family matters

2012-01-30T12:20:00.000-08:00

On a lighter note...I have posted a few pictures to catch up on life. Adventures of the last few months. The week after Christmas was spent at the cabin...some very needed down time and a lot of fresh air. It was amazing.

Here a few pictures from that week.

(scroll down for a few more posts...if your interested:)
He is the man. Grampa ROCKS!

A lot of quality time spent with this guy we often call a stranger :)

It was nice to have him 100%.

2012-01-30T12:02:00.000-08:00

cHrIsTmAs.

It was a little different this year. No tree. No lights. But a new home with happy healthy kids.

And santa found us with the help of Lennon's Elf on a Shelf.

We closed on our new home the same day I found out I had lost the baby.

Had surgery the next day.

Had a week or so to recover.

Had a week to pack up.

Moved.

Had a week to unpack...somewhat:)

Then Christmas hit us.

Good thing I felt the urge to get all my shopping done well ahead of time.

Not normal behavior, but once again, a tender mercy:)

Reagan with her favorite gift. Beyblades. Go figure.

Mayci, with her favorite gift. A talking duck. So easy:)

First snap shot on Christmas morning. New Jammie. Mmmm...so cozy.

Raegan was pleased that our WHOLE family room was "COVERED".

Love the perception of a 6 year old!

2012-01-30T11:59:00.000-08:00

sexy.

smokin.

hot.

wow.

2012-01-30T11:54:00.000-08:00

hAllOwEEn.

With cousins.

Good times!

2012-01-30T11:22:00.000-08:00

mAyCi...in all her get-up. What a joy this little orpan is. WoW!

Short and long version

2012-01-12T12:32:00.000-08:00

Goodness gracious, do I need to catch up! Ill have to get some pictures up here soon, but for now, I just gotta write:)

First. We moved. Twice. Within the last 6 months. Joy:) Not really, but I do have to thank everyone who helped, and helped extra. This was a multiple step ordeal, and Im so grateful for everyones help along the way. From those who showed up to help me pack boxes, to moving boxes, to moving boxes again! You are all AMAZING!

We moved from Spanish Fork to Alpine to now....Highland. We can call Highland our home for now and hopefully for longer than 2 years! We are so excited about our home, where it is, and who we live by. We are so blessed. Spanish Fork was very kind to us. I made some really good friends and still keep in touch with them.

Second. We hit a little bump in the road about 6 weeks ago.

Short version: I was 4 months pregnant when I went in for a check-up. The doctor could not find baby's heartbeat with the doppler, so he checked with an ultrasound. No heartbeat. I lost the baby. Had surgery the next day. Experienced some very sad sad days and weeks to follow. Lots of tender mercies along the way, and feel ultra blessed with the kids I have.

Long version: Let me go back 3 months. I was 10 weeks pregnant when I started to bleed. And cramp. Thought for sure it was a miscarriage. And basically resolved myself to that diagnosis. I sat around that day, from the time I started bleeding to the time I finally decided to go in, waiting for the miscarriage to occur. It wasnt fun, but I was actually ok with it. I knew it was normal and that it happens in a lot of pregnancies. I cried. But I cried mostly cause I was REALLY nervous. Nervous for what was going to occur and what I was going to see.

Like I said, I was waiting around for something to happen when I was advised to go into the ER to get checked out. So I did. They did an ultrasound, took blood, etc., and told me there was a small tear between the placenta and uterus. He said it;s common and should heal, just be careful. So...thats what we did.

At 12 weeks, I saw my doctor. Who is amazing. In fact, so amazing that I was willing to drive to Payson to see him! I let him know of the incident at 10 weeks and he gave me a very thorough ultrasound exam and explaination of everything. He could see where the tear was. Explained that if you are going to tear, thats the place. It was located at the bottom of my placenta. If it was at the top, you risk the weight of the placenta on the uterus to tear more or just not heal. I was lucky. And SO relieved that everything was going to be ok. I heard the heartbeat. It was a strong and healthy heartbeat. Baby was healthy and growing right on track. He said he would see me at 16 weeks, check up on it with an ultrasound to make sure it was all healed up.

Shawn was there with me at 12 weeks for the thorough exam just to make sure everything was ok. He really wanted to be with me at the 16 week check up, because we were going to find out what we were having! He had a meeting but said he'd get out in time to meet me. I still hadn't heard from him by the time I was driving down to my appointment, but I was ok with it. I think the excitement and anticipation of finding out what baby was helped:)

I checked in as usual and did all the normal 'pee in the cup' things. Then doc came in and told me to lay on the table. He got the dopler out and handed it to his assistant to find the heartbeat. She rolled it around on my little bump and found my hearbeat. Rolled it around some more. Found my heartbeat again. Kept rolling. Passed over mine again. About 90 seconds had passed, which felt like 90 hours, without finding baby's heartbeat. My heart started racing. The assistant at this point was pushing SO hard on my little bump when she finally handed the machine over to doc who gave an honest effort as well. They were blaming this on everything from the doppler to having an uncooperative baby. They had me sit up and reassured me they werent going to let me go without getting the heartbeat. They needed an ultrasound but the room was occupied. So they left me waiting. In that quiet little room. By myself. I could feel my heart beat thumping in my neck. My hands were sweaty, and I really wanted Shawn. I text him, but no reply. So I sat. I had a lot going through my head, but was still hopeful that it was just a fluke. I was 4 months along and certainly past any sort of 'danger period'.

Finally after 15 minutes or so, they opened the door and had me lay on the bed in the ultrasound room. Just the doc and me. The picture came up and I saw baby. He scanned my little bump. Before he even said anything tears were rolling down the sides of my face. Not because I knew what was going on, but I think all the nerves got the best of me. Then he spoke. All he had to say was what he said and I understood. He said that this is really what he wasnt hoping for. And that this is the hardest part of his job. I had lost the baby. The baby was lifeless. No heartbeat. No blood circulation. But as I stared at the picture of that little baby, what was to be my little boy or girl, it was really hard to believe. In an instant, gone. The tears were dripping in my ears and down my neck and I can't remember what the doc said after that. I was so so sad.

He spoke with me in his office for a bit. He was so sad for me, and so sweet. He told me from a medical perspective, there is no real explanation. With me being further along, he said I was one week off of having to be induced and actually deliver the baby (tender mercy #1). Instead, we set up an appointment for the next day to have baby surgically removed.

I walked out of the office and broke down. I called Shawn, and got through to him. I told him what had happened and he met me at home. He felt horrible for not being there, but who would have known. I was never mad about that.

He had picked up the kids from school before he met me at home, and that was tough. I had to tell Rae the sad news after she came RUNNING in with Evan by her side, asking...'is it a boy or girl mom?!' I had told them that Heavenly Father had a very important mission baby needed to do in Heaven. And more. But my little Rae's face, as she registered what I was telling her, was heartwrenching. Evan just listened and as he realized everything, he finally spoke and said, "Oh mom, Im gonna miss that baby." We were all able to chuckle a little through the tears. After it settled in a bit with the kids, another heartwrenching moment. Rae asked me, "Mom, what should I tell my class?" UGH! More tears.

The next few days and weeks to follow were really tough, emotionally. If I jotted down all the thoughts that my little brain created, I would be typing for another 3 years. Tender mercy #2 was having my sister Rachel fly in the day of my surgery. Not because of my surgery, but because it divine intervention and had been planned before they even moved! She stayed for 5 weeks, and those first 2 weeks, I was in the basement and she was just up the stairs from me. She kept me company. What a blessing. I found that when I was alone, which wasnt often, I cried. A lot. And if Rach hadn't been there, I would have been alone often. Tender mercy #3 was our move. Our new home. A lot of excitement over it, and a lot of work for it. A lot of distraction:)

There were tender mercies everywhere, and after going through this experience, I have been reminded once again how much control we have. Absolutely none. And without the gospel, and without faith, how do people live. Really. I know there are a lot worse things to go through...a lot, and like someone told me once, if you were ever in a circle of strangers and you were all able to throw into the middle your own trials and see the pile of everyone else's trial, you would probably pick yours right back up and move on. Which is what I have done here. I have been blessed beyond belief. My perspective has once again become more refined. More clear. On what is important and what is not. Now I need to live that. Remember what really matters. And what really matters is family. And love. Time. Quality time. And as the new year is here, this will be my focus. Spend my time wisely. Let the small things go. Love. And remember whats truly important.

Before I end this novel...I have one more thing to say. I truly love Shawn. He was solid. He was supportive. He was emotional. But most of all, he was there. When I really needed him. Like he always is. I hope thats not too cheesy for you Shawn, but I gotta let everyone know that you do more than just fart and burp;) I love you. And man oh man do I love my kids. What a real miracle and blessing each one of them are to me.

2011-10-05T14:21:00.000-07:00

just an announcement. well, 2 announcements and 1 invitation.

announcement #1:

we are moving. on saturday.

invitation:

you are cordially invited to join us on saturday,

October 8, 2011,

for a guaranteed laugh and good time...

loading furniture:)

announcement #2:

im pregnant. 8 weeks or so.

PLEA:

help!

2011-09-13T22:06:00.000-07:00

bravest. courageous. heroes i have veiwed a few episodes and specials that have been airing lately and have shed many many tears in doing so. i wonder to myself 'why am i doing this' and i answer it by saying 'i would want others to hear my story and cry with me.'

i feel a real surge of pain for all those families who have lost a loved one in this tragic event and am in complete awe of those brave men and women who charged TOWARD rather than away the catastophe and fires. who RAN up those flights of stairs rather than down. all in the name of sacrifice, bravery, compassion, duty, and real true heroism.

God Bless.

2011-09-12T14:07:00.000-07:00

out with the old...light:

in with the new....light:

isnt it pretty:)

Big thanks to one of the nicest and most gorgeous families I know...

THE HANNEMANS!

Thank you so much. Im sure because we now have this beautiful light in our kitchen, we received over the weekend a...DRUM ROLL PLEASE...

A FULL.PRICE.OFFER ON OUR HOME!!!

(granted they are getting it at an unimaginable price...$62/sq.ft)

Its been accepted...now we'll just see if it really happens:)

2011-09-12T14:02:00.000-07:00

Look what I pulled from my garden.

Thought it looked like an interesting weed....

FAR FROM!

Mmmmmmm.

2011-09-10T08:51:00.000-07:00

WATCH OUT PRESCHOOL

HERE I COME!

What a big day for this little guy. He was so excited right up until I had to say good-bye...then he got a little nervous and clutched a little tighter to my hand.

I led him to the teacher, Miss Karen, who is so awesome, and told Evan she knows some secret toys he can play with.

He jumped from my arm to hers...and off they went.

What a joy.

It was hard for me to leave though. I stood outside the door just to wait and see if he would turn his head one last time looking for mommy. He did. So I waved. Then he waved with his brave but nervous grin. And THATS where I almost cracked...but I didn't. I walked back to the car hand in hand with my little Mayci. Met up with Becca. And enjoyed the most delicous MiMi's Cafe breakfast ever.

It was a grand day. And Evan cant stop asking when he gets to go to school again.

2011-09-06T08:49:00.000-07:00

My sweet little Raegan is feeling the effects of her dad being gone so much. She cries at LEAST once a day for him. Wants him to come home. Wishes I were daddy. Wishes I was like daddy. And many more things she cries out when she is missing her dad. Two quotes from her during these moments of anguish turned my stomach and stung my eyes:

"Mom, I wish I was in Kindergarten again and not First grade so I could be home with dad...cause then I could be home early to see him."

"I wish we could have 2 daddy's. One that could go to work and the other one that could stay home"

To which I wanted to reply....'well, that DOES happen!" HA HA HA!

There has always been an undeniably special bond between Rae and her dad, and Ive always seen it. But now I am hearing of it straight from her precious little lips. Try as I might, I explain why dad HAS to work, and what would happen if he didn't. I have tried to warn her of his schedule right now and of his new job and its requirements, but she just wants her dad. Plain and simple.

Its bitter sweet.

Bitter...because she truly does long for him.

Sweet....because she truly does long for him.

To Rachy:

2011-09-02T12:07:00.000-07:00

Garden Fresh Tomatoes.

