Email from Aunt Sylvia

This is the email I received from my mom's sister Sylvia. I want my kids to know my mom as much as possible. I think this will help them.

Dear Steven, Kristie, Charlyn, and Jeannie,

I couldn't let today pass by without telling you how proud we are of your family. It has been five years today since Lorraine left, and there hasn't been a day since that I haven't thought of her. I know that would be multiplied a hundred times by all of you. We miss her so much, but we know how happy she is and that she is still nearby. In fact, I heard a story about a young mother whose child was really struggling at the time the mother died. Her husband was told by a priesthood leader that maybe the mother could do more for her child on the other side of the veil than here on earth. I'm not sure how that happens, but I know they know what is going on in our lives and are very much a part of it. When Sarah asked Dad if he would be her guardian angel when he died, he sad he didn't know if they would let him, but he would try. I'm sure he has been, as well as many others.

As I thought back on this day five years ago, I cried thinking of the pain we all felt. It was hard, not only then, but they many years of suffering she went through before that. To think of her now gives me great peace and joy. I also remember her saying she was thankful for her illness, which brought her to the most important things of life-the opportunity to go to the temple with you and be sealed as a family. What a blessing! It is a validation that we are perfected through our trials, and they are all for a reason. Heavenly Father knows us, loves us, and has sent the Holy Ghost to give us comfort and direction. Without that, what would we have? We talked to a man a couple of weeks ago who delivered a file cabinet to our flat. He said he is Greek Orthodox, but isn't sure if the Bible is true, or that there was really a resurrected Christ. I asked him what he thinks happens to us after we die. he said he wasn't sure, maybe we'll be recycled as another person. i told him we will all be resurrected and will come back as ourselves, whole and perfect. We can be with our families and those we love. Paul gave hims two Books of Mormon, on in English and one in Greek. Probably nothing will come of it, but we're planting seeds here. How grateful we are to know of the plan of salvation and our purpose in this life! It isn't just a random experience, but part of a beautiful plan we knew about before we came here.

Please pass this on to Anajean since I don't have an email address for her. If she has one, maybe someone could send it to us. How is she doing these days? We haven't heard anything, and hope all is well with her and the baby. We're doing fine here, and are busier than we thought possible, especially Paul. I just try to do what I can to help. Thank goodness for FB where we can get little updates from the family! We love all of you so much, and pray for you every day (multiple times, in fact). We'll keep in touch.

Love,
Sylvia and Paul

5 years today

(Me and my mom at Phantom of the Opera 2004)

Today marks the fifth year that my mom has been gone. In some ways it seems like it was just yesterday, but in my heart she's been gone way to long. I still have days that I just want to pick up the phone to tell her the funny things that have happened. I miss her so much. I know that she is so proud of me and my little family. I often think about what she would've thought of my children. I wish they could have known her. I hope I do the best I can to teach my children all the wonderful things that she did.

Warner, I want you to know the special things about you that grandma would have loved. She would love how you are so eager to make your bed! Grandma loved her bed made. That was the only thing she wanted done in the house before she got home from work. Grandpa went to work after her and he wouldn't make the bed. So that was our job. She would be so proud of how you take care of your sisters. Your grandma was a nurse and took care of people. You have that same quality. If she were here she would be making you octopus hot dogs, give you bubble kisses with your 7-up. She'd have you over for sleep overs and buy you a grab bag at Johnny's and you'd sleep in her bed and watch movies all night long. Your grandma was so special.

Abbi, if grandma were her she would get a kick out of what a spit fire you are. She would love your feisty personality. Grandma had a lot of spit fire in her. She was the sweetest women with a lot of flare! She would love how you took care of your babies, it is exactly how she would take care of you. She'd love to share butterfly kisses with you as you snuggled on the couch watching Elmo. If she were here she would love to watch you do your twinkle toe dances, as a matter of fact she would dance with you. She would look for birds out the back window and sing the red red robin song to you. She also loved to sing "I love you, a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck".

