Spring Break Vacation

The last week in March was Ellen’s second week of Spring Break and we decided to take a little vacation. One of the most promising job openings for Landon is in Salt Lake City, UT so we decided to take a little trip to Utah to get ourselves acquainted with the area and look at some houses. Plus, it was a fun little vacation.

My best friend since I was 6, Becky Belnap Maynard, lives in the Salt Lake area now, in Herriman. I called her up and asked if we could come spend a couple of days with her to which she was very excited and enthusiastic in helping to move us forward with a move that would put us living closer to each other. We had planned on staying with the Maynards for Monday and Tuesday night, but on Sunday afternoon I got a call from Becky. Her 4 year old had come down with Strep throat. Rather than chance getting the bug we decided to get a hotel for Monday night and give him time to have his antibiotic kick in and not be contagious.

This is the only picture I took of the whole trip, go figure. It is stinking cute though. They all loved pulling their own bags and being big helpers with packing. This is us trying to get into our room at the hotel.

The kids loved staying in the hotel. We got a suite that it had a microwave and we decided to do dinner on the cheap and get microwavable dinners. We let the kids get Kid Cuisines so I think they were happier than if we had gone out to eat. They ran back and forth across the big room, jumped on the couch, looked at the ducks around the pool outside our window and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. One of the most interesting things to us about the hotel was the TV. We got rid of cable about a year and a half ago and we don’t even have a digital converter box so our kids never watch regular television. We are Netflix people and have really come to enjoy instant Netflix through our Wii. It has kind of changed our kids’ perspectives on TV though. We found America’s Funniest Home Videos and watched it with the kids during dinner. They loved it, especially Ellen. The next morning she insisted that we turn on “that funny show with the man.” It took us a while to explain to her that we couldn’t just make it turn on. On cable you have to wait to see the shows you want when they air them. Very funny for Landon and me to realize what not having regular TV has done to our kid’s perspective.

On Tuesday morning we woke up, had breakfast at the hotel and headed out to meet with our Real Estate Agent. We are using Landon’s Cousins Mom, Heather, as an agent. We discussed what we were looking for in a house and she suggested a couple of areas of Salt Lake for us to check out, especially Tooele. After that meeting we dropped the kids off with the no longer contagious Maynard’s, had a little lunch, and headed out to drive through cities and neighborhoods. We were also able to meet with a loan officer that we loved (another fabulous suggestion of Heather’s) and took the time to drive out to Tooele.

Tooele is a little town about 25 minutes outside of Salt Lake. Turns out that we really liked the feel of the town. It had a cozy little town feel to it but still had enough that I didn’t feel like I was getting banished. The deals out there on houses are actually really great as well. On Wednesday we were able to take the kids with us to look at a whole slew of houses and get a little bit more feel for what was available. If all goes according to plan, I think we will try to make Tooele our new home. Here’s to hoping.

The trip to Salt Lake was short and packed full, but also a lot of fun. There was lots of time for the kids to play with the Maynard kids and for me to catch up with my sweet best friend. Plenty of time to get us excited about the possibilities and to get a little scared. More than anything, it gave us a chance to spend time with people we love and get us all excited for a new adventure we could be starting.

March Newsletter Submission

March was spent doing project after project on our house. We got really serious about trying to get the house ready to sell as Landon’s job prospects became much more serious and it became very apparent that we would be moving from Pocatello. Many a date night was spent shopping for projects, or painting, or de-cluttering. I am proud to report that we are making progress and should be able to have it on the market very soon.

The month of March brought a job offer for Landon and we had to get really serious about figuring out where we wanted to live. He was offered a job with FedEx Ground in Yakima, Washington which we seriously considered taking, but after a lot of soul searching and prayer we felt prompted to turn down the offer in the hopes that a job in this region would open up. We have a really good prospect for Salt Lake and are just waiting to hear back on it.

Katie spent the month running kids to after school activities and….growing a baby! That’s right, we finally announced that we are expecting baby number four. We had our ultrasound on March 25 and found out that we are waiting for a little girl. She is scheduled to join or family on August 19. We couldn’t be more excited. Keeping it a surprise for so long was a lot of fun as well. There was no real reason for the secret except that we figured it would add excitement to the pregnancy if we waited until we knew the gender. Thanks to everyone for being excited for us and for all the well wishes.

