My life

Shannon tagged me so here goes,

Four jobs you've had in your life:

1.My first Job was for the movie theater
2.I wrapped presents on Christmas at an expensive men's clothing store
3.Then as a file clerk at law firm
4.My favorite was a swim instructor.
* Four movies you could watch over and over:
This one is hard for me because I don't like to watch movies again and again
1. Pride and prejudice
2. Fried Green Tomatoes, Always a classic
3. I will have to get back on this one
4.
* Four places you have lived:
1. Irvine,Ca,
2. Escondido,Ca
3. St. George, UT
4. Redlands, Ca
* Four TV shows you love to watch:
1.What not to wear,(Yes, I think I am an expert now:)
2.American Idol, I am not an absolute have to watch type though.
3.The Biggest Loser
4.Without Trace
* Four places you've been on vacation:
What's vacation?
1. San Fransisco
2. Hawaii
3. Bullhead,Az,
4. Provo, UT
* Four websites you visit daily:
1. My email
2. EBay
3. blogging
4. Some form of research
* Four of your favorite foods:
small disclaimer, I am pregnant and this changes daily.
1. Salmon
2. Cereal. All varieties
3. Smoothes
4. A salmon salad from Johnnie Carinos.
* Four places you'd rather be right now:
1. In the bath
2. Oddly enough folding laundry
3. Scrap booking
4. Starting Joshua's quilt.

Ok, that took to much thought for one day. Here are some cute pics. Enjoy!

These kids love their Dad!

Jospeh's name time came and went and no one noticed. Next thing I know he has disappeared into Emma and Sarah's room. I go to peek at him and he is laying in Emma's bed with a book in hand. He says to me, "Kankie?" Which means blankie. So I tuck him in and he is content for sometime. What child does that? Not mine, at least not very often.
I go to do Emma's hair this morning and I realize that it has finally gotten full enough and long enough to be put in braids. Yeah! I can do fun stuff with her hair now too.
I think they look a lot alike in this picture. Since three of the kids look more like my side I wonder if Joshua will look more like his dad? I love to dream about what our baby will be like.

I love long weekends!

These pictures crack me up. I was trying to get the decorations put away last week

and Joseph would have it no other way. He insisted on dancing on the boxes.

Yesterday was such a nice relaxing day for all of us. I slept in a little and when I woke up Ryan said, "What do you want to do this morning just by yourself?" Wow! How do you decide? I knew that Joann's was still having their sale so I decided to look and see if I could find fabric for the bumper guard. And yes! They had light blue chenille for $5 a yard. When I looked the other day they had none so I was excited. Then I headed over to Christensens to see what there was to see. I came to the conclusion that cute maternity clothes at a decent price only exist online. Which can be hard because you never are sure how it will fit.

When I got home I played a round of Disney trivia pursuit. Now I thought I was a Disney trivia wiz... But I was wrong. EmmaLee got more right then anyone else. It was fun. Ryan played around of risk with Jared and then he started working. The kids and I just hung out and had a good day.

Joseph has decided that Emma can stay Emma and doesn't need to be Emmie any longer. We think he decided this after she started calling him Josie. She said she will keep calling him that until he calls her Emma again. And sure enough this morning when he woke up she was Emma again. Children are such a riot sometimes.

Sarah and Jared have both decided to do their schools talent show. Jared is going to perform a Karate form and Sarah wants to sing Hillary Duff's "Wake Up" Sarah can get really nervous sometimes. I told she could do it if she would sing the song to my family while we were in Vegas. My brother-in-law got out their kareoke machine and she sang away. Her knees were shaking but she did it. I guess we get to endure our first school talent show. I will love to watch my own children, but hours of other kids talents might be well... Interesting. The things we do for our children.

Help!

I am trying to decide on how to make Joshua's quilt. The colors are a little different but pretty close. I would love your opinions.

Here are some pictures from my nephews party.

I think noone grows out of blowing bubbles
Joseph on the other hand thought that they tasted good and kept trying to
put the wand in his mouth.

