Seriously So Cute: May 2009

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Happy Birthday Chubba Wubba

Today we celebrated Daxton's birthday. It was a good day. It started with some lounging around in the am with the kids. We talked while laying in our bed and the kids all around us about Daxton. What he liked to do. Their memories. Mikenna remembered him climbing on her bunk bed and she yelled for us to come and get him down. That was pretty scary actually. We talked about the walks he loved to go on and check the mail. He loved his get up of the pink stroller and was a sucker for a good walk.

We also talked about ways that we could be able to live with him again. If we choose the right by reading our scriptures and saying our prayers and go to church and listen to our primary teachers, then we could be able to show him how much we love him.

Then on to breakfast... no it wasn't in bed, but it did consist of what the girls said Daxton's favorite breakfast was. Cereal. And since breast milk and rice cereal weren't all that appetizing, cold cereal it was :).

Skipping church was another thing we did, but we listened to two conference talks. One on Christ and His life by Elder Holland and the other on being of good cheer in the good and the bad by President Monson. We then had a little lesson on Families can be Together Forever in the nursery manual. Which seriously is a great tool!!! I like to think it was an appropriately chosen topic. For the activity we wrapped presents that we were giving to one another.

I wanted to do presents but I wasn't sure how. So I borrowed and tweeked a previously used idea. We purchased gifts that reminded us of Daxton and then we had a gift exchange. We went to the cemetery and laid out the blanket. Each of us opened up a gift and as we opened it the person who purchased it told us about why they chose that gift and how it reminded them of Daxton.

Then we released two balloons each and watched them soar into heaven. At least that is where we told the girls they were going. They got a kick out of knowing that Daxton and all his angel friends would be able to play with them.

After the cemetery we went to mom's house for calzones and chocolate cake which seriously hit the spot. Nothing like some chocolate cake to take the edge off and top off a good day. Then we made 5 more Daxton Boxes. We now have about 35 total completed and about 20 incomplete ones. I just found out that my brother's eagle project was noted "one of the best eagle projects he had ever seen." Quite a compliment. Really great!

I actually never did post about his birthday. I thought there would be plenty of time to do it after we got home from Havasupai. Alas, here I am a year later, on his birthday posting about his first and last birthday on this earth. This one is for you little man.

Was it really a year ago today that we celebrated your first birthday. I remember thinking that there would be many birthdays to come so I didn't have to make a big deal about this first one. I worked the weekend before and didn't think it would be a big deal. We celebrated it a day late on June 1st. My sister's birthday.

It was a Sunday. We had lots of cake and ice cream and all the yummy birthday foods. I made him a cake and put newspaper on the floor so that he wouldn't get my mom's floor all dirty. He put his fingers in the cake and wasn't really sure what to make of it. I gave him a few minutes to play around, but he soon found himself uninterested in being dirty... too many girls in the house will do that to you no matter how much boy you are, and I picked him up, licked him off, and threw him in the tub. Then I am sure we snuggled. LOTS. But not enough.

He got a lot of toys for his birthday from Grandma and I got him some clothes and some "practical" items. I think that little train is with him. The girls wanted to put some toys in with him so that he wouldn't get bored. Oh how sweet big sisters are.

If you don't mind I am going to take you on a "Daxton" journey.... This is his first bath with his big sisters and grandma. They loved him from the moment they saw him.

Now this is a horrid picture, but that isn't the point. This is the first time I held my little man. He was so snuggly and cuddly and SUPER wrinkley like a little old man. In just the first few hours he changed so much. He had a ton of hair, almost topping out our little Savannah.

The first time Daddy held him. Isn't he so precious????

And this is his blessing day. Not the best picture in the world, but priceless nonetheless. He is only about 2 months in this picture but he sure looks big!

One of his first pics with Granny and Papa Ryan. They came down for his blessing and just couldn't get enough of him.

The girls were always ready and willing to hold, cuddle, and take care of their little brother. Their favorite thing to do was change his diaper, give him a bath, and chase him around the house when he learned to crawl.

I can't believe how little they all look. Kids just grow up way to fast!

We went to the train park for one of Savannah's Raising Special Kids events. It was quite fun with all the rides, food, and adventures, but the favorite one was definitely the train ride. I am wearing Daxton's favorite necklace. He loved to play with it and put it in his mouth. I put it in his little chubby hands the last time I saw him. I just couldn't bare him not being able to hold my hand, so I gave him a little piece he could hold.

Logan's wedding. Wow, from the outside looking in, one might believe we were the perfect family. Since that is not the case, we will continually strive to be, as we embark on this journey of life and trying to live in such a way that we can be with our beloved son, brother, grandson, nephew.

Daxton never did like anything other than breast milk and cookie dough (seriously can you go wrong?) and so when we tried to feed him rice cereal, it was a total joke! But we had to take pictures to remember the event. At least we tried!

