Friday, May 23

Friday was our chill day...the boys woke up and went golfing and when they got back the girls went and got massages, it was heaven! After that, we all sat around the table and played games. It was a great and much needed day!



After our chill day, we went to Magic Kingdom that night. Isaac started the night off tired...uh oh!
At Magic Kingdom during their evening parade....


Isaac LOVED the lights!

We watched just a little bit of the parade so we could jet over to the rides to get on with little to no wait. Isaac's FIRST Disney ride...Pirates of the Caribbean! He was just the same...mesmerized plus extra tired!

My mom's favorite ride! Then, Isaac fell fast asleep. This is how he spent his naps...in the stroller with a blanket. That stroller was WONDERFUL. And, check out his cute little feet sticking out...:-) It rained tonight, but that didn't keep us from doing some of our favorite rides!

Saturday, May 24

Saturday was a great day...it was our shopping day! We went to two outlet malls and that pretty much occupied our entire day...mind you, we didn't even leave the room until 1:00 or so. :-) We ended the night with pizza, games and a movie, the best combination!



Along with chewing on straws, Isaac loves spoons!




My handsome husband...I sure love him!

Sunday, May 25

We found a nearby ward on Sunday and went to church...lucky for us, Isaac fell asleep when we were 10 minutes away and then never fell back asleep once we took him out. :-) Gotta love the timing. But look how cute he is...



That afternoon we went over to the last theme park: Animal Kingdom. We took the Disney buses and again, Isaac loved all the movement. And I love this picture...
Then we went to dinner at the Rainforest Cafe--my first experience there. It was fun and great, and then we tried to capture a family picture...Taylor was being a punk and wouldn't smile or when I thought he wasn't smiling, he was, and when I thought he was, he wasn't. :-)

There we go....I think my dad thought he was out of the camera angle. :-)
And then my dad and Taylor/Isaac tried to attack my mom and I in a picture...!

The Last Day: Monday, May 26

Monday was our day of travel. We flew from Orlando to Denver, had a two hour layover, and then flew from Denver to Idaho Falls. It was a long day, especially when it started at 6:30 AM and then had a 2 hour time change. But, Isaac did great!




In Denver, we let Isaac play all he wanted on the floor...is that gross?? :-)


So, all in all, it was a GREAT trip. Thank you SO much Mom and Dad for taking us...we loved every minute of it and did not want it to end!! You are great!!


So, there were also many things I was worried about before our trip...how Isaac would do on the planes, how he would handle the heat, how he would handle the time change, what it would be like to take our big stroller through the crowds...and in the end, all these things weren't an issue at all. Isaac transitioned so well!!! We were so grateful for that! He slept well, he ate well, and enjoyed all the fun things he did for the first time all while he was getting his first two teeth.



First Universal Ride: Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat

First Disney Ride: Pirates of the Caribbean

What our family has been dealing with....

We recently returned from a week-long trip to Orlando, Florida. It was a much needed vacation, and a wonderful trip. However, while I wish to journal the trip and show the cute pictures we took, it does not feel appropriate at this time.

You see, on Sunday night, the last night of our trip, we received a phone call we never thought we would get. A dear friend, a brother, a cadet that we have known for years, was missing. John Alley, a Air Force Academy graduate whom my parents sponsored, did not return home after finishing class on Friday afternoon. His car was found totaled on the side of a highway in Pensacola, Florida at 5 AM on Saturday. There was no sign of injury in the car, but his keys, wallet, and cell phone were still there. Search dogs traced his scent from the car to across the road but then the trail went cold--we assumed a motorist picked him up. Since there was no sign of injury from the accident, authorities believed John could have been disoriented. His body was found in the water on the coast of Pensacola, Florida on Monday morning. An autopsy has been performed, and the results are still to be released. He was 26 and leaves behind a beautiful wife of 10 months who is 5 months pregnant with their first child.

I cannot describe the emotions our family has gone through. John and his family have been dear, dear friends of ours. John was sponsored by my parents while he was at the Air Force Academy--he was just a part of the family. If he needed a place to stay, he came to our house whether my parents were there or not. If he needed a car, he had one. He was trustworthy, intelligent, and all around--a GOOD person.

Taylor met him for the first time a few years ago. They instantly became friends and could sit and talk about anything, as if they could pick up from their last conversation each time they saw one another. We talked about he and Emily coming to visit us, and attended their wedding last July.

We have been through the emotions of shock, disbelief, sorrow, grief....the list goes on. I can't even describe.........I truly am at a loss for words. This was the most sudden, unexpected thing. John is such a remarkable person, he will be missed and loved.

My heart is in pain for the sympathy I feel for Emily and the families involved. We care for these people very, very much. I wish I could just reach out to Emily and just help her and hug her and do something for her! I love her dearly.