Is this picture just the most precious? I have to make time to scrap it.

The kids were playing catch the jellyfish. If you have ever seen sponge bob,
this should make sense.

Friday night we slept at my Mom and Dad’s house. I never sleep well when I am not in my bed. I lay awake and tried to think of what we would name the baby, how we would decorate his room, what his baby book would be like, and how I would design his baby announcements. All the things you can’t think about until you know what the baby is. I came up with a color scheme for his room and baby blanket. I think I will use the same color scheme for his baby book. As far as his birth announcement, I have no idea yet.

My mom and I went shopping to Joann’s the first thing in the morning. I knew what I wanted and so it was a hard to find. I had decided to make a blanket that is light blue, cream, a slightly darker blue, and brown. I think I want to make a striped rag quilt but I am still not sure. Maybe I will put squares mixed with stripes.

We then went to My nephew Ethan’s 8^th b-day party. It was sponge bob and the kids had a blast. A lot of playing and candy, what more do kids need? We discovered that Joseph loves salt water taffy and Emma is a great sharer. Sarah saw that she had her Dad’s favorite candy in her bag and took it to him. I love when kids are thoughtful like that. I had a headache so we really didn’t get to visit like normal. It was still a nice little get away.

Joseph is finally starting to warm up to my Mom. He is so funny sometimes. He would even take things from her without thinking twice. That’s a big step for him. He had a snack when we got there Friday night and my Dad was sitting next to his booster seat. He would scoot far to the opposite side just to ensure he wouldn’t be touched. He can be so shy but he is starting to warm up to his grandparents.

My parents bought strawberries and oranges while we were there and we were blessed to be sent home with some. I made strawberry pie today and it was very good. Speaking of recipes I have a new favorite. It is Avocado Salsa and so good. We ate it with shrimp tacos but really it could go with any fish dish or just with chips.

Avocado Salsa:
1 small onion, quartered
1 jalapeno, quartered, seeds optional
1 garlic clove, smashed
4 medium tomatillos, (about 8 ounces) husked, rinsed, and coarsely chopped
1 Hass avocado, peeled, seeded, and cut into chunks
1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
1/4 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves, coarsely chopped

Put the onion, jalapeno, and garlic in a food processor and finely chop. Add the tomatillos, avocado, and salt and pulse until chopped but still chunky. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the cilantro.

We still have not sold our house but I am still optimistic that it will sell soon. Do you know how stressful it can be to try to rush and make your house spotless when you hear someone wants to look at it right away? I consider myself a decent housekeeper but there are times of the day when it just isn’t so clean. Or there are just days when you have been running all day and the house has been neglected. Any normal person has those days. But when those days come and you hear that someone is right out front and would you mind if they came and took a peek, AHHHH! I do my best and have trust that Heavenly Father will take care of the rest, really, that’s all I can do.

Joshua Enoch

We got our ultrasound this weekend at it's a boy. Joshua Enoch . I love it. We have never done a 4-D ultrasound before at it was so neat. I love that you can see the embilical cord and everything! The nurse was so excited. She just kept saying over and over again, "It is obviously a boy, noone can mistake that fact." She gave us several pictures of his "boyness" The lady was very funny.He kept moving his hand back and forth in front of his face. To his left is the cord and
to the left of that is my abdominal wall. How cool is that?

I love this pic because you can see his toes so clearly. If you look carefully you can find his leg up above his toes and the ambilical cord at the top of that. To the right you can see where the cord connects to his tummy and then below that, HELLO, boy!

Jared asked how we new it was a boy. So I got out this pic and showed him his leg then pointed to what was in the middle and said, "See that? That's how you can tell." His response? "Oh."

Sweet little Joshua. You can see his little nose and mouth and spinal cord. So cool.

Serenity

This is my latest and I spent way to long on it. This picture was taken the day of our big family shoot by my sister-in-law Erynne. She did an awesome job. Credits? The only scrap item I used are the staples from shabby princess.This is dedicated to Shannon. She inspired me to make this list.

