Thursday, April 29, 2010

Talking to Thadd










Kate is beginning to coo and talk all the time now. It is so cute to watch and the other day I had been trying to get her to smile so I could get a picture of it and then Thadd came home. I know that I've said it before and I'll say it a lot, but Thadd and Kate have some sort of connection that is hard to describe. We just need to see it. They are so in-tune with each other. Kate loves her Thadd and Thadd loves his Kate. Thadd was the first to get a smile too. On this day, Thadd had just come home from school. I really wish I had video taped the whole thing because you can't hear all the cute noises she makes for him and everything. I tried to put the pictures in order so you can kind of see how it all went. I really wish you could have heard it though.

Such a blessing!

I just needed to write some of my feelings lately. I have been over come with the Spirit lately and feel the need to share. I have been truly blessed over this last year. Things have just fallen into place for me and my family. I have had a trying year, starting with the miscarriage, getting pregnant again so quickly and on from there.

Kate is my blessing. I know that she is here because I asked for her. I know that everything went so well with labor and delivery because Heavenly Father knew I needed it. I know that Kate is a healthy little baby because of the prayers of others for our family and the prayers of my heart. I am truly blessed with my health, the health of my husband and children and the health of my new little baby. I have had too many friends and acquaintances have so many health issues with their new babies that it just makes me more aware of the blessings being poured out on my family. I have never felt the Spirit so strongly in my home as I have these last few months. I can really feel all the prayers and love for my family. It is a tangible feeling in the home. I need to thank you all for that. It has helped me with Nate going back to work and being a mom of 4.

I am so very grateful for my testimony. For my Heavenly Father and his love for me and my family. For the knowledge that I have, that He knows me, He knows my faults, He knows my strengths, and He know just what I need right now in my life. I love feeling His presence in my life and I know that He is there because He knows that I need it right now and He hears the prayers of others in my behalf.

"I know my Father lives and loves me too. The Spirit whispers this to me and tells me it is true, And tells me it is true."
The Children's SongBook pg 5


Monday, April 26, 2010

Popsicles

I guess I needed to set the scene a little better for this post.

The kids have been begging for popsicles for an after school treat for a while and since it have been 80 degrees the last few days I gave in. They all want the same color and today it was brown. This was Tuckers statement after the first taste; "That's not just any rootbeer! That's Papa's home-made rootbeer!" Got to love the brown Popsicles!

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Vernon Resovor

Finally, we made it camping! We have been trying to go for over a month and the weather cooperated with us last week. It was a beautiful weekend! Last year we got a little pop-up tent trailer. We thought that it would make for some wonderful family memories. This trip sure was full of things I will always remember.

We were very lucky that our friends Jered and Stephanie could come with us. We love going camping with them. Their daughter Madison and their son Eli play so well with Norma and the boys. It is nice for them to have friends to play with and it is nice for Nate and I to have some one to talk to and play games with too.
We loved being right next to the water and just fishing right there too. The kids played baseball and collected rocks, rode their bikes, played in the mud and loved throwing rocks in the water.
The first day was a little windy so I stayed in the trailer with Kate most of the day. That night while we were at the Taylors trailer playing pirates our propane went out. It was so cold when we came back! But another reason why we love camping with the Taylors, they always help us out of a bind. They had an extra tank that they let us use so the we didn't freeze.

The camp site from across the water.
This is just such a perfect spot to go camping! We can just do so much! There is the water and all the open area. They boys loved fishing. Nate made them eat the first fish they caught. He said they needed to learn that if they were going to kill something, then they needed to learn to eat it too. He made them watch him gut it and everything, then he cooked it and made them eat it. Nate and I are not fish fans. We can do tuna but that is about it, so it really surprised me that he would make them taste it. So we all had a little bite. It wasn't too bad. Thadd even asked for more.

Thadd and Tucker loved riding their bikes here! I was a little put out that Nate had even brought their bikes. I thought it would be too rocky for them to ride. I was very wrong. We were in the perfect spot for them. They found a little loop that they rode around the whole time. At first they would go up the steep part and come down on the not so steep part. Well, Thadd decided to come down the other way once. He was coming so fast! Nate saw him and started running for him, yelling for him to use his brakes. So what does Thadd do, slams on his brakes, fish tailing it and falling flat on his face. A helmet only protects heads, not faces. We thought for sure that he had broken his nose. But I have to say how proud I am, he got back on his bike and just was a little more careful about hitting the brakes.

All bundled up.
This is the bonnet and jacket that my Great Aunt Carlie made for Tucker when I first had him. All the kids have worn it camping. I just love it! It is a little big but she'll be able to wear it all summer long. We plan on camping a lot.
These dogs were so funny. Walle would come hide under my feet thinking I was going to save him and Sadie would just follow him. This was the best thing for Walle. Some one to play with that wanted to play back. Although he got tired a lot sooner than she did. When he was ready to quit and walk away, she didn't let him. It was awesome!
All the kids enjoying lunch
This is a craw-dad that they found right on the waters edge.
Nate calls this our "red-neck truck". It works.

Picnic


Last week as I was trying to get ready to go camping, I told Norma that if she picked up her room, I would take her on a picnic. She did so good that I had to put everything else on hold and take her on a picnic. I should have taken a picture of her clean room too. I might have to use this as an incentive more often.

