Currently..

 I found this blog post from awhile back about Boards. It describes me PERFECTLY right now. Who would of thought I'd be going through the exact same thing just a couple of years later?

http://www.nickndana.blogspot.com/2010/11/if-your-husband-is-planning-to-go-to.html

Even worse, Nick has to take his boards in Tulsa so he'll be gone for a couple of nights up there (he's staying at a hotel so he doesn't have to wake up at 5 am and drive down there both days of the test) 3 more days with no hubby.. I can do it.. 3 more days.. 3 more days....

Katelyn

My little girl is almost three.
I can't believe that it's really been almost three whole years since we had her.
I remember the first time holding her and kissing her on the forehead.
I started crying today thinking about how one day I have to hand her over to a guy to be married. He better love her just as much as I do or he can't have her.

She is so smart and so mature. Sometimes I think I expect more out of her because she seems so grown up and I forget she's still just a 2 year old.

 

Here's a few things that she can do:

She knows the ABC's and can identify every letter of the Alphabet.

She sings tons of songs to me every day. Some of her favorite are- twinkle twinkle, Old McDonald, I am A child of God, We believe in God the Eternal Father, I'm a little teapot... and so many others. We have a cd that we listen to a lot and it has the Baa baa black sheep song on it. One day she came up to me and said, "Yes sir!" and I said, "Huh? Where did you learn that?" and she replied, "Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full." Haha. She had learned it from the song.

She traces letters on paper really well.

She counts to about 15 or so then gets a little stumbled, but with help continues on to 20.

She says her favorite color is pink.

She recently became obsessed with princesses. Snow White, Cinderella, Ariel, she loves any princess.

She says the funniest things. Like, "Yes sir!" "Hey Lady!" One day I said, "Katelyn you are such a cute little girl" and she said, "Hey, I'm not cute! I'm sexxy!" (Don't ask me where she got that from.) She says the random-est things and it's hilarious. That's how I know she's listening to every word we're saying.. although it doesn't seem like it at times.

The other day I was cooking dinner and I turned around and she was jumping on the couch saying "I'm all hyper!!" and I was like, "WHAT? Where did you learn that from??" and she said, "Despicable me!" Hahah, because there is a part where all the little girls are jumping on the couch and the one says "We're all hyper!"

When I ask her what she is she replies "I am a Child of God."

She knows what CTR stands for--Choose the Right

When I ask her what she is going to receive after her baptism when she's eight, she says "The Holy Ghost".

She has learned about being modest, and one time Nick had his shirt and garment top off and she looked at him and said, "Hey Dad! Be modest, cover your belly." It was so funny.

There is so much that this little girl has learned in the last three years. And so much that I have learned about her. She makes me a better mother. She makes me be more patient. She teaches me to be kind and loving. She makes me see how much love our Heavenly Father has for his children.
 I'm so happy she is ours and I look forward to sharing about her THIRD birthday next month!

Lately...

Lately we've been keeping ourselves busy. The kids and I here at home, and Nick has been studying hard for his National Boards exam that is in less than a  month!

Here are a few pictures of things we've done through out the month:

Jacob turned 9 months-- He'll be 10 months on Friday! Yikes, where is time going!

 The weather has been getting chillier and we've brought out the hats and coats! Because of the chilly weather Katelyn and I have been doing a lot of crafts indoors.

 Like this little lion mask

And little piggy.. oink oink

We had a tangled movie night/dinner which Katelyn really enjoyed. I made a variety of things and the ideas all came from this Disney site:  http://family.go.com/disney/pkg-disney-character-fun/pkg-everything-tangled/

 the Boat Ride... we filled it up with Blue Raspberry kool-aid to represent the water.. they were cute!

 Hazelnut Soup! I used roasted cinnamon almonds on top because I couldn't find hazelnuts, but the almonds were actually really good, and the soup was pretty good too, just a lot of work!

 Snuggly Duckling Coasters

 Katelyn enjoying her meal! Tangled hair (noodles with chicken and parmesan) Her braid (braided orange bread, also from the website), the kool aid, and soup.

Yum!

