Utah

About a month ago my grandma got really sick with pneumonia and was hospitalized.  I hadn't seen her in about 2 1/2 years, so I thought I'd go for a visit.  My cousin was also getting married, so I was glad to be able to go and see some family and have a mini vacation with just me and Tanner.

 

Grandma Lou improved in the hospital and is now in a rehab center, working on her walking.  She is improving little by little.  She's at a great center.  She has changed a lot since I last saw her.  With her declining health, she is pretty miserable and is lonely.  I feel so bad, I wish I lived closer.  I have a cousin who goes every day and spends hours with her, she is awesome!  She has been updating every day on Facebook her progress so we can see how she is doing.  Even though Grandma is a lot different from the grandma I knew, there are little things about her that reminds me she is still my cute and funny grandma.  For instance, she might be eating her meals like a bird these days, but she finishes her dessert every time.  I can thank her for my sweet tooth.  She is lonely and sad a lot, but when she smiles and giggles a little, she is still Grandma.  She is so funny, she wasn't getting along with her roommate, so she switched rooms.  I pointed out to my brother, who is about to get a new roommate, that roommate issues never go away.  Ha!  It was funny to hear her complain about how she didn't like her roommate.

 

When I arrived one day she was getting a perm.  It was so cute.  They have a little salon, where a stylist comes in twice a week.  She was so nice, I'm glad she is being well taken care of.

 

My cousin, Danielle, got married in the Salt Lake Temple.  She was so pretty, she looked like Rapunzel.  I so rarely get to make it to family occasions, it was a real treat.

Miriam and Clayton live in Salt Lake and Kathryn came down from Idaho Falls.  She and I spent most of the weekend together.  We had a great time, it was so nice to be able to spend time together.

 

Tanner made a great travel companion.  We had a blast.

 

Before I left, Jayden asked me if I was going to see the Salt Lake Temple and if I would take a picture of it.  I missed the wedding, so Kathryn and I went to Temple Square so I could get a picture.  The kids always like to touch the temple, so I had to let Tanner touch it.

I wanted to get pictures of as many of the temples as I could for the kids, but only ended up being able to stop at the Bountiful Temple.

My high school friend and college roommate, Janean, came down to see me as well.  She married Josh's roommate, and we had the greatest time together in college.  It was so fun to see her, just like old times.

 

I spent a couple hours with my other grandparents, but didn't get any pictures there.  Tanner loved my Grandpa Mortensen, though.  He just laughed and laughed at him for no reason, and my grandpa soaked it up, it was really cute.  I also met up with my friend, Michelle, for lunch one day, who used to live here.  It was fun to catch up.  It was a really busy trip, but it was so much fun.



Spring Break

Spring Break was a bust.  We need a do-over.  But here are a couple of pictures anyway.



4 Months

Stats:

16 lbs - 60th percentile

25 1/4 in. - 45th percentile

 

It's funny how different babies can be.  When Jayden turned one he was around 17 or 18 lbs.  Tanner is just 4 months and already at 16 lbs.  He is heavy!  I'm not going to be able to carry him around much longer.

 

 

Tanner is still the happiest baby, always smiling.  He just lights up whenever someone looks at him.

He started sleeping through the night at about 3 1/2 months.  He'll sleep for 7-10 hours, and once he even slept for 12 hours.  My earliest sleeper through the night, it's awesome!

He gave up the pacifier for good, I think.  And along with that, the occasional bottle.  Oh dear.

He doesn't like to be alone.  He is usually happy to hang out as long as he is near someone.  He'll sit and stare at you, and when he catches your eye, he gives the biggest smile.
Loves music.



Letters From Jayden

A letter he mailed to us from school:

Dear Mom & Dad,

In first grade we are learning about letters.  So I am writing one for you.  This week we are geologist. How are you doing?  2 more days till Oregon! Mom, Dad, I know what to do when aliens invade!  1. Panic!  2. Run!  3. I start karate fight them.  4. Dad this is your job-get your gun out.  5. I heard that aliens melt in water.

Love,
Jayden


Letter to the Tooth Fairy:

Dear whoever takes my teeth,

Can I keep this tooth? I want to keep it because it is so small.  And I want to remember how small my tooth was.

From,
Jayden

P.S. Can I still get money?

Easter

I had some time to take pictures of the kids yesterday.  It was not a good time for lighting, so I wasn't completely happy with how they turned out, but I got a couple.  At this point, I'm happy I was able to even find time to do it.  Jayden's outfit is the same as last year, but he doesn't care.  I wasn't going to make Sidney one because I had just finished the one for my mom's ceremony and Tanner's blessing outfit, but somehow she talked me into it while we were at the fabric store.  I was up until late finishing it the night before, I have no idea how I got it done so fast.  That's why my house is not clean and I've neglected the blog, and I have an ironing pile up to the ceiling.  But oh well.  It was worth it, she loves it.  She flipped through the catalog with me to pick out a pattern.  As soon as she saw this one she was so excited because it looks like the pink one Cinderella wears that gets torn up by the stepsisters.  And of course she picked out the pinkest, shiniest fabric she could find.  I don't think I'll ever be able to talk her into anything but pink.  We were talking about how I'm her Fairy Godmother because of my costume and I made her another Cinderella dress for her Halloween costume, and now I'm the birds and mice who made the pink one.  Then I realized I'm actually Cinderella too, because I'm the one who does all the cooking, laundry, sewing, mending, and cleaning.  But where's my dress?  How is that fair?

Tanner fell asleep so I didn't get any of all the kids, but he was still handsome. 



Oregon Trip

We just spent a few days in Oregon.  My mom had a vow ceremony so all of my siblings were able to attend along with several aunts and uncles I haven't seen in years.  It was a fun trip.  The kids all did great on the flight.  Tanner pretty much slept the entire way.  The girls went for manicures one morning.  We had a barbecue at a barn where Sidney and my nieces entertained us with their music.  The ceremony was really nice.  My mom was beautiful.  We had a great time.  Being a part of the ceremony and having a nursing baby I hardly took any pictures.  I didn't even get pictures of my sister, Jessica, who was a huge help putting the whole thing together.  It was a crazy, busy trip, and I'm glad we were able to go.

 

Two of my sisters.

Nieces and Sidney.

With mom.

Sidney was a flowergirl, which she loved. Jayden was the ring bearer, which he did not love.

My brother, Clayton.

My cousin, Danielle.

The setting was beautiful.

 

We had one day to ourselves so we walked around the temple grounds.

Sidney really wanted to touch the temple. 

At one point Sidney started talking about how she had something really important to think about, so she needed to sit down and think about it.  She sat down for a minute, then got up and told us she was thinking about how she could give us service.  I'm glad being on the grounds made her so reflective, and prompted her to think about service.

 

We also drove over to Multnomah Falls.  It was a gorgeous day.  A little windy, but beautiful.