Happy Birthday Hyrum!

Today was Hyrum's big day. Here are some pictures of the fun things we did.....

Helping make cupcakes.

Sampling the batter was his favorite part.

Sampling the frosting...he liked this even more than the cupcake batter.

Can you say "sugar overload!!!"

We frosted the cupcakes to look like baseballs, basketballs and tennis balls.

Feeding the ducks at a nearby duck pond.

Check out that arm, this boy can throw!

He LOVED his new bicycle helmet.

Trying out his new bicycle (well...new to him at least).

Two Years Old...and Lovin' Life

Tomorrow Hyrum turns three years old. It is hard to believe that my little boy is growing up so quickly. I love him to pieces and want to share a bit of him with you through this video. It has become a tradition in our family to watch these picture slideshows on each child's birthday. (Hyrum loves them and it is a very inexpensive alternative to scrapbooking all the pictures.)





While putting together this slideshow of Hyrum's third year, I was reminded of how innocent and loving he really is. Whenever I feel frustrated with him I need to watch this in order to put my perspective back in the right place. Hyrum has such a soft heart and loving smile....we're so blessed to have him in our family!


I'll put a post up tomorrow with pictures of our little celebration!

We love our BOYS...

All THREE of them that is!

Yep, you guessed it, we are having another little boy. We are so thrilled and can't wait to meet our new guy. Hyrum is also excited to know that he will have another "wittle brover". A few weeks ago while having family home evening on the couch Hyrum pointed to my stomach and said, "Mommy, why is your stomach so big?" (We hadn't told he about the new baby yet). Dave responded by asking him why he thought my stomach was so big and Hyrum said, "Because you ate too much dinner!" We got a good laugh out of that one. We told him I had a baby in my tummy and ever since he has been giving my tummy hugs and kisses. He already loves the new baby so much.

My due date is August 5th, but we will likely deliver end of July since it will be a scheduled c-section. Until then I guess we'll just be brainstorming what to name him.

Here are some pictures from our ultrasound. Isn't he adorable (even though he looks kind of alien-like)?

He's our little thinker!

Whole Grains...You Can't Live Without 'Em

Recently I've been studying the topic of "Whole Grains" in order to get continuing education credits to remain registered as a dietitian. I have learned so much and want to share some of it with you.

In the past we've focused on whole grains and the digestive health benefits of fiber, but recent research has proven that eating at least three-ounce equivalents a day of whole grains can:

• lower your risk of heart disease


• help reduce your risk of various cancers


• lower your chances of getting diabetes


• help manage blood glucose levels if you already have diabetes


• play an important role in weight management

Those are some pretty amazing health claims don't you think? Studies indicate that increasing consumption of whole grains may play a greater role in preventing heart disease than consumption of fruits and vegetables alone. Regardless of whether or not this statistic is 100% correct, eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains is a powerhouse protection for your body.

So what is a "whole grain"? It is the entire edible part of any grain (wheat, oats, corn, rice, barley, etc). It contains three components: bran (fiber, B vitamins, trace minerals), endosperm (carbohydrates, protein) and germ (antioxidants, Vitamin E, B Vitamins, healthy fats, phytonutrients). You may already be familiar with the term "wheat germ". A product must conatain 51% or more whole grain by weight in order to be labeled as "whole grain". Since these components of whole grains work synergystically, the health benefits of whole grains cannot be duplicated by supplements or by eating individual components of the grain (ie germ or bran). With whole grains, "the whole is greater than the sum of the parts." Anyway, that's probably more than you wanted to know.

So what does all of this mean for you? If you want to reap the health benefits associated with eating whole grains:

• look for the term "whole grain" on the package
• read the ingredients list looking for the words "whole grain" or "whole) at the top of the list (it should come before a grain such as wheat, rice, oat or barley)
• incorporate whole wheat flour into your own baking

Under my "Healthy and Happy" section (located on the right-hand side of our blog) I've posted several ideas on how you can quickly and inexpensively incorporate whole grains into your meals and snacks. I've also included serving sizes of whole grains so you can focus on eating 3 ounces of whole grains each day. And for your enjoyment I've shared with you one of my favorite whole grain recipes-wheat pancakes.

I may sound a bit crazy and overenthusiastic about this whole grain thing, but when something so simple reaps such significant health benefits, I can't keep my mouth shut. If you have any questions or thoughts, please share!

Photo Shoot

Today my friend took the cutest pictures of William and Hyrum while they were playing at her house; I couldn't resist sharing them.

(Disclaimer: They are both in desperate need of a haircut, we don't usually let them look so scraggly. )

The face (mostly the eyes) that melts my heart

Hyrum does this cheese ball, over exaggerated smile whenever we tell him to "smile"

The future of the NBA

Thanks Heidi for the great pictures....I love them!

Still in Love

Yesterday we celebrated our 4 year anniversary. I know to some of you that doesn't sound very long, but those have been 4 years of complete bliss. It's actually kind of crazy to think that it has only been 4 years, it feels like we've been married forever (and I say that in a good way). Our lives have meshed so completely since that day we first met. As we ate dinner last night we reminisced on our dating days and remembered the magical time it was. We both feel like we were prepared and guided to be at the right place at the right time in order for our paths to cross. We're so grateful to have each other and look forward to all the years to come.

One year Celebreation

William turned one-year old last week, but since we were out of town I've been a bit slow at getting these pictures posted. Enjoy!

He was a bit timid at first, barely dipping one finger in...

but once he got a little taste, he dug right in face first.

I made a smiley face cake because one of the things I love most about William is that he's always so smiley. I especially love how he wrinkles his nose when he grins.

Thanks Grandpa & Grandma Campbell for the cool trucks!

It's crazy to think that our little William is one year old. Time has gone by so quickly since he was born. He has brought such joy and happiness to our family. His soft snuggles, slobbery kisses, wrinkled nose grin and cute giggles have won our hearts. We look forward to all that the next year of his life will bring.