We ate dinner then watched Tangled as a family on Friday night.

Katelyn and Jacob love playing together. She picks on him quite a bit, but it doesn't seem to bother him. I think it bothers me more, I hear myself yelling through out the day, 

"Don't sit on your brother, 

don't touch your brother, 

don't ride your brother, he's not a horsie, 

don't pinch his ears, 

don't squeeze his cheeks too hard, 

Katelyn, leave Jacob alone." 

Haha.. I laugh thinking about all the random things I say through out the day, maybe I just need to relax a little and let them be siblings together. I just feel bad for the poor kid, one day he will be able to defend himself though, and he'll get her back!

Reading together

Ok so I lied, we have had some pretty nice days still.. and the kids love being outdoors!

Katelyn especially loves these new chairs we got from a friend

One night we had craft night and we all made a mask. Here is lil miss Kate:

Jacob's was more of a crown....

Mommy and Katelyn

Daddy and Katelyn... kinda creepy dad. ;) Hahah jk

Here they are playing again. I found Katelyn in a box while I was doing the dishes or something, and Jacob was right next to her trying to close it. They were squealing and laughing, they thought it was so funny. And so did I.

Hello girl in a box

Outside playing again.

Beach ball! She loves those chairs I tell ya.

My pretty little girl

Seriously... most of the time all she wanted to do was just sit on her chairs in the backyard, not even play.

Sweet little Jacob

Hi!

Jacob turned 9 months old (he's now ten.. trying to catch up to that post;) ).

OH, I'm 9 months old??

He is not walking yet. I think Katelyn was running by this age, but he just likes to cruise along things. We try helping him and he just slowly sinks back down to the ground when we let go of his hands.

One night we did camping in the office for Katelyn.

Jacob came to join, and of course she was all over him the minute he came in. She loves that little boy.

Hey buddy! :)

That's quite a bit so I'll stop there. Just want to keep pictures updated for the future! Hope everyone is doing well and enjoy the Holidays and ones to come!

8 Months!

Jacob turned 8 months old on Sept. 2, 2012. I don't know why, but when I hear 8 months, that just sounds so much closer to ONE then before.

  {He's SO cute! I love squishing those cheeks of his}

During this month he got two brand new teeth! I didn't think he would get them this early because Katelyn got her's after she turned 11 months, but that just goes to show that all babies are different.

He loves eating little pieces of bread. If he is sitting down and see's bread on the table he will reach and whine for it until I get him some. He doesn't eat much else besides, bread, puffs, and the pureed baby food. He's not a big fan of green beans and peas, but I can get him to eat it if I give him a couple bites of the veggies then a bite of bread.

He still sleeps great, I'm hoping that doesn't change. Teething bothered him one night a couple days after he got his new teeth, and I'm not sure if he was just sick (he had a runny nose and cough) or it had something to do with brand new teeth.

He is climbing and walking along the couches and chairs like crazy. He's not walking yet, but slowly day by day I can tell his balance is getting somewhat better.

He loves Katelyn. They play together, they wake up and talk in the morning with each other, and he always looks for her when I come to get him after his nap. He doesn't even bother saying hi to me he just leans over and looks past my shoulder at the door and when she comes in he laughs and tries to jump out of my arms.

He takes really good naps. Lately we've been having to wake him up from his nap because he is sleeping so long and I know it will be harder for him to go to bed if he sleeps past 5 pm.

We love the little bug. He is such a happy guy. He is always climbing up all over my legs and is definitely a momma's boy, but I love how much he wants me to pay attention to him.

And THIS little girl, I just love to death. I know I stopped writing about her every month, but she still is learning and growing so much.

 

 {She's beautiful, she gets her good looks from her daddy}

 After a year I feel it's just too hard to keep up with the monthly blog posts, I can't imagine doing it with four or five kids!

 -She loves her little brother.

-She learns so much every day. 

-She knows and can identify all of her abc's. 

-She counts really well and knows her numbers. 

-She doesn't like vegetables, but is getting better at eating them at dinner in order to earn her "dessert".

