ahhh Free Time,

It's true what they say after the seventh month you start to feel..... like you finally get to do something other than baby stuff, don't get me wrong I still have to make myself pump, GRRRR but I am finally able to do some fun things with Chloe and with out her... my life is a little more balanced than it was before.

Chloe was able to play with Grandma for most of the Day on Saturday while Gary and I took a day trip to Winter Quarters (Florence NE.) to visit the temple, it was such a great experience, and hope to go back more often now that Chloe is older. For those that don't understand or wonder why we drive 3 and half hours to go, for 2 hours to go to a temple, I will explain in the best way I can.

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we believe that every one has the chance to hear about the gospel and receive the ordinances of the restored Priesthood on earth, even those that have passed away, not being able to hear or by not accepting Christ's gospel on earth. We (temple worthy members) are then able to do ordinances on their behalf, like Baptisms, and other temple work including being able to seal families together forever. Sealings are the most important ordinances, as they let your family be together forever rather than just till you pass away, As Gary once put it, Sealings are like you are tethered together and some how when you are able to pass on to the next life you will know how or where to find them.

I go to the temple for our family, not just for Gary, and Chloe but for those I love, I am able to think about my relationship with each family member I love, and think about ways I can help them, or serve them. I love being able to feel my love for them as it's magnified in a way that you can feel our saviors love for them, and in turn I then want to do what ever it takes to let them feel that love. Going to the temple also makes me understand why I am staying home with Chloe, and why I don't spend all our extra money on stuff we don't really need, in short I learn that this life is to short to spend our time being idol and that I can look at the really big picture, I get to spend my eternal life with my family. and isn't that what Life should be all about?

playing with Daddy

Chloe is growing so fast, she is learning to walk with our help, and only wants to stand now that she can with out our help while holding on to something... Yes baby proofing is going to be fun...

Our New Pond!

Here is the big reveal! we are so excited to enjoy our back yard now that it looks a ton better!

Chloe has two little toothies! they are so small right now but they broke the gums, finally! I hope to get some pictures with her two teeth soon.

The picture of Chloe with Gar is during Gar's birthday party, she enjoyed the balls from the "golf tailgate game" Gar got for his birthday, she loves to chew on everything...

7 months already!

Chloe has changed our world so much! Our little world is all about her. Today I was able to do the fun task of changing out her clothes for bigger and warmer clothes. Chloe, Gar and myself are so grateful for the generosity of family members, with out which Chloe would have hardly any winter clothes. WE love garage sales (where most of her clothes come from, that family members bought for Chloe.)It only took 2 good weekends of looking around for garage sales to get her all of her winter clothes! Thanks to some awesome sales in Ankeny we were able to get more than enough clothes for winter. You might be wondering why I care so much about her clothes, however this little girl is now wearing 18month clothes and the rate that she is growing she will be in 2t-3t by spring! all the clothes that were 12 months that I had maybe got worn once. I am blaming Gary on all of her growth, she is still in the 90% for height at her age and I don't see that going down any time soon.

This week our little chloe is teething, I want to cry with her when she looks at me with her big blue eyes with tears rolling down her cheek chewing on a teether. Although we have dulled the pain for her, Tylenol and Ibuprofen every other 5 hours it still hurts her, I will be excited to see some teeth soon.

We have also been busy doing yard work or landscaping, it's really neat to do something and call it your own. we had this water feature in our back yard, it was not made very well and they cut all the corners possible to make a water feature, including building the pound out of rail road ties, Yuck! So the first real project that we are getting accomplished is redoing this water feature and making it way cooler than ever before. It's almost done and I will post pictures when it's all done.