Our New Addition....

Well, we are super excited to announce that we are expecting another baby!! I am about 8 weeks pregnant and will be due sometime in Feb. Overall, I feel pretty good - just really tired and I need to eat all the time so I don't feel sick. Ethan and Eli are pretty excited too. Ethan said if it is a girl we should name her Goldilocks. He recently said, "I will be happy if it is a girl or a boy." Yeah for child #3!!!

Happy Father's Day!!!

Happy Father's Day to my sweet husband and father of my children! The kids gave Tim some gifts that they picked out all by themselves. First they picked out some cookie cutters since they love to cook with him. Then, Ethan bought a little bought to plant some seeds in. They love to work in the garden with Daddy. Then, they each got an apron to wear as they cook together. Tim's says "super dad" and the kids say "super kid." Then they made frosting together for yummy carrot cake! Tim is the best dad ever and I am so blessed to have him as my sweet husband. The kids love him and love hanging out with their dad.

Singin' in the Rain

On June 8, 2009 it rained so hard, so we went outside and enjoyed it! We played and danced and sang in the rain. We got soaking wet, but we had a blast doing it! We followed the gutters down the street to the storm drain and watched the water empty into it. Ethan then started throwing sticks and rocks into the drain and making wishes. His wishes were so cute: "I wish I could be with my family forever," " I wish my family would never die," " I wish we can always be happy!" It was a fun day!

Cookie Cutters Hair Cuts

So, on June 4, 2009, I took the boys to get their hair cut at a place called Cookie Cutters. It was so fun for them. They both did really well sitting in the little fire engine and watching a movie while they got their haircut. There was even a little indoor playground for them to climb on while they waited. After they were done, they each got a balloon and a cookie cutter! Definitely a fun experience!

Iowa Trip (Days 9-10)

DAY 9

Well, it was time for us to head home again. We had a great time visiting with Tim's parents and seeing lots of amazing things.

Tim and his mom!
Eli with his first car surprise - a hotwheels car!

Taking a break to run around at a rest stop. It was a beautiful field with corn rows in the background.

Ethan with another car surprise - a dustpan and broom - they actually loved this surprise!

DAY 10

On the way home, we got pulled over by a policeman for speeding - oops! Ethan saved the day, however. Ethan rolled down his window in the backseat when the policeman came to the car.

Ethan: "Hello Mr. Policeman. How are you? Would you like a rice krispy treat?"

Ethan was very polite and friendly. The cop then asked if we were on vacation and where we had been, etc. He went back to his car and came back with a warning for us. Thanks to Ethan and his good manners and sharing we got out of a speeding ticket!! What a great ending to our awesome family vacation!!

Iowa Trip (Days 7-8)

DAY 7

On Tuesday, May 26, we took a trip to Nauvoo! I was so excited to go back to where I served my performing mission. It was great to be able to have my family there with me! We were able to see all four shows offered and see lots of the sights where I gave tours as a missionary. The kids were pretty tired at the end of the day, but they did great!

I gave tours of the Nauvoo Family Living Center. I showed kids how to make candles and now my kids were learning the same thing from another missionary - kind of a neat circle of life!
Ethan learning how to make rope.

Making candles with a sister missionary!

Our family in front of the Cultural Hall - I gave tours of this building as well.

The Yearsley Home where the Young Performing Sister Missionaries lived - ahhh the memories!

The Nauvoo brick yard

Tim's dad, Tim and Eli at the blacksmith shop

Ethan and Eli had the most fun climbing on the fences. I sure love my boys!

Brigham Young's Home. My favorite place to give tours. There is such a neat spirit in that home.

A Nauvoo sunstone with the temple in the background.

A beautiful picture of the Nauvoo Temple. As a missionary I got to help paint the window frames of the star windows!!

Ethan watching one of the missionary shows!

I love Nauvoo! Remember Nauvoo!