Scripture bags

Nate told me I couldn't blog about this but too bad. :) Tucker had gotten scriptures and a case from my parents for his baptism and so my Aunt Kathryn got a Book of Mormon for Thadd and Norma. Thadd was feeling a little left out not having a bag to carry his scriptures in so I told him I would make a bag for him latter that week. Nate didn't think he needed to wait that long so he got out this fishy material and made Thadd this bag. I have to admit, it is much better than I ever would have done. Thadd was so excited that his DAD was making it for him.

Look how happy this boy is! He does this finger fumble when he gets really excited! I don't know any other way to describe it.


Norma couldn't be left out so I made Nate make her one too. I have such a talented husband!

"Don't worry. I don't think boys who sew are sissys." -Grandpa (Wayne) Powell
This is something he said to Nate when he was younger and Grandpa came in and saw Nate cross-stitching. Nate's thoughts were, "I'm a sissy?" No honey, you are not a sissy, You are a wonderful father that will do anything for his kids.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Just a preview...

We went camping over the weekend and when I get a minute, I'll post about that and a few other things.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Kate

These are just a few of my favorite pictures of Kate that my sister-in-law, Lisa took. She did an amazing job! Kate didn't want to cooperate very well and she still got some awesome pictures! Thanks Lisa!


Love her face with Daddy's hat!



This one is my favorite and it's going on my bedroom wall.


Got to love the yawn!

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Baptism Day

Tucker was baptized today. I can't really believe it. My baby is getting so old, and so in turn that makes me old. Ugh! Thadd is already counting down til he turns 8.

Our day started off on a sad note. As we were walking out the door, we got the call that Great Grandpa Powell had passed away. He will be missed, but all I can think is he is back with his Norma.

Tucker was so excited all day. I asked him this morning if he was happy about everything that was happening today. He said he was nervous but he had a grin from ear to ear all day long.Don't my boys look so good! I just love Tucker's smile! He really had a good day and we had so many friends and family join us today! Great Grandpa Parry even made it down. Thanks Grandpa! We had Justin and Lisa's family, Heather and Zac's family, Devin, Nana and Papa's family, Aunt Kathryn, Aunt Melissa and Shanelle, Amy and Cliff's family, Becky and Steve's family, Heidi, Rob and Katie's family and Brother and Sister Murrie (Tucker's primary teachers).
I hope I didn't forget anyone. And almost everyone joined us at our house afterwards for lunch.Lisa has been a wonder these last few weeks with taking pictures for me! I love them and she has done so well! (I'll be putting the ones she took of the baby last week up later.) Here is one she took of my 3 lovely's! They look so good all dressed up! I didn't think of bringing the baby out with them. She was getting a bottle from Heidi. Thanks Heidi!
I got it in my head that all the girl cousins needed matching dresses. I love this pattern and it is so easy to make that it really wasn't that big of a deal to make them all. It was so worth it seeing all these girls together! Don't they look cute! It really couldn't have happened without Nate's help with getting the house ready and taking care of Kate so that I could sew them all. He is so amazing and I am the luckiest woman in the world to have a man that will clean my house and take care of the baby, all so that I could have a little fun time and sew. (No really, I love to sew and it is relaxing for me.)
Jennifer, Anna, Norma, Addie, Aubrey and Madison


Just love this one. Lisa had them all give Tucker a high five. He was all for it which he hadn't been to start with.
He didn't want his picture taken with all these girls.


We had so many people at the house but it all worked out so well. The adults were out-numbered by all the kids, (this is only half of the kids, the other half were in the house) and they all loved being together. I think Norma has found a new friend in Addie. We will definitely have to get together more often with them.

It is so nice to see how much we are loved and looked after in this world. If it wasn't for such good family and friends it would be a very lonely world. The love that was showered on my boy and family today, I can not even express how much that meant to me. My heart is very full tonight with the love I have for all of you tonight. Today was the first step in my family being together forever. I love you Tucker so much and am so proud of the boy that you are growing up to be. I know that you will become an amazing young man and in turn an amazing man. You have blessed my life so much by just being in it. You have brought the Spirit of God into our home so much these last few weeks as you have been preparing for this day and reading the Book of Mormon. You are an amazing big brother. Your brother and sisters are so blessed to have you as an example and so am I.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Just a reminder

Just as a reminder for you blog readers out there, Tucker's baptism is this Saturday at 11 a.m. I know that most of you won't be able to make it, and please don't feel like you need too, I'm just sending this out as a friendly reminder for those who thought that they might like to come. We will be having a light lunch at our house afterwards. If you would like the address for the stake center please email me and I will get you directions. Thanks everyone!

Monday, April 5, 2010

Camp out





We had a camp out in the living room tonight. Tucker got to spend the night with Nana and Papa so Thadd and Norma got out the tents and watched a movie. They had a blast and so did the dog!

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Easter Eggs

These are my Grandma Montag's Easter egg cupcakes. She would always make these for all the grandkids, (and the big kids too!) It just isn't Easter without them and so I made them for my family and a few neighbors. I hope they enjoy them as much as I did as a child. I may not have eaten the coconut on them when I was little, but I would eat the jelly beans and the cake out of the inside. :)