Mother's Day

I am so behind on my blogging... one reason is because I have become addicted to Family History. I love it SO much! But today I wanted to tell my mom how much I love her and am grateful for all she has done for me and the example she is to me. I want to be like her in so many ways. Thank you Mom!

I also wanted to tell me boys, Parker, Tyler and Lincoln how much I love them and how extremely grateful I am to be their mom. I am honored to have this privilege. Tonight Tyler and I went to the cemetery to see Parker. I wanted to just sit and talk. I was overcome by emotion as I sat there and talked to Parker and how grateful I am he is my son. I miss him so much. I think about him all the time. Tyler told me how much he misses Parker and he is sad that he doesn't get to play with him. I told him I am sad Parker isn't here on this earth too. I told him I am sad I don't get to see him grow up. But, I told him I am also happy. Tyler asked me why. I told him I am happy because I am lucky to have the three of them as my sons. I told him I am happy because of Heavenly Father and Jesus giving us the true gospel and if we keep the commandments and work together "team work" then we can be together forever. I told him I am happy to think of that wonderful day where we can all be reunited with Parker and hold him and never let go..... I am happy and also sad. The joy of the future is greater then the sadness of some moments. The gospel is true and we can be together forever... "team work"!

I love you Parker, Tyler and Lincoln

Grateful for the Resurrection

It is late, but I wanted to post my gratitude for my Savior, Jesus Christ and for all he has done for me and my family and all mankind. I want to thank him for the atonement, the suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, his death, and his Resurrection. I know because of Him, if I keep the commandments and teach my family the best I can, that we will be able to be resurrection and be together forever. The thought of holding Parker in my arms again, as a resurrected being, brings the spirit to my heart. The thought that our family will be whole again one day helps me to make it through each day on this earth missing my son Parker.




With gratitude and all the faith I have in my being... thank you to a loving Savior and for my Heavenly Father's plan for us that we will one day be eternal families ... We gotta do our part in keeping His commandments.

Thank you on this Easter where He was risen on the third day.

Tyler's Birthday Party

Ok... now to Tyler's PENGUIN OLYMPIC PARTY!!!

Originally we were going to do a fireman party. He wanted that so badly. But because of H1N1 the firemen/paramedics were not allowing visits to the firehouse because they didn't want to spread illness to those they help. Alas. I talked Tyler into doing an Olympic party since his birthday was during the Olympics.

Tyler was actually born during the Olympics. In fact, a funny story, while I was in labor our doctor, Dr. Peterson, was hanging out and watching the Olympics with us. I finally dilated to a 10. So, my doctor said it was time. At that time we were watching the bobsled events. I asked my doctor if he wanted to finish watching the bobsled races. He said "that would be great if you don't mind". I said "no problem. I have an epidural". We laughed and finished watching the bobsled races. At 10:44pm Tyler was born!

When I talked to Tyler about changing to the Olympic party he said he wanted to do a Penguin Olympics. I said "Ok. That sounds great. Lets do it". He was very excited.

Here is Tyler's invitation:


After I finished the invitation I showed Tyler it on the computer. I asked him what he thought of it and he said "It's ok". I said "It's ok?" He said "Yea, it needs another picture of me". I laughed. I said three isn't enough?" What a cute kid.

At his birthday party, we had several Olympic events the kids participated in. All the kids lined up as Tyler carried the Olympic Torch!




Following the Opening Ceremony the kids participated in the Biathlon where they "skied" around the kitchen floor and then "shot" bean bags into circles. They each received a Gold Medal for their accomplishments! Go Olympians!





Following the Biathlon the Olympians, who trained very hard, then participated in the 2-Man Bobsled! (sliding down the stairs in a sleeping bag). Many runs were taken by each Olympian! Another Gold Medal was awarded for their great efforts and teamwork!





For the final event the kids participated in the Ski Jump! They jumped onto one large beanbag and then we flipped them in the air onto a second beanbag. We did have one sports injury as Kayden accidentally kicked himself in the head. But he was a tough competitor and returned to the events after a few tears. They all worked hard and received a THIRD Gold Medal!





Following the events the kids made igloos and penguins out of marshmallows and tooth picks.




Then came the Birthday Cake! This was my first time working with fondant. I definitely did some things wrong and will do better next time, hopefully. I am glad I tried it. I didn't have to make it smooth since it didn't need to be, so that helped a lot. It was hard to find penguins for the cake (I didn't want to attempt them in fondant since I had never done fondant work before) so we ended up having to buy a game called Penguin Pile Up.







There was a final Medal Ceremony to honor our Olympians! Congratulations!