At Phillip's wedding (my bro in law), Daxton was dressed in the cutest little tux and I was wearing a brand new skirt. And well, Daxton just wanted me to remember that day forever and he just blew out his diaper. All over me. All over him. I was sitting in the car and I was really stuck. I didn't even know what to do. I hollered for my sister in law who was just leaving her car and together we cleaned up the mess. I changed into jeans ***this was by the way just in time for pictures. SERIOUSLY. And he was stuck in sweats.

This is the Greatest man we will ever know. My grandpa Walter. I love this picture.

One of the gifts we exchanged tonight was a sticker book. It was rather appropriate and the memory along with it was that Daxton was always covered in stickers. From princess stickers to "good job" stickers to smiley face stickers. His sisters loved to see how they would stick to his forehead and any other place they could find.
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I am in love with this picture. How can something so perfect be so perfect. I sure miss this little face. This little smile. Those chubby cheeks.

Whenever I would get out the camera, Daxton would come crawling. Try as I may I just couldn't scoot back fast enough to get a picture. So they usually ended up really close, because he would just crawl into my lap. Right where I liked him. And right where I miss him.

Ode to the frog that was always in his mouth. I prayed every day he wouldn't choke on this stupid thing. There are 5, from Savannah's school. They were learning about 5 little speckled frogs and were able to bring these little finger puppets home. Well Daxton claimed them as his and you would always see them in his mouth. I carry at least one with me whenever I travel. I just put it in my make up bag and smile (or cry, depending on the day) when I see it.

The Phoenix Suns gorill and my husband (the one on the right, lest you be confused) and baby Daxton. I don't really think he was old enough to know that the gorilla should have really scared the pants off him. Mikenna wouldnt' come within 10 yards of the thing.

Whenever I opened the fridge, Daxton was close to follow. It was not uncommon for the refridgerator door to close on him (or him losing his drawers either).

Oh how my heart aches when I see these sweet pictures. His baby blue eyes, his luscious kissable, oh so kissable lips, his chubby cheeks, and his tiny little man ears. Oh how I miss him.

This beautiful smile. Melts my heart. I was packing for Havasupai and he wanted to eat so I gave him some Jerky. That is what is on his chin.

These pictures were inspired. We took them May 17th of last year. I am so grateful that I was able to have these. They captured his perfection. I remember thinking that I wanted to get pics of my individual kids. It didn't seem like to hard of a request but I felt bad asking. We did Savannah first and then Mikenna. We took some family pics and I really wanted to make sure we were able to get some of Daxton. Obviously I will be forever indebted to the photographer for capturing the life of my little man.

We are reading Dora. I know. Seriously lame. I should crop in the scriptures or something.... but it was a great distraction for little Daxton as reading was one of his favorite things to do. That was another of the gifts today. We were at the store and I asked the girls what they remembered doing with Daxton and they said, reading books, so we chose a book for each of them.

Now the kids are all tucked in bed. All of my mini me's. I love them all. I treasure them all. I wish that there were one more that I could tuck in. I kiss him each night in my dreams. I think about him all day when I am awake. I see him in each one of my girls. I know that one day I will be able to see him. Just not today.

Happy Birthday Chubba Wubba!!!

Saturday, May 30, 2009

So many thoughts

I have so many thoughts running through my head right now, I can't even begin to start. We had a very fun weekend in Heber. Doug was supposed to go up to camp with the youth in our stake on their "trek." A "trek" is when the youth age 16 go up to the mountains and experience what it might have been like to be a pioneer crossing the plains.

The funny thing is is that the pioneers are probably looking down on them wishing they could just say, "are you all crazy? You have very nice cozy beds and you are choosing to sleep on these hard grounds, pull a cart, and carry sandbags that are supposed to be children?" Yes, I am sure they think that they are crazy, but Doug really likes to go and says that is a great experience. Truth be told, I am glad that he was unable to go. We planned a fun weekend spur of the moment to go to Heber.

On the way up, we stopped at the Fishery Hatch, as I kept calling it, but better known as the Fish Hatchery. It was pretty cool seeing all the fish swimming in such a small space. We fed them bread and they ate it up so quickly all I could think about was one of my children falling in and being eaten by a fish. It was horrible. But the girls got a real kick out of it and nobody fell in. Thank goodness.

We then proceeded to Heber and had a fun time at the cabin. The highlight though was Annie's sugar cookies. Sometimes late at night, or in the middle of the afternoon, if there is a bad moment, day, or whatever, I will text Annie to have a coke or eat a cookie or ice cream with me and she is ALWAYS so willing to go the extra mile and do that for me. Well lucky as I was, when we went to visit her, she made me a plate all to myself. Bless you dear woman!!!!! I had like 10. SHHHHHH, don't tell :).

