Happy Monday - Let's Give Something Away!!

Remember that Etsy shop I told you I started? 

Well, today we are being featured on an AWESOME blog and we are doing a big, huge, super fab giveaway!! 

I'm giving away a really cute hooded towel... one of these two...

And my friends are giving away all kinds of other stuff - monogrammed shirts, cute headbands/hair bows, photography sessions, a sun bather towel, and more!! 

So you should head on over to Newlyweds on a Budget (remember the lady I blog-stalked last week and fell in love with? Yep, she's the host!) and enter the giveaway!!! 

http://www.newlywedsonabudget.net/2013/05/the-perfect-way-to-start-monday.html

Let the fun begin!!!!

Mother's Day

My heart is full today. I am so blessed to be the mom of my two girls. They bring so much joy into my life.

My Bella girl wanted to cuddle with me all last night - she didn't go to bed until VERY late so that she could cuddle with me on the couch. We have been cuddling a lot lately and I love it. It makes me so happy to hold my children in my arms and hug them tight.

Today I went to church even though I wasn't supposed to just so that I could see Bella sing the Mother's Day songs in sacrament meeting and then give her scripture in Primary that she has been working on all week. She has that scripture memorized! But right before all the kids went up to sing, Bella got a major case of stage fright. Nothing and no one could get her up on the stage! I couldn't even convince her by telling her Daddy could go with her. She knows all the songs; I know she does because she has been singing them all week. I was so excited to see her sing them with all the gusto and excitement she has about everything else in life. And to see her up there singing so proudly because she knows the words and she loves me. And this little girl wants to go up and bear her testimony on a regular basis (she doesn't, but she wants to). Last year, it was everything we could do to keep her from going up with the kids to sing because she wanted to be up there. It was just totally out of character. But she snuggled on my lap, and what more could I ask for? I held her tight and wrapped my arms around her. I'm a sobfest, so of course I was bawling my eyes out, but not because I was sad that she didn't sing. I was bawling because I love my baby girls and Bella didn't want to leave me to sing. I was bawling because I felt so blessed and lucky to have these girls and I felt so blessed to be able to be at church with them today. It's okay that she didn't sing - though I really have no idea where her bout of stage fright came from - because she's my daughter and I know that she loves me, even if she doesn't sing. My heart was also touched by all the other kids singing so proudly to their moms. There was so much love at church today.

Bella decided not to give her scripture today either. I really just do not know what got into her. She wasn't singing the wiggle songs at the beginning of Primary, she didn't want to go sit with her class, she was just being so out of character. I even tried to bribe her to get her to give her scripture. She wanted nothing to do with it - and I was offering up some good prizes (shoes, necklace, earrings, toy, basically anything she wanted). She told the Primary President she wants to do it next week, so we will try again next week. I'm super shocked by her stage fright, it's so unlike her, and she really has the entire scripture memorized, but she's her own little spirit and person and it's okay that she didn't do it today. I'm just going to give her more hugs when she gets home today. :)

I really do feel so blessed and fortunate to have my kids. And I really am a sobfest - I have my Dad's emotions and for goodness sake, we bring the waterworks everywhere we go. I actually didn't wear makeup to church today because I knew I would cry. :)

Makenzie is such a lively little girl. She is all over the place at church and, yet, she is maintained and doesn't go too crazy, so she's really not as crazy as she could be. haha. :) She plays so well with Bella and with other kids. She's outgoing and silly and she knows who she is. I'm grateful that I have two little spunky girls who know who they are and aren't going to let anyone else tell them who to be. I hope they stay that way their entire life.

I wish I could remember all the details of their lives. I feel like I can't even remember which one was more of a cuddler as a baby or who is the more mellow one. I'm hoping my poor memory motivates me to blog/journal about them regularly so that I can remember later on down the road. They're such wonderful children and I want to be here for every single thing that happens to them in life. I want to be by their side or cheering them on from the bleachers, whatever it is and wherever it is. They're my pride and joy and they make me so, so, so very happy. I love my little girls.

