Happy Birthday Dillon

4 years ago Dillon was born into this world at 7:30pm in River Falls, WI.  Our first born child who has brought a lot of joy into our lives!  Happy Birthday Dillon!  We love you!

Life

Life is going good, the kids seem to be adjusting to the new home just fine.  Dillon is enjoying school, Jennilyn wants to go on the bus with him and Dillon wants her to come, of course they seem like two peas in a pod.  We are trying to potty train them both at the same time, but I keep loseing the battle, they keep holding it while they are on the potty and then go in their panties just minutes after I let them off the potty.  It is frustrating.  The twins are growing and Ruth stood alone balancing herself (until she relized it) for a minute the other day then she feel down and cried that Mommy had let go of her.  Irene is still our explorer, she is into everything and both of them are enjoying the Christmas ortements that we have started to get out for the try, of course their older siblings like to undecorate the tree.  The twins also have 3 teeth each and they love to eat soild food, I mad spiral mac    & cheese for lunch and as I was making it Irene was screaming at me from her high chair and didn't stop until she had some infront of her, but that is ok, she enjoyed every bit of it.  Of course as the twins eat you can see different styles in them.  Ruth is very clean and takes one small bite at a time, and Irene has both hands in the food and is trying to eat as fast as she can and is a lot messier then Ruth.  It is fun to watch them grow.

5 Years and counting!

Well today is our 5 year anniversary!  5 years and 4 kids later, it seems like a dream somedays.  It seems like we have been married a lot longer.  Happy Anniversary Dan, Thank you for marring me for Time & All Eternity!  You are my sweetheart and I love you!

First Day On The Bus!

Today was Dillon's first day to ride the bus to school.  The twins were down for a nap so Jennilyn and I walked Dillon out to meet the bus with two other little boys in our complex.  Jennilyn went to climb on the bus with Dillon and was so mad that I wouldn't let her go, she screamed and screamed, as the bus drove away she was screaming "Dillon, Dillon, Dillon"  It took her a little while to calm down and when she did she said " I stop crying Mommy!"  She is a sweetheart!  When Dillon came home, I had the girls already loaded in the van to go to an appointment and Dillon didn't want to get off the bus, and he screamed about it most of the way to the appointment.  When we got there he was asleep and of course I had to wake him up.  I know that as he gets use to riding the bus that he will get better at getting off without any problem, I know it has happend with other things that as he sees that he will be doing it on a regular basis that he stops throughing the fits.  But all is well so far here in Utah!

Until next time!

Started Preschool

Boy my little boy is growing up!  Today he started preschool for the first time, I know school has been in session for a while, but we found out we were moving a week before school started and we decided that we didn't want to start him and then uproot him 3 weeks later since he dosen't deal with change very well.  But he did alright today, and starting on Monday he will ride the bus to school.  He only goes twice a week for two hrs, but it will probably be about three hrs that he is gone with the bus ride to and from.  I am excited and today when I opend his backpack, there was a note about school pictures coming up on Nov 4th.  I had thought we had miss that, but I guess not, so now I get to get his first school pictures taken too!  Boy is he growing up on me, now if I could just get him to potty trained!

Pictures from this summer 2009

I have seen many of my friends and family use this option so I thought I would give it a try, and I love it!  Enjoy!

We made it!

Well we made it to Utah with no major problem, but some comforters and a memory foam missing from the back of the pickup.  Hmm, someone must of needed them more then us, but we are sad as the comfert is part of a bed in a bag that we got for our wedding and the other is a quilt that Dan designed as a kid and his mom then made for him, then she redid the batting and fixed it up and gave it to Dillon 2 years ago, so I am sad that they are gone.  But we had safe travels and now it is time to get all the boxes unpacked and find all the baby food that I know I had for the twins.  The problem is finding places to fit it all as the bedrooms are huge and so is the dinning room, but there is no storage in the bathrooms or no pantry for all the food and very little bottom cupboards to put all of my pots and pans and large bowls, and stuff.

At least Dan will be home at night to help me with the unpacking or watch the kids for me.

