adam is NOT absent

Sometimes Adam worries that our history, as recorded on this blog, would lead someone (his posterity or others) to believe that he was/is an absent dad because very few of the posts include him. When in reality, he is NOT an absent dad...he just happens to work alot. But when he is home, he always makes an effort to do fun things with the kids and make the most of his time with them. He is quite an excellent dad if you ask me. So, I will try from now on to record more of the things that he does with the kids, because they are not few.

One of Adam's favorite things to do with the kids is hiking. We've tried some long hikes with them, as well as a lot of little hikes. I think we've all leared to enjoy the shorter easier hikes a little more, then the kids can walk themselves (mostly) and we don't have to carry them. Here we are a few weeks ago hiking up to Lake Mary. It was a short, but kind of steep hike. Clate did it all by himself. Halle only needed a lift towards the top. And Chloe...well, we're still working on her. Dad got to carry her quite a bit. The more hiking we do, the more the kids enjoy it, especially when they can do it by themselves. And dad never passes up the opportunity to teach the kids the important skill of rock skipping. It was such a beautiful day and a really fun hike.

8 years on 08/08

Adam and I celebrated our 8th anniversary last week. We scored with free babysitting from the young women in our ward and a good friend who put the kids to bed, and we enjoyed an evening of Randy Travis with the Utah Symphony Orchestra at the Deer Valley Resort. It was a little chilly, but a beautiful night, so peaceful, and the music couldn't have been better! It made me miss all of the concerts I used to go to back in the day. And this was definitely the way to see a concert! It was a really great evening. And it has been an even better 8 years. Wouldn't change a thing.

Chugga chugga poooo pooooo!

Chloe is on the potty train! And it's about time! I am determined to have a few months without diapers...so about a week and a half ago I decided we were going to get this girl trained. And she's doing awesome! Between the Starbursts, the suckers, the popsicles and a sticker chart...this girl has stayed motivated and finally prefers big girl panties to diapers! YEA, we're almost there!

what will HIS name be???

Yes, that's right...we're having a BOY! and we couldn't be happier, especially the kids. For weeks the kids have been talking about baby names, only BOY baby names. I kept warning them that it could be a girl; we don't really get to choose. Then Halle asked me who chooses. I told her that Heavenly Father chooses. Her response, very matter-of-factly, "Well, Heavenly Father spoke to my heart and said that it was a boy." OK then...and I guess she was right after all. Even Chloe was sure she would be having another brother. And Clate, well, it just had to be a boy.

So, what will HIS name be? This has been the topic of conversation for weeks, and options are all over the board. Some of my "favorites" that have come up: Clate came up with Bull Grunter Bergeson. (We recently went to a rodeo and he loved the bull riding.) This morning Halle suggested Marvin the Tap-dancing Horse (yes, you read that right) or Marvin the Baby Brother. (Is she suggesting we skip a middle name and give a title instead?) As much as I enjoy their input, it's a good thing that they won't have the final say in what HIS name will be!

halle is 4!

Celebration for Halle's birthday started early in the week with a party with friends. I wasn't planning on doing big parties this year, but since we won't be here next year (so sad to think of), I wanted them to have parties this year with all of their friends...so that's what we are doing. And of course, Halle's friend list is not short. I think we ended up with 10 friends and a few siblings at the party and I think we all had fun. They made tambourines, danced the hokey pokey, played musical chairs, popped balloons, had a bday parade with their tambourines, opened gifts, and ate cupcakes. What more could a 4-year-old ask for!?!

The party ended today with a little party at home with family on her special day! And it was her birthday ALL day long...mind you, not just part of the day. She made sure to let everyone at church know that. Mike and Andrea came over and we opened gifts and ate cake and ice cream. Speaking of the cake...I have seen these princess doll cakes around and thought it would be fun to do. And it was fun, but cutting into the cake only an hour or so after finishing the decorating wasn't so much fun. Oh well...I guess that's why I made the cake, right??? to eat it! The Belle cake was a surprise for Halle, and I think it took her a minute to realize it was her cake too. I was happy with how it turned out.

I will be back with more of Halle at 4, but in short...she is one happy, fun 4-year-old!

Happy Birthday love bug!

dinner at mike and andrea's

uncle mike watching Signing Time with the girls...they LOVED it.

by the lake at Memory Grove. the water was ice cold.

chloe so excited about the leaf she picked.

LOVE this picture!

the girls each had a turn sitting in the "basket".

tuckered out at the end of the day.

mike and andrea invited us over to see their new place and then they fed us dinner. so nice. unfortunately, clate was with grammie and pa, and adam was on-call and didn't get to their house until 8:30ish, so it was mostly just the girls and I, but we were happy to be there. after dinner we walked over to Memory Grove. i think the girls were hoping for a playground at the park, but then realized they had uncle Mike with them and that was just as fun, if not more fun. luckily he was a good sport and entertained them quite well. it had been a few days since the girls had seen their dad, so having a male figure around was extra exciting for them...and he even looks like dad, kindof. the girls were good sports too and stayed up extra late so mom and dad could visit for awhile. they curled up on the couch and watched Bolt and were as happy as could be...though very tired. it was a fun afternoon.

play, not work

walking around temple square.

happy 40th anniversary, mom and dad!

halle and chloe playing in the ship's bunkbeds at the church history museum.

halle and chloe holding tight to the iron rod as they pass the great and spacious building heading for the tree of life...i hope they always do that!

as many times as my parents come to our house, we don't often do FUN things together. Usually, they come to help with some project around the house, ie. re-finishing the basement, re-roofing the house, etc. But this time, they came just to play (though grandpa did find a few things to fix around the house in his spare time)...and we loved it. one day we visited the church history museum and walked around temple square. another day we took them to Red Butte Gardens, a place my kids love to run around and play and adults can enjoy the views. we also met chad and his family for dinner one night, which was nice too since that doesn't happen very often either. it was fun going places and doing things with grandma and grandpa and not worrying about projects around the house.