Happy Happy Birthday Gilly Bear, Happy Days Will Come to You All Year

The day Gil was born I only saw him for a few moments, this picture is all I have of the first 10 hours of his life. Bob and I held him for about 5 minutes until the nurses whisked him away. He came only 2 weeks early and he weighed 7lbs.7oz. He looked like a big healthy boy, until he kept gasping for air. He had RDS and we spent the next two weeks in the NICU.
This was the first picture of his face that was taken very late that night. Bob was with him non-stop the next 15 hours. They wouldn't let us hold him because it was to stressful for him to feel touch. I cried at his little bedside for a few hours, everything was so fast and I had a hard time keeping up with all the changes. I was shocked to find out I was pregnant with him, he and Gwyn were going to be lucky to be 15 months apart. I felt so overwhelmed, I wanted him but I was hoping that it would have been at least 6 months later. I swear my pregnancy was only a few months long, the time just flew. Having him being in the NICU was actually good for me it made me stop and spend time just on him. I was then forced to look at how blessed I actually was. I fell so deeply in love with my baby boy those next two weeks.
Here is one of the pictures Staci took of him right after we got home from the hospital. She really is a great photographer.

We were in Jackson Hole, Wyoming over Gilbert's 1st birthday so here is our little celebration of his special day.
He loved his cake and smooshed it up and then ate it. Honestly the kid had 2 pieces. He got some great presents from Aunts and Uncles and grandma's and Grandpa's.
Great G-ma JB sent money for the great grand kids to buy something, these PJ's are Gil's little treat from Great Grandma. Wouldn't you agree about the saying on the PJ's?
Bob and I love this funny little boy. He does things at his own pace and seems to sit patiently through the family commotion. He doesn't love to go to anyone other than Mom or Dad but he will give you his best crinkle nose smile, but from a far. We took him to his 1 year doctor appt. and he weighed 25lbs 12oz. he was 32 inches long and his head is in the 99th percentile. He may have been fragile in the beginning but now he is as healthy as can be. Happy Birthday my little boy. We love you like crazy. Thanks for choosing us.

The Big Surprise......

I woke up on my birthday morning to find my husband had "wrapped"(LOL) my presents and had them waiting for me to open them before breakfast. My siblings and parents and parents-in-law were so kind and sent me presents the day before and I was so touched! I saved them for my birthday.

But even before that, when I got up at 5:45am to walk with Andrea and Mary Ann, Andrea had a mini cupcake and candle in it lit singing happy birthday to me. It was promising to be a great day!
During the day I had many great friends drop by to wish me a happy birthday and they were all so kind and brought really cute gifts. Mary Anne surprised me with a home made birthday cake and told me Bob had asked her to make me a homemade cake because it's been a few years that we have really celebrated! ( I felt like Bob was up to something so I figured this was it.)
Andrea showed up at my house at 6pm with a gift and then a plea to come over and see her new Boden order. She said she needed a break from her kids and that she might actually get a babysitter. (That should have been my first clue.) She and Brian were actually going to come with us out to Dinner at 7pm. On our way back to her house we dropped by Mary Ann's and saw her paint job and then I went over to Andrea's to see a lengthy show off all of the kids fall wardrobe. Although all of the her kids clothes are DARLING I kept suggesting I needed to get back to get ready to go out to dinner and finally she took me home.
I was totally surprised to walk in my house and find this Party going on! Bob had been working very hard on this all week! He got me so good. I had NO idea. He had kept in contact with Andrea and Mary Ann all week working this out. He had ordered all the food platters had Jen, pick it all up. I am sure there are things I still don't know about. Sarah had planned a game of Pictionary all things having to do with me...(let me tell you how embarrassing that is. I plan on showing up at my friends houses on their birthday to play this little game.) Let's just say Mark started every game with "it's Robyn" and it ended with some very strange pictures. ( Anne's drawing was my favorite the word was "lover" you can only imagine what she drew:)
He even went to lengths of having friends call and say that they couldn't come to dinner that night (Brit) and other friends feigning that they had forgotten it was my birthday. (Andrea is in the gray and red.)
Bob had told no one in my family about it because he knows no one can keep a secret he he he (me included). He told no one in his family, he said he was taking no chances. He was really cute and made my day...actually my week wonderful.
Poor Sarah had to deal with my phone calls all week trying to talk to her about our Friday night plans of dinner and a movie, all the while not knowing if I had any clue or not. I even had a dream that she had a Tiki pool party and invited everyone but us.
This is the cake Bob bought for the party and he had secretly devised with Mary Ann to throw me off with bringing me a cake earlier in the day, which by the way was YUMMY!

