Updates

I realized that it has been almost a month since I posted last. Nothing really big has happened so I haven't felt that anything important or blog worthy. (Excluding Disney on Ice which I will blog about later. It has a good story with it. :))

Arik
Arik is working hard and is putting the finishing touches on his paper and will hopefully graduate in May. He got to burn yesterday and our house now smells like fire. (which I actually like).

Brookelyn
Brookelyn has taken to reading and is flying through her books. She is doing awesome and loves to read to mom and dad.

Kira
Our little monster. She is has really hit the terrible twos and threes. Brookelyn never really went through this stage and we decided it was because Kira was born so she focused more on being a big sister. Since Kira doesn't have anyone to be a big sister to she is a monster. She is still very cute (too cute) and is grwoing so fast. She is talking in paragraphs now and really loves to do anything and everything Brookelyn does.

Me
I started track and am busy with that. I have also applied to six or seven different places trying to find something closer to Pocatello. I feel bad keeping my school hanging in the balance while I try to decide and find out what I am doing.

House hunting was put on hold for a month and now we are renewed and ready to try again. We are going to look at some houses on Thursday. Hopefully we will find something.

For those of you that know Arik, you know he doesn't make quick decisions. He takes his time and really thinks things through. A couple of weekends ago we were driving around just looking at neighborhoods and we saw a furniture store going out of business. Arik stopped and we went in. We found a bed for more than 50% off what it was selling for online and Arik bought it. I couldn't believe it. We now have a king size bed and a queen for our visitors. No more sleeping on the floor or on a airbed. The only problem now is that we don't want to get out of bed in the morning.

Life is busy and crazy but I love it and wouldn't change anything. There are only 8 weeks of school left. (we only have one more day this week, our spring break is a Thursday to Tuesday). The kids are in the hard, difficult, rough stage where they just don't care and don't want to do anything anymore. Hopefully we can all make it out of this alive. :)

Slump

So yesterday I had a student make the comment that I was happier this week then usual. I thought about it for a minute and realized that I was not the only one to know that I was in a slump or bad mood. First, my morning classes have been pretty good this week but mostly I needed a new direction.

I was in a slump. I feel fat (because I am). No one has even looked at our house. We can't find the house we want. We are having no luck at all getting pregnant. I am searching for a job in Pocatello and am having no luck. The list could go on but these are my top.

I wanted out. I hated feeling like that. So, Arik and I bought a workout thing and it is coming. We will start that as soon as it comes. I have applied to two online schools and am checking everyday the school websites for updating jobs. I realized that I have no control over the rest so I decided there was only thing I could do... Turn it over to the Lord.

First, Arik took me to the temple where I was able to have a good vent. I love going there and the peace it brings me. Then instead of listing all the things I wanted, I asked for peace and help with the things I could control. The rest I turn over to the Lord. It is not an easy process. Every morning I feel like have to turn it over again. There are many tears each morning and then each night thanking Heavenly Father for the wonderful day and the blessings I recieved and the things I have.

It is not an easy thing and it is something I have to do every day. Heavenly Father knows that I sometimes lose sight of the important or what really matters and then things happen to make me "come home." I love and need to be in control and with this I can't. I am grateful that I have the knowledge I have and that I know that I am a daughter of God. He loves me and will help me along. I am never alone.

So, I am taking it a day at a time. Not stressing over having a baby (I heard that it does not help at all), not stressing about the house. We are still suppose to be in Soda and the perfect house will come and we will find it. Each day I turn everything over and He walks beside me helping me along the way.

To my friends and family having trouble with having a baby:
I want you to know that I do not take lightly what you are going through. I don't know how hard it must be for you. You are probably rolling your eyes at this thinking,
Why is she mad she already has two?" I know that. I also am aware every day and month of you. My prayers are for you. I have put your names on the Prayer rolls at the temple. You give me strength and I love you all. You are much stronger than I am. I hope that all of you will have your dreams come true. So please, do not get offended.

Olympics

What an Olympics!! It was so much fun to watch and Arik and I hardly got anything done. I am proud to be an American and am happy for all those that did well. The Olympics were full of everything: heart break, upsets, amazing, even death.

We did an Olympics unit in my English classes. They wrote papers on the history of the Games, an event at the Games, and a person that participated in the event they chose that was competing at the games. They would come to class excited to tell me what they watched or how the person they chose was doing. They also started to really like the Olympics.

One thing I am grateful about is being a citizen of the United States of America. When someone does not do well, we do not threaten thier lives. The poor coach from the Netherlands (who told his skater to move into the wrong lane) will be placed in Witness protection when he gets back because of the death threats on his life.

The Korean girl who skated perfectly but was told that if she didn't win gold not to come home.

Or even the Russian olympic committee who are under pressure and people are up in arms to have them fired because the atheletes didn't do well.

Think back to four years ago when Bode Miller had his collapse. No one threatened his life and no coaches were questioned. We put the blame on the man and told him to try and prove himself again before we could trust him. No death threats, no don't come home. We are happy with what happens. Disappointed a little but always know that there is more four years from now.

