Manwaring Moments

The Horsey Sled

2012-02-07T21:02:00.005-07:00

Grammies and Bompa gave the kids (well, Jackman will enjoy it next year) a "horsey sled".

They described it as a horse on a sled.
Honestly we really could not picture it.
It truly is a horse bolted onto a radio flyer sled.
Then we picked it up and we thought about the physics of this thing,
and thought: This cannot be safe! The kids will fall off for sure!

Then we tried it out...Kristie, Tom, and Lilah came up to see us (which we loved!), and we decided that this would be a good activity to do with the kids.

Pulling it up the hill

Let's see if this works (for safety note: we did send down adults first, and all was a-okay)

James and Daddy going down
Success!!!

They love it!

Lilah and James, they love it!
Okay, so this gift is awesome, way to hit that one out of the park!
There was only once that I worried when James was going down, but we learned that kids should not ride down a hill in front of the horse. No one got hurt, we just were being safety conscious parents.
Thanks Grammies and Bompa!!

Manwaring Family Pictures

2012-01-28T23:04:00.007-07:00

I may be the only one,
but I honestly really like having family pictures taken.
I love the coordinating outfits, and the chaos of it all to get a smile from everyone.
And I really like the end results.
Family pictures in AZ turned out pretty well. We needed an updated one as Bryan, Kayla, Emma, and Jackman have all been added to the family since the last picture two years ago. Last minute, old family friends of mine Rich and Sue Darby, who now live outside of Phoenix, were able to came an hour to Gilbert and take the pictures. Here are some favorites:

The Whole Group

Individual Family Shots

The Originals

The Additions

The Seed

And one last candid that Nathan was able to snag with his smartphone:

An awesome picture of cousins to melt the heart...
Ryan, James, and Kaylee holding hands and walking

Buddies

2012-01-27T16:23:00.003-07:00

We got to see Aubreigh and Matt and Quinn a couple of weeks ago. It was fun catching up with them again. These two had fun playing with toys, watching a movie together, and of course bathtime.

Quinn will be two in March, so all our boys are pretty close in age, and hopefully will grow up to be friends.

After putting the kids to bed we tried out the new fire pit. A lesson learned...if it is really cold out, the cement under the fire pit might crack, and sounds very loud when that happens. Love you guys, see you again soon :)

Cute buddies James and Quinn in the bath:)

Jack's Stats: 6 Months

2012-01-24T16:11:00.004-07:00

It's that time again...

time to see how Jackman has grown with another installment of
Jack's Stats!

Holy Moly! Jack-Jack just turned 6 months old! I cannot believe how fast that has gone by.

This little buddy is a keeper, he is just so happy all the time.

Here are his stats:

Height: 26 inches (35th %tile)
Weight: 15.1 lbs (15th %tile)
Head Circ: 17inches (35th %tile)

Some things that he is now doing include:

~ rolling from back to tummy (did it the first time at Karissa and Cory's house on Dec 22nd, and was doing it well by Christmas Eve)

~ is very interested in everyone and doesn't want to be left behind

~ scoots backwards and in a circle

~is eating solid food now including rice cereal, oatmeal, peas, sweet potatoes, and squash

~is sharing a room with his big brother! (We all slept in the same room
over Christmas, so they were forced to get used to it, we were forced,
now it is great!)

~loves his family, but especially his mommy :)

~no teeth yet

~has never had an ear infection

~his eye still gets gunky sometimes from his clogged duct

~gets sad if you take away a toy he was playing with

~startles at loud noises, and doesn't like the vacuum cleaner on

~smiles at EVERYONE!!

I know I've said it before, but this kid loves to smile.
Honestly, as far as babies go, he is pretty easy.
I've got it lucky really.
He's still got the "baby smell" and I love it.

He is so happy, and we are so happy that he is a part of our family.
Love you little buddy!

Christmas in AZ Part 4: New Year's

2012-01-24T16:02:00.004-07:00

New Year's was great. But I feel like I'm getting old. We stayed up and played a game, then watched the ball drop, everyone kissed their sweetheart, then we all went to bed. To be up the next morning for the little ones who would surely want up. A few stayed up until midnight. There was some really yummy food, too. Here are some pictures from the day:

We built a fire outside, which was a lot harder with lots of little ones all around.

James and Daddy having yummy smores.

Everyone dancing with the movie "Fantasia"

First picture of 2012
Here's to the new year!

Christmas in AZ Part 3: The Polar Express

2012-01-21T21:34:00.004-07:00

Papa and Grandma Manwaring had a very special surprise planned this year....

****

So the night before, all the grandkids got to open a special present from Grandma and Papa...a train ornament because they were going to ride the real Polar Express the next day in Flagstaff!!

The next day we packed up after taking family pictures and lunch, loaded into two vans, an SUV,
and a Corolla, and drove on up, singing and laughing
(though some were supposed to be napping).

It was awesome. I am so glad that we got to do that, and I know that all the kids loved it even more. Pajama wearing was encouraged, and all our little boys and little girls matched :)

Jackman and Mommy waiting for the train to come

James and Daddy
"Hi train!!"

All aboard!

The train ride was just like in the book, where there were chefs who served us cookies and hot chocolate, we got to go to the North Pole, and Santa even came on board and gave every child a silver bell from his sleigh.

Mommy with two excited and happy boys

A few shots of the family sipping hot cocoa

Matching jammies, seeing the North Pole out the window,
and Santa on the train!!

My sleepy boys on the train
This is so precious, my whole world on all asleep on one little seat.

All the grandkids in the jammies.
Elisa, Kaylee, Lydia, Ryan, James, Kayla, Emma, and Jackman

A HUGE shout-out and THANK YOU to Mom and Dad Manwaring.
This trip was a memory maker, that is for sure!

Christmas in AZ Part 2: Family and Cousins come!

2012-01-13T16:37:00.001-07:00

After Christmas day, we anticipated the fun James and Jackman would have with their little cousins when they came in on the 28th and 29th.

Not to forget their aunts and uncles too:)Yeah!!

Check out some of the activities we did together:

After being a little tentative at first, James ended up LoViNg going swimming. He really liked to jump off the side onto a noodle floatie. Well, we had to have him ask us before he could jump, because he liked to sink! AAAHHH! He walked off the stairs once, was sinking, I picked him up, and he said, "No, no, I'm swimming Mommy!" Um, nope, that is called sputtering and sinking buddy. I think swimming lessons are in order for this summer, and we are very thankful that Mom Manwaring thought about these things a few years ago, and had installed a net to go over the pool when you aren't in it so that no one will accidentally fall in.
We also played water volleyball that night. It was warm, like a hot-tub, so after a game, mandatory everyone up on the sides to cool off.
It is so fun, but also a little weird for this Denverite to swim at Christmastime!

Nathan, Cory, and Bryan
We played some pretty fun games while in AZ. This one is Buzzword...boys vs girls. It was pretty evenly matched with each team winning a game.
I would love to get that game someday!
Cory and Nathan kept doing funny things all week like muppets.

Playing croquet in the backyard

Nicole read Jackman a story

Some cuddle time with Aunt Nicole. After playing and being held, he fell asleep!
That is pretty rare for him to sleep like that, Nicole has the magic touch :)

We went outside to see all the lights on at nighttime.
Everyone had a kid to carry!

These two were hilarious, and it is just going to get better as they get older.
James and Ryan were eating,
then showing each other the food they had chewed in their mouths,
then yelling back and forth.
Gross? Yes. Funny? Definitely.

Playing with animals, and Grandma has lots of them! I love this.
James with Elisa, Grandma, and Lydia

Lydia in her princess dress holding Jack-Jack
A) she loved her dress she got for Christmas and B) she loved Jack-Jack
She really took a liking to him, I think she wants a little brother.
Jack-Jack liked her too, and would smile and giggle at her. Cute cousins.
When they are older then can talk about being second-born in their families.

Grandma and Lydia making cookies for everyone.
Those were so good! Good Job girls!

Kendra holding two cute cousins, Ryan and James

I loved watching these two play together.
James and Ryan sending cars down the ramp, just to do it over, and over, and over again.

Check back again for Christmas in AZ Part 3: The Polar Express!

Christmas in AZ Part 1

2012-01-12T16:22:00.003-07:00

We were able to drive down to AZ to be with the Manwaring's this year for Christmas. Karissa and Cory let us stay with them on the 22nd so that we could break up the trip into two drives. They are always so accommodating and we really appreciate it. We got there the 23rd, and enjoyed being with everyone. Christmas Eve morning we had a wonderful breakfast at this place that Mom and Dad Manwaring had heard about, country style food, and it was umm-umm good.

Jackman and Emma meeting, these two are only three weeks apart!

James and Jack-Jack got to wear some *sweet* matching Christmas sweatshirts that Mom had from when the boys were little.
Then they decided to jump on Cory:)

That night we dressed up and acted out the Nativity story.
James was a shepherd, Kendra was Mary, Nathan was Joseph,
and Jackman got to play the baby Jesus.
Then James decided to sing some songs like Do As I'm Doing and Once There Was a Snowman for everyone which was very cute.
(pictures courtesy of Jenn)

Also, we really tried teaching the Nativity, and James can point out everyone in it, and if asked where baby Jesus sleeps, in his cute little voice he says
"Jesus sleeps on the hay".

Karissa and Jack
He tried rice cereal again, and liked it this time!
He also liked his aunt holding him :)

Christmas morning we quickly got ready and went to church which started at 8am!
A huge difference from our start time of 1pm.
The choir was wonderful of course.
We then went home, and enjoyed seeing Christmas through a child's eyes.

James was literally jumping up and down as he was opening up his two foot tall car ramp from Santa. Then we took a break (after one present!) to put the ramp together, and ate a really yummy breakfast, and then went back to opening presents.
It was fun, though we missed the other younger cousins. It was just James and Jackman as the others wouldn't get there for a few more days.

Christmas evening we went to the Mesa Temple and looked at all the lights that they have there.
I cannot believe that Mom and Dad Manwaring used to be in charge of all of that a few years ago. James liked all the lights, and the huge life size camels and wisemen made out of lights were a favorite.

The next day we went on a walk at a nature preserve not too far from the Manwaring's home in search of a spot to take family pictures.
We were successful in finding a spot, and we enjoyed soaking up some vitamin D in the process.

Walking along enjoying sunshine
Yes, we are in short sleeves, and the kids do not have coats. It was that warm out.
Or maybe we are just used to cold being really cold, and sixties being short sleeve weather.

Bryan and Jenn in matching purple. Jenn is also taking advantage of the sun.

Tickles from Papa as he gets James strapped into the carseat.
James loves his Papa!

More to come in Part 2
When the other cousins arrive and family!

Frosty Day

2011-12-23T00:54:00.003-07:00

Right before Christmas a cloud descended on us here for over a day. When it finally lifted, this is what we were left with...

Everything was frosted
And I get to live here and enjoy this beauty
Boy did I get lucky

Before Christmas Happenings

2011-12-22T17:15:00.007-07:00

December was busy getting ready for Christmas, and of course we had to visit family. First we went to Twin Falls two weeks before Christmas for Nathan's cousin Tyson's wedding to his lovely new bride Kaylee! Welcome to the family (there are a lot of them, and now comes the job of learning everyone's name;) )! The night before was the dinner, which had a great Mexican theme. That night though while we were staying with Jason and Nicole, James came down with croup, and Nathan ended up sleeping in the car with him for most of the night so that the cold air would help him. It worked for James, Nathan though got one of the worst nights sleeps ever.

Daddy of the Year award goes out to him.

Grandma and Jackman at the family dinner for Tyson and Kaylee's wedding in Twin Falls

Grandpa and Grandma Haworth and their seven beautiful daughters
I see them and think of the movie Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, but in reverse.
They are all amazing, and I am very lucky to be a part of their family.
And Grandpa and Grandma are amazing for raising seven daughters!

Tyson and Kaylee, just married on a very windy Twin Falls morning outside the temple.

Then before we went to AZ for Christmas we saw a lot of our family in UT and Franklin. I didn't get a picture with Grandma Hiller though. Those can be though to get, and so are treasures :)

It was cold, but James wanted to go see the cows...so we did

James all bundled in the cold

Playing on the floor at the Haworth's

Grandpa and Jack-Jack

James opening his awesome Mater from the Kutterer's.

Kira and Jackman opening his splash bathtime ducky,
which he LOVES by the way

We also took some cute pictures just around home before Christmas.
Mommy and Jack-Jack with our beautiful tree and Dicken's Christmas Village.

"aahh-goo"
Jackman looking especially cute in the sailor suit that used to be his daddy's!

James running with the stick horse

Daddy and Jackman, he is almost five months and looking so big and alert!

Jackman Tried Rice Cereal...

2011-12-20T23:57:00.004-07:00

...and didn't really care for it. In fact, I'm not sure how much even got in his mouth let alone swallowed. We'll try it again in a few weeks :)

Mom, I don't think I like this, can i just have milk please?

Mommy making funny faces to get Jack-Jack to eat

Tow Mater that's who!

2011-12-20T15:59:00.004-07:00

James and I found a real Tow Mater in Orem! He was just on the corner near a Christmas Tree yard. We had to stop. Jack stayed in the car, it was cold, but James loved it. Mater is becoming one of his favorite Disney character's.

In James' hand is a car that he calls Doc, who is also from Cars for those who didn't know.

For those who are interested, he was by the Target in Orem.
There is usually a fruit and veggie stand there in the summer, winter has Christmas Trees,
and Mater.

"Look at the detail on that rust, it must have cost a fortune"
quote from Cars 2

Kendra's Birthday!

2011-12-20T15:29:00.003-07:00

I had a great birthday surrounded by family. The only sad part was that Nathan left that night before dinner was over to go to Houston for business (and my birthday was on a Sunday, so I thought that I was safe to have him home, bummer). We did get to have both of my sisters, Kirstin and Ann, over for dinner, and Mike, Kira, and Tanner. Thank you guys for coming up to make it special. And it is Christmas time, and I love the decorations, especially around my birthday. Growing up we would always put the tree up the day after. This year I wanted to have it ready for when people came to dinner, so we put it up a day or two early.

Here's to hoping that 27 is going to be a great year.

Family

Kirstin, Kendra, and Ann
I think this picture just shows how much Kirstin and Ann look a like,
but I think that we all look pretty similar

A Full Thanksgiving

2011-12-16T15:22:00.007-07:00

This year was Thanksgiving in Colorado.
Boy did we do a lot of things in the few days that we were there:

Went to downtown Littleton, and saw Santa light the lights on the trees. It was cold, and then it got windy, but it has been a tradition from the time I was a little girl.
I was glad I could share it with my sister, my parents, and now my little boys and Nathan

Went to the Butterfly Pavilion! It is this neat place that is a giant indoor tropical paradise, and there are butterflies everywhere that you get to see.
You have to be careful not to step on them, too.
Look at James' face showing his daddy one that was flying! And that wasn't posed.
There was also a fun learning and exploring area for little kids like James, and he climbed the rope spider's web.

