My little boy is 7 months!

I can't believe Landon will be 7 months on the 22nd! I guess I can honestly ask, where the heck did the time go?! He's such a sweetheart, he loves to snuggle (he didn't before) and he's trying his hardest to roll over from back to tummy. He can do it if he works really, really hard. It's really amusing.

He still is toothless, but sure can bite! He's getting one lower bottom fang in, that's it! Our little vampire baby! He really is a doll and such a joy to have in our lives, I don't know anyone who doesn't love him, that's been around him. He is Jeffy's little buddy, and my sweet little boy. Almost sad that he will be a year just in 5 short months! Here are some of his pictures.

Zoo, moms day.

We have a Zoo out here in Tacoma, and it was actually a nice day. So, we decided to go to the zoo with Landon. We didn't have Leena, but we'll take her soon.

Here are the pictures.















After the long day at the zoo, we came home, went to bed, and the next day (mothers day) went up to my parents house for lunch and to say good-bye to my dad, and wait for my missionary brothers to call home.

Seth is in Boston, and he was going to call at 3pm PST. And, Cody, in CA, was going to call at 5. Seth had no time limit, Cody had an hour. Anyway, we talked to seth for about 3 hours or so. He's having fun :) I think the highlight of it all, was when Cody called and was anxious to talk to Seth. So, my mom 3 way called the boys together, and I think it was the sweetest thing. Cody was so quick to say "Seth! i'm so glad I get to talk to you! This is just....nostalgic!!" If you had a twin brother on a mission while you were on yours, I think you'd see why. They haven't seen each other in a year and a half. They went from being rather....rival I guess would be a good word, but also didn't get along the greatest, so that was the best part, hearing them compare stories, and talk about their experiences while on a mission. Cody was elated to talk to Seth, and vis versa. I think they've finally grown to love each other, you always love your siblings, but it's different when you get older. Anyway, you could hear the appreciation and gratitude in their voice, it's what made all the difference.

Leena got some new roller skates. She's funny, my dad when we were kids, my dad would try not to let my mom buy us things, in fear that we wouldn't use them. This, was the issue with the roller skates. So, I was out there and she says to me "Mommy, I HAVE to roller skae to show Papa that I'm going to use them"...HAHA! Good girl! She spent about 3 hours on the big desk, just testing them out. I had to help her alot and yell "bend your knees!!" many many times. But, literally, 3 hours later, she went from nervous nelly, to gliding, and falling down, with a smile! She's such a weird kid about her phobias, I'm glad she didn't let this one get the best of her.

After 3 or more hours on the phone with grandparents, my brothers, and being with Hillary and Aaron, we woke up Landon and headed home. I've had worse mothers day, but this wasn't a half bad one.

Congrats Lulu!

This past weekend, my little sister Hillary got married. The picture to the left, is the night of her bridal shower.

She got married to a guy named Aaron Albrecht. He's a nice guy :)

I started off the weekend with going up to my folks house on thursday to hang out with Hillary, then back up there again Friday to go out with Hillary her good friend Mikayla, and her soon to be sis-in-law, Adele. We were going to go to a restaurant in downtown Seattle, but with Mariner game traffic, and protests (this state is the biggest hippy state, I hate how people are SO liberal here...get a life, go smell the flowers!)going on because it was May Day....we sat on the last exit before the bridge goes across the lake, turned around, and went to the Kirkland waterfront. The debate was up, where to go for dinner? We ended up at Anthony's. A seafood joint, a somewhat high end one too.

I'm not a seafood fan, but I got stuck because it was Hillarys choice, and so long as it didn't smell like seafood, we were good. Here's one small detail, Hillary wanted all of us to "dress crazy". She did NOT pass that memo onto me, she forgot. Convienet that I drive the furthest, and she forgot. So, I looked all pretty but for the first time in my life, I should've have! Anyway, Hillary and Adele had BLUE eye shadow, and looked like Mimi off of the Drew Carey show. And had hats on and zebra pants. So, as Adele and I were in thecar, she realized she was not dressed for Anthonys, at all. And she lives really close by. We ran to her house, grabbed clothes for her and Hillary both, threw them on, and then we were Anthonys appropriate. Everyone had seafood, I ended up having the one non-seafood thing, red meat. It was good. I don't think I'll ever go back not a seafood person.

