You and me in the summertime . . .

 Achievement Assembly! Way to go Darla. You did such a great job at 1st grade. I am so grateful for Mrs. Griggs and for the friends that were made. You are incredible.

 Jill hopped in her car (literally hopped Jill, right?) and came to play with us!! Little scare with sickness at the start, but nothing else stopped us! Thanks for letting us show you around our new town. I wish every day we were neighbors. Every day.

 In this order - Bennett looks like he is older than Darla. We had a nice peaceful evening walking around the St Louis Temple grounds. I love my kids.

 Lu and I were able to go to UT for Jane's wedding (my niece). Lucille was such a good sport. It was a special moment in time that all my ten siblings could be in the Temple together. Makes me so excited for our time in Hebgen this summer.

 Sisters

 All 10

 Newly Weds - Jane and Michael Case.

This last photo had to be recorded because my 72 year old Dad was climbing a huge tree at Bear Lake to cut down some of the branches. He is unstoppable. I was terrified - I had no doubt that he could do it - but still terrified.

Call for Courage

Lately, I have been trying to wake up early so that I can exercise before everyone wakes up. The main reason why I am recording this is to motivate me to keep going. Exercise always makes a big difference. Sure, when my head hits the pillow (yes literally hits) every night I am so tired, but it is a GOOD tired - not a lazy tired.  Darla lost her first top front tooth. It was kind of a traumatic evening as it was hanging there quite ready to come out and she was scared to let us pull it, but wanted it to happen. After mulling over the options she went to brush her teeth and the toothbrush got it to fall out!! She was beaming! Toothpaste and blood everywhere - but SO THRILLED! Bennett finished preschool. At the beginning of the year it was hard for him to go, but when he was there he enjoyed himself. He was worried to have everyone look at him when he went up on the stage. A darling high school girl (his favorite) came and asked him if he wanted to come look at the cake. He went willingly with her and ended up being part of the whole graduation program - smiling the whole time! Tate had another check up this month. He always asks if there will be shots or if he has to "do blood", but was brave as the doctors did the echocardiogram and listened to his heart and "did blood." He is strong and doing well. Lucille found a Sharpie marker the other day and found brand new places to color that weren't paper. She eats whole apples from the top down - core and all. She dares to go down the slide by herself and is beginning to climb, climb, and climb. Erik and I continue to wait to hear from BYU. Hopefully this week. I got called to be the 2nd counselor in the Relief Society in our ward. Erik and I have ventured to find family names on the Family Search website and make sure we take family names to the Temple when we get to go. Reviewing this past month I cannot help but think about President Monson's "call for courage". I am humbled that each of us in one way or another have reached for courage this month to conquer specific moments. God is so kind and continually pours blessings upon His children if we strive to DO what He has asked us to do.

3 Strikes You're OUT!

 What a fabulous month it has been! My brother, his wife and kids drove from California and we LOVED spending time with them. Quick stops at the Arch and Ted Drewe's hopefully gave them a taste of St Louis. I loved watching the kids play and enjoy the time with their cousins. Bennett especially was so sad when they had to go! Easter and General Conference in the same weekend made for a nice relaxing time together. Bennett got a baseball and bat in his Easter basket. I have been impressed at how quickly they have learned to hit the ball.  We are thriving on the spring weather and spend every second we can outside, even if it is just digging in the dirt, edging the grass with scissors, playing "paperboy", covering everything with sidewalk chalk, blowing bubbles . . . watching my children's imaginations run free is one of my favorite things about being Mom.

The name Tate means CHEERFUL

March 19th Tate went in for a Cardio Catheterization. They were thinking they would find thickening or scar tissue from where he had the Arterial Switch when he was 5 days old, but there was no thickening. What they did find out was extremely high pressure in Tate's Pulmonary Arteries and in his lungs. This is a disease called Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. It is a very rare, progressive disease. There is no cure. There are two medications that Tate is responding to very well, as well as oxygen. After a CT scan tomorrow morning. He should be able to come home on those medications and the oxygen. He truly is the most cheerful and brave person I have ever known. Every nurse or doctor that meets him or gets to care for him has fallen in love with him instantly. This comes as no surprise to me. His cheerfulness and personality is positively contagious. 

Erik interviewed for a BYU job last week. At the interview he met with Elder Renlund of the Quorum of the Seventy. At the end of the interview they were talking about Tate. Elder Renlund told Erik that Tate's name would be on the prayer roll and would be prayed for by name by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve every Thursday for three weeks.

