March Update

I've been planning this blog post for a few days, but just got sick (allergic to cats!) and have been too lethargic to even sit with my laptop for an hour! Anyway, March has had it's highs and lows, and I didn't take nearly enough pictures to satisfy most of my extended family, but what you see will have to suffice!

Let's start with the grown ups.

Paul is doing great at work and is a fabulous husband and father. He takes great care of our family and we are super lucky to have him. Thanks again to his mom and dad for raising such an awesome man! He had the boys one weekend while I was at TOFW and all 3 of them had a great time!

Other than being sick right now, I'm doing fine. I had the opportunity to go to Time Out for Women this month and loved hearing all the speakers and feeling the spirit. I had had a rough week or so before hand with sick kids and potty training incidents and I really needed the recharge that TOFW gave me. Plus I went with several ladies from my ward and really enjoyed spending girl time with them.

This month was the one year anniversary of my father's passing, and while it was a very sad day, I was lucky to be able to spend it with my mom and we went to the cemetary and brought beautiful flowers we will later plant in moms yard.  I miss my dad a lot, but am grateful for all the wonderful memories we had together.  Love you Dad!

During Spring Break we went camping with several other families from our ward and had a fabulous time! There were babies, toddlers, teenagers and grown ups. The food was delicious and I swear I went back for seconds and thirds at every meal! Our family was in a little tent, and sleep was not as great as I would have liked, but what do you expect with Brian who tosses and turns all night! We had a great time though, just playing around the fire, walking to the lake, and playing in a grassy field. We hope we are invited to camp with these friends again next year!

The boys roasting marshmallows for Smores

Looking at the lake, trying to find fish or alligators

Aaron walking to the lake with his friends Isaac and Sam

Playing Duck, Duck, Goose

Hanging out around our campsite, playing games and having a great time.

Not much news for Brian. He has been happy and healthy and embracing the Terrible Twos. He loves to laugh and cuddle, but will also be as contrary as humanly possible saying "up" if you say "down." He really pushes my buttons some times, but I love him to pieces and hope he grows out of this stage before I kill him.

Aaron has had a lot going on this month. He started off the month by getting sick and staying home from school for a full week. He didn't act sick, just had a high fever for a week. The Dr. put him on some antibiotics and he was fine. I was happy to send him back to school though...I wonder how I'll survive the summer!

Aaron started piano lessons from one of the YW in our ward. She was quite impressed by what he can already do, mentioned how smart he is and that he has perfect pitch! He loves it so far and gets excited to practice his songs. It's totally cute and I hope he enjoys playing the piano for years to come!

Aaron also had his first T-ball game this month and while he still spends most of his time goofing off and not paying attention, he looks so cute out there in his little uniform. They had team pictures taken on Saturday (his birthday) and I'll post those as soon as we get them back.  It was really cold outside that day and so you can't see their cute uniforms here, but we'll post pics with them later too.

He was playing catcher here!

Lastly, Aaron turned 5 this month. He had his first real birthday party and it was a lot of fun. He got lots of birthday presents, including a new bike, a new booster seat for the car, clothes and LOTS of GAMES. At his 5 yr check up he was 41.5 inches tall (50%) and 37.5 lbs (50%). The doctor was impressed with him of course and was happy to report him being a happy healthy little boy. Kindergarten registration is this week and while I'm glad to see him progressing, it's a little weird to think my boys is so grown up!

The boys playing with ballons

Pin the mouth on the number 2

Musical chairs (with cushions)

An indoor picnic

Aaron blowing out his candle

His new bike (we plan on taking off the training wheels in just a week or so)

Blowing out another candle!

That's it for now, we'll post more again soon!

February Summary

We've had a busy February, but mostly spent our time at home having fun. The first Saturday in February I had a church meeting so Paul took the boys to the park to ride bikes and fly kites. They had a great time and we've got some cute pictures of their adventure.

Aaron flying the kite.

Brian playing with the bicycle.

