New House

Driving up to my new house was most exciting.
I love everything about our house. It is the very best.

Claire and Sean's new room.
I surprised the kids with new sheets and comforters.
Princess for Claire
Cars for Sean
We transitioned Sean to his toddler bed finally~He is doing great!

The important things don't change~snuggling with Daddy

I took these two pictures from my kitchen.
We have a park and a church in the backyard.
The view is beautiful and the area is very quite and private.

Thank you to everyone who helped us move both in Provo and Lehi.
We appreciate our great friends.
Special thank you to Grandparents and neighbors who helped watch the kids.
It was most helpful having them taken care of during the big parts of the move.

Old House

Luke was the best helper

Luke's last night sleeping out in the living room in the pack and play.
He now sleeps in the crib in his own bedroom.

Our last time attending the ward. Leaving our ward family is by far the hardest part of moving. The ward members knew us. They knew our kids. They knew about Luke's story. Some of our friends had even met Kara. They showered us with love, prayers and kindness this past month and the past five years. It's only been a week since we moved and we miss everyone already.

This home holds so many beautiful memories for us. All of our babies came home to this house. We endured some of our biggest trials here. Mark finished school here. We made some of our closest friends here. We grew up here. We will always look back on our time in this home with love and fond memories.

Big moving day!

Provo Date Night with Karl G Maeser

"I have been asked what I mean by 'word of honor.' I will tell you. Place me behind prison walls--walls of stone ever so high, ever so thick, reaching ever so far into the ground--there is a possibility that in some way or another I may escape; but stand me on the floor and draw a chalk line around me and have me give my word of honor never to cross it. Can I get out of the circle? No. Never! I'd die first!" Karl G. Maeser



Mark and I have loved our BYU experience but we kind of think the honor code is a bit ridiculous. Come on, Karl G. don't die in the circle. Get out and get something to eat! We have been planning on doing this for years. Mark has his diploma in hand so we figured it was okay to go draw on BYU campus. For those of you who know us well know that this is the "wildest" thing that we would ever do. We laughed so hard. I am still laughing looking at these pictures.

The Clyde

The Clyde Engineering building was Mark's home for 8 years. Sometimes it's still weird to think that he doesn't ride his bike to BYU everyday. He made some of his closest friends here and learned a thing or two about engineering. BYU was very good to us during Mark's time here. We still can't believe we graduated with three kids in tow. Did I mention that we are so happy that Mark has a job!!

Guardian Angel

I have never had a guardian angel before. I'm not sure how it works! Before when I would make a less than stellar parenting decision I would say, "Don't tell Aunt Kara!" I can't say that anymore....I now wonder about what she can see. Did she watch us on Saturday when we took the kids to McDonald's and gave Luke his own supply of french fries. Did she watch last night when I let him cry a bit longer than I should have.....Mark has a theory! Maybe she is like Santa Claus! "She sees when you are sleeping, she knows when you're awake..." I love it! I'm still not sure how this works but the Santa Claus theory makes sense to me.

New house

We are buying a house!

In two weeks we will be moving to a home here in Utah County closer to Mark's work. I have not started packing a thing.....I'm not sure when or how that is going to happen. The new house is beautiful. It will provide us the space that we so desperately need. It's a rambler with an unfinished basement. There is a private park right behind our backyard. I am nervous about moving away from the support system of my ward but everyone keeps telling me that this project will provide a good distraction. I know that we are going to be so very happy in our new home. After 8 years of marriage, three kids and an eternity of school, it's finally our turn. I'm so excited.

Me

My sweet friend cut my hair and straightened it for me. I love my straight hair. Sometimes I wish it was straight all the time but part of being me is my curly hair.

These are the beautiful roses that my husband bought for me on a really, really bad day. I started sleeping better last week but was up the last two night with nightmares. Sometimes I pull my life together enough to shower and wear makeup. I read my scripture everyday. I pray a lot. I listen to uplifting music. It takes a lot of work to stay above the darkness and sadness of Kara's passing. I look forward to the day that I don't have to work so hard to keep it together.
The kids are doing great! The are thriving on a normal schedule. We are playing outside everyday. Sean is talking more! His best words are Dad, Car, Milk, and Claire. Claire is the best. She is so kind to me, eager to please and in love with her two brothers. Baby Luke is super happy. He waves with his chubby little hands. He plays peek-a-boo and likes music.

Things that make me smile

T*R*O*U*B*L*E*
(You can see it in Sean's eye)

My happy baby

Claire's new obsession with My Little Ponies~She and I are having so much fun.

The two year old has decided that he doesn't need to nap anymore.
Occasionally he will fall asleep on the floor.

"To infinity and beyond"

Mark started working at IM Flash Technologies on February 14. He worked two weeks and then was kindly given a week off to be with the family. We made it through the funeral and are now trying to sort things out on this end. I'm still trying to figure out what our new normal is. The kids and I survived on cold cereal and TV today. Maybe tomorrow we will actually change out of our jammies~maybe we won't!
All of these pictures were taken in the last week. I am so blessed.