Thanksgiving, Day 8

Today, I am thankful for my wonderful sister in law Tashya! I could not ask for a better sister in law! She is always willing to drop anything to help Nick and I with the kids, and she is very actively involved in their lives. I am grateful for the joy that she brings to our lives, and grateful that we have the opportunity to live close enough that she can be a big part of our lives and the kids' lives. So, thank you Tashya for being so wonderful! We love you!

Thanksgiving, Day 7

Today, I am thankful for my "extended family" that I have gained this year. So grateful for Angie, Russell, and their girls for taking us in and accepting us as family. Thankful to have Angie as a best friend, and a "sister" that I can call (or text) anytime day or night. Someone I can share my fatty treats with, drink frozen cocoas with, watch movies with, and just hang out when we are both husbandless. I'm thankful for all that Angie did for me when I was at my lowest after my miscarriage, and for supporting me every step of the way with this pregnancy (and dealing with me when I was hormonal and crazy). I am thankful that they are willing to offer their home as shelter from bad weather when it comes around. I am thankful for Angie keeping me on the right track when I need it most. I'm thankful for their sweet girls, Katie and Emily and how they are so good to my kids. I am thankful for Amanda, who from afar, has become like a little sister to me. So, thank you, Chase's, for being so great to us! Love you guys!

Thanksgiving, Day 6

Today, I am thankful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I have been a baptized member of the church for 6 and a half years now, and am so grateful for the happiness the Church has brought into my life. I don't know what I would do without the truth and knowledge that I have gained over the last 6 years. I'm grateful to be worthy to attend the temple, and to be sealed to my sweet husband and kids for time and all eternity. I'm grateful to be able to attend sacrament meeting each week and renew my baptisimal covenants. I'm thankful to serve in the Young Women, with amazing leaders, and fantastic girls. I can't express enough how grateful I am to have the Gospel in my life.

To learn more about my church and what I believe, go to www.mormon.org

Thanksgiving, Day 5

Today, I am thankful for my extended family that is close by. My Nana, Uncle Bill, Aunt Emily and Uncle Ben. Like my parents, they are all willing to help with the kids, and anything else we need at the drop of a hat. The kids love going to their houses and playing! We have so much fun at the lake with Nana and Uncle Bill, and love going to Em and Ben's and eating yummy food and sitting down and talking. Nick and I are so blessed to have such a great extended family close by.

Thanksgiving, Day 4

Today, I am thankful for my parents. All of them. I am grateful to have a supportive mother, who I talk to every day. I am thankful for Facetime, so I can see her more frequently and the kids can talk to her and Steve. They are great grandparents to the kids.

I'm also thankful my dad and June. We had such a fun visit with them this year. It was so nice to catch up and get to visit with them in September. We are hoping to fly to North Carolina this year to see their new house and show the kids the East coast.

I am thankful for my inlaws who help us so much. They never hesitate to drop everything and watch the kids, or pick the kids up from wherever they are at at the moment. It is so nice to have family close by.

So, thank you, parents! Love you all!

Thanksgiving, Day 3

Today, I am thankful for my children...all 4 of them!

I say 4, because I believe that families are forever, and that I will someday get the opportunity to raise the sweet little baby that we lost last October, in Heaven.

The 2 children I have in my life right now are amazing blessings to me, each day. Brody is the smartest, funniest, sweetest little mama's boy I've ever met. He is my best little buddy. Peyton is hilarious, spunky, and a great cuddle bug.

We are thrilled about welcoming Beckett to our family in the next 2 weeks. I look forward to getting to know him, and finding out what he will bring to our family.

We are so grateful to have these children. They keep me grounded, and focused on the important things in life. There is never a dull moment in our house with Brody and Peyton around. Nick and I are either pulling our hair out from their craziness, or laughing our heads off from their silliness.

Love you, kiddos!

Thanksgiving, Day 2

Today, I am grateful for my husband. He is a hard working, wonderful husband and father. The past 3 weeks, he has not had a single day off of work or school. I am grateful for the sacrifices he makes for our family, as he strives to get his degree, and works two jobs in the process. He is amazing with our children, and always willing to take time to help me with anything I need. I'm so grateful for you, Nick!

Halloween Pictures

My kids are the cutest! I may be biased, but that is my personal opinion. They were several different characters for Halloween...Brody was a cowboy one night, the next hew as part gorilla, part skeleton, part vampire, and part cowboy, and then on Halloween, he wore last year's costume and was Mater from Cars. Peyton was a cow, a witch, and a bunny rabbit. Her Grandma made her cow costume, and Brody's cowboy costume. They were so cute! Peyton's other 2 costumes, we borrowed from our sweet friends, the Chase's. We had so much fun this year playing dress up, and loading up on treats!

