True Love at 3:00am

The fun pictures on this blog I hope let you catch of glimpse of what our family is like. Right now however, I would like to share the love in our home with you from a very different angle. That is love that is displayed when our children get sick. The other night Zachary woke Lance up to announce that he had thrown up in his bed. Lance let me sleep and went to help Zac. Moments latter Zac woke me up and said "Dad needs your help, I threw up." Ignoring any instincts of self-preservation I tucked Zac into our bed, knowing full well this act could get us sick and went to help Lance. As I changed Zac's sheets and blankets, I looked over to watch Lance shampoo the brand new carpet and I had to smile. Here it was 3am and we were working side-by-side happily cleaning a rather disgusting mess and I realized that this is what love is all about. We got Zac tucked back into his own bed and just as we turned towards our own bedroom Brycen's walked out of his room and informed us that he too had thrown up. I helped him into clean pajamas and then carried him into our bed. I snuggled with him for a moment and then went to change yet another bed while Lance tackled another carpet. By the time his room was clean Brycen was fast asleep in our bed. I thought about just letting him staying, but then knowing that our night was probably going to be very busy, and that we would need as much sleep as possible and also knowing that Brycen likes to sleep sideways in bed, I opted to carry him back to his bed, while Lance snuggled with Zac who was having a hard time going back to sleep.

Of course I realize that all parents have to clean-up after sick children from time to time, still a couple things were made even more clear to me that night. First, to know that Lance loves me so much that he was willing it let me sleep while he handled the clean-up process--despite the fact that he was the one who would have to wake-up to go to work in just a few short hours. I also thought it was very sweet that Zac realized his dad could use some help. Lastly, I felt blessed that at moments like this Lance and I feel nothing but love and concern for our children and for each other. This was just a small and relatively insignificant reminder that we truly would gladly do anything in the world for our family.

By the way everyone is feeling much better know. So far Scottie, Lance and I have even managed to stay healthy. And yes, the carpets still look new. I hope that all this talk about the flu has not made you feel queasy!

Our New Hobby

The webkinz craze has hit our home in a big way! Zac and Brycen got their first pets for Christmas, and now they each have four. Lance thinks it is funny that the kids play so much with their online pets while poor old Sebastian just lies around waiting for someone to throw his tennis ball or even bathe him.

By the way, for those of you who do not know about Webkinz they are little stuffed animals that come with a code for their website. The website is a whole new world. You can buy your pets everything from clothes to furniture to seed to garden with, even golf cart for them to ride around in. The boys pets have a working pool table, air hockey game, and battleship. The pets come with one room, but you can buy more. Brycen loves to buy rooms I think their house has 19 rooms now. To get money you have to play games, answer triva questions, or get a job.

Okay, now for the really funny part, my sister and I each bought ourselves one yesterday too. I now have a racoon name Shay Honor and Ali has a Love Frog named Lady.

Starting in the back row: Snowprincess (Brycen), Sushi (Zac), Blitzen (Zac)

Middle row: Snow (Brycen), Snow Angel (Brycen's 1st), Sparky (Zac), Shay Honor (mine)

Smoden (Zac's 1st), Front row: Ice (Brycen) Notice a theme in Brycen's names?

Zac and Ali's dog Lieca hang out on an old sheet on my bed while the rest of us take care of our virtual pets. And no I do not let animals on our bed, but Lieca thinks she is a person!

To Our Little One,

We're not sure if your physical creation has even begun, and yet you have been part of us for such a very long time. Our family is full of joy and love still the empty spot is real, just waiting for you to make us whole. Our quest for you has been intense. There have been several heartbreaks along the path. More powerful than the heartache though is the hope we feel. We have faith that you will find your way into our arms. We can't wait for that incredible moment when we will first get to look into your beautiful eyes. We pray for you unceasingly. Every night your brothers pray that someone will give us a baby. Please come to us soon--we need you and love you forever.
Love,
Mommy and Daddy

Brycen and Daddy Hit the Slopes

On Friday Lance to the day off work to take

Brycen skiing for the first time. Brycen did a

great job--he is now just two skills away from

being a level three skier. Lance took lots of

pictures through the first half of the day, but

sadly he lost his camera later that day.

Luckily the ski school took this picture.

Brycen and Lance both came home

exhausted, but ready to plan their

next ski day. It is so much fun

to watch our children discover

new things. We are grateful to

be in a postion where we can

expose them to different things

and then let them pursue their own

interests.

Storytime

Daddy tells Zac and Brycen a story until Mommy
finishes getting ready for church. From their big
smiles I'm guessing it was a good story!

Trains, trains, and more trains!

Brycen and Kim's Dad share a passion for model trains. Last weekend we went to a local train show, where vendors from all over come to show off the latest and greatest in the world of model trains. The boys just loved it, and so did Pappa. It is adorable to watch a grown man and a small child's share such exetiment.

Brycen watching his current favorite engines, the Santa Fe chug by.

Zac just casually waiting for a train.

Daddy helps Brycen get a closer look at his dream layout.

Happy New Years

We rung in 2008 playing games and eating
way too much yummy food with some friends.









Some people didn't quite last long enough to make
it to the mid-night celebration.






Zac stayed up to ring in the New Year for the first
time in his life and then slept in latter than ever before.

Happy New Years!