Six Month Milestones...

It's hard to believe six months ago today we brought home our little bundle of joy! How he has changed our family's life...weighing only six pounds, we thought that was soooo tiny and instantly he grew to a whopping eighteen pounds, so happy to be around brother and sister, is now liking rice cereal, still getting up four to five times a night, is sitting up on his own almost (leans forward because of that belly), rolling himself over almost (that belly gets in the way), everything that touches his hands goes straight to the mouth, grows rolls by the day, hearing toots when his belly is squeezed, laughing outloud, loves bathes (except soap in his eyes...thanks Ryker), loves being naked, and my most favorite...this little guy has dark BROWN eyes like his mama! Sorry so many things, but if I don't write them down I will forget the things we love at six months! Likes the bumbo seat for three and a half minutes, before it cuts off circulation to his thighs

Enjoying his only solid so far...rice cereal

Little Ledgie

Showing off his rollie pollie's

One week old

Western Days...

A little western days fun...watching the parade, enjoying some McDonald's breakfast. They gave out candy, frisbees, flowers, it was a good one this year! It was also my aunt Connie's birthday so we sang as loud as we could during the parade. I can't beleive I didn't get a picture of you on your special day Con. We had great weather, and enjoyed the rest of the day with lawn mowing, and a bbq with the neighborhood.

Preschool Graduate 2009!

Ryker showing his friend Brinley his memory book
The Program
Ryker with his teacher Ms. Sharon (the greatest teacher on earth)

Memories of Preschool...

The first day you were so excited to go because that is what sissy was doing too. The shortest one out of eight friends but that was okay. You made a lot of friends and fell in love with your teacher. Then towards the middle of the year you became mom's shadow and didn't want to leave home, even for preschool fun. So mom promised if you went to preschool we could go and get a hot dog at Costco (every Tues. and Thurs.). Then Ledgie came and you really were stubborn about staying home. You would remove all of your clothes as I was starting the car to take you. I remember daddy coming and taking you in the car kicking and screaming hoping to stay home with your new brother. Then finally a break through...you LOVED preschool. Every show n tell you took something animal, or hunting, such as bullets, antlers, racoon hides, we even took a butterfly that we raised to a cocoon, it hatched that day and you were the talk of preschool for weeks! It was hard on mom and you, somedays tougher than it was worth, but we made it and for that I am very proud of you! Way to go Ryker. Finally your wish has come true and you get to spend every day with mom, sissy, and ledger. Your done with School!

Happiest Day of My Life...

10:00 am, Twelve Years ago today, Shane and I were kneeling across the alter from each other in the Mount Timpanogos Temple. I'll never forget being so nervous sitting together in the Celestial room waiting for our guests to arrive. Both of us in white knowing we were going to be together forever. There was no turning back when the temple worker peeked in and said "we're ready! I grabbed Shane by the hand and the rest is history. It has been the best twelve years of my life. Each day is better than the last, and we have come sooooo far since day one! I couldn't of chosen a more perfect mate for eternity! Thank you babe for sticking by for twelve, I hope you can endure to the end...It will be worth it. I love you, Liss

9 LIVES...

You will never believe this story...I loaded up the kids to go to lunch and noticed our gray cat ontop of my sequoia. He wouldn't come down, so I started the car and backed out slowly thinking he will get nervous and jump off. I finally threw it in park and got out to check to make sure he got out of the way (we haved killed four cats, by the car tire in the last six months mind you). I walked all the way around and thought he must of jumped off and ran around the side of the house. I reversed almost to the curb and pushed the garage door button for it to close. Still reversing and making sure the garage door wouldn't crush a cat, I noticed a big gray fur ball coming down with the door on the outside of the garage panels hanging from the top. It was the last panel to close and happened so fast I just sat there in aw thinking how did he get up there. Then I hear Hallie scream in the back seat, seeing the garage shut all the way closed and there is a big gray body hanging from the top of the garage with no head showing, just a jittery body and tail. Franticly, I pushed the garage button, didn't work, I must have been too far back, pushed it again and again, watching this body dangling knowing it would come down without a head. Last push and it finally opened, I see a big gray body drop to the concrete, from ten feet high, and thank goodness, make a dash for the side of the house. I already had my foot on the gas ready to make a get away knowing he would be dead. Seeing him run off I thought I'll wait for Shane to get home to find him and he can bury him. Shaking all the way to Subway trying to get Hallie under control, I couldn't stop replaying the horrific scene we all watched. The cat had to of jumped up onto the garage inside paneling and sat there until it the door started to move and probably walked with it to stay on until it got to the last panel and had no where to go. SMASH! What a dumb cat! Coming home from Subway I prepared Hallie knowing there is no way the outcome would be good. We looked almost the rest of the afternoon and into the evening, no gray cat, who the kids call Socks. I put the kids to bed, looked out the back door on my way downstairs and there is the gray cat getting a drink out of the dogs dish. I ran outside and couldn't believe it's neck wasn't broke, or hairloss, nothing, not even a scratch! I wish I would of gotten my cell phone and taken a picture from the car, no one will ever believe the sight of it. I will be having nightmares for the next week seeing a big gray body with a long tail dangling at the top of our garage door. Hallie is alseep, but I can't wait to see the look on her face in the morning when she sees Socks really does have at least two lives!

