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They're Back!

Last Thursday we all gathered at the airport to welcome my parents home. For the last 18 months they have been serving an LDS mission in Kazakhstan as the director of Welfare Services.
Waiting for Grandma & Grandpa's plane to arrive.

Dad enjoyed a cold Fresca after 18 months without his favorite soda.

After giving Taryn a big hug, mom had to take a look at her scar since they were gone when she had surgery. Thank goodness for Skype. Taryn was only six months old when they left but she knew her grandparents and even gave them hugs since she was able to talk to and see them at least once a week!

Grandma & Grandpa Nicholas were so excited to see Mom again. Grandpa really missed her.

Mom and Dad are amazing examples to our family. They have sacrificed to serve others and I am so proud of them and glad to have them home...at least until their next mission!

Another Birthday "Girl"

Grandma Rhoda Welling celebrated her 90th birthday on 27 Apr 2009. Friends and family were invited to celebrate with her on Saturday, April 25 at The Fielding Community Center. She was born 27 Apr 1919 in East Garland, Utah, to Joseph and Mabel Capener Oyler. She married Gale Welling on 20 Sep 1939. They resided in Fielding where they raised four children: Tamra (Kay) Asay, LeRoy (Anne) Welling, Steve (Allyson) Welling, and Debbie (Bill) Overall. She has 26 grandchildren, 80 great-grandchildren, and eight great-great-grandchildren.

Grandma loves parties and really enjoyed seeing so many of her friends and family!

Birthday Girl

Michaela decided that she wanted her ears pierced for her 11th birthday. She was a little nervous but didn't cry. She was excited to spend some of her birthday money on new earrings. She also got new clothes, a Taylor Swift CD, jewelry, and a wallet. Michaela is very easy going and has great sense of humor. She is growing up way too fast!

One year ago...

It's hard to believe that one year ago today Taryn had open heart surgery. Looking back on this day has been difficult for me since hearing the devastating news a few weeks ago that her surgeon is fighting for his own life and has taken an indefinite leave of absence from PCMC.
I don't know if Taryn would be with us today if Dr. Hawkins wasn't her surgeon. What would we have done if this news had come a year sooner? Thinking about it gives me so much anxiety and my heart goes out to those who are currently in that situation. After her first surgery he promised us that he would figure out how to fix her heart, even though he wasn't sure how since he hadn't seen that particular defect occur the way it did in her heart. He saved her life. Twice. I'm not sure how you even begin to thank someone for the gift of being able to raise your child. I pray that he and his family will feel a sense of peace at this time and that somehow they will know just how much we, and so many other heart families, appreciate and love him for dedicating his life to healing those born with imperfect hearts.
Here's Taryn today (well, last week to be exact). Her little scars are a daily reminder to me of how much I have to be thankful for! We will be forever working to pay our gratitude forward.

Easter

We love coloring Easter Eggs! Friday night before Easter we color and decorate eggs for the Easter Bunny to hide. Parker always mixes the colors and makes the ugliest egg!

At our house the Easter Bunny visits on Friday night.

Funny story...Bridget asked me how the bunny knows to come on Friday when he goes to her friend's house on Saturday and I told her I call and tell him. She asked where I got the number and I told her that it's the same secret number for Santa and you get it when you become a parent. "Oh, I can't wait to get married and then I'll get the special number", she said.

The bunny hides the eggs outside and the baskets somewhere in the house. On Saturday morning the kids enjoyed hunting for their baskets. Michaela was a bit frustrated because the older you are the harder it is to find your loot! Taryn and Ainsley wasted no time breaking in their new coloring books and crayons, they would rather have that than treats. We enjoyed warm cinnamon rolls for breakfast before getting dressed and heading out to hunt for eggs! We like celebrating on Saturday because it allows us to spend Sunday focusing on the Savior, the real reason we celebrate Easter.

The Young Men and Young Women in our ward host an Easter Egg hunt every year. Parker and Kenny went early to help hide the eggs. The girls wore the new shirts they got in their baskets and were so happy to see their friends. After the egg hunt at the church and a detour to Macey's to see the Easter Bunny, we headed home and hunted for the eggs that were hidden in our back yard. The rest of the day was spent enjoying new coloring books, crayons, sidewalk chalk, jump ropes, having a cookout, and playing outside when it wasn't raining.

The kids on Easter Sunday in their new church clothes.

Bridget's Special Day

Bridget was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints by her father on March 27, 2009. She had been looking forward to this day for a long time. Many of her friends and family members were there to support her. It was a very nice service and a great day. We are so proud of Bridget for making this important decision!