Will turns 1!

Wills Cake...good think Brice's mom got a picture! I worked most of a day on it, then cut it up before thinking to take a picture.

On Will's first birthday! We had trouble getting a picture of him without his bottle.

Charles and Will at the birthday party!

Tired...

He goes straight to this pile of dirt every time we go outside!

We finally got a swing!

Really into the princess thing lately...she turned me into a frog.

He loves this chair!

Trying to get a picture of the kids before I went to work on Will's birthday. Again with the bottle...

A cutie with Grandpa's hat on!

Checking out his tractor from G & G Hundling

His toy from Dad and Mom

Gabbie (in the yellow shirt) running in the 'kids dash' in Lake View

Eating his cake and ice cream at his party!

Mindy joined us via Skype for Wills birthday

I wish my kids loved me as much as they love Cars! Will got a Lighting McQueen toy from Piekens and its been a big hit at our house! Surprizingly only 1 argument so far...just had to threaten to throw it away and sharing has been going great ever since!

Good thing this shirt only gets used 1 time.

What a fun year it has been! Challenging of course, but fun anyway. Its been fun to watch the kids together and see the differences in the two of them. Will has started throwing temper tantrums when he doesn't get his way. Stomps his feet and throws himself on the floor...its comical. I forget that we are going to start going through some of the things that Gabbie has since grown out of (for the most part). Gabbie started dance on Thursday. I think this will be great for her to improve on listening skills and following directions. She said she enjoyed it, which is great. She starts Pre-School next week so she is getting to be busy! Brice and I were trying to find a day to go to the Spencer Fair...it was the first time there were 3 days in the week we couldn't go because of something we need to take Gabbie to.

Happy weekend...go ISU!

Water carnival, Sac Fair

Water Carnival Kiddie Parade...Gabbie was a kitten. The goal was that Will was to be a dog, and she was going to walk the dog. The dog was uncooperative.

We even had a leash ready to go...

Gabbie and Laila

Will at the "Cute Baby" contest. He won "Mr. America" :-)

Gabbie got to ride a horse after the Baby Contest. She kept asking to ride the small one (that you can see in the back). Guess she has her mothers fear of heights.

Good Bye to Gypsy

Yesterday was finally the day for Gypsy to go to Heaven. Tuesday things started looking pretty bad...each morning we went to check on her we were sure she would be gone. She was not drinking, was not leaving her dog house, and was bleeding. Thursday night she got up and wanted out of her house, so Brice helped her. Around Midnight I went to check and she wasn't in her house or the garage. I did not hear her, so I did not go looking for her. Brice had told her that night that we were okay and she was free to go, so I thought maybe she was looking for a good spot to lay down and rest forever. Friday morning she had made it back to her house. I left for work and by noon had several missed calls from Brice. He asked what we should do. Of course that day was my first day at the hospital, working with people who don't know me, and sitting at a random desk on my phone making a decision for our companion of 7 years. We had said this whole time we did not want to put her down, we wanted her to go on her own. The vet said he could come out after work around 5:00. I tried hard, but did not make it home in time from work. I was glad when Brice told me that the vet had brought his office assistant with him. I felt bad leaving Brice alone to watch Gypsy go. It was rougher than I'd expected. We had a supper planned for that night and did end up going, but didn't stay too long. Today I had already planned to clean the garage, get rid of cans and bottles and recycling. But then came across Gypsy's water and food bowls and decided to clean it another time. We thought it would be best to involve Gabbie in the situation. I'd rather not hide from her that things die. So she helps us bury Gypsy. Since then she goes to the window every couple hours to see if Gypsy has gotten up yet. Obviously too young to grasp the concept, but that's fine. She thinks she's Ariel the Mermaid at the swimming pool too, so why not stay in that world as long as you can. Here are a few pictures of Gypsy I came across (mostly old ones...I'm working through the newer ones eventually!)

Always had to be sitting close by...back when she could get up and could actually see us.

This picture just makes me smile...Gabbie used to take the toilet plunger from the garage and walk around with it :)

Gypsy was NEVER good at playing! Especially with cats

California trip, fun summer stuff!

It doesn't feel like we have been that busy, but seems that I have lots to post! Here are some pictures since the last post in May:

A video of the monkey. He has taken a few steps here and there, but we can't say he's "walking". He moves plenty fast this way!

9 months old!

Gabbie performing her Bible School program.

While on vacation I had some fun playing with the camera and just taking fun shots of the kids! These 2 black and white pictures were my favorite.

In California, this is my sister Mindy's school

The beach! Gabbie loved picking up the shells.

At the aquarium in Monterey Bay

Will found a birthday buddy! Born the same day, August 29th, 5 hours apart :)

The aquarium was pretty cool...

I want this fish tank in my house!

We were trying to take a picture of Gabbie, then these 2 boys showed up.

A chilly day at the beach! I was wishing I'd packed jackets. I love this picture because Gabbie is using our sandwich container to pick up shells :)

Steve and Gretchen! We had a nice supper with them!

So pumped about Cars until we got to Disneyland...then its fun as long as we don't stand too close

Will on the little mermaid ride. I was trying to take a picture of him while holding him

The merry-go-round. Too bad Will can't just sit still!

Gabbie rode the tractors twice!

This woman is Janine. That's all I know. And I was getting desperate for Gabbie to ride the main ride in the Cars park and about sent her in with this random woman. Its a long story.

2 minutes out of Disneyland!

A great turnout for Brice's parents 40th anniversary party!

We have baby chicks in our kitchen :) Will likes to shake the container...

Kelsey enjoyed the 40th anniversary party!

Will at 10 months old.

He just seriously won't sit still. We strapped him in this chair on the deck and he proceeded to drag it around with him as he crawled. He scared the heck out of us on Sunday night. We still aren't completely sure of what happened; but after putting the kids in the bathtub they had a disagreement over a toy (or so we think). I came from hanging up swimsuits to find Will standing in the tub like he was going to cry, only no sound or breath really came. By the time I carried him downstairs he was blue. I got Brice in the house, and by then Will's eyes had closed and he went limp. Brice called 911; then Will started to come out of whatever it was that had happened. The ambulance crew came and checked him out-no water in the lungs, all vital and neuro signs were fine. Nothing has happened since then to concern us. Without sounding over dramatic I think I can say it was one of the worst few moments of my life. One of the members of the ambulance crew said "it literally just takes a second doesn't it?" Yup, that's for sure. One of the volunteers suggested I find someone to talk to in the next couple days after it happened. I guess I didn't get it since everything turned out fine, but then realized I just couldn't get the visual of my limp baby in my arms out of my head. Last night I slept better, but the first couple nights it was hard to sleep well at all and during the day I felt exhausted. If it happens again I hope I can get my crap together and actually do something to help besides 'freak out'.

Other than that, life has been normal :) We are enjoying some evenings at the pool after work and still plugging away in the garden when its not so hot. We have started to butcher some chickens (which Gabbie seems to enjoy...). Gabbie starts some art classes next week. Before we know it August will be here!