Sunday, August 21, 2011
Fun with the Toone's
Every third Saturday we get together with the Toone's, and this time we went up to Riverdale to be with Clayton and Jenna. It was so wonderful! We rode Clayton's horses, played basketball and volleyball, went swimming, had a wonderful dinner, and just spent time together.
Island Park
Island Park is like Heaven on earth...something for everyone, it is absolutely beautiful, and there is no better thing then being with family. Brenden and Nathan absolutely loved fishing, going four wheeling, and being outside. Anilyssa always wanted to be outside every waking moment.
On our way
Best Friends fishing all day long.
Favorite names for their fish were... Brenden: Dinaco Nathan: Macaroni and Cheese
Nathan loves being with Dad. He is the dare devil on the four wheelers - full throttle, big hills, and doesn't like to go with Mom because it is not exciting enough.
Daddy's little Girl
Date Night at the PlayMill. We love going here when we get the chance to go to West Yellowstone. We saw Dirty Rotten Scoundrels which was hilarious.
At the cabin with the Tingey's :)
The thing I really enjoyed thinking about while we were up there was that exactly five years ago Matt and I were there at that same time on a little get-a-way to find out if Brenden was a boy or a girl. Tomorrow we will find out whether we will be having another little boy or if numbers will be even and Anilyssa will be getting a sister. A lot of amazing things have happened in the last five years, and we have been so blessed!!
Friday, July 29, 2011
Girls Night Out
While the boys were playing at Father's and Sons, we decided to have our first girls night out. Anilyssa's personality is so funny and is starting to show more and more. We had fun running errands, getting dinner, and playing on the mattress in the family room.
"BIG BITE"
I love my princess
Ute gone Cougar (only in employment) :)
It was fun to take the kids and visit Aunt Emillie in her new coaching office at BYU.
Ensign Peak
We decided to start a new tradition this year that went amazingly well. For the first time we hiked Ensign Peak as a family. Matt and I did this while we were dating, but it was the first for the kids. Brenden's quote for the hike, "I won't quit, not one bit." Which led to Nathan's, "just resting. I won't quite." They actually hiked the entire way without even stopping. It was so much fun!! We looked for bugs and rocks, and got to talk about why ensign peak is so spectacular.
Brenden and Nathan will never forget the stories about Robert Taylor Burton and Adam Hunter. Just two of the amazing people we follow in our heritage, with many more faithful saints and examples.
Followed by visiting temple square - seeing the Christus, and watching the Joseph Smith movie. Then ending the night at the park where Matt first told me he loved me (Sept. 5, 2005), and where he later proposed (Oct. 15, 2005) to watch fireworks. It was a wonderful evening!!
I love seeing how much the kids love and adore Daddy
Already 3!!!
Nathan we can't believe you are already three!! We love you so much and are so proud of what a big boy you have become!!
On this big day your craziest presents were two creepy crawly hermit crabs...Crabby and Freddy. Thank your father for giving into your first pet :)
Strawberry Days
The kids love strawberry days! It is a full week of parades, carnivals, free activities, and the rodeo. Last year we froze in our coats because it was so cold. Matt and Anilyssa didn't even join us because we needed to keep her in the car for warm. This year was hot, and Anilyssa was a pro at eating her first popsicle. We loaded up the stroller with Nathan and Anilyssa inside, and Brenden standing on the front. Who knew we could get three kids into a single stroller. It is a very common thing to do :). All to walk around the block in a parade of hundreds of kids and about 75 spectators. We love it!! At the end we get a popsicle, free carnival ride, and free entrance to the rodeo. We look forward to this time every year!!
Three peas in a pod
The boys favorite ride at the carnival
Not the favorite ride at the carnival
Ending the day with our center piece in the middle and all of us eating a bowl of cereal. :)
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Wow!!! I am way behind!!
So I realize more and more how far behind I am especially as I realize my last post was just before Halloween. So much has happened and the kids have grown so much. I will try and catch up in order :) ...
December...
