A trip to BYU

I love BYU. Not just the football or that it is a Mormon school, I love the actual college and campus. I am proud to say I graduated from BYU and received a great education that I use every day in raising Marcus (my degree was in marriage, family and human development). I jump at the chance to go back there, so when my sister Tresa said they were going to the Bean Museum I told her Marcus and I would come. I went down early in order to go to the bookstore to get Marcus a BYU shirt for this summer and fall football games. We also grabbed an awesome hat! We walked around the Wilkinson Center, had lunch and I reminisced about my time there. I loved observing the students walking around and studying at the tables. I loved that time of life at BYU. I had good friends, great wards, and loved my classes. Marcus enjoyed BYU as well and loved to walk up and down the halls and loop up at all the students. We met Uncle Jarom on campus, went to see his apartment and then headed to the Bean Museum.

Marcus didn't know what to think of all the stuffed animals but I think he had a good time. We then headed over to the BYU creamery. Marcus and I enjoyed the best ice cream ever made, Chocolate Peanut Butter (It has big slivers of Peanut Butter in chocolate ice cream, it is heaven on earth). It was fun to visit with Uncle Jarom and for Marcus to see his cousins, Kate, Enoch and Gavin. We had a great time and Marcus loves his new attire!

Sunday Snippets

1. Marcus loves spaghetti (see picture below) he loves to get

it in his hair and all over

2. He has discovered chocolate milk, we add hershey's chocolate syrup to

his milk and he can't get enough of it (only a few times a week)

3. Now that it's Spring I love to open my big sun window in my subaru

and Marcus loves to look up at the sky when we are driving

4. He is constantly going, he never slows down except to sleep and eat

5. When I'm getting ready he steps up on his stool in the bathroom

and grabs a q-tip and tries to clean out his ears but usually only cleans behind his ears :)

I LOVE his face in this picture! I think he likes the wavy slide!

An early Easter Present

Marcus has wanted to do nothing but be outside! He cries when we bring him in, he cries when he can't get the back door open, he cries when he has to eat lunch or dinner before going outside. I love that he can roam around and I don't have to worry about him too much. However he needed something else to do besides roam around so Dave and I decided to get his Easter present early and set it up. A swing set! We didn't go fancy or big but got a perfect one for our yard and for how long we will have it. Marcus LOVES it! He loves the slide and the swing glider the most. He is a little small for everything but he think he can climb the slide which has resulted in a few tears. It's great though to look out my kitchen window and see Marcus laughing as he swings on the glider.

Mission blessings

My parents are serving their third mission. That's right, 3RD!!! Many people ask me how my family handles them gone on missions. My response is "I wouldn't have it any other way" "They love to serve missions!". Many people also ask how they can serve so many and be away from family. My response is "why deny them the happiness and blessings my parents receive from serving". The blessings from family members serving missions are something that you can't calculate. It's very hard to have them gone but the happiness I see in their faces when they serve cannot make me even think of having them home. Here is a picture that shows one of the many blessings of my parents serving a mission.

Elder Holland visited my parents mission a few weeks ago and they had some amazing experiences with him. This picture makes me smile every time I see it. I printed it off and we have it on our fridge. I love that my dad has his hand on my mom's back and that Elder Holland is literally hugging my dad and yet so intent on listening to him, you can see him looking right at my dad. Elder Holland visited their mission for a week and they had so many great experiences!

Here is a few snippets from my moms journal about the week they were able to spend with all of the General Authorities that visited their mission.

"Scott and I parked at the top also and Scott got out to help everyone know where to go.  At the top of the hill Elder Holland put his arm around Scott’s waist and held on while they both walked down the hill and to the door of the mission home.  It was a wise move, because the hill is steep and there are small rocks on the road, which could be very slippery.  Elder Holland expressed appreciation to Scott and put his hand up on his cheek gently.  It was a very sweet and special moment."

 "We were helping Elder Holland and Elder Snow with the password for the mission internet, so they could check their Blackberries.  We had a very comfortable visit with them for about 15 minutes.  They asked about our background and it came out that we had served two previous missions.  Elder Holland said, “Well, that sacrifice has assured you your salvation.  Do you remember the story of the young men who carried the handcart pioneers across the Sweetwater River?  Well I think that story has application here.”  I was overwhelmed with gratitude for such a sweet validation of our desire to serve missions as well as the service of all of the senior missionaries around the world.  I will remember and cherish it always.  Elder Snow said, “What an example you are setting for your grandchildren.”  I told them that our oldest grandson was almost 14 and that the rest of our grandchildren were still quite young, but it was such a special moment, that I will not forget. "

"What a beautiful, inspiring day!  Tears came to my eyes as I saw those beautiful African women dressed in their very best, singing “As Sisters in Zion.”  The thought that came to me was how grateful I was to have been called to Sierra Leone and how grateful I was to my children for allowing me to have this wonderful experience by supporting us on our mission.  As I hugged each of those African women, I told them how much I loved them and how blessed I felt.  I hugged each of the sisters who spoke to us and they each were gracious in gratitude.  Sister Holland thanked me for being here every day to teach the sisters.   Words cannot describe what a spiritually uplifting day it has been."

