An Adam Story

Yesterday I was at the mall with my Mom, sister Katy and a friend from out of town. Adam loves to check out the Disney Store (he calls it the Disneyland Store) and Build-a-Bear. Aunt Katy graciously agreed to take Adam to "the bear store" while I looked around for a while. When they came back Katy was dying of laughter! She said Adam ran into Build-a-Bear, grabbed a bear and ran for the stuffing machine saying, "Katy let's make a bear!!" Now mind you-we have never purchased anything from this store, so I have no idea how he knew what to do.

Katy then told Adam that they couldn't put stuffing in a bear because it costs money. She asked Adam, "Do you have any money?" To which he replied, "No-but you have money Aunt Katy!". Katy told him that she didn't have any money and then asked Adam what he thought they should do. Adam thought for a moment and then his face lit up and he shouted, "PA HAS MONEY!!!" (Pa would be my Dad.)

We got Adam out of the mall without any fits by reminding him that he needed to talk to Pa about money. 2 hours later when my Dad got home, Adam threw his arms around him and said, "Pa, do you have any money?!"

He was lucky enough to spend the night at my parents house last night and when my sister went to check on him he said, "Aunt Katy, I dreamed that Mommy and Ma and Tami were at Deseret Book and we went to the bear store and Pa gave me money."

Perhaps we will be visiting Build-a-Bear sometime soon-if Pa can give me some money:)

Look Out Texas!!

My little Mattman left the MTC and headed to Texas this morning. While he was waiting for his flight he called my Dad, my Mom and me!! I was so happy to talk to him for a few minutes. He said he is so happy to be out of the MTC and was excited to see "real people". He said the MTC has been like living in the movie, "The Best Two Years". He said they even argue about how to pronounce "Books of Mormon". Or is it "Book of Mormon's"? He has leaned the correct way is "copies of the Book of Mormon". (My siblings will be grateful to know that.) He said his Spanish was pretty good, but as soon as people start speaking back to him in Spanish, he is in trouble.

Adam got to say hi and told Eric, "I got to talk to Uncle Matt on his mission!" Matt will be staying in the mission home tonight. He said the Mission President would be taking them to the temple today and then tomorrow he will be getting his companion and sent on his way. He sounds so grown up-it makes me sad. I know he will be an amazing missionary! Good Luck Mattman!!

Week in Review

This has been a busy week and I thought I better get this recorded. Last Wednesday I had a jewelry party and Adam and Annie had fun playing together while the mom's played with jewelry. When everyone left Adam had to show me what they had been up to. Every toy we own had been piled on Tessa's dresser. Lucky me!
On Thursday after lots and lots of rain we saw Joseph at the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Adam loved it!! He has been singing "Go Go Jo" all week and we listen to the cd all the time. Tessa wouldn't take her eyes off the stage. Grandma Wanlass would be so proud!

Yesterday was $2 Tuesday at Thanksgiving Point so we took the kids to the Dinosaur Museum. Adam went crazy!! We could hardly keep up with him. Before his nap he got our shoes out so we would be ready to go as soon as Daddy was done with work. This is what I found-too cute!

Everything amazed him!

Checking out the "Long Neck"

AAAGGGHHH!!!

This shark was his favorite! We spent like 15 minutes just looking at it-he freaked when we made him leave it!

Tonight we just get to stay home and I am so looking forward to that!

5th Anniversary

I can't believe 5 years has come and gone! I didn't think it would be possible to love someone more 5 years later than I did on my wedding day. We may have a crazy life, but it's a wonderful one and I wouldn't want to experience it with anyone else! Thanks for an amazing weekend! I love you to a hundred million pieces!~ August 14, 2004~

~2005~

~2006~

~2007~

~2008~

~2009~

....and many more years to come!

How We Roll

This past week and a half has been challenging for us when it comes to vehicles-to say the least. We have had (between both cars) a flat tire and bent rim, been rear ended, clutch problems so bad that the car cannot be driven and a huge crack through the windshield. Something new has happened to our cars every other day. It has been beyond frustrating and expensive! So, I am car-less. This is how we get around town. Today we went to the grocery store (which is luckily only about a mile away) to get Tessa her big girl milk! Hopefully before next weekend both cars should be fixed-keep your fingers crossed for us!

