Nathan's First "Bigga Boya" Haircut!

I didn't tell anyone, except Emma, and then I made an appointment with Miss Teri and took Nathan to get his First "Bigga Boya" Haircut! Miss Teri works wonders with my little guy who doesn't like hair cuts. It's amazing to watch her work and cut as his head is constantly moving! I surprised Lucas and surprised myself by actually doing it. He looks so cute and so grown up!

Duck Park

We spent Wednesday afternoon at the park with our friends Michele and Aiden. We played on the equipment, Emma pushed Aiden in the swing and we fed the ducks. Oh warm weather how we love you!
Nathan feeding the ducks-

And eating stale bread too!

Emma and her braids

Nathan, Aiden and Emma

Emma's Arm

Lucas took the kids outside Sunday evening to run off some energy and then came through the door carrying a crying little girl. Emma had fallen off our slide and really hurt her arm. We iced her arm right away (with an economy pack of frozen corn) and gave her some Motrin. She calmed down enough that we decided to wait until Monday morning to take her to the Doctor. After mobility tests and an x-ray it was confirmed that there were no acute fractures. She wore a splint for 3 days straight and is now wearing it off and on throughout the day. If she is still having alot of pain by Monday morning we have to have it x-rayed again because sometimes hairline fractures don't show up right away. Her arms still bothers her at times, but there has been a huge improvement the last couple of days. Her splint has not slowed her down. Here are some pictures from the park on Tuesday morning.

Nathan and Uncle Buddie Mowing

I love this picture of Nathan and my brother mowing our lawn. It cracks me up how they are trying to talk to each other over the loud mower. Nathan followed him around all morning. Nathan loves to push his lawn mower- let's hope he continues to enjoy it through his teens!

Emma's Class Picture

Trinity Lutheran Preschool's 4 year old class 2008-2009



Pastor and Mrs. Hering
Middle: Tristan and Mollie
Sitting: Emma, Jada, Daniela

18 weeks pregnant

Wooooooo Baby!

Easter Sunday

We enjoyed a wonderful Easter Sunday! The kids each received new Bibles this morning and we started our morning off by reading the Easter story out of each of the Bibles. We had a quick breakfast and got ready for church. The service was inspirational and large! The Riverdale and Layton campus congregations praised the Lord together today and the worship team jammed out. The music was uplifting and so fitting for today. This afternoon we enjoyed Easter dinner, an Easter egg hunt and friendship at the Edwards family's pad with the Fairchild family too! Today we celebrated life, salvation, family and friendship. We hope you enjoyed your Easter too.

Baby Animal Days

We spent Saturday at Baby Animal Days in Wellsville ( just outside of Logan). The kids were able to pet and hold baby goats, lambs, ducks, chicks, bunnies and turtles. We went on a wagon ride and ate lots of fun food, the kids rode ponies, participated in the candy cannon hunt, and sat on the Easter Bunny's lap. The weather was beautiful and we had a terrific day! This is be an event we will be sure to put on our calendar for next year!

Easter Egg Dyeing Party

We hosted an Easter egg dyeing playgroup Friday afternoon in our backyard. I stayed up late boiling, and boiling and boiling eggs for the event, but it was well worth it. The kids had a blast! Emma was very careful and attentive to all her eggs. Nathan cracked half of his during the process but was very proud of them regardless. It's all about the process not the product anyway. His eggs are beautifully cracked.

Friday evening our friends, Eric, Michele and Aiden Edwards came over and brought a Yummy Famous Dave's feast! We had dinner together, put the kid's to bed and then observed Good Friday by watching The Passion of The Christ.

Famous Dave's Feast

Speed Street Go-Karts

Uncle Shane came to town to visit for a couple days. He was able to spend time with us at the house and play with the kids. We got a litte guitar playing in too! On his last night here we went down to Speedstreet in Layton to do some indoor go-cart racing. Dallas and Eric came along and we raced several times. It was a great time. Here's a photo of Shane and I before we hit the track.

The Bedtime Comic

Nathan is trying to occasionally give up his afternoon nap, but I'm not ready. I need that hour and a half to regroup my mind and relax my legs for when he does wake up. And, if any of you are thinking..."Geez Dawn, let the kid give up his nap already, he's almost 3", then I welcome you to spend a day with my busy boy and we'll see if you change your mind. I still lay him down everyday and although it takes him longer, he still falls asleep 6 out of 7 days a week.

