More Baby Shots!

Ready to Rumble!

"Come on Jaren, let's go!!"

TGIF

We had a busy week between running lunches to Kevin in the field as we are in the midst of seeding and spraying, heading to town, trying to get some mowing of the grass done between naps, appointments for Landen, a day of visitors, etc.... I don't know where the past week has gone?? It just seems as though it was Sunday and here Friday is upon us! Now we are going to spend the day cleaning the house and getting dinner ready for tomorrow because we are having company over after church. I am hoping that all goes well and we'll be able to get outside for a short bit this afternoon to get some of my potted plants planted. It has been sooooo warm but VERY windy here the past couple of days. I am always apprehensive about planting my pots cause it NEVER fails and we always get a bad frost or some terribly cold weather at the end of May. Maybe this year it will be different.

Yesterday we had Landen's 2 month immunizations done and the little fellow weighed in at a whole 10 lbs 12 oz!! He measured just under 21 inches long with her stick. He's gained about 3 lbs a month since we brought him home. He's a good performer!!! :) If he keeps this up he'll catch up to Jaren in no time!

We hope you all have a blessed May long weekend wherever you are. We are sticking close to home due to the busy season that is upon us.

Pictured above: My friend Lesley, her daughter Kya and Landen
Pictured to the left: Jaren and Callan having a difficult time posing for a picture!!

Happy Mother's Day to All You Special Moms!!

Tomorrow is Mother's Day, a day to show appreciation to all the hard working, loving moms out there. It is hard to believe that I am now one in that group with 2 of the most precious boys ever. Everyday I am so thankful for their health & well-being and the blessings that they bring to our family. Even though I have been quite sleep deprived for the past 8 weeks all I have to do is look into the face of my smiling infant or have a big hug from my 2 1/2 year old and all my cares and worries disappear. They depend so whole-heartedly on you as a parent and I pray that I can do my best to raise them both to be honorable men when they grow up and to show them our love and God's love on a daily basis. Motherhood is one of the most challenging jobs that I have ever had to face but it is THE MOST rewarding one that I have had!

Happy Mother's Day!!

Home is what catches you when you fall - and we all fall.

Happy 90th Birthday Grandma!

Tomorrow is my Grandma Hovland's 90th birthday. I just wanted to take a moment to honor her and share some of the memories that we have captured over the past couple of years with our photographs. I wish that I could be there with the rest of the family as they celebrate a wonderful life of 90 years. I look forward to when we go home this summer so that she can meet one of her newest great grandsons. Due to her having a stroke here in January she was unable to make the trip to come with my folks when they were here. I know she always enjoys coming out to the farm and we missed having her this year!

We were so fortunate to have Grandpa and Grandma Hovland come out right after Jaren was born. So many special memories were created during those few weeks that they spent here with us.

Grandma at Jaren's baby shower in Hemaruka.

Sharing the back seat with Kida on one of her trips to our place with my mom and dad.

August 2006




Happy Birthday Grandma! We Love You!

Visitors

Yesterday we had a visit in the afternoon from Andrea, Braxton and Paisley. It was fun to watch the boys tear around the house together and have fun. Poor Paisley wanted so badly to chase after them but to no avail as she isn't quite walking yet - just about!! She'll be a year old on the 24th of May.

Today is going to be a day spent inside because we are getting May showers outside - YEAH!!! We need the moisture for sure. Now once that sun comes out again with a bit of heat things will really begin greening up around here (we'll enjoy the green while we can!).

Jaren, Landen, Braxton & Paisley
Jaren sporting the new PJ's he got from Andrea - Thanks he loves them!
Completely wiped out after an afternoon of playing with the kids!

Growing Too Quickly

We had our "6 week" doctor's appointment yesterday at 7 1/2 weeks. Everything went really well and Landen now weighs in at 10lb 4oz and is about 21 inches long. He is sure growing and changing each day. The last couple of days he is really taking to smiling at you when you are talking to him and there is no gas or toots to follow!!! Just real smiles!! :)

The Wonder of Winnie

Since Jaren had spent a couple hours sitting in a tractor he needed to burn off a bit of energy when he got home so what better way to do that than chase bubbles blown by Winnie the Pooh. What kid doesn't love bubbles?

Thanks Sandra for Winnie, Jaren loves him and I love that he can be used outside! :)

Seeding Time is Upon Us

Today was our first day of seeding peas! Jaren was quite excited when he had seen a few tractors and drills in the field on our way home yesterday so when he found out that Daddy was going to start seeding today there was no way that he wasn't going to be involved. Once Kevin had set the drill up I took Jaren out to the field so he could spend the afternoon with Daddy.

Still such a big world around him with so much to learn

We've gotta have our lunch in our lunch box just like Daddy :)

Ready and excitedly waiting!

Babies, Babies, Babies & MORE Babies!

As mom and dad were heading north to Edmonton on Thursday, myself and the boys headed south to Calgary so that I could attend my annual dental hygiene convention on Friday. Another reason for going was because several of my girlfriends that I went to hygiene school with either live in Calgary or were going to be at the convention and 2 of them had babies the same time that we had Landen. One friend Celeste had twin girls 3 days before Landen was born and then Sara had Naomi exactly 1 week after we had Landen. So I couldn't wait to meet these newest family members and visit with everyone else. It was so neat to see all these little people that are all within 10 days of each other. I was amazed at how close all of them were in size. Landen is one lucky little boy with having such beautiful girls his own age! :)

left to right: Isabella, Ava, Naomi & Landen

left to right: Landen, Naomi and the twins; Ava & Isabella
Landen and Isabella getting acquainted
Then on Saturday night we all met at Jodi (another classmate) and Jason's house for a BBQ. We were going to go out for supper but with the thought of 4 infants and 3 toddlers it just didn't seem to be that appealing. So Jodi offered to have us over and it was a very relaxing evening for all - especially with all the breast-feeding that was happening!!!

Thanks Jodi and Jason!!!!
left to right: Sandra and Corey, Jason and Jodi (holding Naomi) and their little girl Amanda which is 3 years old
back row left to right: Kelly (Landen), Sara (Naomi), Celeste (Ava) Sandra (Jessica)
front row left to right: Jodi (Isabella), Amanda, Myself (Jaren) Leah (expecting in 3 months ANOTHER GIRL!!)

Celeste and Ava
Leah & Landen, Myself & Isabella, Celeste & Ava

Grandma Mary (Sandra's mom) & Landen

Sara, Landen and Sandra

What an awesome weekend and I can't wait to see everyone again!! Especially the "little" girls!!

Grandpa & Grandma's 2nd Week

We had another wonderful week with Grandpa and Grandma Sparks while they were here. Needless to say I have had 2 fussier boys now while at home since they had sooo much attention during the time those 2 weeks. All I heard constantly out of Jaren's mouth for the past 10 days was "Grandpa, can you play?" They headed back to Terrace last Thursday and are now safely home. Thanks again for all your help with the boys, it was nice to have the extra pairs of hands around!!

We went to Red Deer for a day and this is Jaren just relaxing on the trip home.

Our first bath together with the 2 boys - this is definitely where 4 hands are needed!!

Grandpa and Grandma with the boys
Just happy to have someone to play with ALL the time!
Landen
Jaren removing some of the snow from our blizzard with his trusty JD tractor