My Babies!

I’M TRYING NOT TO FORGET some of the most precious moments that come with each child. Each child is so different and each has their own unique personality and interests. I have many sweet memories. I hope that my children each realize how they are very special to me and that we can love each of our children exactly the same despite their different personalities.

TC is and will always be my trial and error child. I know it is sad that the first child has to be tested in so many different ways. I guess we have to have one to learn with. I guess I could also look at him as my teacher. He teaches me how to parent the rest of my children. He also tries to be the parent sometimes, too.

One memory of TC that I love was when he would get up from his nap, he would throw his stuffed animals out of the crib. I remember one day going in his room and sitting in the floor and throwing all of his stuffed animals right back at him. He thought it was hilarious and so we just kept throwing them back and forth at each other for a really long time.

At that same age (around 2 ½) he said the funniest thing to me that I will never forget. He used to watch Dora the Explorer. Dora has a friend named Boots that she travels with to each destination. Along the way, sometimes Swiper the Fox will steal things from them and then finding the missing item becomes a game. When Swiper the Fox steals an item he throws it into the bushes and says, “You’ll never find it now.” So one day I was sitting with TC in his bedroom floor after his bath and cleaning his ears with the Q-tips. TC grabbed one of the q-tips and threw it across his room repeating to me “You’ll never find it now.” He was such a funny kid!

My favorite memory of AJ has to be watching him get on his big wheel and riding down the hill behind our apartment in Rexburg. It just looked hilarious and I was so shocked that he would be so daring at such a young age to do that.

AJ makes a lot of funny comments and I think he enjoys making other people laugh. I can’t help but enjoy his sweet side. I love when he comes into the bathroom while I am putting my make-up on and says, “Mom, you are so pretty.” What woman would not want to hear that? Of course when he gets in trouble he sometimes tells me that I am not pretty anymore but somehow I know he won’t stay mad for long.

Dakota had the funniest position that she liked to be in. She would bend over and look at you through her legs. It always cracked me up. I think our time at night when I rock her to sleep will be a favorite memory, also. She loves to sing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.

Her funniest saying right now has to be when she sees something gross, she always says “Eeww!” Yes, I know it has been really hard to get her to talk anyway, but she does say what she needs to….Eeww!

If I ever find my picture of Kota looking through her legs upside-down,

i will post it!

My favorite memory with Jaxon is when he hugs me. He really does hug me. I have never had any of my kids give me a real hug. They always let me hug them, but it is like pulling teeth to get them to give me a squeeze. Do I stink that bad? Jaxon puts his little arms around my neck and gives me the best little hug that his short little arms can give. I absolutely love it. Right now he only says… Dadadadadada!

Last but not least, Steve. One of my favorite past times with Steve is our long walks. Our 5 hour walk around Rexburg after Thanksgiving '96, Walking around Clement Park, walking and shopping at Cherry Creek Mall, 16th Street Mall, Park Meadows Mall, Southwest Plaza Mall, Colorado Mills Mall, and Hamilton Place Mall.....Oh, and how could I forget Grand Teton Mall. I loved our walks around Buena Vista, Breckenridge, Dillon, Silverthorne, Durango, Yellowstone, downtown Denver, Walnut Street Bridge, Idaho Falls, Temple Square, Provo, and I am sure I am forgetting some great ones. I love the places we have been and can't wait to do it some more.

My favortie saying that Steve always says is, "It is better to remain quiet and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt."

I guess, I love that because I usually can't keep my mouth shut. I suppose, I remove all doubt over and over again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I still love it.