Jackson's blessing

Sunday we blessed our little baby. He was so sweet and good the whole day. I really couldn't have asked for a more perfect day. You always think of the worst happening- screaming through the blessing, having a blow-out, etc. but it was a fabulous day. Since all of my family was in town for my Grandma's funeral they were all able to attend Jackson's blessing as well. It was SO awesome to have all 3 of my brothers in the circle as well as Mike & Trent. It made me so, SO happy. Sean did a great job on the blessing as usual. I am so grateful for him.

The man of the hour- I loved his little outfit. (So glad I found it!)

My youngest and oldest.

How did I get so lucky?!

Our little family.

It's crazy to think in 8 1/2 years this is what we have become.

I think they are all the best.

Ryan & Jackson on his big day.

Ryan and I have always been really close. We rec'd our mission calls on the same day and entered the MTC on the same day. I hold a very special place in my heart for him and I love that Jackson has his name. If he grows up to be just like his uncle Ryan he will be an amazing man. Love you Ry!

My family: Jared, Brent, Mom, Me, Jen, Ryan, & Julie

My sisters

How lucky to get a sisters picture taken twice in 2 months. It is rare that we are all together and now we have been last month for Jacob's blessing in Denver and this month.

Katie, Jared, Cayden and Jacob.

We love hanging out with them!

Silly J-man.

My cute curly haired boy!

Grandma Shayla and me.

She is such a sweet Grandma!

All my siblings again

I think we have a picture just like this when Brent was leaving on his mission. I think we were even in the same formation. I should find that picture. I just love them.

Grandma and Jackson.

What a good looking pair!

Jen and Julie

Trent & Sherra

They are such a great aunt and uncle to our kids. We love them!

Grandpa & Grandma Dunroe

So sweet! I love this picture.

Jen & Jayson.

He said to her " Jenny, I love you!"

He sure does!

Jen & all my kids (minus Jackson).

Can you believe that she was sick all day- throwing up. You could never tell. She is amazing!

Grandma Shayla & Jackson

He sure loves those kisses!

Sean's family

Sean, me, Mike, Shelly, Jackson, Grandma Shayla, Grandpa Tom, Sherra & Trent

Sean's mom and dad and siblings that came (Shane, Sharla and Shantelle weren't able to make it).

I really could not have asked for a better day. Our sacrament meeting was at 9 so we came back to our house afterwards and had a brunch. We made breakfast casseroles, sticky buns (Gracelyn brought those), butterscotch rolls, fruit, fruit dip and mini croissant sandwiches. I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart to all who came to be with us on this very special day. You have no idea how much you all mean to me. I am very grateful to my Heavenly Father for all the blessings in my life. There are too many to list, but I definitely am blessed. I hope my little Jackson feels loved too. He is a sweetheart!

**Now, we are trying to get back to normal, every day life. This week we get to see Ashley, Hooray!**

Grandma's Funeral

Friday were the services for my Grandma. Everything turned out so lovely, except for the snow storm that started right as we left the funeral home to the grave site. It did the same thing for my Grandpa's services in September when it had been beautiful the whole week before. I guess they really wanted us to remember it! It was so amazing to have all 5 of my brothers and sisters there. I was so excited to see them all. Jen came the farthest from Georgia! I love them all so much. My mom spoke at the funeral and did a fantastic job. She is an amazing speaker. Poor Sean had to deal with Jayson in the hallway during the funeral and then had to hurry home and change his pants because he had an accident. What a stinker! My grandma looked beautiful and seemed so peaceful in the casket. I am sure she is hard at work on the other side already. We love you Grandma!

My mom & all my siblings at the grave site

The flowers were so beautiful & colorful

My grandma & grandpa's 7 children: Larry, Leslie (my mom), Richard,Karl, Cathy, Annie, & Paul. What a good looking group.

4 of my awesome siblings during the viewing- Brent, Ryan, Jen & Julie. They are all graduates from Utah State. Jared and I are the odd one's out!

This is what it looked like at the conclusion of the services. The snowflakes were HUGE!

After the luncheon everyone came back to my house to hang out, veg and watch basketball. It was nice to just be with everyone and catch up and watch the uncles entertain all the kids. My kids loved every minute of it!

Ryan & Jackson. He is so cute with the babies.

Cute Katie and Jacob just chillin'

A little chicken match

Jayson & Cayden were so cute together. They are only 5 months apart.

