School is out and Summer Begins!

With the end of School came Brooklynn's Kindergarten Celebration! The classes at her school sang some great songs and gave us a great program! It was so fun to see her and how grown up she is getting and how much she loves school.

Brookie and Mrs. Sagouspe

I had to throw in this picture of Josh, he loves to sleep in this chair and after a long day of playing this is how I found him.

Summer Break began with having some friends over for dinner. It was great and the kids had a wonderful time with their friends and we enjoyed spending time with ours.

Brookie and Zoey

Josh and 'Ydia' (Lydia)

I didn't get a pic of Tyler and Liam, but there were around as well!

Tyler started swim club on Monday and I think it will be something that will be great and keep him busy. He has practice every morning and then gets to participate in a few swim meets throughout the summer. He loves to swim and so I think this is going to be a great way for him to learn and have fun! Tyler also came down with Strep Throat on Monday - of course. It seems for the past couple of summers one or more of the kids has come down with it. Hopefully this time we can get it over with before we go on vacation instead of while we are on vacation.

I think that is about all! I feel super boring because we really don't have too much going on yet. I will say I am down to about 100 days left of pregnancy. This is a milestone that has seemed so far away for forever. I am actually feeling pretty good which I am super grateful for, I just hope it continues so that I can keep us busy and happy for the summer.

Baby Thoughts

For obvious reasons Baby Stuff is on my mind. I was at my Dr's Appointment to day and overheard a first time mom talking to her friend - also a soon to be first time mom and I couldn't help but smile. Why smile? A couple of reasons - First I thought wow I totally remember being in that postion and trying to figure it all out, Second I thought, WOW I am so glad this is not my first rodeo.

Then I came home and found in my mailbox a book that I asked Marilee to send me. I am only into the first Chapter but recommend it to all you moms out there. It is called 'The Parenting Breakthrough" by Merrilee Browne Boyack. In the first chapter she talks about how each child is different and even though you have been through this rodeo before, each time it is different and you have to learn what works and doesn't work with each child. That lead to me thinking - what will this child be like. How will he be different and how will he be the same? Will he be snuggly like Ty was, fussy like Brooklynn or mellow like Josh? Maybe a combination? Who's to say, but I sure do look forward to finding out.

The Good Mommy Moments!

Sometimes it seems that the Good Mommy Moments, you know the ones where you think wow this is worth it, wow I must be doing something right, are few and far between. It seems the mundane routine, the discipline, the homework, the breaking up of arguments is the norm.

While I know all the exhaustion and hard work is worth it, sometimes those really Good Mommy Moments catch you off guard and you realize just how fulfilling, wonderful and fun being a mom is and can be.

Good Mommy Moment #1
While hanging out with Josh today he said, 'Mom, Me gonna like mine baby bruder!' I love it! I love the fact that he is thinking about it and I sure hope he does like his Baby Bruder!


Good Mommy Moment #2
Minutes ago I pulled Josh out of the tub. I am lucky enough that his big sister will wash him and get him all cleaned up - What a blessing that is! But I pulled him out so that Brooks could finish rinsing her hair and as I started to dry him off he looked at me with the biggest grin on his cute little face and said, ' I'm Happy!' Those words melted my heart! What more can a mom ask for?

Motherhood is Good!

Blurry!

From the end of April to now has been a blurr. May was a crazy month - so crazy that we didn't even really get to Celebrate mine or Steve's Birthday's. Steve was super busy with work and home only a handful of days for most of the month. Having the Dad gone always makes for some hectic days and a very, very, very, very tired Mommy. Thankfully that is all behind us and we can move forward and CAN'T WAIT for school to get out next week.

Here are some of our May highlights!

• Miner Day at School (The school mascot is a Gold Miner). I was able to help out and Celebrate at Brooklynn's class. Josh, for once, got to come along and had fun playing the games and making the same things that the BIG kids did. He also loved playing in the Kitchen in Brooklynn's classroom and couldn't stop talking about it. Miner Day ends with a big FAIR and fundraiser, unfortunately I was really sad that we couldn't make it to the fair because of a baseball game for Ty, no really I was devastated, no really.
  

