October in a Nutshell

Boy has life been busy! We are scurrying around trying to get things not only ready for our baby but also for my sisters wedding! We have a lot of people coming and a lot of things to do. My time has been streched to the max, but I have had a lot of fun helping her to get ready, and it is a very exciting time! Thankfully I think that she is almost done, which means I am almost done. The kids are doing great in school and loving every minute of it. I get to volunteer once a month for Carson's class and he hates it. I think he thinks I am intruding on his independence...lol. It is lots of fun to see him interact and be so eager to learn. We are knee deep in 2x4's and dry wall trying to get some projects done in our basement, and it is coming right along...yea! However last weekend while loading the truck I put a 2x4 right through the back window of Jack's work truck...YIKES!!! Luckily he seriously has the best boss EVER!!! Jack has been busy hunting this month and came home empty handed...he said he should have just retired 2 years ago when he was 3 for 3...now he is 3 for 5...:( The kids have been loving every minute of this last minute nice weather we are sporatically getting. Everytime the sun in shining they are begging to get on their bikes, I have no idea what I am going to do to entertain them this winter. Here are just a few of our pictures from the following month...Jackson has to read a half an hour everyday and Carson loves to sit and listen to him, this was just a candid moment and thankfully I knew where my camara was...Carson cuddling up to Jackson!

Carson and our little neighbor girl playing in the rain!

Halloween...it was actually really fun, and I hate and I mean HATE Halloween! A shout out to my wonderfully talented mother in law who made Addi's tinkerbell costume. ( I also have a ton of wedding dresses she is currently working on...Sorry Ceri!)

Pottytrained!!!

I have potty trained all my kids early and for some reason I did not want to do it to Aubrey. She is by far my hardest toddler, but a little encouragement from a friend, I set a date and decided to do it. Much to my surprise, she has been my easiest potty trainer. We have been doing it for 2 1/2 weeks now and she is doing great. She needs a little reminder here and there but we have had several days of no accidents. I am hoping that she will be a pro by the time the baby joins us and will have no set backs! I don't know what it is about having them potty trained, but they all of a sudden decide they are ready to be big. She has attempted a to talk a lot more and show me the things she needs rather than just throwing a fit and expecting for me to figure it out. The other picture of her is of last night...we had ice cream cones after Family Home Evening and she made a disaster, it was quickly followed up by a nice warm bath!

Carson!

Carson has turned a new chapter in life and is off to school twice a week! He has done surprisingly well. Not that I thought he would do bad, I just thought maybe he would have a hard time being away from me, but the fact that Addi and Jackson go everyday makes him crazy that he only gets to go twice a week. Carson is my emotional child. He is so sweet and is always giving me kisses and telling me that he loves me more. He is awesome with Aubrey and can't wait to for the new baby, always coming up with new names for it. The other pics with this blog are just of him climbing into the bathtub after he had gotton out and gotten his jammies on. He is a really fun kid always surprising us with the things that he does. We sure do love our Carson.

The Perfect Evening

I really am not complaining...I feel like the luckiest girl alive, but after a long day of managing a household and trying to be a good mom and wife, I look forward to the evenings when everything and everybody is in relax mode. Before school started we were really being relaxed about the kids bedtimes :) (something I already miss) A few weeks ago when Jack got home from mutual, he made some popcorn and cuddled up to them on the couch and was telling them a story of when he was little. I was in the kitchen giving Carson a little bedtime snack (bowl of cereal) and Aubrey was already in bed. It just seemed to me to be the perfect evening.

First Day of School

Today we hit a new milestone...Addi started Kindergarten and Jackson was off to 2nd grade. After a few tears and much excitement the kids were off and did great! We had back to school night last week so they had already delivered all of their supplies and met their teachers. They were a bit concerned about not remembering where their classrooms were and where to line up, but the school yard was full of helpful teachers directing them where to go! I am so proud of my kids, they really are the best!

Bear Lake and The Badger

My family just came from Wisconsin this past week and one of the adventures we went on was to Bear Lake, which is one of our favorite places to go! We just made a day trip out of it and it was a lot of fun. Good food, good fun, beautiful weather, and lots of fun people. There were seven of the eight of us siblings together!Yesterday Alexa and Stef thought they had heard some scratching at the window during the night but couldn't see anything so just thought maybe it was a mouse...eww. So I went outside to see if I could see what was making the noises and this is what I saw...
this Badger was one mad thing...I called everyone I could think of in the phone book to come and get him out for me...but Fish and Game told me to either shoot him or put a board in there that he could climb up and hope that he found his way home. I am not gonna put a board in there and let him roam a neighborhood FULL of kids...so Jack came home and took care of business...poor little guy!

