We're having a...

Baby!!! Did you really think we would find out what we were having? HEHE!! We got to see the baby yesterday and Brookelyn loved every minute of it. She was so excited to point out the head and fingers, arms, legs, feet, toes, and so on. She was in love in an instance but we knew that already. She told us that she has been waiting a long time for this baby. Who can argue with a 5 year old? Kira liked it in the beginning and then got bored. She really isn't into the baby as much as Brookelyn but maybe when the baby comes. It could also be that she thought we were going to the doctor to get the baby out, not just see it on a screen. We are excited. We are measuring a week early but I don't know if that will change much. So it is either the last week in April or the first week in May but the doctor will pick the day in the next couple of months. (For those of you that don't know, I have c-sections so the doctor picks a day well in advance and then we go with it.) We are so excited and scared all at once! But isn't that what being a parent is all about?

I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus

So, I have never really thought about this song until recently. Here is a conversation I had with Kira.

K: Mom, you kissed Santa.
M: I have not.
K: Dad told us you did.
M: I haven't.

A couple days later we were eating dinner and Arik starts singing, I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus. Kira looks over at me and raises her eyebrows and smiles saying, "See told you, you kissed Santa. Dad told us."

I then understood. I tried to tell her it was just a song but she doesn't believe me.

Yesterday we were driving home from the post office and this conversation happened.

K: Mom, you are married to dad.
M: Yes.
K: You are not married to Santa. You should not kiss him. You should only kiss dad.
M: I have not kissed Santa and I only kiss your dad.
K: No, dad told us and mom you are NOT married to Santa so stop kissing him.
At this point I roll my eyes and tell her Okay I will not kiss Santa anymore.

She watches me like a hawk and Arik thinks if we go see Santa Kira is going to make sure that I don't kiss him. Arik is getting a kick out of this but I am a little sad that my 3 year old thinks I am having an affair with Santa.

Arik was proud of Kira for talking to me about it and putting me in my place. Glad he is happy!!

Christmas Pics 2010

My sister, Brandee, took our family pics this year. We had fun and Brandee did an awesome job. Thanks sis! Hope you all enjoy.

Catch Up

Sorry it has been a while since I have last posted. I don't really even think I can say I have been too busy, just not a lot to blog about I guess.

THANKSGIVING
This year for Thanksgiving we were at our house and my whole family came. There were 17 of us (8 being kids 5 and under). Brandee blessed her baby boy the Sunday before Thansgiving so that gave us a full week of playing with family. It was a blast. I have been trying to catch up on sleep ever since. We got to meet my sister, Melanie's fiance, Rj. They are getting married next September because he is in the Navy and his ship is leaving in Jan for 6 months. Also, my brother came and spent the week before everyone got there with us, family in Salt Lake, and friends in Rexburg. Right before he left he sent in his mission papers. Then a day or so before Thanksgiving he comes up the stairs and reads a letter he had printed off his email. It told him that he was going to the Jacksonville Florida Spanish Speaking mission and that he would be leaving DEC 29th!! It was a little over a month a way. Everyone around the table just stared at him for a moment and then we exploded with claps and cheers and hugs. It was awesome. I am so proud of all the things my brother has done over this past year to get him to this point. I am so excited to have a brother out on a mission!!!!!

THE GIRLS
The girls are doing great. Each week we talk about how big the baby is getting. They are excited. A while ago we asked them what they wanted a brother or sister. Brookelyn said brother because she alread had a sister and Kira wanted a sister so that she could be like Brookelyn (who has a little sister). Anyways, Arik told them that if we had another girl then he was going to move out. So when people have been asking Brookelyn if she wants a brother or sister she has told them that if she has a sister her dad will leave her. (saying it with tears.) She has been so scared that her dad will leave her if it is a girl that she has been crying when people say, "What if you have a sister?" It got really bad and I was starting to fear for the safety of our new little one just in case it is a girl. I told Arik he had to sit down and talk to Brookelyn. He did and things are better now. She stills wants a brother but now her reasons have numbers. Like then dad won't be the only boy and we already have 3 girls, do we really need another one? Brookelyn also got her first report card! She is doing amazing. She is at or above level in everything and her teacher wrote on her card, that is well liked in the class and a pleasure to have. She always wrote that Brookelyn has mastered everything required of her so far. YEP PROUD PARENT!!!!

