No week should start until Tuesday

I love President's Day! It came just in time this year. We were getting a little stir-crazy with all the rain & wind & snow, when suprise! A beautiful sunny Monday morning with no school, no work, and no plans!

Matthew & I (& Henry) hiked up and over the hill/mountain behind our house. Views from north to south:

Valentine's Day was a total bust this year (not that I mind!), because the kids were so sick, so it was nice to go out with my Valentine.

Come back soon for this girl's birthday post:

Told you it was romantic

A post in pictures of me & my valentine on our Valentine's Day Date Hike.

Matthew at the car - you can see where we're going, The Jughandle Arch.

It was a beautiful day in God's country. Beautiful & cold. Slickrock sandstone is an entirely different animal in the wintertime.

Our hike took us past the inviting and intriguing entrance to Keyhole, a slot canyon on the list for this summer.

Unfortunately, I lost my arm halfway to the arch. Thankfully it was a clean break with little bleeding. It made the going rather difficult though.

Almost as difficult as it was for Matthew to hike in a dress:

Getting closer!
Cooling down a little. (Oh, look at that, my arm grew back!)

Stopping for a snack, a self-portrait,

& a kiss!

We got up a little higher & realized that to get up on the arch, we would have to go down & around the other side. We had a babysitter at home, so we turned back. We both would love to come back another day, but there are so many other places we've never been, who knows when that will be! Maybe next Heart Day!

Where is Heaven?

It hasn't even been two weeks and yet it seems as though Henry has always been a part of our family. A child's birth is such a spiritual moment; there is suddenly someone in the room, in your arms, that you didn't know before, and yet, you feel like you've always known and loved him.To hold Henry for the first time, to kiss him and smell him and stare into his eyes that couldn't yet focus on mine, was an experience I will keep in my heart and ponder, as Mary did, as I have with the birth of each of my children. I am filled with gratitude and wonder at the opportunity to love and raise and mother one of God's precious spirits. The veil is so thin when children come into this world. It is as though they are escorted by angels from heaven to their earthly home. Heaven is so close in that moment; you can feel the power of that tiny person's spirit, before they forget from whence they came and need us to teach them of where we are trying to return. My heart was filled with love for my son, for my husband, for my family. I could feel the love my Heavenly Father has for my little boy also. I want to always remember that feeling, the feeling that no matter how much I love my son, or my daughters, they are loved even more by their Heavenly Parents. Matthew and I have the sacred trust of teaching them that, so they can feel God's love for them just as we did the moment they were born.

Where is Heaven? Is it very far?

When you're with the ones you love, it's right where you are.

(Here are the detes: Friday night at 10:45 P.M., I had just layed down to go to sleep after tucking the girls in way past their bedtime & tidying up the house, when I felt/heard that familiar POP of my water breaking. I woke up Matthew and called his parents to come over & watch our sleeping girls. We hopped in the car and called the hospital to let them know we were on our way, and arrived in plenty of time to get checked in and all settled and comfy in the room. The nurses and staff were so kind and calm. My husband was awesome. He has gotten pretty good at the labor coach thing. All I needed was to hold his hand and know he was there. Henry was born at 11:50 P.M. His cry was music to our ears. I haven't slept much since then, but this newborn time is so fleeting, that I really don't care.)

Fathers' Day

A couple of videos in honor of Fathers' Day. My husband is this kind of a man. Happy Fathers' Day Matthew. Also, Happy Fathers' Day to my own Dad. He is a father indeed.

Date Night

Date morning actually. Matthew & I got a babysitter & hiked Angel's Landing Saturday. It was a beautiful day. I love that hike. I love that guy. I love that we both love to get outside & pant & sweat a little, to enjoy the beautiful world, dizzying heights & gorgeous views of Zion. Also, way easier to find a sitter for a Saturday morning than a Saturday night.

Nine Years of Bliss

Happy Anniversary Honey!

(Our big date is tomorrow, we're going to Les Mis at the Tuacahn.)