• The kids also enjoyed some play time with their friends. Here is Brooks with one of her BFF's Taylie, they decided they needed some crazy hair and Brooklynn really took it as far as she could!

• Ty and Steve were able to spend a wonderful 5 days in Utah and while there they went to the BYU Father and Sons Basketball camp. Of course I don't have any pictures, but when you get to have a weekend alone with dad and see some of your bestest cousins and your grandparents and some Auntie's and Uncle's what more can you ask for when you are 8. Ty had a fantastic time and it was a great way to get caught up with Dad after not seeing to much of him all month.
• The day after they arrived home from Utah was Tyler's first Pinewood Derby. The only problem was that there was no time before they left to get a car started. So with about an HOUR and A HALF before race time we started working on his car. Dad did the cutting, mom and Ty did the sanding, we got some wheels in place and Dad provided us with a custom 'Sharpie' paint job. It wasn't perfect and it wasn't super fast, but it was done and as you can tell by the look on the kids face, it was good enough. Although the car didn't win a race (due to a wheel that broke after the first run) Ty had fun! We affectionately named the car 'The Bolt' That about sums up our month. In the midst of the highlights was the regular stuff like baseball, gymnastics, homework, reading, scouts, laundry, cleaning, and whatever else it is we do all day everyday. Hmmmm what is it that I do all day everyday? I don't know, it is all a blurr!

What is in A Name?

What is in a Name? Does anyone know the answer to that one.? I have been pondering names since Monday and I am lost.

When Tyler was born Steve and I had a list of names, 3 to be exact. We went to the hospital, Ty was born, we had our 3 names, but committing to any of them was extremely difficult for me and I think for Steve to. I think it took us a good 36 hours to finally settle on Tyler. Of course now the name is perfect and I love it. Again when Brooklynn was born we had a few names we liked, but this time committing wasn't so hard, it just seemed to fit. Then there was Josh because of the circumstances we committed to the name an hour or so before his cute little face popped out and thankfully it too was the perfect name for him. BUT, to give a name to a new, fresh from Heaven little soul is for me a big responsibility. There is a lot of pressure maybe it is self impossed, but I want to get it just right.

If this little baby had been a girl, I would be 95% certain of the name right now. There may have been a change at the end, but I had a name in mind that I loved. That doesn't mean I am sad that this baby is a boy, it just means that I have alot of work to do to figure out a name.

I have been thinking of lots of names, Steve has thrown out some that are definite possibilities, but nothing has stuck yet. For me the list making has begun, I'm sure there will be many additions and subtractions over the next few months, but for now he will be called, especially by Josh, "Baby Boy." And that works for me.

And The Ultrasound Says.........

You don't really think I am going to tell you that easily do you? We'll get there I promise, but I must share a few thoughts first.

#1 - It never ceases to amaze me - The fact that there is a baby in there that is alive and moving and growing and it really just mesmorizes me.

#2 - I am very blessed to be able to have kids. I am truly grateful for my children and for this little one soon to join our house.

#3 - As the exceptionally nice Ultra Sound Lady said, "God sends you what you need, not necessarily what you want." Those are some very wise words! Although it does make me slighly nervous wondering what the Lord thinks I need!

#4 - I could watch my baby on Ultrasound all day, no really I could!

#5 - The whole 3D/4D thing is sort of freaky. When we showed Josh the 3D picture of the baby he said, "That baby is all screwed up!"

#6 - Brooklynn is now and will always be our #1 Princess.

So since I have now tortured you all enough. See for yourself what FLAVOR of baby this is going to be.