To My Mommy

This is my mom. 

She is my best friend.

We always take awesome pictures together, like this one.

This is my mom and dad and the girls last summer. That was a fun night at the Bar J.

My mom is one of my favorite people in the entire world. (So is my Dad, but I'm talking about my mom tonight.) We were definitely buds before we came to earth. She knows me probably better than anyone else. Patrick is learning, but my mom has about 20 years on him. ;-) We are BUDS. I love my mom so much. I look up to her, admire her, want to be like her, respect her thoughts and opinions, and I just think she is amazing. 

I grew up as the only girl in a house of 5 kids. I got spoiled - by both of my parents. I always loved going out with my mom, even if it was just to run errands. I liked to be around her. She was always teaching me things - she still does. She taught me how to play softball and was ever so patient with my very impatient attitude. She taught me how to write a solid sentence and put an English paper together. I'm pretty sure I learned how to "fluff" a paper from my mom too. It's a technique and a skill, really. :) She would buy me clothes, buy me clothes that I don't think my dad would have ever allowed me to get, and she helped me choose my Homecoming and Prom dresses - even the one my brother called a hand towel and said I couldn't go to the dance in if I was going with his friend. She bought Baskin Robin's by the gallon... or more - triple gallon? :), whatever that giant bucket's size is. She loved Jamocha Almond Fudge and Daquiri Ice. I loved Daquiri Ice. Yum. We had giant buckets of these in the deep freezer, so long as Baskin Robin's had enough to sell us some. 

My mom taught me to drink Coke and eat Frito's. When I was a teenager, she would do that and I would drink Pepsi and eat Nacho Cheese Dorito's. She still loved me. She taught me that a fountain Coke is the best kind of Coke. And just how much ice makes it perfect. 

My mom taught me to enjoy a good surround sound system when watching movies. My dad did too. We watched a lot of movies growing up. Nearly every conversation my family has involves movie quotations. And, in fact, a couple of weeks ago, I was talking to a friend at church and I quoted so many movies/tv shows in a short amount of time that she noticed and said, "You watch a lot of movies huh?" Well, I sure did growing up. :) We still quote movies from 10-15 years ago in my family. A get-together with my family is like "Who's Line is it Anyway?" and "Name that movie."

My mom has amazing intuition. She has had answers for me before I knew what the question was. I have both listened and not listened to my mom. I listen to her now. I look to my mom for advice and support and she gives it in just the right amount. My mom has been there for me in my worst, darkest days and on the brightest and best days of my life. She has flown halfway around the world to be there for me when I needed her the most. She even Skyped with us when we chopped my hair 3 months ago. At 4:00 in the morning, her time. She had a Coke. :)

I have always wanted to be a mom and I have always looked to my mom as a role model. I could tell that she loved being our mom. Sure, she didn't like us every day, but she loved being Mom and she loved us. I have always wanted to feel the same way about my role as mom. I learned how to be patient (though it's taken me years to put it into practice), kind, humble, and loving, and how to sacrifice from my mom. When I became a mom, one of the first things I wanted to do was tell her thank you for being my mom. When mommyhood started, I apologized for being the teenager I was and told her thank you for putting up with me. I'm sure I still have no idea what she did for us on a regular basis. 

My mom waited up for me when I broke curfew. She only had to look at me - I knew what I had done, and I didn't do it very many times. My mom taught me "the look." 

My mom gives the best hugs. When anything in life isn't grand, a hug from my mom fixes it. I feel like I am home when I'm around my mom. I kind of stick to her like glue any time she visits - I just can't get enough of her! She is so warm, kind, and good. And she is SO funny. Man, is she funny! My mom is so quick and witty, it's amazing! And when we get together, we feed off of each other. Patrick says that he doesn't even try to keep up with us anymore. 