Also at the Butterfly Pavilion there are other area's that you can see other things, like underwater creatures, neat bugs, and spiders!
You can even hold Rosie the Rose-haired Tarantula, and we all did it!
Look at James, he did it too, and he giggled and thought it was neat.
I on the other hand had to wait until I was holding her before I would look, it did get the adrenaline pumping holding such a big spider.

We had a great Thanksgiving dinner at my Uncle Kyle and Aunt Carol's house.
I love getting pictures with Uncle Kyle and his namesake Jackman Kyle.
Kirstin actually surprised everyone and drove out right from Utah, and made it right as we were leaving to go to dinner. Man were mom and dad surprised. It was so hard for me to keep it a secret, especially because they kept asking about her, and I
kept thinking just wait an hour and you'll see her!
I am thankful for family!

We rode Cinnamon our horse. James loved it! He wanted to go around again, and again, and again. It was his first time up on the horse, and I think he is hooked, which is good because someday I'd like to have one.
We got everyone up who wanted to go, and Jack-Jack got to touch her.
She has always been so good with kids, and she changed when we brought the baby over, incredibly calm. And Jack liked it.
Kirstin introduced Mom and Dad to "planking", and they all had a turn "planking" in the barn.

Family time at Kyle and Carol's

We had lots of great family time.
James got to play with his second cousins Landin and Dakota, Grandma Kitty and Gramies got to have quality time with the kids, and we got to visit and take pictures with everyone.

Four Generations
Julie, Kitty, Kendra, and Jackman

Happy Thanksgiving! We hope yours was filled with family, food, and fun:)

The Best Way to Visit Santa

2011-12-08T01:42:00.003-07:00

We visited Santa at Sears Portrait Studio.
Best idea. Ever.

No lines, you get a time, show up at that time and sit on his lap.
You get pictures too that turn out great.
Our last two years attempts to visit with Santa have fallen flat due to lines over an hour and a half long.
First year we have a picture next to a manequin Santa.
Second year was worse, you didn't even see Santa, had to wait in line to get a number, to then come back at a time indicated by the number to wait again to see Santa, and you had to pay to see him still.
Both lines were over an hour long (so technically the second year had two lines over an hour each, um, yeah right).
I will never try that again.
James was a little scared, but then warmed right up when they were reading a book together.

And I think the pictures turned out great.

P.S. They are really cheap too:)

Check those pictures out, no crying kids.
Did your Santa photos turn out that good?
Hope that the start to your Christmas season is merry

Jack's Stats: 4 Months

2011-11-30T15:14:00.005-07:00

Wow, 4 months already? Now I feel like the kiddo's are growing up too fast. I can't believe all the progress Jack has had lately. We had his four month appointment exactly at four months. Poor little thing got shots, but he's doing great now, and they are too keep him healthy so that is fine.
See how he's grown:

Weight: 13.1 lbs (25th %tile)

Length: 24.7 in (50th %tile!)

Head Circ: 16.2 in (25th %tile)
All %tiles were up!

Jack-Jack is also one of the happiest babies you'll ever meet. He is always smiling. He goes down for naps great. He sleeps seven hours at night consistently. He eats great.
I saw a friend from my childhood in Colorado while at church, Emily Ricks, and I loved how she summed it up:
"Heavenly Father gives babies like this to say, "Look, you can do it, you are doing it!"

He doesn't really take a binky, but does prefer his fingers.
He doesn't latch on anymore, but will take a bottle of breastmilk readily.
He can roll from his tummy to his back in an instant, but doesn't really care to do the other way.
He loves bathtime!
He is so wiggly, always moving now.
How did I get to be this blessed?

tall, TaLl, TALL!

2011-11-30T14:43:00.003-07:00

This was the second snow we had so far this year, but it was enough to go out and play, and make a snowman...tall, tall, tall!

Working on the snowman, long way to go still....

Yeah! A snowman with Daddy and James.
Complete with a carrot nose

And did you know that tractors work in the snow too? Awesome!

And yes, in the sun he melted, small, small, small :(
No more snowman, for now at least

James Right Now, 28months

2011-11-15T22:55:00.007-07:00

There are a few things about James right now that I want to remember. He can be so funny, and so frustrating, but that's being two right? These are some of the funnies to remember when he can talk better, and I'll be wishing for the days that he couldn't communicate as well because it was cute.

~mumersalt= a somersault, he does them pretty well

~lightning McTween= Lightning McQueen, a favorite around here, Disney has got something

~his absolute favorite person in the world is his daddy

~Jack-Jack= it is always Jack-Jack. And he likes to give him kisses, on the lips

He wanted to lay with his brother, on his big bed, with the pillow over their legs

~Matt Bird= this is always a toucan bird. He has a rainforest book, and in it there are mommy birds(light colored parrots), daddy birds (dark colored parrots), Aubey birds (also light colored birds), Quinn birds (smaller parrots), Jack-Jack birds (very small birds), and for some reason, Matt bird is the big toucan that takes up a whole page with its beak.

~football= James wants you on the floor, runs into you, and then you both fall down. That's not all though, then he will dog pile on your head, just to make sure you are down. He'll also run, then fall on the floor, and roll, that is also football.

~he'll spin in circles and fall down, that is helicopter

~thanks to daddy who taught him the "big circle button" will turn on the tv, and the "triangle button" will turn on the movie (vhs or dvd). So when we unplug them and he try's to turn it on, he's not too happy

~nok= that is his favorite drink/food, milk, which he knows now comes from cows. When he says ol' nok, it sounds like whole milk, but really he means its cold milk :)

~when he sees fire, he says it's hot, then blows. If his food is warm, it is on fire, and he blows on it.

~tractor tippin' is funnnnny=again thank you to Cars, he brought the tractors into the kitchen, jumped up and down twice behind them, then tipped them, and made a noise like they burped each time, just like in the movie.

Tractor tippin in the kitchen

He brought all his tractors/vehicles in to tip

~he loves to point out everything! from shapes, to colors, to tractors we see (of course), to now letters because he is learning them.

~he is learning his letters. sometimes M is an upside down W, and the capital E is also an M sometimes, or a W, if he turns the puzzle piece just right...he is right too

~ scriptures= they are now referred to as scripture power, after the primary song.

~when I say, "look at mommy" usually after I do his hair and I want to check it, he looks at me and makes an "0" with his mouth.

~ daddy cows/mommy cows= he has a male cow that is more spotted than the female cow. So now all cows that are more spotted are daddy cows, if they are more black, and the spots are bigger, they are mommy cows.

~he can categorize anything into either daddy, mommy, james, or jack-jack, according to size.

~he likes to talk to his "dramies"(Grammies) on the phone, and will describe everything he sees over the phone.

~sometimes he will take everything off his bed and make a little "nest" on the floor, and he'll sleep there too. If I go in to put him back on the bed, he'll hide in the nest, and he's pretty good at it too.

James in his nest

Bath Time

2011-11-05T02:36:00.003-06:00

What a happy little kiddo. He loves bath time, and his daddy.

Love this Little Guy

2011-11-04T23:57:00.003-06:00

Mommy and Jackman
I love this little boy. So cute:)

An Incredible Family

2011-10-29T12:40:00.004-06:00

Our family is incredible. But I am referring to the movie, "The Incredibles" for this post. Jack-Jack is the baby in the movie, and since that is our baby's nickname, it was the inspiration to our Halloween costumes this year. I am very, very proud of myself for making these costumes. I don't consider myself very crafty or creative. These costumes though turned out fantastically .

We wore them to the ward Trunk-or-Treat and they were a big hit. We were watching the movie "The Incredibles" before hand to get pumped up. James was running everywhere just like Dash. Jackman was being adorable like Jack-Jack. I was trying to run around getting everything ready just like Elastagirl. And Nathan was a little distracted by his phone, or watching the movie, or playing with the kids, just like Mr. Incredible. I'd say we were pumped and in character. Then we put on the costumes. James' favorite was the mask.

Yes, those costumes were incredible. What is more important is that family is incredible. Do you know the story behind how the powers were choosen for the Incredibles? The mom is flexible, because mom's have to flexible, so they made her very, very flexible. Dad's are supposed to be strong, so they made Mr. Incredible really, really strong. Teenagers want to be left alone, and sometimes feel invisible, that is why the teenager Violet's powers are to turn invisible and put a force field around her to keep everyone out. Little boys are full of energy and run everywhere, so they made Dash the boy very, very fast. Babies are full of potential and can be anything, that is why Jack-Jack the baby has all sorts of powers from turning to lead, to becoming a fireball, to laser beams from his eyes, to going through walls, to becoming that little devil thing, right back to becoming the adorable baby.

The movie also shows that when the family works together and uses their different talents, that they can overcome all forces of evil and do "incredible things".

My family is incredible, and we can do incredible things too.

Bet you'll look at the movie differently now, eh?

Monkey Mountain

2011-10-29T12:03:00.004-06:00

James, Jackman, and I went to Monkey Mountain in Park City with Aubreigh and Quinn, and her sister Amber and her little boy Tucker. Monkey Mountain is a big jungle gym for little kids. Turns out it was a little big to have the boys climb on by themselves, but us parents got in it as well to help them out. There was this slide that was at least a story tall, and it was so fast. And it was a spiral slide. I seriously felt sick, but it was fun. There were also all these animals that were a sort of soft rubber material, and when you sat on them, they made the animal sounds! How cool is that?

James and Jack-Jack with the big rubbery elephant

A happy James going up the spiral staircase into the jungle gym.
Nothing shows you that you are bigger than climbing into that following your two year old!

Afterwards we had a very yummy lunch at Kneaders. Thanks guys, James is asking to do it again soon:) He loves saying Monkey Mountain.

Asian Star Dinner

2011-10-29T11:07:00.005-06:00

Every year Grandma Hiller has as many people in her family as can come to the Asian Star for dinner for her birthday. The event keeps getting bigger and bigger, it is like a family reunion now. Grandma is such a matriarch to the family. She has had an amazing life, and is a example to everyone.

Grandma Hiller and Jackman. She loves the babies, and wanted to hold him.
Jackman is so good, and gave her lots of smiles and was great for her.
It is rare to get her to look and smile at the camera!

Lots of people and fantastic food!
My favorite is the walnut shrimp.
Thank you to everyone who came making it memorable for Grandma!

Hiking at Snowbasin

2011-10-24T13:18:00.005-06:00

We went hiking up at Snowbasin as a family in September. James did great, and hiked a lot by himself. He also enjoyed riding in the backpack. Jackman enjoyed sleeping up against Daddy while we hiked. Now the leaves have changed to reds, yellows, and oranges. Next year we are going to take more advantage and hike more with our little boys:)

Big trees, beautiful trails, gorgeous weather, and family, what more could we ask for?

We even found moose tracks (reals ones, not the ice cream) on the trail going the opposite direction. I didn't really want to stumble upon one of those, though they aren't as scary as I've previously imagined. I also haven't seen one when hiking, but when running and it was in our neighborhood, it just hung out and ate grass as we went by.

What do you do for fun as a family?

October General Conference

2011-10-16T12:43:00.003-06:00

Every October is the annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It is a wonderful time, filled with talks and family and love. On Saturday we listened to conference on the radio, and then during the second session we took a detour to Franklin, saw some beautiful fall leaves, but got a little lost and ended up going back to the highway:)

One of my favorite talks was by President Uchdorf, first counselor in the first presidency. It was titled "You Matter to Him", and really helped me because I've been feeling small, insignificant, and left out lately. Check it out here.

Besides listening to Conference we did some other fun things on the farm like take pictures:

Who you looking at, oh me!

Jumped on the trampoline:

Check out the air that James got by himself

Lady enjoyed the fall air:

And James got to do his favorite thing, go for a ride. He climbed up all by himself, then turned around and said "come on mommy"

Kristie, Tom, and Lilah were there too,and it is always fun to see them. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Haworth for letting us stay. Love you!

September Colorado Trip

2011-10-15T13:42:00.005-06:00

Yep, I do like to visit home. This last time was to go to one of my good friend from high school's wedding. Andrew Glover married Jessica, a great girl, and everything was beautiful, we were honored to be invited. It was also like a high school reunion because I got to see pretty much the people I would want to see at a high school reunion. After the reception we went to Heather's house for some good old catching up. Heather, Josh Wickard, Andrew, Katie Butler, and I were all good friends in high school. It is neat to see where we all are now, and how we can talk just like old times.

Old friends, with some new ones too!

We of course got to see our family too. Uncle Kyle met his namesake, Jackman Kyle. That was neat. Uncle Kyle has been through so much, and is a wonderful example to my son of someone to live up to. He has beaten ALL (a type of leukemia that ususally strikes kids, but can be worse in adults), and now helps other cancer patients fight on through a program called Reel Recovery where they go fly fishing to help with the recovery and show others that recovery is possible. Aunt Carol got her baby fix with little Jack-Jack too:)

Uncle Kyle with Jackman Kyle

Good friend's of ours from since I was ten years old, Russell and Mina Colman, aka Grandpa and Grandma Colman, had us all over for dinner on Sunday night. They are so fun, and also great examples in my life. He used to be my Bishop in the Englewood Ward. Love them lots.

Grandpa Colman with James playing tractor

Playing with the kids on the patio

Of course there was Grammies and Bompa (my mom and dad), who love to hold and play with the little ones. James liked seeing their puppies, Lonie, Ellie, and Kelsey.

Grandma Kitty let us stay at Lincoln Meadows again, and I'm sure glad that she enjoys us visiting. We love her too. Family and dear friends are some of the most important things to us. On the way home we took a different way, and the leaves were gorgeous.
Fall is here, and I love it!

What I see everyday...

2011-10-11T18:31:00.003-06:00

Finally got a picture with me and both my boys!! These two are so cute!!

Uintah Adventure

2011-10-11T16:41:00.004-06:00

A few weeks ago in September we got to hang out with our good friends Aubreigh and Matt and Quinn Parks. The boys took all the little boys in the morning so Aubreigh and I could go shopping at the outlets in Park City. We met them (though not before getting a few phone calls about what to do with three little boys 2 and under) at a trail head in the Unitah's to eat lunch by a waterfall and go hiking.

