Happiness

It's taken a few weeks- he started taking a few steps here and there at 12 months old, then 5 or 6 and then across a room and late Saturday night, up at 3 am and everything was quiet, he began walking and walking and walking. He has such a cute walk- he moves his hips and falls down a lot! He likes to carry something in his hand- a Kleenex box, a bitten into jelly bean, my shoe. He just smiles and laughs like he knows he's doing something amazing! Go, bigD, Go! So, he has dropped from taking two naps to one nap a day. Oh, my! I fall asleep so fast at night since he wears me out! I may have him do quiet time in his crib with books and toys while I take a quick nap!  Also, Josh had an interview for a position for Associate General Counsel of the Utah State Legislature last week. They got 250 applications, interviewed 30 and will be calling back 10 next week and hiring three. It would be an understatement to say that we would love this job- maybe even better than the BYU position ...

  I can't believe how fast time flies! Our little preemies are now 11! They were once so tiny and seeing them turn 11 has reminded me of how lucky we are that they are here- healthy and strong. We love you guys, Ethan and Jonah!

    My littlest sister is expecting her first- a baby girl- in June. She lives in Logan and my sister flew in from California to help with the shower (and attend BYU Womens Conference with me)! My Mom and Dad drove up too so it was a party! We did the theme "She's About to Pop!" and it was loads of fun! 

Declan turned ONE! Happy Birthday, baby boy!! We love you!

The weather is gorgeous- think 72 degrees- the trees are blooming- right in front of my house- and it's St Patrick's Day! One of my favorite Holidays! When I flew to Spain 16 years ago (ah!) on my mission it was St Patricks's Day and my Grandpa and Grandma Hulihan showed up to the airport (when you could see someone off at their terminal) decked out in green hats and necklaces. Ever since then, it's had a special place in my heart.  Last night some women got together at Kneaders to celebrate a birthday. It was lots of fun and afterwards we went to local grocery store- along with quite a few others- to stock up on green, gold and rainbow treats the leprechauns could leave in the traps our little kids have made. Here, it as an assignment in third grade to build a trap. We've never done it before but Asher had his out that night- waiting by the front door.  This morning he found the trap sprung, candy inside but no leprechaun.  Josh had a video interview with BYU today...

  Elizabeth and Declan goofing off. I got to help out with Jonah (and Ethan) and ride the Front Runner- a train that runs from Provo, Utah to Ogden- up to Salt Lake City where the 5th Grade classes were doing a field trip at JA Biz Town at the Discovery Gateway museum. It was cold but pretty fun! Jonah and his classmate on the train. Waiting for Josh to finish his run. Josh running the 5K Rex Lee Run. It was cold (again) but fun. Soon I won't mention the cold- I'll just be used to it! Asher and his first day of indoor soccer. He loved it!! He got to be the goalie- his dream position- for most of the game and did a great job!  Jonah and Declan enjoying the sun. A scary balloon. Declan and I were matching- so we took a picture! And that's it for last week in pictures!

I've wanted to be a writer for about ten years now. After I had three kids under three years old and all that that entailed, I felt like I should write everything down, let people know what that was like. It seemed a good way to get everything out of my head and on to the paper. I would write short stories- the time when the twins emptied the eggs out of the carton in a trail across the floor while I showered, the time it took 2 hours to put them down for a twenty minute nap, the time Ethan broke his leg with a toddler fracture and I had to carry him while carrying the baby in a baby backpack. Ah, those were the days !  Yep, these were stories that needed to heard and felt. Yet, instead of writing a book, I wrote it down in this blog. I vented my frustration when the kids were tiny, I was silent in midst of my depression, I was chatty while I was hyper, subdued when we lost our two babies and exultant when we had Declan. This blog has seen it all and while I haven...