My mom is my best friend. She has always been there for me, as a listening ear, a voice of guidance, or a voice of reassurance. She gives me strength. She's been dealt a "fun" hand and she is so positive and so strong. She just keeping going because what else is there to do? "I can do hard things," she says. And she can. And because she can, because she taught me that I can, I can do hard things too. She pushes herself and gives so much of herself to those around her and whoever needs her. I know that I can overcome trials because my mom taught me that I can. She taught me to be a fighter, to be passionate, and to never give up. 

I love my mom so much and I hope that when I grow up, I can be just like her. 

I love you, Mama-san. Happy Mother's Day!

Chemo #4a

I was going to blog today while I was at chemo, but I couldn't remember my email password to log in to Blogger, so I waited.

Something amazing happened today. Okay, a few things...

#1 - It's our SEVEN-year anniversary today! It's hard to believe that seven years is already here. Time has flown by and it really does seem like we just got married yesterday. At the same time, our wedding day feels light years away. We celebrated last Thursday by going to Salt Lake and attending the temple (haven't been to the SLC in a few years), where we were married. We did a session after we were sealed and took pictures and everything and it was wonderful. It was wonderful to go back for our anniversary and remember our wedding day and look at the temple with "older and wiser" eyes, ears, and hearts as well. It was really wonderful.

A week before we got married, in North Carolina at our Engagement Party.

Our wedding day - yeah, we started that Chucks trend. :p We still have our shoes. 

After the temple, we talked to an usher/senior missionary for a while. He was in the Air Force, so he and Patrick gabbed it up for a while. Then we put our stuff back in the car and walked over to City Creek, where we had dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. {I have pictures of our date - well, just a couple, but some cleaning angels came to my house today while I was at chemo and I don't know where the cable/adaptor/loading thingy is to get them off the camera. I'll have to ask them.} Anyway, Patrick had never been to the Cheesecake Factory, and it's a nice restaurant, so we decided to go there for our special night out. We were both STARVING by the time we got there and couldn't clearly think or decide what to eat, so we ordered an appetizer. The most delicious appetizer I've had in a long time - Buffalo Blasts. Holy yum. I honestly think that the next time I go to the CF, I will order them as my meal, haha. :) (We did have a Zub's sub for lunch, but our bellies were hungry by dinner time!!!) Anyway, after we got some yummies in our tummies, we were able to think more clearly and ordered our food. We had fun with our server, I saw the server who gave me a side hug the night I went out with my friends and chopped my hair off, and it was just a blast. We had an amazing conversation and it was SO SO nice to really talk to my hubby - seems like it has been ages since that happened. :)

After dinner, we walked around City Creek a bit and Patrick let me buy some bath things from Lush. I told the ladies there about my cancer (cancer card!) and they gave me three samples on top of everything else I bought. They helped me choose some relaxing items and some anti-nausea (hopefully!!) things as well. They also gave me some "detox" stuff too. I'm going to try them this week and I pray that they help!!

We were pretty exhausted by this time, so we headed home. Thank heavens for wonderful friends and family who watched the girls so that we could celebrate our anniversary. We are sooooo very blessed to have all of you in our life, especially right now.

So anyway, it's our anniversary today and we barely saw each other. haha. I didn't take work off and neither did Patrick. We said, "I love you," and "happy anniversary!" but we pretty much saw each other in passing. Another day in the life of the Murrays. I'm so grateful that we had Thursday to celebrate.


#2 - While I was at chemo, I read on Facebook about a lady who died during childbirth (c-section) today from complications of placenta previa and placenta accreta, giving birth to their sixth child. I didn't know all the details at the time - just that this mom died while giving birth to their sixth child, a little boy. My heart broke for her family. What a tragic and painful experience. A friend posted about the Plan of Salvation and eternal families and how she is grateful for them, especially in times like this. I am too. I am sooooo incredibly grateful for eternal families, for the blessing of families, and for the blessing it is that those who pass on are still with us when we need them. I know that when we conceived Bella and my grandfather died that they were hanging out in Heaven together. She never met Grandpa Noel here on earth, but I know that she knows him and that they are buddies. She would make him smile, I just know it. But our knowledge of these things does not make death, especially one like this an easier burden to bear at all times, especially right away. Even with the comfort and knowledge, it is still hard.