Best Friends...

Moving into a new home is always a bit nerve racking...but moving into this house, I have made some of the best friends a girl NEEDS!!! We LOVE this neighborhood that we live in. The ward is great, the location is perfect, our neighbors are amazing, oh yea...and the house is okay too. Ever since being married haven't found the need to hang out much besides with Jack (which is pretty stinkin fun) but after having several kids, it is fun to get to get out with girls going through the exact same thing! I really look forward to girls nights and Jack has been 100% supportive in my getting a life besides him...LOL!!! The kids have also made their own friends which is so fun...we spend many hours playing outside with friends. The pictures are of the kids and their friends planting popcorn seeds, campfire fun, and boys doing their thing....(We sure do miss the Rigbys)

Just Journaling

So I just need to catch up on the moments with my kids...

Aubrey- I am relishing in the last few months that you are my baby. I have always felt bad when we have another baby that my current baby will feel displaced, but I think you will maybe like being a big sister. You are definetely my most sassy baby! You hate sitting still and your scream is ear splitting. You are in that stage where you are loving to help throw things away and are trying to attempt at putting things in the hamper. I really do love this stage your in. You are just starting to sleep through the night, which is not uncommon for my kids. You love your dad, mom, stef, and that is just about it. You are not social at all, you are content with our little life and that is it. You think you can communicate anything to us and your facial expressions get quite funny and then you start to throw your arms around...it makes me giggle!
Carson- I know you think you are bigger than you are, and I just want to reassure you it is okay to stay little! You are definetly the one child who still adores me, don't get me wrong you love daddy, but you have never quite fully made the switch. I love who you are becoming. You are still into everything but I can handle that quite a bit better than the occassional sassing. You are so excited to start Preschool and anytime I ask you where you learned something you assure me that it was at Preschool. You are excited for your birthday, but you are already convinced that you are 3, so I don't quite know how old you think are turning...just remember that it is always okay to be mommy's little boy!
Addison- You do anything and everything you can to be my little social butterfly, and I know you got that from your dad. You are definetely a daddy's girl, and we both love it, but especially daddy. You are starting to turn into a little mommy. You mimic a lot of things that I do, including wanting to do the housework. You helped my clean the bathroom last Saturday for the first time and I was a little grossed out that you wanted to do it, but the mirrors looked excellent. You have never been one to change your cloths a million times a day or be picky about your hair, I always tell dad that you are the perfect balance.
Jackson- I don't know why we are having a hard time right now, but for some reason we are. I just tell myself it is because you are home all day and you are just not used to it, though I love having you here. You are such a great example to our family. I worry that you are growing up to fast and learning to many facts about life. I love that you love to read and learn. I think it is still so amazing when we drive around and you just read signs like you have always know what they have said. You also think you need to grow up faster than you need to, just remember you will always be my first baby!

Addi's Pie Mishap!

So a couple of weeks ago we bought 3 Flats of Strawberries. After 24 pints of jam and whatever other Strawberry concotion we could come up with Jack asked for Strawberry Pies, so I put 2 together for family home evening. So after our activity Addi ran to the kitchen to get out the pies and she pulled the one off of a high shelf, well it didn't quite make it out. After many tears and a little TLC from her dad, she posed for a few pictures and enjoyed her piece of pie! (Bear with my pics...I think I need a new camera)

Sick Aubrey

So it is really rainy and yucky today so I am just taking a minute to catch up on my journaling/blogging. Back in May Aubrey got really sick, they said it was gastroenteritus...but I feel differently. She had not been feeling herself for probably 10-12 days and then she started not being able to keep a thing down. I had been in contact with the Pedatric Nurses who were just giving me some suggestions and just to hang in there. Well one evening Jack and I had gone out and when we came home, she looked aweful! I probably hadn't really realized it because it went down hill so slow, and it took me being away from her to really realize it. So I scheduled an appt for the next morning and took her in. Her hydration levels were dangerously low, but the Dr. said we could try IV's for 24 hrs. but if she wasn't showing a major difference we would hospitalize her. Well 24 hours turned into 4 days (how many ever hours that is) but we managed to deal with it without the hospital, except for some blood tests there. We had been through this before with Addi when she was little so I really knew what to expect, but it is still SO HARD to see your baby so sick. The pics are on day 3 I think so she is looking lots better in them. She really is a sassy little firecracker, so that being said she did better with being hooked up to the IV than I thought she would!

