Farewell Quinny

Today I got yet another reminder how old I am.

My Quinny had his farewell.

My Quinny who I've been watching since he was 5.

Granted he's leaving a year sooner then originally anticipated since the church changed the mission leaving age to 18 instead of the original 19 but still. 

I started watching the Suttons when I was 16.

I remember getting there at their house and opening the door not knowing what to expect.

I walked in after I heard the "come in" and was greeted almost instantly by a sweet little 3 year old curly haired girl jumping into my arms wearing nothing but underwear.

Her father had been holding her but when she saw me she jumped to me.

It was Olivia.

The family was stunned because Livvy doesn't usually like strangers and doesn't even do that with her mother.

I think this one act is the reason they continued to call me back.

I loved those kids and they loved me.

There was just the three kids then, Quinny, Olivia, and Gabrielle.

Soon it was my after school job and went Martha got pregnant and sick with Zachery I was over there all day, everyday over the summer.

They became my second family.

I loved being in their home; I felt needed, wanted, and loved there.

They let me help with the remodel of their home which I loved.

When I went to College they let me work for them whenever I came home and it was the only way I survived since there was not jobs to be had in Ephraim.

Eventually I went to Logan and I wasn't able to come over near as often as I wanted to.

I stayed in touch with them though and after I got the A-OK from the Suttons about Mark we got married.

They were there at the temple and helped make the day complete for me.

Quinny even spoke at our wedding dinner.

They eventually moved to Minnesota and I missed them immensely.

 Well this past summer they came back to Utah to get Quinny ready for his mission.

I got to go with Martha and Quinny to shop for mission stuff.

Oh how I miss just hanging out with my dear friends and mentor doing something as simple as shopping.

I loved going to his farewell and hearing his talk.

It was my sweet Quinny telling me stories again just like he used to but instead of some silly story about nothing it was great stories of his testimony developing into something so strong that it can help build mine.

I was blown away that in a small way I helped that boy take shape.

I got so excited and sad to think of Scott one day doing the same.

Quinn, used to always tell me that watching his children was the best form of birth control.

I would always laugh and agree because I learned that even just being a third parent was hard work.

Now, after having my own child, I am able to take all that those children have taught me about life and raising a family I would have to say that watching his children and watching Quinn and Martha as parents was the best life long education I have ever received.

I am constantly drawing on those lessons learned, asking myself, "what would Martha and Quinn do?"

Quinny, I'm so proud of you and the choices you have made.

I'm so blessed to have known you.

Return with honor my boy, and I'll see you in two years.

Martha and Quinn and the rest of the kids are moving to Virginia after the summer so Martha can continue and finish her doctorate.

Mark and I and Scott Hope to visit them so Scott can know his other family.

Independence Day

We started our celebration on the third by going to the Farmington City Parade with our great friends from our ward, the Krommenhoeks.

It was Scott's first parade and it was so fun to watch the kids.

They throw out a lot of candy at this parade.

We were sitting nest to a family of polygamists.

This means A LOT of kids.

They were so nice though.

They shared their candy with us and even gave us some of their pop its and a bottle of cold water because they heard that Scott drank all the water we brought and they didn't want me to pay a buck for one.

No judgement from me.

The family seemed to be of great character and that's all I care about.

Anyway, Scott was grateful for them giving him candy because he's not fast enough to run and get it.

After a while he cared more about what was on the float and not what they were throwing out.

It was so funny watching him trying to do what the people on the float were doing.

He tried to do the flips of the gymnasts and kicks and punches of the karate kids.

I think I'm going to get him into karate because he was pretty good at copying them.

He even started following the floats.

He would usually come back when a new float came but eventually he didn't and Mark had to run and get him cause he was running after one.

He got really far.

Jade had a hard time with Scott not concentrating on pictures as you can tell from the one of just the two of them.

It was a great time.

Thanks Amber and Jeff for letting us tag along.

The next day on the 4th we went to breakfast with the Krommenhoeks at my favorite place, Kneaders.

I think this is going to be a new tradition.

Oh delicious!

From there we took it pretty easy and hung out at home. 

