Happy Birthday Justin!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband and the best daddy in world! I am so lucky to be married to you. You have brought me so much happiness and joy in the almost 3 years that we have been married. You are kind and thoughtful not only of me and our children but of my extended family. You are especially kind to my younger brothers and sisters. You will never know how much that means to me and to them. As I watched you with my siblings I knew that you were the perfect man for me! I knew that you would be the best Dad and I was right! You come home from a long day of work and immediately jump right in to help with the kids. Anderson especially is a daddy's boy. When he sees your car pulling in he gets so excited Thank you for all that you do. For loving us, providing for us and being a worthy priesthood holder. I love you so very much and am grateful everyday for you! I hope that you have a wonderful birthday

Love always,

Maris

It Worked

I love this picture. My sweet Adalayde is not happy with just anyone but sure loved Erin. She is her mothers daughter!

All In A Week!

Anderson received a birthday gift from his Gram and Daddy toot. He got a baseball and a mitt and two outfits. He was most excited about the shirt that had a baseball, basketball, soccer ball and a football. What more could a kid want. He would not hold still for the picture but he truly loved his gifts. Adalayde also got some new bows and a cute book that she loves. Thanks to Gram and Daddy toot the gifts were a hit. Anderson and Adalayde are so very lucky to have so many grandparents and great grandparents who love them so much! They also received a wonderful table with an umbrella and benches from Machi for Easter. We have not put it together yet since we are saving it for the new house. My kids are going to feel like they are in heaven when we move and they will suddenly have a swing set, sandbox, tree house and a fenced in yard.

Adalayde got her first taste of beets this week. She loves beets but wow what a mess to clean up! The only way to clean her up is with a bath. So, that is exactly what we did. I put her in the kitchen sink in her bath and was cleaning up while she was playing. Well, the most disgusting thin happened. Remember I worked in a doctors office for years. I have seen and heard some gross stuff but this wins by far!! I look over and Adalayde is eating something. I pick her up out of the water to see what is in her mouth and hand. Much to my disgust she was eating her own POOP. Can you believe it? My sweet girl with poo in her mouth. Luckily she did not get sick. However it did make me throw up. Something I have not done since I was pregnant with her!

The weather has been so nice and all Anderson wants to do is play outside. He runs around shoots hoops, hits balls of the tee, rides his bike and drives his mini cooper. When it is all said and done and it is time to come in he has a total loss of control and freaks out. We also have been taking care of Pierce's turtle Mack. Anderson is a big fan of Mack and before we can leave our house Anderson has to say goodbye to the turtle. It is going to be sad for him next week when we give Mack back. We went to the Zoo this week with our friends the Schroepfers and Anderson loved it. He went on his first train ride at the Zoo and cried when we had to leave! I did not get pictures but he was so cute. I love watching him with other kids because he loves it so much!

We moved all the catering stuff out of the garage. It was perfect weather to do and we are glad to have that part of our move done. So my blogging days will probably be few and far between for the next month. We will be packing and getting ready to move. By this time next month we should be in our new house. We are so excited and will post pictures of the new house soon!

The kids are getting so big! Anderson is really starting to talk and it is making life a lot easier now that he can communicate a little better.

Easter

The kids all dressed for church!

Before dinner we took the kids over to Grandpa and Grandma Scott's for Lucky Bunny. Anderson received lots of baseballs with gummy bears attached and some books. He really got the activity this year and loved it. Adalayde got a glow worm and a new Baby Einstein CD.

We had a wonderful dinner thanks to my Grandma who made it. Most of all we enjoyed having family here. We were so glad that the Hartts were here for Easter and we were sad that the Whites left.

Happy Birthday Erin!

Happy Birthday to my aunt and one of my very best friends. I am so glad that you are my aunt you have blessed my life in so many ways. You are one of the most generous people that I know. You are always thinking of others and giving of yourself. I have always loved spending time with you and still do. You make me happy and you can always make me laugh. Thanks you for loving me, my husband and my children. I hope that you have had a wonderful birthday. I wish that we all could have been together to celebrate. We miss all of you!!

Love,
Justin, Maris, Anderson and Adalayde

I have the cutest picture of you and Adalayde to add but the computer is not working. I have been saving it for your birthday because I loved the picture so much!

SO MUCH FUN WITH COUSINS

Pierce and Noel stayed at my house and they were sure tired after a long day of playing outside

Solomon is a ladies man!!

Bethany and Noel

Not the best picture of me but I sure love little Beza!

Beza and Pierce had so much fun together! If only I had as much energy as those two!

Anderson loving Noel with goggles on. If only we could get him to wear goggles in the pool!


We had so much fun with all of our cousins. Anderson especially loved swimming with all of his cousins. Thanks to the Whites and the Hartts for traveling so far to come and spend time with us! We loved every minute of it and miss you all tons!

Love,

Justin, Maris, Anderson and Adalayde

Anderson's Party Pictures

The birthday boy in his new Mini Cooper he got from Tachi and Grammy. He is learning how to drive it and loves it! Just today he drove it right of the treadmill. He scares me!!

Anderson loves playing ball with his Grandpa Scott!

