FOREVER

Last weekend was a great blessing in the lives of my family. Starting with Friday night, when Steve attended the temple for the first time to Saturday afternoon when our family was sealed. This is the Draper Temple, and we had a bit of an "adventure" to put it mildly in our attempt to arrive there at the appointed time.

I came across a quote by Boyd K. Packer that says, "It is evident that the work relating to temples bothers the adversary the most."

The adversary made a great attempt at keeping us from getting to the temple that night. As I was driving myself, Steve, my brother Brett and Alex, intending to drop Alex off at my sister's house and then pick up my parents to go to the temple, we had a bit of an incident. I was behind a big semi, and out of nowhere a huge block of hardened ice flew off the roof of his truck and hit my windshield. Luckily, I kept control of the car as it happened, and luckily the ice didn't hit us any harder or it would have completely come through the windshield. We flagged the truck driver over, he was very nice and concerned. I looked at the clock in a panic realizing we were supposed to be to the temple in 15 minutes. We quickly made some changes to our previous plan and drove, very carefully to the temple where Brett ended up staying with Alex till my nephew came to pick him up, and my parents hopped in the car to meet us there.

As I stepped out of the car, it took everything I had to keep it together as I'm shaking a hundred slivers of glass off my clothes and out of my hair and Steve is picking a few tiny shards out of my hand. Admittedly, my first thoughts were, "This is UNBELIEVABLE! Why is this happening?", but in retrospect I realize that the adversary truly was trying to keep us from the temple, but we must've had angels beside us who helped us get there safely. Alex really touched me when he said, "Mom, it's going to be fine."

When all was said and done, it was a great experience seeing Steve there in the temple and he loved it.

This is the Oquirrh Mountain Temple, where on Saturday we were sealed as a family. It was an amazing experience, one that I can't adequately put into words. Sitting in the sealing room, seeing the door open and watching Stephenie and Alex walk in looking so precious in their white clothes brought joy to our hearts that I just can't describe.

Alex, who is a typical, energetic and sometimes feisty 3 year old transformed into the most angelic, content and reverent little guy. He charmed the socks off everyone by the huge grin he had on his face the entire time he was there. As we were leaving, I asked him, "Did you have fun at the temple?" He replied, "I had a GREAT time."

It was a very cold and windy day, so we didn't get to take as many pictures as I would've liked, maybe in the spring we can go back and take some more.

We had almost all our family there to support us. My dear sister, brother in law and nephew drove through terrible snow and traffic from Sacramento in order to be there for us.

Our yummy luncheon put on by my family in our honor.

I truly don't know what we would've done without the help and support of my parents throughout this experience. I owe them the world.

FAMILIES ARE FOREVER....

Two Days till Eternity

I'm approaching the end of my third 12 hour shift in a row (got 3 hours of sleep between shift #2 and #3)... feeling a little worn down and worn out. But at the same time, I've got butterflies as it hits me that I only have to wait two more days for the arrival of a day that I've waited for- for a loooong time.


Our family is going to be sealed this Saturday in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. I guess that means we've only got 2 days to decide if we really want to be stuck with each other for forever... just kidding, there's no one else that I'd rather spend eternity with than these lovely Lillys...

Steph has been having a hard time because her big brother Jordan won't be there with us, but it's one of those situations where I know everything will work out in the end.

Can't wait to see these two walk in all dressed in white, believe me, I've imagined it a million times.

Mental note: Don't forget the Kleenex.

Go Away Jack Frost, It Ain't Christmastime Yet!

My little Martha Stewart has been at it again, with the cold and winter-like days, Steph got an itch to make some festive treats. She made these cute little turkeys...

and tried a new recipe for pumpkin cheesecake which was pretty dang tasty.

Saturday night we got slammed with a huge snow storm. I actually don't mind the snow too much when all my family is safe at home and we don't have to leave the house.

Of course Alex was psyched to play in all that snow.

The good news... no snow for Thanksgiving Day.