Finally, the birthday presents. Tyler loved all of his presents and being with his friends. He still hums the Olympic theme song to this day!



HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TYLER!!!

Thank You, Pirates, and Birthdays

For Christmas, some of Santa's Elves surprised us with gifts for Christmas. One of the things the Elves gave to us was a gift card to Pirate Island. We decided to take Tyler for his birthday. I wish you could have seen his face as we were approaching the building and went inside. It was hilarious! As we got close we told him to look for the pirate flag that is on the building. We had a Pirate Island brochure and he saw the flag on the brochure and the flag on the building. He said "They match! I found it!" (He loves when things "match"). He was feeling so grown up when he found it. He told us we had to drive and couldn't go on a boat since there wasn't any water. True enough!

When we went inside and were going to order the food the waitress asked what we wanted to drink. Tyler said "I want pirate juice!" We laughed. Perfect. What else could you want as a pirate, right?

Below are photographs from his birthday night at Pirate Island. (There is one of Lincoln walking up the slide... amazing he could do this at 15 months of age! I was impressed)

















We had an awesome time! Thank you Elves!!!!!! We could have never done this financially without this blessing. Thank you!

I love having my four year old! Tyler is a wonderful boy. I tell him all the time how lucky I am to get to be him mom. I truly am grateful for him. He has helped heal my heart after Parker died. I will always remember the day he was born and holding him in my arms.



Happy Birthday, Tyler!

(P.S. I just read this to Tyler before I posted it. After I read the last paragraph he cried. He loves Parker so much. I just held Tyler and told him he is a good brother and I love him with all of my heart). I love you, Tyler!

Funny Things

When there are funny things I put a little note in my cell phone and go back later to add it in a blog. Some of these things happened before the date but I never wrote them down so it is approximate. I decided since Lincoln is asleep and Tyler is at his friend Anthony's house that I have a moment to actually do something for myself. Here are the funny things I have jotted down:

December 18 - Tyler is a funny boy on his Tyler-lingo. When he is describing about something he will be doing tomorrow morning he uses the lingo "Tomorring". Very creative! I think it should be in the dictionary, hahah.

December 22 - Tyler came up to me and put his arm around my shoulder and said "You are the greatest mom I ever saw for"! How cool is that? I love how he phrases it too. I laughed and gave him a hug and said, "Thank you so much Tyler! You are the greatest son I ever saw for too!" He tells me I am the greatest at least once a week. What a cool kid!

January 1 - More Tyler-lingo - "Oh dane!" (for "Oh Dang"). I love when he says this. It cracks me up! He is very intense with it.

January 8 - I told Tyler he needed to get ready for bed and to get his pajamas on. He came out all dressed and said "I have my pajammies on, momma". Pajammies... that too should be in the dictionary!

January 11 - Pronunciation by Tyler - I can't find my glubs (aka gloves)"

January 15 - A little emotional time for me when on this day when Lincoln was playing with some blankets and got a blanket wrapped around his leg. He wriggled and squiggled to get out and he said "Stuck". This is what Parker said when he had his arms tied to keep him from pulling cords, etc before his same day surgery on July 8, 2005. Stuck, stuck. I had no idea Lincoln even knew this word. Sigh.

February 18 - Tyler's birthday. Lincoln is a hilarious boy. For Christmas Tyler and Lincoln each received one of those stick horses. One day when I had my twin sisters kids to take care of Enoch, my nephew, was riding one horse and was saying "giddy-up". Lincoln got the other horse and tried to copy Enoch. Eventually Lincoln learned and said "git, git, git". It was soooooooooo cute. Now Lincoln rides everything! I will hear him in his room saying "git, git, git" and I look to see what he will be riding as he comes out of the room. He has ridden a horse, baseball bat, tupperware lid, stinky diaper in a sack as he rode it to the trash can, space shuttle toy, legos, phones, remote controls, etc etc etc. I LOVE IT! (I thought I took a photograph of him riding things, but I think it was just video. I will have to take one and add it to this blog entry)

February 28 - I was on my way to our EFHE (Extended Family Home Evening) on the last Sunday of each month, where all of my family who live around here get together to have dinner and play and lessons. There was a billboard with an astronaut on it. Tyler said "There is an astronaut! I love astronauts. I want to go in a spaceship one day." I asked him questions about where he would go, etc. He said "I will go to another planet and live there for a while." I said "Oh really. That would be cool". He said "But don't worry mom. I will come back and visit you". I laughed and said "I am soooooooo glad because I would miss you so much!" What a cutie pot.... even when he is up in space he would want to visit his mom!

