Sisters

I sure love mine and I think they like eachother too!

An Answered Prayer

So, Hannah is quite sentimental. She has this bag full of thank you cards that she for some reason, treasures. This afternoon she couldn't find them anywhere and was starting to get really concerned. We looked for them together and couldn't find them so she said, "Mom, I'm going to say a prayer and ask Heavenly Father to help me find them." So, this sweet little four year old said a prayer and of course, we all know that Heavenly Father does indeed listen to little children. Not one minute later, she found them. That little girl folded her arms and thanked Heavenly Father.

Why don't we all have such simple faith like a child?

Abby in the morning

Gotta love that hair!

Fun times at our house

The perfect tea party with your very favorite cousin.

Abby trying to offer something for the tea party so she can be apart of it too.

This next picture is a regular accurance around here. Nathan LOVES my shoes. (don't most boys love their mother's shoes?)


Piggy back rides on daddy's back!

How to give yourself a hickie....

Just ask Aaron. He can tell you how to do it. Just put a suction to your forehead. Run around with it on for a while. Show the kids how cool it is. Try to take it off and realize there is a really good seal. Eyes go really big. Run to the bathroom mirror. Have a look of horror on your face once you realize what you did to yourself! Ta-Da! Your very own personal hickie! :o)

A Sweet Life

There is a little boy who lived but a short time. He was born with many challenges and obstacles to overcome. He was born to goodly parents. More like saintly actually. They loved him like noone I've ever known could love. They understood he had a specific mission to accomplish. Their son would help them, and so many others remember who we all are. He was a celestial being in a body that would humble any who complains about their own ailments.

I went to Dawson's funeral last Saturday. I did a fair share of crying. My heart ached for his sweet parents and for his brother and sister, whom he left behind. Then I continued to cry as I thought of my own children. How would I work through losing one of my own? Would I, could I, be as strong as Amy and Ryan? Is my faith strong enough to endure what they've gone through and what they continue to go through? There is no anger in them. There is no questioning, "why"? There is complete trust and understanding of a deeply loving Heavenly Father, with a plan. A plan that includes all of us on this earth; who've ever lived on this earth or will ever live on this earth. I was amazed at Ryan and Amy's incredible strength. Not to say they didn't cry. They did. They sobbed. Their hearts are aching. But they both bore testimony of the reality of the Savior as strong as any testimony of Him I've heard before. They KNOW they will be with Dawson again. They know there family is eternal. Because of this knowledge peace has entered and strength has moved in.

So, I've spent some time reflecting, pondering if you will, even questioning. I've turned to the scriptures. Peace has come to me and a witness reborn that God loves us. He knows us, even if we don't know Him. He does indeed have a plan. We are His children. He cries when we cry. He smiles when we smile. He aches when we ache. He wants us to be happy, just as we want that for our children. Things happen for a reason. Dawson's life was full of purpose. One could easily question why. Why would God allow such a sweet and innocent child come to this earth so early from his mother's womb? HAve to endure pain that most of us never will have to experience? This one little child touched thousands of people. Some who didn't even know Ryan and Amy. I'm guessing that he helped many find their way back to Heavenly FAther. HIs life was not in vain. There is a purpose for everything that happens.

The last several days I've hugged my kids a little longer. I've said I love you whole bunch more. I've been more patient. I've tried to see them for who their incredible spirits really are. Amy said it best when she said, "What is stopping you from believing that ALL children carry within them something amazing. Something sacred. Something pure and Christlike. Something WE are supposed to learn FROM THEM?"

There is so much to learn from children. I've always known that, but I am living it now. My three are eternally connected to me and that brings incredible joy.

Another thing that really has made me think, is I was sitting next to Aaron at this funeral, hand in hand. THankful beyond words that he was sitting next to me. That he knows and understands all of these things to be true just as I do. We are eternal companions. There was a time that someone important to me didn't share the same standards as I and didn't believe what I know to be true. Although there was heartache for us both when we went our seperate ways, there is happiness beyond what I could have imagined being sealed to a man that looks at our children with the same understanding of who they are and what we as a family are capable of having.

So thanks be to a little man who's changed us now and forever. His life was beautiful and a gift from our loving Father in Heaven. Click here to read Dawson's story.

