Monday, March 31, 2014

March Instagrams

3.6.2014
I love to see the temple. #peace

3.8.2014
baths & bedtime stories

3.15.2014
Daddy-daughter date to the Teddy Bear Clinic at the hospital. The girls loved it!

3.26.2014
Disneyworld!!!

3.28.2014
We're kinda loving Florida!!!

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Pulling Teeth

Avri was dying to get her second loose tooth out. Especially since the new tooth was already growing in behind it! One night that James was home he agreed to pull it out.

First they tried the string trick....but it didn't work. It kept slipping off her tooth.

Then James pulled out his Leatherman. Seriously. He used the pliers and after a couple attempts finally got the tooth out!! Avri wrote another note to the Tooth Fairy asking to keep her tooth. The Tooth Fairy complied...unwillingly. ;)

Saturday, March 1, 2014

ISU College of Pharmacy Spaghetti Feed

Since the beginning of the school year, James has been serving as the Chairman of the ISU College of Pharmacy's Annual Spaghetti Feed. It's an excellent event that sponsors a Make-A-Wish child, and proceeds help outreach programs that the pharmacy students offer to the community. James put in a lot of time and hard work to make this event a success and we are so proud of him!

We are so grateful to those that offered their love and support, and to those who were able to attend this event. Thank you Sherry, Grandpa Jones, Jason, Nicole and kids. It meant a lot to have you there!!

It was so fun to see James in several local newspapers and on the local news for his work in this event... He, however, didn't love the attention so much. :)

Allie, Mikele, Jason, Nicole, Brock

Grandpa, Avri, Kassie, Sherry, Emery, Claire



The proud wife!

Friday, February 28, 2014

February Instagrams

2.6.2014
Day 3 and doing awesome! 
#pottytraining #clairebear

2.11.2014
Emery insisted she was a "fashion girl" today and added some bows to her headband.
#strikeapose

First ever #tbt! Found this gem while looking through old pics. We still look this young, right?!? ;)

2.19.2014
How is this little cutie turning 7 today?! Happy Birthday to my sweet, smart, 
creative, goofy, thoughtful, beautiful Avri!!

2.26.2014
I'm not sure what I love more...that Claire has been occupied for over 5 minutes 
OR the sunshine pouring through the windows!!

2.28.2014
They call themselves "panty mask ninjas" #wheredidtheycomefrom? ;)



Wednesday, February 26, 2014

February 25 is a day I'll remember for a long time. I don't usually get very "personal" in my posts, but since this is our family journal, I thought I'd add this little tidbit for posterity's sake.

I had a suspicion that I might be pregnant...although we weren't currently "trying". We hadn't felt the timing was right just yet, and were going to wait a little longer before getting serious about baby #4. However, I had that feeling and a couple other things added up...so on February 25 I picked up a pregnancy test. I told myself I would wait a few days to take it-just to be sure nothing came up before then (if you know what I mean). But of course I have no patience, so I took it within an hour of being home from the store. It was positive!! I could not believe it, but at the same time wasn't surprised. I called James and he laughed. He for sure thought I was joking. I assured him I wish I was, but it was definitely positive!! When he came home a couple hours later we just stared at each other and laughed!! Apparently, our timing is not in line with the Lord's, and whether we thought so or not, it was time for baby #4 to come to our family!

Now, just an hour or so before James came home he texted me that the Bishop wanted to meet with us. I was really unsure of why this would be. We both have callings that wouldn't really need to be changed, mine especially because I had just been put back in the YW Presidency a few months earlier. The only thing I could think was that James was being released from the Elders Quorum Presidency because he is just too busy.

So while we were still trying to process the 3-hour old news of another baby on the way, we sat in the Bishop's office and were about to get our world rocked again. After talking to both of us for awhile, the Bishop extended a call to me (me?!?) to serve as the Relief Society President. Say whaaaat?!?! I was in shock. But the Spirit was strong and I felt the love of the Bishop, the support and love of my husband, and knew that this call was from the Lord, and for whatever reason, and however we could make it work with His help...I would accept this call.

So there you have it. Our life just got much busier and much more interesting. But I know our family will be blessed throughout each new challenge and experience. I'm so grateful for my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and to know that His work will go forward, even as He calls upon the weak things of the world to take part in that work. I'm grateful for a loving and faithful husband. He has the weight of the world on his shoulders and not much time to spare with a demanding school schedule and two jobs, yet he is willing to sacrifice what is needed to support me and put His trust in the Lord. I know this will be such a growing and learning experience for me...I feel completely inadequate and overwhelmed, but I know the Lord will magnify and strengthen me as I serve the sisters of our ward, and as we add another sweet spirit into our home.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Avri's Birthday

Every year I am in denial about how old Avri is turning!! SEVEN! She was so excited and is already even more excited to turn 8 next year! :)

The morning of Avri's birthday she got to open a few gifts before school, including a new outfit and earrings.

Emery, Claire and I had great plans to pick Avri up from school with birthday signs and surprise her. Well...we didn't get there early enough to stake out a spot, so we had to just show her our signs in the car. ;)

Later that afternoon we met up with Dad to finally see the movie Frozen. The girls were in heaven and LOVED it.

After the movie it was dinner, then back home for a couple more gifts and birthday cake of course!!

Hopefully Avri had a special day. We are so grateful she is in our family!!!




An umbrella!!!! Avri has wanted one forever and her dreams finally came true! :)