Daniel's 34th Birthday

March 23rd, 1975 was the day Daniel was born! Doesn't that seem like a long time ago? Just kidding, Daniel! Daniel had to spend most of his day at work, but he did get breakfast and dinner with the family, and the night before some friends of ours watched the girls so that we could go out. Here are some of his celebration pictures!

Did you know that Daniel loves to be sung to in public! He was loving me at this moment too!

Don't worry, the fire extinguisher was ready!

Hanging With Some Friends

Its always fun to hang out with friends. The other day we spent some time with the Finney's picnicing and playing in the water, and the kids just played for hours. Its amazing how nature is so intriguing to little kids. No TV, music, or schedule activities. Just good, old pretend play. The sun was hot and the water was freezing, but the kids loved it! Days like this make me truly believe we would be better off with out a TV!

Taylin

Rayna

Isaac

Hannah

A Few Days with the Family

In light of this being spring break, I met my sister and her clan at my parents house for a few days. The girls had a blast, they love any time they can get with their cousins. We didn't do anything too exciting, it was just nice being able to hang out and not really have a huge agenda. We spent a lot of time playing cards, BBQing at the lake, hiking, fishing, playing at the park, and lots of wrestling and cuddling. Here are some snaps of us at the Lake.

Everybody loves skipping rocks

Our little Kaylee is becoming a teenager, she 13!

Taylin attempted the fishing and then decided it was better to just watch the pro.

As usual, Rayna's into mischief climbing up the wall at the lake!

Happy Birthday Jaden

Today was Jaden's 6th birthday. Its hard to believe that its been six years. When I look at my family, there are definite indicators that tell, why yes its been six years, but when I remember the day, its only seems like yesterday. Six years ago I clung to the saying that time would heal my broken heart. I guess there is some truth to that, but my broken heart has changed. It is not the same as it was six years ago. Six years ago I grieved for my infant son. Today, I grieve for my 6 year old boy.

Its hard to imagine what our family would look like with Jaden here, its even harder to picture what he would look like today. When Taylin was six weeks old my grandmother passed away. God sent me a beautiful vision on the morning of her funeral. I saw my grandmother and grandfather (who passed away 3 years before) with healthy beautiful faces and my precious little Jaden in between them. He was about 15 months old with floppy brown hair, Taylin's little brown eyes, Rayna's button nose, and of course our families chubby cheeks. That vision has held me for a long time, but now I find myself wanting more. A six year old looks a lot different from a 15 month old.

We spent the day with the girls remembering Jaden with what are now our traditions. We go and pick out balloons, bring them to the gravesite, and let them go. Its our way of sending balloons up to him on his birthday. Then we have a picnic there. The girls and I made a birthday cake for him and we sang "Happy Birthday" to him tonight. The girls honestly love his birthday. Its a true celebration for them, not necessarily a day of sadness. Although, this year they were convinced that Jaden needed a birthday party and that he also needed to be able to eat a piece of his own cake! So, they prayed and asked God to give Jaden a birthday party in heaven and also so that he could eat some of his own cake. The things that press on their hearts.

Jaden's birthday is a nice time that I feel like I am allowed to dream about my son. What would he be like? How would life be like running him to school everyday? Would we be watching soccer games, t-ball games, or maybe karate? Would he be tall and skinny like one sister, or tall and husky like the other one, or would he be altogether different? I don't know how things really work when you get to heaven, but its nice to dream that he is growing up in heaven like he would here on earth. That he does get to have those birthday parties and play all those games. I don't understand God's ways, and I've learned that its better to just accept and stop asking. I know that Jaden is well taken care of and is in a great place, but today is just one of those days when I am reminded of how much I wanted to be a part of it all.

I miss you Jaden, and you are forever in my heart.

The Mind of A Two Year Old

Here are some cute little convo's that Rayna and I have had lately. She tickles me pink with some of the things that come out of her mouth. It never ceases to amaze me at how her little mind works!

Convo #1

A fun, family night that was designed for the girls turned a little sour when Rayna decided to have issues at the dinner table. Please understand that Rayna is our good eater. She never really complains and usually eats just about anything. So, this night I made hot dogs, french fries, and fruit, kids favorites, right? Also keep in mind, I don't ever make hot dogs (their bad for you if you didn't know!), but this was a special family night. Rayna had eaten all of her french fries and fruit but had not touched her hot dog. She said she didn't like it. I told her to just eat one bite of it and then she could be done. I have a hard time making her eat something that's not very good for her anyways. So, she puts one bite in her mouth and proceeds to chew it but after a while, she tries to spit it out. At our house we have rules that you can't spit anything out. Once its in your mouth, you finish it. So, of course I have to follow through with this rule and tell her she can't spit it out. I again remind her, that as soon as she is done with this bite she will be finished. After I had been cleaning up the kitchen for about 5 minutes, I turn and look and realize Rayna still has the same bite in her mouth and has not yet swallowed. I was trying to get her to just swallow the bite and be done with it, but she just was not into it. So, finally after several more minutes of coaxing I told her that I was setting the timer and that if she didn't swallow this bite within the next five minutes then she wouldn't get her brownie for desert. I was thinking that was a sure win, right? Wrong! The timer goes off and her bite is still in her mouth. I tell her that she can't have her brownie now and of course she starts to cry (with a full mouth), and now reminding her not to spit out her food. Now what do I do? With Taylin the next consequence is usually an early bedtime, so I guess that's the next option. I proceed to tell Rayna that I'm setting the timer again and if she doesn't finish her bite in the next five minutes then she has to go straight to bed and will miss out on the family movie we had planned and popcorn. I'm thinking this has got to work, she's not going to want to miss out and its just swallowing one bite! Right? Wrong again! I finally let her spit out her bite, and because I have to follow through now, I get her ready for bed. I have to admit this was a really hard follow through for me. Taylin is the one who is our worst eater and she's never had to miss out on a family night, and this was all over hot dogs! It was one of those battles I wished I never would have entered, but I did, and I'm Mom so I have to finish it, right? So, as my devastated, crying child is being tucked in I tried talking to her about the situation, explaining to her how she could have chosen differently and none of this would have happened. I ask her, "Rayna, what are you going to do next time, are you just going to swallow it?" Her immediate, sobbing response, "No, you just shouldn't make it next time. That was yucky!" After all that, I still didn't win!

