Chocolate cups

I have a bunch of pictures that I've been needing to post for weeks, so here is my attempt at catching up on some of them. I am embarrassed to admit that Davis probably likes chocolate just as much as I do, and eats way more of it than any 2 year old should ever be allowed to eat. A few weeks ago, I made some homemade ice-cream and wanted a fun way to serve it for Bryson's family, so I stole an idea from my friend Jyl and made some chocolate cups that she demonstrated on her blog. (Thanks Jyl!) Anyway, they turned out really cute and were a huge hit. There was a small problem with a few of them starting to melt in the 103 degree heat that day as I carried them from the house to the car, but otherwise, they were great. I even made some for the kids, and this is what happened:

the cups


for the kids


for the adults


Davis and his cousins in action... yikes!






and the final result of a 2 year old and a cup made of chocolate. maybe next time I'll rethink making them for the kids

Thank You!

I just wanted to give one big group thank you to everyone who has been so great this week. I really appreciate all of the thoughts, prayers, cards, flowers, treats, meals, help and everything else that you all have given me. So thank you!! Thanks to all of the flowers, my house looked and smelled beautiful all week... which was really nice since I was stuck in here for most of that time. I will probably go into some kind of sugar shock soon from all of the treats I have been eating, but they sure tasted good! I really am overwhelmed by the kindness of friends, family, neighbors, and ward members this last week. So, thank you all again for everything.

thanks infuse! (bry's work)



Thanks John-kai and Meg!



Thanks sweetie!



Thanks Jen and Brandon!



Thanks Bishopric!



Thanks Natalie!

Sad News

Bryson and I have had a pretty hard weekend, and have some sad news to share. I have had a late miscarriage. I went to the doctor for my 16 week check up on thursday afternoon, and everything was going smoothly until they pulled out the doppler. They couldn't find a heartbeat. They did a few ultrasounds to confirm that the heart had stopped beating and the baby was no longer alive. Of course that was devastating news, but it got a little worse. They did some measurements on the baby, and because the baby was too big to come out any other way, I was going to have to go in to the hospital and deliver the baby. So, I left the office bawling and called Bryson to come pick me up. After a long evening with a lot of tears, we prepared ourselves for a very different labor and delivery than what we were expecting in a few months. So, yesterday morning, we checked into the hospital early and got started with induced labor. I might get into more details later, but for now I'll keep it short and just say that it went as well as something like that can go. The hospital staff was absolutely wonderful and very comforting. Our nurse was so great, and they had social workers come in to talk to us about all of our options of what to do with the baby, etc. They even had a teddy bear for us to bring home to Davis. Some family who had a late miscarriage or stillbirth years ago donated build a bears to all the siblings/kids in families that have this happen. So sweet. Anyway, once the baby came, they got him all cleaned up and wrapped in a little blanket so that we could hold him. (yes, it was a little boy). They even made little hand and foot prints and well as little hand and foot molds for us to take home and keep as little momentos of our baby boy. It was heartbreaking and strangely comforting at the same time to be able to hold him and see his tiny little body. From just looking at him, there didn't appear to be anything wrong... everything seemed to be formed just perfectly, but both Bryson and I feel comforted in knowing that there was something wrong and that it was just not his time to come to our family. This was one of the hardest things that I have ever had to do, and I am so sad about losing him before we ever got to really have him, but we are hopeful that this little spirit or others will be coming back soon to join us. One of the positive things about times like this is that it reminds you of all of the blessings that you have already, such as an amazing family and supportive friends that do so much to help us when we are down. My mom came in to town to be here with me at the hospital, and Bryson's family has spent the last few days taking care of Davis, feeding us, and helping with anything we need. I also have wonderful family and friends who have called to give support, sent flowers, or just let me cry while they listened patiently. Of course I don't think I could have gotten through any of this without Bryson and Davis. Davis is such a comfort and joy to me. His hugs heal faster than any words. And I am convinced that I have the best husband in the world. He knows when to cry with me, when to hold me, what to say, and what to do to make me feel better. Having him by my side makes anything seem bearable.
If you read this far, thanks for hanging in there. I wanted to include this poem that the nurse gave me at the hospital. Don't read it unless you want to cry, but it states perfectly how I feel.

To The Child in My Heart

O precious, tiny, sweet little one
You will always be to me
So perfect, pure, and innocent
Just as you were meant to be

We dreamed of you and of your life
And all that it would be
We waited and longed for you to come
And join our family

We never had the chance to play,
To laugh, to rock, to wiggle
We long to hold you, touch you now
And listen to you giggle

I'll always be your mother
He'll always be your dad
You will always be our child,
The child that we had

But now you're gone... but yet you're here
We'll sense you everywhere
You are our sorrow and our joy
There's love in every tear

Just know our love goes deep and strong
We'll forget you never
The child we had, but never had
And yet will have forever

Davis' Dino Party!

Wow, I can hardly believe that my little boy is 2! He is not my baby anymore... he is my little boy. And what a little boy he is! He loves all things boyish: balls, sports, cars, trucks, motorcycles, animals, running, climbing, jumping, loud noises- especially thunder, and of course... dinosaurs. Well, I had to pick a theme for the party, so I went with dinos. We have a membership to Thanksgiving Point, which includes their awesome dinosaur museum, so that's where we started the party. We invited Davis' cousins and a few friends and went to play at the museum for about an hour. The sand and water areas were probably the favorites. Then we headed over to Bryson's parents' house for games, food, cake and ice-cream. At the house, the pinata was definitely the biggest hit, but Davis had so much fun the entire time. He doesn't usually like being the center of attention when a lot of people are around, but he completely enjoyed himself all day and was perfectly happy to be getting as much attention as he could get.

The Dino Museum

Back at the house

This was actually after the party, but it was so cute that I couldn't resist adding these to the post. One of Davis' favorite things to do lately is make the silly face, where he looks a bit serious or angry, and he will look at you doing it until you make the face back at him... then he says, "funny boys!" and laughs. The descriptions and pictures won't do it justice, but here he is in action. So stinkin cute.

4th of July in Park City

My family has started a tradition the last few years of going up to Park City for the 4th of July. We play games, eat way too much good food, go rafting down the Provo river, do all the rides at the Park City resort, hike, and of course watch fireworks. It's always a ton of fun. This year we were missing Ryan, but everyone else was able to make it (from my dad's side of the family). As always, I take way too many pictures.

Cute pictures

These first few pictures are from Summer's birthday. Summer is everyone's favorite aunt. Sometimes I wish she were my aunt. She takes the kids on play dates, spoils them rotten with toys and clothes, plays with them for hours on end- doing anything they want to do, and mostly just loves them and gives them tons of attention. Whenever she walks in the house or room, all of the kids scream her name in excitement and want her to come play with them immediately. So, it is no surprise that for her birthday, all of her nieces and nephews had to help her blow out her candles. I thought these were so cute.




This is just a cute picture of Davis hanging out with his daddy.

Drum roll Please.....

This is how we told our families that we are expecting again! I am about 12 weeks along, and we just heard the baby's heartbeat for the first time. So exciting! We can't wait for the new addition to our family to come! I think Davis sort of understands that he is going to be a big brother. We talk about the baby in mommy's tummy, and he tells me, "baby hiding tummy." Apparently the baby is just hiding until he or she is ready to come out and play with him.