We have a darling girl that goes to church with us who is bright, cheerful and an excellent example who we are also lucky enough to have watch our kids from time to time. We found out recently that she tore her ACL so she’ll have to pass up her sophomore year of soccer to recover from surgery. We were so sad to hear her bad news.

I gave her a call when we found out and we brought her by a card and balloons today after her surgery. Her parents, who are also amazing people, were thanking us for taking such an interest in her. Truthfully it is a blessing to me to love this girl. As it is to love any of the people in my life. When I get to really show my love for someone, even in a simple way I selfishly get so much satisfaction out of it. What would my life be with out opportunities to love others. Very sad and very empty. My life is only as wonderful and blessed when I take advantage of opportunities to love those around me.

Alden just had his second birthday! We have been expecting baby number three any day so we weren’t sure we would be able to celebrate Alden on his actual birthday but it all worked out.

I stayed up and baked a cake for him the night before–which is a good thing since when we told him it was his birthday he excitedly replied, “CAKE!” Chad printed out a bunch of picture of him and taped them up around the house. He recently learned to say his name and loves to see pictures of himself and say his name. It was so fun waking up to a gallery of Alden for me too! Both of the kids had fun going around the house to find all the pictures.

We went out and got decorations for Alden’s birthday, conveniently they were red, white and blue, with lots of flags and stars etc. We also got balloons to celebrate. Chad got home early from work and we went out for “sticks”. Alden’s request for corn dogs for dinner. I am pretty sure he enjoyed all the extra praise and attention he got.

We came home to have cake and presents before bed with our friends. I managed to dump Alden’s perfectly glorious cake upside down minutes before our friends came over. Whoops! All four of us ended up down on our hands and knees cleaning up splattered chocolate cake and frosting. The kids were all too pleased to help and it was a good excuse to let Alden just dig right into the pile of cake that we salvaged after blowing out candles. He kept taking a finger of icing eating it and then asking each time, “More?” He couldn’t quite believe we were letting him go to town. When we told him to take a handful he laughed and only pretended to do it as a joke.

We could not have done better with presents. Chad has had some recent construction projects that made the little play power drill a huge hit and what little boy wouldn’t be excited by a blow-up punching bag that pops back up at you. Although Alden mostly likes to pick the whole thing up and throw it. He was excited to show off his new jammies and slippers he got from Grandma Sophie too.

Alden is just wonderful. It is not difficult to list off attributes of his that we love nor ways he brings happiness and a host full of other blessings to our lives. It was so fun to celebrate him special!

Last night Chad and Alden went on a father son camp out together up at This Is The Place Heritage Park with our church stake. Meanwhile I was hoping to have a fun girl’s night with Eden.

Eden’s friend, Mackaila was at our house when the boys left so we invited her along. Eden picked McDonalds for dinner after a recent revelation that they have a play place inside. Then we stopped by a nail salon and got our fingers painted. We dropped Mackaila off, got home, changed into jammies and talked. We talked about the new baby coming and how to be a good helper and big sister. We talked about how special Eden is to Chad and I. We talked about all the attention the new baby will need and that she might need to ask us for some just-Eden time. Then she came and snuggled right up next to me in bed and we had a sleep over.

We have been trying to have some one on one dates lately with the kids and give then a lot of individual attention. I ordered a bunch of beginner chapter books off Amazon. Both Chad and I have been impressed at the comprehension and interest Eden has in these longer stories. Alden is also taking a greater interest in books and we are trying to encourage some reading time with him too.

Chad and Eden recently purchased season tickets to Lagoon, an amusement park. With an adult, little Eden can actually enjoy quite a few of the rides. I went last summer with her and my parents and it was a blast. I can only imagine the great fun Chad and she have on their dates to Lagoon together. Although some hint is the pure elation she adopts when talking about it and eagerly anticipated and planning the next time they can go together.

Perhaps it is just my pregnancy or perhaps I am just way more boring than Chad when it comes to outings. Last weekend I took Alden out early in the morning to go to garage sales with me and pick up donuts. My special time with them tends to include errands, food and perhaps a balloon from the party store. I am hoping that I can get to know each of my kids in a way that we can find something special to do that is just ours. Either way I love the time one-on-one with them and hope we keep it up after baby #3 comes and things settle down.