BABY UPDATE
I am getting a belly and have to remind myself that I am much farther along with this one then I was with the other two. At Christmas with the other two I was still throwing up everything I eat so I am looking forward to Christmas Eve dinner with excitement instead of dread. I also am uncomfortable and am starting to wear maternity stuff. Thankfully my sister just pasted all her stuuf to me. See by the time I really needed maternity stuff with the other two I was just wearing Arik's shorts and shirts. Since I can wear his pants then it caused a problem. So Brandee saved me and I am a little sad that I can no longer fit in my clothes. I know, I know, it is a good thing but this is the one thing I really struggle with while pregnant. I am not weird about my weight or anything it is the fact that people can look at me and know that I am pregnant. I know it is weird but for some reason it is one thing that really bothers me while pregnant.

We go to the doctor on the 20th to have our ultrasound. NO we are NOT finding out what we are having. We have been surprised with the first two and see no reason to change it now. We are taking the girls with us and they are excited to see the baby. I am excited that we are going before Christmas so that we can show pics while with family.

Other than that we are getting ready for Christmas. We will decorate the tree this afternoon when Brookelyn gets home from school (I will take pics and post them). I have all my Christmas shopping done and wrapped. I am just relaxing and enjoying this time of year because it always seems to fly!!!

So excited and the dentist (not related)

So Harry Potter is coming out next week. I found this background on my friend's blog and loved it so I added to mine. I am going to the midnight showing with my sister, sister-in-law, and brother. Marti, Brandee, and I started going to the midnight showing of the Twilight movies and then decided to do the Harry Potter movies. It is something fun that I can do with these girls. Others come and go with us but the three of us have been the consistent ones and the movies and the outings with them are some of the best times for me. So I thank them.

We all finally went to the dentist. We have had dental insurance for two years and final went. (Sorry Robyn I know your shaking your head reading this :)) Anyways, Arik went in the morning with Brookelyn and then I went in the afternoon with Kira. DO NOT go to the dentist while pregnant. It was so painful and the nurse felt so bad that she told me to come back in two weeks and she would finish once my gums healed a little bit. I am one of those girls that gets pregnancy gin. I don't know how to spell it but the infection on your gums.
Kira was looked at while I was getting looked at and Brookelyn went with her. The nurse (or whatever they are called) told me that they would do as much as possible but that little ones usually don't let them do a lot. Well, not Kira. With Brookelyn there she did everything, the xrays and the cleaning, the whole package. The dentist then told me that he wanted to use them as poster patients. Not just for 5 and 3 year olds but adults also. They never cried or whined and did everything that was asked of them. Yep, I was so proud to be their mom. They are so cute and good.

I will post Halloween pics soon. I know it is almost Thanksgiving.

Cool things happening

There are some cool things that have been happening around here.

First, we are happy to announce the newest addition to our family. Coming May 6, 2011. I have not kept a secert about us being pregnant ever and this time we made it through a whole trimester (okay a little earlier for family like last week or the week before.) I have been sick and way over emotional but Arik has been awesome and the girls are really excited. They kept the secert for 2 weeks which was great!!

Second, this past weekend I got to go to Rexburg for BYUI's lit conference. I was able to meet Brandon Mull (author of the Fablehaven books). I talked to him, shook his hand and everything. Then at lunch this guy sat across from me and my friend. We looked at his name tag and it was Brandon Dorman (the illustrator for the Fablehaven books and many other books). We ate lunch with him talking about callings, his kids and my kids and everything. It was so cool and totally awesome. Both guys are so down to earth and great! It was a very cool experience. Not very often do you get to meet a #1 Times Best selling author or illustrator.

Last Night

Last night I was not feeling very good. There is a bug going through the schools and I work with middle school kids who have all been sick lately, so no surprise I got sick. I went to bed early telling the girls if they needed anything in the middle of the night to call for their dad. Arik smiled because NEVER have they called for dad before.

So I was sleeping and all of the sudden I hear, "DAD!!" "DAD!!" mixed in with some crying. I laugh and hit Arik. "They are calling for you." I told him. He rolls over and says, "I am going to yell at them." I laugh again and tell him I will get them. I start down the stairs and here Brookelyn yell, "Dad come quick, NOW!" I go a little faster and hear Kira crying. I just think that Kira fell out of bed but then Brookelyn tells me, "She just threw up." She had leaned over her new bed and threw up on the ground. I grab her and take her upstairs to clean her up. She asks if she can take a bath and if I were covered in gross stuff, I would take a bath too. So I turn on the water and Kira strips down.

