We Are Blessed!

Simple reasons we feel blessed of late:

• The pregnancy continues to go smoothly. After last year, this is our biggest blessing. Elizabeth feels a bit more tired, but who wouldn't? This goes to prove--again--that Mother's Day will always be infinitely more important than Father's Day :). 
• Kadence had her bilingual kindergarten program and did so well! We'll post some pictures of her singing and dancing in Espanol.
• Tayah has really done a great job having less fits the past month or so. We are so grateful! 
• Both girls are reading machines. Kadence really is advanced for her age (second grade level). And the fun thing: Tayah is reading earlier than Kadence did. We're thankful that our children love books (and that they don't watch much television). 
• The girls enjoyed Spring Break. We didn't plan any vacations because, frankly, Spring Break isn't anything out of the ordinary for us yet. Perhaps next year, when Kadence is at school all day, it will take on new meaning in our lives. 
• Stockton is the sweetest boy one could find. He still bestows on parents, sisters, and grandparents "tight squeezes." 
• Whenever he hears something, he'll exclaim "I hear something!" while putting his hand to his ear. Simple things our children do will always be things we cherish.
• The Jazz made the Playoffs! I know most of you don't care one iota, which is fine. I am just proud of this team which has exceeding ALL expectations in this, a rebuilding year. 
• We're doing well on our resolution to attend the temple monthly. Ditto on daily scriptures and family prayer.
• This list could go on and on with the many, many ways we feel blessed.

Bourne Vivaldi (Bourne Soundtrack/Vivaldi Double Cello Concerto) - ThePi...

Yet another instant classic by Jon Schmidt and Steven Sharp Nelson. They are such musical and creative geniuses...and they have a lot of fun doing it. You'll definitely want to watch this one. Enjoy!

Somewhere Over the Rainbow/Simple Gifts (Piano/Cello Cover) - The Piano ...

Want to feel happy, inspired and awed? Watch this video featuring the incomparable Jon Schmidt and Steven Sharp Nelson. A wonderful way to start off a beautiful day. Everyone have a fantastic one!

Mormon Messages: What Matters Most

Oh, how we love our Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson. It is such an incredible blessing to know that we have a living prophet who, through Heavenly Father, receives continuing revelation. This simple message from President Monson, is a good reminder of the things that matter most. Here are things I resolve to do:

• Play with, hug, and kiss our children more. Laugh at all their silly jokes. Praise them for the great things they are doing. Tickle them. Hold a sleeping Stockton. 
• Notice the beauty around me. 
• Continue regular dates with Elizabeth. The time with just the two of us is wonderful.
• Study more deeply the General Conference addresses.
• Look for hands that hang down. Make others smile. 
• Exert more patience. With the children, with the Jazz (petty, I know), with wonderful Utah County drivers, with those who speak ill of the Church. 
• Speak kindly.
• Get to know our Savior on a more personal level. 
• Eat more ice cream. Yes, this is something that matters.  
• Tell people how I really feel about them. I'll do a separate post about my goal of Impact Contacts.
• LOVE MORE!

So, what matters to you? What are you going to start doing today? After all, today is as good a day as any to make positive changes. Remember What Matters Most...

He Is Risen

We are doing something different for Easter this week. Each day, as a family, we've had mini lessons on each of the days of the Savior's last week--the triumphal entry, the last supper, Jesus washing the Apostles' feet, the Atonement, Judas (the "bad guy"), Peter ("the misunderstood guy"), the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection, plus everything in between . It has really helped things hit home for us and I think the girls are learning the true meaning of this special holiday. Last night, little Kadence teared up when we watched the Atonement video--very sweet. The Church is so wonderful, as the Gospel art kit and these videos have helped immensely. This truly is a special week. He Lives...

A Run-down of Our March Happenings (our Nuts and Bolts newsletter entry)

March brought the big news: we’re expecting a third girl in July! I don’t know if either Elizabeth or I had any strong feelings, but she had an inkling it was a boy and I a girl. The girls are ecstatic, but Stockton keeps reaffirming to us that it’s a boy! We are extremely excited and are open to any girl name suggestions. The pregnancy is going well—just the normal fatigue.

Junola’s funeral was a wonderfully spiritual celebration of her life. All who participated, Brian and our aunts, did such an amazing job. We learned so much more about Junola and Chuck. We are certainly better people because of them. It was a honor to sing with all the cousins—we are so blessed to have the family we do.

Elizabeth had a birthday and we had a fun time celebrating—lunch at Tucano’s, dinner at Red Robin, fun cards from the kids, and the purchase of a bike, which she is already enjoying. We have the best wife and mother in the world! She attended our stake’s Relief Society meeting which consisted of a series of workshops. She also headed up this month’s book group. Elizabeth is so willing to serve, watching some of our great neighbors’ children multiple times.

We had our ward conference and it was humbling to be able to present our leaders names for sustaining. We had inspired counsel centered around the temple. We’ve had seven of our eight ward conferences and it’s been grand getting to know more people in our stake.

Stockton had his well child check-up and he comes in at 62% percentile on height , 57% in weight, and in perfect health. We feel so blessed to have three healthy, happy children…we never take this for granted. He is one happy boy. Stockton might be easing off the naps, but still takes three or four a week. He is a sponge, learning new words and phrases constantly. He also flares his persnickety side a few times a day. He loves nursery once he settles in. I’m happy to say that he’s still a Daddy’s boy.

Tayah is thriving in preschool and already looks forward to coming to school every day next year. She is a very social little girl and loves being with friends. There are times where she associates better with girls Kadence’s age (not that it’s totally related, but she’s several inches taller than many of the girls her own age). While she has her occasions, we’re thrilled that the red-headed moments are not nearly as frequent.

Kadence, thanks to her diligent reading, was able to go to the school’s “Red Carpet Event” where they had grab bags, drawings, and a magic show. She even won a prize! She is a very conscientious student. Both of us were able to go to her parent-teacher conference where we observed her doing different activities at various stations. She is such a little smartie and her teacher gave glowing comments. She lost two more teeth!

It was a busy month for me at work, with our BYU President’s Leadership Council meetings (where we were able to have President Eyring as our main speaker), the biannual Alumni Board meetings, and some other changes within our organization. Each of the girls was able to accompany me to a banquet at the Hinckley Center. They loved getting dressed up, having someone play music while we ate fancy food with fancy dishes, and so forth. I loved it, too!  I am still loving my Deseret News and Utah Jazz website gigs—it’s naturally much more fun to cover the Jazz victories than the losses. The Deseret News also asked me to help cover the historic BYU/Iona NCAA tourney game, which resulted in my most read article I’ve done yet.

Miscellaneous events: our annual Hobble Creek clean-up, helping the Scouts collect for our food drive, family dinner at Darrell and Tanya’s, a St. Patrick’s day of fun (we set up a leprechaun trap and while we had lots of goodies, that sly guy got away J), a Sunday concert at the Springville Museum of Art (Irish music), FHE at Trafalga, the BYU Football spring scrimmage, and family dinners out. Saturday’s General Conference sessions were wonderful.

Hope you all had a marvelous March and are now enjoying an amazing April!