The only problem this has created is that it also takes him longer to fall asleep at night. We have moved his bedtime from 7pm to 7:30 pm, but he is still lying awake longer now, playing in his bed, talking to cowman, kicking the wall, asking Lucas for several drinks of water and pleading with me to come in and "Holge" him.

I have to admit he is great comic relief for Lucas and I in the evening.

A few nights ago, Nathan was chattering really loud and Lucas yelled out, "Nathan, Are you in your bed?"

And we heard silence from his room, then Nathan replied, "Ummmm" (silence then pattering of feet) "Ummmm" (more pattering feet) "Ummmm" then "Sure!" Lucas and I belly laughed so hard!

What this meant to me....... My son is understanding what fibbing and lying is. He knew he would be in trouble if he said no so his funny little mind got creative. He still responded to his dad by saying UMMMMM and then told the truth (as soon as he WAS in his bed).

NWM Playgroup Easter Egg Hunt

It was a beautiful day and we spent the morning outside playing and then attended our playgroups Easter Egg Hunt! The kid's had a fun time hunting eggs in the field and then we played at the park for another hour and a half. We're sooo ready for Spring!

Emma and Nathan holding hands and standing in the back.

Preparing for Easter Sunday

I have been mentally preparing for the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus the last few days and will continue the rest of the week. It is weighing heavily on my heart this year to prepare our family this week to really read about, think about and discuss the magnitude of the events that happened in the days prior to and the event of Jesus' death and resurrection. Can you imagine the physical acts and emotional feelings Jesus must have had when he predicted what would happen to him and the strength to not to run and hide, but to await His enemies? As I reflect on these events, I am moved to great emotion by the physical and emotional strength Jesus had and what he endured for our salvation. Jesus took upon great pain and died for our sins so that we may live a new life with Our Father.

Dear Lord, May we all live our lives with gratitude and praise for what you have done for us and help us share your word with others so that they too will know the goodness of what you have done. AMEN!

Drew's Party at Kangaroo Zoo

On Saturday evening we celebrated Drew Belleson's 4th birthday at Kangaroo Zoo. The kids had a jumpin' and slidin' BLAST and are still talking about it. We were all exhausted from an action packed night. Thanks for inviting us Belleson family!

Em ridin' the Pink Dino!

Takin' a breather for a photo op!

Nathan and Kyra (Drew's little sister)

Emma and Nathan's Update!

Here's a look at some new pictures and what the kid's are up to.....

Nathan is as funny as ever and talks constantly. He does ask a lot of questions, but mainly he just talks about whatever he is doing. He has come up with his own funny words lately and gets right in your face and says something silly like booah booah booah or ahhhhh juishy juishy juishy and then laughs hysterically at himself. He cracks us up so much! He knows all his colors, the ABC song, can pick out some letters and numbers and is starting to sit and draw and color for more that 10 seconds. He prays at dinner time and bedtime on his own and usually it goes something like this. “Dear Lord, Thank you (for) our blessings. Keep (us) in (our) time of need. Help us to be good children. AAAAAAmen.” He squints his eyes the whole time instead of actually closing them. It is really hard to close our own eyes during his prayer because it is soooo cute to watch. He is still Mr. busy. The kid still doesn’t stop. He’s always moving. I guess this explains how he still takes a 1 ½ hour nap in the afternoon and sleeps from 7:30 pm-7 am. He sings a lot! But the funny thing is - he prefers to sing songs like Jesus Messiah or Holy, Holy, Holy instead of a traditional children’s song. He enjoys playing with his big sister and she enjoys that he takes direction well from her. I often catch them playing house and they actually have dialogue going back and forth now. Way cute! He still loves his play dough, trains, cars and trucks and has lately really been into animals and babies.

Here is Nathan comforting Emma's "Baby Amy".

Emma is growing up emotionally. She is starting to get embarrassed at times and her feelings get hurt very easily. Her heart seems tender as she grows into a little girl. She doesn’t shrug things off like she used to. Lucas and I continue to build her confidence and encourage her to talk to us about her feelings and go to prayer. She still enjoys dressing herself and we continue to let her unless it is a sundress when it’s snowing outside etc. She changes 5 times a day, but is getting better about hanging her clothes back up instead of putting them in the laundry. She is physically talented and is still doing well in ice skating. She would love to take a dance class, but we have had a hard time finding a program that has classical ballet for her young age or at least a fundamental class that does not have what Lucas and I would consider “inappropriate steps and costumes” for a 4-year-old. I took her to a gymnastics gym a couple of weeks ago and she was so comfortable on the equipment and the coaches were surprised she had never had any training. It’s so hard to find a balance and not get her involved in too much because she would enjoy and excel at so many things. So for now we will stick with preschool and ice skating and maybe pickup a gymnastics class or T-Ball this summer. She still continues to love crafts, reading and imaginative play with all her babies, animals and dress up outfits.

