Miami Dolphins!

Taija and I were able to attend the Miami Dolphins football game last night with our friends, Micah and Jonnie. It was so much FUN! Micah's husband JD (#59) plays for the Dolphins and since Micah gave me her extra ticket our seats were AWESOME! We even had his player's parking pass so we got to park right next to the stadium! The girls did pretty good considering it was a million degrees outside, there wasn't much room between the seats and it went pretty late. During the 2nd and 3rd quarter we hung out in the Player's Family Lounge so that the girls could wiggle...and they RAN around like crazy ladies! Here are some pic - enjoy! Thanks again Micah for a CRAZY, but exciting evening!

The Happenings of Taija

So this past week not much has gone on...although we did attend the Health Professions Community Fest BBQ on Wednesday (side note - I had to literally beg Justin to go with us). Taija LOVED the little bounce house they had. It was like 100 degrees outside, Taija is COVERED in sweat and she still wanted to bounce all over this little toy!




On Saturday we went with our friends the Batemans to a little city park in Coral Springs - it was a BLAST (and not too expensive either)! Taija loved running back and forth between the pools!





Just in case you were wondering the TERRIBLE twos are in FULL force at our home...Taija's new thing is TANTRUMS. If she doesn't get what she wants she throws a MAJOR fit, foot-stopping, hair-pulling the WHOLE bit. We are currently trying the whole time-out option, but that only works if you are somewhere to put her on time-out. Today's was especially a dousy - we were at Stake Conferance, just a bout to leave mind you and she wanted ME (couldn't be Daddy) to hold her. I have been trying to let her know that I can't always hold her (not very successfully obviously) and she throws this HUGE tantrum in the hallway with a million people just looking at us. Then Justin politely informs me that if I give in and hold her she will never understand - so we walk (Taija throwing herself on the ground here and there) the entire way to the car, which just so happens to be on the other side of the church. Seriously, I was THIS CLOSE to throwing a tantrum myself! Okay now that I am done venting I really do LOVE my daughter and most of the time she is FUN to deal with!!

Prego Pic - 29 weeks

So...after much hesitation I decided to FINALLY post a prego pic. I am now almost 29 weeks along and have quite the belly. Thankfully the angle the pic was taken you can't really tell, but my belly is HUGE! I have less than 11 weeks left (10 weeks 2 days to be exact) and am not sure I am going to survive the Florida humidity, but alas the pregancy is going well and so I can't complain too much.

4 Fabulous Years!

Last conference Elder Holland spoke about true love and how it makes one giddy and want to shout it from the roof tops. Since I don’t really have the ability to get on my roof I decided that our blog could be my forum for “shouting my love for Toshi from the roof tops.” We have been married 4 years to the day and it has been amazing to see how my love for her has grown as our family has expanded and continues to do so. When Taija was born it became harder to spend time with Toshi and spend the time together that we had before. It was hard to adjust but I found that my love for Toshi grew as I watched her grow as a mother and I saw that she had everything and more that I could have wanted in the mother of my children. She is such an amazing mother and wife. She has embraced those two divine callings with her whole heart and I have been blessed beyond measure. As I work hard in medical school to provide for our future she has made so many sacrifices to help me be successful and happy. I will be forever grateful for the love and service that she shows me every day as I get to follow my dream of being a physician. Often my non-LDS classmates ask me how it is possible to have a wife and a child and another kid on the way and still be successful in medical school. I tell them that it only works because I have an amazing wife. Toshi runs my life and my life is in great hands. She allows me to work hard in school, serve in the church, and provides me with opportunities to spend time with her and Taija. As I was on my mission I spoke with the senior couple that was in my area. I asked the sister what her advice on finding a spouse was. I figured since she had found a spouse and had 7 children who found spouses that she might know a thing or two about it. She said that it is really simple. “If the more that you get to know them, the more you like about them, then that is a good sign and that is a person you could consider marrying.” Not only was she right, but I found that this formula carried past our marriage date 4 years ago. I continuously find things that I like about Toshi that I hadn’t seen before and I thought that the woman I married four years ago was the catch of a life time! Happy anniversary Tosh! I love you mostest!

