Sacrament Meetings without Robert

I never know what will happen and have HUGE admiration for single moms who take their children to church and keep them reverent. It has gotten that some of the people at church just give me the look that says, "Oh Kelly, you try but not succeeding." I'm happy if I can keep the kids from crawling under the benches, running out into the isles, or making to much noise. By the way, our 3 kids are 3 of the 5 kids under 6 years old. Anyway, today Evan slid over the top of the bench in front of us and would have fallen on his head had I not grabbed his leg in time. Then he crawled under the bench to isle behind us and would have gotten away if my arms were an inch shorter. Oh, because my arms aren't an inch longer he did get away and by the time I got him David was standing by the benches on the other side of the isle (we were sitting in the middle of center section). I took the boys to the foyer after that and tried to keep them somewhat contained out there. Luckily someone else was holding Emma.
I have to count my blessings that they haven't taken off the front of the chapel during Sacrament meeting though. I am not above giving them snacks to keep them quieter. I'm not sure how my mom did it with 7 kids and dad was bishop because I can hardly keep 3 contained.
I LOVE IT WHEN ROBERT GETS TO STAY HOME ON SUNDAYS!!!!!!!!!!

My new calling...

I was called as Nursery Leader and am excited for it (and nervous) and the great things we can do. I made little mats for the kids to sit on during our lessons. I used pillow cases w/ batting in the middle for little quilts and wrote "I am a Child of God" on each one. (Thanks Kristi for the idea.) They turned out pretty good and today when we used them for the first time, the kids loved them. I made some simple music wands w/ ribbons hanging down for the kids to swing around while we sing certain songs. My goal is to have the kids ready for Sunbeams and to learn something from class. I'm certainly open for ideas on what I can do though. I do miss Relief Society, but this is where I need to be for now.

February gone.

Dad with his big boys.

We like our Valentine's Day stickers.

Where is Emma?

Aren't I cute?

"Look we're getting bigger!"

"What did I do this? Me? Of course not!"

He loves to put his and Evan's "babies" in the carrier.

"I can smile SOOO big."

Evan is so adorable with Emma's headband on. (So you're not worried, I've only done it a couple of times.)

Emma is 3 1/2 months old and barely fitting in her 0-3 month clothes, wearing size 2 diapers, would rather sit up than lay down, loves watching her brothers run wild. She started laughing Feb. 3 and is ticklish under her arms, on her tummy and neck. I love hearing her laugh. She can turn on the pouty face and quick to smile.
I'm going to combine the boys because they are 2 peas in a pod. They are taking naps in the same room now instead of just sleeping in the same room at night. I knew it would be an adjustment but they love to put off naps as long as they can after being put to bed until they just crash. Turning on the lights isn't much of a problem anymore and often throughout the day I have to walk around the house turning off lights. Evan started putting his hand on Emma's head as a way of showing he loves her and I think it is adorable to watch it. David is my big helper when I'm cooking and loves to horse around.

It's been a while...

David in Emma's bassinet

Evan in Emma's bassinet

We think we'll keep her.

Christmas Picture 2009

January 2010 has come so much sooner than I thought it would. After waiting and thinking Emma would come early, she arrived 4 days after her due date on November 11. She is such a good baby and spoiled and completely adorable. David and Evan had some adjustments to having a little sister but have done quite well. Grandma's and Grandpa's were such big helps and greatly missed when they left. Robert and Grandpa Child were able to put the rails on the front porch and it looks wonderful! I love that the ice from the roof isn't on our sidewalk but out in the yard because of our porch.

David and Evan are learning sign language to help them communicate and are happier (sometimes). When they are really excited about something they hurriedly go through all their signs unable to get it out fast enough. I cannot believe how fast they are growing":up. David can almost reach the light switches, can open doors (only sometimes) and has the best smirk/smile. Evan can do anything David does and more, just ask him. He is a little dare devil and really would jump off a cliff. There is always a smile waiting to shine for anyone.

...More to come later because I've got to get this posted.