Thanksgiving, Day 1

I have to start out this month of Thanksgiving, by giving all of my gratitude to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and to my Heavenly Father. I am thankful for all that I have received in my life, and know it is all through Heavenly Father's generosity and love for me. I am thankful for the atonement of Jesus Christ, which I have learned over the past year to utilize when my burdens get heavy. My testimony has grown so much over the last year, with all that I went through in losing the baby. My heart was often heavy, and understanding was out of my reach. It wasn't until I learned that the atonement is not just for sin, but also to help us through our trials, did my heartache begin to heal.

I am thankful for the plan of Salvation. I am thankful for a living prophet. I am thankful for the Book of Mormon and the peace it brings to me. I am thankful for church leaders who lead and guide our church. I am thankful for Temples, and the ability for families to be eternal.

Re-attempting...again

Here I go...despite working 45+ hours, serving in my church, and being a full time mamma to my sweet babies, I am going to re-attempt to blog. So, starting today, I am going to not only post regular updates about the kids, but since it is the 1st of November, I am going to do my "Thanksgiving Blog" and write about something I am thankful for each day.

Here goes nothing! :)

The little things in life...

Brody and Peyton have been bickering a lot lately...so, when I saw this photo op taking place, I had to take some pictures and record this moment of companionship, brought together by a bowl of brownie batter.

Tonight has been such a great night! Nick is at work (that's not great), but the kids and I decided to make the best of it. They helped me cook dinner (spaghetti, garlic bread and green beans), and for dessert? Well, brownies of course!

Brody LOVES Kindergarten!

And Kindergarten LOVES Brody! Despite the 6:30 wake up time every morning (which I am not too fond of), going to school was exactly what Brody needed. He gets the socialization, and structure that he has always craved. He is such a smart little boy and needs to keep busy all the time.

His favorite thing about Kindergarten? Recess of course! His best friends at recess are Cadence, Audrey, and Grace. He assures me he plays with boys as well, but the girls are just "cool".

His teacher, Mrs. Myers is amazing! She is very nurturing and loving and Brody adores her. She does a good job of keeeping the parents informed of what they are learning and doing in class each day/week. I walk him into the school every morning so I get to catch up with her when I drop him off. She has reported that Brody is a "pumpkin" and that she could sit and listen to him talk all day long. :) Love my little Kindergartener!!!

Thoughts about kindergarten...

Brody starts Kindergarten tomorrow and my emotions are running high. First, I can't believe I have a kindergartener. It doesn't seem possible. When they tell you to cherish the time with your babies because it goes by too fast...they weren't kidding. Second, it's hard for me to believe that he is about to start a whole new realm of independence. Although, I am VERY excited about this part of his life. One of my main goals as a mother is to teach my children that they can depend on me for whatever they need...but the importance of self sufficiency, and independence, in order for them to grow into strong, successful adults.

I told Brody tonight at 7:10 that he had 15 more minutes until he needed to go brush his teeth and go to sleep because he has to get up at 6:30 in the morning for school (that's right folks...Arkansas is backwards and elementary school starts at 7:30 and high school starts at 9:00!) He complained a little bit and fussed a little bit but agreed to do as I asked. About 5 minutes later, I looked over at him, and the little nugget was sound asleep on the couch. We are skipping teeth tonight, and I just carried him to his bed to lay him down. So excited that he is going to get such a long night's sleep before his first day tomorrow.

His teacher's name is Mrs. Myers. I had never met her before until the kindergarten orientation night, but she seems to be an excellent teacher. I have heard nothing but wonderful reviews from other moms whose children have had her. She even sent Brody a postcard in the mail, which made his day. Brody's favorite thing in the world is getting mail!

So, tomorrow, Brody and I both start a new routine of getting up EARLY (not excited about this part), and getting ready for school. Our lives will never be the same again! It just dawned on me that I will have kids in school for the next 24 years. Oh boy!!

Pictures to come tomorrow!

Update..

I'm beginning to see a pattern...as the kids get older, and I get busier, my blogging goes down the toilet. I have SO much to catch up on it's not even funny!

Synopsis:

• Baby #3 is on the way. It's a boy! Woohoo! We are beyond thrilled to have another sweet boy in our family! Nameless as he may be right now, we are so in love with our third bundle of joy who should be arriving at the end of November/beginning of Decmeber.


