watermelon

For Easter my mom gave Dennis some watermelon seeds to plant in his garden. He is proud to report that he did in fact plant them and watched them grow. Yesterday, we decided that our watermelon wasn't growing anymore. So we picked it!It just happened to be ripe!
Dennis LOVED eating his little watermelon. It was so soft and delicious-it just melted in your mouth.
Thanks Grandma!

first week of the new school

Dennis finished his first week at his new school! We totally love it. UCCC (university city children's center) Everyday when I pick Dennis up I am so happy and impressed with how they run this daycare. I can already tell a difference in the way that Dennis acts. He is much more confident and comfortable with who he is. I love it.

One day when I picked him up all the other children were washing their hands getting ready for snack and Dennis was still sitting on the rug with his teacher Ms. Terri totally focused on getting his sandals on all by himself. Ms. Terri just sat there patiently until he finished. There was no rush. He didn't feel incapable. And, he did it! He didn't even know that I was there until he was done. Ms. Terri didn't want to interrupt his concentration. I love that.

Another day when I picked him up everyone was getting ready to go outside and the one's still wearing diapers from nap had to get new diapers or get underwear on. So those kids were told to go get a new diaper from their cubby. Then they went into the bathroom (with little toilets!). She told them to take off their old diaper! Then she helps wipe or whatever... Then they put on their own new diaper and clothes! All by themselves! This is exactly up Dennis' ally. He is thriving.

I love the fact that it is always a positive atmosphere. Even when kids are being punished, they don't yell at them, they talk about it. They promote kids to control themselves and their emotions in a way that doesn't embarrass or degrade them.

We are happy. :)

Big News

We are going to have another kid. I am 11 weeks pregnant and hoping to feel better soon. The symptoms of this pregnancy have been much worse than with Dennis. I think we are all ready for 1st trimester to be over. Since I am so sick, we thought that maybe it would be twins. That was a great excuse to go into Kevin's work and get an ultrasound. At only 9 weeks we got to see our little baby. Relieved to find only one healthy baby. :)

That puts our due date on Feb 28th.

According to the chinese chart it will be a boy.

According to how sick I feel it will be a girl or a feisty little boy.

I would be completely happy with either for different reasons.

I deeply apologize for using my blog to announce this but the only thing I hate worse than keeping it a secret is telling people. :)

bear lake

Going to Bear Lake is a fun tradition we have for Pioneer day every year. Ryan has a family reunion there and we love it. Of course, we spend most of our time on the boat.

Dennis wanted to go on the tube, but as soon as the motor would start he would get scared. His favorite thing to do was to go swimming and climb up the ladder. No convincing needed, he would just slip right in to the water.
Here is Ryan flipping the tube.
Dennis had so much fun playing in the sand this year with his second cousins. The made water holes with waterfalls and rivers.
Dennis' jobs on the boat: pulling in the rope, letting down the ladder and holding up the flag.
I even got out there on skis. I opted out of trying the slalom this year.
Kevin skied

Ryan skied.
Maree, Camille, Thomas & Kristen skied (not pictured). I was really bad at taking pictures this year.
Here is Kevin and Ryan on the tube.

Ryan and Kristen on the tube.
In Kaysville, Dennis LOVED jumping on the trampoline. One night it was around 10:00 when we were going to sleep and Dennis kept saying, "I want to go jump".
Night time stories from Papa
Thanks for such a wonderful trip. We had so much fun!

a few favorites

from Chrissy and Randy's blog.

Here is a picture of James trying to make a basket. He spotted this basketball hoop way out in the woods and insisted that he made some baskets. As you can see... he didn't make one. We had to make a hoop his height by cutting out the bottom of a fishing net and hooking it on the deck.
I totally LOVED this next one. At a glance it looks just like my brothers when they were little. Reed and Randy.
Dennis was such a "good" cousin. Every time James would wander too far away Dennis would go grab his hand and walk him back to us. This meant dragging him when he fell.
I also loved the fact that Dennis could cure any bump or bruise of James' by a single hug and kiss. It was an instant cure no matter how hard James was crying.

cabin trip

For the 4th of July, Dennis and I went up to Minnesota. We spent a couple of days with Randy and Chrissy before heading up to GG's and the cabin. Randy and Chrissy kept us busy with many fun activities (post to follow when I have pictures). Here we are all in the van going to the 4th of July parade in NashwaukDennis had some help collecting candy from his cousins Kyra and Caitlin. Kyra would pick two up: one for her and one for Dennis. Every time candy would come around he would just turn to her for a piece instead of trying to get one himself. I say that's resourceful.
Here's the loot.
Here is Grandma with two of her grandsons: James and Dennis. My dad likes to remind me of a funny news broadcaster when he was young whose name was Dennis James. Funny coincidence.
Dennis sure loved the sauna this year. He loved the fact that he could throw water wherever he wanted.

Dennis loves his grandpa Ron.
We (Chrissy) hung the hammock up and it was a hit. Everyone really enjoyed laying out by the water. The weather was perfect and there weren't any bugs! Ideal conditions for the cabin. We got lucky.


Dennis always loves the water. His first time in the water he took off (with a life jacket) out to the raft and back all by himself without seeing anyone else do it first.
He also caught his first fish. He was pretty proud.


It was sure fun to see Dennis and James get to know each other better. They became pretty good friends by the end of the stay.

10 pennies

cheap child labor has begun in our house....

...so has paying tithing. Dennis has 3 pennies that he is going to give to the bishop tomorrow. :)