Our Fabulous Family

Johnny wants to play...

2012-01-19T21:26:00.000-08:00

Jonathan discovered a violin at Grandpa Powell's house when we were there for Thanksgiving and got to play it. He already loves music and was begging to get to play it more the whole time we were there. Lucky for him Grandpa just happened to have a little violin just Jonathan's size. So we brought it home with us and Jonathan got it as a gift for Christmas. Here he is trying it out.....As you can see he is loving it. We have a sister in our ward that has agreeed to give him lessons. We hope to get it started soon. My Grandma Dabb, Jonathan's Great-grandma was a violinist. I bet she smiles from heaven to see another grandchild take interest in the violin.

Thank you for the violin Grandpa Powell!

What do we do on Friday nights????

2012-01-19T21:14:00.000-08:00

We leave our 2 year-old unattended for five minutes. In that time he finds, opens and empties the entire contents (luckily minus the cheese powder) of a box of macaroni on his bedroom floor.

So then we give him the vacuum with the responsibility to clean it up....much to his great delight! He LOVES the vacuum!

He enlists the help of big brother....

Soon they get bored of cleaning up and just play with the vacuum...and Mommy gets left to finish cleaning up.

Moral of the story, don't leave boxes of Mac and cheese where 2 year-olds can reach them. And don't leave said 2 year-old unattended.

Introducing....Roxy!

2012-01-19T20:52:00.000-08:00

This is Roxy! Our newest addition to our household. We got her right before New Years from the shelter here in Rawlins. She was four months old when we got her. She is a border collie mix, with puppy eyes that begged to join our crew.

As you can see Daniel took to her with no problem. (I promise he climbed in to the kennel himself). Actually both boys have done really well with her. Johnny has the responsibility to feed her in the mornings, let her in and out of the house and kennel and to play with her in the yard. All of these he has taken to with joy.

Tom loves her too. He has found a new motivation to get a little extra exercise. Border collies by nature need exercise or they will get bored and cause trouble. So Tom often takes her out on her walks or runs with her in the yard.

She is really well behaved in the house.

And she loves to play with her ball....and rope and chew toys. Here she is catching a call we bounced to her midair.

Halloween

2011-11-02T19:27:00.001-07:00

Thing 1 and thing 2

Showing of their Jack-o-lantern

Adventures with Daniel AKA Curious George

2011-10-27T08:27:00.000-07:00

I decided I should share all the fun we are having with our crazy little monkey. He keeps me hopping from "son up to son down." That was actually on a fridge magnet my father-in-law gave me. Daniel can get into things faster than I can keep up so we have had to get creative on child proofing the house.
I am not always wide awake in the morning and when Danny gets up he likes a cup of milk. He often helps himself to the dishwasher where he knows he can find a clean cup. The only problem is that he gets distracted by the silverware on the door....and comes running to show me the sharp knives he found! The first of our safety measures involved rigging a locking latch on the dishwasher. One measure of sanity saved.
Next, as much as I hate to admit it, he is a garbage digger, and loves to throw things away whether they should be thrown away or not. The straw that broke the camels back: I made eggs for breakfast one morning. One of the eggs was stuck in the carton and exploded when I tried to lift it out. So I just threw away the whole carton, messy egg and all. You can I'm sure imagine what happened next. I returned to the kitchen later to find Daniel covered in egg mess, and my kitchen covered in egg mess! I called Tom and told him I didn't care how much it would cost I was buying a garbage can with a locking lid. He didn't even try to protest. A week later I was the happiest mom on the block. I love my new garbage can!!!!
I decided one day to sort through my sock drawer. I pulled it out and put it on the bed. I was distracted out of the room and when I came back I found this.

The drawer was empty of socks but full of trouble! It was one of those moments I could have gotten upset but instead decided to laugh and get the camera.
We have a habit of going to the library for story time and other activities. On Friday we went as usual and Danny was up to his usual trouble of pulling all the craft supplies out of the cupboards and screaming at me when I tried to get him to stay in the room and listen to the story. When we were getting ready to leave Johnny wanted to check out a DVD so I was helping him. When I turned around, Danny was gone. When I caught up to him he was on the elevator! By himself, headed who knows where. Luckily the janitor caught him and was holding the door open. I now understand the statement "It takes a community to raise a child." I had great empathy for the Man in the Yellow Hat" that day. And we have decided to nickname Daniel George.

This is how we go to the library now!

And last but not least, this is where I found Daniel this morning after I left him to do my hair.

I guess he decided it was a good day for breakfast in bed! Unfortunately that is my bed! Um, sticky pancakes!!!!!

What are we up to, you ask?

2011-10-18T09:16:00.000-07:00

Danny is a little parrot, and tries to repeat almost everything Johnny says and many things we say. I am amazed by how much he says. Johnny only had a few words in his vocabulary at this time. He loves it when we sing songs especially the ones with actions. He tries so hard to copy our actions.
Danny is our crazy little monkey. He is so full of energy every minute he is awake and can find trouble better than any child I know. He has mastered climbing on the table, up the cupboards, up the 5 foot high cargo net at the playground and the up back fence (to see the deer and cat on the other side). He also loves to help with the laundry and dishes. He unfolds and unloads faster than we can keep up!
He is growing like a weed as well and can wear a lot of the 2t clothes Johnny was wearing not long ago. He is about twice the size of all the other little kids his age at playgroup. I am not sure if that is just because they are all real small or if he is just really big, or maybe it is a balance somewhere in the middle.

