Im attempting to post to my blog from my phone. How cool is this!

What color crayon are you?

You Are a Green Crayon

Your world is colored in harmonious, peaceful, natural colors. While some may associate green with money, you are one of the least materialistic people around. Comfort is important to you. You like to feel as relaxed as possible - and you try to make others feel at ease. You're very happy with who you are, and it certainly shows! Your color wheel opposite is red. Every time you feel grounded, a red person does their best to shake you.

What Color Crayon Are You?

The First Rule of Blogthings Is: You Don't Talk About Blogthings

SNOW!!!

our snowy forest

Isn't it supposed to be March?  I'm pretty sure the Spring Equinox is in a week or two.  So why did I wake up to THIS?


It snowed about 13 in last night! Most of the valley only got a few inches, but not us. Were lucky! (said sarcastically) I'm sure the ski resorts are happy. Plus, the kids had soo much fun "shoveling walks" and doing other unhelpful, yet fun, things.

I was so ready for spring!  I look longingly at my flip flops and shorts. I despise the winter coats and boots piled on the floor. However, I do catch myself thinking...Everything looks soo Beautiful today!

Lydia on our front walk

This is the path to our playground. Yes, the kids were playing on it today :)

The heavy snow made an arch in our back yard.  Pretty sure the tree will be ok though

Lydia and Bridger rolling in the snow

Lydia and Bridger kneeling in it.  Good thing they're wearing snow pants!

My Angel..making an angel

"Making the decision to have a child--it's momentous.
It is to decide forever to have your heart go
walking around outside your body."
--Elizabeth Stone

Saw this quote today and loved it! I cant believe my baby is already over a year old!!! Ill post about that later  :)

Patience

About 7 years ago, Ryan and I were frustrated!  We wanted to start our family and it wasn't as easy as we had hoped.  After waiting for over a year, we had finally gotten pregnant... but miscarried at about 12 weeks.  The actual experience of the miscarriage was amazing. Horrible in its own way, but I learned and felt so much. However, once it was over, we were left back at square one. 

I remember it was a few months later, just before bed.  We were sad, and frustrated, and all of the above.  We decided to say a prayer and Ryan ask me what I wanted to pray for.  I told him that I needed patience.  Ryan stopped, and looked at me.  He didnt want to pray for patience.  In all his experiences, praying for patience didn't always go as he had hoped it would.  But I wanted it, so he asked for patience anyway.

A couple months later, we found out I was pregnant.  The pregnancy was textbook perfect, and I gave birth to a beautiful boy.  We named him Bridger......

Prayer for more patience... Answered!

Happy New Year Everyone!

 

Trying to take a family pic before Christmas

Since my last post about my family was in April, I'm going to try to catch you up a little before I start this new year.  One of my new goals is to update my blog monthly.  That should be a goal I can keep, hopefully! 

All of us after a hike in Zions

We did a lot of fun things this year.  In May we took a little trip to St. George.  As much as I love hanging out with my siblings and parents, Ive found the trips we do with just our little family are my favorite.  We can make our own schedule and do what we want when we want to.  I love that Bridger and Lydia are old enough to play with us and be excited about what we do.  They have good memories too.  They are always asking if we can go back to the beach, and San Diego or St. George. (Click here to review San Diego) I have so many places that I want to go and show them.  I love that they are old enough to remember them now. 

Hike in Zions.  Can u see Ryan and the Kids?

Bridger walking through the Red Rock park in St. George.

Ryan and Kyler on hike in Zions. What a good Daddy!

St George was awesome!  We spent a lot of time in Zions, which is about 45 min from St. George.  We went on a couple hikes and the kids loved it.  Well, Kyler maybe didn't.  He was about 10 weeks old at the time.  Crazy, I know, but we had a carrier or stroller for him. We swam in the pool and climbed on the red rocks.  We played every day until dark, which was a problem cause all the places to eat close at 9.  I would love to go down every year.  Honestly, if we weren't so rooted in Salt Lake, we'd probably want to move there.

 
In May we also blessed Kyler.  What a joy he is! I know most parents say that about their kids, but Kyler truly is.  He is the happiest child I have ever known.  He is always smiling and loves to laugh!  He is so silly with such a sense of humor.  He was truly worth the wait and I thank my Father for him everyday.  He is so curious and active and cuddly and social.  He's 10 months old now and in to everything.  The older 2 kids pull him out of bed every morning and the last 2 days hes found a stash of Christmas Candy.  Covered in Chocolate but oh so happy! He also loves electronics, especially turning Grandma's computer off when shes not looking. Such a tease! I'm sure I will have my trials with him someday, but right now I just love him to pieces!