Haha. Hiking?! What were we thinking?! We went about 30 yards, and figured out that going with Jackman, James, and Quinn would be lots of trouble. James and Quinn just wanted to throw stones at the water, but their little legs weren't as stable as their parents wanted them to be, they kept tripping, and we were afraid they would fall in. Throw in a case of both of them wanting to be independent and walking by themselves and not in the backpacks, and Aubreigh and I ended up taking the little ones home and let our big boys go out hiking and fishing.

When we got back to the Parks' home, it looked like a scene from the movie "Daddy Daycare". However, all three were alive, happy, and fed. Sometimes that is all you can do. I think that they appreciate us mommy's a little more, and we appreciate all they do for us in letting us stay home with the kiddo's (but it is nice to be able to go shopping sans kids with your girlfriends too sometimes! That night we got to watch the BYU game with them at their home. BYU lost, but it was a very fun weekend. Thanks guys for having us!

Matt and Nathan in the Unitah's

Got Milk?

2011-09-30T15:52:00.000-06:00

Saying that I do is an understatement.

Extra milk for one day

Extra another day. Each of those bags has about 8oz.

This is the EXTRA, after Jackman has eaten for a 24 hour period.
He can breastfeed and take a bottle of breast milk, and I still make tons extra.
I'm working on freezing a year's supply (I know, crazy huh).
And my application to be a donor to NICU babies is currently being processed.

First I've donated hair, now milk.

Jack's Stats: 2 Months

2011-09-30T11:43:00.004-06:00

Jackman had his two month appointment not long ago.

He got five shots, poor little thing, after an unsuccessful blood draw to be a participant in a study where those five needle pokes would have been combined and would become only two essentially.
James was the cutest big brother and when the nurse was trying to get the blood draw, James was went over and said as he was trying to push the nurse away from Jackman, "Jack-Jack hurt, Jack-Jack is sad".
I love that.
He never has showed animosity towards his little brother.

Weight: 10.1lbs (20th %tile)
Height: 22.7 inches (50th %tile!)
Head Circ: 15 inches (15th %tile)

Look at that little one grow!
He is giving smiles now too, baby smiles are the best.
So genuine.
I just love him to pieces.

James' Two Year Stats

2011-09-21T14:13:00.003-06:00

This is late, but better than never. James had his two year appointment last month, and these are his stats:

Weight: 24.1 lbs (7th %tile)

Height: 33.2 in (17th %tile)

Head Circ: 18.8 in (20th %tile)

He is our little boy now, not a baby! It makes me sad and happy at the same time.
He knows all sorts of sounds like that of a helicoptor, a firetruck, an ambulance, an airplane, a police car, a car, a truck, a digger, and of course...tractors!
James loves all tractors, whether it be farm tractors, diggers, or any sort of construction vehicle.
He also knows all sounds for animals, and has a huge vocabulary. I should have written more down when he was learning words, but it is new words on a daily basis.
The doctor even said that he speaks much more advanced for his age than normal, usually girls speak better, but not James, he talks and talks and talks all day.
He even asked to sleep in the "big bed" that we have in his room (a twin bed), and we have been working on sleeping there for the last 5 days. He's doing great too.
James also loves to look for the moose around our house.
He is also so observant and will point things out all the time.
He is also extremely photogenic, here are some of his two year pictures:

The model pose

Holding the monkey

Love this smile

Does he look 2?!?
I think he looks 5 at least!

Labor Day Fun

2011-09-14T15:15:00.007-06:00

Over the Labor Day weekend we did a few things like...

Visit Grandma Lois Manwaring in Pocatello. She was so sweet. We had a great lunch, she loved to snuggle and hold Jack, and even got on the floor to play cars with James. He warmed up to her after she showed a love of cars:)
She had been sick with shingles, but we are glad that she is better now and hope to see her again very soon!

All Manwarings

Grandma Lois with Jack, he is watching her intently

...We went to Franklin to see Grandpa and Grandma Haworth. The Tanner's and McConnon's were also up there, but we unfortunately didn't get any pictures with them.
We watched some football of course, and James is such a boy, he climbed up onto Grandpa's lap to watch with Grandpa all by himself...

Grandpa and James, it was a nail biting game of USU vs Auburn

...Jack got to be held and snuggled by more of his great-grandparents...

Grandpa and Grandma Haworth and Jackman

...James and Mommy went on a four-wheeler ride...

Doesn't James look excited? He kept asking to go on a ride, and he loved it.

...We saw some cows on the ride of course at the barns, fed them some hay, and talked to them in their language...

...and then we talked about how James is in LOVE with all things "tractor" right now and said when Grandpa does his cutting that we'll have to come up. Well, he was cutting hay the next day, but offered to give James a ride right then. How cool is that?! James was in HeAvEn!!

James with his Grandpa Haworth riding a John Deer, he never stopped smiling
Maybe James will be the next farmer in the family?
Thank you Grandpa!

EQC Annual Party

2011-09-12T15:56:00.003-06:00

This is late, but in August Equation Consulting hosted their annual summer party. Jack was just two weeks old (exactly like last time with James), we all went sporting our EQC shirts. There was swimming, facepainting, a balloon guy, incredible food, a gelato bar, and the EQC giveaway. Thank you to Rick and the partners for the fantastic party as always. It is such a wonderful company to work for, and I am glad that Nathan is a part of the growing firm.

James hanging out with his buddy Ankit after swimming

James is a lion

Nathan and James with his balloon dog

Playing on a helicopter with his new friend. This just illustrates how little James is, because these two are the same age, and the other boy is not big for his age, James is just little.
And honestly I think it's cute.

Thanks EQC from the Manwaring Family

Jackman's Birth Story

2011-08-31T12:29:00.009-06:00

Here is Jack's birth story if anyone wants to read what happened...and so I can remember...

Quick Facts:
Jackman Kyle Manwaring
Nickname Jack
Kyle after my uncle Kyle Aderman
Born at 2:55am
July 21st, 2011
5lbs 7.5oz, 19inches
About 12 hours after arriving in the hospital
About 2 hours with epidural
Shares birthday with James

Even though James and Jackman were born on the same day, and almost weighed the same as well, their stories are a bit different. It was on Tuesday, July 19th that Nathan was told about some work that had a deadline of the Thursday morning. Because it had a deadline so soon, he knew that I'd go into labor about then, and he was right. Wednesday I started having contractions in the later morning, and they were strong and coming 3 minutes apart and lasting one minute for over an hour. I didn't want to have an emergency, so I called Ann and she was on her way up to get James, and I called Nathan to come home. This time around he listened and came home right away, and we were ready. So we went down the canyon, and I was having strong contractions still every 3 minutes apart. Once at the hospital I was put into triage and I was at a 4, however, sitting in the bed, my contractions started coming a lot slower! 8-10 minutes apart!

Waiting to see if they are going to admit me to the hospital

We got there at 2:30pm. At about 6pm I was only a 5! Very different from James who came super quick. I kept apologizing to Nathan that it was going so slow, I thought I'd go in, an hour later have the baby, and Nathan could get on with his client project. I wanted to go home to try to do a bike ride or something to get the contractions going again. The nurse told me to walk around, and I was thinking, yeah, like that is going to get it going, not. I had been on a bike ride two days prior, so walking wasn't really going to do anything. And I was right.

Okay...this labor is taking awhile

My doctor was a conference in Salt Lake and wouldn"t be back until after 10pm, and I didn't want to be put on Pitocin or have an epidural or have my water broken. I wanted to do it natural again. The contractions weren't bad enough either to have an epidural either, I could barely feel them, but they were showing up on the monitor. So we called Aubreigh when they were admitting me, and once she came, Nathan decided let's try spicy food to get labor going. He went and got some Indian food, and started eating while he was vigorously working on the project that would be presented to a client the next morning. I only ate a little of the rice.

Nathan working on his computer

So Aubreigh and I walked the halls and talked for a few hours. At about 11:30pm, my doctor came back from Salt Lake, and I decided that things were going too slow, I was still only a 6, and so was okay with having my water broken. And I knew this baby wasn't coming in the next half hour, which meant that he'd now be sharing a birthday with his older brother James, which I thought was kind of neat. Anyway, I was scared because the last time they broke my water, contractions started to really hurt afterwards, and labor went super fast (ten minutes). However, when your water breaks the clock starts ticking to get the baby out, and if labor didn't progress, the risk for a c-section increases. I didn't think that my labor would stop, so I said okay to breaking the bag. I was sick of sitting around, (I know, I was actually bored, and anxious to meet our new boy). Well Dr. Housel broke my water, and it wasn't instant pain like I thought, and I was still handling the contractions by just thinking about running a half marathon through them, and Nathan was still working, and Aubreigh was being supportive.

Aubreigh was a great support

Well, the contractions started coming faster, and were definitely hurting a lot, but I was doing well. During a contraction everyone would just get quiet, and I would deal with the pain. Nathan was being quiet, but was typing during contractions. As things were progressing, the typing was getting more and more annoying, until I told him to stop it during contractions or I'm throwing his computer out the window. This was about 12:30, a co-worker of his was onsite waiting for the project from Nathan, he was working and was stressed because of the deadline and that his wife is in labor, and he had just found a problem with the data, and he was the only one for some reason that could do this and fix it in time, and he had just finished the Indian food that usually lasts him and I three meals. My nurse said "I'm feeling a lot of stress coming from this side of the room (pointing to Nathan on the couch working) and it's starting to pour over to this side of the room (pointing in my direction while I'm handling a contraction)". Poor guy was stressed to the max. So about this time the nurse checks me, and now I'm an 8, but it was taking awhile to get there (for me mind you, I was having a normal person's labor), and I thought "Hey, this labor is so different from my last, why don't we make it completely different and I'll get an epidural, these contractions are really hurting!" Now my last minute decision made it almost be an emergency to get the epidural fast, because they were now not sure if it would work in time. Luckily we were at a hospital this time that wasn't busy at all, and my anesthesiologist was our old Bishop from the Fox Hollow ward, Bishop Peterson, and he was good! Super fast, and I am so glad with my decision to get an epidural. I could still feel my legs, they felt heavy and asleep, and I could still move them, though it was hard to do. I could also feel each contraction as just a lot of pressure, my sciatic nerve that was pinched hurt each contraction as well, and that still hurt after the epidural. Nathan was able to get something out to the client right before Bishop Peterson came in, and he took pictures of that procedure.

Getting the epidural, check out that 3"+ long needle that will shortly be inserted into my spine

Aubreigh was the best support, though someone asked if she was my doula, and that made us both laugh a bit. Um no, not a doula. After I was feeling great, I look over and Nathan is on the couch with his feet up sipping Pepsi because he felt like he was going to pass out!! I said "What is wrong you?!?" Nathan said he was "that husband", the one that makes everyone else look good because he's complaining that he doesn't feel good and is going to pass out while his wife is in labor. It was actually comical a little while later, and he was laughing too.

Mr. Tummy-ache :(
Poor guy was doing so much that night no wonder he didn't feel good

The stress of everything on top of too much Indian food made him sick. Aubreigh took care of him too, ha! Anyway, after probably an hour, I was pretty sure I felt the baby was close. Dr. Housel came in, Nathan was pulled up a chair next to me because he was still not feeling good so he could hold my hand.

Getting ready to become parents again

I liked that I could feel what was going on without the pain. Seriously the best. So the doctor said we were ready at a 10 (finally!), and with one push and two breaths later, out came baby Jackman Kyle easily at 2:55am.

Nathan got to cut the cord this time

Honestly, I think babies are kind of gross when they first come out, and I didn't want him right on me, especially my skin, until he was cleaned up. They did put on me while the cord was cut, but there was a sheet down so I didn't get the gross stuff on me, and then they cleaned him right up, wrapped him up like a baby burrito, and brought him so I could see and hold him.

Getting all cleaned up

Wrapped up like a burrito
First family photo

Dr.Housel, Nathan, Kendra and Jackman

Ogden Regional Medical Center was a great place to have Jack. It wasn't too far away, it wasn't busy, my nurse Emmalee was the best ever, the lactation consultants were actually helpful this time around, and the rooms are huge! And you stay in the same room you have the baby in so there isn't the whole switching rooms and moving to postpartum. I also was already in love with my baby, and recovery has been easier than last time. Overall, a fantastic experience.

Moments old
Welcome to the World Little One!

Carver's Cove Petting Zoo

2011-08-30T22:52:00.001-06:00

Some friends up in Mountain Green, Holly Wood and her kiddos Trevor and Lucy, and James, Jack and I set off on an adventure to find this Carver's Cove Petting Zoo I had heard about.

It is in Eden, just over Trapper's Loop by the Pineview Reservoir. It was the first time I took James and Jack somewhere by myself, and it was a success! Jackman slept most of the time, and had a bottle, and James loved the animals, and was so good for me! He learned how to hold out his hand flat to feed the goats, donkeys, ponies, and sheep. Then James got to have a ride on a horse, and he didn't even need me to hold on to him, he did it all by himself. Wow! It was good to get out of the house and fun with my little boys. Thank you Holly for going with me!

James feeding goats, check out that flat hand he's holding for the goat!

James riding the horse...all by himself too!

Checking out the Moo Cows

Riding on a tractor!
Grammies gave James a "baby tractor" just like this one, and James was in Heaven

James feeding the baby goat

Blessing Weekend

2011-08-29T11:06:00.005-06:00

A month to the day we decided to bless Jackman. We also decided to do it up in Franklin, and we got to do it the same time as Robert and Kortney blessed Emma (okay, so that was totally planned, but pretty neat right?). Now those cousins can always say that they were blessed together! Mom Grazulis came out with my Grandma Kitty from Colorado. It was so wonderful to have them both come. We had a great time up on the farm on Saturday night, because I knew that there was no way we'd make it in time in the morning. Kirstin came as well on Saturday night. Mike, Ann, Kira, and Tanner came on Sunday, too. And that was just on my side! Karissa and Cory and Jason and Nicole made it as well as Mom and Dad Manwaring. It was so neat to have so much family around for the blessing. Grandpa and Grandma Haworth were there, but had to leave right after the blessing to go to William Kezele's mission report in Twin Falls. It was so hospitable of them to open their home for us and to let us stay even when they had to leave! The Porters were also there since we did the blessing in Doug and Debbie's ward, and all of their kids were their since it was their family's reunion that weekend. It was great seeing all of them too. And it made me laugh when some one said that our family tree is growing, and Karissa said our tree is more like a family reef. Haha.