Johhny loves to read. He can often be found reading a book to himself. Usually it is a book we have read enough that he can look at the pictures and remember the story, he then repeats as much of the story as he can remember. He also loves to sing. He is starting to sing a lot of the songs by himself. The alphabet song, Book of Mormon stories, and Popcorn popping are among his favorites.
Johnny is doing so well with his potty training. He still needs some reminding but is well on his way. He is staying dry all night long, which I wasn’t expecting yet. We tried to get him into preschool this fall but considering he is just starting potty training we decided it would be better to wait. But I am not too worried, he already knows his ABC’s inside and out and sings the song, and he can count almost to 20 (he tends to skip 14 and calls 15 five-teen). We are trying to work more on helping him recognize his full name, not just Johnny, on paper.
Johnny just had his tonsils and adenoids taken out. He has been snoring really bad and it was starting to cause him to have sleep apnea. It was a REALLY long week for all of us during his recovery. But we are glad to report that he is eating again and his pants are starting to fit again. Best of all there is only a mild purring noise coming from his room lately and even that is gradually getting more quiet as he continues to heal.

Tom is looking into taking the GRE test and then applying for a Master’s program to begin next May or Aug. He will take the GRE in the first part of November. Cross your fingers for us that he does well. He was just released from Webolos leader and primary teacher and put into the Young men’s presidency. He is excited for the new calling but slightly saddened to be leaving the Webolos as they were just starting to grow on him.

I am still working at the library a couple of days a week and trying to keep up with two crazy busy little boys. I have found a love for the books I am surrounded by at work and can often be found bringing far too many home! It can be a challenge to read with my busy role of mom but I enjoy the escape reading provides. I have been having fun trying to decide what to do with the 300 (plus or minus a few) tomatoes that we got out of our garden. I will try to get another entry with more about all that, pictures included up soon. We are also going to try making Crabapple jelly today!

For Deneice - Thanks for the additions!

2011-09-04T20:50:00.000-07:00

Deneice gave the boys the "Thomas the Train" tracks and trains that her boys had grown out of. They were quickly added to our small collection and oh what fun we have had....

Johnny's dance moves

2011-08-01T17:42:00.000-07:00

Family

2011-07-20T20:08:00.000-07:00

The Dabb Family August 2010
(missing Shauna and Alec)

The Powell Family May 2011
(missing Joe)

Day out with Thomas the train

2011-06-06T12:23:00.001-07:00

I had heard through a friend a while back about how she had taken her little boy to see Thomas the Train in Heber and thought Johnny would like that. So I asked her to let me know when she heard he was coming again. Wouldn't you know that this year he came right before Johnny's third birthday!
I am going to start with the pictures we took last because they were the best part of the whole trip! Seeing Thomas and getting our picture with him! Thomas was also giving rides that day, which we enjoyed, but while he was loading and unloading poeple could come and get pictures with him. There was a long line and we were all getting hungry by the time we were getting to the front. Over the speakers they were announcing that he was about to leave and Tom and I were crossing our fingers that we would make it that round and not have to wait for him to come back. Luckily, we were the last ones to get with him! We were getting our picture taken as he tooted his horn and started to pull away.

The boys were so excited and we had to almost drag Johnny off the track as he stood there waving and saying "Bye, Thomas!" It was so cute!

Riding the train. It wasn't a really long ride but the boys enjoyed it and had fun waving to all the people we passed. There was one guy sitting in his backyard just waving away at all the kids.

Playing with the toys beofre the ride.

Photo blog for the Grandma's

2011-06-06T11:52:00.000-07:00

The boys with their little friend Caroline, watching Baby Einstein.

We have a drip on the tap on the house that Danny discovered this weekend. Apparently he was thirsty too!

This is what Tom sees when he looks back to the house when he leaves for work in the morning.

Morning stretches!

Johnny pulled Thomas out one night and set him up only to lay down in the middle. He wasn't sleeping, just watching the train go round and round.

We have sort of a bar in our kitchen that underneath is open. It is where we store our 5 gallon buckets of flours, and sugar. Johnny and Danny have discovered it is also a great place to play. If the buckets are pulled out they are crawling through or getting in and staying to hang out. Occasionally though they will also just climb in on top of the buckets. The next few pictures are Danny showing how this is done.

Lounging!

Our little model!

Peak a boo!

March and April Pictures

2011-05-01T12:18:00.000-07:00

At the library I work at they have story time with a craft every Friday. One week the theme was about princes and princesses so all the children got to decorate crowns. Tom works on the top floor of the building the library is in so we always make a visit to Daddy after story time. Tom got some cute pictures of the boys while visiting this particular week.

Here is Johnny posing in his crown.

Relaxing in Daddy's chair.

And Danny doing what he does best, chowing down on his beverage of choice...milk of course!

Daniel has become quite the climber. We have a small table that my Dad made pushed into a corner that has windows on two sides. With his new climbing skills Daniel has found a new favorite place, on the table, looking out the window. This picture was first thing in the morning, he was catching the first morning rays of sunshine.

For Easter this year we colored eggs for the first time with the boys. Johnny loved it! He took a break from coloring the eggs to show his new imaginary magnifying glass.

Coloring the eggs before putting them in the dye.

The boys are finally getting to a point that they enjoy doing things together. Johnny will come ask Tom to "play." During one of their rounds of playing Tom showed Johnny how to give Danny a ride on his shoulders. It was several minutes of lots of giggles, despite the look on Johnny's face.

Danny loving the swing.

Johnny helping prepare the ground where we are going to plant our garden this year.

Johnny practicing on the potty. It was a dry run with reading material. ;-)

Okay so here is our one random wildlife shot. I didn't use the zoom on this picture at all. This is really how close the deer will let you get if you don't spook them .

No Sleep for Sheep

2011-04-28T09:34:00.000-07:00

There is a childrens book we got from the library that has become a fast favorite of all of ours. It is called No Sleep for Sheep. The story itself is so fun but the illustrations are what caught Tom and myself. I love it! If you can find it you should get it and love it too! Well apparently we have read it a few times and Johnny can now recite most of it wtihout the book. Here I caught him reciting parts of it. Sorry the camera is crooked I was trying to stay hidden.

The book starts out like this:

"In the big red barn on the farm, on the farm, in the big red barn on the farm....

A sheep fell asleep in the big red barn on the farm, in the big red barn on the farm.
Then there came a loud QUACK at the door, at the door, and the sheep couldn't sleep any more.

"Go to sleep!" said the sheep to the duck at the door "And please don't QUACK anymore."