I got some weird gardening bug and decided we NEEDED to have some flowerbeds right now! Paul rolled his eyes, but humored me and helped me get these 2 beds done. The one in the back we had to pull up the grass first, but we moved some to the front where there wasn't any grass. There's still a lot I want to do, but the urgent need has passed, so who knows when we'll attack it again!

Bed in back with day lillies and amaryllis.

Bed in front with lots of little bulbs. I hope they come up!

We spent one weekend up at the lake, doing some jobs that needed to be done like cleaning out the shed and re-hanging stuff outside since we have new siding now. It looks really good, but I don't have the pictures, just my mom does. When we got there, there was a fountain in the middle of our yard...a water main had broken and it was a mess. Water, mud, debris everywhere. The water company got right on it and we were only without water for about 4 hours. It's always something huh!

We signed Aaron up for T-ball practice and so far he likes it. Games don't start til the end of March, but they've got practice twice a week. He's learning how to ground and throw the ball, but mostly he just loves running the bases!

Aaron batting.

Aaron running the bases!

Aaron's birthday is next month and we've been talking about getting him a bicycle. He's got really good balance on his Skuut, but has never been on a real bike before. So we went to a friends house to have him ride Caleb's bike. We tried the bike without training wheels for a while, but realized Aaron really doesn't know how to pedal! We put the training wheels back on and he did better, but he will definitely need to practice more!

My Uncle LeRoy and Aunt Karen were in town for a weekend and they spent Saturday afternoon with us. We played dominoes, ate a yummy dinner, and went to Ritters for dessert. I had a great time with them!

This week we re-financed our home to a 4.75% interest rate and are happy for all the money we will save because of that! I've been teaching some of my baby sign language classes and have another class scheduled for next weekend. I'm having a lot of fun teaching it and wish more of my friends were interested in learning it. Oh well. Paul also got his beads for completing his Woodbadge training. He worked hard and really enjoys working with the scouts! I was proud to be there when he was awarded his beads!

Paul with his woodbadge beads.

Also, I've gotten involved with the Wii Mommies. We got a Wii and Wii Fit for Christmas and I've been working out EVERYDAY! I seriously haven't missed a day yet this month and I'm super proud of myself! I post my progress every Friday on my other blog and I like having a place I'm accountable to. I've lost 4 lbs so far, and hope to loose much more! Our whole family has been doing it, and watching the boys do it is hillarious. Aaron's actually pretty good, but Brian is comical to watch! It's a lot of fun and I recommend it to anyone!


Here's I'm running the Island Lap in the yoga suit I won

and here's how great I did!

This shows that I did it every day this month!

Tomorrow will be busy with a primary activity in the morning, the Wii Fit Olympics also in the morning, and stake conference starting in the afternoon and evening. I think that's about it for February. We hope to have more friends over for game nights and some Sunday dinners and always enjoy having people in our home. Come on over!

Our week in Utah

We took a whole week to be in Utah to spent some time with our family in addition to being there for the funeral. We toured the state capital, visited the Salt Lake public library which has the whole bottom floor as a children's section, played lots of family games and my boys got to play with their cousins. We had a great trip and are glad we were able to go.

We were lucky to be in Utah while the Draper Temple was having it's Open House, and we took the opportunity to tour the temple and teach our children about the temple. Since my boys won't be able to go to the temple until they are older, and the chances of being able to attend another open house in the next decade are quite slim, we felt this was an opportunity not to be missed. Brian was dutifully reverent, although his mischievous side continuously tempted him as we walked through the various areas of the temple. Paul walked through with Aaron and tried to explain to him what takes place in a temple, in language a 4 year old can understand. When asked what he remembered about the temple, he mentioned the celestial room, and the sealing room. In 10 or 20 years he may not remember this experience, but we hope his heart remembers the impressions, and importance of the temple. (Paul's recollection of the Jordan River Temple Open House in 1981 is pretty fuzzy, but I believe that it was good for me to go then too. Jen doesn't remember much of anything from the Dallas Temple Open House in 1984.)