We put Jackson & Jacob together in the crib and turned on the mobile. I can't wait until they can grow up and play together. They are only 1 month and 3 days apart. ( I love Jacob's face in this picture! He always has a smile to share. What a cutie)

I am so grateful that we could all be together! It was a day to remember.

The start of a Fabulous weekend

Thursday I was able to join my mom and her 2 sisters, Cathy and Annie, Karl's wife Kathy, and my 2 cousins Tonya and Kaylie to dress my Grandma's body. I remember how special that was to do my Grandma Linton's so I am grateful that I was able to be there for both my Grandma's. It is such a humbling, spiritual and reverent experience. I loved to see her body as they covered it in her temple robes. She looked so beautiful and peaceful. I am glad that I was able to be there.

Afterwards we went to El Matador for lunch. I love that place. Then we headed to Costco to pick up all the food for the funeral the following day and I am so glad that I went. As we started walking down the aisle I saw my blogging friend, Lynette. I feel like I have known her for years, yet we have never met in person. I have loved reading her blog everyday for years and the day came when we finally met. It's crazy that it hasn't happened before because we seem to go to the same places and she really doesn't live that far away from me. Anyway, I got to hug her and her two sweet girls, Madelyn and Izabel. I just couldn't get enough of them. It made me smile all day and I can't wait to talk to her again. She is an awesome, BEAUTIFUL, amazing person and mother. Really, she puts us all to shame :) It was a great start to an amazing weekend!

2 months

My sweet little Jackson is 2 months old already. He is such a love and his smiles and coo's make me so happy. He fits perfectly into our family and his mommy's heart. I just can't get enough of him.
I took him to the dr. on Monday. He had to get 2 shots and 1 oral vaccine. They were out of 2 of the vaccines he needed so we have to go back next week when more become available. The night he got shots he screamed from 1 a.m. to 7 a.m. It was so sad. He was totally inconsolable and it broke my heart. I hated to see him like that. I haven't ever had a baby react to shots (assuming that's what it was). Anyway, he is back to my angel baby now--thank heavens! We are blessing him this weekend and I am so excited, especially since all of my siblings will be here due to my grandma's funeral on Friday. It will be a special day. We will miss Sharla and Shantelle from Sean's family though!

Here are Jackson's stats from the dr.:
weight: 10 lbs. (barely) 24%
height: 23.1 inches: 30%
head: 17%

He is growing, but not too quickly which I am grateful for. I am trying to enjoy every second I have with him.

Goodbye Sweet Grandma

On Friday, March 19, my sweet Grandma B. finished her earthly journey and had a grand reunion with my Grandpa, her parents, and many others on the other side.

She was such a sweet grandma, and always loved to hold my hand or give me hugs and kisses. For the past few years, she has been living in a nursing home. It was fun to see her sweet smile when we would go, but her mind was not complete anymore so she didn't recognize us, but I hope she felt our love even though she didn't remember our names a few minutes after telling her.

That isn't the way I remember my Grandma, however.

I remember being so excited to go to her home in California on vacation.
I loved their home in Utah as well.
I loved to go and look at her flowers that she grew. She always had beautiful flowers and shrubs.
I loved how Grandma would always try to feed us and if we would refuse she would giggle and 30 seconds later you would be eating :)
When I was up at Ricks College I would come down and stay with Grandma and Grandpa for the weekend. I always felt loved and safe when I was around her.
She had a way of smiling with her eyes.
She loved to tell the stories about each of the Hammels in her cabinet.
Her house always seemed like a home because she took such pride in it.
I remember her dog, Sarah who she LOVED.

My grandma would often watch Tayler for me when she was little and I was cleaning houses. She always took such good care of her and I knew that I could call her whenever I needed help.

There are many, many things about my grandma that I will always remember.
Until we meet again, I love you GRANDMA!!

My little Tay

(sorry about the horrible picture, it's all I could get)

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Yesterday we went to support Tay as she presented her research project on Dolphins and her Diorama to her class. She did such a great job. I was so proud of her. Now her classmates know all about the bottle-nosed dolphin. Way to go Tayler.

Man, where have I been?

