HAPPY BIRTHDAY JODI

Kent here, I have a confession to make: I am not a super-husband. I am constantly told that my wife enjoys a good card for her birthday, or special occasions. Without fail, I either forget to buy the card, or I opt for the "funny-not-so-serious/questionable content" card as opposed to the "mushy-this-is-how-I-feel" card.

I thought in addition to a card (I think I'm finally learning) I wanted to let everyone know, via the Howe Family Blog, a few reasons why I love my wife.

1. Compassion: I think only Jodi could teach me that it's okay to give money to a bum regardless of "what he could be spending the money on." She is always looking to help others in need.
   
2. Patience: I'm sure everyone feels that their own kids are difficult, restless, whiney and needy at some point, but no one can handle our kids with such a patient ability as Jodi. She has the amazing gift of knowing how to create learning situations out of meltdowns.
3. Sense of Humor: I am convinced that most people don't know how "gut-busting" Jodi's sense of humor can be. I don't think a day goes by that she doesn't make me laugh. I appreciate the humor, especially when life's situations can be awkward or difficult.
4. Confidence: This may be a little selfish to say, but Jodi boosts my confidence. I love that about her. Sometimes all it takes is one smile or touch, and I feel like I can conquer the world.
5. Talent: If Jodi really wants to do something (sewing, blogging, teaching, etc.) she has an uncanny ability to learn something, and be great. She also never does anything "half-baked." It's all or nothing.
6. Beautiful: Jodi is absolutely beautiful, I mean gorgeous. I still remember what she wore and how she looked the first time we "hung out." (It wasn't really a date.) I often catch myself staring at her feeling like I was the lucky one, and why did she pick me?

Happy birthday Jodi. Thank you for being in our lives, we love you.

Love - Jackson, Jillian and Kent

Cheat Sheet

Buzz' ride is a personal family favorite
when we visit Disneyland.

Click here to read up on all the secrets this ride
has to offer. This is all you need to totally
smash the competition next time you rendezvous
with Star Command.

Happy Blasting!



PS- Here's my last visit on 5-7-09.
I focused on hitting only the triangle
& diamond targets. Check out that
score! I was shocked and totally proud
to email my picture to Kent. By the way,
Jack rode with me, but you can't tell, he's hiding
behind the cart.

Time Stands Still for No Mom

April 18th, 2006

April 18th, 2007


April 18th, 2008


(picture to come)
April 18, 2009

3 years already!?!
Jack, you've made our
"love stronger, days shorter,
nights longer, bankroll smaller,
home happier, clothes shabbier, the
past forgotten, and the future worth
living for." -author unknown

Thank you for all your
giggles & love. You are
now officially our favorite
3 year old!

love,
Mama, Dada, & Jill Jill

PS-The trend seems to be, it's not
really your birthday until you need
a bath. Let the tradition live on.

Everyone Poops

On March 26th Jack & I took

"the plunge" into the wet & wild world of
potty training!
(dun, dun, dun...)



I decided to take the 3 Day Potty Training route.
Which meant:
No diapers...period. Tons of fluids,
consistency, patience, & praise.
(click here if you'd like to learn more about 3 Day Potty Training)


Were we insane? Maybe, but these
charts speak for themselves.


Day 1 - 25 % accuracy 75% accidents.


Day 2 - 50/50 split.


Day 3 - 75% accuracy 25% accidents

Progress was tract. Praise doled out liberally
(as were candy bribes & matchbox cars).
The washing machine never stopped running.
And I finished off a bottle of Tylenol.


A prize for going #2 in the potty.

Did the 3 Day Potty Training work?
Yes. By the middle of day 2 Jack was
telling me when he needed to pee.
Jack wasn't perfectly potty trained in 3 days,
he needed more time to recognize what it felt like
to need to go #2, but he was almost there.


Jack's motivational reading.

This has been the longest 2 weeks of our lives,
but Jack & I happy to report
that Jack has gone days without an accident,
gets up @ night to pee, & wakes up dry
in the morning!