Cute Kyler in his helmet

When Kyler was 2 months old we were told he might have a flat spot on his head.  Not too much to worry about, just cosmetic.  He had to get a helmet at about 5 months.  It was pretty cute.  We called him mega man :) He only needed it for a few months.  His head is still not perfect, but seriously, is yours? 



 

Ryan and Bridger at Fish Lake

Lydia loving it at Fish Lake

We also went to Fish Lake with my Brother and his family. Id never been fishing before so it was a new experience.  I love spending time with Rob and his family! It rained a lot and Ryan threw Robyn in the lake, but it was a fun trip.  I look forward to going fishing sometime this year again, though Im hoping its in the Uintas or someplace like that.

 

Balloon Festival in Panguitch

Riding 4wheelers in Panguitch

Bridger jumping on the "trampoline" at the festival. He was all smiles!

We went to Panguitch for the Balloon Festival, with Ryan's family.  We haven't had the chance to camp with Ryan's family much so it was really fun. We went 4-wheeling and had campfires and went for drives.  I thank my friends, Matt and Darla, for watching Kyler for us.  It wouldn't have been nearly as fun with a 4 month old.  I hope to go camping again with Ryan's family this year, also.  Well bring Kyler with us next time though.

Bridger with cousins Alex and Brighton floating down the river in Panguitch

 

We spent a lot of time at the pool this year.  We want our kids to know how to swim so I put Bridger and Lydia in swimming lessons.  We love it!  I love sitting by the pool and reading a book while the kids swim.  Of course, Kyler was young enough to sleep most of the time so this summer is going to be a little different. He loves water so I'm going to have to keep an eye on him! (and find a way to lock our toilets too)

Panorama of kids watching firework

Most of the Grand kids at the Temple

My sister and her family live in Iowa.  They came to visit around July 4th.  I wish they had come

Roasting Marshmallows with ALL the fam

for the 4th so they could go to the parade with us, but maybe another year.  I loved getting to know Suzie's kids.  We dont see them very often and I wish I knew them better.  Sarah and Lydia have so much in common, I wish they could play more often.  We had fun going to the aquarium, riding the go-cart, walkng around temple square and doing fireworks.  The last night we did smores in the backyard and sent the kids to explore the forest with flash lights.  That night was my favorite! 

Kristine and beautiful Ainsley

You might remember my posts a year or so ago about my brother who lost his twins.  They had a beautiful baby girl named Ainsley in September. She is a happy, smiley little girl and we are so happy to have Ainsley with us!

Of course, we had the normal stuff too.  Lydia turned 4 in July. Bridger started Kindergarten and is learning to read.  Lydia's in her last year of preschool and can hardly wait to go to kindergarten. Bridger played soccer and loved it!  Lydia started ballet and danced at the festival of trees.  I made Bridger's costume this year (all by myself) and he had his first elementary school parade.

Lydia's first day of preschool

First day of Kindergarten

Lydia at Festival of Trees

Lydia's 4th Birthday with Hello Kitty ice cream cake I made

Bridger is a Bat, Lydia is a cowgirl and Kyler is a Puppy

Bridger with his soccer team

Kyler crawling on Papa.  I love this picture!

All the Keddington boys with their boys. Richard/Vance, Alan/AJ, Ryan/Kyler

So thats my quick overview of the year. There's a few more events Ill prob blog about later but I've got to go get Lydia from Preschool now.

Too Tempting

We all have special temptations that call to us.  Mine are chocolate covered on a shelf in the pantry.  As adults we have to quiet these feelings and learn to overcome them. (So we are told) Then try to pass this skill on to those entrusted to us. However, I've decided there are many situations that are just too tempting for children.  For example:

My bed, just after I finish making it.

A sleeping kitty

A clean window or glass door

A newly folded favorite blanket

Sprinklers

A pile of sand, no matter where it is

A roll of toilet paper

String or rope (for Bridger at least)

Grandpa's favorite cookies in the cupboard

My unattended cell ph

Ryan's open coke can

Any toy, as long as a sibling is playing with it

Flowers, even if they've been told not to pick them 

Pajamas, no matter what time of day (Ill admit, this is a temptation of mine too)

And Soap that comes out all foamy..its just too much fun!