Easton's Blessing

On Sunday, February 20th, Easton received his name and blessing. We are so grateful to have our family and friends participate and enjoy this event with us. Easton was given his blessing by Daddy. Those who participated included Grandpa Allan Applehans, Grandpa Skip Cederquist, Branch President Keith Scott, Uncle Kevin Cederquist, Adopted Grandpa Doug Schroeder, Brant Schroeder, and Joe Whitney.

Here's our precious Easton Joseph in his blessing outfit and homemade blessing blanket from Grandma Applehans.

Our family. We're so happy to have these three precious little boys! Andrew - 5 years old. Tanner - 3 years old. Easton - 3 1/2 weeks old

Daddy and his littlest man.

Mommy's Boy.

Thank-you to all of our wonderful family members who came and celebrated with us. We love you and appreciate your love and support. We have the best families!

Our Precious Easton Joseph

We are so excited about this adorable little addition to our family: Easton Joseph. We are all in LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!
Our birth story: We'd been anticipating this little guy's arrival for weeks. On Wednesday, just 2 days from my due date, I'd pretty much given up any hope that I'd ever give birth. Wednesday night was a pretty typical night at our house: Jess had scouts, the boys and I played with playdough, read stories, sang songs. I was kinda grumpy and didn't feel the best, but we carried on our normal evening. Ieven made my sweetheart a cheesecake while he was at scouts after I put the boys to bed. :) Once he got home, Jess and I stayed up visiting until about 11pm. I was having some contractions, but that was nothing new - I had been for the past few weeks. We went to bed. I woke up about midnight and noticed I still felt contractions and they were a little more noticable - but still didn't hurt at all. I got up, walked around, tried to decide if I should wake up Jess or not (still no contractions that really hurt). About 12:50, I decided that I should probably wake him up as I was starting to get a little uncomfortable and the contractions were about 3 mins apart. We were out the door in 10 mins. We met Aunt Melissa at the hospital at 1:10 (yes, if you do the math, we made it from our house to town in record time - LOL!) - I checked in while Jess transfered the boys to the carseats we'd installed in her call weeks before. By this time I was having to breathe through my contractions. We got all set up in the birthing room, the doctor was called almost immediately, and by 2:10 we were holding this most precious gift from God in our arms.

Andrew and Tanner are so in love with their baby brother. Tanner is enthralled with what he calls Easton's "little paws" - his hands and feet. He is like a bull in a china closet, but he tries to be so careful around his brother. It's so precious to see him light up when he gets around Easton. Andrew can't get enough cuddle time with his brother. He wants to be holding him every chance he gets. He's also a bit protective - he got after me because he thought I wasn't being careful enough putting on Easton's hat. It was cute. Everytime he's near him, Andrew gives him kisses on the cheek and head.

We are so glad our little Easton's here. We are looking forward to having THREE little boys to love, laugh, learn, play with, teach! There are not words adequate enough to describe the feelings that we have felt in the past day and a half - the immense amount of love we feel for Easton and the love that continues to grow each day for Andrew, Tanner, and each other. Families are truly a blessing from our Father in Heaven.

Opps, almost forgot his stats:

8lbs 3 oz

20 1/2 inches long

100% adorable

Christmas Time!

We had a wonderful Christmas in the Applehans Family! We started off with our traditional traipsing through the woods for the perfect tree. We found it! We enjoyed Christmas parties, Breakfast with Santa Primary Activity, shopping, and lots of snow. We made gingerbread houses, dipped pretzels, and decorated sugar cookies. We spent several hours Christmas Eve Day and Christmas Day sledding. We enjoyed lots of family time! We loved our traditional Christmas Eve celebrations - focusing on the true meaning of the holiday - the Savior, as well as leaving cookies, milk, and letters for Santa. We thoroughly enjoyed only sleeping until 7am on Christmas morning as excited little boys couldn't wait to see what was left under the tree for them. We spent the day as a family and enjoyed every second of it!

Daddy and the boys looking for the perfect tree.

