Chasing Animals...and Kids!

The kids needed a fun activity today so we went to the Petting Farm at Gardner Village. They loved it. Ethan asked if he could stay for a long time, I would just come back to pick him up. He would have stayed forever.

SAD but HAPPY day

Well, the day finally came.

EmiLee's first day of pre-school was today! Staying true to our family tradition I, the Dad, got to take her to school on the first day. I am lucky that her teacher is a very close friend of mine! Kris Mecham Nguyen; I grew up with Kris and have known her my entire life. In fact, since we moved back to my old neighborhood, her parents live right next door to us! She also married one of my best friends from High School. Needless to say, Robyn and I love her and know her well. When I dropped EmiLee off this morning I contemplated waiting for her outside for the full 2 hours like I did with Ethan. I then realized how comfortable I feel with Kris , so I began to leave. EmiLee sure knows how to pull at my heart strings; I gave her a kiss and a hug and then walked back to the truck but as soon as I got to the truck she ran back to me and said "Dad give me a kiss and a hug, kiss and a hug". I almost cried right there! Thank goodness I am man enough to hold the tears until I am alone. I gave her the "kiss and a hug" and after school we went on a daddy daughter date to get a shake.

I love that little girl!!!! Daddy's Baby Best Girl.

Grandparents Rock!

Grandma ran the race with the kids in Fairview...they actually made it a mile!!

Nana and Grandpa have a Zoo pass! We love going there with them!

We are so lucky to have awesome grandparents! We live close to one set and kinda close to the other. We are lucky kids!

Da ZOO !

Well I can not help but think I am the luckiest guy in the world!
I have a beautiful wife that makes me smile, and kids that are so amazing I thank my Father in Heaven every day for letting me be in their lives.
We had a great time at the zoo with Nana and Grandpa Bruce, and our beatiful nieces Meghan and Riley from Arizona.
If you have not had the chance to go to the bird show at Utah's Hoogle Zoo, you do not know what you are missing. When they tell you it is an interactive show, and to make sure not to raise your hands or stand up listen, they mean it! As I sat with Easton on my lap they introduced a giant owl to the crowd by letting it fly over all of our heads. It came right at little Easton, I think his eyes were even bigger than those of the owl, and as it breezed past Easties head I received a nice little thump on my head from his wing. (It was really cool!)
I don't think I have seen the kids that quiet watching a show, ever. Thank you Hoogle Zoo.


Watch out Easton!

It's confirmed...Ethan is Obsessed!!!

I bought this cute Christmas set for the kids to read "Twas The Night Before Christmas" and act out the story with the toys. I asked Ethan what was happening with Santa's reindeer and he said he is hunting them. Don't worry though, he said he won't shoot rudolf.

A Little Mess

I let Easton feed himself for the first time today. I know, he is 15 months old and I guess other parents start sooner. I kind of hate messes so I always feed him. I had to take a picture. He looked a lot messier in person. So I guess the camera adds 10 lbs and minimizes messes by 50%.

A moment to catch and record!

Ethan got some books from the library. In an effort to keep them away from Easton (who knows if they would be returnable after he got them), I created a "reading spot" for Ethan on the top bunk of his bedroom. We won't need the top bunk until Easton is out of the crib. I hadn't heard from Ethan for about 10 minutes, which can be scary, so I went to check on him. He was reading his books to his stuffed animals. Can you tell what book he is reading? For anyone that knows Ethan, you don't need more than one guess, even if there weren't a picture. When he was finished, I asked him if his animals liked learning about deer. He assured me they did.

Just so sad...

Jackson has a skin condition that bugs him so he licks a spot on his tail. He as created a sore that started to bleed. The vet suggested we put this cone collar on him so he will leave it alone. It reminds me of a movie... Anyway, he hates it and it kinda freaks him out a little so he won't move when it's on. He just sits there. This is him in the morning...

And in the afternoon....I promise this picture was taken later.

Ethan, the stud!!!

The kids in our ward performed in the annual Primary Program. Ethan being a sunbeam made his debut. It was one to remember. The first song was "I Am A Child of God". He knew it so well he sang his little heart out. The people on the back row could hear him, and only him. It was great. As if it weren't cute enough that Ethan was singing so loudly, he didn't realize there was more than one verse, and that the words to each verse were different. As the other kids started singing the second verse, he repeated the words for the first verse. And then again for the third, he sang the first. It was great! I was so proud that he was confident enough with himself to share his talents and sing so proudly. Way to go Ethan. You are a stud!

Oh So Pretty

Nana made EmiLee a new skirt. She calls it her "twirly skirt" and loves it! Thanks Nana!!

Trick or Treat

Ethan choose to be something "spooky" this year. A mummy was an easy costume to make. He loved the party at Grandma's work and loved the Trunk-or-Treat at the church. EmiLee wasn't in the mood this year...she was a very sad clown. Easton decided it he couldn't wait to eat the candy. Someone would give him a piece of candy and he would want to eat in right then. He would get mad when I tried to put it in the bag. He quickly forgot he was upset when he got a new piece.

Easton's Cake

Mommy actually made the cake this year. Usually dad does but not this time. Wow, are you impressed?

Easton Bruce is 1!!

Easton turned 1 on the 17th and he is a great kid. He is happy and always up for a laugh. He is walking and signs "more" and he loves his older brother Ethan. He initiates several "goofy 1 year old" games and it's pretty funny. He is very smiley, and sleeps through the night (more consitantly than Ethan and EmiLee). Overall he is very easy going and a great kid. He is fun to be with and play with. He also will sit on his little play toy outide for hours when I am working in the yard. What a kid!!

The 24th of July

Ethan threw candy in the parade in Fairview. He drove his Diego PowerWheels Jeep. Cory walked along with him (I mean corrected the steering wheel so Ethan would drive straight down the middle of the road without crashing). He was so excited for about 2 days before the parade but after it was all said and done, I don't think it was all he thought it would be. When I asked Ethan if he wanted to do it again, he said no. When I asked Cory if he would do it again, he said "only 2 more times, one for EmiLee and one for Easton". What a dad!

A Little Family Fun

Some of the family (the ones that were in town) got together at Nanna and Grandpa Bruces' house. We had a great time! It looks like Easton can walk but really he can only stand. Thanks Nanna and Grandpa for always hosting a great party!

Growing Fast!!!

Easton has started to walk more than crawl. He is still faster at crawling so if he really has somewhere he thinks he needs to be quickly, he will crawl. If he has time to practice the walking thing, he does.

Summer Activities

One of the kids favorite activities is to go fishing with dad. They love it and know how to cast their line, reel it in, clean the fish and even eat it!! It's become an activity we do together as a family several times a week.

My Little Brother!

Ethan keeps saying he doesn't want Easton to grow up. He wants him to stay a baby forever. He is a great big brother.

An overdue update!!

Wow, has it really been 3 months? Time flies when you are raising kids. Anyway, Easton is VERY mobile and loves it. He also hates mushy baby food but will eat anything the "big kids" are eating. He is all smiles and is a huge mama's boy. EmiLee is trying to potty train. She refuses to wear diapers (she attempts to change herself when needed. Can I say YUCK!!) and is getting better at getting it where it needs to be. Ethan is loving pre-school, now that I moved him to the afternoon class, and loves going fishing with his dad. He is very excited to go to Raging Waters in June with Nanna and Grandpa Bruce. He just doens't quite get the concept of 4 weeks away. He told me yesterday he gets to go in "4 minutes". Hmmm, it might be a long month for him.