The funeral has not been announced of where and when it will be, but both Taylor and I desperately want to be there.

I have never experienced a death that has hit so close to home for me. This has sparked some special conversations between Taylor and I--we have discussed things that would normally never come up in a regular day-to-day conversation. It has been a wonderful thing for us, where we have been able to connect on a level never before.

We truly are grateful for the gospel in our lives--that we have the knowledge that we will be together again, for it is the sealing power that is here on earth that will seal us together in heaven. But it is only through that power that we will be together in the eternities. For what is bound on earth will be bound in heaven. I pray that Emily will feel the comfort and peace that comes from this incredible sealing power that she and John entered into when they were married in the House of the Lord last July. There is life after death, this time on earth is but a glimpse, and while it feels like John was taken from this earth so early, I know it is not what it seems when we look at it from an eternal perspective. I am so grateful for this knowledge because it is at times like this that it makes the grieving process a little bit easier to stomach.

Our prayers are with Emily, their unborn child, and all friends and family.

"God be with you til we meet again."

Stake Conference in Colorado

This last weekend has been a special one for my family. Taylor, Isaac and I flew out to Colorado from Idaho on Saturday for Stake Conference. My dad, who has been in the stake presidency for the past 12 years, was released today. It was a day...a remarkable, spiritual day. Well, it started last night at the adult session and continued today. (Which, I should also note--last night at the adult session, we thought it would be better for Taylor and I to get the full feeling of the meeting if we could get a babysitter for Isaac...so we did and it was the first time I've left Isaac with an actual young babysitter--that I didn't even know, I might add!! Given the circumstances, I think I did remarkably well! I held my purse next to me on my lap all night in case the babysitter called so I could feel the phone vibrate...but she was a really sweet and nice gal. Even though Taylor made fun of me for holding my purse all night...it did go well!)

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland was the Presiding Officer for the conference, and Elder Carlos Godoy of the First Quorum of Seventy was also in attendance. Elder Holland stayed at the Stake President's home, and Elder Godoy stayed at my parents house. What an experience it was to sit at his feet and listen to him!! Elder Godoy is from Brazil--so Taylor was especially loving it because they spoke to each other in Portuguese--it was so awesome to watch Taylor interact with him!

Here are a few pictures...here we are in the airport waiting to leave...I LOVE this picture!!!

Isaac did SO good on the plane--I was pretty worried about how his ears would handle it because he did NOT want anything to do with his bottle. But, he was a gem!

How neat, huh!??


These pictures were taken between the morning and afternoon session of conference today. Because the stake is so big, they have to break it up into two sessions, so the Stake Relief Society provided lunch for the old and new stake presidencies and their families between the sessions. Elder Holland was AWESOME. What a genuine, personable, caring man. It was SO neat to have him here. We got some real special time with him--it was just neat, I don't think words can even describe how neat and special it was. And how lucky Isaac is to have a picture with a General Authority!

It was definitely an emotional day for our family. My dad has been such a wonderful teacher and example to me...I can't even begin to describe how I have been blessed through his service in the stake presidency. I saw him in many leadership roles and many capacities that have taught me so much. I know that he has grown from his service, and that in turn has helped me to grow.

It is really weird to think that he has been released after being in for so long...my entire teen years he was on the stand--and now he can actually sit with us...it's a new thought! I love my dad. He is the best dad I could ask for. I am so happy and proud to call him my dad! And I am especially grateful that we could be here to show our support to him.

Here are some fun, cute pictures we took tonight--Isaac is truly the joy of our lives!
I just love this next picture!!

Precious!

Playing Catch Up

I have had so many things to post this last week, but never got around to doing it. So, now you get to enjoy four new posts. I had to get all caught up though--because next week will be crazy busy!

This past week has been busy as well--Taylor started his summer classes on Monday after just finishing his spring term last Friday. Nice break, huh? But he did AWESOME. Last semester Taylor tackled 18 credits and got ALL A's in his major classes! He did SO SO SO SO SO SO good, I am so proud of him!!!!!!!!! This summer he is taking another 12 credits--he just amazes me.

On Wednesday, we drove up to Idaho Falls in hopes of winning a free trip. It was one of those timeshare-like seminars that if you go and listen to them, they will give you a free trip. (Side note: if any of you get phone calls from them...sorry. :-)) It was a great presentation, something that we will keep in mind, but not something for us right now. And the guy wasn't too happy about that--obviously. But, we left with TWO free trips to Vegas! (Kellie, here we come!)

