Cantwell Family - Erik, Melissa, Zach, Luke & Carter

So the Cantwell kids just keep getting bigger and bigger. I guess we have to stop now because I really don't want to have to push out anything bigger. We are so excited to finally have Carter here and we all love him.

Well, little Lukey turned 3 on Sunday. I can't believe that he is already 3 but I guess time flies like that. His birthday was very low key but he didn't seem to mind. He is actually a very difficult child to plan a birthday for because he won't tell you what he wants and I kept asking him what kind of cake he wanted and he would just say stars on it. So, that is what he got. A not so fancy cake with candy stars on it. He loved it so I guess that is all that matters.

I was a slacker mom this year for Halloween and really didn't get into it. I think I have had some other stuff on my mind or something. We didn't even carve pumpkins. I just let the boys paint their pumpkins that we had picked up at the pumpkin patch. I have no pictures from that, but the boys enjoyed going on the hayride and picking out their own pumpkin.

So I know that it has been a month since I posted but I promise the I have been trying to get things done before the baby comes. I am getting induced on Friday and so we have been busy trying to make sure things are ready for his arrival. The first big change our family made was to upgrade to a bigger vehicle. When we first got it I was thinking this car is way too big, but now I love having it and I love all the room we have. A very big thanks to my brother, Josh, who went and looked at it for us in Utah and then drove it to Idaho for us. We never saw it before we bought it but got the approval from my brother who knows more about cars than anyone I know. We have been adding some nice touches to our home. The picture below is a picture of the nursery. I haven't quite finished it yet but I am loving it. I also love my beadboard wall and am so thankful that my brother, Josh, came up and put it up for us. Thanks again Josh for sacrificing your weekend to help us. Your the best!!! It makes me happy every time I go in there. I also took on the project to paint it myself. Erik was very hesitant because of the crappy job we did in Ohio but I have learned how to do it correctly from my friend, Sara. And I actually think it turned out pretty good. I also have to thank the cub scouts and leaders in my ward. I am a den leader for the bear scouts and they surprised me at our last den meeting with new bedding for the crib. I love it and thank you guys so much.

Happy 30th Birthday to Erik today!!! It wasn't too exciting since it was Sunday but Erik said that he enjoyed it because people at church and work would then not have to say Happy Birthday to him. The boys were so excited for Erik's birthday and they made cards for him and tried to be extra nice. We had a wonderful day at home where I cooked fish for dinner (and that is a big step for me because I hate fish but I know that Erik loves it). The only sad thing is that since Erik is now 30 that means that I am not far behind. We are so thankful that Erik is the head of our household and we love him so much!!

Here is my list of the top 30 things about Erik:

1. He is a wonderful dad and the kids just love him.
2. He is always willing to play with the kids even when he doesn't feel like it.
3. He allows "backie time" which the boys think is the best.
4. He honors his priesthood.
5. He really strives to live the gospel the best he can.
6. He goes out of his way to make people feel welcome.
7. He is a simple man, which makes life easier for me.
8. He works very hard for our family.
9. He forgives me when I make mistakes.
10. He is very money concious which I know will always benefit our family.
11. He loves sports and has carried that on to his children.
12. He does a great job vacuuming our house.
13. He likes things in order and is willing to put them that way.
14. He is very detail oriented.
15. He is self discplined and can accomplish anything he wants to.
16. He is my best friend.
17. He laughs at me when I say stupid things.
18. He gives an awesome back massage.
19. He fulfills his Church callings and is willing to serve at any time.
20. He is a very good example to those around him.
21. He is still great at surprising me.
22. He lets me take breaks when I need them.
23. He is very personable.
24. He still gives me butterflies.
25. He looks hot every day when he goes to work.
26. He will do pretty much anything I ask him to.
27. He loves a clean house.
28. He is okay if we have cereal for dinner.
29. He is a great husband.
30. I get to be with him forever.

We Love You Erik!!! Hope you had a great day!

So we went to Lagoon this summer with the Clark family and I realized that I never posted about it. It was a very fun day and the kids loved it. Inasmuch as I am pregnant I got to sit around and watch everyone but it was so fun to watch the kids have a good time. I have a lot more pictures of Luke this year because Zach was just tall enough to go on most of the rides and so he took off with my siblings and went on all the big rides. Zach went on Wicked twice and loved it. Here is my brother and sister with Zach, Luke and Megan (our niece). This was the last trip that my kids will see Megan in a long time because my brother moved his family to Florida where he got a job as an attorney.
Here is Luke on his favorite ride. He loves the bumper cars. Something about crashing into people he finds quite humorous.
Here is Luke again with my brother Brad. This is the new Octopus ride at Lagoon. I will tell you that the kiddie rides that they have added are awesome and Luke enjoyed them as well.
Here is my dad and Luke on the ladybug ride (kind of like the Drop Zone). Luke thought it was funny. My dad doesn't enjoy rides much but since I was unable to get on, he was a good sport and got on with Luke. I actually think they both enjoyed it.
Luke and Megan riding the cars right before we left. We sure put in a full day and the kids would have stayed through the next day I'm sure. Thanks grandma and grandpa for a wonderful day of fun. We loved it.

