The newest Cub Scout...Master

Brett was recently called to be the Cubmaster for our ward. Wednesday was his first pack meeting and he did a wonderful job. He remembered that when he first became a cub scout the Cubmaster put a bobcat hat and gloves on him and then drew on a nose and whiskers with black eyeliner. The new cub scout didn't have to wear the costume the whole time, however they could not wash off the nose and whiskers until they had done a good turn. There are two new cub scouts and Brett decided that because he was new he should do it as well. I got the honors of painting the nose and whiskers on his face and Brett had a tail made especially for him. He really got the audience laughing.

The theme for the pack meeting was talents and they did a Grammy/Oscar night. As you know from watching these award shows there are commercials that go on in between handing out the awards so Brett decided to put some "commercials" in the pack meeting between the skits. Here Brett is showing off "Handy Dandy Cream", you can shave with it, wash your body with it, and if you get hungry while in the shower you can even eat it. He also did a commercial for "Left Guard" deodorant, from the makers of Right Guard. You see Right Guard is for the right side and so they had to make Left Guard for the left side. Parents understood that one a little more then the kids however it still was funny. He just did those 2 commercials however the kids were asking for more.

Brett really has a talent with kids, he has the ability to have fun and get down on their same level yet still have their respect. I am always amazed to see the energy that he has. It is going to be fun and exciting to see all the fun things that he is going to do as well as learn.

World's Best Husband!

I hope you all had a wonderful Mother's day, mine was especially wonderful. It is so fun having James here in our family, and Mark is just as adorable as ever. Brett really made things special for me this year. He made me breakfast in bed, took Mark to Sacrament meeting and then came home so I could go to Young Women's, gave me a corsage to wear to help me feel beautiful, and when I got home from church with Mark he had dinner all ready and was doing a wonderful job taking care of James (as seen above). But not only did he do those things but he gave me a beautifully done pastel picture of Markie (pictured below). My children are my greatest treasure and to have such a wonderful picture of Mark truly made my day.

Announcing the arrival of JAMES

He is finally here! After basically 10 months of waiting James was born, April 29, 2010 at 10:54 AM. The best news is both mom and baby are doing wonderful. After being 5 days over due I was induced, I went into the hospital at 7:00 am, by 7:30 I was given an epidural, and by 8:00 they had started me on the pit and the doctor had broken my water. I progressed pretty quickly because by 10:30 everyone was getting ready for the delivery. I pushed for 7 minutes and I was blessed with a beautiful boy. James weighed 7 pounds and 3 ounces, and was 20 3/4 inches long. When Mark was born he had the cord wrapped around his neck his middle and his legs, and that was my biggest worry with James. It scared me that perhaps that might happen again and this time I might loose the baby. I was scared and worried about this because James seemed to move a lot more then I ever remember Mark moving. I know my prayers were answered because the labor and delivery of James could not have been smoother. He is perfect. Brett and I feel so blessed to have him here and in our family, he has added so much to our home and family during the short time he has been here. It has been interesting to see Mark interact with James. In the hospital, the moving bed was definitely a lot more interesting then James. But now that James is home, Mark is so loving and helpful sometimes to the point of too helpful and loving and I have to back him of a little. It is so fun to see them together and I hope that they will always be close and be good friends. It is so neat to think that he recently was with our Heavenly Father and I love to hold him and think that maybe he still has a little bit of heavens dust on him.

Boys will be boys

A few weeks ago I was desperate to go outside to a park and allow Mark play on the slides. Well it was snowing at the time so I had to improvise. I took the top off our piano bench, rested it on the couch and presto changeo I had a slide. When Brett got home that night he saw Mark climbing up the couch and sliding down the slide, he thought it was a pretty cool idea, he just wished it could be done on a bigger scale. As he began to think about it he decided it would be fun to have the slide go down the stairs. We brainstormed some ideas and the next day we went and got supplies. The slide now goes half way up our stairs, it is in sections so we can remove it if we want to and it is a blast to go down. As you can see Mark was Brett's special helper, actually I sometimes think he was a little more help then Brett was wanting but what do you expect from a 2 year old. Even though the slide is not yet finished we have all gone down the slide multiple times, even James and I. Every time I look at it though I still just shake my head and laugh, I truly did marry a kid at heart.

My baby grew up

Conference weekend was very busy at our house, but a lot of fun.

It started with Brett's birthday and ended up with Mark's.

My sister came up to spend conference weekend with us and it was so great to have her here. She helped me with the famous Taylor Conference Turkey, which was really a lot of fun to do with her. She graduated from BYU-I last April and it has been a long time since we have spent time together. It truly was fun having her here.

Mark turned 2 on April 3rd and already he has perfected the terrible 2 tantrum. He definitely wants his independence which sometimes can be hard for Brett and I. I know that he needs to become independent but I am not sure I am ready for him to grow up and become independent yet. One of Mark's favorite things is basketball. So following the tradition of my mom, I designed a basketball cake. Jenessa helped me make it, and it was quite the adventure. ***FYI***You can cover any mistake if you have enough frosting. In between conference sessions we had a small family gathering to celebrate Mark's birthday. He is starting to understand a little more about birthdays and Christmas,

so it as fun to watch him open the gifts. At 2 years old some of the things Mark likes to do are, play basketball, slide down slides, play outside, play with cars, help mommy in the kitchen, read books, chase and play with the kitty, and blow bubbles. He doesn't really like watching TV unless it is a basketball game (and as a dutiful mother I am teaching him to cheer for the Jazz and BYU Provo). Mark likes to sing mostly made up songs but when he is washing his hands or face he likes to sing the "ABC's". He understands most of what we say to him, yet his speech can sometimes be difficult to understand. Mark no longer sleeps with a pacifier, and because of his climbing abilities he is now in a toddler bed. One of my favorite things about Mark is that he likes to cuddle, especially with me. From the minute Brett comes home from work Mark only wants him until it comes time to go to bed, then he only wants me to rock him. That one on one time I have is time that I treasure, because it is during that time that I still have my little baby. Happy Birthday Mark, we love you!

Happy Birthday Old Man

April 1st was Brett's 30th birthday and since I am already 30 I had some fun because he can't really get me back.  As you can see the morning started out with a beautiful sign up on the garage that said "Oh how nerdy Brett is 30!"  A little too demonstrative?  Oh well, Brett has learned after 4 1/2 years of marriage to me to expect the wild and crazy sometimes.

For those of you who don't know Brett really well he is a child at heart and always will be.  To inspire the child at heart in such an old man I decided to give him two Nerf guns.  I think I inspired the child in my father-in-law as well because before Brett had a gun out of the package, my father-in-law was already loading his.  Needless to say there was a huge battle between them, and when Brett's brother Todd came he was ambushed by them both.  My mother-in-law and I had a great time laughing and dodging bullets.

Brett has always liked big parties and lots of people to play with and to be around, so in honor of his making it to the ripe old age of 30, without killing himself with all the crazy things he does, we had a big party at our house.  I invited over 80 people and we really had a great time.  Brett said that I cheated with how I put the candles on the cupcakes so he cheated by blowing them out with my blow dryer. 

As you can see the kids had a great time as well.  Mark had fun playing with his cousin as well as our neighbors.

Too Big or Too Small?

My pregnancy has been quick and wonderful.  I have about 4 weeks left and life is great!  Many people, including my doctor, have said that I look too small.  What do you think?  Well, if you say that my belly looks too small I am afraid to say you are mistaken, I am actually measuring bigger than normal.  My doctor has asked where I am hiding the baby?  That is what I would like to know.  Anyway those of you who wanted to see what I look like with a beautiful big belly, I hope you enjoy.