Landon: 1st day of his 2nd year of pre-school

  Landon was really excited for pre-school this year!  He was a big helper and got ready quickly, ate his breakfast and off we went.  I was so proud of him that he went right into his teacher's house all by himself.  No crying, no big production.  This was so different from last year when I had to pry him from the car and then sit with him on my lap the entire first day.  Good job, buddy!  I'm so glad you had a good day.

My grocery budget

  Last night Landon had 5 pieces of French toast, 4 sausage links, 3 peaches, some raspberries and chocolate milk for dinner.  Holy cow, can you say growth spurt?  What am I going to do when he's a teenager?

School begins again

  Our sweet baby girl started 2nd grade today!  She's at a new school with a new teacher and she loved every minute of her day there today. Her teacher is Mrs. Eschler at Bluff Ridge Elementary.  

  I've been so nervous for her since we moved to start a new year here.  She loved her old school and 1st grade teacher so much.  I knew the transition would be most hard for her out of all our kiddos.  

  Michael gave her a blessing last night and I know it helped her today.  I got to walk in with her and help her find her class and then stay for a few minutes to talk with her teacher.  I think this helped so she wasn't so nervous either.  

  I'm just not sure how miss Kay Bug grew up so fast, but she has.  We love you more than words can say!

  Here's to hoping the rest of the year goes as well as today!

Huge accomplishment

  I unpacked the last of our boxes today from the move.  Only took over 2 months but hey, we are settled now and loving it!! We have such great people in our ward and neighborhood.  We feel blessed to have bought this home and be enjoying it so much!  

Happy Easter Sunday

Today was kind of a rough Easter for us.  Over the weekend both Landon and Wyatt have come down with colds, AGAIN, and weren't able to go to church today.  Michael stayed home with them while Kay and I went.  Church was really good!  I loved being able to listen to some great talks in Sacrament and then to be uplifted in Relief Society.  I am so grateful that because of Him I can be with my family forever, that I can repent and be forgiven and that I have Him to turn to when things get rough.

Tonight Michael and my dad participated in our Stake's Easter Cantata.  It was written by a lady, Amy Webb, in our stake and she did just an amazing job!  I really wanted to go and listen to it and hear Michael perform his solo that he had tried out for and got, but with the boys hacking and Wyatt with a fever I decided not to go. 

Even though myself and the kids couldn't go, we still tried to enjoy the day. It was gorgeous weather outside which was nice!  I went on a walk with the kids around the block and they seemed to enjoy that.  For lunch/dinner we had ham, potatoes and green bean casserole, it was so good!  We also watched a movie together called "The Nut Job" and enjoyed our Easter candy. 

I'm just glad I could be home with my kids and enjoy the day with my family. 

Kaili's birthday party

Hudson, Landon, Kayleigh and Kaili.

 

  In March we were able to travel down to Herriman and go to Kaili Fankhauser's birthday party.  After eating some yummy food and watching her open presents the kids had a blast playing outside on the playground. 

  We have sure loved being able to spend time with my cousin, BreeAnn, and her family.  We all get along great and our kids each have someone to play with that's close in age so that is nice.  Our two Kayleigh's love being together and even get to share clothes, thanks to BreeAnn giving us hand-me-downs.  I love that I'm close with my cousins and still take the time and make the effort to keep those relationships strong.  I hope my kids know how important families are and how much they mean to us.

Grace's baptism

 

 

  On March 1st we were able to go and see Grace be baptized.  It was such a good day to be with her and celebrate her big day.  Unfortunately, Michael had to stay home with our 2 sick boys.  Landon was coughing so bad and Wyatt had thrown up earlier that morning.  This winter has just been horrible for us in the health and wellness area.  I wish that we could have attended as a family, but it didn't work out that way. 

  Kayleigh had a hard time for a little while at the baptism because she is jealous that both Grace and Anna are now baptized and she isn't.  She also really, really liked Grace's dress (Marie made it) and she was jealous of it too.  Sometimes it's so hard to be a parent and watch your child be sad or jealous of someone else when you know it's not even over something that matters.  In the end she snapped out of it and ended up having fun playing with Grace, Phoebe and Sami and didn't want to leave when it was time to go. 

