Together On Family Night

I'm not gonna lie, we are not the best when it comes to Family Home Evening. But we are getting better. Yesterday evening found us all itching to get outside. It's just so hot during the day that I get physically sick if I'm outside too long in the heat so we have to strategically plan when and where our outings are. Lucky for us we have tons of parks everywhere. We decided to load the kid, one big bouncy ball and a bubble sword up in the car and have some family play time.

Colson is concentrating very hard on his first big bubble. I love the tongue sticking out of his mouth!

I'm pretty impressed that a two year old can pull a bubble like that off!

Twice in a row!

These two love the monkey bars.

Slides are always a favorite!

Quick Trip to St. George

When we moved to Nevada we only drove one car. My poor Camry from college broke down a year ago and it's taken a year to get it fixed. Who knew trying to find a head would take so long!? So since it got fixed, Shane's cousin was kind enough to drive it down for us so we didn't have to trek all the way back to Idaho to retrieve it. Luckily enough and fun for us the weeknight we trotted out to Overton (45 min outside of St. George) to get my car Shane's family was finishing up their week long trip to Lake Powell. (Sadly we could not make the shindig since Shane's schooling in now in full swing!) So we decided to drive a little further to Shane's parent's house in St. George for a few hours and see the family. It was so nice to see almost everyone. Colson had a blast with his cousins. Those boys were either wrestling, racing, jumping, rolling down the lawn, screaming, running and then by the end of the night they were snuggling little Colson watching movie. Our family needed that quick trip to revive our attitudes and remind us of how blessed we are to have such a fantastic family!

Mormon Battalion

When in San Diego we made a stop at one of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints historical sites; the Mormon Battalion.We watched a short film and then went on a little tour which included talking pictures of pioneers telling us their stories. It was actually pretty fun and entertaining. We even got to "camp out" under the night sky for part of the stories. It was nice to have a little spiritual lift during our family trip and learn about those who have gone on before us. I am grateful for the sacrifice these saints gave to further God's plan, even though it was not part of their plan to leave their families and go and fight for a government that had ignored petitions for help from the Mormon saints.

Annie and Colson "driving" the covered wagon outside of the front doors to the battalion.YeeHaw!!!


After the tour Colson got to pan for gold, make bricks and use an old fashion water pump. We also got to snap a family picture to remember the day. I thought it was pretty neat that they took our picture, gave us a copy and e-mailed it to us! I love the church sites! Poor Hudson my nephew is half in half out. I guess he wasn't quite sure if he wanted to claim that he was with us!

Colson's shirt was pretty much soaked by the time we were done. Really, no surprise there....

FYI- The sister missionaries were all dressed up in pioneer dresses. I have to say even though they were cute and able to pull the look off, I'm glad we didn't have to wear pioneer attire when we gave tours of the Hill Cumorah and Smith Farm.

Testosterone, Testosterone

Moving in the middle of a pregnancy isn't the greatest thing to do. I was actually looking forward to delivering in Idaho, and I absolutely loved my doctor. But in the end I really didn't have a choice did I? Trying to find a OBGYN here in Nevada was awful. Every review I read online was either rainbows and glitter and then there'd be a nasty horrifying one. I was honestly ready to go find a midwife and deliver at our apartment, which to anyone that really knows me, knows that that I would never do that and I must have gone crazy for a short second or two to even let that thought creep into my mind. I've gotten to know a few of the other moms in our new ward, and thankfully they had some great recommendations! So we found a doctor, and this office has the same good feeling. I'd only had one first doctors visit, so we weren't quite sure how long we'd have to wait to find out what we were having, but the PA was so nice and even though I have to go back in a week to get my official ultrasound, he hooked me up to see if we could see boy or girl. Yep, it's true once again the Polatis name will live on through another little boy. We are so excited. More trucks, more wrestling I'm sure. Superheros and so much more...

18 Weeks

Shane and I never really made any kind of anouncment about our family expanding from three to four. After loss and heartbreak last November we decided that we would quietly go about this pregnancy until all lights were GO. I do have to say that after going through what we went through last year I feel so greatful for this pregnancy and even though I was sicker than a dog I found comfort and reassurance that the more sick I was everything was on the right path. I'm 18 weeks now and am finaly feeling like myself again. Except for the melon the has now attached itself on the front of me. We're due December 26th. We are just tickled and excited to get the best Christmas present EVER!

An Overdue Family Picture

If my memory serves me right the last time my entire family was together to take a family picture was when I was in 7th grade. The day we took that last family picture was not so great. The power went out in the middle of us all trying to get ready so the only girl that looked good was my older sister. My mom and me had to just put our hair up in pony tails. (Not a great look for me) On top of that my lovely mother decided on the Taco Bell colors for our picture, so we all looked like Taco Bell employees dressed in polos of either purple, navy blue or turquoise. I still don't think we will ever let my mom forget those color choices. Love ya mom. So as a last request from my little brother getting ready to leave on his mission he wanted a family picture before he left. Since we knew our last time together as a family for 2 years would be in San Diego this summer; we all headed down to La Jolla beach for some snapshots. I must say the results were much better than the whole Taco Bell fiasco of 1997.

One Voice

I am just one voice
But one voice can still be heard

I have made the choice to seal my witness with my word

Changed by holy fire that has burned into my soul

Filled with new desire that calls me now to go

I am just one voice

But one voice can carry far

Rising through the noise of a world so deaf and dark

Shining bright and clear to those with eyes to see

Honest hearts will hear the truth that lives in me

One but not alone a thousand voices sing

Praises of the throne of our Master and our King

With one voice, with one voice

I am just one voice

But a voice of light and hope

Grateful I rejoice as I share the gifts I hold

I will search with all my strength for the humble and the meek

And pray they'll receive the simple truth I speak

One but not alone a thousand voices sing

Praises of the throne of our Master and our King

With one voice, one voice

He was just one voice

But one voice that changed the earth

Teaching love and peace to a lost a weary world

I am just one voice, but one voice that will be heard

I have made that choice to seal my witness with my word

My youngest brother got his mission a few weeks ago.

Lisbon Portugal

I have very strong emotions when I think of missionary work, especially when it's someone so close to me who is serving the Lord. I was so blessed to not only serve a mission for my Savior, but get to serve at the same time as my brother Casey. What a special time it was for me to know we were both proclaiming the words of our savior at the same time, just in two different places. It was hard, it was draining but it was the most rewarding time I had had up until I started my own family. There is truly no greater calling to come to me than that of motherhood. Oh how sweet the gifts of our Father in Heaven. So as my little brother leaves, it is my prayer that he will become the instrument in the Lord's hands to share these precious truths I myself have come to treasure above all else in my life. These next two years are just a stepping stone for the rest of your life. The experiences you will have will enrich and bless your life and your posterity's into the eternities.