The baby announcement I never sent out...

of my precious little boy...

(He's almost 2.)

Some of Ryler's Swim Videos..

So these are kinda small and hard to see but show the progression of his learning:

One of his first weeks flipping by himself.

Bottoms up first...this one startled me. He had to really work his way out of this one.

In pajamas & with a little sneeze at the end...

Posting a Year Later...{I'm that behind.}

If only I knew how meaningful this picture would be to me a year later. This was such a chaotic time in my life & yet I wouldn't have traded it for the world. I wish they could each have stayed that age for so much longer.

They all are a number older NOW than the one they are holding which makes me sad & yet happy at the same time that we survived got through another year! Life is weird...don't you think?

~My Love...My Life~

spence-11

kaylea~9

daylan-6

jaxson-2

ryler-6 months

Tim & Audra (mid-upper 30's ;)

Don't know what I would do without him...

the first and only time ryler ever wore shoes...

A Family Is Like

© Nicole M. O'Neil

A Family is like a circle

the connection never ends

and even if at times it breaks

In time it always mends

A family is like the stars

Somehow they're always there

Families are those who help

Who support and always care

A Family is like a book

The endings never clear

But through the pages of the book

Their love is always near...

ISR Swim Lessons

RYLER=15 months

JAXSON=3 Years

On their last 3 days they have to Swim fully clothed in: 

PAJAMAS

REGULAR CLOTHES

And WINTER CLOTHES!

I don't know if I could even do that!

Check out this video clip that was taken Friday, the boys' last day of lessons. Don't mind me, I don't really know what I'm doing... but the boys do. Here is a clip of Ryler doing his flip 'n float after he is thrown in the water 2 different ways.

 

These ISR lessons are not the cheapest thing out there, but surely the best thing I ever used my money towards... By far my best investment ever! This will save their lives & I'm so glad we did it!

End of the Year PIano Recital

So on Monday, May 28th we had our end of the year Piano Recital for my current 15 students & their families. My in-laws were nice enough to let us have it in their house since mine was not going to fit us all... and silly me I planned it on Memorial Day. But all was well we had a great turn out only missing 2 students. I wish I would have gotten a picture with each student for my own record keeping, but was so busy I didn't think about it.

Even though teaching is a lot of work to fit in my busy schedule, it is so rewarding to see these kids (& one adult) learning & experiencing music. Here are 3 of my students that stuck around for a picture.

~Our Duet~

Daylan's 7th bday party

Daylan wanted to have his Birthday Party this year at Chuck E. Cheese's. Ever since he saw the commercial with the tickets blowing all over the place, he couldn't stop talking about it.

GOOD FRIENDS. GOOD TIMES

Skyping..."it's what bwings dis famwee togevwur"

So grateful for technology so we can SEE our far away loved ones...

Playing Peek-A-Boo with Auntie Sara @ BYU

(just turn down the volume on my annoying loud voice)

Cousins Carson & Ethan in California

 (Father's Day Sunday) Danny, Kayla, Sara & Alena looking in from the laptop...

So the truth is...

I loathe even hearing the word "blog" these days because I am so very extremely, ridiculously behind! I have dreaded posting for months now because I don't even know where to begin. I have done random posts over the last year or so but am just forever from being close to catching up.

But it's okay.... I tell myself.
I really have always made it a goal to keep a current life history in some way. {Journaling, 10 yr. journaling, blog booking, photo calendaring...} As the techno trends change I find myself following them. So Instagram has taken over my life...in a good but yet "blog hindering" way. It's "instant", doable, easy, quick, not overwhelming. makes you feel creative & best of all it's fun!!

I do however, miss being able to sit down at the computer and let my little fingers just type away all the random thoughts in my head to the matching pictures I have uploaded. I will get back to it soon I promise. 
I feel honored as random & not so random people stop me in the grocery store or church or wherever & say they miss me posting. It makes me feel special & wanted & confused all at the same time.

My excuse: Life really has been nothing short of chaotic this past year. The main reasons: Having a baby, moving twice, Husband's knee surgery, teaching 2-4 piano lessons a day, Husband's new job where he works weekends :( & of course cleaning up after my two youngest CONSTANTLY ... no really it's constantly. (My little babes ate dog poop yesterday & sadly this wasn't the first time this has happened.)

{The ONLY reason I'm able to type at the moment is because both little ones are sleeping & the older 3 are gone playing or out of town.} 

Now that we just got DONE WITH celebrating my 4 BOYS birthdays (who all happen to be within a 1 month time frame), School & My sister's wedding, I feel like I can breathe a little easier. Oh Wait I almost forgot my baby brother who leaves on his mission in just over a week....

~Life is Busy. Life is Good. Blogging is in My Future...~

Spencer turns 12

Spence woke up the morning of his birthday ready to conquer the day.. He didn't have to do chores because of his birthday, but he realized that just made him bored. I brought him down to the local Elementary School so he could help with a Car Wash his church buddies were doing for their mom who has a terminal illness ALS. I told him what a better way to celebrate your own life than to help someone who's losing theirs. 

Later on, he had some friends over to swim in his grandma's pool. What would we do without a pool to have swam in this summer! They did crazy stuff that boys do like backflips, dives and cannonballs.

We had cupcakes that looked like hamburgers (store bought) & he opened his gifts.

Later that evening we celebrated as a family with Dinner, Cake Ice Cream & a Movie.

My boy is twelve...

And ready to take on the World.

Grandpa Campbell's Funeral

Late Christmas afternoon we swiftly packed up our car with kids, clothes and a few toys & headed west to California. We had two very important events that would take place in the days to follow. A wedding and a funeral...wait isn't that a movie or something?

The morning of Monday, December 26th, we honored Tim's Grandpa

 Read Campbell, an incredible man.

~It was the most beautiful day, in the most beautiful cemetery I had ever seen.

I love everything about this picture....From the lighting, the hills, the gigantic trees, the "hearse", the little girl learning to walk, the man leaning over the grave...
Time standing still. 

Tim, Grandma, Carrie, Brian, Ron

Before the funeral we gathered at Grandma & Grandpa Campbell's house for hugs and well wishes & then drove to the church building. It was hard to take a picture in this same spot that we had taken so many pictures in years past; but just this time Grandpa was not in them.
We felt blessed to participate in the program. Tim gave a wonderful talk & I was able to play the piano as prelude, hymns & the grandchildren & great-grandchildren's musical number; 
"Families Can Be Together Forever." It was touching to see out of the corner of my eye as I played, family members emotional as the song was sung. It is true that Families really can be together forever, I can't even begin to imagine it any other way.  
The picture below in the middle saddens my heart as you see the 2 sons walking their mother up to see their Dad one last time.

There was a moment where the kids were all running around afterwards just being kids, perhaps getting a little loud & a little too close to the casket. My initial reaction was to go over and tell them to be a little more quiet and respectful, but then just as fast as I thought that, I pushed the thought aside and just stood there thinking and taking this photo.

Then I thought: Grandpa Campbell is right there with those kids just as he would be otherwise. And I almost couldn't walk a step closer because I didn't want to interrupt their "play session" with Great-Grandpa.

My sweet husband having a moment.

I learned a lot about Grandpa Campbell during the funeral & realized that he had passed down many of his good traits on down to my Timmy. My favorite one being his love for his children & the desire to be with them, to play with them and make them laugh. ~One of the most Christlike attributes I can think of.

Another thing I already knew but that was reaffirmed was how strong this lady is. ~Ryler's Great Grandma Campbell~

....Physically, Mentally & Emotionally strong.~

~Together Forever~