Hello to everyone. We had a great time visisting and I thought that I should recap all the events before our trip. Zeke graduated with a BA from Spartan, he was valedictorian and I have to say that I'm very proud.

He worked really hard and put in a lot of effort to achieve his degree. His mom came down for the graduation and it was fun.

I do have to say that it was odd as he still had a week of school after the day of the graduation and his biggest paper was due in one class. But as a private college I guess you can do things like that.

Next was Carson's first birthday! We started the day with pancakes covered with chocolate syrup. YUMMY!

I am amazed at how fast time goes, he has grown so big and it quite the little character. He is such a happy little guy and loves to explore.

We opened presents when Dad got home but as he had class that night it was a quick event. Carson was more interested in the wrapping then some of the toys. Lauren was more than happy to help him get out the toys. Especially when Carson would play with the wrapper and Lauren could check out the toys.

I thought that my house was baby proof however Carson is a different kind of baby than Lauren. Lauren is cautious, careful, and has no desire to see or climb up to any great hight. Carson is fearless, loves anything dangerous, and if he can climb up he will try! So I have had to move things around and make sure that Carson can't get into it. So for his cake I decided to put hazardous symbols on it because those are the things he LOVES!

After Zeke went to class we went to a friend's house for cake and ice cream. My friend has a little boy named Carson as well, and funny enough they both have red hair.

I'm not sure but I think it is safe to say he loved the Cake.

The first year is such a time of change. When Carson came home from the hospital he slept a lot! So much so that I wondered on many occasions' if he would ever be able to stay up for the whole day. Then almost as if it happened over night he changed into this active little crawler and chatter box. Now he looks like a little man and has lost all the baby look.

Carson is very expressive in his facial gestures. There is usually no question as to what he is thinking. He likes to make people laugh if you laugh and Carson is around he mimics you. I know I'm biased but he is a cute little boy!

Here is Lauren and her friend AJ.

Lauren and Carson are really good friends and like to play together. I think it partly works because Carson does not care which toy he gets to play with and Lauren likes to be the boss. I like to just sit and watch them play.

One day while I was at class Zeke and his mom took the kiddos to the aquarium. Zeke being a really good photographer took some cute photos.

We have had the membership to the aquarium for over a year and every time I go I take the camera. However I usually come back with a lot of photos I can't really use for anything as they are poor quality. But I think Zeke captured Lauren really well.

I have started school again. I was not going to take classes this term but decided it was what I needed to do. I'm so grateful for a helpful husband and good friends that allow me to go to school and have time to study. I still wonder why I did not do this before kids... but at least I'm able to do it now.

I am taking two classes but go to school four days a week, I think it will be a long semester. Only 14 more weeks to go.

Zeke came back from AZ only to turn around and drive with his mom up to North Dakota for his brother's wedding. I was sorry that I did not get to attend but not sorry that I missed out on the 40+ hours they spent in the car driving.

On a sad note the day before Zeke came back from the wedding I came home from church and as I came in Duke must have went out with out me noticing. He ran into the street and was hit by a car killing him. The gentle man who hit him was nice enough to come door to door to tell me. He even put him a trash bag for me. I then thought I would give my home teacher a chance to do some service and dig a hole for me. However I had to make several calls to find out who my home teacher was, and in the process about five families in the ward found out what had happened. It was as if we had a wake. People brought over casserole and desserts and came over for support. It was really thoughtful but what a MESS! Lauren has not grasped that he is gone every time we go out side she calls for him, and in the morning she asks to feed him, it is really sad. I found that I miss him more than I thought I would. He was a good little puppy. Hope you all are doing well, Zeke, Mylinda, Lauren, Carson Ellis