Kade and Tenley

Kade and Tenley are best friends. 

They wake up playing games and laughing with each other. I could probably leave them in their room for an hour and they wouldn't care because they have so much fun together. 

All day they run around the house playing together not caring what I'm up to (unless they're hungry!).

 And they go to sleep reading books to each other from across the room. 

It warms my heart so much to see them get a long so well. I love that they are such great friends and love to be together. 

There is still the occasional fight, but more often than not they just love each other.

And I love that about them SO much!

Love Stories

The other day Kade asked, "Mom, how did you and Dad find each other?"

I loved how he phrased the question. Not, 'how did you and Dad meet,' but, 'how did you and Dad find eachother.' As if we had been lost from each other and were on a long journey to find each other again. So I got to tell him a little bit about our love story and here it is in more details:

It was May 2005 at BYU in Provo, UT. Since the semester had just ended a lot of people were moving out and a lot of people were moving in. I ended up staying in the same ward because I was going to stay in Provo for the summer to work. The first Sunday after all the big move in and move outs Brad and his roommates sat in front of me and my roommates. I didn't notice him at first, but he was apparently listening to my conversation with my friend Michelle because after I had told Michelle that I was bummed we were missing the Pistons and Pacers game (it was the NBA playoffs at the time), he turned around and said, "Wow, I can't believe a girl said that!"

Honestly, I fell in love with him right away. I know that sounds so cheesy and cliche, but it is so true! My friend Michelle can vouch for me. I turned to her after he had turned back around and said, "I want him!" Probably not the best way to proclaim my sudden love for him, but it's what I said.

We spoke later after church for a little bit mainly about the NBA playoffs and I learned that he now lived in my same complex. The rest of that week we happened to run into each other every night around 5 PM at the mailboxes. That was about the time I would be getting home from work and I would head straight to the mailboxes to check my mail because I was writing a missionary whom I also really liked at the time (which didn't seem to scare Brad away), and he was heading out to go running with his friend because they were training to run the St. George marathon together that October. We talked a lot that week at the mailboxes and then finally the next week we hung out for the first time and watched an NBA playoff game and then walked to the BYU Creamery together after that for ice cream. We were pretty much inseparable after that. I'd come home for lunch so we could have lunch together, we'd be together every night, and every Sunday I'd ride with him and his roommates to church. 

By early July we knew we wanted to get married. My mom was already helping me secure a wedding date at the Salt Lake Temple and find a place to have the reception. By the end of July Brad finally proposed to me at my favorite place in the world, Silver Lake in Big Cottonwood Canyon. It took us a while to nail down the wedding date. We kept going back and forth from 11/4 and 11/11, but we finally chose November 11th so it would be easier for Brad to remember!

The night before our wedding Brad took the time to write me a really long, sweet, love note. He gave it to me the morning of our wedding and I was able to read it while I got ready that day. It was the sweetest thing and that along with so much else made that day one of the most special days of my life.

Our romance was fast, but I know I married the right man. The past 9 years have been amazing. Obviously not perfect, but with all the hard trials we've been through together, I know there is no one else I want to endure and enjoy life with. His sense of humor keeps me going and he makes me laugh every day. Is hard work ethic and perseverance inspires me to be a better person. And the way he loves me and our children makes me so grateful that I get to be his wife for eternity.

I am the luckiest.

Primary Programs, Warm Weather, Good Test Results

Yesterday was the primary program for our ward. Kade was so excited and he did such a great job! He memorized his line and said it all by himself. Brad, Tenley, and I really enjoyed watching him and the occasional smiles and thumbs up he would give us. The primary program is truly my favorite Sunday of the year!

Today the kids and I had planned to go to the zoo because it was 60 degrees and sunny and later this week it will only be in the 30s! We got to the zoo, though, and realized it was closed. Apparently they've started their winter hours and are only open Wednesday to Sunday. We were pretty sad! But we ended up going to Hummel Park instead and still had a great time!

Brad got his results for his national written test today and he passed! I'm so proud of him and so excited for him! That was the last big written test he'll ever have to take! Wahoo!!!!

