A Nice Surprise!

My sweet wife gave me an almost equally sweet of a surprise the other day. I left for the Priesthood Session and she, took the kids to get photos.  Ella was a day or so away from being six months old and Connor just passed the twenty-seven month mark.  Jannene had been talking about taking the kids in for a while, however one thing or another always came up.  When I left she said she thought, "What to do? What to do?  I could go to the mall. Oh, pictures!  I can take the kids to get pictures done!" And just like that she decided that it was the time to go.  By the time I got home that evening Jannene had added to the surprise by switching around the pictures in the frame that we had filled with just Connor that hangs in the front room, with photos of both of our children.  She did a wonderful job!  Below are some of the images that were taken.  Enjoy.  :)

Thank you Sweet Wife!  I appreciate this and the effort you took to make this happen. ~Johnathan

Six months already.

It is amazing!  Time flies!  The little one is six months old.  The times with her have been and are wonderful.  She is "sugar and spice" and "all girl."  From her little smiles to her amazing lungs that let you know if she isn't happy, we love everything about her.  The return policy is officially over, there's no returning her now.  Not that we would if we could, but for sure, six months is a bit beyond most stores return policies.

We love our little ones!  Connor is amazing with his sister.  However, at almost 2 1/2, "No! Connor's!" Does come out of his mouth at times.  Usually when someone has something he wants.  At times, this includes when Ella touches his elbow, a toy or something that he has determined is his.  For the most part however, "No! Connor's!" is pretty rare.  He gets excited when he sees Ella move around and wiggle.  It looks like he can hardly wait for her to join him in all the games, trains and fun times.

While at Disneyland last time Johnathan went and got Chinese from the California Adventure side of Disneyland while Jannene took the kids over to the Dumbo ride. These photos were taken as Johnathan happened upon his little family.  He didn't know that Jannene and the kids were actually on the ride when he walked up.

Connor: "Daddy! Daddy!" After Johnathan scooped him up Connor turned to the ride, "DUMBO!"

After watching "Dumbo" a few times at the house, we decided to introduce Connor and Ella to Dumbo in all of Disneyland's glory... after this ride came the train ride! Connor didn't want to get in the animal cage cars, so we rode in the second to last car.  One of these days we might ride in the tiger or monkey car.

Mickey, Minnie and Goofy all Dressed up for Halloween!

We took the kids to Disneyland the other day, where we ran into Mickey, Minnie and Goofy!
Here are some fun pics, as Disneyland is all geared up for Halloween.

Minnie Mouse was delighted to spend time with Ella! She probably spent 5 minutes with Ella.  Instead of the help asking the guests to allow the next visitor to have a turn, the "help" was trying to remind Minnie that there were other guests in line too.  It was very fun to see!  Ella kept attacking and sucking on Minnie's nose (like a huge pacifier)! It was hilarious!

A little family shot.

Watching fireworks with Mommy!

Ella was already asleep by the time we found Mickey... Mickey still took a photo with her (see below).

Mickey and Ella

Connor found Goofy's skeleton costume to be interesting.

And of course... at the end of the day, both kids fall asleep. :-)

Posting a BLOG happens when you do it, not just think about it. :)

Like most families, we've been busy and only are getting busier.  We've done a lot, and have been desiring to do a few different posts.  However, as life happens, the actual posting never did.

Well, this is a little post in an effort to catch up some.  We've had an eventful summer!  From our annual trip to Monterrey with friends, to heading over to Yosemite and then across to Utah for a family reunion, life just hasn't slowed down much.

Connor and Ella are doing great!  And getting bigger by the moment!  Ella is finally sleeping through the night regularly!  Connor loves being a little Picasso (we'll post some photos below). Ella and Connor both find themselves at Disneyland with one or both of us fairly often.  DL works wonderfully to exhaust the kids.

There are photos below of Ella's FIRST time of eating rice cereal!  Connor wanted to help.  We'll keep the post short and fun.  Even though there is so much more that we could be posting.  Hopefully, over time, we'll step back and add some additional photos from the summer.

Kickin' it at Disneyland.

"Ride the train!" Connor saw this train at the Irvine mall and ran after it calling out, "Ride the TRAIN! Ride the TRAIN!"  It was so cute... we just had to let him.

Waiting for Connor and Momma to get back from their little train ride.

You could say he is getting in the Halloween Spirit a little early! Using Jannene's MAC makeup - eyeliner.

It was on there so thick!  haha!  Yeah... getting this off his face was loads of fun!

Sleeping at the reunion.

Hi!

Ahh... real food!

Wait!  Seriously!??  I thought it'd be better than this!

It tastes better coming from BIG Brother!

See Ella! Wasn't that FUN!

