Gardner Village

The boys and I made a quick trip up to SLC so we could do our annual Gardner Village trip. We love Gardner Village, we always have so much fun there. Ethan and Bowen love seeing all of the witches all over the place, and of course the yummy caramel apples. This year was Tatums first year and she really enjoyed all the caramel I gave her, even if mom did not relize it. I put a picture of me and the boys on here for Jenni, she wanted to see my 5mon. baby bump...so here you go, i just look really fat, owell I can always get sexy again after Marlee is born.

So Long Farwell....

We made it!!! We came, we kicked butt, and now were done.... so long Oregon. I cannot believe it, no more school, Jeromy is finally done. We have felt like we were walking down a LONG dark tunnel with no end insight for so long and now we just have to figure out how to live without being transient students. Jeromy and I did enjoy Oregon and all the fun things you can do, but we are sure glad to be back home in Utah now. Here are a few pictures of the things we LOVED most about Oregon. 1. The Coast and beaches, 2. Multnomah Falls, 3. Portland Saturday Market, 4. All the green, EVERYWERE.

Red Boy & Chocolate

Ethan said some very funny things yesterday and I wanted to share 2 of them.

Ethan was playing around and all of a sudden he came running down the hall and said Hell Boy, Mom, I want to go see Hell Boy. I told Ethan remember we call the movies Red Boy. Ethan then said but mom, the movie is really called Hell Boy, that’s what they call it on TV. I told him, yea but that’s not a nice word for a 4 year old to say so we call it Red Boy. Ethan then asked Mom but, why is it a bad word. I told him well, Hell is were the Devil lives and in the movie Red Boy came from there. Then all of a sudden Ethan said, O I get it, Hell is the state Red Boy lives in. We live in the state of Oregon and he live in the state of Hell. I just rubbed his head and said ya, that’s about right.

Later, he was watching Willie Wonka and during the start of the movie, when they show all of the different kinds of chocolate being made Ethan informed me Mom I eat a lot of chocolate and it’s not good for me, look at all this chocolate on the movie, it is not good for kids. I told him your right, good job realizing that. Then he said mom, I’m not ever eating chocolate again because I’m going to be healthy, never again, today is my last day I’m going to eat chocolate. I told him I was very proud of him for making a decision like that. He then looked at me and with a little smirk he said…So can I have some chocolate. I smiled and said you got me. A few chocolate covered raisins later Ethan was all smiles for coming up with a good plan to get some more chocolate.

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

This year for my Birthday, my birthday present is my family.
There is NOTHING!!!! better to me then being with my family for the day. I can not get enough of them, especially when Jeromy is there to help me with our crazy energy draining boys. Today I am hoping that Jeromy will get done with his surgery’s sooner then later so he can come home and give me a big hug and a whole lot of smooches, then take the family and I out so I don’t have to cook tonight. The only thing that could make my day better is if ALL of my family was able to be together….from my crazy side to Jeromy’s normal side and even our wonderful family from Brazil. Who knows maybe next year? Anyways, happy birthday to me….and to Dannie can’t forget about her, it her Birthday too.

Happy Fathers Day

Jeromy, you truly are the world’s greatest dad!!! I love to watch your face light up when you make it home after being gone for so long. The first thing you do is to find your boys and scoop them up into your arms and plant an “atomic” hugs and kisses on them. You have the best way of making your boys feel so loved and so special and I know they will appreciate that forever. I will never forget the first week of Ethan’s life, you were there for me more then I could imagine. You did EVERYTHING for Ethan, and I just watched you, while my love for you grew immensely. You are an example to me in so many ways, we really are so opposite, that your strengths make my weaknesses stronger and I’m thankful. You really do make me a better parent, mother, wife, friend, and a better person all together. The one thing in my life that I am most grateful for is that my children will always have a dad that will be there for them, a dad they can always count on for love, understanding and support. Thanks dad, happy fathers day!!!!

My Project Pal

Ethan & I LOVE to do projects together, we try to find reasons to do different projects as much as possible so we can fill his days with fun activities. Our latest project was Papa Day cards. Ethan had a good time picking out the stickers to decorate the envelopes. He wanted stickers that reminded him of each of his Papas. He picked out football stickers for Papa Ron (Jeromy's dad) because he played football for BYU, and he decided that Papa Steve did Kong Fu, so he got Kong Fu Panda stickers. He also had a good time coloring and decorating the cards as well. When we were done, and he was looking at what he just made he told me…”Mom, my Papas are going to love these cards so much I think they might cry.” Ethan I think your right!!!

Ahhhh.....Boys.....

This is what hapens in my house when I take a 3 min. phone call. I don't remember giving Bowen the Yogurt but Ethan says he did not. Bowen did not care how he got his yogurt he was just having a good old time with it and he was so proud of himself. I can not turn my back without something happening, our home really is pure madness.

