beginner's luck

We went fishing for the family home evening a couple week ago, and we had a great time actually catching some big fish. ( not just casting.)

Taiki got his own fishing pole for his birthday, so he went out into the middle of the river with Spencer, feeling pretty big and cool, he kept casting his pole for about 45 minutes, and on his last cast, he caught a huge trout. Spencer held the rod and Taiki reeled it in. It was the biggest fish even Spencer had ever seen in that river. It was as big as a half of Taiki's height.

It's amazing that 4 years old caught such a big fish, but even more surprising is that Taiki's almost toy-like fishing pole caught it.

It was the fruit of pure luck and their fantastic team effort.

Jawdropping Haircut

So I ran some erronds and came home when Jonathan couldn't pick his jaw up from the ground. I can't understand why. It isn't like I look different. He says that he is married to a different person. NO. Just a person with a different haircut. It will take some getting used to but I love not having hair on my neck or ears and when the wind blows, it doesn't mess up my quaf.

New pics!

I don't really have anything to say...I'm only posting out of boredom. Peter is at a church meeting and all the kids are in bed so I have some time to kill. I did take the boys to the mall yesterday and had their pictures taken. They turned out really cute. I must say that my boys are hams! They love the camera. After every picture they took Ryan wanted to get down and look at it on the screen! I'll post some of my favorite shots...I love them all though so it'll be hard to choose! We're also getting family pics done next week so hopefully they turn out as cute as these!

lots of changes

Hi, I'm not sure where this blog is going because lately only Kari has posted on it and now she has her own blog. Of course so does everyone else. The question is do we still need a family blog? Well, we still need a family so I guess the blog is irrelevent. It is here if any one wants to sound off, with pet peeves maybe of if you don't have your own blog yet and have something to say, or if you have announcement to make and are worried people are not reading your blog. I just love the fact that we all keep in touch. Maybe I ought to use this to thank everyone, like for all the wonderful Mother's Day gifts. I am reading the books, and have not spent the money at Dillards yet but will soon. You are all great! I will sign off with my thought for the day, fill your homes with love, family, and friends and try to spend more time with them this summer than with the TV/video game world. Love, MOM

Our New Blog

Just incase you wanted to keep up with us a little more, I finally came around to posting our own blog. The site is www.provovanderpools.blogspot.com

Thanks

A Very Tough Week

So, about a week ago I went in for an ultrasound thinking I was 9 weeks along. It really scared us because there was a sac but we couldn't see a baby or a bean or anything. We were prepared that this might be the most common type of miscarriage. I received a blessing from Jonathan in which I was told and he was sure everything was fine. Either way, I was at peace which was really confusing. I went back in today to see what we could see since the sac last week was measuring about 5 1/2 weeks (right on the border of when you can see anything anyway). This is what we found. I am 6 1/2 weeks. There is a great heartbeat and Jonathan and I are expecting that this is yet another boy. Don't ask, but Archur Aaron Vanderpool is due DEC. 31, 2009. Appropriate right. So, I did the only think I could do. I came home and got sick. I hate this part. But at least I know he is still with me.

Lets Count!

Aaron & Jenn have 5
andrew & Shannon have 4
Joe & Carrie have 5
Matt & Mindi have 3
Alan & Amy have 5
Jon & Kari have 3
Spenc & Reiko have 3
Peter & Lindsay have 2
5+4=9+5=14+3=17+5=22+3=25+3=28+2=30
So Shannon's baby will be 29 and mine will be #30

YEP!!!

Jonathan....the Webelows Leader

So, Jonathan has gotten the scouting bug. In his very first calling since his mission (I know right), he is loving it. He bribes the boys to show up in uniform with their book etc. This last week, they learned how to put of tents and different kinds of shelters. They made a fire and roasted marshmollows and made smores. It was so cool. When he started, hardly any of the boys were advancing, none were getting their arrow of light and only one or two boys would even show up. Now, at least 5 show up every week, most in uniform and with their book. All boys are advancing. Jonathan follows up with the cub master to make sure they get their badges. 4 boys have recieved their arrow of light and all 4 have crossed over. Jonathan even made a monkey bridge for the church gym so they scout can actually cross over it at pack meeting. I am so proud of him. He is really taking it seriously.

