75 Things...

Every year I make a list of my likes and dislikes and that of my family. I usually get them out every spring and read them - it's fun to see what is the same and what is different. I saw on my cousin Melissa's blog that she had put a list of 75 things about her - I thought it was fun to read and it has motivated me to make mine and my families lists again. So, here are my 75:

1. I love to watch my children sleep
2. I love it when McKay calls me sweetheart
3. I think a dandelion is one of the greatest gifts your children can give you
4. I love to sleep in - however, with three children it doesn't happen very often!
5. I love to take bubble baths
6. My toe nails are always painted
7. I love it when Carter crawls into bed and cuddles with me in the morning & I love it when he asks me to lay down with him at night!
8. Pink is my favorite color
9. I am a homebody
10. I have to have a blanket when I am sitting on the couch watching TV or in the car when I travel
11. I love fresh flowers
12. I seldom eat breakfast
13. I love Mondays
14. I can't stand grocery shopping - James does it for me!
15. I talk to my Mom everyday
16. I love to open the blinds in the morning and let the light in
17. I love anything that glitters!
18. I wished I played the piano - So, my children will!!!
19. I have a fetish for pajama bottoms
20. I love to go out to dinner
21. I love to plan my children's Birthdays
22. I love it when Cannon is fussing for James and when I take him he stops!
23. I love a clean car
24. Oreo's are not safe in this house!
25. I'm not a romantic...
26. I love to mow the lawn - I love the smell of fresh cut grass
27. I LOVE the beach - any beach! But, I especially love sitting on the beach at Redfish lake with my family - swapping magazines with the girls and sharing treats with the kids - while Trevor makes amazing sand castles with the kids and Travis has the boat out!
28. I love the fair... the food, the animals, the Indian Horse Races... all of it!
29. I can't stand crowds! Funny that I like the fair though!
30. I have a major weakness for scones and Carmel apples!
31. My husband is my best friend
32. I LOVE to camp - there is nothing like sitting around a campfire with your family.
33. I have to have chap stick, lip gloss or Mentholatum on my lips... I can't stand dry lips
34. I love baseball - I will be sad if my boys don't!
35. I love the 4th of July
36. I love Kenny Rogers! I was raised listening to him with my Dad and I love him! Have him in the CD player in the car right now!
37. I'm always up for a good game of Dare!
38. I miss Carson and Lacey
39. I have a weakness for purses, shoes, clothes and jewelry! It drives my husband crazy! He thinks you only need one of each and they should last you for 10 years minimum!
40. I can't stand it when people ask me if I have red in my hair - I don't! - Or, I don't want to!
41. I love to dip crunchy Cheetos in strawberry yogurt... something I started in college!
42. I drive a Toyota Sienna minivan and LOVE it! I swore I would never drive a minivan!
43. I love to look at magazines
44. I can't sing to save my life! My children are very forgiving!
45. I secretly like President Obama - I just heard all the gasps from my family!
46. I love living in Utah
47. I love Cherry Hill as much as McKay does
48. I love Mexican food
49. I cry when my Mom leaves from visiting us!
50. I love to cut my kids finger nails!
51. I love that my Grandma and Grandpa hold hands!
52. I love the smell of my Grandma's house - I think we all do!
53. I love it when people tell me that Cannon smells like me!
54. James and the boys got me a fancy IPOD last Mother's day and It's still in it's case... I am very technically challenged. Maybe this year he can figure it out for me!
55. I make lists for everything - I make lists of lists I need to make!
56. I love to plant flowers in the spring - But, I hate to water them during the summer! I pay McKay!
57. I love anything to do with paper and creating
58. I wish I was a professional photographer!
59. I love the reality show True Beauty
60. I am very OCD about keeping a clean house....
61. I am obsessed with food storage
62. It scares me to leave the country! I wish I was more like my cousins and dared to travel the world!
63. I am proud of my husband for being such a fabulous father
64. I LOVE TARGET!
65. I can't stand it when my kids get dirty - something I'm working on letting go since I am a mother of boys!
66. I have a major fear of earwigs, scorpions and ET!!!
67. I love summer nights
68. I love pictures
69. I love it when people don't know what Carter is saying but I do! I love being the Mother that knows!
70. I love it when McKay and Carter sing the song from Old Yeller
71. I love having a baby sleep on my chest
72. My favorite Maggie Moo's ice cream is cheesecake with snickers and strawberries mixed in!
73. My husband makes me laugh more than anyone!
74. I love it when my kids are fresh out of the bath
75. I love my life - I am truly blessed!
76. I love my husband
77. I love my husband
78. I love my husband
79. I love my husband
80. Yes, my husband is standing over my shoulder right now reading what I am willingly typing!