The USA did wonderful this year. More medals than ever before by any country. We should be proud to be American and proud of what our Olympians accomplished. WAY TO GO USA!!!!

I loved watching the Olympics with Brookelyn. Each time someone raced or competed, she asked, "Is that a USA guy?" If I said yes she would cheer for them. If I said no, she would say tell me when a USA guy races and then would leave the room. She decided that she wants to be in the Olympics she we asked her to chose a sport and we would support her. "Not sledding," she said, "it is too fast and scary."

Lukas loved the arieals and watching guys do cirlces in the air as he put it. It was great to see them get excited about the Olympics.

Now back to the old routine of life!!!! (Okay not old but not like the Olympics!!)

What do you when...

Your thesis is done and you are done with corrections waiting for an email to come back? You have time with your family. Now Arik has always made time for us, but that thesis was always there hanging over his head. The weekend before Valentine's Day we decided that Saturday would be a family day. WE headed over to the movie theatre (here during the Winter there are free Matinees of kids movies), when we got there they were already full so we stopped by Red Box picked up G-force and headed home. We popped popcorn and made Pink lemonade and watched the movie together. We then got all our snow stuff on and went to the church behind our house. They have a nice little hill and we went sledding, made snow angels (Brookelyn's favorite), and made a big snowman. Afterwards we went over to Arik's parents' house and fed cows. [Arik's dad had surgery on his ankle and can't leave the house for 6 weeks.] It was my first experience feeding cows and second go at driving a tractor. The girls rode on the back with Arik and helped him dump the hay. It was a great day together.

Arik and Kira sledding together.

At the end of the run. Too cute!!This is what Brookelyn did. She went down the hill once and decided she didn't like it. Then Brookleyn decided she wanted to make snow angels. Brookelyn was in charge. She wanted a snowman so we made one. Arik and I got a little carried away. This is to give you an idea how big the bottom ball was. Here is the finished product. Arik is 6 ft tall.

For Valentine's Day:

We went house hunting with the girls and then Arik took all three of his girls to Red Robin in Idaho Falls. We were able to stop by and visit our friends the Hursts and finally meet their new addition, Cory. (even though he is already three/four months old.)

It has been a great couple of weekends. Now it is the Olympics for the next two weeks!!! YEAH!!

Brandee and her kids came down to watch the Olympics. Her TV died. Here are a couple of pics of the days that they were here. She watched the kids Thursday while I was at school. I have the kids today while she is at work. We will drop the kids off on the way to Boise for the weekend.

Kira looked so funny and cute, Brandee just had to take some pictures.

What a face!!!

Blogging moment

Last night I took the girls to Arctic Circle for dinner. Arik was in Logan working. When we got there a little boy ran up to Brookelyn, "Look it is Brookelyn. Hi Brookelyn. Dad, this is Brookelyn. Hi Brookelyn. Brookelyn is in my class at school. Brookelyn sit by us. Hi Brookelyn." It made me smile. The boy was so so happy to see Brookelyn and Brookelyn playe dit cool. "Hi, name of boy (brain fart)." Then she sat down. When the boy and his dad left it started all over again. "Bye Brookelyn. See ya at school, Brookelyn. Dad that is Brookelyn. Bye, Bye, Bye." He then popped around the corner for one last, "Bye, Brookelyn." I asked Brookelyn who he was. "He is a boy in my preschool class, mom." Then she dropped it. Later that night when Arik got home I told him about the boy so happy to see Brookelyn. Arik asked Brookelyn, "So who is he?" She said, "Just a LITTLE boy dad." Arik looked at her and said, "What are you?" She replied, "I am a big girl and he is just a little boy."

Arik and I about rolled off the couches laughing so hard. Brookelyn is already causing problems. After laughing Arik told me that it was a blogging moment. I about fell over. He always makes fun of me for blogging and then he says that. It was great.

Brookelyn is already breaking boys hearts. Watch out world, here she comes!!!

Moms... What did you give up?

This week I got a bladder infection. I have had a few over the past two and a half years. It was never to the point of visiting a doctor until now. He asked me how often they happened and I said, "I never got one until after Kira was born." He smiled and said, "THe things mothers give up for thier children."

That got me thinking. I would rather have bladder infections then not have Kira. No question.
So moms out there, what have you given up?

With Brookelyn, I have a spot under my scar where I have no feeling. I am numb to anything. It is weird to feel a finger going across and then all of the sudden stop and then start again on the other side.

With Kira the infections.

I am not asking for lack of sleep, no me time, and stuff like that. What have you given up other than that?

Good thing it is all worth it. Otherwise things might be difficult. It also helped me deal with this a little better.

A day late

This should have been posted yesterday but I didn't get to it.

Six years ago today, my sweetheart asked me to marry him. My life has been complete with him in it. I love him so very much and I am grateful to have him in my life.