I Feel Free!!

I did it! I canceled my facebook account and I already feel free! I have considered doing this before but always found a reason not to. However, I finally realized that I don't need facebook. There are a lot of factors that played into my decision. Most of all, now I feel like I will be able to spend my "free" time doing things that really matter. Unfortunately, I don't have the self control to not check facebook if I still have an account but now it won't be a problem. Which means I can focus on the things that are important, such as:

My wonderful kids and husband

Meaningful scripture study

Being a better domestic diva...

the list could go on

and on...

And so, here's to a new phase in my life. It is time for me to put on my big girl pants and get to work. I'm going to strive to be a better mom, wife, member of the church, etc. I'm going to teach myself to play the piano better and play my blasted guitar that I have had for over 9 years. I am going to read more books, learn to sew better, spend time rolling around on the floor with my kids, enjoy playing zoo, and pet store, have fun looking at pictures of Grace's class over, and over and over again with her, kiss Amelia and her rolls and chins, snuggle with my amazingly handsome husband. Oh, the things I can and will do--and I have facebook to thank. :-)

"LEMONADE! Get your lemonade!"

Oh goodness, I have a lot of catching up to do. However, let's start simple shall we? Grant has mentioned having a lemonade "stand" a few times and decided that today was the day to put his plans into action. We had made cookies the other day so he decided to make money off those, too. He made the lemonade with some assistance, wrote his sign, and asked me to carry the picnic table to the front yard. I must add that I was extremely impressed as I watched him sound out lemonade. He figured it all out by himself except for the "e". When I told him to add an "e" he told me, "Oh yeah... e at the end makes the vowel say it's name...lemon-A-de." (emphasis on the A) He is too blasted cute.

Let me also say that it is BLASTED hot here! I warned Grant that people probably wouldn't be outside. Especially during the middle of the day. Not to mention that we live in a cul-de-sac that is tucked away in the back of the neighborhood. However, that did not deter him. He was positive someone would be out walking by. So we went outside and waited. We felt like we were going to melt. Grant yelled, "Lemonade! Get your lemonade! Cookies, we have cookies!" And then there was my favorite, "PEOPLE!!!! We need your nickels, your dimes, your quarters!" We had flushed cheeks. Grant drank 2 or 3 glasses of lemonade and I unfortunately was his only paying customer. He didn't seem too upset about it though. After all, he did make 50 cents! As we were cleaning up and getting ready to hit the pool to cool off, he said to me, "It's a good thing you were around! A little money makes me happy." And so, we will try again Saturday. He should be able to make a little more money--I figure that between me, daddy and Grace, his profits should increase by at least a dollar. :-)

My Idea of Heaven

It's hard to believe that 7 years ago, my Prince Charming, took me here...

And became the King of my heart.

Words cannot express how lucky I feel to have Adam as my husband. I am so thankful that I am sealed to him for eternity!

He is always so thoughtful, kind, patient, loving, the list could go on and on. Not to mention, he writes me poems. This is what I received yesterday:

All the songs of love’s first find,
Can’t quite sing ours just right.

So I stayed up half the night,
To write a poem of love for you.

Maybe there are the words to say these things,
But I can’t think of one that means

Anything more than when our eyes meet
And we simply say, I love you

Thank you Adam for 7 amazing years! I love you!

It's A...

Some of you already know but for those who don't, we are expecting baby #3 in September! After a few miscarriages, trusty old clomid, and a diagnosis of a blood clotting disorder, we finally had a pregnancy "stick". I am still nervous every day that something is going to happen but I just remind myself that Heavenly Father is in charge and that everything will work out the way it is supposed to. I give myself shots 2 times a day and take a baby aspirin along with it so that a blood clot won't form behind the placenta and cause us to lose the baby. I have some awesome bruises on my tummy!!! Anyway, the morning of our ultrasound--Grant, Adam and Grandma B. were sure it was a boy. We asked Grace if it was a boy and she shook her head no. We asked if it was a girl and she shook her head yes. I sided with Grace (Grandma Nae Nae also said it was a girl). So who was right, you ask?

