Life Lately

1. I finally got around to sending out a baby announcement for Samuel. I only took about 500 pictures before I got one I liked. I love this sweet little boy!

2. I bought Michael a zip line package for his birthday.  It included four zip lines in the beautiful SR Canyon.  I was pretty nervous about the whole thing, and screamed the entire first line. We had so much fun though!  Michael was hanging hands-free and upside down by the last line.  It was an awesome date and the weather couldn't have been more perfect.

3. Toys. I have a love-hate relationship with them. But, I do love when my kids are having a good time. Like when Kathryn is talking to her dolls and telling me a story, and Maxwell is sitting on his truck and reading a book.

4. This boy loves shoes, especially Kathryn's boots.  He is never complete without a pair of shoes on. I think we'll put in a request to Santa for his own boots this Christmas.

5. It's so much fun walking one of her favorite dogs with one of her favorite cousins.

6. We took a trip to visit Grandma and Grandpa Jones.  We wanted to show off little Samuel, and visit Grandpa, who is recovering from hip surgery. It was bittersweet.

7. We also made a pit-stop at my parents home for a quick wagon ride. We visited my childhood horse Snowflake.  She is about two or three years younger than me. I remember my dad bringing her into our solarium after she was born. It was during a snowstorm and he wanted her to stay warm. I always thought she was my Christmas present that year.  She is old now and her health is deteriorating.  Just last year her own daughter died of a common illness for horses. It was hard to see her like that, but she was still beautiful.

8. We had so many things to look forward to this month, so I made a countdown calendar for Kathryn. I just sent her to the calendar every time she wanted to know how many days until something.

9. Pumpkin patch take #1 with cousins.

10. Pumpkin patch take #2 with friends.

First loose tooth

We've reached a milestone at our house.  The first tooth to be picked up by the tooth fairy.

When Kathryn showed me her wiggly tooth last week, I wanted to cry.

I just didn't believe it was possible. So naturally, I searched the internet to find out if it was possible.

And sure enough, it was.  She is on the younger end, turning five next week.

I really wanted to cry.  I felt like a little part of her innocent self was slipping away from me.

Yes, I know I'm being dramatic, but this girl is growing up way too fast.  

And so tonight, she safely sealed her tooth in this envelope and tucked it under her pillow.

She is anxiously waiting (sleeping) to see what the tooth fairy brings her in the morning.

Choose Happiness

(Family picture by LM Photography)

As I said my prayers last night, I thanked Heavenly Father for a wonderful day.  

It had been such a good one.  It was a normal day, but I hope to always remember it.

I thanked Him for my many blessings and for my precious family.

I can't help but smile when I think about Kathryn standing on a chair at the kitchen sink.

I was cleaning up after lunch, and found her washing her plate and fork.

She asked if there were any more dishes to clean, so she washed the rest from lunch.

 She asked me all day long if I had other things she could help with.

I can't help but smile when I remember all the little jumps, kicks and tricks Maxwell did all day.

Or the 100 times he jumped off the arm of the couch onto the cushions.

Or how he used a ruler as a sword.  What a boy, I tell you.

And best of all, the times he would spontaneously run and hug me around my legs.

He is my "Wild Thing".

I can't help but smile when I think about Samuel grinning and cooing at me.

Or when he was bundled up so nice and warm with his sweet little brown bear hat on.

He fell asleep snuggled up to me in the carrier,

While we walked around the neighborhood collecting fall leaves for an art project.

And my favorite part of the day, was watching Michael come home from work.

We were all clamoring for his attention, telling him about our day.

I loved when he motivated the kids to clean their room so we could have family movie night.

And I loved watching Kathryn and Maxwell cuddled up on his lap.  They were safe and protected.

Lately, I have been working hard on my happiness.

Not that I haven't been happy, but I have been bogged down with the stress and transition of life.

Of being a mother to three young children and the wife of a busy man.

