Please Leave a Message

This is our Blogger Answering Machine. I have to take a blogging break so I can pack & move. Please leave us a message, and I'll start posting once we get settled into our new place. Thank you for visiting!

Camping

Our lives have been so super stressful & busy lately, especially Paul's. No matter what, Paul always looks forward to roughin' it with his boy! Paul & Josiah went to Tickfaw, LA for the Stake Father & Son Campout. Can you see what Josiah's favorite color is? {hat, shirt, flashlight} By 10:00 pm Josiah actually asked to go into the tent for bed. Then he woke up at 6:00 am ready to go! Good thing Paul went to sleep at the same Josiah did!

They went on a Canoe ride in the Tickfaw River. {Paul regrets not taking the camera with him} They said it was really fun. He took some pictures of Josiah at the Nature center. Isn't the Bayou {Swamp} so beautiful! I just love those Cypress trees. They also made some binoculars at the Nature Center, Paul made one for Jacque too.

What a great opportunity for the boys to bond! Thanks Dad, we love you!

Celebrating 1 Year!

The twins turned 1 this week. We had a small family party at home.

These babies bring immense happiness and joy into our home. We love them very much.

We are exteremly blessed that Heavenly Father sent them to our family.

Having twins is a busy job with twice as much work. On the other hand there is twice as much laughs & smiles, and twice as much love in return.

I found these cute MR. MISCHIEF & LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE t-shirts

that describe their personalities to a 't'. We got them little ride-on-push-cars.

We relaxed while Paul & Hannah played with their new toys.

Then it was time for cake! They had fun digging into their own pieces & went straight to the bath tub afterwards. They are so cute and fun to watch play and interact. Having twins is the best experience ever! We love it! Happy Birthday Paul & Hannah, we love you!!!

Long awaited surgery

Jacque had her hemangioma removed.
We have waited for this day for so very long, we’ve interviewed and visited numerous specialists and finally found a wonderful surgeon. Her surgery went smoothly & she tolerated it very well. She was very brave and is still doing good. The plastic surgeon says we can take the wrap off on Saturday.

In a couple of years she can get her ears pierced.

When Jacque was born she had a tiny red spot on her earlobe. The pediatrician casually told us it was a "strawberry hemangioma; that it would grow, and then shrink". I had no idea at the time how it would effect Jacque's childhood and also Paul and I as parents.

She is a strong girl and has handled her peers' interests very well.

She will be taking it easy for a couple weeks to ensure her ear is able to heal without any
rough-play-accidents opening up the wound that might cause any scarring.

I might even say that there is a reason for everything. Moving to New Orleans unexpectedly after graduation and then having Hurricane Katrina hit our area was a trial of our faith. I know that Heavenly Father watches over us and we may have been sent here just to find a doctor that would help Jacque. We are truly blessed. We love our sweet Jacque. We are so very grateful that she will have a normal ear.

They are all over the place!

Josiah's New Pet

Josiah caught this little guy a couple weeks ago.
Josiah wanted to name him something that stared with a "J" just like his own name.

I just started suggesting different "J" names, and Josiah liked "Jester".
We decided he REALLY needs his own pet.

Josiah really wants a dog, but we aren't ready for a dog yet.

{I don't think Paul will EVER be ready for one}

We kept Jester in a little jar with dirt and water overnight.

Jacque also took him to "T" day at preschool {for TOAD}.
We went to the local pet store and they told me all about GULF COAST TOADS and how to care for him. We got a glass tank, mulch, water bowl for swimming, a coconut house, a log with leaves, and Josiah even put in a froggy friend to keep him company. He eats CRICKETS, so I go to the pet store every week and buy crickets and put them in the tank. I asked the pet store owner if we could put other reptiles in the tank with the toad, if Josiah is to catch a lizard perhaps, and he told me the toad might eat it. WOW.
The toad is nocturnal and hides out all day, sometimes the seem crickets are more interesting. Jester seems annoyed by the crickets and hides under the mulch. But, he comes out at bedtime and sits in his pond all night. Isn't he cute!

What is this?

This you have to see! I have never seen anything like this. EVER.

The brown cone part is a shell, not hard, it really is like a pinecone. But there is this black worm/bug inside. See the video... it is short, and see how it moves.

I am usually able to find some kind of info online, I tried to, but I am not having any luck.

W I E R D

Down here they call going to Wal-Mart- Walmart'in. ? Don't ask me... When the stores' shopping carts are not "twin friendly"... I have to improvise. This will only work for a short time, until they get to big to squish in there. They are so cute! Look at Jacque. Chillin' in the back of the cart.

Josiah caught a Lizard outside. There are MILLIONS and zillions of these outside. They are so fast too. Even if you catch their tail, it comes off and they grow a new one. They also change colors. From green to brown. Pretty cool. {we let the anole go, and it was unharmed}

the results are in . . .

I know some are still wondering "WHERE ARE YOU MOVING TOO?"

UTAH!

Oh, home. Our home. Wherever we have lived, whatever state or city, we always made it our home and embraced it as such. Deep down inside, Utah is the place in our hearts.

It's where Paul and I were born, grew up, fell in love, and got married. It is where most of our family lives. It has everything we are looking for. Utah has it all.


The kids are really excited to live where their grandparents & Danielle live.

They will get to experience seasons and snow.

We are trying to find a place to live somewhere in Utah County.

It will be a new area for us and a couple of hours from our parents.

But, we are so excited to be somewhat closer and get to know the area better.

Packing isn't going very good. Paul takes his boards next week. So, he has his nose in the books. The kids have been sick over spring break and now I have 3 out of 4 children with an ear infection. Jacque, some how, hasn't come down with a cold yet. But, I expect, she will soon enough. I am, however, de-junking & trying to get things organized, so unpacking will go smoothly.

We've had wild ride in New Orleans over the past 3 years, and quite a commencement upon our arrival. We would not change a thing. We grew, we evacuated a few times, we learned so much, and met the most wonderful people, who we will always remember. This has been our favorite ward ever. We are going to miss this unique city. There is nowhere like New Orleans!

The End of the Tunnel has Light!!!