Homemade Happiness

Hakon draws pictures for the kids quite often. Mostly, he does this during sacrament meeting. They watch as a picture appears before their eyes and as each detail is added to the drawing. It keeps them quite content during the speakers and takes minimal preparation and items to bring to church. They draw on their own as well, but they especially love it when Dad will draw something for them in particular. Here is the quad Rylan requested at church this time.


We had an exceptionally warm February day! The girls loved playing in the backyard on bikes and the trampoline. We love it when we get a break from the winter weather.









We met up with Spencer at Town Square when he was roller blading home from school. Brooklyn really wanted to walk home with him so Spencer agreed to. I drove along behind to make sure they made it safely. It was sweet to see Spencer taking such good care of her and holding her hand. He had to go a lot slower than he normally would, but he didn't mind.

Rylan Facts at Five Years Old

• Still loves building with lego very much
• Likes planning things and building, for example building forts out of blankets
• He has grown up so much the last few months and is much more willing to go places and do things without me right with him
• He is learning to skate and do flips on the trampoline
• He loves to make things by himself. The other day he made orange juice and poured it into the moulds for popsicles, then poured the rest into cups for our family all while I was out of the room. I was shocked when I came back in, and he was so proud! I was very surprised to see very little juice spilled in the process.
• He likes getting new clothes but is very particular about which clothes he will wear. They have to be comfortable!
• He usually wakes up first in our family and he is quite chipper first thing in the morning.
• He loves his blue baby blanket and his stuffed dog.
• He really likes time with just mom and dad and got to come on a date to Lethbridge with us recently.
• He is learning to sound words out and often surprises me by reading something on a label or sign. He often reads the books  Spencer brings home for homework.
• Rylan is soft spoken most of the time and uses very good manners. For example: if I ask him if he would like milk or water, he will respond (after thinking for a minute) "Could I please have some milk, mom?"
• He is doing quite well with going to CTR4 (his primary class at church) and always wants to take his scriptures to church.
• He tends to like playing with boys who are older than him best. He really likes being around nine-year old Ethan Michel. For his party we have invited Ethan, Josh (6 years old), and Marcus. 
• He loves it if I lay by him at bedtime. It doesn't happen every night, but he asks for it most nights.
• He prefers soft-spoken babysitters and teachers and does not like to feel pushed into things
• He can get really silly and for some reason thinks it is the funniest thing in the world to spank other people. I am constantly reminding him that we do not do that, but he just gets such a big kick out of trying every time.
• He loves running, jumping, somersaults, and other gymnastics type moves. I think I might put him in gymnastics next year.
• His favourite primary song is "We'll Bring the World His Truth".
• He has expressed interest in the guitar lately.
• He is a determined boy in a quiet way. 
• I am so looking forward to watching him grow this year. I love him dearly and am so happy to have a day to celebrate my special boy, Rylan.