The girlies

Kelsey upset that she can't get Sadie's helmet off

Sadie's picture of Jayda

Kelsey discovered the girls' tent

Kelsey LOVES looking at books!

Jayda's picture of Sadie

Kelsey (finally) walking!

The Choir

Last night, Bart and I had the wonderful opportunity to see The Mormon Tabernacle Choir perform at Wolf Trap. Wow! It was amazing! The Orchestra from Temple Square joined the choir to make a tremendous show. They did 20 songs and each was magnificent. That was the first time Bart and I had been to Wolf Trap and we are excited to go back!

Lost... and Found

25 minutes. To some, it might not sound like much. Last Saturday, each one of those minutes felt like an eternity. Twenty five minutes is how long Sadie was lost at the beach. Even now, 4 or 5 days later, my heart is racing and my hands are shaking as I relive those minutes.

The day was beautiful, everyone was having a great time. We camped out not far from the water. After playing in the waves, Cole and Sadie decided to start a sandcastle. They took turns going down to get some water to wet the sand. Bart and Kyle went to get some lunch on the boardwalk. One moment Sadie was there, the next she wasn't. Hugest fear coming true....one of our children was missing! Amy and I started running around looking for her. Amy went to make sure Bart hadn't taken Sadie at the last minute... both she and Bart came running back empty handed. We told the lifeguard closest to us and he sent out the word on his radio. I was freaking out by this point. How could you not? Every awful thing you can imagine starts running through your head... is she scared, did someone take her, did she drown, does she know I love her, is she crying, what was the last thing I said to her, etc.

A policeman came to get a more detailed description. At this point, Bart had to talk because I was on the verge of hyperventilating. Bart kept telling me I had to calm down and I shouted back "Don't tell me how to react! My baby is gone!" I couldn't believe I yelled at Bart... the situation brought out a side of me I didn't know existed. I knew I needed to breathe, but it was like a vise was clamped down on my heart and lungs and I was just trying to survive. Worst feeling ever! Since I couldn't seem to calm down, they made me stay on our blanket while they looked. I was about beside myself and feeling incredibly helpless.

In this darkest moment, we had angels appear. Two, twenty something girls, came and started playing with the other kids. Five, forty something adults that had been camped right behind us, started in on the search. One of the ladies sat next to me, with her arm around my shoulders, and tried to keep me calm. People kept coming up to get a description of Sadie, and then would set out to do what they could to help.

Word finally reached us that they had found her. I couldn't relax until I saw her for myself. Then, at the top of the beach by the boardwalk, I saw Bart coming towards me, carrying Sadie. The lady by me told me she would watch Kelsey and I ran towards Sadie. Bart handed her off to me and I almost collapsed. Feeling Sadie in my arms was heaven. We just cried and held each other for a long time.

Apparently, she had gone down to get water and got disoriented. She started walking around trying to find us. Eventually, she went up to the boardwalk. A lady found Sadie there, crying. This kind soul sought out a lifeguard, who contacted the police and the police found Bart.

Since this experience, Bart and I have discussed over and over how we can keep this from ever happening again... Bart and I need to have communication about which of us is watching which kids. We need to have better, more detailed talks with the kids about what to do if we all get separated, especially at the beach. We vowed, wherever we go, to sit the kids down before the adventure begins to refresh their minds about contingency plans in case of separation.

We are so grateful that Sadie was found. We are grateful for all those that helped us find her... those we talked to and those we never even knew were involved in the search. We are grateful for a loving Heavenly Father that was there to give us comfort even when I was to hysterical to feel it.

Rehoboth Beach, DE

We took a fun couple day trip to Deleware with some friends. They had gone last year and loved it... this time they invited us to join them. Despite a not-so-awesome hotel and a scare with Sadie (maybe I'll write about that later), we had a fabulous time. Gorgeous beach, incredible weather, spotting of dolphins, great company, divine fish n chips, some shopping at the outlet mall.. it was a wonderful weekend.

Kelsey was playing peek a boo on the way down. It was pretty funny to watch her do it by herself. At the beach, Kelsey had no fear. She would take off crawling as fast as she could to the water. We had to keep a sharp eye on her. She loved getting splashed. I think it hurt her knees a bit to crawl on the harder sand, so she would put her bum in the air like a stink bug and could still go so fast.

Jayda got rolled by a huge wave right at first, so she didn't go in the water again. Cole and Sadie loved the water and looking for shells. They had a great time with their friends!

The bridge we had to cross was massive and SO long! I just had to let my mind go elsewhere while we crossed it.

Gymnastics

The older girls just completed doing gymnastics. They both loved it! This was Jayda's first class and she looked so cute in her leotard. :) These pictures were at the end when they received a ribbon and strike a gymnast pose.

Beating the Heat

With record heat, the kids have been playing outside in the water. All four of them love it!

Fire Flies

Last night, the kids got to stay up late to go see their cute cousin Tyler, who is here from ID with a group from his high school. When we got home, there were tons of fire flies. The kids couldn't believe how awesome they looked! They chased them, caught some and also got a few to land on their hands.. hence the pictures and super excited faces of the kiddos.

Some Pictures...

Cole has really loved playing soccer this spring.

Sadie and Jayda beating the heat at the fountains...

Kelsey not enjoying the snuggle fest.

Cole's sign for his store at the 1st Grade Flea Market.

On the move!

Kelsey is all over the place. She is making messes quicker than I can pick them up! This week she has been busy..
Climbing up the stairs....not a problem, until she..

...turns around and sits down half way up the stairs!

Playing in Daddy's suitcase

Trying to stay cool in the HOT weather!