Mommy and Tanner (and Baby Easton) Reindeer

Mommy and Tanner making gingerbread houses (with Aunt Melissa and Andrew)

Precious little Andrew hands.

Making dipped pretzels.

Making and decorating Christmas Cookies. I think more frosting ended up in little mouths (esp Tanner's) than on cookies.

Cuddle/story time with Daddy.

The boys got new robes for Christmas. Mommy and Daddy make a good team -

Mom cuts stuff out, Dad sews!

The boys LOVED their new cranes from Santa. This was the only thing they really asked for!

Our precious little boys in their new Christmas outfits from Grandma Applehans.

I LOVE Christmas time! I love celebrating the Savior - his birth, life, and gift to each of us. And I LOVE that whenever we asked the boys why we celebrate Christmas, they told us it was Jesus' birthday. Yes, they are typical children who loved opening their gifts, but they also enjoyed the GIVING of gifts, time, and homemade goodies just as much. Now I'm eagerly awaiting next Christmas when we get the share the joy and excitement with THREE little boys! (Not that I'm anxious or counting down the days or hours or anything, but less than a month to go until we meet our youngest little man!!!!!)

We hope you all had a Merry Christmas and best wishes for a fabulour 2011!

Tanner Turns 3!

Wow - already?! Where has the time gone? I can't believe that my baby is 3 years old already!

First "Family of 4" picture, 3 years ago:



We had birthday celebrations for 2 days! Saturday was his actual birthday, but since Daddy had to work, we just had balloons and went out to dinner. Doesn't he look so cute in his sombrero? He LOVED the fried ice cream!



For months, this little guy has talked about wanting a tractor birthday cake. I thought he'd enjoy a "real" tractor as a keepsake, but still wanted to honor his request:



He was such a happy little boy. He thought it was so fun to receive a birthday balloon, crown, tractor birthday cake, and presents. He was giddy with excitement when he opened them and saw what he'd been given:



Thank-you everyone who helped make his birthday so much fun for him!

Spokane with Daddy!

This past week Jess had training for a few days in Spokane and he got to bring the family! The boys were thrilled that we stayed at a hotel with a swimming pool. We had a lot of fun swimming, shopping, exploring several parks, and just hanging out. Here's proof:

I took the boys to Manito Park and Japanese Gardens - about 90 acres of beauty! One portion of the park boasted over 1500 rose bushes. My little Tan-Man thought his Mommy better have a rose...

Andrew loved going around and smelling the different colors/varieties of roses:

Mommy and her Boys:

At the Japanese Gardens, the boys were thrilled with the size fish in the water and loved playing on the bridge:

I've always wanted to take the boys to the "Big Wagon Park." Sadly, once down the slide was enough for them - I think they were a little scared.

They LOVED the carousel horses!

...all the boys did. :)

Sunday Best

Jess snapped these pics before church last Sunday. I just think little (and big) boys look SO GOOD in their Sunday best!

In this pic, Jess told them to be silly.
Brothers. Best friends. I feel so blessed to be Mom to these two precious, handsome, sweet, adorable little boys.

These two are Daddy's little mini-me's. They are Daddy's boys for sure! When he gets ready for church and sprays on his cologne, two little boys are right there begging for some too. After they get their little spray, they come running to mom, hold up their necks, and BEAM when I tell them how good they smell. So cute! I love these two little boys!!!

Mother's Day 2010

Here are a few pics taken on Mother's Day.

Mommy and Tanner:

Mommy and Andrew:

Giving Mommy kisses.

The reasons I LOVE celebrating Mother's Day:

10 Things I Love About Being "Mom":

1. Hearing angelic voices say "Mommy, Mama, Mom"
2. Lots of kisses - sometimes sticky, sometimes slobbery
3. Kissing owies and handing out "ban-maids" (bandaids)
4. Unconditional Love
5. Being referee, chef, maid, coach, chauffer, nurse, and teacher
6. Pure joy and happiness
7. Reading together
8. Cuddles
9. Rediscovering the world through little eyes
10. Belly laughs