Kyler's 9 Month Pictures!

These are just some of my favs! So hard to pick when they all turned out so dang cute! Thanx Abbey you always do such a great job of capturing Ky in his element! If anyone needs some family pictures go see Abbey. Check out her website www.abbeykyhl.com

Carrot, Egg or Coffee Bean????

I got this in an e-mail from my sis, thanx Jen!

Although, I don’t advocate drinking coffee, I think this story has a wonderful message.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up, She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil.. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, ' Tell me what you see.'

'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hardboiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?'

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or like a coffee bean?

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes a long their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

Yes I am in my 30's

So it is official I am 31 and I had a FABULOUS birthday!!! Bryan pampered me. My birthday is during Bryans busy season but that did not stop him from delivering the best birthday ever! I packed up the kids and headed down to Vegas to meet up with him. My parents had offered to watch the kids-they are the best. Bryan had booked 2 nights at the Bellagio hotel, which in and of itself is amazing but to top it off he booked a couples massage! That is right a couples massage. Is he amazing or what!!! We spent the time relaxing by the pool, shopping, and of course eating!The whole weekend was amazing. Not trying to brag but I must give credit to him. I do have an amazing husband whom I love more than anything! Thanx for the best birthday ever.


The view from our room


After our couples massage-don't we look so relaxed and refreshed!

Happy St. Patricks Day

The kids were so excited for St. Patricks Day, they had their outfits all planned out! They picked them out themselves! Don't they look great. You don't really have to answer that. It's a holiday all rules out the window right? Addy just has a style all her own. Dawson had on a pair of green camo pants with this top. Had to be green from head to toe. All I can say is that... well I just plain love my kiddos what ever their fashion trends may be. Addy came home from school with this cute little leprechaun hat she had made.


For dinner we had Leprechaun pie! Yummo. We had green kool aid with dinner because our green ice cubes were not quite done. So later after bath we had dessert and sprite with green kool aid ice cubes. They were so good!

It was a great St.Patty's Day at the Wood house and hope you all had a great one as well. Happy St. Patricks Day!

MTC

Yesterday we took Suzanne to the MTC. It was a really good day, yet emotional as well. The MTC is hard to describe. I have been there twice and both times have experienced a realm of different emotions. There is no doubt that the spirit is there and I felt it yesterday.

"I Hope They Call Me On A Mission, When I Have Grown A Foot Or Two!"

So here is a quick run down of how the MTC flow goes. You pull in and they unload your luggage and the missionary has to take it to a designated spot while the family waits in another place. You meet up again and take some pictures and then head in the main doors. However the missionaries enter one door and the family enters another-hence the picture up top. After Suz entered they gave her some info, a very important card that lets her into the cafeteria and her room as well as her badge which came with a bright orange dot on it. Suz called it her dork dot!


Nanny sporting her Dork Dot! So cute!

Then they take you to a room where you have a little devotional. Everyone sings, Called To Serve and at that point the emotions just start to surface. It is so cool to here a room full of missionaries sing! After the closing prayer it is families this way, missionaries this way. Saying goodbye was so hard but Suz made it easier because she is so ready for this! Words just can't describe how much I will miss her. I think I speak for my kids as well when I say things around here just won't be the same. We are so proud of her and support her 110%. I am so glad at the example she has set for my children, not only in her decision to serve a mission but her example in life! We, at the Wood household, all look up to you Suz and will miss you a ton!

Aunt Nanny

What can I say we love Aunt Nanny!


She is an AWESOME Aunt, sister and friend. So needless to say it was not easy to say goodbye! Sunday night we had a big family dinner. Monday we went out to Maggie Moos for FHE. Tuesday night we had the kids say goodbye at our house before she got set apart. The kids were so cute. They got out the Atlas book and showed Nanny where we live and where she would be on her mission. They showed her that when it was morning here it would be night there and they showered her with kisses-she definitely filled her canteen! Addy understood how long she would really be gone when she realized Nanny would be gone for her baptism. Addy offered to wait until Nanny got home but Nanny so sweetly said, "Don't wait for me just send me a little video." She will be sooooo missed! The people of Sweden are so lucky to have her for the next 18 months. We are so proud of her and love her so much! Good Luck!

Dawson the Big Brother

On Saturdays we, well I like to try and sleep in. It is often a pointless goal but one I still aim for every week. Today was no exception. Dawson woke up first as usual and then about 20 min. later Ky woke up. I got up and put him in his highchair with some of his morning snacks. I told Dawson if he ran out to give him some more. A little while later Dawson came into my room and said,"Mom I am sorry." To which I replied, "For what." He still all gloomy said,"I gave Ky some more snacks and gave him way to many. He didn't even cry though." This is what we went out to find! Ky still happy as a clam with a lot of snacks.


What a great big brother!

Make up your mind!!

So Mother Nature is quite the tease. We woke up to at least 6-8 inches of snow this morning. CRAZY!!! Bry got out he snow blower and shovel, the kids piled on their snow gear and headed out. I just stayed inside made hot chocolate and pouted a little!
But..........
By afternoon the snow had stopped fallen, the sun was out and the kids wanted to go out and play!
Even Ky wanted to go out and enjoy the sun! With the help of Dawson he enjoyed a leisurely-well Dawson doesn't really know the meaning of leisurely- stroll!
I think Ky maybe done. Not sure if it is due to the driving/driver or being restrained that is the issue. Whatever the case I just wish Mother Nature would just make up her mind!!!!

How Sweet!!!

I worked all day yesterday and this is what I came home to.....
I about cried! Nanny and the kids made cupcakes and decorated them! Boy were they delish!

After a very long and busy day, it was nice to come home and "feel the love"! I miss my kids so much when I am gone, it's nice to know that they miss me too- on occasion! Thanx Nanny, Addy, Dawson and Ky, I LOVE YOU TOO!!!!!!