Simple Pleasures
1. Hearing my children laugh
2. When all of the clothes are clean and put away.
3. When you peek at your kids and they are acting tenderly towards each other.
4. Creating something that makes you feel good. Such as my latest layout.
5. Late night talks with Ryan
6. Truly connecting with friends
7. The words I love you
8. Snuggles with children
9. The perfect pair of jeans
10. Being submerged in a good book

Pet Peeves
1. Dirty socks and shoes on the floor
2. When you think someone is listening to what you have to say, but they really aren't
3. People who get mad at the drop of a hat and have a very, very hard time forgiving
4. The question being asked over and over again, "What's for dinner."
5. Name calling

Will I ever understand?

We are coming home from karate yesterday and Emma declares that she wants apple juice. She had just had an apple and drank apple juice before we left the house so I told her she could have water until dinnertime. What then followed was one of those experiences where you sit back and wonder what in the world is going on in their mind. She screamed for 10 minutes straight that she wanted apple juice. After no success in try to reason or distract her I ignored her, yet she still continued. But what I wonder is this, does she do it to drive my crazy and thus submit to her will? Tempting as that is, I know giving in only makes the next fit last even longer. Or, does she just really think I don't understand that she wants apple juice because if I understood I would give it to her. Or, my last thought is that she just gets so worked up and frustrated that she really doesn't know what else to do. She thinks, "Life is unfair and I am wronged because I can't have what I want when I want it." So she just says the same thing over and over again because she does not yet know how to express her feelings.

I choose to think it is the last. It is the easiest to forgive. I somehow found humor in the situation and Jared and I had a talk about why little kids do such silly things. What doesn't drive you crazy makes you stronger, Isn't that how the saying goes?

And for anyone wondering I just barely put my Christmas decorations away on Monday. Why would I rush to put them away when Joseph loves taking the ornaments off and scattering them all over the house?

Pure delight.

I really think that being a mom has perks no other job does. These kids can make you laugh in a way that you never thought possible. When you are single and involved with yourself you may laugh and it may be a full hearty all over laughter. But rarly does it stay with you for weeks or even months. and sometimes even years. What mom doesn't remeber the laughter they felt the first time they saw their child really laugh. I mean really laugh. The kind that makes their whole frame shake. Or when they finally figure out what a joke is and try to come up with their own never fully getting the concept. But I think my favorite is when they say something that really makes no sense at all yet they are sure they should be understood. I love this job I have been blessed with. We have decided to give the kids allowance that is not dependent on their doing their jobs. We explained to them that doing jobs is part of being in a family. I am hoping that by doing this they won't grow up asking, "How much do I get paid to do that?" I have tried many different things and when they get paid a set amount per job or group of jobs, anything like clearing their plate, they ask the "how much do I get for that" question. We have story time every night before bed. The kids can participate if their jobs are done other wise they have to spend that time finishing up what was left undone. While see if this works. It seems to be working so far.

We went garage sailing on Saturday and the girls got these dolls for 50 cents each. They seem to love them. The came with clothes and the girls will put them in their jammies or get them ready for church. I have two little mommies in the house. Precious.
Emma got the talking Dora house for her birthday and several extra rooms and pieces for Christmas. It is huge when they set up the whole thing. They don't like to do it when Joseph is around because he likes to play King Kong and knock it all down.
Joseph is my fashion child. He loves to put on every one else's clothes and especially their shoes. He gets so excited when I let him try on Jareds stuff. I took just him with me to the shoe store the other day and he had a blast. He tried on several heels and cried when I had to put them back. The funny things they do.


Just a little cute note while it is on my mind. Joseph has adopted a nickname for Emma. Emma and Jospeh have a special bond. They have the most time together and play really well. Emma was the first name he said that was very clear. He would pronounce the A at the end very clearly. Well, yesterday while we were at Gymnastics he was looking for Emma. He started calling out "Emmie, Emmie?" Then the rest of the day and all day today he has been calling her that. We don't call her that so I wonder where he came up with it. SO cute though. I love to watch their relationships develop.