Another thing at the EFHE: I taught the lesson to the adults on going to the temple and the importance of it. I told how we need to prepare our children in understanding what the temple is and how we get there (in preparation), though I told a quick story about how Tyler would see the temple and say "Momma, I see the temple! How do we get there?" I would say "we drive". After the adult lesson, my sister Sharolyn taught the kids their lesson. She also did it on the temple. She asked the kids "how do we get to the temple?" Immediately Tyler raised his hand and said "you drive!" We all laughed. I guess my son is listening and learning, hahahh! Now I just need to teach him what we need to do to prepare to be worthy to enter the temple, right?

Tyler's Birthday

Tyler's birthday was February 18th. I am finally getting to the blog. I will backtrack after trying to be updated at the same time... is that possible?

First of all, Tyler's birthday this year was on a Thursday, but we had his birthday party on Saturday. So I had his party on my mind the whole time and not the actual birthday for having to accomplish anything. So at about midnight on the 17th I looked at my cell phone to see what was "on my plate" for the next day. I saw the words "preschool" on the phone. I froze! Ugh! Tyler has preschool AND it is his birthday! I needed to make something for him to take to his preschool class to celebrate his birthday! What was I going to do!?!?!?! Rodger had gone to bed early as he had to wake up very early to go to work. I thought, I could make something lame for his first birthday at school or I could wait and have him take something on Tuesday. I decided to wake Rodger and see what he wanted me to do. He said he wanted to have Tyler take something. He didn't want it to be lame either. So he said he would get some sugar cookies early in the morning and some frosting before he left for work then I could wake up earlier and decorate them. He called me at about 3:30am and said the bakery didn't have any sugar cookies or the buttercream frosting. Of course. Great. Now what? So, Rodger saw some M&M cookies that would work and I told him to go to the frosting isle and grab some white frosting there. So he did.

So I awoke early, quickly colored the frosting, and decorated the cookies. The problem was the M&M cookies were not what I expected. They were the ones with big M&Ms so they were all bumpy to decorate and the frosting wasn't buttercream so it doesn't "set" very well and was hard to transport without the frosting smearing. But it worked out and Tyler was SO happy to take his cookies to his class friends.



HAPPY BIRTHDAY TYLER!!!!

Happy Birthday, Tyler!

As I am slowly getting caught up I wanted to tell Tyler Happy Birthday! I can't believe you are 4 years old now! I will put a blog in time about the events of his birthday and how grateful I am to be his mom and have him as a son. I am VERY lucky! Happy Birthday, Son!

Lincoln's Birthday Party Back In November

Hey Everyone... slowly I am getting caught up from the months of delay with all I had on my plate. So, now we are at Lincoln's year mark! (November 8th).

First lets show the comparison of my three boys growth at 1 year.

12 MONTHS:
PARKER:
19 lbs 3 oz (7th percentile)
29.25 inches long (40th percentile)
47 cm (60th percentile)

TYLER:
17 lbs 9 oz (-10th? (who knows) percentile)
29 inches long (25th percentile)
45 cm (15th percentile)

LINCOLN:
18 lbs 12 oz (5th percentile)
29.5 inches long (45th percentile)
46 cm (40th percentile)

It is fun to see the comparison of my skinny kids :D.

Now onto his birthday party!

Here is his birthday invitation for Lincoln's "Block" Party!:


Here is his cake.

I learned a lot from this cake.
1. Give yourself more time.
2. Frosting a cut cake is not easy. I definitely didn't do a great job on that. About 2 weeks later we had a Relief Society activity and part of it was cake decorating. I learned you need to do a crumb layer first before putting on the real layer. Ok, nice... would have been nice to know that two weeks before, LOL.
3. Decorating a cake with a one year old wanting to be held doesn't make it easy.
4. Make sure you have enough frosting to frost your cake or it is a lot harder.
5. Make sure your board is big enough or you have to be more creative on how to position the cakes, LOL.

Here are photographs from his party:

Because the theme was shapes the kids all decorated their treat bags with shapes.


The kids then decorated the sidewalk, using shapes.


Next we had two teams race to build the biggest tower they could with shapes.


The goal of the "square" beanbag toss was to get as many in as they could and win a prize.


Now it was time to open presents.



Lincoln was getting tired... partied out! Gotta have your favorite "B" and your daddy to cuddle.

Cake time! I think being tired and having the cake be as big as his head made for a not so eventful cake eating for Lincoln. He didn't eat much of it that was for sure.





Lincoln loves ballons! We love how long the high float lasts! Joy for weeks!



Happy Birthday, Linkers! We love you soooooooooooo much!!!