Bella's First Words

This post is quite a bit late...that seems to be how all of my posts are lately. About three weeks ago, Bella said her first words. I'm not really sure which came first, they were all said around the same time. She has always said "dadadadadada", to me...she was just making noise. Now she has started to say just "Dad" when she sees or wants Ben. She has also been saying "this" and "that". It's pretty cute, she points to things she wants and says "dat, dat" or "dis, dis." The other thing that I think she has started to say...but I'm not quite sure if she's really saying it or if it's just a coincidence yet, is "bu-ddy." The dang kid will say dad and buddy and I'm the one that fed her for the last year!! Doesn't she know that she's supposed to say MOM?! I think that maybe she already knows that she needs to get daddy wrapped around her finger now...so that she can beg him for things later. Ben just loves it when he hears her say "dad" with a huge smile on her face. She already has him hooked.

We thought we'd never get to say this...

but Ben and I are thrilled to announce that Nolan is potty trained!!! He tells us when he needs to go to the bathroom, usually goes by himself, and doesn't need to be reminded. He even comes in from playing outside! One thing that I'm a little less thrilled about (pardon the potty talk) is the fact that he has learned how to pee standing up. He thinks it's the coolest thing in the world. (Aside from peeing on a tree while we were camping) He hasn't had an accident for over three weeks! He's such a good boy!

Drummond Camp out 2008

Last week we went on the annual Drummond family camp out. We had so much fun. The kids loved being in the mountains and getting dirty. Simon's favorite thing was playing with his cousins Marshal and Keaton. They live in Wyoming, so we don't see them too often. I think Simon and Keaton played Uno pretty much the whole time. Nolan's favorite thing was being able to whip trees and dirt and rocks with his Indijones whip. He never put it down...not even for sleep. Bella LOVED to play in the dirt. She was so incredibly dirty by the end of each day...it was pretty disgusting. There was a little creek that ran through our camp, so the kids got to throw rocks in, and build dams. We painted rocks, played with playdoh, went fishing, played games, went on hikes, shot guns, saw deer and squirrels and hummingbirds and chipmunks but most importantly we made hobo dinners one night (yummy!) and made smores all the time! Smores are the greatest camping food ever. A raccoon got into a cooler, and took a whole bag of marshmallows. My brother, Armand, woke up to find marshmallows all over the place and scratch marks on the cooler. Good thing he didn't get to all of them! Another brother, Ryan, surprised my mom by showing up to camp. She was thrilled when she saw him. All of the little boys LOVED to play and wrestle with Ryan. The poor guy barely got a break from all of them! Ryan had his birthday while we were camping, so we drove down the canyon and got ice cream and milkshakes! Anyway, we had tons of fun. Unfortunately, Ben got sick and pretty much stayed in bed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. He was a good sport to let us stay up in the mountains and let the kids continue to have a great time. He's a good daddy. All in all it was a good camping trip. Here are a few pictures...

Bella Turns ONE!

I'm a few days late...sorry! Our pretty girl just turned one on Sunday! Saturday evening, we had a little party for her. We set up the pool in the back next to the rock wall, so the kids could jump off the rocks and into the pool. They had a great time! We had a BBQ with hamburgers and hot dogs, and just had a good time visiting and celebrating Bella. The best part of the evening was when Bella got her cake. I've always bought a little cake for the birthday boys/girl. Then they can dig in and get messy. Simon was sick for his first birthday party. He didn't want anything to do with his cake, so eventually we gave each of the cousins a spoon and let them go to town. Nolan was also sick for his party, and he needed a little persuasion and a good example from his big brother before he stuck his fingers in the cake. We let Simon help Nolan. Simon probably got more on him than Nolan did! Bella, however, didn't need any help at all. She was thrilled to death to be able to get all messy and have some yummy cake! We sure do love our little Bella. She is so dang cute, and she's the sweetest little girl ever. Thanks to all of the family who came, and thanks for all the gifts. Ben and I really do have wonderful families! Here are a few pictures from the party...