The bad news... a huge storm is on tap for tomorrow afternoon, and I have to go to work! I seriously just might leave for work about 3 hours early, park at the bottom of the Avenues, and walk up the hill to the hospital. I'm not even joking, because what goes up, must come down, and I don't want to come down crashing into other cars.

It's time to move back to California... my nerves can't take it!

In the meantime, hope everyone has a fantastic Thanksgiving.

King of the Castle

These are my two favorite fellas... one big and one small, but can you guess who the king of the Lilly castle is? Yes, that little guy is awfully cute but don't let him fool you, he can get on quite a power trip from time to time. He has kicked Steve out of our bed so many times that (according to Alex) the family room is now referred to as "Daddy's room" and our bedroom is "Mommy's room". One morning, Steve and I miraculously awoke to find each other lying in the same bed. In his sleep, Alex must have sensed that something was awry, as moments later he walked into our room and began to cry hysterically to see another man in bed with his mommy.

Today as we were driving, Steve and I were having a friendly debate but apparently I was talking too loud because Alex told me I "needed to calm myself" and to "stop all that yelling".

Now I must go and fetch some apple juice for his Royal Heiness. Long live the King!

All Aboard the Alexander Express

Seeing that Alex is such a train fanatic, I thought that a train engineer would be the perfect costume.

Steve showing his University of Alabama pride. Being the supportive wife I am, I carved a big W in my pumpkin for West High.

I had to work Halloween night, but luckily there was a trunk or treat activity at church in the afternoon, so I was able to go to that. The rain fell hard for a while, but when it lightened up Steph took Alex trick or treating to a few houses. Once he warmed up to it, he was really getting into it, so Steph decided to pull out the "big guns", packed Alex in the car, and took him to the "rich neighborhood" down the road, knowing they'd have really good candy. Of course, she was selflessly doing this all for Alex, with no regards at all to her own benefit. Right, Steph?!

Tis the Season... For Pumpkins

As I sit here, freezing cold because I am too much in denial to turn on the heater on this damp and rainy Sunday, I'm glad that we took advantage of the beautiful early October weather we had over the past few weeks to do some fun and festive fall activities. We went to Wheeler Farm and went through the corn maze, took a tractor-pulled wagon ride and picked a few pumpkins. Alex's favorite part of Wheeler Farm was chasing and trying to catch the chickens and roosters that freely roam the grounds. He's such a boy.

Last weekend we took a trip to a pumpkin patch where Alex got to pick another pumpkin.....

But my favorite part of the pumpkin season? Why, eating them of course! Pumpkin cookies, pumpkin shakes, pumpkin bread.... but the most divine of all was this scrumptious pumpkin cheesecake baked by Stephenie. It was so yummy and I was so impressed.

I guess this isn't the ideal time of the year to "try to be good" when it comes to food. I say screw it... that's what January is for, right?!

Bath Time Blunder

The other night, I ran Alex's bath water and called for him to come hop in the tub. I didn't know he was going to take me so literally. Before I knew what was happening, I watched him run in to the bathroom and jump in the tub as if he were clearing a hurdle in a track meet. As you can see, only problem was that he hadn't stripped down yet.

My first reaction of course was exasperation, but then as I noticed the stunned reaction on his face, I realized that he had gotten so excited as he ran towards the tub, he had forgotten that he was still dressed.

Besides, who can get mad at a face like that?!

Tchau, Elder Eide

Tomorrow, this handsome guy, my nephew Andrew, enters the MTC in preparation to serve a two year mission for our church to Brazil. My parents came out for the weekend to have a chance to say good bye to him before he left. On Sunday, we drove up the canyon for a picnic. I was a little disappointed that the leaves weren't more colorful, but it's always nice to be in the mountains.

Alex, meeting his newest "cousins". My sister and her family now have chickens who dutifully lay eggs for a large family of teenaged boys, which is great, but I just have this aversion to chickens, so to see Alex go in the coop and pet and feed them was pretty impressive to me.