Fresh Mozerella cheese (or a cheese stick:).

Balsamic Vinegar.

Try to eat some of this if your missing me:) It helped me while I was missing you.

I love you.

And miss you much lately...(gulp, blink).

With love,

Farrs

2011-09-01T19:23:00.000-07:00

When the house is quiet, and your feeling a little lonely...what do you do???

Well, you grab your best bud first, because he's always there. You meander to your garden together and pick 30 tomatoes, 5 green bell peppers, a bunch of hot bell peppers, and a GI.NOR.MOUS zuchini from the garden. Lay it all out on the table and decide what to do with it all. Canning goes through your mind, but when you look over and remember your best bud is with you, you quickly opt out of canning, and make a delicous chocolatey chipy zuchini bread muffin mix:)

Best bud is a huge helper when it comes to cooking anything with sugar and chocolate...so...WHY NOT?!

Through the process, you forget about being lonely....because you remember that you are NEVER alone. You A.L.W.A.Y.S have your best bud around. And seriously, whats better than a best bud decked out in chocolate batter?! NOTHING! Thanks Evan, for being there for me while Mayci was sleeping, while Raegan was gone to school, and while dad was.... well.... working. Im so glad you were by my side. I love you. So much.

2011-09-01T19:09:00.000-07:00

Oh my sweet sweet Mayci...where art thou?? Hast thou been swept away by the terrible twos??

No?

Oh good, then where art thou?....

You're still here with us huh. Just ran away for a bit to grab some spicy sauce to add to your sweetness....right?!

OK. Good. I was missing you:)

2011-08-31T21:04:00.000-07:00

2011-08-31T15:37:00.000-07:00

2011-08-25T10:17:00.000-07:00

So, I just posted a picture-less post about Raegan and first grade. I stood up to find Evan, and this is how I found him....

All by himself in our pathetic little sand box.

Now call me crazy, but this was almost more tear-worthy than sending my first child off to first grade for the first time.

Im missing the noise, but he's missing his little playmate/buddy/friend/enemy/compadre.../...sister.

We miss ya Rae (written with a lil lump in the ol throat).

2011-08-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

Well...Im the awesome mom who marked the date of Raegans first day of FIRST grade wrong on my calendar. It was only a week later.

Im the best mom, I whipped out my camera and shot a picture of her on her first day of FIRST grade dressed in her perfectly new and manicured little outfit...SYKE!

Im that really unique mom who was actually excited for her first day of a full day in school.

Im that kind of mom that doesnt want to be 'THAT mom' and cry once she is gone. Oh, but I am. Not a lot, just a little.

BUT...I am ok though, cause I WAS home when she walked through the door after her FIRST day of FIRST grade...and I will always be home when she walks through the door after her first day in anything. I will always be her biggest fan, I will be her most curious fan, and I will always love her with this indescribable love that is oh so scary at times.

Most importantly, despite my messiness as a mom lately, she LOVES first grade:) It fits her like a glove. Now I just have to fill my house with music or something. ITS TOO QUIET.

2011-08-15T07:08:00.000-07:00

garden fresh:

tomatoes, zuchini, anaheim peppers, onions, and some giant sugar snap peas.

yum.

i get some sort of weird high when i finally get to pick these items...

and eat them.

New job can wait...

2011-08-05T13:52:00.000-07:00

So, a lot has changed around here. Well...I guess not a lot, but it really feels like my world has been tipped upside down and turned inside out:) But that can wait for a later time. Better yet, I sat down with my amazingly brilliant and very intuitive 4 year old and had a little chat about mommies.

Went like so:

*I tried to sneek in a few minutes of a recorded 'So You Think You Can Dance' when Evan popped in and sat right by me...needless to say, I changed the channel after 30 seconds**

Evan - "moms dont watch shows"

Me - "really?! why not? what to moms do?"

Evan - "they make stuff. for us. and we sit down. not the moms though."

Me - "so moms dont sit down"

Evan - "nope."

*now intrigued with his perception of what mommies do, I prodded for more*

Me - "what else do mommies do?"

Evan - "um, well, they sit on the computer. and work. and....OH!...and they can drive!! and they can do laundry too."

Me - "ya. what else?"

Evan - "oh ya, um, they can do a garden too. and they can cut the grass so its not itchy."

Me - "thats so cool huh. moms are pretty cool huh Ev. What do moms do when you fall down and get an owey?'

Evan - 'OH! they put a bandaid on. can i have a gummy bear...2 of them?"

*so, surely i jumped up with a smile and got him 3 gummy bears. and that was that. what a pleasure it is to be Evans mommy. i will cherrish those little conversations forever, and will certainly miss them when their gone*

2011-06-13T14:10:00.000-07:00

2011-06-09T14:24:00.000-07:00

This sums up my childhood in the summer:

friends.

silly faces.

swimsuits.

green grass.
sprinklers. popcorn.

and of course....

being outside all . day . long!

Pure Bliss:)

Happy Birthday Farrah!!! Big 30....Good times!! Leaving California...not good times :(

2011-05-30T20:24:00.000-07:00

What more can you say about Farrah that isn't already said? She is the best!!! A wonderful Mother, Daughter, Friend, wife, Sister, Sister-in-law..... We spent the ENTIRE day at the beach to celebrate. She had a blast paddle-boarding and tanning. I could go on and on about Farrah but you guys know how long that would take. She is a do-it-all Mother who loves her family, friends and neighbors.

I didn't upload these pictures in the correct order. Farrah decided that she would get out on the paddle-board. She has spent the week laying around and chasing the kids. Here is the end result. She did really good and only had one spill. We came down to the beach every single day we were here other than one day that we went over the mountains to the Santa Ynez River to visit the White Rock swimming hole. My family used to head up there for FHE all the time. We would pack dinner and swim the afternoon away and head back home. So many cool memories. We will upload those pictures later.

No that is not a shark. Farrah got to spend some time with the dolphins who were swimming all around her the whole time she was out there. A few got within feet and sort of freaked her out. No big deal....just another day in paradise a.k.a. Carpinteria. :)

Cool shot of Farrah and I paddling out with the islands in the distance.

Don't hate!!!....

Farrah sunning while Brion keeps the little ones occupied. He was a stud and the kids absolutely worship him. No lie. And wait until you see the family photos we took yesterday up at Toro Canyon Park. He is a phenomenal photographer and better guy. Really..!!!!

Brion and Grandma Trudy living the rough life.

Not so sure Evan is stoked to take this picture.

At the beach bright and early...

This is the bluffs in Carpinteria. We took our family photos out here last year but this year we went out there to catch lizards and see the seals.

Quick story about the lizard hanging by a noose. Our first Sunday here in Carp we went down to the bluffs to see the seal rookery. I spotted a few lizards and decided I would attempt to catch a few for Raegan. I told Farrah how we used to catch lizards all day long by tying a noose at the end of this long grass, putting it around the lizards neck and whala...you have a new lizard friend. Farrah insisted that this was not possible. You know the rest of the story. I caught two that afternoon with my noose...no problem. We went back this past Sunday and caught a few more for Raegan to have for the afternoon. (No it's not cruel. I take the noose off first thing.)

Farrah is holding the grass while I grab the lizard.

Nicole and her BFF...Oh yeah. Raegan lost her first tooth out here so the tooth fairy had to make the long trek to visit her here in California. I even heard the tooth fairy is better in Cali... :)

California LOVE....

2011-05-24T22:00:00.000-07:00

We wanted to give everyone an update on our time here in California... You'll quickly notice that our trip has comprised of....Beach, beach, beach and great company. Weather has been unreal. The worst day was a few clouds on Sunday which meant the Seal rookery and a walk. I thought this picture was great because of a few things. 1) Every time Evan posed for a photo on his birthday he threw up a 4. 2) Raegan just had to join in but they are both so happy to share the spotlight. 3) What is up with Mayci's hair? Any help would be appreciated.
Monday started with manicures on the front lawn. Check out Evan. Can you look at his pose without laughing your head off?

Retired life for Mom and Dad is GOOD!!!! They literally walk out their front door to this. What a life!!! We can't thank them enough for hosting us and taking care of us. We don't want to leave.

Yes I know this is a weird picture but Mayci knows how to steal the show.

Mommy loves her some Mayci...

This little man is in Heaven.

Beautiful!!!
What a great shot. Shawn's hometown of Carpinteria...where the mountains meet the surf...

Raegan loves the beach!!!!

Silly Raegan

Raegan loves the ocean. While Dad went off to catch a few waves of his own Raegan grabbed the board and headed out to catch some surf. She surprised us all and was catching wave after wave.

Dad had to get in on the action today. He borrowed a board from Brion and headed out to Carp Point, his old stomping ground. He had a blast and couldn't help reliving the old days. The waves were small but enjoyable. He said he hasn't had that much fun in a long time.

Happy Birthday Evan

2011-05-22T21:11:00.000-07:00

Shawn wasn't sure what to get Evan for his birthday. You can always get another toy that will be in the trash within a month but that gets old. Shawn has a collection of autographs that his Dad got growing up around volleyball legends. Letters from Karch Kiraly and Sinjin Smith just to name a few. When the Sports Illustrated cover below came out Shawn thought it would be cool to have Jimmer sign it for Evan. It probably won't mean much right now to Evan but we will have it framed and in his room from his Dad.

Can you think of a better place to spend your birthday? Didn't think so...we'll be back down there bright and early tomorrow. What a life :)

We love you Evan. Funny story tonight. Evan and Raegan are sleeping in the same room on a couple of mats on the floor. Shawn brushed their teeth and tucked them in. They were having a fun Sunday with a BBQ, walk down to the seal rookery (there were 130 seals on the beach while we were there), another BBQ and baseball at Tia Carlina's house and some play time with some lizards caught down at the beach which caused them to be a bit overtired. You know what that means...not the easiest to get in bed. So about 3 minutes after Shawn left the room he heard Evan yell for him so he charges in the room and throws on the lights ready to put someone on timeout when Evan says..."Dad, you forgot the prayer." Can you get mad at that? No way. We love you Evan. You are the man!!!!

Evan is 4!!!!

2011-05-21T22:07:00.000-07:00

So I tried to post a picture from my cell phone last night but it was a pretty pathetic attempt. Horrible picture quality which is weird since I've done it before...Anyways... We are loving California, as usual, and are not quite sure when we will make our way back to Utah. Maybe never....

It looks like we will be celebrating 2 birthdays while here and perhaps 3. Evan was in Heaven on his birthday. We spent the afternoon at the beach catching sandcrabs and chasing seagulls. We then celebrated a bit at Rusty's pizza parlor and after proceeded home for some cupcakes and a nice stroll around the Vallecito block to try out his new scooter.

2011-05-20T23:06:00.000-07:00

Hey Utah....

not missing you one bit....

First for everything...

2011-05-13T13:35:00.001-07:00

I just have to thank my kids for being patient with me. My little Rae is now in Kindergarten, has now made a ton of friends and been to a ton of birthday parties, and now understands....what a 'real' party means. So, needless to say, she had to wait till 6 to get a real party. Meaning, I actually had invitations, and I even had little treat bags! I know, Im so proud of me too:) Raegan hates princesses, but loves tangeled. So that was the 'theme'...

does there always have to be a theme?!

And here they are, opening gifts. The kids progressively got closer and closer to Rae as each gift was given....practically sufficating her. But she loved it.

This is how it began...with some order to the madness:) All the kids sitting. Patiently. Not for long as the above pictures prove!
Cake time....and yes....I even had the right amount of candles. In fact, enough for 6 on both cakes. And yes, you read that right. I made 2 cakes, AND cupcakes....that I let Rae and Evan decorate. I know, Im proud of me too:)

its a start, right?!

**Where's Waldo?? The girl picking her nose? Can you spot her? HA! Love it.**

Rae's requested games: Duck Duck Goose. And Red Rover.

striking...isnt she.

