Did You Miss Us?

I would be amazed if anyone still reads this, as I basically left most people high and dry. And when it has been awhile between posts, I start to wonder why I keep up with it, as there are so many other blogs out there. But since I do not write for others, but as a record to my children that we do love them and we do try our best (that sort of feeling gets sketchy as little people turn into yucky teenagers) I continue to post.

There are a lot of pictures that you are about to be bombed with. Guess what? I finally found my camera. Yeah, it sadly went missing for awhile. So some of these are older, but still need to be shared.

Love these chubby little thighs! This was from early this summer. And I love those eyes!

We spent many an afternoon at the splash pads this summer. I miss those days, as it is already cold here in Utah! I would spend the time with my sister, her two little ones, and one of my best friends, Abby and her little guy. The three two year olds would run around while the moms would do their best to keep the two babies in the shade. It was a lovely way to pass the days!

 Oh yes, the notorious baby lotion pictures. I think these were from back in May. This is what a 10 minute shower will get you. And no, the culprit was not Jacob. It was actually Collin, Jacob just offered his help in eating and smearing!

This handsome guy already knows he is handsome. He tells us all the time. "Momma, I's handsome" And he likes older girls. That's right, this little 2 1/2 year old would hang out with the 9-11 year old girls at the splash pad. They thought he was funny and cute. We are in so much trouble!

 These are some of my favorite pictures. Mike had a really bad migraine on my birthday. It finally alleviated enough to be able to spend the day in one of my favorite ways: picking out pumpkins for our little porch! This patch had some pumpkins with personality too. 

 And last but not least, we had Jacob's (who actually shared with Collin)  on year birthday party. This cake was 6 layers of cake, with buttercream frosting inbetween (yummy!) in yellows and oranges. It looked amazing when cut! 

 You will have to zoom in on this picture to see the beautiful colors of the cake. The party was a fall party. We had pumpkins galore, straw bales, yummy soups and rolls, lemonade, a delicious fruit salad, and of course, the cake. There were activities for the kids, a bean bag toss, a mix of tables and chairs with different quilts laid about, and lots of friends and family to help us celebrate. The pictures I have are thanks to a friend. I am sooo not very good at making sure we get the pictures. 

Jacob the Skunk, Suzie the owl, Khloe the butterfly, Collin the pirate, and Tatum the pumpkin! It is quite funny that Collin is the only non-blonde of the nieces and nephews.  

These are some of the pictures we took of the boys. I have not touched them all up, and there are even more that are so cute. I love my boys!

Overall, we have been just busy and happy. It is very much an emotional roller-coaster. This year was hard. My niece had her very first friend birthday party in celebration of her turning 5. This will always be bittersweet. i love seeing her grow up, but it hurts because Lilly would have been there (and maybe even was). She would be starting kindergarten next year. But than if we had not lost her, or Ryker, we would not have Collin. 

Ryker would have turned 4 on the 27th. It was a hard day. For three days, I would just cry. I think the reason it hurts so much is that even though our minds say we are fine, our spirit's weep. They weep for the loss, and the hurt in our hearts.

So Happy Belated Birthday Sweet Ryker. We love you. We miss you. Help get your heart cousin buddy out of Primary's and home (if you could keep our niece Gracie in your prayers, and her sweet family, that would be awesome. She was readmitted yesterday as one little sick girl.)

Well, that is it for now. Off to do some more homework, and to go work some more on my little guy's busy books. So excited for the hoildays!