Taija's Spoils

This past week Taija's Grandma was in town on business so the last 1/2 she was able to spend some time with us! We LOVE when Grandma comes to visit! Taija was spoiled rotten (Luke too). First she got a bike from Great Grandma...she absolutely LOVES it! She hasn't quite got the hang of pedaling, but is getting closer each day. Next on the list was a BIG girl bed...and a double stroller for when Luke comes. There were many trips to the store and Grandma even took us all out for dinner (Taija doesn't get to go very often and she did FABULOUS)! We were so sad to see Grandma go, but can't wait for her and Pa to come visit at Thanksgiving!

Curious George Adventure

So a little while ago I decided I would take Taija to a reading day at Barnes and Noble with Curious George...Justin thought I should take Taija since he was busy studying. Pure madness is what it ended up being...first of all it was PACKED. They crammed all these people in the small children's area. Taija was actually doing pretty well until she bent over to pick up a book and nailed her nose on the little wood benches they had to sit on. After that it was a nightmare. Some ladies were blowing up balloons off to the side and Taija decided she needed one right then...which I might add was on the other side of ALL the kids. By the time it was over and we got in line to take our pics with George the line as forever LONG! But I figured since I had endured it all thus far Taija was going to get her picture taken....and here it is! NICE! Justin at least had a great laugh over it!

Plantation Splash Park

Yesterday Taija and I met up with our friend's Megan and her daughter Ellie. We decided that it was just too hot to stay inside so we went to the splash park. It was great! They have a bunch of these around here and the best part is that they are FREE! Hooray! Here are some pics of Taija and Ellie enjoyin the water


Taija kept going over to the swings which of course were super HOT

Utah Trip - Part Two

Just wanted to do one last post about our Utah trip...while we were there my BFF Jenny had her little girl, Hannah Dawn. Taija and I were so excited that we got to meet her the day before we flew home. Sorry no pics, but I did steal one from Jenny of the cute little girl.

At our 4th of July BBQ there were some cute pics of Taija, Emily and Ryan all together, as well as some of all three of them enjoying the slippin slide at Pa's house.

Utah Trip Part One

So...I have been a slacker updating my blog, but mainly because so much has happened in the last month or so. For starters we went to Utah to visit family! We were able to catch up with so many friends and family....we even got to see our friends the Calls (Danny, Katie, Claire and Sophie) although it was kind of funny we weren't ever able to ALL get together. First Danny wasn't in town yet, and then I went out of town, but the girls got to play which is all that matters. Here are a few pics I stole from Katie




We also went camping with my family (although my Mom had already left for Reno, so she missed out on the fun) up at Starvation. The water was FREEZING so naturally Justin was the only one crazy enough to get all the way in! Sorry no pics! Justin's parents also joined us for some way awesome shooting.

Thanks to Kim and Larry we were also able to go to the Discovery at Gateway. Taija, Emily and Ryan had a blast! We rode Frontrunner down from Layton...Taija has never been on a train before and she did pretty well. There was so much to do there, but of course Taija's favorite toy was the stroller!


While Taija and Justin played with family I spent a week in Reno in order to get my Junior National officiating ranking - it was stressful, but fun. I was even able to room with Kate for a few days!

Last but not least we had a FABULOUS 4th of July BBQ that Grandma so wonderfully hosted. There were a lots of family and a ton of food. Plus some fireworks that Taija absolutely HATED! Pics to come soon!

Fun with Grandma and Pa

This past week Pa and Grandma came to visit Taija! They got a room right on the beach so we of course had to stay with them! It was a blast! We played at the beach, went to the Miami Seaquarium, went shopping and rented a boat down the intercoastal. Such a great week! Only 9 days til we go visit them in Utah!