Jeff, Landon and I all stayed the night at my parents house. We don't fit on a twin bed. (we were in Hillarys room that she's vacated) That wasn't not fun. Not to mention Landon had a fever a good part of the week, he was miserable. Anyway, Hillarys small ceremony was at 1pm, sharp. We raced to get the kiddies ready let alone ourselves. Chaos started to go on with picture, Hillary in and out of the house, typical stuff for a wedding day. About 30 people were there all pushed into the living rom, which had been fairly well decorated by mom and some others. The bishop married them, Leena was the little flower girl.

I almost felt bad because Aaron was crying before everything started! And not many of us had kleenex! They both were crying, it was sweet.

All in all, a busy but family filled event! I'll post pictures when i can get my hands on them from my parents camera, being mine died, and the ones from Hillary later.

Grandma Lori came to town, Mt. Rainier, Eatonville.

I am so getting bad at uploading photos on here! I need to change that! For a long time, they won't load properly, so I gave up. I think today is the day that I'll try again. Jeff's mom came here at the first part of April. She flew in from Twin Falls, ID. It was nice having her here! She's always super friendly and just loves being with the grandkids. They love having Grandma Lori around! (Well, Landon can't physically tell me that, but Leena sure can!) We went to Eatonville one day, which is about...20-25 miles East of where we live. In short, middle of nowhere. Whoever, it's a tiny podunk town, that had pretty sweet park that Leena wanted to play at. We had packed a lunch for everyone so this was good. We had a nice lunch there at the park, threw Landon into the infant carrier (Jeff is getting rather anti-stroller these days, he doesn't even keep in the the car that I drive.) and we had a fun playday at Meadow Pond park, or whatever it was called. With Grandma Lori being from smalltown america, this is good! Because if there are little bugs flying around Leena and I, we freak out, grandma kills them for us, HOORAY! Haha. We played at the park for about 45 minutes, and then drove up to the un-errupted, HUGE, snow capped, Mt. Rainier. It's about 30 min from Eatoville, putting the park entrance at about an hour-ish away from our new home in Puyallup. I have to say, that day out in Eatonville, I was HOT! It was early April and about 74 outside, INSANE! I did enjoy the sun. Being from California, and living here, you take the sun for granted. I've learned not to do this living where I do now! It's perfect for rain lovers, NOT for sun lovers! Anyway, it was fabulous outside. We drove to Mt. Rainier national park, and with the admission, we just said, eh, we'll get a season pass, it's the cost of 2 visits, it's easier this way. We saw mountain, upon mountain of snow that had just been plowed off of the roads. About 12 feet tall in areas, some maybe 15 feet. Just massive amounts. It was very pretty, and I'm not one to speak highly of nature. We drove around and took a million pictures. One area, we stopped, and at one point, it HAD been a roadway. But it had been dumped on with snow. Let's just say, we were walking above the top of the stop sign. It was that deep. Leena had fun throwing mini snowballs at Jeff and I, trying to miss Landon while he slept, briefly. It was cold, about 35 or so. We were all wrapped up in typical Northwest fashion. All in all, it was a good day! The day prior, we'd gone out to Applebees with Grandma Lori, and that was fun as well. I had been there before and it seemed like the food had no flavor, glad to see they finally stepped up their game and started seasoning their food, haha. Grandma left on a Tuesday, we'll miss her until we make the trek to Idaho in July! Me and Landon :) Jeffy and Landon, he really liked hanging out with Dad! He likes apples! Jeff with his mom and Landon. the "sun is blinding us" photo with our eyes squinted, except Jeff. The road inside the national park, that was the "small" piles of snow we saw the whole way down. Lone Leena in the snow... Mt. Rainier, good shot. This was the road that had about 12 feet of snow on it. Jeff's being super careful climbing with a sleeping Landon. Grandma Lori and Leena Beena. Jeff, Landon and I trekking around. Lori She was taking a pictures, so I had to snap one. And we were about....40-50 feet away from that pile, so it looks "smaller" than it really was. Heading home, where EVERYONE slept.

For those who have daughters....

Anyone that knows Leena (My 7 and a a half year old) knows that she's not only a very bright, intelligent girl, but she can be emotional. VERY emotional. To the point of rediculous emotional.

For example: Today, Jeff, Me and Leena were in the backyard. Playing frisbee on a nice sunny day. The frisbee, went into the next door neighbors backyard. They know we have 2 kids, and almost expect things like this to happen. They seem like nice people. As a kid, if that happened, my mom always marched me over to the neighbors house, and had me kindly ask for my toy back, and apologize for the inconvience. Makes sense, doesn't it? It made me learn that me neighbors were very kind people, and that it was ok if it was an accident, and didn't happen all the time.

I normally would just say fine, you're crying, I'll get it for you. But I'm so tired of bailing her out, I want her to actually LEARN that it's ok to talk to certain people and she's not asking for anything bad.