Then on Thursday, disaster struck again. I got a call from daycare at work saying that Isaac had a temperature of 101.2 and they have to send them home with anything over 101. When I got there about 15 minutes later, his temperature rose to 102. I took him to the doctor and he said it was a virus--no ear infection--which is good because it would have been his third in like two months. But by the time we got to the doctors office about an hour or so later, his temperature dropped back down to normal and he was much happier and much more like himself.

That was good because then I made dinner for a couple in our ward who just had a baby girl--sooo tiny and cute! And, Taylor's cousin just had a baby as well, so we, meaning Isaac and I because Taylor was in class, went to the shower. Isaac was doing pretty good--not fully acting normal, but good.

This morning he woke up feeling a little warm, but was doing ok. I was just expecting to get another call at work saying to come get him. But I didn't hear anything...until 3:30. He woke up with a temperature of 102.9 but they said they could keep him and hold him until I was done with work since most of the kids had left. But I needed to have my mommy time--so I was planning to go get him. Not even 10 minutes later they called me and said it rose to 103.1--my little baby!!! I filled his prescription and went and got him. He was so lethargic!!! It was so so so so so so sad.

About 5:30 he was much better. We loaded him up on Tylenol and Motrin (per doctors orders) and he was his happy self. Hopefully this whole virus thing passes quickly because we are going on vacation!

Seven Months Already!

Seven months came so quickly! (It was also almost two weeks ago...I'm being slow to post...oops!) But the monumental event of this month's picture: MOBILITY! I could not get him to sit still--he kept moving to his stomach and I had to catch him from plunging off the front of the couch several times! Gotta love it!

Here is the six month picture to remind you...


And....seven months!

Here I go Mom...catch me if you can!

Oh I love my bear! Or anything that goes in my mouth....

Oh this is fun!
I go from bum to hands in less than a blink!

Ah nuts...you caught me!
What a joy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It pays to be honest

This experience happened awhile ago as well, but was such a good experience that I want to remember it, but I know I won't unless I write it down.

One night, while Taylor was in class, Isaac and I went to Fred Meyer. (Side note: I've never been to a Fred Meyer until moving here, and it is brand new and it is WAY nice...) Anyway, I was just looking for something and I definitely got distracted. I eventually wandered into the shoe department. I found some shoes that I really liked--and I am NOT a shoe girl--so it was a big deal that I actually liked these shoes. Well, it was buy one get the second half off. I couldn't resist. So I bought two pairs of shoes with the justification that if Taylor didn't like them, I would return them. Well I didn't even get home before I said "No, I am going to return these tomorrow." I didn't need these shoes, what I really needed and wanted were sandals. So, the next day during my lunch break I took the shoes back. I was on the phone with my mom so I really was not paying attention.

The girl refunded me the full price for both pairs of shoes. (The second pair was half off originally). Well, I go and get Isaac, go home and have lunch, and I was about to tell Taylor how I returned the shoes and it clicked. I got more money back than what I paid. Instantly, which I reluctantly am admitting to now, thought--no one knows...that's an extra $20 bucks in my pocket...I really don't want to drive back to Fred Meyer....BUT, then the thoughts of...that's not right...Taylor wouldn't keep the money...be honest...etc, all flooded my mind. It really was a moral dilemma. Enter guilt ridden conscious.

After work I drove back to Fred Meyer to tell them I got too much money back. I get up to the counter and tell the associate that they gave me too much money and was like "oh, ok." Enter more thoughts: not even an "oh wow, that is so good of you to come back"....or "thank you for doing that" ... or "not many people would be that honest"...so I was now a little peeved that my good deed was not appreciated.

Well, the associate could not figure out how to fix this, so after a few minutes she went and got a manager or someone to help her. The manager looked at the receipt and then looked at me and said, "Don't worry about it. It was our mistake, we will fix it on our end."

Enter guilt again. Just a few moments earlier I was getting upset that I didn't as little as a thank you for coming back and now this lady was going to let me keep the money...HELLO!?!? I felt terrible for being upset just a few moments earlier.

I just looked at the manager, dumbfounded, and said, "No....are you sure?" I asked several times but she just sent me on my way.

So, moral of the story, it really does pay to be honest. :-)

But, in all seriousness, I look back at this whole experience and really did learn something. The Lord truly was testing me. It wasn't until I had left the store, been away from it for over an hour when it dawned on me what had happened. I feel like my test was to see if I would obviously do what was the right thing to do. It is weird to me that it didn't register what happened when the gal originally refunded my money. It wasn't until later that it distinctly came back to me that I had a choice to make...keep the money or go back. It was an internal battle between right and wrong. Gas prices just jumped up, or, honest conscious. I am grateful that I was strong enough to go out of my way to go back and make everything right because I know that I am now even stronger because of it. I hope to remember this always and pass it on to my children.