Utah's Snowy Mountains
Here’s some pictures of Utah’s snowy mountains with my iPhone......(these may or may not have been taken while driving ;)
Austin's a Sunbeam!
I realized I haven’t been taking very many photos of me with the kids, (and for some reason I thought when I was sick and hadn’t showered for three days would be an opportune time)....ha! ha! Anyway, Austin is getting so grown up and is now in Sunbeam class at church! The first week wasn’t so bad because Bryan and I were asked to substitute his class, but last week I stayed with him for the first hour during Sharing Time. I then told him I had to leave when he went to his small class, though, because I had to play the piano in Relief Society. He started crying and did not want me to leave, and wanted to come with me. So I had to hand him over to the teacher to make my escape. All through nursery I had to hand him to one of the nursery teachers so I could leave, and a few minutes later he would be fine. I am hoping today when we go to church, and with a bribery of Tic Tacs, he will go to the entire thing himself. What a cute boy he is!
Read All About It!
Bryan just had an art piece he did, advertising Dynalite equipment (one of his sponsors), published in the February 2011 issue of PDN Magazine, which is the premier photography magazine in the U.S. This is just an image shot with an iPhone of the spread, (page 28). You can find this magazine at any major bookstore, like Barnes & Noble or Borders. I don’t think he’s posted this picture to his blog, but some of the behind the scenes are here. This was quite the production shot because they flew him to Harlem, New York, for the backdrop, and the people were shot in studio here in Utah. Two of the people in this image are my dad, one is Bryan's Aunt, and the others are models.
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| And here is the silly cover of the magazine so you can find it when you go to the bookstore. Just look for the guy wearing ballet shorts, at least I think (and hope) he is! |
Arete Gymnastics
The other day we went to Areté Gymnastics. They have one play hour during the week where they open it to the public to come in and play on their equipment. I’ve been wanting to sign Ethan up for gymnastics, but every time I bring it up he says, “No, I’m shy. I just want to do it around the house.” :) He seriously does gymnastics all over the house and that’s why I’ve been wanting him to try it! I’m hoping that since he had so much fun here, he might want to try it. My next step is to take him to just watch a class. Everything has to be baby steps with him, so we’ll see. I really want to bring Bryan here and see what he can do, since he did gymnastics for like 10 years. The boys had a blast, especially in the foam pit. Here’s a few videos and pics of our fun time.
The little girl in pink is Austin’s friend, Grace. It’s my friends daughter and they get along pretty well. They sit and read stories together at Grace’s house and sing made-up songs. Ethan kept jumping into the foam pit over and over. They were really sad when the hour was up and it was time to go. Here’s me with the boys, and my friend Ingrid with her kids. There was so much chalk in the air the pictures didn't turn out that great, and I think my camera isn't working properly anymore.....or I just don't know how to take pictures! :)
Trials Come in Clumps
We have had quite the couple of weeks! All is well now and we made it through in one piece!
On Christmas day I thought it would be fun to wrap up a present of a little baby and let the boys open it to let them know we were having a new addition to our family. Saying they were excited is an understatement. From the time I told them, until the time I miscarried on the 29th of December, they were talking nonstop about the baby and asked me every 10 seconds to “see the baby” and wanted to get it a look at my expanding belly! This pregnancy felt different than the others, though, and the whole time it felt like something wasn’t right. The day before I miscarried I went to the doctor and actually got to hear the baby’s heart beat and have an ultrasound. I was about seven weeks along.
Before this happened, Bryan had been doing some follow-up appointments with his doctors for his thyroid cancer, which he has to do yearly to make sure nothing comes back. His scan was clear, but his thyroglobulin level wasn’t where it was supposed to be, and then when they did an MRI on his neck they found a growth on a lymph node. He talked to several doctors and we finally decided on doing a biopsy. What’s crazy is Bryan used to get awards for never missing a day in school, and never had a health issue, (other than the self-inflicted skateboarding injuries), before we was married. Last week he had three different appointments for different things, one of which he now will be having surgery for because of some scar tissue buildup from a skateboarding injury back when he was a sponsored skateboarder over 15 years ago!
