Longest Post Ever

I'll start off by saying that there's a surprise at the end of this post. Then I'll tell you, I am terrible at taking pictures. Sometimes I take a bunch at an event and sometimes I only take one or two. I need to do better. Time is passing so quickly and the girls are growing so fast. Sometimes it makes me so sad and other times I love seeing life through their beautiful little eyes.

STRAWBERRY DAYS PARADE

It was so fun. The girls loved it. Jason and I taught them all about yelling for candy. We came home with an entire bag full. Jordyn loved the dances and marching bands. Tessa loved the little kids from dance companies and gymnastic teams. FATHER'S DAY

Yes. This is the only pictures I took. Grandpa Day and the girls. Thanks Dad for being such a great grandpa, for helping whenever we ask, and for being such a good example to me.

To Terry aka Papa T: You are so great with the girls. They love playing on the tramp with you. They love when you read them books. Jason and I are so grateful for you advice and love of family.

To our Daddy...We love you so much! You are the best at story time. We love when you cook for us, play games with us, and teach us things. Thank you for growing a garden, for working so hard, for teaching us new things.

4TH OF JULY

We went to my Mom and Dad's for a BBQ. It was super fun! The girls especially love the cupcakes with blue frosting.After dinner we went up to the Hunter's for fireworks. The girls had fun sitting on a blanket. They loved the marshmallows Papa T made for them and the glow lights from Gammy.

LAST T-BALL GAME

Jordyn finished t-ball...finally. She had fun, but I think it was a little too much for me. I'm not a very good sport. But, she learned how to hit the ball a little better and she learned to run a little faster.Tessa had fun playing on the grass steeling drinks and playing with babies.STEVEN CAME HOME

Need I say more?? We are so happy to have Steven home and safe. We're so grateful for his service to our country.I can't even imagine what this hug felt like. Seriously.Cute family!The girls were super excited. Especially Jordyn. She prayed for Uncle Steven every night.Father and Sons

Hayden, Jake, Steven, Terry, and JasonThe entire family. What a happy day!

And last of all. A story or two. Jason made t-shirts for me and the girls. I'll post a picture of them soon. Jordyn's said "thing 1" and Tessa's said "thing 2". Each shirt had the real Cat in the Hat thing 1 and thing 2 guys. Mine was a red bean with blue hair that said "thing 3". We told the girls our little secret and headed up to the Hunters' to show them our shirts. We'd hoped the girls would keep quiet but we got out of the car and Tessa yelled, "My Mama's having a baby!" So much for that surprise.

A few days later we took the girls with us to an ultrasound appointment. You see, I've had two miscarriages, one before each of the girls. After my first I had an ultrasound and about 7 weeks with each pregnancy to make sure there was a heart beat. I was nervous taking the girls. I didn't want them to be there if something was wrong. Luckily, everything is great. Anyway, the ultrasound was pushing hard and said, "Sorry, I'm just trying to get a better picture of this cyst." Jordyn sighed, looked right at me and said, "Oh man. It's a sister." HA! What a kid. (If you couldn't guess...she wants a brother.)

So, there you have it. Baby #3 will be joining our family the beginning of February.

Strawberry Day's Carnival

This year it was so fun to take the girls to the carnival. They were so excited....so much so that Tessa was actually being nice to Heber for once.And so excited that they didn't want me to take one more picture.We went on the big yellow slide, some ducks, the marry-go-round, a train, and a turtle. Tessa did awesome, even though I thought she would cry. And Heber kept asking saying "again" after each ride. Jordyn had so much fun....but by the end she was so tired, which at our house equals crying.

Los Hermanos and Dance

Jason and I were feeling like Los Hermanos. We borrowed shirts from Camie and Janae for the girls. They were HUGE on them! The girls loved their specialty drinks. It was so fun to help them pick and let them drink, even before eating their dinner.Jordyn had her dance recital on the 11th of June. She loved all of the attention. She did great. It was fun to help her dress up and do her make-up. She was so proud of herself. Here she is with her friend Sophia. Megan and Nonie gave Jordyn flowers. SPOILED!

Grandpa's Video

Arthur Roy Halladay

Arthur Roy Halladay, 86, peacefully passed from this existence on Saturday, June 11, 2011 at his home surrounded by his family. Roy was born October 24, 1924, to Arthur and Florence Sorensen Halladay in Provo. In the family of seven children, Roy was the only son. He graduated from Provo High School where he was active in football and basketball. After graduation, he attended Utah Technical College in Aircraft Mechanics and then got a job for Pan American Airways in San Francisco. In 1943, he joined the US Navy as an aircraft mechanic and was shipped to the Hawaiian Islands where he worked on PBY seaplanes till the war ended.

After the war, he met Karyl Christiansen at a dance in Provo and they were married on February 18, 1947 in the Salt Lake Temple. They are the parents of four children, 19 grandchildren, and 34 great-grandchildren. After the war, Roy went to work for Geneva Steel where he was employed for 40 years, retiring in 1987. He was an active member of the LDS Church and held many positions to include Bishop and High Councilman. He lived in Pleasant Grove on the old family farm for 59 years and especially loved his fruit trees. He also ran “Roy’s Sharpen All” as a home business for over 50 years.

He is survived by his four children, Brent (Nancy) Halladay, Pleasant Grove; Diane (Les) Bennett, Roosevelt; Kaye (Ted) Davies, Spanish Fork and Neil (Susan) Halladay, Pleasant Grove. He was preceded in death by his wife, Karyl and two grandchildren: Jennifer Bennett and Aaron Davies.

Funeral services will be held June 15, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. in the Timpanogos First Ward Chapel, 332 East 500 North, Pleasant Grove. Friends may call Tuesday evening from 6-8 p.m. at Olpin Family Mortuary, 494 South 300 East, Pleasant Grove and at the church on Wednesday one hour prior to services. Interment will be in the Pleasant Grove City Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.olpinmortuary.com.

Lead Me, Guide Me

Today my Grandpa Halladay passed away. It's hard to explain how you can feel so sad about something, but also be so happy. I'm grateful for eternal families. I know that my Grandma and Grandpa are together right now, and oh so happy. I can just hear Grandma asking him why it took him so long.

It's been a hard crazy day. We had Jordyn's dance recital and tonight is Heber's birthday. Plus Jason is getting ready for scout camp and I'm trying to help with that. On the way home from the dance recital I was crying. I know Grandpa is standing up strait now, catching up with family and old friends and basking in the light of the Savior. But I'm sad for me. I will miss him.

Anyway, on the drive home, the girls were fighting and I was crying and Jason was holding my hand and then, all of a sudden, they stopped. They started singing "I am a child of God" and their little voices were so cute and so sweet and so happy. Jordyn said she wanted to see Grandpa Great. Telling her was hard, but I think she understood. She asked how he got into heaven and if he was happy. Jason asked her what she thought and she said that she knew he was very happy.

What a blessing it is to know that Heavenly Father loves me so much to send me two sweet little girls who can help me understand that we are indeed Children of God. That He loves us. That He wants us to return home to live with Him. And that He has given us a "family kind and dear" to help us make it.

Baby Jaxon

Super CONGRATS to my youngest sister Jaymie and her hubby Adam. Today they welcomed baby Jaxon into this crazy world. He's so cute. Tessa loved his hair but didn't want to hold him. Jordyn said she liked holding him. Both Jaymie and Jaxon are doing great!

Jaxon Adam Holdaway
7 pounds 13 ounces
19.5 inches long

(welcome baby Jaxon to a long list of "J" names in our family....Julie, Jesse, Josh, Jaymie, Jaxon, Jason, Jordyn, Janae, and Jake.)