3 Years

Today would be Dane's third birthday.

 We sure miss him. Lately, Hayes & Kamri have been counting the number of kids in families they know, saying a certain family has 7 kids or 6 kids and they always tell me ours has 5- Hayes, Kamri, baby Dane, Lyla & baby.  It makes my heart happy that they always remember Dane and that they are now including their newest brother that is yet to be born.
The kids have been looking forward to Dane's birthday because they know we always do something fun. Hayes was disappointed that it didn't include him getting to miss school.  This year was pretty simple. We were going to make a cake but after waiting an hour and a half for the oven to heat up with no success we decided to go get some bundlets at Nothing Bundt Cakes (also help that Hayes had a certificate from school for a free one!) We got three since Dane turned three!

 Kamri holding her bundt cake.

 Then we headed to target to buy stocking stuffers for Soldiers. A charity thing that Bracken volunteered to do at work.

 The kids were excited to have the huge cart I never let them get when I go to target alone. Can you tell Bracken's excited too?  Then onto Hayes's "First favorite restuarant" Applebees for dinner.

 Lyla downing her dinner and another of Bracken's attempts at making posterity believe can't smile normal.

                                               
                                                  Kamri wanted to take a picture of Hayes & I

 Then Kamri got a little crazy....she thought she was hilarious in Lyla's high chair with a steak knife, we took it away before someone called CPS

 Then home to light candles, sing to Dane and eat cake.

I started my day reading this talk from General Conference. I love the line "...look forward with hope, rather than look backward with despair."  A great reminder to me of the amazing power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ to strengthen us in times of trial, sorrow or sickness.  I'm grateful for our knowledge of eternal families and even though Dane is not here with us, he is close, and we'll have the joy of living with him again someday.