Happy Birthday Grammy Karen!!

Today is the birth day of one of the most influential women in my life. My dear mother in law Karen.

Karen had the most wonderful spirit about her. She had this AMAZING smile and contagious laugh. She had so much LOVE to give. She was incredibly UNSELFISH. She was always giving of her time to anyone and everyone. She GENUINELY cared for everyone she met. She wasn't ashamed of who she was and was NEVER afraid to be herself even if it meant looking silly in front of others. She ALWAYS stood up for her belief in family and in the gospel of Jesus Christ. She was an ADVOCATE for her children in every situation and LOVED her husband with a passion.

She wasn't perfect, none of us are. She made mistakes, as we all do. She lost her temper and yelled and argued with others about insignificant things, as we all have.
But the things that she did RIGHT, those or the things that stay with me, in my heart, FOREVER.

The most important thing she did for me personally was raise a WORTHY and RIGHTEOUS son. She encouraged her son to be the best version of himself he could be in every aspect of his life. She taught him about INTEGRITY, HONESTY, RESPECT, LOYALTY, FRIENDSHIP, HARD WORK, and UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.

She was so great at making any occasion special for those she loved. Whether it was a birthday, valentine's day, Christmas, baby shower, graduation, sporting events, etc. and always knew how important it was to make others feel like a million bucks.
When Casey and I were dating she always asked if he had money to take me out, if he was "spoiling me" and made sure that he was treating me with RESPECT.

She LOVED life and enjoyed it to it's FULLEST. She didn't need a reason to take a vacation or pull the kids out of school to do a fun activity. She wanted to live life and enjoy every MOMENT.

She absolutely ADORED all of her grand babies. She would take every moment to ROCK and SNUGGLE, even when she wasn't feel her best. She found so much JOY in life and in those she LOVED and she radiated that LOVE to everyone she came in contact with.

The spirit of who she is and the life she led, gives me strength when I wonder "how I'm going to be a mother to 5 children and do it right". The strength of her SPIRIT lives in all of us and helps us make good choices and live better lives.

There is NO DOUBT in me that she is aware of each of her family members. She LOVES us still and lives on doing an incredible and important work.

I also truly feel that she has a deep love for the woman that has most recently joined our family as a help mate and companion to her eternal sweetheart. She has an eternal perspective and no doubt has welcomed Shelly's roll (my new mother in law) in the life of our family, though it is not perfect, we are working on it.

Thank you Grammy Karen for the woman that you are and for the life you lived. I am FOREVER changed because of the influence you have had in my life. I LOVE you.

It's a.... BOY!!!!

So, as some of you know we usually don't find out at the ultrasound what we are having (with exception of the twins). We enjoy having it be a surprise.
Well, Maxwell has been talking about his little brother in the present tense for about a year now. He is always saying things like "When my little brother comes..." For example, when we moved back to Utah and we were getting his room unpacked he said "Mom, we need to get a bunk bed, so that when my little brother comes, he can sleep on the bottom and I can sleep on the top." He would talk about it so often in normal conversation that before I was even pregnant I would have people we knew ask if I was expecting.
We decided to tell the children we were pregnant on Christmas day. We wrapped up a pair of white baby shoes and let them open it. After they tore the bag open they all just kind of looked at me puzzled. I said "do you know what that means?" Maxwell said "You want me to help my brother tie his shoes??" "Yeah, so what does that mean?" I said. "You want me to help my brother put his shoes on??" "So, what does that mean?" I said again. Then it hit him. His face was so great!! "You, mean right now?" as he looked at my stomach. "Well, just a couple of weeks after you turn 7, in July." All the of them were so excited and it wasn't even a question of boy or girl? it has always been a boy if you asked Maxwell.
When I found out I was expecting the first thing I said to Casey was that we had to find out the gender of this baby, because if it's not a boy Maxwell's going to need some time to adjust.

