HO, HO, HO!

"Thana...Thana...Ho, ho, ho..."

"Where's Thana?"

"Thana thays..ho, ho, ho!"

"Thana in there...wath Thana!"
~Dax

Are you kidding me? Is that not the cutest thing you have ever heard? I mean read? Daxton is really getting into Christmas. We just re-introduced Santa Claus. Daxton has a little lisp. (He is tongue tied.) It is the cutest thing! We have enjoyed reading stories about Santa, and watching our favorite Christmas movies together. He crinkles up his little nose and shouts out, "Thana! Thana!" every time we see a picture of him. THIS IS SO FUN! He knows what's happening this year! Don't you just love Christmas? Hope all of your holidays are bright!

I MISS MY BOYS

GOOD MORNING! It is about 1:39 a.m. in Colorado Sunday morning the 16Th of November. I have been in Colorado for a week doing business. (I am usually NEVER gone this long.) This is the longest I have ever been away from Daxton, and I am really missing my family. I have been really busy...which is FANTASTIC! BUT, there is "no place like home." I miss my boys.

Without getting all sappy...I looked through our blog. I watched old slide shows. Went through all of our family pictures downloaded to our laptop, and just wanted to share how much I love my family.

My husband is such a wonderful man. He is a giving, understanding, loving, and generous man. He puts others before himself, and freely gives. He is an incredible father...Daxton is completely in love with him, and he is a caring husband.

Daxton is the true love of my life (sorry honey...you are the love of my life too...babies just have an extra special place). He is smart, has great sense of humor, is happy, beautiful, energetic, inquisitive, and completely precious. He brings more joy into my life than I could have possibly imagined. He turned two recently, and I will do belated birthday post, and post halloween/pumpkin pictures.

I still have several more days out here in "Colorful Colorado", and each day I am here I am more thankful for the family I have at home. It is more than perfect timing to celebrate Thanksgiving in just over a week. I will be home just in time to do some laundry, and tidy the house for Thanksgiving. I don't know if I have ever been more thankful for my family, for the gospel, for inspiration, and for the blessings I have been given. I am so thankful Heavenly Father has a plan for me and my family.

Tonight as I type my little post...I just want to send a message to my boys...I miss you, and I love you so much. Keep up the good work at home. I will be back before you know it. Thanks for the video messages, and for playing games over the phone with me. I don't know what I would do if I didn't get to see you, and talk every day I have been here. BIG KISSES & LOVES!

XOXOX
Mommy

Got Cheerios?

Today is a day of celebration....let me explain. Daxton has had the long road to potty training. Here and there, not completely consistent, but comfortable with his friend Elmo....who awaits his arrival all day everyday. (We have an Elmo potty training seat.) His #2's have been rewarded daily for awhile but #1's (aka-"pee pee")have been struggling to achieve the same success. I was questioning whether or not he was completely ready...until TODAY! My mom reminded me of the infamous "Cheerios" trick. We throw a few cheerios in the potty, and then he shoots them like a squirt gun with his...you know what. I held my breath, unsure of what to expect... when he completely fell into my potty training trick! We have a winner!! He has gone like 12 times this morning and I couldn't be happier. Each successful trip is rewarded with "candy corn." He is lovin' life. No more diapers!!! We might be married to the house for a few more days, but it's worth it. The goal has always been to finish by the time he turns two. Next Friday the 24Th is the deadline, and guess what...we are going to beat it by a week! Thank heavens for "Cheerios"...all mom's who haven't tried this trick yet, "Got Cheerios?"-use them, I believe you will be pleasantly surprised!

The Best Gift

I vote "Yes" on Proposition 8. Most of us know, their is a major decision left in our hands. Watching "The Best Gift" touched me. My sweet baby will turn two in a couple weeks. He was created in the bonds of marriage, and is sealed to a loving father and mother. The gift of a child is eternal. I believe each child deserves the right to be created in the bonds of marriage. It is Heavenly Father's plan for each child.
1 Corinthians 11:11: "Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord."
Each of us were created to be with a partner, that in the bonds of marriage can use the power of creation. We have been designed by God to bring forth children to this earth. As we make this decision to preserve marriage, it is really about preserving the life of each child. Please watch this video, and share it with everyone you know. Send them to our site or to your own. Post it on your blog, and let's make a difference.

HAPPY 4 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Happy Anniversary Honey! Can you believe we have been married four years?!? I love you so much. XOXOXO

WE MOVED!

OK---We moved! YIPEE! We just moved into a beautiful little home...three bedroom, 2 1/2 bath....dark wood floors...not white walls...I'm so happy I don't know what to do with myself. Seriously. Life is great! Sorry no pictures lately, I lost our camera. I'm trying not to be too upset. We will just need to get a new one. Until then, you will just have to deal with pictures from my cell phone...and my little anecdotes.