This Song...

This song is one of my all time favorite songs. I first heard it when I was pregnant with McKay and had just gone through the complete roller coaster of all of the fertility drugs and treatments... So, it kind of became my anthem song for him! In fact, around here it is known as McKay's song! When he hears it he will say "Mom, this is my song". As he has grown from a baby to a little boy it has become even more special to me. As we have since added two more boys to our family it is truly my anthem! Every time I listen to it it reminds me how truly lucky I am to be a mother to my three little boys!

So, we made a Costco run the other day... It was my first trip since having the baby and I had a list a mile long! James was good enough to come with me and as we entered the store we split the list and the children - I had Carter and Cannon and James had McKay. So, as we went by the flowers Carter said to me "I'll buy you some flowers Mommy"! I stopped for a minute because fresh flowers really are a weakness of mine... and I thought that it was such a cute offer... how could I turn it down? It was just then that James and McKay came around the corner and McKay was holding a big bouquet of roses for me! They had beat us to it! So, Carter was a little heart broken that he didn't get to pick them out that I handed them to him and told him he could carry them for me... I told him that they smelled good and to smell them - So, he did just to inform me that "they smell disgusting Mom, they smell like chicken"!!! - as his face was all crinkled up in the funniest little face! So, everyday McKay asks me if I like my flowers and everyday Carter tells me they smell like chicken!

For All The Mothers & Grandmothers!

Last Fall I went to a little craft fair with my cousin Megan and she showed me this brand of childrens books called Usborne. I had never heard of them before, but was really impressed with what I saw. I think I ended up buying 6 books that day! The first book I bought was The Big Book of Science Things to Make and Do - It is full of so many awesome projects for kids to make. It's not just science projects but art projects too. My Mother-in-law loved this book when she was staying with us to help with the baby - I think they did a couple projects a day. She wants me to get her one to have at her house for when the grandkids are there. McKay will scour the book for a half hour before he finally decides what project he wants to do! I try and do project days a couple days a week with my boys and this has been fabulous!

I also bought the Animal Stencil Book - Carter loves for me to stencil the animals on paper and then he paints them. It has a bunch of different animals to choose from and then it has pictures and teaches you about the animals too. I bought a puzzle book that Mckay loves and I keep it in our church bag and I also bought a case of activity cards. You use a dry eraser and draw on them to complete the different activities - McKay really likes these. I sound like I should be a sales rep for this company! I looked on the back of the books and here is a website: www.UBAH.com/K0567. I was excited to see that you can order books from the site - So, now I am going to go and do a little book shopping!

A Little Bit Of Sweetness!

My very sweet and talented 10-year-old nephew Jackson made this hat special for Cannon. It came in the mail last week and I have to tell you that James was with me when we opened it up and the notes that he sent just about brought us to tears! I love the "Care" instructions! He worked so hard on this little hat with the help of his neighbor - and put so much time, effort and thought into it! I don't know very many boys that would do such a thoughtful thing! Thank you Jackson! We love you!

Come & Get Me If You Can!

So, We have started the process of breaking Carter of his pacifier... I have to admit that we pretty much had it done until we went to Idaho for the baby... But, everything was just chaos and I broke and gave it to him!!! I also have to admit that I am not as strong in this category as James is! So, we have the rule that the only time he can have it is if he is going to go to bed... When he wakes up he has to go and put it in the drawer. Well, I started noticing that our number of pacifiers was dwindling... and at first I thought that James was throwing them away... But, then I figured it out - Carter was hiding them! But, the funny thing is that he has them hidden all around the house! So, yesterday when he got up from his nap I told him he had to go and put his pacifier in the drawer... He was not wanting to give it up and I ended up having to take it from him. As soon as I did he took of running down the hall. I knew he was going to get a hidden pacifier and I waited a minute and followed him! But, when I went into his room he wasn't there... So, I looked in my room and Cannon's room and he wasn't there either! So, I went back into his room to hear something and this is what I found hidden under his bed! He had three pacifiers hidden behind the back post of his bed in the corner!!! He was just looking at me like come and get me if you can! I just laughed and of course just got the camera out!