So with that, I hope you all enjoy the very conclusive evidence of our next little BOY! What? It is a BOY? Really? Steve was completely convinced it was a girl and although I wouldn't commit I thought it would probably be a girl too. I even had some great names that I liked, some bedding picked out and plans for the 'girls' room. And although more bows and dresses would have been fun, we are excited about more golf clubs, footballs, and all that comes with boys! Besides, Josh needs a partner in crime, right? Brooklynn took it hard, she was really hoping for a GIRL, I mean really hoping. After a few tears, and daddy telling her how special she is to be our only girl, she decided it would be ok.

Now to figure out a name........

IT IS A GOOD THING WE HAVE A FEW MORE MONTHS TO PICK ONE

So with mine eeenjury I have come to appreciate the blessing of hands. I have been amazed at all the things I have trouble doing or just can't do with only one functioning hand. I have compiled this list for all of us to enjoy.

1. Picking up my kids, not that I pick any of them up except for Josh!



2. Putting a lid on a sippy cup.



3. Making dinner, while possible it is a much more difficult task and hopefully it doesn't involve cutting anything because with one hand it is hard.



4. Typing



5. Folding Laundry



6. Putting Sheets on the bed



7. Blow drying and styling my hair - impossible. Needless to say I am so hot this week



8. Shaving one of my armpits, the other one is fine.



9. Washing the right half of my body



10. Putting deodorant on the right side



11. Doing up my Bra, I have come up with another method to get it on



12. Cleaning, this has been put on hold, but I am going to vacuum and dust



13. Washing off Josh's glasses



14. Opening mail



15. Opening bandaids and gauze, I discovered that today



16. Fixing Brookies Hair


17. Helping Josh pull up his pants.

Really I could go on, but I don't want to bore you all to death. Let's just say I am grateful for my two hands and when they work!!!!

DAMN THOSE MIRACLE BLADES!

WARNING SOME GRAPHIC PICTURES WILL FOLLOW - PLEASE AVERT YOUR EYES IF YOU HAVE A WEAK STOMACH!

I had a fight this week with one of my miracle blade knives. I was making one of my favorite things - Strawberry Avocado Salsa - and as I attempted to get the pit out of the avocado with one of my Miracle Blades everything went horribly wrong and I ended up slicing open my hand. Really it was bad, I mean really bad. Steve came over and took a look and placed a call to our friend who happens to be a Dr. and has been known to do stitches for complete morons like me. Most thankfully he was home, even though on call, and so off we went. I sat on a bar stool in their kitchen while Jeremy pieced my hand back together, Steve took pictures and Talli made sure Jeremy had all he needed. Despite having needles jammed into the wound to relieve the pain it all went well. I was so glad , (note the sarcasm) that I could help Jeremy keep up on his stitching skills since he doesn't use them all that often. 2 or 3 layers of stitches later with 11 of those beautiful things on the outside I am put back together, but still in plenty of pain. My index finger is very bruised and swollen and it is going to be a long couple of weeks before I can function normally with two hands. Thanks to Jeremy for his expertise and willingness to help, it was a huge blessing not to have sit in the ER all night on Sunday!!!

With that her are a few pictures for you to enjoy!

His future his so bright, he's gotta wear.............

After a couple of visits to the eye DR. a diagnosis of MILD Ocular Albinism (google if you would like to know more), dialating his eyes for 3 days so we could get the prescription right, waiting for Daddy to be able to come with us to pick just the right frames, and waiting for the back ordered frames to come in, here he is. We picked them up today and if I do say so myself, he is adorable. He is doing alright wearing them, but I think it will take us some time to work up to wearing them all day. I think he is starting to realize he actually can see better, but his eyes need to adjust and so does he. So does Mommy! We also need to go find a really nerdy back strap, but after investing so much into those eyes, we've got to protect the glasses!

Notice that he has his cheesy grin. Why can't kids just smile normally! Oh well, he is cute anyway.

Easter!

We had a great Easter Weekend in Orange County. The kids enjoyed playing with their cousins and we enjoyed spending time with the Parental Units and Ryan and Nicole. It was nice a relaxing and felt great to get away. I didn't take any picture really except one of my kids all dressed up for church. Boy, if I do say so myself they are pretty fantastic looking children!