-She loves going "grocery shopping" in her bedroom with mommy

-She has recently developed a serious love for Disney Princesses

-She likes to pick out her own clothes, but doesn't mind if I pick them out

-She always is trying new tricks and always tells Nick and I "Watch this.. watch this Mom & Dad" and she'll run and kick her leg up or something random like that- it's really cute

-She sings tons of songs really well and likes it when we sing to her

-She loves watching Disney Junior, some of her favorites are Little Einsteins & Doc McStuffins

-She also loves watching movies like, Tangled & Despicable Me

-She likes to take showers by herself (Not baths, showers)

-She doesn't get mad, but if Nick is playing something with Jacob she comes to me and says "My turn, my turn!" and smiles all sweet so that I'll do the same thing with her. I don't think she realizes she's jealous haha. 

-She loves playing outside, especially with the neighbor boy.

I could go on all day about Katelyn. She is just such a sweetheart and really hardly gives me any trouble at all. She is really one of the best kids I could ask for, I feel so. I'm so happy she's my beautiful little girl. We love her to death!& that little brother of hers!

7 Months!

I'm so behind! Life has been pretty busy lately, not really sure with what, but I'll just say so. :)

Jacob WAS 7 months old, is currently 8 months old, and almost 9 months old- in about a week! Ah! Where did my little baby go?

He is growing up so fast. Jacob started crawling around 6 1/2 months, right before we left on vacation for the summer.

He sure loves to crawl around now and it's so funny because sometimes he crawls SUPER fast and he gets tangled up in his hands and knees and falls on his face. It's so cute. He always crawls over to me when I'm in the kitchen and climbs up the back on my legs. He crawls and chases Katelyn around and they play peek a boo together. He loves her. He laughs at her so much it's so cute to see. Katelyn picks on him a little bit, but most of it she gets from me because I'm always saying "You're so cute!" And I squish his cheeks. Or I rub his hair because it's so long and messy. So she often is squeezing his cheeks or rubbing his head, and sometimes I find her trying to ride him like a horse. No he's not Maximus, Katelyn.


I love my kids. I can't believe they are growing up so fast.
Jacob eats solid foods. At this age he ate one or two a day and had a few puffs here and there.

-He started standing and pulling himself up on things around 7 1/2 mos.

-He sleeps from 7:30 p.m. to 8 or 8:30 in the morning. Wakes up around 6 to drink a bottle and fall back asleep. 

-His sister always goes to greet him in the morning. That's how I wake up every morning, is hearing them talking and laughing on the monitor.

-He is a smiley happy baby and we love him to death.

-He LOVES his bottle. Whenever he sees it he will crawl after whoever has it and start whimpering until he gets it.

-He doesn't have any teeth YET.

-He loves taking baths with Katelyn. He can hardly control himself when he knows it's bath time. I'll turn on the water and he'll laugh and throw himself backwards and try to get out of my arms before his clothes are even off. He splashes and laughs at Katelyn in the tub.

-He just STARES at Nick. Whenever I am feeding him if Nick's eating at the table he just turns his head toward him and stares at him and won't eat. I even told Nick to go to the couch once and Jacob still followed him and stared at the back of his head on the couch. It's funny. Daddy does make him laugh though when he tickles him and throws him up in the air.

-He still won't say momma or dadda, whenever I try to get him to he mostly just goes "AAH, AH!" and yells really loud. It's cute though :)

This picture is hilarious. Right as I went to take the picture a little hand snuck in from on top of the bed. Katelyn loves rubbing his head, I tell ya!

We love our little guy!

CRUISE!!

I've been so bad at blogging lately, but I have to blog about this. I went on my FIRST cruise ever and it was so much fun! I want to do another one VERY soon. I know that being with my family is REALLY what made it the most fun I've ever had, but the cruise itself, was pretty awesome too! I love my family, we have such a good time with them. They each are so unique: funny, serious, weird, laid back, everyone just brings so much personality and love to the family!

All the couples and those with kids got to be there:

Mom, Dad, & Isaac

Nate & Steph

Matt, Lu, Ellie & Baby boy on the way

 

AJ & Lauren

 (Don't pay attention to AJ's face. He tried closing his eyes in every picture and in about half he succeeded, it was pretty funny we didn't realize til we saw all our pictures.)