Good Mail Day!

The boys were excited to get their Valentines package from my Mom. As usual she out did herself and spoiled them. McKay told me that one thing he loved about living in Utah was that he gets things in the mail! As we were opening the package it totally took me back to Hawaii when I was there for college and I would get care packages from my Mom and Grandma! So, in my own little way I totally get their excitement! However, the best package came a couple days later... I heard the doorbell ring and the boys answer it. I went out into the kitchen to have James looking oddly at this box. He was unrolling the bubble wrap looking for what was inside... Then he looked at me and said "I think your Mom has lost it, she forgot to put what ever she was mailing in here"! I just had to laugh! Because what she had mailed was the bubble wrap - I handed a roll of it to both McKay and Carter and they just started jumping on it and going crazy with it!!! James was still in shock that she had mailed bubble wrap, but the boys loved it!

Don't you love Carters shirt... I know it's a little out of season! But, it's his "punkin" shirt that my Mom bought him for Halloween! He always says "I want to wear my punkin shirt from Moe". "Moe" is what my boys call my Mom. Thanks Mom for all that you do for my little family! We love you!

A Few Pictures For Grandma!

So, my Mom called and told me that she needed to see a couple new pictures of the boys... So, here they are! The boys both actually do really good at holding Cannon - When he starts to fuss McKay gets nervous and wants to hand him back - Carter however just gives him his pacifier and sits and talks to him until he gets through it. Cannon is starting to get used to their constant attention and kisses.

I feel as if we have made the transition pretty well. As many of you know I am a little OCD!!! So, there are a few things that I have had to learn with the third child - It's ok if the toys are on the ground and don't get picked up right when we are done with them! It's ok if the breakfast dishes don't get cleaned up until 9:30 a.m.! It's ok if McKay makes the sandwiches for lunch because he is tired of waiting for me to get done nursing Cannon! It's ok if Carter brushes his own teeth for more than 10 minutes. It's not worth freaking out when McKay informs me that Carter is throwing the Carrots everywhere that they took downstairs for a snack! (Yes, my kids love carrots and consider them a treat!!!) And, it's ok to bribe your five-year-old to pick up those carrots for you because while you are once again nursing the baby the thought of those carrots are driving you crazy! It's ok that we are still in our pajamas when James comes home from work!!! - Everyone needs one of those days every now and then! It's ok if you don't sweep the floor after every meal - you can just get it when you vacuum! It really is ok if the boys pick out their own clothes and get themselves dressed! If it is too bad I can change them before they go out in public! And, it's ok if James does McKay's hair... It might not be the way that I would do it, but does it really matter if the child is happy! He talks his Dad into doing all kinds of crazy things!

One thing that has really changed in the last month is Carter and McKay's relationship. I was really worried about how Carter was going to handle a new baby - he was very much a Mothers boy! But, there haven't been any issues at all so far and that has been because he has attached himself to McKay. Before he wouldn't really play with McKay - he was just my little shadow, But, now he and McKay are constantly together paling around. It's actually really fun to see and watch. I love listening to them down in the family room making up games and interacting together. Carter can't wait for McKay to come home from school and McKay can't stand it when Carters nap goes a little long! They have really formed a sweet bond!

The Boys

So, I thought that I would do a little photo shoot this morning and take some pictures of the boys together... I bribed McKay and Carter and fed Cannon right before I started - So, I thought that it would go pretty good! However, I didn't take into account the fact that the boys haven't got to hold Cannon very much because they have both been sick... So, once I handed him over to them they couldn't stop touching him and kissing and mugging on him! I couldn't even get them to hardly look at the camera because they were having too much fun with him! It was pretty cute other than the fact that Cannon got sick of it and had a melt down and that very quickly ended the photo shoot!

James's Mom left yesterday... So, the reality of three little boys on my own is hitting!!! Yesterday was actually a pretty good day - I was able to get sheets washed, laundry done and folded, bedrooms cleaned, kitchen cleaned and a couple other little Valentine projects done! I'm just going to take it one day at time and know that there will be good days and bad days and I just need to roll with it! But, so far it is going pretty good!

And Here He Is!