At this point, Arik walks into the bathroom and asks what happened. I explain and he says, "What can I do?" I tell him to give Kira her bath while I clean up her floor. I decided if I give him the easy part then he will keep helping. By the way, I have the GREATEST husband in the world. I go back downstairs to clean up the mess. It smelled gross so I tell Brookelyn she can sleep upstairs on the couch. No mother would let thier child sleep in that, right? So she grabs her stuff and goes upstairs. I clean up the floor and am heading upstairs when Brookelyn tells dad her stomach hurts and she runs into the bathroom and throws up in the toliet. This is one of the great things about Brookelyn. Ever since she was two she has thrown up in the bathroom which is so very nice for me. Arik helps her and finishs with Kira while I get Brookelyn's bed ready. We then pump up an air matress for Kira and she sleeps next to her sister. They didn't want to be separated.

We all get back in bed. Kira tells me she wants water. I tell her to get it herself and she tells me, "But I am sick, mom." So I get up get her and Brookelyn a drink and go back to bed. An hour later Kira throws up again. I cralwed back into bed, tired and still not feeling well myself. Arik rolls over and says, "Can I help?" I start crying and say, "Thank you so much for helping earlier. You are the greatest." He says, "Yeah, whatever." and goes back to sleep. He really is great. What would I do without him.

The girls are feeling better everything is just coming out the other end now which is okay since they have made it to the bathroom all day. I think it only lasts 24 hours so we are on the mend. But, what a night!

Kindergarten and Preschool

First, let me explain something.  At registration we were told that there might not be room for Brookelyn at the school we live TWO BLOCKS from.  So later that week they call me and say she will be going to a school about 10 to 15 minutes away.  They let me know that school starts at 8:20 and the bus will pick Brookelyn up at 7:12 to be transferred to a different bus at a different school.  I was a little upset.  First, she would have to be on the bus for over an hour and then they expect a first time bus rider to get off at a school and then get on another bus.  I decided that I would take her to school everyday.  (Just one of the many blessings from being a stay at home mom this year.) 

Brookelyn is excited because she does get to ride the bus home. (only twenty mins.)  She thinks it is cool.  She goes to school all day every other day (Tues and Thurs) and then alternates Mondays.  (Yep lets totally mess up all the 5 year olds.)  Brookelyn has to ask me everyday if she has school or not. 

Here is a picture of her first day.  She got a Hannah Montana Backpack with a lunch bag to go with it.  After school the first day she told me that it was so awesome to eat lunch in the lunchroom. :)

We signed Kira up for preschool because this is the second year that she has watched her sissy go to school and she wanted to also.  She got a Tinkerbell backpack and when I dropped her off the first day she started to cry and I asked her what was wrong.  She said, “You forgot to pack my lunch like Brookelyn now I can’t  eat.”  I then explained that she doesn’t eat lunch at school and that day I took her out with it was over.  She is too cute.  I love her faces when I take pics so there are a couple. 

This last picture is of Brookelyn.  She told me she wanted to get dressed and then she came up looking like this.  It was so cute.

Brookelyn wanted to take a picture of Kira so I had her go pick her up and get her picture.  Kira was not interested in the picture but she still is a cutie. 

We are liking school and there is an hour on certain Mondays that I am completely child free!!

Much needed update

Okay, I know I have not blogged in a month and there has been a lot that has been happening with us I have been so busy and really haven’t had time to blog so here is a little update on us.

Life is busy.  I am coaching volleyball at a middle school and also coaching both Brookelyn and Kira’s soccer teams.  That keeps us busy all week long and on Saturday for a couple of hours. 

My online teaching job started and that has been interesting.  I am also babysitting my sister’s kids when she is at work.  Then my neighbor’s babysitter kind of quit on her so I am now watching her kids twice a week also.  Crazy I know!! 

School started (that is in another post)!  Here are some random pictures from the past month. 

Brookleyn took this one all by herself. 

The girls were extra tired from everyone coming over and walking them up in the mornings.  Here they are in my bed getting some extra zzzzs.

 

 I much prefer having Brookelyn home because everyone seems to get into less trouble when she is around but there are days that she has school.  This is what I found one day after getting out of the shower. 

Notice the knee highs on Kira with my dress shoes.  It was cute and she had my sunglasses too.  MaKynzee just had my flip flops on but they both looked cute.

WHAT HAPPENED????

Brookelyn comes walking into my bedroom this morning and tells me she lost her tooth. I am thinking oh no did she swallow it? She then holds out her hand and shows me..
Look how small it is.

She then shows me her mouth. There is no blood at all. I believe when my teeth fell out there was blood. I knew her bottom two teeth were loose but I can't believe she lost it.

Another shot. Sorry it is blurry, I am not the greatest at taking pics.

