Birthday to Birthday

It has been a busy couple of months. I decided to catch up by just doing a slide show with all the events of the past two months. We start with Curtis' birthday go through Kaels' birthday. There are a lot of fun pictures so I hope you enjoy.

Kael

Today my baby you turned two. I can't believe how quickly time has flown by. It really feels like yesterday that you surprised us all and made an early arrival the day after Valentines day instead of the last week of March. I should have known then that you would always do things on your own terms and in your own time frame. In the last year you started walking, said your first words, and became a big brother. You are truly a sweet little guy. I know it has been a tough year with a lot of changes but you have always had this incredible smile that could make anyone just melt in your hands. Your little personality is bursting at the seams to show the world what you can do. You love to do whatever your big brother Vance is doing and following him in whatever ways you can. I love it when I walk in the door after running to the store and you throw your arms out to me and run to me and yell "Mommy" like you haven't seen me in a month instead of 20 minutes. You get this sly little smile on your face when you do something that you know you shouldn't but you don't regret it because it was fun. Everyday you walk up to your baby brother and give him sweet hugs and kisses and it makes my heart melt seeing it because not that long ago you were my baby. You have been forced to grow a little faster than I would have wanted but you have been amazing. I love you with all my heart my sweet Kael. I knew from the first moment I was able to hold you that you were a very strong little boy with an amazing spirit that would teach me so much in my life and you already have. I know you are to little to read this now but someday you may look at this and I hope you will know how much you mean to me. There will never be a day in my life that I won't look at you and be grateful that you are my little man. Thank you for choosing our family and for being patient with your mommy that is still learning how to do this job. You are amazing! Happy Birthday my sweet boy. I LOVE YOU KAEL KAEL!!

Seven years

Seven years ago I found my soul, my reason, my friend, and then I married him. My mama didn't raise no fool! I couldn't have made a better choice. I have been blessed with an amazing husband and three sweet little boys. We have spent five and a half of the last seven years in school. What a ride that was. I am so grateful for that time. It was the hardest time of our lives but it truly made us a stronger couple and a stronger family. I remember walking into the temple with you on our wedding and then sitting in the sealing room and listening to then President Ballard as he spoke to us. He told me to take your hand in mine and to look at it. He said that those were the hands that would one day bless our children, baptize our children, give them the priesthood, and help them get to the temple. One of those blessings has happened and I look forward to those remaining blessings that we can share together in the future. You are the best man I know and you give everything you have to take care of me and our family. You work so hard to make a good life for us but most importantly you are in tune with the spirit and you guide our family in the direction we need to be going in so that we can be an eternal family like we were promised on that day seven years ago. Thank you for being my companion on this journey through life. I couldn't have asked for a better partner. I love you with all my heart my sweet Curtis. Happy Anniversary.

The boys

The boys are just growing so fast and I wanted to put on here some of the things they have been up to.

Vance

• Learning his numbers
• Coloring very meticulously
• Playing with Kael
• He loves holding Merek
• Doing anything with Daddy
• Playing on his Leapster 2
• Pretending to be a super hero
• Coming up with new adventures
• Learning to play new games like SORRY, Guess Who, and Qwirkle
• Always saying something clever
• Being a huge helper to mommy

Kael

• Singing his ABC's
• Playing with Vance
• Coloring on whatever he can find
• Doing whatever Vance does
• New sayings like "No not you!", "Yes food", "Mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, Down pees!"
• Finding new places to explore
• Wearing everyones clothes around the house
• Kissing and playing with Merek

Merek

• Ate his first rice cereal on Christmas day
• Hearing his voice by cooing, laughing, and chatting
• Sucking his thumb on occasion
• Playing in his Excersaucer
• Tummy time
• Chewing on anything he can
• Trying to grab everyones food
• Tickle bug

