Playing with Eddie

First, I had to take a picture of Jade and Josh, playing so nicely together, it has been rare these past few days.
About 1 1/2 weeks ago, we discovered that Eddie will calm down when we give him this little green snugly thing. He LOVES it! My other two kids were never attached to a blankie or animal, so I think I am going to learn sympathy for mother's who can't leave the house without their children's security item. Good times ahead. (as long as I have a dozen or so of these things)

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The following pictures are Bill's idea of a fun time with Eddie while he is asleep. (Note, he still has his snugly green thing, it's with him all the time when he sleeps) Bill thought it was funny that he didn't wake up while he messed with his face.

I think the real comedy of it all is how we think it's a hoot to mess with our kids faces while they sleep. What did we ever do before kids?

ordinary quiet sunday

Today was a nice, quiet Sunday. Nothing eventful, except that we went to church as a family since Bill is now here with us, so that was nice. I like Sunday because it truly is a "rest" day, usually slow and relaxed except for the occasional fighting spurts that are normal with the kids.

We are about to leave for church here, it's across the street from the house. The kids are not looking too happy, but they really are. :) Just to clarify for anyone who doesn't already know, we are living in Bill's parent's home while they are on their mission in Temple Square, (Bill actually works right across the street from where they live). It is so wonderful and kind that they would open their home to us, and the timing has worked out perfect.

Me n' Eddie. My second mamas boy. He just melts with me, and I love it! I didn't think I would love being a mom this much, but I do! Bill says I am going to spoil this one, I am acting like a first time mom!

By the way, I cut my hair short again. I am working my way towards the short pixie haircut, that's my hairstyle goal. :) Sunday is also a day for reflection for me. I have come up with a short list of goals that I want to accomplish while in my 30's, I'll share a few with you. I want to run a marathon, visit China, have a second honeymoon, read the Bible cover to cover, go back to school and at least resume my study in ceramic art/pottery, and I want to feel confident enough to chop all my hair off, (it just gets in the way most of the time) and have a short boy cut. Not lofty goals by any means, but I do actually want to reach them while in my 30's. One more note on this, I think ones 30's rock, anyone who has a complex about being in their 30's should call me. And my 40's are going to be even better!

Jade's first swim meet of 2007

6:30am tired eyed Jade is ready to kick some bum
Her swim team here is about 4 times the size her team was in Las Vegas. The meet was packed! She swam freestyle and breaststroke. Jade was the last girl to sign in for freestyle, and was unable to swim in a heat with the girls. She ended up swimming with the boys, but her time will go against the girls. She beat all the boys she swam with! In breaststroke, she came in second in her heat.

Regardless of where she places.....Hail our conquering champion!!!!

A good week for my boys

Joshua started swim class this week, he loves his swim lessons. I think he is inspired by Jade who is going on her third year of swim team, (we are utilizing positive sibling pressure as much as we can). So here is a shot of my "super-strong-muscles/good-swimmer" boy.

Today was the first day ever that little Ed was left in the complete care of someone other than me, without me in the house. He is 3 1/2 months old, and this is a picture of him with his first ever babysitter, who happens to be his beautiful cousin Hannah. I was gone most of today with appointments. He must already love her, she didn't have to change one poopy diaper all day, he saved it all for his mother.

random pics for grandma

My mom in CA said she wanted to see more of her grandkids, so here you go mom. These are a few recent ones.
Unfortunately, due to antibiotics, Little Ed has to be bottle-fed for the next 10+ days. Eddie was probably the most unhappy about this sudden change. But after a number of different bottles, and 1 1/2 hours of screaming and fighting, he found one he approved of, and it's not that bad after all. The kids love this because now they get to help feed him. Joshua was thrilled to have his first experience at feeding his baby brother, and he made sure I took pictures.

This is not the cutest bath picture, but he was done smiling by the time I ran to get the camera. He is kind of funny and likes to snuggle a wash rag during his bath. Like most babies, he loves the bath, it's the getting out and drying off part he hates.

I know Bill may not be crazy about this photo, but I think it's cute. :) This is typical Bill style, always throwing in something different to make us smile. I wish I could scan his last military ID and post it. For his final mug shot, he gave his impression of The Rock's famous one eyebrow stare. I know he got a little grief from the gate gaurds before he left, but it was worth it. Quite the Bill Danielson thing to do at the end of his military career. Goodbye Air Force, Hello steady fatherhood!

Bill in China

This is a little late, since his trip was back in April, but I thought it would be nice to get these out anyway. I can't wait for him to take me to all the places he went. China seems amazing. He loved every minute he was there.


Bill at the start of several hour hike up the Great Wall in Beijing. He and his buddy Mike were the only ones to venture to the highest point there. Mike is the one who sent these pictures, Bill took 99% video of his trip, not huge on pics. I wish I had some of their "Fear Factor China" that Bill of course instigated. He and Mike competed throughout their whole trip, Bill was champion in the end of course. He ate a chicken foot, lamb testicle, silk worm on a stick, snake on a stick, weird looking rubbery tentacles, among other things.


This cute little lady was part of small group of elderly tourists in Shanghai. I saw the video and it was really cute. She wanted to get her picture taken with Bill, but didn't want to get too close to him. She just kind of inched her way closer and closer with her back partially to him, while her little old friends edged her on and took pictures.


From what I hear, there were around 100 people watching and taking pictures while Bill was mobbed by these youth. Apparently everywhere he went, people wanted to take pictures of him, check out his hands, feel the hair on his arms, stare at him, etc. I guess it helps that he is a smiling, approachable person, even with the language barrier.

I found a recent cute one of the kids when they love each other and are not fighting. Also, right before we left Las Vegas, Jade had "Author's Tea", a nice little tea party event for all third-graders to present them with their "published" book of poems. We are with her teacher, Miss Erickson. I am most commonly seen like this now days, with Eddie strapped to me in some way. (But of course I am usually found in PJ's and hair pulled back). I love this wrap that I use, email me if you want to know more about it, it'a a great way to cart around a baby.

New at this

My first post. I'll start by explaining our blog name, "Dos Metros Down". It has to do with height. When we lived in Japan and Spain, we got used to saying "two meters" or "dos metros" whenever we went out, because people wanted to know how tall Bill is. So until Joshua and Edmund grow taller than their dad, (which is likely), our family will remain 2 meters tall and down. The picture was taken at Easter time. We have not taken a more complete picture since, it is all I can do to catch a few individual pics here and there, I am still in recovery mode from little Ed. Well, it's a start.....