A Bit of a Change

Yesterday, our ward boundaries were changed, and they split our ward. Also, Ben was made a high priest and set apart as the first councilor in the bishopric. My grandfather came to do the ordination, and gave a beautiful blessing. It will be interesting to see how everything works when a new ward is created. I know that Ben is excited about this new calling, and will do a great job. During sacrament meeting when they sustained the two new bishoprics, the stake president told the wives to say goodbye to their husbands, as they would be sitting up on the stand every week. I guess I shouldn't have joked around about being pregnant. I believe the joke is on me now, since child number four is on it's way! Church should be fun, don't you think? Ben and I really are excited. I'm a little nervous to have four kids age five and younger, but I think it will be good. Maybe we'll have a girl, and Bella can have a little sister to play with! I'm not joking this time, I'm due at the beginning of March!

Catching up

We've been kind of busy lately! Last Saturday, my family had a BBQ because my brother Del and his family were in town from California. My dad made the BEST ribs, pulled pork, and smoked pork. They were so yummy! It was fun to get to see Del, Caylene, and their two cute girls.

That evening we went to Ben's 10 year high school reunion. He must be getting old...because ten years seems like a long time! He saw a lot of his old friends, and I got to hear some funny stories about him. I wasn't really looking forward to spending the evening with a bunch of people I don't know, talking about things for which I wasn't around, but it ended up being quite enjoyable! It makes me kind of excited for my ten year reunion!

On Thursday, Ben decided that we need to buy a Wii. So, we went to Sam's Club and picked one up. I have mixed feelings about this purchase. I really enjoy playing...and that's one of the problems. We bought Simon the Indiana Jones game...and I play it more than he does. I'm addicted!! It must go to show that I'm not very smart...I like the kid games so much better than the adult games. Perhaps it's because I feel like I'm doing a good job when I'm playing the kid games rather than the adult games! So, we all love playing the Wii. However, I don't want my children to be like one of those kids that spends ALL day sitting on their behinds, getting fat. The rule in our house (now that we have a backyard) is that they have to play outside while it's cool in the mornings...when it starts getting hot, they can come inside and watch TV or play games...and when it gets cool in the evening, they go back out. It's been just lovely.


I'm not really sure which day it was, but Bella's first teeth (not tooth) came through. She had both of her front teeth on the bottom come at the same time. She was pretty miserable a few days before they popped out, but she sure does look cute now! Beauty is pain...right?!

We noticed, a couple months ago, that Simon was having a hard time breathing while he was sleeping. He would snore really loud. (so loud that I shut his bedroom door, my bedroom door, and turned on a fan...in the winter...just so I couldn't hear him) He was also snoring during the day, when he would watch TV or whatever. Simon and I were taking a nap on my bed one day, and it was nerve-racking to watch him struggle for breath. He would even hold his breath at times. So, I called his doctor, took him in, and they looked at his throat. His tonsils were HUGE! His doctor sent us to a specialist, and after doing some tests, they decided that Simon had sleep apnea, and needed his tonsils removed.
So, Simon had surgery on Friday. He had a tonsillectomy and an adenoidectomy. His surgery was scheduled for the morning, and we were done around 11:30. We had to wake up pretty early, and Simon was up fairly late the night before...so he was very tired.
They took us to a little room, and he got a cute little hospital gown and comfy slippers to put on. After they gave him the drugs...he got pretty loopy. Ben asked him to count to 10. He said "one...two...three...four...uno dos trequaro cinco sesieto cinco ochnueve...dies." It was funny.
They brought a cute little wagon to take him for the surgery...and he was not happy about getting in it. It made me so sad to listen to him crying and wanting me...and watching him go down the hall. The surgery went well, and he is doing surprisingly well! He was up and around playing and eating jelly sandwiches that night. He has only had one little episode where he was crying because his throat hurt. It's been great. I was thinking it would be Hell for the next two weeks while he recovered. The poor thing doesn't quite understand why he can't have chips or chicken nuggets though. He asks for chips all day. (that's his favorite snack...chips and "dip-it")
The surgeon told me that his voice may change after the surgery. I was thinking it would be a slight change...but I was wrong. He sounds totally different! It's kind of sad...cause he doesn't sound like my buddy. It really is strange to hear this voice come out of him...that isn't "him". Angela came over to see him, and couldn't get over the difference. She kept asking him things so she could listen to his voice while he answered. She brought him Spider man popsicles, and he was thrilled. (Thanks Tia!) Lucky for us, no more snoring...during the night and during the day!