"From Sister Holland's talk: Elder Holland is even more wonderful at home than you see him here.  One night I was having a hard time sleeping.  He was sleeping soundly.  I turned to him and said, “I don’t know what to do.  I just can’t seem to get to sleep.”  Even though he was sleeping soundly, he raised up on his elbow and said, “If you’ll fast and pray about it, I know you’ll be able to sleep.”

 

"From Elder Holland's talk: I bless all of you that you will have your children forever.  I would join this Church just for the promise of having my wife and my children with me forever.  It would not be heaven without Sister Holland.  Nothing can separate you from each other and from your children.

I bless the sick and those who are mourning and lost someone.  I bless you with an understanding of the gospel.  We will all die to live again."

Sunday Snippets

1. Marcus LOVES to be outside! I have never seen Marcus throw

so many tantrums in his entire life than what he did this week. He cried

and cried when I wouldn't let him go outside because it was too cold.

2. Marcus is so funny! Dave and I crack up all the time about what
he does with his toys. He has the cutest personality.
3. He loves to wave at the people who check us out at any store. He will just
wave once and then when they wave back he gets the biggest smile on his face.
4. He will eat almost anything! We got through his picky eating phase and
LOVE this new phase of eating vegetables and new foods.
5. He now says "ba" for everything, no other words yet.

Marcus got his head stuck in his jacket and thought it was hilarious!!

St. Patricks Day

Our neighboring neighborhood (don't ask) had a leprechaun hunt before St. Patrick's Day. Marcus had to be wheeled around in his stroller while the bigger kids ran from clue to clue. Everyone ended up back at the park to find the treasure that the leprechaun left.

Marcus is in the front, not wearing green :) I didn't even think about it and when we came home I realized he doesn't have anything green. Oh well. Marcus had fun, thanks guys!

We didn't do anything to celebrate St. Patrick's Day except dyed Marcus' milk and oatmeal green, he loved it and looked awesome!

Sunday Snippets

1. Marcus will play with my hair at night before I put him to bed. I LOVE this time

we have, he will lay his head on my shoulder and just play with my hair, it's so sweet.

2. He has started eating almost anything! He will now eat scrambled eggs and

brace yourself, BROCCOLI!!! As long as it has

lemon juice on it he will down it so fast.

3. He is constantly on the go and in to everything! I tried to watch the movie "cars"

with him the other day. I put the movie in and sat with him wrapped up on the couch. He lasted about 5 minutes, if that and then he was off playing. 

4. Marcus would be outside 24-7 if we let him. Even though it is cold he still just wants to

be outside exploring. Because it's been so warm I let him go in the front yard

where it's not muddy and he loves to pick at the grass and the dirt on the ground.

5. Marcus' favorite toys are his Little People toys. He finally knows where to put

the people. He will play with them almost every day.

 (Mom and Dad, notice your picture in the background on the book shelf)

P.S. I tried to upload a cute video but it didn't work, i will try tomorrow.

Sunday Snippets

1. Marcus will spontaneously come up and give me hugs, it

melts my heart. He gives the best hugs too, they are his arms all the way around my 

neck and he holds me for a long time!

2. We have started reading the Book of Mormon story books

that you can get at the distribution center with the big pictures, Marcus actually

sits on our laps and looks at the pictures. Hopefully we can keep it up!

3. Marcus loves his bedtime routine: 7:30 get p.j.'s on, drink milk while we read stories, read

the Book of Mormon, brush teeth, say prayers, and then cuddle with mom and dad

as we rock him and sing primary songs. He falls right to sleep and most nights

sleeps until 8:30 or 9:00 in the morning :)

4. He is learning how to eat with a spoon and a fork and actually hates

it when I try and feed him. He prefers to do it himself, he does make a mess but 

looks adorable.

5. Graham crackers have become our favorite snack here, along with

pirate's booty and any kind of fruit. Candy, especially smarties are also on the favorite's list.

 

Fishies!

Dave took a few days off from work so we decided to head over to the Aquarium. Dave and I have never been there and Marcus is old enough to understand and be excited about seeing the fish. The best part for Marcus was stepping up on all the rocks to see the fish and animals. My favorite part was seeing the otters, dave loved them also.

 Can you find Marcus and can you find the otter?

P.S. Doesn't my little guy look so big!!!