After church we had a turkey dinner, and it was great. Mom Manwaring even remembered that I like the store bought cranberry sauce, the kind from the can with the ridges around it. I know, I'm weird, but we had it. We all got to explore the farm, see the barns with cows, and...owls? Yep, there are two great horned owls that make their home in Grandpa's barn. I was really glad that I got to take Nicole, then my Grandma Kitty, then my Mom and James on a ride around and show them the farm. It was a beautiful day. We are thankful for everyone that could make it, and missed everyone who couldn't. Love to all of our family and friends!!

Now a family of four

Double Blessing!!

Jack, James, Ryan, Kaylee, Emma

Immediate family that was there

Cute Manwaring cousins

James and Jackman

Cousins Tanner with James and Kira with Jack

Kutterer Clan :)

Grandma Kitty with Jackman

Grammies, James, and Mommy explore the farm

Found these guys in the barn

Taking Grams on her first four-wheel ride

James with Grandma, Mommy with Jack, Daddy and Papa

Good looking family!

Four Generations!!

Jackman's Newborn Pictures

2011-08-26T15:59:00.008-06:00

Aubreigh Parks can seriously do it all. Not only did she help me through labor (again), but she can also take some pretty amazing pictures as well. Check out my favorites from Jackman's newborn photo shoot. There were sooo many to choose from that I loved that I had to condense them or there would be a million and one pictures to scroll through.
So enjoy family, I know that I could just stare at this cute little guy all day.
Oh wait, I do:)
Thank you again Aubreigh!

In a box

Brothers
(and James pointing out Jackman's different body parts)

Precious moments outside with daddy and mommy

Look what the stork brought...

Mommy and Jackman

Daddy and Jack

Our new baby

King James

2011-08-12T15:50:00.004-06:00

At the Morgan County fair they have a cutest baby contest.

I entered both boys since there were different age group categories.

Jackman was cute, and was the smallest and youngest, but couldn't talk much to the judges.
Tiny little Jackman

James however took the cake!

He had to talk to the judges, and of course starting getting shy/being a pill when it was his turn.

Lucky for us Grandma saw the situation and ran in, picked him up, and got him to tell the judges about the sounds that not only all sorts of animals make, but vehicles too (with tractors in there of course). His most unusual sound is what a helicopter makes. He does a really good job of making that sound! I think that won the judges over (and because seriously he is so cute).
They announced the winners later that day.
Nathan took him back up on stage where they named him "sound man" and cutest baby boy and "King" of the 18-24 month olds!

Yes, King James is the cutest:)
He won free pictures with Embrace Photography and a farm see-and-say toy.

This was the only picture I got though of him at the contest:
Thank you to Grandma who saved the day and contest,
or this is what the judges would have remembered!

First Scary Thing with Jackman

2011-08-11T22:44:00.007-06:00

Warning, this story gets a little gross...so read at your own discretion.

If this had to happen then I'm glad that it did when my mom was here so she could watch James while we took Jack to the doctor.
Exactly when he was a week old, Jack's eye started to get goopy, like he had an infection. We are lucky that our pediatrician's office has a 24 hour office in Layton, so we got in that evening (why is it that things always happen to kids after doctors offices are closed?). The doctor we saw said it was either an infection or a blocked tear duct and prescribed erythromycin gel for his eye. It would be better the next day if it was an infection.

Well...it was worse, way worse, so bad that I had tried to open his eye after using a warm wet wash cloth because it was sealed shut with goop and so much goop came out when I was opening it that I thought I had popped his eyeball.
I then called Nathan crying.
It also swelled up so he couldn't open it.
I thought he could be having an allergic reaction to the erythromycin (which it turns out my mom is allergic to also).
This picture does justice to the redness, but not the swelling.

So after one day of that medicine I was ready to take him back in. I called the doctors on Friday and they said (after having to wait to actually get a doctor to call me back mind you instead of an MA calling me back) if we felt comfortable to keep giving him the erythromycin because it is a new medicine and his body isn't used to it and it still could work, or to stop giving it to him and see what happens...

Um...are you kidding me? Yes I'm stopping, I think he's having an allergic reaction to the stuff!!

We stopped, and the swelling went down, it wasn't gooping so much that I thought his eyeball was popping, but it was still gunky so that it would seal shut when he would sleep and we'd have to use a warm compress to be able to open it again.

We also had some tobramycin drops that we had left from when James had pink eye a few months ago. However, we didn't know if we should try them. After lots of internet research we concluded that one drop wouldn't hurt, and gave it a shot on Friday evening.
That did help, but it was still a little gunky.
I concluded that we were going to need a prescription of the drops if we were ever going to get anywhere to helping his eye heal.

Thus back to the doctors on Monday morning to see our real pediatrician to see what was up and how to fix his poor eye (which by now we had to postpone newborn pictures because he looked horrible and we didn't know if it was pink eye and didn't want to infect others).

Long story short (too late!) our doc did prescribe tobramycin.
And he showed me some massages to help the little tear duct become unclogged.
And...both have worked!

A day after starting tobramycin drops

Mommy and Jackman (a newborn shot preview)
two days after starting the tobramycin and massages

James shared his monkeys with baby Jack, and his eye is all better!

What we learned:

1)It was a clogged tear duct, and could come back during this first year, but now we have a prescription with a few refills to help us out, and we know how to massage by his eye to help it.

2)Jackman is allergic to erythromycin

3)Listen to {mother's intuition/a little knowledge from nursing/common sense} when you think that your kid is having an allergic reaction!

Grandparents Galore!

2011-08-08T16:34:00.005-06:00

Oh boy...

...mommy and daddy brought home a baby brother for me...I don't think they know what they are doing...we might need some help...

(Jackman's response)
...aaaahhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!

****

Bring in the grandparents for backup!

We have been so super spoiled these last two weeks since Jackman was born with help and visits from all of our parents! Jack came on Thursday in the wee hours of the morning, and on Sunday evening my wonderful mom Julie came out for a whole week to help! Boy did I need it. Trying to figure out the brand new baby thing, and feeding him, AND making sure James still felt loved and cared for needed a whole extra set of hands. See...

Before Grammies came on top, Jack looks apprehensive and James likes Jack's swing!
Afterwards with Grammies here on bottom, sleeping angel and fun at the splash pad and slides

Grammies found this awesome train set for James, and he LoVeS it!!

We also visited Kirstin in Provo, and Tanner came with us!
Traveling that far with two little ones was only possible because my mom came too.

I seriously could not have made it through the first week without my mom's help. Serious. I am so grateful that she came out and spent time with us. James loves his Grammies, and now so does Jackman. And I love her so much too!!!! A HUGE thank you mom!!!!

My mom left on Friday evening, and on Saturday evening Nathan's mom Kathy came to spend a week too! Nathan's dad Alan was able to be here for a day also to see Jackman while he is still very tiny. He was able to go to be here Saturday evening, go to church with us on Sunday, and then had to go back to Gilbert, AZ. James played with his bat and ball for a long time with his Grandpa while he could though.

Grandpa and the boys

Grandma at the fair with James looking at the livestock exhibits, riding a blue tractor, and Grandma holding Jackman

I truly am blessed with two moms. I don't consider Kathy my mother-in-law, just another mom. People get two grandma's and don't think anything of it, well I get two moms, and it has been a huge blessing. It was great and a huge help.
We were able to go to the Morgan County Fair while she was here, also had to go to Provo again (I see my chiropractor there), and had good times talking and cooking (though I was more napping while she was cooking:) gotta love that!).

Then she left on Friday evening and my dad John came on Saturday evening.
While here the cocoons he had given us of Polyphemus moths hatched so we let them go.

We also went to the rodeo on Saturday evening. James was going bonkers watching the barrel racers, mutton busters, ropers, and bull riders. Kirstin came up too :)
Having fun at the Morgan County Rodeo

With all this help, I am not feeling as tired as I did when James was first born.
Maybe I know what to expect so it isn't as shocking, or
maybe it's because I am taking everyone up on their offers to help.
Or maybe a combo of both.

Thank you to all of our parents for their help with James and for wanting to see the newest member of the family.

First Week of Jack in Photos...

2011-07-31T13:28:00.007-06:00

Here are just a few pictures from Jackman's first week of life.

Mommy and Jackman, one day old

This is what he mostly does...sleep and look adorable

Coming home from the hospital

Cutie petutie

A little angel

Welcome to the world little one!
Weight: 5lbs 7.5oz
Length: 19in
Head: 33cm
Little, but that is how I like them :)
We are head-over-heels in love with this sweet baby.

Happy {Birth}day to my Boys!!

2011-07-21T20:43:00.004-06:00

James Robert 7-21-09 and Jackman Kyle 7-21-11
How did we plan that?
Happy Birthday Boys!!

James' Birthday Party!

2011-07-20T16:37:00.010-06:00

I can't believe that my baby James is almost 2 years old!! We decided to have his birthday party a little early last Saturday. Aubreigh, Matt, and Quinn came up on Friday night, and Aubreigh and I had a girls night for my "baby shower". It was nice to have a night without the kiddos.
We went shopping and then out to eat at Texas Roadhouse.

I had a lot of fun fo sure:)

***
The next day we played at the house, and had a BBQ with the Parks and Kutterers.

James and Quinn, these two are friends having fun

Boys and their Mommies

Present from Mommy and Daddy!
When we brought it out his look was just "ohhh", and of course I missed it on camera.
He now asks to go for a "ride" all the time

"Cheese"
Loving the corn on the cob

Food!!
Check out those cow cupcakes...MOOOO!!

Cake!!

Tractor!! One of the best gifts of the night from the Parks!

Cars!!! He picks these cars up from the Kutterers with the big yellow tractor.

Sisters Kendra and Ann

Happy Birthday Jamers!! We love you more than anything!

Evolution of a Belly

2011-07-19T16:48:00.015-06:00

I guess this time around I felt like I was getting bigger, faster, (well, I was) and didn't really want to document that in pictures. However, I've leveled out, and I'm about the same as I was with James. I'm also now past 37 weeks, so this baby can now make an appearance whenever, I'm hopping sooner rather than later though.

Jan 22, 2011
12.3 weeks
Running a half marathon!

April 1,2011
22.2 weeks
Nathan's mission reunion

April 12, 2011
23.5 weeks
At the Littleton Historical Farm

April 19, 2011
24.6 weeks
At home

May 8th, 2011
27.3 weeks
Mother's Day!

May 13th, 2011
28.1 weeks
Manwaring reunion in Las Vegas

May 23rd, 2011
29.4 weeks
At home

June 6th, 2011
31.4 weeks
At home

June 16th, 2011
33.0 weeks
Hiking Y Mountain

July 1st, 2011
35.1 weeks
South Ogden Splash Pad

July 11th, 2011
36.4 weeks
At home

July 16th, 2011
37.2 weeks
James' Birthday Party

Any guesses as to when he'll come? Hurry and leave a guess! Could be tomorrow!

2011-07-14T01:52:00.002-06:00

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July Fun on the Farm

2011-07-12T00:00:00.002-06:00

We haven't stayed with Mike and Misty Porter in what feels like forever, and we always have a great time when we do, so we decided to visit while we had a free-er weekend. What is great about living only 1.5 hours from the farm is that we can still visit the whole day on Saturday and go home to be able to go to church on Sunday.

So what did we do? We helped them do some yard work in the day. It was lots of fun getting to visit while our hands were busy helping. And just look at these two on the riding lawn mower:

Daddy and James were both so happy to help mow because they got to use the awesome mower!

Tate, Taylee, and James decided the pond in the fountain needed a few more rocks in it while the adults weeded the garden and flower beds.
***
After the {work} comes playtime, and with the yard work done, we all could play!
We were getting ready to take a four-wheeler ride when it started to rain, so all of us clambered into their Jeep and took that instead.
We took their Jeep Wrangler up places that you only see in commercials.
It was so awesome.
We took it up a mountain right under where there is an eagle's nest on the side of a mountain on the farm, through the river bottoms, up some crazy hills.
I'm glad that we all rode together.
That is the next kind of car that Nathan wants to get when he is done with the U.
James, Mommy, and Daddy at the top, it was pretty windy, and the view was incredible

Then James got to do something that I knew he'd love:
James got to pet the baby cows at the farm!!
I knew he'd love it, so on the Jeep ride Mike pulled over and took James out to see these adorable little guys.
***
Thank you Mike and Misty for such a great time, one of our best visits ever!!

HaPpY 4tH oF JuLy!!!!

2011-07-06T00:15:00.006-06:00

I think that Independence Day is one of my favorites, and now that James understands fireworks a bit more, it is getting even better. Saturday we walked over to Jeremy and Nicole's and enjoyed a big BBQ that they hosted. They invited co-workers, neighbors, and some of their family too. A nice mix of people came.
James really took to Nathan's co-worker from India, Ankit. He wanted Ankit to hold him through all the fireworks.
Then that night we set off fireworks. We had some we had just gotten while driving through Wyoming. The laws have changed in Utah, and now aerial fireworks up to 150' are allowed. Even the fire marshal drove by, and we had our neighbor who's a fireman here. We had some great fireworks!

Some of our fireworks, James with Ankit, and some of the spectators

On the July 4th we went to the Morgan parade and fair. The parade was like Halloween, so much candy was thrown. James enjoyed all the games for kids at the fair. And for only $3 you got a punch pass and could do all the little games.
$3 for a fair, can't beat that!

After naps that afternoon, which James slept for four hours, and I still had to wake him up (obviously we are bad parents and had been keeping him up late a few nights in a row to either see or do fireworks), we went to the Clearfield fireworks show (where we again kept James up late, but we got smarter and brought his pj's and had him ready for bed as soon as we started to drive back home). The Kutterer's had saved great seats so we were pretty close I thought.
I thought of the 4th of July in 1776, and the months after, and how scary it must have been to be on the home front during a war, especially against a professional army.
I thought of my own grandparents who fought in wars, and how brave their actions were.
Then I thought of our military forces today who still fight for our freedoms.
I am grateful for those long ago, and for those who are still fighting.

Fun Cousin Times

2011-07-05T23:46:00.007-06:00

Kira and Tanner came up again (together this time), and had stayed overnight. James loves his cousins. Now when I say we'll be seeing them that day, if the door opens for anything, he thinks they are here and runs and yells their names. It melts my heart.
Anyway, we decided to sleep in a tent that night because they've never been camping with their family! And Kira had never set up a tent! We had to remedy that. Nathan ended up having to work a lot that night, so I helped them set it up in our neighbors yard since our sod is still in the don't-walk-on phase, and then slept with them until about 3:00 am, when I had slept wrong on my arm and I needed to go to the bathroom. It didn't help that our other neighbor's sprinklers woke us up, and I was so thankful that I had put on the rain guard. At least none of us got wet! Nathan took the second shift sleeping in the tent until morning. We opted to get some sleep so James slept in his own bed that night.

