We're Back to Blogging!

So it has been well over a year since I posted on our family blog and all I can say is that...life happened. Every so often I would have every intention of posting, but then the cherrios would spill across the floor, or a shoe couldn't be found, or little tummies were hungry for a snack, or echos of "MOMMY!!!" would come upstairs which resulted in the evaporation of my spare moment. Yes, life happened. I'd love to take the time to fill in the space between posts but I think I'd better just start by sharing what life is like for us right now and then maybe if I find some time later I can share some more detailed highlights from last year. So today we are doing great. We are busy as can be, but we have been so blessed. Since last year we have had some big changes in our lives, and more are coming. Brandon started a new job at the beginning of last year and he loves it. He has had some amazing experiences so far meeting incredible people, traveling, learning, and leading......... lets just say it is his dream job. We have had some fun family vacations and trips, creating some lasting memories for sure. Most of all we have enjoyed our children's laughter, discoveries, and imaginations. Our biggest event of the year came last December when we welcomed Benjamin to our family. He is such a sweet angel baby and we feel so blessed to have him, love him, and enjoy his heart melting smiles. Brenna and Matthew adore him and call him "Benj-a-mini-goo-goo! They have been so loving and helpful and have made the transition to caring for three very young children better than I anticipated. I have my hands full for sure, but God has helped me grow in capacity somehow, thankfully. Brenna is growing up fast. She is really taking a new interest in numbers and letters and of course she is still always drawing and singing. She has become quite a little artist and tells me "Mommy, when I grow up I want to be an art teacher like you." She loves clothes and fashion and insists on dressing herself everyday...the majority of the time in dresses and skirts, usually with at least 2-3 of them on at the same time. She is a diva and never is lacking in the drama department. Matthew is our little cowboy / pirate / fireman. If you came to visit our house on any given day you would be very likely to find him dressed in his cowboy hat and boots, or wearing his fireman hat riding his truck, or wearing a pirate hat and sword saying "Arrr" and "matey" after everything he says (P.S. Mommy is usually required to have a pirate hat on too whenever he does). He is boy through and through and loves to jump, climb, wrestle, growl, and run. That said, he is the sweetest, most kindhearted kid I've known. He loves to help and serve and is a naturally obedient child. He is so funny and has quite a vocabulary that makes us all laugh out loud everyday. Benjamin is now starting to roll over and he can sit with support pretty well. He started rice cereal last week and he just has grown so fast. I think each child just seems to grow up faster than the one before. I guess time goes by more quickly or something, but suddenly he seems so big. He is a very social baby. He smiles at everyone and his laugh is sooooo cute. He looks so much like Brenna did when she was a baby. I feel so blessed to have such a patient and mellow baby for my third. I don't know if I could handle the chaos as well if he wasn't that way. We have had a lot of big things going on lately. We decided the time was right for us to take a big leap into building a new house. We have our house up for sale now and we are going to be moving this summer to the south end of Cache Valley. We are thrilled and are looking forward to it everyday. Selling a house is a lot of work...especially keeping it clean ALL the time so we can be ready on short notice for a showing. We are praying the timing of everything will all work out well. It is stressful, but very exciting. Another big time commitment we've had lately has been our Stake's musical. Brandon and Brenna are both going to be in the musical Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat. Brandon is one of the brothers in the play and has a very entertaining solo. Brenna is in the children's chorus and loves it. Both she and Matthew sing the songs around our house all the time. The show is next week so they are practicing a lot. It will be awesome, but I think we will be glad when it is all over. Well that is what is going on with us lately. We are feeling so blessed with all the Lord has given us. We have hard days here and there, but overall we can't complain a bit. Hopefully I will be able to keep up on our blog better and keep you posted over the next few months. Here are a few random pictures I thought you might enjoy of our crazy lives lately. Our little "Benj-a-mini-goo-goo"

Kids in their dress ups

I came into the bedroom and discovered Brenna in the crib with Benjamin. She had designed a hat for him that she though was brilliant. Gave us all quite a chuckle! :)

Matthew the pirate and his "mini-matey"

Silly Siblings

Easter Fun!

Brandon and Me in Las Vegas for the USU WAC Basketball Tournament