Funny Faces, Family Dates

Our kids have been begging us to take them to Chuck E Cheese for a while and although we don't really like it there, we decided to spoil them and take them there tonight. It was crowded, but they had a blast and were so happy! Their cute faces make it worth it.

Inspiring People

Today my kids and I met up with a friend to go and visit a sweet old lady that currently lives in an elderly care facility. I see her every once in a while at church, but she hasn't been coming for a while because she had to have surgery and is still recovering.

We found her in a meeting and learned that she is a president of a committee there and they were discussing some of the complaints of the other elderly people. Afterward we helped her as a cashier for the snack cabinet, and then we walked her to her room to visit with her a little more. I thought it was so neat that she keeps herself so involved and busy at 80 years old! She told us she started learning to paint and draw a year ago and showed us some of her work and they were amazing! You really are never too old to learn something new!

She told us how she found the church and gained a testimony. She was living in Salt Lake City, UT with two boys when her first husband left her. They were barely surviving from paycheck to paycheck and all they were eating were noodles and creamed corn. A neighbor friend and member of the church recognized their poverty, got her Bishop involved and they offered her food. They met with the sister missionaries frequently after that, but her family was opposed to her joining the church. Her 10 year old son was the most adamant about joining the church and eventually all three of them did. She shared with us her testimony of how the Lord has blessed her in her life and how blessed she has been and how grateful for she is for all she has. She is one of the most humble and sweetest people I've ever met. It was such a neat experience to visit with her and get to know her better. "Older" people have so much wisdom to share from all that they've experienced in life. I'm so grateful for the opportunity I had to talk with her and learn from her.

My sweet kids weren't too excited about going to visit her today, but after the visit they gave her hugs and as we left Kade said, "That was fun!" He was even thankful in his prayers tonight that we were able to visit my friend. I'm glad that they enjoyed the visit as well!

Hard Work

Brad got his score back from his regional board test today and he passed!! I'm so happy and excited for him. We're still waiting for the scores for the national test, but it was great news!

Also, at his school's clinic, he earned the last point of the 270 points that he needs to earn to graduate! I'm so proud of him for working so hard to get done as soon as he could. He still has to go to school for attendance and experience, of course, but things should be a lot less stressful around here which should be good with a baby coming!

I'm so blessed that I have such a hard working, motivated, and dedicated husband.

I'm so proud of you, Brad!

Dr. Helpers, Voting

I have the best doctor! He's so nice to my kids and even let's them find the baby's heartbeat for him. It was so cute watching them do that today! 

Tonight we went to vote and despite the rain we decided to walk there. It was a fun dark and wet adventure!

My Bookworm

Tenley loves to read books. She'll flip through the books and make up her own story from the picture. She takes one around almost everywhere and always has to have a book close by to her at bedtime that she can read before she falls asleep. It's adorable and so funny at the same time. Today on our walk to pick up Kade from a friends house she made sure to bring a book and read it while she walked. What a cutie!

Cousins

Another fun day in Chicago! We took the kids to a ball factory and they were entertained for hours! Then they got to play with their cousins while the adults went out on a date. 

When I put Kade to bed tonight he said, "Chicago is cooler than Indianapolis."

 "Oh ya, why is that?" I asked

"Because there are so many cousins in Chicago!"

You got me there, Kade!

The kids have really had such a blast being here and being with their cousins. It's amazing what an instant connection they have with their cousins and how much they love each other and love to be with each other. It's the best feeling to see them playing so happily with their extended family.

Halloween

The kids were so excited for Halloween! And I was so happy that Tenley finally decided to wear her Princess Leia costume! She looked adorable! We took our kids trick or treating door to door for the first time this year and they loved it! It was a lot of fun seeing them run around the neighborhood in their costumes with their cousins. We would have spent more time walking around, but it was 39 degrees and 30 mph winds! It was freezing!! But the sun was out and we had a great time!

The best part was coming back to Kimber's house for some hot chocolate, hot cider, warm potato cheese soup, and homemade bread. It was the best Halloween yet!