That evening we planned to go to fireworks but decided a movie and yummy snacks was good enough.

Happy Freedom day!

Some Big News

Scott is getting a new title soon and he was so excited to tell you all!

I am due with baby number two February first 2014.

We can't wait!

Scott loves babies and we know he will just adore his new new baby brother or sister.

I'm feeling pretty good as far as first trimesters go.

I can't complain too much, I know it could be a lot worse.

It's interesting going through this while already having a child to take care of.

He's being very patient with his slower then usual mama.

This family of three will soon be a family of four and we are all so thrilled for this next adventure.

Utah Mountains

We love living in Utah.

Being this close to the mountains is an everyday treat.

One just needs to walk out the door and look around to see breath taking mountains.

We can't take looking from a distance for long before we have to get up in those mountains.

For FHE tonight we went up Big Cottonwood Canyon and just picked a hike out of the oh so many.

Scott loves being out in the wild.

He often goes slow, looking at everything around him.

I love trying to see the world through his eyes.

It's almost more fun then seeing it through my eyes.

I love being outdoors almost as much as my family.

It's so wonderful having a husband who loves being out even more then I do.

Water Park Fun

This year we decided we would have a summer of fun.

We all got the Pass of All Passes.

This gets us into Seven Peaks Water Parks along with other fun spots.

Here's Scott's first trip to the water slides and he loved it.

I can't even put into words Scott's love of water.

Pretty sure he would live there if he could.

We went to the wave pool.

Loved it!

Freaked out when I wanted to go to a different part.

Went to the lazy river.

Loved it!

Freaked out when it was time to go to another part.

Went on a slide.

Loved it!

Freaked out when we had to get out of the landing pool.

Notice the trend.

I'm hoping he'll get used to moving to different parts and trusting that I'm not trying to kill him.

Scott loves going there with his cousins and friends.

He loves to run around and play and in the water that's thing to do.

He's so good at making friends in the water.

I love seeing this kid in the water.

Life is as it should be while he's swimming.

Except while getting him out, we are both the happiest pair around while playing in the water.

Train Trip

Marko had to go to work to get something he had left there.

He decided to take the boy with him.

They took the train.

Scott loved his time out with his dad.

Here's a picture of the most handsome boys around.

Love my boys.

Keni Girl

While in the village we became best friends with the Porters.

Kelsie and I started crafting together and working on the quietbooks.

Joe and Mark both road biked and mountain biked and had a lot in common.

and their daughter Keni was born a week after Scott was born.

Keni and Scott have always gotten along.

In fact I would daresay that Keni has always played the very best with Scott.

They moved to vernal after they were done with School and we don't get to see them as often as we would like.

While in Vernal Keni started to act unlike herself.

She was becoming tired all the time, amoungst other things.

Eventually they sought medical help.

Thought got all sorts of scans looking at the different areas of the body that they saw symptoms coming from.

One day I was talking to Kels and she confided in me that she worried that it was something in Keni's head.

I thought she was being silly but we both decided it may be mothers intuition and it was worth checking out.

I will never forget the call from Kelsie.

I knew it was the day of the scan and she told me she would call after words so I answered the phone by asking if they found anything.

She, through broken sobs told be that there was a tumer in Keni's brain.

It was madness.

Our Keni girl who I love almost as much as my own child, who Scott love and adores was sick.

They went through a whirl wind of a week and a half.

They left Vernal almost instantly and came to Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake.

She went in surgery the day after getting there.

It went well and they got 98% of it out.

from there she had to take more tests and scans and they had to keep an eye on her and the beginning of her recovery.

She was amazing and such a champ through all of it.

We got to visit her a few times and each time I was amazed at this sweet little tiny love going through such an ordeal.

We started praying for Keni the moment we heard about her condition.

Scott only needed to be told once and from then on he would pray for Keni.

He asked about her first thing in the morning most days.

This was his first experience with a friend being sick and I was amazed at how much he understood.

Our prayers were answered and Keni seems to be doing awesome.

She is back to her old happy and energetic self again.

God bless you Keni, we love you so much beautiful girl.