Me & My Cousin Cael

Jonathan has a cousin Cael that lives a couple of days' drive from here - so we haven't seen him in some time. A few months ago, we told Jonathan that he would get to see his Cousin Cael at his grandpa's wedding. Since then, we hear about the activities of the two of them almost daily.

"Jonathan, who taught you to do that?" I ask as he opens his mouth and show me all his food.
"My Cousin Cael," he responds.

"Jonathan, where are you going?"
"Me and my cousin Cael are going to go fishing with hangers."

"My cousin Cael is my friend. We hunt bears and rock monsters."

So, I've decided that my son has an imaginary, REAL friend. We are anxious to hear about the upcoming adventures of Jonathan and his "cousin Cael" and even more excited to see if any of them come true when Jonathan plays with the real Cousin Cael later this summer.

Happy 1st Birthday Mathew!

A short two months after Garrett and me...
Dave & Mel had the same ceremony.
They started their lives together as two
And just what would follow, nobody knew.

Along came little Brooke, cute as could be.
And then the small family had grown to three.
But this was not to be the end of that.
Dave had not had his fill of baby fat.

Brooke got a brother in little Mathew
This easy going type made Melanie say, "Phew!"
Every day, he gets even more handsome.
Even Brooke wouldn't sell him for randsom.

For today marks his first year here below.
And my, how this little "pumpkin" did grow.
We're so excited to see what will be
With this little chubby cheeked darling sweetie!

Happy Birthday Matthew - You'll be honored in our first b-day party living near family! WAHOO!!!!

Happy Birthday, Uncle Dave!

Again I've come to write a rhyme
But it's for Uncle Dave this time.
Not to be confused with David
His poem - for another day sav-ED.


For Dave has turned the big THIRTY
One might say - His hands are dirty
In that well-known garden of age
Turning the well-nourished greens into sage.

One talent of his is listening - for sure!

His interest definitely appears to be pure.

You'll find him sitting way back in the back
Listening kindly to all that do talk.

For Dave, wisdom shines from within

And radiates from his eybrows to chin.

We love you Dave and we're so glad you're part
Of our family and we were from the start!

Happy Birthday - We hope your day is fantastic!

Cowboy Jon

I'd like to introduce Cowboy Jon. Grandpa took Jonathan out on the farm with his cowboy hat and he came back Cowboy Jon and I was renamed "Cowboy Mommy". He could hardly hold still to have his picture taken - What a fun little kid! It was raining outside and poor Grandpa was such a good sport.

We're here!

Well...we said goodbye to our home on Saturday (Big thanks to Uncle Joseph, Grandpa Eugene and Grandma Doreen, and some wonderful ward members and neighbors) - about lunch time - and drove to our storage units (near my parent's home). We had some great help and were quickly unloaded thanks to my cousin's boys and a good friend of our family's, as well as my parents. We came back to the house and unloaded the last of our stuff and the wood. It was a long and exhausting day - hard on the boys.....but we survived!

Now comes the time of decisions.....Where to live? Where to work? What house to buy? etc....

Stay tune....

Your Call Is Important to Us

I will not be blogging for the next little while, unless I can sneak one in, as we are moving. Once we're moved in with my parents and get set up again, I'll make another post - probably by Memorial Day weekend.

Congratulations to our Graduate!

Garrett would be receiving his Associate of Science degree today. With the move and not knowing where we'd be today, we opted out of attending. We sent cards out (free ones that the school provided) to our parents and grandparents (and gave one to the boys for their scrapbooks that I need to do someday...). Along with the card, we sent this poem:

As you can see quite plainly from the note
In fancy letters and elegantly “wrote”,
Garrett’s finished his associate of science degree.
This card’s inviting you to a fancy ceremony.

But, the truth is – we don’t really care
If you and yours don’t want to be there.
Because we’re not going – this fan club adoring -
To another meeting that’s likely to be boring.

But we wanted to spread the good news to you all.
And maybe you can give the new grad a call.
Garrett would say, “Oh, it’s not a big deal.”
“They don’t want to be bothered”….you know the drill.

Garrett’s so modest and happier quietly hidden
Big parties and hoopla are strictly forbidden.
So maybe a pat on the back you could sneak
Or try to slip him a great big kiss on the cheek.

Congrats to Garrett - We're so proud of you!

Thanks Aunt Carla!