A Very Belated Birthday

My siblings threw a surprise party for him since this is his 70th birhtday. We were in California so we weren't able to be there. Each of us kids wrote my dad a letter of a favorite memory. Here's what I wrote:

Happy Birthday Dad! We really wish we were there to celebrate with you. This is certainly a milestone birthday.
There are lots of wonderful memories I have of you, that it’s hard to narrow it down to just one. You’ve taught me so much in my lifetime. I really give credit to you and mom for me being the person I am today. How do I thank you for that? Now that I’m a parent, I have a whole new appreciation and love for you.
One of my most fond memories is of our family camping. I loved that we lived so close to the mountains and how you would often come home early from work on a Friday and we’d load the camper up, and head for the hills. You gave me an appreciation for the magnificent mountains that were quite literally right outside our back door. Once we had found the perfect camping spot, you would take us on hikes, or fishing, or play games with us at our camp. We were even lucky to see the milky way one time and I’ll never forget that incredible experience. However, my most favorite part of camping with you, was always the bedtime stories you would create. There is one still to this day that I remember. Those stories would often be hilarious, and always had some moral point to encourage us to follow. They made me feel safe in the dark woods. I chuckle now that I married a man that does the same thing with our kids. I hope it will become a favorite thing about their father too.
You are a wonderful man. A terrific father. A fun grandpa. And someone that I’ve always looked to for guidance. You’ve given me the greatest of all gifts, (besides life), the gospel. I really mean it when I say there are so many great memories to choose from. My greatest wish for you this birthday, is that you can look back over your 70 years and feel good about the man you are and the amazing things you’ve accomplished. I love you so much!
Love,
Melissa

Never too late to share this.....

Christmas in California

What usually would take 12 hours to drive to California, took more like 14 or 15 hours with 3 little kids. But it was well worth the trip! We had such a good time in Sunny California for Christmas. It had been 2 years since we had been back for a visit. Hannah and Nathan were SO excited to visit their Grandma in Visalia. We were welcomed by Grandma Lombardo, her boyfriend Randy, Uncle Mike and girlfriend Kelly, and 6 dogs! You read right, SIX dogs!!! Five of which belong to Grandma Lombardo. The kids were in HEAVEN! The weather was so nice, not warm, but not cold either. We spent our time relaxing, watching movies, playing the wii, eating LOTS of yummy food, and shopping. So fun! We were sad to leave and multiple times on the drive home Nathan said he wanted to go to Grandma's house. Thanks mom for such a wonderful visit.

Christmas Eve trying to make a ginger bread house
this is last years house...it turned out so cute!

This years house looks more like a carport and a pitiful one at that!




Christmas Morning. Santa had come!


Uncle Mike and Kelly




Loving on Grandma


Saying Goodbye


One of the many stops on our way home.

Make a Smilebox greeting

I feel that I need to recap our happenings this past year. 2009 has been a great year for the Lombardo family. We moved into our house last year, but spent a good part of this year putting in both the front and back yard. Who knew that doing this work is so-dang-hard! We are pleased with the outcome and happy that we did it ourselves. (Actually, with the help of a lot of great neighbors).

We spent this year taking long walks, playing in the pool, hiking in the mountains, camping with cousins, visiting friends in Idaho, re-potty training Hannah, reading books, competing in a triathlon, swimming an open water 5k, starting a new business, visiting Oregon after 10 years!, making new friends, and finding old ones.

We have been richly blessed this year and love this time to reflect on our Savior who has made all of these blessings possible.

Merry Christmas!

All I want for Christmas is.....

.....MY MOM!

Abigail is 1 years old

This day came way too fast! We've been so busy lately that I didn't even plan a real party for her. Guess I can get away with that when she's little since she won't remember. Aaron and I were out of town for the weekend and when we got back I think she grew and learned a few new things. Makes me sad that children grow so quickly. Abby is close to walking, she loves to play peak-a-boo, she loves that she can follow her brother and sister around and play with them. Hannah will chase her around the floor and Abigail LOVES this game. She is a happy little thing and becoming more and more secure with her environment. We love her to pieces and as most biased parents feel, she is just perfect!

Abigail's 12mo. stats:
Length: 28" 10%
Weight: 18lbs. 12oz. 10%
Head Circ.: 44cm 10%

Thanksgiving

This was the first year that we weren't able to have Thanksgiving in my parents home. We have just grown too big! Plus, their new house is twice as small as their last house. So, they reserved the church for us to feast! It was soooo much fun! More fun than I think any of us thought it would be, since we weren't in a cozy home with mom and dad's fun decorations up. After our yummy dinner, we cleared the tables, swept the floor, and played lots of games. There was plenty of room for the kids to run wild, the adults to chit chat, and the guys to play ball. I had fun playing hide and seek with the little kids. It was down right hilarious! Aaron played a mean game of basketball. Thankfully and quite unbelieveably noone got hurt. We ended the day back at mom and dad's for pie.