Here is Emma in one of her "outfits" and her babies.

Happy Birthday Great Grandma Nola, Annie and Drew!

Happy Birthday to Great- Grandma Nola (Gramma Ola as the kid's call her)! We love and miss you very, very much and we'll keep your age a secret! I love this picture of Emma and Grandma playing in the jewelry drawer at Grandma's house. I loved doing this as a child too!

Nothing is off limits at Grandma's house and the kid's love to make themselves right at home.
Happy Birthday to our beautiful niece, Annie, as she celebrates her 1st Birthday today!

Lucas gets to see her and spend today with her as he flew to Tucson this morning to teach a class at the Granite branch there. Don't forget to give her tons of Hugs and Kisses from us! xoxoxoxox

We love you Annie!

Emma and Nathan also have a friend that is celebrating his 4th Birthday today!

Happy Birthday Drew! You are one handsome Stud!

Emma as Goldilocks and Drew as Batman last Halloween.

It's a ........

GIRL! Well, we’re 95% sure, anyway. We had our 15 ½ week appointment with my midwife, Machel Knowles, on March 26th and here is how it played out! Lucas had to teach a class at the Las Vegas branch so he was unable to make it and when I tried to reschedule the office would not have been able to get me in for another week. We were all so anxious since we knew we might be able to find out if we were welcoming a little daughter or son into our lives so we kept my original appointment and daddy kept his cell phone glued to his ear waiting for our call. Machel started the ultrasound machine up and made sure Emma and Nathan could see. She takes so much time with them helping to make sure they can see and explaining what we are looking at on the screen. Machel joked that we should be able to tell unless the cord was right between the baby’s legs and guess what - that is exactly where the cord was, but she was pretty sure she was able to see some girl indications. “95% sure it’s a Girl,” she exclaimed.

I couldn’t believe how much our little one had grown since the last ultrasound!
Emma is ecstatic – she wanted a sister! We’re having a daughter!

Here is a stock picture of a baby at 16 weeks.

Emma and Nathan prior to the appointment in the waiting room.

Emma and I were so excited we could hardly stand it and Nathan was just playing!

Eccles Dinosaur Park

On Saturday March 21st, we enjoyed an afternoon at the Eccles Dinosaur Park. Emma was invited to her friend and fellow classmate, Tristan’s, pirate birthday party there so I stayed with her at the party and Lucas and Nathan toured the park together. I took a picture of Emma before we left for the party and then handed the camera off to Lucas when we got to the park. Lucas took several funny pictures of their afternoon together. I can’t believe they were not kicked out of the park! Looks like they went over the ropes several times for a “good shot” – those two are so daring!

Emma dressed as Cinderella heading to the Pirate Birthday Party.

Nathan playing with the dinosaurs!

Daddy turned 31 on March 10th!

Daddy turned 31 on March 10th! He had to work and then Emma had ice skating so we all got home late and popped some chicken nuggets and fries in the oven for dinner, but made it up to him my making his favorite cake...a better than *** cake.

I thought it would be fun to interview the kids and ask them why their Daddy was so special:

Nathan said, "I like to play, play, play". And yes, that is true, Lucas definently plays with his children. He's always up for some crazy made up game the kids want to play.

My daddy is #1!

Emma had a few more ideas.....Emma likes to ride the bull (her daddy) on the trampoline, talk about something (especially sharks) after books and prayers at bedtime, play tickle torture and wrestle, go fishing, have a dance party, play the guitar and sing and go ice skating together. Dance Paaaarrrrrrttttttyyyyyyy! And why do I think he's great...well, he's super Hot of course! He's patient, easy-going, fun to be around, considerate, giving, loyal and strong (Big muscles and of strong good character). He's also the spiritual leader in our home and has taught our children to love God, that Jesus died on the cross for us and how to pray in thankfullness and for others. He's a hands-on dad and enjoys everything about his children. He takes over when he gets home from work playing, giving them baths and putting them to bed. Happy Birthday Daddy! We Love you!