Cereal Anyone?

Tavin is a definite cereal boy. He likes Frosted Mini Wheats, and just tried Honey Bunches of Oats the other day to find he thinks that it is...Mmmm GOOD!(His exact words) He just couldn't seem to get enough-and dumped out the rest of the bag. How could you be mad though-he was just trying to be helpful and feed himself:)

Introducing The Newest Member Of The Bauman Family...

So as most of you know-we had a dog named Luna-a black lab/border collie mix that we adore, but she spent last summer at Daniel's parents' house while we were planting new grass and putting in a new sprinkler system. The plan was to bring her home when the ground froze. At Christmas time, we talked to Daniel's dad and decided that Luna would be very unhappy to come back to a place where she couldn't run free all the time like she can on the farm. She also has a playmate there, a dog named Hobbs, that she runs with. I decided to give Luna to Larry, Daniel's dad. Luna goes on long walks with him daily and rides in his truck around the farm as much as possible-she is his shadow. I know Larry loves Luna (in a manly kind of way) and will take very good care of her.

That brings us back to Saint Anthony without a dog. Now I know it doesn't make sense to most people why I think I need another dog when I have 2 young children to give my love and attention to but if you know me really well, you know that my life wouldn't be complete without animals in it. Ever since I was young, I have had a bond with animals that I can't quite explain. Let me put it this way, one of my favorite things about Heaven is: the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie with the kid, and the calf and the young lion together; and a little child shall lead them. Daniel understands this fact about me and so we began to research a small breed that would be good for our way of living.

Last night we found one of the breeds we liked and went to go take a look at him. Well to make an already long story shorter-he is the newest member of our family. His name is TUFF and he is a Pembroke Corgi. He is 4 years old and is already potty trained, house trained, and knows all the basic commands. He does not bark, is not aggressive in anyway, and is an inside dog for the most part. Can I tell you that we hit the gold mine with this little guy.

I LOVE him already. He follows me every where and we are already good friends. This morning I took him for a walk after feeding Katie and he made me laugh so hard-jumping in and out of snow banks-one minute you see him and then next he is gone. He would always come when I called. I am so glad we were able to give him a home where he is sure to be loved unconditionally. He is conked out on the floor by my feet right now from all the excitement of his first day. (He even went for a drive with Dan and Tavin as they ran errands tonight.)

"The Fork"

As we were cleaning up the kitchen, I took out the broom to sweep and Tavin immediately ran over to the closet where we keep the cleaning stuff and kept saying fork mommy fork! I couldn't figure out for the life of me what a fork would be doing in the closet. So, I opened it, hoping he would show me what he wanted. He quickly pulled out his mini broom (compliments of Grandma Fluffy Hairs) and said FORK! He calls his broom a fork, because he thinks that it looks like the one he eats with:) When I thought about it, brooms do look like forks. What a smart boy I have-and a very cute one.

Saw Dust Cleaner Upper

Daniel showed me how to use the video taping feature on our camera the other day and I thought it would be fun to start posting some of the day to day things we do in the Bauman household.

Tavin is always eager to help-I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to get this one on camera. Daniel has been working on replacing all the doors in our house with brand new ones (10 of them)-just one of the many tasks on his to do list for remodeling our home. These 6 panel doors should look much nicer than the ugly brown seventies fake wood doors we have now (I don't think they even make these anymore!) Anyway, when all was said and done for today-there was a huge pile of saw dust in the kitchen to clean up. Tavin was "all over that" :)

Don't you just love his butt from sitting in the pile!

Katie Sunshine

When I first found out that I was pregnant, my dad wanted to nickname it sunshine if it ended up being a girl-when we found out it was a boy, we decided that sunshine wouldn't be such a good nickname and that was the end of it. But, as soon as Katie started smiling and cooing, I knew that she was our sunshine baby. Even her eyes seem to smile at you.

You've Got To Work For It-It Doesn't Come For Free!

So as part of Daniel and my New Years resolutions, we have been working out to P90X and Jillian Michael's Shred. It has been...well let me just say this-the first day I started-I was dry heaving half way through:) Thankfully a week into it and I am able to keep up now. Anyway, Dan was doing a streching workout video for P90X and made this interesting comment: "I hate streching but at least my butt is pretty flexible."