All in all, it was a birthday bash, and Rae was out of her mind excited. Finally. She got the real deal. It was perfect....well almost perfect....up until I thought we had lost someone. Her dad came to pick her up. We swept through the house calling her name, checked 2-3 times outside. She was nowhere. And I was hyperventilating. Parents worst nightmare was unfolding. Right before I approached her dad to ask him if its normal for her to wander off...UGH!...I thought of sweeping through one more time....thoroughly....myself. So, upstairs, Im going into each room, and as Im walking into one, I see the closet rumble a little and hear what sounds like velcro behind the closed closet door. So...she was hiding in the closet, and when I finally got to her...I almost spanked her (not really)! What the heck?! HEART ATTACK. Thats what she just gave me, and little did she know. She just strolled out the door hand in hand with her dad as I honestly thought my heart was gonna jump from my chest.

So, aside from that incident....it was amazing. Thank you everyone! Thank you for making this such a special day for my special girl. It was memorable.

2011-05-06T13:01:00.000-07:00

2011-05-06T12:44:00.000-07:00

are they really mine?

wow.

priceless.

Happy Birthday Rae!!!!

2011-05-06T07:46:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, yesterday was our little Raegan's birthday. We will be celebrating with family and friends on Saturday but we wanted to do a few things on "her" day. Shawn teaches an Urban Fishing Class every Thursday night from 6-8p.m. Raegan is in the class as well as 5 other kids in his group. Essentially he spends the whole time baiting hooks and trying to convince the kids to leave the bait in the water since they instantly want to start reeling in the line. Anyways...we asked Rae if she wanted to go to a restaurant of her choice (Dad would have found a sub) or did she want to go fishing with Dad. What a proud Papa!!!! No choice at all. Rae wanted to fish!!! She had her best day fishing ever. Caught 6 fish...6 fish for a new 6 year old. (Shawn is certain she caught 5 but does admit he probably lost count since he is such a great mathematician. So 6 rainbow trout for little Raegan on her bday.) She loves her fishing class and got home telling Mom..."maybe we should just have everyone meet here for my birthday and we can just go fishing instead of a party." True story. We love you Rae!!!! You are a sweet, beautiful little girl who lights up our life.

2011-04-27T14:22:00.000-07:00

Well, its really sad that this is the only new picture I have on my camera since my last post...but it tells one story of the past few weeks. It tells the horror story of last week:)...but let me start with the good stuff...

So, two weeks ago, we had a great spring break. Not that its much different for us cause Raegan is only in school for 2 hours each morning, but I made it a goal to do something with the kids, outside the normal routine, every day of spring break...to make it a different week...and that goal was MET! YA!

Monday: Park with cousins...it was a beautiful day. So beautiful that Mayci got FRIED! Love the spingtime sunburns...always catches me off guard.

Tuesday: Lehi Pool. Blast for the kids...not so awesome for me:) Its just not the same with no sun...I seemed to focus on what could possibly be floating in that water, and just how much chlorine my kids ingest:) Im a bit more distracted with the sun beating on me...and maybe think the rays are zapping all the lovely germs swimming with us!

Wednesday and Thursday: Jump on it...and SLEEP OVER (for Rae atleast) at Aunt Laci's. Thank you Laci and Company for making Rae feel so loved and special. It means so much to me to have you guys take her in the way you do. Truly a blessing!

Friday and Saturday: Park in Alpine with my family. It was so beautiful...we even enjoyed some soccer free play. It was so great.

The week flew, and it was so so so fun to be with cousins and family ALL WEEK LONG. I didnt want to part from it. Im so blessed to be so close to Shawns family as well as my own. It made for a great break...in our everyday schedule:)

Then, I guess with every flower...there is a weed. Sunday, after playing hard all week, Rae threw up all night. Stayed home from school Monday. Tuesday, I got home from the gym that night and immediately felt sick. Sure enough, I started to barf. Then I heard Evan get out of his bed about an hour after I got sick, and he was sick. Barfing. And then...through the night, as I was barfing with Evan by my side feeling HORRIBLE...my sweet sweet little mayci started coughing. Just coughing. So I sent Shawn in there, and sure enough, she barfed. Long gross story short... Evan, Mayci, and I all came down with the flu and felt terrible Tues night and Wednesday. Shawn was a ticking time bomb, and just when we thought he was safe...outta the woods, he got it. Thursday night.

Needless to say, when it rains it pours, and last week was awful! BUT... we all recovered and had a wonderful weekend filled with family and Easter. Saturday, my mom had everyone over for food, hunts, and goodie baskets (she ceases to amaze me)! Saturday night we met family at the BYU mens volleyball game. Sunday, we FINALLY made our way up to Gingers for Easter, and it was fantastic. Good food. Good company. What more can you ask for?! Thank you Ginger and Ryan and everyone else who brought us all together! It was so nice.

As I stated at the beginning, the only day I captured in the last few weeks is that one of Evan. Sick. Asleep on the couch. Sad. But, amidst that one awful gross and stinky week, we had some really nice days with family and friends, and I couldn't be more blessed to have the family I was born into, and the family I married into, surround me. I love you all so much and I thank you for making my life happy.

I thank my Heavens above every single night for what I have. I find my quiet moments every now and then (usually when I peek in at each one of my kids sleeping before I head off to bed) and marvel at how blessed I have been, beginning with my kids and my other half.. How did I get so lucky, so blessed? I dont know. But I am. I love my life and I should never ever ever...complain. Ever.

2011-04-08T09:42:00.000-07:00

so, when this light goes out (and its not just the bulbs) in my kitchen...

this is what i resort to... :)

pretty clever...I'll have to admit - light like its right from the ceiling. ha!

i think this is the hip modern look right now....right?!

help.

i still love you shawn. even if your not so handy:) and ill admit, when there is something i think i can tackle, i wont pay someone to do it. my bad too.

My first...

2011-03-29T21:29:00.000-07:00

Since 'time-out' cant always take place in her bedroom (usually while Mayci is sleeping because of the screaming and yelling that occurs) the laundry room is usually the grounds for minor crimes. Small minutes. Like whining and whining and whining after being told...'this is your warning and if you whine a.n.y.m.o.r.e. its time-out in the laundry room. Well, out came another whine...and DONE. Off to the laundry room she went. If there is kicking and screaming...time is added:)

Man, writing this out is weird. Feels mean:)

Anyway, no kicking and screaming, just a few whimpers, and then.....silence. For 10 minutes. Silence. Then...this pile here, of folded sheets and towels, was quickly thrown out of the laundry room. Door shut again.

More silence...

then, when her time was up, and I went in to get her,

I looked at the shoe shelf and it was organized like so:

Then, moments after she was let free, she handed me this all folded up with a little treat wrapped inside: What can I say, I may need to use every room in my house for time out:) I had to squeeze her so tight after that dose of time out and tell her over and over again how much I love her. I do. So so much. Every day she grows, I feel like I grow with her. I get to know her. And all her 'different' characteristics that you dont always expect a young 5 year old to have. She loves to be 'grown up'. Anything to be like Alix. Her 14 year old aunt whom she literally, I mean literally, worships. "Mom, would Alix eat this?" "Drink this?" "Wear this?" "Watch This?" "Listen to this?" "Buy this?" And on and on and on. Which, upon getting to know this about her, pieces of some of my puzzle are coming together when it comes to 'understanding' her. She has been difficult to 'understand' at times. As early as I can remember, nursery for example, she would never...NEVER...participate. Only watch. In tumbling...with smaller kids Evan's size...you could see embarrassment wash over her as I would watch her do what the teacher was asking the 'kids' to do. A lot of times she would tell me not to watch. In soccer, when the coach would do silly things, anything other than soccer skills, she would watch...never do. She was much too mature for that. So interesting. So naturally, her favorite thing to do is 'babysit'. Helpful at times. Not helpful at other times. But here she is in her 'grown up' realm. It makes my eyes sting when I look over at this sight. Something I didnt ask for. Something that was prompted totally and completely by her. Raegan. With Mayci in her lap. Fixing up her hair. Also. Honestly. From the time Raegan was born to now, the girl CANNOT and WILL NOT watch TV. No movies, shows. Nothin. And as a first time ma, I couldn't understand it. Don't all kids at SOME point like TV. And Ill admit...it drove.me.nuts at times. Not in the car, not at home. NOWHERE! But, I must say, without this little girl, I might never leave the house. It is now a HABIT to go. Anywhere. Somewhere. Just for my little Rae. She struggles when it comes to entertaining herself... but she is NOT lazy. SHE . MUST . BE . ENTERTAINED Its always always always been this way. In fact, I remember calling Laci while living in Logan in desperation... "What the heck do you do all day?" "Where should I take this child?" "She hates our house!" And she said go walk around Target (love it!) HA! But, its still that way. Totally and Completely. The second that child walks in from a mere 2 1/2 hours of kindergarten the very first thing she asks is: "Where are we going today?" Then she follows me through the house, goes where I go, and pesters . pesters . pesters, till I finally come up with SOMETHING! I love this about her. Love. Love. Love. Irritating at times? Yes. But I have noticed that when Rae is not here, gone for a night, Im bored. And I miss her. So, here she is, after school, all on her own. In the snow. Cause who could resist fresh snow. Not my angel. Not my little Rae. I love you Rae. Dont ever change. Please.

Binki anyone?!

2011-03-29T21:17:00.000-07:00

So, I tried and tried and tried with all my might to get Mayci to take the binki when she was just a new babe. To no avail! SHE COMPLETELY REFUSED! So much so that she literally would have a real temper about it. The second it was put in her mouth...one suck and it was over. So so angry that mom would dare stick just a stupid rubbery foreign object in her mouth that produced....NOTHING! So, eventually, I admit, after buying every brand, flavor, size, and color...I gave up.

Well, had I known that the right binki was right under my nose. I should have tried the lid to our play tea pot. DUH. What was I thinking. She has discovered it and is finally happy with a binki. HA! Pretty hilarious. She really does suck on it, and not only that, she carries 2 other lids around...one for each hand. Couldn't pass up on THAT ONE!

A little dose of the cabin!

2011-03-16T14:30:00.000-07:00

Well folks, we finally made it back up to the cabin over the weekend. It was a fabulously relaxing little jaunt from the same pace of life.

THANK YOU CABIN!

the first morning we woke up, we headed outside and the snow was perfect for sledding! and thats just we did:) it was so nice.

The snow was really hard and frozen. Mayci loved walking on it.

this is me, yes me, in all my cabin glory. sweats, mullet, the whole bit. oh, and the shoes was the reason this picture was taken by rachel. they were my dads. i didnt bring any snow gear and i was anxious to get out there on that sled:)

we love it when dad's can join us...

yes, it was warm enough to wear shorts. serious.

rae and ev in heaven. together.

thanks cami cuz...

2011-03-16T14:09:00.000-07:00

...for my beautiful dress.

when my mom puts it on me

i walk around the house feeling so beautiful.

i run and point to my dress

and make sure everyone sees me.

so thank you cami.

for my beautiful dress.

maybe i should be worried?!

2011-03-16T13:49:00.000-07:00

this is what happens when the sun starts to visit us. yikes.

HELP!

2011-03-07T15:26:00.000-08:00

as im cleaning Evans bumb, he is adamant that i not flush the toilet yet! then, when he is all cleaned up and buttoned up, he looks in the toilet and says:

"I cant see how long my poop is...because the wipes is blocking me."

for real?! did he just say that?! so thats why he didnt want me to flush yet!

i know everyone checks out the toilet after use (c'mon people, lets get real here), but really, does it start at 3. guess so when he is half Shawn!

HAHAHA!

i laughed at that one...and he was really adamant that i not flush the toilet...yet!

wow.

help.

just messin around

2011-03-04T12:46:00.000-08:00

2011-02-14T12:46:00.000-08:00

So, because I dont EVER put on a huge production for my kids for anything, really...why start now?! HA. Well, I thought I would maybe do something fun today, since it is Valentines Day, and my little Rae knows now what and when all these holidays are. And I wanted to take the opportunity today to really make SURE I tell them how much I love them:)

So, after a little treasure hunt using little heart shaped cases filled with candy and a drawing of where to look...they came to the end and found on their pillows a little heart shaped note with....dun da da duuuuun....a coloring book! A really cool one, I reassured them, because it has activities inside too, not just pictures to color...ha. So they shoved the notes aside, but I gathered them, and sat each one on my lap, and read them outloud to each of them.

