7/12//

the pulsiphers spoke in sacrament today. they are another family i have loved that are moving after 10 years.

their assignment was on sacred covenants, and they chose to focus in on the covenant that applies to most of us: the sacrament.

lindsey entire talk was on the first part, to always remember Him. we always turn to Him times are hard, but it's so easy to forget Him when times are good. she encouraged us to pick apart our lives and place Christ in the center. (i'll always adore lindsey, she was my visiting teacher and took such great care of me.)

dave followed with emphasis on to keep His commandments. he spoke of bear lake and when lindsey asked the kids to not go into the water unless a parent was present. but they couldn't understand why, and they had their own opinions on why they didn't need their parents. but they had requested their obedience not to make them miserable, but to keep them safe. dave correlated this to keeping the commandments. we insert our own opinions on why we don't need to keep them, but they are in place for a reason, and we are rewarded for our obedience. (sounds cheesy, but i just love divine parallels with parenthood, and i feel so much closer to my HF.)

7/5//

yes, i made us all wear patriotic themed outfits today since i adore the fourth of july so much!

i spent much of the three hours in the mothers' room and pacing the halls with my loud scarlett today, pondering on this experience of young motherhood.

my friend katie is moving and this was her last sunday in our ward. she bore her testimony on service and ward families helping raise children together. i will miss her more than words can say.

we spoke of the Christ's church on earth today in gospel essentials and discussed how the 'apostasy' was just as necessary as the second coming. that God gives us as much revelation as we desire, and He will never abandon us so long as we choose Him.

in relief society, diana (who managed to hide her pregnancy this long and is due in september) taught on belonging. how each one of us belongs to relief society, even if we have a loud yelling baby who just wants to be heard at all times.

i'm grateful for sundays, and i love them.

light up the sky with the fourth of july

As tradition would have it, our family kicked off the 4th of July with the Murray parade. It was our sixth parade together, and I still reminisce our engagement right before our first parade. Three is the magic number, Amelia is little human with her own little brain who loves holidays and can appreciate fireworks! She loved the parade and waved and high-fived and danced to the passing music and ran to the candy and it was just so good for my mama heart to see her so excited. Scarlett cheered (yelled) in the background and that was perfect, too.

Brunch with the Bodtchers, dinner with my parents + a nap in between made the whole day just right.

Sparklers and pop-its on our driveway, where Amelia told us, "it's so hot! in my nose!" and we agreed how much we love being parents.

The best kept secret is this spot right by the temple. I'm not sure these pictures did justice, but we got a full panoramic view of the valley's fireworks! (Amelia kept saying, "say cheese, fireworks!" as I was snapping these shots) We were far enough away from the BOOMs and I just loved how uncrowded it was. We brought our own snacks and were the first to arrive around 8. It was so special being together with just our own little family, chatting while more families arrived and watching the sun set. Amelia was sweet and so excited for the fireworks; she would yell out the colors and yell, "they're getting closer!" and "look, Scarlett!" Scarlett stared in awe at times, but was more interested in her purple hand. Jeremy kept telling me that we had found our spot, that this was going to be our firework spot for years to come. And for me, it was just such a perfect day with my family. I felt so blessed to have them, to be living in this country, to have everything I need.

God bless America!

2014
2013

life these days

is busy and loud and outrageous. and i love it!
going out to eat as a family of four can be unpredictable,
but i'm learning to appreciate this lovely thing called young motherhood.

(we went to red robin, scarlett yelled the whole time, i nursed her without success or a cover, we got our food + boxed everything up to go, i took the check + couldn't remember how much to tip, amelia was a total angel though!)

xo

we're going on a bear hunt

amelia has loved her "we're going on a bear hunt book" so we decided to go on a "bear hunt" up silver lake! we took our picnic basket and ate sandwiches + fruit in a secluded area and hiked around the lake. we encountered long wavy grass, deep cold river, thick oozy mud + big dark forest. AND a moose. but amelia was utterly disappointed that we didn't find the bear, nor a swirling whirling snowstorm. whaaaale... i guess we can't win them all.

love my girls and their crazy personalities.
and their daddy too.
xo

scarlett: 6 months old

Not an insane amount of change from last month to this one, but here are a few updates:

//Scarlett sits so well by herself, but still topples over every once in a while. She rolls all around the room, but hasn't figured out how to army crawl. (She doesn't get much practice, because she much rather be held.) She jabbers loudly quite often, but I'm still waiting to hear "ma ma ma ma"

//Everyone, and I mean everyone, always comments on Scarlett's big smile that consumes her face and her thick, long eyelashes. This sweet girl has charmed us so!

//She has one bottom tooth, just in time to start solids. No worries, her daddy still calls her "gummer." She does not love her avocados or carrots, even when we mix it in with breastmilk.

//She was sleeping so well for us (from 8 pm to 5 am well), but recently started waking every couple of hours again. We assume it's the teething? So sad. Takes 2-3 naps a day, ranging from 30 minutes to 90 minutes.

//Still in size 2 diapers and 3-6 month clothing.

//Just despises her carseat so and lets us know every time.

//Has started to sit up in carts at the grocery store and just loves her new perspective!

//Loves toy spoons and her purple hand and basically anything she can gnaw on. Loves when her daddy throws her in the air. Loves kisses on her cheeks and neck. Loves when Amelia wakes up to talk to her.

//We started sign language with solids, "more" "all done" + "thank you" are the most common signs. She just grins from ear to ear when we help her.

//Has gotten so curious this last month! She's becoming more and more busy and it's so fun to watch her learn!

//She is such a sweet baby, just happy to be hanging out with us! (most of the time) We just love our Scarlett babe.

Amelia insists on taking a picture with Scarlett every month. I oblige because I'm sure the girls will love it when they're older. I adore them together, so much! They take turns waking each other up at 6 in the morning.

6/28//

i have really valued these sunday journals, not only for the pictures, but for the notes i've started taking in my meetings. i usually share my favorite piece, or a piece that stood out to me, but i so cherish that notes and thoughts that i've collected.

the youth from our stake just returned from trek this past saturday, and a young man share how he was so nervous to attend for the fear of there not being enough food for him. he bore his testimony that God listens to every prayer we say, even the little ones that we're embarrassed about. it touched my soul to hear of his close relationship with our Heavenly Father. (if only i had known this when i was 14.)

happy sabbath!
xo