Crazy enough - Jacob fit into the darling outfit that Aunt Carla gave him (6-9 months) and you can see how happy his is to be wearing new clothes!

This is my little man!

Lying and Dying

I took Jonathan to the doctor the other day. He has been running funny ever since he fell from the monkey bars at the playground. Across the street from the doctor's office is a train on display, along w/some picnic tables and a swirly slide. Well, Jonathan wanted to play at the park after his appointment. It was cold and I told him that we would go for a drive and when Jacob fell asleep, we would go to the park. I drove for a VERY short time and asked Jonathan, "Is Jacob asleep?" to which he promptly responded, "Yes!" Well, I had my doubts and I asked "Is this the truth or a lie?" He said it was the truth and I went back to the park. Jacob was awake.

I asked again (while I looked AT Jacob who was kicking and playing), "Jonathan, it's important to tell the truth. Is Jacob asleep or awake?" "He's asleep," was the reply. Getting really frustrated, I got back in the car and said that we wouldn't be able to go to the park unless Jonathan could tell the truth (switching horses midstream). Jonathan continues to insist that he's asleep. Finally, after some tears, he finally admitted he was awake and we went to the park. Consequently, on the way there, Jacob really did go to sleep and Jonathan made the announcement that he was asleep, to which we had the 2nd celebration of truth telling.

Well, when we got home, we had scripture study and the chapter that we "lucked" out on was the Jacob and Sherem chapter. To tell the truth (as I'm encouraging my son to do), I didn't remember Sherem's story until I got into it. Jacob was a priest in the church and Sherem was a man that began teaching the people not to believe in Christ and many believed him. He challenged Jacob and asked him for a sign that Christ would come.

Jacob told Sherem that he already knew in his heart that Christ would come and didn't need a sign, but that if God struck Sherem, that would be his sign. Sherem immediately fell down and couldn't get up for many days. He realized he was going to die and asked the people to get together, where he explained that he had lied and that Christ was going to come. Then, he died.

Well, scripture study time that day was not as rowdy as normal, but Jonathan's eyes were huge, and it wasn't until close to the end of the story that I remembered how it ended and I find myself racking my brain for a way to explain how important it is to tell the truth without conveying that people who lie get sick and die. It made me laugh a little after, but I think he caught on to the point.

All day today and yesterday, he has been asking to learn about "faith." He must have had a lesson in primary on faith, because it isn't something that I've tackled yet. Last night's (crazy) family home evening was on reverence in church (a well-needed lesson). We'll see if it sinks in on Sunday when I'll be alone with the three boys for our last Sunday before the move!

Wrapped up like a burrito!

This is Jacob's favorite way to sleep - all wrapped up. He likes being able to play too, but when it's time to sleep, wrap him up and out he goes!

Happy Birthday Ben!

As has been my new tradition since the dawning of this spring,
I like to wish Ben a Happy Birthday! - tho' computers cannot sing,
And add the warmest words of well wishing to this quiet man
Who's lovingly charmed our sweet Amanda - of my husband's clan.

In our few breif visits, you've been such a pleasure to get to know
And in the many years to come, this friendships sure to grow.
You're so sweet to our red-haired nephew - also humble and kind.
Your great, big smile, from ear to ear, is another delightful find.

We didn't know on that day long ago, when you were sent to Earth,

Just how our lives would later be blessed by that particular birth!

We want you to know we're glad you're part of our growing family.

You're always welcome in our home - wherever that ends up to be!

Our Crazy Weather

The first pictures with the baseball equipment were taken yesterday and these, in the snow, were taken today. As they say in Wyoming, "If you don't like the weather......wait."

Parenting: Question and (hopefully) Answer

I've started studying and using the Love & Logic parenting. I really like the concept of letting children have as many "natural consequences" as possible. But I've run into a dilemna - What do you do for fighting. Lately - this is the scenario: Jonathan bosses and demands all the cool stuff until Gabe hits him. I can't decide what a natural consequence for Jonathan should be. Gabe can't talk yet....so I'm stuck. Please give me any ideas that have worked for you.