The Shimizu's Visit

My Aunt and Uncle came to Orlando on vacation and made the trek down to Fort Lauderdale to visit with us! We took them to the beach yesterday and had a BLAST! Some of them had NEVER been to the beach before...CRAZY! My Aunt Natalie even spent quite a bit of time in the ocean!!! Here are some fun pics...

It's a...BOY!

We just found out...Taija is going to have a little brother!!! We couldn't be more excited to add to our little family. Not sure how excited Taija will be about no longer being the center of attention, but I am sure she will love having someone to share in the mischief! Little Luke William is due at the beginning of November, but since we are going to have another C-section it will most likely be scheduled for the end of October...a Halloween baby!

Sand Party with Daddy

Justin's first official day off we headed to the beach! Taija had a blast playing in the sand with her Daddy - Justin dug a BIG hole and Taija LOVED it!

Playing at the Park

Reiko and Ari's first night in Florida I had young women's and so Reiko took the girls on a walk around our neighborhood and played at the basketball court...here are some cute pics

Ari's Visit

This past week my sister and her little one, Ari, came to visit us! We loved having them! Seriously Taija says Ari's name about 50 times a day! It is hilarious! It was fun to see them together because before Taija wouldn't give Ari the time of day, but since Ari is more active now they did pretty well playing together! Here are some pics of the Children's Museum

Birthday Parties and MORE

So these past two weekends we have had birthday parties to attend...first was Micah's 2nd birthday at MyGym. A cute little gym built for toddlers. Taija had a blast - she would sometimes participate with the group, but for the most part just did her own thing.


Next was Jocey's 5th birthday party. It was at Tropical Splash waterpark...Taija LOVED it. We swam and played for about 2 hours and finally had to tell Taija it was time to leave.




I had to add this last pic in here...we go swimming with our friends the Bateman's about once a week. This week was perfect swimming weather - the kids decided to warm-up for a bit and all laid down on their towels to catch some sun. Super cute!

Easter Pics

So...since I was gone Easter weekend and I totally forgot to take pics of Taija in her Easter dress the Sunday before I decided to dress her up and take some pics. Enjoy!

Catching UP!

The past few weeks have been CRAZY! All starting with Justin's Spring Break...that first Monday I went to Girl's Camp with the Young Women so Justin was in charge of Taija...this is what I came home to



That Thursday I flew to Atlanta for the Big South volleyball tournament - it was a ton of fun. My sister that lives in Virginia met me there and we worked A LOT! Luckily Justin's mom Tina was coming in to town for a business trip that week and she flew in early to Fort Lauderdale. This is the shirt I brought back from the tournament.



Tina came back on Wednesday evening after the last of her meetings and spent the rest of the week with us. She spoiled ALL of us. I tried to take a picture of Taija with BOTH shopping carts at Sam's Club, but this is all i got.



Tina's last afternoon here we went to the beach and I took some cute pics


Taija was so silly at the beach she laid down next to me for about 5 minutes (for here that is LONG) which is so unusual. Later that night I think we figured it out as she threw up several times and ran a fever for the next few days. Poor Justin had her ALL day Saturday and most the day Sunday as I was officiating yet another tournament, but he was a trooper. Taija is just starting to feel better...yay!

Taija did have an Easter dress, but I forgot to take pics of her in it so those will have to be taken another day! Hopefully the next few weeks are not quite so busy...as my house kind of took a beating and needs a LOT of cleaning!

Random Taija's

Here are some random pics of Taija from the last few days...she is just so darn cute!

This is Taija with her rainboots on...she loves to play with them, putting them on and off and with her outfit of the day I couldn't resist taking a pic

Taija at her buddy Jonnie's birthday party...no worries I dressed her like this and it was 80 degrees outside...mother of the year award for me!

This morning Taija wanted a 'nani' (banana) and me giving her a peice just wouldn't suffice...she wanted to do it herself! So, of course I made her do her little monkey sound to go along - 'ooh, ooh, ooh'

Taija's new game is to run away, a blast let me tell you! Especially when loading up into the car. This time Daddy went and caught her...good thing she isn't afraid of heights!