Raegan-

I want to tell you how much I love you today. I want you to know you are so so special to me. I love all of you and more. I love your big girl personality, that you like to do everything all.by.yourself. And that you always give it your very best job. I love that you love your brother and sister, and still give them a chance to play with you even when its frustrating because they are so much 'smaller' than you. I love your sweet and soft spot. Your sensitive. And your caring. I love that you are friends with kids in your class that need friends. I love that your favorite thing in this whole wide world is your daddy. That you would give ANYTHING to just curl up with him and stay there for the rest of your life. I love that your spicy at home and sweet everywhere else. I love that you challenge mom and dad in every way to be better parents, and people. I love you when you laugh. When you cry. When you are clean. Or dirty. When you are awake and when you fall asleep. I love you in your struggles, and I love you in your triumphs. I love you when your 5. When you are 15. When you are 25. And forever and ever. I love you my precious little girl. Happy Valentines day.

Evan-

I love you Evan. I love your sweet and tender heart and soul. I love your remarkable, incredible, entertaining immagination. I love your soft shy smile and your precious bright blue eyes. I love your voice and when you say, 'you are my best mommy' after I tell you that you are my best buddy. I love your guilty conscious and your unnessesary apologies. I love your ability to quickly forgive and forget. I love you....two infinite and BEYOND. Happy Valentines Day my best best buddy forever.

Mayci-

Where do I begin. I love you beyond words. I love that when you first arrived you scared me out of having more kids, then surprised me into wanting a thousand more! I love watching you, holding you, comforting you, getting you out of bed, listening to your own language, laughing at you, admiring you, and most of all...LOVING YOU....cause its SO SO easy. You are pure joy, and I love you a million. Happy Valentines Day...baby Jo Jo.

Happy Valentines to all. I love you!

Priceless.

2011-01-31T12:26:00.001-08:00

Here is what I saw as I peered out my window to see what the kids were up to...when they said they wanted to go outside:

All you need are a blanket, a couch, a table with 3 chairs

a coat, some gloves, a few stuffed animals, and....

a best friend:)

I love to see this. Makes me so so so happy.

Uuummmmmm....

2011-01-31T12:18:00.000-08:00

Please tell me you love that face. I do! So funny! She is getting SO old...she now cuddles and cares for all the babies lying around the house. I walked in to this sight, except she was just sitting by the baby on the dora couch and when I went to grab my camera, this is what I shot. I cannot believe that she is old enough to be taking care of babies!!! STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mountains and Bugs

2011-01-25T08:59:00.000-08:00

Evan: "Mom. Where are the mountains? I cant see the mountains."

Mom: (laugh...) "I know you cant see them because of the snow...huh."

Evan: "Ya. I cant see them cause the snow blowed them away."

_______________________________________________

Evan: (falls to the floor and grabs his foot, and in frustration says...) "UGH. Why are you on me bugs?!"

Mom: "Whats wrong Ev?"

Evan: "The bugs are on my foot mom, and theyre hurting me....ugh"

(his foot fell asleep)

_______________________________________________

These little brains cease to amaze me.

The art of eating olives

2011-01-19T16:05:00.000-08:00

Mayci has discovered the correct way of eating olives. How? It continues to boggle my mind the way these little tiny people figure these things out! From sitting up, to crawling...I mean really...its not like we crawl around for them to mimic. To walking, running, and even down to the way you are supposed to eat olives.

I just sat in amazement. Is that pathetic? I watched her pick it up, check it out, notice the hole, and then attempt and succeed at poking her little fat finger in the hole and eat it off her finger.

I love her. So much.

Cabin Fever!

2011-01-19T15:36:00.000-08:00

I wonder how many days or weeks it would take for me to come down with 'cabin fever' here! We literally sat...and sat....and SAT. But it was blissful...truly. No TV. No everyday stress and schedule. Just family. Games. Snow fun. And sitting. A lot of sitting:) So happy to be putting this cabin to good use...couldnt have had a better time...sitting:)

Christmas 2010

2011-01-04T08:46:00.000-08:00

Here is a caption of just what we were up to during Christmas!!

Mayci baby...Christmas morning...

Christmas morning...Evan's much desired Toy Story:)

I just have to apologize to Aunt Cole. If you notice her in the background...she may look like she didnt sleep at all Christmas Eve. Well, she didnt. Im sorry Cole for keeping you up all night.
Love,
Mayci
PS: you are still as beautiful as ever:)

Waiting to see what santa left behind the wall...

I always knew he faked sleeping when the kids dozed on him:) haha! Caught ya!
Here are a few pics of the very tired and worn out kids. Too much fun at the beach!!

Dad in his element...digging tunnels and playing in the sand right along with the kids. Might be my favorite thing to see...HIM playing with the kids!

Rae trying to 'sled' down the sand.

Is there a more beautiful picture....? NO!

Red and Blue only go together here:

...and here...

CLASSIC!

Gramma spoiled Raegan with love...and some sweet hairdo's. Have I attempted a few of them since we got home...yes. Have I failed miserably...yes. Maybe if I have 4 more girls, who actually LET me practice on them, I might get there someday:)
LOVE YOU GRAMMA. Thanks for the special attention.

beautiful duo...don't ya think. wow.

Veggin'...in the rain.

More special attention from gramma. Playin some games while the rain came down...

Thanks again gramma, grampa, cole, ho, and the anderton fam for making this Christmas a delight. We made the most of the rain...playing board games, using the church gym to play ball, enjoying eachothers company, going out for dinner, watching movies, spinning every morning together, and more! It was actually quite enjoyable. But when the sun shone through, we loved the beach, the sand, the waves, the walks, and most of all the company!

It was a very Merry Christmas...and one to always remember!

Walkin in a Winter Wonderland....

2010-12-28T00:11:00.000-08:00

Holidays are good in Carpinteria, CA. Spent today paddle boarding, makin sand castles, diggin tunnels, gettin a little color... Not sure when we will make our way back to Utah but could some please shovel our driveway since I hear it's been snowy and foggy out that way. Thanks in advance.

Beautiful Disaster

2010-12-10T16:52:00.001-08:00

its beautiful because:
well...look at them. are you kidding. to walk in and see this. i stand and stare for at least 5 minutes as my heart pounds, and without fail, i think, wow, i am so so lucky. and maybe i choke up, or maybe my eyes well with tears. quite frankly, there is nothing more beautiful. to be able to see your kids sleeping, safe, snug, sound, and together. mmmm. precious.
its a disaster because:
they are in MY bed. OOPS. so much for never letting my kids in MY bed...they have TAKEN OVER my bed. and a small admission...i might look at this scene...ponder...then take my pillow in their room and, well, go to bed:) i figure im sleeping, they're sleeping, dad is sleeping (cause he can, right there next to them), OH, and don't let me leave kaya out. NOW, she thinks my bed is cozy too.

ive learned through the years this phrase holds true in our household:
NEVER SAY NEVER!

Hair bands

2010-12-10T16:38:00.000-08:00

Grandma was here visiting Utah a while ago, and on one of her visits to our house, Rae got spoiled.

Raegan loves grandma Trudy's hairstyling techniques. Try as I might to do the same thing...its NOT the same.

Thanks, grandma! We love your visits!

New best friend

2010-12-10T15:29:00.000-08:00

We love it when Becca surprises us...especially my little Rae. For one reason or another, she has grown to worship Aunt Becca!

She sits really close to her, close enough that Becca can smell the fresh scent of her breath:) She insists on being entertained by Becca during her whole stay.

Its pretty cute. We love you Beccs. Keep visiting. K:)

Pure sweet sweet JOY...

2010-12-08T12:14:00.000-08:00

From birth to ONE!

Well, when someone says, 'geez, she seems like a mellow, happy child.' I say, 'SHE IS!'

I can't even begin to describe the amount of joy this little perfect bundle brings to our small family. She IS the definition of JOY. She has been the best little baby ever. She started sleeping through the night, well more than 'through the night' at 6 weeks. She would sleep for TWELVE hours!! And still does! She wakes up happy. Plays happy. Eats happy. Sleeps happy. She is the happiest little individual on this living Earth right now. She smiles all day. Literally.

My favorite part of the day is getting her out of her crib. She gives me the sweetest little loves, rests her little head on my shoulder, for a good 30 seconds AT LEAST, and then whips her head around to look at me with a big huge grin.

Her dad, well, he is smitten by this child. I can't tell you how many times he and I look at each other while she just crawls around at our feet and say...'seriously...is she ours?!' This little girl, just like our other little girl, has daddy wrapped right around her pudgy little finger. The way he looks at her, plays with her, takes care of her, is priceless. It was love at first sight, and it continues to just GROW.

For me, well, I think her cheeks are swollen every night I lay her down to sleep from all the kisses I maul her with through out the day. For real. She is the most loveable, kissable, adorable blessing! All I can say is God knew what he was doing sending her to us.

The first 2 children I had it was like clockwork...4 weeks hit and they WOKE UP...as they say. They were difficult...to say the least. So, I was really anxious when about 2 weeks after having Mayci...she seemed to be 'waking up'...ALREADY! She had colic. No doubt. She screamed and cried anytime her eyes were open, but her really really bad time was from 8pm to literally 3am...non stop scream. Shawn and I tried everything, and finally we resorted to switching off. Some nights I would start with her and he would end with her, and vice versa.

I specifically remember, and cant count how many times I held her during this time and thought of my friend Natalie. I had been told almost exactly when Mayci was 2 weeks old and started colic that Natalie had lost her baby to pertussis. Every time I held Mayci, I thought of her. I cried. A lot. And as difficult as that time was for me and Shawn...the sleepless nights, the endless hours of what seemed like a tortured child...I knew it was nothing compared. So, in thought of Natalie, during those difficult, late night hours, I held my baby close and appreciated and cherished like never before every crying moment I had with her, as I knew Natalie would have done and would have wanted me to do. Natalie gave me that perspective then, and I still carry it with me now. What would Nat do?

So to Natalie. Thank you.

I also remember thinking during that time...'well, this must be it. God wants me to stop having children. I must not be a good mother.' Whether it was the hormones, or the exhaustion...those were real thoughts. And I was so sad. I really didn't want to stop, but I knew that having another very difficult baby would take a lot out of me. I had resided to that decision, and started beating myself up. I thought it was a message sent from above that I am not competant enough for more kids. How many mothers that have colic babies think this? Probably none...but to my credit, my other 2 kids were really difficult babies. So, for one reason or another, I thought this.

Almost immediately after I had these thoughts, one night, I put her in the swing. The same swing Shawn and I tried to use over and over and over again...with no avail. But this time...she slept...during her miserable hours. I remember so well exactly what I was doing. I was working, on our kitchen table, sealing envelopes and addressing envelopes... And peeking at her every 5 minutes waiting for her to wail. But she didnt. She slept. One am rolled around and she was still sleeping, so I layed on the couch and fell asleep while Shawn went up to bed. He said he would stay up with her, but I made myself a bed on the couch, and fell asleep. She woke at 3am. I took her upstairs, fed her, layed her in her bed, and she slept till 10am. WHAT!

Since that night and up to this day, she has been the best sleeper, eater, baby ever! I remember thinking shortly after her schedule changed for the better that maybe Im not done having babies. I thanked my Heavenly Father that night, and every night, for trusting me and believing in me with his precious perfect little angels. I couldn't ask for anything more.

I love you Mayci. I love you so so so so much...its dangerous.

Happy FIRST!

Wow

2010-11-22T09:17:00.001-08:00

Isn't she beautiful?!
Its an older picture that I came across last night.
Oh man. I love her.

Better late than never...

2010-11-16T09:27:00.001-08:00

Halloween 2010...pretty low key:) Raegan, a butterfly. Evan, a tiger. And they were happy ever after. PS. Is it a crime that Mayci was nothing? She was still happy ever after too:) She slept the whole halloween evening anyway so Im glad I didn't waste the time. Others, Im sure, beg to differ and have huge problems with this. Oh well. Thats me. Take it or leave it...alright!

