Only down side to going to the beach

you have to cross a bridge that is 23 miles long. Yep it takes a half hour to cross it and is the second longest bridge over water in the World.

The Causeway

(I may or may not have a fear of bridges)

beach bums

That's what we are going to become this summer. It's super close, clean and not crowded we had so much fun!

So I finally figured out the easiest way to post videos so be prepared. Maggie is growing up way faster than Daniel did. It makes me so sad. She is so ready to walk. She will pull up on everything and walk across it. She even stands up on her own if you let go of her hands. She isn't quite ready to take steps but I'm pretty sure by the time we are back in Utah she'll be a walker. She has serious attitude and has been teething for the past few weeks. I'm pleased to announce she finally cut her third tooth but there are three more coming. She hasn't been the happiest baby lately but can you blame her? She has the highest pitch scream ever!Its her only way to communicate right now so whenever she wants something she just screams. I'm teaching her baby signs to hopefully take care of that problem. She jabbers all the time. She says mom and dad and ball and book and the other day she said duck. Of course when I get the camera out she won't do anything but try and take it away. We haven't been to her 9 month check up so I don't have stats. I'm feeling like a bad mom but its expensive they don't get shots and I haven't found a doctor yet. But she is so much fun. She loves to wrestle with her big brother. She loves him they are going to be best friends.








Daniel is loving having friends and playing with them. He's meeting lots of fun kids from playgroup and nursery. He's hit a stage where he doesn't like to be told what to do and tells me he can do whatever he wants cause he is the boss of himself. Nap time is becoming more of a battle but I'm holding out. He's super independent but still my little cuddle guy. Here is him being handsome.



and here is a link to his version of teenage dream,
http://lasmorning.blogspot.com/2011/05/teenage-dream.html

I found this quote in a book yesterday and its really helped me A LOT. The book is entitled Created for Greater Things by Jeffery R. Holland.

" Your Father in Heaven knows your name and knows your circumstance. He hears your prayers. He knows your hopes and dreams, including your fears and frustrations. And he knows what you can become through faith in him."

and this scripture John 14:27

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you...Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Car Vs. SUV

On his way back to work after lunch on Wednesday, David was driving over an over pass, as he came up and headed down the other side an SUV was stopped in front of him. He swerved and braked but knew he was going to hit the SUV. The next thing he remembers is the smoke from the airbag and looking down at his bloody hand. He walked away with minor injuries, a cut up hand from hitting the windshield, his arms burned from the airbag (it also burned a hole in his pants) and a sore neck and back. The SUV had minor damage to its hatch back and bumper and the car in front of her had a scratched bumper, our car is totaled.
He didn't want me to worry so he didn't call me until the crash was cleaned up 2 hours later. When he did call he said "hey Em can you do me a favor? Can you come pick me up at the mall and take me home?" My first question was of course where is your car? "Just come and get me. I want to explain everything to you when you get here." I of course started thinking of all the things that could have happened. By the time I got there I was pretty sure the car was gone. I didn't however think he was injured at all. My throat dropped to my stomach when I saw him sitting in front of Target with a bloody hand wrapped up in gauze(he refused ambulance services but the fire fighter gave him stuff to wrap up his hand). We went home and he cleaned up his hand and pulled glass out of it (I'm no help when it comes to blood and extracting things from bodies). He went to bed and the next morning cleaned it up a little more and pulled this large chuck of glass out.
David has been extremely positive about the whole situation. I can't say the same for myself. He has thought about the situation over and over trying to figure out what he could have done differently, he wasn't speeding or texting or talking on his phone, he's convinced he did the only thing he could. The is the biggest blessing out of all of this, I still have my husband. The car will be replaced but I could never replace him. I have said so many thank you prayers in the last two days. I am so grateful that David is ok.

Melt Down

After 29 hours in the car this is the only melt down we had as we were pulling into the driveway.

Surprise!!!

Well I've been MIA for the last few weeks. Jake and my dad came to visit and it was so great. We had a blast! I got the great idea to sneak the kids and I home in my dads car, well he knew we were coming but no one else did. Here are the surprise videos we shot
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Daniel was so excited to surprise everyone. Thanks and if we missed you this last time we'll be back for 3 weeks June 20-July 11.

What Grandpa had to put up with...

when he came to visit,



But he got this willing helper in return,
Daniel happily stuck all the stickers on the trial size bottles of hand cleaner. When Grandpa was done Daniel found more in a box and "made" him finish. He was such a good little helper. I think it was worth it right?

Her first Ponytail

The Beach

This was Maggie's first trip to the beach. She wasn't so sure of the sand
Daniel was digging before I had his sunscreen on

Maggie loved the water

Daniel and Maggie were both the same age when they took their first beach trip. Maggie has more hair but I think Daniel is chubbier

Girls.
(Notice my hot hiding husband in this picture?)
A beach tradition is to make a sand turtle.
We buried the boys

Grandpa hid under the shade so this is the only picture I have of him

I love this man

Our week with Jake (and Grandpa)

Jake came to play for spring break
Daniel played a lot of games on his ipod


We took a trip to the zoo even though we didn't see any cool animals it was PERFECT weather
We also went to the aquarium (we have a pass to both so we take everyone)
Grandpa treated us at Chuckie Cheese "where a kid can be a kid" according to Daniel

Jake got a little relax time but not without a babyWe played at the beach

Daniel "buried" JakeThey shared a towel
and then we said goodbye. It was really hard to see him go. We really miss him. Jake is an exception when it comes to teenage boys. He always has been. What 15 year old would choose to drive for 2 days straight just to spend his spring break week with his nephew and niece? When Daniel was born he would walk to my house after school. He would come in and just hold Daniel while I frantically got ready for the day or did laundry or cleaned up. Their bond started early. I don't know anyone like him. He is Daniel's best friend. Daniel loves him and really looks up to him and I couldn't hope for a better friend. As Daniel put it "I want you to stay forever and ever." We love him our house feels a little empty tonight.

reunited

weekly round up

So we had a crazy last 3 weeks!

BYU made it to the Sweet 16 bringing more visitors from "home"!!! (Thanks Jackson)
We were able to go to the game for free, which was crazy exciting!(again thanks Jackson)

Maggie did great at the babysitters (thanks Loader girls)which means I got a much needed break from my sweet little angel.The Emery family stayed with us. Which meant 24/4 entertainment for Daniel. He was SO excited when they got here and loved playing with them especially old maid and teaching them not to use bad words.
More family came for the game, my grandma, and half of the Jensen family.
We hit up the French Quarter for shopping and good food

We all ate alligator

While on the river walk Daniel sang the ABC's with this 87 year old man it was so cool. I didn't get the video out fast enough.Everyone went home which left me really homesick

Patti kept her promise to Daniel and is sending Jake back. (Daniel said she could only go home if she sent Jake back to him. He and my dad should be here by Sunday!!!)

We enjoyed conference weekend with our NOLA family having yummy dinners (grilled burgers and homemade Cafe Rio) and yummy breakfast, cinnamon rolls, peaches and cream French toast and pancakes.

Maggie now pulls herself up to the standing position in her crib, the high chair and any other object regardless if it's sturdy or not.

Daniel decided to try out polygamy He was playing house with two girls and they were both his wives he called them saying "come on sweeties." No worries David set him straight.