Here was the food Bob ordered and stuff friends brought. What a fabulous day! 29 looks like it's going to be a great year. I have to say I have enjoyed my later 20's more than any other time.....I am hoping my 30's can stay that wonderful too. I have been told that those are the best years! Thanks to everyone who helped (unknowingly to me). Thanks to my fun husband who is the best to me. Also thanks to my kids for making my life's journey worthwhile. What a great day!

Finally a little ballet....

Today my dream and Gwyns dream came true. Gwyn started her first dance class. She was so excited to go, all morning she kept asking, "can we go now?" About a month ago she saw a video of her cousin Miranda dancing at the age of 4yrs and she jumped up and started yelling "I need to do that! I need to dance!"
The requirements for her class is a pink ballet suit and hair pulled up. No skirts because they do dress ups while dancing. Today she was mermaid, and a princess, a mommy, and dancer, and a little girl with a teddy bear. She had no fear and danced right next to her teacher. They ended the class with a tea party and a few snacks...how cute is that.
My little princess, I have waited a long time for you.....we have sat through many soccer, basketball, and baseball games waiting for you. Your brothers both kissed you goodbye today before school and told you good luck at dance.....Tucker even told me to take pictures or video tape it. It seems we were all waiting for you. Oh, the fun you are.

gilbear moments.....

Bob has this knack of getting all of our children to just simply fall asleep on him. They wouldn't do that with me unless they were nursing or very ill.
Gil took five steps yesterday! Bob and I were shocked, he is just a little slower on the movement thing so were so thrilled. Mind you, it was with a ball in hand, and then walking to the ball.
riding his little bike...

Oh, the fun of the sandbox, moments later he did a header right on in to the sandbox.

Orange Room

Here is the latest project that we just finished last weekend...our orange study/guest room. As you can see we don't have a lot on the walls and our new couch/bed is not here yet......or in other words when I have saved up some money:)
Gwyn finds the bed and open space great for some jumping!
and to show you a little of her attitude.
crazy girl

9 Years......

This picture would be the essences of our marriage. I tend to freak out or panic and Bob calms me down. This may look like a really sweet moment, and I guess in a way it is, but our reception started out with a huge windstorm and broke some of my Bridal pictures. I was starting to freak out because it was outside and we had no alternate plan. Bob pulled me aside and used his magic on me and calmed me down.
This picture would represent another part of our marriage, the fun that we have together. There is no one who can make me laugh like Bob does...Kennan is a close second. I am always half of Bob literally and he has frequently been mistaken for a jungle gym, first while we were dating then by our 4 kids. The poor man is never left alone, there is always someone sitting, hugging, climbing, or hanging off him.
Salt Lake Temple, Bob's mom really wanted us to get married in the Mt. Timp Temple because it was in our back yard but we wanted to be married where our parents and grandparents were married. I love the SLC Temple.
Our wedding day was amazing...it rained and some people complained, but we enjoyed it. If you know me at all you know how much I love the rain. The tents worked really well, the guest umbrellas looked great in the pictures and we were surround by the people we loved most. To top of the evening we danced until 10pm in the rain and then headed to a wonderful bed and breakfast and then we flew to Hawaii!

I adore my husband. I would pick him over and over again. He is kind and gentle and makes my life very sweet. He loves me better than anyone could. He is my favorite person. Thank you love, for 9 amazing years.

