Brothers

Do you think we are going to have some fun times with these two, or what!?!

Jordyn and Festival of Trees

Yesterday my younger sister, Melanie, had her first baby, a little girl!  Jordyn was born at 10:11 pm and weighed in at 7 lb 1 oz and was 19 inches long!  Melanie did really well, and only had to push through about 3 contractions before they called the doctor and she had to stop pushing to wait for the doctor!  Once the doctor was there, she only had to push through about 5 contractions before Jordyn joined us!  It was a really amazing experience to be a part of her birth, and I am so happy for Melanie and Danny!  Jordyn is so cute, and was so alert, even right after she came out!  It was so precious to see Melanie and Danny connecting with her, and I know they are going to be a happy and cute family!

I should have posted this a while ago!  So, tomorrow is the last day of the Festival of Trees.  If you haven't gone yet, you should go!  Thanks in huge part to my good friend Emily, we were able to get a big donation for our tree for Caydin from Bear River Mutual Insurance Company.  They held a Halloween employee sale where employees either baked, or made something, and then sold it to each other.  They donated all the proceeds to us for Caydin's tree!  It was Emily's idea to ask them if they would help us out, and her husband, who works there, was kind enough to take in a letter from us.  So, here is our Narnia themed tree done in Caydin's honor!  Our tree is located in O-05.  It was a fun, and emotional journey getting this tree done, and we were so excited when we went to the Festival today to see that it had sold! 

Messy Story

Wow, October went by fast!  I can't believe it's already November as well!  So, I have some pictures I need to post, but that will have to come in the next post.  School has been keeping me, and my family very busy!  I have finals at the end of this month and the beginning of December, so it's still going to be a busy month! 

I have to share this story, but again, I have to warn that it's a potty story!  A couple of nights ago Ammon was fussy because he hadn't been able to poop for 4 days.  We finally decided to give him a suppository, which did produce results, but not 4 days worth of results.  We went to bed for the night, and when I got up in the morning, I went to change his wet diaper.  It was still pretty early, so I had the lights off and was trying to change him quietly.  I went to wipe his bum, and 4 days worth of "results" followed right after!  I woke up Rob and asked him to turn on the lights and help me figure out how to clean up.  Ammon was wearing a one piece pj, and I hadn't taken his arms out to change him since I was going to just put him back in them for a little while longer.  Well, when he pooped, it went all over his pj's, so I had to have Rob come and help me somewhat lift Ammon up and get the pj's off him without getting him any messier than he already was.  So, as Rob lifted him somewhat up and to the side so I could get his arms out and get his pj's out from under him, Ammon starts peeing all over Rob's upper leg!  At that point, we just started laughing!  What else can you do?  Oh the joys of parenthood!

Sparkling Boy

We went to Target today as a family, and had stopped to look at something when I hear Isaac singing, fairly loudly, "Get, your, sparkle on!" (from the new Barbie and the Fashion Show movie).  A lady standing by us heard him and smiled and said to me, "He must have sisters!"  He continued to sing this song, fairly loudly, the rest of the time we were there!  If he wasn't such a rough and tumble boy in every other aspect, I might be worried. . .

Here's some more fun, random pictures!

Isaac still loves his little brother, and Ammon is still unsure of what to think!  Actually, Ammon loves his siblings and smiles and laughs at them all the time!

Oh, EmmaLee!  She has been FULL of attitude lately, can you tell?!

Eden had picture day a couple of weeks ago and chose her outfit and hair due for the day!  Luckily, her bangs have grown out enough now that they don't really stand out at all!  I can't believe how big she is getting, and she has started helping around the house so much more!  She is such a joy and such a big helper!

Isaac wanted to get a picture taken as well, and it is actually a more normal picture of him, mostly!

Ammon discovered his thumb last week!  It's so cute, even though I know if it really becomes a habit I won't like it so much later on!  I've never had a thumb sucker!  What's funny too is that he has the Soothie brand binkys, with the holes in the binky part, and I found him today with his thumb stuck in the hole part, so he was sucking on both his binky and his thumb!

This isn't the clearest picture, but it kind of shows how blue his eyes are.  His cousin on Rob's side that is only about 2 weeks younger (but about a pound bigger), has super brown eyes, and Ammon has really blue eyes, so when they get together, both of their eyes stand out!  It's so cute!  Ammon also started laughing this last week, which is SO cute!! 

