Six Months

This little tank is six months old today. He is getting so big and changing so much each day. We just love having him around! He loves to watch his older brother and pull his moms hair. What a munchkin!

We're on the map!

We had a wonderful General Conference weekend. The best part was when President Monson announced that we would be getting a temple right here in Meridian! The Boise temple is really not far from us, but to have one even closer will hopefully make a difference in our attendance!

Sam performing the ABC's

We bought an annual pass to the Boise zoo and have been twice already. It's no San Diego Zoo, but Sam loves it and it will be a nice option to pass the days this spring and summer.

Feeding the giraffes and goats was a big hit!

Trying to listen to General Conference

Four Years!

It's been a great four years! Bill surprised me by taking the day off. We all went to lunch and then I went to have a wonderful massage. I could do that every week!

We had our friends, the Wilsons, from our NYU days come into town for a visit that afternoon and had a great time hanging out with them.

Here's to another great 4 years! I love you Bill!

Rollin' rollin' rollin'

This little guy is five months old! I just can't believe how fast the months are flying by and how big he is getting! He was well over 15 pounds at his 4 month well check. He has his big brother beat in both height and weight at this age.

Whenever I lay him down on his back, he immediately flips to his tummy.

Then, when he's tired of tummy time, he flips back over...

He is such a happy little guy!

Sam was not so happy the other day when he turned around and smacked his forehead on the corner of a book shelf. Poor guy.

Ugh!

I knew we were being spoiled when we had sun and 50+ degrees earlier this week. This is what we woke up to this morning:

Sam was a big helper shoveling the driveway

Taking a quick break for a refreshing snack

It started last night with a little hailstorm and some thunder and lightning. Sam was fascinated with all the little white, "cold balls" on our patio.

Random photo of Sam giving Daniel a massage with a vibrating golf ball. Poor Daniel.

A Week in Utah

Since this winter has seemed to just be dragging on and on, we went to Utah for a week for a change of scenery. Sam, Daniel and I stayed at my parents for a week. Bill drove down with us, stayed a few days and then flew home for a few to work. Then he flew back down for a couple and we all drove home together. It was a great week and went way too fast! We had a great time seeing some of our family and friends. We only wish we could have seen everyone!

While Bill was in town, we tried to do lots of fun things. One fav was the Aquarium. Since Sam is a huge Nemo fan, we had a hard time pulling him away from "Bruce".

Petting the sting rays

Daniel was a trooper

One morning we rode the "choo-choo train" (Trax). We didn't have a destination in mind since it was so cold out and would have had to walk outside once we got off. We just rode it to the end of the line and back to our car. Sam was in heaven with Grandma & Grandpa Ellison.

Sam conned both Grandma and Grandpa to play trains with him several times a day.

The days that Bill was gone were pretty crazy. It made me realize how much he helps me with the boys and how grateful I am for him!! Thank goodness for grandparents and cousins who were there to make the time more fun for Sam!

Sam and his cousin, Noah

Sam & his buddy, Drew G.

Pizza at the Anderson cousins house

On our way out of town I got to see my cousin Rob's new baby girl, Clara. Love the dark hair!

We had such a great time. I'm looking forward to another trip when the weather is warmer and we can see more friends!

Uncle Robert

My dear uncle Robert passed away this week. He was my mother's only sibling. I have wonderful memories of him tickling me if I didn't have a bow in my hair and spending Thanksgiving with his family. Becky and I drove down to Salt Lake with the babies for the funeral. It was a beautiful service. He was an amazing man and will be missed.

ROBERT SLOAN, Jr.

Robert Charles Sloan, Jr. 1936 ~ 2011 Our beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother, Robert Charles Sloan, Jr., passed away at home on January 11, 2011, at the age of 74. He was born March 22, 1936, to Robert Charles and Laura Egan Sloan. His was a happy childhood, growing up on the Avenues with his sister, Betty Ellen, surrounded by both sets of grandparents, family, and friends. He treasured his life-long friendships from the Twentieth Ward. As a young man, he served in the Swiss-Austrian mission where he established a pattern of faithful service and was blessed with wonderful associations and experiences. Upon his return, he continued his studies at the University of Utah, where he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity, graduating with a business degree and an MBA. On September 1, 1961, he married his eternal companion, Janet Laughlin, in the Salt Lake Temple. He joined his father at the Sloan Insurance Agency established by his grandfather and was known for his integrity and professionalism. He was one of the first in the state to earn his CPCU designation. Robert was a faithful and devoted member of the LDS Church, serving in many capacities including as a young bishop of the Monument Park 1st Ward, high councilor, a national officer for Sigma Gamma Chi church fraternity, as a mission president to the wonderful missionaries of the West Virginia Charleston Mission (1996-1999), and as an ordinance worker in the Salt Lake Temple for nearly seven years. He was a faithful hometeacher to the end. He was known for his physical fitness and had a great love for the beauties of nature and found great pleasure in running, hiking, camping and backpacking with loved ones in our beautiful state. His love of fine music continues in his children and grandchildren. He valued his pioneer heritage and enjoyed attending the monthly Sons of Utah Pioneers functions and left a legacy to his posterity worthy of emulation. During the last several years, he endured with patience and without complaint the loss of his vision as well as declining abilities due to the effects of Alzheimer's disease. He was an example to those who knew him of gentle dignity, unwavering faith, and a grateful heart. He was blessed with the gift of wisdom and many came to him for advice and counsel. He is survived by his wife; sons - David (Martha), Stephen (Marta), and Richard; daughters - Julie Newton (Bruce), Suzanne Richards (Mark), Elisabeth Lambert (Kevin), Catherine Blake (Michael); 27 grandchildren; his sister, Betty Ellison (Peter); and aunt, Elaine Stevens Williams. The family extends grateful appreciation to Loyda Tovar for her loving care these past six months and to our dear neighbors and friends, Bob and Julie Anderson, for their ever-constant kindnesses through the years. There will be a viewing Friday night, January 14th, at Larkin Sunset Lawn (2350 East 1300 South) from 6-8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be Saturday, January 15th, at noon at the Monument Park First Ward (1005 South 2000 East) with a viewing prior to the services at the ward from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the LDS Church's Humanitarian Fund or Perpetual Education Fund or to the Utah Symphony of which he was a life-long patron. Interment at the Salt Lake City Cemetery. Online condolences at www.larkincares.com.