I'm so thankful for family. For my own and my extended family. We don't see Aaron's family very often, but we think of them often and look forward to seeing them for Christmas.

Playing Dodge Ball



Basketball


Goofy Girls

This is for you Amy

1.Where is your cell phone? Whoever knows. Someone please call me so I can find it.
2. Your Hair? In a desperate need of a change
3. Your Mother? Amazing. Amazing. Amazing.
4. Your Father? Incredible, hard working, and knowlegable.
5. Your Favorite Food? hmm...chicken and rice, lasagna, tacos...I don't really know.
6. Your Dream Last Night? I didn't get enough sleep to have a dream dang it!
7. Your Favorite Drink? Orange Juice! I LURVE that stuff.
8. Your Dream? To watch my kids grow up and do great things.
9. What Room Are You In? Family Room
10. Your Hobby? Cooking, reading, my kiddos
11. Your Fear? Not to see my kids grow up.
12. Where Do You Want To Be In 6 Years? I hope to be right where I am now with all the people I love still right beside me.
13. Where Were You Last Night? Working in the basement with my hubby and having a grand time.
14. Something You Are Not? Super patient. Wish I were better.
15. Muffins? Pumpkin
16. Wish List Item? To have my house paid off. Would LOVE that!
17. Where did you grow up? Sandy, Utah
18. Last thing you did? Put homemade bread in the oven. Yum!
19. What are you wearing? jeans and white shirt
20. Your TV? Off
21. Your pets? None, thankfully.
22. Friends? The best in the world. Wish we all lived closer.
23. Your life? Very full and very happy.
24. Your mood? mellow, thankful.
25. Missing someone? My sister Carlee and my dear friend Jennie
26. Vehicle? Honda Oddysey
27. Something you're not wearing? socks
28. Your favorite store? Eddie Bauer, wish it wasn't so dang expensive!
29. Your favorite color? Red, green, blue.
30. When was the last time you laughed? This morning. Hannah asked Heavenly Father in her prayer if He would make Daddy a duck, and mommy a kitty cat.
31. Last time you cried? This morning, listening to a beautiful Christmas song.
32. Your best friend? Lombardo! He is the Greatest!!!
33. One place that I go to over and over? Kid to Kid
34. One person who emails me regularly? Aaron
35. Favorite place to eat? Cafe Rio

A BIG DAY

Yesterday was Grandma Eyre's traditional Christmas cookie party. The kids love this so much. How my mom has the patience for it though is beyond me. She has learned a few tricks over the years of doing this however. The kids got to scoop up chocolate chip cookies and cover them with sprinkles and also decorate sugar cookies. They LOVED it! What kid wouldn't? Nathan was hilarious to watch. My mom would give him some dough to put on the cookie sheet and when she wasn't looking he would put it in his mouth instead. So dang funny that kid! While the cookies were baking, grandma made lunch of hotdogs and cheetos. Yum! Super fun, super big mess, and another great year of memories of this fun tradition.



Abby enjoyed her cookie dough just as much as the other kids.






The other big part of this day was, Hannah got a haircut. After the daily tears, screams, the begging of me to stop brushing her hair, I decided it was time to say goodbye to the long, beautiful hair. We went to a cute place called, "Cookie Cutter" haircuts for kids. It's so fun inside. Each child sits in a cute little car, picks out a movie to watch, and then gets a balloon with a cookie cutter and a sucker to take home. How adorable is that! I really wasn't planning on cutting so much off, but when they asked if we wanted to do locks of love, I decided to go for it. In order to donate your hair, you have to give 10 inches. Yikes! I want you know, I had the full on anxiety! It was ridiculous! It's hair people!! I couldn't help myself though. This was SUCH a big step, right? lol Hannah really could have cared less. She was thrilled with her little car and movie. She does seem to be happy with her new dew and Aaron and I like it too. I really thought Aaron would have a heart attack since I didn't even warn him I was doing this. I knew he'd try to talk me out of it and I just couldn't deal with the tears one-more-day! He's happy though and hair does grow. She's bound to have long hair again.