Well, as we left the hospital today, feeling good after chemo (surprisingly), we passed through a group of about 20 people near same-day surgery. They were sniffling and some were crying. That didn't really make sense near same-day surgery. Same-day surgery should be easy surgeries, not life-threatening ones. And then it dawned on me. I had not thought for even a minute that this woman might be in this very hospital, but I knew it was her friends/family. I kind of felt like I was walking right through a family event/reunion/something. I felt bad for passing through them with my life intact and my family healthy. I heard a woman telling someone on the phone, "She had the baby today, but she didn't make..." I won't lie, I cried. I said to Patrick, "Oh my gosh, I know what this is. I know who these people are!" and told him what I had inferred from Facebook. I visited the woman's Facebook page and cried for the babies (children) and husband who lost their mother and wife. I'm a sobfest as it is, but I have been tearing up ever since. When we walked through these people, she had passed away less than hour beforehand. Their emotions were fresh and raw. I was passing through their mourning so nonchalantly, with things going very well in my life. (Yet another time I have felt so lucky and bad for just having Hodgkin's and not something worse.) I could feel the Spirit there and area was heavy and united. It was a very surreal feeling to walk right through that.

I pray for the Galbraith and Lawrence families. I pray that that will find comfort and strength and that angels will be with them at this time. Heavenly Father loves this family and He will guide them through one of, if not THE hardest times of their lives.



Now that we have had a sapfest and a sobfest, let's talk a little business.


#3 - I felt surprisingly very good after chemo today. I don't usually feel so good. I usually feel groggy and sort of nauseous. Steroids aren't kind. But I felt good. I felt bad that someone was bringing us dinner when I felt so good, but I knew it wouldn't last. And it hasn't. Around 6:00, those feelings started to present, as well as the "restless" feeling. I still need to take the Lorazepam for that. Ugh, I'm tired of drugs, but gosh darnit, they work so well!

One of the drugs I get - I should say chemicals I get, makes my pee red/orange. It's really bizarre. It also makes it smell funny, chemically. I hate it. It's a smell that makes me nauseous just thinking about it. Chemo makes everything I do smell/taste funny. It isn't pleasant. Darn that super smelling I got with my pregnancies that never went away. Haha.

This was my 7th treatment, so I'm officially over the halfway mark and on the down-hill. I want to have a party when I'm done with radiation - so be thinking of things to do in October and send me your ideas. It needs to be good, but not too exhausting. But I want to have a party. Hair or no hair.

Oh, yeah. That's thinning a lot more now. I kind of feel like an old lady - I'm balding on the top of my head. :) It seems like only people who actually know me can tell, but they can tell. One friend asked to feel my hair - sure, no biggy. She said it feels the same as people who have fine, thinner hair. I'd agree with that. There's just less there now than there was. I'm so grateful that I had so much to start with.

I've gotta be honest with you, though, I think I'm okay with the idea of it all falling out. I stressed, worried, and commiserated for so long about losing my hair and it hasn't. What a blessing that has been. But I think I'm finally ready to let go and move on to the next stage, if it is going to come to me. My hair might just get thinner and thinner. I may end up looking like Gollum. But less blue.