If you're not familiar with Love and Logic - here's an example of natural consequences from Jim Fay's latest email:

Like many 12-year-old boys, wearing gloves in even a cold Wisconsin winter was not "cool." In his attempt to avoid the temptation to do so, he "lost" them-they were nowhere to be found. In the winter, about his only source of income is snow removal. This particular year in Wisconsin it was cold with record snow. On one occasion Donovan was to shovel and I "noticed" he didn't have any gloves. He said he didn't need any; however, the temperature was below 20 degrees and the steel handle on the snowblower was the same. After about five minutes, Donovan asked if he could use my gloves. I acknowledged the fact that cold hands are miserable and that although I would not lend my gloves, I would rent them to him for fifty cents. When I paid Donovan for his work, the envelope had a bit of math on it: $10.00 for the work he did on the driveway minus fifty cents for the glove rental. That was on a Sunday. Interestingly enough, the next day Donovan "found" his gloves. One was in his school locker, the other was under his bed. He had this same pair ready for the rest of the season.

Happy Birthday Aunt Jenn!

My parents had five lovely girls and just one handsome guy,
So for the perfect sister-in-law, there was really only one try.
Joseph was the first one engaged in Summer two thousand one,
And the start of welcoming new in-laws suddenly begun.

Jenn truly set the standard high – a mix of sweetness and wit.
Truly, for my only brother, she has been the perfect fit.
And to this family full of girls was added not-your-average dame
A noble woman – full of strength – beneath a charming frame.

With an almost-4-year-old & twins – just starting now to waddle,
We’re sure your special day won't be of the perfect, restful model.
But we hope your day is full of joy – this birthday wish we send.
I’m proud to call you sister! We love you lots and lots, Aunt Jenn!

Pop-Cycles

Jonathan thinks of popsicles as a spin of of the word motor-cycle. Yesterday was so nice, I sent both boys outside with a red popsicle. Jonathan loved them and ended up eating most of Gabe's too. Jonathan told me later that his hands had blood on them...

Sporting the Belt

As you can see, the boys are sporting belts. They keep their "camping knifes" and their sword (possibly confused for the broom) in them. It is the latest craze here. My boys are "all boys".

Happy Birthday Maggie!

Little cousin Maggie is one year old
Delightful as can be - of her it's told.
Trying to keep up with her older sister Tess
But still not quite as quick in making lots of mess.
And so we wish her well - on this her birthday.
And hope soon to live closer - Hip Hip Horray!

Mother's Day is coming!

This is great - Thanks to Natalie for posting it on her blog!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxT5NwQUtVM

Jonathan's Proprosing Marriage and Peek-a-Boo

These are just random photos. Jonathan and Gabe in their latest sunglasses (which are now broke).
Gabe and Jonathan at Grandpa Eugene's house.
Yesterday, I told Jonathan that usually people marry someone close to their age. So Jonathan decided that when Rachel (his cousin) grows up, he's going to marry her "in the temple".

And Gabe's saying, "Peek-A-Boo" - something I could never get Jonathan to say. To each his own...

Our Mini Vacation

We started our little vacation by taking a load of our stuff to a storage unit by my parent's home. We stayed the night at Grandpa Eugene's and picked up a bed before going on to the storage unit. Carol and Bryan and their family came over, along with Uncle Josph and Aunt Necha and family. It was fun to see the progress of Carol and Bryan's home and how all the kids have grown.

The next day, Dad and Garrett unloaded the uhaul. We went back to the house and took a fun trip down memory lane by taking the boys out onto the farm (sadly, I forgot my camera). Then, a lot of my family showed up - all of them except Stephanie - and we ate a yummy meal. Sunday, we went to church with Grandma and Grandpa Z. Jonathan braved his first class away from home and did ok after the treats came around. Monday, Jonathan and Gabe stayed with Grandma Z while Garrett, Jacob and I took a look at some property and potential employment for Garrett. That night, we left for Grandma Vickie and Grandpa Darrell's home.
Tuesday night, Shawn and Carissa came over for dinner. Garrett grilled some chicken and Mom made her famous potato salad. Aunt Diane and Uncle Jerry and one of their boys came over. We got a nice group picture - thanks to the them.
That night, we left for Grandpa Eugene's where we also got to see Uncle Joseph. Jonathan and Uncle Joseph played some "duets". As you can see, Jonathan thought that was pretty neat!
The boys shimmied over to Grandpa Eugene and posed for a picture....
....and then, Uncle Joseph started tickling them both.It was a fun week, but it's been nice to be at home to enjoy our last few weeks before we leave our home for new adventures elsewhere!