Easter 2010

This year Jordan and Jared went to Monterrey for a hood cleaning job.  His contact was going to expand his contract so Jordan thought that the expansion could include some jobs in an area where his sister lived.  Jordan invited his sister, Candy, and her husband, Tom, and their children met us there so Tom could work on a hood job with Jordan to see if that was a business he would be interested in pursuing.

While there, we went to the Monterrey Bay Aquarium.  I thought this would be a good idea at the time.  We had a doggie harness for Noah (who loved to run around especially to chase the birds), and Garrett was really interested in seeing all of the marine life.  We spent two days in the aquarium.  This proved to be a bit much for someone who was 8 months pregnant.  My feet swelled by the afternoon so I found a place to sit and relax while everyone spent time seeing what they wanted to see.

Afterwards, Candy and her family spent Easter with our family.  We dyed Easter eggs, ate a good breakfast, watched conference, and found goodies left by the Easter Bunny.  We sure enjoyed spending time with Candy, Tom, and the cousins.

At The Hotel

The boys look around the aquarium.

Garrett and Noah see alot.

Noah and His Cousin

Garrett and His Shark

The Whole Lee Gang

The cousins color eggs.

The cousins color eggs.

Garrett and his Easter find.

Noah and his Easter find



Garrett's Birthday 2010

This year Garrett turned 6 years old.  On his birthday, we took treats to his kindergarten class.  Since his birthday falls on St. Patrick's Day, we brought chocolate and vanilla cupcakes with green frosting.  Garrett was able to pick the birthday story (his teacher would read to him).  Garrett was able to sit next to Mrs. Gutierrez while she read the story.  Noah had to do what brother did so he sat right next to Garrett.  Then, Garrett had to put the words to the "Happy Birthday" song in order.  Then the class sang the song exactly in the word order Garrett put together.  Fortunately, he put them together in the correct order.

Garrett's home birthday party was wonderful.  My nephew and his girlfriend cleaned the house and helped clean up the yard.  We arranged for a bounce house, and the weather was beautiful!  We had food, an egg hunt, and jumped in the bounce house.

Garrett eats his cupcake.

Noah has fun.

Garrett reads his birthday story.

Garrett tries out the bounce house.

Jump Around, Jump Around

Noah tries the bounce house (after much bribing).

Noah finds Easter eggs.

Cousins find Easter eggs.

Garrett eats his candy!

Star Wars birthday cake

Lego Star Wars

Noah's Birthday 2010

This year Noah turned two years old.  We had a small party at the house for him.  Noah liked to sit on Grandma Jeanne's lap.  He loved his birthday dinner, his cake, and his gifts.  Thanks to everyone that came to Noah's birthday party.

Noah's Birthday Cake

Noah, Grandma Jeanne, and Molly

Noah Eats Cake

Noah Open's Gifts

What's this?



New Year's Eve 2009

This year we went to Pat and Lucy's house.  We ate pizza and salad.  We then played Wii Sports.  We played mostly bowling in the hopes that everyone could earn the sparkly ball like Pat's.  Near the end of the party, we ate root beer floats in celebration of the New Year.  We really enjoyed relaxing and spending this holiday near our home.  Mostly, we love spending time with our good friends.

The Boys Play Wii Bowling

This night is for the birds.



Christmas 2009

We had a nice party at Grandmother's house before Christmas.  My nieces, Molly and Lindsay, developed a Christmas program.  We all had a good time and learning about of our Savior Jesus Christ.  The children sang songs and opened presents.

On Christmas Eve, we ate a nice Christmas dinner.  Noah was so tired he fell asleep in his high chair.  But he must have been dreaming because he kept moving his head and laughing.  It was very cute.

The next morning the boys woke up and opened their presents.  Garrett found Lego Star Wars under the tree for him.  Noah found a basketball hoop and basketball.  He stills plays with it almost every day (when the weather is nice).

Garrett enjoys Christmas Eve party at Grandmother's.

Noah wants to play with the bus.

Noah sleeps at Christmas Eve dinner.

Garrett loves Lego Star Wars.

Star of the Week

In December 2009, Garrett was Star of the Week in his kindergarten class.  Our family went to school with Garrett.  We told the class about our family and some things about Garrett.  We talked about how Garrett had taken gymnastic classes for 4 years; he liked Lego Star Wars, and trying new things.  After class, we took Garrett home earlier and went out to eat lunch at a local restaurant.

Garrett is the Star of the Week

Thanksgiving 2009

This year, we ate our Thanksgiving dinner at my brother’s house. We enjoyed a great dinner with all of the trimmings and then some. We ate homemade rolls, stuffing, mashed potatoes, turkey, gravy, green bean casserole, and many pies. It was too bad that I was pregnant because I could not eat all the yummy treats.

