Good Neighbors and the Blessing of Family

Last night my parents (and Steve) came over to our house to help with our front and back yard. My dad and Landon built a really nice ramp (not quite finished they are going to build it right to the stairs so that you won't have to step up onto it) for FREE! My dad scrounged around his wood supply and his store's throw outs to put it together. It is really nice. I am so excited because now Emily can walk up it safely. My mom was a saint and helped weed around the rose bushes and weed the grow boxes in the backyard. Someone, at sometime, had put a lot of work into building grow boxes and plant the rose bushes but they have been neglected for a little while. It is looking so nice. My dad and Landon also designed a fence to build around the back porch so that Emily can be outside without being able to run away.

The importance of the fence was shown last night as Emily disappeared. Yeah, she was with my mom and I in the front yard and then she was gone. I looked up to the front of the property where my landlords kids playtoys are but she wasn't there. So silly me, I assumed she was in the backyard with her dad and papa. When I went to check 10 min later she wasn't there. I was slightly freaking out! As I raced to the front yard I could see our next door neighbor (who's house is at the front of their acre property) coming into Nicki's yard and calling to me. There was Emily. She had seen the neighbor's kids playing on their fort/swingset and had gone to join them. I hadn't officially met them yet. I recognized them all because their oldest Isaac goes to the elementary school I teach at. He is in kindergarten. His sister Ella is almost 3. Their mom Laurie was coming to let me know that Emily was at her house and that it was okay that she was there. Nevertheless I went up and spent the next half hour with all of them. I wanted to introduce my self and apologize. She just laughed and said her son Isaac is alot like Emily, very social. She said Emily just walked up and said, "I Emmy." Emily had a blast with them. It is really nice to have kids for her to play with. Now she has Carissa at the front of yard and Isaac and Ella next door. The only problem will be to teach Emily when it is okay to go over. Actually when it was time to go, Emily just walked into their house and then told Isaac to come with her. Yeah, gonna have to work on that.
(We figured out that Emily had gone to the side of our property and ran as fast as she could up to the neighbors. That may sound silly but you haven't seen Emily run. If she gets more than two feet in front of me, I have to go in a dead run to catch her.)

Collin's 2 month check up

Collin is 8 weeks today. Oh how time flies by.... We went to see the doctor today and the results are:

He weighs 10 lbs 8 oz
(That is a total of four pounds since birth)

Length is 22 inches
(Grew 2 inches in the last 4 weeks)

And a clean bill of health!

The doctor says that he is impressed with his head control and how well he sits up.

Yeah Collin!

Emily, the budding artist

On our way home from Strongstart yesterday Emily was crying that she hadn't been able to paint. We had been there for two hours but she was too busy playing everywhere else. This happens almost everytime. So I pulled out my craft paint, a paint brush, a handful of computer paper and we headed out onto the back porch. I forgot to take her clothes off until I saw the paint on them. Just a little though and I am hoping it will come out because they are cute. I am looking at making an easel for her for the summer. She just loves to paint. Enjoy!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Home Sweet Home

So I will admit. It is my pride that has kept me from posting any pictures of our house. :) I've had some requests to know what the house and yard look like. Generally it is so falling apart we could be the site for a horror movie. You know the houses set far back from anything that are falling apart. Our landlord's daughters informed me that they think it looks like the house from Jeepers Creepers. Never seen the movie so I can't confirm that or not. :) But since it is spring, and the swamp that is our yard during the winter has receded, I have decided that I am going to do some yard work and make it look nicer. Supposedly our landlords are redoing the roof, windows and siding. I am not holding my breath but I can at least make the yard look welcoming. :) As I started working on the front area I found out that under the grass is a sidewalk up to our front door. Its pretty useless in the winter because the front yard is buried under an inch of water. (The backyard is more like 2 inches, hence the lovely skunk cabbage growing in the back yard.) But I love that I was able to uncover the sidewalk. I started taking pictures before I finished uncovering the side walk. I discovered that under the high grass is a miniture rose bush plus a couple of other flowering plants and some pretty ground cover. It is going to take some work but I am enjoying it. I try to spend a couple of hours a day because the weather is so beautiful right now. The kids come outside with me. Emily runs around while Collin is in his swing. My dad is coming over tonight to make a nicer ramp, and to put up a chain link fence around our porch. That way Emily can go outside to play while I make dinner. I will post pictures once I am done. But for now here is a look at our home (which we absolutely love!) I've included pictures of the skunk cabbage and footprints from our frequent visitors (raccoons and bears).

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Sibling Relations

As I watch my kids interact I am reminded about what it was like to have my siblings in my life growing up. Emily adores her brother. At times she is a little rough, and she can also get upset with him but overall she loves him more than anything. She is always checking up on him and saying, "Whatcha doing Coyin?" Then she gives him a hug and a kiss. I wasn't the best sibling growing up but I loved all of my brothers and sisters more than anything. We tormented each other, sometimes were a little rough on each other but at the end of the day we loved each other. I just wanted to thank my siblings for the good and bad times and especially for always being there when I needed them.