On our way to Annie's we stopped off at the Snowflake temple and we took some gorgeous pics with the kids they really turned out nice. Oh and we can't really forget the cabin store. We all usually walk out with a loot. It wasn't my favorite trip because I HAD TO PAY. Usually that is grandma's job. ****side note. The other day Mikenna asked me how to spell "grandma." That wouldnt' be a problem except that she had already in her head how she wanted to spell it and then I told her the "wrong" way and she had a total and complete meltdown!!! Apparently you don't spell "grandma" "grandma" It is spelled "gramo." DUH!!!!!

On our way down the mountain we were able to stop at the Natural Bridge. It was great. Seriously raining down on our heads. Just imagine me carrying Isabella in my FABULOUS Moby Wrap, Doug holding Savannah with both hands sliding in the dirt on the way down, and Derek and Lollie had Mikenna by each hand. Oh and we were SOAKING wet and were getting struck by small pellets coming out of the sky, I guess they call that hail? It was quite a site. About a half mile hike in and a half mile hike out and Savannah thought it was SO much fun. Which seriously is unheard of! She said, "Daddy, I like hiking." Pretty cute. Maybe she knew we were going to have a snack. Yes. That is it, but she was a trooper.

I will post pictures of our Fabulously stylish version of "wet dog." I just wish that there would have been one more little "wet dog" with us. I am sure he wasn't very far away, but it would have been nice to have a muddly little boy running around all us prissy little girls. Mikenna before we went to bed one night said, "Daxton is with us mom, we just can't see him. He can see us do everything, just like Heavenly Father and Jesus can." He sure can my love. He sure can.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Let the summer begin

First of all, I want to give a shout out to my INCREDIBLE little brother Daniel Edwin Walter. He is the proud new owner of a DIPLOMA!!!!!! He graduated from high school this year. I can't believe he is big enough to graduate from high school I truly can't get over it.

I just want to say a few things bout my exceptional baby brother: He is ALWAYS there. He is ALWAYS willing to drop whatever he is doing to do ANYTHING I ask him. He loves my girls. He loves to hold my babies. He has a special way with them. He would play and hold Daxton for hours. He never seemed to tire of those moments he spent with him. He loves to hold Isabella. I think he misses his nephew, but Isabella is SO sweet she just lets him love on her.

I want to thank him for ALWAYS helping me out when I need him to. He will pick up Savannah from school. Tend the kids after they are asleep (and even sometimes when they are awake). He will run to my friend's house when she is late and get her son off the bus. He will run random errands, just because we ask him to. He will always bring a smile to your face. He has a great sense of humor and has a great carefree nature. He is always sensitive to others. He is a great speaker. He has an inspiring testimony of the gospel and is an exceptional young man.

CONGRATULATIONS Danny Boy!!!!! You are a high school grad, soon to be a college goer. WOW. I am old :)

I must say that FAMILIES ARE THE BEST. And I have the best one!!! I really do. My brothers and sister are ALWAYS there no matter what. Whenever I would sit around with my in laws talking I always thought about what it would be like when all my siblings were old enough to be married and what we woudl talk about when we got older and how much fun it would be.

Well I had that opportunity this last weekend with my fam. We spent countless hours playing games, watching movies, swimming, and just enjoying one another's company. Logan and Nat came down from up North and we had such a great time with them. I wish I had enough time and eloquent words to express the gratitude I feel for each of my siblings and their spouses.

It will be fun to have a NEW ADDITION TO OUR FAMILY!!!! No peeps. I am not prego. But my sister is getting MARRIED!!!!! YAY!!!!! So if you see her on the street, look at her rock, give her a big hug, and tell her CONGRATS!!!!!!

I honestly can't even express into words the joy and peace and love and beauty that Isabella has brought into our home these last few months. I can't believe how sweet and cuddly and fun she is. Her smile lights up her face and lights up a room. She has been able to pull me from the depths of my sorrow on so many occasions. She has been able to help me through my grief and fill my arms like only she can.
In Elder Scott's LDS General Conference talk, he talked about the importance of temples and temple worship in enabling our families to be together for eternity. Elder Gary E. Stephenson told of President Monson's suggested that we take our children to the temple often so that they can feel the Spirit of the temple and have the desire to attend one day. Doug and I decided that we would visit the different temples and take pictures of the girls in front of them individually and together. We will then put all the pictures in a book that they can keep.

Doug was insistant that we put this picture in.... so here I am. ON my stomach, on the ground, holding Isabella up :). What a picture!!!!

For Memorial Day when Doug was growing up they always went to the cemetery. His Grandpa was a veteran, so it was a tradition to visit. So here we start our tradition, although I really would rather not, but here we are. We went to the temple, then to the store to get something for the cemetery and also something for Daxton's Birthday. Then off to McDOnald's for lunch so we could have a picnic at the cemetery. Who does that? Not anyone that was there, but the girls like to sit under the tree by his grave and we just talk about Daxton, get our usual picture and off we go.