Sophie Lorraine, what can I say. If grandma were here she would be kissing on those precious cheeks of yours. She would love how you ooze sweetness. She would put you on her leg and and give you a ride. She'd sing the song she sang to her other grandchildren. I wish I could remember it. She would lay in her bed and make up stories to you. As you got sleepy she would put her sleepy dust in your eyes and you would fall asleep. It worked on all the other kids. She loved all babies and I know she would've loved you.

There is so much more to tell you and so much more I want you to know. Your grandma was so special to me. I miss her and love her to the moon and back.

Preschool Graduation

Is it really true Warner's first year of preschool has come to an end? Here he is at his graduation with Grandpa and Grandma Roberts. He's holding his book Mrs. Jill made with his projects through out this last year. He's been so excited to get his book since the first day of school! Here's Abbi and Sophie paitently waiting for the program to begin!Warner and his classmates singing their hearts out.

Warner and Mrs. Jill. She made them all a shirt with their picture and class picture on it. He didn't take it off for two days!

Warner with his Grandpa Lilly "aka Warner" He's been so confused that grandpa Warner has his same name. So he goes by his dogs name!

It was a great year. Warner learned so much from school. He loves to color, write his name and make up stories. He's such a good story teller! We are so proud of you Warner bug!

What's wrong with these pictures?

I ask you what's wrong with this picture? Can you tell me? Well let me tell you.......Little Miss Sophie just started pulling herself up to the couch. She's 9 months old...are you kidding me? She's starting to figure out that she can walk from thing to thing. Oh, my.....our other kids were not movers like this little one. I remember wondering if Abbi would walk before she was 1. Sophie will be walking soon....I feel it. Now what's wrong with this picture? The other day I was sitting at the computer and here crawls Sophie. What in the world does she have in her mouth? We tried for months to get this girl to take a Binky and she absolutely refused it. Now here she is thinking she's going to start. I don't think so. It's time for Abbi to lose the Binky so her sister can get this silly idea out of her head.

Silly things about Abbi

Little miss Abigail is so stinking funny. This girl loves bags and sunglasses. If it has a handle then it's considered her purse. The other day she had Warner's swimming flippers and stuffed the foot full of her goodies. She carried it around all morning calling it her bag. She loves her sunglasses....she thinks this is the right way to wear them. Not sure if it's all kids, but Warner did the same thing.Seriously...we think she is just too cute.

Abbi's wondering what to do with the flower her brother gave her?

Grandma Roberts 86th birthday

For Ryan's grandma's 86th birthday the family threw her a surprise party at the part. She was so excited. Here's grandma with all of her kids. Peggy and Steve, Aileen, Grandma, Sharleen and Karilyn. Happy birthday grandma....we look forward to many more years with you! Uncle Leonard and Grandma. Leonard will be 90 years old this year. Such wisdom these people have.

I'm so glad when daddy come's home....

Most every day when Ryan gets home from work he plays around with the kids. The minute the kids hear his truck they run and hide so dad can find them. After they are found it usually turns into dad on the floor as their jungle gym. After a long day at work he still finds time to play around with his kids. What a good dad and husband he is.

More of Easter Weekend

Warner, Sydney and Emree enjoying the warm part of the day! It was such a bummer it was so cold. I think the kids made the best of it. What's Easter if you can't throw your eggs down the red hill.
This is Warner's favorite part of Easter. He couldn't even hardly wait to color eggs.
If it wasn't cold enough at the cities egg hunt, we decided to have our own. Abbi is on the search to find herself some eggs.

And look....he scores again!

I think everyone had a great Easter weekend.

Easter weekend

These aren't in the right order, but hey...at least they've finally been posted! Easter weekend was so cold that after we froze our buns off at the Easter egg hunt we hit the Home Depot. The kids LOVE making their very own project. Here's Abbi, Sydney, Easton and Warner showing us what they made. Abbi and Warner freezing at the Easter egg hunt with all their loot. We made it to the park right as the gun went off.
All the kiddo's with the Easter bunny!! Abbi was a bit scared if you can't tell.

Since the cold weather ruined our camping trip we decided to have a hot dog fry in Joe and Denice's fire pit. Here's Sophie loving on her dad.

Grandpa doing what he does best.....winding all the kiddo's up!