I went and had Carter's pictures done because it has been awhile. I wanted to sneak Kate in for a couple so I could have some of them together. They turned out so wonderful. We were able to get a few pictures like this.....





But this is how Carter REALLY felt about the whole experience.....




more to come.....

Testimony-of-the-Book-of-Mormon

This is probably one of my favorite talks I have ever heard. Not to mention the most powerful testimony of the Book of Mormon. Elder Holland gets straight to the heart of it. If you haven't seen this clip take a look. You can't help but be moved.

Testimony-of-the-Book-of-Mormon

It's a girl! That's right we are proud to announce that our third little one is on the way and we are so happy so say it is a girl. You must be wondering how far along I am if I already know it is a girl. I am due in July and am about 22 weeks. It has taken a bit of time to get over the shock of all this. If any of you know about the kind of year we have had since Carter was born you would understand that throwing another one into this chaos has seemed very overwhelming. Notice the word shocked and not dissappointed and I can tell you why:

THEM!

In the first few weeks after Carter was born and all the challenges that followed I remember one day saying to Chris, "I don't think I can do this it is too hard." He said, "Laur most things in life that are worthwhile are." It was a little slap in the face. It woke me up and I realized that we could make it if we just kept pressing forward and did the best we could. We learned a lot and grew a lot. Sometimes it hurt but looking back now we feel blessed. I am happy to say that our Carter boy is doing much better and his lungs are getting stronger as he grows. If he goes at least three weeks without getting really sick and going back on his meds Chris and I have a little celebration and tell him how proud we are of him. You wouldn't know it by his size. He looks like a pretty robust baby.

We adore these two and know that one more is only going to add to the joy that is our little family. Kate has prayed daily that she could now have a sister and I was so glad to tell her that she was.

Congrats to all those other ladies out there that are expecting. I have quite a few other friends who are expecting at almost exactly the same time. Hurray for summer babies!

The Second Greatest Nativity Ever!

My own personal Christmas miracle this year took place on Christmas Eve. This year was slightly harder than other years since living away from home. I really missed getting to see extended family and join in on the holiday celebrations that went on. I really enjoyed being with my own little family but still missed all those other loved ones. Christmas Eve came and we were all excited for the night. We had homemade soup and rolls and then decided at last minute to act out the nativity as a family. So I went and round up our bath towels and bath robes and it became the SECOND best nativity ever.

Christ was got last pick and settle for my robe and Kate's belt. He was our narrorator/shepherd/wise man.

This was our Mary with her baby in her belly. She loved this part.

This our donkey/sheep/ox.

This is Mary, Joseph and the donkey making their way to Bethlehem.

Mary and her baby Jesus. Look at that sweet, pure little face.

The shepherd herding his sheep.

And the wise man bringing his gift.

A show well done. This little tradition that we have started changed my heart and made me truly enjoy the time I have with the three best people in my life. I feel grateful for those little moments of inspiration that bless our lives. It was a small thing and you can tell we aren't much of actors but it changed my outlook on the whole holiday. That we spent the night taking time to really remember the Savior and related it to our kids and enjoyed what I had right in front of me.

To top it off we opened our Christmas pajamas. Chris and I skipped this this year because we already have way too many. We had a wonderful Christmas Eve. This defenently is my favorite time out of all the Christmas experience and it ended up being such a wonderful time well spent.

Our Year in Photo Booth Pictures

When we out here on the East coast get bored or are trying to kill time unfortunatly we don't have Grandma's house to go to or our cousins to drop in on and play with so we go to the mall. This may seem like it is a misfortune....and it is we miss you all dearly.....but we have started this tradition of taking pictures in the same photo both when we go. We don't do it every time we go or we'd be broke but we do it around holidays or special occasions. It is fun to see how time progresses. So here is our recap of 2009 in picture....

This was actually 2008 but this is the one that started it all. I was 5 months pregnant with Carter.

