Aug 11, 2013

Update in pictures.

Life has been busy  with all the everyday stuff, work, church, chores, errands and all the little moments we love when we get to hang out together. We have had a great summer and survived the school year and are almost ready to start another one. I cannot  believe summer is almost over. Mom is not ready for it to be over yet. I have loved being home with Warren and being able to stay in our pjs all day if we want or going on little adventures together. Here are some collages of things we have  been up  to since last September.
*The collages are not necessarily in chronological order, sorry.
 
Some photos Krystal took for our would have been Christmas Card for 2012. Maybe next year, well I  guess it would be this year. I  might get them done and out if I start now.
 
 
Christmas in a nutshell. It was so much fun seeing Warren get excited. He got a slide for his room and loved it. He will still play with it almost 8 months later so I guess it was a good investment.
 

 
Easter with the Ludlow's.  I just love his facial expressions.
 
 
A random afternoon rainstorm and the fun that followed. These are the moments I love. 
Impromptu fun!
 

 
After the Priesthood session of General Conference. He got his own "banno" for his birthday because he loved playing Grandma's banjo. It is just a little kids guitar but he thinks it is the bees knees. Yes I just said bees knees.  

 
I cannot believe my little guy is already 2. We had a nice quiet day together and then celebrated with family  later. He loved having  his own  cupcake to devour.
 



Going to the park or playing outside is one of Warren's favorite activities. I think he would stay outside all day if I would let him.
 


 
Hiking up above Trapper's Loop. Warren was a trooper and walked for about 1/2 mile by himself without complaining.
 
 
 Visiting Golden Spike National Historical Landmark for the first time. When the trains blew their  whistles, Warren would  get scared.


 
Visiting Temple Square and City Creek with Great-Grandma Ludlow. Warren loved being so close to the temple. He loves temples and calls the church house a temple. I love that he already has a  love for temples. We had lunch at Johnny Rockets and it was so good. We loved the atmosphere in the restaurant. Our waiter was so good with Warren which is huge in our book.
 

At the end of June we were able to attend the Lore Family Reunion in Ashton Idaho where we assisted with Kipper Kamp. Kipper Kamp is a camp where families with children who have autism  are invited to come and enjoy themselves without judgment or worrying about costs. This was our first time and I loved it.  I ran a station the first night where  people could come and participate in  various science experiments. I am already looking forward to next year. We also were able to go to  Bear World and it was so much fun. Warren slept the first time we drove through the park but loved it when he was awake. We let  him sit up front with us and  he kept pointing and saying "Bear". He also loved the kiddy  amusement park rides. This little man is fearless and that  is scary for mommy. I am glad he had a good time even if he got a "boy wound" as my uncle calls them the night before we left. He was headed upstairs to our room and  ran face first into a door frame. He got  the biggest  goose egg right  between  his eyes and  still has a small mark today.  Doctors said he was okay, I  guess he just has a hard head. Lucky boy!
 

We had a very low key 4th of  July. We did not watch or light off any fireworks  this year. Getting Warren to bed at a reasonable  hour was more important to me.  We enjoyed the West  Point Parade then played  a little, went to a wedding reception and visited my grandma. We were home and  Warren  was  in bed by 8:30 so nice for mom and dad. 


I  made a summer 2013 bucket list and the Tracy Aviary was on that list. One Saturday we headed on down and had a great time. We even got to see the keepers switching out a flamingo egg with a  "dummy egg". The birds were going crazy when the people came in, it was so loud.


The trout farm was also on our bucket list. Warren loved the fish when they were in the water and even wanted to go swimming with the fish. When we caught them, that was  another story. He started screaming and running away. It was slightly funny to watch his reaction. 
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These are some of our everyday moments that I treasure. Falling asleep in the car while folding his  arms, riding bikes at grandma's house and all over for that matter,  visiting great-grandma's , all four of Warren's are still alive lucky boy,  April Fool's dinner and playing all the time. 



This is just a small portion of our fall, spring and summer adventures. We have also spend our days at the zoo, the Treehouse Museum and  playing with cousins. Warren loves his cousins. Today when some of his cousins left he was saying, "there go my friends, bye friends"  it was adorable. I am so glad he is forming bonds early with his extended family. We still have a week and a half before I go back to work and we are planning on playing hard and enjoying the time. It is going to be a busy week, Zack's little brother returns from his mission Wednesday, our anniversary is Thursday and Zack turns 30 the Monday after that. So many fun things to look forward to.

Apr 4, 2013

Life as we know it.

Isn't it amazing how one can blink and it has been almost seven months or more. We are doing great, just continuing to adjust to all that life brings our way. Zack is just a few weeks away from completing another semester of school, Shaunna is one term away from completing her first year teaching and our precious little baby is less than a month away from turning two. Does that mean he is no longer my baby? I am not sure that will ever happen. :) We are already looking forward to summer and Shaunna has most of our summer planned already. We have had our share of ups and downs but we are choosing to focus on what we have and what is going right. We are learning to let go of what we cannot control and focus on what we can do to improve ourselves and our situation. We were in the process of purchasing our first home, which we were so excited about when we the feeling that it was not right. We were extremely disappointed but we are grateful we listened to the Spirit and know that there are other houses out there and that someday we will begin the house hunting journey-again, for the 4th time- So for now we are in our little apartment and taking full advantage of everyone elses yards and the park! The best news was received just over one week ago. My mom, Kyle and Krystal stopped by my classroom unexpectedly Thursday the 14th after my mom's scans were read. (they were checking for cancer) My stomach had been in knots all morning and I kept reminding myself that fear is the absence of faith, knowing full well that we, my entire family, could handle anything that was placed in front of us, but being very ready for good news and ready for my mom to start healing and feeling "normal" again. Well my mom had the best news, her scans were clean. The chemotherapy did its job! She is now in monitoring mode and will have scans every few months to check for signs of cancer. I am and was so grateful to myHeavenly Father  and Savior for carrying and supporting me and my family during this trial. I know that we have received a miracle and I am so grateful for It, as well as the many tender mercies that were shown to me and my family. We shared many quiet, peaceful moments together contemplating what matters in life and promising to look after one another no matter what and we learned to trust in the Lord and have faith in him, even when things look dark and bleak.  I have also learned to smile when my heart is aching, even breaking and to look for the silver lining-though sometimes it does not come when I think it should, and I may never find it in this life. Life is hard, it was not meant to be easy but it was and is meant to be enjoyed and that is what we are doing, enjoying life! I am striving to be a better wife and mother and to live in the moment, be present and listen to the Spirit and those around me. I want to be a better person and I am looking forward to the journey the ups and downs, that we allow me to become a better daughter of my Heavenly Father, mother, wife, sister, daughter, friend, teacher