But I have some really cute head scarves, so it's okay if I lose my hair. That's kind of a weird thing to say, but I think I'm okay with it. And in all actuality, it's kind of annoying to be shedding so much. I have a lot of hair to lose before being bald. I've already put major Drain-O in the sink once and it needs it again, just a few weeks later. Every time I shower, the water pulls more hair out. If I brush my hair, it just comes right out. It's a totally bizarre thing. Really bizarre. But Gollum is pretty famous, so it can't be all bad. My preciousssss..... hair. ;-)

I'm swollen all the time, so I asked Dr. Rich about that today. He said it's normal and happens to some people, especially those who have allergies. I don't have allergies, but I have plenty of swelling. Even my eyelids are swollen - like all the time. I wear more make-up now, including eye liner, because of it.

My eyelashes and eyebrows have less hair than they used to. My eyebrows look really light to me. It's so weird.

And I have a chemo baby in my belly.

Just kidding. That's me at 9 months with Makenzie in my belly. 

My chemo baby is smaller. Can't even compete with a human.

There are three weeks left of school. Isn't that crazy? I'm ready for summer and yet, it doesn't really mean much more than not having to get subs or go to school. Chemo isn't stopping, I don't really get a break, and life will just keep going. But I'll be able to stay up as late as I want whenever I want (read that: whenever my old lady, chemo baby gut, chemo exhaustion body lets me). 10:00 sounds late to me these days.

And I'm finding myself rambling now. I am a wordy son-of-a-gun. So I'll call it a night, finish my Ginger Ale, and go watch some Chuck and fall asleep on our silky sheets that we were given as a gift years ago and just put on our bed. The silky pillow case should keep me from losing as much hair from friction in my sleep. Big Whammy!

Goodnight. Here's to another chemo week. 

7 down, 5 to go! 

(I used to count down to the end of chemo, but as we are getting closer to it, I am starting to count down to the end of radiation, end of September/beginning of October. There WILL be a party.... of some kind.)

She Did It Again

If you haven't read the previous post yet, do so first. 

Kari did it again. She wrote what I think. Who is this girl? We must meet.

I'm just going to link you to her post, but I'll highlight a few pieces here.

http://www.newlywedsonabudget.net/2012/11/if-i-die-young.html

" I can now say my life revolves around one specific point in time. The person I was before my accident, and the person I am now. Nothing, to date, has changed my life like that, I'm not sure anything will. 

Before the accident, I was sure of my own youth and strength. I was guilty of thinking "that couldn't possibly happen to me." I was healthy, I was strong, and in my eyes I was invincible. Now I know that my days are numbered.

But I know it in a good way. Now I know to appreciate my husband more than I ever have before. Now I know to see the strength in the people that surround me. Now I know to appreciate my body, this amazing gift that has been given to me, and to never abuse it. Now I know that whenever it comes time for me to leave this world I will be able to look back and know that I lived a life that made me happy."

I feel this way too. In one of our early appointments with the Nurse Practitioner (I love her so much. Her name is Nancy, she's hilarious, and she's just plain great.), she told us that this would be a good experience for us. She told me that I would learn things about life that people don't learn until they're in their 80's. I wasn't sure what she meant at the time, but I started to learn very quickly after that appointment. 

I have a greater appreciation for my husband and children. I get very frustrated when I feel like I am taking them for granted because I feel like I know now, more than ever, how precious they really are. {I think that's why I beat myself up about not being Super Mom.} I see the world differently now. SO many things just don't really matter. And others REALLY do matter. 

"When asked about writing the song "If I Die Young" the band said-

"We wanted to write a song about making the most of whatever time you're given -- whether it's two years, twenty years or two hundred.

We really have gotten to live and love at our young ages. 'If I Die Young,' for us, is about if it all ends at this moment, look at what we've gotten to do. Whatever time we're given will be absolutely enough as long as we make the most of it." {source}. 

That sums up my feelings about this song to a T.  I've always been drawn to music and I have specific songs that I tie to the milestones in  my life. There have been a few songs to help me through the last few months but this one has been the most poetic. 

I haven't been the best at writing my story lately, manly because most of the time I don't know what to write. Be patient with me, while I fumble around and try to find the words to describe everything that has happened and my feelings."