We enjoyed a day at grandma's, carving pumpkins, making homemade doughnuts....a first and not a last...and enjoying some of Rachels yummy chili and Jamie's unbelievable homemade rolls.

Oh, and we attended my parents trunk or treat! It was fabulous! The end.

Wanna piece of me???

2010-11-08T08:30:00.000-08:00

We hope that Evan's recent romp with the coffee table won't hurt our retirement plans since we were banking on his "money-maker" to take care of us all. hahaha.

Evan was a champ last night when we took him to the ER to take care of his wound. Apparently we were laughing at him trying to reach the balloon string and if you know Evan, he HATES the spotlight. In his shy response he ran to Mom and tripped over the rug and went head first into the table.
He fell asleep on the way to the ER so Farrah kept telling the Doctor that as soon as he wakes he is "going to freak." Absolutely not!!! He woke up and wondered what was up but didn't cry once and was asking where the Doctor was and what "they were talking about outside." The Doctor proceeded to tell us about sedation possibilities and the "Taco Roll". (Evan with his hands behind his back rolled into a tight blanket of some sort and Mom or Dad holding his head down. While he was explaining the Taco Bell technique I noticed how calm Evan was and just told the Doctor that we should just let Farrah hold him and let's see how that works. Doc gave us a funny look but said ok to the proposal. Farrah said she would lay with Evan on the table and just cuddle him. So Farrah and Evan on the table with a "blanket" over Evan's head other than a baseball sized hole where the Doctor could focus on the cut. Evan was a champ. Didn't peep at all. Farrah counted to him and did the alphabet to keep him occupied. The Doctor was pretty shocked as were us parents. The only thing Evan complained about was that his arm was stuck under Farrah so we had a slight pause and reposition to finish the procedure. I have no idea how that kid didn't cry. Crazy!!!! And Farrah was so awesome with him. So this was the first of probably many trips to the hospital with young ones and we pray they can all be like last night. I did tell Evan that chicks dig scars. :)

Never gonna catch up...

2010-10-28T16:03:00.000-07:00

So, I never really got around to posting all summer long. I'm kind of tired of always trying to play catch up! (this is it...then I MUST live and post in the present:)

We had an emotional, fun, exhausting, and busy summer...

My sister was on bed rest with a serious and scary situation. And my sister-in-law and her family put our never used basement to GOOD use:) That was my summer:)

SO...Rachel. While on bed rest there was not much I could do for her but visit her, and PRAY...so I tried to be with her as much as possible especially with the condition she was in. But I must say, it was emotionally exhausting and sometimes physically exhausting with the late night visits, but through it all, I CANT COMPLAIN! And feel really stupid even saying it was exhausting from MY end...but it was. I found myself on my knees a lot, in tears a lot.

But, here we are now, in a much better place. A MUCH better place. Miraculous. And so blessed. Beyond blessed.

And then Laci, my sis-in-law, and her little family of 4 girls and 1 boy on the way....at the time....were in the process of moving from Cedar City to somewhere here in Ut County. And in the process and before their move, her two oldest girls tried out for some really good club teams here in Ut County and MADE them. So, Laci's little fam made the trek WHO KNOWS how many times from Cedar City here to attend practices, tournies, games, scrimmages, house hunting, and so forth. And we had the opportunity to 'house' them during their 'transition'.

We got to tag along with them and hang out with them A LOT! We even got to have Haylee AND Madi stay behind with us so that Laci could take care of her life in Cedar. I got to know this little family well and I must say...Im glad to call them FAMILY. Her girls are awesome. They are so so good with my kids and my kids worship them. We are happy that they are finally here, and settled!

The following pics are random, but Madi, she truly is the 'baby-whisperer'. I can't count how many times she has put my little Mayci to sleep. She is amazing! When we hang out with this family, its like hiring little baby sitters! They all come running for Mayci, rip her out of my arms, and I wont see her for HOURS. Literally. They are SO great. In fact, Im starting to feel guilty about it, so at the Vball games, I now give them a dollar a game (CHEAPSKATE) ha.

And despite Raegans NEED for personal space, I thought she did really well all summer. She definitely had her moments, but for the most part, she loved having 'visitors' and sleepovers all summer! When they moved in to their home in Highland, she asked and continues to ask 'mom is laci and kids coming today for a sleepover?' But now that she and Evan know they live SO close now, they bug me probably every day about going to aunt Laci's:) Its great.

So, needless to say, the summer was a lot of 'home-time', not much vacationing. But I wouldn't change it at all. I was able to bond with my sister at a whole new level and I got to know a really beautiful family.

more happenings of the recent past...

2010-10-28T15:34:00.000-07:00

Bear Lake...a new escape!

So...I guess one REALLY good thing came from living in Logan for 2 years. Every time my dad would visit, we would trek up the beautiful canyon and check out his EMPTY lot that looked out to Bear Lake. We'd get out, walk in the DIRT, and every time I would TAUNT my dad..."Why is this empty...You HAVE to build something here...look at that view..." and on and on. Really. So, here we are, a few years later, with just that. The most beautiful cabin you ever did see...we like to refer to it as the lodge. It ain't no cabin if ya catch my drift. It's breathtaking. Beautiful. SO SO nice. We have been able to enjoy it a couple times so far and I must say it was wonderful. Cant wait for the next venture up there.

And all of you can thank ME for our new little home away from home:) I knew my nagging would do it. Not really, but hey, look what came only a few years after!!!

SO, here are a few photos (thanks to Jamie...of course) of our most recent excursions:

Here I am quite disgusted by that girl laying out right in front of me. Disgusting...isn't she?! Put a shirt on, and shorts...or pants for that matter. Or how bout a snow suit:)

Here is Evan...thoroughly enjoying being completely buried under all that sand. The kid can be drenched in ketchup...and wouldn't care. Seriously.

Just part of the gang...

Evan and Logan...daring the freezing cold water. Pretty water though.

Really...just the most precious face this world has to offer. Its quite scary.

Catch up...

2010-10-14T14:17:00.000-07:00

Raegan's first day of Kindergarten....I was fine here:

Not so fine here:

I honestly was SO great with pre-school...didn't shed a tear. Was so excited. But for some reason, as I walked Raegan to school and said goodbye to this face:

I got a big ol' frog in my throat...and broke down in tears once I made it through my front door. I pondered what the difference was...between pre-school and this. Still don't quite know, I guess its just the 'real' school thing. The beginning of the end:) She really is a big girl now. I am so excited for her though. She LOVES it, and so do I:)

And now...here is a report of the two that stay home with me...

Take tubs together:
(check out that tan line)

Wake up smiling:

Get beautiful each day:

Melt me with that face:

and those eyes!

Crawling...and playing:

Play dress-ups:

Sometimes with Raegans dress-ups...haha:

And most the time with imagination:
(I personally like the glasses tied up to his shorts)

So, one day, Ev tells me he needs to go potty. I say...OK. Go. Then, I see him make his way out to the back yard. Didnt think much about it until I saw him do this:

Yes, folks, that is Evan peeing on our backyard lawn, and Im sure you can all guess who taught him that. Right. His papa.
Here he is finishing up:

And here he is, realizing I caught him!
Had no idea he did that. I busted up laughing, he didn't like that, but I couldn't help myself. Hilarious. Guess thats what we get for not buying a home with a toilet on the main level!!! By the way, this has now turned into a normal daily occurence. Oh well.

(p.s. little did I know, his dad does the same thing, and I only caught on to what he was doing after I caught Evan. At the end of the day, with the kids asleep, just chillin on the couch...he just gets up, opens the slider, exits for a few minutes, returns...and no questions asked. Never really thought much about it. Then this happened with Evan and it all made sense. Must be something special about peeing under the stars...or sun in Evans case:)

Classic

2010-10-13T14:25:00.000-07:00

This is a funny story. My post below describes my new found love of gardening. Something I know NOTHING about. We planted a seed, it grew. I had no idea when they would sprout, nor what they were supposed to look like. We planted SIX zucchini plants...that goes to show we really had NO idea (for those that don't know, you really only need ONE zucchini plant, because each plant produces TONS and TONS).

The unknown was kind of fun though. To see each seed sprout, and then turn into a plant, into an edible plant...awesome. I really didn't know it was a real garden item until I saw multiples of one kind of leaf or flower, in some sort of line, that was about the same height...and so on.

We planted cantaloupe. As a seed. It sprouted. And grew. Into this:

Isn't it beautiful. Green. Full. Tall. Same size. In a row. Cantaloupe! Surely it is. So everyday, I watered it, checked on it, even smelled it. Weeded around it. Watered it. Smelled it again. Then...little blossoms started appearing on a little vine, beneath this tall structure. I was so intrigued...thinking...how in the world does cantaloupe grow?! Im sure from these tiny flowers...but why such an enourmous stalk? Whats the purpose of this tree like trunk. It can't grow from these. It's too heavy. Hmmmmmm? Guess we'll see, sooner or later.

Then, I saw. My husbands sister and her family had been in and out of our home all summer, watching with me, all these garden items mature. The father of this family, Brian, yes you, Brian, knew a little something about gardens. A little something more than ME. Whenever he was here, he would watch me tend to my precious plants, and hear of how proud I was of these miracles, and see the incredible excitement of picking a fully mature product of my garden. So, to his credit, I understand why he didn't have the heart to tell me that my cantaloupe, my tall, beautiful, green, vibrant cantaloupe plants....

.....were WEEDS! Weeds, people. Weeds, that actually grew to my HEIGHT. Thats fine. I was so proud of them. Thinking each time I would walk into my house after watering them...'wow, what a miracle...can't wait for fresh garden grown cantaloupe'.

Funny huh. Can't wait for next years garden. Ill know that cantaloupe grows on a vine...and JUST a vine! Brian uprooted the WEEDS, and tried his best to keep the vines of the cantaloupe rooted. Just to let you all know, HE SUCCEEDED. Now, I just might have some cantaloupe. One plant survived the demolition. Ill report if and when a fresh peice of garden ripe cantaloupe ever enters my mouth:) Thanks Bri! YOUR the best:)

Garden...

2010-09-27T14:01:00.000-07:00

Boy, am I gonna miss this new little baby of mine:) In just a few weeks it will be buried under a few feet of snow and I will be sad eating store bought tomatoes and zucchini, beans and sugar snap peas, but most of all...cucumbers and peppers (my favorite garden growns...so far)!

I have always wanted a garden. I remember getting off the bus in grade school with one of my best friends...and she had tomatoes. Without fail, before we opened her front door, we would each grab a big ol' red ripe juicy tomato and dig into it as if it were an apple....MMMMMM!

So, because Ive always wanted one...I got one. I even plowed it with a freakin shovel....because I was so anxious to get it started. Shawn helped me push the little seeds into the ground:) So grateful for him:) Im kidding Shawn, I really do love you:) And to his credit, he knew more than me when it came to this project, I just did all the manly work. Partly because, and like I said before, I was very impatient...and some people might argue Im part man:)

So, we pushed the seeds into the ground, and weeks later, to our surprise...a miracle occured! SPROUTS! From then on, I have been out in my garden every day watering away, checking on each little sprout, weeding like crazy, and now....enjoying the luscious fruits of my labor. Its a new found hobby...I love it. And I will miss it. So I will enjoy it. For now. Until that awful, cold, white stuff wipes it out! Blah.

More conversations...

2010-09-08T14:47:00.001-07:00

Raegan was talking to herself...playing something...and this is how it went:

EVAN: "Rae, are you talking to me?"

RAE: "No."

EVAN: "Who'er you talking to...your friend?"

RAE: "No."

EVAN: "A honey?"

RAE: "Ya."

EVAN: "But...a gwirl (girl)...a honey...is not there?!"

Evan was so confused...she was talking, but nobody was there...not a girl (which is most commonly called a 'honey'...apparently) not a boy...nobody. And she made it clear she wasn't talking to him either. It was pretty classic.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Raegan can't get her helmet on...and this is how it went:

I asked: "What's goin' on...did your head grow?!

Raegan replied...in a frustrated manner: "I DON'T KNOW...I'm not upposed to be like a girrafe!"