DAY 8

We visited the John Deer Tractor museum on Wednesday. The kids loved climbing all over the huge tractors.

Ethan and Grandpa on a big tractor.

Tim dreaming of owning this riding lawn mower, snowblower and tractor combo.

It is taller than Ethan!

Happy little vegetables!!

Iowa Trip (Days 5-6)

DAY 5

Sunday was a nice, relaxing day. We went to church where Tim and I sang in sacrament meeting and Tim gave a talk. Ethan loved going to primary at Grandma and Grandpa's ward. The teachers said he was very cute. They even asked him if he would give the prayer in his Sunbeams class and he went up to the front of the room and kneeled down and said his prayer. The teacher conveyed this story to me and said that Ethan was so adorable. I am very proud of him that he kneeled down, but maybe we need to help him understand the difference between your personal prayers and praying in groups. :)

DAY 6

Tim and his dad started off Monday by golfing. They had a great time together and the weather was pretty nice for them.

Later that day, we went to a beautiful park where Tim's brother, Pat, built a bridge for his Eagle project. It was a big bridge with concrete supports and everything - good job Pat!

That night for family night, we watched a pioneer movie and then we all dressed up in silly clothes. We ALL had a great time. It was fun to get all silly together!

The final family pose!

Our Trip to Iowa (Days 1-4)

We just got back from an incredible family vacation to Iowa to visit Tim's parents. We drove 2 days of 10 hours each and actually really enjoyed the journey. We took so many pictures and did a lot of fun things, so I think I will post everything according to the day. This will be a long post so I understand if you just skip it altogether. :)

DAY 1

Ethan and Eli sure loved their little hand held fans during the LONG car drive. We had a little bag full of surprises that they would receive every few hours (or as needed)!!! The little fans were their favortie surprise.

A cute picture of Ethan eating one of our many car meals!!

We finally arrived at our hotel in North Platte, Nebraska. I never thought I would be so happy to arrive in Nebraska!! We played in the pool, ate chocolate chip cookies and fell asleep in the big hotel beds. I asked Ethan that night what his favorite thing about the trip was that day, he said in his usual, wild enthusiasm "EVERYTHING!!!" It was a fun day!!

DAY 2

We stopped in Des Moines, Iowa to visit Tim's brother James. It was a nice visit, but too short!

We stopped again in Ames, Iowa to visit James' family. We had a great time visiting with Brittany and her kids. The cousins loved playing together - again it was too short of a visit.

We finally made it to Davenport, Iowa where Tim's folks live.

It was nice to finally arrive at our destination!

DAY 3

We all went on a great bike ride. We rented bikes from the military base where Tim's dad works. We even rented two bike carts that the kids could ride in. I think biking is now my new favorite kind of exercise.

Kathy and I very neatly tucked our pant legs into our socks to avoid them getting caught in the bike chains. I know - we are lookin' HOT!

The boys, however, decided to roll up their pants to their knees - ooooh lookin' good!

We rode along the Mississippi River. The kids even got to touch their first fish.

It was a beautiful day.

That night, we all went bowling. Kathy even bowled her best game ever!! Eli was pretty grumpy, I think all of the driving finally caught up to him!

DAY 4

We started the day off with Grandpa taking Ethan for a ride on his scooter. I was a little nervous, but Ethan held on tight and they just went around the block. Ethan had a great time!!!

Later that day, we all went to the children's museum. We even got in free with our Utah children's museum pass - yeah! We had a fun time with all of the different exhibits and toys.

Eli's "excited beyond containment" face!!!

Ethan playing dress up in the costumes

Grandma and Grandpa playing checkers and Ethan happily watching
Tim and I "pretending" to play checkers!

Eating yummy corn on the cob for dinner. We all love corn on the cob - especially Ethan and Eli as it turned out!

That night, we all played shuleback. It is a game David and Kathy brought back from Europe. The kids had a great time and Ethan actually played really well.