"Nobel Peace Prize for Laughing"

Some friends of invited us to attend a recent filming of the Conan O'Brien show with them on Thursday.

Jannene's laugh caught Conan's attention.

He then proceeded to engage in conversation with Jannene and Johnathan. Even claiming that he wants to marry her and would fight Johnathan for her in the parking lot.

Later, as Conan is poking fun at Morgan Freeman the computer malfunctions so he turns to Jannene's laugh as a reliable filler!

Look for us just after the 8:50 minute mark until the 11 minute mark and then again, just past the 14 minute mark, when the equipment fails (you can slide the player, you don't have to wait for us to appear).
http://teamcoco.com/video/full​-episode-thurs-7-28-jon-favrea​u-jayma-mays-brett-dennen

(P.S. We're currently working on a long blog post that covers from Ella's Birth to Johnathan's graduation, to Connor's birthday, to our recent 9 day road trip and more!  As it has been a while since we blogged.)

Ella - Our Newest Love

Your Baby Can What? Read (or at least recognize) some words!

Connor is 21 1/2 months old and he loves watching Your Baby Can Read Videos and reading/looking through the books.  We haven't been as diligent as they suggest... with Johnathan in school, Jannene working, the birth of Ella, and life just being what it is, busy.

However, at least once a day he exclaims, "READ!" <-- His way of asking for the videos.  Since early on Connor has always loved books... now it is becoming more and more fun, as he is reading or at least recognizing words.  We try to mix things up, showing him the words and videos in a variety of different ways.  That way he is not seeing everything in the same order.


This little 30 or so second video is of one of his recent "readings."

Butterfly needle.

We took Connor in for his check-up a few months back.  Upon completing it we were told he needed to get some lab work done.  Previously, all blood was taken from his heel... as they just pricked it and squeezed out what they needed.  When we brought Connor down to the lab we learned that no longer could they take it from the heel.  It had to be drawn like they would an adult.  YIKES!  We asked, "How?" As we couldn't envision the procedure, trying to hold down a little man.  Well... the first lab we went to didn't give us any confidence in them, or the procedure.  We put off the blood work.  A few months passed and his pediatrician mentioned that she hadn't received the lab results.  We explained to her our nervousness and asked what we were to do.  She said just to bring him down to the lab that was in the same building as her office, since they see more children.

When we arrived, we were more than anxious.  Johnathan was probably the worst... as he had to hold him on his lap.  Initially Connor pulled back when he saw the person.  Johnathan sat down, placed Connor on his lap and then started showing him items and things to play with.  After about five minutes, he (Johnathan) said they were ready.  The nice man moved the tray around and lowered it to Connor's height.  After a few instructions, Johnathan placed Connor in a loving straight-jacket type of a hold.  He cried a bit, and tried to move, however the guy held Connor's arm out straight.  Then... came the butterfly needle.  

The sharp little bugger... went in so swiftly that it took Connor about thirty seconds to respond.  When it finally registered... he cried!

All Jannene could think as she watched was, "Poor kid." She knew he didn't like it, and just wanted it to get over soon. Jannene says, "I'm glad my husband was doing it, and not me."

Holding Connor in his arms as he squirmed was hard on Johnathan.  Luckily, the guy filled an entire syringe with blood, removed the needle, and then transferred the blood into the four vials for the tests.

Seeing that little butterfly needle penetrate his arm was probably the hardest thing for Jannene.  Literally feeling him struggle as the blood was being removed, especially since the guy had to move the needle a few times to keep the flow going, was the hardest thing for Johnathan.  He had the task of reassuring the boy, holding him still and helping to keep his arm straight.

In the end Connor was okay. Daddy was okay. and Mommy was okay.

Enter... Ella!

The Sprint was on!  In two hours and forty-one minutes, little... well, not so little Ella, Entered our lives officially!

In this corner, weighing in at 25 1/2 pounds of all boy is big brother, Connor! Connor entered our lives 21 months ago. Originally coming 7 days early, weighing half an ounce shy of 9 pounds... 8 lbs 15.5 ounces!

Each of these photos were taken when our kids... (we have KIDS!) were 10 days old.

And in this corner, weighing in at 9 pounds, 11 ounces and coming in a full ten (count them, TEN) days early, we have the "not so little" sister Ella!

Laura was the mid-wife that caught both of our babies... upon lifting Ella into the air she stated, "Oh... you're going to beat up Connor." Ella came out 3 days earlier than Connor and weighed almost a pound more!

Going home... less than twenty-four hours after Ella entered our world.

Jannene... yeah, she cheats.  Can't even go full term... haha!  Which, is a good thing.  As these babies were BIG enough as they were.

Johnathan... yeah, it has been claimed that he's already wrapped around someone's finger.
We have more photos of course... however, sleep is calling.