Tanner, James and Kira in the morning with the tent.
And James was not liking having his picture taken, he just wanted to play with his truck and tractor. Poor kid needed to catch up on some sleep!
****

The next day was hot (at least for Utah), so I decided to take all the kids to a FREE splash pad that I just found out about in South Ogden. It happens to be right next to our gym, and it's awesome! We took a picnic lunch and enjoyed the water and the playground. James was a little apprehensive going into the water, but we got him to like it. His favorite was the slide though on the playground.

Splash Pad fun.

Thanks Kira and Tanner for staying the night with us! We love you guys :)

Last trip to CO before baby #2...

2011-07-05T00:58:00.003-06:00

The day after we laid sod we took a last trip out to Colorado to visit family before the new baby. Our GAC (Great-Aunt Carol) came from Texas, and we decided a few months ago that since we couldn't go to Vail this year (I'll probably be in labor during that time), that we'd meet in CO then for a visit in June. We had such a great time. We had good times playing at the retirement community Lincoln Meadows where my Grams lives now. James also came up with a new nickname for my dad, and he is now known as Boompa to James. He really loves grandpas!

Clockwise from Top Left: James and GAC enjoying pudding, playing with the pool balls with Boompa and learning colors, icecream from Grammies, lifting weights with Daddy, GAC and Grams, James in a train, new Four Generation Picture

We were able to see my parents horse, Cinnamon. James loves horses right now too, so when he got to sit up on her, his face just beamed.

James was so happy to be on top of Cinnamon, with his Boompa close at hand of course.

Another day we visited the museum called Wildlife Experience, and it has a mix of automated and stuffed animals in a museum type setting. Really neat. Turns out too that James was super afraid of the automated alligator. We had to reassure him that it wasn't real, but he did NOT want to be put down to walk near that thing, though I can't blame him. They had a neat "dig" interactive display where you could dig up bones from the past.

James and Boompa digging for bones

Finally there was an area that kids could dress up costumes of different animals and then play and do puzzles and such. I loved this place, too bad we don't live closer or I'd get a season pass. It was a great place to take an active and curious little boy.

Look at all those fun things at the Wildlife Experience museum!

Thank you so much to GAC for coming all the way from Texas, to Grams for letting us stay at Lincoln Meadows, and to my parents for taking time out to play and visit. We love you all and had a great time!

Evolution of a Yard

2011-07-05T00:05:00.006-06:00

We have been busy this month putting in our back and side yard! We hired a guy do the sprinklers, grating, and concrete curbing. Then we laid the sod. Wow. That was a lot harder than I thought, and I didn't even do much. I just cut pieces along the edging and rolled some out. I did try to lift one, and it was so heavy. I wish I could have done more to help.

Back and side yards before work began

Bringing in dirt and grading the yard. James LoVeS tractors, dump trucks, and such, so he was in heaven watching.

On one of the days the workers had gotten to a late start, so I told the guy Zach who was working on our yard that James had been waiting all day to watch the "tractor", or bobcat, move dirt. He said, "Well, if he's been waiting all day, why don't you take him for a ride in it?" It turns out I got drive the bobcat while James rode with me! It was lots of fun for both the mommy and the Jamers. We went around the block and picked up his buddy Cole, who is just a year older and they are the best of buds, and I took them both for a ride. Seriously heaven for these little boys.

After the yard has been graded, the concrete curbing has been added around the whole house, and now we are laying sod.

We were able to bribe a few of our neighbors with pizza and frozen treats to come and help us lay the sod. The yard ended up needing eight pallets of sod to lay! Holy cow! Our niece Kira also came up for a few days, and we put her to work. She was a great helper, and did a lot.

Mommy and James after helping to lay the sod, what a big job! Gotta love the dirt all over us too :)

Now the developers are putting in a side fence, so once that is done we'll be good to go.
And I'll add the complete "after" pictures.
Stay tuned!

It is now a tradition...

2011-07-03T17:08:00.004-06:00

...to hike Y mountain while pregnant.
I had my nephew Tanner stay with us two weeks ago for a few days. He is such a great kid, love him to pieces. I had to go to Provo anyway for my monthly chiropractic appointment (I swear by those, it has helped me so much, I'll probably never stop, anyway), so I talked to Kirstin, and we decided to hike the Y. I did this when I was pregnant with James too. Now it is a tradition, every time I'm pregnant, our unborn child will hike the Y, instilling in them cougar pride, or something like that. Thanks to Kirstin and Tanner who carried James in the new hiking backpack up. At the Y we had a picnic lunch, James liked all the "white rocks", then we started down. James did NOT want to go back into the backpack, but instead wanted to hold Tanner's hand the WHOLE WAY DOWN. I am not kidding. Our 22 month old hiked the whole way down the Y. We even passed another mom who was carrying her child in a hiking backpack. When she saw James she was astounded and asked how old he was. When I told her he was 22 months she said "What?!? Mine is 3 1/2 years old!?! He is doing awesome!!"
I think so too :)

Going Hiking

2011-07-03T00:25:00.003-06:00

During Memorial Day we found this great deal at a store in Logan called Al's Sporting Goods. It's a hiking backpack that James fits in. We were finally able to use it on a small two mile hike up the plateau by our house then down into the neighborhood. It is a winner, everyone loves it. We'll be using this thing a lot I think.
We also found a hawk feather up on top of the plateau, which James insisted on carrying back.

Nathan and James with his feather

Kendra and Lady

And those pictures are in our neighborhood, isn't it so gorgeous and green? Love it.

Boise Half Ironman 70.3

2011-06-19T23:40:00.006-06:00

Last weekend we went to Boise for the big Half Ironman race that Nathan has been training for months for. It was awesome that Tom also signed up for the race and that they did it together. Nathan originally got involved because a few people in our neighborhood said they were going to do it. There were supposed to be a lot of people who were going to do it, then Nathan was the first to sign up, then many decided not to. A total of 4 guys from Mountain Green did the race which was neat. Thursday night we drove partway up to Twin Falls and stayed with Jason and Nicole. The

Daddy, James, and Mommy at the falls

The Shoshone Falls, these were impressive especially with all the runoff!

Daddy and James checking out the huge waterfall

Thank you Jason and Nicole for taking us! Then we drove to Boise where we met Kristie and Tom in Boise after race check-in so that the boys could go drop off their bikes where they needed to be and the girls and babies could go back to Rick and Sherri's (the Tanner's are Kristie's parents, and Nathan's aunt and uncle) house a bit earlier.
Race day was then on Saturday! I think everyone was a little nervous, even those of us not competing!
The swim was at Lucky Peak Resivor, and was really cold, a whooping 53 degree water that day! Nathan said that any skin exposed like your hands, feet, and face, just hurt from the water being that cold. However, both Nathan and Tom did really well! We were able to track to see how long each leg of the race was, and how long transitions were via our iPhones and the Ironman website. I love technology (when it works of course).
We didn't get to see the swim as it was farther away, and harder with the two babies. Nathan's Aunt Sherri works at the Institute building on Boise State Campus, which ended up being really close to the bike-to-run transition area. We made that our home base, and on race day went downtown, had Lilah and James take naps at the Institute building while Sherri stayed and listened for them while Kristie and I went down to transition to watch the boys come in.
Nathan coming in on the bike.
Check out those awesome wheels that Shawn let him borrow for the race.
That combined with the new handlebar tape made his bike look *swa-eet*

After they came in on the bike, we went back and got the babies up from their naps, then walked back to the finish line. I loved being able to watch Nathan come in. The race atmosphere there is incredible, the crowds all cheering for everyone. Wow, it was great, and I felt pumped up and I wasn't even racing!

Nathan almost to the finish line!

Tom almost done!

Nathan with Mountain Green friends Cade and Shawn, who also completed the race

Daddy, Mommy, and James post race
Way to go Nathan!!!

Post-race Tom with Lilah and Kristie
Way to go Tom!!!

I like these next two shots though, because it shows how the boys really felt after the race...

Each not feeling too hot in their own ways.
Back at the Tanner's house Nathan kept eating everything in sight while Tom crashed on the couch.

***
I'm so proud of Nathan for not just completing the race, but doing great too.
And for all the training that went into the race.
I'm not sure if they'd do it again, but I can't wait to get out there and work on my running after the baby is born, that race got me pumped!
Big Thank you to the Tanner's also for letting us stay with you that weekend!

First Scrape

2011-06-19T23:07:00.004-06:00

Poor little James, this is his first scrape really, and it happens to be on his nose :( He tripped in the driveway, and we thought it was just his forehead that had a goose-egg bump until the next day when we saw his poor nose.
And if you look closely, his bottom lip is fat and black and blue too.

James pointing to the "owie" on his nose

Forehead with a bruise, nose with a scrape, lip swollen and black and blue.

What was a little funny was the next day at story time at the library, three other kids had this EXACT same sort of scrape, I guess it is a common thing for kids this age to do.
That made me feel better and that this sort of thing happens a lot.
It is part of growing up.
Which also makes me sad that he is growing up, but this a fun stage so we shall enjoy it.

Salem SpRiNg Triathlon

2011-06-06T00:48:00.004-06:00

Nathan decided on a whim to do a triathlon this weekend in Salem, UT. It's the Salem Spring Tri, and he's done it before, likes the course, and it was a good workout in preparation for the Boise Half Ironman next weekend. Tom decided to do it to, so Friday night we drove to Provo to crash at the McConnon's place so the two boys could go to Salem in the morning. Kristie and I then went a little later with the babies to show our support. It was a sprint triathlon, which is 750m swim, 13.1 mile bike, and a 5k run. Kristie and I witnessed a pretty bad crash while watching the bike portion. I was a bit scared for our boys because there were spectators that didn't get the concept of staying off the course. The boys did great though, and all their training is paying off. I was really proud of how Nathan finished too, check it out:

Nathan won his age division! The picture is a little inacurate and the second place guy was actually in another age group, so he beat the next guy by six minutes. That is pretty good. He even got a trophy with a "spring" on it. He loves that thing, and said he has never gotten a trophy for an athletic event, ever. Nathan has said he wanted to win a race sometime in his life, but thought that he'd have to go to some really remote race. He didn't, and we are so proud of his hard work! Way to go honey!

Jamers and Daddy after his race

Tom and Nathan after the race.
They aren't dying, and feel pretty good. A good sign for next the half.

Finishing the run strong

On top of the podium with his trophy

Daddy the awesome triathlete, Mommy and James holding the spring trophy

Thank you McConnons for letting is stay with you, and for being fun friends. And for the yummy cauliflower mac-and-cheese. Not going to lie that I was very skeptical, but now I need the recipe! See you next week!

Memorial Day Weekend

2011-05-31T23:37:00.002-06:00

First of all, are you kidding me?!?

Snow on Sunday, May 29th, 2011
The weather is so weird this year, cooler, and WET!

Waking up to snow was not a pleasant surprise. And that didn't help the flood warnings around here or in Northern Utah as well. And we had mowed our yard and trimmed the bushes on Saturday! Anyway, moving on to the rest of the weekend...

We actually spoke in church on Sunday on the talk given by Elder Eyring Opportunities to Do Good. The Lord does bless those who are served and who do serve, and there have been tons of opportunities lately to serve our fellow man. I learned more of course by preparing, and it was good to be home for part of the weekend. Sunday after church we drove up to Franklin to spend some quality time on the farm. It was a memorable visit, and we spent the time with Grandpa and Grandma Haworth. There were some old family photos that I started looking at that Grandpa's sister Alice had brought over. Grandma were telling me stories and a who's who from the pictures. I needed paper to write down a quick line, but now I understand! I have a talent for family history, and a desire to know about ancestors. I can clearly see now where James gets his name, stories about him and the old farm, Grandpa's grandpa, and so on. Check this out:

James Haworth---Harriett
Tom Haworth---Blenda
Horace Haworth---Ruby
Robert (Bob) Haworth---Henriette
Kathy Haworth---Alan Manwaring
Nathan Manwaring---Kendra
James
So James is seven generations from the founder of the farm, James Haworth, and three generations from Grandpa Haworth where he gets his middle name. Grandpa and Grandma took us then on Monday to the cemetery to see the Haworth plot. After looking at all the pictures the night before, and understanding the line, it meant so much more to us. These were now real people with faces and stories that we could match to the headstones. We've known many of the stories already, but this trip really meant something concerning our ancestors.

Daddy showing James his great-great-great-great grandpa's James Haworth's headstone
The other thing that James LOVED were the cows! He really likes farm animals at the moment. On Sunday when we were putting him to bed I said that we could see the cows in the morning with Grandpa in the barn since we didn't see them on Sunday. He woke up really early the next morning, crying to go outside and see cows! And he kept mooing, then crying cows.
He didn't care at all that it was cold or anything, he just wanted to see them.
So Nathan took him out on the four wheeler to the barn, through the muck, for maybe an hour to see the cows. As soon as they walked back in the door, James cried for the cows again.
What a cute and silly little boy.
So we went out again.

Going out to the barn on the four wheeler

Grandpa feeding with James and Mommy looking at the cows

James eyein' the cows while Mommy smiles for the camera

Grandpa and Grandma were as always great hosts, and we really loved seeing them. Thank you for the legacy to live up to, and for sharing stories and pictures with us!

A Quick Trip to Colorado

2011-05-31T23:36:00.002-06:00

Monday May 23rd I left with James to make a quick trip to Colorado. It was to pick up an awesome Little Tikes slide and sandbox that I had when I was little, and to see the family before the new baby is born. It was also going to be an intense training week for Nathan so he wouldn't be around at all, and James is a really good traveler right now, so why not right? And if something should happen and we cannot go to Colorado at the end of June, I wanted to go again while I just still had only James.
The time was spent seeing my Mom and Dad, Russell and Mina Colman, Grams, and Uncle Kyle and Aunt Carol.

We got to go over and spend time with Kyle and Carol one night and watched the finale to The Biggest Loser which was very interesting. I've never watched that show, but the finale was great to see the before and afters.

Grandpa Colman and James and Mom

Grandpa and James

Seeing Cinnamon, our really old horsey

Sitting up on Cinnamon while she enjoyed her dinner

I love this picture, James and Uncle Kyle

James and his Grammies playing at the school

Though it was quick, it was fun to see everyone. Thank you bunches!

Manwaring Family Reunion

2011-05-28T16:35:00.002-06:00

Okay, finally getting to this post! Warning, this is a long one.