"Whatever time we're given will be absolutely enough as long as make the most of it." I fully believe that. 

Interestingly enough, I have a song that has spoken to me through this journey, as they call it. It is "Home" by Phillip Phillips. I heard it just days after I was diagnosed, on the radio, when I turned the car on to warm it up before going to work. I really heard the lyrics for the first time and they resonated with me. When my wonderful friends got me an iPad mini to help make chemo more bearable, they had part of the song engraved on the back: Just know you're not alone.

I've listened to that song dozens of times since I found out about the stupid cancer. It has made me cry, lifted me up, and brought me comfort. I'm not alone. I have my wonderful friends and family, and I have my Savior. 

Lastly, I send my apologies for my fumbled (I love this word, it's perfect) words, while I try to explain how I feel, in almost every single blog post. I'm going to try and stop doing that. 

Comfort to My Soul

I've kind of had a block recently. I haven't known what to write on the blog or how to respond to people. So I just haven't... and that's pretty lame. 

I decided to start a business - who in their RIGHT MIND starts a business in the middle of chemotherapy when they literally do not function half of the time?? I know, I know. I've had these thoughts too. But I have no answer to it. I just think, "Well, why can't I?"  

In starting this business, a couple friends of mine and I decided that we'd like to get the word out about our businesses more. We decided that we would look for a blogger who could host a giveaway for us. I don't really blog anymore these days, besides writing on here (I mean, I don't check/read other blogs and whatnot), so my blogosphere knowledge is seriously lacking. I was nervous that we wouldn't find anyone who could/would help us. But both of my friends know bloggers, and one contacted a friend of hers and bam, we have a blogger who is willing to host a giveaway, get more followers and views and stuff sort of thing!

So I went to her blog tonight. I think it's important to know who is going to do this for us, after all. :) And I discovered that she was hit by a drunk driver while running early in the morning, training for a half marathon, last summer and is still on her road to full recovery. I've been reading her blog posts about her road to recovery and crying a lot. 

{Mind you, today has been kind of a stressful day... and I'm an emotional human being.}

She is amazing. She is so human. I admire her so much for her strength and humility and I'm just breaking the surface of her story... and I haven't even had a chance to read her regular crafty blog posts! 

{The blog is www.newlywedsonabudget.net, by the way.}

She said something in one of her blog posts, where she talks about forgiving the guy who hit her, and it really struck a chord with me. I feel THE EXACT SAME WAY about myself and my situation. 

She said, 

People tell me how strong I am, how amazing I am, how they could never go through what I have gone through. I'm here to tell you, I am none of those things. But I have the companionship of my Savior with me at all times, and it is because of Him, that I have been able to do the things I have done.

YES!!!!!

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! This is exactly how I feel. I am none of those things - the things people say to me and about me. How they tell me I'm amazing and so strong, such a fighter, brave, tough, they could never do what I'm doing or they would never react the way I am reacting. I AM NONE OF THOSE THINGS. But I do have the companionship of my Savior with me at all times, and it because of Him that I have been able to do the things I have done, to have the attitude I have.

So tonight, I'm grateful for Kari, a blogger whom I've never met, who will be hosting our awesome giveaway thing (I'm not even sure what to call it), because she is human and she is inspirational. And she has really inspired me and brought comfort to my heart tonight. Thanks, stranger. :)

Halfway & Still Kickin'!

We are officially halfway done with chemo. Halle-freaking-lujah! Really. Just like that.

Chemo sucks. It totally sucks. It now takes me 3 days to bounce back and become a human again. It used to take two days. By the end it will probably take me 4-6 days. I'm not looking forward to spending my summer on chemo.