It continunes as the duck quacks again and the sheep replies "Shhh! Not a peep! Got to sleep!"

Anyway I thought I better give you enough of the story so you can understand what Johnny is saying. Enjoy!

Back track and catch up

2011-04-11T13:33:00.000-07:00

In January one of the most amazing ladies I've ever known, my Grandma Dabb, was allowed to finish her journey here on earth and return to our Heavenly Father and all those beloved family members that have gone on before. One of those included a cousin of mine who passed away less than 36 hours before Grandma. It was sad to see her go but we all were greatly comforted knowing where she was going and that her life had been full and happy. I took the opportunity to make sure I got a picture with other amazing people in my life, my parents.

Here is another moment not to pass by, a picture of Dad with all of the boys. Brian, Nathan, Brandon and Darrell. They kind of look like body guards ;-)

And yet one more special picture, Dad with all his living siblings.

In February we took advantage of the long presidents day weekend to pick up a couch, and celebrate Grandpa Powell's birthday. Johnny was a great helper with the candles, he even tried to help blow them out. He needs the practice for June.

While we were in Utah Johnny made himself comfortable at Grandma Dabb's house. He fill the toy bucket with pillows and topped it with a blanket to make himself a comfy chair.

Back home we had a large herd of elk come in real close on the edge of town in February. This was only a small group of the herd. It was fun to see so many.

Remember this? Well the time came that it had to go....

Danny got his first buzz cut in February.

This is after. Really it just cleaned it up so all of it can grow in together. And one more fun picture to show off the two cutest boys I know. This was one day after church we were trying to at least change them out of their dress shirts before dinner and they weren't about to cooperate! But aren't they cute!

And the first word is....

2011-04-11T13:28:00.000-07:00

You have to listen toward the end but you can hear Danny say his first word. And he is only one year old!

Now I know my ABC's...

2011-04-11T13:12:00.000-07:00

The video quality isn't the best but it is the audio that matters. This is Johnny, not yet three years old, singing to his daddy.

Stay tuned

2011-03-23T20:51:00.001-07:00

For more pictures of January and February. I'll do more when Danny is done getting one year molars and sleeping again. Until then....Good Night!

Birthday boy and more!

2011-03-21T11:45:00.000-07:00

One year ago this sweet thing joined our little family.

And look at him now! My baby is growing up! I can't believe it, where did the last year go?

We weren't able to go to Utah to be with our families as is tradition for birthdays so we did the next best thing and invited some friends to help us celebrate. Daniel loved the cake.....

He even got into the ice cream a little.

Notice the chocolate in his belly button?!

For his birthday we decided that we have enough toys and stuff at our house so for his birthday present Daniel got a new booster seat so that he can sit up to the table with the rest of us. It does make for a little more mess (especially when he lifts up the table cloth. We are working on a plan to keep it secured down.) But He enjoys being part of the family. And it came just in time as the week after we started redoing the kitchen floor. We had to stay out for three days and had our meals in the living room the booster fit much better on the plastic than the big high chair.

Here is the new tile floor! It was a log, tiring process. We got most of the work done after the boys were in bed each night, making for 12:00am bed times for me and Tom.

But it is so worth it!

Remeber this is what it used to look like?! okay so th picture doesn't do justice to show how bad the floor was but trust me it was, in the words of Johnny, "Yuck!"

Here are a few more random fun pictures.

Johnny for some reason thought he needed to wear the bowl on his head and fell asleep holding it there. Of course he had to have his pillow, monkey and blanket to take his nap.

Daniel loves the vaccum and follows it every where. Occasionally he will even get in front of it and stand in the way. You have to wait for him to move or go around.

Say Cheese

2011-01-25T21:09:00.000-08:00

All I can say is "Isn't he cute!"

A few snapshots of our recent days....

2011-01-25T14:03:00.000-08:00

I may live in Wyoming but my heart will always be with the beautiful mountains I grew up surrounded by. Here is a view we cought of Ben Lomond peak on Christmas morning.

Johnny wanted to play camera man one day while I was at work so Tom set up the tripod and let him go at it. These are some of my favorites. Look and those guns!! Love ya babe!

Johnny FINALLY modeling the robe I made him for Christmas. It took about a month before he would even lets us try it on him. Now he likes it and will bring it to us to help put it on. He is still working on learning how to tie the sash.

So for all who may not have heard, we had another fussy visitor in our home.

This litte (maybe not so little) squirel some how found its way into our home a couple of weeks ago. This is the second one to get in in the last year. We thought we knew how the first one get in but we have no clue how this one got in. I called the animal control and laughed with the officer as she remembered coming to get the first one.

I waited for an hour before I decided I didn't want him in our house any longer. While trying to devise a plan on how to get him out I looked around our storage room and realized the windows in that room don't have screens. So it was as simple as opening a window and tapping him with the end of the broom and he was gone....for now.

And the Little Stinker Strikes again. Danny loves to pull the TP off the roll! Here is my favorite "caught red handed" picture. Notice the piece in his mouth... he was eating it when I found him. Guess I should learn to keep the bathroom door closed.

Danny's other favorite thing is the vaccum! He will chase it around, stopping to sit right in front of it or grabing the cord so I can't get very far.

With the chilly Wyoming winds we decided we should make sure we know how to use our fireplace in case of emergency. Tom showed us how to warm up the chimney before starting the fire. And then we got to enjoy. There is something comfortable about a fire. We are hoping that with our tax returns we can get some doors (to help keep out the smoke at the end of the fire and to keep the heat of the house from escaping when its not boing used) and put a new tile face on the fireplace.

One of the reasons that prompted the use of the fireplace. We woke one cold morning to find frost on the inside of our kitchen window. We hope to replace it soon too.

Christmas

2011-01-23T20:41:00.000-08:00

For Christmas this year we spent the time with our families in Utah. Christmas Eve the boys got new matching jammies, Thomas jammies! (much to Jonathan's delight) He frequently requests his Thomas when getting ready for bed.