We finished off the day with a nap, a swim, and a BBQ at Aunt Dranas. Sure was fun, all things considering. :)

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Days like today

Wow. Seriously. It is a day like today that makes me want to crawl into a hole and not come out for a few days!!!

This morning I went to the cannery to get some food storage. (As members of the church we are asked to have a year worth of food storage in case of extenuating circumstances that might require a prolonged trip to the store.... so we have a cannery locally where we can purchase dried goods and do some wet pack as well. This is what I was doing today)

Anyway, while at the cannery, I cut my finger on one of the cans and had to run out and clean up and bandage myself up. It really hurt. It is like a REALLY deep paper cut and the superficial ones hurt so you can imagine the pain I might be suffering :). Then off to the bakery to pick up some bread for the funeral and to pick up Isabella and Mikenna, take the bread to the church so they could make sandwiches.

Then off to Aunt Drana's to drop off some of the food storage because heaven only knows I seriously have NOOOO room in my house. It is sufficient, but I am being invaded by my own stuff. We said hi to the two twins and raced off to the grocery store where we picked up flowers for Mikenna's teachers. She has been talking for weeks about getting her some flowers so she chose them special (after some coaxing on the "prettiest." More like the cheapest :)).

Landing at home with just enough time to run through her reading paper 5 times, eat lunch, make two homeade cards, put gifts of bread in the bags, feed Isabella, and well lets face it, that should be enough right? All that in less than 30 minutes.

On my way out of the garage I smacked right into our little Honda Civic with our HUGE Yukon. SERIOUSLY!!!! SERIOUSLY!!!! SERIOUSLY!!!! Am I really that dunce? Am I really that brainless that I walked around the back of the car, saw the civic and like a complete and total idiot I proceeded to back into my car. You know the crunch sound? Ok. Maybe you don't. It sounds like eating Raisin Bran Crunch, which by the way I quite enjoy :). But seriously? EERRR!!! I will post the damage when I am not quite so upset with myself. EEERRR!!!! I hit the panel and it was forced just far enough back that the passenger side door won't open. SERIOUSLY!!! Ah nuts, or something like that.

I said a few words, walked out to see the damage, got back in the car and took Mikenna to school. Then I ran to Savannah's school to give her teacher's their gifts and inherited a beta fish (that will be dead within the week) named Woody, from their classroom. I am going to try really hard to get it to live through the summer and then give it back. :) ya. right. whatever.

It was my dad's bday today and my bros graduation. Will post about graduation later :). SO I had to race to the store, get two cards, and two gifts, and two books, and stuff for two cheesecakes. And then I had to make them. SUPER FUN!! Actually it was. I like to bake, it is relaxing. Kind of. Unless Savannah is in bathroom on the potty yelling for help because she pooped and doesn't want to get her hands dirty. SERIOUSLY? Like I want to get MY hands dirty. Owell. I did wash my hands between wiping her butt and cooking :), just in case you were wondering. LOL.

It all turned out ok. After 5 pieces of pizza and 2 pieces of cheesecake, I am fat and happy :). (I didn't really eat all that, but I sure thought about it.)

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Big Firsts

Here are the two grils. Doug took Mikenna out to get her pic taken before her ballet recital. As soon as Savannah saw that she was going outside, she wanted to have a picture as well. So off she ran and this is what we got.

Mikenna had her ballet recital. She did SO good. SO cute. Thanks Miss Erica!!!

Ode to the many cute faces of our sweet Sawannah!

OK so it was time to cut Isabella's hair. I know that it looks like a boy cut. Honestly it has been since oh well never since I cut a little girls hair. I used to cut Daxton's hair. We literally had to pin him down and cut it. It was comical... and sad... actually.

Isabella was so patient. She just looked around and held surprisingly still. So here it is. At least the difference between a good hair cut and a bad hair cut for a little girl is a bow. (see below)

Ok for reals. I go to the store and people say things like "she is the cutest baby I have ever seen." Can you really disagree? NO. I don't think you can. :)

Well my friends. The pool has officially been initiated into the summer weather. The uninhabitable heat here has forced us into our swimsuits and into the water. Here are some of Isabella's first pics in the pool.

Isabella loves to sit in her bouncey seat while we are outside swimming. Of course she is lathered in sunscreen and under the umbrella :).

I know. I know. They are seriously ADORABLE!!!!

Those little piggies are KILLING me. They are So cute I just want to eat them. Of course I won't. OK something funny before I forget. The other day the girls and I were driving around and I was talking to my sister or Doug I can't remember and I was venting about rude nurses who aren't very nice to new grads.