One Giantly Massive Update (or...I am really not so good at this blogging thing, am I?)

Once again I turn to my poor neglected blog.

Poor thing. Ignored like the ugly stepchild, forgotten, half remembered as I am dragging myself to bed at 2 am. I'll do it tomorrow, I think. Then tomorrow turns into next week, next month, next year...

I can tell looking at my blog list which of my friends have had babies in the past year, for they who once posted like clockwork now are haphazard. Not that I blame them. I don't know what it is about adding one extra small human to the mix that seems to suck the time right out of your day. You would think having one more added to the chaos wouldn't be that overwhelming, but it is! I have discovered (to my dismay) that there are never enough hours in the day, never enough food that everyone sitting at my table likes, or enough puzzles, toys, color books or hands to make the day any easier. Bedtime is still my favorite time of the day.


So here it goes, a quick snapshot of everything our family has done from last August to December...enjoy!





August 2010


In the early hours of the new morning on August 1, 2010, my dear grandmother slipped from this life into eternity. While not completely unexpected, her passing effected us greatly. I found myself trying to explain concepts of death and dying to my young children, I spent a few precious moments at my grandmother's bedside with my mother and aunts and cousins. Her wishes were simple and followed carefully by her children. We said goodbye to her at Sunset on August 2nd, a beautiful evening filled with memories and music that forever are in my heart. I think she would have been surprised at the outpouring of love and devotion expressed by the multitude that attended her graveside. Now I have a few things once hers gracing my home, things that help comfort me, for I still find myself thinking of her every day.



The next day, we took the children to the Copper Mine after a visit to the gravesite. (We did not have them attend the services due to their age, the heat and the solemnity of the event...and Jake in a cemetery with a pond full of ducks to torment...NOT a good idea.)



Sam started kindergarten at Oqirrh Mountain Charter School, he was so excited!



September 2010

Craig celebrated his birthday (just a few more years before the big 4-0, world!), and Jake started his Pre-K year at Reach Preschool.


October 2010

Sam celebrated his 6th birthday (we went to Boondocks). The kids were so excited for Halloween, and what a Halloween we had with two trunk or treats, a Halloween party, trick or treating and a couple of friends' birthday parties thrown into the mix!




November 2010


We celebrated Thanksgiving with Grammy and Poppy in their beautifully remodeled kitchen and main floor, and we welcomed baby CARTER!

December 2010


Sam participated in his kindergarten play about the pilgrims, a school holiday music concert(with no holiday music, go fig.). Jake had his Preschool Music program, I celebrated my birthday and we had a wonderful Christmas!



I will post further updates SOON, I promise! It's too much for one big blog post, for our lives are NEVER boring!

Our Little Miracle

Here he is!
Our little miracle...

Carter Benjamin Ford

Carter arrived November 30, 2010. He was 7 pounds, 2 ounces and 20 inches long.
Truly a miracle from heaven, he is healthy, growing well and no signs of any of the problems that we were worried about in the pregnancy.

His pediatrician says he is "perfect!" --and we couldn't agree more!

Gone Fishin!

Last Saturday Craig took the boys fishing with his brother and his son, Tanner. They went to a trout farm in North Ogden. Craig said it was really cool, because they had the poles and equipment right there. You don't need a license!

There were three different fishing ponds with different sizes of fish. The fish are hand fed so they all swam right to the side of the pond when they walked close. The boys had a really good time--they were able to catch fish fairly quickly and didn't lose interest like they would trying to catch wild trout.
Each of the boys caught two pan size fish. The trout farm cleaned and filleted them for 35 cents! They were so excited to bring them home to show Miley and Mom!-

Yesterday I fried the trout up for lunch. Boy they were good! There was no fishy flavor or odor at all! The farm told Craig that they hand feed the fish a special diet so the fish won't have that typical trout taste. They were yummy!

We are definately going to be taking the kids fishing a few more times this summer! If you want more information on a fun family activity, visit www.coldspringstroutfarm.com.

Summertime Fun and updates

Summer is finally here! Here are some updates from the Ford house!
Sam and Jake are taking a introductory sport class through the city recreation program where they are learning skills for playing different sports. Craig took them to their first class and they had a ton of fun!

The kids made chocolate chip cookies one day with Daddy one afternoon while Mom was at work.

In other news Craig was promoted to House Supervisor at SDCH.. He is now my companion in arms and in life and love! We are excited for the change.