I was so glad Jordan was able to come to our family dinner on Sunday so that he could say good bye to Andrew. They're only a few months apart and have some fun memories growing up.

Seems like just yesterday I was 20 and going to see Andrew when he was a newborn. In January, my other nephew leaves for his mission to Indonesia. I sound like a broken record, but I really wish everyone would stop growing up, it makes me so sad!

Andrew played football at Southern Utah Univ. It appears that Alex thinks he can play with the big guys!

One last group pic before Andrew leaves. It cracked me up when I noticed that Alex (who idolizes his 7 yr. old cousin Adam) was trying to hold up a peace sign like Adam in the picture. But Alex is signing the number 4 instead... he got the right idea anyways.

On a whole other subject, this is Alex playing the drums along with what I deem to be the most obnoxious kids show on t.v. these days, The Fresh Beat Band. Annoying as the show is, it's pretty cute to see Alex sing, dance and drum along. He's such a well rounded child.... :)

Friday Night Lights

"Once a Panther, always a Panther". This is the saying that has been passed down for generations at West High School. So, it's a natural fit for Steve to be coaching there since he graduated from West. I, on the other hand, struggled last year after being a "Cougar" for many years. (Perhaps I should clarify, that's Cougar as in the mascot, not Cougar as in an older woman attracted to younger men. Although I have been accused of being that kind of Cougar too... wink, wink.) Anyhow, now that Steph has graduated from Kearns (home of the Cougars), I feel I can become a more devoted Panther fan.

Steve is the defensive coordinator this year. He's doing a great job, but it drives me crazy to see him rehash every little play all weekend long after each game.

The cutest Panther of them all... this little guy has been attending Friday night football games since he was two months old. It's no wonder he told me the other day, "I want to be a football player when I grow up"!

Twin Lakes

I love hiking, but usually have a hard time finding any takers in my family to accompany me. My nephew Raymond had been wanting to go, so I recruited him. Steve actually was on board too. (Just between us, the good thing about high school football season is that he secretly feels bad for being away from the family so much... I can get him to do pretty much any 'family time' activity I want!)

I remembered hiking to Twin Lakes back in our "pre-Alex" days, and that it wasn't too long or too difficult. I figured it'd be perfect for Alex. I guess I'd forgotten that although it's only a mile long, the entire thing is uphill. Whoever said chivalry is dead? I did! My big, strong football husband thought he was being such a gentleman by offering to carry the backpack so that I could carry Alex. He says he knows I like doing those kinds of things, so I can show how tough I am. (Secretly, he's right, but I didn't admit to it!)

Alex could have spent hours just throwing rocks in the lake. It was so beautiful and peaceful there, it was wonderful.

My little Moses and his walking stick.

One thing I can say I like about living in Utah is having beautiful places like this just a half hour away.

Child Labor?

Given the current state of the economy, we told Alex it was high time he started pulling his share of the weight around here. We've been training him to say, "Would you like fries with that?" These were his responses when he found out he would be entering the work force.... 1st Response: "What you talkin' bout Mama?"

2nd Response: "Noooo, you can't make me!!"

3rd Response: "You're teasin' me? Oh, what a relief!"

Look Out University of Utah, Here Comes Stephenie Lilly!

Seems like just yesterday we were dropping Steph off for her first day of kindergarten....

This past Monday was her first day of college....

I think we were all too nervous to think about taking a picture as she was leaving.

I'm proud to report that she conquered her fears and had a successful, non-traumatic, and dare I say positive experience this week as a college girl.

***

What did we ever do before cell phones? I think we spoke on the phone about 15 times through the course of that first day... reminding her how to get to such and such a building, chewing her out when she refused to walk in to her first class cause she was late, praising her for taking the initiative to go talk to a counselor, being excited for her as she went to the Union and ate her first "college lunch".

My favorite moment of the day was when she commented as she was traversing across campus (and it is a huge campus!).... "I feel kinda cool!"

***

Yes Stephenie, in my book, you are very, very cool!