The thing about happiness is, it's a choice.

So I'm trying hard to enjoy this moment in time.

The time I have with Kathryn before she heads off to all day kindergarten next year.

The time when Maxwell is my independent, temper tantrum throwing, passionate "Wild Thing".

The time when Samuel is cooing, grinning and waking up multiple times a night to eat.

The times when breakfast is never cleaned up before lunch.

When my counters are rarely clean and I have loads of unattended laundry on the washroom floor.

And when toys are strewn all over the house and the kids bedroom looks like a war zone.

I'm working hard on being happy in the moment, because I know life won't always be like this.

Trust me, I consider this a huge accomplishment for the OCD cleaner in myself.

I love my family, I adore them and I would be lost without them.

So I have a new motto, and it is as follows: CHOOSE HAPPINESS.  

Because life is too short not to!  

Michael's Birthday

We had fun celebrating Michael's birthday this year.

He had to work, so we tried to make his day extra special.

Kathryn helped me make Belgian Waffles for breakfast. Yummy!

 Michael's brother and family were visiting for the weekend, so the two of them played a round of golf.

And then we had homemade pizza for dinner and peach cobbler for dessert.

It was a great day!  The only thing we forgot was his balloon banner. I don't think he missed it too much!

 This card from his parents was sure a hit with the kids. 

It played the song "Wild Thing".  They were all captivated, especially the little boys.

P.S.  I got him (and me) a zip line package for one of his gifts.  It should be a fun date!

Circus

I took Kat and Max to Sam's two month check-up today.

We were quite the CIRCUS SHOW! 

Oh my goodness, I don't think we'll be doing that again. 

Max cried for me to hold him the entire time, yelling at anyone who got too close.

He also got mad at the doctor every time he touched Sam.

At one point, Max was walking around with his pants around his ankles,

And stuffing his mouth with shreds of paper. Why on earth does he eat such crazy things?

Neither Kat or Max liked the snacks I packed for them (hence the paper I guess?). 

The doctor even asked his nurse to get the emergency coloring stuff.

There was some relief for awhile, but then I discovered Max coloring on a chair.

I decided to have Kat get her flu shot while we were there.

She completely refused and cried uncontrollably. I tried to bribe her with a treat. 

We even called Michael to see if he could convince her. 

It was just the nasal immunization after all. I finally told the nurse just to do it.

I think Kat was mad at me for awhile, even though she admitted that it hadn't hurt.

Despite it all, Sam was doing well. He weighed 10 pounds 12 ounces,

Which is awesome for a premature baby.

I think we provided some pretty good entertainment for the staff today.

Our doctor kindly told me I seemed to be handling everything very well.

Wahoo for me! He didn't see me at Costco afterwards...

The day

Happy birthday to my main man.

We love you!  And we all think you are pretty darn awesome.

Kat says:  Happy birthday daddy.  I wish that you would have a family camel.

Max says:  Daddy!  Yeah!

Sam says:  (hiccup...hiccup...hiccup)

Here's to another year. I hope it's a good one for you.  Love you forever and always.

Kat's cat's birthday

Kathryn loves a good party.

She is always preparing to throw a party for her ponies, dolls and stuffed animals.

She loves decorations, games, treats and party favors.

For a long time, she asked me to help her throw a birthday party for her cat.

I kept putting her off, until the guilt set in.  

A few days before Sam was born, I talked to Michael about it.

He suggested that I surprise her, and throw her cat a party. So I did.

I started by giving her an invitation. She was thrilled!

 They decorated cupcakes (Max went to town with the sprinkles)...  

 

 Opened presents (I gave "her" cat an art set that she has been wanting forever)...

 And blew bubbles (party favors left over from Max's birthday).

It was a fun day full of surprises.

I loved just spending the day focused on my kids.

(We also went swimming, had a picnic at the park, and went to a summer movie)

Maybe that's why I went into labor a few days later:)