I'm not sure what was going on here but it is a funny shot....

Christmas morning....Danny wasn't sure what Christmas was all about but he loved pulling the wrapping off...and has since grown to love the new toys.

Love those chubby cheeks!!!!

Johnny also got an actual Thomas the train. Daniel doesn't make it easy for him to play with this toy, as he likes to break up the track and derail the train. But we have found Thomas can go over carpet, across the linoleum, under chairs and out the other side.

Johnny also got lots of books. This is one of his favorites, it has Buzz, Woody, Cars, all the monsters, and the Incredibles. He doesn't have the pronunciation down perfectly but he will point the all out and tell you their names.

Getting Daddy, sporting a new winter hat, to make the noise maker to work.

Playing by the fireplace and eating Chocolates!

2010-12-23T08:36:00.000-08:00

Jonathan loves the Mickey Mouse version of the Three Musketeers. When he was watching it today he came running into the kitchen and grabbed a fork out of the drawer. I couldn't help but wonder what he was up to, so I followed him with the vidoe camera...kids are awesome! And so much fun.

They do the "one for all" cheer at the end of the movie and swish their swords, he didn't have a sword but I guess he figured a fork would do.

Current events at our house....

2010-12-22T09:39:00.000-08:00

I wanted to get a cute picture of the boys together to give to granparents for Christmas. What do you think, would any of these work??? If you click on it you can see a bigger version. I lvoe the faces Johnny is pulling! He cracks me up!

Danny's new after bath do...

And this is Johhny "trying" to avoid taking a nap....

Some October Fun

2010-10-24T20:05:00.000-07:00

I am going to try so this a little different let me know if you like it. Instead of just loading a bunch of pictures I thought I would put them in groups and then tell about them. This is partly because of the cute little guys. They are so cute I couldn't decide which picture to show so I put them all. I hope you enjoy!
So here are a few of the many faces of Danny! Oh how I love this happy boy and his cheeks!

I love digital cameras that I can take picture after picture and get so many fun pictures.

After much anticipation the day has come....Danny has made the first attempts at crawling. We were begining to think he was just content with rolling and pivoting around in circles on his stomach to get everywhere he wanted. But tonight he made the first few actually moves! Yipee and On no! I am so excited for him to start crawling but now know life will never be the same. Time to baby proof all the other rooms.

And oh the fun we have with Johnny. He finds some very unusual ways to keep himself busy. He loves to gather and pile up radom things, blankets, dish towels, old ties, oven mitts and pillows.....I often find myself looking for the dish towel I just had or the hot pad I got out to put dinner on the table to find he has run off with all of them.
He also loves to do what others are doing. A few weeks ago Tom's cousin, Danny, came to visit and go climbing with Tom. When they were getting ready Johnny found Danny's pack and wanted to wear it. Of course it was much to big and tipped him right over back wards. So we pulled out one of Tom's old back packs put some of Johnny's toys in it and he was a happy little boy!

Johnny also loves my robe. If I am wearing it he wants to cuddle and climbs inside with me. This day he found my robe after I had taken it off and decided to wear it himself. Here he is modeling it for me.

Here again he has to do what everyone else is doing. He is such a great helper in the kitchen, especially when it comes to baking. Last week we got to do grape juice. Johnny was such a good helper pulling the grapes off the stems. I love my best helper!!!!

But with all of the fun he wears himself out. Have you ever tried to eat your lunch and sleep at the same time. Johnny, I think, has watched Grandpa Dabb a few times...

Jonathan

2010-10-04T20:41:00.000-07:00

Eat your heart out: Part two (read the intro to the last post). I tried to upload pictures of Johnny after finshing the part about Danny into the last post but it wouldn't let me, So here's Johnny!

Our little book worm....

Reading about Owen the Owl, that goes "Hoo hoo," Johnny does too. (That is goes "hoo, hoo" with Owen.)

He loves blankets and snuggling, this time it was Mommy's bath robe.

When he say Daddy sunggle up with a blanket on the couch he had to join him.

Showing Danny how the toys work. He is such a good big brother.

Cheesin' it!

He had become very excited about counting, especially fingers and toes! A break from lunch to get a count in....

Johnny has a thing for layers, of anything. This night it was hats and gloves! I think he ended with at least four hats and two pair of gloves.

Daniel

2010-10-04T20:17:00.000-07:00

I have had some requests from Grandma's and Aunties for updated pictures of the boys so... Here you go, eat your hearts out!
Daniel

Cheese!

Rubber Ducky, you're the one! You make bathtime so much fun....

Hello! Grandma are you there?

If I could just get that bucket and dump it.....CARS!
I'm a big boy now! I can sit up by myself and most of the time I stay up by my self too!

Look at those checks and that double chin!

This tummy time playing wears me out!

Sandwich (Famous Last Words)

2010-09-16T19:56:00.000-07:00

This Is Tom writing:
This morning before I left for work Jessica asked me if I wanted a sandwich because I was going to be out working in the county today. I said no I should be back in time to come home for lunch this afternoon.
The vehicle I use at work is a 2010 Ford F-150. We had a auxiliary battery added as well as an isolator and a power inverter hardwired to the 2nd battery so that I could have a mobile office. Well something went wrong with the electrical system when I was out today, and the vehicle couldn't keep itself running for whatever reason (most likely a failure with the isolator) At this point I was on my way back to Rawlins so I did accomplish what I went out to do this morning.
So out in the middle of nowhere without cell phone/wireless service I locked the truck and started walking down the road......
I was able to hitch a ride to the town of Hanna where a coworker was able to pick me up but I have to tell you I really wished I had taken that sandwich.

August

2010-09-12T09:32:00.000-07:00

It has been a fun filled month of August. Johnny is learning to share. Here he wanted to let Daniel wear his hat. He also loves to bring Daniel toys and can occasionally be found in Daniel's face "growling" like Daddy does to them.

Johnny has finally decided that he likes cars - like most little boys. He love to line them up and is even starting to call them by ther names. Which is really exciting because up until now he hasn't been saying many things that we can understand.

