Jacob's 2nd Birthday

Today is Jacob's Birthday. He would have been two years old today. We went and put some flowers on Jacob's grave. 

When we pulled up, there was a grave with red tulips. I noticed them from the car and thought, "I love tulips and those are so pretty against the white, grey." We get out and start looking for his headstone (we knew the area but, as we walked to ward where Jacob is resting, we realized the red tulips were from his grandparents. 

So sweet. Jacob's grandparents had been here earlier in the day. We came as soon as the kids were out of school. The kids had had a snack before we left the house but, something about the kids was so fun today. They were all excited to go and as soon as I picked them up from school, they were asking when we were leaving to go see Jacob. 

You can see the kids mood in these pictures. They were all joking and playing with one another. I thought it would be a really somber thing going to the cemetery but, everything was fun to the kids. Finding his headstone, cleaning it off...everything was fun to the kids. 

The kids were joking so much that (as you'll see in the next picture) some couldn't stay upright. 

The older kids were so excited to show Brooklyn everything about the cemetery. Where he was located, his small footprints on the headstone and where Grandpa Millett is buried. Who knew, it could be so much fun showing Brooklyn all these things for the first time(last time she was really little). 

Squish hugs 

The kids were fun at the cemetery which, helped lighten the mood from the day. Reed was home today and we spent the day with each other. We spent a lot of time talking. It was nice being able to discuss where we've been, how we dealt with everything and where we are going. It was nice having hours to talk while getting a few things done to prepare for the months ahead. It has been a long time since we've had uninterrupted time. With the kids in school and Brooklyn having a morning and afternoon nap, we had a lot of time together. It was really nice. 

Before we could leave the cemetery we went over to my grandfather's grave. He is Jacob's great grandfather(my grandpa that Jacob is named after). 

Isaac wanted to hold Brooklyn when we were walking back to see Jacob's grave one more time before we went home and this is what I see. 

Abbie and Kaden talking together about Jacob. The kids do talk about him a lot, that he is in heaven and so forth but, this was REALLY special. 

Our precious son. We can't believe it's been two years. It feels like yesterday yet, at times, it feels like forever since we've held you.  

The kids saying Goodbye to Jacob's grave.

This is the view towards the mountains (one of the reasons we picked this plot) and it was perfect..a little snow in the mountains but, then as we were leaving we had this view to the west. 

The sun peaking through the clouds and giving us a ray of warm sunlight. Perfect!

Daddy, Read me a Story

While organizing the children's books for the move, Brooklyn was reorganizing them as well....all out of the tub.(not the most helpful but definetely fun!) We are deciding which books to take and which ones to donate and we found all the books we used to read to the kids when they were younger. Reed grabbed "Brown Bear" and read it to Brooklyn. She loved it! 

Brooklyn loved turning the pages! 

They ended up reading it a few times! 

Content little girl to be on her Daddy's lap reading a book! 

She was so content to sit there and read the book with Daddy, it was almost like she was saying, "Daddy, read me a story!"

Swimming In An Indoor Ocean

We went swimming at Layton Surf 'n Swim where it has a wave pool year round. In the winter months, they put a huge bubble over the wave pool. The lap pool (which is outside of the bubble) is where the kids took swimming lessons. They received free passes to use to get in after their swimming lessons were complete.

WAHOO!! The kids were excited. We've been waiting for the bubble to go on (they don't put it on until at least November) so we've been waiting because with a baby, there was no way we were going swimming until the bubble went on the pool and it was warm inside. It's taken us a month to finally get over to the wave pool for the kids to swim. 

Brooklyn LOVES the water. She is constantly kicking her legs and smiling. It as really warm in the bubble so it was hard to keep the steam off my camera lens to get a good picture but, we wanted to remember this because it was SO much fun. 

We will have to go again, it's only $3 per person to get in. So, super cheap to go and have fun. We rented a couple tubes ($3 a piece) so the kids could go in the deep end where the waves are SUPER fun! 

Kaden LOVED the waves. This was the first time we've gone swimming without everyone in life jackets. That's one for the books! Not so much gear to haul with us. 

Every half hour the waves would go off and the whole pool turns into an indoor ocean. 

Brooklyn loved the waves. She spent most of the time with Mom and enjoyed kicking her feet and Dad went in the deep end with the kids in the waves but, I gave Brooklyn to dad so I could get out of the pool and snap a few photos. She is a water baby!! 

The kids had a blast! It's a great way to spend family time together. So, if anyone wants to go, the kids would love to go again! It's very reasonable and they slept great that night! Win Win!!

It was SO much fun! The kids loved showing off their swimming skills!