During that week of appointments, Ethan came down with the flu the second day back to school. Ethan is a skinny boy and has always struggled to stay on track with normal weight for his age and height. (This is getting longer than I had planned), but in summary he couldn’t keep anything down, even sips of water I was giving him every 5-15 minutes and he was showing signs of dehydration. He ended up back at the hospital on outpatient observance while they gave him an IV. Because this had just happened in April and he ended up in the hospital as well, they wanted to do some blood work and check some things, which so far all look great, but they do want to double check his weight and urinary acids to make sure he still doesn’t show as chronically malnourished. The poor guy got poked with needles about 5 times, not to mention the original IV that they couldn’t get in because he was so dehydrated. He was a brave kid, and originally he was excited to go back because he remembered all the popsicles he was allowed to have and the blanket and toy they sent him home with! Before Ethan got sick, the bishopric of our church called Bryan and asked if we could give talks in church that coming Sunday. We have been in this new ward for seven months and hadn’t been asked yet, so after being given the topic of, “Gratitude in Our Trials.” we ended up writing our talks while hanging out with Ethan in the hospital.
On Christmas day I thought it would be fun to wrap up a present of a little baby and let the boys open it to let them know we were having a new addition to our family. Saying they were excited is an understatement. From the time I told them, until the time I miscarried on the 29th of December, they were talking nonstop about the baby and asked me every 10 seconds to “see the baby” and wanted to get it a look at my expanding belly! This pregnancy felt different than the others, though, and the whole time it felt like something wasn’t right. The day before I miscarried I went to the doctor and actually got to hear the baby’s heart beat and have an ultrasound. I was about seven weeks along.
Before this happened, Bryan had been doing some follow-up appointments with his doctors for his thyroid cancer, which he has to do yearly to make sure nothing comes back. His scan was clear, but his thyroglobulin level wasn’t where it was supposed to be, and then when they did an MRI on his neck they found a growth on a lymph node. He talked to several doctors and we finally decided on doing a biopsy. What’s crazy is Bryan used to get awards for never missing a day in school, and never had a health issue, (other than the self-inflicted skateboarding injuries), before we was married. Last week he had three different appointments for different things, one of which he now will be having surgery for because of some scar tissue buildup from a skateboarding injury back when he was a sponsored skateboarder over 15 years ago!
During that week of appointments, Ethan came down with the flu the second day back to school. Ethan is a skinny boy and has always struggled to stay on track with normal weight for his age and height. (This is getting longer than I had planned), but in summary he couldn’t keep anything down, even sips of water I was giving him every 5-15 minutes and he was showing signs of dehydration. He ended up back at the hospital on outpatient observance while they gave him an IV. Because this had just happened in April and he ended up in the hospital as well, they wanted to do some blood work and check some things, which so far all look great, but they do want to double check his weight and urinary acids to make sure he still doesn’t show as chronically malnourished. The poor guy got poked with needles about 5 times, not to mention the original IV that they couldn’t get in because he was so dehydrated. He was a brave kid, and originally he was excited to go back because he remembered all the popsicles he was allowed to have and the blanket and toy they sent him home with! Before Ethan got sick, the bishopric of our church called Bryan and asked if we could give talks in church that coming Sunday. We have been in this new ward for seven months and hadn’t been asked yet, so after being given the topic of, “Gratitude in Our Trials.” we ended up writing our talks while hanging out with Ethan in the hospital.
We should have taken a picture before his IV. Here his cheeks look nice and rosy, but before he was so pale!
Back to Bryan....I really think he should blog his Seinfeld-like day of doctor’s appointments, because it really is a funny story, but for now I will just let you know the end results. His biopsy was painful and mostly just grossed him out because he could feel them searching around his neck with the needle and then he could look up on the monitor and see it with the ultrasound. The growth was so hard, they couldn’t even get a sample, even after the doctor was seriously using all his muscle to push on it with the needle. I guess for now it’s good news because his doctor thinks we should just watch it, and that it may just be some calcification from his original surgery when they removed his thyroid. Other than the surgery he has scheduled for the end of this month to remove scar tissue from his urinary tract and his recovery time for that.......we are doing well! I am really actually grateful for the opportunity we had to prepare and give talks at church, especially on the topic we were assigned. Maybe that’s what helped me keep a better attitude, as I realized we have so many blessings, and I feel there are so many people that go through so much more than we ever have. I am truly grateful for all the trials that have come into our life, because I know that they help us grow and become better people.