Marriage Tips

10 Ways to Daily Improve Any Relationship
Complied by Victor W. Harris, MS

1. Say "I love you"
2. Kiss or hug
3. Give a compliment
4. Mediate for 3 minutes (Why it is wonderful to be married to my partner. . .)
5. Touch "Goodbye"
6. Touch "Hello"
7. Share a personal feeling
8. Perform an Act of Service
9. Keep a Promise (Trust)
10. Provide Surprises

Just a little of what I'm learning in one of my college classes!

Festival of Trees

We have decided to donate a tree to the Festival of Trees this year in Caydin's name.  The title of the tree is "Christmas at Last", and is based on the Chronicles of Narnia.  We will be decorating it with Narnia themes, toys, figurines, etc.  Of course, the Chronicles of Narnia are a parallel of the gospel, with Aslan representing Christ.  We felt this was an appropriate and yet fun theme since it is through our Savior that we will one day be blessed to be with Caydin again.  If anyone is interested in donating towards our tree to help pay for the cost of creating it, our mailing information for it can be found here.

In case anyone doesn't know what the Festival of Trees is, it is a fundraiser for Primary Children's hospital, and people donate trees in the name of a loved one who has passed on.  The trees are sold, and the proceeds from the trees are donated to Primary's to help patients and families of patients to pay their medical bills.  Caydin spent the last 30 hours of his life at Primary's, and I am so grateful that he was at a place where the doctors and nurses are so expert at children's care, and also knowledgeable in how to help families who's child does not survive.  Caydin's accident and resulting medical care costs were in the hundred's of thousands of dollars, and that was just for 30 hours!  We were blessed at the time to have insurance that covered the cost, but there are many families that don't have that good of insurance, or any insurance at all!  And, there are many children who spend MUCH more time in that hospital getting continual treatment than we did, who could really use some help with the bills.  Medical cost bills can be even tougher to pay than normal bills because of the emotion behind the care received, especially if the results were of a loved one passing away; it can be a monthly reminder of that heartbreaking time!  So, I know that the proceeds from our tree will be greatly appreciated by those who will be receiving it from the hospital!

You Never Know

Living by an Air Force base, you never know what you are going to see!  Earlier this week we were driving down the main street here by our house right after we had picked Eden up from school.  Suddenly, flying over our heads was this Stealth bomber!  I couldn't get my camera out quick enough to get a decent picture of it because by the time I got a picture, it was behind us and so flat to our view that it is hard to see what it was!  But, we noticed the route it was flying, and thought there was a chance it was heading back to the Air Force base, and decided to drive up there to see if we would be able to see it.  On our way there, it again passed over us, flying the same route!  We got to the base just as it was landing and taking off again, so I was able to get this video of it!  We've noticed that planes, especially the bigger transport ones, often fly a circle over the base, landing and then taking off again.  I'm guessing that they do this to practice their landings and take offs.  Anyway, ironically, after I took this video, it actually changed course and flew off over towards the west desert, which is where the other jets are always flying to, and didn't come back!  So, I was glad we got this video!  The jets can be noisy, but it is kind of fun living by the base and seeing the F-16's flying over head several times a day!  It doesn't really get old to me, and since my kids are used to the noise of them now, it's all good!

Five Years Today

Five years ago today, Caydin "graduated" this life and went back to his heavenly home to peace and glory.  I miss you today, buddy, even more than normal!  Thank you for your example, and help me get through all the unknown years ahead so we can all be together again as a WHOLE family!  I LOVE YOU!

August Birthdays

August is Birthday month for both of my girls!  I haven't downloaded my pictures for this years celebrations yet, but wanted to post something before it got too late! 

Eden's birthday was on August 4th and she turned 6 years old!  I can't believe she is already that old!  She is my helper, and my little mother, at least in the trying to boss her other siblings around!  She is very stubborn, but likes to talk things through. Whenever a problem comes up, if I try to "tell" her how to deal with things, she won't hear it at all!  But, if I discuss the issue with her, and give examples from my own experiences, she would talk about it for hours!  I love that thinking side of her!  She is my sweetheart, and I'm so grateful that I am so blessed as to be her mother!! 

