This past week...

A cheezy grin from Neal...he's very proud to be STANDING in his crib!!

Spencer is shaving!!!!

I was informed that his dad taught him a few weeks ago!

First shaving nick...he did not like the stinging feeling or the styptic pencil...ended up using a bandaide before bed. Pretty soon he'll be a pro!

Camilla modeling her new nose job...she's a fan of Penelope the movie.

and new hair-cut by Nicole Dew...

Check out those layers..

Front shot.

Very sick baby boy. Mommy so thankful that daddy came home and held him so that she could make something for the family to eat. Neal loves his daddy!

Another shot of Neal, trying to eat...he is just nibbling some crackers and I was trying to get some liquids in him.

I've not seen Neal this sick. He has a very bad cold, turned in to ear infection. He's taking albuterol treatments every 4 hours the last 48 hours and now has moved to every 6 hours. Tylenol and Ibuprofen, a steroid to help the inflammation and now amoxycillin..his first round of antibiotics. He seems to feel a bit better today, but tires out quickly.

As I type Neal is grabbing for the mouse..he's standing next to me trying to pound on the keys..I guess that's my cue to end this post.

Picture Tag
The rules:
1. Go to your documents/pictures
2. Go to your 6th folder
3. Go to your 6th picture
4. Post it, and blog about it
5. Tag 6 people to do the same (Carol, Linde, Joy, Lois, Kris, Tiffany--tag, you're it!)

Here we go...this is Camilla on St. Patrick's day. She wanted to wear this cool green leprechaun hat that Eric purchased a few years back. Camilla loves all dress up days. She was a little worried that someone might tease her, but she wore it all day and enjoyed the attention she received by wearing it...oh and it kept her from getting pinched!

A little video of Neal

I took this video of Neal standing and playing at a folding chair; he played for about 10 minutes with different toys. Today he's been pulling himself up to everything and beginning to climb stairs as well. He managed to pull up to Eric's nightstand and unload his coin plate (Plate with pennies mostly..) Luckly I caught him before he could deposit any in to his mouth. Now he crawls down the hall to closed doors...ugh, at least until we can remove items that could be dangerous for him. Enjoy the video!

He's standing tall

Neal is 15 months now, and yesterday he pulled himself up to standing position for the first time..today he's pulling up to everything! I took some videos as well, but I can't remember how to load them..so I'll work on that when I get a few more minutes! Hooray for our baby NEAL!

Today Neal pulled himself up to this chair, and I decided to put toys on it to see how long he'd stand there and play.

He stood there for at least 10 minutes and enjoyed himself.

He's especially intrigued with this hand lotion.

Notice the hand lotion has been thrown to the floor for more colorful toys!

One outfit, Two boys!

This is a picture of Spencer when he was close to a year old. Eric and I found this outfit and loved it! Reminded us of the old pictures we'd see of the newstand boys in there knickers and hats. It's a bit difficult to see the hat, but he's trying to pull it off. Eric took pictures of Spencer in this outfit surrounded by quilts that had been made for him. This would have been 1996.

Here is Neal in the same outfit, minus the hat. We were so happy and suprised to see it come back to us in a tote that has made it's rounds from boy to boy in the Kern, Duncan and Nelson households..that's 11 boys I believe.. I'm not sure if they've all worn it, but still it has held up pretty well. Eric took these pictures as well of Neal.

Here are the two brother's together. Hmmmm wonder if Neal will wear this same white shirt and tie when he is 13?

One more shot of Neal in the timeless outfit. What stories the threads could tell.

A day at Temple Square

April 6th, we headed out for a day in Salt Lake City, we began with a trip to the Moran Eye Institute and I had an appointment with a surgeon. I still have not made up my mind on surgery..so we won't spend much time on that for now.

We ate lunch at the Lion House pantry, it was delicious, but we have not pictures of that.

Then we headed to one of the visitor's centers and met up with Lee and Ann Church; the parents of this guy I like to call.......nah, I better just call him Scott, my very dear, sweet, kind friend. We had a fun visit as they told us of their adventurous trip and we got a bit of time to catch up. Spencer took a picture of us. Take note that Brother Church is on the telephone :o). Wish we could have visited longer, can't wait till we can make a trip to Georgia to visit them and take Scott, Steph and their family with us!

Spencer took an up close photo of himself with Neal.

We took off site seeing after the visit, we did spend some time in that visitor's center as well as you'll see below. This statue is right outside the Assembly Hall.

A shot of Eric, Spencer and Neal near some of the gorgeous flowers on temple square.

Eric, Spencer, Camilla and Neal in front of the statue of Joseph Smith receiving the Melchezidek Priesthood.

Spencer in the Tabernacle.

Eric, Spencer and Camilla in the tabernacle.

Eric and Neal infront of the Christus statue.

Spencer, Camilla and Neal in front of the Christus.

Camilla and Barbie in front of the Christus.

We had a great day and all was beautiful up until we were ready to leave. We put all of our belongings in to the car and realized we did not have our camera. So Eric spent 45 minutes going back over the areas we had visited, with no luck. He then put in a claim with lost and found and returned to tell us the bad news.

We were without our camera for 5 weeks and one day Eric decided to call Temple Square again. Asked if they'd found a blue Nikon Coolpix in a black case and the person there told us they did have one that matched that discription. However, the day it was reported missing was the 6th and the date they had it documented in their records was the 5th. So we had our brother, Michael, check it out since he works there and sure enough it was our trusty camera. We are so happy it was found and now we can try to catch up a bit with some blogging and pictures.

