ONE MONTH

One month from today we will officially be graduated from Dental School! I can't believe it. I remember so clearly arriving to our new home, getting to know some of the fourth years who would be graduating soon, and thinking, "I can't wait until I am in their shoes". And now, we are, and it feels GREAT.

For those wondering, we still haven't made a for sure decision on where we are headed to next, but we hope to do that soon.

And we should be putting our house up for sale like, tonight. Ok maybe not, maybe this weekend. We are beyond what you could call procrastinators, but hey, there was a possibility we would be staying here so we didn't want to sell our house and, "Oops! Sorry, we're gonna need our house back".

 So what have we been up to lately? Besides all the packing, cleaning, organizing, and anything else it takes to get your house ready to sell.

Well, for awhile it got really warm like 80 degrees for a few days and then on Tuesday it went from 80 to 30 degrees over night.

Here we are one day enjoying the sun:

Then we wake up to this!

As for another random fact in our lives, I've gained five pounds. I hate to say that, but maybe it will motivate me to work out and I know a lot of you have good tips and tricks on how to get fit, lose some weight, and be healthy!

Since having Jacob I had been at a constant weight up {which I was really happy with, I went 11 pounds under my pre-pregnancy weight, don't ask me how, because I really don't know how it happened} until about 3 or so weeks ago, I gained like 5 lbs. I don't know what happened! Ok, maybe I do, it may have something to do with the nightly ritual of a serving of Ben & Jerry's ice cream. But, I've been *trying* to stop that and go running. I hate not having a gym pass. What do you do with out the gym? At-home work out videos just don't do it for me. And I do enjoy running outside, but not as much as the gym. I miss the gym, but I can't start any contracts until after we move. SO... help! I need a running buddy, or a good healthy snack you like, or any other secret tips. Come on, tell me what you got. :)

I've been good though, I mean rain or snow or shine, I try to go out for a run/jog/walk everyday. Ice on the ground yesterday? That didn't stop me. Ok, maybe it didn't stop me for about 10 mins and then I came back in...but still.

 When it's warm I have no problem going out to run

 It's the freezing, windy, cold days that are the hardest

And let me tell ya, pushin these two is NOT easy!

So what else, what else do you say to do besides running? And of course, the obvious, eating healthy. :)

Well everyone, my next post may or may not be in a new home somewhere else closer west to our families {keeping my fingers crossed :)} until then, We DID IT!..almost.

Growing Up!

Just the other day I woke up and looked at Jacob and thought, "He seems to have changed over night, he looks older today!" It's crazy how fast kids grow. Thank goodness for pictures right? For me, and the kids to look back on and reminisce.

 Jacob {13 almost 14 mos}

  Katelyn {3 yrs. old}

 Katelyn {3} Jacob {13 mos}

I know a lot of you are photographers out there, so tell me... How do you get both kids to sit and smile at the camera at the same time? I swear I have never caught them both smiling together. It's either Katelyn is smiling and Jacob is not, or Jacob is smiling and Katelyn is not. Or Jacob just randomly gets up and walks away. I may have to try this when daddy is home, he's sure to get a smile out of both of them.

Photo Book

Click here to view this photo book larger

I just ordered Jacob's book of his first year. I can't wait to get it, he has been such a joy in our lives this past year!! :)

What's New?

Happy Valentine's day!
Remember you are always loved :)

Life has been busy. We are looking for a job, getting our house ready to sell, trying to figure out where to live. It's all just closing in on us so fast. I can't believe it.

The little ones are doing great! They make me so happy. Lately I've just felt like 99.9 percent of my day is pure joy {pretty sure I could say 100% because of them, but sometimes I have to do the dishes or something and I get a little heartbroken ;)}. I hardly ever find myself frustrated at them or upset. We have such a great routine, they both are angels, and they just keep me laughing and happy. So life is great.

Nick is working hard in school. Working hard at finding a good job. Finishing up all of his last requirements. Being a dad. Doing housework so we can sell our house. He's just great!

I really am so excited to begin this new chapter in our life. I don't know quite what to expect, but right now I'm just excited.

Here are some pictures of the kids. Katelyn and Jacob adore each other. And I'm so happy that they get along and play so well together. It sure makes me, as a mom, so happy. 

Birthday Time! Katelyn is THREE & Jacob is ONE

My kids have their birthdays three days apart. Katelyn on December 30th and Jacob's on January 2nd. I thought it would be fun to throw them a combined birthday party this year, and so we did. It did turn out super fun and I'm glad the kids enjoyed this with their friends here in Oklahoma since we will be leaving soon. 

It was a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse birthday bash!

 Birthday boy.. So big! I can't believe he's ONE.

 Party bags

 The FOOD. Pizza & hot dogs with other side items.

 Colorful cupcakes! I wish I could say I made these.. I did make the toppers but not the cupcakes ;)

 I did, however, make the Minnie mouse pinata. It was super easy, I followed a tutorial I found on Pinterest.

 Katelyn & Jacob eating with their friends!

 

 Birthday Girl! I really can't believe she is THREE! In primary and everything. They grow way to fast.

 The whole group

 Big girl

 Never looks at the camera :)

 Birthday boy! His shirt before he got it smothered in blue cupcake frosting.

 Katelyn going after the pinata

 Blake going after the pinata

 Hannah attempting to hit it

 

 Chasing after the candy once we finally got it out of the pinata

 Excited about his cupcake

 "Just give it to me!"

 mmmm....

 He didn't hesitate one bit to get that thing in his mouth.. or should I say all over his face?

 And he ate it all up...

 Where's another?

 Katelyn eating her cupcake

 She didn't get it quite all over her face like Jacob

 Opening gifts

 So glad for the great friends we have made here in Oklahoma.. I'm sure going to miss it, but that's another long, sad, sob post for the future.

 

 With my kiddos on the day of the party. I couldn't be a prouder mom. They are our little angels. Nick and I have enjoyed being their mom and dad and helping them celebrate the little & big things in life. They are the best babies we could ask for. 

Happy birthday Katelyn & Jacob!!

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!