So, I heard...

some squealing coming from Scarlet's room after her nap and decided to let her stay in there for a little while considering she was completely happy doing whatever she might be doing. After a little while I went in to find her squealing because she had somehow managed to take apart her bumper.

Yes, she is in a sleeping bag. She's just like her mama always COLD and BUNDLED even in the dead heat of summer.

Look closely her two bottom teeth came in this week. This is a first for her and we are sooo excited. This cute girl makes us so happy!!

Destin, Florida

This past week we headed to Destin, Florida with some friends. It was a much needed trip and I must say all nine kids were pretty much in Heaven the entire seven days. We lived on the beach, the dad's went golfing, the girls went shopping, we went bowling, to an amusement park, three movies, ran on the beach, and played cards after the kids went to bed until the wee hours in the morning.

The kids...

The Robinson's

The Taggart's

The Walker's

Our Kids...

Jace-6 years old

Kai-3 years old

Scarlet-6 months old

The Beach House...

The boys slept in these bunks...

The really long skinny lap pool we rinsed off in after leaving the sandy beach each day...

Playing games back at the house on a rainy day...

Scarlet with her second "MOM" Chayse...

"Action" shots on the beach and in the water...

Teething??

When I asked the boys what their favorite part of the trip was:

Kai said, "jumping the waves with daddy."

Brandon said, "crashing in the waves."

Jace said, "the pool in the backyard." (go figure...we have all these nice pools at home and his favorite part is the long skinny swimming pool we could barely fit everyone into.)

My favorite part was sitting on the beach and boogie boarding. :)

BROTHERS!!
(Brandon buried their legs in knee deep...they loved it).

"Poses" on the beach and in the water...
"Chillin"...

Sleeping Beauties...

(Scarlet spent at least one nap a day on the beach like this)


Poor little Brooklyn got sick the last couple of days we were there. We were really worried one day on the beach when we couldn't find Sugar anywhere...someone finally noticed her in the stroller. She had crawled up in there without anyone knowing and had fallen asleep.



The "TWO" Crabbers...

These two really got into catching things every time we went to the beach. Nora had people convinced or she at least told them that she was a professional and if they wanted to catch anything they needed to stay with her. They actually caught quite a few things including fish, crabs, a hermit crab, a star fish, and several Jelly Fish (Kim thought if she buried each jelly fish she caught she might prevent us from getting stung...I think her plan worked the last night we were there but, up until then Cubby, Niko, and Jace were stung.)


The fascinating Hermit Crab Kim caught...



(Sooo Gross....those are his actual eyes)


Live Star Fish caught by another "Professional" Crabber (this guy noticed how obsessed Kim and Nora were and handed it over to them).
Cheeseburger in Paradise Restaurant

Our last day in Destin we spent the morning at a place called, "The Tracks." We had a blast riding the Go-Karts, water boats, and many more rides. :)

I can't believe how excited and happy they are to be on this ride :)

Water Boats...

Jake watching...
This kid sprayed Brandon and Jace the entire time...
Brandon was not about to let him get away with it...
I think B was a little exhausted when it came Kai's turn...

For how hot it was and not being able to go on a single ride...Scarlet continued to smile!!

Kid Go-Karts...

Nothing like a little "brotherly" competition...

Looks like a Taggart...

Tougher Go-Kart Course...

Waiting in the "HOT" sun...

Thanks guys for such a fun time...Destin was awesome!!

Sweet Baby Morgan's Obituary

Morgan Fowler Our Little Angel Our little angel came to us on February 22, 2009. Beautiful, sweet-natured, and happy, she made everyone around her happy too. On June 29, 2009, surrounded by her earthly family, she completed her life's mission and returned to her heavenly family. Morgan taught us many things during her short time with us - that a tiny smile can light up a big room; that love and joy increase each minute we care for and serve one another; that a hug from very small arms can bring very great happiness; that a welcoming squeal is a more valued reward than fanfare or applause; that prayer, faith, and family can help us endure the fragility of life; that heavenly comfort is available to help us bear the sorest heartbreak; and that love is eternal. Important and lasting gifts were packed into four short months. We wish to extend heartfelt thanks to all those at Primary Children's Medical Center who cared for and loved our little Morgan. Morgan is survived by her parents Benjamin and Kira Paulsen Fowler, her sister Bailey, her grandparents Victor L. and Carol M. Fowler and P. Grant and Kristin T. Paulsen, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Funeral services will be held Friday, July 3, 2009 at 12 noon in the Cottonwood 4th Ward Chapel, 5565 S. Neighbor Lane, Salt Lake City. Prior to the funeral services friends and family may visit from 10:00 a.m. to 11:40 a.m. Burial will be at the Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 Highland Drive; Salt Lake City. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Wells Fargo Bank under the memorial fund for Morgan Fowler. We thought to teach and guide her; instead she has taught us and gone ahead.