Can't you tell from the profile?

Or the adorable little foot?

Okay, Grace nailed it! Grant was a little disappointed but seems fine now and wants her to sleep in his room. Grace helped pick out the name. I went through our list of names and she would shake her head no. Then I asked, "Should we name the baby Amelia?" She said, "Milia!" Which is amazing since Grace does not say many words! And so, little Amelia Jane, we are excited to meet you in September!

Happy World Down Syndrome Day!!

Today is World Down Syndrome Day! This special day takes place each year on 3/21 because the date represents the 3 copies of chromosome 21. And if you have 3 copies of chromosome 21 you have Down syndrome, also known as Trisomy 21. To learn more about it click HERE. We are so blessed to have Grace. She is truly an angel. To many people, her Trisomy 21 means that she is different, imperfect, incapable, etc. However, to us she is the definition of perfection, capable of achieving so much and is truly the light of our lives.

And....

We're back! Apparently we went on a little hiatus. Why? Because I have no "umph" to blog these days. However, I'm going to try to get back into the swing of things. And what better way to do that than to share some of Grant's infamous quotes from the past few weeks. Without further ado:

(I cannot get a normal picture of this kid)

The blossoms here are BEAUTIFUL!!! So while we were driving I started singing, "I looked out the window and what did I see? Popcorn popping on the apricot tree!" Grant interrupted me with, "MOM!!! That is not logical! Popcorn does not grow on trees. They are blossoms." I tried explaining the song but he was not satisfied so he changed the words so that popcorn was replaced with blossoms and so the end said, "it was really so, and it seemed to be blossoms blooming on the apricot tree."

Grant has really been into fact and opinion as well as true and false lately. Pretty much every statement he makes is followed by, "That is an opinion." Or, "That is a fact and is also true." It kills me that he is only 4.5 and he totally grasps the concepts of fact/opinions and true/false. I get confused sometimes and I'm old. :-) Maybe that's why I often hear him tell me, "Mom, you are not smart. I am smart and dad is smart." I don't know if I should reply with, "That is an opinion." Or, "That is a fact."

He was coloring at the table and writing down names for the little brother he is sure he is getting... he assures me it will happen the way he wants since he prays for it (I guess he isn't really paying attention to the parts of the family home evening lessons where we explain that we don't get everything we pray for). Anyway, the names were pretty funny- he decided that he wanted to write our last name first then put the name so the list he had was: Barrow Vowt, Barrow Tit, Barrow Mat. HOWEVER, the FUNNIEST part was when he said, "My new brother will be my favorite little brother. Gracie is my little BOTHER!" She just laughed. Good thing she has no idea what he is talking about.

And last but not least, he was working with his speech therapist and he put his hands on his head and said in a drawn out voice, "I. Can't. Handle. This!" His therapist said, "C'mon Grant, you're doing awesome!" To which he replied, "Awesnot!" Needless to say, that is our new favorite word around here.

Of course, a new post wouldn't be complete without a few pictures of the princess. She has been busy fighting off illnesses, "enjoyed" a stay at the hospital, enjoys picking on her brother, and rupturing the dogs eardrum in her spare time...the list could go on and on. :-)Doesn't she have the cutest face?!?!

Grandma Great

Adam's Grandma passed away the other day. We have been comforted knowing that we will see her again someday and that death is not the end. Grant prays every night that she is "having a good time in heaven." We are quite positive that she is indeed having a good time. Grandma Great was an amazing woman. Adam put it best when he described her this way (he wrote this ode to her for her 80th birthday):

"If we could find a way to bottle everything we love about you, it would not be false advertising to sell it with the following promise:

Lifetime guarantee to make a lasting difference to all in its presence. Will provide the perfect dose of warm hugs, sweet memories, selfless service, enduring support, sound principles, special attention, and bright smiles. Always packaged in perfect prose or in the appropriate rhyme and meter. You age like a Greek Goddess!"

She will be greatly missed but the impression she has made on our lives will last forever!