Nathan's 4th Birthday

BIRTHDAY PARTY IN UTAH

Nathan wanted to have a Lego construction party with his cousins.   Each (child/adult) team drew a slip of paper with a word of something they had to build out of Legos, and then everyone had to guess what they built.

Nathan and Jared built a rocket ship.

Maddy and I built a temple.

Abby and Mary built a tree house.

Sarah and Emily built fancy boxes.

The kids had a treasure hunt for their party prizes.

Nathan was excited to get his very own construction worker outfit.

He decided to try out some of his tools on Sarah's furniture.

My dad's nurse and receptionist made this construction cake for Nathan.  It was amazing, complete with candy rocks, a back hoe, and a cement mixer.

It was delicious too!

BIRTHDAY PARTY IN BOISE

Since we were seeing family, Nathan actually got two birthday parties.  Here he is with Grandma Collett's "You are Special Today" plate.

Nathan was excited to get a real hammer, Legos, Cars bandaids, a Cars sticker book, and a toy plane.

Aunt Amy made him a delicious strawberry pie.

NATHAN AT FOUR

Height: 3 ft 5 ''
Weight: 36 lbs 6 oz
Favorite Things: Cars, fire trucks, and planes.  Playing with Legos and cars.  Playing with friends and family.  He loves riding his bike and his new plasma car.  He enjoys swimming.  He likes to race people.
Favortie Movies/TV shows: CARS, Mater's Tall Tales, Robin Hood, Diego, Bob the Builder, Calliou
Favorite Books: Curious George, Where's Waldo, Richard Scary books, P.D. Eastman books, Dr. Suess books, and Lego books
Friends: Thomas (Nathan talks to Thomas all the time and imagines that Thomas is sitting by him and playing with him), Ty, Lance, and Logan, and the girls from preschool (Susie, Amaya, Abigail, and Brynli).
Favorite Colors: Blue, Red, and black

July 2013 Update

TRIP TO UTAH

After Thomas' death Jared and I drove back to our home and spent a couple days making burial/funeral arrangements, crying, putting together photos, and gathering items to display at Thomas' funeral.   On Saturday we drove down to Utah to be with our kids again.  It was wonderful to be with the kids after being away from them for almost 6 weeks straight.  They were excited to tell us about all the fun things they had been doing with grandparents and cousins.  They seemed to be handling the news of Thomas' death pretty well.   We felt that it was important to explain Thomas' death at the Salt Lake Temple so we could explain about how because Jared and I were married in the temple, Thomas would be part of our family forever.

I love this picture of the kids standing in the same spot where Jared and I stood after being married in the temple for eternity.

Our handsome little man.

The girls loved the flowers.

We got to attend sacrament meeting in the rehab center with my grandpa Donaldson.  I'm glad that my kids have the chance to get to know their amazing great grandpa.  

My mom started the kids in swim lessons while she was watching them so we got to see them swim their last week of lessons.

Maddy seems to have conquered her fear of water and now does bobs without any problem.

Abby was excited to take lessons with her cousin Emily.

Nathan lucked out and got private swim lessons since no one else in his age group signed up for his time slot.  His teacher told me that Nathan had no fear and was doing great for his first time taking swim lessons.

Maddy and Abby all dressed for our Pioneer Day celebrations.  We went to the Provo Pioneer Day festival.  The kids had fun making rag dolls, panning for "gold", making butter, doing an obstacle course, seeing a pioneer village, a tee-pee, and doing a Native American dance.

The kids enjoyed getting pulled in a hand cart.

Maddy trying out some stilts.

The kids also enjoyed having a wagon ride.  I'm sure the pioneers wouldn't have minded a nice set of wheels like these.

Nathan trying out the Tomahawk throw.

We spent some time at my parent's cabin up Provo canyon.  

THOMAS' FUNERAL

We had a viewing prior to Thomas' funeral.  Jared's brother Bryan made the beautiful casket and our sister-in-law Amy did the gorgeous flower arrangement.  We buried him with his favorite blue blanket, his zebra lovey toy, and the Special Olympic pins his Uncle Bryan gave him.  We decided that Thomas earned them for all the surgeries and hospitalizations he endured.  We were touched by how many kind family members and friends made an effort to come and pay their respects.  

We had a display table at Thomas' viewing and at the luncheon with a memory book and a photo book of Thomas' life.  We also included special blankets that were made for him as well as his favorite stuffed animals that he loved so much.  Thomas' funeral was beautiful.  We buried him at East Lawn Cemetary next to my grandma Donaldson.  We had a short graveside service after the funeral where the Donaldson family sang Non Nobis and Jared sang "For Good."  Afterward Jared dedicated Thomas' grave.   

My mom and JoyAnn put together a beautiful luncheon afterward.

East Lawn has a temporary marker at Thomas' grave until we are able to pick out a headstone.