Chris and I aren't much to look at but we do have pretty cute kids. It has been a good year with a lot of challenges but even more blessings. I can honestly say that had we not been through all that we had this year I know Chris and I wouldn't be who we are today. And I think that is a good thing! Happy New Year to you all. I hope you are all blessed and enjoy another year together.

Oh! Christmas Tree

Does it get any better? Maybe a fireplace somewhere in there to keep those tootsies warm, but this is pretty nice. It is even just as wonderful watching her enjoy it. Merry Christmas!

The 100 year snow!

I have witnessed the hundred year rain in St. George, Utah that sent houses plummeting into a river, taking out bridges, see people confined to their neighborhoods because all the roads were shut down and flooded to get in and out. Now in Maryland I am witnessing the hundred year snow. Yup! Here we are about to get more snow that they have seen since 1927.

Now before you all start worry about us and sending my family and I out in your prayers let me explain something about us Easterners or at least us Marylanders. We would be what you would consider a little snow-hyper. Meaning we see snow or forecast snow and freak out. Whether it be one flake of a thousand our immediate thought is what is going to be shut down or what should be. How many days will I have to hull up in my house and do I have enough food. Usually if it comes on a weekend our first question will be: So do we have to go to church this week? Usually our snow accumulation is not usually more than half a foot (usually less) and is gone within a day. So when they announced 14-20 inches of snow over a day and half everyone lost their heads here. It sort of reminded me of Y2K. Between the radio stations talking about it all day and the stores being jammed packed up until midnight last night it is craziness. So 14-20 inches here is almost like dooms day but to some of you it just might make you laugh. I'm sure you have seen much more.

Since coming here Chris and I have become a little snow-soft. Well actually Chris has always been snow-soft he grew up in St. George where one time when I was working down there as a waitress it started to snow and half...I'm not kidding....half the restaurant, including workers, emptied out to see the small drizzle of snowflakes coming down. But me, I grew up in North Ogden where the Greatest Snow on Earth was just over the mountain from me. I was never afraid to drive in it or afraid I might die in it or never make it to the grocery store again. That's why when yesterday morning Chris woke me up and told me he thought we should head to the store ASAP to get our grocery shopping done before everyone else did I didn't see the rush. So we head out to good old Wal-mart to find it packed-at eight in the morning. I am pretty sure it was packed all day until I returned again at 10 o'clock to pick up some gift wrap so I had something to do on my snow day. I thought it would die down by then so when I walked in and saw all the check out lines full with each line stacked with people reaching halfway to the back of the store I said "never mind" and left. I then remembered our first winter here and the first snow fall. I think it had only dusted the ground that time but I remembered watching the news and looking at all the school closures all over the different counties. I was shocked. As compared to living in Utah when I was in High School and there were almost blizzard conditions, sideways snow and everything, my sister, brother, and I watched the morning news anxiously waiting for our school to be called out to tell us we had a snow day. I thought there was no way they would make us go-it was ridiculous out there. It never came. Every other school was let out but good old Weber. And we braved that day in the snow making the trek up the big hill to school, freezing away as we made our way to seminary and finally home again.

It is a stark contrast to the feelings of panic that go out here. Today they were having all 4-wheel drive vehicles call in so they could arrange rides for all the doctors and hospital workers to make it to work. Crazy! So this morning I felt silly going out to the car to go on a little joy ride just to see the snow and relish in it, but I was also excited. Excited to build our first snow man with Kate and make a real snow angel. I have told her about them and we have pretended to make one before but now we get to actually do it. That was the first thing she asked me if we could do when I told her it was going to snow. Snow is cold and wet and makes me very irritable when I'm done with it because I am usually both of those. But some of my most fond childhood memories took place out in that frozen water. I feel sad to think my children won't get to experience nearly half as many as I did. Not to mention youth trips going tubing up at North Fork or on top of the Pass! Good times.

Now you can see how truly snow-soft we are. Yup! We swept off our front porch today. Not quite as effective mind you as a shovel. Usually our HOA has a company come out and do it for us but I guess they didn't want to go outside either. Happy snow day and stay warm!