Sunday, August 23, 2015

July- Week 4- Part 2: A and P Sealing,

Saturday, we had a newborn photo shoot with Aunt Lara.  Here's a teaser.  

I'll give her photo shoot a post of it's own.  :)

I went grocery shopping with McKenna while Dan did yard work (our typical Saturday).   That evening we were privileged to attend the sealing of Dan's youngest brother Adam to his wife and daughter!  Hooray for eternal families!  Grandfather performed the sealing for Adam, Pidi, and baby Amelia and it was very sweet and tender. Being 10 days post delivery, I was of course pretty emotional; it was also my first time leaving Bethany. I nursed her right before I left and as soon and I got home.  She hardly noticed I was even gone. ;)  But I sure missed her!  
Group selfie on the steps


I had a really memorable experience in the temple that day after the sealing. Dan and I were walking back through the halls of the temple to get our shoes, and as I turned one of the corners I was overwhelmed with the presence and thought of my Grandpa Dave (Thompson) who just passed away July 6th.  He LOVED working in the Salt Lake Temple and would take us on a "tour" behind the scenes any chance he got.  I saw him "play" numerous rolls in the endowment sessions.  He loved to share and talk about the history of the temple as well.  At that moment, I started crying almost uncontrollably and had to stop and sit for a few minutes in the marriage waiting room to process it all.  I sure miss my grandpa but was thankful that day to feel him near! 
That night we enjoyed a yummy Brazilian style dinner with the Webster family and Pidi's family to celebrate their sealing.  

Sunday while I stayed home from church, I watched Oklahoma and wrote thank you notes.  
Some of the many faces of Bethany.  
Crazy milk drunk/sleepy eyes.
Anna sharing her babydoll.  
Bethany started taking more naps in her crib.  
Dan took the kids up to Webster Sunday dinner while I stayed home.  
Monday, Dan officially went back to work.  I actually felt motivated enough to meet two of my sisters-in-law at a park to let the kids play with their cousins.  We packed a lunch but it ended up being kind of cold and windy so we ate at home.  My dad had come down with a cold so my parents stayed away for a few days.  My friend Kyrenia brought dinner that night and we drove around a delivered thank you notes.  

Tuesday the older kids went to their Summer movie.   Unfortunately, Ben came home not feeling too well.  He napped later in the day and seemed to be fine by the next day.  I took Bethany for her two week check-up.  The doctor pulled off her cord because he said it was "ready."  And she was back up to birth weight!!  We stopped by Dan's work on the way home to show her off a little to Dan's coworkers.  Dinner was provided by our friend Jacquie that night.  Later that evening my mom brought over some kinetic sand she had made for the kids to play in.  


After the kids were in bed, our friends the Hamblins came by for a visit.  Even later that night, Dan joined some of his brothers, his dad, and nephew Reed for "Ant Man" to celebrate Reed's BD.  
Dan came home around 1am to find Ben awake and wanting daddy snuggles.  So he ended up sleeping with us all night.  This was my view while up nursing in the middle of the night.  
Wednesday Grandma Kelly came over with another fun activity for the kids-- SNOW (baking soda and shaving cream)!  They even got to add vinegar at the end to see it bubble up.  
This was a great day for me to play with my kids, a lot!  I played Cupcake Race with Ben, Barbies and frisbee with McKenna, and then kids threw two "parties" for Dan and I to attend in the basement (a cowboy party for Dan, and queen party for me).  Love their cute imaginations!  
Thursday the kids had a fun playdate at the Jensen's house.
My friend Molly came by for a visit in the afternoon.  
Anna is always so sweet when she wakes up from her nap.  She says "Hi" to Bethany about 100 times.  

My friend Melissa Smith brought dinner.  Then my mom made "slime" (starch, glue, and purple sand) with the kids outside.  
Enjoying some otter pops too.


Still can't get over the size difference of my babies!  
Friday was a pretty regular day.  In the evening we hung out with my parents, my sister, and our friend from Virginia, Bonnie and her two sweet kids.  We had a pizza picnic at Bountiful Park.  Then we went back to my house for root beer floats and playing outside. 
 My dad said good bye since he'd be leaving the next morning to head back to Chile.  

Sunday, August 16, 2015

July- Week 4- Part 1: Parade Preview, Hike, Pioneer Day

Tuesday we started the day with snuggles and I caught a sleep smile! 

 Whitney met Bethany for the first time when they came to pick the older kids up for their weekly Summer movie.  
While they were gone I got a shower and organized some things.  Anna enjoyed some iPad time.  
Then Dan picked the older kids up from the movie and went with his sister Brynn and her kids to the Days of '47 parade float preview.  

I enjoyed more resting and snuggles with Bethany while Anna napped in the afternoon.  

It was fun to be home as a whole family and not have any stress of feeling like we need to get a lot done.  We were just enjoying being with each other and trying to balance giving all the older kids  the attention they needed.  Anna and I had a lovely picnic.  
Dan caught this lovely face.  
That evening, my friends Kasha and MaryLyn brought over dinner, then we took the kids to see the new Pixar movie Inside Out.  SUCH a cute movie!  We loved it!  

Wednesday after breakfast, Dan took the kids on a little hike up Holbrook canyon.  




Snuggles when they got home.  
Wednesday also marked Bethany being one week old and we BOTH got dressed!  I caught another sleep smile.  :)  My relief society president stopped by for a visit too.    
Dan and the kids were home around lunch time though they ate a picnic on their hike.  We suspected Anna was coming down with something because she had little to no appetite and had a little runny nose.  We gave her some meds and put her down for a nap.  The older two kids were invited to a neighbor's house (the Koldewyn's) for a play date in the afternoon.  Dan was able to work from home a bit while they were gone.  We had a big rain storm in the evening.  The rushing and gushing of water down our gutters made something bubble up in the storm drains.  Kinda cool but gross.  
My friend Kylee brought dinner that night.  Then, my parents came over for a visit in the late evening after the kids were in bed.  
These are some beautiful flowers from my dear friend Mary who lives back East and is always so thoughtful to make me feel special when I have a baby! 
Thursday, we found out why Anna had such a little appetite.  On top of her runny nose and little cough, she ate a little breakfast and then threw up once...poor thing! Dan snuggled her most of the morning, then once she started feeling a little better, he took the older two kids to Costco then took his car in for an oil change.  The kids had another play date at a neighbor's house (Lewises) in the afternoon and Dan was able to work from home again.  My friend Rachael Alexander came by for a visit and invited McKenna and Ben to go to the Bountiful Handcart Days Parade with their family!  The kids LOVED it!  We are so blessed to have such amazing neighbors!  That night, Dan took the older two up to his parents' cul de sac for some fireworks with family.  This picture was taken before a little mishap.  
One of the bigger fireworks tipped over after it was lit and started firing at our crowd of family members.  McKenna ran to the side of the house and Dan and Ben just covered up with a blanket.  Poor Katie and Sam got the worst of it, blistered burns and all.  Everyone was pretty shaken up too, but still finished the remaining fireworks.  

 Friday was Pioneer Day! We watched the Days of '47 Parade on TV.  
McKenna went on a hike with Grandma and some cousins to Silver Lake.  So beautiful! 
She also went through a little phase of wearing some fake glasses.  :) 
Dan took Ben and Anna swimming at a neighbor's house while I watched and took pictures of Anna cuddling Dan.  
We had lunch, took naps, then my parents and sister came over.  My mom brought a book about the pioneers she read to the kids.