Blackberry FHE

For Family Home Evening this week we went out to the horse pasture and picked blackberries. The boys had fun finding them. Then we made blackberry jam together. It was my first attempt ever at making jam, so we went with the easy freezer jam. It is so delicious!! We'll definitely have to do it again next year.

Opa and Oma Visit

Opa and Oma came to visit us last week.  It was so fun to have them here.  We had a picnic on the Blue Ridge Parkway and went swimming at Carolina Hemlocks. I apologize that these pics are a little out of order, but I'm rushing to get them up :)

Corbin experiencing sand under his feet for the first time.

Corbin enjoying the water.  He would kick and kick those cute little feet.

 Aaron bravely jumping in the cold water to Dad

 Tayven chillin on the rock in the middle with Dad

 Oma and Aaron

 Tayven, Aaron and Opa

 The boys climbing a tree at the picnic

 The Blue Ridge Parkway is so beautiful

 Aaron running through the grass

 Pa and Nana at our picnic

 Corbin eating his big boy food at the picnic

 Opa and Oma at the picnic

 Our picnic site

 Corbin, at the picnic

 Corbin got a little cold.  He's all wrapped up snuggly in the car

 What a happy boy

 Tayven and Aaron ready to swim

 Corbin ready to swim

 Aaron not sure he wants to get in yet

 Tayven can't wait!

 It was a fun day in the water.

Corbin's First Solids Meal

We started Corbin on solids today.  I can't believe my little baby is getting so big!!  His face expressions were so funny!

He was so cute after bath-time I thought I'd include this pic too :)

A New Chapter

Our family has started a new chapter in our lives moving to the great state of North Carolina.  It's been an adjustment, probably more for me than for the kids or Clint.  Let's just say I'm learning to love it.

As we began this new chapter I decided it was time to change our evening story time to chapter books.  We went to Barnes and Nobles and selected Dragon Rider.  The boys are 6 and 3 and I've been so surprised at how much they love it.  They keep asking where the pictures are, lol.  I tell them the pictures are in their heads.  They love the book though and can't wait for story time. 

Our Eternal Family

Last month our family was made whole.  We got to adopt our middle son Tayven and be sealed to him for time and eternity in the Bountiful, Utah temple.  Words cannot express the joy we've felt in the temple with all three of our little ones as Tayven officially joined our family.  We feel so blessed!!

Our journey was not an easy one but it was definitely worth it. We've learned first hand that the Lord has a plan for each of us, and though we don't always understand our path as we travel it in hind sight it's always the lessons we needed to learn.  I'm so grateful for a Heavenly Father who know me and loves me enough not to always give me what I ask for, but who gives me what I need.  I'm so grateful for my beautiful three sons.