Chase is 2!

Chase turned 2 on 9/9/10 we celebrated with birthday gifts in bed. Chase got his favorite, cars and trucks. He is not a baby anymore which makes me sad, but he still needs his mommy and loves to snuggle. He is one jolly kid he laughs and smiles all the time. But definitely has his more serious moments. His best friend is Kokanee he sits and lays next to her all the time. He also loves his brothers and sisters of course. Chase has turned into there little play toy and he doesn't mind at all.

He is a great sleeper. And a great talker with quite a few words. His new word right now is Look! When he sees something interesting he let's Ella know. " Ella Look!" For being the baby of the family I thought he would want my attention more, However he is actually a really independent little boy. He is one of our more accident prone children: Swallowed Nickel, Pencil stab in the forehead, Burn on foot from the lawn mower, Big toe nail falling off, and there probably is some other things I'm blocking from memory.

We love our Chasey. And are so blessed to have him in our family.

Jarrett's 7th Birthday July 31st

Jarrett got to celebrate his birthday twice this year once with friends and then with family.

On July 24th Jarrett and some of his good buddies went to see Despicable Me and then came back for pizza, presents, and huge cupcakes!

On the morning of Jarrett's actual birthday the 31st we started with presents in our bed. Which has been a fun new tradition because who wants to wait all day for their presents anyway?

Later in the evening cake, brownies, and ice cream sundaes with family. It was a good day for our silly but always sweet boy. ( He still tells me I'm beautiful and he loves me:)

Chicago!

Patrick, Chase, and I all went to Chicago in June. We were really impressed with the Windy City.
It was clean with lots of flowers no graffitti and it didn't smell bad! The people were polite as well. We went to the museum.

We took a boat tour around the city on the river.

We went to Navy Pier which is on the far right of the picture.

We went to the aquarium. And ate lots of good food. It was a great trip. I couldn't include a picture of Patrick because there wasn't any! He takes such great pictures.

Ella is 4!

Ella turned 4 an May 23rd. She has grown into such a sweet caring little girl. She gives just about every family prayer and gets upset if someone else takes a turn. She is a great example to her brothers and sister. She still tells me I'm beautiful all the time (she loves to hear she is too). She ends all her sentences "right mommy?" And she loves to visit us in the middle of the night and snuggle in bed between us. I let her because before you know it she will be too old to need her mommy! I love my Ella Bella!

15th anniversary

When Patrick and I got married I got to put my wedding dress on 3 times. Here we are at the Bountiful Utah Temple where we were sealed May 15, 1995 I was 20 years old and Patrick was 23.

We flew to New Jersey the next day and had a ring ceremony and reception

at a good friend's home.
And finally 2 weeks after we were married we had an open house in Washington were we now live.

Pictures I Love

My new favorite picture of my Ella Bella who will be 4 on May 23rd.

Chase loves cookies especially oreos.

Kokanee loves a good snuggle.

Funny places where Chase has fallen asleep.
Easter 2010
Buddies......most of the time.

Power nap.

Ready for a fairy party.

Ballet cousins.

Curls and girls. Daddy does it best.

Family Home Evening.

The best playing is done in the nude.

Impromptu family outing.

T-Ball and Toss Ball 2010

Jarrett T-Ball (Team: "River Cats")

Aileena Toss Ball (Team: Angels)

Aileena's Radiation Graduation

On Aileena's last day of radiation January 22nd we had a party for 10 of her friends and some family and friends. The girls watched a movie and made their own ice cream sundaes. But the highlight of the evening was when 3 of the firefighters that responded to the our orginal call on Oct 8th showed up in their fire engine to say hi! We gave them a Thank you card and an invitation to Aileena's party a few days before the party. The firefighters didn't get the card until Jan 22nd which was the same day as Aileena's party and they just happened to be the ones on duty that night! The 3 fire fighters invited us to check out the fire station the next day and by chance we were able to meet the only female paramedic that reponded to our call. She just happened to be working that day also- the first time since this all started.

It was a great evening. It was a great way to celebrate the end of her treatment. On Feburary 10th Aileena had a followup MRI which was clear with no evidence of disease.

Giving Thanks

I am so thankful for the news we got today from Aileena's Oncologist. It has been a long 4 months. We got the news that her post surgery/radiation MRI showed no tumor or evidence of a tumor. It was a huge sigh of relief. I'm so thankful for the blessings and tender -mercies we have been given during this time in our family. I'm so thankful for a Heavenly Father that knows and loves me and each one of us.

Winter camping 2010

January 1st Patrick had the idea to go camping at Kanasket-Palmer State Park overnight.

Patrick, Nathan, Aileena, and Jarrett all stayed over night in a yurt. Ella, Chase and I stayed long enough to check everything out and have dinner ( which Patrick cooked) then we went home to sleep in our nice warm comfy beds. The next morning we went back for breakfast which Patrick cooked also. Yurts are a great way to go camping they are all enclosed with electricity and a heater! The one we rented slept 5 a futon and bunk beds with single on top and a double on the bottom. I asked Patrick if we should make this be a new tradition and his reply: " I don't know about that...maybe just make memories." Everyone had fun and didn't complain even though it rained the whole time. That was Patrick's favorite part, he loves the sound of rain hitting your tent in this case a yurt!