Thanksgiving to Christmas

I have a lot of catching up to do so I will start from Thanksgiving. We went to Oklahoma and spent Thanksgiving with my family there. It was so much fun getting to see them all. We were able to get Family pictures while we were all there and I can't wait to see how those turned out. We also had my nephew Gentry's baby blessing. I can't say how grateful I am for my family and all that they do for me. I love them all so much and miss them everyday. We were able to go to the Science museum with the McAdams' clan and it was really a great time. Vance was just fascinated by so much. After we came back life went on as usual until we got the news that my Great Grandma Gay had passed away at the age of 1o2. She was an amazing woman and I truly enjoyed being able to help my mom with her life sketch because I learned so many wonderful things about her that I wouldn't have known otherwise. We went back to Arizona for the funeral the week before Christmas and spent some time with both our families while there. Grandma and Grandpa Birdno were so kind to let all my family that could stay there in their home. It was great to have them near to my so thanks Mom and Dad. The boys got to open their presents from the Birdno grandparents and we headed back to Colorado to start our Christmas.

The boys on family picture day. Kael's hair is crazy but what can you do now.

On black friday we went to the store at about 11 am and Kael was so tuckered out that he crashed in the back of the cart. People thought we had dragged him out of bed super early for all the specials that day. So precious.

Opening our family gifts with my family. Aunt Ella, Emarie, Isaac, Darron, Aunt Alethia, and Alyse.

Aunt Nana
Uncle RJ and Aunt Ashley
Aunt Holly and Kelsie
Mimi and Papa
You can see Uncle Sam and Olivia in this one too. Vance got a cool set of Toy Story 3 games.
At the science museum the kids had a ball at this thing.



The dropping balls
Making paper cups fly
Merek chillin as usual
Cute little Liv!
Vance on a Segway, not as easy as it looks.
Me
Curtis
Vance and Emarie in a space shuttle.
Aunt Ella and Curtis enjoying the puzzles/brain teasers.
The water table
Sweet girls, they just loved Merek to pieces!
On Santa's lap telling him what they wanted for Christmas.
Daddy helping Kael make his gingerbread house.
Vance and Grandma Birdno making his house.
Sweet smile dad!
I saw that sneak!
So much fun.
There goes another one!
MORE!!
Presents

What this isn't mine?
No it is mine!
Chucky truck!

Christmas was so much fun this year. We enjoyed a quiet time at home with the boys. Vance was so excited about Christmas this year which made all of us more excited about it. We are truly blessed to have our sweet boys and enjoyed every minute we could spend with them. We played games and ate fun foods and watched great shows all day every day! It was definitely a Christmas to remember. Vance just kept saying all day "This is the best Christmas ever!" After Christmas we had my sister Ella and her family stay with us for a couple days and it was a lot of fun. All the kids had a ball together and Vance can't stop talking about his cousins. I forgot our Camera in Arizona after my Great Grandma's funeral so we only have video of Christmas. It is a little long but hope you enjoy it.

Merry Christmas Family and Friends!

The Birdno Family 2010

Another year has come and gone with never a dull moment for sure. This year began with many ups and downs as we traveled back and forth from Arizona to see family. We celebrated 6 years of marriage in February. We also bought our first home in March. We are grown-ups now J. We have been blessed to be able to see both of our families this year and look forward to many more exciting trips as a family.

Curtis really enjoys his new job. He loves the people he works with and really enjoys making a difference everyday. Not long after we moved to Falcon he was called into the Elders Quorum Presidency. He doesn’t need to find things to keep himself busy that is for sure but he always finds time to play with the boys.

Crystal was called to teach the Young Women and truly loves her calling. She attended Young Women’s Camp in June and learned so much. She gave birth to Merek David in August on his due date and has been busy taking care of all her boys since.

Vance turned four this year and became a sunbeam. He has developed so much. He loves to play in his back yard, especially in the sand box daddy made. He is an extremely loving and helpful big brother. He loves to play games, build with his blocks, dress up as a super hero, play dinosaurs, and attempt to read and write.

Kael turned one in February and seems so big now. He started walking and talking this year. He also made the leap to big brother as well, which he has taken to very well. He loves to do whatever Vance does and can’t get enough of his brothers. He loves to sing and dance and is often found doing so in around the house.

Merek came into our lives in August and is four months now. Time flies by when you are having fun. He loves to laugh at his brothers. He can almost sit up and loves to play in his excersaucer. His laugh is contagious and can be heard almost all day. He is such a sweet and happy boy.

