No Training Wheels

April 12, 2008 will go down in History as the day Jared rode his bike with no training wheels. 


Jared was a little nervous to start, so he and Daddy had a prayer and asked Heavenly Father to help him to do well. As soon as he was going Aaron barely had to hold on at all. He was riding right away. Jared was so happy and told Aaron "Dad, Heavenly Father heard my prayer!" What a great opportunity for him to experience that love that his Father in Heaven and his father here have for him. It was a great day. 

Pinewood Derby

April 9th was Jared's first ever Pine wood Derby. Dad and he made his car to look like a dinosaur with horns. 

 

Here are a few of the competitors before the race. Jared's car is the green one on the right.

  

Jared was very excited to think that he might win. Unfortunately we are not very good at making pinewood derby cars because his car didn't even finish the track a few times. Poor Jared, but we always have next year. He did get an award for the "Most Fierce"car there. 

Here is a really good picture of another car that I took, the timing was just right. 

Lucky number 13

So a little while ago I received an email from Mom who received it from Amber called 50 questions (thats really 60) from Amber. Number 21 said "Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us?" I said "Not yet hopefully soon." Now Amber being the insightful one called me as soon as she could and asked "Are You???" I said no but we weren't doing anything to prevent it.  That was on March 13th.  Well now I am!! That was fast! I know!  :o) If you have not guessed yet I am pregnant, (and extremely tired) I say Lucky 13 also because This little one will be my parents 13th grandchild (in 9 years.) Amber's baby #12 is due the end of October and this one #13 will be due the end of November. We are still planning our Family Holiday get together for the end of the year but it may be Christmas instead of Thanksgiving. 

And by the way if you want to think a little pink for me and my boys we wouldn't mind. I think the 2 girls out of, as of right now, 11 grandchildren could use another girlfriend.  Aaron and I decided to not find out at the ultra sound what the sex of the baby is until she or he is here. That way I have a few more months to dream of pink and dresses and ribbons and all that is the fun of little girls. 

A little Garden

Often times I find myself lost in my small garden. I love being so close to such beauty and serenity, as you can imagine with 3 boys I do not get many  calm and quiet moments. Early in the morning or in the summer after the boys go to bed. I can go out to water and be lost for an hour or so just breathing in the peace that is mine for the moment. 

This year has to be one  of the best yet.  Ever since the new Square Foot Gardening book I have not been able to fail. Everything is looking so wonderful this spring.

 I am growing corn this year, I have never grown it before but I am excited the baby corn plants look so cute. This morning they were covered with the dew from last night. 

 

As far a veggies are concerned I am growing lettuce, bell peppers, spinach, beans, tomatoes and cauliflower. I also have a lot of herbs such as parsley, cilantro, garlic chives, basil, lavender, rosemary and oregano.  Then there are all the flowers and such. 

This is Lambs Ear it is incredibly soft and it takes over the world. The boys love to feel it and pick it. 

 

This Purple Hibiscus is one of my favorites. It reminds me of Hawaii. The blooms are on a short tree that I can see from my office window, looking out and seeing them dance in the wind is great. 

Here is the Lavender that is doing very well this year there are tons of blooms. I love to dry them and have their sweet fragrance in the house. 

This yellow pansy is huge and just asking to have it's picture taken.  I love how it was looking right into the sunrise welcoming the new day with a bright smile.

 

The pink flower was a house warming gift from a friend that I just planted in the garden because it is so beautiful and it is doing very well. 

 

The jasmine is just about to bloom, its pink until it blooms and then the flowers are white and the fragrance is just wonderful it fills the whole back yard. Aaron loves  the smell. I wish it bloomed all year long.

 

Here is a Gerber Daisy, I planted this a few years ago and it is still blooming. I love the soft peach color of the flowers. If I ever have a girl I will fill her room with Gerber Daises don't they just say cute baby girl?

I am pretty sure this one is called a Pincushion, the butterflies love it. 

I think that spring is my favorite time of year. I love to be outside in my garden getting my hands in the dirt and helping things grow. Protecting them from the enemy aphid and welcoming the ladybugs and butterflies. My roses will start blooming soon. I found out that if you plant garlic with your roses the aphids will leave them alone, apparently aphids don't like the smell of garlic. 

The boys are learning too, they have their own strawberry box and they are in charge of keeping the strawberries safe from slugs and keeping them watered. There are a few green strawberries and they check them everyday to see if they are red yet. They love to find worms and put them into the garden boxes. I hope that they are learning some good life lessons from this. 

I hope you have enjoyed a little look at my garden. 

My Jared

My Jared our fisrt little boy. I still remember the day he came to live with us. How excited I was to become a Mom, he was the perfect little baby. He has grown up since as all little ones do. Eight years old I can not believe it.

He is tall and lean and full of energy and life. He is currently being home schooled and is excelling in everything he does. He loves to read, most of the time I find him snuggled up on the couch reading. His favorites are Shel Silverstien's Poem books, A light in the Attic and Runny Babbit. He also enjoys The Magic Tree House series. He also loves to watch TV. especially nature shows where he can learn about the world around him. And then he loves to share that information with everyone. He also loves to play his game system like any other little boy. His and his Dad's favorite is Lego Star Wars. Both are counting the days until Lego Indiana Jones.

Jared was recently baptized and when you ask him how it was he will tell you it was cold. Leading up to it he was telling everyone how warm it would be. He was baptized by his Grandpa Lee whom he loves very much.

Jared is also a wonderful help to me. At times I wonder if I ask to much of him. He looks after his two little brothers very well and I am sure he will be close and love his brothers even when he gets older. Somedays are better than others of corse. But it gives me such a warm heart when I see them playing their little games together and laughing with each other.

We are trying to teach the boys how to manage their money and so we have come up with a system called Secret Missions. After their daily living and chores are done each day they all have an opportunity to earn Secret Missions. For doing extra things that Mom & Dad ask of them. Each Secret Mission is worth a quarter and each payday we all count the money they have made and put aside the tithing and 50% into savings. Then they have the rest to spend. I am super impressed with Jared. He has a goal to buy a Planet Hero toy and he has been saving for a few months and I think he is very close to being able to afford it. Dallin's goal is a donut each week. :o) The difference between 5 and 8 is enormous some times.

The other day in the car while we were talking about Easter, and Spring Day. (We decided to do Baskets and plastic eggs and such, on a different day other than on Easter and we call it Spring Day.) Well as we were explaining that Easter is a celebration of Jesus Christ being Resureccted and not Rabbits, Aaron asked the boys if Jesus had a rabbit, Jared with all sincerity said " Yeah, He has our dead rabbit, Daffodil" Our rabbit died a few years back. Jared is very sensitive about death, he misses the pets that have passed on and can not wait until Jesus brings them back so they can all live with us.

Jared is also excited to be a Cub Scout. We have our very first pinewood derby comming in April and he is having a great time building his car with Aaron. (Pictures comming soon) Each Wednesday he goes to scouts and has such a great time being with other little boys his age with the same sence of humor and energy. He looks so handsome in his blue shirt and neckerchif.

We feel so blessed to have Jared in our family, he is an absolutely wonderful little boy.