A Tribute to Our Mother's:

We wanted to wish our mother's a very special Mother's Day...

I couldn't beleive when I found this picture, my great grandmother, my grandmother and my dad (the handsome one), and then me. Four generation photo. I thought it was perfect for mother's day. My grandma was raised by a wonderful lady, I don't know much about her, I just know you don't get much better than my grandma, so she must have been taught well. I am so appreciative of my grandmother raising a great son (my dad), I look to him as my example and owe her that credit. I feel so lucky to have her in my life and my kids get to share our memories too. She is so fun to be around, a great example of unconditional love, ALWAYS cheerful, and happy. Thank you for being my Idaho mother. We love you and wish you a happy Mother's Day

This beautiful lady is Shane's mother, Betty. This photo was taken the day Shane left for New York on his mission. Betty is wonderful. She is a very talented person, from sewing, to quilting, to decorating, to city council woman, she has done it all! She is an outstanding grandmother to thirteen grandchildren and has raised a son that I couldn't live my life without! He is the glue to our family and has many, many traits from his mother. She is very likable, I've never met anyone with so many friends. Anyone who meets her, loves her! Betty, you have taken me in as one of your own, and for that I am most greatful. We love you very much and wish we could be there to give you a hug on this special Mother's Day!

This is my beautiful mother on my wedding day twelve years ago. She is such a very classy lady, always looks beautiful and ten years younger than she is. She is a very gifted woman. Some of my fondest memories were just going out to lunch, or shopping together. We were inseprable for many years, she was my children's second mom. She has always been a leader in my life, she has served in many positions in church, held a Mrs. Utah title, raised five children, a beautician, and always my cheerleader. Whatever she did she accomplished to the fullest and then moved on to the next accomplishment. I miss the relationship we use to have but wanted her to know I'll be thinking of her on this Mother's Day. We have gone our seperate ways but she will always be my mother.

Shane's Fishing Fun

Shane had a great time fishing this last weekend with some of his buddies. They went up north and caught a whole bunch. He needed a break from work and I'm glad he had fun. Looks like he still has the touch!

Another Sewing Creation...

Hallie's second sewing project: Pillowcase

I loved the fabric she picked out...it turned out really cute.

Matches her room and everything. Her teacher

embroidered her name in glow in the dark thread

on the pink cuff and that is fun in the dark.

Next up...hot pad!

Best Buddies

These are my two shadows all day, everyday really. Ryker is such a great older brother. He is constantly letting Ledgie know throughout the day that he will teach him to shoot birds, go pee pee in the potty, share his dinosaurs, show him how to shoot his slingshot, let him hold his knife, teach him how to hunt big bucks, and sing him his ABC's. They are the best of friends and we will see if Ryker lives up to his promises in a couple more years. It has become so fun to see them interact with each other, until Ry gets carried away with the loves and Ledgie can't breath!

Three different Nests

Kildare birds make their nest in the rocks
Red Finch nest of four in one tree

Red Finch nest of five in another tree


Ryker and I were wondering around the yard yesterday and noticed as we came by our tree that a finch flew out of it, I looked up and noticed a nest was built. We of course got the ladder to take a closer look and found four tiny, very tiny eggs. I hoisted Ryker up to see and he almost grabbed the nest right out of the tree. He wants to bring it inside to see the birds hatch. For the next three and a half hours I am trying to explain to him we can't touch it or the mama bird won't come back. He then exclaims "we'll just shoot her with my slingshot" (he is his dad's son). Four hours later we had to show sissy and daddy our discovery. While I was walking around the back side of our home another finch got up, and her nest has five eggs in it. Very cool to see a nest let alone to think of how birds build their nests with only their beak, how long that would take. Then to think babies hatch and survive Idaho wind is just a miracle. As most of you know I am a nest lover and wanted to share our discovery. More updates to come as Ryker wants to check the nests every fifteen minutes. Hopefully we will have babies soon!
Oh yeah, the eggs in the rocks we stumbled on, Ryker got his bb gun out and wanted to go and gun down these kildare out front and the mother came charging at us, I thought it was odd and got a little closer after Ryker shewed her off with a couple of shots (missing of course) and found these eggs, and what seems to be a nest out of twigs right in the Rocks! What a dumb bird, meanwhile our cats are on the hunt. We probably won't get pics of these babies, I have heard they leave the nest after only one day! Amazing how life is for nature!