The one around temple square

Our brother Freddie got to visit from Chicago for a few days. Although the trip was for sad reasons, we were SOOO excited to see him again. I was so happy that Kev and the kids were able to meet him and visa versa. He is such an incredible person. I hope it's not too long before we see him again.

While he was here Amanda, Ora & I took our girls & Freddie around Temple Square. We had so much fun. I only wish the day would have lasted longer.

A few highlights of the day:

1. Taking Freddie to Brigham Young's house and him taking pictures of everything for the mission president in Togo.

2. Listening to Freddie's stories and learning more about him.

3. How quickly he made friends with everyone. Like the lady in the Family History Library who went on her mission to Togo, the sister missionary who was from there and knew the same people (small world!) as Freddie, the boy from Germany and they chatted in German, the girl who spoke French so they chatted in French... so great!

4. Freddie parking my Pilot so effortlessly in that itty bitty parking space (in reverse) like it was no big deal. I guess for a cab driver in Chicago, no driving in SLC would be a big deal. lol.

5. Halle, Bailee & Kestle wanting to be next to him every second. (And btw, check out their outfits! We didn't plan that but they could not have been more perfectly coordinated. Great minds think alike)

6. Ora's French Book of Mormon.

7. Being able to remember Vyki together and knowing she really isn't so far away.

Love you Freddie!

Come again soon!!!

The one from Duffle Bag Cheeks himself

Hello everyone.

My name is Dawson, but I'm also called "Chubba Lub," "Fat Boy," and "Duffle Bag Cheeks".

I turned four months old today. Mom can't believe there ever was a day she worried about my weight. I've well more than doubled my size in the last few weeks. My cheeks are pinchable, my tummy is rolly, and these thighs are solid but squishy. Everyone keeps squeezing them. Watch out though, I am one tough dude.

I started eating Rice Cereal this week. Oh boy, is that stuff great or what!!! Sometimes I get a little too excited when eating and accidentally, ferociously attack the spoon. I just can't.. quite.. help.. myself...

It's a serious business, this eating-thing. This is how I felt when my first bowl of cereal was all gone:

Some of my other favorite things these days are:

Rocking in my swing,
Laughing at my big brother,
Grabbing and slobbering on my toys,
Being taken care of by my big sister,
Jabbering at Dad,
and peeing on Mom.

I still sleep 10+ hours every night. You can call me super baby.

I do NOT like camping. My safe, warm house is much nicer than a cold, windy mountain. (What were they thinking?)

I must be a big star at my house. My family is crazy about me, and love on me constantly. Must be because I am one happy, sweet, snuggable, loveable guy.

Peace out-

DRF

The one about our little trip

We went camping for a family reunion last week. It is always great being with family I don't often get to see. We went to lava tubes and other caves, played games, and mostly tried to stay out of the heat in the day, and out of the cold at night for Dawson.

My personal fave, of course, was Uncle Jim's traditional fire songs. Oh, Jim. No one does it like you do. :D Never stop.

This tree was near our tent. Lol. I've never had my initials carved in a tree before, but I think it was totally hot. :)

btw

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US!!!

8 YEARS AND still GOING STRONG. . .

After the reunion, we went down to St. George for a few days. Spent most of the time shopping, going to the movies and swimming, since it was too hot and too hard to do much of anything else with a baby.

Dawson was so cute in the pool. He kept splashing and then he'd fall asleep.

Splash...

Sleep...

Repeat.

AHHH, he's sweet.

End Note:

The night before we left for the reunion, Drew had ANOTHER tooth absess and have to be extracted. Now there is only ONE tooth left that that first dentist fixed that hasn't absessed. 5 of 6 "fixed" teeth. Crazy stuff, ya?

Back to praying that this never-ending-teeth-situaion is over.