Jack I want you to know that I'm so very proud
of you for conquering this huge milestone.
I can't help but smile when I think of how far
you've come in such a short period of time.


The End

Jack > Jill

Jack is bigger than Jilley...
for now.

On the left we have Jack weighing in @
28 pounds (soaking wet) & 35 inches tall.
On the right we have Jilley a "petite"
20 1/2 pounds & 28 1/2 inches tall.

Every night @ dinner we remind
Jack to eat his food, so that he can
remain the "big" brother.
Usually he giggles & works to finish what's
on his plate, but sometimes he just shrugs
as he passes his leftovers to Jill!

1000 Words

Its dawned on me that I never shared

the family pictures we had taken in January.
***

***
My good friend Shari Hanson was our
photographer. The kids were less than
willing participants that day, so I was worried there
wasn't a single good shot from our shoot.
And then Shari delivered these...
***

***

***

***
Needless to say, I was thrilled with the results.
Thank you Shari; I love our new family pictures!
click here if you'd like to visit Shari's website
to view more great photo shoots.
***

***

Shari, I know the light was off in this one,
but it's one of my favorites because of Jack's sweet kisses.
Thanks for capturing this moment.

40 weeks of fun

Pictures by: Shari Hanson Photography

Its been 10 months since Jilley's birth! It is amazing how very quickly she's grown & how very integral she's become to our family.

Stats:
20 1/2 lbs.
28 1/2 in.
8 teeth
BIG eyes-
color still unknown



Nicknames:
Jill, Jilley, Jillers, Jilley Bean, & Beana

Facts:

• Jill crawls like a champion.
• 
  
• She's cruising the furniture & walls.
• 
  
• Jillers will eat just about anything (yah)! Last night we had tacos and so did Jill-corn tortilla, cheese, spanish rice, ground turkey,and even fresh tomatoes. Her brother ate shredded cheese in a tortilla (that's it). They are so very different...
• 
  
• She claps her hands & moves to the beat if the music moves her.
• 
  
• Jilley Bean's vocabulary consists of Mama, Dada, buh-bye, hi, and muh (more).
  
• 
  
• Beana adores her big brother. She lights up when she sees his face & does all in her power to be where ever he is, doing whatever he is doing. So far Jack finds all this attention very flattering.
• 
  
• Jillian's my carefree baby, as long as her basic needs are met she's all smiles in just about any situation!

We love you so very much sweetheart,
Mama, Dada, & Jack

Life through my eyes

Jack here, thought I'd showcase
my first photo shoot here on Mom's blog.

I call this one "Freedom"

"I'll Never Get Those 2 Minutes Back"*

"Angel Duhroni on the Temple"

and my personal favorite-"Fammy"

I know, these shots are pretty amazing,
but I'm pretty sure I'd get even better if Mom
would let me use the camera again.

Do me a favor? Leave a comment
in support of my new hobby.
I think 5 comments would sent a
nice message, than again 10
would be better.

*See the comment section if you'd like
a clarification for my piece entitled
"I'll Never Get those 2 Minutes Back"
& the notorious time out tape.

An Artist's Eye

I'm always on the hunt for

good Sacrament Meeting books,
toys, and snacks. Jack is the
kind of kid that need lots of
distractions to help promote
reverence or silence (at this point
I'll take what I can get).

Jack & I both love this
Funny Faces
magnetic book,



but I could do without
this homage to Mom:

I'm hoping this doesn't really look like me.
***

And here's Kent (the cowboy not the clown)

Needless to say, we are very proud of
Jack's artistic eye & budding imagination!

Its been one of those days

Today, when nothing seemed to be

going my way, this quote popped
into my head and I smiled.



Credit goes to It's A Sign!
for my new mantra.

PS-A very Happy Birthday to the
baby sisters in my life. Today is my
sister's 23rd birthday and yesterday
was my sister-in-law's 14th.
They are the babies of each
side of my family and I love
them very much.