There is our life this year. We are so thankful to our Father in Heaven for the blessings we have been given and for our Savior Jesus Christ for his example and love. We are grateful for this time of year that we have to serve one another and remember the Saviors birth. We love you all and hope you have a very Merry Christmas.

Love

The Birdno Family

Curtis, Crystal, Vance, Kael, and Merek

The current comings and goings of the boys!

I really wanted to put an update on here while I remember some of the sweet things Vance has said recently.

M: What did you learn in primary today?

V: About the Sacrament.

M: What about it?

V: That we take it to remember the Jesus died for us so we can be a forever family.

M:Oh that is great.

V: Yeah now I know about Jesus, Super heroes, Ninja turtles, and the Sacrament.

M: HEHEHE That is great!

V: Mommy, Perhaps we should get another Ice cream for me!

V: Chill out mommy it is just Kael.

M: Hmmm

V: What are we doing?

M: Getting daddy a drink because he doesn't feel very well.

V: I took a bite of his ice cream so I need my own soda.

M: We'll see

V: Oh mommy I am so Frustrated!

V: Can I have another Portilla? (Tortilla)

Kael is also saying a lot now. He also wants to do everything that Vance does. And I do mean EVERYTHING!

K: All done

K: Pees

K:Das all

K: Les Go

K:D Apple

Happy Halloween!

I guess it is time to put on pictures from our halloween adventures together before it was Thanksgiving! We had a great time this year. Vance was so excited about it for weeks before it happened which of course made Kael excited, although he wasn't sure why he was excited. Vance wanted to be Superman at first, then a cowboy, then a cowboy with super powers, until he finally decided to be Buzz Lightyear. Kael was a pirate and Merek a little dragon. We first did Boo at the Zoo and enjoyed trick-or-treating around the zoo. Then we carved our pumpkins and finally had out ward trunk-or-treat along with the community center's games. It was all really fun, although we did miss Curtis. He was in Iowa for a classmates wedding. So there you are. Enjoy our pictures.

Hurray for pumpkins
Cute boy
Now that is excitement!
He had to strip down to paint his pumpkin but he had to keep on his cape. Silly guy.
Kael painting.
Cheese!
Bigger cheese!
Cutest cheese!
Vance painting his stem

Kaels' pumpkin


Vances' two-faced pumpkin.
On the porch! Scary monsters.
The "B" pumpkin!
Of course the traditional ASU and IOWA pumpkins.
Our pre-Daddy leaving Halloween pizza. Cute huh!
B00 at the Zoo.
He couldn't wait to get his chin curl
And of course Kael had to have what brother had so here is his Stach!
Sweet Merek bundled up.
Some beautiful fall colors
Animals
Huge python!
He didn't even wait for the wrapper to come off and yes that is a toothbrush, one of 4 actually!
Merek
Vance and the Storm Troopers.
Jack Sparrow and a hesitant looking Buzz
More Star wars.
And of course Darth Vador
Traditional Mummies and Witch fingers.
The night of the Trunk-or-treat.
So precious
Oh those eyes!
And sweet Buzz
Fishing

Bowling

Throwing the bean bag in the ring!
Apparently dropping instead of throwing the ball in the bucket.
Our patient dragon.
Guess where the spider is.
Trunk-or-treat
Our neighbors as Max the bunny and of course...
Harry Potter!
Jack Sparrow and the not so merry Pirate Kael

This last weekend we had the chance to go to the Denver temple and so we went to dinner at IHOP. Some fun pictures at dinner.
Daddy and Vance
Kael
Mommy and Merek, in cognito!
Merek and Daddy
Vance with his drumsticks
And of course sweet Kael and his "CHEESE"!

I also need to put down Mereks' stats so I won't forget them:

Wt: 11 lbs 8oz

Ht: 24 inches

Smiling

Laughing

Grabbing at things

Recognizes all our faces

Trying to sit up, silly guy

Sleeps through the night, OH YEAH BABY!

Cooing and jabbering all time.

Loves his tummy time