"Baby Morgan is our cousins baby who returned home to our Heavenly Father this past week. Our hearts are heavy and ache as we pack to fly home to Utah for such a sad reason but, we are holding on to the knowledge that we know sweet little Morgan is encircled in our Heavenly Fathers arms and that because of our Savior Jesus Christ one day Kira and Ben will be able to hold their sweet baby again. Thank you for your prayers on behalf of Kira and Ben."

XOXO

Primary Children's Hospital

Yes, we are and have been in Utah for one week now but, things haven't gone exactly as planned. We flew in last Tuesday and early the next morning Scarlet woke up with a terrible cold. We had Beano's wedding on Saturday and Scarlet cried pretty much the whole day. Sunday she had a fever of 102.4 and slept all but three hours that day. We also discovered a bulge in her Fontanel (soft spot). After talking with her pediatrician in Texas and a family friend who is a pediatrician here in Utah we took her to Primary Children's Hospital. They suspected Meningitis but before doing a spinal tap they tested her for Swine Flu, ran a Cat Scan, and gave her a catheter after finding her white cell count was extremely high. She loved the Cat Scan (as you can tell in the pics. above). It was 3:00am when she went in for it, was wide awake and was in awe with every little noise and light. After all the tests came back they said that they couldn't explain why her fontanel was bulging but, she that had a rare type of UTI. They gave her an aggressive dose of antibiotics and after eight hours her fever was gone. They are concerned that anatomically her kidneys may not be functioning properly so she has to have a series of tests when we get back to Houston.

We thought everything was good and we were in the clear for the rest of our trip. After having two doses of the antibiotics she woke up with hives on her head, neck and face. A few hours later they were all over her body. After taking her in once again they found that her oxygen levels were low and that she had definitely developed an allergic reaction to the antibiotic.

We are finally back at grandma's and hope to be here for good...they say things happen in three's so between Kai's broken arm, B's surgery, and now Scarlet we hope to be done for awhile.

Thank you for all of your prayers. :)

Dang Swine Flu...I hope we never have to wear masks again!!

Look who's starting solids...

I am amazed at how easy it was giving Scarlet rice cereal for the first time. She slurped up every bite within minutes.

Ready to start the first bite...

What is this stuff...

This is good, I can't get enough...

Is that it??

This is my FAVORITE part. As soon as I set the empty bowl down she realized there was a little cereal left on her bib...

Where have we been???

Four days after Kai broke his arm Brandon blew out his knee (dislocated his patella and tore his MCL) playing basketball. He ended up spending his birthday in the Orthopedic surgeons office(9:00am to 6:00pm-B was the first half of the day and Kai was the second half). He somehow managed to squeeze in a golf trip with friends to Scottsdale Arizona before he went into surgery two days later to have his knee repaired. Since surgery we've celebrated graduations, Jace's birthday, have been preparing for a few vacations coming up, finished baseball season and, as for me I have been playing single parent, chauffeur to not only the kids but Brandon as well, and whatever else is included in an injured spouse that can't really get around. Hopefully many posts will come in the days ahead. :)

It's official...

or at least has been for a couple of weeks now. My brother Bryant and his girlfriend Stephanie are finally engaged and are getting married June 6th. We are sooo excited for you two and can't wait to get up their to celebrate.

I must say that Bryant's proposal is one of my most favorite yet. The night he proposed he started off by taking Stephanie to dinner at (Flemings-my most favorite restaurant). Afterwards they walked to a nearby book store where they casually browsed the relationship book section when suddenly Stephanie stumbles across a book that Bryant had had professionally made for her. Bryant said that Stephanie was really confused when she found it because it was obvious that this storybook was their love story. At this point Bryant walked her over to a stage in the children's section, sat her down, and read their love story to her. He then reached over and grabbed some flowers sitting nearby (my brother Breck had stashed the flowers their just minutes before) pulled out the ring and proposed. Down below is the pic. of them in the bookstore with their storybook...I love this love story.

Congratulations you two! We LOVE you. :-)