May 11-16 we were able to go to the Manwaring Family Reunion in Las Vegas. It was so much fun getting everyone all together. The first day we went to a splash pad. Even Vegas was cooler than normal, so getting wet the kiddos would get cold. We warmed up by playing frisbee and That night we played volleyball all together. That had a funny story. Poor Richard was hit right in the gut with the volleyball, and got the wind knocked out of him. What was funny was when Mom was asking if he was going to throw up, Dad "clicked" the camera. Everyone was laughing. The very next serve Nathan accidentally pegged Richard in the back of the head, and all the girls hit the ground in hysterics, everyone was really laughing (except Richard, I am still so sorry that this was at your expense), and I did end up peeing my pants because a) I laughed so hard and b) the baby is sitting on my bladder, what could I do?

My cute wet boys

Robert and Ryan saying cheese

Jamers all wrapped up to get warm with Daddy and Mommy

Karissa and Mom

Richard making a funny face

The second day we all went to see the lions being fed at the MGM grand. Turns out we had the wrong time for the feeding, but I still liked going to see them. Then we went to M&M world to see this movie. The movie was alright, it was only about 10 minutes, and this girl threw up on my leg while we were in line! Good thing that I was at the end of our family, if she had been in the middle of the family, or if I had been wearing something else besides flipflops and shorts, I probably would have had to leave due to the grossness of it all. Luckily I was able to wash it off and go on with our time. And really, what can you do besides just laugh. We also played games and had the MGM (Manwaring Garr Martin) talent show. We had some great talents and laughs too. Games included pool, card games like low life scum and Texas Holdem', playing in the dirt and with balls, playing games on the iPad, I played chase outside with the kids on the putting green, and of course "Barbies". Nathan brought bikes and was able to do a few bike rides (one with Jenn!) and runs too.

Walking on the strip with everyone

Elisa on Cory, James on Kendra, and Lydia on Richard waiting to see the lions be fed.

James and Mommy at the lion exhibit

Grandpa and Grandma with all the grandkids with Red the M&M. The sun was in everyone's eyes so not one kid wanted to look at the camera. This picture is just too cute and real.

Nicole got a bullseye on her first dart throw! Way to go!

Nathan being an awesome uncle and playing barbies with the girls

Everyone playing low life scum

Cory being an awesome uncle to play rough with Kaylee, Ryan, and James jumping all over him.

Texas Holdem'. I stayed in for a long time, almost the end. The last three were myself, Nicole, and Cory. Nicole ended up winning, and Nathan was a great dealer.

James and Daddy playing pool

Cousins all digging in the sand

Playing chase, Nathan was base
James, Nathan, Kaylee, Kayla, and Elisa

We also got to learn about the family more, where the Manwaring family names comes from, and we all got reunion T-shirts. "Foremost if I can" is the family saying from the history.
All the food was fantastic, with a huge thanks to Mom and Dad for doing all of that. I liked that there was a plan, and then each smaller family took a meal to get ready and then a clean up time. That made things run smoothly.
On Sunday we all went to Cory and Karissa's ward. Monday it was time to go home, and it was the day the pool was finally fixed! We were able to stay a little longer because the pool heater had been broken the whole time and all the kids went swimming.

Matching T-Shirt picture with the family crest on the front and our names on the back

All the cousins waiting to take turns using the iPad

Ryan and James with "floaties" on their arms

James warming in the sun with Daddy

A big shout out to Mom and Dad Manwaring. Thank you so very much for wanting to do a trip, and to each and everyone who came and sacrificed their time to be able to be together.
Loves to all and hopefully we'll see many of you again soon!

Happy :) and Sad :(

2011-05-10T14:42:00.000-06:00

For Family Home Evening a few weeks ago we were teaching James about being happy and sad.
We taught him that smiling is for happy, and frowning is for being sad.

Well, now he loves to make the frowning face after his bath in the mirror. Then we tell him happy, and he'll laugh and smile, then go back to frowning.

Frowning faces with Daddy

What a funny little kid :)

5 Years!!

2011-05-10T00:12:00.000-06:00

Holy Moly. It has been 5 whole years since Nathan and I were sealed in the Denver Temple for time and all eternity on May 6th, 2006! I can't believe it. The time has flown by, and at other times I can't remember my life before him. It might sound cliche, but I truly did marry my best friend.

May 6, 2006

On May 6th, 2011 I awoke to this great note on my bedroom door.

If you've seen the movie Despicable Me, it is a quote from that. And then I found this on our kitchen table.

He really is so fluffy!! James liked it too, and when he woke up and saw it he talked to it, pointed a lot, and then started growling. Hahahaha! He was right, it is a bear!

This year we had our niece Kira watch James, and even put him to bed for us so that we could have a long date. That worked out well, and we got to go to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner. The wait though was about an hour for two people, we ordered take out instead. So we took the food and ate it by the movie theater.

We saw Fast Five, yes we are dorks. Vin Diesel and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson were both in it, and both are favorite actors of ours. They aren't the best actors, we just like them. At one part at the end Nathan just started laughing, I asked why, and he said "this is such a dude kind of movie". A lot of action scenes that defeat the laws of physics, and it's a fast car movie with a heist in it. I really like those kind, and actually I chose it. Anyway, it was fun. Thank you Nathan for the best five years of my life so far. Here's to many more!

It's been 5 years since we were we :)

A "Friend"-ly Visit

2011-05-09T22:25:00.000-06:00

Our good, good friends Matt and Aubriegh Parks came to visit last weekend. We talked a lot, played a lot, and grilled steaks. Our little boys are having more and more fun together the bigger they get. Though we don't get to see them as often as when we lived in Provo, we are still just as close. Thanks for coming guys, love ya!!

Quinn pushing James, I think they both liked this arrangement

Bathtime buddies :)

Ken and Aub

Easter Weekend!!!

2011-05-03T23:59:00.000-06:00

Jenn singing

Easter weekend was also BYU graduation weekend, and it was packed full. On Friday Nathan, James, and I went to Provo to support Cory, Jenn, and Bryan as they graduated from BYU. Jenn did a fantastic job by the way singing during commencement, that was the highlight. We enjoyed a lovely celebratory dinner at the Cheesecake Factory after the ceremony thanks to Mom and Dad Manwaring. You really can't order anything that isn't delish from that place. Friday night we spent the night with Grandma Hiller and enjoyed watching basketball and talking with her.


Karissa, Jenn, and Nathan, all BYU Grads!

Saturday we went back down to Provo, where Kristie and I hung out with the kids while Tom and Nathan went out on a bike ride to continue training for their half-ironman in June. It was rainy and cold, but we still had an egg hunt for Lilah and James in their living room with hard boiled dyed eggs. Once James got the hang of what was happening, he really enjoyed finding those eggs. Lilah was content for awhile with her brightly dyed pink egg.
After our egg hunt with the McConnons, we had a dinner with Cory's family and the new BYU grads and Mom and Dad Manwaring. Though it was a quick trip, it was fun to visit and make memories, and just be together as a family!


James searching for the eggs

Easter morning we attended church, and helped with a special musical number in sacrament. The ward "choir" wasn't very big, and we were reduced to a musical number, but we did it! After church we had dinner with my older sister's family the Kutterer's in Clearfield. James' only cousins on my side are older than him, and Tanner (almost 12) loved making a little candy egg hunt for him.
Even with the big age gap, they have a very special bond.

James with his arm around Tanner

Piggy back rides

James and Daddy reading a new bunny book

We enjoyed trying to teach James about Jesus on Easter, and we know that it is a very important responsibility we have to teach him about our savior. I think he is getting it, and he even said his first prayer that week!

Daddy, James, and Mommy on Easter

Jenn and Bryan came and visited us the day after Easter before they left Utah for AZ. We had a good time talking and then finding a yummy new Thai place for dinner.

It was so nice of them to make the trip up here, we love it when family visits! (so there is an open invitation 24/7 to anyone who wants to stop by)

James learned to hit his Uncle Bryan in the head with the ball, he loves you Bryan!

Now wasn't that a packed few days?!

Dying Eggs

2011-05-03T23:25:00.000-06:00

Getting ready for Easter! We dyed a dozen eggs in preparation for the Easter bunny to hide. I don't know what sort of dye I used, just the kit kind from Macey's Grocery, but I have never had eggs turn out so bright. Dyed eggs are also a new thing for Nathan, while candy filled eggs are new for me. I like how we are mixing the "traditions of our fathers" for different holidays.

James and Daddy first dyed an egg....and then tried it to make sure it tasted good!

The end result

What are some traditions in your families for Easter?

Weber River Flooding

2011-04-26T16:37:00.000-06:00

So I guess it is not like the floods back in '83 (that is what everyone is comparing it too), but there has been some flooding going on around here. First, it is the winter that wouldn't end. We even got a little bit of snow today. It also rains more days than not out of the week. This is all good for the drought that Utah was in, but now reservoirs are at capacity, rivers are at 100% flood capacity, the mountains are packed with snow still, and the ground is just soaked through. If it warms up now quickly, though we would like it, the snow pack would melt, and it would create even worse problems. We took a drive with our neighbor for family night to check out the flooding river. Holy cow!

Um, that barn is not supposed to be surrounded by water.

James loved looking at the river and pointing and talking too

James' First time on a Horse

2011-04-26T16:22:00.000-06:00

Second day in Colorado James got to ride our horse, Cinnamon. This time of year when it is getting warmer (though it doesn't seem to be, really) animals loose their winter coats. Cinnamon has always had a good winter coat, this year seemed to be exceptional. By the time James was done riding her, he was covered, head to toe, in her hair. It was actually a good thing that Nathan wasn't there, he's allergic to horses :(

Helping with the hair, and eating Cinnamon's carrot

James loves horses. He loves all the little horses he has at home, tries to ride them now too. He also knows what a "horsey" says, an adorable little "neigh".

Someday though we'll have a horse of our own, and it will be my responsibility to take care of it. There was also a tractor where my parents board their horse, so we took some cute pictures too.

Gramies and James on the tractor

A very loved little James :)

Colorado Day 1

2011-04-15T15:39:00.000-06:00

This last weekend James and I, along with my kid sister, Kirstin (who was an angel and so much help with James), went to Colorado. The purpose was to deliver some items to an aunt, and we ended up having so much fun that I didn't even care we had to drive out to Colorado! Saturday Kirstin, Mom, James and I went to the Littleton Historical Museum. It is a living and working farm, that still does most things like they did in the 1860's. We used to go there a lot as little kids, but I think now they have additional funding or something, because there were lots of animals now, the blacksmith was working, and there were period people working on the farm.

James in the old barn

Seeing the cow Millie

They were moving sheep and lambs to a paddock while we were there. Most of the lambs were no more than two weeks old! James absolutely loved it.

Petting a sheep

Kirstin with a two week old lamb

Moving stubborn sheep 1860's style

It was so windy that day. There was a field that was open and had old farm equipment in it. It was just a picturesque place, so out came the camera and we tried to get some fun shots.

James

Love this one

James checking out this old plow

My mom, so pretty, and see the wind!

Kirstin striking a pose

Gramies, Mommy, and a not-so-happy James
We had ducked into the old schoolhouse when the wind was really getting bad. James obviously didn't want to stay inside, but the wind was so bad outside, dust was blowing everywhere, we had to stay for a little bit. He was not happy about that, he wanted to be in the wind!

Cute James

2011-04-12T15:13:00.000-06:00

James is a cutie at the park! We went as a family to the park right by our house in between conference sessions on Saturday. Did I mention that I am in love with his hat? And best part is...he loves to wear it too!

Daddy and James with his sword/stick

Walking next to the pond with mommy

Throwing sticks and rocks into the little stream

Spinning with Daddy at the park

"I love this thing!"
James will have to have his Daddy spin with him, Mommy gets sick!

On Sunday we went to Grandma Hiller's in Salt Lake for the morning session. In between the morning and afternoon James and Daddy built a GiAnT snowball in her backyard with the 5.5" inches of fresh, really wet, and heavy snow that fell.
Daddy and James in Grandma Hiller's backyard playing in the snow

James on the snowball, he loved sliding down it

Hmm, snow is pretty good

Cutie-petutie Jamers holding a snow-ball

Mission Reunion

2011-04-12T15:02:00.001-06:00

The night before General Conference are usually mission reunions. Nathan served in the Melborne West Australia Mission from 2003-2005, Mandarin speaking. This year we went and it was at President and Sister Curtis's home in Murray. I love that the only picture we got has James picking his nose. Hah!

Supernal Joys of Life

2011-04-07T22:32:00.000-06:00

Lately I have been looking into trying to "network" my blog. I don't know why. I'm not a great writer, I don't have an interesting or profound or inspirational life, and I don't feel the need to complain about everything my husband and child do. I do find joy in motherhood, I find joy in serving those around me and trying to find and lift up those who need it, and I do have the absolute cutest kid in the world though. Many may think that they do, but my James really is the cutest.

Anyway, I've read many blogs, and the common thread in most is the complaining about anything and everything, finding annoying things with motherhood, their little ones and husbands, being over busy, and wishing they still worked full time instead of enjoying the privilege of staying with their little ones full time.

Well, General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was held this first weekend in April. It is the chance for the prophet and apostles to address the members of the church at the same time. This excerpt is from the talk by Elder Richard G. Scott, a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles:

Once I learned an important lesson from my wife. I traveled extensively in my profession. I had been gone almost two weeks and returned home one Saturday morning. I had four hours before I needed to attend another meeting. I noticed that our little washing machine had broken down and my wife was washing the clothes by hand. I began to fix the machine.

Jeanene came by and said, “Rich, what are you doing?”

I said, “I’m repairing the washing machine so you don’t have to do this by hand.”

She said, “No. Go play with the children.”

I said, “I can play with the children anytime. I want to help you.”

Then she said, “Richard, please go play with the children.”

When she spoke to me that authoritatively, I obeyed.

I had a marvelous time with our children. We chased each other around and rolled in the fall leaves. Later I went to my meeting. I probably would have forgotten that experience were it not for the lesson that she wanted me to learn.

The next morning about 4:00 a.m., I was awakened as I felt two little arms around my neck, a kiss on the cheek, and these words whispered in my ear, which I will never forget: “Dad, I love you. You are my best friend.”

If you are having that kind of experience in your family, you are having one of the supernal joys of life.

That was last Sunday. James got sick on the following Wednesday night this last week. He was throwing up all night, and couldn't keep anything, not even an ounce of water, down. Of the five times he did throw up, it was all over me four of those five, including once at Walmart when I went to get pedialyte to rehydrate him. However, James has not been that snuggly since he was a little baby...and I loved it. He is a daddy's boy, and loves men more in general, but when he was sick, he wanted mommy, and wanted to be held and snuggled. I loved it, and him. It was a supernal joy. He was better by morning, not completely back to his wiggly self, and wanted to be snuggled more so that was fun for me.