Where does the time go... It goes by all too quickly when you are sleep deprived! It feels good to be home! My Mom came back with us and stayed a week - Thank you Mom - I can never thank you enough for all that you do! And we are lucky enough to have Becky (James's Mom) here with us now. The boys have been in complete heaven having their Grandma's here and I really appreciate them too! The day we got back from Idaho we had to take Carter into the doctor - he had an ear infection and a respiratory infection... So, it was quite the week of keeping him away from the baby... But, he is healthy now and the boys absolutely LOVE their new little brother. Sofar, having three kids has been a piece of cake!!! But, I'm sure that will change drastically when all of our help leaves!!! Next week will be a big adjustment!

Cannon Pinegar Turley

Cannon was born January 15, 2009 at 3:22 p.m. He weighed 6 pounds 8 ounces and is 19.5" long. It was a very eventful day... His heart rate kept dropping after each contraction... I wasn't too worried about it because the same thing happened with McKay and Carter. In fact, I kept reassuring the nurse that it was going to be o.k.! After the doctor broke my water the heart rate kept going lower after each contraction... With my other two boys I dilated really fast and was able to get them out without any complications. With Cannon I dilated to an 8 and stopped... So, when his heart rate was not changing the doctor decided to do an emergency c-section... I have never seen so much controlled chaos before in my life - people running everywhere - within minutes I was in the operating room... I can honestly say that I have never been so scared before in my life. The doctor was grabbing all of his tools and telling the anesthesiologist what to do when I felt a contraction starting - So, I told him that I was having a contraction and was feeling pressure... he told me to push as hard as I could and not stop and that moment Mr. Cannon Pinegar Turley was born in the operating room! Cannon was not responding like they wanted him to so they took him through to the nursery for a few minutes, but he quickly pinked up. I was very grateful when my doctor walked over and told them that his mother needed to see him and brought him back to me! I was good until that moment and then I lost it! Just like I knew I would in that moment I couldn't imagine my life without him! My doctor is a good family friend and told me that he had never before come so close to doing a c-section as he did with me and not ending up doing one! So, that's our story of Cannon's delivery day!

I'm sorry I don't have any pictures to share just yet... But, we're still in Idaho until Sunday. Once I finally get home and get my pictures downloaded I'll be happy to share!

McKay is absolutely head over heels in love and infatuated with Cannon! He holds him and just studies him and his little features. Carter was excited at first and now he doesn't quite know what to think - he doesn't really get that this baby is going home with us!

The Waiting Game...

So, we are in Idaho.... Waiting to have a baby! The Doctor wanted me to come the first of the month and be here until we have the baby on the 15th... So, we have been here for a week and have another week and a half to go... We have had lots of time to visit family and friends! My parents have been amazing to say the least - My Dad is always taking one of the boys with him to run errands and is getting pretty good at playing play dough with Carter! I think he has as much fun as Carter does - and my Mom and McKay are getting pretty good at the Wii that my parents bought to have here for the Grand kids... James brought us and then left on Sunday to work this week - He'll be back on Thursday or Friday for the duration!


Here are a few signs you are ready to have a baby:

1. You have to wear your husbands pajama bottoms to bed
2. When you come out of your room in the morning and your Dad offers to go and get you one of his t-shirts because yours looks a "little" tight!
3. When your 5 year old asks you " How big is that baby going to be anyway"?
4. When strangers at the mall come up to you and ask you how much longer do you have...
5. When you check out at a store and every cashier tells you good luck as you walk away!
6. When your 2 year old won't sit on your lap anymore because he says the baby is in the way!
7. When you go out to dinner with your sister-in-law and she has to adjust the booth so that you can sit down!!!


I lay awake at night imagining what this little guy is going to look like, imagining what it will be like to have three kids... to have a newborn again... and as hard as this all is to imagine I know that in a little over a week I won't be able to imagine life without him!

It Was A VERY Merry Christmas!

Christmas Pajamas - McKay, Noah, Eli, Gavin, Lauren and Carter

Best Friends, Cousins, and partners in crime - McKay and Gavin

As it always does Christmas came and went by so quickly... Christmas eve James and Jason took the boys skiing so that Kristin and I could get everything ready for that night. I truly have to say that I appreciated Kristin so much this year - She really went out of her way to make everything so fun and special for everyone and easy on me... Thanks Kristin I love and appreciate you!!! We had a wonderful dinner, decorated cookies, enjoyed Jason telling the Christmas story and had fondue for dessert.