Our treat of August was going to Utah for a whole week! It was fabulous! We got to spend lots of time with Grandma's and Grandpa's, aunts and uncles cousins and friends.

Cowboy Danny

Do you remember this?

Well eight months later here are the stars. Daniel, Lilly, James, and Dax.

While in Utah I got together with the girls for a Girls Night Out and a paly date with all of the kids. Here are the older kids. Dalin, Emma, Dawson, Raiden, Emily, and Johhny. Between the four of us we now have 10 Kids!!! Can you belive it?

The first reason we planned this trip to Utah was a very special day. One of my best friends, that I have grown up with since preschool, got married. I wasn't going to miss that for the world. I was so glad to share the special day with her. She was a beautiful bride, she looked like a princess. Anna and Kevin.

On the long drive I like to try and rest so we bought a travel pillow. Here Johnny is modeling how it works!

Once home agian it was business as usual, lazy mornings with my boys and lots of toys!

At the end of August we got to take another short trip to Utah for my Dad's 67th birthday! Almost everyone in the family was there. We were missing one or two spouses due to work responsibilities. We had a famiyl picture taken of everyone for Mom and Dad to put up in their living room.

Mom taking care of Dad in here wonderful way and making sure he gets his lunch.

My neice Mallory made an incredible cake for Dad/Grandpa.

Johnny took to his usually boyish stuff and collected sticks.

And shared them with one of his favorite Aunts, Deneice.

They grand sons found a huge caterpillar and probed it to figure it out.

It made me think of the grub worm they eat in Lion King.

Daniel has had many accomplishments in the month of August and first part of September. First was rolling. He actually rolled for the first time back in July. He did it twice while laying on the couch watching a movie with us. But then he didn't do it again until on my birthday, August 1st. We tried to get it on video then but everytime we turned on the camera he wouldn't do it. He would wait until we left the room. When we we come back he was on his belly. Now he is a master at it and is starting to do a yoga pose, the Downward Dog if youare familiar with yoga. If not it involves digging in your toes and with your head on the floor putting your bum in the air as high as you can. This is how we find him most mornings now, checking out the bumper pads and grinning.

He has also broken his first tooth, with the second right on its heels. Amazingly enough though he is still happy. If we hadn't been watching for them we wouldn't notice any difference. And as Johnny has been coaching him, Daniel has also learned how to use his voice to growl and let out little but loud screams.

And last but not least Daniel has mastered mush! He got to try his first cereal at about 5 1/2 months and for his six month birthday he got to try peaches.

And of course we can't post without telling about the local wildlife. This time it just happens to be about squirels again. Did you know they like KFC? We found out the other day this is true. Here is the proof. They had ripped open the neighbors garbage and found a treat.

Kitchen Progress

2010-09-12T09:03:00.000-07:00

Everyone has been curious to see the progress of the work on remodeling the kitchen. It will be a long process, doing more as finances allow but here is what we have done so far.
This is what the kitchen looked like before we moved in. Notice the yucky stove, the picture doesn't do it justice, but that was the first kitchen improvement. It was so gross that we never used it. We did meals that didn't require the stove our first weekend in our home.
Saturday we went shopping and first thing Monday morning we had a new stove. You can see the top of it in this next picture. I didn't get a great picture of the cupboards above the stove before but here they are remodeled with the new frames. Just waiting on the doors.

And with doors!

Here is the other side of the kitchen before any remodeling. The top cupboard doors were missing when we moved in.

Tom removing the old framing on top cupboards.

Reframed and painted, waiting for doors.

As it stands this is about how it looks today only all the stuff is back in the cupboards. We will soon redo the bottom cabinets and drawers. Once that is all done then we will replace the flooring and eventually the countertop and maybe the fridge. Stay tuned (in a month or two) to see more progress!

JULY

2010-08-15T09:55:00.000-07:00

With the new season there is new life! Here we caught a picture of one of the new fawns with its mother.

These are the out of control thorny rose bushes that are growing along the side of my house. There are beautiful when in full bloom but I have to keep on top of them or they get out of control and block the gate to the back yard.

Johnny cheesin' it for the camera while hanging out in the baby bouncer.

Here is my Dad with his youngest grandchild. He has had a rough go lately especially with his back so to get to hold a baby was fun for him.

Johnny enjoying a popcicle reward for holding still for pictures at the park by Grandma and Grandpa Powell's house.

We found the hats Johnny used to wear when he was smaller and he still wanted to wear them. As you can see they are getting a little small.....but he doesn't care!

We tried this one on Danny to see if it would still fit him for the coming winter.....it is a tight fit, we may have to get something else.

Here is our Smiley Danny! He is always so happy. This was his four month picture for his baby book.

Our budding musician

2010-07-08T18:13:00.000-07:00

As a side deal Tom teaches a little girl in our ward guitar lessons. He has her sing along as she plays to help her learn. Jonathan is usually right on hand to watch these lessons. So with that and what he sees Tom do this is what Jonathan was doing after the lesson this week.

Following in Grandpa Powell's and Daddy's footsteps....and keeping up pretty good!

Daniel, Jonathan and more!!!

2010-06-29T11:36:00.000-07:00

Okay so I have been called to repentance by a dear friend who said she hadn't seen pictures of Daniel since he was born....I am repenting catch up. Are you ready for it?

Here he is! (that is Johnny's favorite phrase by the way).

These three shots were taken about mid June:

Over Labor Day weekend we went home to Utah. While there we blessed Daniel. My dad had yet another surgery on his back and was not up to a trip to Wyoming. We were able to do the blessing right there at my parents and then had a family dinner with cake and ice cream for Jonathan's birthday.

My precious babe!

Family Photo

Me and my boy!

Here is Daniel with his oldest cousin, Andrea. She was so excited to meet him as they share birthdays! The oldest niece and the youngest nephew were both born March 11th. It was Andrea's 18th birthday!