[head...neck...its all the same]

_______________________________________________________________________________________

This one is good. So, we are at Shawn's practice, just running around, and Rae sits down by me...and rips a big one. We laugh. Then she starts to tell me about a girl who tooted real loud in her class. She was laughing so hard telling me this, so I was laughing too.

I thought it was so funny that SHE thought it was funny...when do they realize that's embarrassing.

So...I asked her in laughter...if she ever toots loud in class.

Her mouth dropped open, and she said 'NO! I hold it in then it goes gone.'

I was dying at this point. We were both laughing. Hard. I know...immature. But it was hilarious. So, I kept it going and asked her, 'where did it go?'

She stops laughing and says...'magic.'

WOW. So funny.

Just in passing...

2010-08-24T10:13:00.000-07:00

Raegan: "Evan...did you know that hippo's toot out of their mouth?!"

Evan: ...giggle...

Nothing new...

2010-07-22T22:21:00.000-07:00

I can't remember if this is number 5,6 or 7 for Farrah...but here she is after her surgery today. She is a trooper and doing well.

2010-07-11T16:57:00.000-07:00

Evan doesn't usually try and cross the monkey bars without Mom or Dad but this morning he gave it a shot while Raegan was watching. He let go but landed wrong and was screaming bloody murder. Shawn ran out and got him and he was hysterical. He couldn't walk but we thought he was being a little "wimpy". We got him dressed and he made it to Church for 2 hours. He dropped some play-doh in nursery and forgetting about his foot, he attempted to pick it up but just collapsed when he got off his chair. So Mom and Evan went to Insta-Care and got some x-rays. Nothing showed up as broken but the Doctor said sometimes fractures don't show up in young kids for a week. At least he got a cool splint from it and now we have to monitor his progress or lack thereof. Thumbs-up for the swingset!!!!

Olmstead Family

2010-06-21T14:02:00.000-07:00

While in Carpinteria we went and took some pictures at the Bluffs. We didn't have matching denim or sweaters. No need for that. All we can say is Brion Hopkins is the man!!! He is an amazing photographer and a blast to be around... check him out here and hit him up for some amazing photos www.brionhopkins.com

happy fathers day...and rachel

2010-06-20T22:52:00.000-07:00

well, first, i would like to say to my one and only...happy fathers day. we love you so much and miss you. cant wait to see you. i know you, shawn, i know you hate it when i do this on the blog, but i must say thank you. thank you for being the best dad in the whole world...to my kids. i wouldn't want any other. its a love/hate relationship when the kids ask for you, or miss you, or want you to come home.

i love it because they love you so much and want to be with you, but i hate it because i can sense their true and real longing for you. mmmm, what a relief to know my kids are so loved, by you:) i love you.

and about rachel. well, i have been meaning to post about her for many months now, but i guess i can just connect you to her blog where she has been updating up until now. i just wrote the latest update. please tune in here and pray pray pray.

ps...another note to shawn, and everyone he has fooled. that last update, well, it was his. i love it when he posts and makes it look and sound like its coming from me. what shawn? are you ashamed that you are blogging? well don't be. your quite talented and i must say, you did a real fine job. thank you...for doing that. and dont hate me...for blowing your cover. i love you. so much. good night:)

Long Time...No Blog!!!

2010-06-15T21:59:00.000-07:00

Time for a little blogging update. It's been nice to have Dad around a bit more so we've been taking advantage of all the time together. Following are a few of the things we have done over the last month: Mayci was loving the Carpinteria weather and beach. We made it to the beach everyday while in Cali except for the one day we hit up Disneyland. Weather was perfect!!!!

We celebrated 3 birthdays in California. Evan, Farrah and Grandma Trudy. Evan was caught trying to get a little piece of Grandma's special Chocolate Cake.

Farrah' Bday celebration. Seated on the couch is the world's greatest photographer Brion Hopkins. We can't wait to get back some photos from our family shoot. ;)

Aunt Nicole was a crowd favorite as always. Evan is sporting his Brazil jersey in prep for the world cup. :)

Like I said...perfect weather.

Shawn and Grandpa taking the kids out "deep" as they said. No that's not Jaws in the background. We saw dolphins every day we were there which isn't uncommon, and Nicole was able to catch it in a photo.

Hot Grandma Trudy unaware of Mayci's hat.

Raegan with her bud Grandpa Rick!!!!

No better place on earth :)...this is walking distance from the Olmstead's home. Shawn and Nicole played a lot of beach ball and the kids couldn't get enough sand, surf and sun. They would play all day at the beach and then get home and use Grandpa's outside shower and go straight to bed.

More beautiful beach time!!!

Grandpa brought the bird in every night and let the kids chase it around the house.

Evan the beach bum.

Rae Rae.

Farrah... :)

Shawn and a handyman took a day and a half to build the kid's playset and it has definitely been put to good use. Notice the garden and sandbox in the back both pretty much created entirely by Farrah!!!

Disneyland!!! We stayed from 10a.m. to 10 p.m. We went on a Wednesday and never waited more than 20 minutes for a ride. Most lines were 5 to 10 minutes. Weather was in the 60's so not too hot. Kids went on all the rides minus Indiana Jones and Space Mountain. Both Rae and Evan did Matterhorn but Raegan said no to a repeat ride while Evan was pulling Shawn by the hand to go again. He knew when the "monster" would appear from the noise and covered his eyes until he couldn't hear it anymore. FYI...don't take your kids on Mr. Toad's wild ride first cause they may be a little scarred.

Happiest place on earth...really is. We left our backpack on a bench where we ate lunch for over an hour before we noticed it was gone. Shawn ran back to where we were sitting and sure enough it was still there. Good thing especially since it had the car keys.

Shawn dropped off Farrah in Vegas for a weekend with the Olmstead girls to celebrate Grandma's 60th birthday and then he continued on with Evan and Rae to Cali. This is what they did everyday with Grandpa. Good time was had by all. Evan looks like he is in dreamland so happy to be at the beach.

Farrah's garden is going strong. We ate a couple of the radishes already because Farrah was so excited to try something. Can't wait!!!

Sandbox designed and created by Farrah.

We picked up Kaya while in California but didn't want to leave Grandpa empty handed. This is Ruby who is now loving the beaches of Carpinteria with Grandma and Grandpa. She is a year old Red Heeler. Chews now and then but she'll grow out of it. ;) Will swim all day if you let her. We hope they enjoy her.

Raegan caught her first fish on a pre-school field trip with Dad. She was the first in her class to catch one.

Shawn and Evan enjoying an early spring bike ride.

A 'Thank You' note

2010-05-03T09:42:00.000-07:00

Dear family and friends,

Thank you, thank you, thank you, to all those who came to support and attend our precious Mayci's baby blessing.

Really.

It was overwhelming to have family and friends make such an effort...

friends that drove 3 hours to make it happen,
family (with 2 small kids) that postponed a very long 10 hour drive home to make it happen,
family that pretty much walked out of the ER doors and into our door to make it happen,
mom who came early and left late to make it happen,
sister who is on bed rest (more or less) made food to make it happen,
sister-in-laws who would do anything to make it happen,
family who shared their sweet testimonies to make it happen,
everyone who made even the simplest effort of just taking a moment of their time, of their day, to make it happen,

and mostly, those men, those honorable and worthy men, who stood together, in a circle, arm and arm, as a powerful and protective sheild, to hold and to bless my most precious gift...my angel...my little Mayci Jo.

Shawn....specifically...who held his baby girl that fell fast asleep in his big arms only seconds before he stood up with her to give her a wonderful and special blessing. Who spoke softly, and slowly, the tender and sweet words that come from that powerful and priceless gift only he holds as the father of our household. Shawn...who sat down after he blessed her, and looked at her sleeping so soundly with overwhelming emotion spilling from his eyes. Thank you Shawn...thank you.

It was a beautiful day...and it would not have been as beautiful if it were'nt for all of you who came to share it with us.

Thank you.

Love,

Farrah

PS...pictures coming:)

Snotty little bratty little SNOTS!

2010-04-12T13:21:00.000-07:00

So, this weekend was full of fun. We went to Auntie HO's volleyball tourny Saturday, and from there we attended the annual soccer alumni game. It was crazy...cause Shawn was gone and I was solo with the three little ones (which is why I only played...oh...about 5 total minutes in the game, but that was probably best anyway considering the awesome condition of my knee).

The kids had fun in the gym...yet again...but it was different cause there was no daddy, but there was auntie...so it was great.

We had a little spot that we stayed in the whole 3 hours we were there, and while we were there, different fans would come and go. Anyway, to get to the point here...and a small explanation for the title of this blog...here ya go:

Raegan spotted a few girls about her age playing with a bucket full of those bobble head toys. She kept eyeing them and then turned to me and said, "mom, do you think I can play with them?" At first I thought...'of course'...but then I re-thought. What if they turn her down? That is really brave of her if she really asks them...and then if she gets turned down...then what? What lesson can be learned? What would I tell her? Then I thought..' holy cow, Farrah, don't sweat it...of course they will let her play!'

So, I said..."sure, go and ask them if you can play with them...I'm sure they'll let you." She was a bit nervous and asked if I could go with her, so I did, but I stood a step behind her. Her brave, nervous little soul slowly approached these friends to be and cautiously asked..."can I play with you guys."

MMMM...my heart was sort of racing as I watched the girls look up at my sweet little Rae. They hesitated a bit, looked at eachother, and then the older one nodded her head......NO! Are you kidding me. Then the other little snotty little brat nodded her head NO!

I feel sick telling this story. This true story. Makes my heart break into peices. So, there I am...completely dumb founded and at a total loss of what to say to my blushing and humiliated, but brave little girl.

All I could come up with is this:

I put the baby down, sat her on my lap and said how proud I was of her for being so brave. For not getting mad and not saying anything mean to them. I asked her if she was okay. She softly said "yes" as she clearly held back those tears that come from shear embarrassment. I asked her another question, "If you were playing with a friend and a little person came and asked you if they could play, what would you tell them?" and she said "yes". And then...I wanted to cry. But I didn't. I held in my emotions, even though I really wanted to give those little girls a really mean look and tell them that was really snotty and bratty. I just held Rae for a bit more and said, "ya know what Rae, you don't want to play with them anyway cause they arn't very nice! Go play with Evan...he will always say yes!" Thats the meanest I got, and Im proud of myself.

I really wanted to just tell her, 'don't worry Rae, they are ugly and mean and snotty and bratty anyway....and you don't want to play with them...cause they're MEAN GIRLS' but I didnt (guess thats the mama bear speaking:)

When she finally slid off my lap in search for Evan, I sat there. I pondered. And I feared. She is going to Kindergarten in the Fall. Some kids are mean. And what if this happens when Im not by her side to help her and comfort her. The thought of her by herself, so hurt, hurts my heart so bad. How do you do it...moms...when your kid gets so broken? What do you tell them when that happens? I have no idea! This was a first for me...and her. She recovered, didn't even cry, was so brave and tough, and moved on. But I haven't.

Any advice, warnings, experience...feel free to leave for me. It would be welcomed and appreciated.

a sting in my eye...

2010-04-07T16:29:00.001-07:00

so...do you have those moments where you look at your kids...
and feel a sting in your eye.

even just those spontaneous moments, where the love is so overwhelming
that you feel like you should just cry.

i'm having a lot of those lately. i feel a sting in my eye often.
when i check on them before i go to bed,
when i see them play together,
when they wake up and run to me to be held,
many moments through out the day.

raegan...she is giving me a sting lately.

she is growing up, and accomplishing those steps you never think your child will reach because in your mind...thats only what big kids do...and your kid will NEVER be a big kid.

well, here are just a few of those steps she is taking in becoming a big kid:

tied my shoes on her feet all by herself

just a face that growing up, a beautiful girl

being the 'biggest in our family'. taking care of her little sister...
not gonna be last time doing that either:)

riding her bike without training wheels

going out on a 'daddy/daughter date'...first of many to come,
but may not be so excited for them the older she gets.
gotta say, she adores that guy, and i think he adores her!

anyway, just want to say to my little, but getting so big, rae...
i love you with my whole heart and more.

your my angel,
forever and ever!
__________________________________________________________________

here are some little conversations between rae and ev...they made me laugh kinda hard:

...playing house...