Frozen Utah Lake
Bryan took the boys sledding while I finally took down all the Christmas decorations. They had a blast sliding down Bryan’s snowboard together over by Utah Lake. The lake was so frozen there were a lot of people out there ice fishing. The boys got to walk out on the lake with Bryan, which scares me and I didn’t know they had done it until after.
Christmas Was Here!
Here are some of the things we've been up to during the holidays.....
Niven Christmas Family Home Evening.....
Ethan loves Bryan’s cousin Lachelle. Whenever we get together he follows her around. She’s really cute with him and even sent him a Christmas card she drew of “The Nightmare Before Christmas”. He keeps telling people he has a teenager for a girlfriend, ha! ha!
We had a fun time sharing talents, singing carols, and enjoying yummy food.
On Christmas Eve the boys got new pajamas.....
And thanks to our amazing families our tree had TONS of presents under it.....
Free Macey’s Christmas activities....
Niven Christmas Family Home Evening.....
One of the boys favorite things during Christmas now is the Lego Advent Calendar. Thanks Jeff & Barbara!
The last two years we spent Christmas in California with Bryan’s parents. This year was the first time we celebrated Christmas Eve with our little family, but then on Christmas my sister Jamie invited us over for dinner with my grandparents, twin sister Tara and her husband Matt, Tara’s kids Gavin & Bailey, my brother Jake, and Jamie’s family. Sadly, Bryan got sick on Christmas Eve and wasn’t feeling too hot during the holiday.
The last two years we spent Christmas in California with Bryan’s parents. This year was the first time we celebrated Christmas Eve with our little family, but then on Christmas my sister Jamie invited us over for dinner with my grandparents, twin sister Tara and her husband Matt, Tara’s kids Gavin & Bailey, my brother Jake, and Jamie’s family. Sadly, Bryan got sick on Christmas Eve and wasn’t feeling too hot during the holiday.
On Christmas Eve the boys got new pajamas.....
And the boys were especially excited when I wrapped up a present of a baby and told them we were going to have a baby!
And one last picture of a note Ethan wrote for me.....
Merry Christmas!
It’s been really busy, and hopefully I will have time to catch up on my blog after Christmas, but for now I just wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas!
Ethan's School Winter Program
They used to call these Christmas programs, but now it's called a winter program. I wonder if they will start calling a Christmas tree a winter tree? ......Here are a few pics and a video from Ethan’s school program. He knew most of the words of the song, but he didn’t sing them at all! He got more into the dance, especially at the end when he got to slide on the floor!
Provo Tabernacle
The beautiful Provo tabernacle was ruined December 17, 2010 by a fire that started in the building.
I was so sad to hear that the Provo Tabernacle was totally ruined by the fire. We had been planning on going to a Christmas fireside just two days later, which they had to move to Utah Valley University. I’ve dated this entry as the date the fire happened, but it is now really January 16, almost a month later. Just the other day I drove by the tabernacle during the day and it’s just so strange how you can look right through the empty windows and see the inside of it completely broken, burnt, and ruined. So sad! I don’t think they’ve decided yet on whether they will rebuild it or what, but I am anxious to hear what they decide.
Free Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride, Riverwoods
The Riverwoods in Provo did some remodeling of their shopping mall and brought some new stores into the mix...(I’m still praying that Apple will open a store there so Bryan doesn’t have to commute so far; it would be the perfect location!) Along with their remodeling, before Christmas they had carolers from the Hale Center Theatre and free horse-drawn carriage rides. I don’t know if the word got out, because it wasn’t very crowded, but we sure enjoyed ourselves on a free family outing. I keep forgetting my camera everywhere I go, so we just have pics and video from our iPhones.
