And so it begins...

Our family has been planning a family vacation since the beginning of this year.  We used our tax return money to buy 3 round trip tickets to Phoenix, AZ.  When we planned our trip we didn't know what Mr H.'s summer school schedule would be, so we planned for later in the summer.  After buying the tickets, we realized that KK started school during the middle of our vacation...he would miss 3 days of school.  It bummed me out a bit because, well, it just did!  Then about a month before our vacation our flights were cancelled.  Since our AZ family were already planning for us to be there from August 10 through August 18 we just booked the flights again for the same time. 

One thing that we wanted to do in AZ was to get sealed.  Mesa temple is so beautiful.  Mr H. and I visited the temple and did ordinances for the dead when I went out there 3 years ago.  So Mesa is just a special temple for us.  But before we can be sealed, I need a cancellation of my 1st sealing to X.  We tried to cancel it 2.5 years ago, before Mr H. and I were married but that fell through.  We tried to cancel again and thought we were on the right track until 2 weeks ago.  The Stake President told us that the papers weren't even sent yet!  Wait what!?  We gave them the paperwork 2 and a half months ago!  Anyway, after many tears and frustrated talks with family, friends, and church leadership I just figured it wasn't going to happen, but the Stake President tried pulling some strings and made some phone calls and we just waited.

I was getting nervous the closer the vacation got.  I get nervous and anxious about things that are big.  Taking vacations, starting a different schedule, spending a lot of money, etc.  So I was super nervous about the trip...what if they thought I was fat?...the time zone change...not packing enough...packing too much...forgetting something...losing KK at the airport.  Needless to say, I had about a million different things running through my head. 

The night before our vacation, amid the chaos of packing and taking the animals to my parents house we got a call from the Stake President, everything went through for the temple and we could go to his house and pick up the living ordinances.  WE COULD GET SEALED!  There is a letter that is sent from the first presidency showing that it was approved and since we would not get that letter, the first presidency called the temple and told them that we were approved and a letter was faxed to the temple.  I don't really know how that made me feel...it's been such a sensitive subject for me that I was just grateful for it to be done.  Before I fell asleep I wanted to look at the living ordinances that we picked up from the Stake President to make sure that everything was correct and it's a good thing I did because I saw that the stake president forgot to sign the papers!  EEEK!  We are leaving tomorrow, I would have to call him right at 8am.

While Mr H. was at work for a couple of hours, I called the stake president and let him know that the papers weren't signed.  He was very surprised that he forgot and repeatedly thanked me for checking them.  He came over to my house and signed them before we left.  As I was packing up I realized that I forgot that my mom had KK's health insurance cards from when she picked up his prescription.  So we needed to go to her work to pick those up before we could leave for the airport.

We were on our way to the airport after stopping by mom's work.  I was getting really nervous because of the flight and trip.  No reason really to be nervous, I just was. 

Our first layover was in Detriot. That's a HUGE airport! There was a water fountain that KK just loved and couldn't get enough of. He just wanted to touch the cool water. It was really neat...until he started making a mess!

I slept most of the time on the second flight.  KK was good Mr H. said.  They both played on the ipad, which was a great investment.  Mr H. was also able to track the flight and use his aeronautical GPS.  He was excited about that. 

In Arizona the heat was evident.  When waiting for Mr H.'s younger sister, SB, to pick us up I could feel the sweat dripping down my face and back.  It was kinda gross.  Once picked up, we were taken to Mr H.'s older sister's, CC, home.  This is where we would stay for a couple of nights, in their spare bedroom.  Dinner was great.  CC's husband, RC grilled chicken, ribs, and steak, corn on the cob was served along with salad.  It was great to see everyone, but after dinner I was so tired that I went right to sleep. 

Easter Sunday

Get ready for lots of pictures with little words! I'm trying to get caught up with blogging. I feel like there isn't very much going on worth blogging about but I also feel like I am behind when it comes to blogging...so we'll see how it goes.

KK trying to find his Easter basket at our house.


Found it!


Zero's Easter present


KK showing how he will dunk the eggs. See how upset G looks!? Yeah, that's because he didn't get his way


JM's BIG surprise!


Z was so nervous


I KNEW it was coming!


Look how happy the couple looks!?


She said yes!


Congrats to the couple. I am very excited for them...they have a lot to handle right now. But Z is a great guy and JM is very lucky to have him in her life. He is not the father of her baby but he loves the baby and wants to raise JEM as his own child. He loves JM and he is a very warm-hearted and funny guy. I love that he wrestles with KK, which is KK's favorite thing to do, and makes KK warn out and sleep better. The only thing I don't like...is that he taught KK how to make spit balls :( But that's ok, I have some things up my sleeves to teach JEM. All-in-all Easter was good.

The Attitude of Gratitude

I had written a huge and long post about some of the things that were going on here at home...some of the trials we are facing, but I decided that I should save it for my own personal journal. But all I want to say about it is that I know everyone has trials going on in their life which are hard to deal with and some of these trials seem like they will never end, some of them will make any sane person want to scream or cry, and some, well, some are just plain unexplainable.

Our family has been hit hard with some pretty unexplainable trials -- one right after the other -- with no break. I seriously feel like my head is almost completely under the water and I can't breathe...I am drowning. I'm really hoping that things start lightening up a bit. So in the mean time I would like to mention a few things that are positives, things that I am grateful for. These positives do not outweigh the bad but...you gotta start somewhere, right!?

Zero:
I am grateful that she is so gentle and loves the boys. She seriously has anxiety when the boys are not here at our house. She is such a funny dog. I am grateful when she stays out of my way (which isn't very much). She is a good doggy.

KK:
Where to start? I am so grateful for KK he is the light in my darkness. He makes me laugh so hard. Just the other day I said something to him and he managed to throw himself into a fit of giggles for about a minute. I don't even remember what I said but it was funny to him. KK is always the first person to remind us to say prayers before eating. He also has the most sweetest spirit about him. I was holding him like a baby yesterday and I kissed him and he asked me to kiss him again and then he told me that he loves cuddling with me. I am very grateful that KK decided to chose me as his mother.

G:
Where to start!? No, really, I don't know where to start. Today he folded a load and a half of laundry and cleaned the counters. G really loves band and theater, he really likes to act! I am grateful for the times that he does play nicely with KK and the times that he is behaving.

Mr H.:
My husband is my best friend. He is my support and my rock. I feel so much support from him. I am grateful that he is the type of guy who likes to talk and can talk to me about anything...especially planes, guns, and the law...which make my ears tired. I love how excited he gets about things that interest him. I am grateful that we met and chose to share our lives together.

Let's hope that spending time thinking about the positives will help me stay grounded and focus on what matters the most.