These are the most recent pictures of Daniel, in fact taken just today. Aren't you lucky?

He really was happy....

Okay I just noticed these toes, and its probably because i just read a National geographic article about fossils that have been found of prehistoric peoples who had opposable big toes. Do you see the possibilities here? I love these little pigs!

And now to Jonathan!

He is such a character and loves the camera as you can see....

His Daddy's hat and sunglasses are the first thing he goes for when Tom comes home from work.

He also has an obsession with Tom's socks...

This is Johnny sitting at the table Grandpa Dad built and in the rocking chair grandma gave him. As you can see this is a favorite place to play.

Johnny is two! How did that happen? I have a two-year-old. He did much better with the candles this year and was very happy to blow them out.

Despite the look on his face he loves his new bike. (He had just discovered this facial expression that week, so he pulled it a lot.) His legs aren't quite long enough to reach the peddles yet but he rides it anyway and stores all his toys in the seat.

For his birthday Grandma Powell bought him a new suit. It was his birthday suit! Isn't he handsome?

He also got a hair cut...well a buzz job. But he looks so nice with his new do.

Daddy and His Boys

Mommy and Her Boys

.....And "we are a happy family!"

The boys....

2010-03-20T17:22:00.000-07:00

I want to grow up to be like my Dad!

2010-03-17T14:30:00.000-07:00

I love my Daddy! Someday I am going to grow up and be just like him. When Daddy wears his hat I want one too! Daddy is so good to me and shared one of his hats.

My Daddy makes the best popcorn and is showing me all the cool guy movies. Here I am with Daddy enjoying a bowl of popcorn and watching Star Wars!

I know I have big shoes to fill but I am starting now by learning how to walk in my Daddy's footsteps.

Introducing Daniel Richard Powell

2010-03-17T14:10:00.001-07:00

Hello World!

Last Thursday we welcomed our new little boy into our family. Daniel was born at 4:55 am on Thursday March 11 weighing in at 6lbs. 13.5oz. and is 20.5 inches long. He looks just like Johnny did when he was born only he has dark hair! We are so glad that he is here and are loving every minute of him.

Johnny Talk

2010-02-23T14:01:00.000-08:00

I love the way Johnny jabbers! You usually can't understand most of it but it is so stinkin' cute. So I thought I would share it with you all. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

30 Weeks!

2010-01-15T08:20:00.000-08:00

Tom informed me last night that the last picture I have posted of my pregnancy is to out of date that I look much more pregnant now. I 'm not sure if that is a complement or not but...for his sake here is an update. I am now 30 weeks and feeling squished!

Here is another fun photo. I hope the girls don't mind me showing us all off. This is me with three of my best friends from high shcool. All of us are expecting within about a month of each other! It is fun to all be in it together!

December 2009

2010-01-11T10:38:00.000-08:00

Christmas morning we spent at home enjoying our gifts and seeing the excitement on Johnny's face. We tried to keep Christmas simple since part of our Christmas was getting a new house and a few needed items for our new home.

Johnny with his new keyboard. He loves to play Grandma's piano so we got a small keyboard for him.

His new kitchen, it only took the elves an hour to put it together ;-)
Then we drove to Utah and spent the next several days with both the Powell and Dabb families.

For part of my families Christmas Party we got to go on a sleigh ride. It was SO COLD!!! Luckily we were bundled well, we had each other to cuddle with and these dogs! They sat on our feet and helped keep us warm. The boys really have been practicing their "smiles" for the camera.

Also as part of our Christmas trip to Utah we got to celebrate with Richard and Anna! Aren't they a cute couple? This was actually taken at their open house about two weeks later.

Again like father like son, Johnny is starting his rock climbing training early!
He loves to 'hang' out with his Daddy. Tom got this hang board for his birthday to help him keep up his strength in the off season. Every time Johnny sees him on it he wants his turn to hang too.

23 weeks

2009-12-19T20:57:00.000-08:00

This was about three weeks ago at 23 weeks. Things are going well and the little guy seems to be growing well. He is fairly active and except for the aches and pains of stretching I am doing pretty good. I think we are set on the name Daniel Richard, after Tom's great-grandfather and my great-grandfather .

We are at HOME!!!! In our new Home.

2009-12-19T10:17:00.000-08:00

Here is the front of our house from across the street. From where I am standing if you walk west past the next house you are at the park!!!!

This is another shot of the front from straight across the street. These were both taken before we got moved and before the snow came.

Here is half of the living room...

and Johnny posing in the other half...

Jonathan loves the new house and all the open room to run in! Here he is having lunch. The peanut butter sandwich wasn't good enough so he went straight for the jar of peanut butter! YUM!

We finally got a hat and some gloves that are just his size to help keep out the wind up here. He loves to wear them, and as you can see he loves to model them as well. He figured out how to put the gloves on by himself and if its not gloves he is wearing its the socks he should have on his feet!

Johnny in his new boots is checking out the snow in the backyard. This was the first time he wore them and he wasn't quite sure about them at first but loved it after a while. He loves to stomp his feet when he comes in the house to make sure all the snow is off his shoes.

Johnny isn't the only one that likes our back yard. We constantly have the "locals" coming through the yard. The seem to like our crabapple tree. They can only get into the yard though if they jump either fence behind this deer. The chain link seems to be the most popular way, but only if the neighbors dogs are in the house.

This one was right out our front window standing in our driveway.

A turtle??? Are you sure?

2009-11-20T13:35:00.000-08:00

So here you have it boys and girls in the words of our doctor, we are having A TURTLE! The picture he printed us wasn't very clear but I can tell you what I saw with my own eyes IT IS NOT a turtle...it is very much A LITTLE BOY! I saw it right before the doctor said, "So if I can tell what it is, do you want to know?" The pep talk daddy had with his new little boy last night seemed to work, he was not shy! Tom his holding to his word so far to be the only one to produce male heirs for his family.

Here is the picture we got. it isn't nearly as clear as the view we saw but alas we live in the sticks and the doctor didn't record the ultra sound.