I thought that I had everything ready for Christmas night to make it easy and painless on James and I - I was looking forward to getting to bed early... and did! BUT, then the phone rang at 1:00 a.m. and it was Jason... They were missing some of Noah's Christmas... Kristin and I had gone shopping the week before to finish all of her shopping and had taken James' car. I took everything home with me so that she wouldn't have to hide it late at night... But, the next morning James and McKay went skiing and took it all out of his car and put it in the garage... So, I went and put it in my car and took it to her later that next day... Well, somewhere in all of the transferring we lost a big Target bag... So, at 1:00 in the morning James is out going through all of the cars and the garage looking for this bag and couldn't find it... So, we called them back and told them we didn't have it and they kept looking for it and called back and said we had to have it because they didn't... So, I got up and went out and couldn't find it either... finally James in the middle of a snow storm went out and took all of the ski stuff out of his car and found it!!! So, he took off and Jason took off and they met in the middle to transfer the goods!!! By the time it was all said and done we got to bed at about 2:30 a.m.!!!

Christmas was wonderful - The boys made it really fun with their excitement! McKay got the Batcave that he had been dreaming about for months and Carter loves his tool bench that he got that as you can see in the picture also works very well as a kitchen! He is always pulling all of my pots out in the kitchen and making a big mess - So, he got his own set of pots and pans and that was a big hit too! McKay really "got it" this year and I have to say that I was really proud of his appreciation and gratitude with everything that he got.

We had Christmas dinner at James' Grandma's house and enjoyed getting to see the extended family and spending time with them too.

On Friday James took McKay skiing again - I have to admit that I have really enjoyed the one on one time that this has allowed me with Carter. I try to just do what he wants to do - play with blocks, color, cuddle, watch a movie with him... give him a little bit of my undivided attention. He loves it - But, he is always excited when the boys come home too!

I hope that you all had as wonderful of a Christmas as we did. I have to apologize that I didn't get Christmas cards out this year... It was something I kept meaning to do and just didn't get done... I am grateful for all of the love and support that my little family receives so abundantly from our family and friends. We have had an exciting year this year with finding out that we were expecting and moving to another state and all of the changes that brings along with it. I am grateful to have friends that have been my best friends my whole life - We miss you Carson and Lacey!!! Thank you Jennifer for still being who you are and being my friend despite all of my crazy quirks! I'm grateful for a family who loves me and supports me through everything, for Brothers that I know I could go to for anything and sister-in-laws that keep them informed as to what is going on in my life! For a Father who has taught me how to be strong and a Mother who has taught me how to love... Thank you both for the love that you have for James and my Boys. I am grateful to have in-laws that I truly love and appreciate - Even you Jason... and Kristin you totally rock!

I have enjoyed the time that I have been able to spend with my cousins and their families this year - Redfish was a blast Megan and Greg and we look forward to spending more time with you here in Utah! Jon and Stacey we have really enjoyed our last couple dinners and look forward to more good times!

So, as this year comes to an end I truly look forward to the wonderful times to come in the next. I look forward to meeting this new little man that is about to make his debut into our family. I am truly blessed with being a wife and a mother - I have a husband who is my best friend and makes me laugh everyday and two boys that fill my life with love and fulfillment in a way that I never knew was possible until I became a Mother. I hope that you all have enjoyed the Spirit of this Holiday as much as we have and wish you all the very best in the new year!

Carter's New Passion

All I have to give Carter to entertain him right now is a simple piece of white paper and a pen... He will draw for an hour on one piece of paper until it is completely covered. He finds anything - wrapping, receipts, scraps... and brings them to me and asks for a pen. It's always nice to find something that will captivate their attention for a little while!

Feeling The Spirit!

Well, I can officially announce that I have finally started to feel the Holiday spirit! The boys LOVED making all of the ornaments for the tree this year. I do have to admit that we did let them pick a few out at Walmart that they wanted too - James was laughing at me because he knew it was almost more than I could handle when McKay picked out red and white tinsel... My tree is usually pretty fancy - there is nothing fancy about this tree, but I have to admit that I love it. They love it too- McKay is always telling me how much he loves it and is always so proud to show it off to everyone - I think that that is what it is more about! We made glittered snowflakes out of Popsicle sticks, snowmen out of Styrofoam balls and candy canes out of pipe cleaners. This was our first year buying a tree... we have always gone and cut our own - it was a cold night and I was grateful that they had a fire to keep the kids warm.