• Brody (5) is starting Kindergarten on Monday. I can't believe it. Monday is going to be a great day for him, but a rough day for mama! I am just floored by the fact that my little man is old enough to go to public school.


• Peyton (3) is a pistol! She loves to sing, dance, do gymnastics, and entertain. She will be starting Joy School in September. She is equally as excited about this new adventure, as Brody is about school.

He Lives

I am so thankful today for the knowledge that I have that my Savior lives. I know that He was crucified, after He had atoned for the sins of the world. He suffered, He bled, and He died. Three days later, He had risen, and lives today. I am thankful for the sacrifices that He made for me personally. This year I have had plenty of opportunity to seek the blessings that He has made available to me through the atonement, and I cannot begin to describe the peace it has brought to my heart through all the many trials we have faced this year. So, today, I rejoice that He lives.



*Don't you love my cute little sign? It says "He Lives, my kind, wise, Heavenly friend." They made these at church the other day, and I was having a not so good day, so my sweet friend made mine for me.

Baby #3...

...will be here on or around December 3rd, 2011!! We are so beyond excited about this new addition to our family! We found out about 5 weeks ago, and I wanted to wait to share the news until I knew for sure things were going well. After 2 good ultrasounds and a fantastic heartbeat, I couldn't contain myself any longer!


The kids are really excited. Peyton sings songs about the baby in my tummy all the time, and Brody says "I can't believe you are having a baby!" It is going to be strange having Peyton go from our littlest to our middlest, but I know she will be a good big sister. I already know how Brody will do because he is an EXCELLENT big brother to Peyton!


Like my first two pregnancies, I have been really sick with this one. In fact, I think I have actually been sicker with this one. I'm grateful for the sickness though, because I know it means that the baby is healthy and growing at a good rate. However, I would be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to not getting sick every few hours anymore.

Our "Gummy Bear" at 7 weeks

Brody and Peyton update...

Brody is...

• Almost 5!!!! He is going to be starting Kindergarten in August. I'm not quite sure how I feel about that.


• He is in the CTR 4 Class at church, and LOVES primary. He always comes home from church excited about the things he learned.


• He is very loving towards his sister, although she hurts his feelings almost daily.


• Along with the above post, he is very, very sensitive. He has the softest little heart.


• He is learning to read, and can recognize all the letters of the alphabet and knows what sound they make. He is also getting better at writing his letters.


• He plays Soccer for the Sounders.


• He is also in Mixed Martial Arts (we are very busy!)


• He has gotten GREAT at riding his bike! We are going to try without training wheels when the weather gets a little nicer.


• He just got his very own dog from a co worker of mine. The dog is a beagle mix and his name is ALSO Brody and he is ALSO 4! It gets a little confusing around here, but the kids are insistent on not changing his name.


• Some of his cute phrases right now are "What in the cornbread heck?", "Snubbed by the sister!", and he loves telling knock knock jokes!

Peyton is...

• Almost 3!!! Holy smokes! I can't believe my baby is not a baby anymore!


• She loves dresses and skirts, and anything fashionable.


• She loves dolls and playing "mommy."


• She is left handed, just like her mom, uncle Ryan, and Grandpa Shaw!


• She is kind of mean to her brother...sometimes putting him into tears with statements such as "no me love you, Blody!" and "No me want to play with you!"


• Her favorite song is "I love to see the Temple."


• She is in dance class on Monday nights and does tap and ballet. She LOVES dance class!


• Some of her cute phrases are "nothingbody" (instead of nobody), "No way hose-way!", and "What chu talk?" (what did you say?).

Easter Morning

We had 2 VERY excited kiddos this morning! In fact, Brody woke up at 6:30 AM and we told him he had to wait to see if the Easter Bunny had come until Peyton woke up. By 8:00, he was shaking her and kissing her and telling her it was Easter. They searched high and low for their baskets, and were becoming to a little discouraged, until they went in the play room and Peyton's room and found their loot! (notice the paper glued to the walls in my playroom? That is the work of Brody and his little friends...we need to get sandpaper and hire a painter!)

Peyton with her jelly bean in her mouth! This little girl has a sweet tooth like her mommy!!!

Brody was so excited about his loot! They are a tad bit spoiled!

January 6, 2011

• Tacos for dinner tonight! Can't get much better than that! (Did I mention, I'm down 6 pounds on Weight Watchers?)


• I finished Week 1, Day 2 of the Couch 2 5K program! I feel great after a good run!


• Peyton drew all over her face today with eyeliner and called it her "tatoo"! She is so crazy!


• Brody wrote his letters today, up to "G"! He is so smart!


