Great-Grandma Hawthorne

Not many people have the blessing of knowing their great-grandparents. I have been lucky enough to know a couple of mine. Samantha and Zach even got to meet their Great-Great-Grandma Hawthorne a little over a year ago. I feel so blessed to have known her. She once told me we were kindred spirits. I think she was right! No one had more faith and more fun in their life. Now she is back with Grandpa, right where she wants to be. We love you Grandma! Thanks for being a great example every single day of your life!!!

The Past Month in Pictures (WARNING: There are a lot, I've been a slacker)

Zach is a walker at 16 months!!!! (He beat his sister by 2 months!)

 Trip to Idaho! Zach and Edward are great friends and super cute together!

 The Gateway Children's Museum with Suzie's family! Erin was a great checker; she scanned ever item!

 Ice Cream!!!! Need I say more?

 Easter!!!!

 This picture reminds me a lot of a picture taken of Lawrence and I at similar ages.

 This girl LOVES shoes!!!

Romney, Grandparents, and Cousins

We had a great weekend in Idaho! We drove through a blizzard (just part of the way, but it was still awful) on Thursday to go to a Mitt Romney rally in Idaho Falls. Micheal's sister offered to take the kids, but we were running so late they came with us! It was a huge crowd! They had to divide it into two rooms and he spoke in both. We were lucky to be pretty close to the front, but when he came around to shake hands, I felt like people were trying to jump over me! It was fun, although I don't think I will ever take my kids to such an event ever again!!! They did not appreciate the long wait!

At one point Samantha was so tired she started yelling, "Stop! Stop!" While Romney was talking. Oops!!! She loves to retell the story. Needless to say, Michael took her off his shoulders in a hurry.

After the rally, we stayed at my parents house for a night. The next night the kids stayed again while Michael and I stayed in Idaho Falls. It was a late anniversary celebration. We watched movies and ate yummy food and didn't have to pause the movies once to take care of kids!!! It was so fun!!! The kids had fun with Grandma and Grandpa. Samantha did some "Sweating to the Oldies" with Aunt Eliza. Read books with Grandma. And helped Grandpa plow the driveway! Loved to push the button to lower the blade.

The next night we stayed at Suzie's house (Michael's sister). We had a fun get together with all the siblings in Idaho. Samantha loved playing with her cousins, especially Erin (I wish I had a picture)!

Five Years!!!

Top: Micheal and Heidi's engagement pictures!
Bottom: Five years and 2 kids later, and we're still smiling!!!

Last Weekend

I will forever be thankful for last weekend. On Friday night I didn't want to make dinner, so we called Lawrence and Melissa and met them at Olive Garden for dinner with our kids. Then, Saturday, we swapped baby sitting at their apartment while we took turns going to the temple. I kept meaning to leave so we wouldn't get home late, but I decided that Samantha and Ethne were having so much fun, we could stay a little longer. All the kids had a bath, Ethne went to bed and yelled good bye to us, and that was the last time I heard her sweet voice.

I had a sister-in-law say once how amazed she was at the love she automatically has for her nieces and nephews. I've thought a lot about that this last week. It is so true! I am so thankful for a wonderful family. I am thankful for cousins for my daughter. I am thankful for happy memories. And I am thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. We would all be lost without it!

I Have a 3 Year Old!!!

Last Thursday, for play group, I threw Samantha a little birthday party. It was a lot of fun. We decorated cupcake, make necklaces, opened presents, and played! It was the most kids that have ever shown up to playgroup, and we had a blast!

Then, on Friday (Samantha's actual birthday), we invited Lawrence's family over and ordered pizza and had cake and ice cream!

Samantha was so nice! She let Ethne help open a couple presents!

She got 2 pretty princess dresses to wear to church! At church on Sunday, one of her little friends just wanted to be with her the moment he saw her. He kept hugging her and trying to get her to play with him. He thought she looked like a princess. She thought he should not touch her, so she kept shoving him away! Good girl!