Update

Ok I have completely neglected our blog over the last few months. It all started back in January when I had my appendix removed and now here it is April and I have only posted two new entries. So I’m going to attempt to update the best I can.
Daniel is a full time walker now. He started walking back in December, right before his birthday he was doing really well and now he walks everywhere nonstop. He is into everything and can't get enough of his newly found freedom. I have video if I ever find out how to load it on here. He now has 12 teeth 4 top front and 2 top molars, and 4 bottom front and 2 bottom molars. He can say clearly Mom, dad, ball, baby, hi, and a lot of others that are close like book, dog, grandpa, grandma. (he has said some of those clearly but only once or twice so I don't really count them) He weighs 23 pounds as of Sunday and I'm not sure how tall he is. He has lost a lot of his baby fat but still has cubby thighs, and feet(my personal favorite). He is growing so fast!!!! He is a little obsessed with the dogs our backyard neighbors have. He doesn't really like petting them but is always talking about them and saying "woof woof". He loves dancing he can't help but dance whenever music plays. One of our favorite family activities has become dance parties in our living room.
Back in February we went cross-country skiing. Leslie (my mother in-law) was kind enough to come with us and show us where to go. What a great way to spend time as a family. We had so much fun enjoying the mountains and the nice clean air. It was quite the workout but so worth it. Daniel LOVED it. He rode on David’s back and fell asleep on the way in and woke up just in time to enjoy the last half on the way out. He really likes being outside.
























We also took Daniel to the park for the first time. He wasn’t a big fan of the slide, we tried to make it exciting but he wouldn’t buy it. We even crawled in the tube with him but still no smile except the nervous one he gave with me.



















































Daniel has now become very independent. He loves climbing on things and thinks that he can feed himself. I am trying hard to let him have his independence without freaking out. I see the Danger in everything so this is not easy for me. I'm getting better, I think...

Late Night thoughts...

Its almost 1:30 am and I am still wide awake. I've been thinking lately about how horrible our world has become. In the last two days there have been three shootings in Utah and thats a lot for our humble little state, and one happened right down the road from where we live. I worry about the world that my children will grow up in and how hard it will be for them. I worry about how bad it really is going to get. But even though there are so many horrible things there is still good in this world and things that I am grateful for. I am so grateful that I live in a free country. I know that it is FAR from perfect but I wouldn't pick another. I am so grateful that I have a husband that supports me and loves me for me. Who goes to work every day to support his family. I have a son that is so wonderful, he brightens every day. I have a family that loves me and that is always there for me. I have my Savior and my Father in Heaven and I know that they love me and are always there to listen to my prayers. I have a job and so does my husband which is more then a lot of people. I am blessed. Whenever I feel down or sad about the way things are going I like to stop and reflect on all the good and the blessing that I have. It gives me hope.

Daniel's 1st birthday!!!!!

My little baby turned One today. Its so sad that they grow so fast. For all that weren't able to make it for cake and Ice Cream here are some pictures... Okay Lindsie really wasn't there but we wanted her to be so I added the picture. THANK YOU THANK YOU to everyone that could be there we had a blast and you made Daniels 1st Birthday that much better!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!

Family pictures

we got our family pictures taken it was so much fun. Daniel and Bean also got a lot of pictures together. Here is the photographers blog so you can look at some of them. She did an amazing job!
www.seasonatwaterphotography.blogspot.com

BYU Basketball

David and I are really big BYU Basketball fans. My cousin just happens to play on the team and that makes it even more exciting for me. This weekend we went to two games(Thanks Mike). Saturday they played Wake Forest and sadly lost, but it still was a great game. Last night we went to watch them play Western Oregon. We had 4th row seats which includes a nice dinner before the game, treats during and at half time. It was so much fun. I couldn't pass bringing Daniel along this time. He did really well and didn't even mind the noisy student section behind us. They won, Go Cougars!!!!

Christmas lights at Temple Square

We took Daniel to see the Christmas lights at Temple Square for our anniversary. I was so worried he would get cold so I think I went a little overboard on the bundling. He is a pretty chill baby though and didn't even seem to care. I think he liked them. David and I did.

