Huh?

An exchange between Chris and Hadley:

Last night when I was spending one-on-one time with Hadley, I asked her where she would want to go or what she wanted to do if there was a day when she and I could go do something together. Without hesitating, she responded and said she would love to go to Egypt and go inside the pyramids and we could see zombies. I was like, yeah, that would be cool. What I was thinking was, "I was hoping for something more local."

Gentry's Baby Blessing

notes from daddy:

Sunday November 8th, 2009

Gentry, we bless you with health and happiness. We bless you to continue growing and developing and that you will develop into a person of discernment, that you will be able to recognize those things that bring eternal happiness and pursue those things. We bless you to appreciate the simple joys of life and that you will be humble and patient. We bless you to have faith and courage as you confront life's challenges and with a desire to serve others. We bless you with the attributes of cheerfulness, gratitude and grace. We bless you to gain knowledge, to receive the gospel ordinances and that you will have an opportunity to raise an eternal family.

other notes taken:

Have health & happiness
Appreciate the small things
Be humble & patient
Have faith & courage, cheerfulness & gratitude, grace & knowledge
Make decisions that will keep you worthy of gospel ordinances

Nighttime

Last night I got to cuddle/hold three of my little kiddos in bed. It was so cozy and comfortable. Gentry was down for the night after I rocked her to sleep while reading stories from the Bible. Then Hadley, Vincent, Lauren and I piled into their new bed (Gma and Gpa Landmeier's wedding set) and cuddled. I sang Christmas songs to them, then hummed them as I watched all three of them fade away into childhood dreams. Some nights I am frustrated and strict with bedtimes but other nights I love enjoying the fact that four of us can all fit in one bed.

Someday my kids will not need kisses or want to cuddle as they drift off to sleep. I am grateful that, for now, they still want and need me close. I hope I am helping to create fond memories for them as well as myself. I'm not sure I can remember a time that my parents cuddled with me. I remember going into their bed at times and them making a space in between them. And I remember my mom tucking the blankets tightly around my entire body to make me 'roasty toasty'.

It was a good night and I hope to cherish these memories all the days I live.