Garrett and Noah played with their cousins. They jumped on the trampoline, ran around the backyard, and played Wii.

We then came home and put up our Christmas tree! I sure love the holidays.

Garrett enjoys his meal.

  

Noah tries to figure it all out.

 

The cousins relax after dinner.
  

Christmas 2009

Halloween 2009

Starring Garrett as Darth Vader

This year Garrett was very excited for Halloween. He learned that students in the kindergarten classes are allowed to dress up in their costumes and parade around the school. Garrett thought a lot about his costume. He finally decided to be Darth Vader. Garrett likes to watch the animated Star Wars series the Clone Wars on Cartoon Network. Noah will be a pumpkin mainly because it was on sale at Carter’s (nonetheless he was still very cute).

Jordan volunteered in Garrett’s classroom on the day of the Halloween party. Students were able to walk through the office, the cafeteria, and through the hallways. Afterwards, the students received goodie bags. Both Garrett and Jordan had a good time.



Daddy and Noah Halloween 2009



Since we live in the country, we usually go to Aunt Karen’s and Uncle John’s house and trick-or-treat with the cousins. This year was no different. We first went with the cousins to their ward Halloween trunk-or-treat, and then we went trick-or-treating around our cousins’ neighborhood.

We had a great time! Noah finally figured it out by the end of the evening. Garrett led the pack along with his older cousins.  All in all, the boys ended up with more candy than they and Daddy could possibly eat.  I think Halloween (and Christmas) is every child's favorite holiday.  What other holiday can you dress up and have people give you candy, a favorite staple of every child's diet!  I loved Halloween as a child.  I was so disappointed when it fell on Sunday as well as when my parents would not let me go anymore.  It is too bad there were not any trunk-or-treats when I was growing up.  We still might have gotten some candy on Saturday night (when Halloween feel on Sundays).

Garrett's First Kindergarten Field Trip

In October 2009, Garrett went on his first field trip with his kindergarten class.  The class went to a local pumpkin patch complete with corn mazes and animals.  Jordan was able to go with Garrett's class.  Garrett, his classmates, and Jordan had a great time.

Garrett and his friends wait for the fun to begin.

Stirring up trouble!

Garrett and John Deere

Going through the maze.

Garrett learns to grow pumpkins.

Lee Baby 3

This October (2009), we discovered we were having another baby.  We had talked about having another baby, but we did not expect to have one quite so quickly.  We were hoping for a girl, but we really wanted a healthy baby.  I went to have pre-natal screening tests done.  I was about 15 weeks pregnant at the time.  The tech told me she thought we would have a boy.  This would turn out to be correct.  I guess I still get to be queen of the castle.  During this pregnancy, I found out that I had hypoglycemia instead of gestational diabetes.  The diet is still the same, I just have to eat small meals every few hours.

Garrett's First Day of Kindergarten

On August 17, 2009, Garrett started kindergarten at our local country school. He has two teachers that job share. We had met Garrett’s teachers the week before at back to school night. We were very impressed with his teachers and were excited about Garrett’s upcoming school year.



I took the day off so Jordan and I could take Garrett to school on his first day. At first, Garrett was excited to go to school. We parked the car and escort Garrett’s classroom. He was fine until he lined up in front of his class to into the classroom. I think he would have been fine if there had not been other students already crying. I guess crying, like smiles, are contagious. After the students walked into class, the teachers asked them sit on the rug in the front of the classroom. Garrett started crying at this time, but his teacher quickly began the day to distract the students’ from their fears. The parents were asked to make sure to identify what type of lunch their child was eating that day, were the child was going after school (pick up, the bus, or after school care), and to finish completing any paperwork. We then waved good bye and went to the cafeteria to pay Garrett’s lunch bill for the year. I think deep down Garrett really likes school despite the fact that he claims there are “too many rules.”


Unfortunately, I think I have a photo erasing fairy living in my computer. I have noticed that I have several pictures missing from my external hard drive. Garrett’s first day of kindergarten pictures are among the missing pictures! This makes me really sad, but at least I have his kindergarten bridge program.

Last Hurrah for Summer

Right before Garrett and I went back to school, I decided to take the boys to the local children's museum.  We played on motorcycles, helicopters, fire trucks, ambulances, and police cars.  We also participated in a puppet show, science experiments, and shopping at the local grocery store.

Interestingly, Daddy and Julius were across the street at the chamber of commerce office.  They joined us for the fun, and then we ate lunch together.  What a great way to end the summer!