My Babies

Dear Nathan, Andrew, and Maggie,

There are a million and one things I should be doing right at this moment, but nothing more important than what I need to do, and that is tell you how much I love being your mother. I'm honored and blessed. Come what may in your life, never doubt that I love you and that you are cherished and special. You are my world; and it is a world of light and laughter and joy and tears and overwhelming hope. And the love I have for you is but a small fraction of the love your Heavenly Father has for you. He allows me to have a small token of His love in my heart.

I don't know when you will read this letter...where you will be in your life, what struggles or trials you might be facing, what accomplishments you will have reached, what dreams you may hold, but know my love and never let go. I am not perfect. I make mistakes every day. And I pray that your Dad and I will have taught you through our mistakes to whom to look for forgivness. Life is hard. Really hard. And at times your heart will hurt, your faith may waiver, you will see injustice and pain as well as happiness and joy and kindness. But let me tell you that there is one source of healing and peace and it lies in the arms of our Savior. He lives. He loves you. He is my Savior...He saves me.

You won't remember your Grammy Cherry, my Mom, but it's been almost 3 years since she's been gone and I still ache to see her. And it's hard. Really hard. But I have found solace and comfort. The ache doesn't go away, it's not taken from me, but somehow I breathe through until the ache lessens and my heart is filled with peace and love and an assurance that God lives. We are not on Earth for an easy life or one filled with no turmoil, but we can do hard things. "Come what may, and love it."

Love you. I miss you already thinking about you all grown and out in the world on your own. Don't grow up too fast. And try to listen the first time. :)

Love always and forever,
Mom

Grand Tour Part 1: Yosemite

I've uploaded entirely too many photos of our trip to Yosemite and I refuse, REFUSE, (are you listening blog spot!) to go back and put them in the right order. They loaded backwards and I'm tired. So here for your backward viewing pleasure, is the first installment of our Grand Tour 2010.


Alyson holding Maggie while I packed the car. Thank you for always being such a wonderful helper and sweetheart. We miss you Aly! And Mags, that tongue!


All the cousins/friends having a blast pushing around the "babies" in the strollers.I think that was the longest Drew sat in one location the entire time we were there.


Speaking of my Drewbie, he LOVED throwing rocks down into the water and couldn't resist telling Mom all about the witch on the path and how there were two paths she could go on. I love how imaginative my kids are and I especially love how it aides Mom in getting two very slow walkers down a mountain much quicker...Gotta love distraction techniques!


This was how Maggie spent the hike back from the waterfall. She was such a trooper on the whole crazy adventure I put her through. She was exhausted and cold and yet never cried.


Yosemite Falls and the Haws family...I think we might have a Christmas card in the making.


I love this one close up where you can see the bright grin on Maggie's face. I love my angel baby and the boys too of course. They were amazing little hikers.


This was how we started out our hike to the base of Yosemite Falls...The boys in their PJ's drawing "pipes" in the dirt. Once we had Maggie loaded up into the backpack, we had to wait another 10 minutes before the boys were ready to relinquish their sticks and drawings.


Here is Nathan on top of Sentinel Dome. The pictures don't do it justice. The sheer power and overwhelming glory of that valley is indescribable. And Nate was loving every second of it. It was a moment of glory for this little 4 year old who hiked to the top all by himself and was a little nervous at first to look around but quickly realized how awesome it truly was.


And really, this hunk of man is the reason we all made it to the top of the mountain alive. Eddie is so patient and kind and has a way of helping me adjust my expectations and attitude without telling me to. I love him. (side note for Maggie when she's older: I promise immediately following this picture I made Dad take you down off the mountain for fear of you getting hypothermia. You can see in this picture how shiny and numb your little arms and legs are. We had no idea it would be so cold up top and I promise your Daddy warmed you up right quick!)


I kind of like this one for our family Christmas card.


Maggie: The adorable, non-crying even though she is freezing and breathing rapidly baby after my heart.