Brenden turned four, and we had a wonderful Christmas holiday with our families. This year was our very first year having our own little Christmas at our own little home. In the past we have flown in from Virginia and so it was fun to have Christmas decorations and our very first Christmas tree. Santa did a Polar Express theme where we received a train, the movie, marshmallows and hot chocolate. The kids absolutely loved it!!
January
Family trip to St. George!!!
February
Mid February we headed up to Canada with some of the Toone family. We left Anilyssa home with my parents because it was an 18 hour drive (one way) and we left Friday night and got home on Monday. The boys did amazing, and we loved seeing where Matt was born and spent a lot of his childhood. The average temperature was -35 degrees and I learned for my first time that they have actual car heaters so that you can have the reassurance that your engine will night freeze over night and will start the next day.
It was a wonderful trip, and always wonderful to spend time with family.
The boys adore their Dad, and this is a frequent view in our home...they have to be right next to Dad and do what he does and wear what he wears. It was fun to share in Anny's first Canada experience as well.
The house on the left is where Matt was first brought home from the hospital when he was born in Witaskiwin. Later they moved to the house to the right.
This is bigfoot!!!! Ok, it is Matt searching for his aunt Ellen's grave. It was bitter cold hitting a
-35 degrees without wind chill. The funny thing was that all of the Toone family was commenting how warm it was starting to feel. :) The picture to the right is the Clairshome dugout where the Toone family began their farm. They lived there until they were able to build their beautiful home.
The boys did great on the long drive, and never complained once. This is a picture at Uncle Don's Mothers funeral.
On the way home we stopped into a nice hotel that had a fun swimming pool and water slide. I think the most memorable experience is that early in the morning (thankfully it was only 7:00am) someone in the hotel burned a piece of toast causing all the alarms to go off, all the residence to get up, and the fire department came - which they were a little upset wondering why we were all still inside. :) (It was windy and bitter cold - no one dared go outside even if there was a fire)
March
Steve and Lindsey tied the knot!!! Congrats!!
The picture to the right is an indication of the near future :). What cute nieces and nephews.
WE ARE PREGNANT!!! We are excited to announce that we are expecting a new addition right around Brenden's birthday (Dec. 15th). Our due date is the 21st, but given the history with Anilyssa's speedy arrival the doctor is scheduling an induction the week before. We are excited, and can't believe how our family is growing. We feel so blessed for each child we have been given.
Anilyssa is one!! Wow, where did that go??
Other Fun pictures and memories we would like to share are...
Anilyssa is my little busy body. One of her favorite things is emptying the drawers in the kitchen. She has taken a couple of steps on her own, and we think she will be walking within the next week or so.
Church has been changed to 1:00. This is what happens when you practice being reverent after a not so reverent day in sacrament meeting. The kids have come so far with just having Mom sitting with them. It is nice when they need a look from Dad on the stand. The only thing that doesn't help is when I am trying to get three wiggly kids to sit still then I look up at Matt and he is smiling, all my disciplining and flustered feelings fly out the window.
Our three crazy kids who love doing everything together. If I take to long getting into Anilyssa's room after she wakes up this is what I usually find.
We got to fly out to Wisconsin, and enjoy a wonderful weekend with Matt and Amie in celebration of Matt graduating from Dental School. Way to go you guys!!
Wanting to be just like Dad - Matt came home from work one night and when Brenden realized he had everything that Matt was wearing he ran to his room and changed so he could look just like Dad.
Scene at the dinner table every night. They sit as close to Dad as possible. The boys literally have to be touching Matt and having a conversation with him the entire time we are eating. It is so cute. Mom and Anilyssa sit on the other end of the table :)
A trip to the dinosaur museum...The boys loved it, and were excited to see so many dinosaurs.
A few months ago Nathan potty trained himself. He had a day of accidents, but has been good ever since. I can't believe he will be three next month.
Here is our T-ball Man!! Brenden is a great athlete and is so quick at grasping the concept of sports.
Working hard in the outfield. :) His favorite thing to do is play first base and catcher. Every game he has to wear the catchers helmet at least once.
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