In baby news we had a scare a few weeks ago. One of the blood tests I had done came back abnormal (which screens for high risk of neural tube defects and chormosomal abnormalities) so we had to meet with a perinatologist who performed an intensive level 2 ultrasound. He said that the ultrasound looked normal! There is still a slightly increased risk that this baby may have Down's syndrome, but the ultrasound showed no obvious abnormalities. We have another one in a few weeks to check growth and development. We decided against amniocentesis at this point, but may consider it if recommended later on, closer to delivery. Craig and I have prayed a lot about it and feel that Heavenly Father is looking out for us and we will put our trust in Him. We are ok if this is a special spirit that may require a little extra care. We are just extremely grateful that there wasn't any devestating anomalies found. We continue to pray that this baby will be happy and healthy. Oh, and it's....a BOY!

We had a great 4th and enjoyed each other's company and the fireworks! Happy Summer Everyone!

Turning 2...and one more!

Miley turned 2 this month! (I can't believe how big she is!) To celebrate the day we took the kids to Hogle Zoo. The day was cool, a little overcast with some sprinkles...which I guess is what the animals prefer because it was the first time in a long time we saw the animals awake, moving about and interacting with their environment. All the big cats were awake! The elephants were playing, the rhinos walking around! Wow! We were able to see the animals and have lunch.

We were really excited to see the zoo preparing to redo an area in preparation for polar bears, seals and otters! It looks very exciting! The boys were a little upset when we left when the rain began because the zoo shut down the train in the bad weather. Oh well, maybe next time.

We had birthday pizza with Grandma and GB (Robintino's-yum!) and then went home to open presents and have cake and ice cream. After the party we shared the news that we are expecting another little one in December--way exciting!

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!

GRADUATION!

Sam and Jake graduated from preschool the last week of May! Oh what fun it was! They put on a short program and sang some songs for the parents. They were so proud to get their certificates of completion!

All the kids were so cute! I can't believe how grown up they are getting! They got to bring home the alphabet books that they worked on all year in school. Both of them did such a great job! (Of course Sam's was all red, his favorite color!)

This fall Sam starts at Oquirrh Mountain Charter school in Kaysville. He is super excited to be a great big kindergartener! Jake will go back to Rainbow Preschool in the Pre-K class! He is excited to be in the big kid class and see his favorite teachers-Miss Miriam and Miss Kim.

Miss Kim and Jake

Miss Miriam and Sam and Jake

They have come far this year and are super smart! Way to go guys! We are so proud of you!

Love of an Elect Lady

This year my wonderful, darling grandmother turned 95!

She has been an amazing influence on my life, from the time I was small and she would watch me during the day while my mom worked, to now that I am grown. I find myself thinking often of her and the memories she created for me.

I learned all the old lullabies rocking with her in her blue easy chair, read beloved stories whose tattered pages and worn bindings I pull lovingly from my own children's bookshelf at night to read to them. I would sit at her side as she practiced the hymns on piano and go with her some Sundays to the "old folks' home" where she played for their sacrament services for many years. She made me banana shakes in the summer, peanut butter and honey sandwiches for lunch on her own homemade bread and have picnics under the cherry tree in her yard. I would play for hours in her raspberry patch while she weeded and worked in the yard. As a small girl I would accompany her to the Capitol building in Salt Lake where she worked in the mail room and later answered phones. We would take trips to Millville, where she grew up, and she would tell stories of the pandemic flu, her family, and memories of all her brothers and sisters in the house by the cemetary.

I spent summers in Utah with her when my family lived out of state. I had birthdays at her house during the winter. My eighth birthday was at her house and she came when I was baptized in the font in the Salt Lake Tabernacle. I went to Sweden with her when I was eighteen and she ran circles around me! She was my escort the day I went to the temple, and escorted me, along with my mother when I married the man of my dreams. She has held and sang lullabies to each of my children.

I am continually amazed at the people who know her and love her. She has hosted five exchange students from Sweden, Denmark and Poland who keep in contact with her. She has friends the world over--Australia, Japan, England.

Though now the years are starting to show, her gait is slow, her stanima short, her hearing a little difficult, I am amazed by her. She has written a book and now anxiously awaits to see it published. She continues to go to the temple. She lives her life to the fullest.

Joseph Smith once called his wife Emma an "Elect Lady." That phrase describes my grandmother to the fullest. I know that time continues to move forward, and I know in my heart of hearts that the twilight has begun to fall. I do not know for how long I will have her. I feel that even when she is gone I will still expect to see her whenever I go to her house or get together with extended family. I know her love and presence will always be felt in our lives.

My children call her "grandma great". I hope that they realize just how great of a lady she is and hold those memories of precious moments with her dear.