Convo #2

As Rayna and I were pulling away from the duck pond a man came up to a car that had been parked near us. Obviously, it was his car as he proceeded to open it and pop open his trunk. Rayna asks, "Whats he doing?"

I reply, "I don't know, he's looking in his car."

Rayna, "But that's a girl's car."

Stopping to take a closer look at the car, I realize its a gray, four door sedan. "Why is it a girl's car, Rayna?"

"Because, boys are suppose to have trucks," she states as a matter of fact.

Convo #3

I had a list of errands to run and I just wanted to get out of the house as fast as I could. So, when it came to getting the girls hair done, I simply was wanting to brush it and put in barrettes. I did Taylin's hair and then it was Rayna's turn. "I want braids Mommy." "No, we're in a hurry this morning and we're just doing barrettes," I tell her. "Then I want ponytails," she says. "No, just barrettes." Feeling like this was going to be an obstacle I said, "You pick out the one you want." Rayna proceeded to pick out a purple barrette. Then when it came to putting it in her hair she started to get whiny and stated she didn't want it. Again, telling her we were in a hurry and that was all we were doing she replied as she started to cry, "Its not beautiful, though." Where does she get her ideas!

Chase has become one of Rayna's best buds. She loves to ride him, tackle him, and squish his face. He probably loves her just as much. What dog wouldn't? She feeds, he gets to sit under her as she eats, and she probably gives him the most attention in our house!

Projects Inside!

About two weeks ago we finally got the girls some bunk beds! They are so excited and are still thrilled with their new toy (because to them that's what it is!) So, that motivated me to redo their room and move all their toys from the playroom into their room to help get ready for the baby. I think I actually had just as much fun decorating their room as they enjoyed the new scenery. There is just something about girly things that gets me (I wonder where my girls get it from?)! Here's a few snaps of the finished product. Now I'm ready for the baby's room!

Spring Fever Update!

Today I was sadden to look out the window and see snow flurries falling! There goes my Spring! Oh well, I guess I can find things indoors to do!

Swimming

After church we went swimming at our town's new Aquaplex. The girls have been begging to go for weeks now, so today was the day! Here are our little tadpoles!

The slides are their favorite part. Rayna just barrels down them, there is no stopping her!

Rayna is working on stopping up the fountain.

Family Weekend

Because I still have a bad case of spring fever, we tried to get out of our cold weather and travel south again to some warmer air. It wasn't as nice as last weekend, but it was still better than Flagstaff. We went to Red Rock Crossing and spent the day picnicking, hiking, rock throwing, tree climbing, and rock collecting. One of the bummer points of this spot is that many others find it a very "spiritual place", and decide to build these things called vortexes (ie stacking rocks on top of each other). Every time we go I try to knock down as many as I can, I feel like its me knocking down the asherpoles like in the old testament! I also enjoy seeing nature as God intended and not a people make it. It's pretty sickening to me and just puts knots in my stomach. Anyways, this time the girls had a hay day at knocking them over! I couldn't have had better helpers! When do they ever get to be so destructive! We ended our trip with a stop a DQ to top off our day with ice cream!

My destroyers!


My rock thrower.

"I can see the world up here!"

Crafts!

My girls truly believe that when the get to do a special craft they are being spoiled! It is both of their favorite things to do! So, today I came across these free birdhouses and the girls had at them painting them up! They were in heaven and then were very sad when they were done because the wanted more! (Looks like I still have some lessons to teach!)

Off in their own lands!
Their finished product!

Beautiful Weather in the Red Rocks!

Last weekend the girls and I went down to Red Rock State Park and met my parents for a picnic and some nice weather, (Daniel had to work). The girls became Junior Buddy Rangers and got to where a cool badges, and I just enjoyed being outdoors in 70 degree weather (I have spring fever like no other!) It was actually kind of exciting to see how well the girls did hiking! It is giving me high hopes for the summer! Granted we won't be doing in backpacking, but little level hikes with long breaks I think are doable for them (mainly Rayna). The girls loved throwing rocks into the river bed and being the leader on the hike! My parents ended up taking the girls home with them for a few days because Daniel and I both had to work, but we also ended up with quite a bit of free time that we are not use too! It was nice! It's funny how I get so excited about the thought of the extra free time, but when push comes to shove, I'm always sad to have them leave me. But there is definitely something to be said about that whole "absence makes the heart grow founder" thing. Them being gone makes me treasure every moment I have with them and it makes me desire to be a better mom to them. So, I guess its healthy after all.

Eating lunch

Silly Girls!

My girls!

My Rock Throwers!

Grandma's chillin out!

My little hikers!