Back to the Mother land.

My Mom was so upset that we didn't get a family picture taken over the Christmas break. It has been years since we had one taken and it really is time, especially now that Dustin and Lyndz are moving to Satia for 20 months. With Hayley and I both expecting our family will be growing and changing but we want to make sure to take pictures every few years. There is always a reason to put it off, new babies on the way, loss some weight, wrong season, but the truth is you just gotta find the time and get it done!

So we went back to Canada and made the time to get it done! Althoguht there are some really great photographers in Southern Alberta, I have a great camera, great editing program, and a great friend who was willing to come try her hand at shooting a big family session! Thanks again Chuck, you did great and Toad and Summer really helped pull out some smiles on the little ones!

It was FREEZING out but Mom was pretty insistent that we not wear coats, THANKS FOR THAT MAMA! Where were able to get some wall worthy shots in which is all that really matters right!?!?! Here are a few of my favorites:

Pregnant.

So I have yet to officially post about my pregnancy, which is craziness! After much discussion and prayer Aaron and I decided it was time to make another little addition to the family. I have always wanted to have another little American so Miles wasn't the only one in the family and I LOVED my doctor and hospital experience down here.

We got pregnant right away and made the big announcement at Christmas even though I was only like 7 weeks pregnant! We were so excited and as time went by I felt more and more sure that this baby was going to be a girl! I was sicker than I had been with either boy and having more headaches than I had with them. AJ started referring to the baby as, "baby sparkle" and I even bought a few cute little onsies.

I was a little nervous that the boys and me might get to use to the idea of having a little sister in the family when it wasn't a for sure thing so I talked to Aaron about maybe finding our what we are having. We have always left it a surprise and love the excitement of finding out what we are having right there in the delivery room, in fact we tell all the expecting parents we know that they should wait because eit is just so fun! This time however I really felt like we should find out, I came up with a million reasons why we needed to know this time and in the Aaron said that he would be fine with finding out this time. And so.........

IT'S A BOY!

That's right everyone we are on our way to three little boys! I will admit I was in shock when I saw the little boy parts show up in the ultra sound but I was never disappointed. I was so excited to see our cute little baby and find out he's strong and healthy it didn't really upset me that I wasn't having a girl. A boy feels right, he'll be a perfect fit and we can't wait to welcome him!

AJ on the other hand was VERY disappointed when we gave him the news about having another baby brother. He got into the very back of the van and cried the whole way home, he said he didn't want to talk about it and that he just wanted to have baby Sparkles!!!! It took him about three days to come around to the idea of another Brother but I am happy to say that he is very excited about it now!

Also Aaron and I have decided that finding out is not the rout for us. It was kind of exciting to find out in the ultrasound room but it didn't even come close to the excitement of meeting you new baby and finding out if its a boy or girl right their in the delivery room. We will defiantly leave any other children we may have a surprise!

Miles and Miles of fun......

Miles is a nig puddle jumper. He could find water in the desert and if he did, instead of drinking it he would jump and splash untill it was all over the place. Aaron thought that most of the water at the park was dried up but Miles knows best! Not only did he find water but he arrived home looking like this:



I love his love of water, he will play in frezzing cold water in the middle of winter and still be happy. I have always hated water on my face but Miles has a bring it on attitude and will actually run up to the fountains at Saturday Market and put his face right in! So cute, I love you little mud puppy!

BFF's

I don't care if saying BFF's is so high school because that really is the best way I can think to describe what me and Lynz are. Just over two year ago Dustin, Lyndz, and tiny baby Beckam moved down to Portland so Dustin could attend Chiropractic school. At that time they lived about 5 doors down which meant a good 20-30 second walk every time we wanted to see each other, which seemed fine at the time.

Of course we started hanging out a little more each day until we reached teh point that we would just get up and call each other to figure out what WE would be doing that day. I can't really remember ever being like, "hey what are you doing today?" what she did I did and what I did she did. We would grocery shop together, swim together, have pancakes, go to the Zoo, Jamison park, walks, dinners, TV watching, trying new treats, borrowing ingredients (for recipes and life!), check the mail, WIC appointments, trips to the hospital, Girls nights, toenail painting, popcorn eating, Lunch dates, we did it all together!

Our friends considered us a packaged deal, we would get so many phone call saying, "hey what are you guys up to today?" which some people might think meant me and my boys but I always knew they meant me and Lynz. People in the ward would always get us mixed up and call us the wrong names or think we where married to the others spouse. (more disturbing for me seeing as Dustin is my BROTHER! ha ha ha)Just last week at church a sister came up and asked when we would be leaving for the island, which is so funny since the Tolmans have been gone for over a month now!

A few of our other traditions included Tuesday night dinners with the Wagners, Sunday dinners with the Lujans, Monday night girls night to watch Bachelor(ett) or dancing with the stars, and birthday party planning. We did our best to make our friends birthdays a big deal and make them feel special and loved on their big day (or at least some day close to it!)

