Our Trip to Chicago

Lincoln Park Zoo


Relaxing at the beach. I was so exhausted by this point. We had actually planned on going swimming but nobody was allowed in the water for another day or so because of E. Coli.

More of Chicago

We took a boat ride on Lake Michigan. It was beautiful.

Just waiting for the dolphin show to start at Shedd Aquarium.

Standing on a glass balcony at the top of the Sears/Willis Tower in Chicago.

Cason's Birthday

My baby is 2. I can't believe it. He is growing so fast. For his birthday we took him swimming since he loves the water so much. Cason is so entertaining. Everyday he makes us laugh. We love that little guy.

Nauvoo and Carthage

This is the room in Carthage Jail that Joseph Smith was shot.


The Nauvoo Temple



The two boys at the Joseph and Hyrum Smith Statue in Carthage. The Carthage Jail is there behind them.

Having a picnic at a park in Nauvoo.

June

Another one of those Iowa storms.

We went on a walk in the "forest" as the kids refer to it. There are lot of paths to walk on around our house and of course tons of trees.


Crossing the Mississippi on our way back from Nauvoo.

This is a scary cloud we saw on our way to Nauvoo.

Cason

Cason finally figured out how to drive the jeep by himself. Scary, I know. He actually does a pretty good job.

Tal's Birthday

Tal turned 4 this year. Can you believe it?? I can't believe how big he is getting. He is our little man and we love him to death. Since we live no where near family we went to Chucky Cheese for his birthday. Him and Cason also got to camp out with dad in the family room. They had a blast of course.

This year I tried to be domestic and make him a cake. He loves his guitar so much I decided to make him a guitar cake. It wasn't perfect but he loved it anyway.

He got a big boy bike for his birthday and we couldn't get him off it. Since his birthday he had an accident on his bike and hasn't ridden it much since. Ask him, he will tell you all about it.

Tal in Soccer

Tal was excited about soccer in the beginning but after going a few times lost interest in it...like most of his team. Towards the end of the season it was a challenge to keep the kids from making goals for the other team and and from sitting down in the middle of the field.


The assistant coach was in our ward but ended up moving so John got volunteered to take his place.

May

John made an aiplane out of a box for the boys but didn't realize how much he would have to fly them in it. It's amazing how the simple things provide the most entertainment.


It is unbelievably green here in Iowa. We love it!!

March Pictures

Tal and Cason chillin on the deck enjoying the scenery together.



Grandma Linda came to visit while John went to a conference.

National Mississippi River Museum

In March we drove up to Dubuque,Iowa and took the boys to this museum. There were crazy big catfish, lizards, snakes, otters, an alligator, fish, and many more little creatures. The boys had a lot of fun.

Cason was afraid the lizard was going to come through the glass and bite him. It was pretty funny.

Sledding

We live on a cul-de-sac so when the snow plows come around they just push it all into the middle, which creates a mountain. John made some stairs that go up to the top and made a sledding path going down. Tal had a blast but poor Cason missed out because he was napping.

February Snow Storm

Tal was so excited about all the snow. Cason didn't care he just wanted his dad.

January Pictures

Cason discovered that he loves popcorn.


Tal and Cason are learning and growing so fast. Cason is talking tons. He says pretty much anything you ask him to. He loves music, dancing, books, duck duck goose and the vaccuum. Tal is learning to read and write and is so excited to start "real" preschool in the fall. We are hopefully going to get him into soccer in the spring. He still loves to play the guitar and piano with his dad. Tal just got his first pet. John had promised him that when we moved to Iowa he would get him a fish. So, the other day Tal asked when he would be able to get his fish. John was true to his promise and took him to the pet store to pick out his new fishes. He is very excited but I actually think that John is more excited than Tal.

Tal's Science Project

One day for dinner I was putting some beans in soup and Tal said that he wanted to grow a beanstalk (like Jack and the Beanstalk). John put some beans in a jar with a wet paper towel and so Tal grew a beanstalk. He was so proud of it and can't wait until the spring so he can plant some beans outside.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas was definitely interesting this year. It was our first Christmas away from family and on top of that we were still getting over the swine flu. We managed to have fun together anyway.


All Tal wanted for Christmas was the tiger cereal.

John smiling while holding a knife can never mean a good thing.

For some reason John thought that I needed to jump on the bandwagon and read the Twilight books. So that is one of the things he got me for Christmas. I think that has been one of his biggest regrets ever.

The kids got this tent for Christmas and I think that they lived in there for few days after Christmas.