Snow Fallen

I wanted to get some quick pictures posted. My brother and his family came in town for Christmas. There were just a few days that everyone was here at the same time, before some of my sisters headed off to their different places for Christmas.

Here are some fun pictures of all of us as we went sledding down the hill in my parents yard.

Congrats Jacob

I hope you are going to see many more pictures just like this one... only the colors of belts will be changing.

Jacob got his Orange belt on Thursday. We are so proud of him for all his is accomplishing!!

I have really seen a change in him and in his confidence. To get your next belt, he has to stand in front of his class, and all the visitors and show some of the things he has learned. Last year he would never have done this. Now, he gets up with out even a thought or a care and preforms all the moves he knows.

Jacob we are proud of you!!! Keep up the good work!! Just stop using the moves on your sister!

Black Friday.... I know I know a little late

I just got these pictures from my sweet baby sister Katie. She was the only one that brought a camera with us on that infamous day.

We started at Toys R Us at 3:30 AM. It was cold and it was dark... but we were only about 20 back from the front of the line. By the time the doors opened at 5 am, the line was wrapped all the way past RC Willeys front door and around the corner. We had a stragey this year. Basically... grap and shove. No, not really, but we ran.... and we grabbed only what we came for and then headed for the checkout. We made it in and out of Toys R Us in 8 minutes!! Pretty dang good I think.

We were then off to Target where they opened at 6 am. Although we were farther back in line, we still got in and out of there in 15 minutes. All I wanted was Playdo.... $6.00 playdo... Silly I know!!

Anyway, we then hit Walmart & ShopKo before heading home. I made it home by 9 am.

I was exausted but was able to get most of my Christmas shopping done in 5 hours.

Shopping the Ads the day before

What a fake smile... I was tired!!

Does this count?

I am wondering if this counts as rolling over?

Paige Update...

just a few more pictures from Paige's "adventures"


This time... Measuring Cups up the stairs.

All my pillows laid out over the floor...

A day in the life of....

Yes, I have posted ALOT about this little girl lately... mostly because she is always into something or doing something she shouldn't.

Here are just a few things she has done lately that I caught with the camera.

Oh, and these both happened the same day.

Diapers going ALL the way up the stairs

Found my pack of Garage Sale Stickers and posted them all over herself

Come on Paige... you are worth more then that

First "REAL" Haircut

I always knew that I would one day have that little girl that somehow found a pair of scissors and somehow managed to cut her own hair. I just hoped and prayed that when it happened, that same little girl would do it in such a way that would not require a total chopping of her hair.

Paige did indeed find a pair of scissors and did indeed cut her own hair... twice... where was I you ask that would not have noticed her cutting her hair... twice? Well, this little girl is slick. Fortunately she only cut a small portion in the front of her head... kind of by her bangs. It was hard to even notice. So, I do not think this event would classify as her first haircut.

Last week she got her first "real" haircut. It was time. The girl is over three and never had her hair professionally cut before. Here are some pictures of her new look.The Before Picture... man her face needs to be wiped.

The during... I love the smile

I think she likes it!!
The final look!! Now I just need to keep it out of her eyes

First day at DANCE CLASS

We decided to put Paige in a dance class. Since her brother goes to Karate a few times a week, I felt it was important to give Paige her own little niche. As an added bonus, she gets to go with her cousin Alyssa.

Today was her first day. Of course some of the fun is getting to dress up in all the fun, cute girly dance outfits. We put on her tights, leotard, ballet shoes and leg warmers. Of course, by the end of class those leg warmers ended up being more like knee pads, which was not the look I was going for. She enjoyed herself and did better then I thought she would.

Here is a clip of her "dancing"... ok, it is more like shaking to the music.

Any Ideas...

It seems that life has gotten alot busier now that there are three. I seem to have fifty things each day that I have to remember to do or places to take the kids. I need a new way to organize everything... any ideas.

I was thinking about getting me a PDA phone. Something that can help me keep track of appointments and classes. I have been known to pick up my little boy late from school because I have forgotten "early out day."

So, does anyone have a good phone or PDA that can do these kinds of things?

Yes... I am back

I have been gone from blogging for a while... I do not know why...

Ok, actually I have Facebook to blame!

I was never into it much, but recently I had an old friend from 15 years ago find me. She was a friend I went to High School with from when we lived in Malaysia. From her, I was able to find and reconnect with over 20 other friends of mine from that time in my life.

I am constantly reminded of how wonderful technology is. What a blessing it can be in our lives. Who would have thought that I would be able to find a reconnect with so many loved ones from my past.