I started getting teary eyed. My baby is going to kindergaten losing her teeth. What is next? I can't believe how time flies. Just so you know, she has not lost any top teeth she just has a gap between the front two.

There are a lot of posts, please scroll down to see them all.

Total Craziness

My mom and sister, Melanie, came to visit for a few days from Texas. It was so much fun having all the cousins together and seeing my sister and mom. I am so grateful that they made the 26 hour drive to come out and see us. It has been the higlight of my summer. One day we went to a water park to play. It is the same one I posted about before.

Here are Alex, Kira, MaKynzee and Lily waiting to get in. The adults are fighting over you paid. I won!!
Melanie (Mel or Mels Bells), Brandee (Brand or Brooker) and me. In the past few years my sister, Melanie and I have fought and being mad at each other more than I think we were nice to each other. Being in the same house or room caused a lot of contention. Most was my fault and I am truly sorry. Melanie and I started really talking again a couple months ago and this trip was awesome. I talked and laughed and shared so much with her. I have my sister back and I love her so very very much. I am grateful that she came out and could forgive me for the pride and foolishness.

Kira being sassy.

Some kid pooped in the kiddie pool so we had to wait awhile to have it cleaned. The girls decided to dance to the music. Here is Brookelyn dancing.

Lily and Brookelyn dancing away. I wish I could just dance in front of tons of people and not care what they thought. The joys of childhood.

My mom dropped a treadmill on her foot (not while visiting us) and it was gross. Here is a pic. YOu can't really tell but it was bad.

Alex and Ivy enjoying the water.

Kira being... Kira.

All seven (soon to be eight. Brandee is due with a boy in Nov.) Back row:Kira, MaKynzee, Lukas, Brookelyn. Middle: Alex, and Lily (the twins) and Ivy is on Lily's lap. The older they get the better they play with one another.

They have a lazy river and we enjoyed it. I'm in back and then Melanie w/Ivy, Mom, and Alex

Us coming towards Brandee.

Lily enjoying the water.

After the picture with Kira going down the slide, Brookelyn was brave and went down the slide so that she could have a picture to.

All in all is was a blast having them here. Time went too quickly and I am grateful for the many events this year that keep bringing us together. (Arik's graduation, this trip, and the baby in Nov.) I lov my family so much and they mean the world to me. I am grateful for them and the tights bonds that we share. We are just the coolest ever!!!!

Crestwood 5 reunion

Okay this needs a little background so that you all understand what really is going on here. Arik's roommates married my roommates. Arik and his roommates lived in Crestwood 5, hence the Crestwood five reunion. We were all friends for a good 2 years before any of us got married. We have done many things together. We all made the trip to California for Phil and Tabitha's wedding 6+ years ago. They were the last ones to get married. We all have kids at the same time and everything. We counted and there are 12 kids (and one due in Nov.). It has been a long time since we have all got together at the same time. We all went to different grad schools and Phil and Tabs moved to S. Carolina three years ago. Tabitha was in town for her sister's wedding and we by some miracle had a couple of hours free on the same day she did. We got together at Blackfoot lake and enjoyed catching up. Four of the five of us now live in Pocatello and Idaho Falls (two at each) so we can get together more often. But Phil and Tabs live so blasted far away.

The five of us ladies. Brandee, Katie, Me, Alicia, Tabitha

All the kids found a fish and caught it. It was the hit of the day.


Us just hanging out and catching up.

Kira being silly.

Lukas and Braden digging in the sand.

Lukas got really cold in the water and had to come warm up in the sun.

My mom and sister (with her 3 kids) came to visit the same time Tabs was here so they tagged along. This is Alex and Ivy. The water was a little cold for them since they are used to nice Texas warm water.

Cameron making a sand angel.

Tanner was quite the gentleman and pulled many of the girls around. As you can see, MaKynzee was really enjoying it.

Cory eating goldfish and dirt.

The three "babies", McCall (1), Callie (6 mons.), and Cory (soon to be 1).

I loved Cory's faces. He really enjoyed that sand.

Kira throwing rocks in the water to make a big splash.

Lily (niece from Texas) and Brookelyn. These two girls were completely inseparable the whole time they were here.

Ivy being a sass.

Lukas was brave enough to touch the ball. Just like on Finding Nemo when "He touched the butt." Everyone screamed and freaked out then cheered. What a brave boy he is.

It was a blast and we are planning a trip for all of us in a couple of years. It was wonderful and I sure love those ladies. I love that we all still travel to brithdays, blessings, everything. They are some of the greatest friends I have ever had.