My not so little, little boy.

I am dedicating this blog to my oldest son Jared. He got his picture taken in primary for his baptismal picture. Wait, what? That means he is going to be 8 this coming year. I don't think I am fully ready to be the mom of a n 8 year old.

The age 7 has brought so many new things. My little man is growing up before my eyes. There are times he does things that are very grown up. Like take care of his little brother. Today he got Joseph from nursery and got Emma from her church class. When I found them they were walking towards my class holding hands. HE likes to get Joseph out of bed in the morning and they will play in their room for awhile. They have a special bond. He also likes to play mediator with his sisters. Not always in the most gracious way, but he tries. He will recount stories to me and explain the moral or point with great clarity, he understands right from wrong and will tell me about things the kids do at school and how he recognizes how silly or wrong they are being. He manages to handle his problems with grace. A few weeks ago a boy was picking on him and he didn't fight back or act meanly towards this boy. We talked about it and he said we should pray for the boy. As it turns out this little boy watched his mom die last Christmas season. So we were very understanding of why he might be having a rough time. As an adult that would be hard for me to handle. Jared tries to help his siblings do what they should, not always with grace. He doesn't require the same kind of disciplining or reprimanding that the other children do. He mostly knows what he is supposed to do and he does it. I had to take a privilege away from him a few weeks ago and I realized how long it had been since I had to really discipline him.

Now on the flip side, age seven has brought some not so pleasant changes. He no longer sees the need to shower, and if he does shower, why wash your hair or body? Right? And change clothes or wear PJ's, that just takes to much time out of what he really wants to do. And did I forget to mention the biggest one of all, he really truly has learned the art of teasing. He has master what makes his sister tick and how to get under their skin with out me seeing. This is one thing I have never fully understood. Why do all children feel the need to tease each other. I remember my brothers doing it to me and I watch my nephews and Ryan's family. They all do it, just with their own style. He loves to leave his backpack and shoes every where and any where but where they should be. I told him if he did it again I was going to through his stuff away. Well, he did and I hid his stuff. I think I shook him up pretty good and hopefully he won't do that anymore. I had an idea tonight. If it happens again I will take away his stuff and charge him 25 cents to get them back. Maybe then we won't have to worry about it.

The point of all this you wonder? Basically to say that I love watching them grow up. I love the different stages and there are always things you are glad they leave behind. My mom said that to me once, "Every stage brings wonderful new adventures and traits you never miss." It helps me to not be so sad when I realize they have grown out of a stage I love. Jared seems not to need me so much and wants much more to do with his dad. They have spent much more time together and it is good. But I do miss my little baby needing me. He still likes to talk with me and tell me everything that is going on in his world but I can see him searching for dad's approval so much more.

My other point to all this is to give mom's a glimpse forward. I remember when Emma was born. I felt so overwhelmed with three little people, (Jared just turning three,) needing so much from me. I wondered at my own abilities. At that age you truly are everything to them. You provide for every want and need. It is a blessing but sometimes it feels as though life will always be just a little challenging. Then they grow up a little and you miss that. You miss being able to just kiss the sadness away. Enjoy the tantrums, laugh at them. Realize this is not who they are it is just them trying to figure out this confusing world. Snuggle them while they let you.

Ok, enough of that. I sound like I am sending one of my children off to college. I guess what stemmed all of this was an e-mail I got form my Aunt Carol. She was telling me about her children growing up and I asked her if it was hard to see them get married and her reply was, "When my children were little it never occurred to me that they weren't actually mine! You hear the old saying that they are just lent to you, but you don't really comprehend it during that stage in your life." These precious ones are Heavenly Fathers children first. And then ours. Hard to remember that sometimes.

I get very sentimental when I am expecting a new little one.

Here is my little man.

And just a few other pictures.

Aren't we the cutest? When I cut my bangs I had several people tell me how much we look alike. She looks like pictures of me at that age. I love it!