Nick, Me, Katelyn and even.. Jacob!

 He did so great for being 6 mos old and stuck on a boat for a week. The only time he would get mad is when he had to sit in his stroller during dinner time! He did not like it.


We took a 7 day Mexican Riviera Cruise on the Carnival Splendor down to Cabo San Luca and Puerto Vallarta, all provided by my parents. It was awesome!

The first couple of days we hung out on the ship and tried out all the fun activities. The food was AMAZING! I was in heaven. I mean, tons of food, everywhere and however much you wanted. I won't say how many pounds I gained on the cruise. :) Our favorite thing was the FROYO! I swear AJ, Lauren, Me, Nick, and Isaac went to the machine three or four times a day just to get frozen yogurt in a cone. THE BEST! And the worst if you're worried about gaining weight. ;)

 Jacob crawling around in our room. He had just learned how to crawl so he really was anxious to move around!

We first went to Cabo San Lucas.
The view is seriously beautiful. You know those pictures you see online sometimes and it's like "How would you like this to be your view?" OR "Make this your next vacation spot" And it looks like heaven with the gorgeous blue water and the sparkling white sand? Well that's what it was. Beautiful.

 We went to the beach in Cabo San Lucas. There were these little like sea stinging creatures that stung all of us. Most people just got a little pinch on their leg or something, mine wrapped around my hand and it hurt and stung really bad! That got me out of the water for a bit, but I loved being on the beach! Nate got it bad too one like wrapped around his whole waist and it looked like it he had a ton of huge mosquito bites all over him. Luckily it doesn't last more than a day. Mine was gone in about an hr.

 Being crazy and run out into the water

 Just hangin out with Gamma.

 Going back to the boat to get back to the cruise ship

 Cabo San Lucas

 Our huge ship. I really was so amazed that we have these huge ships just on water and it's like you're walking around a super nice mansion the whole time or something with a few thousand other passengers on board.

 The Carnival Splendor!

We spent two days in Cabo San Lucas. The second day we did our excursion. I think everyone can agree with me that this, was by far, the high light of the trip. We had SO much fun on it! We all got to go together on this fast boat. It's hard to describe, but you straddle your seat and there is a bar in front of you that you hold on to. We didn't know why at first, but we came to find out soon. :)

 On the boat getting ready to go out-- I think I was putting sunscreen on my shoulder or something..

We first stopped at a beach called, Lover's Beach. You are on one side and cross over and you're on the other side looking at the other direction of the ocean. It was neat. This is where it gets funny.

We had to run across the sand to get to the this cave, but you had to run when the tide was low and before the waves came crashing back up on to shore. There were these huge rock formations so you didn't want to be slammed into one of those. So the first group runs across, this is AJ, Lauren, Nate, Steph, and Isaac.

Nick & Isaac!

 They all take off running and then the wave starts coming back and I look at little Isaac and think "Shoot, he's not gonna make it!" So we're screaming "RUN! RUN!" and the poor little guy slips and the wave comes crashing into him and the water rushes forward on the other side of the rock so we can't see him anymore. Luckily it just pushed him up on to shore on the other side so it kind of helped him get up closer, but we all were scared to death wondering if he had made it!

  Matt & Lu! Silly Matt ;)

SO THEN

We're in the next group, Me, Nick, Lu, and Matt. And here's cute little preggo Lu. Like 24-25 weeks or something like that. And we're all standing there waiting then we say, "Ready? Run!"
Well we get to the other side and turn around to make sure everyone made it and we're all like  "Crap, where's Lu??" She had started, but then didn't think she would make it in time so kind of stopped and the wave caught her and kinda took her down, but the tour guide caught her and helped her up! She made it to the other side though :) My cute sister.

After that we went back onto the boat and went cruising across the huge beautiful Pacific Ocean. We were going so fast! And the waves were bumpy it was fun. Then, the guy starts turning in toward shore and he then flips around right as the wave is building up. He pushed the gas and we start zooming toward this HUGE wave and we fly up into it and seriously our boat comes 15 or so feet out of the water and we're like floating on this huge boat with 15 people in the air. It was SO FUN! Everyone was screaming and laughing.