  We are proud of you, Grace!  And in about 10 months it will be Kayleigh's turn to be baptized.  I think she is very excited for that day.

Wyatt's 2 year check up

                                                

  Wyatt had his annual check up with Dr. Hoagland.  It went great!  Wyatt is growing well and is now in the 90th percentile for height and weight.  He is 37.5 inches tall and weighed in at 33.8 lbs.  He's finally caught up to his brother and sister who always seem to be in the 90th percentile or off the charts. 

   Wyatt is my pickiest eater so sometimes I wonder if he's gaining weight and doing ok but he is so that's a relief.  We love Wyatt in our home.  He has the cutest smile ever and he is starting to talk a lot now.  We still call him our baby even though we know he's not a baby anymore.  As long as he'll let us call him that though, we will!  Love you buddy, so much!  

    He has struggled a little with our move to my parent's house.  He was so confused for about the first week of why were were calling Nana's house our house.  He has settled in now though.  When we move again to our new place I hope he transitions ok.  I know he will love having more space to play and run and I'm excited for him and to see him grow and develop in his next year of life.  

Spring break

   Marie brought up her girls for a few nights during their spring break last week.  We love having our cousins visit and it was a lot of fun!  We had a camp fire, went swimming, went for a walk, played a ton outside and even fit in a little shopping trip to Old Navy.  We wish so badly that Pleasant Grove wasn't an hour from us but we are making due and just grateful when they can come to visit. 

Kayleigh and Grace with their new "hair dos".

                          

My Omi

  On April 2, 2014, my sweet Omi, Grandma, passed away.  It was a bittersweet week as we knew that she was in her final hours.  Her hospice nurse had noticed the signs of struggling to breathe and a slowed heart rate and encouraged the family to gather.  It was so great and neat to be able to visit her at Heritage in Bountiful on Monday night (March 31st) and say our goodbyes along with the rest of my extended family. 
   The past few years Omi has struggled with Alzheimer's/Dementia and it has been so hard to watch.  It's the weirdest thing when someone you've known your whole life suddenly doesn't know who you are.  I watched my dad and my aunt, Annina, take such good care of Omi as they kept Omi in her home in Sugar House as long as they could.  Omi never wanted to "be put in a home" but the time came that for her safety that was the best option.  She wasn't in Heritage too long before she had a stroke that sent her to the hospital and then to a skilled nursing facility and then back to Heritage for a few days before she passed.
    Needless to say, I am thrilled that she can be with my Opa again and rest from her earthly pains.  I am so grateful for the legacy of faith, family and love that she left.  I love her so much and will miss her.  With her passing, it's kind of the end of an era for me, she was my last grandparent still living and now they have all gone to the other side.  I cannot wait for the day when I will see them all again.  Rest in peace, I love you.
     Her funeral services were wonderful.  It was truly a celebration of her life as we listened to all of her kids speak and then heard a few sentences from each of her grandchildren.  I will treasure the wonderful memories I have of her.  The weather on the day of her funeral was just incredible!  There was blue sky and sunshine, it was fabulous.
  

A display at the viewing the night before her funeral.

                                 

Pictures of Omi when she was younger, on display at the viewing.

                                                       

Kayleigh pointing to her hand print that she did when she was 1 on a quilt for Omi's 75th birthday surprise.

                                                       

 

 

All of the kids were so tired after the funeral.  They all zonked out on the way home from the funeral.

                                                    

                                                     

                                                    

Our 2014 Lagoon season has begun

                                             

 

                                   
                                                                     
   
                                     
                                                        
  Our family got Lagoon season passes for Christmas last year in preparation for this summer.  We went yesterday for the first time and it was fun!  All of the kids have grown in the past 6 months, so much so that it has changed what rides they can go on.

   Poor Kayleigh is too tall for almost all the kiddie rides.  Landon can now go on the Wild Mouse and the Swings.  Yesterday we couldn't convince him to try Wild Mouse.  We've got all summer to though!  

   I rode Tilt-A-Whirl and really thought I was going to throw up.  I focused so hard so that I wouldn't. I will not be riding that again.  I hate how my body has changed over the years and I can't ride certain rides any more.  Thank goodness Michael can still go on these with the kids.  Glad we could spend time together.  Here's to many more hours this summer spent there.