The puppy: Day 1

Look at him get Bart's nose!
Zhoee was happy to have Dex lay on her lap during the long drive.

We just arrived home last night with our new puppy, Dexter. The kids love him and Dex is being very patient and full of play. We haven't had an accident all day. I've been watching him like a hawk and giving him treats when he does his business outside. Last night he slept in his kennel in J's room. He, of course, prefers to be where he can see someone. He whined at about 4:30am and I took him out and then he just went back to sleep in the laundry room and J just had to come down and lay by him. He's a great puppy and we've really enjoyed playing with him!

Still Snowing

Wow! We woke put to at least 4-5 inches of new snow and it's still coming down. After taking Jadon to school it took us 4 tries to get back up the driveway. It's not sloped too bad either. The kids and I are ready to put the snow clothes on and get on the 4-wheeler and start plowing. Bostyn's favorite thing to do!!!

Daddy's shoes

Bostyn walks around the house in my shoes, Zhoee's, Jadon's,

but he loves his dad's boots the most.

Seal-a-Meal

I LOVE this little machine. My wonderful mother-in-law gave this to me for Christmas! I'll let you in on a little secret. If you want your husband to help in the kitchen let him run the machines, It works!!! I just called him into the kitchen to help me for a sec. and he TOOK OVER and did all the work. He was quite impressed with the vacuum sealer. Chicken was on sale at Albersons so I bought 20 lbs. of fresh chicken and I can store it for 3 years with it vacuum sealed. (Although it won't last nearly that long at our house.)

Volleyball and being sick

Just thought I'd give a little shout out to my volleyball girls. We had a tournament in Lehi this weekend and they took FIRST PLACE. YEA!!! They had a rough start losing the first match but, they broke loose and played their little hearts out the rest of the day, beating the first ranked team! (maybe they didn't want their coach to yell at them again) I am so lucky to get to coach such GREAT girls. It's rewarding and a relief to see high school girls that are on the right track and making good decisions. CONGRATS to them!!!! We had a fun and LONG day!! We have kept up our season tradition: Always being the very LAST ones to leave the gym.
Thanks Bart, for supporting me in coaching. You do a wonderful job of being Mr. Mom when I have tournaments. I love staying involved in volleyball and am grateful for you encouraging me.

My poor Bossy is sick and I'm staying home from church to rub vicks on him and rock him to sleep. I hate him being sick but there's no place I'd rather be than holding him while he doesn't feel so good.

Backache

My back hurt so bad when I got out of bed this morning. The culprit: kids!!! By 1:00am both Zhoee and Bossy had made their way into our bed. I was too asleep to walk them back to their rooms and let Bossy in the middle and then Zhoee on my other side. They both gravitated toward their mother and I was trapped and couldn't turn or twist all night long. Trust me staying in one uncomfortable position all night isn't good on the back.

And they said it wouldn't last....

Funny story... We were on our way to Colorado for a week of skiing and snowboarding for our honeymoon and we stopped for gas at some tiny town by Green River (Bart would remember the name) and I was inside buying drinks when a local guy asked me if I owned the decorated car that labeled us as newlyweds. I gave him a huge smile and said, "Yep, We've been married two days now." He laughed and said, "Oh, .....and they said it wouldn't last!" Bart and I have always got a kick out of that! Well, we have lasted... a whole 8 YEARS TODAY!!
I married my favorite person and best friend on Feb. 2, 2001. I love this man more than ever today!!! He is such a good good person with such a big heart. He spoils me, takes care of me, takes care of our children, is a hard worker, very ambitious and always going after something, he's quite handsome, he's a car mechanic, a handy man,a landscaper, a good listener (most of the time), athletic, corny, very funny and goofy, a spread sheet maniac, a worthy priesthood holder, someone who never looses his temper, he's patient, and did I mention he's really GOOD LOOKING?
When we were engaged many older people would comment, "You'll love him more and more after you've been married 5, 10, 25, .... years." That is a FACT!!!
Bart, you're truly meant for me! I wouldn't be "me" without you! I can share anything with you and you won't laugh or judge, well, maybe you would laugh... That's what I love about you!!!!
Thanks for the last 8 years of growing together, raising 3 beautiful children together, laughing with each other, and loving each other. I LOVE YOU! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

I'm a believer - this works

I've recieved a couple email forwards about putting vicks on your feet when you are congested and coughing and the vapors travel through your body and relieve the congestions and cough. I told myself I'd try it next time one of us were sick. Well, last night Bossy started coughing non-stop right after he fell asleep. I put the vaporizer in his room and then Bart reminded me about trying vicks on his feet. My pediatrician has repeatedly told me that cough and congestion medicines don't do anything for kids under 3 so to not use them. We rubbed it on the soles of his feet put his socks back on and......NO MORE COUGHING!! All night, nothing more. He just slept soundly. It really works!!!! This is my new proven remedy.

