I May Survive!

So the past few days I've finally began to feel somewhat better - yeah and it's about time! I'm still only able to sleep a few hours each night, but as long as I'm not sick I think I can handle the insomnia. I was even feeling well enough today that I did something that I haven't done in months - I actually edited a few pictures that I took of Isaac months ago. I took them just when I found out I was pregnant and soon after that my world came crashing down and I haven't touched my camera for months! Yeah for not being sick!!!!




I just love this little guy! With his squinty smile and not much hair he has always reminded me of a little old man. Isaac is the reason we finally decided to have another baby - he is so much fun we just couldn't image not having another little one running around the house. He does keep me on my toes constantly digging in the pantry, toliet and garbage can. I can't tell you the number of things I have found the kid trying to throw away and who knows what treasures he has secretly disposed of without me knowing. He reminds me a lot of Samuel in that he loves to read and learn. He just turned 16 months, but the past 2 or 3 weeks he has really began talking. He's not real clear, but he says at least one new thing everyday. The kids, especially Samuel, love to try and get him to say things and we all delight when he says a new word and then repeats it over and over again.

This is what keeps me going through those dark first 4 months of pregnancy - these little ones are worth every price I have to pay to get them here!

A Few Pregnancy Stories

Yesterday I was having a really rough day and just feeling miserable. I was sitting on the couch watching the kids play and blurted out, "I feel like I'm dying"! So this probably is not the best thing to say around your kids because sweet little Bella looked up at me with such concern and said, "Oh mommy, you not feel well. You dying". Then Samuel looked at me and said in a very huffy puffy way, "Well, you don't look like you're dying". No sympathy from him for sure!

Then tonight I was sitting down and Bella comes over to me with her shirt pulled up and said, "My belly getting big" (some days she tells me she has a baby in her belly). I told her her belly wasn't getting big, but asked the kids, "Why is mommy's belly getting bigger"? Samuel looked at me and said, "Because you eat too many treats". Well, I do eat all day long - do fries and pizza count as treats?

Another great Samuel pregnancy story that I must write down so I don't forget. It was just a week or so after I found out I was pregnant and I was already feeling so tired and sick. I was just sitting on the couch not doing anything when Samuel looked down from the stairs and said, "Mom, why are you being so lazy?". I said Samuel do you know what lazy means and he said, "It means you're not doing anything". Well he was right I wasn't doing anything. It was at this point I decided I needed to tell him why I wasn't doing anything and why I wouldn't be doing anything for weeks!

I had him come downstairs and I told him the reason I wasn't feeling well was because I had a baby in my belly. He was so cute because he got all excited and said, "Heavenly Father is sending us another baby! Oh, I hope it's a girl!".

3 + 1 more = 4!

Yes - We're expecting baby #4 due in February!

For each of my pregnancies I've put together a cute little picture using the blocks the kids are holding to make an announcement for my scrapbook. But this was not the picture I had in my mind - Isaac screaming refusing to sit down and madly throwing his block, Samuel and Bella twisting their blocks so you couldn't read the letters and refusing to look at the camera - but this is our crazy life! And were excited that it's just going to get a little crazier!

A Bad Idea!

Saturday morning Chuck decided he was going to prime paint the playhouse. He got Samuel and Bella dressed in their paint clothes and headed outside. Now I thought he was just going to let them watch him paint because that's what I would have done. Then I looked outside to see this - he was letting them paint! The mom in me wants to open the door and yell, "Chuck, do you really think that's a good idea?" But against my better judgement I resisted the urge.

Then about 15 minutes later Chuck comes in a little exasperated. Apparently the kids are getting paint everywhere - no kidding! Chuck's feeling up a bucket with soap and water so he can wash off some spots on the deck of the playhouse where they've spilled paint and I hear him yell, "Bella don't touch the door!" I look around and there is Bella covered in paint and getting it all over the patio and sliding glass door. We quickly tell Samuel and Bella they must stay put on the grass while we try and get the paint cleaned up off the patio and door.

Samuel to Bella, "Why did you paint your hair?"

I had to tell Samuel that from the looks of it he must have dripped paint in her hair and down her back.

Bella was getting really mad at this point because we wouldn't let her go anywhere and she really wanted to get the paint off her hands.

We however were more worried about getting the paint off the patio.

So while we were busy with the patio Bella proceeded to get paint all over her face! I take the kids in and spend the next 1/2 hour trying to get the paint scrubbed off their faces and out of their hair. Later when Chuck came in he got them back in the tub and spent at least that long working on their hands and legs. What a major pain! Chuck later said "I wish you would have said something if you realized this was such a bad idea." I think I'm pretty safe in saying he won't let them help him paint again - at least until they are older!

Cabin Fun

This past weekend we had a "family reunion". My brother lives in Arkansas so we only get to see these guys once a year. Audrey's parents let us use their cabin for the weekend and we had a wonderful time. It was a little chilly and rained from time to time, but we still had so much fun!

We rode the 4-wheelers.

Samuel was able to "catch" a fish. He was so excited, especially after our failed attempt the past weekend. We usually just release the fish, but Samuel was really interested in eating the fish. (He's a very picky eater so this was a little miracle). Chuck cooked the fish and Samuel did try one little bite.

Fishing in grandpa's boat.

Audrey spotted this tree house from the road and it quickly became one of the kids favorite spots. Samuel loved going to the "magical tree house".

The kids also loved to ride the 4-wheelers to the swing set.

Brady and Audrey's girls love to play pretend. It was so funny because Kayla was the princess, Savannah was the dutchess and Bella was the castle robber. That's right, the only princess Bella really knows is princess Leia, Star Wars is very popular at our house, so instead of being a princess she was the robber. Later Kayla said Bella could be the princess's sister.

At night after the kids went to bed we played the Wii. Trina and I couldn't figure out why we were so bad at all the Wii fit games until we realized when the game was calibrated for the big boys it didn't work so well when we tried to play. At least we finally figured out the problem instead of thinking we were just total losers! The boys stayed up so late playing every night.

At of course we ate and ate and ate some more. Too many goodies were on hand!

Fishing & Swimming

We've been enjoying the beautiful summer weather the past few weekends. The nice thing about having kids that wake up around 6:00 a.m. is that we are ready and out of the house to begin our adventures very early. In fact we usually show up at places on Saturday mornings and no one else is around. We love this! We get in and out before it gets too hot and busy.

Samuel has been wanting to go to this fishing pond for so long. He was very excited about trying to catch a fish.

This was Isaac trying out the lure on himself - don't worry it doesn't have a hook on it!

Isaac was just making me laugh because he tries so hard to copy what the other kids are doing.

Bella with daddy's pole. It's just a little big for her!

So we didn't have much luck on this trip. Samuel was having a fit because he didn't catch a fish. He did get one strike and Chuck tried to help him get it in, but it got away. Uncle Brady would have been giving the lecture on setting the hook! I got this lecture from him countless times growing up!!

This weekend we took the kids to the lake. Isaac's been getting a little better with the water. He really enjoyed playing in the water and the mud.

This is what happens when your husband is a Civil Engineer with an emphasis in Water Systems - he brings a big shovel and bucket to the lake to build a sand castle and canal to float a toy boat to the lake. This is the boys getting started on the big project.

More digging.

Even Isaac got in on the digging action.

Now everyone, but me, was digging. I was content to sit in my chair and take pictures. I sure wish I had brought a book and my nice camera - this project took quite awhile!

Building the canal to the lake.

Filling up the castle with water and watching the boat make it's way to the water.

Success!

They floated the boat several times to the lake then slowly destroyed the creation. Chuck was teaching Samuel all about erosion, deposition and sedimentation. Chuck just loves the science of water and apparently so does Samuel!

Joy School Graduation

Last night Samuel had his Joy School graduation. I have absolutely loved doing Joy School this year! The kids were so much fun to teach. I have come to realize that I really love teaching kids. Every so often I think maybe I'll get a teaching certificate. Quite a different track from my engineering degree!

The thing that I loved about Joy School were the fun lessons, songs and activities. Instead of letters, numbers etc. the kids learn about the joy of so many things. I think one of my favorite units was on the joy of creativity and imagination. It's amazing how much fun kids can have using their imaginations - we landed on the moon, flew through space and many more fun things.

One of the last units was on the family and teaching each child that they are special, important and unique. Saren conducted an interview with each of the kids and gave it to us last night with their books. Chuck and I were laughing reading Samuel's answers.

One question was My favorite place is... Samuel said, "Sand Hollow, I like to go there a lot to swim and I like McDonalds. They let me get toys there. I like Disneyland. It's a happy place where people like to go. I like In and Out Burger too." (So from this answer can you tell that I take the kids to McDonalds and In and Out Burger way too often!)

And how funny is this. We show up at Saren's for the graduation and all the boys are wearing different colors of the exact same shirt!