Thursday, December 31, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
A gaggle of Firsts
I have had a lot of firsts lately. With Todd on break between semesters, I got to go help in Karla's class room. I helped them make marshmallow snowmen. Karla loved having me there!! (I know that might change). And it was fun for me to see how she did in the classroom setting as well as how things worked in the classroom. I think the ECAP program is a great program and has really helped Karla to grow into herself.
Then, Todd took me on a date. The only other date we've had this semeseter was when I caught him on his lunch break at McDonalds. We let the kids play, and Todd and I ate dinner together. Well, we still ate dinner at McDonalds. He had gotten free meals for doing something great at work. Even on his days off he can't stay away. :) He took me to see the 3D Avatar movie. I wasn't sure I'd like it, but it turned out to be really good!! I give it two thumbs up. And it was nice to be out just playing with my best friend!! So this is the first time Todd has taken me on a date without me knowing what we were doing since our very first date back in 2003! Also this was both of our first 3D movie. It was worth the little extra to see this movie 3D I think--but not something I will everytime either.
We are really enjoying having Daddy home for a while. He even did papers for me this morning! It was nice to get a break myself. Todd has spent a lot of time sleeping and catching up on sleep. We hope to get him well rested before he goes at it again come January. We are also enjoying the play time. And he is helping me catch up on some of the house work that just hasn't gotten done as we have been helping my mom with her broken shoulder.
All in all things are going great!!
Then, Todd took me on a date. The only other date we've had this semeseter was when I caught him on his lunch break at McDonalds. We let the kids play, and Todd and I ate dinner together. Well, we still ate dinner at McDonalds. He had gotten free meals for doing something great at work. Even on his days off he can't stay away. :) He took me to see the 3D Avatar movie. I wasn't sure I'd like it, but it turned out to be really good!! I give it two thumbs up. And it was nice to be out just playing with my best friend!! So this is the first time Todd has taken me on a date without me knowing what we were doing since our very first date back in 2003! Also this was both of our first 3D movie. It was worth the little extra to see this movie 3D I think--but not something I will everytime either.
We are really enjoying having Daddy home for a while. He even did papers for me this morning! It was nice to get a break myself. Todd has spent a lot of time sleeping and catching up on sleep. We hope to get him well rested before he goes at it again come January. We are also enjoying the play time. And he is helping me catch up on some of the house work that just hasn't gotten done as we have been helping my mom with her broken shoulder.
All in all things are going great!!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
2009 Christmas Letter
My favorite part of Christmas cards are the year summary letter, but instead of sending it: I am going to post it here. If you want a copy--feel free to print it. Otherwise we will pretend to go green and save the paper.
This year has been one of changes for us. The first change is that we didn't change residents. We have enjoyed our little house in West Richland. We keep thinking we will find a bigger house, but we like our low rent and big yard. So for now, we are still here. But we did change our family dynamics by adding another little girl. Kaylyn Ruth was born 5/26/09 after 30 hours of labor. She was 5 weeks premature and had a few complications. She ended up staying in the hospital for a week like Karla did. Unlike Karla, she stayed in the special care nursery instead of my room. She was the first patient to use the new special care unit at KGH. Kaylyn has since grown out of all her complications. She is still small though. She was 5 lbs 13 oz and is still only 13.4 lbs at 6 months. But she is growing and the doctor isn't worried. Kaylyn has been my best nurser and the only one to nurse this long. I am still on high blood pressure medication but so far my diabetes has gone dormant. Kaylyn has brought a lot of joy into our family. She is happy and quick to smile. And if I do say so myself, I think she is beautiful!
Kylee has become quite the big sister. She loves on the baby. And I think the most said phrase in our house has been first "is it my turn to hold the baby" and then "leave the baby alone!" Kylee loves to dress up and is all about princesses. She also loves to sing and swing. She is my night owl and has trouble going to sleep but loves to sleep in. She is independant, stubborn, and cute! We love her very much.
Karla has started preschool this year. She loves school. She is maturing some and with that comes a quietness about her. She is still great at making friends and makes friends everywhere she goes. She loves to play games, do homework, and read books. She still gets out and runs and plays with the best of them but takes some quiet time for herself. Karla seems to follow her dad in that numbers are coming to her better than letters. Her teacher says she is very independant as well as many other strengths.
Todd has also started school this year. He started off the year working for Keller's Supply as their out of town deliviery guy (just a 6 hour run round trip). He really enjoyed it. Unfortantly this economy hit. His boss said "I hate to let you go, but we are laying off good men just to survive." He wasn't the first to be laid off, but his turn came this August. With encouragment from Brother Hazel, Todd has gone back to school to become an x-ray tech. He is actually kind of excited about the career (not school). He has worked hard. He gets up at 6:00 to be to school by 6:50. He is on campus until 4:00 when he heads to McDonalds. He usually starts at 5 and works to between 11 pm and 1:30 am. He comes home and sometimes studys even more. I will wake up at 3 for my paper route and kiss him good night. And when I come I kiss him goodbye. He has read all his assigned reading, and he puts in hours and revisions for his weekly assignements.
As for me, my hobbies has changed to nursing and exercising. I still keep up on my blog because I can do it while nursing. I have started doing papers again. This time I have a friend also doing papers--since at that time in the morning minutes are free, we visit. I love ear buds! I am trying to find the right balance of trying to keep my house clean, caring for my kids (especially with Kaylyn nursing), and trying to get healthy.
We have been richly blessed. I find myself counting my blessings often. Most of all, I am learning that everything I am is thanks to my Savior. I am grateful for his atonement and infante love. I have learned a lot from Him and His example, and when I fall short, He makes up the difference. I know He lives! And I am so grateful He does.
