You have to admit - they're adorable!

I couldn't resist.  These pictures are too cute to keep to myself!  Thank you to Ali for your great photography!!  These were all taken on the grounds of the temple in Sacramento, CA.

Lots of changes!!

Wow, life has been great!  I didn't post in July because we were in California for a month followed by 10 days in Utah.  Paul joined us at the end of the CA trip and then on to UT.  It was great to see so many family members at one time! 

** This was the nightly ritual in California - eating popsicles with Grandpa.  As you can see Kathryn is quite happy that she gets her own.  Don't be fooled by the bib - it still got everywhere!  Towards the end of the trip, we learned to wait until the kids went down before Grandpa went even in the direction of the freezer because Kathryn knew exactly what he was getting...

** This video is a great summary of Nathan's time in California.  First notice his shirt covered in drool.  He was teething the whole time which resulted in one urgent care visit.  Luckily the Dr thought is was just his teeth and nothing else.  His second big milestone was movement - although backwards.  Grandpa Rick's wood floor was the perfect spot for this little guy to move.

Since our trip, life has been very exciting with a lot of new changes.  Here goes...

PAUL - Right before we left for CA, Paul was called into the Bishopric in our ward.  It has been overwhelming and a blessing all at once.  When we got home from our trip, a doctor's visit led us to a big discovery.  Turns out that Paul is allergic to gluten.  Oh the sadness of no more bread!  He had his final batch of cinnamon rolls and now we're on the hunt for good gluten free recipes.  Luckily I'm feeling excited (for him to feel better now that he's off wheat) rather than stressed about this new way of cooking.

HOLLY - Oh how I love to be a mother.  Look at that cute boy's hair.  I love my kids!  And I continue to vote that I have the best husband in the world.  Life feels so full of joy because of family.  I find so much fulfillment when I do things to help Paul and when I just play with my kids.  This role is so wonderful! 
My recent update is another teeth adventure.  It's looking like I'm going to be getting braces.  Aaaahhhh!  And yes, no orthodontic coverage with our insurance unless you're under 19.  This should prove to be quite the adventure over the next 2 years.  :)

KATHRYN - She is as great as ever.  I love this girl.  She loves her brother and plays with him all the time and she is a great helper at home.  Don't worry, we spend our fair share in time out as well.  Kathryn is going to be starting preschool next month!!  We're doing a little group with a few Moms I go to church with so it should be a lot of fun.  Here are some of Kathryn's quotes from the last while:

After seeing a deer run across our backyard with a hurt leg - "I think we should take off his leg with the ouchie and throw it away and get a new one."

While surveying the frosting on the table - "It's gonna be so tasty.  I'm just going to eat it, eat it!"

While looking at Mommy's pictures (one of her favorite activities) - "You are big right now but in those picture things, you were a baby... That's you!  You're cute!"

During almost every meal -
Kathryn: "Who made this breakfast?"
Mom: "I did."
Kathryn: "Thanks Mom for making this breakfast.  I love it!"

After Dad came in from working in the yard all day -
Dad: "Wow, Dad's rancid."
Kathryn: "You're not rancid.  You're handsome!"

NATHAN - This boy is officially on the move.  He has gone from his backward slide in California to a forward earthworm move, getting most of his traction on his stomach.  If there are a lot of toys in his way, then he makes his way through them by crawling on his knees.  It is a happy change for everyone because he is no longer frustrated about not being able to reach things far away from him.  Although now he can reach Kathryn's toys from across the room.  :)  His other development is his constant going from stomach to sitting.  When I go into his room to get him from his nap, he is typically sitting up in his crib.  What a cute sight!  And lately, he wants to be up on his feet, trying to experiment standing on his own.  It is such a fun stage!



So, life has been great.  We're hoping for the best this weekend with Hurricane Isabel on its way.  We're all stocked up so it should be fun.  This hurricane is on the heels of the earthquake we had earlier this week.  When it hit, I thought it was the tree trimmers outside cutting down some enormous tree that was pulling up the roots all through the yard.  It was a very wierd sensation to feel the house shaking and the windows rattling.  It felt like a huge thunderclap that lasted for a minute or two.  Nathan slept right through it but it woke Kathryn up. She came down the hallway quite nervous and said, "Mommy, my windows were shaking. What are those men doing?"  We went outside to see the tree trimmers and they were as perplexed as we were.  Kathryn was convinced that they were shaking our house.  It was really sweet. 

One thing I have definitely felt is how crucial it is for us to be ready not just with flashlights and bottled water but with real, sincere prayer and calm, good scripture study.  When my day includes these two things, life is wonderful.