Easter 2009 with Smith's and Garrett's

Easter is always fun with coloring eggs, easter egg hunts, family parties, and the feeling of spring and reminding me of Christ. Isn't it such a blessing to teach our children about our Savior and his love! We have been reading in the scriptures about Christ's resurrection and the events leading up to it. Kemp asked the question,"Why did Judas betray Christ? I told him I really didn't know other than he was given money. Then he said," Mom, Judas was one of his apostles, and I really don't think he knew Christ would die, I just don't think he understood what he was doing when he told the soldiers who Christ was, and 30 pieces of silver was a lot of money and they probably tricked him." Wow! I thought to myself- leave it up to a child to understand someone's heart rather than judge them, which is what I do too often. So thanks to my son (who teaches me everyday) I am going to try harder to understand people's hearts instead of judging their actions. Our family had such a wonderful time with all our relatives! We always miss the ones who live away.

Christian- 5 months

Kerstyn actually got him to give a little smile at the camera instead of a blank stare! What a handsome guy!

So I laughed out loud for 5 minutes at this picture. Kerst put this crown on his head and wha-la he strikes this pose, haha!

Grandma doing "Ironman" with Christian- now he starts to raise his arms up when he hears her say- Ironman!
Love this pic! Kemp is such an awesome big bro. If Christian is fussing Kemp puts him on his shoulders and lets him pull his hair. I know this picture looks like Christian is terrified but that is because he sees the camera, usually he is very amused!

I can't get over how much babies change with each month that goes by. He is so entertained by his siblings. Kerstyn does the silliest stuff to make him laugh. Lately Christian has been noticing our pet hamsters and my parents poodle, Mayzee. He grabs at her ears and tail and she is really good about not getting annoyed. Christian has started doing this backward crawl and I hope to catch it on video, he starts to cry because he gets further away from his toys instead of closer!

Winter fun at Bear Lake

Our children would be at Bear Lake every weekend if they could. We usually don't go up there in the winter, but Kemp and Cami have been asking to go. Papa Smith has been going with Kemp to his Hunter's safety class along with Curtis and they have been talking about going and practicing with their rifles. Well, the guns are up at Bear Lake so it was a good excuse to take the kids for the weekend. We had a lot of fun with Grandpa taking the kids on the sled behind the 4-wheeler and sledding down the steep road that doesn't get driven on in the winter. I was watching them from a distance at the cabin and you could hear their laughter. We had fun with Christian being there for the first time, he was scoping out everything with his big round eyes, including the video game controller-oh no! What is it with boys and video games?

Christian's first tooth!

I knew he was teething because the boy has been chewing on everything and a bit fussy lately. We were up at Bear Lake this weekend and I was holding Christian while he was chewing on my knuckle-his favorite chew toy, and I yelped-OW! He has a tooth! I tried really hard to get a picture of it and that was a pretty funny process, too bad that wasn't on video. He is changing everyday. Christian realizes he has a voice and he gets very noisy now. I had fun being in the hall at church yesterday. Kemp and I were talking the other day about his little bro growing up and we realized that when Christian is Kemp's age my little skeetos will be a Missionary-AH! Where does the time go?

Hardware Ranch

Finally after years of wanting to go we took the kids to Hardware Ranch up in Logan. The Chaston family came with us. The weather was great and it was a crack up listening to the kids talk about all the elk poop everywhere! We saw some bull elk butting heads and we rode on a sleigh that was pulled by two big Clysdales. Afterward the kids sledded down the hill on their bumms. Kemp said that he can't wait to hunt for some big bull elk (he and Curtis are taking hunter's safety together). Notice our cute beanies from Aunt Lana-love em'!

A Family is Forever!

Our family went to the Draper Temple open house on February 4. Kerstyn's bosom buddy cousin Lauren was having her birthday party the same day so Kerst stayed with her for the day. Kemp and Cami and I had dental appointments with Uncle Mike that day, so we planned to meet Curtis for lunch after and then head up to the Temple. It was a gorgeous and sunny afternoon and I am still kicking myself that we forgot our camera!!! I can't describe the feeling of being in the Lord's house with my family and showing the kids the different places in the temple that hold such sacred meaning to their Dad and I. When we toured the rooms where you are married for eternity I had chills looking in the mirrors with Curtis and the children. It has been almost 12 years since Curt and I were looking in those mirrors thinking about our family someday and there we were. I am still emotional over this and it has been over a month since we went! I can't tell you how much it means to me to know that I will still have all this after I leave this world, Family is EVERYTHING! Cami said she is so excited for the day when she is married in the temple, what will that day feel like to be getting her ready in the bride's room to be sealed for eternity to her sweetie? I can wait trust me, and if my kids grown up any faster it will be tomorrow before I know it!

Christian-4 months

Christian is enjoying eating rice cereal, laughing at his very silly dad, being spoiled by his sisters and brother, and rolling all over the floor. We are loving every second of it!