Coming Soon......

Tater in Glasses? Tune in next week to find out!

Conversations to Remember!

Last night we had a thunder storm. Josh has probably never heard thunder because they are such a rare occurance for us. He came out of his room and this was our conversation.

Mom - What is up, get back in bed.
Josh - I SAW a crazy noise
Mom - You did (of course I was also giggling)
Josh - What dat noise?
Mom - It is Funder, the sky is making loud sounds
Josh (After sitting on my lap and another round of thunder) - I DON'T LIKE that FUNDER!!!!

It was too cute, at least I thought so. And I loved the Thunderstorm!

Last night Brooklynn lost her second bottom tooth. She was against a photo so sorry. Anyway, this was our conversation this morning.

B - Guess who came last night?
M - Who?
B - The tooth fairy
M - Wow, I forgot about your tooth
B - Hopefully she didn't have a hard time getting through the thunderstorm.
M - Ya, hopefully her wings didn't get too wet.
B- Yep, she might need a new WING SPAN!


Haha, wing span? Where do they come up with this stuff!

How Much Is Forgotten!

Not just because I have pregnant brain, but because I feel like I have never experienced this before - being pregnant that is. Each pregnancy has been so different and this one is following suit. The exhaustion is sometimes more than I can stand. I can fall asleep instantly during the day but at night I toss and turn and have some of the craziest dreams ever! While pregnancy and I don't mesh too well, I am not going to complain about being prego. At least I will try really hard not to. I may complain that I feel crappy (that is a given right), or that my back hurts or maybe, ok probably, even that I am huge, but in all honestly I am so very grateful that I am pregnant. What an enormous blessing it is to be able to have kids. All three of mine are amazing and I feel very blessed to be a Mom! I think the Lord in his wisdom dilutes our memories or else why would we do this more than once. All I know is that I am off on this journey again and boy does September feel like a long way off. Especially considering that sometime during the beginning of August my Dr. has already directed me that I need to "Take it Easy." What specifically that means I don't know, but when he started the conversation by asking, "Where is your family?" I didn't take that as good. I think it means I may have to rely on my fantastic friends for help. It also means there will be no putting off being prepared. Not only prepared for a baby, but for school to start, with food that is easily thrown in to cook and with the knowledge that by darn this baby is staying in to the end.

I don't have the date for my ultrasound yet, but it will be sometime near the beginning of May. Cast your vote on the side bar!!!

10 years and Counting.

Well, we made it. Not that it was really difficult, but still we made it. Made it to what you are asking - 10 years baby. That is right Steve and I have been married for 10 years. It is amazing to me how incredibly fast it seems to have flown by, but at the same time how it seems it has always been this way. Here are 10 things we have experienced over our 10 years.

1. We have moved 7 times. Most in the first 3 years of marriage.

2. We have had three kids and have 1 more on the way (surprise all, I am 14 weeks)

3. We have finished school

4. Steve has had 3 or 4 different jobs

5. I have had 3 different jobs, but I would say I enjoy the one I have right now the most

6. We have made some incredible friends in our moves and will forever be grateful that they can step in when family is too far away.

7. We have experienced stitches, chopping off the end of a thumb, knee surgery, kidney stones, sprained ankles, black eyes and many other exciting moments and have come out happy and healthy on the other end. We also count our blessings that we are all healthy and happy

8. We have purchased two different homes

9. We have made countless memories and most of all have enjoyed being together (Well at least most of the time, HaHa)

10. We have been so blessed by the Lord in these first 10 years and are so grateful for all of those blessings.

Thanks for 10 fantastic and crazy years Steve. LOVE YOU!!!

What Josh Says!

For days I have needed to document some of the funny things that Josh says. You know how there are those certain words that they don't say correctly but it is totally adorable and you wish they would talk that way forever. Here are a few of the latest and greatest.



Maucamole (guacamole) - He loves him some mauc.