Thanksgiving Feast x 2
I had two yummy Thanksgiving Feasts this year. At Ethan’s school they had a Thanksgiving Feast and all the parents brought different foods, and it truly was a feast. There was so much yummy grub! Before the feast the kids made either a Pilgrim or Indian hat and then the teacher laid out big rolls of paper where they drew their own placemat area. Here’s Ethan’s in the middle. He's been drawing that face a lot lately.
On Thanksgiving day we went up to my Grandpa & Grandma Newman’s house. This picture is one my cousin Jenisse took in October for my Grandpa’s 80th birthday. (Hope you don’t mind I borrowed it Jenisse :)
Our family was the only representation from the Jorgensen side, but a lot of my cousins, the Decker’s, were there. It was fun to visit, and of course, so yummy! I have had Thanksgiving dinner at my Grandpa & Grandma Newman’s so much growing up, that all the yummy food brought back good memories of old times. My parents went down to visit Tara & Matt and stayed with Gavin & Bailey for a few days while Tara & Matt had some time to themselves. My brother Jake also went down with them. My other sister who lives in Utah, Jamie, went down to visit their in-laws in St. George, who are on a mission there. My mom is usually the one who makes all the pies, so I volunteered to bring some. I made two pumpkin pies, a sour cream apple, and then I ended up buying a pecan pie because I ran out of time. Sadly, the only picture I have from that day is on my iPhone, and it’s of all the kids when they were being silly, and of course is a little blurry as well.
I’m glad my cousin Clint had his kids there, otherwise my boys would have been the only kids. It’s much funner with cousins! Or third cousins I think! They had fun after dinner playing hide-and-seek.
Our family was the only representation from the Jorgensen side, but a lot of my cousins, the Decker’s, were there. It was fun to visit, and of course, so yummy! I have had Thanksgiving dinner at my Grandpa & Grandma Newman’s so much growing up, that all the yummy food brought back good memories of old times. My parents went down to visit Tara & Matt and stayed with Gavin & Bailey for a few days while Tara & Matt had some time to themselves. My brother Jake also went down with them. My other sister who lives in Utah, Jamie, went down to visit their in-laws in St. George, who are on a mission there. My mom is usually the one who makes all the pies, so I volunteered to bring some. I made two pumpkin pies, a sour cream apple, and then I ended up buying a pecan pie because I ran out of time. Sadly, the only picture I have from that day is on my iPhone, and it’s of all the kids when they were being silly, and of course is a little blurry as well.
I’m glad my cousin Clint had his kids there, otherwise my boys would have been the only kids. It’s much funner with cousins! Or third cousins I think! They had fun after dinner playing hide-and-seek.
Utah Valley University International Photo Contest
Bryan entered some of his Jerusalem pictures in Utah Valley University’s International Photo Contest that they have every year and won 1st prize! They have all the winning photos on display in the International hall at UVU and he won a gift certificate to Allen’s Camera. Good job Bryan!
Fieldtrip Fun
On November 5, Ethan got to go to the Scera Theatre to see a play about a dragon. I didn’t take any pictures, but had to share Ethan’s conversation with the girls in our carpool. The teacher asked us to drive two girls who are identical twins. They look so much alike, and they are adorable. Ethan is usually pretty quiet until he warms up and gets to know you -then he doesn’t stop talking! I was surprised as we got into the car and the first thing he said out loud was, “I’m so lucky, I get to sit next to a pretty girl!” The girl blushed and smiled and from then on the conversation was just hilarious. I wish I had recorded it! On our way back from the play and dropping the girls off, the girl sitting next to him exclaimed, “I’m going to remember this day forever.” Then she told him when she grows up she is going to marry him, (she’s only five)! They got kind of silly and started saying all the people/things they were going to marry, and then Ethan said to them, “Well I’m going to marry both of you!” Maybe you had to be there, but I thought it was so funny. The next day the mother of those two girls came up to me and told me that last night at dinner her daughter told the whole family, “Today I met my prince.” So now every time Ethan sees these girls they smile at him; they even smile at me and are excited to see me because I’m Ethan’s mom. Too funny!
