{Day to Remember}

For Memorial Day weekend this year we went up to a cabin with my Dad and Rondi. We left on Saturday night after an open house to celebrate the sealing of my sister-in-law, brother-in-law and their two kids. We had so much fun up at the cabin! My dad had brought up their Wii and some really fun games. Isaac amazed us all with his skills, and the games were totally addicting. I think I need to get a Wii, and soon! Ha ha!

After we got home from the cabin we headed out to visit cemeteries. It is amazing how beautiful they are during this holiday--filled with so many beautiful flowers and tons of people. It's breathtaking. I took a few pictures of the day, but failed to take pictures up at the cabin. Oh, well.

Our first stop was at Bruce's grave at the Redwood Memorial Cemetery. For those of you who don't know--Bruce was Rondi's first husband who was a pilot in the Navy and passed away after his plane crashed during a training flight. In this picture you can see that Eli isn't a huge fan of grass. I don't think he put his arms down the entire time we were at this cemetery. He barely moved at all. So silly!

Eli and Isaac (and David's legs). Eli has a binky now, but is still in pretty much the same position as the previous picture. Ha, ha!

Our second stop was at Lakeview Memorial Cemetery in Bountiful, near the beautiful Bountiful, Utah Temple. This is where both my mom and brother are buried. Here is David, Eli, Isaac and me behind my moms grave marker. I can't take credit for the beautiful set-up of flowers. Rondi and my dad are amazing at making them look wonderful! Thanks so much!

Here are my Dad and Rondi with us standing behind Jarrod's marker. So beautiful.

Jarrod's marker. In front of it is a pinwheel and a golf ball on a tee left by Branigan and Julie--along with some beautiful flowers.

A picture of both graves. Jarrod's on the bottom, my mom's on the top. It was a perfect day with perfect weather.

{Last Day of School}

Isaac has officially finished preschool for the year. He loved every minute of it. He will be turning 5 in August and we have decided to have him do another year of preschool rather than start Kindergarten in the fall. We would rather him not be the youngest in his class. Plus, he is a highly energetic boy and very easily distracted. I feel that giving him the extra year will get him where he needs to be with his ability to focus to begin elementary. I was the youngest in my class and I hated it. I always wished my parents had held me back a year, so I feel like we are making the right decision. Anyway, here are pictures of Isaac's first day of school, and one of his last day. They had a 'Circus Day' as their last and the picture is of Isaac and his teacher, Mrs. Seegmiller.

Isaac with his Little Einsteins Rocket toy. He took it to show-and-tell his first day.

In class, playing with the toys while waiting for the other kids to arrive.

Isaac and Mrs. Seegmiller on the last day of school.

{First Tooth}

Finally! Eli got his first tooth this week. I can't believe that he is 11 months old and only has one tiny tooth. I KNOW that he started teething when he was 5 months old. His poor little gums would get swollen, his cheeks red, runny little nose--but then NOTHING. Poor little guy has been miserable for 6 months. I tried to get a good picture of the tooth, but he wasn't interesting in cooperating. So, I got him saying da-da-da-da in between bites of his lunch, and quickly snapped the picture. They are funny pictures...his expression is pretty goofy, and his mouth is a little blurry because he was 'talking'.

The little white spot just to the right of center is his little tooth.

{Mother's Day}

Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms out there! I can't think of anything more rewarding and amazing than being a mom. I have been blessed to have two of the most wonderful kids in the world. I would do anything for them. I can only hope that as they grow they will never doubt how much they mean to me and how much I love and adore them both.

I was able to go and visit my mom's grave this morning with my little brother, Caleb. It is always so difficult. I try so hard to prepare myself, but when I get there it hits me again that she is really gone. I miss her so much. It is so beautiful at the cemetery. It's up on the mountain in Bountiful. From her's and Jarrod's graves you can see the Bountiful Temple just a block away, and the entire valley spread out below. It is pretty incredible.

I thought I would share with you the wonderful Mother's Day card that Isaac made for me as part of a Primary activity this past Friday. It is something that I will always treasure. It is a little booklet with a beautiful poem on the front. It also has some questions and answers that were written exactly how Isaac said them. I am going to share it all with you.

This was the front page (above)





Second page

Q: How old is your mom? (he left it blank)

Q: How tall is your mom?
A: Tall

Q: What is your mom's favorite color?
A: Green (true)

Q: What is your favorite meal that your mom cooks?
A: Everything

Q: What color are your mom's eyes?
A: Green

Q: What makes your mom happy?
A: Being a good boy

Q: What's your favorite thing to do with your mom?
A: Sit by her on her bed (watching cartoons..hee, hee!)

Q:What does your mom do when you aren't around?
A: Calls me

Q: Why do we have moms?
A: So we can sit by her on her bed and in my booster seat

Q: How did Heavenly Father make moms?
A: So we can have fun with them

Q:What was you mom like when she was your age?
A: Just played with more little girls

Q:How do you know your mom loves you?
A: Because she's my mom

Q:What food does your mom make best?
A: Chicken nuggets
Recipe: Cooking it

Q: I love my Mother because...
A: She loves me!!!

Aw, I do love my precious Isaac. He brings so much joy into my life. I can't imagine anything better!

{Water Boy}

I signed Isaac up for swimming lessons this year, and they began in April. We go every Tuesday and Thursday for 40 minutes. I take him to the Murray Aquatics Center--in the kids pool area. He loves it. He has been pretty good to mind his instructor and has been trying to learn all of the skills so that he can move up to the next level. It is so fun to watch him and the 3 other little 4 year old boys in his group. They are so cute. They were all really hesitant at first to put their faces in the water without plugging their noses and pretty nervous to float on their backs--even with support. Now, 4 weeks later they are doing it without hesitation, although with support from the teacher, still. Isaac has a tendency to hold his nose, but is getting better each lesson. I'm so proud of him! Here are some pictures I took at his lesson last week.

Isaac with his certificate showing that he completed the first series of classes.

Isaac, Collin and Josh with their instructor, Erika.

Isaac with his head completely underwater--see his bubbles in the center?

For the last class in the series they each had to become familiar with the use of a life jacket. The instructor pulled them around in the water and had each of them jump into the water unassisted and float on their backs unassisted. The kids thought it was great!