It has also been very interesting to see where they have all ended up. Many times throughout the years I have thought about those people and wondered what ever came of them...now I know. Now these were friends of mine were from all over the world. They, like me, had moved to Malaysia because of their father's work. Many of them worked for the governments or oil companies. We all went to the International School which was based in Kuala Lumpur. Many of them were American, but I was had many friends from several different countries as well. That was a wonderful time in my life. I learned so much about other cultures and countries. It taught me tolerance and understanding of those that are different from me. I learned to love those people.

Now, I have made contact with many of these same people. It is interesting to me to see how different our lives are now. I am not only the only one who has three children... I am the only one WITH children!! I am the only stay-at-home mom. Others are in high level careers. One is an arctitect for the government in Washington D.C., another is living in France, one is working in the international travels with Marriott, another is in the High Level of the Army and is pictures with the President, one is in Switzerland... and I could go on.

At first the thought made me a little depressed. Everyone is doing something so much more with their life. But then I realized what they are missing out on. I would not trade my busy, snotty nose wiping, bum changing life for anything. It may not be glorious, but it is mine and I enjoy it.

Gotta Love the Bumbo

My sweet sister-in-law let me borrow her bumbo chair. I had always wanted to try one out with Kallie. She loves to sit up and look out at what is going on around her so this worked out perfect... she loves the chair!! Thanks Brooke!!

I could sleep like this

This is what I found when I went to check on Kallie. Poor girl... who knows how long she has been like this. The more I thought about it though, the more I realized that sleeping like this could not be that bad. It would let in just the right amount of light and with it covering the ears would help block some of the unwanted sound.

Happy Birthday Son

Ok, so I started my previous post as a tribute to my new little 6 year old and it turned into a venting session for me. Since I also use this blog as a journal, I am going to write a note to my sweet little boy who just had a birthday.

Jacob-

Every Halloween takes me back to that night before you came into our lives. I remember the feelings your dad and I had as we drove those deserted roads to the hospital that night knowing that our lives were about to change forever. We knew that the next time we walked into the doors of our house, we would have a tiny little person to care for and love. The impact of this responsibility did not hit me until I held you in my arms for the first time. Here I was, a new mother of something sent to me straight from our Heavenly Father. He trusted me enough to care for you and raise you so that you could one day return to Him. What a great responsibility I suddenly had. I hope and pray every day that I am doing the things that are pleasing to Him. I pray that your dad and I are teaching all that you need to know to grow into that wonderful man you can be.

Jacob we love you and are proud of you. You are a wonderful little person and we love to watch you grow and develop. You are smart and kind. You love your family and we love you. Always remember who you are and that you have a divine heritage.

Happy Birthday son!!

Jacob - 6 years old and counting

Have there ever been times in your life when you ask yourself... am I really that old? Times when you look closely in the mirror at those wrinkles that are starting to appear along side your eyes. When you realize that some things are taking you a bit longer to do now. When your kids are starting to ask you NOT to walk them to class anymore. When you start to relate more to the mothers of High School students then to the High School Students themselves. When you know that that guy is not "checking you out" anymore...probably because you are now driving a minivan full of kids rather then that cute little four door you used to drive. Knowing that I am soon to be the mother of a 6 year old has made me ask myself these questions alot more lately. Am I really that old? I do not think that this question will ever go away. I have passed that threshold. I have passed over to the other side. I am not a young mom anymore. I have a SIX YEAR OLD and my kids are only going to get older. With all that being said... now comes excepting it... I guess I am going to have to work on that.

Don't know how to feel about this

The kids found my pants last night and Jacob thought it would be funny to put them on and dance around the house. Yes, he was funny... at first... then things got more funny when Neil decided to put BOTH my kids in my pants, each of them on a pant leg. Now, the question is... should I be upset that my kids can BOTH BOTH BOTH fit in my pants? Man my pants look big when your kids are standing in the legs of them.

I walked in the pantry and what did I see....

No, not popcorn popping, but a tower of Spaghetti O's looking back at me.

This is just an example of my typical day with Paige. I think she is in there throwing something away but when she does not quickly return, I get suspicious and go looking for her. I find her in there turning our food storage into the playroom and building a tower with the cans of Princess Spaghetti O's. You would think the child does not have any other toys to play with. She has a whole room dedicated to toys. It is toy heaven!! We even have real building blocks, but the poor girl thinks canned goods are more fun.

Oh well, what is a mom to do? As long as she was quite and staying clean, I will let her carry on.

My scary Monsters

Our ward had a trunk or treat last week and these are some pictures I took before we went.

Jacob insisted on being IRON MAN this year. I do not even know who he is or what he does... oh well... others seemed to know. What planet have I been on?

Paige is a witch...AGAIN... I know... she is going to be a witch again next year too. Poor girl. Nothing about her character, I just have three witch costumes so that is what she gets.