Friday evening, Matt, Angela, Matt's dad, Ben and I went to see Jerry Sienfeld! It was so funny.
I was crying half the time because I was laughing so hard. Even the opening act was pretty funny...a little crass at times, but most of it was funny. My mom watched the kids while we went to the show. We just stayed overnight at her house, so we wouldn't have to disturb the kiddies when we got home. Also, Ben went fishing with his friends on Saturday morning. I figured it would be easier to "deal" with Simon if I had a little help. Fortunately that wasn't needed!

Saturday marked the big day for us to be able to walk on our lawn in the back! YAHOO!!! We put the sprinklers on and the boys ran around in their little swimming suits. They had so much fun. I think they are as excited to have a place to play outside as I am!

Cute cute cute!

I decided that I needed some updated pictures of my kids. So yesterday, we went to the Peace Gardens. Enjoy!

Hide and Seek

I was cleaning up downstairs last night, and I heard Simon counting to 100. This certainly isn't a rare thing...he does it all the time. When I went by him to pick something up, I saw this...

Simon and Nolan were playing hide and seek. This is as far as Nolan got...and he thought he was hidden pretty well! He stayed under the blanket (with an occasional peek, to see if buddy was almost done) until buddy said "100, ready or not, here I come." As soon as Simon said those words, Nolan tore the blanket off of himself and said "Here I am!" Which was promptly followed by Buddy's whining voice, "Nolaaaan, that's not how you play!" It was pretty funny. Apparently, Nolan has a few things to learn about hide and seek.

Happy Birthday Ben!

Yesterday was Ben's 28th birthday! We must have some serious problem with celebrating because Ben worked in the backyard all morning, and all afternoon...not much fun. We did get to go to a combined birthday party for him, my dad, and Acelin. We had yummy steaks, rolls, watermelon, and my mom's fantastic strawberry pie! Then, Ben left a little early to finish up his work! Poor guy.
At the risk of sounding repetitive, I love Ben. For all of you that know him, I'm sure you'd agree, He is an amazing person. He has such a stong testimony, and loves the gospel. He's always quick to help anyone, with anything. He is a fantastic father. He loves playing with his boys, and his little princess has him wrapped around her little finger! He is also an amazing husband. He is always doing something to make me happy. All around, he's just a great guy! Happy Birthday Babe!

Six Years

Last Saturday, Ben and I celebrated...I guess celebrated isn't the best word...we had our sixth anniversary! Celebrated isn't the best word to use, because we really didn't do much celebrating. We were hard at work in our backyard in the morning, and we went to Baby Bauer's birthday party in the evening. Even without any kind of celebration, I'm perfectly happy with the way we spent our anniversary. It means I get a backyard soon! Happy anniversary to me!! I tried to surprise Ben with his nice new grill that I bought him. However, I've never once been able to surprise him with anything. He guessed his gift the night before. He's really quite mean...he knows it's hard for me to lie to him about anything, even trying to conceal a gift, and he uses it to his advantage!
Anyway, I really can't believe that it's been six years. It seems like we were just getting married not too long ago. I still remember every little detail about our wedding day...and that's saying something, for me! Now, six years later, we have three kids, one on the way, a dog, and a mortgage. My, oh my, how time flies!
I just love being married to Ben. He is such a great man. He works so hard to give his family everything that we need and want. I'm so grateful that we were sealed in the temple. Knowing that I get to be with him for eternity, brings me so much joy.
I have put a few "then and now" pictures in a slide show. Funny how you can change in six short years.
Oh, and I really was kidding about the 'one on the way' comment. Really.