Our family went to the Oquirrh Temple open house. It was so awesome to be able to take the boys to show and teach them the importance of the temple. Brock and Ethan loved it, they both know the song "I love to see the Temple", so that was sung almost the entire way through.
I know these are pretty much the same picture, but I love each one. You see Brock turned three in March, so he is still in Nursery for another year. He was so excited to have Ethan come to class with him. I think the pictures say it all, Ethan looking at me like you are leaving me where and for how long?? And the second one Brock is taking his hand to help Ethan through his big day. They are such little buddies (most of the time)!!!
I just love my boys, the big one and the little ones. They make me smile everyday. I am so greatful to have them a part of my life. I have been so blessed!
Brock and I were involved in a neighborhood preschool this year (since he will still have 2 years of real preschool before kindergarten). He had so much fun. He is now graduated, and moving on to Mrs. Jodi's Preschool which he is so excited to start in September.
I know the first picture is pretty bad, but I love it. The boys helping daddy with their lawn mowers. Brock and Ethan both LOVE helping Tyler out in the yard, to the point were the other night after dinner we asked Brock what he wanted to do, and he said "I need to go out and do some yard work with my shovel". And as you can see, Ethan loves the water. If there is a hose on he will find and and be soaking wet in seconds.
Brock started on his first soccer team this last spring, and as he would say he was "lucky #7". He loved it. There were times of course were I would see him sitting or laying on the ground picking the grass or finding a cool rock or just sitting back on our side line blanket finding the after game treats. Tyler enjoyed being his coach. And he had a great time playing on the same team as his little buddy Zander.
The precious memories of a young child
During a recent breakfast, Brock and I were sitting at the kitchen table, eating our cereal. I recently had purchased a new book from the LDS Distribution Center that had all sorts of pictures about prophets, apostles, baptism, blessing, marriage, temples, etc. As we ate breakfast we thumbed through the pictures of this book. Brock would continually ask, “what is that”, “why”, “who is that”, etc. We conversed back and forth for about 10 minutes, as I was gleaming with love for my son who wanted to know the purpose of life and the reasons why I know the individuals located in the pictures. While turning through the pictures we came to a picture of prophets of old giving a man a blessing. I indicated to Brock that this was a blessing that occurs when you are sick or need help from Jesus. Brock took a small pause and looked at me and said, “that is like when you had a blessing from Craig and Merrill.” I told Brock that this was the same and how lucky we are to receive blessings.
It is amazing and interesting to think that Brock, at just over 3 years old, has noticed, understood, and made the linkage between the prophets of old giving a blessing and his dad getting a blessing but a few months earlier. How impressionable children are. We must be diligent in our teaching of our children as they are watching and yearning for an understanding of all things. Be careful and explain all truths to children, so their path of understanding starts at a young age.
I am so proud of Tyler. He has his first BIG game today. As a side hobby he has followed his dad's footsteps in becoming a National Referee. This weekend he flew out to Dallas to ref the FC Dallas VS Brazil game, so this will be his first big National, well I guess internationl because they are playing Brazil, as the first official referee. If you would like to watch it, it will be live online only at http://www.fcdallas.com/ at 6:30 pm (I think that is the right time, 7:30pm Dallas time) GO TYLER!!!!
We have enjoyed many, many years of boisterous laughter, difficult decisions, and heartfelt compassion for each other. Some of my favorite memories of us are the times spent hiking in the canyons, running, shopping, all the time imaging where we would be in ten years, knowing that as long as we can preserve the feeling we had at that moment, nothing else mattered, it would all work out. We have the opportunity now to be parents of two young boys, who were given to us in impossible circumstances, showing them how to love someone as much as we love each other. I know they have experienced the unbridled endless compassion you are able to provide those you are around.
Jenny, there is no one in the world that means more to me than you. Tell me all your dreams, say exactly how you fee, lock the world outside, know that we are real, we will last forever. I promised to you forever, but have forgotten that each moment is all I wanted, all I want, all I need to remember, to make it another day.
I love you. Happy Valentines Day.
