I Am a Child of God

I Am a Child of God from Jessica Young on Vimeo.

Temple Square

I've mentioned before (last August) the wonderful I am a Child of God exhibit at the Church History Museum. After church two weeks ago we decided to go again. We invited Joe's parents and sister's family to go with us.

Hayden liked standing at this pulpit. I helped him "bear his testimony."

Thank goodness they had bottles to feed the babies. At home Hayden tries to feed his baby doll like mommy feeds Parker.

Joe told Hayden that the babies name was George. The rest of the night he kept asking where baby George went.

He loves to open the Children's Song Book and find "I Am a Child of God" and "I Love to See the Temple"

Holding the "rod" and walking on the "straight and narrow path"

Eating the fruit. It was funny to see that every piece of fruit had bite marks on it.

After the museum we enjoyed walking around beautiful Temple Square. It was a wonderful way to spend a Sunday Evening.

Jumperoo

Parker is growing up too fast. He is no longer content just laying on the floor on a blanket. He now wants to play with toys and move around. He likes to bounce in the jumperoo.

Train and Baseball

We promised Hayden a while ago that we would ride the train to a baseball game. Thanks to Harmon's Family Night we have already gone to two games. Hayden had such a great time riding Trax. He was sitting by my sister-in-law, Ashlie, for most of the ride. She said he get showing her the train tracks out his window.

He really likes the baseball games too. Probably because Papa buys him cotton candy. Ever since the game Hayden frequently can be heard singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame."

Tasty Toes

Parker loves to eat his toes. I have quit putting shoes and socks on him because they end up soaking wet. A few weeks ago when I took him to get his picture taken I wanted a picture of him eating his toes. While we were trying other poses he wouldn't keep his feet out of his mouth. So I took of his shoes and we laid him down so we could get a cute picture and he stopped eating his toes. We couldn't get him to do it. But, of course, as soon as I put him in the car seat to leave his feet went right back in his mouth.

Graduation

For the last two years Joe has been working on his MBA at the University of Utah. He worked full time and went to school at night. I hated having him gone all day and night but it could have been so much worse. He was so dilligent about studying on the bus and on his lunch break or late at night when I was in bed. He didn't let school take over family time. I am so proud of him for all his hard work and dedication.

Hayden was very proud of his daddy, too. He frequently said (and still does) "Hooray for Daddy! Graduation!"

Soccer

Hayden loves sports of all kinds. On May 5th, Cinco de Mayo, Hayden and Joe wore their Mexican soccer jerseys and played soccer.

Callie

Allen and his family have been in Salt Lake a lot the past few weeks. Callie loves Parker so much. Every time I walk in the door she runs up to me and says, "I can hold Parker?" She will sit on the couch and hold him for such a long time. She is going to have a baby brother in July. I just know she is going to be the best big sister ever. I wish they lived closer. I just can't get enough of Callie and Lindzie.

Spikes

The last few weeks I have had fun spiking Parker's hair and giving him a mohawk. I am glad I took a picture one day while he was in the bath because a few days later I decided to trim it a little and he moved... so I ended up giving him a buzz to even it all out. I'm sure it will be long enough in a few more weeks to give him another mohawk.

Happy Anniversary

Joe and I celebrated our third anniversary in April. We had a nice day. Joe was able to take the day off work. He said that not only does our anniversary represent the day we got married but it also was the start to our eternal family. So we spent the day doing family things.

After Joe served me heart shaped pancakes in bed we started the morning off by taking Hayden to his class at Little Gym. It is always nice to let Joe enjoy some of our daily activities that he usually doesn't get to enjoy. On our way home he stopped at a flower shop to pick up these beautiful flowers.

Snap dragons are by far my very favorite flower. My wedding bouquet was all snap dragons. Joe has given me snap dragons for our anniversary every year. (I hope the tradition always continues.)

It was a very overcast day and rained off and on all day. We bundled the boys up in the stroller and walked over to Kneaders for some yummy lunch.

That evening we took the boys to Joe's parent's house to be tended and we went to the Salt Lake Temple to do sealings. We wanted to walk around the temple and enjoy all the pretty spring flowers but it was pouring rain. Following the temple we went dinner at the Olive Garden downtown (where we had our first meal as a married couple).

It was such a fun day to be able to spend together and remember our wedding day.

Silly Kids

When the cousins get together there is never a dull moment.

Go Bees!

I have been wondering lately what happened to many of my pictures. I have uploaded pictures a few times in the last few weeks but somehow, today when I uploaded pictures my missing pictures were there.

One day my dad and Hayden were picking Joe up from the bus stop. My dad was talking to Hayden about going to a baseball game. He told him to tell Daddy that they would go to a baseball game one day. Hayden told Joe and Joe said that one day they could go. Well, to a two year old that meant right now. When my dad pulled back in the driveway Hayden started to cry because he thought they were going to baseball.

A few days later my dad decided to take everyone to the ball game. (When I was little we went to the Trapper's games all the time. It was so much fun.) Rachael was in town so all together there were 14 of us.

This picture isn't an accurate portrayal of Hayden's attitude that night. He had such a good time yelling "Go, Bees!" It started getting cold once the sun went down so we left early. Hayden cried because he did not want to leave.

