A Father's Intuition

Junie is now 4 months old and the consensus is she looks just like her siblings at that age.  She has pretty blue eyes, a gooey drool-filled smile and chub all over.  Yep, just like her siblings.  JunieBug had a rough first 3 months but Cbug learned to cut back on soy, milk, corn, and a whole bunch of other foods that improved Junie's disposition.  Poor Cbug doesnt get to eat much variety but her pre-pregnancy clothes fit sooner than expected!



I gave June her blessing (in June) at Church.  It was a neat experience.  I could be waaay off but I've had a "feeling" about my 2 girls for a while.  I think June will have a quiet nature and focus on helping others, especially the less fortunate. 





I think Charlotte will be a funny girl whose sense of humor will bring joy to family and friends.  Charlotte is not one to be the center of attention and energized by being around others so its kind of a stretch to see her as the "funny girl".  In groups she hangs back near Mom and Dad and easily gets overwhelmed in a crowd.  One on one, however, she loves coming up with sayings and ideas to make me smile and get us laughing.  I have a routine that each night I snuggle the kids in their beds for 5 or so minutes as they go to sleep.  At one point I asked each one if they wanted to hear a story and what kind they'd like.  Now, every night they demand a story and both ask before I get too far into my story "Is this a FUNNY story?  I want a FUNNY story!!"  LOL.  Its hard to think of stories/experiences that are simple enough for little kids to understand and funny at the same time.  I have a few dozen that I rotate through, their favorites are Jen falling into a stinky golf course lake when we were fishing as kids, Alli putting my marbles in her diaper as a baby, and the time my Dad, brother Chris and I watched a dog poop on a busy sidewalk in NY and then see a woman in aqua socks step in it immediately after I said out loud "Wouldn't it be funny if someone in aqua socks stepped in that dog poop?"  TRUE STORY!

Often the best moments of my day come when snuggling my kids in their beds.  Tonight it was with Charlotte who put her arm around my neck to bring me as close to her as possible right before closing her eyes.  I knew it was time to blog when that happened.  I don't ever want to forget it!



Reed is a new kindergartner.  He's doing his best to be brave but struggles some days with going to school all day and no longer taking naps.  Also, his energy level jumps a couple levels when around other kids so not only is he worn out at the end of the day but Reed's listening and follow through skills at home seem affected.  He starts soccer soon and is happiest playing legos or riding his bike on the mountain trails.  He's my special little buddy.

June Taylor Heyman

Born April 12th, our new love June Taylor.  We call her JunieBug.  She is wonderful.

2014 in Review

2014 was good to us:

 

 

 

 

January:
- Started with my current tech company, Aryaka, working from home.
- I continue mountain biking at Erwin Park and other trails around Dallas on Saturday morning with a group of guys.
- The kids have fun learning what its like to have snow in the backyard.



February
- Candace cuts her thumb in a blender and gets stitches at the hospital.
- Candace's bffff Chelsea and her daughter Margot come to visit us in Plano, TX.
- We try to cross off as many "must eat" restaurants in the Dallas area before leaving for Phx, but we can't do it!  There are too many great places!!


March:
- We say a sad goodbye to the good people of Plano 8th ward and our new best friends the Treeses.  March 1st, we drive for 2 days west back to our home in Phoenix.

 

- We discover our house had been "squatted on" after our renter moved out and the house smells like cigarettes.  A month of painting, carpet replacement and other renovations ensue to get our house back to our "home".  We spend 3 weeks living with Jen and Tim at my parents in Chandler.
- We arrive in Phoenix literally hours before the dedication of the LDS Gilbert, AZ temple and are able to attend its ceremony.  Although I grew up in Chandler I spent a lot of my youth in Gilbert and feel blessed to have a new temple so close.


April:
-  Reed and I meet my childhood hero, motocross star Jeremy McGrath at a race truck event in Chandler.
- We finally move back into our Phx house.  We enjoy the nice weather with family hikes, bike rides, and urban fishing.  Reed learns to ride a bike without training wheels.
- Cbug finally gets her wish and we bite the bullet on a shiny Honda Odyssey minivan.  All of her dreams come true.
-  Fathers and Sons at Queen Valley, AZ.  I get to break in my new cowboy hat I picked up in El Paso, TX on our drive home.
- I met up with my college roomates in Boulder City, NV for a weekend of wakeboarding Lake Mead and mountain biking. 


May:
- Cbug speaks at BYU's Women Conference on blended families.  True to Cbug form she spoke from the heart about the ups and downs she experienced during her childhood.  Most if not all of the audience was touched to the point of tears and her message was cited in the Desert Newspaper.
- Reed gets a new boy bike (not a toddler bike) for his bday and joins me on the mountain trails on Saturdays.
- I surprised Cbug with tickets to see a little known musician Tyrone Wells and we have a blast.
- We camp with the Kemptons on Memorial Day on the Mogollon Rim.  It was freezing and there were fire restrictions so some of us were really cold.  Reed refused to go potty in the forest and Charlotte peed her pants a record 5 or so times.  We ended up packing up camp and leaving at 3am because one of the kids developed a nasty cough.  Oh man, the memories...