Who knows what that means:)

On a fun note, working out has become a family affair. Katie will usually sit in her bouncer cooing or lay on her matt and kick her feet while she watches us. She really likes to be part of things and loves to be able to see us. Tavin gets right up next to us and does his own version of things. He is the family motivator-stopping every now and then to clap for us and say, "We did it!" He always gives me that little bit of motivation I need to keep going:)

The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From The Tree

I realized the other day that it is a good thing I like Daniel a ton, because Tavin is just as much a cheese ball as he is:) Laughing is a common occurrence in our house because of these two and moments like this one.

Here Is My Little Spring In The Gloomy Months Of Winter

How could this face not bring sunshine and happiness to anyone that looked at it:) My Katie girl is growing bigger every day and more fun to be around every moment. I love that she knows her mommy...she smiles so big at the sound of my voice. Thank you Heavenly Father for sending her to me...to remind me that I am special to you-for trusting me with such a precious spirit in our home and in my life. And THANK YOU ESPECIALLY for making her birth and entrance into the world A LOT smoother than Tavin's:)

Katie is advancing so quickly with things-she can turn on her side to look at things now and loves to coo at anyone who will talk to her. We can tell that she can now see things a ton better-focuses really well on objects and people, can follow them with her eyes, and is in awe of color and design. She can grip things in her tiny hands as well and loves to suck on everything. Her blankets will have little wet spots from where she has been sucking on them.

The Joys Of Christmas and Family

There wasn't a snow storm this year so we were able to travel to see both families during Christmas break. Our time was filled with making gingerbread houses, swimming at the hot springs, giving and opening presents, playing with cousins, singing christmas songs, eating yummy food, and sharing lots and lots of love! Thanks to both families for such a great time. I think that Heaven will be a lot like christmas time-the spirit of service and good will to others, singing praises to our Heavenly Father and his son, enjoying the beauty of the earth as snow falls around us, being surounded by light, and having our family all around us.

Oh The Weather Outside Is Frightful But The Snow Is So Delightful

Tavin had a blast playing in the snow with his cousins, Daddy, and Grandma fluffy hairs:)

A Special Blessing

Katies Great Grandma Made this outfit!

Katie Lynn Bauman was blessed this past Sunday January 3rd 2010. It was a great way to start off the new year. Tons of family came to help celebrate with us, and Daniel gave our little girl a wonderful blessing:

Katie I bless you with a sound physical and mental health throughout your life

To be a light in the world

To know you are loved by family and by your Heavenly Father

To live worthily so that you can marry for eternity in the temple to a young man who is just as worthy as you are

I was able to share my testimony since it was fast Sunday-here is what I remember of what I said for those who were not there:

I had a dream the night before the blessing that I wasn't going to make it and I ran as fast as I could to be there because it was so important to me. My Husband and children are the most important thing in in my life. I am grateful for my heritage-for being born into the church and for being raised in the gospel by faithful parents. I am grateful for Daniel and the choices that he has made so that we could marry for eternity in the temple-that our family will be together forever-that he is worthy to hold the priesthood and give my children blessings. I am grateful for the parents who have raised him-what a good job they have done. I have never felt that I have really excelled in anything particular in life-such as sports or academics-I have always been mediocre in those things-but once I started having children-I know my calling in this life was to be a mom-and I am grateful for that gift-the special gift of motherhood. My children know God and testify of him through all they do. I am grateful for the teachers in nursery who teach Tavin-it is such a joy to hear him pray and to share what he has learned. As we passed the temple the other day, he pointed to it and said-temple mommy! I didn't even know he knew what it was! And I am grateful for all those who have made an effort to come and be with us to bless Katie. I know it was not an easy task to get everyone here. And Last I testify of the truthfulness of this gospel. Everything that is good in my life has come from following what I know to be true. I am grateful to be at a point in my life where I know that there is so much more to this life than material and worldly things. I am thankful for Joseph Smith and all those who sacrificed to help the church succeed. I say these things in the mane of Jesus Christ Amen.