2009-11-08T19:35:00.001-08:00

Greetings again from the sticks!

Well things here in Rawlins are moving right along. We have had absolutely beautiful weather this whole last week. Johnny and I have spent a lot of time outside and walking. Johnny loves the freedom and I decided I need more exercise than this little apartment allows for. I am so out of shape and my poor pregnant body tells me about it every time we go walking. I went to the Dr this week and he said all is well. We go back in two weeks for the ultrasound that hopefully will tell us what we are having. Tom has been trying to help Johnny understand that there is a baby coming, but every time he tells him there is a baby in mommy's tummy Johnny looks at him with the "Yeah right dad!" look and tries to look under my shirt for the baby. It is so cute.

With any luck we will close on a house this week or the first part of next. We are scheduled to close this Thursday on Tom's birthday but the appraiser came and found chipping lead based paint one part of the fence. After nearly a week of searching for someone professional to come and repaint it our agent had no luck and was getting frustrated. I feel it was by divine intervention we just happened to have a guy in the ward announce that as a retired general contractor he is looking for things to occupy his days off. So we called him up and he is going to come take care of it. That may push the closing back a few days though. Here is a picture of the outside.

We really are praying that it all goes through and quick. We are getting cramped in this one bedroom deal and struggling with Johnny and his sleep habits. He needs to have his own room! Needless to say he has discovered and accomplished many new things this week. One being how to climb out of his crib. I think we will be getting him a big boy bed when we get to the new place to prevent any further exploration and any injuries. Other accomplishments this week...he discovered his pockets and loves to fill them with rocks. He has also discovered holes, meaning he has some in his ears and nose! Ewww! I think you get my drift. He has also mastered "Please" and "More" in sign language and is using them without any prompting from us. He has also taken to attacking us from behind any time we get down on his level. He throws his arms around us and tries to growl. Here he is at Halloween in his Lion costume.

Getting settled in

2009-10-19T09:57:00.000-07:00

So here we are in Rawlins Wyoming! I haven't updated this for a while but decided it was time. We are slowing getting used to Rawlins and I am finally getting used to being a stay at home mom full time. It took a while but I am finding ways to keep up with Johnny and am trying to learn how to be a good mommy without getting upset over the little things. They say testimonies come in the bearing of them, I think patience comes with the trying of it!

Anyway here are some pictures....

We had to get a new, smaller computer desk because the apartment we are in is so small. Here Johnny was determined to help Daddy put it together.

Our tiny bedroom...we can only fit our beds, our dressers are stored downstairs. There are two bedrooms in this tiny house but one is downstairs. I won't have my baby that far away by himself. We definitely need a house before the baby comes because their is no more room in this room!

Our tiny kitchen. We finally put Johnny's highchair away and just have him on a booster at the table. It has freed a little walking room.

Our tiny living room. I am standing the the doorway of the bedroom, so you can see that it isn't very far from the kitchen. We can't fit all our furniture in here.

All in all though I have grown more comfortable here each day. I know it is small but I have to be grateful that we have a place to stay. With less stuff out and in view only the things that we really need and a re really important right now are in view. I have to admit we have been better at spending time together as a family playing and doing the important things like reading scriptures as a family, and saying bedtime prayers with Johnny when he goes to bed.

Here is a picture of the beautiful sunrise we get to see each morning. Right now it is really the only scenery we get to see from our apartment. The back of the neighbors houses aren't considered scenery.

Johnny found the oven mitts and decided to wear them.

The deer are everything in the neighborhoods. They especially love the cemetery.

Tom and Johnny playing, trying to find Johnny's toes.

This little squirrel sat on the neighbors garage just outside our kitchen window and stared at us for a long time. Johnny thought it was pretty cool.

Our first real snowstorm in Wyoming!

More News!

2009-09-16T20:37:00.000-07:00

In case you didn't notice we now have a count down going to baby #2! It is at the top of the page...also check out the updated info on our profile on the right side. Yes we are moving. It will be an adventure I am sure. Wish us luck, my hormones especially will need it! ;-)

Here are a few snapshots of where we are headed....

Wind farms

Vast open nothingness... between here and there.

A common sight in town. We are told "Don't plant anything in your front yard you don't want eaten. And don't leave your chihuahua outside alone."

Our exciting news!

2009-09-04T07:46:00.001-07:00

We are moving to Wyoming! Tom got a job in his field of study and what a blessing it will be for our growing family! Yes I said growing, my waistline is too! Johnny will be welcoming a new sibling around the end of March.

We will be pulling out of Utah Sepember 23! Wish us luck!

OUR FIRST FAMILY VACATION

2009-08-13T19:42:00.001-07:00

Johnny got creative on the ways to keep himself entertained during the long drives. Yes he is eating his big toe! He loves his toes and love pulling off his socks and shoes to find them and of course eat them!

The hike was just too much for him! And Daddy was the perfect pillow.

Tom and Johnny watching Old Faithful be faithful.

Johnny modeling his cute new shirt.

This is Johnny "going to sleep" in the tent. He was having so much fun, sleep wasn't on his agenda.

He has figured out how to drink from the Camel back.

And he loves to share!

Lewis Lake where we camped.

A cool waterfall we hiked to off the side of the road.

The little cabin we spent the first night in. All the campgrounds and motels were full in and around the park. So we ended up at this one on a Dude Ranch in Montana. It was fun and nice to sleep in a bed and have running water. Lesson learned plan far enough ahead and reserve camp grounds before.

Johnny and Dad on the front porch of the little cabin.

Mommy and Johnny!

Daddy and Johnny! There was a lot of construction on the roads in the park. Several times the traffic was stopped completely so we took advantage of it to get out and stretch by the river.

I think it is safe to say it is offical...

2009-06-18T15:28:00.000-07:00

Johnny is walking! And a little bit running in a very tipsy fashion.

We also discovered that he also in that last week or so has spouted to top molars. I think that really explains the all sleepless nights in the last week.

Jonathan's Birthday!

