Easter 2011

Here are some pictures from our Easter egg dying and Easter egg hunt. The Easter bunny likes hiding our eggs outside if it's nice weather, but last minute after church responsibilities left some pretty soft chocolate. Both the kids were concerned about how many hard boiled eggs they got, even though neither of them like hard boiled eggs, which we proved moments later when the eggs were peeled. Went up to my mom's later that day for a non-traditional, but very yummy curry dinner. We're not big ham fans I guess.





We only had one spilled egg dye, and luckily that was towards the end. Cardon was great for the egg dying and the egg hunt even though there are no picture in this post to prove it. I thought I should at least mention that he was there. I was thinking how we will have a whole different experience next year with a one year old at Easter. Love the holidays with these kids.

6 Weeks

A day late of course, but here are his 6 week accomplishments:

awake more
goes to sleep when put in crib
wakes up twice at night, at 1 and 5
found your hands to suck on
follow us with your eyes when we walk around the room
smile a lot
make cooing noises while sleeping
take pacifier only when you want to go to sleep
cross hands over your chest (so cute)
went to church for the first time
went to the gym with me
get hiccups a couple times a day
eat 4 oz. at a time
got your fingernails clipped
very content and mellow





Can you spot the baby? He sat there while I talked to him and folded laundry for about half an hour.


Happy to just relax and suck on his hands.


Hanging out with Grandma while the older kids have their Easter egg hunt.


Mostly I just had to post this picture of my mom after Prentice did her makeup. We almost got my mom to go out in public like this because she had forgotten she had it on. What an awesome Grandma to let Prentice do this once or twice a week. She also paints fingernails.

This picture doesn't tell the full story, but Cardon was so happy and smiley when Jer would touch the pacifier to his nose, mouth, and chin. He was just grinning at him. He's been such a good baby so far I already think I can eventually handle another one. That does change on a minute by minute basis, but that's how I feel at the moment. Jer just rolls his eyes at me when I say this. We'll see how long I can keep up this weekly update. Until next week...

Cardon's Newborn Shoot

Finally I am getting around to posting the newborn pictures we had taken of Cardon. I figured I getter get them up before he isn't a newborn anymore. They were taken when he was 3 weeks old, so thwy are already outdated. With birthdays and Easter I kept putting it on the back burner. Not because they aren't they most adorable pictures eve:). I never did it with my older two. I guess money and being a terrible mother contributed, but hopefully I am redeeming myself a little with these. He was a little fussy that night which isn't normal for him, so I was a little worried about how they would turn out, but was really pleased with the end result. He only peed and barfed once during the shoot, and was awake as you can see for the majority of it.











Had a hard time picking my favorites, but here are quite a few. After it was over I wondered why we didn't try to get a family shot, but oh well, maybe at Christmas.

Happy Birthday Truman!

Happy Birthday a day late Truman. With your birthday and my birthday being so close, I ran out of time to post on your birthday, but didn't want to let the opportunity pass to post about your 6th birthday.

We all love you so much! We hope you had a wonderful birthday and that it was everything you hoped it would be. You are so special and an important part of our family. Thanks for your contagious and cheerful smile. We appreciate your positive and personality. We can't believe you are 6 already. It doesn't seem that long ago that we brought you home from the hospital as a tiny baby. We are lucky to have you. Love you always.

Mom and Dad

We started off the day with your request of hash browns and bacon. Then you requested not to have to do your "jobs" for the day. You got many birthday calls to wish you a happy birthday and then you were off to school. Cardon and I picked you up and we went to Jumpin Jacks with your friends. You all had a blast. It is the perfect place for a 6 year old boy. Then we came home, had McDonalds, and opened presents. You finished off the night by staying up later then Prentice and putting together a Lego car you got for your birthday with dad. Before you went to bed you told dad and I very seriously that you didn't feel like you were 6 yet.



Here is the bug cake dad stayed up making the night before. He hoped it impressed you as much as the cakes on "Cake Boss."



The friends at your party were: Conner, Kai, Caleb, Ben, and of course Prentice. Grandma Debbie and Aunt Monique were there as well.

We're Glad It's Your Birthday!

Happy Birthday Nikki! You area a remakable woman. A few thoughts about you...

• I am amazed at what you do each day with our children and home. Thank you. Even though you have been told at times that "they did not pick you up in heaven" while angry about some nonsense, it is clear that your children love you and have learned a great deal from your example as well as your active engagement.





• How would it be not to care a whit about sugar? You tell us. While I am sure this helps in your endeavor to keep your figure, you are very dilligent about eating the right things and keeping fit. Thanks for being a good example and discovering it is best not to nag your husband about his sugar cravings. You can nag the kids though. You are beautiful and sexy. Remember how much I love the mesh. Mmmmmm





• Supportive? Check. I have made some mistakes that have taken our goals off course, but you have remained supportive in our efforts to correct course. We have had some interesting couple years and appreciate your support and encouragement in career pursuits and paths; even when they have taken me far from home. You do wonders in the home in teaching our children academics as well as being good people and keeping our home as peaceful as Leonard kids can keep it. I support your career decision to be a great Mom. Great work!





