a few more pictures of the boys- before this blog gets back to regular business

It is so much fun to have so many little boys in my life!

I have all these darling photos & gosh--- 

It's just not right, not to share them!

(grocery shopping with Charlie & Joey)

So, before I start writing about just what's been going on here at our house,

I thought I would include a couple more.

(walking home from church with Daddy)

(Uncle Trent comforts an owie)

Crew

Finn

Joey loves the Iphone!

Who doesn't?

Crew & Finn

They are smiling so big now!

Do you have plans for Independence Day?

It's my favorite & the festivities start tonight- I can't wait.

the twins- an update

The twins...

Oh the twins!

They are doing fabulously.

And Guess What?!

They are red heads. 

(cue: big smile)

They are big now.

Bigger than these pictures... but I will add more pictures soon.

You know, since I'm blogging again.

On their blessing day.

(notice Megan, Tony, and the boys were there?

 They can come to family things now. It's pretty great.)

Brian & Crew

Laura & Finn

Some of my favorite guys.

Crew on the right & Finn on the left.

They have the same color hair as Jack.

And OH how Jack loves them. 

But then, we all do.

This picture above is one of my favorite ever!

It will surely be one for the wedding video... haha - Crew is not shy.

Finn & Nana

This picture is from early June.

The twins are almost 5 months now.

Four Grandsons

It just doesn't get much better than that.

lots of changes

I didn't mean to stop blogging.

I really didn't.

Life just got a little crazy. 

So...

Tonight I am posting a little update.

Sometime after my last post (Easter) Megan & Tony called to announce:

that Tony was offered an amazing job here in Utah!

I KNOW- best news ever.

Within 4 weeks they were here!

They had it all planned out- and that plan worked!

(My plans don't always work)

Their home in Arkansas sold in the first 24 hours of being on the market and they moved into our basement to settle in, start working, and then find a new home.

These next pictures are from the first couple of days they were here.

at the park with Nana

learning about chickens & gathering eggs

singing songs & eating cookies out of the bucket on the kitchen floor

getting really comfortable with chickens & deciding they are really fun to tease

and that their whole oats taste pretty darn good

Charlie even came to my very last cooking class.

Yes, I quit teaching the kids cooking class.

Hey- I've got a house full of fun for a bit & I don't want to miss it.

Soon - July 11th they will move into their new home and we won't wake up to their sweet voices everyday.

But- they are close. One hour away. Not too bad- I am thrilled.

So- now I am trying to do some blog catch-up

I hope if anyone is out there you will let me know and....

here we go again!

Easter at the Messer's 2013

Easter has become my very favorite holiday...

For many, many reasons.

I am so thankful for the true meaning of Easter. 

I've heard it said - after you've lost someone you love- Easter becomes the most meaningful day of the year. Because of the great gift our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ has given us-- He Lives! 

We will live again & so will all those we love!

How beautiful - how wonderful!

Megan, bless her heart, sent us these darling pictures of the boys.

Oh I love them- the boys and the pictures.

Charlie is a sunbeam now!

He sang Easter Hosanna with the other children in the congregation, then returned to his seat & declared that he is "bigger now." Of course he is.

Our Easter table was a a pastel delight with some of my collection of bunnies & lots of goodies I have picked up from work. It is so fun to open up the storage box & find all the treasures I have forgotten about year after year.

On our Easter Menu:

Glazed Turkey Breast

Brown Sugar & Pineapple Roasted Spiral Sliced Ham

Green Bean Bake

  (my kids have to have it)

Scalloped Potatoes

Steamed Asparagus

Lemon Cheesecake with Strawberries

This potato dish is so incredible! I found it on printerest & I will be making them now every Easter for the rest of my life. No kidding - they were so good. Find the recipe here!

Somehow I missed myself & Laura in the photos.

We were there.

And Look Who Else Was There!!!!

Finn & Crew

The best part of Easter this year

was that Brian & Laura surprised me & brought the babies to our congregation for church. We all sat together & yes I was teary, but these were tears of Joy. I was overwhelmed- feeling so blessed after such a hard winter. It was an absolute joy having almost all our children at church with Brett & I. I don't think there is anything better than that! We have (Chloe & I) missed a lot of church- a lot, because she has been in the hospital or too fragile to go (doctor's orders.) It has been good to be home- she needed it- I needed it. She is coming to terms with her new life, we all are. A new life with the tourettes syndrome & the anxiety that comes with it. It's a good life, but it is different than it was before.

 It is not easy. I don't know how she does it?

I have spent a lot of Sundays in tears as I listen to my

 children tic while the rest of the congregation sits silently.

I hate it.

I hate it.

I hate it.

I hate that it is so public & that they have to have this at all!

But it is what it is & we are moving forward & I am happy to be here. 

Happy that it is not worse- it can always be worse.

Happy to have my trials- they are mine. I don't want them, but I don't want to trade.

This is all I am going to say about that.

I haven't made a cheesecake in years!

I am out of practice....

but it was delicious! 

Thank you Jenny Steffens Hobick for your delightful blog!

After dinner we dyed eggs

SO FUN!

Brittany & Jack 

made these two above!

HA-- Love them.

Chloe did this one- Oh I love them.

Happy Easter