James, I thought this was cute, he was watching a movie, he had already thrown up once. I sat back down with him, and he did it all over me...again

I also give kudos to myself for surviving his stomach flu without a) thinking it was really sick to be thrown up on and b) not getting sick myself.

So, my conclusion to all of these experiences is that I do not feel the need or want to complain about being a mommy. It is the best calling in the world.

Mommy and James

What were some of your favorite talks from conference?

My One Pregnancy Woe

2011-04-04T23:12:00.001-06:00

So as far as pregnancy goes, I really do have it easy compared to most. Last time was a cinch, and I do apologize to all friends and family who read this and pregnancy wasn't easy for them. A brief lowdown of last time:
~Sleeping just fine, even up to the last day (no body pillow ever needed)
~No throwing up (except when I got some food poisoning from Aubreigh's
chicken)
~Just a little nausea at night, easily fixed with a bowl of cheerios
~Lots of energy (worked out everyday, ran and rode bike too)
~Didn't get very big belly (James was seriously straight as an arrow in me)
~Liked the bionic nose thing (good smells were 10x good, bad smells still bad)
~Baby didn't make me hot (actually I was colder than normal)
~My back hurt, but not too badly
~Didn't have any other kids to worry about
~Labor was about and hour and ten minutes in the hospital
~Cracking jokes during labor and transition (it helped me deal with the pain)
~No epidural=move legs immediately afterward

I did get a stuffy nose most of the time too, and the worst sinus infection I had ever had. Now this doesn't seem so bad to most people, but the deal is that I cannot breathe through my mouth, I feel like I'll die if forced to. Nathan just says welcome to his life with allergies. No sympathy there. Growing up mostly allergy free, I do not understand this state of being. I would try to breathe through my nose until I would feel light-headed from lack of oxygen. The sinus infection on top of the stuffy nose was so bad, I guess I annoyed the people around me in my nursing class in my feeble daily attempts to breathe. Blowing my nose sounded like an elephant trumpeting. It wasn't until during a clinical when the RN I was following suggested I called my doctor for a prescription for an antibiotic to clear it up.

It seriously never occurred to me that I could do that.

When asked by the nurse from my doctor's office why I thought I had a sinus infection, I stated that "I get at least one every year" and "because of the copious amounts of opaque green stuff coming out of my nose". I got the prescription. And I got better.

Fast forward to this pregnancy. Most of the list above is the same. I haven't thrown up, but I do have an aversion to chicken. I have gotten a bigger belly faster this time. I run around with James, and I still exercise almost everyday. My back does hurt, but the monthly chiropractic appointments totally help. And I got a sinus infection again. About a month earlier this time, but I got it all the same. How did I know again? "I get at least one every year" and "because of the ping-pong sized blob of green stuff that I just snorted and spit out"... "I'm pretty sure it is an infection". Yep. Gross. But I got the prescription. And I got better....until I met a new nemesis:

Orange blossoms. There were some in Arizona that were just opening up, letting out all of their stuffy-nose-inducing pollen. Apparently, most people get a little bit of a stuffy nose when this happens. For me, it awakened something in my nose that I loathe...stuffiness! This time it wasn't an infection, because no green stuff, just couldn't breathe. I thought that after we left AZ it would get better....not yet. My friends now-a-days are lots of tissue (I should probably invest in real tissue, and not just toilet paper which I seem to be going through a lot of on a daily basis), Sudafed, though it recently stopped working for me :(, and Afrin nasal spray, though I can't use that too often or nasal stuffiness will "recur and worsen" according to the package, and from experience.

The real remedy will be when baby number two is delivered. Until then, I look for a little sympathy for my nose from my friend.........and for more tissue.

Happy Birthday my Nathan!

2011-04-01T12:52:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was Nathan's 27th birthday! Wow, I remember when he was 21 and we met, then he turned 22 and we were married shortly thereafter. That does mean that our five year anniversary is coming up, but I digress. Back to his day

His morning was filled with a quick ultrasound (amazingly quick, usually our appointments take an hour this was about 15 min) of which he was interested, but mostly I dragged him along to hold James. Ironically, he was doing his time sheet in the car when I went in to check in, they took me directly back to get started, and so he was able to see three minutes of our ten minute "big" ultrasound. Anyway, that's okay.

In the afternoon I took him a veggie sub from subway for lunch at work.

He got to come home a little early from work a little later that afternoon to then subsequently go on a long (40+ mile) bike ride on the warmest day so far this year. That was his choice activity, and I didn't mind so I put together our new grill we just got from our tax return and got steaks, mashed potatoes, peas, and green smoothies ready for dinner. Our neighbors Nicole and Jeremy came over too, which was very helpful as Jeremy helped me with the grill, though I must brag I did most of it myself, and Nicole helped me with James. And they brought the ice cream cake (licking lips sound inserted here).

After dinner Nathan's brother Jason and our sister-in-law Nicole came from Twin Falls since Jason is having surgery today in Salt Lake to stay here. We stayed up late reading this hilarious new blog, I seriously almost peed my pants and was rolling on the ground I was laughing so hard. And I think it was even funnier because of everyone else laughing hysterically. We had to stop because it was hurting Jason's gall bladder (what he is having removed as I type this) to laugh that hard.

So here's to my honey bun. My very hot, smarty-pants, spiritual leader, incredible provider, kind and caring daddy, generous, husband, lover, and best friend. Happy birthday!

My Cute Boys

2011-03-30T16:02:00.000-06:00

Shopping at H&M in Las Vegas

I love these boys, and yes, we bought the hat

Spring Break in AZ

2011-03-30T15:06:00.000-06:00

Spring break, wait, what?! At BYU there was never a spring break, but with Nathan going to the UofU this year for his master's, we got one! It has been cold where we live too, and don't forget snowy (although I've heard this is a moderate year, wonder what a heavy snow year will be like...), so we decided to escape the cold and go somewhere warmer. We were thinking tropical, but decided to save some money this year with the new baby coming, so down to Arizona we went. The trip did not disappoint either.

On the way down we stopped overnight in Las Vegas with Karissa and Cory. The drive is too long for one day for James now (and really for us too, we are wimps). It does give the excuse to see these two, which is always fun. On the way down we enjoyed watching BYU make it to the Sweet Sixteen, and then going out to Applebee's in our BYU paraphernalia for dinner.

Cory and James share an apple on Sunday morning

This three generation picture cracks me up. One night I was helping mom in the kitchen get ready for dinner. I hadn't heard James for awhile, which usually means he's into something he shouldn't be in. I went looking for him, and this is what I found.
All three techo guys. Dad is on the computer, Nathan on is iPhone, and James on the iPad.

Then what was even funnier was that I found them again a few days later....
...another classic three generation picture.

Nathan got to go on a bike ride everyday, and almost had a 200 mile week. That is impressive. He loved it. I understand a little bit more why people live there, but the summers...another story

Playing at the park with cousins Kaylee and Ryan

Ryan and James enjoying cheese on the steps

Pushing "carts" in the backyard

Riding the carousel at the mall

James loved it, he rode it three times!

A cousin sandwich, they played so well together, love you guys!!

Grandpa Haworth's 80th!

2011-03-30T14:22:00.000-06:00

Happy 80th Birthday to Grandpa Haworth!

There was a big celebration that weekend in Franklin, ID were so many of the family came from all over to be together and celebrate with Grandpa.

James Robert is named after Grandpa, and boy does James sure love his great-grandpa. This was the night that we arrived for the birthday weekend celebrations, and of course March Madness was on. James climbed right up on Grandpa's lap, and watched BYU with him. I love it!

Last night we were there, Sydney, Taylor, Londyn, and James did a little fashion show. James was an Indian, and learned how to pull the beads off the fringe.

James, Daddy, and Mommy

Us with Grandpa, James just kept giggling at Grandpa and wouldn't look at the camera

The weekend was full of food, family, and lots of memories being made. We spent most of Saturday at the church house because the family is so big when everyone comes, that wPlaying dodgeball at the church

There was a talent show. These are all the Haworth sisters, from L to R: Robyn, Kathy, Sherrie, Tami, Debbie, Heidi, and Terri. Grandpa and Grandma had 7 daughters, and all are amazing women, who in turn have raised amazing families. I am blessed to be a part of it all.

We ate...

...and ate...

...and ate...

...and ate...

...and ate...are you getting an idea of how many people there were? I think there were fifty something there, and that is not the whole family, there were still lots missing who couldn't make it. Talk about a legacy that they've created. And what is more remarkable is they're all friends. None of the this person doesn't get along with this person thing. Pretty incredible if you ask me.

Londyn and James. L is 5, and just ADORES James, and vice versa. They should be brother and sister, too bad we don't live closer to them (they are in AZ).

Haworth sisters, with a few others mixed in

Newest member of the family, Mike and Misty's little Ty. He is only 6 weeks, and the cutest little bug in a rug you've ever seen. And so small! But I'm a sucker for small babies :)

Grandma Hiller came too! This is a rare picture, Grandma HATES getting her picture taken, and loves to hold the babies. She didn't know I was taking her picture, I've never gotten one with her smiling like this. It is a keeper!

Starting Young

2011-03-17T18:51:00.000-06:00

We need James to get an edge before he goes to school, so Nathan has started nightly tutoring in lieu of his regular bedtime stories...

Green Smoothie Faces

2011-03-17T18:32:00.000-06:00

Around here we make "green" smoothies. They consist of lots of spinach, a banana, five strawberries, a few ice cubes, a little water, about 2 teaspoons vanilla, and a spoonful of orange juice concentrate (that hides the spinach taste). It is a good way to get your servings of veggies for the day. And by the pictures below, James loves it!

"Ahhh"

"Ohhhh"

"Cheeseee"

Living Planet Aquarium

2011-03-16T13:01:00.000-06:00

James likes animals. So do I. Put that together and we jumped at the invitation to go to the Living Planet Aquarium with the Parks a few weeks ago. There were sting rays that we could pet, and we watched the penguins and the octopus being fed. James is at the age that he is getting into going to neat places, and I love it when he says "whoa" when something is big and cool. James really is getting to be more fun the older he gets.

Petting the stingrays

Daddy, James, and Mommy

Cheese faces, looks like the boys are having a good time

James measures up to a penguin

"Whoa" says James as he looks at the neat fish

Thank you Parks for going with us!

Gramies comes to visit

2011-03-16T10:40:00.000-06:00

A week after my dad came for a visit, my mom came, or aka, Gramies. We had lots of fun, but most of the pictures were on her camera, and I still need to get those. We had fun playing in the foot of snow that fell, went out to eat, had the Kutterer's over for dinner with Kirstin, spent a day in Provo where we had Tucano's with Kirst and went to the BYU bookstore.

James and Gramies

Cute cousins Tanner and James

Doing a smirk, Kira and James

Kirstin and Mom

Uncle Nate reads Tanner a story, "Puppy Too Small". Actually that is James' favorite bedtime story, and it was classic that these two were really doing this!

Family is important, visit often!

2011-02-18T17:10:00.000-07:00

Growing up in Denver, all of my grandparents were right there. I think that for a while I saw my Papa and Grandma Kitty a few times a week. And I loved it!! I also am close now to my Grams (aka Grandma Kitty, which evolved to Grams over the years), and I attribute it to seeing her lots. She is a great example to me. All of my mom's side also lived closer, and we'd get together for birthday's, holidays, Bronco games. We really loved playing with our cousins. Now I wish that both of our families lived in the same spot, and we could have the same for our kids. We are hoping maybe more of our siblings decide to live in Utah at least, that would be fun. For now, Tanner and Kira are the cousins that live close. And even though they are older than James, I know James (and hope they do too) has fun playing with his cousins.

Anyway, I digress. For Christmas there was this a cheap fare from Denver to SLC, so we jumped on it, and got my parents a ticket each to visit. We told them to pick the times they could come, and we'd make it happen. And, due to work schedules and having 4 doggies at home, they decided to come at different times. That is fun, then James gets one-on-one attention from his Grandpa and Gramies (my parents). In March we are going down to Gilbert to escape the snow and see Nathan's side.

I want to be fair as how we split our time. I love my family, and everytime we go back to Colorado (and more now recently), I miss it. However, I love my in-laws. Actually I see them as my other parents. Who else can say that? I get two mom's and two dad's. I love visiting them too. I don't want one set of grandparents to feel favored over the other. That is why I wish we lived in the same spot, maybe someday?

I digress again. Anyway, my Dad came and visited this last weekend, the first of grandparent visits. Saturday night we sort of threw him into babysitting James while Nathan and I attended a couples activity for church. I don't know if he's watched little kids by himself since we were little. They read books, played with some toys, and watched Ratatouille. Sunday we Kirstin up for the day. That was fun going to church with her. She is so good with James, and when he'd cry, she'd take him out to the hall. Then she, Dad, and I went to look for the Bald Eagles that I saw before. I think most of them were gone, we only saw a few, and it was getting dark, so no pictures :). We went home and had a great dinner then.

Monday we (my Dad, myself, and Jamers) went to the Hill Air Museum. That was really neat, and FrEe!!! James would saw "ooohhh" at the big planes, and would even growl at the planes that had teeth painted on them.

Mommy and James under a plane, I don't remember at all what kind it is, my Dad is good at that

Monday evening we had the Kutterer's over for dinner. Kira was gorgeous as always, and Tanner was a hoot. He always makes me laugh, and he and James get along famously. Nathan made his mom's lasagna, and we all had a good time. I love living close to them.

Family around the dinner table

Tuesday morning (early) Grandpa went home, so he got some good reading in on Monday night with James. Thanks for coming!

Reading a bedtime story with Grandpa

Happy for the visit, Love you :)

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-16T16:17:00.000-07:00

Happy Valentine's Day! Did you have a good day? We did. I'm looking forward to my surprise date in Vegas next month that will include "spa, shopping, and spices (aka food)".

Roses, chocolates, and a wonderful letter with a "surprise" inside, I'm very spoiled

Making Valentines, James loved the "stickies"

Love to you all!!

Crazy

2011-02-07T16:21:00.000-07:00

After a disturbing phone call this morning from a crazy aunt that left me very angry and feeling bad, I googled "crazy relatives" and found this awesome quote:

If you don't have a crazy relative, chances are, it's you :)

I just had to laugh. Puts it all back in perspective, and now I don't feel so bad.
Crazy relatives, we've all got them.