Anderson got so many very nice gifts and has enjoyed all of them. Thanks to all who put so much thought into their gifts for Anderson. They were all perfect for him! He got a new Red tricycle from his Grandma, aunts and uncles. The perfect gift for our little Schwinn! He got an awesome Shark book from Grandma Chocolate. A duke Jersey and Duke basketball from the Shannon and Erin clan. He got a white board and some shape staking blocks from Greg and Heather and their boys. He got a cute puzzle and some big stacking blocks from Tony, Liesl and the kids. A new basketball hoop and some gummy bears from Grandpa and Grandma Scoot. A U of U shirt from Creighton a U of U basketball hoop and ball from Brigham and a really cute Curious George book from Winston. He also got some Signing Time Cd's from Machi and he got the cutest little basketball slippers, and a baseball and basketball piggy bank from the Hartt family. He is very Spoiled! Actually we will just say that he is very loved!

Big J likes to take credit for Anderson's athletic ability but look at Aidan with the amazing slam dunk! Hopefully Aidan can teach Anderson how to do that!! Maybe my genes help out a little!

Anderson loved playing with all his older boy cousins! Thanks Boys for being so nice to my little boy! You are all good examples to him!

Anderson signed up for the Stilman White Basketball Boot Camp. For every five shots made coach Stilman rewarded Anderson with a gummy bear. Anderson is so lucky to have such a great coach. We wish that he lived closer so that Anderson could go to his games. He would love to watch Stilman play.

Grandma Chocolate and Aunt Liesl spent all day making these cakes for you. You know that they really love you when they spend an entire day making your cakes with kids running crazy through my house. Aunt Erin and her family got you tons of fun balloons orange, brown and different balls. You were so excited about them!! It was so fun to have all of cousins here and so many people went to a lot of work to make a wonderful birthday party for you! He had a great day thanks to all the family who came! We could never have had such a fun party for him without all of our family. Thanks to everyone who took time out to come to Anderson's party we really appreciate it!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday to the woman who game me life, along with 9 others! Thanks for being such a wonderful Mother, Grandmother and friend. You continually amaze me with your strength and courage. You have ten children and a full time job and still have time to do favors for me. Thank you for always being so willing to drive to Salt Lake to see us or to bring us things! You Are a wonderful example of a mother to me. I hope that you have a great birthday. I love you very much! Thanks for being my Mom and my Children's grandma! We love you more than you know!

Love,
Justin, Maris, Schwin and Addy

Happy Birthday Anderson Leon!

Two Years ago today you were born. I can't believe that it has already been that long. Today as I think about the day you were born I am flooded with emotions. Your dad and I were so excited to be having a little boy. We could not wait to cuddle and love you! I remember the first time I held and saw you. You were perfect! I held you and was forever changed. The love that a mother feels for her child can not be described. That very first night that you were in our room with us we fought over who got to hold you! We still argue over who gets to snuggle with you if you will let us. Anderson WE LOVE YOU SO VERY MUCH

One of the very best days in my life, the day we brought you home from the hospital!

Anderson turns one! We had a great birthday party for you. Shortly after at your one year well child check we found out you were allergic to wheat, whey, oatmeal, bananas and milk. We took you off all of those and you felt so much better!

Today you weigh about 22 pounds!

Today you especially love your Dad and Addy!

Today you love to read books especially MY DADDY AND I, GOODNIGHT MOON AND MOO, BAA, LA LA LA.

Today you love to play with balls! Especially basketballs and Hoops!

Today you love to eat peas, peppers, almond cheese and cereal!

Today you love to play with other kids especially your cousins and aunts and uncles!

Today you still love your pacis but can only have them in your bed!

Today you love your crib. When it is time for bed you go right to bed and wave to us. You sleep from 7:30-7:30 or 8:00!

Today you love to do puzzles and can identify 3/4 of the alphabet and count to Ten!

Today you are really starting to talk and still sign sometimes!

Today you love to watch Signing Time and Basketball with Dad!

TODAY WE ARE SO VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOU!

Happy Birthday to my little boy! I love you more than you will ever know! You are a most precious gift and we are so blessed to have you in our family! Always remember how much you are loved!

WE LOVE YOU!

Mom, Dad and Addy

Pictures of the party to come later!

Happy Birthday Karenna!

Happy Birthday Karenna! I can't believe that you are 16 years old. You can officially date and drive very scary! I remeber the day you were born so well. I was so glad that you were here and safe. You were such a fun and crazy little girl. Your amazing energy always made me laugh! You were and still are such a fun person to be around. One thing that I love so much about you is how excited you get. You appreciate and get excited about little things. You are so easy to please and that makes us all feel appreciated and loved by you! You are such a sweet sister and aunt. You are always so sweet with my kids and they love you. How lucky I am to have you for a sister you have been a wonderful blessing in our family! Happy 16th birthday, I hope that you have had a wonderful day!

We Love You,
Justin, Maris, Schwinney and Adalayde

Happy Birthday Solomon!

Happy 8th Birthday Solomon! You are a very sweet. kind and gentle boy. I loved watching you with your Dad at the basketball games in Las Vegas. You were watching out for your Dad you made sure that you got all the stickers off his back that Stilman had put on as a joke. It said a lot to me about how sweet you are. You wanted to make sure that you took good care of him! I love that about you. I also love that when I asked you if you missed North Carolina while you were gone you immediately told me that you missed your Mom! You always make people around you feel loved. I also love your very funny sense of humor. You have a great smile and an even better laugh. We are looking forward to having you here in Salt Lake and seeing you get baptized. We are so proud of you and love you very much! See you on Friday!!

Love,
Justin, Maris, Anderson and Adalayde