Happy 1st Birthday to My Little Man!

Can't believe my sweet little guy is 1 already.  Time flies too fast.

A year ago seems a world away.  Wish we could go back in time, but we can't so we move on.
We love you so much little Dallin.  You are so sweet and snuggly.
So glad you are part of our family.

Dallin getting ready for the big moment. 

Totally excited about Grandma and Grandpa coming over and getting some CAKE!

So he was a little tired and cranky.  Ok, he was a mess.  But I got him his special blanket and he chilled.  Then everyone sang to him and he got excited.  I made him some Love-in-a-Dish(The kid friendly name of it).  Cookie crust, cream cheese filling, chocolate pudding and topped with whipping cream!  Mmm...

 Dallin considering the dessert.

  Dallin tasting it.

 Dallin likes it!  'Mom, this is awesome!'  Just need a little bubble edit to the picture.  =)

 Dallin checking out his new stuff thinking it looks pretty good too.

 So he tries it out.  He's not picky.  Plastic, whipping cream, ... it's all good.

Coconut Mango Muffins

Adapted from the blog She Bakes Here

3 1/2 cups flour
2 cups oats
1/4 cup flax seeds
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
4 cups mango puree(I think it would be even tastier if was a little chunky)
1 large egg, beaten
4 tbsp olive oil or coconut oil(I want to try it with coconut oil, but I don't have any yet.  Need to get it on the next trip to Costco!)
1/4 cup of unsweetened shredded coconut, for sprinkling

Preheat your oven to 350*F.

Mix together dry ingredients.  (May not need sugar depending on the ripeness of the mango.  I used frozen mango and pureed it in my blender.  Maybe even some banana would be a good substitute.)  Blend in wet ingredients.  

Pour into a greased muffin tin. Sprinkle with shredded coconut.

Bake for 15-20 minutes.


Makes about 24 moist and tasty muffins.

Life - Making the Best of it

Someone is getting around

 and testing out his legs.

 but he still loves his blankie.  Dallin only gives himself permission to suck his thumb when he is holding onto a blanket like this.  Luckily we have a few of them.  One in the crib, one in the car, a couple around the house, and one at auntie's house. =)

 I have decided that there is nothing happier than bubbles.  When feeling sad, blow some bubbles.

 This is only a little sad because it is getting close to the end of April.   However, it will all be a wet mess at the end of the week!  It is suppose to finally be warm!

 Goodbye snow.  I think we are all ready for you to go.

 Big sister and baby playing nicely together.  

Visiting Daddy at work and doing a little vision therapy.  I don't know what all these things they are doing are for, but it is pretty cool stuff.

Gordon Art

Mom and Dad pictures

We are in the process of working on Gordon's memorial over his grave site.  Matthew and I  are going to share one with him since he is buried in between our plots.  This makes it a little tricky.  We didn't have very much time to decide what we were going to do.  But now that it is what it is, this is how we must do it.  The cemetery that we decided on, all the plots are flat and made of bronze.  We haven't been in a crazy rush since everything is still covered in snow, but now that things are melting we are on it.  We decided we like the ones that have pictures engraved on them, so we were able to find pictures to use for Gordon, but then we needed pictures for us too.  I am not sure how strange that will be later on, but there just doesn't seem to be a rule book on this kind of thing.  So Matthew and I didn't have any good recent pictures of just us, so we went and had our pictures taken.  We went to the same place where we had all the kids pictures taken recently, but a different lady picked up the phone.  When I made the appointment, the lady asked me if there was a special occasion for the pictures.  I said, "you probably don't want to know."  But then after saying that, I had to go on and I told her what it was for. ... a little bit of an awkward moment.  It works out anyway because I am not really ready for a family photo yet without our Gordon.  And now we can be added to the wall of family photos.
So here are our pictures that will be permanently etched over our sweet boy.

... and a couple others.

 ... and a cheesy one.  

The lady doing our pictures was very good.  It was a good experience.  She was the same one that took the kids pictures, but it was her day off, so she came in just for us.  I appreciated it.

Gordon's Class Book

Gordon's class made a book of things they will miss about Gordon.  Here is what they wrote...

--
I will miss Gordon.  Gordon was funny. Gordon was a good singer.
--
I miss Gordon.  I miss Gordon's jokes.  Gordon was a good reader.
--
Gordon was very funny and the funniest guy I had ever met.
--
Gordon had the best story when we were doing sharing circle.
--
He was funny very funny.  He made me laugh every day.  Gordon had funny jokes too.
--
I miss Gordon's dancing.  I miss Gordon's singing.  I miss Gordon's laugh.
--
I am going to miss Gordon's drawings and Gordon's jokes.
--
I miss everything about Gordon.  He was really fun playing with.  We always played tag with him.  He was my best friend.  He was really funny too.
--
I miss playing with Gordon.  He was so funny.  Gordon was the best dancer ever.  I miss Gordon.
--
I miss Gordon's singing voice.  I miss Gordon's smile.  I miss Gordon's jokes.
--
I miss Gordon being in our class.
--
Gordon had funny jokes.  Gordon was funny.
--
He was funny.  And the best dancer in a good way.
--
I am going to miss his jokes.  He was a good dancer.  I will miss Gordon a lot.
--
Gordon was the funniest in the class.
--
Gordon was funny.  I miss Gordon.  I miss Gordon's jokes.
--
I will miss Gordon's jokes and Gordon was funny.
--
I miss Gordon's dancing.  I miss Gordon's singing.  I miss Gordon's laugh.
--
I miss Gordon a lot.  Gordon was fun.
--
Gordon was funny.

Gordon's Seventh Birthday

Gordon wanted to go to Kid City for his birthday.  So we did.  We only invited a few friends to the party, but the roads were horrible so most of his friends were not able to make it, but he had a fun time.

Baby Dallin and Daddy

Tegan kept wanting me to take her picture.

 Neil and cousin Scott

 Cute cousin with her fiery red hair.

There is Gordon playing in the background.

 Pizza time!

Avengers cupcakes

 Opening presents

 Someone got chocolate on his face.

The boys didn't want me to take their pictures.  They wanted to hurry and finish so they could go play again.

Normally when I make posts, I am smiling to see my kids cute faces.  I enjoy so much sharing my joy.  This time I have tears running down my face because I know this was my Gordon's last birthday on Earth.  I wish I made this post 5 months ago, but I felt sad that I didn't have it on here.  My heart aches for you Gordon.  Love you, Mom