• Lastly, here is a poem. While I have been known to put pen to paper and create a tender strirring of the heart, I am going to opt for a poem that we both like by Bruno Mars. It goes like this (you can picture me lipsyncing this while reading. It helps with the ambiance) :

Oh, her eyes, her eyes, make the stars look like they're not shining
Her hair, her hair falls perfectly without her trying
She's so beautiful, and I tell her everyday

Yeah, I know, I know, when I compliment her she won't believe me
And it's so, it's so, sad to thing that she don't see what I see
But every time she asks me do I look OK, I say

When I see your face, there's not a thing I would change
Cause your amazing, just the way you are
And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while
Because girl you're amazing, just the way are

Her lips, her lips, I could kiss them all day if she let me
Her laugh, her laugh, she hates but I think it's so sexy
She's so beautiful, and I tell her every day

Oh, you know, you know, you know, I'd never ask you to change
If perfect's what you're searching for then just stay the same
So, don't even bother asking if you look OK
You know I'll say

When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change
Cause your amazing, just the way you are
And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while
Because girl your amazing, just the way you are

5 Weeks

At 5 Weeks you:
are starting to smile on purpose!
slept through the night 2 times, from 10-5
went to Young Womens for the first time
follow objects and our faces with your head and eyes
like the car
went to the gym with me, and slept the whole time
starting to put yourself to sleep for naps
went to the Kite Festival
very content
cry only if you are hungry or tired
like the pacifier a little, but not hooked



I actually love this picture because this is what Cardon looked like after a big sneeze(notice the snot nose). Aren't colds fun!

Prentice was dancing to some music and before I knew it she had picked Cardon up and was dancing with you. Normally we only let her hold him if she is sitting on the couch, but she is itching to pick him up and treat you like her doll. She did pretty good and Cardon seemed to like it.


Nothing better than Prentice in a princess outfit and a naked baby. Prentice did a very thorough job of washing him, and then rubbed his ear until he was ready to get out. She loved it when he peed because it shot up. She asked me how we could get him to do it again.

Sweet boy.


I'm having a hard time catching his first smiles, but here is the beginning of one. Whenever I get the big camera out to take a picture, he focuses on that instead of on me, and stops smiling. Maybe I'll get a better one next week.

We love how Cardon sleeps with his hands curled up under his chin. Jer looks thrilled, and Truman is doing a cheesy grin. Just focus on the baby. Hopefully I will get his newborn pictures up soon.

4 Weeks

Cardon is already 4 weeks old! I can't believe it.

4 Weeks:
are so alert
have more awake time
so happy and content in the morning
wake up 3 times a night
want to be held all the time
got your first cold (small one luckily)
sleep anywhere but in your crib
starting to hold your head up
have a little diaper rash
went on your first bike ride
like your bath every day
seem to be most content with mom
eat every 2-3 hours, about 4 oz.
spit up a little bit
like to lay on your tummy, especially on our chest

And at 4 weeks he is still being mauled and mothered by Prentice.



The other night while we were reading scriptures and the "Friend" magazine Cardon was so enthralled with Jer's voice. I had to take a picture to show my THREE kids listening.

Prentice has even decided she will change diapers..even poopy ones. I help her a little, but I think pretty soon she will have it. I'm pretty sure she's almost ready to start babysitting.




Cardon got to go on his first bike ride with the family. We just rode around the neighborhood, but it was so much fun. We need to do things like this more often.

I took this picture of him this morning because he just sat and stared and got excited about these Easter eggs and toys, the whole time I showered and got ready. Every time I would check on him, he was just kicking his legs and staring wide eyed at everything.

The Big Kids

I feel like I have been posting a lot about Cardon and wanted to remember some of the cute and funny things Truman and Prentice have been up to.

Prentice's choice of outfits and accessories can be so funny sometimes. I really try to not be too critical and to just let her have her own style sometimes. She actually does and pretty good job and really tries to make things match and look good together. And I have to say, it does make my life easier that she can pick out her clothes and get herself ready. In this picture she wanted to wear blue for Truman's soccer game because that is his team color. And as far as the silly face goes...I have no idea, but it made me laugh.


For the last week or so, Truman has taken our fly swatter and gone outside to kill flies. It has kept him busy for hours. We didn't think he was actually getting anything, but when I went out to take pictures and film him, I saw that he really was. Cheap entertainment for a 5 year old boy. Who would have thought a fly swatter could be so much fun.


We decided to make our third attempt at a garden here in hot St. George. One of the things we miss most about living up north is our garden, so we have really tried to get one to grow here. Jeremy got ambitious (I was having a baby) and built a big garden box and luckily he has dirt and manure at his work. He even hooked up sprinklers because I have learned that no matter how much I think I will be able to keep up with watering, in the heat of summer it doesn't happen. And we can't go anywhere without having someone water. On Monday, the kids and I planted the plants and flowers to attract bees. Truman was the best helper. He planed almost every single one and was so into it. He has been learning about plants at school, so he told me all about plants and how they grow. He got so excited because after we were done planting, he saw a bee on one of the flowers and hoped it would pollinate our vegetables. Not overly optimistic myself, but still hopeful that we can get something!

The newborn stage is hard for Jer and I in many ways, but having these older two makes me realize that the newborn time is so short. Enjoy it and know that you have many wonderful stages yet to come and what could be more rewarding then these two. One day he will sleep through the night, feed himself, got to the bathroom by himself, not have to eat every 2 hours, be able to dress himself, and get himself in the car. But then he won't be my little cuddly baby anymore.

3 Weeks

You are 3 weeks now and growing more every day. We are somewhat adjusting to sleepless nights and you are getting a little more consistent. At the same time, you are starting to seem like you fit right in to our family. Your brother and sister still adore you and I am hoping that doesn't change when you are mobile and can get into their things.

At 3 weeks you:
sleep for a 5 hour stretch and then 3 hours
have started to put your hands in your mouth
have purposely smiled a few times
like to be held and cuddled
fussy when you get gas or have to poop
are starting to go down on your own for a nap
eat 3 oz. at a time
mostly do formula now
are most happy in the morning after you've eaten
like the bath
starting to like your pacifier
have a little baby acne
got your newborn pictures done
grew out of your first newborn outfit
out of newborn diapers in in size 1






I can hear you up from your nap, so I guess it's feeding time.