Easter with the Oh's

From my infant years through my elementary school years my aunt and cousins lived with my family making them more like siblings to me than cousins.  As I entered my middle school and high school years we only saw one another on special occasions and grew a little distant until I became a senior in high school.  For the last 8 years we have enjoyed one another's company with my various trips back home to Las Vegas.  It has been so fun watching their two girls (now 6) and two boys (2 1/2 and almost two) grow up and even more fun now that Lance and I have a rambunctious boy to add to the mix.  Jung and Megan make the trek to Utah about twice a year, but this was Shin and Jim's first time in Salt Lake since my wedding 5 years ago.

It was so much fun being able to spend the entire weekend with my cousins and their awesome kids.  Bennett had so much fun having two boys his age to play with and the girls even got in on the action. Lance and the girls had an hour long hide and go seek game in the basement while the rest of us hung out and caught up on one anothers lives.  We enjoyed a fun trip up to Wheeler Farm and Bennett was enthralled with all of the animals.  He threw a fit every time I would take him away from one animal in my attempts to show him another animal.  We even enjoy a once in a life time opportunity to milk a cow!  Saturday morning we ate at the one and only Saturday's Waffles which is absolutely Lance and my favorite waffle joint.  

Sunday we sent the kids outside for a wild and crazy Easter egg hunt and we had WAYY too many easter eggs... the girls were actually getting bored of picking them up.  Bennett kept getting fixated on the egg that was in his hand and didn't understand to put it in the basket and just get another egg off the grass.  Winston even enjoyed a couple of eggs before the hunt began.  

How great it is to be able to spend quality time with my family and to have our kids grow up with each other.  It is crazy to me how much more I have come to love my family and enjoy these moments, even more so than I ever thought possible.  I am grateful that my family is forever. 

Here's my Easter tribute via pictures::

Family Pictures Wheeler Farm Round 2

Miss Laura Mecham Collard did it again!! Another successful family photo shoot at Wheeler Farm.  If only she knew she is going to be taking my family pictures until we are old and grey... ;) I'm so thankful for her willingness to share her talents and the bonus of having her as one of my dear sweet friends.

Jillian:: A Name and a Blessing

THE NAME:

 When Lance & I got pregnant the first time we developed a long list of girl names with a very short list of boy names.  When we got pregnant the second time I was hoping it was going to be a boy since I already had everything “boy” but a name.  We had three ultrasounds from 16-22 weeks and sure enough Bennett was going to become a big brother to a little SISTER.  So there we were, back to our long list of girl names.  The top contenders were Lyla, Laney, Jillian, & Kinsley.  Once I notified Lance (who loves the “L” names) that my dear friend was naming their little girl Lila the name was officially off the table.  At that point we were down to Laney and Jillian and somehow I won and Jillian became this little girls name. 

THE DRESS:

Lance & I got married in the Salt Lake Temple.  I had bought a beautiful silk temple dress that I absolutely loved.  After the sealing ceremony I was in the bridal room trying to change into my wedding dress when my temple dress refused to unzip.  I literally had 4 women (including a seamstress) trying to get the zipper to work and after almost 20 minutes without success they decided the only way to get me out was to cut me out of it!  So we cut the shoulder seams and I have held onto this dress (although it is unwearable) because of the sentimental value it held.  Once I became pregnant with a little girl the thought came to mind to trying to turn that temple dress into a blessing dress.  I brought the dress to Lance's grandma who to my delight said she would make the blessing dress.  A few months later we received it in the mail and I was ASTONISHED at how absolutely gorgeous the dress was.  The elaborate lace all the way down to the inner most layer, my temple dress. 

THE DAY:

On the sunny, warm, and beautiful day of March 8, 2015 Lance blessed Jillian as Jillian Christine Gummersall.  The blessing was beautiful.  Lance blessed Jillian with the ability to accomplish her goals and desires, to be healthy, to find joy in the gospel, and to know how much her Heavenly Father loves her always.  We had a slew of friends and family come out to support and since it was the first day of daylight savings our ward was slim in numbers, but our family and friends I think almost outnumbered the ward members in attendance.  Lance’s family alone took up 4 entire rows in the middle section of the chapel. 

After sacrament we ventured back to our house where we enjoyed a delicious waffle bar and breakfast burritos and one another’s company.

Its days like this one that make me #1 so grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints. #2 to have such amazing friends and family who are willing to help host and attend special occasions. #3 that I have the ability to bare children and how much joy they bring to my life.  #4 for a husband who honors his priesthood and is such an amazing father and husband, who is always there to lend a hand with the kids.  I don’t think I could have survived the past 3 1/2 months without his daily help.  #5 for this beautiful, mild winter we have had where we have been able to go out and enjoy the sunny back yard.