{Blessing of Wesley James}

The blessing of our second son was amazing!  We had an incredibly spiritual weekend spent with family and friends.  There was some trickiness in arrangements due to Calvin coming down with a bout of 'hand foot and mouth' disease a few days prior to the blessing... but it all worked out and aside from that the weekend was perfect. 

I'll post about the fun visitors and other things that the celebration brought in another post.  I'd like to focus specifically on Wes and the beautiful blessing given by Dad. 

People who attended the blessing - 

Grandma Marianne and Grandpa Jim (they were the speakers in Sacrament!  They were asked to speak in honor of their mission they will be serving in Honolulu, Hawaii.  The beauty of them speaking is that their mission is in honor of their grandkids - the setting could not have been more appropriate than at a blessing of one of the kids.  I LOVED that).

Grandma Marilyn and Grandpa Mike

Aunt Jana and cousins Quincy and Collin

Aunt Krystal, Uncle Dan, and cousin Saffron (as well as baby girl cousin due in October :) ) 

Gibson couple (friend of Reynolds, inspiration for their desire to serve this mission)

Emily and Nate Vidrine family w/ Avery and Oliver

Uncle Grant and Aunt Marie with cousins Carter and Isaac were here in Vegas and planned to attend, but due to sick kids from both our families didn't make it - BUT they did meet Wesley the week he was blessed :)  So we'll count it!

Loves from Mommy : )

Calvin and Saffron checking each other out... 

The wonderful Vidrine family!

Gibsons

Auntie Krystal

Perkins and Christopherson clan

Auntie Jana

Best family picture we got that day!  I love my boys dearly!

Grandparents!

And more grandparents!

Christophersons

The whole family

Wesley was blessed with some beautiful promises by his Father.  They included 

• Being born into a situation where he was loved and supported - where he had a knowledge of the truth
• By following the example of his older brother he would know what was right from wrong
• Grow to be strong and an example to family surrounding him
• An ability to be an instrument and a tool in the Lord's hands to accomplish his goals here on Earth
• Strength, knowledge and wisdom
• Happiness all the days of his life <--- My favorite, because what more does a mother want for her baby?

It was so beautiful and I am astounded every day by the Spirit that I feel around this baby fresh from heaven.

We love you Wesley James!

{Seven Magic Mountains}

More and more lately I have been realizing it is the small and simple things that bring me the greatest joy in life.  I don't need to be travelling the world, chasing a dream job, or fixated on acquiring 'more' (although I believe firmly in progressing and improving, I don't believe we should spend every moment obsessing about what we don't have yet - another post for another day). 

Anyway, Mike asked me what I wanted to do for this Memorial Day weekend and the answer was simple.  

Sleep.  

Haha!  Okay, we have had some quality naps - but I was super excited to have him home and to just be able to spend time with all my favorite boys! 

We ventured out to a new work of art that has just been erected in the desert (Enterprise, Nevada - aka the middle of nowhere).  This 3.5 million dollar project consists of neon boulders (7 stacks, 33 total) piled on one another to look like totem poles.  In the synopsis I was reading online it said something about the artist wanting to focus on the "meditative art of rock balancing." 

Blah, blah, blah... It was a cool looking tower of rocks in the desert.  We enjoyed seeing them, and Calvin enjoyed running around, and of course, Daddy's shoulder rides.

Venturing out to see the cool rocks!

Here's a good picture that shows how tall the boulders were!

Wes even opened his eyes for this one!

This was Calvin when we got home ... obviously it was a good day for all!

{Lake Mead Trail}

Tonight we loaded up the boys and drove out to Lake Mead to take a walk for family night.  The weather is incredible and we know we only have a few days left before the heat becomes unbearable - so we will live it up while we can! 

We were enjoying our stroll when Mike spotted a huge rattle snake on the side of the trail.  So as not to alarm me, he gently nudged me and said with quiet urgency, "Go, go, go, go, go"

His tone coupled with a terrifying rattle jolted me into the quickest sprint I have mustered in quite some time.  

That's right.

Forget the kids and husband.  I bolted.  Straight up no motherhood instincts kicked in.  

I hate hate hate hate hate snakes sooooo bad...

Like, there's a reason God uses them as a symbol of SATAN in the bible. 

Anyway, as my Dad would say, "Other than that, how was the theater Mrs. Lincoln?"  

It was a lovely night - we had a good time exploring a new little spot where we live.  It's even better to see simple things like a nature walk through Calvin's eyes.  For example, as we walked through the tunnel he was entranced by the echo it made.  He is the spice of life, that's for sure!

Forcing Calvin for some pictures, like a good parent would do. : )

A beautiful view of the lake!

It was a great family night & I am glad we survived the whole ordeal :)

{One month of Wes}

On May 11 our sweet Wesley boy reached the one month milestone in his life.  I wanted to get some pictures of the boys together so we went for a little stroll over to the park and worked with them.  

Calvin wasn't particularly in the mood for pictures, but he did love being thrown up in the air by his Dad!  Heaven help us.

Both of the boys seem pretty content when we go for walks in their double stroller, a gift from Grandma & Grandpa Reynolds.  The weather is perfect in Henderson right now, so we are trying to squeeze in as many walks as we can before it gets too hot! 

The three amigos!

Cute brothers!  Wes is such a little chunk I LOVE his chubby cheeks! 

Here are the pictures we attempted of the boys together!  It is hard to do shots with both of them - a balance act of trying to pose them while simultaneously fearing for Wesley's life!  But the few we got were perfect! 

Momma and Calvin 

Happy one month Wes!!  We are glad you chose to come to us for your family :)

{Wesley Newborn}

There is nothing better than having a fresh & cuddly newborn! 

We are living on cloud nine with Wes.  He is a sweet little man.  Our dear friend, Holly Barlow, captured some of the sweetness in his newborn photoshoot.  

Without further ado, here are the favorites!