Saturday

It's been FOREVER since I've actually sat down and scrapbooked (I make my books on the computer now, it's so much faster). We are making some memory books for enrichment next month so I am making a sample. Zhoee is such a helper, she LOVES the little paper cutter.

Line up ladies!

He's cute and he cleans!!!! What' a catch (In twenty years)
I just love this boy so much, his bright blue eyes just make me melt. He lately brought up Zhoee's vacuum from the toy room and it has been in his hands all week long. It's all he wants to do. He's a cleaning machine. ADORABLE!!! He will even pick up large items and move them to vacuum under them. Sometimes I'll catch him turning it on and just laying on the ground with his face against the vacuum enjoying the vibrations. FUNNY!

The Wet Shoes Club

I noticed that Jadon's shoes and socks were soaked when he came home from school yesterday. I told him he would have to wear his boots tomorrow so his feet could stay warm when he played in the snow at break. He was very annoyed and told me he couldn't wear boots or the captain of the "Wet Shoes Club" would kick him out. I suggested he start another club called the "Boot Club". Well, he wore his boots today and when I picked him up I asked him if he started his own club. He explained he didn't think that was a very cool idea, so he started the "Army Club"!! He went on and on about it and how he is the "General" and in charge. WOW! What a kid! Did we do these things in 1st grade? I really can't remember. I think we just played on the swings and ran around. Anyway, if anyone wants in on the Army club I can hook you up.

Just a little church nap....

Bostyn's nap time is 12:30. Right after I get home from taking Zhoee to pre-school. Unfortunatly church is now at 12:30 and this kid usually DOES NOT sleep anywhere but in his bed. Not snuggled up to mom or dad, not during sacrament EVER. Today was different, he made it through his nursery snack but not quite through coloring. His nursery teacher luckily had her phone on hand to take this for me and share the moment. Isn't that adorable. This boy is too cute!!!

A Brand New Year

1 Tim 4:12 'Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity'
This is the new YM/YW theme for 2009. A few weeks ago Bart went to the fireside that introduced the theme and he recieved a DVD copy of it. As he was preparing for combined YM/YW this week he wanted to watch it again for ideas. We watched it together after the kids went to sleep and what an AWESOME program. It was made for the youth of the church but I felt so encouraged and motivated to be a good example, better mother, and serve everyone I can. There are so many good kids in the world and in the gospel, it actually made me look forward to having older children, rather than be scared.
Here is the link:http://abrandnewyear.lds.org/index.html

We're getting a dog!!!

This is our nephew, Spencer, holding one. A week old.
A week old.

Three weeks old.

FOR YEARS Jadon has been begging for a dog. He's asked for one the last 3 Christmas' and Birthday's. We are finally giving in. Taniel (Bart's sister) just had a litter of seven beagles. The cute pictures of them have suckered us into it even more. We are going to get a male (cuz I don't want to deal with girl dog issues) and they are the cutest little things. I have some days where I am so excited and others when I think, "What are we even thinking, we can't get a dog. I can't even handle my kids." I'm really nervous about potty training and I'm not going to be happy if things get chewed up. And don't even get me started with my garden. So, if anyone has any tips or suggestions PLEASE send them my way. Bart is really excited too! He's wanted a dog since we got married. One of our first dates he told me he had his names chosen for the two dogs he would one day own. Kodiac and Dexter. The kids are choosing between the two. Jadon wants Dexter and Zhoee's begging to name him Kody! Does this count as our 4th child?????? I'm nervous! We are picking him up over President's Day weekend.

That was EASY!