Christmas Morning

We had Daniel crawl out from our room and come in and open his presents. It took him awhile to get them all opened and he seemed to like the boxes more then what was inside of them. It was so much fun. We then headed over to my parents house where Daniel got the best present (in my opinion) Teddy Ruxpin. Sadly Daniel is a little freaked out about the talking stuffed animal but I was so excited. When I was little I had one and he really was my best friend. Grandma and Grandpa Brown got him a really cool puppet and Great Grandma Carol got him a great walker. Thanks to our families for making this Christmas so great. (I have video clips but can't load them for some reason, so more to come.)

Christmas Eve

We always spend Christmas Eve at the Browns. Leslie started a tradition, I don't know when, but she makes everyone PJ pants. They are the best and so comfortable. This year Daniel got his first pair. He looked so cute in them.

Happy 4th Anniversary!!!!

David and I just celebrated our 4 year anniversary. It fell on a Sunday this year so we weren't able to do anything spectacular on the day but Monday night as a family we went to Temple Square and enjoyed the beautiful Christmas lights and some real good Korean food at our favorite restaurant.
I just want David to know how much I love him. Marrying him was the best decision of my life. He is the best husband and perfect for me. I love that he can always make me laugh, even when I'm angry. He supports our family, he is a great dad, and he loves me for me. I know that I am far from perfect and that I can be difficult and stubborn but he puts up with me. He pushes me to do things that I would otherwise not do he's my better half. I really don't know where I would be without him. Happy Anniversary David! I love you!!!!!
P.S. I think he looks really hot in this picture!

Together for the Holidays

Heather, Cale and Bean are now in town for the Holidays. This is a picture of their 4 month reunion. Daniel and Bean will get to play together a lot these next few weeks and we are so excited.

Candy Cane

I let Daniel eat the candy cane so I could put back all the ornaments he kept taking off. After I was done he was a big sticky mess so into the bath he went.

Setting up the Tree

Daniel was so excited to help set up and decorate the tree especially after he found the candy canes.

Christmas Tree

We went and picked out Daniels first Christmas tree. We bundled up and headed to the nearest tree lot to start our hunt. I wanted a short fat one but they are hard to come by. I wanted it to be perfect. The man then reminded me that one side is against the wall. It isn't perfect but I am proud of our little Charlie Brown tree. Its Daniels new favorite toy.

Peas

I made Daniel try peas I bet you can't guess what he thought of them...

Idaho

Another trip to Idaho to visit my dear Grandma and Grandpa.
I love them and every minute I spend with them is a treasure. They both love Daniel so much. When I handed Daniel to my Grandpa to take this picture Daniels shirt was up so my Grandpa did his best to fix it so they both would look good for the picture. I love them.














This is my all time favorite face Daniel has ever made. I can't get him to do it now but for that weekend he was all about it.

Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving this year we were blessed to have 3 wonderful meals. We started the Sunday before with a feast at my Grandmas house. All the family that lives in Utah were there and what a blast it was not to mention to wonderful tasting food. Thursday morning my mom made the best breakfast because Lindsie had to back in Montana that night. Then we headed for the Brown family feast. I made two chocolate pie. My mom made them for Sundays dinner and I loved it. So I made my own chocolate gram cracker crust and filling hoping that everyone would love them as much as I had. Daniel did get the first try and seemed to be pleased with the outcome. The true test was dessert Thursday afternoon. Both pies gone, Success.

Give it up for the STICK

You might want to rethink your Christmas list. The National Toy Hall of Fame recently announced this years’ best-toy inductees.

They are…. drum roll please…… the baby doll, the skateboard and the stick. While the baby doll and the skateboard are pretty obvious, the fact that the lowly, yet extremely versatile stick is considered worthy of Hall of Fame status just makes me smile.

More important than its wide popularity, educational qualities and ability to nurture discovery and imagination is the fact that the stick has maintained its status as a favorite toy for many generations.

Chances are, your dad, your grandmother, her great grandfather and the Arch Bishop of Canterbury all spent some time pretending a stick was a sword, or a horse, or a magic wand.

In case you’re wondering, the cardboard box, was inducted in 2005. As we all know, you can blow hundreds of dollars on flashing, walking, talking, flying, drooling, peeing toys only to find that your busy little dude and dudette are more interested in the box the toy came in.

Stick wins best toy award

Posted by Betsy Shaw in Current Events, Children and happiness, Education, Learning, Celebrations, Toys | November 20th, 2008 | Trackback