• Peyton took my iPhone from me, while I was on the phone with a customer, and was on YouTube looking up videos of Elmo! That girl and her technology!

January 6, 2011

• Tacos for dinner tonight! Can't get much better than that! (Did I mention, I'm down 6 pounds on Weight Watchers?)


• I finished Week 1, Day 2 of the Couch 2 5K program! I feel great after a good run!


• Peyton drew all over her face today with eyeliner and called it her "tatoo"! She is so crazy!


• Brody wrote his letters today, up to "G"! He is so smart!


• Peyton took my iPhone from me, while I was on the phone with a customer, and was on YouTube looking up videos of Elmo! That girl and her technology!

January 5, 2011

• Brody stayed the night with Nana tonight. He loves his nights with Nana! He took his V-Reader with him so he and Nana could lay in bed and read books together. He is growing up so fast!


• Peyton went with Auntie Tashya tonight to watch stars fall. They stood by the lake and threw rocks in the water and watched the stars. It was a perfect night for Peyton!


• Nick and I got the first night out alone in a LONG time! We spent the evening at Red Lobster and Target! It was a perfect evening for Nick and I!


• Peyton's new favorite word right now is "Humongous!" She says it about anything that is big. It is so cute the way she pronounces it too! "Who-MONG-us!" So cute!


• My next few pictures are going to be random from my SD card, as I have been slacking at taking pictures lately!

January 5, 2011

• Brody stayed the night with Nana tonight. He loves his nights with Nana! He took his V-Reader with him so he and Nana could lay in bed and read books together. He is growing up so fast!


• Peyton went with Auntie Tashya tonight to watch stars fall. They stood by the lake and threw rocks in the water and watched the stars. It was a perfect night for Peyton!


• Nick and I got the first night out alone in a LONG time! We spent the evening at Red Lobster and Target! It was a perfect evening for Nick and I!


• Peyton's new favorite word right now is "Humongous!" She says it about anything that is big. It is so cute the way she pronounces it too! "Who-MONG-us!" So cute!


• My next few pictures are going to be random from my SD card, as I have been slacking at taking pictures lately!

January 4, 2011

• The Razorbacks lost the Sugar bowl tonight. Nick is not a happy camper tonight. My thoughts are, "Oh well, at least we made it there...better luck next year!"


• Brody and Peyton stayed up with their Daddy to watch the football game! They are Daddy's little football lovers!
• I of course, went to bed early. I'm not a night owl these days (the sad thing is, I'm not much of a morning person either)!
• Benson enjoyed all the action while everyone yelled and hollered at the TV!
• Josh, Jenni, Parker, Brynlee, and Wyatt came over to watch the game. Peyton has officially decided that Brynlee is her new best friend, not WyWy. She said "No Wy Wy my best friend, Binlee my best friend!" When you ask her who her next best friend is, she says "Parker!", finally, Wy Wy is her 3rd best friend! Poor Wy Wy has dropped 2 ranks!

January 4, 2011

• The Razorbacks lost the Sugar bowl tonight. Nick is not a happy camper tonight. My thoughts are, "Oh well, at least we made it there...better luck next year!"


• Brody and Peyton stayed up with their Daddy to watch the football game! They are Daddy's little football lovers!
• I of course, went to bed early. I'm not a night owl these days (the sad thing is, I'm not much of a morning person either)!
• Benson enjoyed all the action while everyone yelled and hollered at the TV!
• Josh, Jenni, Parker, Brynlee, and Wyatt came over to watch the game. Peyton has officially decided that Brynlee is her new best friend, not WyWy. She said "No Wy Wy my best friend, Binlee my best friend!" When you ask her who her next best friend is, she says "Parker!", finally, Wy Wy is her 3rd best friend! Poor Wy Wy has dropped 2 ranks!

January 3, 2011

• While in the bathtub tonight, Peyton climbed out, and told me "Go away, mommy!" I asked her why she wanted me to go away, and she said "Go see Daddy! I want to jump in the bathtub!" That girl is such a cute little stinker!


• During FHE tonight, Brody conducted. He chose Peyton to pick the opening song, which was "I Love to See the Temple." Daddy said the opening prayer, and I gave the lesson, "I Am a Child of God", and Peyton chose the closing song, "I Am a Child of God" as well.


• The kids rode their bikes up and down the sidewalks and through the neighborhood tonight. They are getting so good on their bikes!


• As I am writing, Peyton is laying in her own bed, screaming her head off for me. It is hard not to get up and give into her, but she needs to learn to stay in her bed at bedtime, and go to sleep on her own. It still tears at this mamma's heart.