She is a cute witch though.

9 HOURS!!! 9 HOURS!!!

Yes, you heard me... Kallie slept 9 9 9 9 9 HOURS!!! I am just a little excited about it!! Oh course I woke up at around the 5 hour mark waiting for her to make a sound and tell me she was getting up and wanting to be fed. Then I woke up again at the 6,7, and then got worried at the 8 hour mark. So, I was grateful for the extra sleep but it was not real great sleep because I kept an ear open for Kallie to make a sound.

I hope this is the new trend!

Annual Pumpkin Patch

It has become a family tradition for us that we take a trip to the local pumpkin patch. The kids get to pick out "their" pumpkin to take home and display on the front steps.

This year we went down to the Red Barn in Santaquin. If you have not been there.. it is a fun place to take the kids. At this patch, you get to take a hay ride down to the field where all the pumpkins are sitten hoping to be chosen.

Paige found her pumpkin right away. Poor little pumpkin... it was disfigured and discolored and did not even have a very good stem. But Paige loved her little pumpkin and that is all that matters!!

Jacob got a nice round, perfectly orange pumpkin with a great stem. Funny... these pumpkins are alot like their little personalities. Paige is crazy and goes against the grain with most things and our Jacob tends to be a perfectionist and likes things just the right way.... um... interesting.

We took my mom and dad with us this year. Not as exciting for them I am sure, but my kids loved having them with us on our little "family tradition."

*** Yes, this is the best picture we got of the kids... none of them have the kids looking at the camera!! Paige is holding her poor discolored pumpkin but the one Jacob has was for picture purposes only. He found "his" pumpkin later.

Tagged

So I guess I do not check my sisters blog enough.. I guess I got tagged almost a week ago... so here you go.

All you have to do is go to your 6th picture album folder, pick the 6th picture and post it. After that, tag 4 friends.

This pictures was taken June '07 - Paige was almost two years old. We were at Jacobs Tee Ball practice in the Spanish Fork High School gym. Look at those eyes. Do they not say "What can I get into next?"

Now I am supposed to tag four people. I tag Rachael, Paige P., Traci & Monica.

Paige Update...

Know what happens when you take all your clothes off and go to sleep that way?

You end up running a fever and getting a runny nose!
Trying to talk reason to a three year old is pointless! I have tried to tell her that when she takes her warm Pj's off and stands there in the cold, she is going to get sick. Still, she looks at me like I am speaking greek and I am the one who is crazy.

So now I have a little girl who has gotten sick... need I say... TOLD YOU SO!!

THREE YEAR OLD FOR SALE... REAL CHEAP

WHY WHY WHY? Why is it that a child can not just go to bed and stay in bed? WHY? Is it because that child has turned the terrible age of THREE? I can hardly keep my eyes open today. Paige had a record number of times out of her bed. Usually, if she struggles to go to bed she will at least stay there once she falls asleep... but not last night.

Here is a summery of my night.

7:30 - put all the kids to bed... including Kallie
7:45 - Paige has her light on and is changing her clothes
8:00 - Paige has her light on and is changing her clothes... again!!!
8:15 - Paige needs to go to the bathroom... again
8:30 - Paige needs a drink
9:00 - All kids are finally asleep
10:30 - I feed Kallie for the last time and I go to sleep
11:45 - Paige wakes me up by standing next to my bed (put her back in her bed)
1:00 - Paige come in my room and wakes me up (put her back in her bed)
1:30 - Kallie wakes up and wants to be fed - feed her and put her back in bed
1:45 - Paige AGAIN wakes up and is naked standing next to my bed (put her back in her bed)
5:30 - Paige wakes up and is standing in the loft NAKED and crying (put her back in her bed)
6:00 - Paige is at her door crying NAKED (put her back in her bed)
6:30 - Kallie needs to be fed
7:15 - All kids are up and in my room

Also, what is with Paige needing to undress herself everytime she gets out of bed. She tells me that she takes her long, footed, zipper up PJ's off because she is cold!!! DUGH!! Put your stupid PJ's on and you will not be cold. Then trying to talk reason to a three year old at 1:00 in the morning is pointless. Kallie had a bad night too!! I think they were conspiring together last night to see just how far they could push me before I lost it. I am going today on little sleep and I am not a nap person. There is too much to get done in the day to sleep. I will just have to wait until tonight to recover.

Anyone what a three year old?

Make sure you always get your half!!

I recently read this article about a couple in cambodia who were ending their 18 year marriage. As part of the divorse agreement, they decided to cut their 20-by-24 1/2 foot house in half. So, the husband came with some of his family and cut it in half and walked away with his half in pieces, leaving her half still standing.

So, lesson to us all...make sure you always get an equal share of your half!!!