White Christmas?

The weather has been abnormally warm.  Fortunately swinging is just as magical as sledding.

Oh...when I could fall asleep anywhere.

Big Black Bear

Every night at bed time a big black bear knocks on our door and comes on in.  Perhaps you have experienced a big black bear yourself, or maybe you have felt like a big black bear from time to time.  Nothing is more exciting than listening to Madelaine "read" her favorite book to Aidan. 

All About Aidan Shad

On March 27 Aidan received a name and a blessing from his loving dad, Brandon.  It was a beautiful spring day we enjoyed with family and friends.   Thank you to everyone who came.  Aidan is growing so quickly; I was worried he wouldn't fit into his blessing clothes.  We are so blessed, he is healthy, happy and a bundle of energy... as you can see him kicking off his booties here.

Grandma Rose made Madelaine booties to go with her blessing dress.  Fortunately Grandma agreed to make some for Aidan as well.  I think they turned out marvelously.  I hope the booties will be something both children will treasure when they are older.  A special gift, made just for them, from Grandma.

 

The new yard

Last spring was a bit crazy, and it was not just the strange cool weather and then the quick heat wave.  Brandon and I decided that Madelaine needed a place to play outside that wasn't a dirt pile sprinkled with sticker weeds and holes where trees formally lived.  So we spent ten weekends digging, tilling, transplanting, building, and moving much soil, mulch, and waste inorder to create a backyard paradise.  When I say we I mean (Brandon, me, and our awesome family members who were crazy enough to come and spend hours working.)  This is a special shout out to them!  We couldn't have done it without you!  Thanks!!!

This spring the results of all our hard work speak for themselves. 

I told Brandon I wanted to finish painting the kitchen before we had the baby...

We had never finished painting when we moved in six years ago.  And when we gutted the upstairs the vents that we had installed to take the heat upstairs were still exposed, so I thought it would be nice to have the space done for a new little one.  However, before the project ended we had new insulation, two new windows, exterior/interior walls, and one annoying column blocking our kitchen table removed.  I was feeling a  little nervous on a Saturday evening in October when six o'clock rolled around and my house was looking like this.

Luckily Brandon and Jordan got the wall up before we went to bed, but my blood pressure was higher than usual at my prenatal checkups during this project. Note to self... don't "paint" right before the next baby. 

This photograph from Madelaine's second birthday party still has the column in it.  We couldn't believe how much the space opened up once it was removed.  I don't know why we waited so long.  Brandon and I did some investigating while the floor was torn up in the upstairs to make sure it was not a bearing wall.  So we have known it could be taken out for quite some time. 


Before

After

Brandon did an amazing job, I am so excited about the new space.  There are some special things he did too.  That black space on the far wall is a magnetic chalk board.  Sweet!  Brandon put up some nice hooks along the back wall as you come in the back door, hung a new cupboard above the garbage cans, and put trim around all of the doorways.  I was able to fit two tables comfortably in the kitchen and have my family together for Christmas dinner... in the same room.  

And after six long years of the hallway driving him crazy... finally painted, carpeted, and finished.  Whew!  I think he is happier about that than any other thing he did.

Harrison #4 Arrives

Aidan Shad Harrison:  8 lbs. 9 oz. 21 ¼"  

Potty trained?!

I am not very good at updating my blog with current information so, being the stellar blogger that I am, here is a bit of exciting news that actually occurred several months ago.  Ok, it was April.  There have been set backs of course.  Some of which seem much more humorous now than they did at the time.
 

Most memorable setback... finding my daughter pooping behind the curtain in our kitchen.  It is her favorite place to hide.  Aaaah! 

Second place... driving four hours (actual drive on a good day=two hours) to get to Ogden to go camping.  We stopped at Arby's in Kaysville to change, and then the side of the road on a potty with curious onlookers at the mouth of the canyon.  And then, on the way home, at Burger King at the mouth of the canyon again to change.  We ended our trip with her in a diaper... that was dry when we arrived home.  Longest trip ever! 

Madelaine is now convinced that she is too big for her potty and needs to use the toilet (except of course to poop).  And don't try to help, or you will hear an emphatic, "I do it!"

