Emers Takes A Step Up To Two

5/27/14

Emerson,
      You have grown so much this last year. This last year you have done a great job at keeping up with Coleman and doing most everything that he does. You decided you liked sleeping in a big bed with Coleman and so you did for about 6 months. Luckily we got you off the binky before Cooper was born. You sure loved that thing. You still get the hiccups when you laugh. You love to eat and eat and eat. I am amazed sometimes at how much you can eat and the things you will try. We often hear you say, "I want some," whenever someone is eating. You love Poppy's egg sandwiches. You enjoy making a mess when you eat l but you always want your hands wiped clean. If I don't get up quick enough in the mornings, you are in the kitchen searching for food and climbing up on the counters. Gum is one of your favorite things. You search through Grandma's room and purse as well as all my stuff to find it. Amazingly, you can chew gum for hours and then when you're done you either spit it out in the trash or hand it to someone. I have to say that you are a responsible gum chewer. I haven't done as well teaching you the ABC's or your numbers as I did with Coleman but you have caught on to many letters and can count to 10. I believe this is from listening to Coleman. You know your shapes as well. You like Woody and Jesse from Toy Story, love Thomas, Mater from Cars, and you like Curious George. You always say cheese for pictures and crinkle your nose. You are continuing your tendency to always have scrapes, bruises, or injuries. This year, you fell out a 9-foot window and hardly cried. You are my tough little guy. You enjoy playing in the dirt. You are my early riser. You usually are up between 6:30 and 7 am. Most mornings I would find you with only one sock on. I couldn't figure out why you only always had just one on. You like babies and were excited to have a baby brother. You enjoy "Tooper" and ask to hold him. Two seconds later you state that you are done. You are a busy body and don't sit still very often. You like to dance and skip around the living room and will run around on your toes. You enjoyed going to nursery this year, especially because Coleman was in nursery. I found out after you had been in nursery for months that you didn't say much which surprised me because you say a lot. You become shy when you are first around people. You are getting better. You love the park and ask to go there all the time. You are still learning to listen but have been getting much better that last few months. Spankings don't really effect you. You hate time out in your room though and that has worked well. You are good at helping me do things and especially when it's just me and you. You love being outside. You always want to know where your "brother" is when you can't find Coleman. I believe you are going to be an aggressive little wrestler in a few years. You are a little small for your age but that doesn't make a difference to you. Something that you often do is tilt your head when you ask people questions and it's too cute. I wish you could stay my little boy forever. I love you Emers.

Love, Mom

Bumps, bruises, and scrapes

Another injury

And another one...

Moab

Can It Be, He's Really Three?!

12/26/13

Dear Coleman,
      It blows my mind that you are now three years old! You have grown so much in the last year. You can dress yourself and put your shoes on. It's so nice. You mastered potty training this year and I can't tell you how happy I am that you did! You are truly an awesome big brother.You always want to make sure Emerson is included or gets whatever you get. Now that you have a new baby brother you take care of him as well. You are very helpful and do little jobs for me (like throw away dirty diapers). This past year we have moved a few times and you have been very good and happy wherever we go. I am grateful for your good attitude. Very rarely do you throw fits or tantrums. Overall, you are a very obedient boy. There are a few times this past year that you had me fuming. Most of those times were when you decided to take off running down the side walk when I turned my head the other way. It was a challenge to run after you when I had a big pregnant belly and had to drag Emerson along with me. Plus, you are a fast runner. You would run and wouldn't look back. A few times I about had a panic attack as I worried for your safety. This year, we moved to Nampa, ID, to Kansas for two weeks, and then to Clifton, CO with Poppy and Grandma. You love being with Poppy and Grandma. You enjoy feeding the chickens, chasing Jack the dog, and digging in Poppy's garden. You love to sing and quickly learn lyrics. I am amazed by your imagination and enjoy listening and watching you play with Emerson. You enjoy reading books and being read to. Your favorite books always involve trains. Grandma has a train table and you play with it EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. It is the best toy ever. It's been nice having your cousins close as you always want to play with them. You have been very good in nursery. I can't believe you are moving on to primary! I am proud of you and am thankful to be your mother. I look forward to this year and you being three. Happy Birthday Coleman.

Love Mom

You usually like to sleep in

Birthday cake and ice cream are your fa

Popcorn is another favorite

     

Holding Cooper 

                          

My Dad is 50!

50 Reasons Why I Love You

1. You're my dad.
2. You love Mom.
3. You taught me how to tie my shoes
4. I learned from you how to ride a “bucking bull” which prepared me for muttin' bustin' and runaway horses.
5. You took me fishin'.
6. You gave me three sisters.
7. You taught me how to drive.
8. You taught me about tithing.
9. You used to comb my hair after my baths.
10. You taught me how to do a backflip on the trampoline.
11. You were always patient with me when I didn't want to go to bed...and still are.
12. You were patient with me when I made work harder because I was learning.
13. You taught me how to work hard whether it was loading wood into the wood box when we could barely handle to wheelbarrow or moving pipe.
14. And then you taught me how to play hard.
15. You taught me how to manage money.
16. You taught me to treat people with kindness and to respect my elders.
17. You always do your home teaching.
18. You have a testimony and you live it.
19. I like your mustache/gotee.
20. You never yelled (unless the cows were getting away).
21. You enjoy life and choose to be happy. Everything is more fun when you're around. 
22. 
    I still remember the time you taught me about honesty after I had told a lie. I never wanted to lie after that.
23. You took our family on fun vacations.
24. Even though it took a lot of time, you helped/did our 4-H projects with us.
25. You allowed me to make my own decisions even though I'm sure it was hard at times.
26. You came to all my track meets AND you brought your stop watch.
27. You supported me in all my activities.
28. You protected me and provided for me.
29. You make many sacrifices for your family.
30. Even if it isn't the most enjoyable situation, you taught me how to laugh (ex. The time I fell inbetween the loaves of hay and couldn't get out.)
31. You helped me out of those loaves of hay and I was so relieved.
32. I learned how to appreciate the beauty in my surroundings from you. You often mention how beautiful scenery is.
33. You're Doctor Jones. I don't know how many slivers you pulled out of my skin and how much peroxide you poured on scraped skin. There were a few tick removals as well.
34. You encouraged me to do well in school.
35. You taught me the saying, “If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear.”
36. You taught me how to water ski
37. You encouraged me to be daring by taking me on all the thrilling rides at Lagoon
38. You taught me how to hold on, whether it was a wild tube or sled ride, a runaway horse, or attempting to make it across some form of water on the dirt bike.
39. You took me rockclimbing up bath rock and knew that I could do it.
40. You taught me how to ride a motorcycle and even bought us a few.
41. You told me stories about your life growing up and most of them made me laugh.
42. You taught me how to gargle mouthwash (I decided it was because we had bad breath as I have learned that little kids often do.)
43. I learned about service from you.
44. You showed me how to be forgiving.
45. You taught me to appreciate green grass.
46. You teach by example good parenting.
47. I learned from you what I wanted in my eternal companion.
    
    
    
48. You are a wonderful grandpa.
49. You gave me many priesthood blessings and were always willing and worthy.
50. You love me.