June:
- Cbug and I join the Mullens and Malfattos on an awesome adventure hiking Havasupai Falls in the Grand Canyon.  It was so fun!!
- I'm asked to serve as the Young Mens President in Church.
- Reed and Charlotte begin swimming lessons and love it.

July:
- MY PARENTS COME HOME FROM ARGENTINA!
- TAYLOR COMES HOME FROM CHILE!
- MY PARENTS COME HOME FROM ARGENTINA!
- TAYLOR COMES HOME FROM CHILE!

- We make our annual trip to UT and enjoy staying with Cbug's mom.  I get to fish the Provo with my Dad and the Weber River with James Bekker. 
- On the drive back to AZ we stop in Loa, UT to spend time with my Grandma Curtis' brother Merrill and his wife Margie.  Merrill takes us sight seeing and fishing in his boat on a high mountain lake.  Both Reed and Charlotte catch a fish before the storms roll in.
- Our huge Saguaro cactus in the backyard falls over.  What a mess. 



August:
- Bishop Woods and I take the Priests up to Flagstaff to mountain bike Mt. Elden.
- A friend from work invites us to his home in Flagstaff and we have a ton of fun hiking and fishing.

September:
- I take the young men at church to Rocky Point for our "High Adventure" activity.  We catch near 200 fish deep sea fishing, play football on the beach, and visit an orphanage.
- We start taking the kids to bike/skate parks and they love it.
- We find out Candace is due in April with a baby girl!
- Reed starts preschool with Mrs. Teddie.


October:
- I spend a day surfing in So. Cal with my high school buddies, although I'm not sure I can call it surfing since most of what I did is paddle around on my board.
- Candace and I celebrate 6 yr anniversary at the hotel where we spent our first night married - The Valley Ho.  We have a weekend of fun while Grandma Free watched the gremlins. 
-  Charlotte is the cutest "Pink Batman" ever for Halloween.  Reed is Ironman.


November:
- I take the young men to Bear Flats east of Payson for a campout.  I got to fish a little and the boys played air soft wars.

 

December:
-  Family dune trip with church friends.  Brought Reed's Christmas present: a 50cc dirtbike.
- It was my family's turn for Christmas and we were able to have all the siblings in town for Christmas fun at my parents' house.
-  Surprised my brother Chris by taking him and Tim and Taylor to the dunes for on his 33rd bday.  Other than the 30 degree mornings, it was a 10 out of 10.
- Cbug gets her way and we, along with her dad, remove the tons of rock in our backyard, install sprinklers, and plant grass.  Cbug adds a tire swing on our grapefruit tree.
- We call Great Uncle Merrill on his bday to offer well wishes.  About a week later he passes away from a heart attack.  We will miss him as he loved to spend time with us and take us fishing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life has sped up now that we're closer to family and friends.  We miss the free time we had in TX but wouldn't change it for the busy time we spend with loved ones here. 

Buggy Quotes

I just returned from a week long sales conference in San Jose.  I missed my family so much that at the airport I pulled my luggage way beyond the normal arrivals pickup spot so I could jump in the van ASAP.

I received a warm greeting from all 3 of my specials but I had to note Charlotte's quote.  In the 12 hours I've been home Charlotte has said 2x: "Daddy, you my best Daddy eva!"  One time was in the ride home from the airport, the other when we were snuggling this morning after watching cartoons.

(Update 2/5/15): Charlotte's quote from early this morning when I was snuggling her in her bed, she reaches up and kisses my elbow and says "Daddy, I love you the best!". 
(Update 2/18/15): "I...I...I...lub you this much (touching her hands behind her back)...all the way to heaven!"

Ode to My Buggy-Sis

I've had a lot moments lately where I am just thankful from head to toe that I have my daughter Charlotte.  She's 2.5 yrs old and perfect in every way.  I wouldn't change one thing about her if I could.  She's perfect.  She has a sweet disposition and a soft voice that only raises when brother teases her or she's goofing around with Mom, "Ree-Ree", or me.  She is quick to smile, LOVES to sing, and loves to snuggle.  More often than not it takes me or Mom laying with her to get her to fall asleep which can be painful but usually isn't so bad.  I love those quiet moments of snuggling next to her and tickling her back when she asks me to "honey" her back. 

Charlotte has lots of names: Buggy-Sis, Buggy-boo-bop, Sis'em Bug, Boo-Bop Anonymous.  She enjoys them all. 

I'm amazed at how natural she is at mothering.  She loves to play typical boy stuff like dig in the dirt or ride bikes or play trucks with Reed but since her earliest days she has felt most comfortable carrying a doll under an arm wherever she goes.  Its not something we've pushed, she really just loves nurturing and watching over a little one.  It will be fun to see her as Big Sis soon. 

Charbug is such a sweetie.  She isn't as quick as Reed to give me kisses but she's always up for a snuggle and occasionally she'll lean over and out of the blue give me a kiss on the cheek that melts my heart.  On each Sunday over the last 2 years she has spent most of Church on my lap.  She likes to bear hug me and make faces with the people sitting behind me.  Or, have me color with her or play characters or read books.  I love holding her throughout Church. 

Over the last 2 months Sis has really come out of her shell.  She has no problem being the center of attention at home.  Her personality has blossomed while maintaining her sweet, soft voice.  She has me feeling like the luckiest Dad in the world.

                                     SHE'S PERFECT!