How lucky are we?!?

We had an amazing and exhausting weekend full of fun and family. Friday morning Kim called to tell us her and Ez were on their way up so Ez could take his final at BYU and then they would be staying the whole weekend. They got here Friday night late and visited before heading to Nikki's to sleep(she was so excited to have her 1st overnight guests).

The girls love their aunt Kim and its not hard to figure out why she always sends them fun little things and will play with them a lot while she is here even when she is tired and not feeling good...she is going to make a great mommy!

Saturday morning after getting ready and some quick planning we met at Nic's and decided to head to City Creek so do some shopping and walking around. We decided to grab some lunch first and weren't disappointed by the selection at all...Hallie loved that we sat next to the window and she could watch the waterfall the entire time. She also got this balloon that as far as balloons go was awesome it had a plastic holder at the bottom so it couldn't float away and it was easy for her little hand to hold it.

They had the fountains on(there were even some crazy parents letting their kids run through them(it was 55 degrees))but they did have an awesome fountain show.

Then we headed to The Living Planet Aquarium with Kim and Ez while Nic and Kyle headed to a softball game for Kyle's sister. I think the otters were the coolest and we spent the most time watching them, they put on quite the show.

I think Hallie may have liked them equal to the sharks and sea turtles. They had a tank you could even touch the sting rays.

Kimber was so good to hold Hallie up or help her see things.

Poor Gracie was so tired she slept through the whole thing...not a peep all day, she is so good.

Kimber & Ez

The penguins were a bit of a let down..its a good thing we didn't go just for them.

Hallie loved the sea turtle...it was probably as big as she is

We finished our day with a little more shopping and some yummy dinner before heading home to hang out and watch some basketball. Sunday Kim & Ez headed to Tremonton to see grandpa. After church Joy came to have lunch with us, sometimes its nice to have her all to ourselves to visit and play with. We had missed doing pictures with her at Gracie's blessing and finally got some way cute pictures of them together.

Then after a quick nap we headed to Nic's house for dinner and games. After dinner and a few games we layered up and headed outside to play some baseball. Kimber got some good pictures and we decided that with Rig's hat Gracie looked like a glow worm(anyone remember those?)

So excited for more nights like this and the presence of summer. We are really looking forward to getting together for Sunday dinners and next month Kim & Ez will move up here too...we couldn't be more thrilled to have family closer.

Helping Nikki

Nic and Kyle recently bought a house in Kaysville right off the 200 N exit. They are getting settled into their house and we were lucky enough to go down and help them move in and Hallie, Gracie and I have been able to help Nic get unpacked and all decorated this past week. It is getting more fun all the time now that we both have kids and can just hang out and let them play. Rigden gets so excited when Hallie comes over and crawls to follow her all over and he loves when we put Gracie on the floor so he can come check her out...which unattended doesn't happen(we usually put her somewhere safer). Gracie has found some new things to play in at their house and tuckered herself out.

Hallie has loved getting to go places without being "ready" for the day...don't we all.

On a Happier Note

Sometimes in the middle of a bad day one of gods tender mercies shows up...today was one of those days. Hallie had just gotten up from her nap and the mail man had just come. We went out to get the mail and Hallie had a PACKAGE!! I think every little kid like to get mail..who am I kidding I like presents in the mail. It was a new music playing Tangled book from aunt Kim. Hallie loved it and made me cry! You see aside from my previously mentioned guilt Kimber has been trying to finish all her school work while stressing about her hygiene boards and being constant prego sick. And in the midst of all of that she thought of us and Hallie. It is nice to know that when you feel like you are lacking in some places that your family can feel those places...Thanks Kimber your the best!

Also I hadn't mentioned between the end of last week and beginning of this week(5 days) Matt and I managed to fit in 3 date nights! Yeah that is a record for sure. Matt has done a great job at planning and lining up date nights. Thursday we got invited to the ABC dinner at the Sheridan in Salt Lake. Matt is on the board as a representative for Wadman. They were receiving an award for a museum they did in Jackson Hole. Thanks to Nick & Brit for watching our girls. Then Friday was the hardhat presentations for graduation. Matt is on the Alumni association, is now on staff at Weber as faculty, and is a representative for Wadman. He help present the hardhats, presented scholarships from Wadman, and was recognized as completing his 1st semester of teaching. He is looking forward to teaching either in the fall or spring he quite enjoyed it. Thanks to Jim & Tamara for watching Hallie that night. And then last but certainly not least on Monday we were invited to the Jazz game to sit in the executive suite. And let me tell you we were not disappointed. When we got there we were seated at our table and then filled our plates at the buffet that included salad, butternut squash soup, sushi, prime rib, catfish, shrimp, lobster, sides, and then at half time a whole new buffet of dessert. After we finish our dinner the game was just getting started. We took our seats on the front row of the box and watched one of the best games of the season complete with triple overtime! We were on the edge of our seats for quite a while and even wondered at times in we would get home by breakfast but in the end the Jazz pulled it out. We had a wonderful time and wished we could go to the Jazz game like that all the time. A big huge thanks to Kerry & Joy for stay up past all of our bedtimes to watch the girls.