This is Eden on her blessing day.  She was born with one club foot, and by this time had I believe her second or third cast on, so everyone signed it who came to her blessing!  I love that Caydin is talking to her!!

Here is Eden just a week or two before her first birthday.

By her second birthday, she was already wanting to be a little princess, and loved dressing up!

I took this picture of her the morning of her third birthday.  It is weird to me to see this picture and compare it to EmmaLee today, since it is EmmaLee's third birthday today!

Eden right after her 4th birthday.  I think going from 3 to 4 was a big "growing up" time for Eden when she went from toddler to girl!

Eden right after her 5th birthday. 

Eden just a couple of weeks ago at 6!  She is getting so much bigger and older now!  Sure love this girl!

Like I said earlier, EmmaLee's birthday is today (okay, it is actually the 15th, which it was when I started this post!) and she is now three!  I said Eden is stubborn, but EmmaLee is even MORE stubborn!  She loves to sing and dance, and if she is comfortable, if you ask her she will sing a song about just about anybody!  She loves playing with her older siblings, and is pretty easy going when it comes to playing!  She loves to smile and be happy, but she has her little "monster" voice that comes out when you don't respond to her fast enough!  She is also so special to me, and I love having my two girls!

This is in the OR right after EmmaLee was born!

Here is EmmaLee at one!  Such a cutie!

Emma when she turned two!  It is amazing how much faster your later children grow!  I think because they have older siblings to learn from, they just seem to catch onto things faster and sooner and get "older" faster!

Emma at three!  Happy birthday my little sunshine!

What Kids Say!

Yesterday was a family reunion for my mom's side of the family.  We spent the day up at my aunt's clubhouse having a blast!  There was a splash park right around the corner that the kids LOVED, and we also went swimming and had fun talking and playing with lots of family!  I will have to post pictures of it later this week, but I wanted to write down a couple of things the kids said before I forget!

Just a warning, but this first one is a potty one!  Isaac had to go to the bathroom at one point, so Rob took him.  After he had finished his business, he looked into the potty before flushing and saw his poop, and told Rob, "It's like a family!" 

My sister Melanie was holding and talking to EmmaLee, who loves jewerly.  Melanie had on a strand she had gotten after my Grandma Dickey passed away.  She told EmmaLee where she had gotten the necklace, and EmmaLee told Melanie, "Someday when I'm a great, great, great Grandpa Dickey, I will die." 

Another New Chapter!

So, I'm excited to say that I am officially now an Aggie, and I am officially going to be working towards a degree in Family Life Studies from USU online!  With Rob going to school, we decided that there was no reason I couldn't be going to school too!  I love that it is online because that means I can work on it wherever we are, and that there will be lots of flexibility in the time I  can do the work!  I'm not always going ot be able to go full time, and since I only have about a year of previous college, it could take me more than the three years to complete, but at least I'm working on it!

Finally!

This is a few weeks late, but I am very happy to say that Isaac is finally potty trained!  He was much harder to get trained than Eden was, and has made up for her lack of accidents, but at least it is finally done!  And, I must say, it is much quicker to take a boy to the bathroom at a store than a girl (at least in one of the aspects)!  Now to work on EmmaLee . . .

Ammon's Blessing and Summer

On July 4th we blessed Ammon.  Blessings are always special, and this one was really fun as well!  As I've mentioned in early blogs, my brother and his wife had their baby, Connor, 3 days after Ammon was born.  So, when we were trying to plan when we were going to bless each of our babies, the first day that came to both of us was July 4.  But, they live in Idaho, which makes it slightly difficult to make it to both blessings!  So, after some discussion, we decided to do a double blessing at my parent's ward, which is the ward that both Nick and I spent most of our growing up years!

This is Ammon in his blessing outfit before the blessing.

This is a picture of both Ammon and Conner after the blessing.  I felt like it was pretty special and unique for my brother and I to be able to bless both of our babies on the same day, and it was fun to bless them in a ward where I knew so many people who helped shape my life!  Aren't they such cute babies!  I think they were both wondering why everyone was standing around them looking at them so much!

Ammon is getting better and better at smiling!  I never seem to be able to catch him when he is super smiley, but he's cute anyway!

Just another cute picture!

And another!

I liked this one too!

