Melancholy

I know I have posted something similar to what I am going to say, but I am going to say it again.

I have decided that watching kids grow up is hard on my heart. Even as I rejoice with kids on each new step of life’s adventure, my heart has pangs watching them go. As you all know, our oldest Ether, now 20 years old is serving a mission in Colombia, South America and he is doing great! Our 18 year old daughter Marikita is in her Freshman year at college and doing great! Marissa is a Junior and oh too soon will be a senior in 5 months! Sigh. Just when they were getting all civilized and are so danged fun to be around…....I wish I could tell all my friends how to prepare for the days when the kids start leaving the house. When all the kids were little I remember people older than me saying "they grow up so fast." I kept thinking, oh...that is a long time away! How do parents survive all this growing up, anyway..? Realizing how fast kids grow up makes me want to hug everyone more.

Captivated

I just found a website about the new movie about the Young Victoria, Queen Victoria. I am just captivated by the pictures, the costumes, and the story. I guess I am too much of a romantic at heart. I think I would have loved to live in this time era. Although they had their share of different kinds of trials, it was such a time of innocence and romanticism. I love the way they spoke, the clothing, courting customs, I love it all! I think that is why I love to watch Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen as well as anything she has written.
Check out this website, it is so entertaining!!!
http://www.theyoungvictoriamovie.com/

Pictures from the Past

I just absolutely love this picture! I sure do miss those days when they were little babes! Aren't they so cute?!!! I never used to believe people when they told me "kids grow up fast." It is so true. Now that these two babes of mine have left the nest, I can't tell you how unprepared I was for their absence in our home. I miss you Ether and Kita!

Ready for church! Arent' they so cute!

This is outside the courthouse after Pat legally adopted Ether, Marikita, and Marissa! As you can tell, Gretchen is about ready to join our family!!

I goofed

Somehow the pictures below got spaced further and further apart the farther you scroll down! Whoops!

I will be posting pictures soon from Ether's concert last year and our family trip to Utah when we took Ether to the MTC!!

Random Pictures -2009

The snow fort Pat and the girls made in our back yard!!

Marikita's Graduation Day 2009!!!!

Ether - first day in the MTC!!!

Ether and Rebecca - PROM!!

Ready for church!!!

Marissa, Adam, and Simon - State Choir

Pat's hunting gobbler!

Marissa post production -"The Great Easter Egg Hunt"

Ether receives his Mission Call to Bogota Colombia North Mission!!!

Hannah's baptismal day!

Ether and Rebecca - 8 months!!!

Ether is our "cookie man" in our house, making choc chip cookies no doubt!

Marikita singing solo at the April 2009 Choregraphed choir concert!!!!

Hannah's Birthday Take 2

The color in the photo was kind of goofy, but here she is with her cake sans the candles!
Hannah's birthday was actually February 19th, so I am a little behind!

Hannah's Birthday

I am not a fancy cake maker, but I thought this turned out cute anyway. The important thing is that Hannah loved it and that's what counts!!