BabySteals.com

My cousin Janice introduced me to a wonderful site. It is called BabySteals.com. There are incredible things out there for babies and toddlers but the price is usually more than a rational person will spend. This website has these things at really great prices. It changes daily. Check it out by clicking HERE.

Their motto is:

BabySteals.com
Where mommies get quality, name brand baby and maternity products
at the best prices on the web. One deal at a time until it's sold out!

Nykki's Crafts

My friend Nykki has started selling some very cute crafts to try and raise some money to help pay for her children's medical bills. I purchased the family home evening kit and really enjoy it. The other crafts are really cute as well.

Click here and check out some really great homemade crafts that make great gifts!

Hannah Montana the Movie

I will admit I quite enjoy teeny bopper movies. I love going and reveling in the fun loving attitude of the movies! They make cute romance movies, simple plot line that just lets me escape the reality of day to day life. I will also publicly admit I like Hannah Montana. I also enjoy listening to Miley Cyrus sing. If you want to make fun go right ahead! :) Tonight I took my two darling children plus Amy and Serena (11 and 13 year old in our branch) to see the new movie. I loved it! I highly recommend it to anyone who likes to watch movies to escape reality (especially in teen romance movies). Plus a cute cowboy (who is way to young for me), I don't think you can go wrong with a romance with a cute cowboy. Naomi - if you are reading this you need to go and see this movie. You will fall in love! :) Emily enjoyed it until half way through when she started to fall asleep. Then she just wanted to leave. Serena was a saint and looked after her because at that moment Collin decided he needed to eat. The nice thing about going to a movie where the majority of people there are parents with 4-13 year olds is that they don't look twice when a kid cries. I wasn't the only one having to go out more than once. :) So if you are looking for a really good teeny bopper movie I recommend this one!

Collin's Blessing Day

Today was a perfect day. The only thing that would have made it better was for Landon's family and my sisters to be here to share the day with us. Collin only woke up once during the night and slept in until 8:30 am. Here is hoping it happens again tonight. The blessing was beautiful. Here are some of the photos that I took to remember this wonderful day.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Playing with Cousins

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Photography

I am lucky to know some really fantastic photographers. I just wanted to pass on some names for any friends and family I have lucky enough to live near any of them. :)

Anyone around Brigham City, Ut
You should give a shout out to my sister in law Janie. She takes fabulous pictures. Here is her blog address if you want to check out some of her work:
Yellow Rose Photography


Anyone around Edmonton, AB
I would confuse you by trying to describe how I am related to Nicole but lets just say basically a cousin in law. :) I wish I lived nearby because her newborn pictures are fantastic! Collin is definately missing out. Here is her blog address if you want to check out some of her work:
Photography by Nicole Lowe

Anyone around Provo, Ut

Jen was roommate at Ricks College. She takes great pictures. Here is her blog address so you can check out some of her work:
Memories By Jen

Easter

I love Easter! I have so many fond memories of Easter as a child. We had some great family traditions and I have looked forward to starting them with my children. I was a little worried this year but in the end it was fantastic! Ethan was out of town with his mom and so I didn't think I would get a chance to do an Easter egg hunt. (I know I could do it with just Emily but I knew it would be more fun with at least two.) And then Sunday morning, I got Emily and Collin all dressed and looking cute. I was so exctied to get a picture. Then the screaming and crying from both children started. Landon was already at church for an early meeting. Instead of a picture I figured the safe thing to do was take them to church where their was witnesses.... :) At church Emily was given a red sucker.... need I say more. So Easter pictures will be done when I wash her dress and Collin's outfit (which he puked all over when the screaming started.)

Saturday my landlord had called and asked if it would be okay if she put on an Easter egg hunt for Emily and her daughter Carissa on Sunday. We accepted the invitation and Sunday afternoon Meranda, their older daughter, put out LOTS of plastic eggs all over the yard. Emily and I walked up to their house (we live behind their house). Emily ran up calling our, "Rissa, Rissa." It was really cute. I didn't even know she could say Carissa's name. The two were so cute. I couldn't believe how quickly they picked it up. Nicki spoiled them so much and she even let Emily keep the majority of the eggs because she found more. (Like she needed the chocolate) :)

Emily and Carissa
(Carissa is 8 months older than Emily. She has Downs Syndrome and is SOOOO Adorable.)

After the Easter hunt we went to my parents for a family Easter dinner. It was a lot of fun and the time went by so fast. Emily was so proud to show her Grandma all the eggs. We were so busy getting dinner on the table we didn't notice Emily in the living room. She had very quietly opened all the plastic eggs, dumped out the chocolate and gum balls on to the floor, and promptly ate all the chocolate! We only noticed her when she started coming into the kitchen to fill the eggs with cat food. Its a good thing my mom has a sense of humour because there was cat food all over the living room. Needless to say we couldn't get Emily to eat any dinner because she was full. She has a tummy ache by the time bed time rolled around. She was so hyper at my parents and then she basically passed out when she got home.