Rae: "do you want to be Jackson or Sam?"

Evan: "Jackson."

Rae: "No, be Sam."
(she only wants him to be Sam because he chose Jackson...happens every time.:)

Evan: "No."

Rae: "Evan, you're gonna be Sam"

Evan: "NO!"

Rae: "Evan, just say K...K"

Evan: "K"
(and then...he was Sam...)

the DS feud:

so, whenever rae is playing the DS, evan likes to watch but rae doesn't let him because supposedly his 'breath smells'. whatever...

she sat down and began playing. evan trotted on by and saw her, so he crawled up beside her and poked his smelly little head right beside rae's , so rae pulled the DS into her chest, out of smelly evan's sight.

evan dropped his head and slid off the couch. defeated yet again, he sat on the ground and said:

"cause my bumb smells, huh raegan."

i could not stop laughing....

bumb...breath, guess its all the same:)

Natalie...an old friend that gave me a new life.

2010-04-05T16:55:00.000-07:00

natalie, i want to write this to you. what i really want to do is see you and hug you but because distance keeps me here, and you there, i feel like the closest thing to that is a hug through words. though my words wont be nearly as beautiful as yours, i still have to tell you...

you have changed my life.

you have changed a lot of lives.

since i heard of your terrible loss, one that i cannot even comprehend, i have been thinking of you, crying for you, and praying hard for you.

when i heard, i had just given birth to my third baby. EVERY time i looked at her, i cried. i cried for you. i thought about you. when i would cradle her, my thoughts would carry me to your world of unimaginable sorrow and heartbreak for your loss of the same exact, and very real gift i was embracing, and i would weep. a lot.

from then, to now, and forever on, you have been the source of my new me.
your unwavering faith,
your courageous strength,
your sincere and open honesty...
i don't understand.

you have slowed my whole world down. you have highlighted the important from the not important. you have given me a perspective. when my crazy life gets crazier, i am able to look at myself from the outside looking in. a new and ever changing perspective. when im wrapped up in baby poop and my other 2 kids are goin at it, and the stove is on with food overflowing, and burning, and its sets the fire alarm off and the scene gets even more ridiculous...i smile...cause i would laugh if i saw it on tv...if it wasn't me...if i was outside looking in.

there are those monumental moments in life that you will never forget...that change you forever. natalie...i veiw you as a convert veiws that humble and faithful servant of the Lord...that young but fresh and powerful spirit who couageously knocked, and taught, and changed a life forever. a generation forever.

i thank my Heavenly Father every night for knowing you, for being friends wih you. and in the very same breath...i pray for you. i pray for peace, comfort, strength. i pray that He will be there for you in your very dark and lonely moments, that something, someone, some thought, will grab you and hold on to you. and that leads me to pray for myself. that if ever i am the one, or the source, that Heavenly Father needs, to comfort or be there for someone in need...i will listen, and act.

i love you natalie. i think about you everyday. i read about you everyday. and i pray for you everyday.

all i can say...is..

thank.you.

Natalie is a treasured friend from High School. This is her website. Please read...you will be lifted.
http://www.natalienortonphoto.com/

Child of God

2010-04-05T16:17:00.000-07:00

Now this is what it's all about...really!

I LOVE how serious Raegan is...and how monotone Evan is. Makes me laugh a lot.

Gender Neutral

2010-03-26T14:38:00.000-07:00

So, there was a show on Discovery the other night called 'Extreme Parenting'. It had extreme styles of parenting....one in particular was labeled 'Un-schooling'. Anyone heard of that one. Well, I really try to be open-minded, but this one had me quite flabbergasted. Look it up if you are interested...basically I think its lazy parenting and neglectful.

Anyway, there was another called 'Gender-neutral' and by the looks of the picture above...looks like we might fall into that catagory! Ha ha ha. Makes a pretty handsome Tinkerbell:) That smile pretty much melts my soul!

Multi-purpose...

2010-03-25T16:02:00.001-07:00

...according to these kids:)

'Mustaches' is what they called them...I about dies when I turned around and saw this.
They keep me going, thats for sure.

better late then never...

2010-03-24T13:25:00.000-07:00

so...since new years ive had this on my mind:

goals.

one particular goal.

i need to be a better friend...to my family,
to my already friends,
to my old friends,
and to my new friends.

so...there ya have it.

J/K

to elaborate a little...

in the past, before I decided to grow up, i was really flaky. so flaky that sometimes i wonder if it cost me a few really close friends...and it kind of makes me sick to think that i am the reason i may have lost out on friendships that i treasure. and...through the years ive realized that relationships are so important to make, have, and keep. also, i am really bad at keeping in touch. i know life grabs you by the ankles and sweeps you away from the real world sometimes but i need to make a better effort at keeping in touch with friends.

to make a long thought process short...i will try my best to do this. i will try to mend broken relationships...try to strengthen current relationships...and try to find lost relationships.

i love you friends:)

FHE, Family prayer, and Dad

2010-03-23T10:26:00.000-07:00

So, I'm not gonna lie and tell you all that we have been doing FHE, and family prayer consistently...but we are doing much better. Probably over the last month we have done FHE every Monday...and can I say that it is hilarious. It lasts a total of 10 minutes, and half that time we are laughing. We try. We really do try, but really, the kids are too funny and their comments are so great.

Prayer is my favorite part. Rae usually opens our meeting with a prayer, and I generally peer out my half open eyelids at Evan...trying with all his might to be reverent. He folds his arms, peeks out his little eyes around the room, sneaks a treat to his mouth occasionally then quickly resumes prayer position. Only to do it again but this time he quickly gives his truck a little ride up his leg...all the meanwhile he has his eyes still just half way open and the arm that he doesn't use he still has folded over his small chest....trying. Too funny.

Then Rae ends the prayer and gets to pick a song. We have a short...very short lesson then Evan picks a song and says the closing prayer...and this is how his prayer goes:

"Hebanly Father...thank you for the food, and Raegan, and daddy, and mommy, and Mayci..."

and this is where the normalcy ends...he then can't resist and opens his beady little eyes just a little, starts to observe, and then says,

"and thank you for the trucks...and the table...and the babies that are Raegans...and Mayci's blankets..."

and on and on and on.

I can't help but laugh, and then he laughs and then we all laugh, and then we say Amen!

LOVE IT!

And yes, that is Shawn being the 'teacher' reading all the kids Barney before bed. Even Mayci enjoys the action. How cute.

Evan vs. Nemo

2010-03-21T20:26:00.000-07:00

So the other day Evan and Rae were playing in the bathroom while Farrah was getting dressed. All of a sudden Rae runs out of the bathroom screaming that Evan had left a present in the toilet and sure enough he did. He and Rae were messing around and she was talking to him about using the toilet. Good teacher!!! haha So Farrah decided maybe it was time to potty train Evan. She has put it off due to a couple reasons and wasn't in a hurry to go through that training with a new baby in hand. After the incident with Rae she thought she would give it a try. She put him in some Little Nemo "swimmers" since we hadn't planned this and had no pull-ups. We brought down the toilet and he was sitting on it but just not doing anything. The morning passed with a bunch of attempts but no accidents nor progress. Well Farrah has to run up and get Mayci who was waking up and when she comes down Evan is panicking and with a pouty/scared face says, "I'm sorry Mom. I'm sorry". Farrah asks what happened and he replies that "I pooped on Nemo." Farrah tells him that's okay but you can see he's worried. She picks him up and lays him down to change his diaper and Evan asks, "Is Nemo Ok Mom?" Farrah couldn't stop laughing... :)

If you haven't been around Evan lately, you are missing out. He now loves to tell you that you are hurting his feelings if you ever say no to anything. Fruit snacks, gum, cookies. Today we were walking to the park and Evan was on his bike. Farrah got him a helmet that she says he looks funny wearing. While on our way Farrah was giggling to herself looking at Evan. He tells her to "Stop looking at me Mom. You're hurting my feelings Mom."

Cute Kid!!!

Lots of Mayci=Lots of smiles

2010-03-15T08:51:00.000-07:00

Well, its been 3 months now that we have had Mayci in our lives...and she truly has added so much joy! She is now smiling...at everyone...and it is the best. She has turned out to be THE BEST baby ever. She had us going there for a bit though. She turned 2 weeks...and was full on colic! I thought I knew what colic was with Evan, but I found out he was just fussy:) Mayci would literally scream from 8pm to 3am...scream. Not fuss, scream. After talking to a few people who experienced colic babies, I knew it would end but I remember those nights thinking...'really, another 2 1/2 months'.

But lucky us, it only lasted one month and now...I can't describe what an angel she is. She now sleeps 10 hours at night...consistently. I didn't know that was possible either (I kept her in my room thinking oh this will change, but ended up moving her to her crib and still hasn't changed)! And she just chills. Shawn said last night, 'she seems different than our other babies' and I said, 'what do ya mean' and he said 'she seems more...' and I finished 'chill!!!!' Yes, she is sooooo mellow.

I have heard from so many people who have 3 or more kids say their third was the best. I wonder if this has to do with the fact that you can't pick them up the second they squeak and they learn to adapt, but whatever it is, I am one of those parents who can claim the same about the third child. I was the third and my mom tells me I used to sleep like Mayci and that I was a really good baby...if I didn't know this I might think something is wrong with her, but look how I turned out...beautiful, funny, so smart... :)

Anyway, I could go on about this new little treasure, about how my heart swells when I hear her waking from her naps just so I can see her big beautiful smile cross her face once she see's mine, and how I still stare at all her little features in amazement at the pure innocence she holds, and how I try to comprehend the unmeasurable amount of trust my Father in Heaven has given me with His most precious gift. It's overwhelming.

As busy as life gets, I am doing my best to soak up my kids and the special time I get to spend with each one of them. Life seems to move so fast...I'm just trying to slow it down and enjoy each step because before I know it I will miss constantly picking up puzzle pieces, sippy cups, binkis, blankets, trucks, babies, blocks...and will miss folding footies, and onsies...and miss sweeping up crumbs under boosters and high chairs...and so on. I know this day will come so I'm gonna hold on for as long as I can to 'the now' and enjoy:)

Tune in for a few more posts I have comin...one in particular I've been thinking about writing for a while now so it won't be long till Im back!

Mayci Jo Olmstead

2010-03-12T21:40:00.000-08:00

Mayci is now 3 months and doing great. She is an absolute doll and joy to have in our family. Farrah is pretty cute too!!!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

2010-02-15T20:05:00.000-08:00

Shawn was out of town recruiting this Valentine's day so we decided a date was in order for Monday. We brought our kids and had a great time at Texas Roadhouse. Raegan and Evan brought along their glasses that Mom gave them in their Valentine's boxes. Enjoy these two kids because we sure do!!! Happy Valentine's Day!!!! (if you're wondering about the picture quality in our recent pictures they're all from Shawn's phone)

L.O.V.E.

2010-02-10T11:39:00.000-08:00

Well, from these pictures, you can see the love our little Mayci has for grandma Trudy! How adorable are these pictures...TOO MUCH! She wouldn't look forward for a picture but I didn't mind cause these turned out much cuter!

Thanks...grandma and grandpa...for your visit. We were so excited to finally be able to share our precious angel with you both. We love you. Hope Kaya is doing well...not being too naughty. I'm sure she is in pure HEAVEN!

DAD...thank you...

2010-02-03T13:33:00.000-08:00

Dad...
thank you for being there for mommy when grandma left...
for taking care of us while mommy held the baby so much...
for getting up with us every morning and getting us our favorite cereal...
for giving us baths and singing us the toothbrush song every night...
for being the 'nigh nigh' train...
and tucking us in bed...and singing me 'sunshine'...
for letting us come to your work...
for helping mommy so much around the house...
and for going to work everyday so we can have a nice home...
and clothes
and toys
and food.

Thanks for loving mommy so much...
and for loving us unconditionally.

We love you
and love every minute we get to spend with you.

We don't know what kind of day you have at work...
but
We can't wait till you come home...
and do puzzles with you
ride on your back
tickle you
wrestle
hug...
kiss...
and love you.

We love you dad.
You really are the best dad in the whole wide world!
Thank you.

