Who's Who? And a Little For You.

I thought this would be fun for all the people who think you know us... And those of you who truly do! Tell me who is in each of these pictures:








On another note: We recently moved into a new house. Finally, I'm starting to feel at least a little settled and like I'm getting organized here. We are all doing extremely well, and everyone has been healthy and happy. Since it's been a while since I posted anything, much less something important, I thought I'd express my love and gratitude for some of the most important people in my life right now. Now, don't be worried or offended if I don't mention you specifically, because there are far too many people who mean a lot to me to list them here.

Sarah-
I am so proud and grateful for my first born daughter, Sarah. She has been such a joy in my life since she arrived a little more than four years ago. It has been the most challenging and most rewarding experience I have ever had to learn and grow with her and become accustomed to my responsibilities as a new mother. I am trying my very best to be a good example and a good mother to her, and I love and appreciate her more than she could possibly comprehend at her young age. Sarah is a bright, funny, loving, happy and forgiving child. She is very affectionate, and cannot stand to have people mad at her or disappointed with her. She's constantly finding ways to show her love for her family. Especially her little baby sister, Audrey. She can often be found chanting "I love you! I love you! I love you! I love you!" at the top of her lungs to anyone who will listen. She likes to learn and is constantly asking questions about her surroundings. She brings a bit of sanity to a chaotic house with her friendly smile and caring demeanor.

Alex-
He's my little hugabug. (And yes, I know that's not a 'real' word). He's quick to flash a mischievous grin whenever he's caught making trouble. He's a very smart and very intuitive child. He frequently brings everyone back to the simple things in life when he enthusiastically points out the interesting things in his surroundings. He will always hear an airplane flying overhead, a train whistle, bird or motorcycle, and when he does, excitedly points in the direction of the noise until someone acknowledges they hear it, too. He loves music, and can't seem to keep out of Mama's violin case. He gets it out to play almost daily, and is ecstatic when Mama helps him play instead of rushing to put everything out of harm's way.

Lucas-
Like his brother, Lucas is a quick smile and a laugh away from filling the room with cheer at any given moment. He loves his siblings and is always very sad and disappointed when he accidentally does something to offend one of them. His favorite thing to do in the morning is take me into Audrey's room to get her out of bed. He adores his little sister and is constantly trying to make her smile and laugh. He also likes music, and will join in anytime Alex starts to play the violin. He also likes to get out Papa's guitar and strum his own version of Papa's signature song. He also gets extremely excited when Papa breaks out the Guitar Hero game for the Wii, and can't help but take out the other guitar and "play" along. He's got the cutest little expressions, and is very good at making people smile at him.

Audrey-
I just LOVE this baby! I'm so thankful for her sweet and content personality. Even in the worst of moods, I can't help but smile when I look over and catch her gaze. It's almost as if she can't help but smile when someone looks at her. All I have to do is make eye contact, and the biggest, toothless grin spreads across her adorable face. Without even trying, she can make me feel like I'm the most important, most loved person in the whole world. I love her so much, and am incredibly grateful that she's in my life.

Jeff-
I don't know what I'd do without him. I love that he will eat what I make for dinner, even when I know it's not his favorite. I love that he'll grab me up in a big hug when he gets home from work as he asks me how my day went. I love that he never forgets to pray with me in the morning, even when sometimes he knows I don't hear a word because I'm still sleeping. I love that he cares so much about me and my well being. He definitely makes me feel like I'm worth something to him, even when I feel like I'm in a rut. He is my best friend, my soulmate and my guiding light. I am very grateful for him. Love you, baby!

Besides my family, there have been many people who have been an incredible resource for me in the last few months. I had the best realtor to help us through our home-buying process. We can't have been the easiest clients with all the work we put her through since November, but she has stayed involved and concerned with our situation through the thick and thin. We love the home we're in now, and I really credit her with an enormous amount of assistance to us. Thank you Diane. Our new ward members have also made the transition between wards and neighborhoods virtually seamless. The Elder's Quorum President called me multiple times before we even had moved to make sure we had all the help we needed, even though I kept telling him that Jeff had a plan worked out. He and about eight other guys showed up on the Saturday morning and had our old place cleaned out in an hour and a half! This was extremely nice for me because I wasn't looking forward to the week's worth of relaxed moving that Jeff had originally planned. It made the transition between houses smoother than I could have hoped for. A few of the women in the ward and neighborhood helped out tremendously with keeping my kids entertained and out of trouble during the moving process. It was very nice not to have to worry about kids under foot of moving furniture, or escaping down the street while the doors were open. I have felt so welcomed and so comfortable in our new surroundings, and I couldn't ask for a better neighborhood. And Carolyn (down the street neighbor) has helped out numerous times with countless tasks. I appreciate her friendship and feel so comfortable with her and her family. Her kids are adorable, and mine love to play with them. Thanks for helping me make my house a little more pleasing on the eyes!

There are many other people in my life that I am blessed to know and privileged to be acquainted with. I just feel very blessed at this point in my life, and wanted to let everyone know. Thanks for reading. I know it was a little long. Don't forget to try your hand at identifying which child is which! It should be fun. I'll post the correct face/name associations in a few days. Good luck!