P.S. Happy anniversary mom and dad! Thanks for sharing your day with us. ( I wish I had your wedding picture I would post it too.)

Back to school

This is the boys and Gwyn in front of our house ready to go to school.
Tuck in front of his 2nd grade class room. He was very nervous to have a new teacher this year. He kept telling Abe how lucky he was to have his old teacher.
This is his desk and he was glad to see his friend Danessa was sitting right next to him. She has been in his class since Kindergarten, even at his old school Coral Cliffs. on a side note, I have a funny story: yesterday we were at WalMart picking up the last of the school supplies, when a man and a woman walk up with a video camera, and ask if they can interview the boys about going back school. The boys and Gwyn line up on my car and first they talk to Abe and he says that he is excited to go back to school and see old friends and make new friends, he was totally calm, totally Abe. Then they talk to Tucker, he starts to talk, eyes closed voice cracking as if he is going to cry and says he can't wait to go back and learn new things. I was cracking up...it was like he was bearing his testimony and he was very emotional....he is such his daddy's boy. When we watched them on the local news that night he kept saying, " I was so nervous", maybe their is no film star career in his future.
Abe in front of Mrs. Feltwells 1st grade class.
He is sitting at his desk, right next to his friend and our neighbor Kyrstin.

Gwyn was ready to stay at school with the boys. She has the stomach flu and had thrown up in the night. When we got her up she kept telling us that," I want to go to school with the boys." When they got their backpacks on she had to have hers and her squeak shoes on. She thinks she is way to old. Love this little girl.

She can look so calm it's a amazing!

There is no doubt that she loves her books and will spend hours looking at books but ten minutes later every book will be off the shelf, strewn all over the playroom. She is a walking tornado!

A Schick load of fun.......

Gwyn....owning the boat, we are in for trouble!

We went boating with some of our favorite people...the Schicks. The boys Love to go boating with their buddies Bailey and Talon.

Gwyn loves Emmy and would love to escape to her house at any point during the day.

Gil didn't love the whole life jacket thing and not being able to move. Gwynnie on the other hand took advantage of this and loved on him as much as she could.

Tubing is the boys favorite past time while on the lake.

Brittany and Jason are always so fun to hang with. We are always glad to get an invitation to the lake!

Love this Quiz.....I was totally right when I said I was Emma! If you take the quiz, leave a comment on my blog who you are...

Take the Quiz here!

Little boys

The boys went home with their Nannie until the weekend.....it feels so weird without them. I changed my music because this is Abe's favorite song. He sings it in the back seat loud and proud. This is a little taste of what will be in a week and a half...school starts and my babies will be gone all day. I feel so sad, it's such an end to their little boyhood. I love having them around all day and seeing them play together. I guess I won't miss the friends coming over all day or the feeling of me never leaving the kitchen and fixing meals and treats all day. I will miss the endless chitter chatter in the back ground because it has been so quite today. Poor Miss Gwynnie, she will miss them all day too! She asked about twenty times today where her brothers were. Why can't I get time to slow down?

Help please....

I really need some good books to read!!! I have to have something fill my time until Eclipse comes out. Anyone have any good book ideas?

Sand Hollow Aquatic Center

With Miranda and Asher here we went swimming at our local pool. It was fun to see the kids jumping off the diving boards and playing in the fountains.

Gwyn loves loves loves the water! She went down this little slide and the really big slide. I swear she thinks she is at least six. Miranda kept laughing saying " she is CRAZY in the water!"

Gil HATED the pool, he cried every time we set him in it. He has been fine at other pools, but today it was just too much! Maybe it was just to cold, go figure.

Asher looking so handsome.
These next pictures are all of the kids playing in the fountains....I thought that they were fun pictures, I would really like a new camera, I would love to get the pictures I can only imagine.

Abe

Gwynnie Girl

Beautiful Miranda!

Tucker

(Mom, I left out the lovely pictures of us.)