Until next time,
Netty

Packing, Packing, Packing

Well I have been busy packing all week long, and now I am tired, of course I woke up at 330am and had trouble going back to sleep.  But the house is about as packed as it can be without taking apart the beds, electronics and the last of the food and dishes, now onto the barn to sort and decide what I am keeping and what I am not keeping.  I have been told I need to condince down what I have and just buy replacements later when I need them rather than holding onto things for later use.  Irene now has her first tooth so both babies have been a little cranky, Irene is also running a fever and has a runny nose so that dosn't make things any easier.  But I am excited to go to Utah this next week and see our new place that Dan has picked out for us and also to see him, I miss him so much.  One more week and we will be togther again!  I am counting down the days!

Netty

Tired

Well I am tired, the twins are teething, and Ruth got her first tooth yesturday.  So as such she has been very cranky.  Today the kids are going to different peoples houses for 2 1/2 hrs so that I can focuse on packing without them here demanding my time, I just hope that this is enough this week, so that we can be packed.  Well this is short as now that the kids are getting up I need to get them ready to go in the next hour.

Until next time,
Annette

Horseback Riding!

Yesturday I went horseback riding for the first time since I was 14 years old.  I went for 1 1/2 hrs and had a blast! I told my mother in law that I wanted to go before we moved since when ever I have been here to visit or since I had moved here I was pregnat or didn't have anyone to watch the kids while I went. Thank you Katie for watching them for me to go last night. I was sore when I got off the horse Princess, but I have been fine today, but then I took a really hot shower before going to bed. Here are some pictures of my time.

Bedtime

Well it is bedtime and I am unwinding after a day with the kids. I am getting tired being by myself a lot with the little ones 24/7. It will be nice to join Dan in Salt Lake City in 2 weeks and have him home at nights and on the weekends to help with the kids. I feel that the Lord has blessed us at this time with this job that brings him home and not traveling so much. I have been struggling with getting Jennilyn and Dillon to go to sleep for awhile now, I had watched a clip of "The Nanny" recently and I decided the other night to try the technique that they suggested in helping the kids go to bed without to much trouble. This is the third night in a row and it has been working. It is nice to have them either going to sleep or at least staying in their beds by 930pm, it just takes a little more effort from me then I had been wanting to give before, but now in 10 min of sitting by their bed singing to them they are out.

Today I took Dillon and Jennilyn in for their first dentist appointment. They did really well and found out they have no cavities! Well it is getting late and I need to go to bed as the twins will have me up early.

Until next time.
Netty

We are Moving!

It is official everyone, we are moving! We just got settled into our new apartment and now I have to pack all over again to move back to Utah! Dan just got a new job in Salt Lake City, so we are going back and will be closer to my family. I am excited for the move, but am starting to feel a little stress about it, but it will all work out I am sure. Utah here we come!

My Blanket!

"My Blanket! you took it! My Blanket! Stop it give me my blanket!" These are the words that I heard from my two year old for almost 2 hours while she waited for her blanket to be washed. I stole it from her yesturday morning to wash it and at first she didn't notice, but 5 minuets later she did and knew right were it was so she went into the washroom and she sat down in front of the washer and watched the washer yelling at me to stop it and give her the blanket, well then she got distrated long enough for me to put it in the dryer. She wasn't very happy with me for washing it and was glad to have it for her nap time. She is so protective of that thing.

Happy Birthday Jennilyn!

Cousin Nathan and Big Brother Dillon

Cousin Nathan feeding you a bottle
Aunt Sarah holding you, she and Grandma Burke were there in the delivery room with me when you were born as your Daddy was out of town with work.


You and Daddy when he finally made it to the hospital late afternoon the day you were born.

You in your blessing dress made by your Great-Grandma Dillon & your Nanna Dillon


Our first family picture after you were born.

Happy 2nd Birthday Jennilyn! 2 years ago you came into this world, at 4:15 am and you were such a big baby, I didn't belive the Dr when she said that you were a 9 lb 2 oz baby girl, but I loved you from the moment you were born. The labor and delivery was only 4 1/2 hours long so you came quick and your Daddy missed it all as he was out of town. You have been a joy in our lives and we love you and all that you do to make us laugh and enjoy life. Here are some pictures from when you were born, I don't have your cake pictures yet, they will have to be posted at another time.