I'm pretty unhappy with chemo, if you can't tell. I don't like it and I don't like its negative side-effects. I don't like that it knocks me out for three days and I become a basically lifeless blob. I barely function; I don't even have the energy to respond to text messages. I only respond if it's absolutely necessary. I sleep a lot, but after about a day and a half of that, my mind is ready to roll, while my body still doesn't want to move. It's very frustrating and discouraging. And I hate not having the energy to take care of my kids, let alone play with them. I'm also more tired on my good weeks. It's like all of a sudden, I'm more tired than I have been thus far, but it's true. I just don't have the energy to go and do all the fun things I want to do. Or to keep up with my kids, my house, the chores, the cooking, etc. Thank heavens we have an awesome ward - they have made us freezer meals to use on good weeks. I just have to remember to take them out of the freezer with enough time to thaw out. I'm not very good at that. The house is a cluttered mess and we look like we belong on Hoarders, but it's just because I can't keep up with all of it and so things go in piles. At least there's floor space for the kids to play.

Our anniversary is in a week - on a chemo day. Seven years. Isn't that crazy? Seems like that just happened out of nowhere. I'm very lucky to be married to my studly husband. We aren't where we thought we'd be, but we are together and happy, and that counts more than the material things. We are going on a date this week to celebrate. I'm looking forward to going on a date with the man in my life.

Bella has been really funny recently....

Bella is watching me go through the Facebook newsfeed. She sees a picture of a baby and the following takes place. 
B: Mom, what's that baby's name?
Me: I don't know. 
B: It could be Calypso. 
Me: ....Yes, it could be, but I don't think it is.
B: But it COULD be.
--------------------------
Bella was looking through her scriptures and found a note. These scriptures were dropped off by a primary teacher/ward member who took her to church a couple weeks ago. 

Bella said,
"Mom! She left me a note! It says... You are my favorite child?" 

That really did just happen. She is on a roll tonight.

She's so funny.

Makenzie is funny too. She's a quirky, fun girl. She wore a giant flower bow on the side of her head to church today. It didn't match her dress and she had little piggy tails, but she wore that flower bow proudly. Silly girl.

We planted our tomatoes, marigolds, and lavender yesterday. The lavender smells soooo good. I still need to get lemongrass to keep the skeeters away, but I need to find it in order to plant it. :) I haven't checked the nursery yet, though. And we still have our whole square-foot garden to plant... and build. Building and planting are hopefully going to happen this week. But at least we have a few tomato plants set up. We are going to share the garden with my sister-in-law, Shawna, so she got the tomato plants. We are also hopefully going to get some from a friend who started some seeds for us - hopefully they grow and are nice, healthy, friendly plants. :) We want them. We like tomatoes. haha. And Shawna accidentally got one Roma plant and two big and beefy tomato plants. Last year we grew Romas and little sweet yellow salad tomatoes. New adventure every year! I'm looking forward to it, though!

And now, some pictures...

I can't believe how grown-up she is.

This is our little silly bean. She's the best. And she drinks a lot - like her Daddy.

A package full of clothes came in the mail. They like new clothes.

Last Sunday, we went to the Provo City Center Temple grounds to take a look. Our family photo is awesome. It's going to be framed, for sure. 

Bella took this one. We are in our Sunday best.

The temple is actually on stilts right now while they build all the underground stuff. It's really amazing.

The corner of the temple and the underground workings in progress.

They really love each other. Makenzie helped me take this picture. They love taking pictures. 

What used to be the front (I believe) of the tabernacle. I'm pretty sure they call this side the front, though, I'm not sure which side will be the front when the temple is completed. 

Painting one day.... you can tell their personality differences here. Well, minus the fact that Bella had JUST mixed all of her paints. She was frantic about that about two seconds later. She liked them separated.. 

New swimsuits. We have been wearing swimsuits all day and to bed for the past week or so. Ready for summer??

It doesn't get much better than this. (And I love that she sits Indian style.)

The flower hair bow, the cute oriental dress, and the "Mom, don't take my picture!!" face. :)

Happy Sunday, world!