A little bit bigger smile, but not such a great angle!  I was trying to take the picture while I was holding him in my arms, and I almost missed him!  I also love how blue his eyes look in this picture!

Last Sunday we took a ride up Ogden canyon by the town of Morgan.  We found a little cemetery that has a lot of old pioneer graves just west of Morgan; I can't remember now what it was called for sure, but I think it was like Peterson, or something close to that!  It was on a bit of a hill, and it had an amazing view on pretty much every side!  So, we took a few pictures of the kids from it!  Morgan is basically right behind Eden.

Isaac at the cemetery.

And Emma's turn!

So, besides little road trips, the kids have been swimming a lot to try to keep cool this summer!  This is a cute pool Shirley bought that the kids have had fun playing in, at least until the plugs got lost! 

Cooling off!

On Friday we took a trip down to the Springville Museum for one of Rob's school class assignments.  The museum is in an awesome building (which I didn't think to take any pictures of!) and has a lot of really amazing artwork.  They also have a sculpture garden that they just completed last summer that was absolutely gorgeous!  I have decided if I ever get to have a nice backyard and I have the money to do so, it will look very similar to this garden!  This picture doesn't really show the whole look of the yard, but it was really very, very nice!  I love Isaac's "tough" pose, and the girls sweet pose!  I had thought about taking Ammon out and holding him above my head like the statue, but he was sleeping and it was hot, so we decided to pass on that, sigh, maybe next time!

So, that has been our summer for the most part.  Eden is getting ready to start 1st grade THIS TUESDAY!  I can't believe how big she is getting, and I can't believe school is already starting!  She is in year round, which is why she is already starting.  I'm glad she's on A track, because she's been off since the end of May.  If she hadn't been on A, she would have only ended school on July 2!  There are some good things about year round, but I do hate how short the summer's feel, even when on a track that either gets out early, or starts later!  The summer still feels so short!

June

So, June has come and gone, and I thought I would post some pictures from the month!

In June, I finally took Eden in to get a professional haircut.  For those who have been following this blog, you will remember that Eden had a tendency of cutting her hair when she was 3-4 years old, but hasn't cut it for a good year now.  All the butchered spots had finally started growing out longer, but her hair was kind of a wild mess of multilength hair.  So I decided it was time for a real style.  We went in, and the lady gave Eden some bangs to help with the general flow of hair.  She cut the sides so they framed her face, and left it long in the back.  It was pretty cute. Well, the problem with bangs is that they grow fast, and get into eyes.  So, this was the before shot of Eden, not long after her haircut.

Eden decided one night her bangs were in her eyes too much, so after using the restroom, she decided instead of coming out, she would give herself a quick bangs "trim", and proceded to basically cut her bangs off to the scalp!  She came out, and asked me if I noticed anything, to which I simply gasped!  Rob and I then tried to tell her that she shouldn't cut her hair, that's why we go to professionals, etc. We brought to her acknowledgement that the only people that have bangs that short are the ones with really short hair, like Isaac.  She then got upset because she didn't want to look like a boy. So, I told her we could try curling her hair and then people would not mistake her for a boy.  I also pulled some of her hair up, and it actually turned out a lot better than I had though it would!  The only down side for me is that now she thinks she has to have her hair curled everyday, so I went out and bought some sponge curlers and most every night now, after her shower, we put her curlers in so she can make sure she looks like a girl! 

This last month my kids discovered how fun stairs can be. They had the bottom of a box, and used it as a sled to slide down the stairs!  It was fun to watch them and brought back memories of when I was a kid and used all sorts of things to slide down the stairs!

I don't really know what to say about this one besides that it's hilarious!

We also made it to the Dinosaur Museum in Ogden this last month.  The kids loved it!  They are all roaring in this picture, like a dinosaur!

Layton City has several free concerts during the summer, so we went to this one which had Peter Brienholt singing.  It was a beautiful evening, and the kids loved getting out. We didn't quite make it the whole concert before Ammon got a little upset and we had to go, but it was fun while we were there!  Also, just as a side note, Isaac pretty much thinks he has to pose for most pictures, so yes, he looks like that on purpose.

This is a shot of the concert.  With our kids, we felt we would last longer sitting in the very back where they would have a little bit of room to wiggle!

And that was our month!