Sunday, March 16, 2008

This week....

We caught Brigham's smile on camera! This is inspite of the fact that he just got home from being in the hospital for almost 48 hours having respiratory distress due to RSV! Poor little guy was just happy to be home where he doesn't have to get poked for his blood.
Talmage missed Brigham sooo much. These little guy's are inseparable. Talmage often tries to "swing" with Brigham. He can't wait until he's big enough to get out of the swing and play.

Updated picture of Brigham. He's changing a ton. This is when he had been home from the hospital for a little while. The blue just leaped out of his eyes. This is the only time we get to have blue eyed kids.


Maxwell faithfully fulfilled his duty as "Charity's little sister" this week. He was such a good sport and enjoyed it I think... although he joyfully passed off the assignment to Talmage for the upcoming week.



I had to get a picture of my boys in their suits before church today. They are a handsome bunch but they do have some rambunctious energy. They had been punching each other a lot lately especially Talmage. He will just walk up to Maxwell or Kimball and haul off and sucker punch them. He's kind of got a chip on his shoulder and a little bit of a mean streak.




Sunday, March 9, 2008

Quadruplets

#1 #2
#3

#4


I thought this was fun. This couple in our ward has quadruplets and the other day when I was looking at some pictures of Kimball and Maxwell I saw them in the same tux that Brigham was wearing. I decided to put a picture of each of the boys in the same tux on the blog and see if anyone could correctly identify them. Plus I was thinking about those quadruplets at church and thinking, WOW, that would be soooo crazy. I am grateful that we have received these 6 so far just one at a time.



Sunday, March 2, 2008

Ode to my wife

Jumping with the kids on the trampoline last week.
Wearing her Pendleton wool suit to church for Valentines day a tradition since her dad bought the suit for her in highschool over 15 years ago.

My wife is opposed to me doing this but today I pay tribute to her and express my thanks for one of the most remarkable women I have ever met. When I was young and single, I used to read accounts of women of yester-year and what amazing people they were. They could do it all and they did it all. Well maybe not "all" but they did the essential and difficult things well and with tremendous conviction. I used to think that those kind of women don't exist any more and then I met my wife. When asked about her by my grandfather, I said, "she is like those women who crossed the plains with the first saints....". He then said, "say no more and marry her because she'll get away and you won't find another like her...."
She was made the Relief Society President today in our ward. I knew the moment I knew I wanted to marry her that she would be the greatest role model for women, for my future daughters, for my sisters and family..... I somehow knew that she would end up a Relief Society President. Really, I think she is the living cure and answer to so many of the challenges, opposition, and traps that frankly beset modern women. She is the living "anti-modern attack on women". Where ever we've lived, I've had women and young women come up to me and say that they sense a deep spiritual surety in womanhood when they are around her. They feel that being a richeous woman in todays world is more clear since they've known her. She would never say this but being her husband, I get to see her greatness and clarity often.
I am excited and she is very overwhelmed and humbled that in her "youth" and with her already busy life, that the Lord would ask her to serve in this capacity. I am dang excited. I feel grateful that the Lord would have confidence in me as a dad to take on these 6 little darlings more often so that she can have some more time to dedicate to the women of our ward. So far I've had some stretching opportunities to tend them single handedly during sacrament meeting as she has led the music. I think I've done an okay job (a few headlocks).... I think (some Spock death grips).... I don't know if my kids are as excited as I am knowing that I am a little stiffer and more demanding (arm bar-tap out) way than my wife..... maybe the kids aren't that excited.
Besides, I've always wanted to make out with the Relief Society President! Now its legal!


Sunday, February 17, 2008

TUXEDO DANDY!








Lani's mom made us this cute tuxedo outfit for Kimball when he was born and we've tried to get good usage of it with four boys in a row. The problem is that my boys are lunks of flesh. They are quite portly at their young ages so the poor cute little outfit doesn't fit for very long. It is sad because it is the best blessing outfit for little guys. Lani has this little makeshift studio she puts together and takes pictures of the kids.


Sunday, February 3, 2008

Happenings

Someone turned two 2 Feb. His terrible two's started when he was born and now since the arrival of his little brother he is a pleasant little guy. He is our "Talmagio"
Over a month belated, this is Kimball's 6 year old picture. He has such talent. His independent streak and obstinance keep things interesting.

Some kind soul from the ward brought over dinner and dessert for the familiy. The dessert was the absolute best brownie-whipped cream-pudding delight I have ever tasted! This is coming from someone who really doesn't care for brownies. Maxwell decided to enjoy his dessert so much that he carried it around with him for the rest of the evening. I worried he would make a mess so I told him he had to put on a bib before he ate his dessert. He went and got the "biggest big" he could find.... at least that is what he told me.... hmmmm


Talmage sneaked up on our bed and pulled Brigham onto his lap. This picture just smacks of "hey, this big brother stuff is easy"



This was a beautiful sunny Sunday morning at 8 am a few weeks ago. I love seeing the kids all together, dressed up and happy!




Sunday, January 27, 2008

My First Week in Crazyland

My Hero my mama.... also known as the milk lady
I have no neck

I give lots of crusty looks some times


I get lavished in sibbling love from my larger litter mates



My cousin Lucy came to visit me.... last saw her 6 weeks ago in heaven
Brigham "Tex" is literally our rootin', tootin', "pistol" totin' cowboy. Changing his diaper has resulted in everyone getting shot by his "six shooter". We have all been casualties. He has spared no one. He gets plenty of love from his brothers and sister. Talmage has been extra concerned and gentle so far and there is tons of potential for a good relationship there I think. Talmage has went from a little terror to a sweet little guy. I have enjoyed his transition from our toughest child to an enjoyable little personality. I think Brigham being here has and will help. Not lots of sleep, especially for mama, but we've been here before and we know it passes. Sleep deprivation is kind of like fasting.... you just have to draw deeply on your spirit to get through it. I did it for years in residency for drunkards in the Emergency Room, I actually enjoy some of the night time I get with my kids. Some of those nights up are actually pretty precious and I've felt the spirit strongly as I've held, rocked, burped, or changed these little guys. Lani is unreal how unselfish and tough she is. My hero. Nothing like her in all the world...... I feel guilty for telling her I love her when we were first married, because compared to how I feel for her now after all we've been through and these fabulous spirits in our family, what I felt then wasn't a drop for the awe and love I feel for this wonderful woman now.




Saturday, January 19, 2008

We Welcome Brother Brigham to the Quordova Quorum





























We welcome Brigham Nathan Cordova to the clan. I am an avid biography reader especially of the latter day apostles and prophets. It started in undergrad when I couldn't put Sherrie Dew's biography of President Hinckley down (I read it in 36 hours- and it wasn't even a Harry Potter book!). Since that time many years ago I have read many. Each time I have finished one I have come to the conclusion that the best men of our day have held this calling-no question. Each of my children also have 7 letters in their first names... kind of weird. The two boys names I still like are Widtsoe and Ballard. I had a strange feeling (who knows if it was inspired) 5 years ago when Kimball was born that I was going to have 5 boys. I took the kids to the hospital this morning and they absolutely loved holding their newest clan's man. They also seemed pretty interest in what was out the 5th floor hospital window.