The next set of pictures are of the new guest room. Emma and Sarah wanted to sleep with each other so often that I thought we would try having them share a room again. So with about $20 I changed Emma's room into a quest room. I made all the pillows and put in different pictures in the frames. Changed the ribbon hanging on the wall and changed the accessories on the shelf. We had all pink in there But I didn't have a pink king bedspread. Thus the few changes.
Both of these dolls were presents from each Grandma.

The shells on the shelf were a gift from a couple we know who just got back from a mission to Africa. She brought those shells from the shores there. How thoughtful!

We did put in box springs and a frame. We had to clean out our storage room to get to it first. Another New Years resolution started.

You can't really tell but the pictures have the cutest scrapbook paper that matches the ribbon. They also have flowers in them.

The cute little things.

Joseph has started this new little ritual. When it is nap time, and he realizes you are taking him to bed he starts to cry. I will put him in his bed and he stomps his feet and yells. Then I pick him up after five seconds and he stops crying and snuggles in close to let me rock him. He will hold on tight for a long time and then he lays right down and goes to sleep. I love those snuggles, especially with a very active toddler that normally doesn't have time for snuggles.

My last one, really. Well, at least for now.

I made this as a thank you to Ryan's Grandma.

Now I have to put away the scrapping so as not to burn out.

The caption reads

"Grandma's are God's gift to children.

If not for their love, how would one learn their manners?"

I think I love it.

The children's Great-Grandma hosted the cutest tea party ever. She set up three little tables with little pink flowers for where the girls were to sit. She had the yummiest looking treats. And the cutest tea sets. What little one wouldn't love this? Afterwards she gave them each their Christmas gifts. I feel so blessed to be there so that my children could get to have this memory with their GG.
I love this table set.

Here is GG, Sarah on the far left, Uncle Tim facing the camera, Jared

with his back to us, and cousin Kobe on the right.


What a little princess. She got to have a table all to her self because one of the little girls didn't make it. When the other tables "sweet treats" were gone they came to her looking for more. She looked at my like "Wait, they are taking my food." She was willing to share... After a little coaxing.


Cousin Kobe, One of Ryan's cousins, Uncle Tim, Jared, Kaylee,
Ryan's cousin Bitty, Emma, and Sarah

I have this tendency to get really into something and then burn out. So, with this new digi scraping, I think I am going to have to be careful to not get addicted. It just so happens that one of my resolutions was to put the TV aside. For the first 4 or so years of our marriage we never had TV and never missed it. Then the darn satellite guy came by and we bought his bill of sail and I have been hooked. I have noticed that I have been less productive with the TV around. So I decided to save my watching to a couple hours a week. Thus the need to find a hobby. Another resolution was to learn Digi Scraping. Should clean out the garage, another New Years Resolution, but this is way more fun.

Shout out to the mail man

The mail man brought my camera in the mail yesterday so I finally have pics.

I love my kids. We were in the car today going to pick up Sarah from school. I called Ryan on my cell, which is new and the first cell phone I have ever had, I used the speaker phone so Emma could tell her dad that she loved him. After she yelled it out Joseph joined in. It is so warming the first time your children say I love you.

After we got home and had lunch I told the girls it was rest time. Emma started to cry because Sarah was teaching her to read. Sarah said in the sweetest voice ever, “I’ll lay down with her and read to her.” How do you say no to that? I think morning kindergarten is going to be something we could all get used to. Sarah is normally very grouchy about that time of day.

Then today Sarah has a new sickness. She threw up twice but is feeling better now.

Is it our turn for health yet?

Here are a few of the pics I have of christmas. Ryan should be getting some from his mom tonight. Then I can update even more. I love this journaling for it truly helps me to remember the cutnesses of my children.
Whom ever said being a mom is not rewarding must not have children.


That's my dad. These two have a very special bond. I think Joseph prefers

being with his dad over any one else.

"Star Wars, SWEET!"

Joseph wasn't really interested in his presents.

He just wanted to help everyone else with theirs.

