Spring Break and Easter

Sam had his spring break this week and so we got to enjoy some much needed family time!

The beginning of the week we visited my sister Brigette, and got to see my sister Jeanie, sister-in-law Ali. And then spent Wednesday in Tucson with Sam's grandparents and brothers. We had such a great time seeing everyone!

Throwing pennies in the fountain at the mall.

At the park with cousins!

Burton's favorite was the planes that would fly over the park.

Our crazy summer!

I haven't posted in so long! 

This summer has been crazy... 

We bought a house, and a puppy and then had a baby. 

Grayson Timms Whitmer joined our family at 8:30pm July 29th. He was born at a whopping 8 pounds and 15ounces and 21.25 inches long.

He was our miracle baby, since he was born with a knot in his cord which he they said usually happens early in the pregnancy and they can pull it tight at anytime causing the baby to lose its oxygen supply. They said any baby born alive with a knot is a miracle. 

Grayson's labor was so easy! I was in labor for 4 hours total and I didn't have back contractions this time so labor was a lot more bareable this time! He came out with one push. It was night and day compared to Burton's delivery.

Burton has been a champ! He is adjusting well and is very loving to Grayson. He is a good big brother and helper to me.

I'm very in love with my boys! 

Here are some more pictures of our new little guy just for fun!

He is loved

Sometimes I think back to when I worked at a child crisis shelter. I think about the kids and their situations. Some that got happy endings to there difficult journeys and some that still had no end in sight to the their problems. And as I think about all of this I can't help, but to think about Burton and how lucky he is.

He has a mom and a dad who love each other.

He has a bed, a home, and food to eat.

He gets daily baths and clean clothes.

He has toys (probably too many).

And most important, he is loved. 

Every child deserves this, but not all children have this.

Thanksgiving

One day I will be good at this blogging thing... Sorry I take so long to update.

Anyways, for Thanksgiving we went up to St. George, UT to be with my family! And... It was awesome!! Except for the 7 hour drive enough though Burton was amazing the whole trip. My Brother-law John makes the best ham! We got to enjoy some Cafe Rio, Black Friday shopping, and Temple Lights. I'm so grateful for my family, they are the best!

Burton thought Sam's Christmas music was too loud lol.

He also stole Sam's drink when we stopped for lunch!

Once we got there he was very friendly to everyone and loved his cousins!

 

He especially loved Reagan!

 

We had lots of fun playing outside!

He loves to kick the ball.

All of the babies born last year!

Burton loved the temple lights!

  

Movies were a lifesaver on the trip.

Oh and suckers help too lol

I miss my siblings, wish we all lived closer! But we had such a great time!

Ohio

The first week in August, we went back east to Ohio to pick up my brother-in-law Adam from his 2 year long mission he was serving for our church. And we had such a blast!

First of all, I have never been east before and I have to say it was so beautiful!

 We stopped by Lake Erie and Wow the great lakes are beautiful it looks like an ocean because you can't see the other side!

 Burton loved the sand.

 But the water was scary to him lol

 Adam and Burton were best friends when meeting each other for the first time :)

 We went to see the Kirkland temple, which was the first temple built by the LDS church.

 Sam and Burton enjoying so much needed playtime.

 Graves of early saints.

 Burton was scared of the elevator at first, but loved it by the end of the trip

 The Johnson Farm.

 We went and saw historic Kirland. This where the book of Mormon was first printed.

 This is in Pensilvania, and still lake Erie. We stopped for lunch. 

 We made it to the smith farm, in Palmyra, NY. This was the Smiths home.

 The later moved into this home, which was built by there older son Alvan. 

 This is called Alvan tree, they believe it was planted after Alvan died as a memorial to him.

 Then we made it to the scared grove which is behind the smith farm. This is where Joseph saw God and Jesus Christ.

 Burton liked the scared grove.

 It was so beatiful

 Alot of the places we saw were cool to see just because it's my religious history, but the Sacred Grove was the only place that I felt the spirit so strong. We cried and enjoyed the feeling of Gods love. This truely was and is a very scared place. I felt feelings so strongly that whitnessed to me that, Joseph Smith did see God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ appear to him and that God restored his gospel to the earth through Joseph. If you want to know more about that I believe click here 

 

 The hill Kamora, where Joseph was sent to get the gold plates which would be translated into the Book of Mormon.

 Palmyra temple.

 The printing pressed that printed the book of mormon!

We also spent a day at Ceder Point which was by far the best amusment park I have even been to!

Ingore my crazy hair, I went on lots of roller costers!!