Here's a few fun pictures from our trips.

Jen visited the California State Capital in Sacramento

We all visited the Utah State Capital in Salt Lake City with Aunt Sara

Brian sitting in the Senate Chamber

Aaron looking up at the Rotunda

We drove past the Oquirrh Mountain Temple in the West Salt Lake Valley. It's not done yet, but looks beautiful already.

Aaron playing on the computer with his cousins Kate and Abe

Brian and his cousin Lucy

Grandparents and Funnerals

Paul and I know how lucky we are to have known so many of our Grandparents.

I lost Grandpa Cole (77) in High School and Grandma (92) was just in the summer of 2007. The funeral for Grandma Fuller (92) was at the beginning of this month and Grandpa (93) is still in great health and we expect him to be around for a long time.

Paul's story is a little different. Grandma Thomas (52) died before he was born, but Grandpa Thomas remarried, so Paul still had 2 grandparents on that side. Grandma Baker (60) passed when Paul was an infant, but again, Grandpa Baker remarried, so he knew 2 grandparents there too. He didn't loose Grandpa Baker (85) until he was in college and Grandpa Thomas (97) passed early this month. His 2 step-grandmothers are both still alive.

Due to the funerals, we've spent some time lately traveling and visiting family and want to share some of that with you. I'm the one writing about my Grandma and Paul is writing about his Grandpa.

(Jen) I went by myself to Grandma Fuller's funeral in Sacramento, California, but Paul stayed home with the boys. (It was the first time he had ever had the boys all to himself for 4 days and he had a great time, but was glad to have me come home.) I was in Sacramento with my siblings, their 2 children, and my sister in law and mother. My 2 cousins who live in LA and my Aunt and Uncle that live here in Houston were there as well. Her service was at the Presbyterian church she and Grandpa had attended for 50 years and it was a lovely service that showed how much she was loved and what a wonderful woman she was. Grandpa had picked some wonderful scriptures and I read a beautiful poem one of their friends had written before his own death. People spoke about how much they enjoyed playing bridge with my Grandma and how she spoke her mind. She was interred in the town she was raised in, Placerville, CA and many members of our extended family are also there. It is right across the street from her Grandmother's home, the Bennet Home, which is now the Sequoia Restaurant. I had a great visit with my family and we helped clean out the house a little, although Grandpa is still living there. I was able to bring home some fabulous children's books for our library here and Grandpa let me have some of Grandma's jewelry which I will treasure and already wear often. Up until her death, she was in great health and still traveled to Houston to see us once or twice a year, so I got to see her often. I love my Grandma a lot and am glad I had so many years to get to know her.

Here's some pics I took while I was there.

Grandma's casket

Grandpa and my Uncle Tom

My mom, Aunt Nancy and cousin Ryan

My brother Marc and cousin Lindsay

My sister Marcia and nephew Brycen

(Paul) Shortly after Jen returned home we learned of my Grandpa's passing so we then went to Utah and Idaho for Grandpa Thomas funeral. His funeral was held in Pocatello ID. Despite the cost, I felt it was very important to take the entire family since I had grown up pretty close to all of my cousins on my father's side and knew this would be a great family reunion. In total there are 85 grand and great-grand children and almost all of them came.

My grandpa’s funeral was awesome, as far as funerals go. Grandpa wasn't necessarily a successful man as far as worldly standards are concerned. He was college educated, trained to be a teacher, but provided for his family by working as a switchman for the railroad. The funeral certainly had an unintended underlying theme. Love. My Grandpa loved, unconditionally. He showed that love to his family and in his church service. With all of his children and grandchildren living out of town, my grandpa volunteered, at age 80, at the local elementary school and became a loving grandpa there for 13 years. During the course of his nearly 100 year life he repeatedly said that the greatest invention of his lifetime was the telephone. I tried to call my grandpa often during the last few years. I would talk to him about family, the railroad, baseball, things that he loved. But the message that rang true to him was knowing that we loved him. Ultimately that was the only reason I would call, to tell him that I and my family loved him. Even though I didn't live close to my grandpa, I felt very close to him my entire life. Each time we talked or went to visit he would say "I'm glad you're mine." He meant it, and we knew it. Grandpa’s funeral was a moment to honor him that I am glad I didn't miss. And it changed me, motivating me to love more, and to invest more in treasure that has true value.