Love...

Raegan and Evan

Time marches on...

2010-01-31T22:48:00.000-08:00

Things in the Olmstead home have been going well. Mayci has a funky sleep schedule but she's healthy and slowly changing patterns so we're ok. She is smiling a bit now and loving her swing. Grandma and Grandpa Trudy came to visit and spent a ton of time with us. Thanks so much to Trudy and Rick for hanging out and having fun and allowing us our first date without any kids in a long time. :) They drove out so they could take Kaya back with them to the sunny weather. We're happy that Kaya can have a California winter and go to the beach daily with Grandpa Rick. You can see what Raegan and Evan are up to this winter...whatever keeps them happy and occupied. This photo actually has a little story. When Shawn and I got home from the Jazz game, Trudy and Rick couldn't wait to show us the pictures of Evan in some princess dress-up. They couldn't stop laughing. Shawn told them that he was going to take Evan out the next day to get some batman or spiderman costumes. haha True story...next morning as Shawn and Rae are down stairs eating breakfast Raegan says she needs to go to the bathroom. Shawn tells her to listen for Evan and if she hears him to bring him down. 5 minutes later they both come down with Evan dressed as what he calls a Policeman dress-up. That kid will have you laughing all day. How can you not laugh just looking at them right now? Tonight he was back in his Policeman gear and Raegan was in her Tinkerbell outfit. They were doing "ring around the rosie" stuff and when they finished Evan looks right at Rae and says, "I love you Tinkerbell." hahahaha... Life is good!!!!!!!!!!!

New Pics and Video...keep reading!!!

2009-12-29T17:56:00.000-08:00

This one wouldn't go on that post so here you go!!! Look at Rae's form...haha. She was awesome. She would wait for me to tell her and she would skoot her skis until they started going. So much fun!!!

Raegan Lee...our little skibunny!!!

2009-12-29T17:03:00.000-08:00

Today was a day I would describe as AWESOME. Scott and I were able to take Raegan and Austin up to Sundance for their first ski day. It was a blast and they were unbelievable. Snow was falling all day. We hauled up there all loaded up in the Civic and parked front and center in a loading spot since my car wouldn't make it to the upper lot. Sundance has a rope pull that's free for anyone. Raegan and Austin were troopers. We went up the hill about 5 or 6 times. Both did a great job considering they were both skiing on skis that were two sizes to big for them and no ropes to hold them together. (We didn't get to the ski rental till about noon and they were out of small skis and those rope things.)

Above is Austin and Raegan getting sized up for their day on the hill. Shout out to Outdoors Unlimited at BYU for their 10$ ski/boot rental. What a deal!!!

Raegan and Austin at the end of the day. I did these last two photos in reverse order.

Raegan ready to ski!!!! I was amazed at how well she took everything and she wanted to do a bunch of it alone. I would go down the hill a little and have her ski to me. As you can see in the video, she enjoyed pointing her tips downhill and taking off. Listen to me yelling "Stop" even though she really has no idea how to. Please don't critique my coaching skills. I pretty much listened to the Sundance Ski instructors who were teaching other kids. Thanks Scott for a fun day.

Little Evan

2009-12-27T22:42:00.000-08:00

This little kid had a wonderful Christmas (as did all of us!!!) and can sit by his railroad track all day long. I think the best part about Evan's Holiday season was the time he was able to spend with relatives on both sides of the family. He kept everyone laughing and had 3 nights in a row going to bed around midnight. This is a funny picture taken when we ate In n' Out. He was begging for his milkshake but we told him he couldn't have it until he ate his food. The picture says it all. He pushed his fries off his plate and said "I finished my fries, can I have my milkshake." We look over and see what he did and can't help but laugh our head off and give in to his request. Could any of you tell that face No? Didn't think so. We thoroughly enjoyed that moment as did Raegan.

Rae and Evan

2009-12-21T00:04:00.000-08:00

Really just trying to see if I can upload video on here. Raegan and Evan gave us a little Sunday evening concert. Sorry about the poor picture quality. It's from my cell phone.

Raegan and Mayci

2009-12-20T23:54:00.000-08:00

Raegan came down from her nap this afternoon and couldn't resist a little more snuggling with Mayci.

2 weeks old!!!

2009-12-20T08:31:00.000-08:00

A few things happen anytime I walk past this little cutey...I am humbled when I think of the Lord's goodness...I just have to give her a kiss...I have to take another picture. :)

Pictures speak a thousand words...

2009-12-15T10:40:00.000-08:00

Here is The Miracle....

and here are the faces of those who witnessed the miracle...

*big sister...instant love*

*big brother...'whoa, look at all that snow' :) *

*mom...look of unbelief...she is finally in my arms*

*dad...words can't describe*
*mom...watching dad's instant love wash over his face*

*does his face make you cry? makes me*

*proud parents...nothing better to share with the one you love*

*stop it Shawn, you're killing me*

*grandpa...looking on in the distance with a big smile*

*i love you*

*aunt becca...what a tender spirit you bring*

*grandma...unconditional love and pure joy*

*dad...trying your hardest to keep it together*

I will post some of Mayci from the hospital, but when I got these pictures from Rachel, these are the ones that really hit my heart. To see the unconditional love for our precious angel in the faces of those I love so much, tears just flowed from my eyes. I was so focused on my most special gift from God, that I wasn't able to see the others around me.

Shawn's tear-filled eyes and look of overwhelming emotion on his face makes me cry now. To share this moment with him and every one else who was there made this experience heavenly. The veil feels so thin, as if our Heavenly Father personally hands over His most precious creation right into my arms. The feeling is undescribable, and it makes me understand the difficult decision that everyone has to make....when you have to move on to the next phase of life...no more babies.

I'm grateful that transition is long in the distance because I will mourn when it comes my time to make that decision... so for now, I will hold on to, remember, and cherish that special day, one week ago. Each time I hold Mayci and stare at all her beautiful features...from the curves of her ears to the wrinkles in her forehead to her tiny little fingers and toes...the spirit that was alive and real in that small hospital room comes flooding back to fill my heart and home. This is what I will hold on to, cherish, and remember forever.

Thank you to everyone who was a part of this experience...you only made it more special...if thats possible:) I already can't wait for next time...sounds crazy...but it's true!

PS Rachel...thank you so much for capturing an unforgettable sight. And also a special thanks to Jamie and Jake for being there to care for my other little ones. I love you all!

Beautiful

2009-12-14T16:03:00.000-08:00

What is beautiful? Well, right now, many things are beautiful to me, but the woman on my right hand up above is beautiful...in every meaning of the word. Mom...what you have done for me this past week is...I really don't have the words. You left today, and I was in tears. Tears of gratitude. And with the quiet that surrounds me now, I have been thinking of you.

What dad said the other day when they came down for dinner is right on...you are one of a kind. You are and always have been one of the most selfless persons I know. What you have done for me I only pray I can do for my children. You cooked, cleaned, laundered, dusted, vacuumed, and most importantly entertained. Evan woke from his nap asking where you were, and I have yet to tell him you have gone home. I keep telling him we will see you soon.

You are beautiful. I say that with tears welling in my eyes and swelling in my heart. Even though you have a 'potty mouth', I love everything about you and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you are.

I love you mom.

Quick Update

2009-12-10T21:28:00.000-08:00

Mayci had her first Dr. visit. She has gained an ounce which surprised the Doctor a little. She has also grown a little more than an inch. We love having her around the house.

Didn't want to leave out Evan. He is now a little more than 2 1/2 years old. He is getting a little attitude which is sort of funny. He went and saw Santa but wouldn't sit on his lap for the picture. Now Raegan likes to take pictures of him telling him to "Sit with Santa." So included in this post is a picture Rae took of Evan sitting on a chair.

Best Friends

2009-12-08T21:35:00.000-08:00

As you can see, Rae cannot keep her hands and lips off of Mayci. Rae is loving every minute of this experience. Mayci was sound asleep this afternoon when suddenly she started to cry. I walked in there to see Rae trying as hard as she could to put a beanie on little Mayci's bald head. As for Evan...he's just walking around the house singing "I don't know why she swallowed a fly, I hope she dies." (not in reference to Mayci) Basically he's oblivious to our new addition.

Mayci Jo Olmstead

2009-12-07T21:15:00.000-08:00

Our sweet little angel now has a name. Mayci Jo Olmstead. Mayci and Farrah are now home and doing great. Here are a couple of pictures I took of her in her car seat when they got home.

Wonderful New Miracle

2009-12-06T22:06:00.000-08:00

There are certain days in our lives that we will always remember. Today was one of those special few. I don't think there are words to describe the feelings, thoughts and spirit present at the birth of a child. Truly Amazing!! Farrah and I were startled awake at 5:30am and asked to report to the Hospital by 6:15. The roads were very bad and so we arrived a little late. Things were done quickly to get Farrah situated. She had a wonderful nurse and our Doctors are studs!!! Baby came with no problems and quite fast. Typical Dad...yes I forgot the camera. Below are a few cell phone shots. I will post others when I have a chance. She weighed 6.7 and measured 18 inches. My first look at her I saw Raegan and of course tears flooded my eyes. She is BEAUTIFUL...just like her mother. She does not have a name right now. Rylee, Maycee, Gabrielle, Gabbi, Jayden...any suggestions??? We are truly blessed to have shared this sacred day with loved ones. Thanks to everyone that was there and came and said hello. Farrah will be in the hospital tomorrow and may come home tomorrow night but if you have a chance, stop in and say hello.

I LOVE MY KIDS

2009-12-04T07:55:00.000-08:00

Last night went something like this....

Evan: What are you eating Dad?
Dad: Carrots. What are you eating Evan?
Evan: Pirate Boobies...

10 minutes later. Evan catches Raegan trying to steal a snack from him. "Raegan, stop taking my boobies..." (it's a rice/corn snack from Costco called Pirate Booty)

We are excited for number three on Sunday. :)

2 tHiNgS

2009-11-05T09:08:00.000-08:00

#1: I would like to announce that those of you who know my little sister, know she is a very talented and creative gal. SHE is throwing a party...and you are invited:

Friday, November 6th

...

6-8:30 pm

...

1612 prospect Lane

Alpine, 84004

Here are the links... check it out

http://www.genevieveclothing.blogspot.com/

http://www.nannyhats.blogspot.com/

2009-11-05T09:06:00.000-08:00

#2: A few have asked about the blog that I got those jack-o-lanterns from. The link is on the right side of my blog called 'Our Best Bites'. It's mostly food, but there are a few fun crafts here and there.

Poor Sports

2009-11-02T20:43:00.000-08:00

Atleast Raegan would put her costume on...but other than that...nothing else was allowed! No hair-do's, no make-up, no sparkles, no glitter, no NOTHING! She was a fairy princess and I was more than excited and willing to doll her up, since it never happens, but I guess there is a big reason it never happens....SHE WON'T LET ME! Fine with me most the time...very low maintenance, but come on, its halloween. I wasn't too bumbed cause she still looked adorable and had a blast. So that's Raegan.

Now my little Evan. I wasn't even going to take him out trick-or-treating. He has been going through a really funky phase, and not only is he not sleeping well, he is TERRIFIED...of what, you ask...of EVERYTHING spooky. He woke up at 6:00am on Halloween and made me turn 'Winnie the Pooh' off because it was their spooky halloween episode and he 'didn't like it'. So...I was gonna spend the evening in my mom's house while Shawn took Rae out with cousins and aunts.

On our way to Alpine around 5pm, Shawn and I decided we HAVE to try taking him. Figured it's light enough outside, if he is with his 'bethst friend' Logan and see's him all decked out and excited, maybe this will help reverse his fear...AND IT DID! I literally didn't even have a costume for him, so my dear sweet sister-in-law had all her older costumes layed out when we arrived at their house...and Scooby Doo was a hit.

Thanks Jamie for the costume and letting us roll around your neighborhood with you and your cute little family! It was a hit...and a hoot.

I think Evan's neck grew twice it's size after holding that massive head up on top. His head was tilted to one side or the other any time he had it on. Made me laugh pretty hard...it was a dang cute costume!

(Scroll down for a few new posts:)