Blessing, Bowling, Birthday, and Barfing!

This past month has been quite eventful for us! We had Tysen's Baby Blessing on Sunday, January 3. This was a special day for us because it would have been James Michael's 6th birthday. We thought it would be special for Tysen to share this day with his big brother. These pictures were taken about 3 weeks after the blessing- I was barely able to get the top over Tysen's head! It must have shrunk in the wash. What a handsome little guy! This blanket was given to Tysen from my Aunt Josie, and it is beautiful.

Happy baby boy!
Aspen also shares a special day with her big brother. Her birthday, on January 25, was James's due date. For her birthday this year, Aspen wanted to go bowling. So we went to BYU to the Activity Center and went bowling! Fortunately, Madi sat in her stroller the whole time watching us and eating french fries. Tysen wasn't too thrilled about being passed back and forth between Jim and I between bowling turns, but he was a trooper and did pretty well.

They put the bumper lanes up for us, and Aspen got a strike! The bumper lanes actually spared me a lot of gutter balls... even at that, I only bowled a 95. I guess I can use the excuse that I had the stomach flu the day before! Aspen actually bowled a 74! Way to go Aspen!

Aspen, with her own special "kid ball."

We celebrated James Michael's birthday by writing special messages to him on some helium balloons, then releasing them up to him in heaven. It was, as always, a bitter-sweet day for me.

Happy 6th Birthday, baby James!

Aspen got a new bike for her birthday!

So, about the barfing. For the week before, and after, Aspen's birthday, our family suffered a bout of the stomach flu. Madi got it first, then Aspen and I. Miraculously, we were all well enough on Aspen's birthday to have a fun day. The next day, though, it hit Jim with a vengeance. Tysen was the only one to dodge the bullet, for which I am very grateful! It sure makes you appreciate good health when you have to go through something like that!