Never forget...

Whenever September 11th comes around, everyone always says "never forget" and I think to myself, "is it even possible to forget?". There are certain things about that day that I would love to forget. I would love to forget the anger, the sadness, the images of so many people trapped and dying. I would love to forget the feeling of fear and hopelessness. I would love to forget that so many women lost their husbands, men lost their wives, mothers and fathers lost their sons and daughters, children lost their parents, and so many lost their lives.

I remember that day like it was yesterday. I was 8 1/2 months pregnant with Kylee and was working 12 hour night shifts and so when I got home that morning I of course climbed right into bed and turned on the TV. I saw the first tower was burning and thought "holy cow, what happened?". Then, as I was sitting there the second plane hit and I was in shock. It was obvious that there was no way that was an accident. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. What was happening? Why was it happening? How could this be happening? I just sat there rocking back and forth, holding my very pregnant belly with tears streaming down my face. I just stared at my belly with my sweet baby in there and cried, saying to myself "How could I be so selfish?! How could I bring a child into this world when there were so many horrible things happening? How could I choose to bring her into this world where hundreds of innocent people were being murdered?" I cried for what felt like hours (but was probably just a few minutes) and then I felt a wave of peace wash over me and then the thought entered my head that said "This child could change the world. She could help bring peace and tolerance to those around her. It would be more selfish to not bring her into this world." With tears still streaming down my face, I suddenly had hope. Hope that the world could be a better place.

So, on September 11th, when I say that I will never forget, what I mean is that I will never forget that there is always hope for a better world.

Preschool

This year Ella and I are in a Preschool Co-op. 5 other moms and  I take turns teaching our little ones. The first day was actually two days ago, but I was teaching and so I didn't get any pictures so I am going to pretend that this was her first day. 

Here is her cute little backpack.

Such a cutie!

Puzzles!!! 

So far preschool is going pretty good. The kids are only 2, so their attention span is...well...nonexistent. It seems like chaos, but I know that they are learning something, because Ella has been walking around all day telling me what sound K makes. Next week we are going to the zoo for a field trip. Yeah!!!

Camping Part three

The last day of camping, we were just there in the morning. The wasps were super bad so we spent the whole time in the camper. 

Playing UNO. Jarred was quite the little UNO player. Notice his cards are under the table so that no one can see them. 

Ella was so helpful. She was really good at showing everyone my cards. :)

Last year for vacation, we went to Disneyland. We asked the kids which they preferred. Kylee of course said Disneyland (I didn't expect anything different). Jarred, however, said that camping was "way better". He had so much fun. On the way home he said "I can't wait to have a son so that I can take him camping". 

Camping Part two

The 2nd day of camping was super relaxing. It was just the 5 of us all day. 

Daddy and Jarred are building a campfire so that we can cook some hot dogs. 

Chillin' by the fire.

This kid is such a cuddler.

Trying not to breathe in the smoke.

Love her face here. I can't remember if she was just trying to be goofy or if the smoke was bugging her. Either way, she is to stinkin' cute!

Taking Ella for a little ride up the road.

Waiting for her turn. She has been learning to ride the 4 wheeler and Daddy let her control it the whole time she was riding.

The wasps were really bad where we were, so we spent a lot of time in the trailer playing cards. Here is Daddy and Jarred playing Go Fish. 

Camping Part one

For Labor Day, we went camping in Oregon.

Ella and Jarred playing by the creek.

Ella's favorite thing was throwing random items in the creek.

Brian and Krissy's camper that they let us stay in. It was actually quite comfortable and nice and warm (which was a good thing because the temp got down to 25 at night).

Daddy working hard getting wood ready for the campfire.

Looking for deer.

Ready to go 4wheeling!!!

A couple deer we saw while 4wheeling.

Brian looking for water creatures with the kids.

Our first full day camping was pretty fun. We went 4wheeling most of the day and then spent the evening in La Grande at Krissy's parents house so that Rich could watch the Boise St. vs Georgia game.

First day of school

Kylee and Jarred's first day of school this year was on August 25th. 

Jarred is in 1st grade this year.

Kylee is in 4th grade this year.

Aren't they so cute?!?!

The day went well, until Jarred got off the bus and Kylee was nowhere to be found. Of course, I was panicking. I called the school and they informed me that "Sorry, we don't have any extra kids here." Seriously!!!!! So I frantically try to get a hold of someone at the bus garage but no one answers. FINALLY, 30 minutes later I get a call from someone in our ward and she says that the bus is at her house and Kylee is on it. I have never felt so relieved in my life. I then call the bus garage again (took me multiple tries to finally get someone on the phone) and told them to let the bus driver go ahead and let Kylee off with our friends. Finally, 1 1/2 hours after she was supposed to be home, she finally made it.

A day with the girls

About a week ago, Richard and Jarred went on the Father/Son campout so Alisa and I decided to take the girls to the park for a "photo shoot". We got some really great pics of Kylee and a few good ones of Ella (it is hard to get a good picture of a moving target).
This was Ella one year ago.

This is Ella now at the same spot in the park. It is amazing how much she has grown in such a short amount of time.

Here she is in one of the few pictures where we actually got a smile out of her.

Trying to pet a goose.

Kylee has always been very photogenic. I have very few "bad" pictures of her. Since she was just tiny, she has loved to pose for the camera. I think she gets that from her cousin Shelbie.

So after Kylee did this pose...

Ella decided that she wanted to try to do the same pose.

I love my girls so stinkin' much and I am so lucky to be their mom!