Drew: the flamingo dancing, quick to laugh 2 year old after my heart.


Nate: the pine cone collecting, million questions asking 4 year old after my heart.


Ahhh...melts my heart every time I look at this photo. I have the best boys in my life.


I had to include this picture because it sums up not only the entire hike but pretty much the entire Grand Tour! I would say that we spent close to half of the entire hiking time spent on the side of the trail so one or either or both of the boys could relieve themselves of both urine and the other stuff. All I have to say is, thank goodness Eddie was there or I would have had two boys hiking back to the car in their own poop. And not just once, but I do believe it was 2 times for each kids to make a little visit to the back of the log. Nope, I take that back. Drew went 3 times and each time was amazed how much there was. And just for the record, my children are the most "peeing-y" kids ever to roam the earth...I have friends who will back me up in this. It was on this road trip that Nathan learned to pee in a bottle because Mom was not about to stop for the 20th time after having just stopped 2 minutes before and in those 2 minutes the other kids fell asleep.


I love this picture, and let me tell you why. Nathan had found "the perfect pinecone" after having ditched the first 15 "perfect pinecones" (we still have it actually...but what to do with it is the question) and Andrew was feeling left out that he didn't have anything special to hold while hiking. He didn't want to hold a pinecone because somewhere he heard or thought he heard that bees live in pinecones, so he opted for a stick. When I got out the camera to take a picture of my boys they immediately strike a pose with their treasures. Voi la.


Maggie on my back. Lovin' the do!


Nate say "cheese".


Drew say "cheeseburger".


The start of our hike to the top of Sentinel Dome. Notice the smiles on our faces? Yeah, after the 2nd mile, not really there. Although, I have to say that our two little novice hikers did a really good job. It wasn't too hard a climb for the majority of the hike and what parts there were that were hard they took it like champs. We were so happy to be together as a family in "God's Backyard" and to just enjoy the journey. Hopefully we'll get back to Yosemite before another 3 years pass.

Our Grand Tour 2010

This post will be a work in progress...but before I lose all my links, here are few videos for your viewing pleasure.

While we were at my Dad's house visiting, the boys saw the "Going on a Bear Hunt" book on the bookshelf. They LOVE this book and my Dad read it to them one night at bed time. The next day, I discovered Nathan "reading" this book to Drew. I wish I could have gotten it from beginning to end and in better light, but it's still precious to me.




We were able to spend a few days with Kristi and her kids and while we were there my boys fell in love with the barbie movies. (Thanks Aly...it was a blast!) Here is Elizabeth and Drew dancing to the mermaid barbie movie (sorry, no idea what it's called). At the beginning of the clip Maggie is rockin' out to the music too.



Unfortunately, Nate and Drew got really sick at Aunt Kristi's house and we left early to come home. That meant Uncle Mike and Aunt Natalie and the boys got the shaft this trip. We rushed to get out to Yosemite on the way out and we were rushing to get home on the way back. We did however get to spend a little time in the morning before we left for El Paso to play and goof around outside. Here are the boys driving a mini-jeep for the first time.



This was taken at a McDonald's somewhere in Texas on our way home. We got stuck driving in a storm for close to 3 hours and my nerves just couldn't take it anymore. I pulled over for two screaming boys that had to go potty, one baby that needed a diaper change and a Mom that was losing her mind. You can tell we are all drenched in this video, but after a little food and some "run-around" time, happiness prevailed.