Here's some of the family pictures taken after the funeral.

The David Thomas Family

The Harold Thomas Family

We miss our Grandparents, and hope we don't have any more funerals for some time, but are glad we are so close to our families and that we know how important they are.

Happy New Years...we hope!

Christmas is over, but we had a great time. All of my family was in town and we spent a lot of time at mom's house. All 4 of the grandchildren were there, along with the six parents, my Mom, Aunts and Uncles from both sides of my family and also my grandparents. Things got a little crazy sometimes, as it always does, but I am glad we were able to spend so much time together.

13 Stockings Hung by the Chimney with Care

Brian, Jackson, Aaron and Brycen

This year both the boys really "got" Christmas, both the Santa Clause side and the celebration of the birth of our Savior. All month the boys would randomly begin singing "Happy Birthday to Jesus", which was unprompted from us and we don't know where they learned it, but it was cute nonetheless. We were very lucky to have Santa Clause stop and visit on Christmas Eve and we got some cute pictures of all the boys with Santa. Too bad Uncle Marc wasn't able to see that ;)

Aaron and Brian with Santa

Christmas Day was the normal hectic busy enjoyable day. Santa brought Aaron a camera and he loves taking pictures then promptly deleting them. We have yet to get any pictures saved, they get deleted immediately. Santa brought Brian an easel which might look familiar to the Huff family. They "used to" have one just like it! Paul and I framed some art we purchased on our cruise last January and that was our big present to each other. My mom and siblings gave us games. One card game and a Wii, Wii Fit, and Wii Tony Hawk. We all love it and have been playing everyday!

Christmas dinner at Mom's house consisted of Mom, her sister Aunt Lou, Grandma and Grandpa Fuller, my Dad's sister Aunt Nancy and husband Uncle Tom and cousin Lindsay, then of course the 3 Fuller kids with spouses and children. It was a full table and lots of fun! Grandma and Grandpa Fuller (92 and 93 respectively) stayed with Mom for 2 days and we really enjoyed the time we were able to spend with them. The following Monday we drove down to Kemah and played with Nancy, Tom, Lindsay, Marc, Kayleen, Jackson and Grandma and Grandpa Fuller. We are so glad we took the opportunity to spend time with them.

Christmas Dinner

Marcia with Brycen
Marc and Aunt Nancy with Aaron, Jackson, and Brian
Lindsay, Marc, Jackson and Kayleen on the Kemah Boardwalk Train

On the Kemah Boardwalk

Gandma and Grandpa flew home to California right after lunch in Kemah, got home safely, but had some medical complications and didn't survive the night.  It seems very sudden.  But, as much as we will miss her, we are glad her last days were spent with her family. We saw how happy she was just being with us. I know that she is now surrounded by other loved ones who have already passed on, including my father. I can only imagine how joyous of a reunion that was! The funeral service is on Monday and I will fly out while Paul stays home with the boys. I am very grateful for the knowledge I have of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the peace it gives me.

Aunt Nancy and Grandma

On another note, Brian probably has Streep Throat. He started feeling feverish on the 30th, and it just progressively got worse. On New Years Day we took him to Katy Urgent Care clinic for some antibiotics. I hate having my baby be sick and I really hope he feels better soon. We spent New Years Eve taking turns cuddling with him and trying to help him sleep. Not the best way to ring in the new year, but we do what we have to!

As for New Years Resolutions, we have lots. We are very resolute. Let's just say that we really hope this year brings us lots of joy. We are grateful for all our family and friends and hope we can spend time with them all in 2009.