Ellen had continued to grow into quite the big girl taking on a little more responsibility with her actions. She finally got into a really good routine this month with doing her homework and practicing her piano. It helps that I finally figured out her “currency.” The term “currency” came from my Love and Logic class and it refers to whatever will motivate your child. We have tried everything, spankings, taking toys, bedroom time, paying with money…none of it worked. She would be sad for a little while, but never really got motivated to make good choices or earn her toys back or the money. Then I had an epiphany and we hit the jackpot. Ellen’s “currency” is computer games. She loves to play computer games and the Wii more than just about anything. She has started doing her chores and practicing her piano to earn computer time. She has even done a few extra chores lately trying to earn more time. It has made life soooo much nicer and much more peaceful.

March turned our Trevor into “Trevor the Wonder Pet.” The WonderPets are a Nickelodeon show about some school room pets that are able to help save other animals in trouble. There is a gerbil, a duck, and a turtle. They get calls on their cup phone and then don hats and capes before flying off to save whatever creature is in trouble today. My kids have been introduced to them through our instant Netflix, and they are obsessed, but especially Trevor. Every morning he quickly gets dressed and then immediately puts on his hat and cape before eating breakfast. He wears them all day and at each days end he hangs them nicely on his bedpost, ready to be worn the next day. I won't let him wear them to preschool, so we have compromised and he takes his hat with him in his backpack. He is Trevor the WonderPet.

This last month we moved the boys into bunk beds and little did we know that we were transforming their room into the coolest play area ever. We decided that with getting the house ready to possibly be on the market and how big Levi is getting that they could go in Bunk beds. It really opens up their room and makes for a lot more play area on the floor which means that their toys stay in their room a little better, which the Mama really likes! But besides these added benefits we have given them the best toy ever. Immediately following the set up of the beds we had kids crawling all over them. They like to go up on top and read books or play like it is a fort. Trevor loves being up so high that he can see out of his window and he falls asleep every night staring out it. Levi thinks he is a big boy sleeping on the bottom bunk. He struggled for a little bit the first night because he couldn't see Trevor, but now he loves that Trevor is "seeping on top." It is a big step for our boys, but one that I am so glad that we made.

The last two weeks of the month brought a couple of really exciting events for us. The first was the birth of a new baby cousin for us. On the 23rd of March my sister Annie delivered a healthy, beautiful baby girl. Katie was able to be there for the birth and experience this wonderful blessing with Annie and Jason. They named her Eve Michelle. This little girl was born right in between the death anniversaries of Michelle and Connor. She has been an amazing blessing to our entire family, bringing with her a healing power and a peaceful spirit. Plus, she is absolutely gorgeous.

The last week of the month brought the second exciting thing for us. Ellen was on spring break, so we decided to take a step toward moving us to Utah. We took three days and went to Salt Lake to spend time in the area and see if we could find somewhere that we might want to live. We stayed in a hotel one night and the kids loved running around the room. The next night we were fortunate enough to stay with Katie’s best friend, Becky Maynard, and her family. They live in Herriman and have kids that are the same age as ours. Becky was even great enough to keep the kids while Landon and Katie went mortgage shopping and house hunting. Thanks to a tip from our realtor, Heather, we looked really seriously at the Tooele area and found ourselves feeling very comfortable there. We found a lot of promising houses and the kids loved looking at all of them. Ellen has since started giving us her wish list of things for the house (a basement, a fireplace, etc.) Now we just have to secure the job and sell our house. No problem….right?

Wish us luck!

Love,
Landon, Katie, Ellen, Trevor, Levi and Baby Girl

Introducing Eve Michelle Dixon

For the past couple of years March has been a month that I could have just thrown away. To me March has brought nothing but sadness and heartache. The month is spent with anxiety and longing and grieving building up to the week of March 17-25 which is pretty much just a black and ugly time for me and my family. This is the week that Connor and Shelly passed away. My sister, Michelle, passed away on March 17, 2009. This was almost exactly a year after my nephew Connor passed away on March 25, 2008. On a whole, I have hated the entire month of March since 2008. I am happy to report that this year it was not the black hole that it normally is.