Our view of the game

The Jazz Bear came to visit our box

Life Is Hard

Life around here lately has been more difficult than usual. Between me trying to figure of my new gluten free/dairy free diet for my ulcerlative colitis and the occasional scheduling conflicts with my girls I am constantly juggling trying to read about my dx, clean, spend time with the girls and Matt, cooking/baking(which is a new challenge), and staying on top of life in general I have really struggled. There are a lot of days that I cry for feeling overwhelmed and feeling like my family or my care of myself are lacking in some way. Over the last couple days Hallie has started "demanding" my attention more(throwing fits, wanting to be held/cuddled, and constantly wanting me to be with her) this is uncharted territory seeing as we never have had this problem even when Gracie was born. I feel guilty spending time trying to take care of myself especially when she is so outwardly needing me but at some point we are hoping to find a balance. Today we had one of those moments I had just gotten Hallie settled with her lunch in time for Gracie to wake up and want to be fed. I started to feed her and Hallie wanted me to tuck her in for a nap. I explained to her she would have to wait a minute until I was finished with Gracie. She started to cry and crumpled to the floor momentarily until she realized it hadn't changed my answer, she then went downstairs, After I finished taking care of Gracie I went down to find Hallie. All the lights were off but when I peaked in her bed she wasn't there I looked around the basement and couldn't find her in a little bit of a panic I looked a little harder and found her asleep in her closet. I hadn't seen her initially because she has shut both doors. After my panic subsided I had to smile to myself and then felt guilty. I think as a mom you want to be everything that your kids need 24 hrs a day and for me I am realizing that at times then have to fend for themselves. Matt tells me all the time its good for Hallie have to do that at times...me Im not so convinced. I just never want her to question how loved and special she is to me.


I hope years from now once we figure this all out it can be a memory we laugh at and that our girls will know how much they are and always will be loved.

3 Months=All New Fun

Gracie is getting more interactive all the time so the past couple of weeks we have started pulling out the toys. First the play mat, although I think she is still somewhat unsure of all the toys(overwhelmed probably) she seems to enjoy it.



Second, the bumbo. I have always loved once they get to this point she can now sit on the counter and watch while Hallie and I make dinner or just baking. She always seemed very intrigued with what we are doing. Sunday she got all dressed up to go to church(sacrament meeting) aside from getting blessed the week before we have stayed away from church due to the prolonged RSV season and probably will stay away for a while longer. She now can sit up to the table with us for dinner instead of watching from her swing.

Blessing Day

The special girl of the day

Our little eternal family

On April 8, 2012 we blessed our Gracelyn Michelle Brower. It was a beautiful spring day and just so happened it was also Easter Sunday. We were lucky enough to celebrate with many family and friends. Matt gave her a beautiful blessing. Both our families in their entirety were there as well as Grandma Harris, Aunt Jeanette, Kelly/Julie, Jim & Tamara(Issac,Jude), Braydon Martin, and Grandma/Grandpa Edstrom. We learned from Hallie's blessing to do pictures before and Im so glad we did. My mom made Gracie's dress and Kim made her headband that was extra special because it was made out of Grandma Norr's pearls and cloth. Although we can't name all of our girls after her I was very touched that Gracie had a piece of her with her on her special day. In fact we actually picked the pattern and material based on the headband.
Our sweet girls

With her mommy

With her daddy

Grandma Sheryl(made the dress) and papa


Nate with one of his favorite nieces

Maddie and Nate with the girls

The bishopric, Daddy, Papa, Uncle Kelly, Ez, Kyle, Tyler M., Randy Hatch, Grandpa Brower, Grandpa Edstrom, Aaron and Nick were the priesthood that helped give you a name and a blessing. Daddy talked about loving eduacation and using your mind to learn all you could, being tolerant and nonjudgemental of the people around you, to someday find a worthy young man to take you to the temple, as well as having patience with yourself and others. It was a beautiful blessing Matt did an awesome job.
Afterwards we were able to do the luncheon at Wadman so we would have plenty of space(for future reference this was an amazing idea) I didn't have to clean my house before and after, there was plenty of space, the kids had room to run, and I didn't have to sanitize my house with bleach after everyone left...yeah I'm OCD. We were so blessed to have everyone there to celebrate Gracie's special day.