James and Angela Inc.

Well, well, well. Another six months have come and gone. Someday I will post regularly. Maybe now that we have a very fancy new camera it will give me the motivation that I need. But someone needs to teach me how to work it first. haha.

Let me give you a quick overview of our exploits of the last little while, followed by some fun pictures. :o) We were so lucky over the summer to have two very awesome family trips, one to Hawaii with the Brintons (sans Danny) and one to South Carolina with the Macks. Big boy Gabe started preschool two days a week. He adores it. Little man Kiefer has started lots of therapy and is doing really well. Christmas and New Years have also come and gone with brief trips to Utah and California on Gabe's break from school. We have had two birthdays (Daddy and Kiefer), one more broken bone (Gabe's elbow), a wedding (that we missed, boo), and the discovery of loads of allergies (milk, eggs, nuts).

Short update on Kiefer--he is really doing well. He has learned to crawl and is pulling up and cruising on the furniture. He has PT and a vision therapist and will start OT in a couple of weeks. He is a joy to be around and has a really mellow and loving personality. I am continually surprised that he can be that mellow and belong in this family. :o) The allergies will be a bit of a challenge, but we hope he'll grow out of them eventually. His left eye has started to cross somewhat, but we are hoping that patching it will fix the problem. He is a joy. He loves his brother and his parents and the potty. It's like his own little splash pool. He loves being tickled and loves sitting in Mommy's lap to read books.

Gabe's elbow--Gabe is super proud of his "splint" (a hard cast over the back half of his arm, wrapped with a bandage). The ER trip was not super fun, but he was really brave. He was in time out in his bedroom, climbed up on the changing table and fell off, presumably onto his elbow. The funniest part to me was that he was in time out for calling James "poopy Daddy". Not really a serious infraction if you ask me. :o) He had a great time sharing it with his class at school. His teachers told me that he was very grown-up about it, saying things like "good question" to anyone who asked about it. So cute. He is full of life and energy and a polite little guy (most of the time) and is still an awesome big brother. He loves Kiefer so much. It touches my heart daily to see them interact. It's certainly a dream for a mother, and I hope it lasts throughout their lives. My favorite thing Gabe is doing right now is just randomly telling me I'm beautiful. I mean, talk about a self esteem boost. :o) This is typically how it goes, "Mommy, you are SO beautiful!" "Gabey, you are so handsome!" "Oh, thank you Mommy!" I love it.

At this very minute I am watching them in our video monitor (one of my all-time favorite purchases for the sheer entertainment value of it). They should be sleeping, but instead they are tickling each other and laughing. It's hard to get mad when they are so cute. I'm sure around 5 pm I will be singing a different tune when they are exhausted and ornery. But I'll forget again tomorrow at nap time. haha.

And now some pics:

At the LDS temple in Hawaii. All the Brintons minus Danny and family. Taken with Bobby's iPhone, since none of us brought an actual camera. :o)

Nannie and Grandpa and four of their five grandsons:

p.s. it was pouring down rain in this picture. We were under a big tree. :o)

On our way home from Hawaii we stopped at Nannie and Grandpa's for a couple of days. Grandpa took us for a ride in his boat. It was all fun and games until Finn's toy VW Beetle fell in the water.... :o)

At the beach in Hilton Head, SC

The Macks (or rather Mack in-laws) all have nice cameras. So we typically end up with great pictures of these trips, due in no part to ourselves. :o)

Gabe's first bike ride.

Grandma and Kiefer:

All the Macks.

On our way home from SC we stopped in NC to visit Uncle Ralph and Aunt Tinka. Cousins Ralph and Alicia came too and brought their kids. Fun was had by all. And this is the only picture I took.

Kiefer and Nannie have the same hair dresser.

First day of school! Mommy was so nervous that there would be tears. But alas, I could hardly even get him to give me a high five, he was so excited. :o)

At pick up after the first day. He still launches off the steps into my arms every day. I love it.

This picture is priceless. :o)

Go Utes.

It's Halloween!

At our ward Halloween party. Mommy was Jessie and Daddy was Zurg.

Hayride and Pumpkin Picking!

I wanted to get some professional pics (as professional as it gets at JCPenney, anyway) taken before Kiefer's hair stopped sticking up. Unfortunately both boys were super naughty and I didn't get great shots. Ah well, it's a good memory nonetheless.