We did that a couple of times and I loved it.

AJ!

Then we stopped and went snorkeling at another beach. One of the guides let us hold a sea urchin, it was cool. Then they would feed the fish so they would come right up close to us. I swallowed way too much salt water. And so did Lu. She started throwing up so she had to go back on the boat. I can't blame her being pregnant and all.

After that we drove to another spot to go snorkeling, but by this time I felt like my head was spinning and I was about ready to toss up my breakfast. So I sat in the boat with my head down.

The last little bit of the excursion they were going to drop us off at a boat and teach us how to make fresh salsa and tortillas and give us an authentic Mexican lunch with enchiladas and chips and dip. However, I was feeling so icky I didn't think I could go and Lu didn't want to hang around either. Steph had a head ache too so basically all us couples left, but the troopers, AJ, Lauren, and Isaac hung out and stayed. I really wish we could have! And of course as soon as we stepped on solid flat land and I got a drink of water I felt better. I think it was just all the rocking and watching the water go back and forth and back and forth that I just couldn't take it anymore.

So this whole time my parents watched Ellie, Katelyn, and Jacob. My parents were seriously the best EVER! We let them go out after the excursion and that night to enjoy their time just the two of them. However, almost every night they would come to our room and watch Katelyn and Jacob while they were asleep so we could go out and enjoy the night activities, like comedy shows, games, dancing, etc! It was so nice to have their help and I can't thank them ENOUGH.

 The next day we were making our way to Puerto Vallarta! Puerto Vallarta was also very beautiful, but we didn't go to the beach there, we had a tour of the city, did some shopping, ate a Mexican lunch, and did ZIP LINING!

 Isaac & I in the streets of Puerto Vallarta

 Me & my baby girl

Heading to go Zip lining! The place we went I guess was a set for a movie so there were a ton of people.. I forgot the name of it.

Katelyn & Uncle A showing off their war paint.

 Katelyn got painted as a warrior! Even though she didn't go zip lining.

Nick and I (ok just me) acting tough!

I had never done zip lining before so I was really excited. We went so high up and some of the lines went super fast!! It was so much fun we really, really enjoyed it! And again, my parents watched the kids so we could do this. They are so so amazing!

 The zip lining clan

 Hey, there I am!

 And there's Nick!

After zip lining and lunch we shopped and got souvenirs. Nick bought a hammock, that I guess he has always wanted, so that was good.  I bought some matching bracelets for Katelyn and I. We got Katelyn and Jacob a maraca. And I think that was it.


Puerto Vallarte was the last stop of our cruise :( The next couple of days we'd make our way back to the states. So sad. We had fun doing various activities on board though!

Playing in the arcade

Hanging out with Aunts & Uncles

learning the thriller dance and performing it, playing the gender game (the girls won),

swimming

taking the kids to the splash play ground (Katelyn LOVED it),

 Although I'm not sure who love it more, her or Uncle AJ :)

eating FROYO

walking around the decks just goofing off,

 Being sucked into the vents!

 Baywatch Run.. who comes up with these ideas? ;)

going on the elevator and trying to get from the top to the bottom (12 decks) with out getting stopped by anyone (we never made it)

playing rook late at night with everyone

karaoke (Lauren is amazing)

showing Katelyn all the animals they would make for her every night out of the towels.

The dinner parties were so fun too!
Every night the lady would get on and say hi and then she'd play a fun song and we would all get up and dance!
The formal night were really fun too, it was exciting to get all dressed up and have a nice dinner (all the dinners were really good!)

 Our view at dinner. It was so nice!

 All dressed up and looking fancy

 Dancing with Jacob!

 Two cute little girls looking all pretty

 Handsome little guy with the girlies

Everyone!!

The cruise was just so much fun and I wish I could write down every little detail to keep and remember. It's definitely a vacation I will never forget though. I love my family so much. They are so fun and enjoyable to be around.


UNTIL>>> OUR NEXT CRUISE!