Nate swimming

This summer the boys took a 2 week swim course and in those two weeks learned how to dive from their knees (although they won't do it for us, just their teachers), how to swim with their faces in the water and how to dive for rings. Here is a short video of Nate swimming to me and Drew showing off his mad diving skills. ;)

Eddie's Birthday Party

I really need to be better about documenting major family events as soon as they occur, rather than waiting two months...Maybe then I'll have more memories to share. Eddie celebrated his 30th birthday on June 17th and I had kind of last minute decided to throw him a surprise birthday party. His actual birthday was on a Thursday and I decided to throw him a party Friday night. Oh but not just any party, an 80's themed party. Some day I hope to have discretionary funds to spend on a killer party; but until that time, we'll make do with slap bracelets, jelly bracelets, 80's music and movie trivia, awesome prom back drops, hand made posters (thanks M and J!) and totally wicked awesome friends that would come dressed up and partake in the festivities. I wish I had gotten more pictures of the actual par-tay but you can go check out Jeanette's Facebook page for more. ;) We played "The Dance Family Game: 80's Style" and laughed and reminicsed about our childhood, watched parts of "Ferris Bueller's Day Off", played with Eddie's new remote control helicopter, ate pizza and snacks and for his birthday cake (he doesn't like cake) we did a strawberry short cake truffle.

I think my brother Mike owned this very shirt...but proud to say, never, never, never these pants.

You can't see it, but the back of my shirt has a heart cut out.

J & M were gracious enough to let us use their house for the party and to help me dupe Eddie into thinking we were just doing a double date. (Side note: when planning a suprise party last minute, it helps to cry a lot and make your husband think you failed in planning him a suprise party for his birthday but in reality you're having it the next day. But the tears have to be real and convincing so that when it's obvious something is going on he still won't have any hope alive that you're doing something special for him.)


A & J. A had the quincessential boots...Loved it!

M & J. I don't know how she did it, but M had the perfect lipstick for the occasion!

Pregnant and still the life of the party! J & N.

M & M. truly the best authentic 80's outfit M! this actually was her mom's workout gear from the 80's.

Maggie's Stats

Sorry Maggie. We were out of town on your 9 month birthday and so we had to do your 9 month check-up when you were 10 months...but here are your stats:

Length: 28 3/4 inches (90%)
Weight: 17 lbs 6.5 oz (25%)
Head size: 17 3/4 inches (75-90%)

So Miss Maggie, you are long and skinny and I pray that you will be such all your life. You have the most beautiful brown eyes and I just want to scoop you up and carry you around with me everywhere I go. Your Daddy and I often fight over who gets to hold you, play with you, feed you, change you, be around you...We just love you so much! I can't believe in 2 short months you will be 1 year old! Where does the time go? Oh keeper of time, please be merciful and slow down just a wee bit.

Happy Birthday Drew!

Nope not 2 silly, you're 3!


So it seems inconceivable to me that Drewby is only 3. It feels like this child has been 2 forever! Maybe it has to do with the fact that he was acting like a 2 year old well before he was 2, so in reality he's been 2 for 18 months...Well no longer cause he is finally 3 in exactly 8 minutes. Make that 7 minutes.

Drew absolutely loves his brother Nate. He loves to swim in the water and dive for rings. He is getting more confident in so many areas of his life. He gives us sly smiles that almost always get him out of doing something...such as time outs, naps, cleaning, etc. or getting something he wants...such as more fruit snacks. Drew knows how to work it. He is friendly and kind and out-going. He instantly warms up to people and they to him. He loves to laugh and be tickled and to jump off our headboard onto our bed. He loves to climb and jump and roll around and wrestle.



Some of his favorites right now are:

Favorite song: You Are My Sunshine
Favorite color: it changes and depends on who is around when you ask him. If Nate is around, it's Red, Pink and Purple but if Nate is not around, it's Blue and Orange and Yellow.
Favorite Game: Hide N Seek
Favorite Food: Anything with sugar...Mostly fruit snacks
Favorite Toy: Cars, balls, Daddy, sword
Favorite Person: toss up between Dad and Maggie

His stats at his 3 year well check appt were:

Height: 38 inches (50-75%) (Nate is 41 in and 50-75%)
Weight: 33 lbs (50-75%) (Nate is 34 lbs and 25-50%)
BMI: 16.1 (50-75%) (Nate is 14.2 BMI and 5-10%)