Great Gratitude

As we speak, Keenan is wending his way to California, driving our truck of things (he flew back yesterday for them). We're finally moving into our new place, and are very excited to get settled again! Meanwhile, we've been very grateful to those who've housed us and moved us around: Nancy and Sara helped us get our stuff out of the Logan apartment (Nancy and Craig let Keenan stay at their place when he needed to commute back up for shows); Dad Reesor helped us move our stuff to SL from Logan on a trailer from work; G-ma Marshall let us keep all our stuff in piles in her garage; my family helped us unload the trailer into G-ma's garage, then back into the truck yesterday; my parents let us stay at their house for several weeks; Meredith graciously gave up her room for us; my Sorensen Grandparents let Keenan stay at their place in St. George last night en route back to CA; many others have given us gifts that have made this transition so much easier for us; and here in CA, our dear friends Ben and Carrie have fed and bedded us while we've found a place of our own (and helped us find it)! Thank you all so much!! We'll try to remember all the blessings we've received along the way, and the generous help we've been given so we can give it back as often as possible.

Honorary Uncle Ben's got this baby wrapped around his finger...

Honorary Aunt Carrie has the magic touch for a happy baby...

With these two, we went this week to hear Samuel's first Brahms Symphony (Symphony No. 1), masterfully rendered by the L.A. Phil at the Hollywood Bowl. Thanks to Brother Schiavo from the Huntington Ward for the free tickets. :) Samuel loved it -- he might want to play the French Horn now...

I've been told that I'm not posting enough pictures of me on this blog. I looked through my pictures in iPhoto and realized that it's because there are really no pictures of me with Samuel! Probably because I always have the camera. Most of the ones with me in them are taken by me, and are not worth posting. But I have managed to find a few here and there worth sharing:

A candid shot taken by Keenan of Aunt Nell, Sam, and me...

Samuel's one-week birthday at Tracy Aviary...

My two-week appointment with Susanna, the skilled midwife who delivered Samuel...

Me, Mom, and Aunt Ariel, and the two best cousins,
Sammy and Hammie...

Honorary Aunt Sara, me, and Samuel (I think he's smiling)...

Wonderful Uncle Thomas, who's sure to teach my little boy all sorts of fascinating things (i.e. how to read, write, button his shirt, shoot a basketball, play with cans, throw rocks in the river, count to 10 in Swahili, tell funny jokes, put the silverware away, and everything about animals)...