Our FHE Fridge
More pictures from FHE
William's car seat
The pictures are from our FHE night coloring lessons. We started this long ago and we started hanging the artwork on the fridge when we were done with the lesson - the kids love it. Our fridge has been full for some time now. Now, they are starting to hang them on the wall. They are just so proud of their work I can hardly throw it away. I love our fridge. One time I had a plumber over and he asked me if I was LDS because of the Follow the Prophet pictures colored on the fridge. It turned into a great discussion about the church, after he unclogged our toliet : ). Anyhow, I love it. The kids love it.

The other picture is of the car seat we are going to use for William. It is actually Sammi's old car seat. It is for sizes 5lbs-80lbs. Anyhow, the story is Sammi is now in a Booster seat, Daniel is still in a car seat and so we had this extra seat. We were not planning on using it for the baby, we had forgotten it converted into an infant seat. We went out today looking for a new baby car seat. We went to Babies R Us, a really fun and very beautiful store full of baby stuff. They had so many seats and every baby thing in the world to choose from. That drives me nuts sometimes, too many choices. After searching and oohhhing and awwwing, one of the ladies showed us the 3 in one car seat and we realized we already had that - that was Sammi's old seat. So we gave up the idea of new, clean, and adorable, and might I add, EXPENSIVE!! Instead we decided to buy a $19.00 snuggly car seat insert thing for infants and use Sammi's old seat. So when we got home we took it out of the garage and Charles took it all to peices and washed every inch of it. After 5 years of kid use it was pretty gross! We washed the pads and made it all new and clean again. So, for $19.00 we got a new car seat! Hooray, I love saving money and making old things beautiful. Anyhow, the new trick is fitting all three car seats in our tiny car! After looking at vans we said, NO WAY! We are just going to have to make the seats fit into the back of our car. Charles did it. It is really, really tight. Oh well, They will love it!! I will take a picture of the three car seats smashed together in the back - pretty funny. That will be some trick when I take Sam to and from school. Loading them all up, three flights of stairs, and crossing the busy parking lot to the garage - I can't wait. What a great day it will be to walk right out the front door to the car, how lovely that must be. I have to make sure the kids do not run into the road and get hit on their way to the garage. Oh well, it adds to the fun of my day. : )

I am starting to think about having the baby now. I am trying to get excited about it. I am looking forward to having a little cuddly baby that needs me again. The kids are so independent now, they can pretty much fend for themselves. Hugs are most often requested by me, and they only sit with me for short spurts of time between running and playing. I am excited to have something to hold and snuggle. I love that. I am excited to see all of the children interact with each other. I am going to do my best to see to it that they all receive equal attention. Daniel especially will need extra love. I am very aware of equal treatment and do my best to compliment and praise all of them equally. I am sure 3 will make it that much more entertaining! Fun!

Lots of Love!

Mari

Here is another self taken picture of my baby tummy - 30ish weeks??
I brought Daniel's bike in so he could ride and get some exercise - he LOVES it!
Look blue sky - Hooray!
We had lots of fun at the park on our sunny day!

Here are some pictures from our sunny day. It had been cloudy and foggy (you could not see the neighbors houses) for almost 2 weeks. When the sun finally came out it was SO exciting! It was even warm so we were able to really enjoy being outside. It was so great. It is so amazing what a little "light" in your life can do. There was an actual physical and spiritual feeling associated with the light from the sun. Of course, this can and I am sure is, often compared to the light that is found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful to have that light, the eternal light that shines even through the darkest days and thickest fog. I cannot imagine trying to make it in the world without the aid of Heaven and the light of the gospel.