Joe didn't learn his lesson that we can't tell Hayden that one day we will do something. He told him that one day we will ride the train to the baseball game. Hayden was upset for a few days because we still haven't gone.

Mother's Day Gifts

This year for Mother's Day I decided to try something new. I bought clear glass vases for my mom and my mother-in-law and etched them.

The pictures aren't great but you'll get the idea if you ever want to try it. On one vase I put sticky hole reinforcers (that you put on paper for three ring binders) all over the vase. On the other one I used painters tape and masked stripes.

Next you put on a heavy coat of Armor Etch and let it sit for about 10 minutes. After it has sat you wash it off with water then remove the tape/stickers. Dry the glass and like magic you will see what has been etched.

I filled the vases with pretty flowers (oops, I forgot to take a picture).

Hayden Updates

Hayden is so much fun lately. He keeps me on my toes and keeps me smiling. He still talks nonstop but I ow understand 90% of what he says. He is very observant, especially in the car, and tells me everything he sees and hears.

He did a great job being potty trained. It took about four solid days and then now he tells me when he has to go. He only has accidents when he gets too busy playing with his cousin and I forget to remind him. We are still working on night time.

When I comb his hair he always says, "I'm handsome." He has now started asking my to spike his hair, which I think is pretty silly.

I bought Hayden a new pair of tennis shoes the other day and I told him they would make him run fast. Whenever I say shoes or he sees them he says, "tennis shoes...run fast."

The most frustrating thing with Hayden right now his when we talk about future events. One day my dad had Hayden and they were picking Joe up from the bus stop. My dad asked Hayden if he would like to go to a baseball game with Papa and Daddy one day. Hayden got excited to go to baseball. When they pulled in the driveway he has a melt down because he thought they were going to the baseball game right then. This happens all the time. So we have tried to be careful and not talk about baseball or parks, or merry-go-rounds. The only thing we can talk about that is going to happen that he is okay if it doesn't happen immediately is bedtime. He will happily put that off as long as possible.

Roll Baby, Roll.

Parker is growing and changing so quickly right now. At his four month checkup he weighed 13 lbs. 4 oz. (20%) is 25.7" long (75%) and his head is 16 cm. (10%).

He is the sweetest baby ever. I love him so much. He still sleeps through the night. He still has a yucky nose and sounds terrible. He still loves to cuddle. He still loves interacting with people. He still loves Mommy the best!

Parker has learned some new things recently. Last Sunday, April 26, Parker rolled over all by himself. I had been feeding him and had to stop to help Hayden so I laid him down on the floor. When I came back I noticed he was on his tummy and I was pretty sure I put him on his back. So, I turned him over and watched. He didn't move. I walked into the kitchen to get something and when I turned back around he was on his tummy again. I missed it AGAIN! I rolled him over to his back again and just waited. He rolled over again and this time I saw it. Joe had just come home from a meeting and was able to see it too. Three days later he rolled from his belly to his back. He has only done this a few times.

I mentioned before that Parker likes to cuddle. Not only does he like to cuddle Mommy

he likes to cuddle soft/silky blankets and stuffed animal. He was sitting in his car seat while I was at work and was crying. Brea's teddy bear was there so I gave it to him. He started to snuggle it and fell asleep. When it was time to leave I took it away and he started to cry. I gave it back and he stopped. Needless to say we took it home for the day.

Poor Parker doesn't have much that is his own. I gave Parker Hayden's toy Tadbit (it is a frog head with the silky blanket for the body). Parker loves it. Hayden has now decided he really likes that toy, too. Even though he has never been interested in it until now.

Parker has started playing with toys lately. He likes to sit in the Bumbo and play with toys or lay on the play mat and swat at the toys. When sitting in his bouncer seat he can pull the cow and make it play music. I love how he is learning to make things happen.

His latest accomplishment is spitting/raspberries. He started spitting at church yesterday. I had to keep wiping his slobbery chin. We love him so much and are grateful for such a sweet baby boy.

Camping

Joe took Hayden to our ward's Father and son camp out this year. They went to the Little Sahara Sand Dunes. I was nervous to send them because it was rather chilly. Mostly I was worried because we had only been potty training for a short time.

Joe and Hayden got on the road around 3:00 and shortly thereafter realized they didn't have the poles for the tent. They came home and got them and headed off again. Ive been told the weather was really nice until the sun went down. Then it got cold. Joe said that Hayden woke up a few times in the night and he was so afraid he would wake everyone up.

The Bishop told me that he was impressed that Joe took Hayden but that next time he would be able to relax more and not worry so much about Hayden. I guess he was nervous every time they were around the fire.

According to Joe, Hayden's favorite part was "exploring." When you ask Hayden about camping he gets really excited and says "sleeping bag" over and over.

I asked Joe to please take a lot of pictures. When I uploaded the pictures there were a total of four pictures. Actually there were only two pictures but each one had been taken from a wide view and a close view. Way to document our son's first camping trip.

I am so glad that Joe wanted to take Hayden and have this one on one time with him. I'm glad they both had a great time and I look forward to sending them camping for the weekend often.