Kawcorn (popcorn) - although he is already saying popcorn correctly

Nunies (missionaries) - This one is so funny

Bayou Couvars - BYU Cougars

Never, Never, Never, Never do dat again (self explanitory)

I are - With all the sassyness he can muster, which happens to be quite alot.


So now that I have been a blog slacker for quite some time I will try to do better!

Just Nothing!

What have we been up to lately you ask - JUST NOTHING! Not nothing in that we are sitting around doing nothing, nothing in the sense of NOTHING out of the ORDINARY. Right now time just seems to be rolling on by, school, sports and life rolling along with it. I can't complain we are happy and just busy enough. Let's see if I can give a run down of the ordinary.

After dealing with a loud and semi functioning washing machine for the past month, I finally called someone to come and take a look at it. My washer is only about 4 1/2 years old and has been great until it decided to only spin when it feels like it. So most of my wash has been opening the lid, seeing that it chose not to spin, trying to spin it again and crossing my fingers that it worked. I was getting really tired of the process and the problem was getting worse. So the repair guy came, examined, ran a load and wonder of wonders the stupid dumb bleepity bleep thing is busted and needs a whole new transmission. I was shocked angry and feeling very betrayed by my washing machine. After getting a quote on the repairs, I decided that getting a new one was a much better option. It will arrive sometime today - which is good because I am almost going to be naked. *Just a note for anyone in the market, the lady from the repair shop gave me some great advice on washers. She says to buy Whirlpool unless it is a Whirlpool Calypso or the Sport Duet front loaders, she also said the LG front loaders are not good.

As for my 3 year old all I can say is AAAAARRRRRGGGGGG! He is so very 3 and somedays I am absolutely at my end. He is devious and very underdisciplined (of course that is my fault), but he is just so different than the other two. As he is now standing with his nose in the corner because he hit his sister, I just pray I can keep my cool with him. With all that being said, he is so adorable and so much fun that I just can't help but completely adore him (thus he is underdisciplined).

Brooklynn started taking a little gymnastics class and is enjoying that. We decided she needed her own little thing because she seems to get lost in the shuffle. I love her and her spunky personality, she is non-stop all day long. She loves school and is becoming a good little reader. She is also very excited right now because she has her first loose tooth. We haven't convinced her to let us pull it out yet, but I think she is getting close. It is already so hard for her to bite things with the top two gone, so with one more missing up front we may have some good family laughs watching her try to eat. I can't believe how grown up she is, I love her so much!!!!

Tyler just finished Basketball and as of yesterday started Baseball. He is excited about it and is on a team with a great group of kids. I think it will be fun and although Baseball season is long it is nice when he is busy doing something. He is getting so tall and so grown up and is my right hand man when daddy is travelling. The other morning I woke up a little late and he had fed Brooks and Josh and was getting ready for school! I am thankful everyday that he is mine because he is amazing!

I guess that is about all, JUST NOTHING out of the ordinary that is!

Oh boy!

I was just gathering my little brood for our nightly routine of Family Prayer. As I called for them to hurry up as loveingly as possible in my exhausted mommy state, Brooklynn came running in with one of her toy mirrors in her hand. This is what she was saying at that moment with so much excitement and thrilled at her discovery.






"I can see my nose hairs. NO REALLY, I can see them!"



All I can say is, "OH BOY" What a discovery. The best part was watching her look in the mirror trying to look up her nose.

Funny enough it is just what I needed to remind me of why I am a mom and why I love my kiddos! They never stop surprising me.

FREEZE FRAME

You know how sometimes you wish you could FREEZE FRAME your kids. Just stop time so that those certain moments wouldn't go by so fast or so you could soak in just a little bit more and not have them grown up so darn fast!!!! I have had quite a few moments like that lately. Mostly from Josh becuase he is at that age, but here are a few, so that at least I can remember them.