Tessa Turned One!

We had a great weekend celebrating our Tessa Boo's first birthday! I can't believe that a year has gone by-so much has happened to us in a year! We had our families over on Saturday for a party and had a little party of our own Sunday evening. Adam was upset that people didn't come over on Sunday to sing Happy Birthday with us. I told Eric that her birthday party was my victory lap. There were many nights the first couple months of her life where I would be up most of the night, every night trying to force feed her and then pump for over an hour to get milk for the next feeding. Once I was done pumping, it was time to eat again. Those were our days-pump, eat, pump, eat, etc. Some days (and especially nights) I didn't think I could do it anymore. I would tell myself to plan her first birthday party to help me focus on something else and help me remember why I was doing what I was doing. It was difficult and something I hope to never have to do again-but for you Tessa, I would do it all over again!!The top of the cake was supposed to be a party hat-my icing wasn't stiff enough to do what I had originally planned and I was too tired to be a perfectionist-she liked it anyway. Banana cake and Lion House buttercream icing-probably the best cake I have made! It was good!!
The past year was a hard one, especially when Tessa was so sick. Thanks to lots of love and support and a loving Heavenly Father who helped me make it through the tough days, we all survived! We put a picture up for every month throughout this past year to see her progression. Her pictures from the first couple months of her life are so sad to look at. Aunt Angel was a huge help to us during those weeks-I don't think she will ever know how much we appreciate her help, her advice and her calming reassurance. Thank you Angel!

Tessa and Ellie attempting a game of "go fish"

She got a lot of loot-but her dolls were a favorite! She loves giving her babies "loves".

She wasn't sure about her cake. I think the mass of people staring at her kind of freaked her out. Once she got going she loved it! I think she had a tummy ache last night.

She got a little pony- I don't think she got to play with it until early Sunday morning while Adam was still sleeping. It was a hit with all the kids!

Adam and Ellie were her candle blowing helpers

Aunt Dee sent her some purple rain boots-as you can see, she loves them!

Singing happy birthday Sunday night-she still had half a cake to pick atModeling her new nightgown

Happy Birthday sweet girl! You are too cute for words and such an important part of our family!We can't wait to watch you grow up. But do us a favor and do it slowly!! We love you!
Mommy and Daddy

The Final Can!

Last night we opened Tessa's last can of formula! She should be able to start on cow's milk next week and I cannot tell you how happy that makes me!

Road Trip!

Our family vacation this year consisted of a road trip back to Idaho with my parents and little brother. We left about 7:30 in the morning and we got home around 11pm. It was a long day, but a lot of fun! We drove through northern Utah and made lots of stops along the way. Our first stop was through the fruit loop. Near Brigham City there are quite a few fruit stands out by the highway this time of year-thus the name "fruit loop". We randomly stopped at this stand to check out the prices and later noticed that it was called "Nielson's". So of course we had to take a picture! Our next stop was in Brigham City to visit the grave of Lorenzo Snow-the 5th president of the church.

The sweet lady I work for grew up in a small town in southern Idaho. We went by her family ranch-it was white when she was growing up. Her daughter-in-law just opened up a small cafe in their little town, so we went there for a yummy lunch.




We stopped at the ice caves-Eric loved them because they were so cold! He said if he had been a pioneer he would have settled in the cave!

I think Eric, Andrew and my Dad were the only ones who ventured into the caves-they were pretty dark and Adam said it was too scary!

We went to Soda Springs to see the geyser-we were less excited about it once we found out it was man made. Adam was still amazed by it, so the stop was worth it.

Living in Idaho is kind of a blur to me, but I do miss the beautiful blue sky and giant clouds!

Checking out the geyser

While in Soda Springs we went to have a taste of the natural "soda" water. Adam filled his cup, took a drink, made a face, said, "No thanks!" and dumped his water back in the spring. It was hilarious!

After driving through beautiful country, a quick visit to Bear Lake, a stop for a famous raspberry shake and a drive through some beautiful canyons, we stopped at the famous Maddox restaurant for some dinner before heading home. It was a long day, but a fun one! I love road trips!