Thinking Out Loud

I’m so grateful for small bursts of energy. Today I got one and did all of my laundry, cleaned my house (mostly…toilets can wait), sold a puppy, and put the boys down for a nap. Now I’m able to relax and do what ever I want, granted I’m still in my PJ’s but that makes relaxing all the more easy to accomplish…right.
Today Jeromy also left for Bend to finish his 2nd surgery rotation for 5 weeks. He has two more rotations left (the 2nd Surgery & a Cardiothoracic Surgery Rotation) and then we will be done with this bizarre living separate but together schedule. My hat goes off to all you STRONG military wives and mothers, Jeromy and I have been dealing with these ridiculous rotations for a little over a year now and I’m mentally and emotional drained, I could not imagine the possibility of my love one also being in harms way. You women are AMAZING. With the fee time also comes a lot of thinking and trying to figure everything out, before I even know what everything is. I always have family and loves ones tell me to only bite off what I can chew but, with 29 years of practice I still can not figure how to do it. So, I sit here and think, and think and think….. I know life usually does not present it’s self all perfect and wrapped up with a bow on top, but I would sure be grateful right now if it did…… So, today I’ll just say thank you for the small bursts of energy and try to turn off my insistent compulsion to try to make everything work and try harder again to only bite off what I can chew. Wish me luck!!

Neighborhood riffraff

We have been very lucky to find a fun, friendly and safe street to live on out in good old SE Portland. Ethan & Bowen have really enjoyed the day with no rain and a little sunshine, on those days we stay outside all day and usually only come in once it’s dark outside and the boys are VERY dirty. Every where we go Ethan is always surrounded by girls his age or the girls are closest to his age, luckily he plays very well with boys and girls. The kids in our neighborhood are very nice and look out, and help my boys. Ethan and Bowen are the youngest in the neighborhood (by at least 3 years) but that doesn’t matter they all still play together. Ethan is going to miss his friends very much when we move, but the kid has memory like an elephant so I know he will always remember all of them.

Ethan the Grouch

All of us tree loving, recycling crazy Portland natives got new recycle bins today, YIPPIEE and Jeromy could not resist from throwing Ethan into it. Ethan had a lot of fun pretending to be Ethan the grouch. Now, if only I could get a normal garbage bin my life would be great, I’m getting really sick of our massive 35 gallon garbage. Not to mention the garbage men Nazi’s that will not allow you to throw away any more then the allotted 35 gallons, if you have extra garbage they will leave it out and then drive away.

Finally 4

Ethan had his 4th birthday nearly 3 weeks ago, but I wanted to post some pictures. Ethan had a good time, and he was VERY happy Grandma Edna was able to make it out to Portland for his birthday. Grandma spoiled him like always. Right now Ethan is really into TMNT, Indianan Jones, & Star wars and he got PLENTY of all of it. At Ethan’s request we had an ice-cream cake, but I think Bowen enjoyed it the most.
Ethan is excited to finally be 4, where ever we go people always thinks he’s 6 and ask me why he’s not in school. Now, Ethan can proudly proclaim that he’s almost 6, and that he’s just really tall and really smart for his age. Right now Ethan is learning how to read and write, he is always trying to read things and he’s getting pretty good at it. Look out world next stop Kindergarten for my little man. WOW, I’m I really that old already.

A Boy and his dogs

Ethan has been a very big help to me these last 5 weeks that we have had 7 puppies to take care of. Ethan is always holding a puppy and playing with them. He has also taken it upon himself to personally look out for the littlest one, Roxy. Roxy’s twin Bea died when she was 11 days old and Ethan decided at that moment, that he was not going to let the same thing happen to Roxy. Ethan is always bringing Roxy into the house so Kara can do extra feeding just for her, and he has been very successful, although she is still very small compared to the other chubbies she has gotten a lot bigger since Ethan has took her under his wing. Ethan even figured out that if he brings another puppy into feed with Roxy that she feeds a lot better. Ethan has had a lot of fun with Kara’s puppies; he even picked out all of their names. He also has been helping me with the puppy’s blog as well: karaspuppies.blogspot.com. I know that Ethan will be strong when the puppies find their forever home in the next two weeks, but I know he will miss then all very much.

Bowen's Crazy Hair

Check out my glorious redness!!!

No photos please!!!....our little celebrity

So, I have the cutest red head out there, but dad was very shocked when he first saw Bowen. In fact, after the 35min. of all natural delivery, they had to rush me off to surgery to stop my hemorrhaging (again with the hemorrhaging, I think I’m broken) so I really did not get to see Bowen until about 3 hours after surgery. When I came out of surgery dad handed me our new bundle of joy and he said “another red head.” Ethan was born with peach fuzz that looked red, but Bowen was full blown red. Poor dad just wants one that looks like him, with the dark hair, maybe one day dad.
I kid you not I can not go anywhere with out people coming up to Bowen & I to tell me how cute he is and, to make comments about his “beautiful” red hair. I live in Portland…AKA crazy town so I have also got some funny comments like. “he looks like an elf, if elf’s were real” and “he looks just like Frodo Baggins from Lord of the Rings.” And “he’s a little leaf Erickson, a little Viking.” At these times it’s a bit hard for me to keep my momma bear from emerging, but then I considered the source…Portland crazies..... I then take a few breaths and I’m fine. WE LOVE our red head, he is so funny and soooo cute all you ladies that are 1 need to watch out, heart breaker on the loose.

