rainy day fun

Mason loves being outside, probably more than Eli if that's even possible. After it rained the other day I let them go outside. Eli loves pushing Mase around in the "big red car". I can't believe how entertained they were and how much Mason was laughing. At least this one time I didn't have to drag Eli in from a mud puddle!

just what I needed to hear...

Tonight, however, I have in mind the charity that manifests itself when we are tolerant of others and lenient toward their actions, the kind of charity that forgives, the kind of charity that is patient.

I have in mind the charity that impels us to be sympathetic, compassionate, and merciful, not only in times of sickness and affliction and distress but also in times of weakness or error on the part of others.


There is a serious need for the charity that gives attention to those who are unnoticed, hope to those who are discouraged, aid to those who are afflicted. True charity is love in action. The need for charity is everywhere.
Needed is the charity which refuses to find satisfaction in hearing or in repeating the reports of misfortunes that come to others, unless by so doing, the unfortunate one may be benefited."

I loved this from President Monson's talk at the General Relief Society Broadcast!

fall pics

Every year we try to take fall pics. These are a few of my favorites....

my mom and sisters

Mason thinking he's getting squashed.

My oldest sister and her kids.


My other sister and her kid.

mom and her grandkids

And I happened to stumble upon these pics from my dad's funeral. Today is my parents anniversary, would have been 33 years!

Such a bittersweet day. It was incredibly hard but I was so relieved to not have to see him suffering anymore, which made it harder because then I felt selfish. No matter how hard we tried explaining where papa was to the kids they all seemed to have that look on their faces.

haircut

Before....

(don't mind his drool filled shirt, he's cutting top teeth)


After...

oldies...

My sister, Amie, came out this weekend. While she was here we went through some old pictures of my dad from his young days. It was fun to see him in his early days. I imagine my grandma telling him, "Dennis, fix your hat!" hehe.

Wow, I never knew how much my brother looked like my dad until I saw this picture. My brothers baby pictures look almost identical to dad!!




My mom said she thought he looked like Robert Redford when

they first got married. I see the resemblance in this picture...

Mom, Amie, Dad and Jolene.

Amie holding me, Matt and Jolene. Thanksgiving 1988


My grandma was one of the sweetest women I know. She used to babysit us while my parents worked and I always loved living next door to her and my grandpa. This picture was taken at Hogle Zoo in 1991. She loved her hamburgers and cokes from McDonalds and my grandpa took her out for this treat every Friday after she got her hair done. He continued this up until she went into the care center. He probably even snuck her some in there.


This was at our wedding. They were earlier comparing their muscles. He isn't about to punch her! haha..I miss his spunky attitude and his hugs most of all. I just imagine how incredibly happy my grandma was to see him again. I can't wait for the day when I'll get to see them both again!!

work meeting

So the other day Levi was over doing some invoices with Will. Meanwhile, Will's phone rang so he went outside to chat. I was feeding Mason lunch in the kitchen and overheard this "meeting." It went something like this...
Levi: "Eli, how much do you charge for framing?"
Eli: "pizza!"
Levi: "So let me get this right, you'll frame a house for pizza?"
Eli: "Yep!"
Levi: "How many employees do you have?"
Eli: "one, two, three, four."
Levi: "So you have four employees?
Eli: "No, forty"
Levi: "What is your mode of transportation? What do you drive?"
Eli: "A firetruck!"
Levi: "So let me get this right, you'll frame a house for a pizza, you have forty employees and you drive a firetruck?"
Eli: "Yeah!"

I thought it was so funny! He comes up with the funniest things!

8 months

*He is soooo snuggly. We all love snuggling with him. (getting a pic with Eli smiling is a new obstacle!)

*While I was getting ready for my yardsale last weekend, Eli was putting stickers all over him. If you've ever read the book You are special by Max Lucado you'd agree he looks like a wemiwick!

*He loves to eat. Therefore, he is very chubby, which we love!!
*He is trying to crawl but has figured it's faster to roll wherever he wants to go.
*He makes the funniest faces!
* He is a mommy's boy. He doesn't usually cry when anyone else holds him he just has to look around and make sure I'm right there. I love this since Eli was a total daddy's boy.
* He loves kids.
* His nickname is Mase-a-rooney (Eli came up with it)
*He has two bottom teeth.
* He is beginning to sleep well. He takes AWESOME naps!
*He still HATES his car seat!
* He is generally happy, only cries when he's not being held, hungry, or tired.
* He's obsessed with paper. I've never seen him move as fast when there is paper around he's rolling all over the place to get a hold of it!
* We love him so much and are so glad he's a part of our family!