Zane's Graduation

We finally made it! I say "we" because it was a we effort. We are in baby/little kid mode so going into teenager mode was a HUGE change! I was really surprised and delighted to see how well he did here in Idaho. We love having him around and the kids can not stand that he is now home (WI) for 6 weeks! We are excited about the progress he has made and the decision to go on a mission...he still doesn't turn 19 until May. He did not want to walk for graduation but I told him he didn't have a choice...this was MY thing. (you know how many miles I put on my car back and forthe to school?) Graduation was supposed to be outside, but was changed to indoors at the last minute, so we did not have great seats, and it was so HOT! Anyways here are just a few snapshots of the event!!!

8 Years Does Not Seem Long Enough

I tell Jack all the time that it doesn't seem like 8 years does us justice...it just seems like way longer. We celebrated our 8th anniversary yesterday with not much just a quick date to grab some dessert at Chili's...our favorite! I tell him all the time, but he could have done way better than me, though I am glad he didn't. We have accomplished a lot in our 8 years of marriage...2 homes, 4 kids, and numerous family members that have come and gone from our apt/homes! We really have been blessed. We always talk about getting out more often by ourselves but we are both just so happy to be with our kids and know they won't always be little, as teenagers they will probably be begging us to leave for awhile. Here are just a few things that stick out in our minds from the last eight years...
- Our wedding in Chicago IL Temple...freezing cold
- The arrival of all of our kids
- We work really well together
- We LOVE LOVE LOVE when it is just the two of us with our kids and NOBODY else (hardly ever happens....that's why)
- We are starting to swap places...for example he is becoming the impatient one and I am gaining TONS of patience...who would have thought
- The days when we would go out for dessert at 11:00 and had no one to think about but ourselves!
- First being married and thinking $20 was a TON of money!!! (this makes me laugh out loud)
I really could go on and on...just the highlights we discussed for a minute yesterday and laughed about! I love you Jack!!!

I love this picture. It is kind of crazy looking but it sums up what I spend ALL of my time doing, and I wouldn't change a thing! With four little kids and a teenager running around it has been quite a balancing act at times. I am grateful to everyone who has helped me be able to manage all of this! I really do have the best family!!!

Aubrey Turns 1

My baby turned one on April 13th. I can't believe how fast the year has gone...here are some things about Aubrey!

- She loves her mom and dad...though Grandma is quickly winning her over

- She is very independent and is learning the art of throwing temper tantrums

- She loves to be in her crib when she is tired

- She is a little peanut...she only weighs 19lbs

- Jackson can get her to laugh like nobody else

- Hates, I mean HATES her carseat

- Loves to be outside

- Gets so excited when Jack gets home from work

- Is very jealous when I hold other babies

- Eats anything...fruit, meat, veggies, and anything gross

- Still not sleeping through the night, but we're getting there

She has been such a joy to have in our family...we love this little girl! Here are a few of my favorite pics from the last year!!!

Easter

This year Easter was sooo fun! The older my kids get the more enjoyable any holiday is, they just are so excited for everything! We decided to dye eggs this year. Unfortunately Jack was so sick and so he slept through the whole thing. The kids loved to color on the eggs and then dye them, and Aubrey just loved to grab them and then throw them. It was complete chaos, but it was fun.

Our Easter bunny always comes on Saturday...this year because of Zane and Stef's schedule, the Easter bunny came first thing Saturday morning. The kids woke up to tons and tons of eggs hidden throughout the house. I had told them the Easter bunny was doing something different this year so if you found a basket and it didn't have your name on it then keep looking but don't ruin it for the other person. Six baskets is a lot to hide but after much looking this is where they found them...Zane-Dryer, Stef-Dishwasher, Jackson- Garbage, Addi- Hamper, Carson-Under kitchen sink, Aubrey- Diaper basket. It was fun for them to look and they didn't get to open them until everyone had their basket. So I decided to do the baskets in bowls this year...so all of their stuff went into a bowl, wrapped up, and then name tags on it. When we were getting ready to open the baskets Jackson looked and his tag and said, "I didn't know the Easter bunny liked to scrapbook...what a girl!" I couldn't help but giggle...he has no idea how much the Easter bunny likes to scrap book when given a chance! The kids also got a trampoline for Easter...they were so excited...they could have cared less that it was only about 35 degrees with 30-40 mile an hour winds and snowing...they bundled and played out there the entire day!

The Easter Baskets...and specifically Jackson's because of his comment

On actual Easter we watched General Conference...Jack made the most amazing Easter meal...and just hung out together. Nichola came over for dinner but other than that it was just us, and it was a very relaxing day!

Above: Me and my siblings that were here!

Above: Jack and kids cooking Easter Sunday

Below: Addi must have been very tired after everything because this is how we found her in our bed Easter evening...LOL