A little bit of everything

Delaney is 7 months now, she loves her baths and chewing on anything she can get into her mouth, she has the cutest smile and giggle, she is 24 pounds of pure love muffin!

I didn't have access to internet for the last week, so now I am able to post some pictures that I have been meaning to do. Some are from Christmas, New Years Eve, Miss Delaney and a few from the boy scout klondike Daniel went on this last weekend. The day daniel and Josh were supposed to leave for the Klondike I had to end up taking all 5 kids to the doctors because everyone ended up sick in our house. Wade and Delaney had an ear infection, bronchitis and RSV on top of that. Justin had a double ear infection and bronchitis and Daniel and Natilie had an ear infection and bronchitis. The doctor wanted Daniel to stay home from the klondike but he refused to, so she made him promise to take his medicine with him, bundle up and to not over do it. He was glad he went, he had a lot of fun, but when he walked into the door on Sat. night he was so pale and wiped out. I think it was a bit much for him to do with being sick, but I am happy to say that FINALLY we are all starting to feel better :)






He looks like he is concentrating hard..

Daniel is a fire bug (our whole family is)

Delaney wearing Natilies favorite new hat she got for Christmas...

Natilie loves having a little sister to dress up already..

New Years Eve at midnight, I think Josh looks like he is smoking a cigar in this picture lol..

We had our good friends the Tora's come over to join in some yummy food, a fun game of settlers and to ring in the new year!

Daniel and Natilie with Pa

Daniel, Natilie and Gabriel tootin away with their horns

Natilie and Gabriel lovin on Delaney...

Delaney was excited for Christmas with all of the paper and a few new toys, she is such an observant and interactive baby (which is different for us because we were used to how wade and Justin were with all of their delays)

Daniel and Natilie got a bigger gift this year rather than a bunch of things. My dad got them both snowboards (since we are a snowboarding family :) they were pretty excited, Josh and I can't wait to take them on real mountains someday. They love to go to the sledding hill to use them :) they already look like professionals

Our cute Wadester, had fun going from one thing to the other....

Justin is obsessed with anything from Toy Story, especially Buzz Light Year, he really does think he is Buzz himself, he goes around the house flying and talking into his forearm, so he was thrilled to have a Toy Story Christmas :)

CANCER SUCKS/ AND THE IMPORTANCE OF LIFE

Jeff and Josh this past Aug, he came out for Delaney's blessing even after he (literally) just finished his last Chemo treatment for the first initial cancer before he flew to Ohio...

Josh with his brothers Jeff and Jeremy (and Delaney)

Jeff (when he was a kid)

Their cute kids, Courtney, Brooke, Jake and Gage

Jeff and his wife Cindy

I have been trying to be a little bit better about updating our blog because someday I want to have this printed as our family journal/history. I have more pictures to post from Christmas day and New Years Eve, but I want to write this post in honor of my brother in law Jeff (Josh's older brother) and his family while I am filled with emotion and thinking of it.This last year we learned that Josh's brother had a rare bladder cancer. He is 38 years old is married to Cindy and they have 4 wonderful children ages 12 and under. This was a very hard thing to deal with of course for the whole family, he has always been healthy, he doesn't smoke or drink, went on a mission, is a worthy priesthood holder and a great guy who has always been so generous in helping others. He went through some intense chemo treatments and surgery to remove it and the doctors came back and said he was cancer free, everyone was happy and they endured through a very difficult burden in life. A few weeks ago he was having more pain and thought he had torn a muscle, went to a few doctores had an MRI done and evidently the previous doctors didn't read things right and now he has more cancer, it is underneath his bladder and has sprouted tentacles which have attached to his abdominal wall and his pelvis (I hope I am remembering all of this info correctly) The doctor has said it can't be operated on and that even with Chemo his chances are slim to none. The whole family is devestated, how could such a good person/family have to endure such an awful thing. We are the only family who lives far away and it makes me feel so bad that we aren't closer to them in such a difficult time, and we miss them greatly. I have been up the last 3 nights thinking of so many things, how we can help being so far away, what it must be like for his wife and children to know that he could leave this life so young, the purpose and value of life and why we are here on Earth. Everyone knows that I am a big ball baby and worrier, but I have always had such an overpowering sense of sympathy for others going through such horrible things (since I was a young child, I always just wanted to make everything better for everyone), even if they are complete strangers. I know even if we dont understand why this is happening the Lord does, there is a reason and a purpose for everything. This trial that they are going through has really awakened me to realize how truley important it is to live the gospel of Jesus Christ, that each day is a gift here on Earth even with all of the turmoil that is going on in the world around us, it is still a blessing to have been chosen to come to the Earth when the gospel has been restored, to build families and endure our lifes challenges. This year Josh and I are really focusing on what our family can do to become a stronger more spiritual family and it really does come down to making sure that we are doing those little things each and every day that will draw us closer to the lord so that we can do all we can to see that we are an eternal family. What a blessing to know that even after we leave this life it is not over!! That we will see eachother again and be a family forever!! The thought of that makes me want to try even harder in everything that I can do so that I can receive that blessing especially now that I have seen up close that we are never promised another day. Cancer is nasty, it doesnt care if you are a child or an adult, if your younger or older, if you are large or small, athletic or not, male or female. We just never know when its our time, so make sure you cherish every moment, give your family hugs and kisses everyday and tell them how much you love them, immerse yourselves in the ones you love and in the gospel of Jesus Christ!! Even though we live far away, we are praying for a miracle and if being cancer free is not what the lord has in store, than for peace for his family that they may feel the tender mercies of the lord. Please keep his family in your prayers!

We love you Jeff, Cindy and Kids!!