When we went to the Ultrasound on Monday. As we walked in the ultrasound tech said "So, are you finding out what you're having?" Maxwell said "It's a brother." and Mia said "Yeah, we have to many sisters, we need a brother."
When it came time to find out the tech said "Well, you're getting a brother" pointing to his little boy part. Maxwell yelled... "I knew it!" as he held my hand. His face was absolutely priceless, smiling from ear to ear. He did know it, no doubt.
Later that day he hugged me and kissed my belly and said "Mom, I just can't believe we're getting a brother... Kylynne's still going to be 2 when my brother comes and you'll be too crazy trying to take care of two babies, so you take care of Kylynne and I'll take care of my brother."
He can't wait. He's even got the twins calling the baby "Maxwell's brother".

We are so very excited and feel overwhelmingly blessed by this wonderful news. Some how it feels complete... Though I can't say for sure yet if this is our last, this precious baby boy was absolutely meant to be in our family. We are all so HAPPY!!

I know, I look further along than I really am... Baby #5 will do that to a girl!

We're 5!!!!

Eva and Mia turned five the day after Valentines day. I remember that day like it was yesterday, it hardly seems possible that it's been 5 years already.

The day before I delivered them I was running around with my 1 1/2 year old Maxwell in tow, trying to get some last minute Valentine's day errands done. As I walked in to the store a man looked at me with Maxwell on my hip and said "Wow, you look like you're ready to pop any minute!" As a matter of fact I had been in labor all day. Lot's and Lot's of contractions only about 5 or 6 minutes apart but nothing painful at that point.

I woke up at about 4am still having contractions, still nothing painful but I was freezing. I could not get warm my teeth were chattering I was shaking so hard. I had remembered my mom saying something about getting the shakes in labor but I didn't remember feeling that with Maxwell so, of course, I called my mom to see what to do. She said that maybe I should go to the hospital and that they would come up and stay with Maxwell. When I got to labor and delivery they said that I was running a fever of 103 and that they were going to start IV antibiotics and call my doctor. So they admitted me and after a short time my doctor came and broke my water and I got my epidural.
The moment they wheeled me into the operating room (standard for a twin delivery in case of emergency c section) I was flooded with the most overwhelming feeling of love and strength. There was no doubt that my recently passed mother in law Karen was saying her goodbyes along with many other great woman that had passed on. Immediately I began to cry as I had never felt anything like that in my life. The nurse next to me asked if I was ok and said I shouldn't be nervous. I looked at her and told her "I was just excited" not being able to even explain what I was feeling. I delivered my two beautiful girls at 9:51am and 9:58am. Mia came first weighing 5lbs 8oz and Eva was pulled out by her feet (guess she enjoyed not feeling so cramped with sister gone) weighing 5lbs 6oz. They were perfect and healthy.
Home from the hospital they brought that same feeling I felt in the hospital with them. The veil was so thin and the Lord knew I needed the strength to care for my 3 babies.
Eva and Mia have always been so sweet and such great friends. They have brought more joy to us than I can even express.
The twin connection is so cute to watch as often times when asked a question one of them will answer for both of them. They are always together and find strength in each other.
One day a few months ago while playing dress up I said to them "What beautiful princesses!" Mia looked at Eva and said "I wish I was as beautiful as Eva." Then Eva looked at Mia and said "I wish I was as beautiful as Mia." They both giggled and I said "You are both beautiful, I wish I was as beautiful as you two are." They just smiled :o)
Eva definitely is my little snuggler. One day she came and hugged me and said "Mom, I just can't stop hugging you, I love you so much!" Melt my heart.
Mia really looks out for Eva and plays the "big sister" role. She is usually the one to give in when they fight and let's Eva have her way.
They are both growing so much. I am looking forward to the fall when they will go into kindergarten. Only because I look forward to having them in different classes so that they can start to develop self confidence and individuality. They do so well together, I want them to be just as confident as individuals.
We love our little Eve's and Me's... Happy Belated my sweet Sissies!!

Mia

Eva

Celebrating on Valentines day at Tucano's as a family. Our server brought them Birthday sunday's

The Giggle twins