REAL Game, Weddings, & Move...

So this is kind of out of order but oh well. Joe & Michelle leaving the dinner. Leaving for the first time as Mr. & Mrs. Erickson. Still weird but a good weird! We are so happy for them and love that we have a perfect couple to hang out with now at family functions. We only wish that Joe & Michelle will have a child soon so Joshua can have a playmate.

Dad watched Joshua all day! He finally went to sleep after a burning hot day at the temple. Joshua loves his daddy!

The happy couple! Finally coming out of the temple. It was weird seeing Joe kiss Michelle so many times that day...however, it would of been more weird if he had not. Congrats again Michelle & Joe!

Cute adore Saders! I love her!

Waiting outside in the heat for Joe & Michelle to come out! Joshua was not happy!

Daddy trying to get Joshua's mind off the heat.

At the REAL Salt Lake game with friends. It was such an exciting game but Joshua thought otherwise. He hated the loud noise and since REAL scored 4 times it was really hard for him to deal with the noise. He watched the fireworks just fine later after the game though.

Friends for life. Diana & I had so much fun at the game. It was so good to catch up with her.

Family spending time together. Joshua actually did great at the beginning. It wasn't until they scored that he freaked out.

The move to Utah State was chaotic! It was hard on all! I even got sick right after the move with an extremely high fever, so Matt took care of Joshua while I slept most of the day. It is so hot here but not nearly as hot as in Bountiful. I have realized that I was not meant to live in Utah during the summer. Hopefully Matt will get an internship somewhere cold during next summer so I don't have to worry about the heat anymore.

Latest news on Joshua. Did I mention he is allergic to Milk! What a joke for me! I love Cheese, Ice cream, and most dairy products. I have had to cut out all diary from my diet and it has been rough. Joshua is loving to walk (with assistance) around his new home and loves his bouncer. He now prefers to sleep on his stomach and we are grateful because he is starting to sleep longer than he ever has. Maybe he will start sleeping through the night...one can only hope.

Tears...

Ethan Andrew Lees was only given a glimpse of this mortal life. He is the son of my dear sister. He was due July 27th. On July 11th my sister started feeling contractions. She was admitted to the hospital that night. My mother received a frantic call from her telling us that the news wasn't good and that my parents needed to hurry down to the hospital. We were all upset but tried to remain calm as we did not know the details. We had a quick family prayer before my mother and father left to see her.

At about 12:30am we had heard that there was a 99% chance that little Ethan was gone. Matt, Joe, and I waited up until about 5:00am to hear more news. I had a dream that night that everything would be ok. However, when I awoke from the dream I realized that my parents had not called and that only meant one thing...

Ethan was blessed and given a name by his father that evening with all of my siblings but two present. It was heartbreaking and I still find myself weeping. The only thing that gives our family comfort is knowing that we will see him again. Knowing, that my sister will get to raise him, just not in this life. I am so grateful for the gospel and for the chance to have eternal families. Without this knowledge, my life and outlook would be bleak.

I have realized now that everyday with my family is precious. I need to value every moment that passes by because I do not know what will happen next.

Ethan, Sadie, Bethany, & Jared... I love you and will continue to pray for you!

Baby Tears

We never heard your first tiny cry,
never wiped the teardrops from your eyes.
And though our hearts grieve, and we are bereft
we carry your teardrops, they are all we have left...
We carry them with us, tucked next to our hearty
our memory with us always, we are never apart.

I found this poem online and loved it!

A Quick Glance at Us

Isn't he the cutest! We finally had some family photos taken.

I love doing these montages of our family. I made one last year for our desk top and thought we needed an updated one. Actually, it was Matt's idea but I put it together. I love our little family! It looks like we have come a long way!

Little Baby Joshua posing for his pictures.

This is one of my favorite family ones that we had taken. I only wish he would of smiled but the photographer was probably too goofy for him to take serious. Those people can be crazy sometimes.