Erik and I know that we have been carried since we have found out about Tate's condition. I know that the prayer that I offered when I first found out about Tate's heart condition at his 20 week ultrasound before he was born - is still being answered. I asked Heavenly Father to give me comfort, no matter what happens. He is till lending me that comfort. No matter what happens, I know that we have Tate forever. No matter what happens, I know that Tate is here to teach us. No matter what happens, I will be cheerful and brave - just like Tate.

"the sun cleans up the snow" - Tate

The highlight of this month for me was getting in the car with the kids and myself - driving to see the Albano Family. Best idea ever.
Tate's procedure got postponed until this week - Feb 25th.  Hopefully all will go well.

time is running

Really?! It has been a month since my last post. That month went by so fast. The holidays ended, and real life picked up quickly. Erik has applied to two jobs for fall - BYU and SLU (St Louis University). I have no idea when we will know about either of them. I do know that I am so grateful to be married to a man who loves what he does, who is loved by those that work with him, and loves his family more than his work :). Erik is incredible.
Tate has a heart procedure on February 4th. We are hopeful that it will all be ok. They are performing a cardiac catheterization to get a better look at his heart. At his appointment in November the pressure in the right side of his heart was higher than it should be. Thus the decision to go in through his groin up to his heart to know for sure what is happening. Erik and I felt strongly about double checking with our previous cardiologist in MN (Dr Dummer WHO I LOVE). She said that she agreed with going forward with the procedure. Tate is a brave boy. He teaches me a great deal.
Darla is in a Project Plus Group at school - an advanced learning group. She meets with them Wednesday mornings and LOVES it. Her mind is beyond my own. I have no question about that.
Bennett seems more confident these days - happy to go off to preschool, happy to have playdates. I think he has settled in to the life and routine here. I feel like it has taken him the longest out of all of us. You should have seen Bennett and Lucille cuddling on the couch tonight. They are so good for each other.
Lucille is walking, adores looking at/singing to books, snacking/eating, giggling. HAPPIEST BABY ON THE PLANET.
I am doing well - much better than a couple weeks ago when I fell running down my stairs and really really hurt my tailbone. That was one of the most painful things. So I have been hobbling around, and just the past week have noticed that I can sit pretty much normally without any pain. Annoying is what it is. Wish I could be running - the weather here is so mild. Every time I walk outside I cannot believe that it is January. Feels like spring in Minnesota to me.
I love the family that surrounds me every day. Love, love, love them. Happy New Year.

Provided for

The past month has been full of humbling moments. Moments where I knew Heavenly Father was watching over us. Providing for us, and guiding us along. These moments weren't anything HUGE, but were blessings that strengthened my testimony that He is ever mindful of my family.
I love Christmas. I loved watching Darla so thrilled when we were setting up the Christmas tree. I loved it when one of my kids would say, "Turn on some Christmas music Mom!" I loved hearing Bennett say that his favorite gift of Christmas was Jesus. I loved listening to Tate learn how to sing the "Merry Christmas song" (We Wish You A Merry Christmas) and Jingle Bells. I loved celebrating Lucille's 1st birthday and realizing that with the growth of each child just comes more and more love for them. I love Lucille. But I think that my favorite moment was looking across the pew at church yesterday (Darla's Birthday) and catching eyes with Erik - both of us full of tears as we were touched by the Spirit of the whole season, of each moment all coming together to bring us closer to Jesus Christ. The Savior of the World.

flying by

 Happy Halloween. Just had to document costumes. They had a great time, although it was an adjustment to walk from house to house, instead of core way to core way :)

 Happy 3rd Birthday Tate! We just happen to fly to Salt Lake on his birthday so he (and the rest of us) thought that was pretty awesome. I can't believe that three years ago this little guy was given to our family. Three years ago that little baby had to undergo heart surgery. To tell you the truth, I often forget it all even happened. But then I recite Tate the story of what happened on the day he was born and I can't help but feel the deepest gratitude and humility. 

 I want to be like the women in this picture. They all inspire me.

 Best baby in the world.

 Mom and Dad. Don't they look fabulous!

 Nelson Family

 Bennett loves family pictures. Lucille loves her dress.

This bottom picture is a daily occurrence in my house. Morning reading with Darla is just a precious sight to see. The sunlight on their faces is what did it for me this time. With Thanksgiving here next week I hope that will forever be thankful for the PEOPLE in my life. Like my wise sister-in-law once taught me; relationships are all that matter.