Tolman Family

Thursday, March 19, 2015

January 2014 - Melody Blessing

January 5th 2014: Melody's Blessing Day

Mara was so cute and helped me get Melody dressed that morning.

Melody was hungry right when we got home, so we tried to take some quick pictures before the kids changed their clothes. They aren't my favorite, but at least it's something.

I am so thankful for my amazing mom and sister and all the support they give me.

Grandpa & Grandma Tolman

Aunt Karri

Mana

Scott & Stefanie Shoell

Rand & Camille Ramey

This was extra special for me that they were still here and able to come and participate in her blessing. It was really bitter sweet. Within a week we had a funeral and a baby blessing.

Chris & JD

Lisa & Brent

Liza, Carter, Alex & Addi (with a Jaina photobomb)

JR, Olivia, Noah, Lana & Maddox

Spencer, Bryton, Ben, Amber, Caden, Brody & Aubrey

Doug & Cody

These cute sisters sure love Melody so much.

I can't believe that I have 3 girls!

I sure love this boy!

It was such a great day! I am so thankful for all of our friends and family that were able to celebrate Melody with us.

January 2014 - Salt Lake City

It's amazing to catch a cute baby yawn on film :)

The first weekend of January we planned on blessing Melody. Ben & Amber came into town for it and suggested that we make some fun memories while they were here. So that Friday night, we met them in Salt Lake and stayed overnight at the Shiloh Inn.

Here are all the grandkids (minus Jacob & Melody) when we were at City Creek.

These cute girls have so much fun together.

Aubrey, Addi & Mara

We went to dinner at the Olive Garden that was right across the street from the hotel.

I was able to catch a cute smile from this girl while I fed her in the hotel room.

The girls swam at the hotel pool while the boys went to a Jazz basketball game.

After the swimming, we hung out in a lobby area between all our rooms until the boys got back. It was so fun to see these Aunts fawn all over Melody. Amber was so happy to meet her!

And Ben just loves babies, so he was in heaven too.

I just love the way this little one sleeps.

The next morning we ate at the restaurant in the hotel.

Xander got this giant muffin for breakfast. It was awesome.

Before going home we all had some fun pool time while Grandma enjoyed Melody.

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

December 2013 Grandma Joan

Shortly after her visit in my home, my Grandma Joan moved to California to stay with my Uncle and Aunt, Rand & Camille. She was doing poorly and going down hill fast. We knew before she left that she had had water in her lung, along with a tumor, which turned out to be cancerous. But didn't realized how fast her health was fading. She was with them for a little over 3 weeks when she passed away on December 16th 2013. Oddly enough, that day was the 31st anniversary of my Grandpa John's death.

We knew that she would be buried here, so we planned the funeral for December 30th.

It was really nice to have Rand & Camille here for a few weeks, even though the circumstances were sad. They had been in town a few times since Grandma fell in early October, but were now back for the funeral and to start going through the house.

This was the first time that Rand met Melody. It was so nice because it was like a little part of my dad was there holding her.

These girls loved their Great Grandma dearly.

Grandma wanted a closed casket. I wonder if it was hard for Jaina and Finley to understand what was going on, but Mana was great to talk to them.

The girls wrote notes to her.

Part of the table display.

Max was having a rough time with it all. Being the oldest grandchild means that he knew her for the longest. After I took this picture, I gave him a big hug that seemed to last forever. I wanted him to know that I loved him.

At the cemetery I caught Jaina in this sweet moment.

It was her last goodbye to Grandma Joan.

The whole Ramey clan

(minus Melody, she was asleep in the car)

We love you and miss you Grandma!

December 2013 Christmastime

We had the Annual Hillam Family Christmas Party.

Boy do these girls just love each other!

They are definitely 3 peas in a pod.

Here's my cute boy. He was feeling so super sick that night. He had a high fever and was just miserable, but managed to make it through the night anyway.

The Santa part of the party was changed this year (for the better). He called up entire families for a group picture, then gave the kids their gifts. It was really nice and it cut the time too!

But I had to get a pic of Melody with Santa on her first Christmas.

All of the kids had to wait until everyone had their gifts before they could open them. That was also fun to see the kids excited at the same time!

Mara is really getting excited about reading, especially the Elephant & Piggy books by Mo Willems.

It seems that this book worm gets books every year, but they make him happy, even when he's sick.

Jaina really wanted this phone. It was great because it teaches numbers, and that is what she really needed help with.

A few months ago I had a picture of Megan and I with our pregnant bellies. Now here's a pic of us with our babies!! Harper was born on November 5th, exactly 1 week before Melody.

On Christmas Eve we went to dinner with the Ramey side then went home to start a new family tradition.

The kids were so excited to get new jammies from Karri. She was amazing this year and sewed pants for everyone!

Even Melody had matching jammies!

They were really big on her, but she'll grow into them soon enough.

My matching girls.

Christmas morning was great for the kids.

Santa gave Xander his very own iPod

Mara her Lego Friends Dolphin Crusier Boat

And Jaina her Doc McStuffins Check Up Clinic

And I was able to enjoy my early gift = this sweet baby.

We went to Mana's Christmas morning, which is the traditional thing we do each year. But this time they (Mana, JD, Chris, & Karri) went all out and made her house into a Cafe!! The table was set for the kids with menus & coloring pages and JD was the waiter. They LOVED it!!!