This year the Kunz family was given a gift from our Father in Heaven. After an eight year break, a lot of heartache and sorrow and a miscarriage my sister Annie was able to expand her family again. Ironically enough, the due date for this wonderful blessing was right in the middle of black hole week. The anticipation of this baby, a beautiful little girl, helped to lessen the anxiety that comes with the arrival of March. Instead of wanting to hide my head in the sand I found myself looking forward to the upcoming month and the birth of this baby.

I am happy to report that on March 23, 2011 Annie delivered a gorgeous, sweet, and healthy baby girl! I was able to be there when she delivered to share in this miraculous moment with my sister and her family. This is a baby that they have been waiting to welcome into their family for so long, but especially since the loss of Connor. Annie, Jason, and Jaycee have all expressed that they have not really felt like a family since Connor passed away. This baby girl has brought back their sense of family and helped to heal a little of their broken hearts.

Annie and Jason decided to name her Eve Michelle Dixon. She is precious and looks just like her big sister did when she was little. She has a sweet spirit and really has helped to heal the entire Kunz family. We are so excited to have her as a part of our family and can’t wait to get to know her little personality even more as she grows.

We love you baby Eve….Welcome to the world!

The excited Mama waiting for the big moment.

Jason chilling and waiting to see his new baby girl.

The first time Jaycee got to see her new baby sister.

Eve holding her big sister's hand. I am sure that this will not be the last time she will reach for this hand throughout her life.

My first time holding this sweet baby girl. I am going to be the favorite Aunt you know.

Eve Michelle Dixon

Surprise!!!!

We are pregnant!

I am due on August 19 and we are having a baby girl!! We couldn't be more excited. Here are more pictures of our precious little one!

If We'd Have Only Done This Sooner

Morgan, Ella, Trevor, & Levi

This last weekend we moved the boys into bunk beds and little did we know that we were transforming their room into the coolest play area ever. We decided that with getting the house ready to possibly be on the market and how big Levi is getting that they could go in Bunk beds. It really opens up their room and makes for a lot more play area on the floor which means that their toys stay in their room a little better, which the Mama really likes! But besides these added benefits we have given them the best toy ever.

Immediately following the set up of the beds we had kids crawling all over them. They like to go up on top and read books or play like it is a fort. Trevor loves being up so high that he can see out of his window and he falls asleep every night staring out it. Levi thinks he is a big boy sleeping on the bottom bunk. He struggled for a little bit the first night because he couldn't see Trevor, but now he loves that Trevor is "seeping on top." It is a big step for our boys, but one that I am so glad that we made. If I would have known that they would love it this much and it would entertain them so completely we would have done it a long time ago!

Trevor the WonderPet

Trevor is a WonderPet! The WonderPets are a Nickelodeon show about some school room pets that are able to help save other animals in trouble. There is a gerbil, a duck, and a turtle. They get calls on their cup phone and then don hats and capes before flying off to save whatever creature is in trouble today. My kids have been introduced to them through our instant Netflix, and they are obsessed, but especially Trevor.
This has been Trevor's uniform for the past two weeks. Every morning he quickly gets dressed and then immediately puts on his hat and cape before eating breakfast. He wears them all day and at each days end he hangs them nicely on his bedpost, ready to be worn the next day. I won't let him wear them to preschool, so we have compromised and he takes his hat with him in his backpack. He is Trevor the WonderPet.

Lately Trevor has gotten into such cute role playing. We will catch him playing out scenarios all the time, usually with him as a WonderPet. We will hear things like, "That's right, I am Trevor the Strong. Trevor the Strong-man WonderPet!" I just don't think they come any better than this little man. I am so glad that he wants to help save things and not just wreck 'em. It sure does bring a smile to this Mama's face.

Random pictures

Here are just a few cute pictures from the last few months. Most of them are a little blurry because they were taken with Landon's cell phone, but I still love them.


Levi got his own pillow and blanket and set himself up there one afternoon for a nap. He was so cute that Landon let him stay there for his whole nap.
These are the hats that Grandma Ladwig gave the boys for Valentine's Day. They loved them!!!! While Levi's bee looks a little worse for the wear now, he still wears it regularly & Trevor still enjoys being a dragon every now and again.

I just love my little family! They all wanted to sit with Daddy to watch a hunting video on the computer.

We found the boys playing this game the other night. I am so glad that they are such good friends.