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom

Yesturday we went to Wonderland and we went on the rode the little Merry-go-round, road go-carts, played miniture golf, had pizza and just had fun being with family from out of town. The one picture is of Jennilyn and her cousin Abby they were not happy that they were too young to go on the go-carts you had to be 3 years old to go. Some of the group even did bumper boats and leaser tag, while others of us just went around earning tickets to get a little prize for each of the little kids. I think we all had fun! The babies were great too.

Growing Up

I own three excersausers I have two at my mother in laws and one here at my home for the twins, they love them. The other day Jennilyn decided that she was going to get into one and play, I caught these pictures before I made her get out. She is a cutie and I love her.


Dillon sure is trying to be a big helper even though he still doesn't talk much, we were going to leave my in-laws today and he was draging me over to his twin sisters so that I could carry them out, and then once we got home he stood by the one sister while I carried the other one up to our 2nd floor apartment and then he walked with me while I carried the other one up, if he could carry them I think he would. I am sure blessed to have such great kids.He also wanted to get himself dressed and he sat on the potty tonight, now if we can just get him to do that all the time.

The twins are trying to pull themselves up into sitting positions and such, they are getting quite skilled at this.

Fun at the lake

Today we went to one of the lakes around Spokane, it was choosen because it has a nice sandy beach and swim area as well as the boating area. We got there and there was no parking what so ever so then Dan dropped the kids and I off and he had to drive 30 min away to the casino were his dad had to launch the boat and his Dad and brothers took the boat and went and got him and his sister who also had to go park there. We also celebrated Jennilyn's birthday today with everyone since Dan leaves out of town tomorrow and will be gone for her birthday so here are some pics from the event. The kids loved the the boat ride and such.

We turned 6 months old!

This picture was taken when they were 3 months old so it dosen't do them justice, but I will put up more pictures soon.
Ruth & Irene turned 6 months old on the 20th of July! Yesterday we took them in for their 6 month check up and shoots. Ruth weighted in at 13 lbs 12 oz and 25 1/4 inches long. Irene come in at 14 lbs 6 oz and 26 1/4 inch's long! Dr. Olson came in and saw them playing on the table and playing with themselves in the mirror, it was quite cute watching them crawl all over the table with us standing right there to monitor them. They are doing the army crawl just great and can get all over the apartment that way, they are working on getting up on their hands and knees and moving which they showed the Dr that they could do that. Dr. Olson gave them a clean bill of health and told us they are growing well, he is happy with their growth in the last six months.

Now we just have Jennilyn's appointment for her 2 year checkup and shots on Aug 27.

We are going to the lake this weekend and looking to have some fun with the Burke Family and celebrate Jennilyn's birthday early as Dan is headed out of town on Sunday for the month of August and will miss her birthday, oh well at least he has a job.

It has been awhile!

Well I haven't posted since I fell and broke my arm while I was in Utah visiting. My Mom came back to Washington with me and stayed until July 14th when they took off my hard cast and put me in a removable brace. It was good to have her here and I want to thank her, and a big thanks to my dad and all of my sisters for parting with her for the 6 weeks that she was with me. I still don't have 100% use of my arm, but I am getting stronger by the day. The only thing I haven't managed to do yet is give the twins baths, my mother-in-law has helped me with that as Dan has been out of town since June 30th. He comes home tomorrow and we are excited even though he will only be here for a few days and then he is gone again for another month. The Dr did say that we will be doing physical therapy in two weeks to get the full use of my arm.

The kids are all doing well, Dillon is trying to say more words, and wants to pick up his sisters all the time. Jennilyn is a chatter box and talks more then Dillon, she is my big girl and I get a laugh every time I tell her something and she says "OK" and then does it. Or she will get her shoes and say "found them". Ruth and Irene turned 6 months old this week, I can't believe it, they are crawling all over the place and try to get a hold of paper and eat it. Tonight they even attacked my dinner and wanted to eat it while I was eating, I had them in my lap at different times.

This last week Irene attacked my ice cream sandwich and was eating the ice cream and Jennilyn feed Ruth some of her PB&J sandwich that she gummed to death before I caught it.
This is Ruth and Irene today playing while their sibling took their naps.


This is 3 of the kids playing together, at one point I had all 4 playing together but I didn't get a picture of it.