• We watched the movie "The Brother of Jared" tonight after FHE. I love the Living Scriptures (despite their price tag), as they are a great way for the kids (and myself) to learn the stories in the scriptures.

January 3, 2011

• While in the bathtub tonight, Peyton climbed out, and told me "Go away, mommy!" I asked her why she wanted me to go away, and she said "Go see Daddy! I want to jump in the bathtub!" That girl is such a cute little stinker!


• During FHE tonight, Brody conducted. He chose Peyton to pick the opening song, which was "I Love to See the Temple." Daddy said the opening prayer, and I gave the lesson, "I Am a Child of God", and Peyton chose the closing song, "I Am a Child of God" as well.


• The kids rode their bikes up and down the sidewalks and through the neighborhood tonight. They are getting so good on their bikes!


• As I am writing, Peyton is laying in her own bed, screaming her head off for me. It is hard not to get up and give into her, but she needs to learn to stay in her bed at bedtime, and go to sleep on her own. It still tears at this mamma's heart.


• We watched the movie "The Brother of Jared" tonight after FHE. I love the Living Scriptures (despite their price tag), as they are a great way for the kids (and myself) to learn the stories in the scriptures.

January 2, 2011

• today could not have started any better. Brody woke me up singing a song that went "I'll always be here for you, I'll always be here for you, mommmmmmy!"

• Brody started his first day in his CTR 4 class at church! He loves his new teacher, Sister Zuniga.

• Peyton started her last year in nursery at church.

• we went to Kenny and Erin's house and took them dinner after their bad car accident.

• good day at church, the kids were perfect!

January 2, 2011

• today could not have started any better. Brody woke me up singing a song that went "I'll always be here for you, I'll always be here for you, mommmmmmy!"

• Brody started his first day in his CTR 4 class at church! He loves his new teacher, Sister Zuniga.

• Peyton started her last year in nursery at church.

• we went to Kenny and Erin's house and took them dinner after their bad car accident.

• good day at church, the kids were perfect!

Janua 1, 2011

Here's to a new start on my 365 project! One of my New Year's Resolutions is to keep a better journal of what is happening with my sweet little family from day to day. This will act as that journal. I may alter the rules a little, though, and add more than 1 picture a day (if I have them), in an attempt to get better at photographing my kids.


So, here is my 1st entry for the New Year!

We rang in the New Year at the Homewood Suites in Rogers, with Jenny, Josh, Parker, Brynlee, and Wyatt Hall! We went swimming in the pool, ate pizza, watched movies, drank bubbly (sparkling cider), and laughed a lot! It was the perfect end to the year!

Today was spent with Grandma and Papa, celebrating Christmas with Nick's sister, Katrina and her family. We had a good time!

Peyton is talking so much now. One of my favorite quotes from this weekend, was yesterday. While at the pool, a little boy came up to her and squirted her with a water gun. Peyton looked at me and said "Mamma, that boy shoot me in the face with a gun...and I liked it!!!" Her little smile was so cute as she said this.

Brody is smart as a whip. He is starting to learn to read and write. He can write his name almost perfectly now.

As I sit here and write, Peyton is sleeping in her own big girl bed, and Brody is curled up next to his daddy on the couch, watching Men in Black for the first time. He seems to be really enjoying it.

Janua 1, 2011

Here's to a new start on my 365 project! One of my New Year's Resolutions is to keep a better journal of what is happening with my sweet little family from day to day. This will act as that journal. I may alter the rules a little, though, and add more than 1 picture a day (if I have them), in an attempt to get better at photographing my kids.


So, here is my 1st entry for the New Year!

We rang in the New Year at the Homewood Suites in Rogers, with Jenny, Josh, Parker, Brynlee, and Wyatt Hall! We went swimming in the pool, ate pizza, watched movies, drank bubbly (sparkling cider), and laughed a lot! It was the perfect end to the year!

Today was spent with Grandma and Papa, celebrating Christmas with Nick's sister, Katrina and her family. We had a good time!

Peyton is talking so much now. One of my favorite quotes from this weekend, was yesterday. While at the pool, a little boy came up to her and squirted her with a water gun. Peyton looked at me and said "Mamma, that boy shoot me in the face with a gun...and I liked it!!!" Her little smile was so cute as she said this.

Brody is smart as a whip. He is starting to learn to read and write. He can write his name almost perfectly now.

As I sit here and write, Peyton is sleeping in her own big girl bed, and Brody is curled up next to his daddy on the couch, watching Men in Black for the first time. He seems to be really enjoying it.