Camping at Payson Lakes

Brandon, me, and Madelaine went on our first family trip together.  This summer's camping trips have not started out successfully, however they have ended up well.  We were planning on going up Morgan Canyon, then we saw the camp sites... concrete pads with metal roofs, swarming with mosquitoes from the lake.  We had a nice little drive and came home.  Then decided to go to Payson Lakes where we had a great time, luckily we made it there before all the Fourth of July celebrators arrived.  It was beautiful.  We walked around several lakes and found this great hike to a waterfall. 

    Madelaine loved walking on the bridges, and
    sticking her toes in the cold water. 

 

Coming January 2011...

Harrison #4. 

Some of you may have already had suspicions, well you are on to us!  We are so excited to be welcoming the newest member of our family sometime mid January.  Madelaine sings her favorite song (I Love to See the Temple) to the baby every night.

Beautiful Baby

I wanted to enter these photos into a contest, in hopes to win some scholarship money.  Unfortunately it didn't work out, but I thought I would share some of my favorites. 

February

Valentines Day is not just some romantic holiday for the old.  When darkness comes it brings a magical knocking at every door, and hurrying to see who it could possibly be.  However, when the door is opened no one is there.  Instead oversized valentines litter the doorstep.  Whoosh the north wind disappears... until next year.

Easter Traditions

I have always enjoyed coloring eggs at Easter; perhaps its the artist in me that makes this activity one I look forward to. Brandon introduced me to rolling eggs when I joined the Harrisons. This year Madelaine was old enough to participate in this fun, yet symbolic tradition. Holidays, for me, are about family: spending time, talking, cooking, traditions, and just being together. Thankfully it doesn't end with this life, because of our Savior and His resurrection we will be together throughout the eternities, what a great comfort to have this knowledge. Easter, what a fun inspiring time of year.

Madelaine is Walking

Madelaine, with the encouragement of Alli, finally took her first steps without assistance January 20. She was having a great time taking one or two steps, then falling down giggling.

I can't imagine what Madelaine was giggling about with Alli!?

Don't call us, its the Fourth

Every year we spend the fourth of July in Richfield; no exceptions! Brandon has only missed it twice (and he was on his mission, so those two times don't really count). It is redneck celebrating at its best. What would the fourth be without family (sporting matching t-shirts), good food, diaper derbies, parades featuring trucks and tractors, uncle Vics cotton candy, bounce houses, and a front lawn covered in tents? Yup we wouldn't miss it. Madelaine's first fourth was a tiring success!

Our patrotic baby tuckered out!

The family was in the shade this year.

Madelaine checking out the candy Dad scored for her. Oh, the candy lover in training.

Tinfoil dinners at Monrovian Park.

Hiking up waterfall canyon. Luckily for Andy there weren't any snakes this year.

Madelaine would have nipped this contest in the bud if it were a few months later. Our diaper derby winner!

Crazy Cousins

When Madelaine was first born Allison was so excited to meet her in the hospital. Since their introductions they have become inseparable. Wherever Allison goes she takes Madelaine with her, whether they crawl, or walk hand in hand. Madelaine squeals and waves her arms with excitement when she hears her cousins at the door. We are so lucky to be able to enjoy Allison and Ian's company every day.

Ian is always there to comfort Madelaine and make her giggle. These cousins have crazy, fun whenever they are together.

First Pig-Tails

These first pig-tails occurred in July.

Shout out to Centerville

First, congratulations to Jess!! She is getting married in T minus thirty six days and counting. We are so excited for her. Welcome to the family Jordan! I'm not sure what this face is that Madelaine is making... elation, excitement, fear, or maybe she is just a freezing chili. Thanks for the onesie, Jess. We love you.

Shout out to Seattle

Thanks to Michelle and Korynne for the super cute outfit for Madelaine. This was one of my favorites and I was bummed when she grew out of it.

April Conference Weekend

The time seems to fly by so quickly, and a lot has happened since my last post, so here is an attempt to catch up. April's General Conference was inspiring, and a special one because we spent it at the Barker's cabin, with family. Brandon and I had the opportunity to go snowshoeing together. It was so amazing! The last time we went, I was pregnant. I didn't realize how much I missed it. The snow was falling and everything was fresh and serene. Thank you to Grandma and Heather for keeping Madelaine company while we were gone.

It was one of the first times Madelaine spent a lot of time with her cousins and she had a ball. She loves her cousin Josh.