I decided to try my hand at being domestic every now and then and this is what I have been up to - canning peaches. I remember growing up with my mom canning peaches every year and swearing that I would never do it because I hated having to help but now that I am a mom and wife myself, I decided to try it out for myself. We have a Church farm in Caldwell here that lets you go pick peaches for a very very reasonable rate. I ended up buying two bushels and it took us a good two and a half days to can them all. A big thank you to my friend Liz, who picked the peaches with me and helped me can all of them. She is amazing and I can't believe everything she knows. It didn't burn me out too much because I think I might try applesauce next. We'll see!!!

I can't believe that Zach has made it to Kindergarten. He started on August 25 but I am just getting around to posting about it. Zach is loving school and told me that he likes being at school better than being at mom. Apparently, I don't make home life exciting enough. Zach really likes his teacher, Mrs. Ireland, and in fact she is actually one of Erik's patients. So Erik already knew her before school started. I really thought that I would be fine when I dropped Zach off at school that very first day. Let's just say I am very glad that I had sunglasses on. I think it was just the moment when the kids lined up outside, the bell rang and the teacher came out to get them. She said "tell your moms goodbye." The kids then waved and walked inside the school. I came home and called Erik and said that was no fun at all. I think it is just one of those periods of life where you realize that your children won't be little forever and that they will grow up and move on with their lives. Luke was pretty upset the first day when he realized that Zach wouldn't be home with us in the afternoons. Luke looks up to Zach so much and they really do get along well. Luke's favorite part of the day is going to pick Zach up from school. I am so glad that the school is right across from my house because we enjoy walking Zach to and from school each day. We love you Zach!!**Don't mind the gash on Zach's face. He had a run in with a door in our house which ended in a trip to the Urgent Care**

I think our favorite part about summer is all the water that we enjoy. There is nothing better than playing in water when the weather is hot, hot, hot. Zach got a slip and slide for his birthday and the boys love playing on it. The only downfall is that it soaks only certain parts of my lawn but it's worth it to watch the boys have fun.
I absolutely love Luke's face in this picture. He is such a silly boy and makes the funniest faces ever.

We were able to make a visit to Utah last month to welcome Erik's brother home from a mission. I always love a good excuse to visit Utah. Anyhow while we were there we were able to visit Discovery Gateway with the Clarks. My kids loved it and we haven't been to a place like this since we left Ohio and could go to COSI. Here is Zach climbing the rock wall.

That is if you are looking to have THREE BOYS, which is what the Cantwell family will have. We found out yesterday that we are expecting another boy. I had prepared myself for it and knew that my chances were around 0 to get a girl. But all in all, we are very excited to add another boy. Zach and Erik are thrilled. I've decided that Zach wants everything the same way that Erik does. He follows Erik to a tee. Luke on the other hand wanted a baby sister and said "No, I want a baby sister."

Now comes the challenge of coming up with a name because Erik and I have a hard time agreeing. Look at the poll on the right and vote for your favorite name. If worse comes to worse, we might just have to choose the winner of the poll. I am just so thankful that everything looked good on the ultrasound. I love my boys and so adding another one will be very natural. There definitely are perks of having the same sex - I don't have to clutter my house with girl stuff and Erik is thankful that I don't have a reason to go and buy lots of new clothes for the baby.

So soccer season has come to an end. Zach loved going to his games and he actually is quite a good little soccer player. He managed to score multiple goals in each game. Here are some pictures of him in action. I think that he is getting some really good form or I actually got a picture at just the right moment. That usually is impossible for me.

Of course I am late posting about Zach's 5th Birthday but like they say, better late than never. I felt bad for Zach this year because I have thrown him a birthday party every year except the big 5. Since we moved to Idaho, Zach has made a couple of friends, but not a ton so I just decided to keep it simple this year. His birthday was on a Sunday and so on Saturday we let him choose what he wanted to do. We went to Red Robin for dinner, then to PoJo's (kind of like a Chucky Cheese but with bigger and better things) and then we ended the night with a trip to Maggie Moo's for ice cream. Zach really wanted the people at Red Robin to sing to him so he could get some ice cream, but of course stuff like that embarasses Erik and so he promised Zach that he would just go and buy him some ice cream.
I made a Buckeye football cake for his birthday this year. Although we don't live in Ohio anymore, we still love our Buckeyes and Zach loves football. It was really easy to make too which is the best part.
Here is Zach and Luke ripping open one of Zach's presents. He got a soccer goal (from the Cantwell's), a real baseball bat (metal and all), some swimming toys to take to the pool, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Guess Who and a book from the Clarks, and then this cool machine that makes bugs. Zach was so pumped for that. I think that Zach really enjoyed his birthday even though there really wasn't a party involved.

