The May Crew: 2013

Gratitude Day #7: Our New House

It is one of the longest journeys for our family but finally, our new home is ready for us. We are so excited and full of gratitude to have a new home that we designed, watched to be built and poured our heart and soul into. We are so thankful for all the sacrifices and tender mercies that were poured upon us as we have build our home. We are looking forward to many years of happiness with our children and each other.

Gratitude Day #6: Chloe and Peyton

How cute are they? I just love, love, love them. I have such a special bond with these two beautiful girls. I adore them. I was there when they were both born, we have lived with them and now we are going to be living just 3 houses away. I love that our boys act more like their brothers than cousins. Our boys just adore them and love caring for them. They have a great love for one another that is just so fun to watch.

I just can't believe Chloe is. When did she get so big?!? I love watching her learning and growing. Chloe has one of the sweetest hearts and is just good. She loves being a big sister and will play school with Peyton almost every day. She loves to show us her latest gymnastic moves, dance and sing. She was baptized this year and it was very special to share that experience with her. Chloe is one very special little girl and I love her very much. She is one of my greatest treasures and I adore her!

Peyton has me and our family wrapped around her little fingers. She is so full of energy and is constantly learning. One of the most favorite things she does is come into my room, gets on our bed, and watches TV with me. She will see me and come running toward me no matter how far I am away from her. She is learning to speak full sentences and it is so amazing to watch and hear as she can actually have a conversation. Peyton wants to grow up very fast and stay up with the big kids but everyone is trying to keep her a baby for as long as we can. I love Peyton very much and she too is one of my greatest treasures.

Gratitude Day #5: Knowledge

Today, when everyone is filled with fear, uncertainty and anxiety, I am grateful in knowing that I have a loving Heavenly Father who is aware of me and my needs so I don't have to be afraid. Life is hard, really hard sometimes but I was promised that I wouldn't be required to overcome anything that was "bigger" than I can handle.
So I KNOW I can do HARD things and that knowledge is one of my greatest treasures.

Graditude Day #4 - Bryson Albertus

What a blessing Bryson is to our family. Hayden was only 20 months old when I found out that Bryson was coming to our family but we were just as thrilled. My pregnancy with Bryson was less than ideal but and I was hospitalized for the majority of my pregnancy. Through that time though I bonded with Bryson and when he was born, I was more in love than I thought possible. We thought Bryson was going to be a girl so the name we had picked out would not work. Bryson’s name is a combination of Brian’s son and Albertus is Brian’s grandpa Albert that he was very close too. Once we saw him and as his personality has developed we knew that the name for him was perfectly fitting.

As many of you know, Bryson has struggled through a multitude of health challenges and on more times than I would like to count, Bryson should no longer be with us which has convinced us that Bryson is a very special gift and his work on this Earth must be great. His physical challenges still hamper him today but through it all he is always has a positive attitude.

Bryson is a perfectionist and everything that he sets his mind too he accomplishes. He sets personal goals and nothing will dissuade him from reaching that goal. We have witnessed times when he is out running at 10:00pm because he has a goal to be more physically fit. Or gets up at 6:00am so that he has time to read scriptures before the day gets started. He's love for the gospel and doing what is right is such an example to me.

Bryson loves with his whole heart and is always quick with words of encouragement, hugs, and loves. He has a unique gift and a special connection with the Spirit to know when someone is struggling and what they may need. The other thing Bryson loves is Disneyland. He truly embodies the Disney spirit and magic and carries that with him all of the time.

Bryson – I love you more than you could ever possibly imagine. You are the perfect end to our family and you make our earthly family complete. You have such a keen intellect and the biggest, sweetest Spirit. know that you are truly a special gift from our Heavenly Father and you are truly one of my greatest treasures.

Gratitude Day #3 - Hayden David

One of my most special gifts from Heavenly Father is our son, Hayden David. Hayden entered this world under crazy circumstances and he was in a huge hurry to join our family. Hayden was born 7 week early and was placed on a respirator after he had stopped breathing twice on the way to the NICU. He was born with a hole in his heart and a host of other issues. We had a different name for Hayden picked out but met our pediatrician during those very difficult first days and ended up naming Hayden after him. From the moment, he entered our lives, I was smitten. He wrapped his way into my heart and became an integral part of our family.

Hayden is what we call the peacekeeper of our home. Hayden is one of those very easy-going guys. He loves his family and his family loves him more than he knows. Chloe and Peyton love to play and just hang out with him and he is so great with them as well - always willing to color, play dollies or watch Strawberry Shortcake so that they aren't watching alone. He honors his priesthood and is usually the "go-to" guy when things need to be done because of his enormous respect for doing the right thing.

