Chloe's First Time Swimming

Chloe went swimming for the first time a couple of weeks ago...and she wasn't too sure how much she liked it. I think it was a bad combination of really cold water and a super tired baby, because she's like it ever since then. It took her a while to splash and play around, but now she's a pro! The floaty we got her is awesome because there's a place for me in it so I can laze around too! The top picture is of her falling asleep in her floaty...poor baby...she was so tired! She would just lean her face against the plastic and lick it! Silly baby :)

Memorial Day

My Chloe bug and me at the Encampment Mall

Julie LOVES Chloe and wants so badly to be her Mommy :)

Grandma Bonnie and Chloe

Grandpa Larry telling about all of our amazing ancestors

Ronnie at the grave of Israel Ivins and family (some of his ancestors)

My ancestors, William Mangum and Sarah Delight Potter, that helped settle the cotton mission

This little gravestone about had me in tears. On the front it says "Our Babies" and on the remaining three sides it had the name of each baby and how long they lived: the first I saw said "died in a few minutes", the next "lived only an hour" and the last had a birth and death date that were only a few days apart. I mourned so much in my heart for those parents who had to endure that in this life, but rejoiced that they can be together in the life after this. Graveyards are always so special to me-I have a love/hate relationship when it comes to reading the headstones because they show you a small snippit into the lives of those buried there, which can be devastatingly sad or wonderfully happy; a husband and wife, buried side by side who died within a few short years of each other, after a long marriage or in contrast, the infant headstone that I wrote about.

Memorial Day was a lot more emotional for me this year as I enjoyed the rich blessings of family in my life and mourned for the lives that could have been-whether lost in infancy, on the battle grounds for our country or by some other means. Knowing that I enjoy these gifts, while others never reached that part of their lives hurts, even though I truly know that they "went to a better place". We attended the Heritage Choir Memorial Day concert and I was in tears almost the entire time in gratitude and awe of the inspiring people that have served our country. I imagined their lives and the things they had to leave behind (and those that presently do) in order to protect our families and our freedom-something they felt was worth sacrificing their lives for.

Thank you to all Veterans and to those that presently serve our country. Words can not express the gratitude that I feel for you and for your families.

We had an awesome day off and enjoyed bbqs with both of our families :)

Uncle Andy's House

Every May we go to my Uncle Andy's house (my Dad's brother) in Fayette and help him plant his garden and remember my Opa, who's birthday was May 31st. We weren't able to go last year because I was in school, but decided last minute to go this year and had a blast! This years special entertainment can be seen in the very bottom picture, an event I have titled "The Great Sheep Migration". Apparently it's pretty normal around town, but for us city slickers it was a pretty big deal. In fact, the whole family rushed to the front of the house as soon as we heard about it. Among the other pictures you'll find Ronnie living out his dream to have his hot wife ride behind him on a motorcylce, me putting my Mom in a headlock because it's fun, us stopping for a photo op while planting the garden and me not realizing my butt is in Ronnie's face, and Grandma Millie forcing Steph to be social.

My-New-Life

My-New-Life

This is such a beautiful movie and it reminded me that sometimes I take too much stock in the things of the world and what others think, instead of turning to the Lord. Stephanie is such a brave, spiritual woman and I'm grateful that she is sharing her story, however painful, with the world.

What's Goin On...

Okay, so all of the pictures are out of order...oops! I guess I'll go from top to bottom then:

The first picture is of my beautiful babies sleeping. Chloe has recently started sleeping without being swaddled and has adopted the hands up sleeping method. Next is Meg, Chloe and Little Alec at his house; we were up there for his little sister Mailey's blessing. After that is the strawberry lemon trifle I made for our community bbq last week! It was super fun getting to meet our neighbors (especially since we go to the college married ward) and bbq it up :) Next is Chloe sitting in a high chair for the first time while I was out to lunch with my Mommy. Then it's us greeting Sister Mangum at the airport! I was seriously SO excited to see her! We've been best friends our entire lives and I really missed her while she was on her mission in Florida. Then there is a picture of Ronnie's sweet garden-he planted tomatoes, onions, Chinese cabbage, corn, and peas. He takes care of it every day and it's already started sprouting! I'm so proud :)

Chloe started sitting up by herself this month, so this is a picture of her with her second cousin Josh. She LOVES being around other little kids and is so cute with them. Sister Judd also came home this month from her mission in Brazil and was so happy to meet Chloe for the first time (as was Kara). The last two pictures are from our trip to Aj's house for the baby blessing that somehow got stuck at the bottom; we were able to go to my second cousin's (whom I've never met) (did I use whom right?) wedding and my Mom was reunited with her cousins Layne and Lark. Lastly is Chloe the Lamanite with her Daddy :)

Whoo! Sorry that was a really dull explanation for a super packed month, but there ya have it! That's what's goin on!