.

the fam

Treavor and his beautiful family at his Grandpa's funeral

Grandpa Harold will be missed.

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.