2009-06-09T12:37:00.001-07:00

First there was a song....

Ice Cream!!!!

And cake!!!

And those Lips!!!

What is he doing????

2009-06-03T20:30:00.000-07:00

Jonathan's latest adventures have been many and varied.

He has taken up hair styling, the new look is compliments of Alfredo sauce ...

He is quickly following in his father's footsteps with climbing. Instead of bouldering he is starting off with catapulting over chairs, that just happen to be blocking his path to grandma's cupboards that he thinks he needs to empty.

And in the way of motor skills he is practicing his walking... with Grandpa's walker. If he is not riding with Grandpa driving, he is leading it himself in every direction and as fast as his little legs will go.

On his own he is a bit like a drunk monkey but he is cute! He has just in the last two days started taking more that a few steps by himself. We have encouraged and cheered him on with the hope that by his first birthday he will be walking on his own.

2009-06-03T20:22:00.000-07:00

Johnny's first hike! We bought a pack so that we could all go and enjoy the beautiful outdoors together. As you can see Johhny loved it.

But we also wore him out! He was out before we made it back to the trailhead.

My baby sister is Married!

2009-05-17T10:58:00.000-07:00

Halee and Blake were married Friday May 15th. It was a beautiful day!I am so happy for them but can hardly believe my baby sister is married!

See how tall Blake is!!! And that is with Halee wearing four inch heels!

Isn't she beautiful!

This is what Halee thinks of the endless family pictures! She was growling....HaHa

Graduation

2009-05-17T10:50:00.000-07:00

I am a little behind on this but Tom graduated May 1st with his Bachelors degree in Geography. We are so happy for him to be done. I think he misses it already though, he has said that if he doesn't find anything in the way of a job by December he will look into going back to do a Masters. He has started to put in job applications so now I guess we will just wait to see where life will take us.

Do as I'm Doing...

2009-04-14T16:31:00.000-07:00

Jonathan and Daddy playing together

2009-03-28T12:43:00.000-07:00

Jonathan doesn't laugh more than a little chuckle usually so this was fun to hear him get into it.

What has the world come to???!!!

2009-03-10T17:37:00.000-07:00

I am shocked that we live in a world that people are living in tent cities using extra tarps to keep the rain out. And have to cook dinner over a fire in an old coffee can while others live in houses ten times too big for their family needs.

I am shocked that we live in a world that people would rather sit at home watching others get fit and have a healthier life rather than getting up and exercising themselves!

PS I hate the Biggest Loser!

And so it begins...

2009-02-06T17:19:00.000-08:00

Tonight I ran to the store to get a few things for dinner. When I returned home I was surprised, and at the same time not, at what I found the boys doing in the living room...Yes as you can see Tom and Johnny pitched the tent in the living room for the first attempt at a homebound camp out.

Much to Tom's delight Johnny loved the idea and played along with dad.

2009-01-26T14:06:00.000-08:00

He is giddy with anticipation for Grandpa to play him some songs.

Jonathan loves the guitar. Anytime Tom or Grandpa or uncle Richard starts to play Jonathan's attention is all theirs.

He loves to watch their hands and it seems he is trying to figure out what exactly to do with this instrument.

He is getting pretty good and will stum the strings when he gets his hands on it. I think we have another generation of a guitar playing to be seen.

Johnny is moblie!

2009-01-26T12:39:00.000-08:00

So for the last few fews Jonathan has been trying hard to figure out this crawling thing. He is finally starting to get the hang of it and is loving that he can now get the toys/binki that are just out of his reach. I am sure this is only the beginning of a lot of trouble to come....

2008-12-28T21:18:00.000-08:00

Our cute little family!

Four Generations on the Dabb Side

Four Generations on the Powell/Knighton Side

Daddy teaching Johnny the guitar!

Johnny showing Grandpa Powell what he's learned

He has teeth! ...and luckily daddy found them not mom.

2008-12-28T21:10:00.001-08:00

Yup, it happened without our knowledge our little guy surprised us by suddenly producing two little Parana sharp teeth. He had just had a minor surgery and his shots so being grumpy was expected. He also is part St. Bernard so the drooling wasn't anything out of the ordinary. Last Sunday while playing with his daddy and gnawing on daddy's fingers the teeth were discovered. I can't believe my baby has teeth! I am happy to report that the minor disruption of his sleeping pattern, as we now know was a result of cutting teeth, has resloved itself and we are now back to "sleeping through the night" meaning only up once between 9 pm and 5 am.

2008-10-27T20:19:00.000-07:00

Dates to remember:

October 20th Jonathan rolled over all on his own for the first time! No one was in the room when he did it so he had to have done it alone. He hasn't quite figured out how he did it though because he hasn't been able to do it again (without from his daddy.) Okay so in daddy's defense he does do it all. He helps Jonathan get on his side, from there Jonathan goes the rest of the way.

October 26th I woke to realize that I had not recieved the usual 'Mommy' call in the middle of the night. This is actually not the first time but it was a good nights sleep and that is cause for rejoicing! If you ask his peditrician he will tell you that Jonathan always sleeps through the night since he sleeps six hour stretches. But I say only if he stays asleep until at least 5:30am or 6:00am.

October 27th Jonathan had his first taste of rice cereal. I'm not sure he liked it. I thnk it made him realize he was hungry and when it wasn't what he was used to he got mad. I'm thinking next time we'll mix it with something better tasting than water.

2008-10-04T21:31:00.000-07:00

This is Jonathan's first trip to the zoo. In the background is the white alligator.
Jonathan riding a Rhino!

This is the baby giraffe. He doesn't like small enough to be a baby, but then again giraffe's aren't small.

2008-10-04T21:15:00.000-07:00

So here is my fabulous little family. There is my incredibly wonderful and amazing husband Tom, myself and our precious little boy Jonathan. These two boys are my life and my love.

2008-10-04T17:33:00.000-07:00

Here we go, this is our first family blog. We want to start one to try and keep everyone up to date on us. It might start out slow but keep checking back and we'll get more on here.