My Mom came and stayed with us for 6 days!!! It was sooo nice to have her here - She really helped me get some loose ends tied up around here. Furniture is officialy where it goes, mirrors and pictures are hung and babies room is all put together and ready to go! We went one night while she was here to temple Square to look at the lights and then one night we went and rode the Heber City Creeper - They had it all decked out as the Polar Express - The kids LOVED it! They serve you hot chocolate and cookies and read you the story of the Polar Express - you go to the North Pole and pick up Santa Clause and he comes on the train to see the kids. Where are the pictures you ask... Well, I grabbed James new camera that we got him for Alaska so I wouldn't have to haul my big one around... It worked great! But, when i got home it was dead and I can't find the charger anywhere (probably still in Alaska!).................................. So, I need him to go an buy another one. But, the greatest part about having my Mom here was just having her here - we took it really easy - she spent a lot of time coloring and cuddling with the kids.

We have had a couple storms this week and I love the picture of my Mom and the boys watching James outside - just the three of them together! Thanks Mom we love you!

I hope you are enjoying the season!

In Search Of Christmas Spirit...

So, I am lacking some serious Christmas Spirit this year... usually I have the house all decked out by now and if I truly had to admit it... I still have a couple Halloween decorations lurking around! My Niece was here Friday night and told me my house was lacking major Christmas Spirit and even offered to come and help me set everything up!!! But, the thought of setting everything up to just take it all down days before I have a baby is a little draining... I usually DECK the house out!!! - I LOVE Christmas decorations... But, this year I have decided to keep it simple. We are going to go and get our tree tomorrow night and stop at the craft store - I have decided that I am going to let the kids make all of the ornaments for the tree this year... You have to understand that this is a big step for me... I'm usually the perfectionist that has to have everything look PERFECT! But, this year we are trying something new!!! So, over the next week we are going to make the ornaments and decorate the tree a little each day!


Every year James and I have always been on the hunt to out do each other on Christmas Day with our gift to each other... I listen to his hints all year long and usually have it taken care of by December and he stresses out all December trying to come up with something!!! But, this year we have decided to totally change it... We had a lady in our ward tell us this is what they do with their family - instead of buying them a gift they give them a gift from themselves... last year her son gave her a dozen car details that she can cash in whenever she wants. So, you give them a gift of service or time - a true gift from you. So, this year we decided to try it out - my mind has been racing to come up with something really special to give him. We decided that it has to be outside of what we are already responsible for - so, he can't give me car washes and I can't give him clean laundry! You have to give something that would totally benefit the other with your time, service and compassion! I think I am more excited this year than I have been any other year to see what he comes up with! It takes a lot more thought then just going to the store and picking something out!


Yesterday morning James and McKay were getting ready to head out skiing when he came to me and said: "Mom, how do I tell Dad that I don't like skiing..." So, I sat down with him and asked him why he didn't like skiing? His answer was simple - "I don't like ski school, I want my Dad to teach me how to ski". It melted my heart! So, I went out in the kitchen and told James what McKay had said. The last time James had picked him up from ski school McKay had been in tears... So, James decided that he would spend yesterday just the two of them and see how it went. They hit the bunny hill a couple times and James was tired of waiting in line there and decided that if they were going to go for it they were going to go for it and took McKay to the top of Majestic (the adult hill)... At first James was going slow with McKay to make sure he was o.k. and then McKay asked James if he had to keep going slow or if he could go fast... James told him he could go fast as long as he didn't hit anyone! James said that he just took off and flew down the hill. James said that he was so happy and so excited that you could see him smiling under his face gator! James was so excited for him and was saying "McKay you are... you are... you are..."
and McKay finished it for him and said "say the bomb Dad"! As soon as they got to the bottom McKay was right in line to go back up and cried when it was time to come home for the day! When McKay got home he told me it was the best day ever! James admitted that it was truly one of the best days they had ever spent together!


We head back to Idaho again this week for a doctors appt. But, my Mom is coming back with us to spend 5 days!!! I don't know who's more excited me or the kids!!! I have a couple projects I need her help on and maybe she can help me get those Christmas decorations out!!! I hope you have a good week!

Halloween Album

So, I had sooo many pictures of Halloween this year that I made this little mini album. I have pictures in it from everything we did this fall from going to Gardeners Village, to carving pumpkins, to our Halloween decorations, to trick or treating... just anything that had to do with the season. I put a lot of journaling in also to tell of everything we did. I decorated about a half a dozen little mini pages to put in betwixed and in between to add a little fun for the boys. I have found that my boys love looking at the mini albums and have found myself doing more of them.