Miracles do happen! Every day! The Spirit was wonderful at Temple Square and we really did have a beautiful day together.

Camera found!

Our camera has been found, our camera has been found, hi ho the dairy-o, our camera has been found...

so stay tuned, when we get it back I will be back to picture posting and blogging!!!

So thankful for miracles!!!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!
My mom, became a mother when she had me...that's because I'm her first child. I was born February 29, 1964. My mom's name is Shirley Ann Fagan Sanders. She was raised in Findlay Ohio. She met my dad when he was a full-time missionary and she was a stake missionary. They got to know each other and dad proposed on the train ride home. (Isn't she beautiful!!!)

This is a picture of mom and dad bringing me home. My dad looks like he's a bit in shock, I'm crying, full on, mouth open and my mom has that beautiful calm twinkly smile that she has when she is happy. My mom always made being a mom seem easy and most of the time fun.

This has become one of my favorite pictures of me with my mom, because I can just imagine myself babbling on about something in my baby talk and I can see that my mom is finding great joy in the conversation. I can also see a reflection of my children in this little baby Inez. I see Babies Spencer, Camilla and Neal...it's very interesting.

I love my mom, she was my first best friend and remains to be one of my best friends, confidant, supporter and teacher. My mom taught and still teaches me to "keep going", "find joy in life", "Love your husband, children and others", "Listen to your children", "Spend time with your children", "Discipline your children", "Love the Lord", "Have patience in trials and suffering", "Have Faith in Heavenly Father", "Pray"....those are just a few of the things I've learned from my mom.

She's an amazing seamstress, she made me dresses and you will see farther down the wedding gown she made for me. She crochets. She has made an afigan for each of her grandchildren when they turn three, so thus far she has made 24 afigans for grandchildren, no two are alike. She has made afigans and quilts for her children and their spouses. She usually makes homemade gifts for Christmas. It's very rare to see my mom without yarn and hook in her hands. She has cross-stitched and tatted. She does family history work. Makes a calendar each year for all of us with everyone in the family's birthdays and anniversaries on it. She has a beautiful singing voice and I grew up with her singing and playing the guitar. She has always been an amazing cook as well, I can't remember very many things that my mom has made that hasn't been good. There was one time she made some bisquits that didn't taste good, but that's the only time I can remember not liking something... and I think it's because she added too much baking soda!

I know that my mom has made many sacrifices for me and my siblings. She doesn't speak of them, but now that I'm a mother, I KNOW my mother sacrificed!!! Thank you mom..words can't express the love I have for you and admiration. You are beloved by me and all of your children and grandchildren. Below are a few more pictures I'd like to share.

This is Pearl Fagan, she is my maternal grandma. My mom learned from her. I remember grandma telling me stories, laughing with me, hugging me and when I went to Ohio with my mom as an 18 year old, I remember my grandma cruising main street with my mom, aunt Nancy and I and how I thought that was so much fun! I would wait impatiently for the times when grandma and grandpa Fagan would come clear from Findlay, Ohio to see us. I'm sure the dress I'm wearing was made by my mom. I love my grandma and I miss her. My daughter, Camilla, has Pearl as her middle name after my grandma.

This is the wedding dress that my mom made for me! In this photo is my paternal grandma, Venna Sanders, she lived to be almost 93. I learned a great deal from my grandma Sanders. She also would tell me stories, sleep out on her front porch with me at night and tell me about the stars. As I grew up I spent some weekends with her when I was at BYU or living in Provo. I remember taking her to her 80th class reunion. My grandma could talk to anyone and be their friend instantly. I admired my grandma and I miss her very much also.

I became a mother on September 12th, 1995 when Spencer was born. My mom was right there with me, trying to help me push. When we were finally told that I would need an emergency C-section. I remember being really scared and my mom touched me with her hand and told me it would be alright. Mom stayed with us for at least 6 weeks and came back when I needed her. She taught me how to take care of an infant and she took care of Spencer when I couldn't. She was there for the birth of Camilla on July 27, 2001, this time she came a month before I had her and went to the birth with me. (Eric was there too..but this is about mothers) She helped me with Spencer and Camilla. This time I was able to do more for my baby, but mom was there to support me. Then when I had to be put in to the hospital because of high blood pressure with Neal, mom came and took care of Spencer and Camilla for me. Mom was here with me as I recovered from my emergency c-section, seizure and the stress of a premature birth. She helped me so much. I remember coming home one night from the hospital and being so grateful that my mom had gone to the hospital with me that night. She let me cry when I needed to cry and at 44 I appreciated my mom in a whole new way. I told Eric that even though mom couldn't do things in the same way she used to, meaning physically, I needed her emotional support during that whole 10 weeks and as thankful as I was for everyone's support, I truly needed my mother.

Now I get to watch my mom be the grandma. This is a picture of my mom and dad with Spencer and Camilla at our home in Las Vegas. I love how she is always happy to see her grandkids and they are happy to see her. I can't seem to get a picture of her with Neal to post, but I have other pictures on this blog of mom and Neal.

I love you mom and I hope you had a wonderful mother's day. I know I'm posting this too late for you to see it today, but I wanted to do this and I hope that you know I have enjoyed every moment I have had with you, our fun trips when I was single, and all of our times together. I look forward to many, many, many more!!!

I am thankful for my mother and my grandmothers and I am so grateful to be a mother.