Hayden, I want you to know how much you are loved and how much you are a special part of our family. You are the very special balance of both your dad and I. We recognize very often your amazing spirit and humbling calmness. Never forget that you are loved and I am grateful for you.

Gratitude Day #2 - Elder Hunter Brian

From the moment Hunter Brian entered our lives, I have been wrapped around his little finger. I had never imagined being anything more than a mom and wife and the moment I held Hunter I knew that my number one priority was my baby boy. He arrived into this world under a little duress but once he got her, he just looked around taking it all in.

Elder Hunter May is currently serving an LDS mission in Utica New York. Hunter loves being a missionary and as his mom, it was amazing to watch him evolve over the last 10 months. Watching him struggle through the trials and obstacles of being a missionary away from home was difficult at times but I didn't have a choice but to watch/listen through his letters and emails as he found his way through it and as a result his testimony grow.

Hunter is an amazing example to our family and extended family and demonstrates to us how to choose the right at all times and in all places. He is not perfect but he strives to be and what more can a mom ask for. He shows his brothers and his cousins the importance of finishing something you start and doing what is right even if it is difficult.

Hunter is truly a gift from our Heavenly Father and I adore him. I am not sure what I did to deserve him but I am sure glad I did. I miss him every day and realize that his mission is not only for him but for me as well to learn patience and sacrifice.

Hunter, I don't tell nearly often enough but I want you to know that I am grateful for you and I am thankful that I am your mom. You are the first one that made me a mom and I am grateful everyday for that sacred treasure.

Gratitude Day #1 - The Love of My Life

In keeping with my own personal tradition, I love to take the month of November and express gratitude for the things in my life that I treasure. So with today being November 1st, I would like to express gratitude for my best friend and love of my life, my husband Brian. When I was a young woman, I always envisioned what my life would be like when I was a wife and a mom. I didn't know then that I would marry my very best friend and still be madly, deeply in love after 22 years of marriage. Marriage is hard work and there are ups and downs throughout it but I would want no one other than Brian to be with me through those trials as well those times of celebration. I am not sure how I got so lucky but I am grateful every day for this most special treasure in my life.

Hadlock Halloween Haunt - 2013

Happy Halloween! In keeping with tradition, we had the Hadlock Halloween Party. We had a great time seeing all the cousins and what they were dressed up as. I love my boys and the fact they are always willing to help with the younger cousins. They are also such good sports when it comes to dressing up in some type of a theme. This year was "Toy Story". Hayden was Buzz Lightyear and Bryson was Woody. Brian and I were Mr. & Mrs. Potatohead. A great big thank you to Brett and Joanna for opening their home to us to keep this tradition party. We missed Baby McKay and Kimberly as McKay is recuperating from his surgeries. We also missed Elder May but we always miss him!

Here are some fun pictures from the party - Enjoy!

Princess Pey-Pey

Chloe is getting so grown up

Cowboy Annabelle

Double Trouble with Colter and Ty

Love my boys!

Mr. and Mrs. Potatohead

Helping the kiddos trick or treat

Grammy and Brett

So much fun!

House is MOVING along!

House is Painted, Driveway Poured and Lights On!!

Our lives have changed so much over the last month... Kyle and Allyson's house is complete and they moved to their new beautiful home the end of September. That was bittersweet. So happy for them but sad to see them go after spending the last 15 months all together. Our house is very quiet now and we miss some of the chaos.

Our house is really moving along - the house was stuccoed, painted, cabinetry put in, counter tops put in, light fixtures are in, tub/shower/sinks are in, driveway was poured and tiling began this week. We have our closing walk-through scheduled for October 31st and then our closing date is set for November 7th. We plan to move in the following weekend after painting some rooms and doing the garage floors. We are very excited and are praying that everything goes smoothly.

Kitchen with Cabinets, Countertops, and Tile

Stair with Banister and Tile

Progress!!

Love seeing progress!

We are seeing an actual house finally - the dry wall is almost all up. After dry wall comes stucco, paint and then the fun stuff like cabinets, tile, carpet - we are really looking forward to being on that side of the building! We are still looking at an end of October closing.

We are very anxious and looking so forward to it! We are super excited!

Elder Hunter May - 6 months

Elder Hunter May has been serving the Lord for a little over 6 months. While for Brian and I it hasn't gone fast, he says it has flown by and he is loving every minute of it. He is in the very small town of Schoharie Valley and has been there about 8 weeks now. We are very proud of him and the choice he has made. He is a great example to his brothers and to us about sacrifice and obedience. We love him very much.

He bore his beautiful testimony in this week's email so I wanted to link our family blog to his missionary blog. Enjoy!!

Elder Hunter May's NYUM Blog