And now, the post you've all been waiting for...

Or maybe you haven't. I don't really care cause I'm excited enough about this post for all of us! I finally got some pictures of our special day, courtesy of Eric's cell phone, to help illustrate how amazing our day was. I won't have any pictures back from the photographer for at least another week, but at least we have these to tide us over! Our special day was amazing. Steve and I were running on very little sleep. The girls' little spirits must have been excited too, because they were up very early. It was raining on our way to the temple, which may have upset some people, but we loved it...rain is kind of Steve's thing anyway. We got to the temple and...man, I love that place. Such a feeling of peace came over us the instant we walked in. It was such a beautiful, amazing experience. Our girls were so good. We got a bunch of pictures taken outside the temple, then went to lunch. That evening we had a beautiful reception. I actually got to dance with my husband, which was fabulous. He is so handsome. I am so happy knowing that my family will be together forever. What a blessing it is to have the gospel in our lives. It was a dream come true from start to finish.

Who ever said gardening isn't dangerous?

I had an adventure in gardening last night. I put the baby to sleep but Katelyn wouldn't go to sleep. So, I took her upstairs to hang out with grandma Marcia while I ran outside to use the last bit of daylight to pull weeds in my garden. The first little while went well, but then it started getting a little darker...I was having a hard time seeing what I was grabbing at...I even accidentally pulled a couple squash flowers. I'm so mad! However, there was enough light to see a monsterous black spider scurry toward my hand. I jumped up, flailing my arms, freaking out. I landed right on top of one of my gardening tools. It threw me off balance and I fell face first in to a tomato plant. (gives a whole new meaning to face plant). My face is fine, but I have a hole in my hand from the bamboo cage. That stupid spider probably got on me anyways and was laughing with all of his bug buddies about the stupid spaz girl. I'm sure I'm the laughing stock of the whole garden and I can never show my face there again.

Beautiful Babies and Funny Feet

Our wonderful miracle nephew Sam was baptized on the 10th. It was such a good day! I got to see my sister in law Katie and finally meet my beautiful niece Lily. She is so cute! We laid the two babies side by side and it was hilarious. Brooklyn is friggin huge, especially her head, and apparently her feet, which were almost twice as big as Lily's! Brookie is only 5 weeks older than Lily but holy crap she's huge. I almost chucked poor Lily right through the ceiling when I picked her up. She's so light compared to my big buddah baby! It was so nice to see Katie and Lily, we just wish Paul could have been there. We love you guys!

Whodathunkit?

Who thought that Steve and I could go from where we've been to where we are now. Like Steve, in this picture. Sitting by a kiddie pool with his wife and two girls, seemingly unaware of the love-filled gaze he's getting from Kate. I'm not sure why Heavenly Father thinks we're worthy of love like the kind that is coming from her eyes, but I'm sure glad he does.

What a Wonderful World

A reminder Kate has helped me with lately: gratitude. She is always saying "Thank you, Heavenly Father, for our beautiful world. Mom, what a beautiful day! I love you, Heavenly Father." Then she blows kisses up to the sky. This flower was blooming, all by itself, in the backyard amongst weeds. It was the most beautiful flower I've ever seen. Full, no sign of wilting. Absolutely perfect and flourishing. Rising above prickly, dense, dark weeds to show the world it's beauty that it was always meant to show. Becoming what it was always meant to be, despite the darkness placed in it's way. I know it sounds silly, but I have an immense love for that single rose.

I Promise I Don't Beat My Child

Steve and I have a new calling that requires us to be at the church every Saturday morning every three months. Our very first time doing this, Katelyn fell off the stage in the cultural hall, catching the edge of the stage under her chin on the way down. She came running to me, bleeding from her teeth. Her chin, throat, and bottom half of her face swelled up like that one kind of frog. It didn't even look like her. Of course, this happened the day before Steve blessed them. She's fine, but my heart broke every time I looked at her, she didn't even look like herself. She may or may not lose a couple of her teeth, and she's had a nasty bruise for a while. The worst part about the whole thing is how heart-breakingly sweet she was about it. Right after it happened, she cried to me "Mommy, make it stop hurting". That is the saddest thing I have ever heard in my life! Then she told Steve, "Daddy, I'm sorry I fell of the stage." She is the sweetest girl ever.