Since Zach is 5 I want to give 5 reasons why we love Zach:

1. Zach is so good to Luke. They play all the time together and it is nice because I can actually get things done while they play with each other.

2. Zach is very athletic. He loves every sport and loves to play in the backyard with Erik.

3. Zach has started piano lessons and loves it. That makes me so happy because piano is a big part of my life and so I love to see him enjoy music as well.

4. Zach has a great sense of humor. He loves to tell knock knock jokes and then just laugh.

5. He still loves to cuddle with me and play with my hair. I am glad that he still wants hugs and kisses and that he cares how I feel.

We love Zach and are so grateful he is a part of our family.

Zach has been playing flag football this spring and loving it. He was a little disappointed when he learned that he had to pull flags and that he couldn't tackle. We have enjoyed going to his games and seeing his improvement over the season. He prefers playing defense over offense, but has scored a touchdown this season which he was so proud of. It is so funny to see him with his mouthgard. It is too big for his mouth and when he plays quarterback he has to take it out to say "hike." Luke enjoys going to the games and he will probably take after his brother and play in a couple of years. He wants to do anything that Zach is doing.

We just got a new computer and so I haven't had time to transfer over all of my old files and pictures. I am working very slowly on that. We have had a very fun March and I have many pictures to share so bear with me and hopefully I can get up to speed this week. I am so glad that I have a new computer because our other one was a piece. It would consistently shut down on us in the middle of our work. However, it is frustrating trying to figure out a new one and then getting everything off the old one that I need. So, look for some new posts this coming week. Hope everyone's lives are happy.

Breanne Morris
Cassie Lombardi
Sara Toro

I will be getting you your prize in the next week. Thanks for playing. Now, pay it forward!!!!

This is fun!!! Be sure to leave a comment if you want to play... I won a drawing on my friend Mindy's blog, so now it's my turn to "Pay It Forward"! This is how it works... You simply make a comment to this post in the next week and on Wednesday March 5 I will put your name in a drawing and the three people that I draw out get something from me! Winners will be posted on Thursday, the 6th. If you win, be prepared to PAY IT FORWARD! This is so much fun... Remember don't enter if you don't want to "PAY IT FORWARD"

So, Breanne tagged me and I am finally responding. I actually don't like the picture of me above (surprise, surprise) but I think Erik looks hot and since this post is dedicated to him, I thought I would post it.




































Just wanted to let Erik know how much I love him. I am so grateful to have him in my life. I look at the past 14 years of knowing him and he definitely is the man of my dreams. Thanks for all the hard work you put in for us and for putting up with me. He continues to love me despite the numerous times he is irritatated with me ( I have a way of doing that.) I know that I need to be more appreciative of him and I promise to try harder this year to do that. I LOVE YOU!

I have cried more today than I have in a long time. President Hinckley's funeral service was so wonderful and I felt the spirit so strongly. I don't know why it took me this long to hit me but I really love President Hinckley. I think about the amazing man that he was and the many things I learned from him. He just radiated such a light about him. His funeral really affected all of us. Zach came downstairs as they were unloading his casket from the hearse and started crying and said "I am sad." I don't think he fully realizes what was happening but we have talked about it with him this week that we will be getting a new prophet.

President Hinckley was the prophet during those critical years of my life and I know that he had such a love for the youth. I am so happy for him to be reunited with his wife and other loved ones and to be able to meet the Savior knowing that his life was dedicated to the Lord. Erik and I were talking about how sad we are that Luke won't even know who President Hinckley was and the amazing man that he was. I forever will love him as a prophet and am thankful to his family who so willingly shared their father, grandfather and great-grandfather with the whole world. His impact will last forever. God Be With You Till We Meet Again!

On Saturday we decided to venture to the one and only "hill" in Boise to go sledding. Our friends, the Toros, came with us. This was the first time that we had taken the kids sledding and they loved it.
Zach and Luke were both very good sports about walking up the hill. I thought that they would want us to carry them up but they both made the hike each time.
Erik with Zach and Luke. Luke laughed the entire time and loved it. It was hard to get him and Zach to leave the hill.

Luke enjoying the tube. He found it rather useful as a chair too.
Zach and Luke heading down the hill in a sled. The sleds actually went a lot faster than the tubes and so we had to really catch them at the bottom to prevent them from going into the road. It was such a nice day and I much prefer my Saturdays when we are out doing things than sitting home watching TV. We all had a great time.