1 year old

Today my baby boy turned one.  Happy Birthday to my precious Eli. 

Last year at this time I was a pregnant mom with a 5 and a 3 year old.  Today, I have three amazing little boys who have grown and changed so much in the last year.  I look back at who we were a year ago and I'm amazed beyond words.  We have all grown in so many ways.  Gabe goes to school.  Owen is no longer a toddler.   And, Eli has grown into his own little person.

Bryan and I have also grown and changed.  Bryan started his new job in Denver that has changed our lives in many ways.  And, I have taken on the role of staying at home with these three little boys in the "big" city.   Last year as I was laying in my hospital bed with a newborn in my arms I would never have imagined our life the way it is today.  But, I wouldn't change a thing.  I am smiling with pure joy and contentment on my babies first birthday.  Even though it hasn't been easy, it has been worth it. 

Happy Birthday to my beautiful baby boy!

bright orange

Hunting.  It means to chase or search for (game or other wild animals) for the purpose of catching or killing.  Before I married a Dahl, I didn't truly understand the meaning of the word.  After 7 years of marriage, I am just starting to understand what it means to be a hunter.

Gabe has helped me appreciate hunting as a sport and a way of life.  His passion amazes me. This little boy loves hunting.  He is a Dahl through and through.  Nothing excites him more then getting up super early to go out hunting with his Dad and Gramps.  While I am still laying in bed barely opening an eye, Gabe is jumping around getting all his hunting clothes together for the day.  Nobody has to wake him up, nobody has to ask him 3 or 4 times to get dressed, nobody has to nag him about anything.  He jumps out of bed and is ready to go.  At 4:30 no less. 

Over the weekend, we went to Spearfish, SD, deer hunting.  We arrived late on Friday night and early Sat. morning the boys went out to hunt.  Gabe was up and ready to go and I hate to admit it but he didn't take off his hunting clothes the entire 3 days.  Yep, he slept in them and everything. The boys left at 5:00 every morning and I didn't see them until it got dark.  Gabe loved every moment.  On Sunday night when his dad carried him in the house at 6:00 he was so exhausted he went straight to bed.  And, he was up and ready again on Monday.  Crazy kid. 

I shouldn't leave Owen out of this story either.  Owen hunted for two of the three days.  He also loves going hunting with his Dad and Gramps.  I suspect one of the best parts of hunting for Owen is the donuts.  I'm not sure how many donuts he ate over those two days because I was afraid to ask. 

While the boys are out hunting, Eli, Grammy, and I got to spend some time together.  Eli had a great time climbing up and down the stairs. This is his new favorite thing to do.  Boy, will I be glad when the stair stage is over.  Until then, I will be perched on the stairs making sure he doesn't fall.

This is a picture of Gabe's cousin Jade and his deer.

4 year old perspective

Owen got hold of the camera.  Here is our Saturday through Owen's eyes.

Just relaxing on the couch.

Mommy making lunch

 Daddy on his phone

A little Wyoming football.

 

Me and my dad.

 

tongue

It's a Sunday afternoon. I'm sitting in my living room looking out at the lake. Why in the world am I just sitting around looking at the lake? This doesn't happen very often.

Gabe and Owen are eating popcorn, watching cartoons. Eli is taking his nap. He fell asleep on the way home from the Children's Hospital and I decided to just let him take his nap in the car. I love long car naps. Sometimes they don't always work out but sometimes Eli will sleep for a couple of hours in his car seat.

Our afternoon was spent in the Chrildren's Hospital because of a small cut in Owen's chin. He was getting out of the tub, slipped and cut is chin. Not a big deal but enough of a cut to warrant a little skin superglue at the hospital. He is such a tough little guy. He didn't cry very much when it happened or at the hospital. When Owen cries, you know it hurts.

Besides the little side trip to the hospital this weekend has been relaxing and uneventful. I have been sick so I spent most of yesterday getting better. My wonderful husband took over yesterday afternoon while I rested. It seems to have helped because I am back to normal today.

I am leaving this post with a few funny faces by our littlest Dahl. Man is he cute. He always has this tongue thing going on. He spents a lot of time with his little tongue hanging out.

4 years old

Happy Birthday to Owen, Happy Birthday to Owen, Happy Birthday sweet Owen, Happy Birthday to you. Four years ago, you were born.

I think you had the best 4 year old birthday party that anyone could ever have. Those in attendance were friends Jake, Lauren, Natalie, and Allison. Gabe also invited his friend, Owen. Seven kids and one FUN party!! You guys had pizza, played upstairs, opened presents, and ate cake and ice cream.

Everyone had a good time, even the adults.

Big Orange Pumpkin

Halloween is the best holiday. What is better then being able to become someone else, stay up late, and eat loads of candy? But, the best part of Halloween is that that bright orange pumpkin filled with candy that sits on top of the washing machine. All those delicious chocolate bars, jaw breakers, and suckers are just waiting to be eaten. Bryan and I also love that pumpkin that sits on the washing machine. It seems to call our name when the kids aren't looking or after the kids have gone to bed. It holds weeks of sweet enjoyment.

Halloween this year was spent trick or treating in Hunters Glen (our neighborhood). We put Yoda in the stroller and walked up and down the street in search for lighted porch lights. It was a wonderful neighborhood for trick or treating. We even found a haunted house that was really scary.

The best part of this Halloween for me was holding little Yoda. Eli looked so cute in his costume. Every time I looked at him, I smiled. You just couldn't find anything cuter then my little Eli with big green ears.