Um . . . . . . Oops!

Why have I lacked in the blogging area? Lack of motivation? Lack of sleep? Lack of time? Lack of all the above?!

Well life has taken a turn for a down hill ride on a steep roller coaster. I can see the upswing W-A-Y ahead but am not there yet on this ride. So for a lack of blogging well I'll just say LIFE is the reason.

Ben: Started preschool and LOVES it!! He talks about it to anyone who is willing to hear. He tells me he learns new things everyday an remembers some things from when he was "way little". He is constantly jamming around the house sing and dancing to his own life musical! He is learning to brush his own teeth! Learning to dress himself (still working on it with lots of frustration and tears)! Learning to "start" tying his shoes. Learning that when he turns 5 he gets to go to the big school across the street. Loves to build high towers and sobs when Symi triumphantly knocks them down. He constantly wants to help with everything. He's already asking Santa for big boy tools so that he can really help Daddy with working on stuff. He and Symi are playing more and more together. Ben is loving Primary and looks forward to singing the songs and coming home to tell us all about them and have us sing them with him. Family Home Evening I think Ben wants to dominate!! He always wants to be incharge and conduct the meeting, say a talk, and pray both times. It's hard to share these and trying to figure out the FHE isn't Primary.

Symi: Is getting chunkier! Since changing her to Soy Milk it's putting more calories into her diet and she's gaining a little bit of weight! YEAH!!! She is walking EVERYWHERE!! Climbing onto anything she can get her little knee up to. Jabbering up a storm. Still growls all the time like a mad dog. Knows what a dog and cat are. Knows what a dog says. LOVES and ADORES any kind of baby. Knows how to sign "Please" and "More" and giggles when you ask her to sign "Thank you". Her favorite thing to do is to grab a book and then back up into your lap and watch while you read her books. She's fascinated! She knows that to go outside she must have her boots on and will bring them to me randomly throughout the day and then throw herself against the door sobbing to go out. She loves to be outside is an understatement. This girl could LIVE outside and be completely content and happy. She has learned to fold her arms! SO SO SO SO CUTE!!!!! We just have to say prayer and she's ready! Dane and I can't get over it! She likes to give hugs and kisses on her terms and we treasure what we get! This little girl is growing up too fast. And I can now say I don't have a baby anymore! (tears)(sobs)

Dane: Is in the market for job hunting/deciding to go back for a Masters/ trying to figure out what he wants to do with a career now/ trying to find a balance with job, home, church callings, and hobbies. He's still trying to decide. I'm trying to help him with all the many ideas and options that I seem to come across on the internet. So far there are jobs of interest in Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and Utah. Now it's a What? When? Where? Benefits? But he's trying to not get frustrated and working on focusing and deciding. Many prayers, many fasting days, and temple trips. Working on it.

Me: I've been working on over coming a cold, then flu, then sleep deprivation from me being sick and then 2 kids being sick too. I think I'm on the tail end of the flu and now working on catching up with my house work? Ewe. It's been since Labor Day that I've really cleaned it well!? Gross. I've also been working on getting both the kids insured again. It's been some ROUGH months financially trying to make ends meet with 2 kids that have medications and Dr's visits that could easily spend our whole Family Budget in just a few days!! Insurance is a must! But I'm very happy to say that all my hard work paid off and they are now Insured!! My newest hobby has been trying to find recipes that have NO Dairy, No eggs, and No wheat in them. Let me tell you I don't like my new hobby and so far I've failed several times and Symi has suffered. Thus we have suffered. I'll just keep looking and trying!

Remembering

As I sit here contemplating all that we've been through in the last year, I'm in awe. It's hard to think that the path wasn't there. The road untrod. That today we look back and remember where we've come and see what was then. Living in a world that is so different from then. I can't explain how our lives have changed. Our perspective widened. Our patience and understanding magnified. Especially our testimony of our Savior and knowing how much he's carried our family through out the last few years. Remembering all that has happened and looking forward to our future together as a family.

Right now things are harder than they've ever been financially for us. I have to admit. We are struggling. But for some reason I do not fear. For some reason my faith is so strong, and my understanding that we will be ok. My heart swells with joy to see my 2 children playing together. Laughing! Smiling! And healthy. Healthy. Such happiness I couldn't have imagined just a few short years ago.

What does the future have in store for us? Where will our lives take us in another 5 years? 10 years? or even 50 years?

I'm so grateful for this last year. The changes we've made as a family. The changes I've made as a Wife, Mother, Daughter, and a person. Come what may and love it!

The First Year

All of us at Dad's Institute Graduation. You are right under the Diploma.

3 more months and you'll be here!

Less than 1 month left and you'll be here!

You arrived!

We loved you before you were even born.

Daddy was so tired, but very proud.

In Labor waiting for you to come.

This is your first picture. You were screaming!

We were trying to get a whole family photo, but Ben didn't want his picture taken.

Freshly bathed.

Right after your first bath, you were cold. So we snuggled for the first time.

Our most recent family photo.

Christmas Morning.
(We left that afternoon for Primary Children's. You were so sick.)

Finally Home, but still struggling.

Ben loves you!

4 Generations
Grandma JoDee, G-G (Grandma Hunter), Symi, and Mommy (Brittany)

Sleepy Baby.

Sitting up

Not happy in the basket.

Sleepy baby again.

Just cute as a cupcake!

Bright eyes!

(This is one of my favorites, you were starting to feel better. This picture you had just finished smiling when the flash went off and Ben suddenly snuck into the photo. You 2 were so cute I just couldn't resist.)

Side by side.

Ready for a winter Drive!

I sat you in the bouncer and turned around for just a moment. When I turned back around you were fast asleep, holding onto a toy.

Giggling with Ben.
(This is when your hair started to fall out from all the trauma.)

We would smoosh you into the couch for Family Prayers.
Dad loved to leave you in there and let you watch everyone else getting ready for bed.

Learning to sit.

Big Beautiful Blue Eyes

Crawling and into many things!

Hugs from Ben.

Another sleeping baby.

Happy Halloween!

Sitting with Ben.

Smile!

Hold her arms Ben she's trying to get the camera.
Ben: Ok Mommy we're ready!

Love you two!

Kisses!

Easter Egg!

Kisses!

Mommy and Symi

Another picture with you and Ben.

At an indoor archery shoot. You slept almost the whole time.

My #1 and #2.

Starting to crawl backwards.

Pulling yourself up onto everything and your tongue was always sticking out!
Concentration!

Snuggling with Mommy.

Very Happy Baby Girl!
(You hair started to grow back in and get long!)

Proud to be a climber!

Baby girl our lives will never be the same without you! We love you so much. Despite all that we've been through in the last year, it's one that has been cherished and loved.