Has it really been 4 Years!

I was reading through all my old blog post the other night and I will be honest, I cried.  Tears of happiness, sorrow and just tears of were has the time gone.  My once babies are all grown up.  Ellie is in 3rd grade and turning into a tall little lady.  Ethan just started 1st grade.  Marley is 4 and John is one.  Saddest thing is that John is not even on this blog.  I know most people doesn't actually get on and read these things anymore but it was so fun for me to read back through.  So I am challenging myself to make a post at least once a month but hopefully more.  I might even try a little catching up on the year 2013.

  

Ethan turned 4

Well my little boy turned 4 today.  I can’t believe that he is four.  Where has the time gone too.  For a year he has been talking about his Batman Birthday Party.  This was his first friend party and we had a lot of fun.

Brandon did a great job as our joker and the kids loved throwing water balloons at him as he ran around.  HE even caught a few of their balloons and threw them back at them.   This was so much fun.

We had a fun time today with all our friends.  Ethan is very happy to be four years old now.

First Day of School

Well Ellie Started Kindergarten last week.  She was so excited for weeks she has been counting down.  After she meet Mrs. Dryer her teacher she had to make her lots of pictures.  Once the day was here she was a little nervous.  Brandon gave her a Father's Blessing the night before.  I took her to school and there was no tears from either of us.  The only thing I was really worried about was her feet.  She has been having some problems with athlete's feet and itching.  After I dropped her off I prayed that her feet would be OK and not bother her.  Heavenly Father answered my prayer and she has not had a problem with them at school.  She came come excited and really enjoyed eating lunch at school.

Ethan gets Stitches

Last night Ethan decided to try and help me (without me knowing he was helping).  He put on oven mitts and tried to carry a glass dish that had hot chicken in sauce in it.  It slipped and broke all over the floor.  I came running in and saw sauce all over his legs and worried that it was burning him.  Put him in the kitchen sink and washed sauce off and then saw that his big toe was gushing blood.  Lucky for me Brandon had worked days and was home.  We took Ethan in and he needed five stitches.  He is the first kid to get them.  I am hoping the last for a while :)

He did great until they put the needle in to numb it and then he freaked and stayed freaked until it was over. 

It was after all this drama that we got home and an hour later we were rushing Kramer to an after hours Vet clinic and he was put down (see previous post).  It was a long night.

Kramer

Tonight was a very sad night for us.  We had to say goodbye to our dear dog Kramer.  He has been apart of our family for a little over six years.  We truly loved him and he will be missed. 

When we went to pick a puppy.  Kramer was the puppy with the most personality and so we just loved him from the start.  Kramer kept that fun personality up to the end of his life. 

Ellie had a really hard time letting go.  He slept in their rooms and kept the monsters away.  He loved to chase balls into the wall.  When Ellie was a baby she would let him lick her and just giggle like it was the greatest thing ever.  My heart was so sad tonight when I saw that he was dying.  Brandon took him to the Vet and we had him put down so he would not suffer anymore.  Ellie was so worried that Kramer would get to heaven and forget about our family.  So we talked about how if we can remember him he will remember us.  My house just seems a little bit empty tonight as I know that one of my “kids” is not here.  All I can say is that I am grateful that we had Kramer in our family for those six years.  His presence will be missed but his memory is with us forever!

 

Teeth

Well little Marley is finally working on teeth.  Four and the same time.  Three are out and one top one is just sitting under the gums rubbing away.  And making my life and Marley's much harder.  While Marley is getting teeth Ellie is losing hers.  Just the other night I was able to pull her second bottom tooth.  Now hopefully her top teeth will come down.  Brandon teases her that she will not know how to eat when she gets top teeth again.  It has been a year and a half since they have been pulled (all four top teeth).  When she gets those permanent teeth in I will no longer have to cut her apples, pears, plums and other round fruits up.  And she will be able to eat corn on the cob again.  We have been all about teeth this week.

Gila Valley Temple

On May 23rd Brandon and I were able to sit through the Gila Valley Temple dedication.  It was truly a wonderful experience.  This was the first temple dedication I have been able to participate in.  This temple is special to me and our family because we have literally watched it be built.  Since my parents live in Thatcher we have been so excited for this temple to come to their area.  On February 14, 2009 we froze our toes off at the ground breaking ceremony.  Ever time we drove to my parents Ellie and Ethan would check on how the temple was doing and was it bigger.  They were so excited to see Angel Moroni on the top of the steeple.
Finally it was the open house and the kids were so excited to walk in the temple and see The House of the Lord.  We explained that this was a special time that they would be able to go to the temple and we needed to be reverent and respectful.  Before you went in the temple they had you watch a video in the Stake center about temples and the Gila Valley.  As we watch the Prophet and Apostles testify of the importance of temple and the work done there.  Ellie whispered to me “I know it is true, I can feel it in my heart”.  I can’t tell you how my heart leap for joy that my young daughter could feel the presence of the Holy Ghost.  As we walked through the temple I was touched by how beautiful it was.   It may be a small temple but it is a such a big blessing.  I told them about temple marriage and how someday they can be join for Eternity with someone they love.  I feel so blessed that I was able to share this experience with my children.  I can’t wait to be able to attend that temple and feel the blessing again and again.