My Baby's Birthday

Today is my Isaac's Birthday. I can't believe it has already been two years. I spent the day reliving his birthing experience. It's funny as a mom I've also done that on each one of Letty's birthdays. Does everyone do that? It seems natural since you are celebrating their life to reflect on their birth, at least to me. I have just a few precious memories of Isaac in this life so I like to revisit all of them, even though it's painful. I'm not sure exactly what I want to say except that we love and miss him. We decided last year that we would always celebrate his birthday in some way. Letty thought we should wear party hats, I thought that was a bit much so we made cookies instead. I love my sweet Letty who is so tender hearted. While baking she talked about Isaac. It went something like this.

L-I'm thinking about Isaac and that he can hear us right now.
S- I think he can hear us and know that we are celebrating him.
L-I'm wondering what he will look like when he is big like you and daddy.
S- Do you think he looks more like mommy or daddy?
L-I think he looks like daddy.
S- Me too.
L-We should send these cookies up to him.
S-That's a nice idea but I think he'll just have to know we are thinking of him.
L-Okay

She has such a sure and clear perspective. Children are amazing!

Today I wore the necklace I share with him, to have him close to my heart. Bare with me while I share some of my testimony. I feel very strongly that I need to share my feelings about this experience with others or I would be offending my Father in Heaven. I often hear this statement in regards to loosing a child "I don't know how you can do that, I couldn't." I respond with this: "you would be amazed at what you can do that you didn't think you could." I didn't/don't do it alone. I was blessed with strength beyond my own. I love the plan of salvation and happiness. I know my Heavenly Father loves me and that families can be bonded together forever. I know we are sent angles to comfort and lift us. So today and everyday but especially today my thoughts are with my sweet angel baby who awaits us in Heaven. We love you!

Parties

This week was full of school related events. T-man had several interviews and a couple of tests. Having to get a babysitter three times in one week is too many (thank heavens for K-Rae she is a life saver)! Needing babysitters was a result of attending a company reception and two NAC (National Advisory Committee, whose members donate a lot of money to the school) events.

We had a fun weekend by going to a Halloween party accompanied by Pocahontas and "her" pumpkin as Letty informed me. Costumes were easy this year since I bought them last year at a great consignment sale. The hard part was finding them in our boxes but alas, we had success! I did have a little convincing to do. Letty wanted to be a ghost. A thanks goes to my mom who suggested she be Pocahontas, after that she was sold.

Progression

Gracie has started crawling. It is still in the beginning stages but it is a crawl. She is good at a combining things to get where she wants (rolling, sliding, pushing, and sitting) whatever works!

A week and a half ago we headed up to Rexburg since Tim had a little break from school. We met his parents at the river property and had a hot dog roast. It was a little chilly but worth it to be able to enjoy the great outdoors. Letty had a great time learning to skip rocks and hold her own hot dog in the fire.

Grandma helped Letty make yummy pumpkin cookies.
Gracie's new do...littly piggies (Don't mind the extra set in the back).
Just for fun...

As for T-man and I, we are swamped with school activities. I say "we" because the MBASA (spouses association) has tons of activies, more than I can attend. We went on a fun field trip to corn bellies last week (I forgot the camera, I was so ticked!). I also just finished making my freezer meals for a swap we are doing between 10 of us this week. I am going to be making a quilt. I think this is my first traditional quilt. The MBASA is organizing it. The finished product has nine different strips from nine different people. Everyone picks out 6 dark blue fabrics and pieces them together to form a strip and then we will trade. I think it will be really cute and a nice memento. This is the last week of interviews for T-man, YEAH!

Conference Weekend!

We are happy for this time to relax and be spiritually refreshed. The week has been busy for me (T-man is writing this week) which means is has been long for S as well. The MBA program is intense and the 1st semester is the busiest of all. For those who are emphasizing in Strategic HR (such as myself), this is recruiting season for summer internships. About half of my current activities are consumed by job-seeking. This week included two information sessions, five informational interviews (me talking with company employees to get a feel for the company) and a dozen emails.

On Friday I had interviews in Phoenix with Honeywell Corp (they make thermostats, jets, bullet-proof vests, Prestone, and a number of other seemingly unrelated items). We spent Thursday night with Cayenne and Mark and got to see their new home for the first time. They were nice enough to let Letty stayed with them while S, Gracie and I flew to Phoenix. Honeywell Corp was gracious enough to fly us all there. While I interviewed and took a tour of several factories with other job candidates, a local realtor hauled the rest of the family around Phoenix. Kendra was quite a trooper throughout the 6+ hours in the car, not to mention the plane ride. We had an hour break before we went to dinner at the VERY nice home of a BYU alumnus and Senior VP of HR. By the end of the night we were exhausted mentally and physically. We had two early flights which gave us a cumulative of 8 hours of sleep between two days. We were ready and excited to get home to see Letty.


Just a couple of fun pictures that have nothing to do with the topic of the blog:

Laundry fun...

Wedged