Family Photo

Photo taken after Aubrey's blessing on Dec. 6th 2009. From left: Alina, John-David, Danny, Aubrey, Jessica, Sam

Aubrey Anne

The kids rarely see JD anymore because of his demanding school and work schedules. He's gone in the morning by the time they wake up and usually gets home at night long after they've been put in bed. I thought the kids would get a kick out of this picture of their daddy being silly eating his breakfast (early in the morning).

Fort-Making

The boys in their fort. Later that night, the fort-making evolved into a bigger fort with more blankets, which I would frequently have to fix anytime Alina got near it.

Cowgirl Hat

Alina likes wearing hats. Grandma Zimmerman gave her this one for the rodeo in Pleasant Grove a couple weeks before this picture was taken (in Lowe's). Unfortunately, we didn't have our camera at the rodeo. I had packed it in the diaper bag, so we would be able to take pictures there, but when we arrived at the rodeo, we didn't have our diaper bag. (JD thought I had put the diaper bag in the minivan, and I had thought he did!)

Bath Fun

They're all covered, so I think it's okay to post this picture. They love, love, love to play in this bathtub. Sometimes, when I can't think of any ways to entertain them after dinner (or I'm too tired to play with them), I'll throw them in the tub.

Let Us Eat Cake!

After Sam saw (and enjoyed eating) Danny's birthday cake, he became obsessed with our cake pans and birthday cakes in general. He begged me to make him a dinosaur cake for his birthday, not realizing that his birthday wasn't until September. A week after Danny's birthday, an opportunity arose for me to take a treat to a play date, so I decided I should make the dinosaur cake. You wouldn't believe how excited Sam was that I had made this cake for him. He told anyone who would listen that it was his party cake. Luckily, he didn't have a problem sharing it with everyone at the play date.

Alina's Dolls

Alina likes to carry her dolls around the house. She often puts them on a chair with a blanket and then asks them, "Bubbles?" So then I blow bubbles for her and her dolls.

Danny's Birthday

I hadn't planned to make an elephant cake until the morning of Danny's birthday when he changed his mind from wanting a double layer circle cake to an elephant. I had to make do with what candy I had on hand to decorate it. He also changed his mind about the flavor of the cake from chocolate to carrot with cream cheese frosting. Luckily, I had some shredded carrots in the freezer.







Alina is having fun playing in the arcades at Boondocks.






We took a break from Boondocks to go to Danny's soccer game.

















The kids loved the go-karts and bumper boats. Alina and I weren't allowed to go on either one. She being short and I being pregnant. For awhile in the morning, Danny got to have the kiddie go-kart track all to himself, and the workers just let him stay on the kart for a very long time.

Pictures from May

For those of you who don't already know, JD has been going to school part-time at the University of Utah to earn a Masters in Electrical Engineering. He started attending last January for spring semester. Currently, he is taking two classes this summer semester. He's been very busy with school, work, and family and church responsibilities. We are looking forward to next summer when there won't be any classes offered that he needs for his program!

Today has been a fantastic day! We can actually see sunshine--the rain has paused long enough for us to enjoy the outdoors. It was Danny's last day of kindergarten, and he had a fun activity day playing games at school. After we picked him up, we had a picnic lunch at a local park then played and played and played. I made the boys run races from tree to tree back to our car when we were done sliding, climbing, and swinging. They were so desperate for water. We stopped at a nearby 7-Eleven for slurpees, which was a very rare treat but well deserved. They had been very good, obedient, and helpful. If the rain holds off for another few hours, Danny will have a soccer game tonight at 6. More exercise and outdoor time!

Yesterday, I went to the doctor for my 24-week check-up. Our baby girl's heartbeat was thumping strongly. My blood pressure was okay, too. I can't say the same for my weight gain in the last 4 weeks. I have had too many indulgences from birthday parties, playgroups, and family get-togethers. I'll have to be better about diet in the next four weeks.

20-Week Ultrasound

This is the profile of our next baby girl! She is due on October 1st. I like to tell myself she's due on September 30th, because it sounds so much better to me. She appears to be developing healthy, so we are very happy and grateful for that. Date taken: May 14, 2009

Alina came up with this idea. She saw our neighbors over the fence being tractor pulled in a wagon, and she wanted a ride, too. She found our sled and got Aunt Angie to pull her around in it.

We're ready for church.

Valentine's Day

Danny won this candy bar at school. He was so happy about it.









Silly glasses from Grandma and Grandpa Zimmerman.













Danny's loot from school.

Swim Lessons

Just because.

They all love being together in my bedroom. More specifically, on my bed. Alina is about to beg for help to get up there.

Being Silly on the Drums

Danny's actually pretty good. He has a great sense of rhythm.