Bossy has been climbing up his crib and climbing up to the top of Jadon's bunk beds; both of which were making me very nervous. Sunday night we decided we should probably take the top bunk off and put it in Bostyn room and take the crib down. I mentally prepared myself for a few weeks of screaming fits and taking him back in his room over and over again to go to sleep at night and for naps. That's just how it is when they move on to a bed, right? It made me sad to give up the luxury of him being the best sleeper. I could always just lay him down with a cup of water and he'd either be fast asleep or just mumble to himself until he did. SUCH A GOOD BABY!
Bart put him in his bed last night and yep, he came right out to "play". I took him back and laid him down and could see him getting out again before I even closed the door. I held the doorknob so he couldn't open it and he cried for about 30 sec. Then nothing. We checked on him about 3 min. later and he had gotten back up in his bed, pulled his covers up, and was already asleep.
Awesome! I wondered if that was just a fluke and the real business would begin today.
NOPE!!! EVEN EASIER. I took him up to his room for a nap and just held the door for a sec. so he knew he couldn't come out and he tried once then I could hear him playing with his little racetrack. I went back a couple min. later and there he was curled up on his blanket asleep by his toys. What a cutie!

The Buzz

Is he not the cutest little buzzed boy EVER! I love his sportin new haircut, and, of course, the only way I know how to cut hair is to use the clippers.
He looks so much older. The day I cut him I kept just starring at him doing his normal thing thinking, "Holy cow, he looks like a terrible-two-year old now." I just love him and can't stand him getting so big!

Three things

It's been a weekend of growing up at our house and I'm getting emotional about it. I've noticed three things that are making it obvious our kids are growing up and I don't want them to. I want them to stay young forever. I love them crying for their mom when they are hurt or sad, sneaking into our bed at night, snuggling in my arms, singing songs with me, etc. I don't want these days to ever end.
1. Jadon lost his first tooth. He was more excited about this event than Christmas morning. 2. With much encouragement from Aunt Kelsie... We took Zhoee on our girls shopping trip and to get her ears pierced. She didn't even cry, scream, nothing. She was so brave. She thinks she is EVEN MORE grown up!!!
Kelsie took the pics so I'll have to wait till she posts them.

3. Bossy is talking more and more. He say's "Jadon" pretty good now. His vocabulary is growing and growing. Words he says... No, mama, dad, out, hot, shoes, Jadon, mine, dog, whoof, car, vroom, hat, on, and did I say "mine"? that's his favorite.


e and

Santa Came

We had such a great time with our family in Elko. Barts parents are such wonderful hosts and they make sure we are all comfortable and taken care of. They sure love and spoil their grandkids. One night the moms even found time to go to a movie and get ice cream afterwards while the boys stayed home to watch the 13 grandkids.

The Three Amigos- Bostyn, Gus, Tate (20 months)
Santa found Zhoee

Jadon and Bossy

We stayed so busy these are the only pics I have-I may have a few on the video camera-I'll post them if I do!!!

Christmas Village

We had a fun time in downtown Ogden going through the Christmas houses!!! We even saw Santa!! The entire time we waited in line Zhoee practiced what she would tell Santa. Her turn came and she wussed out! She hid behind her mom and cried. Jadon, of course, had no problem at all rambling off his list to Santa.

Zhoee had to get as close as she could to little Baby Jesus!

Isn't she cute trying to peek into the stable.

We're Younger Today!!!

We had such a fun neighborhood Christmas party at our home last night. We laughed and laughed and ate yummy food and laughed some more. The football game was on, we played Christmas pictionary (have you seen The Break Up, that game scares me) But, besides Bart teasing me because I continuously hit the point of the marker against the board..... we made it without any major fights and the GIRLS team won. The white elephant gifts included a book called "As We Pass Gas"(Bart can't wait for a free min. to read it), a "Guns don't kill people, Chuck Norris kills people" t-shirt. A 1985 origional Nintendo with many games, and some bright blue, red, and purple Mary Kay make-up. We laughed so hard as we shared stories about our jobs and kids. When the night was over, one of our friends told us that we gain years of our life by laughing... it actually makes us younger because it healthy to laugh. I feel younger this morning with all the laughing we did last night... I remember thinking a few times that my cheeks and stomach actually HURT, I was laughing so hard. I always stress how grateful I am for my wonderful husband and beautiful children this time of year, how happy I am to have such great parents and parents-in-law and wonderul sisters and brothers but last night I was so thankful for such great friends. Here's to great neighbors and friends!
PS: Thanks so much Carlie, Mom, and Dad for watching the kids for the night!!! You're amazing!