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First off, I have to give a plug for my sister in law, Ashley. She does an AmAzInG job at making cards. She has made many for our family and we have loved them all. She did Rylee's birth announcements and they were absolutely perfect. She really has a special knack so head on over to her blog-- here --and check it out for yourself. You won't be disappointed, I promise. She has awesome pictures that she has taken that you can choose from (or you can use one of your own) and from it she makes beautiful cards. I love to have homemade cards to give out to friends and family.

(just a sample.. beautiful isn't it. She travels a lot too so she captures amazing places & things)

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Yesterday we had a great visit out at Grandma's house! Thanks for letting us come out Mom. It was a very relaxing evening. Sorry it was so late when we left. "SPRINGING" forward with the time change is definitely not my favorite. It seems like your body has to get used to it for at least a week or so. I love gaining the extra hour, not losing it! I do love more daylight, however, so I can't complain too much.

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Jackson is starting to smile and coo and it just makes my heart skip a beat when he does. I love my little boy so much. He is also sleeping in 5- 5 1/2 hour intervals which makes life seem so much easier too!

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Today starts my "NO CANDY" diet. I have started loving the gym, but I need to cut out the candy (it is my weakness- ESPECIALLY Easter candy). I still will eat desserts in moderation, just not candy. One day at a time. Come on I can do it.

We have almost made it to Spring. This Saturday will be the official first day of Spring. I'm sure it will snow, but alas nice weather is just around the corner.

Have a happy week everyone!

my littlest man..

had some fun taking some shots of my liitle babe this morning after his bath. love this face!

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6 weeks old

have a great weekend everyone.

oh how I've missed you

It was good to be back last night. It has been a while.

{sigh}

I need to get this extra 20 + pounds off.

I was the last one to leave at 10:00 p.m. The only one in the whole place.

I actually wished I had more time.

I had some unexplained energy and it felt good to run.

Now I have to do it all over again today.

I hope I have that same energy again.

It does get easier right?

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** in other news, it's date night. An awesome friend Cherie, explained some time back how she and her husband would plan a date around a letter in the alphabet that they drew out that week. I thought that was a fabulous idea (and would make it fun & interesting each week) SO I made my little jar with all the letters A-Z in it. For this week, I pulled out the letter "S." We are going to the Spa and having a couples massage tonight. Doesn't that sound fun? I think we will eat at Subway beforehand. I can't wait!**

The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker

Yesterday we made hamburgers and homemade french fries for dinner. Tayler got aprons out for everyone, including Jayson. How cute is he? He loves to help us cook. Just another thing to add to his already growing resume of awesome household chores he enjoys. A special lady will be lucky one day right? But hopefully not for a very, VERY long time. ( He is definitely taking after his dad with all the things he can do, because I am extremely lucky as well).

Look at that face!

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Grillin' up some burgers

I love my boys! I really need to post more pictures of Jackson because he is growing like a weed. Why do they grow up so fast? He is still struggling with his reflux, but he is a sweet little guy and we all adore him.

Happy March Everyone. Phew, Spring is just around the corner. Hallelujah!

Diorama and Lost tooth

This last week Rylee had started asking me questions about having a loose tooth and became very curious about it. I didn't think much of her questioning until I looked in her mouth and noticed a big gap between her front teeth. I asked her to show me and very reluctantly she did. It was so loose, but she wouldn't let anyone touch it-- she is a HUGE wimp-- (I do mean that lovingly). Yesterday, Sean tried to coerce her into letting him pull it out by bribing her with a toy at the store, but she wouldn't budge on her decision to keep it in her mouth forever. This morning it was basically hanging by a thread, so we pulled it out. She was relieved when it was out, but it was quite the ordeal. Tayler was so proud of her that she made her a sweet little card. Rylee put her tooth in the special tooth box, only to loose it 5 minutes later. I hope the Tooth Fairy still exchanges an empty box for some money.

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Here's my toothless Rylee

During Tay's Parent Teacher Conference (which Sean took her too due to my newest arrival) her teacher, Mrs. A* gave them a heads up that they would have to do a Diorama and turn it in. Well Sean didn't waste anytime and he and Tay started working on it these past few days. She picked a Dolphin to research for her project.
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Here is the work in progress. They are hanging from fishing line to make the 3-D effect and notice the schools they are in, very creative babe.

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Lots of helpers

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Here is the finished product.. they did awesome.
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They had a blast working on it together. Now I know who gets to do all the Science Fair projects with the kids. Good thing they have their Daddy! ( I am diggin the Pelican on top).