Anyway, Long story short, frisbee went over the fence. Started to walk up to the door, and she started crying. This is VERY typical of Leena. I don't know if it's because she's figured out that crying can get her out of situations (in this case, her frisbee I got her, is history for all I care, she's not going to run this house with her tears) or if it's some detail cause psychologically when she was 2 or what?

I marched her right back home, and she just was bawling. Rediculously. I said "Hey, if you're that upset over your frisbee, you obviously are tired, so go upstairs to your room, and lay down. You don't have to sleep, but if you're tired and it's making you cry that muh, you at least need to rest. you don't have to sleep, just clam your nerves a bit". I go and peek in the slit through the door about 10 in later, she's calm, and sulking. Jeff comes in from weeding and says "Want me to give it a shot?" I say "Sure, good luck. She's having a pity party up there". He was downstairs about 6 seconds later, literally. He said "nope, she started crying again when i offered to go over to the neighbors house, and then take her to the park to play with it". So, this is an uphill battle.

Do I force her to stay in her room the rest of the day until she agrees to go over there and ask fo rit, to prove a point? Or do I save my lilttle 7 year old damsel in distress and her mommy usually does. I'm sick of her sobbing of DUMB things. We all adore her, everyone does, she's a doll. But she's human and does have her qwirks. And it drives both sides of her family nuts with the sobbing.

To my Daddy, the best guy ever!

To my Daddy, who'll be moving to Hamilton, Bermuda on May 11th.

I'm going to miss you =( I have been SO lucky to not only have you as my dad, but for a great role model. The long talks, about making sure I was making the right choices in life. Taking me on daddy daughter nights, PPI's, cooking breaskfasts in the morning, spending hours on cars, tickle fights, taking amazing care of my little girl. Being the awesome "Papa" that you are to my kids. For all the million smiles Landon has given YOU (not many others) when asked "Hey! How ya' doin'", I agree with mom, I think he does have some connection with you. I don't think he will realize it, but he will miss you.

Thanks for the endless love, and zillions of hugs. Thanks for being the head of the house, and raising 6 great kids. I don't think anyone else could handle what you and mom have been through. You guys are going on 32 yers, and strongly counting more, you're saints, and troopers. We were not easy kids, espcially myself. Thanks for loving me regardless.

Now that I'm a mom myself, I get what the true definition of unconditional love it, it's you and mom.

I remember the long drives to Placerville to go see Grandmaleen and Grandpa, and it seems like I was always getting sick, and I remember that once we got there, you made sure I was ok. I remember you carrying me to bed so many times as a kid, and it always makes me smile when I watch you have Leena in your arms, and put her to bed.

My favorite thing as a kid, was when you would tuck me in at night. You were always either at school or working, so it was like a little treat when my daddy got to tuck me in at night.

I can't write all this without getting not only bummed, but teary. I love you SO much, and I'm gonna miss you! I know you'll be an 8 hour flight away, but it seems like my daddy is going to a far off place. A land undiscovered almost.

Thank you for raising me with the morals, values and the importance of family. And having a belief in god my whole life. What a difference it has made. I've had a small taste of what life is like without it - I don't like that taste! You've given me countless blessings, to me, my kids, siblings, and even spouses. I want my kids to be raised with the same things I had, amazing parents, a love of christ, the importance of family, love of the gospel.

Thanks for the endless love, life lessons, and all I've mentioned, and have failed to mention because my mind is going so fast.

I LOVE YOU DADDY!!!!

I loathe this day

I was playing around online today, and saw a remark my friend Meagan has posted, it was about the Oprah show today, abot 14 years olds who were "ready" to have sex

Someone please tell me that's not true!! That's not only gross, but religion and marriage aside, who's honestly really going to admit, they know what they're doing at that age! You simply and flat out don't know what you're doing, I"m sure it's not healthy for a 14 year old to be "playing married" at that age. I think even f you're a legal adult at the age of 18, it's still TOO YOUNG! Me, personally, married or not, think it's a damn good idea to wait til you're 23. Just because of the face you know the risks and consequences, and it's not "unhealthy" if you do choose to wait til you're 23.

I can't say I blame the mom on the show for buying her son a box of "protection", she wasn't promoting it, but you can only stop your kids so much. So, with that said, she bought him some. I mean, I get it, but why would you put that much temptation into his own hands? Riddle me that!

Here is the link to the site to take a read, I'm nto trying to blast my views on here, but it's not cool. http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20090326-tows-teen-sex/1