On Monday morning my friend Cindy called and we made plans to have her meet me at my mom's house so our kids could decorate eggs together. (Her son Greyden is four months older than Emily.) I decided to plan a little Easter egg hunt for the two of them. I also picked up the ingredients for edible Easter "nests" for a little treat from the Easter bunny. My mom and I headed into town and took advantage of the 50% off Easter sales. Candy was a steal! I found some "stackable" Easter bunnies as a little toy for the nests. Emily and Greyden had a blast! They loved putting the eggs in the dye. They were more excited when I told them they could go help my mom in the garden while the eggs dried. My mom got them each a gardening tool and they were right in there helping. It was really cute. I quickly made up the edible nests, gave them each a couple of chocolate eggs, a package of little oatmeal cookies, a juice box and their stacking bunnies. While the two kids were playing on my parents fort (which I didn't know that Emily went down the slide by herself until today) Cindy and I hid the eggs in the front yard. They were so cute while they searched for the eggs. They went everywhere together. If we called out one of their names to point out an egg, they would both come. They'd point them out to each other. After finding all the eggs they went into the house and were so excited about their nests. I had put one together for Greyden's older sister, Emily, so we had to keep the kids out of it. It was an absolutely perfect day!

New Game for Tiny and her Daddy

Time for a Haircut

For the last few weeks I have talked with my mom about Emily getting a hair cut. The bottom two inches, which is her fine baby hair, has become really raggedy. Problem was that we could never figure out a time that worked. Yesterday morning, as I was washing Emily's hair, I decided that I would just do it! Why not make the first hair cut you ever give to a two year old who will never know the difference?! :) I cut her hair while she was eating her cereal. I think that it turned out really well. I even layered the back a little. What do you think?

Before

After

Pile of hair

Back

Front

Mommy's little Cook

As I was preparing dinner tonight, I heard Emily moving a chair but didn't think much of it. As I turned around to check on the ground beef, I realize that Emily has gotten out a whisk and has moved the chair to stand next to the stove. She was about to stir the meat with whisk. I went over the ground rules of working with mommy at the stove and then grabbed the camera. A week ago Emily burned the tip of her index finger on our pellet stove. Since then if you tell her something is hot she won't touch it. Emily loved helping me make dinner. She snuck a few pieces of cooked meat while I was putting the casserole together. I love my little girl!

My Smiling Boy

Who could resist that smile?

Sunshine Fun

To celebrate TWO days in a row of warm spring weather, I decided to walk up to a local park yesterday with Emily and Collin and have a picnic. We called and invited my sister-in-law Ashley, Ethan and Sariah to join us for the walk and picnic. At the last minute Matt got off work early and joined us at the park. The kids were so excited to be outside with no sweaters or jackets on. Ashley and I carried up the infants in front packs while the toddlers were in umbrella strollers. The walk seemed like a great idea until we were half way up the hill to Sunset Park. Half way up we were wondering if our legs would make it. I now know how out of shape I am. (Bring on the cardio workouts!) I may walk up that hill daily carrying a nine pound weight and pushing a 25 pound weight. :) I would be in shape fast! The kids loved climbing up on the equipment and swinging on the swings. Uncle Matt as always was a big hit. The kids did not want to sit down long enough to eat lunch. Collin slept as long as he was in the front pack. Enjoy a few pictures.

He Passed!

Collin passed his hearing screening today! The BC Government has started a free hearing screening for babies. We went today and he passed. They administer the test two different ways. The first way is a probe in his ear. That didn't work for him. It may have been because he is slightly congested. The second way was to put three recording probes on him, put headphones on and record his brain's reaction. I wish I had brought a camera. It was hilarious to see him "wired" up. He slept through the whole thing.

Interesting Week So Far

I just wanted to let you know of a couple of funny things this week. On Tuesday, I left Collin asleep on the couch while I went into my room to get dressed. As I came out I realized that Emily was standing over him. I was a little concerned but this is what I found......

She had tucked her dolls in with him. It was hilarious!

Also on Monday night Emily got up at two a.m. and came out to see me on the couch. She tried to climb in with Collin and I. I was feeding him at the time and told her to go and get her dad. She said okay and promptly climbed up on the ottoman and went to sleep. It was soooo cute!


Also on Sunday we took a few family pictures. They aren't the best but hopefully I will get better ones in the near future. But at least you can see what we all look like. ;)

News from the doctor

Collin went to his 4 week appointment today. He weighs in a 8 lbs 9 oz and 20 inches long. He gained two pounds in four weeks! Good boy, Collin! He was given a clean bill of health and the doctor was impressed by how well he holds his head up. Emily was excited for the checkup but was disappointed that the doctor didn't listen to her heart or use the pressure cuff. (He would always do those things after he did them on me during my appointments.) When she realized the appointment wasn't about her she would randomly tell him, "No" or "Don't" when he was looking at Collin. It was rather cute her being protective. :) Here is a picture of Collin and Dr. Human.