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I hope to be able to share that with more people in the future. I am happy to have this light and be able to share it with my family, especially my children now. I do my best to be an example when I am in association with others, and I am able to influence primary children as well - that is a joy. One day I do hope to be able to be even more anxiously engaged in sharing the light of the gospel with others, through full-time missionary work. That is our great goal as a family. I am sure by the time when we are able to go on missions the world will be pretty interesting. I am certain the gospel will need to move forward with great strength to fight against the great evil. I love the gospel, I am so grateful for it. I feel such gratitude for all things that Heaven has allowed me to be a part in and take part of. My heart is full, truly full of gratitude. : )

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Quote for the day:

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"Do, or do not. There is NO try!!" ---- YODA : )

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How inspiring a little green man can be! Remember that Kary, when you are turkey trotting. I know you can do it, you know you can do it. You DID do it!!! Yeah for you! You mentioned the way Sage looked at you with surprise and excitement as you began to run. I loved that. The other day I took Sam and Dan out for a walk thinking I would just walk that day since I had both of them. I have been running with just Dan while Sam is at school. Anyhow, I walked and walked for about 45 minutes or so and then I was ready to run, so I did. Imagine this, the kids weigh 40 lbs each, the stoller weighs 20lbs, and I have 20 extra pounds on my body plopped right in front!! Running now is HARD - really HARD!!! Anyhow, Sammi looked at me with great surprise as I ran with my tummy jiggling around. She was so excited for me. It made it that much more motivating to keep going to show her - I can do it! She had not seen me run for awhile. She said, "GO Mommy!" so I did! You can do it. It is literally one foot in front of the other sometimes but never quit. Find your happy mental place and keep those legs moving. I am so excited for you! I really am. : ) I find running with the stroller truly makes you stronger. Each day you get to push it just remember how much stronger it is making you! : )

Lots of love, ME

Even more Grandpa and Grandma Fun. . .

More Grandpa and Grandma

Grandpa and Grandma

more pictures

Here are some of the pictures from Mom and Dad. I will post more later. . . : )

I am working on posting ma and pa's pictures. It is not working right at the moment! : )

Little Stephen

Here is baby Stephen @ 4 1/2 months old on his first Valentine's day. He loved taste testing the Valentine card that Nan made for him. He thought it was pretty sweet! He sure is in the discovery mode these days. It's a thrill to watch him learn and be curious about the world around him. Last Valentine's day is the day I found out I was pregnant w/ Stephen. It was the happiest my heart ever felt on happy heart day. I don't think I'll ever be able to top that gift to Ray (unless we expect twins one day)..oh please, have mercy! I really think I prefer them one at a time. Remember to 'Let Them be Little' for they're only that way for a while. If you haven't heard that song by Lonestar, I highly recommend it. It's time for me to go be with my 'little person.' I think it's time for a poopy changy. I'm still working on his timing of bowel movements..he's suppose to wait til Daddy gets home and be as glad as he can be, clap his hands and shout for joy and poop upon his knee because our deal is..whoever's holding him when "it" happens, does diaper duty. I love you all and hope that you are counting your blessings daily. Aren't you grateful to be a part of such a fun family? well, there's a start, now keep counting...say: "I'm grateful for Kary, cookies, ice cream ....you get the idea. Have fun making a long list of blessings, you'll be surprised how good you feel when you do so...how about the air you breath, the testimony you have, the blue sky, the wildflowers, the birds that sing, the helping hands of others, the baby smiles, Heavenly Father and His Son. There is soooooo much to be thankful for. Take time to count your blessings even name them one by one and it will SURPRISE you what the Lord has done.

I love you!

Kary

Valentines Day

Here are some pictures from our Valentines day. I had to make cookies for Sammi's kindergarten class party, they were pretty yummy. She had a great time at school. They passed out Valentines and everything - she loved it. I went to the store at the last minute on Tuesday night to get Valentines since I did not know they still did that. Sammi missed the whole week last week so I did not get the note. Anyhow, I called a mom in the ward with a child in Sam's class and she informed me they were passing out Valentines. So off we went to get some of the last boxes from the shelves - it was crazy funny. They also passed out a list of all of the kids names in the class last week - which we did not have. Luckily, Sammi remember ALL the names of every child and did not forget anyone. So, she was all set for V-day at school. She was almost going to be the only one without Valentines to pass out! I am glad I thought to call! Anyhow, it all went well and she had a great time. Daniel enjoyed some yummy cookies with mom. I know it is hard for him to see Sammi got off to school and return with such great things. He will love school when it is time. He still has a few years though. : ) I love having him around though - he is a sweet boy, very helpful. We have lots of good fun together. I sure love them both!

Hope you all had a Happy Valentines Day!

Love, ME