Daxton and I shopped this week for "big boy pants" (sweet Disney underpants) and we are one step closer to being completely out of diapers (except for bedtime & naps.) I've been grateful for the wood floors..."accidents" are a lot easier to clean up on this floor than it would be with carpet. :) He is doing such a good job. He is turning into such a little man. It is really blowing my mind. He will be turning two in just a few weeks.

Matt and I have recently had a complete para dime-shift. Our life is heading in a much different direction than expected, and it is so AWESOME! I feel happier than I have in a long time. We count our blessings, and I feel like the heavens have been opening up and showering gifts from above. Lately, we have met a lot of wonderful people, and I feel wrapped in Heavenly Father's hands. He is truly taking care of us, and it makes me feel emotional...even just typing about it right now. There are times in life where you know that it is not JUST YOU. I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who knows me personally. He knows and loves my family. AND---he knows what our family needs, and has given us a path to take to make all of it happen. Life's blessings don't always come without a little sacrifice. We have been a little busier than usual (hence the not writing as frequently on our blog), and I have had a few more nights away from our baby....but all in all I can't believe what is happening. It's a miracle.

Amidst all the turmoil our economy is in right now, amidst the serious decisions we have to make with congress, and the BIG vote out here in California...the gloom and the doom...there has been light. I know that if we keep our life in line with Heavenly Father's plan we will be taken care of.

Have an amazing weekend...so much love headed your way this evening. Good night. From my family to yours. XOXOX

"Vroom Vroom"

Dax and Grandma Lindsay walked down the stairs at great Grandma's house the other day and surprising...Dax tooted. He said, "Bum, vroom vroom..." and proceeded to laugh. Grandma started laughing so he shared his story a couple more times.
Who would have known a toot and "vroom vroom" go together? Daxton did! He makes that sound to watch his favorite movie, when he plays with cars...and apparently now when he passes gas! You gotta love it!

NEWS FLASH: "The Explorers"

Recently, the Van Duren Family has been through Utah, stayed in Colorado...played in airports, random McDonald's, parks, and is preparing for another trip to Michigan tomorrow. If you don't look fast........you might miss them all together! There life has been rockin' and rollin'! Many updates to come. :) They continue exploring all possibilities of life on this planet. They found--life is good. AND---and is getting better every day.

Hey everybody...sorry for the not so updated blog lately. We have been running from one place to the next, and I have made little time to up date you on our life. We are doing great....making things happen, and learning a lot! I will post some pictures from our recent trip to Colorado. Although it might not be for a week...Matt and I are flying out tomorrow to Michigan! I've never been there so it should be a lot of fun. We are excited. Our sweet baby Dax is being watched by Grandma. Thank you MOM! "You're the simply the best!"

Inspired

Inspired: outstanding or brilliant in a way or to a degree suggestive of divine inspiration

I feel inspired. I see the world around me right now in a whole new light. I have recently been inspired by life. My life. I have been inspired by the lives of those around me. I am amazed by the miracles I've witnessed, and the life that is unfolding before my eyes. I recognize the significant role each of us plays in each others lives. The picture above was apart of our family photo shoot. Alyson caught us in a moment that wasn't planned. She called my name I looked over, and that photo was the result. I think Alyson was inspired, and this photo is so symbolic to me in many ways. I believe much of the time we spend oblivious to those around us. (Daxton didn't even acknowledge my presence in that photo:) As a mother or wife, our lives are completely intertwined with our children, and family. Each action we take to love, and care is not always recognized....but, the presence I believe is felt. I don't think most of us fully understand the impact we have on the people around us. I don't believe I understand. But, I am beginning to realize how important it is to make each moment positive. I feel a sense of responsibility to influence, more than ever, each person I meet for good. I think the more we realize we are not alone, and choose to be happy, we will make a HUGE impact. Recognize your position, and how you change the lives around you. As I have thought about that specifically, I can see how much I affect my loved ones. I want to be a force of powerful positive energy. I believe it is a choice. And, I have made a choice to love more freely, listen more deeply to my family and friends needs, and give of my time and resources to make our lives better. If there is anything I can do for any of you, please let me know. I really mean it! Much love to all...and I will leave a post soon with a lot of cute pics! XOXOXOXO

Mr. Clean

Hello! We are alive. We have just had a lot of exciting things happening in our world, and haven't made the time to share them all with you yet. ANYWAY, I wanted to share a quick little anecdote: A couple days ago my mom, Dax, and I were in Target. I needed to pick up some cleaning supplies. While I looked carefully at carpet cleaners my mom said,"Look!" When I looked Dax was staring at the bottle of Mr. Clean. He carefully folded his arms together. My mom and I exchanged glances and laughed and laughed. Now, Daxton does fold his arms during prayers, and maybe that's what he thought the man on the bottle was doing. Either way, he was inspired by the bald man on the bottle....and we got a real kick out of him mimicking his pose. Kids are the best!