Their HERE!!!

Kara, had her pups on April 16th. Kara had not 3, not 5, not 7....but 8 puppies!!!!

I was a little shocked at first, but they are all so cute and sweet that I got over my shock pretty quick. Granted i'm sure I will be a little, ok probably a lot, overwhelmed but i'll manage some how. Jeromy will be heading off for two back to back rotations for 10 weeks, so I will be holding down the home front all by myself. with 2 kids, 2 dog and 8 puppies that makes me out numbered 12:1, but I'm tuff i'll figure it out some how.

Brazil, Brazil!!!

Jeromy and I started talking about Brazil again last night and we both got the Brazil bug bad. We almost booked tickets to surprise Paulo for his 40th birthday, despite the fact that we can’t afford them, or know what, or where we will be in the next year. I loved Brazil sooo much, the people are amazing and so welcoming. We have VERY good family friends that live in Sao Carlos Brazil, Paulo & Marcia Machado and their two boys. Jeromy has been out to see them twice, me once, and they visited here once. They really are a part of our family, and we miss them so much. I kid you not; Jeromy and I have plans to send Ethan out there to stay with our friends for a summer when he’s 15 or so, and probably Bowen too. All we have to do is work on their portuguese, and they will be set. We also have a 30 year plan to build a home for us and our friends out in Brazil so we can stay when ever we want. It’s crazy that $30 grand would build a BIG house and have room for our family and Paulos' while we stay. I just have to work on my portuguese, but I plan to be fluent one day. I want to be able to tell Paulo and Marcia how much I love and care about them and their boys on my own, without help. I want to be able to go down town and buy as many shoes and clothes as I want on my own, with out EVERYONE knowing I’m an American. Brazil will always be a part of my families life and I am grateful for that.

Children of Promise

I had to post a blog to tell everyone about these awesome books I have been reading. The Children of Promise series books are amazing; I have really enjoyed reading them and am very excited to finish up the rest of the series. I’m sure most of you have seen theses books or have heard about them and maybe even read them, but to you that have not….you must go now and get these books and start reading them. They are about a Mormon family living during WWII, and trying to adjust to all of what war brought to our country. It’s a modern day story of pioneers that really has touched me and made me think about a lot of things. To tell you all the truth, every time someone would start talking about Pioneers all I would hear most of the time was blah, blah, blah. I know I’m horrible, but heck I have heard enough stories and it really was boring to me. But, these books are not that way to me AT ALL, I had NEVER thought about the trails that our great grandparents went through; they also were Pioneers that deserve to have their stories told.

178th General Conference

I don’t know about all of you guys but, I am really excited for General Conference this weekend. I love conference; church in your pj’s is there anything better? We always have scones in the morning with powered sugar…yummy, yummy, this year I’m going to make conference bean dip (7layer bean dip) and maybe do a relish tray or spinach dip with French bread. I’m really excited to have Ethan get to listen to President Monson, or at least try to listen to him. Ethan already understands that he is our new prophet and he blesses him almost always in his prayers at night (It’s so cute). It’s amazing to me that this is the Prophet; my boys will remember most and probably be the most influential in their lives, it’s very exciting. I have found the most amazing general conference packet for Ethan to do while he listens at sugardoodle.com. That site is filled with amazing ideas and help for callings and FHE. Jeromy and I have decided to give FHE a more valiant try at our home, and this site has and will help soooo much. I also am curious to see who will be called into the 12, and like most everyone else I’m very excited to hear President Monson speak as our Prophet for the very first time.

Look who's ONE!!!

I can’t believe it, my baby is no longer a baby!!! WOW, one year has went by so fast it’s amazing to me that our little (well BIG) baby we brought home from the hospital is now walking and trying to talk. Granted its 99.9% Bowenese, but it is so cute. He always points his finger at me and starts to babble at me, no doubt trying to tell me “no, no, no” or disciplining me in someway. I wonder where he learned to point his little finger at someone; O-well I guess life is full of mysteries. Bowen really has been a joy to have in our family. He always has a smile on his face, and a good temperament. I know with all my heart that heavenly father sent him down when he did because, I really needed an easy, kind baby this last year. Bowen is so fun to play and wrestle with, and to dance with. Man, can this kid dance, he can shake his money maker like there’s no tomorrow. Recently Bowen has chosen his favorite song “Upside Down” by Jack Johnson; it’s on the curious George soundtrack. Every time I play it in the car, he instantly gets a BIG smile on his face then starts to do his version of the night at the Roxbury dance. It makes the whole family laugh every time. What more can I say…I have the best child EVER!!!
Happy Birthday Bowen