Josh climbs into bed with us every morning MUCH too EARLY. Usually the first thing out of his mouth is, "Mommy, you get me some CHOCO!" As he loves him some chocolate milk. On this particular morning he woke up coughing and was trying to get it under control. He climbed in bed and said, "Mommy you get me some medicine so me top (stop) coughing?" It was funny and then next thing out of his mouth was, "Mommy you say YES a me watch TV?" How can you say no really, he was very convincing.

Joshy loves to give Butterfly kisses, which I also love because it is so cute and he totally giggles. So the other day he climbed up into my lap to 'talk' as only Josh does and has forever. Daily we have these Mommy Josh 'discussions.' After a few moments of talking he leaned in and said, "I give you eye-DASH kisses" Who can resist an Eye-DASH kiss people. I know I certainly can't especially when he calls them eye-DASHES.

Those are the moments I want to remember forever. The MOMENTS where my 3 year old and I can sit and giggle and just love being together and BOY OH BOY do I love him.

One aTATER, Two aTATER, THREE!

Yes, it is true my cute adorable super funny and completely sassy boy turned 3. The big day was Monday and he rang in the big day in true 3 year old fashion - HE WAS SO ORNERY. I can't say I blame him after a busy weekend and no napping that is what happens, right? After he did have a nap he was a perfectly happy boy and we had a good family birthday celebration.

BOY /boi/n. A noise with dirt on it.

I can sometimes resist temptation, BUT NEVER MISCHIEF.

Joyce Rebeta-Burditt

And now the top ten Reason why I love Josh!

1. His smile melts your heart, your anger, your frustration. He knows how to use it as a weapon against mom and dad and he uses it often.
2. His nickname is Tater and really who doesn't love some good Tater's
3. He is super loving, always giving us kisses and snuggles.
4. As one of the people who works in the nursery at church told me on Sunday, "HE IS ALL BOY!"
5. He has a great sense of humor and has since he was a little guy, for whatever reason he just gets it.
6. He is FUNNY! Now I am not just saying this - he really has a gift for making us all laugh and lightening the mood. He also likes, no LOVES the audience.
7. He say's the most adorable things. For example calling Tyler 'Big Slim'
8. He loves to play with the boys, especially his big brother, you know 'Big Slim'
9. When you ask him how old he is, he always says something other than his real age, usually he says 5 or 6.
10. He is happy! He is just a happy cute little man.

I am so glad that this cute little person gets to be apart of my family! Happy Birthday Tater, we love you bunches!!

Brookie Turns SIX

Six years ago a little whirlwind joined our family. Little did we know what she would have in store for us. It didn't take long for it to be evident that raising this little girl would be an adventure full of love, noise, emotion, tears and excitement. Brooklynn never ceases to surprise us. Steve and I were discussing the other day about how Brookie wakes up in the morning. She is usually happy and she wakes up saying in her own head, "Here I am world, let's have a fantastic day!" We are very blessed to have her in our lives and this mommy can say she has learned a lot about being a mommy from this little Angel!

"A girl is innocence playing in the mud,

beauty standing on its head,

and motherhood dragging a doll by the foot."

- Alan Beck

"Attitude is a Way of life"

"Forget the sugar and spice,
Girls are Made from
Real Heart, Guts, and Soul"

Now for 10 Things that make Brooklynn loved by me.

1. She is very loving!
2. She is a wonderful friend and is always there to take care of and comfort someone who needs it.
3. She is beautiful
4. She is smart and is turning into quite the reader
5. She is determined, this girl has a mind of her own and is ALWAYS right. (Hmm I wonder where she gets that from)
6. As her Auntie Julie has told us often, "She has Disney Princess Eyes!"
7. She is the only person I know who can fall on her face while standing perfectly still.
8. She is always willing and wanting to help me in whatever way she can. (If only I was better at letting her help!)
9. She loves her brothers and her Daddy unconditionally, even when they all drive her nuts!
10. She has an amazing memory and loves to TALK and is enthusiastic about life!!!

I actually could go on. Steve and I have been very blessed with this amazing little person to raise and boy oh boy do I hope and pray we do a good job.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROOKIE KAY!