Lighting and Blowing out Candles

Yes...That is Jonathan lighting Asher's candles with a blow torch. It was so funny. We had to explain to him the whole, make a wish concept then he got to blow out his candles. We had a fun day.

Daddy made Asher's Birthday Cake.....

Cause Mommy can't cook!
So, to continue, Asher got the idea of his Birthday for the first time this year. He even got to lick the beaters from his red cake, with red decorating and red candels. Can you guess, he likes RED!

Some neighbor kids came over to help us sing happy birthday....More pictures to come.

Gifts from Grandma Fisher

Asher turned 4 on March 19th and his Grandma Fisher sent him some money so he could go shopping for his own gifts. He had a ball (no pun intended) shopping. No matter what, he kept going back to this Lightening McQueen bouncing ball. He loves it.

He also got a water balloon sling shot, building blocks, cars B-I-N-G-O and a foam bat with ball. He liked to beat up Daddy with it.

The Little Boys Take a Ride

While Peter and Lindsay were here with their boys (I already posted pictures of Jon and Peter on the ferris wheel), I took these pictures of Asher and Manny on the ferris wheel. Angel tried it but before I could take a picture, he got scared and wanted off. I like both these pictures. They are such handsome little men.

Peter Wanted to Try.....

So Peter and Lindsay came for a short visit and Peter wanted to try out the ferris wheel. He was laughing the whole time. Peter kept hanging his feet out strait trying to for the wheel over again and again. It worked and they circled like 15 times or more. Lindsay was smart enough not to try it out.
Manny and Angel tried it too but Angel was pretty scared so Asher got on with him. Peter got both of them nearly to the top but they never went quite all the way around.
Oh...some good news!!! Sir Whiskers found his way home and said a big "MEOW" at the closing prayer of webelow scouts on Tuesday. I was so happy to see him.

DOGPILE!!!

So all the neighborhood boys thought they would get in a wrestling match in my livingroom. Of course Asher had to join in cause....well, that is what Asher does. Alex want so badly to be just like Asher that he decided to join in too. Just look who is on top. They had fun for about 10 minutes until they decided to take the game out onto the trampoline. Isn't it pitiful, Jonathan plays very competitive H-O-R-S-E with 12 year old boys.

On a different subject, today while going to deliver phone books, Alex was playing with a toy fishing hook. You know one of those plastic ones that you fish toys out of the water in the bath tub. Well, the next time I turned around, he had falled asleep but he still had the fish-hook in his mouth. I told Jonathan to look and when he turned around he said, "Look, I got a big one!"
After laughing so hard we almost woke Alex up, he stirred and the hook fell out of his mouth. Jonathan piped up and said,
"Ah...the one that got away."
I wish I had a camera with me.

RIP Sir Wiskers

Some sad news to report. Alex learned how to open our french doors to the back yard and we just realized this morning that nobody had seen Sir Whiskers since yesterday. Since there are various dogs in our neighborhood who like to eat cats, a swamp in the back and a very large farm to the side, not to mention street racing cars, I very much doubt that we will see Sir Whiskers again. This is a real shame since he was so young and we were just getting used to him in the house. Alex could lay on top of him and he would just lay there and ignor him. He was such a good kitten. Only 3 months old.

The Guys at the Cabin

So I know that this got lost in the shuffle of Spencer and Rieko have yet another beautiful baby boy but here are some pictures Jonathan took at the cabin. What can I say...at least they were warm.

When we are away...The cat will play!

Meet Sir Whiskers. He is the newest addition to our family. We got him for Christmas with his sister (who was totally co-dependant). We ended up giving her away. Ever since, Sir Whiskers has become a great cat.
Som most of you already know that Jonathan lost his job on his 31st birthday. He trusted someone he shouldn't have and we are paying the price. If we can make it to May, Jon will go back to school. Not sure if BYU or UVU but either way, school will be paid for. We have 4 years to do it. So for now, we are delivering phone books again. It gets a little hard with the kids in the car for so long during the day but we make it thru. We have a plan and we work hard so I'm sure there is no need for worry. We love you and miss you all. Please stop by if you are to find yourself in Utah.