Play Ball!

We signed Beau up to play T-Ball this summer. He has been so excited about it. We were getting ready to go to his first practice and he told me "I am going to be a STAR!! Someday Dad is going to watch me on T.V. and say that is my Son." Tonight was his first game - if you want to see funny, go to a T-Ball game :) As they were getting ready to bat, his coach called for Beau and told him to make sure he didn't swing the bat until he was given the okay (he is a little crazy with the bat). He did a great job at bat, but out field was a different story. He did get a few balls and attempted to throw them to first base. He had a great time playing, when he was done, he told me "I didn't let you down Mom". I am so excited to start watching my little boy grow up and become a "STAR"!!

The Holy Ghost

Beau has to give a talk on the Holy Ghost this Sunday. After discussing this with Beau, we decided that he wanted to give a talk on what happened to our family on Memorial Day.

We invited my in-laws to come over and have a Memorial Day cook out with us. After they got here, we all got busy getting the food ready. After awhile, I realized that I hadn't seen Beau. He had been playing with friends, so I checked there first. None of the kids had seen him, but said they would look around for them. I grabbed Clay and my in-laws, and started to look around for him. After we checked all the usual places and made sure he wasn't in the house, we started to get a little panicked. We all said silent prayers and spread out. Clay got in his truck to look, the neighbor got in his Ranger and started looking and the rest of us continued looking around the house. By this time he had been missing for at least a half hour. The Spirit told my mother-in-law to look in the trunk of her car. She immediately went and opened it up, and there lay my little boy. He had been curious about her keys that opened the trunk, then decided to play hide and seek. Thank goodness it was not a very hot day, or we may have lost him. I am also very thankful for the Holy Ghost and that my mother-in-law was in tune with the Spirit that day.

We have talked this over with Beau, not only for his safety in the future, but also for a spiritual lesson. When I saw the subject of the talk he had to give, I thought it would be a good idea to write down this experience and share it with others. I think Beau will remember this lesson the rest of his life.

Miss Bailey

Bailey has both amazed me and challenged me the last few months. She has made so much progress! She is talking in short sentences and running faster than I can keep up with. She has also hit the "terrible 2's". She is obsessed with coloring! She loves to draw circles all over anything she can touch (chairs, walls, windows, beds, hands, feet ......). We try to keep all writing utensils out of her reach, but she somehow manages to find something to color with. She is also obsessed with Reagan. The problem with that is that Bailey is not gentle. I can't set Reagan down anywhere that Bailey can get her. This proves to be very challenging when I am busy trying to get anything done. Even with all the challenges (I could go on and on with them) Bailey is my special little girl. My life would not be the same without this sweet little angel. I am so proud of her and all she has accomplished! Here is a quote that I stole from a friend of mine.

"God doesn't give children with special needs to strong people; he gives children with special needs to ordinary, weak people and then gives them the strength. Raising a child with Down Syndrome, brain injury, CP or other special needs doesn't TAKE a special family, it MAKES a special family."

Happy Birthday Mom

Today is my Mom's birthday, she would have been 62. All day I have wished that I could just pick up the phone and talk to her. I miss her everyday, she was my best friend. I decided what better way to remember her than to post pictures of my sweet baby that bears her name. I love to think about my Mom kissing her in heaven and sending her down to me. I love you both!

Of course I need to throw in pictures of my other two kids too. My Mom loved her grandkids so much, they were her whole world. I know that she watches over them, and on special occasions, she gets to be with them. We all love and miss you mom!

Easter

We spent Easter morning at my Dad's house. The Carter kids and my kids found their Easter baskets, then we were able to listen to conference. Kathy was so nice to fix an Easter dinner for my family and my two sister's families.

Reagan's First Easter

Goblin Valley

This year my family decided to do our family reunion over Easter weekend. We went down to Goblin Valley to camp. This was the first time I had ever been there, so it was fun to try something new. The weather was a little cold, but we had a great time! We did a lot of hiking and 4 wheeling (we borrowed Grandpa Erickson's Ranger) it was a great "kid" vacation. Even little Reagan had a good time, she spent most of the time in our trailer, but did great on the hikes. On Saturday the Easter Bunny found our campsite while the kids were all gone for a ride, so we had a little egg hunt. The whole weekend was great, it is fun to spend time with my family and get the kids together. I am so impressed by how kind and helpful my nieces and nephew are, especially with Bailey.

Goblin State Park

Jessica, Shaylyn and Bailey

Reagan's first camping trip

Beau hunting for eggs

Jessica and Rylee were so good to make sure Bailey found all of her eggs

Bailey had a hard time hiking, so her good Daddy carried her most of the way.

Little Wild Horse Canyon.

This was a little boys dream :)

Catching up

So I am not really good at this blogging thing :( Here are a few pictures that I have taken over the last few weeks.

My little girl is growing so fast! Everyday she seems to change a little. I love her great big smile to go along with her great big cheeks! Doesn't she just melt your heart!

We had the opportunity to buy Beau his own sled the other day, it wasn't really planned, but we decided to go for it. He and his cousin next door have had so much fun riding it around. I really haven't been to nervous about it either. Today we took it up to Grandma's house and let the kids ride and then roasted wieners. What a beautiful day we had!

My kids have been blessed to have wonderful great grandparents! They have a special relationship with each one. Both grandma greats are always doing such nice things for my children. Great Grandma Erickson knitted both my kids sweaters. She has been very ill lately and our thoughts and prayers have been with her. These sweaters will be keepsakes for my children to give to their children.