After about 6 months the people living under us decided to move out and we decided that the Tolmans should move right underneath us since 5 doors down was just too far! It was one of the best decisions they ever made and of course we got even that much closer after the move. With almost anyone else this would simply be to much, honestly who wants to see another person that much???? WE DO!!!! We had a no knock just walk policy and our door sometimes seem to never close. Not only were me and Lynz back and forth all day but so where the boys. They would play upstairs and downstairs and then go out to blow bubbles or ride bikes. They loved it as much as we did.

Call me a liar if you want but I can seriously say that Lynz and I never had a fight, we could spend day after day in each others company and never piss each other off or need a break. We both had our days or moments but we could read each others moods so easy and we both always new when the other needed a nap, a lunch date, some time alone, a dinner invite, a special treat brought over, a brake from the kids, or an hour to vent. We were there to help each other out in whatever way was needed and our relationship just seemed to work.

With our husbands gone to school 12 hours and day and putting in a lot of study time as well we learned to lean on each other and find the streng we needed to get threw the long tuff days with out our husbands together. Lots of our friends would tell us how its just so hard to be alone with the kids all day but me and Lynz never had it quite as bad. Sure we still had to do bedtimes alone and sometimes we had long ruff days but we could always just run down the stairs, give a little screech of frustration and then head back to our life. It was still hard but having some one to complain to or laugh about it with REALLY helped.

We saw a lot of friends move away and picked up a few new ones with each new wave of students that came in. We welcomed Miles and then Maddox, gained and lost about 100lbs between the two of us over the two years, drove thousands of miles together, endured the train, faced highs and lows, and we did it all together!

Lynz is my BFF. I love her to death. She is so thoughtful, non judgemental, and of courses the best friend a girls could ever have. I have been living in her old apartment for just over a month, hosting girls night, and living my day to day life with out her and I gotta say, it's not my favorite. I am not use to being alone so much and I miss having my partner in crime anytime anywhere. I still cry about it, maybe because I am pregnant, but it really was a great two years and I will never forget the times we shared. I miss the boys and Dustin too but nothing compares to losing your best friend. Thanks for everything Lynz, you made Portland one of the greatest adventures of my life. Love!

Here are a few pictures from the surprise fairwell weekend I planned for Lynz before she left, so much fun but so sad:

So Proud!

After much research, fasting, and praying Dustin and Lyndsey decided that Chiropractics wasn't the right path for them. Although they both still support and agree with Chiropractics Dustin just came to the realization that he would find more satisfaction in his career as a family doctor or perhaps a pediatrician. It was not an easy decision, one year from graduation or 6 more years of school but they new it was right and were soon announcing that he had been accepted into Sint Eustacia's school of medicine. They leave in a month.....WOW!

I am so proud of Dustin for following his dreams and being accepted into Med school. I know that he is going to make an amazing MD and help a lot of people through out his career. It is not easy to leave your Chiropractic education to start over in medicine but he did it. He is not a quitter he his being true to himself and his family and I couldn't be more excited for him and his family as they start out on this new and wonderful adventure.

It was very fast and all though we were all so happy for them I will admit I was a little sad to realize that I would soon be losing my partner in crime. We spent the month celebrating, eating out, hitting up all our favorite Portland hot spots, and sucking up every minute we could together.

Here's the boys in their last Portland tub time together:

Last movie night for little Becks and Madds with all their friends:






Last Sunday night dinner:

Last trip to Red Robins together:


Last photo shoot with the four boys: (Michelle Cervo)




Last wrestle with the boys and Uncle Dust:



We are going to miss you guys so much Thank goodness we have so many wonderful memories to keep us company as the Poyterman family comes to and end. Love you guys!

A day of Love!

I know that Valentines day in not a Major holiday but I love making a big deal out of anything I can because I think it makes the boys childhood that much funner. This year they found fun little treats on their beds after a morning wrestle with Dad.


After that we invited Beckam down for pink pancakes and some decorating. I swear these boys could have taped paper hearts to the window all day long, they loved it!



We also had a few of our little friends over to enjoy the valentines day fun. We baked up some delicious sugar cookies, got out some tasty decorations, and let the kids go to town. I don't think anyone was very successful with their afternoon naps after all that sugar.




After making up some valentine collectors the kids got to pass out their valantines. It was so cute to see them all wandering around putting things in each box while keeping and eye on what was being placed in their own.



It was a great day full of sugar, friends, and lots of love! The boys were so tuckered out that they headed to bed half hour early at 6:00 which gave me plenty of time to whip up Aarons favorite dinner before he got home at 7:15. We usually don't do much for this holiday as a couple but I thought it might be nice to share a nice sit down meal just the two of us. This is as fancy as it gets when your students, ha ha ha!Oh, I also tried out this new cheese and herb biscut recipe, AMAZING!!!!