"How cute am I?"

Really I don't think he needed any toys to be happy. His other favorite

was the bows. He called them hats.

"Please read my part of the story, PLEASE."

Here is a little sampling of Hopes Christmas gift.

And here are the Card organizers I made for the mom's in my life.

After Christmas Bliss

There was so much to write about christmas that I forgot to write about what happened when we got home. It felt like Christmas morning all over again. The kids spent most of the time at Grandmas so they didn't play with their new toys much. We got home at bed time so when they woke up the next morning they were so excited to put together all of their toys. The girls got an awsome 5 foot princess tent from their Grandparents. They hardly left it for 3 days straight, even the boys brought their toys in and played in it. We also got to put together a car set Joseph got, Emma's Dora additions, and put in batteries for Jared's hummer that Joseph thinks should be his. We have also played many card games, chess games, and risk. We have put on, taken off, and lost several Barbie pieces. We have bought parts to go with our Christmas toys, the video camara and the TV Ryan's parents gave us. Which I must say is a favorite! Jared and the girls were able to watch different movies on the way home. No agruing. Then Ryan bought a special cord so that video games can be played on it instead of on the big TV. Big plus. I also got three awsome presents. A sizzix machine, a spa gift certificate, and a homemade quilt. I have played with the sizzix machine and it is so cool. I can cut tags in seconds. As far as the spa gift certificate, the only reason I have not used it yet is simply because I can't decide what to do... a relaxing bath, a deluxe pedicure, a message, or a make up consultation. How is a girl to decide? "Um yes, I'll take one of everything please!"

Over all I feel like we were very spoiled by our family.

My first try

Here is my first attempt at digi scrap booking. Ryan was gracious enough to show me the beginnings of our layering program called fireworks. There is so much left to learn. But I am learning how many possibilities there are.

Thanks Shannon for introducing this new concept.

New years funness

A few weeks ago Ryan and I had no children party. Way fun for us but the kids were sad and felt left out. Since the party was at our house they could hear the fun they were missing. So Ryan and I came up with a plan. We decided to tell the kids we were going to have a New Years Eve party but that it was just for our friends. I had them help me pick out snacks and drinks. They helped pick up the house and I let them assume that when the party started they would have to hang out in my room. Jared was feeling upset because I had told him we would learn how to play his new Star Wars Risk game he got for Christmas. With party prep we ran out of time.

As the kids were in Emma's room playing Ryan went out to the front door and rang the bell. I told the kids to get it for me. As they ran out and saw that it was Ryan I could tell they were confused. I explained that the party was for my friends so they better all hurry in so we could get started. They were so excited.

We ate h'orderves then played a round of go fish then a Dora card game while we waited for dinner to finish cooking. We then took a small break to wait for Joseph to go to bed so we could begin our 2 hour game of stratego. I have to say I loath that game. Only a man would invent a game were winning means you completely wipe out your enemy. I have yet to have a good experience with it. I have decided it will be saved for special father and son time. It is way to long and some what mean. I hid my feelings well and everyone had a great time. Sarah was on my team and I convinced her that winning does not matter it is just about being together as a family. (That is coming from a slightly competitive person.;) With that we ended on a good note.

Then I felt the need to eat to much... That would be my family tradition... I think that is our family tradition for every holiday though. But that is all I remember about New Years Eve. My Dad loved making all kinds of goodies and we would stay up watching TV. My Dad was always happy and it was a happy night in our family. So I always want to reinact that fun but I can't really remember why we thought it was fun.

I stayed up till about 11:30 watching What Not to Wear the best of 2005. I love that show. Then We had to put Emma back to bed. She had woken up about 11 with her coughing. She has croup. It is a horrible sounding cough and very scary. I took her and Joseph in to the Drs on Friday. Jospeh though has a different strain of coughing. He has bronchitis. Seriously, I think We have had enough sickness in our house. Maybe the next few weeks will bring better luck.

Pictures will be arriving soon. I should be getting my camera in the mail in a few days.