When it Rains...

It pours.

It seems as though everything happened at once. I'm afraid to start posting. There's so much to say. too much to say. The big question: One post? Five? TEN?? Alright, I think I'll tackle it in one (if I'm lucky). Okay, here we go. For posterity's sake (or mine in ten months--when I'm bored and want to reminisce):

We had a visit from Krissy! Which was completely awesome. Russ's sister came all the way out from North Carolina. Something happy happens when family gets together...




Our Beautiful Brecken turned eight years old! 

(hair straight down, unadorned, per her request)...

Her baptism day truly was special. She is an amazing girl. Really. She has a good heart. Brecken, I love you.

Her and Daddy...

Russ Finished School! That's right, baby! We are  he is done! Some say a picture is worth a thousand words. I say, these next pictures, they're worth a thousand hours. Each. Of hard work...

His mom...

My dad...

This is four generations right here...

And we are ALL glad he's done (go Dixie!)...

Couldn't be more proud, babe. You're amazing!

Let's see... a family reunion in Disneyland!!!

Just a few of our favorite pics...

Luke boy!...

Parade watching (and for me: Hallie watching--she was enthusiastically adorable)...

I'm pretty sure princess-meeting has ceased to be about the girls. This is Russ's the family favorite...

And this was adorable...

What Disneyland trip is complete without a lollipop?...

At our traditional Jack's Surfshop stop, the girls enjoyed hat modeling...

And that was California. More or less. I know I said I'd tackle it all in one post, but, there's a lot more coming. Later. Another day. So, until then :)

A Little Excursion

I love warm, summer days when...

Russ decides to take work off early.

We hop in the car for a spontaneous Zion trip.

On the way to Zion Russ sees a "Helicopter Tours $29.99" Sign.

And once again our plans for the day change. Again, for the better...

I stayed back with the two sleeping kiddos while Russ, Breck, and Tay had the helicopter ride of their lives. Which is a pretty safe statement considering it is the the only helicopter ride they've been on. Ever. They loved it. I am worried that my children will have a warped sense of childhood normalcy though... 

Zion, we'll catch you later. I love summer. I love my kids. Russ, I love you too.

Chapstick

At least, it used to be chapstick. Until I went outside where my children were playing (in the dirt) and one of them said, "Oh, Mama. Is this yours?"

That was mine. I tried to restore it. Then I gave it to our garbage can. Ahhh, kids. 

Jack

Oh, my little Jack. Not enough pictures. I've tried to determine why. I think it's because any time I have spare time, I'm holding him and not my camera. Mostly because I want to. Yes, yes. I am spoiling him. But he's just so adorably, squishably holdable. These are some pictures I made myself take at six months (so just barely)...

Lovely. Lovely, lovely. I'm in baby-love.

Christmas and... Happenings

For starters: Christmas.

Though it was long ago, I still remember it. And it was beautiful. Here are the girlies Christmas Eve...

And magical Christmas morning, each of the girls opening their treasures.

Hallie Ann...

Tay..

Brecken...

Mom and Dad got them this...

And here they are playing with it...

After Christmas Dalton Came Home!!!!!

I missed my bro. A lot. And, I have a picture or two of the stud, but for some reason my computer has chosen to distort those images upon uploadal. Next post. Next post (gear yourself up for him looking WAY different... wait, you've probably all seen his facebook pics, yeah he looks exactly the same).

Derek is engaged! This is going to be my new Sister-in-Law. Which I'm pretty stoked. Basically... I loved her before Derek did. But only 'cause I knew her first. :)

Derek & Nikki...

And *cough* Nikki...

And Jack.... gets his own post. Because.

Six Weeks of Happenings

Alright. We all know the drill. I pretend to be shocked at the lack of pictures I've taken. I select a few. And I write a little quip about each. 

First.... She's Back!!!!!

Destinee is Home.

My life can be whole again :)

At the airport we were all a little anxious. And we all know what happens when you give a 'Welcome Home' sign to an anxious group of toddlers :)...

We're all together again! (The sisters anyway) Can I just say: I'm so... happy!...

Halloween, was awesome. (Un?)Fortunately we still have loads of candy left. 

A bumblebee (again) who, when given the choice to select her piece of candy, would wave her hand back and forth over the bowl, pick up a piece, quickly throw it back and say, "Actually..."

Every time.    :)...

This is Taylor. After a few trips and scuffs. The "before" was a beautiful ballerina-fairy. This is the "after." I kinda liked the ballerina-fairy-psycho look myself...

And the beautiful ballerina (not to be confused with ballerina-fairy). She somehow ended up with three times the amount of candy as the other two...

And the Goodlads came down, so there were of course late nights, good times, and good food (provided by Red Lobster, not myself)...

And this is me getting spoiled on my birthday. I... am a lucky girl...

Wait. Where are the Thanksgiving pictures?! Oh. Right, they're... nonexistent. But it was wonderful. I am Thankful for my beautiful family. 

Kind of an abrupt end... but... That's it!

He... is Here

Yes, the post we have all been waiting for. Jack Russell Harrington was born on October 6, 2012 at 2:25 AM. He weighed 6 lb 15 oz and was 19 1/2 inches long. And besides all of that, he is absolutely perfect. 

We'll start with the hospital pictures (do you see that? It's a BLUE hat!)...

Can you tell these two are a little bit happy?...

And the proud papa with all of his little ones (isn't he cute with four kids??!)...

Mom, Dad, and Junior (I haven't actually called him that out loud, but as those are his initials, it may or may not happen)...

And leaving the hospital (in the blanket Russ left the hospital in... as a baby--not recently)...

And now for the good stuff. Glamour Shots by Deb  (Haha, just kidding Deb, I couldn't resist) Our good friend Deborah with FunnyFace Photography came and took some pictures. Which I tried to pick out just a few, but it was tough. I love ALL of them. But here goes:

Our little handsome guy... 

Now give us a man face (awe!!!)...

So. Cute...

 I know, I know. I won't give commentary on all of them, but... how sweet?! (Oh, I love him!)...

Do you notice he is wrapped around daddy's finger in the last picture? Oh, how it is the other way around. He has us all wrapped around his, teeny tiny little fingers. And he doesn't even try.

A word about our little newborn:

I love having a newborn in our home. It is amazing to me how much my thoughts are directed heavenward. What a miracle it is that he is here. What a miracle that all of his teeny tiny parts are so perfectly formed--his fingers, his fingernails, his toes, his eyelashes, his little heart, EVERYTHING. What a miracle that he was in Heaven not long ago. In the presence of Heavenly Father, with our sweet little Kamry. What did they talk about those last moments before he came to earth? How I want to be a better mother than I am now. I want him to know that I love him. And most importantly I want for his sweet spirit to stay as close to Heaven as it is now. 

There is nothing more perfect than holding this sweet little boy, eyes wide open, perfectly still, tiny fingers resting on my chest, the only sound are his little breaths. That is truly Heaven on Earth.