Friends

2011-02-03T22:40:00.000-07:00

We have had friend visits lately. It is so much fun though to visit, and to have kids that can play together (or at least next to each other). My favorite is activity to do with friends (and family too) is talking and getting into discussions about all sorts of things. That really is who you grow closer

First was when Tom and Kristie came for a visit, and Lilah took a step! I witnessed it, and so did James! They will be friends I'm sure of it. Anyway, after the kids went to bed we had a great time discussing gospel topics and other life things. How lucky we are to be so close with some great cousins. We stayed up way too late, but it was fun. The next day the girls got to go running, and then the boys.

Lilah and James. She is so cute to see standing by herself, and so little that it doesn't seem possible.

Next Danniey and Calvin came up to visit. She was my visiting teacher in the BYU 103rd ward, and became a great friend. It worked out that Nathan had school late, and Danniey's husband Tyler went out of town for a job interview. Danniey and I stayed up that night and watched Inception, and then talked about the movie, life, motherhood, and so on. I think we stayed up until 2 am, but it was just like when I was single back in college with roommates.

James and Calvin hugging goodbye. These two are pretty close in age, four months apart I think, and they had a ball together.

Oaklee, James, and Calvin. Oaklee is our neighbor and her mom is my running partner. These three were fun together (all about the same age), but I found out what it would be like to have triplets.

Finally, last week we went to Park City and Heber to go shopping and spend time with Aubreigh and Matt and Quinn. Aubreigh will always hold a special place in my heart as she was thrown into helping me with the birth of James. We've been very good friends ever since. So the shopping was great, she has so serious style, which I am lacking. (Thank you, thank you, thank you by the way, I really love the clothes that I got, and I can't tell you enough!). Then we had Mexican food, and by that time both boys were a little wired and tired. They fell asleep then on the drive back to Heber, but both woke up early, and didn't want to continue their naps. What to do then? Why go sledding of course!

James and Quinn, sun in eyes.

"I got you Quinn, this is so much fun, wish mommy and daddy would get one of these"

And what did we do over dinner and the rest of the night? Talk of course :) We could have talked and talked their heads off, but I could tell Aubreigh was getting tired, so we left, but still pretty late. James fell asleep on the way home thank goodness. They are such a neat couple, and a great example to us. And great friends too.

And look at all the friends that James already has :)

So what is life right now?

2011-02-03T21:46:00.000-07:00

Life is good, but hard. I want my blog to be more "real" and not everything-is-hunky-dory-every-single-minute-of-my-perfect-life sort of thing. So what is life right now? Nathan is working full time, and when I say full time, I mean 40+ hour weeks. And even once he gets home he has to work some more. But, on the flip side we live in a beautiful home and I have the opportunity to be able to stay at home with my Jamers, so that part is good. Oh yeah, and did I mention Nathan is in school full time as well. At night. So that takes time, and a commute back to Salt Lake three times a week. But he'll have the summer off, and be done with his masters in December. Oh yeah, and he was just called to be the ward clerk in our brand new Silver Lake ward, which takes time getting a new ward organized. But I am proud that they asked him. All of that makes me a single parent most days and nights for the moment. So what do James and I do then with Daddy gone so much?

We take baths. What sort of mom would I be if I didn't have the cute bath picture? And this one is adorable

We go outside. Yes, it is freezing, here as well as the rest of the country this week, but James doesn't care, he wants to go outside! So we bundle up, and then he wants to help shovel snow with the little garden shovel. I love his face in this one.

We get ready for church. This is James ready for nursery! The hair and the sweater vest with tie make this. And he likes nursery, doesn't like being left yet, but it takes him about a minute, then he is off to the toys.

We read books. James was being quiet one night when I was making dinner. Quiet is usually not good, but then I found him by himself, looking at books.

Can you pick me up now?

We play games too, like hide and seek, and making forts. Those are two favorites at the moment. He helps me with chores, and I am grateful for all the time I get with him before the new baby comes. So that is life right now.

13.1

2011-02-01T21:45:00.000-07:00

13.1. That is how many miles a half marathon is for those who don't know. It is also the longest I have ever run in my life, and I did it without walking! And I did it 12 weeks preggo! How about that eh? I have a running partner up here, Erica Beckstrom, who talked me into doing this race on Jan 22nd in Saint George back in October. So we trained. The first time I ran eight miles I thought, "this could be possible". Then we were blessed to finally become pregnant, so I was worried I'd have to back out, but the doctor said I'd been training, to not push myself too hard, and I'd be okay. Whew. Then in December I hurt my foot. Really just took a wrong step and sort of tripped over Lady. Then I ran on it two days later, and I thought it was broken. So I got an x-ray, and that doctor said there was no way I'd be able to run it with only about 7 weeks to the race. No way, I thought, for a stupid misstep? So I rested, for about 4.5 weeks, of zero running, and then I started again. I ran eight miles, and only on the last part did it start to hurt. So for the two weeks prior, I ran max of 5 miles at a time, and still rested. Anyway, from the title of the post, you can guess that I made it! I felt great (foot only started to hurt right after the finish line when I sprinted the last few hundred feet to beat this other runner, which I did beat btw). I ran it with Erica, and we had a faster time than we had practiced. By about a minute per mile! The course was easier compared to the hills that we have to run around our neighborhood if we ever want to do more than lots of circles. The weather was perfect, not too hot for this cold weather runner. I will definitely be doing another one. I never in my wildest dreams thought that I could run that far. I guess I just needed confidence. And if I can do it, you can too!!

Erica and Kendra pre-race, it was chilly that morning

Sprinting to the finish. I had motivated this girl at mile 11 to keep going, so we ran together for the last two miles, but there was no way I was going to let her beat me after I had gotten her to keep going

My cheerleaders: Nathan and James post race

Erica and I post race, let's do it again! (Next year, of course :) )

Thought they were horses

2011-02-01T21:19:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago James and I were coming home from having lunch with Nathan at his office. As I was pulling out, two "horses" were running down the street, with a van right behind them. "Oh no" I thought, "someone's horses have gotten out. Maybe I should try to help catch them." At that moment they turned down another street, and I got a better look. They weren't horses, they were two moose, a mom and calf, running down the street! Holy crap! I called Nathan and told him to get his behind outside pronto and anyone else who wanted to see something really cool. Then I followed the moose, and called my other animal-lover friend in the neighborhood, Connie Maughn, to come fast. They stopped in someone's yard to bed down for awhile, so I stopped my car, put my flashers on, and stayed a while. I even had two people stop and ask if my car was alright, and I just pointed to the moose, and said "I'm fine, just watching them". Haha, they were sure startled. Anyway, Connie came and brought a fantastic camera. I got out of the car, and we both sort of hid behind this large stone mailbox. She handed me the camera and said, "here, try to get closer". "Okay" I said. Then as I was walking towards them I called back, "wait, why am I the one getting closer?" She replied, "because you can run faster". Anyway, the mom wasn't interested in us, so we got to watch and take some great pictures. Now I just want to see a bull this way, with a car near by so I can jump in :)

The Shirt

2011-01-23T23:03:00.000-07:00

So yes, James has a new shirt, and it looks like this....

...and this...

Can you read it? If not, it says "Big Brother"!!!!!!!!!

So far these are the best pictures that you can read the whole thing. We did tell our families in person over Christmas or via phone, and waited to write anything on the blog until everyone knew and until I was far enough along that I felt safe to write about it. It took our families all lengths of times to figure it out:

~Grams Christmas Morning: about 5 seconds when he walked out of the bedroom

~Mom and Dad Grazulis Christmas Morning: 5 minutes max at the brunch
~Cory and Karissa (we saw them in Denver!): 15 seconds when he walked out of the bedroom
~Jason and Nicole: 7 minutes when they stopped for the night on the way back to Twin Falls
~Mom and Dad Manwaring: Basically all night! To their defense he did have a jacket on some of the time, a bib on other parts. They got it when we took a long time getting him undressed for his bath, and he showed them how he can do pull-ups ;-)
Everyone was super excited, and so are we.
Due date is August 5th, so will probably come in late July, just like James.
James could even share a birthday!

The Christmas Post: Part 3

2011-01-23T22:41:00.000-07:00

Getting home on Tuesday, James (and us of course) got to see his Manwaring grandparents. Both sets within just a few days of each other? He was spoiled the Christmas. It was fun too that we got to drag Christmas out a little longer. James got some clothes, a book, and a really fun fisher price car station. I (well we) got a beautiful crystal goblet set, which I love. Thank you!! We had a good time with Mom and Dad Manwaring, put together shelves in the basement, and had a really good time talking and playing games like Mormon bridge.

Opening presents with Grandma

James liked helping his Grandpa do manly work

They got to stay a few days before they went back to AZ from having Christmas in Idaho. It was great to see them, and we wish we lived closer to both our parents. James especially loved his Grandpa this trip.

James and Grandpa looking at the iPad, they both like the tech stuff

Learning letters on the iPad with Grandpa

No offense to the Grandmas, I'm sorry he didn't go to you as much!!! He likes men more at the moment, but I know he still loves you!! Thanks for coming and sharing Christmas!!

The Christmas Post: Part 2

2011-01-20T21:42:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'm back, internet here is sketchy.
So Christmas morning was fun, and we even and an improvised tree out of a coat rack and our stockings. In Nathan's family, Santa wrapped all gifts, however, he must have been out of time by the time he got to Denver because Santa did not wrap for Kendra's family. What to do? Santa did both this year :).

Awesomest "tree", with presents below

Opening stockings with Kirstin, James got his first coloring book and crayons

A tunnel that James got, it is so fun, and this kid is so fun

Can I take this off now mom?

A wooden tool set, he got the hang of it right away

Santa brought James this little gem, his very own "Dirt Devil" vacuum, and he went to town!

More opening with Grandpa and Grandma and Kirstin. James also really likes candy canes.

Nathan played almost every night while there, he is getting quite a following at Lincoln Meadows, and Grams is even making copies of his CD and giving them out!

We also had a very yummy Christmas brunch by Lincoln Meadows (it is really nice to not have to cook and still eat fabulous meals). The next day everyone on my mom's side of the family came for a party.

Aunt Maggie, Aunt Carol, Marleigh and Rick, Uncle Dana

Kendra and Grams

Tim, Uncle Kyle, Jessica and Meghan

This picture is awesome, all cousins, and apparently I'm the shortest ;)
Marleigh, Kirstin, Kendra, Meghan, and Jessica with Tim

Monday was kind of like our last day since we'd be driving on Tuesday. We saw the Colman's, Russell and Mina, they are our adopted Grandparents.

And...we finally got to go to see the Denver Zoo Lights! I love zoo's, seriously. I always wanted to be a zoo keeper when I was little (still would if the chance arose), and I don't even care if it is cold, I want to go. It actually turned out to be the warmest night we were there, which worked out, and we stayed for quite awhile (there is lots to see).

Daddy and James checking out the elephants, one of the places you could go in to get warm

Mommy, James, and Daddy, next to a Rhino

Cougars next to a light up cougar ;)

Fascinated by fish, another place to warm up in

Appropriate since a wolf is one of the animal noises he always knows, and loves to do, but the wolves were all sleeping, so we only got a picture by the sign

Mom, Kendra, and Kirstin by the big lion near the entrance

We had a really good time, thanks to Grams for the guest suit at Lincoln Meadows! The next day we drove back to Utah, so stay tuned for part 3.

The Christmas Post : Part 1

2011-01-12T22:01:00.000-07:00

Christmas was in Colorado this year, and boy did we do lots of fun things. We wanted to see Santa at the mall, since last year was a long line and we decided not to wait in it because didn't really know who Santa was anyway. Well, this year, we got to the mall on Christmas Eve at 9am, and the line was already really long. However, that line was to then get a ticket to wait in the real line to see Santa (kinda weird if you ask me). That line was 45 min long. The ticket then gave you a time to come back, then you had to wait in the Santa line that was 45 min long also. Our ticket time........1:15pm! And there was no way to even get a glimpse of Santa without waiting. So here is this years picture:

We found a Santa in a display window, and that was the only thing we could find

James still liked it

I also wanted to go see Zoo Lights. One night when we decided to go, it got to late, so right next to my Grams' house is "Wildlife Experience". They had lights all outside, and I guess inside too. We decided to walk around the outside and see the lights. When we got there, we found that it cost $10 a ticket to walk on the sidewalk outside (the ticket did include going inside, where we later found there was a Santa and reindeer). Anyway, we didn't pay that, and walked outside and still saw all the lights, next to the sidewalk.

Grandpa John and James looking at a lighted reindeer

Kirstin, Mom, Grams, and Kendra enjoying lights, for free!

Manwarings next to the Moose, it seemed appropriate considering where we live

Christmas eve we had the unexpected pleasure of seeing my cousin Nolan and his wife Tasha and their two kids, Landan and Dakota. Landan (3years) and James took to each other right away, and played and played. I haven't seen Nolan since his wedding, about a month after ours! They would be moving to Wyoming in January to work for a railroad where Nolan is a mechanic. We wish them luck on their journey.

The whole gang: Grams, Us, Uncle Kyle and Aunt Carol, Nolan, Tasha, Landan and Kota

Getting two little boys to sit on a couch and look at the camera = impossible

"Cheese" faces!

After seeing family, we went over to my Aunt Diane's place for Christmas Eve dinner. She moved to Colorado in October, and was very excited to have us. So we ate, and watched "It's a Wonderful Life" before heading over to the barn to see Cinnamon and read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" out of an old book that my Dad has had since he was a little boy. I don't know if we planned on it being as cold as it was though. And poor Nathan, my Aunt has cats, so his allergies started up at dinner, and then being at the barn just got worse with the horses. Those are the only two animals he's allergic to, and he was bombarded with allergens that night.

Us at Aunt Diane's place for dinner

Reading the story, it's a tradition

More to come!! Look for Part 2 soon!

Housewarming Party

2010-12-20T00:14:00.000-07:00

Alright, I'm almost caught up blogging before Christmas! A little while ago we held a housewarming party for the employees of Equation Consulting to see how cool it is to live up here in Mountain Green. We had lots of people come, lots of food to eat, and a great time. Thanks to everyone who came :) Our home had so many people. Kirstin also came up, and was a lifesaver and played with James and kept an eye on him while we were hosting.

James, Kendra, and Kirstin at the party

A full house of people

I looked out the window and what did I see....

2010-12-19T23:56:00.000-07:00

...not popcorn popping on the apricot tree (I'm actually not sure what sort of trees we have :)

But, we have seen this month....

Mommy and Lady shoveling the driveway

A porcupine in the tree across the street

A snowshoe hare in the front yard eating the grass he was digging up

We see deer everyday, but this day we saw Elk and Deer right next to each other on the hill

A fox who is sneaky and we can never get a picture of, but he's as big as Lady!

And a momma and calf... Moosen!!!