I started another one yesterday that will be a page a day for the whole month of December - documenting each day and what we do. James' parents stayed with us last night and I got some fun pictures of the boys wrestling with Grandpa - So, they will be my pictures for December 1. I thought it would be a fun way to document our life right now in the moment before the baby comes and we don't remember what it was like before he came!

Just A Little Reminder...

So, I think as a Mother you need a reminder every now and then of how good you really have it... Today is one of "those" days for me... The boys have been fighting all day and Carter has found crayons twice that has resulted in some very bright wall art... Plus, James has been gone to Idaho since yesterday morning... I'm sure that a lot of it has to do with the pregnancy hormones surging in my body right now too... But, I was on the verge of a breakdown when I downloaded these pictures and was reminded of how good I really have it. I have two beautiful boys and another on the way that they told me I would never have, they are healthy, strong, happy and full of energy. At times I have to admit that I am a little intimidated by the thought of three... But, I would rather have three than none - So, I am going to try and look at the beauty in the drawings on the wall and enjoy every night that Carter lays at me feet as I cook dinner... And try not to wince too bad each time McKay says "Um, Mom can I tell you something..." (He's usually not telling me anything good!) And enjoy the moments a little bit more that I do catch of them loving each other. It's my goal to take the next month and truly enjoy the season and my two boys - to enjoy this time in our life as a little family of four... to not take it for granted and to live in the moment more. May we all be reminded a little more often of how truly good we have it!

A Little Bit of Idaho...

Another crazy week... We went to Idaho Last Thursday and were able to enjoy a fabulous dinner out with my cousin Stacey and her husband Jon at my favorite restaurant Stockman's. Friday we spent the day running errands and had a doctors apt... Since we are going back and forth to Idaho and need to make some arrangements in January to be there to have the baby we were able to set my delivery date... So, it looks like we will be having a baby on January 15. I have to admit that it feels really good to have a date in my mind - I'm one of "those" people that just has to have everything planned and in order! Saturday we celebrated an early Thanksgiving with my family - When you're away and don't see them as often you really appreciate when you do! So, it was really nice to have us all together and spend the time together. Sunday we went to church with our old ward... BIG mistake... I think it will make it even harder when I go to church here and still don't know anyone! But, it was fabulous to see all my friends that I miss so much! The boys walked right in like nothing has even changed and made themselves right at home! We left after church to be home in time to have dinner with James' best friend from growing up Tyson and his wife Kristin and their family. So, it was a crazy but good weekend!

THEN, we had a little bit of Idaho come to Utah!!! Carson, Lacey and the kidos came on Tuesday and staid through Thursday!!! It was SOOOO good to have them here. When McKay and Addy saw each other they just ran up to each other and hugged! It was priceless. We literally hardly saw them the whole time - they were as inseparable as always! The adults stayed up past 1:00 a.m. both nights just talking, playing games, watching movies and eating good food!!! It felt so good to have them here and to just be able to be together! It was something I really needed - So, thanks guys for making the effort to come- we miss you SOOO much! These are the best pictures I could get of the crazy kids - Carter, McKay, Addy and Noah.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with James' family - Everybody was there but one brother and his family. It was special this year because his Grandma was able to spend the day with us.

Friday James and McKay went skiing with Jason and the boys and Carter and I crashed!!! We literally spent the day laying in bed watching movies! Later we went to this place called Jump On It with Jason and Kristin, Joe and Wendy and the Kids. It's this huge warehouse that is full of trampolines - they even have then on the walls for the kids to jump off of! The kids have a total party there! Carter was a little timid at first... then he would just go and find a trampoline that didn't have anyone on it - he was good until someone came on it and then he would try to start a fight with them to get them out of his territory! Yes, he's my feisty one! Afterwards we went to dinner at Zuppas which has the best soup and salad anywhere!

James had to head back to Idaho today to finish things up on our house - The family moves in on Monday. Joe and Wendy are blessing Maxwell tomorrow - I feel so bad that I can't make it to be there - But, we have to keep travel limited to the doctors appointments... With my other two boys I couldn't travel at all.. So, I am just grateful that we are able to this time as much as we are.

So, I am looking forward to a quiet week next week - or what I hope to be a quiet week! I always intend for them to be chill - but, they always end up crazy! I hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday and are enjoying the Holiday season!