Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Taylor! We were all able to go celebrate Taylor's birthday recently. We had to celebrate the Sunday before since the Williamsons went to Hawaii the week after. It was a fun party with a big blow up bounce house that also had a slide connected to it. Most of the kids looked like they were going to fly off when they went down. Preston seemed to like it though. They also had the same face-painting balloon lady that was at Tehya's birthday party. The kids really seem to love her. After we ate lots of food and had fun in the sun we were able to rest a little inside and watch her open all her presents. She got some really fun toys and seemed like she had a great day!

When We First Met

The other day I was looking for my birth certificate and couldn't seem to find it. I tore the apartment totally apart looking for our important documents that I knew we needed to find in order to get California drivers licenses. In order to find these documents I went through every single box that we had with papers in it. In the process I was able to go through mission stuff, high school stuff, and random childhood keepsakes. I found my senior portfolio and a picture in it that Neil and I have been looking for...of our Daffodil experience, which was the first time we met. I left the portfolio out so that I could show Neil the picture. We laughed because we feel like we both look so funny. 

So, this was the first time I ever met Neil. He was my escort for the Daffodil Pageant at Rogers High School. The girls were voted on by the student body and then they do interviews and prepare a speech and share it in front of an audience. You have several different events or luncheons during this whole process and I was able to meet lots of new people. I had a great time and was able to meet Neil. 

Here's the picture:

Beautiful Heartbreak

I have never been one to be very personal on my blog and I don't tell many people what I struggle with or different things that are going on with my family that are struggles, but I felt differently after Relief Society yesterday.

I guess I should start with the blessings that I know I have received. Heavenly Father has given Neil and I so many tender mercies in our lives in so many different areas and in so many different ways. We have amazing family and friends that support us and help us. We now have little Preston who is a light in our lives, and most importantly we have the gospel. This has helped us through the thickest and hardest things we have gone through. I don't think that I have the hardest trials in my life and after I have gone through them I often look back and think that I have such an easy life, but when we are in the middle of our trials they aren't easy and we struggle. Struggling is okay though and helps us become more beautiful.

Recently I has another miscarriage. Neil and I felt like we were supposed to try to have another child and when I am told something I try to do what I can. We weren't too far along, only about 10 weeks, but it wasn't easy. Pregnancy has never been easy for me. I am terribly sick for a long time and it just takes a toll on our family and kind of throws our normal life out the window, but the end result is such a miracle. When I thought I miscarried I called and made an appointment with a doctor and we were able to go in and see what was going on. This wasn't my first, which made is easier to go through. This was my third and so Neil and I have gotten much better at understanding that there is a time to cry and then we turn even more to our Heavenly Father who helps us move on. Having Preston here to distract me and bring me back to normal life was very helpful and a beautiful reminder that Heavenly Father has a plan for our family. I am grateful for that and I know that Heavenly Father loves me and my family so much and wants us to be happy. I believe that the struggles we have gone through to have children have made us more understanding and hopefully more beautiful people.

A sister showed us this video yesterday in Relief Society and I wanted to share it with everyone I possibly could. It made me cry and I felt somewhat understood.

I haven't been the only one to struggle this year in my family. I have had lots of family members who have gone through so many health struggles that has been hard on us and made us grow closer to Heavenly Father. My brother Ryan was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. He has his whole colon removed and now has an ostomy bag. He was planning on going on a mission and had his papers in when all this happened so suddenly. He has spent way too much time this year and last year in the hospital and has become so much a better person for what he is going through. He is such an inspiration to me and so much of my family. While his trial seems to be the bigger one, others have struggled too and have helped me understand how I can be better everyday.

Happy Easter!

It was so fun to be at home on Easter! We were able to go to church with my family and then we went over to the Spencer house to visit for a while, then back to the Call house for dinner. Preston got a cute little Easter flip book that he seems to really love. He has been more and more into books lately, which is really fun. I like seeing him learning and wanting to read.

We were able to dye Easter eggs on Friday. Preston didn't know what to think at first, but then he was able to see what the color would do. He mostly wanted to eat the crayons and then the eggs after they were colored. He ended up dropping most of the eggs on the floor after they were colored.  Ryan was a good sport in helping Preston through it all.

Here are a few pictures of the Easter festivities:

Being home is always fun, but when we are at home during a holiday it is even more fun!

Silly Boy

Preston really loves playing and is very curious about everything. He wants to touch everything and usually put it in his mouth to see what it tastes like. He loves playing with his blocks and musical toys, but most of all...if Dad is home and willing to play the toy balls come out and a game of catch breaks out. It is one of the cutest things I have ever seen. I can't wait for Preston to be able to sing and learn the song "I Can't Wait till Daddy Comes Home".

Here are a couple of videos we took of Preston. In the first one we set up a bunch of towers out of blocks and then let him back into the room. He loves crawling over to them and tear them down.

This one is a little long, but I just kept filming. Neil and Preston are playing catch. Preston has been catching the ball for quite a while, but we can never seem to get it on video. When I get out the camera he seems to stop or not be interested anymore. When Neil started laughing about him catching the ball I ran over and grabbed my camera and then we got these two videos.

Our little boy is growing up so fast! 

10 months already!

Time really does fly by. I meant to take pictures of him at 9 months, but it seemed like the time just kept disappearing. We did have lots going on this month, but we did have our 9 month appointment with our new doctor who lives only a couple blocks from our house. Preston is definitely a healthy boy. At 9 months he was 20lbs 2 oz. and 28.5 inches long. I was surprised to hear that he is in the 50th percentile for weight. I always view him as a little chunker, but I am learning that he is really just a healthy baby boy that I can't seem to get enough of! We have been so blessed so have our little Preston here with us. He is so happy and curious.

Here are a few 10 month shots:

 He was crawling around so much at first, so we put him in a box. He thought that it was pretty funny. 

 He loves to clap his hands and smile. It is the cutest thing ever! 

 Books really are a fun prop, even for little kids!

 He isn't very gentle with those pages, but he is very curious...that's for sure.

 We had to take a few with the football. He loves playing with balls, just like his daddy.

 His little mouth is so cute!

And touchdown!!!

I am surprised Preston doesn't get annoyed when I take pictures of him. He seems like actually like it, which is nice for me, and fun of course!

Beautiful Bride

Natalie and Ben got married last Saturday and we are so happy to have him now a part of our big family! I was able to fly into Washington with Neil and Preston on Wednesday night. On Thursday Aunt Sue and I were able to take bridals of Natalie before Ben got there. It was mostly Sue since she has all the experience and I was able to learn and tag along. It was normal Washington weather, which means that it was raining and even started to hail when we were on our way to the spot.

Here are a few shots we took: