Mixed Emotions about my QUIET House

Yesterday afternoon Nathan and Taylor left to spend some time in Eagar with their Grandparents. We will be going up on Thursday July 2nd for the 4th of July weekend, but until then it is just Natalie at home with us. The house is really quiet so it is nice and calm, but it is a little tough to have it so quiet when there has been almost constant noise for so long. I have a long to do list while they are gone and I know they are going to have a blast and will love being able to spend A LOT of time outside playing without melting. The weather there right now is highs in the low 80's. Oh so nice. I completely agree that absence makes the heart grow fonder. I do miss them already.

Here are some cute little things that have been said by the kids lately.

Nathan while saying our morning family prayer.
"Help us to listen to the Holy Ghost and to get closer to Heavenly Father"
So profound for a 7 year old.

Taylor after she was buckled in Grandpa's truck and was saying goodbye to me.
"Brother remember if I get sad you are going to help me be happy right?"
Nathan's reply "Of Course!!!"

They really do love each other and I think it will be great for them to be away together so they can rely on each other and get to be even closer friends.

Things you probably didn't know

My petite little Taylor is quite strong and spunky. I took this picture for posterity sake for when Taylor has a 3 year old little girl that is just like her. Taylor was upset yesterday for a very un upseting incident. We were on our way home from the pool and Nathan advised me he had to go to the bathroom really bad. So when we got home I quickly got out of the car and let Nathan in the house before unbuckling Taylor from her car seat. So she was mad that Nathan went in first and also that Nathan was using her bathroom and that she would have to use our bathroom. So she walks into the house and shoves open the front door into the wall of the entryway. Now enter your shocked gasps here. ( I know you are all thinking, what about the door stop, well that broke off a few weeks ago and unfortunately has not been repaired.) This picture is of Taylor this morning next to the damage. I sent her straight to her room yesterday after it happened so I could avoid a stern swat to the bum and calm down. I finally was able to take pictures of it this morning after the anger wore off a little. I love Taylor but she tries my patience on many occasions.



A close up of the damage.

Something else you probably didn't know is that Natalie is 10 months old today. She finally cut a tooth on top a couple days ago. It is the one next to the middle teeth though. My other 2 didn't do that. She is developing differently. I think she is finally about 15.5 pounds. I thought Taylor was tiny and had very little hair, but Taylor weighed over 16 pounds at 10 months and had more hair than Natalie does.

Something else is that Natalie smiles a TON except when we are taking pictures of her. She likes to just stare in awe at this device in front of her face.

An attempt to cure boredom.

Now that the temps have reached triple digits we have started hibernation summer mode. I personally try not to go out during the day unless we are going to a pool, spray pad or movies. Well today I needed to get things done around the house so we didn't have any plans to leave. I try really hard not to let the TV control my kids mind all day so they have to turn it off for quite a few hours every day. Nathan was bored and had the idea of doing the shaving cream and cookie sheet thing. So here are the kids having some fun. They drew pictures, wrote messages practiced math etc.

Father's Day 2009

Happy Father's Day. Our weekend didn't start out too good. Preston arrived home from Camp Geronimo and Girls Camp yesterday around noon. He left Wednesday afternoon. Problem is he came home with the stomach flu. So our plans for our Saturday evening quickly changed. He was in the bathroom or bed almost all day yesterday. He was feeling better today but was pretty weak so he stayed home from church and his meetings. As a result I think this was probably the most relaxing Father's Days he has had in a long time. He slept in we made him breakfast of waffles sausage and orange juice. We were glad that he felt up to eat it. Then we gave him our presents, a D-backs shirt that says Dad #1 on the back, and a picture frame for his desk with a picture of me and the kids. I then headed off to church with the kids while he stayed home and slept. After we got home from Church Preston watched a movie with Nathan. Then we went to my parents for dinner. A big bonus for today was that Natalie said "Da Da" for the first time and has been saying it for the past 30 minutes straight and is so proud. I have been practicing with her all week, hoping she would say it today and it worked. (she was the first child that actually said Ma Ma before Da Da, I guess 3rd times a charm :-)

This month is such a special one

Yesterday would have been my Grandma's 88th Birthday, but she passed away almost 8 years ago. She was an AMAZING woman. She knew how to truly love unconditionally and was always so caring. She had the light of Christ always with her. She just portrayed goodness in everything she did. Grandma suffered A LOT with pain and sickness but she never let it be about her. She was such a trooper. I miss her and love her very much. I will always cherish the memories I have of her. Yesterday afternoon we went to visit my Grandpa on this important day. He enjoyed our visit and I was glad to see him. He is also AMAZING.



Today is Preston's 33rd Birthday. We started the day with a full out breakfast of pancakes, bacon and orange julius per Preston's request.

Then we met up with Preston at the lock shop and brought him some

In N Out for lunch. Below are the kids having a little picnic by their Daddy's desk at the shop.

Tonight Preston will be staying home from his Church responsibilities so we can celebrate together as a family. We are having dinner at home of Steaks and Ice Cream for dessert since Preston is not a fan of cake. Even though he has to work on his birthday we are trying to make it the best day possible. He deserves it. Preston is an amazing man and I feel sooo blessed to be married to him. He is truly my best friend and I enjoy spending time with him. Often it seems like my time with him to relax and have fun is few and far between, but it helps me to cherish the times we do have. He is a hard worker , spiritual, compassionate, loves to tease but not in a way that would hurt a persons feelings,he makes me laugh, unselfish and a wonderful Dad. Just to name a few of his qualities. I love him deeply and I am so grateful to have him as my eternal companion.

Puppets and Baseball and Fireworks OH MY!

We had a busy but fun filled day this past Friday. In the morning I took the kids and Nathans friend Hayden to the Library to see a Ventriloquist perform. It was a pretty good show and the kids liked it.

This was my favorite part. The ventriloquist was holding a dummy that was holding a dummy while they sang a song so he was doing 3 voices and moving 2 dummies. I was quite impressed.

After the show I took the kids to Wal-Mart where we sat and ate McDonalds and then took them all shopping. It actually wasn't too bad having them all together until the end when Taylor had a fit while we checked out because she wanted candy that I wouldn't buy and she was tired. After Wal-Mart we took Hayden home, made chocolate chip cookies then went to swim lessons. After lessons we ate dinner at my parents house and met up with my brother. We then went to the Diamondbacks game. My Mom was nice enough to let Natalie stay with her so it made the game much easier then trying to entertain Natalie on my lap when all she really wants to do is crawl around. It was bad enough entertaining Taylor during the game. She was not that impressed. In fact about 10 minutes after sitting down Taylor asked "How many minutes until this is over?" She also continued to refer to the game as spaceball not baseball, it was pretty funny. You can tell how much she was enjoying herself by her little smug face. In her defense she was pretty tired.
We invited my older brother to come with us to the game, for two reasons. 1. He is a major fan of the Diamondbacks. 2. His family is in Idaho for another week of a total 3 week vacation. Here are the boys posing for a picture.

The main reason we went to this particular game is that there was a fireworks show scheduled for afterwards. Our seats were in the perfect spot. It was a great game the D-Backs won 8-1, the weather was perfect and the fireworks were bigger than I was expecting. Good times !!!!!

Oh Where Oh Where?

Has my baby girl gone? Little Natalie is growing up. Don't get me wrong, she is still little just growing up. My project for today is to go through Natalie's dresser and pack away the clothes she has grown out of and get the bigger size clothes moved in to her dresser. This makes realization #1 that my baby girl is growing up.

Realization #2

We officially moved Natalie out of the Bumbo Chair she has been sitting in to eat and put her in the high chair. She was beginning to crawl out of the chair and we were afraid it could create some injuries so we decided to put her in the more secure high chair. She likes it, but it really does dwarf her.

Realization #3

She is now getting in to EVERYTHING!!! And likes to make messes. This is what I found her doing today. Luckily I caught her in the early stages.

But really who could get upset at such an adorable little face.

Realization #4

Natalie is starting to pull herself up to a standing position to anything she can. She loves the new view on life.

Happy 34th Birthday Sherri

Today my sister Sherri turned 34. Sherri and I shared a room as kids and while we are different in many ways I don't recall us fighting a lot growing up. She is very kind, tender hearted and forgiving. Sherri is always thinking of others. She is a great listener and I consider her a spiritual giant.

Since the beginning of this year Sherri started coming to my house about once a week while Preston was gone doing church stuff and we would just hang out. She will play games with Nathan and Taylor, help do dishes or just sit and talk with me. I have really enjoyed the times she comes over and I love that she is such a wonderful Aunt.

Some funny memories I have with Sherri:

She enjoys honking my nose and has since I can remember. She would just honk it and then when I try to honk hers I get timid and rarely actually do it. I am still like this today.

Sherri gave me a black eye once. We were playing softball in the front yard. I was the pitcher and she hit a line drive that hit me in the eye. It was fun to tell everyone that my sister gave me a black eye.

This post doesn't have any pictures because I am trying to respect Sherri's wishes. Happy Birthday Sherri

Isn't it Ironic?

I took Natalie to the doctor yesterday for her 9 month "well" check up and discovered that she has 2 ear infections. :-( This poor little girl is quite the trooper, she has had 4 ear infections in her right ear and 3 in her left. They make her a little cranky but not bad. Taylor took this picture right before we went to the doctor, so as you can see she is not very bothered. In other news Natalie weighs 15 pounds (3%) and 28 inches long (50%) and is overall healthy. The pediatrician said that she wished she had a growth chart just for our 3 kids. She has always been our Doctor and with every child they are on the low end of weight no matter what I feed them. Personally I don't mind the light weights to lug around.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

And Responsibility. That is the name of the award Nathan received today at his Schools Pride Assembly. I was having camera retardedness today while taking his picture. I forgot to zoom and when I realized it he had already sat down. He is in the middle of the picture in a tan shirt, there is a girl with a yellow shirt sitting behind him. (Now it is time to play Where's Nathan)

Nathan didn't know we were coming to the assembly. He was pleasantly surprised. I loved seeing his reaction when he saw that his Mom and sisters were there. The award is given to students that display respect, kindness responsibility and overall just good kids. I think he is very deserving of this award. Nathan has really turned in to my buddy and is such a big helper I truly enjoy talking with him. He is really maturing and I am proud of who he is becoming.

After the assembly so I could get a picture of his handsome face. Tomorrow is the last day of school. YEAH!!!!!!!