He's TWO!!!

David turned 2 last week and had a wonderful birthday. He liked his shaggy dog cake and took an ear and a paw for his pieces. He liked all of the gifts he got but loved the animal puzzle and trucks!

I cannot believe he's already 2. Time has flown by. He's a silly little boy! He has this smirk that he makes when he's "not going to smile" but cannot help himself. When he makes the "I'm not going to smile" face then of course I have to make him smile. He is a fast runner and likes to show us how fast he can run. He'll run all over the house showing us. I use to keep the piano closed but now it is open all the time and he will go and "play pretty songs" on it. He use to play the higher notes, but lately it's more of the lower notes. He is growing up but he will always be my little baby that I would sleep with and snuggled with all the time. The benefits of being a first child I guess. I would love napping in the chair and having him lay on top of me. Lots of memories to be thankful for.

More Home Updates...

This is the addition to the back of the house. The door into the basement use to be next to the basement window but we moved it over about 8 feet. We chose to cover the stairs so hopefully when it rains and snows, the stairs will be a bit more protected.

This is our new porch!!! We love it and will enjoy it even more when the rails are up (all in due time). In the spring we'll have our grass in and some landscaping done to help finish it some more. The porch really adds character to the home.

I painted the boys room a soft green and for decorations I put up animals for Evan's side of the wall and trucks on David's side. They are pretty familiar with the trucks but are learned more of the animals this way. David is more distracted when it's nap time because of the stickers, but the walls are cute.

David and Evan played project manager for our summer projects beginning with checking the quality of gravel used.

Here is a quick progression of our house in 2004 just after we moved in up to having the front porch poured in August 2009.

I finally have the pictures ready to post from our projects this summer but I have run out of time so it will be a couple of days before they are available.

We will be posting pictures soon of our latest projects, stay tuned.

What's it going to be you ask?...

Ta Da - a little GIRL!!!! We are excited. I get to make the girl fabric I have into quilts and paint her room. She will have a family name like the boys do but we're having a hard time deciding which one to use. We have time though.

It's going to be...

I'm wondering what you think we'll have. We find out next Wednesday. Leave a comment letting us know so I can put it in the baby book.

A little naptime

Robert doesn't take naps very often but I went into the family room to check on things one Sunday afternoon and found this. He claims to have not slept for very long but he didn't know I took his picture. David was playing by himself so wonderfully and was quiet. He deserved this nap because he doesn't get very much down time with work, church, and family.

I'm no Bakerella or Martha Stewart

Evan's birthday is a few weeks away and I decided that to be a good mom (like my mom who always decorated our bday cakes) I had better learn how to decorate cakes. David's was just a pumpkin which was easy but there aren't pumpkins in June. Evan isn't really into anything but he LOVES bath time so I'm making a bathtub cake. A girl in my ward does cakes and came over to show me some beginner tips. This is the bottom part of my first bathtub. (the yellow and orange globs are supposed to be ducks.) We had the missionaries over for dinner that night and they were impressed with how it looked but they're missionaries and they only care about how it tastes. It was easier in some ways than I thought it would be but I'm certainly not very good yet. So anyway on Evan's 9" round personal cake he'll get a mini version of the 9x13 cake. In the end is he going to care I put a bathtub on his First Bday cake - no, but maybe when they're older it may be fun to choose what's on their cake. By the way, I used butter cream frosting (from scratch) and it was DELICIOUS!!! I'm sooo glad I made a double batch. I cannot get enough of it!!! I saved Robert 1/2 of the last piece of cake. Oops.

New Windows

Several weeks ago we got new windows in the Dining Room and David's room and they match the other new windows on the first floor.

This is the Dining Room. Our old window wouldn't stay closed, very inefficient, and was always dirty. I still am amazed at how clean it is - I can see out!!! The things you take for granted.

This is David's bedroom window. We made it a few inches shorter so that when we put a covered porch on (maybe someday) there will be enough room for snow to buildup. I love being able to open and close his window. A nice breeze can come through.