This year has been one of changes for us. The first change is that we didn't change residents. We have enjoyed our little house in West Richland. We keep thinking we will find a bigger house, but we like our low rent and big yard. So for now, we are still here. But we did change our family dynamics by adding another little girl. Kaylyn Ruth was born 5/26/09 after 30 hours of labor. She was 5 weeks premature and had a few complications. She ended up staying in the hospital for a week like Karla did. Unlike Karla, she stayed in the special care nursery instead of my room. She was the first patient to use the new special care unit at KGH. Kaylyn has since grown out of all her complications. She is still small though. She was 5 lbs 13 oz and is still only 13.4 lbs at 6 months. But she is growing and the doctor isn't worried. Kaylyn has been my best nurser and the only one to nurse this long. I am still on high blood pressure medication but so far my diabetes has gone dormant. Kaylyn has brought a lot of joy into our family. She is happy and quick to smile. And if I do say so myself, I think she is beautiful!
Kylee has become quite the big sister. She loves on the baby. And I think the most said phrase in our house has been first "is it my turn to hold the baby" and then "leave the baby alone!" Kylee loves to dress up and is all about princesses. She also loves to sing and swing. She is my night owl and has trouble going to sleep but loves to sleep in. She is independant, stubborn, and cute! We love her very much.
Karla has started preschool this year. She loves school. She is maturing some and with that comes a quietness about her. She is still great at making friends and makes friends everywhere she goes. She loves to play games, do homework, and read books. She still gets out and runs and plays with the best of them but takes some quiet time for herself. Karla seems to follow her dad in that numbers are coming to her better than letters. Her teacher says she is very independant as well as many other strengths.
Todd has also started school this year. He started off the year working for Keller's Supply as their out of town deliviery guy (just a 6 hour run round trip). He really enjoyed it. Unfortantly this economy hit. His boss said "I hate to let you go, but we are laying off good men just to survive." He wasn't the first to be laid off, but his turn came this August. With encouragment from Brother Hazel, Todd has gone back to school to become an x-ray tech. He is actually kind of excited about the career (not school). He has worked hard. He gets up at 6:00 to be to school by 6:50. He is on campus until 4:00 when he heads to McDonalds. He usually starts at 5 and works to between 11 pm and 1:30 am. He comes home and sometimes studys even more. I will wake up at 3 for my paper route and kiss him good night. And when I come I kiss him goodbye. He has read all his assigned reading, and he puts in hours and revisions for his weekly assignements.
As for me, my hobbies has changed to nursing and exercising. I still keep up on my blog because I can do it while nursing. I have started doing papers again. This time I have a friend also doing papers--since at that time in the morning minutes are free, we visit. I love ear buds! I am trying to find the right balance of trying to keep my house clean, caring for my kids (especially with Kaylyn nursing), and trying to get healthy.
We have been richly blessed. I find myself counting my blessings often. Most of all, I am learning that everything I am is thanks to my Savior. I am grateful for his atonement and infante love. I have learned a lot from Him and His example, and when I fall short, He makes up the difference. I know He lives! And I am so grateful He does.
Kaylyn 6 months
Kaylyn gets lots of Kylee kisses.
Thanksgiving was also Kaylyn's 6 month point!! Our little girl now weighs 13.4 lbs. She is now on the large end of 0-3 month clothes. I plan on pulling out the next size up when we pull out the Christmas decorations.
She is sleeping through the night most the time. She has also started taking actual naps. She has also started eating baby food just after her fifth month. She has now had rice cereal, applesauce, banana's, beans, and strawberries. She is also teething. We don't see teeth yet. But Karla did that too--where she seemed to teeth for almost a month before we actually saw the teeth. And then she got two at once. We will see how Kaylyn does. It's been hard. Kaylyn hasn't been fussy before, and she isn't handle this well. But I think it won't be long before she gets over it. Although this has lent itself to Kaylyn becoming a mommy's girl. With Grandma having a broken shoulder and daddy gone a lot, she is 100% mommy. And will on occassion cry for no other reason that she wants mom and no one else. As soon as grandma is better--Kaylyn is spending a Friday with Grandma to help elimnate this problem. I already have one mommy's girl and don't need another.
Kylee loves Kaylyn very much. I have caught her trying to share her corndog with Kaylyn once too. But she picks her up. This we are attempting put an end too. But I often find Kylee trying to snuggle with Kaylyn. Kaylyn doesn't mind sitting up with Kylee until she puts her down and bonks her head. Kaylyn gets a little nervous around Kylee. Kylee has also started speech. She enjoys it. And she loves that she goes to school like Karla even if it's just a half an hour a week.
As for Karla, she got upset one night and felt I wasn't listening. I was but the answer was still no. I'm sure that never happens in your house. Karla finally said "Mommy this is not a whining. This is a grumpy face. Grumpy means that parents not listening to kids!" I couldn't help but laugh. Kylee then sang her favorite line of a song I sing often "grumble, grumble, YUCK!" Kylee has been singing a lot lately. Her favorite tune is the one when Ariel looses her voice. I remind myself to be supportive as Kylee usually sings forte! She is starting to branch out to other songs usually sing the same line over and over again. UNDER THE SEA has been a fun one.
As for Karla, she got upset one night and felt I wasn't listening. I was but the answer was still no. I'm sure that never happens in your house. Karla finally said "Mommy this is not a whining. This is a grumpy face. Grumpy means that parents not listening to kids!" I couldn't help but laugh. Kylee then sang her favorite line of a song I sing often "grumble, grumble, YUCK!" Kylee has been singing a lot lately. Her favorite tune is the one when Ariel looses her voice. I remind myself to be supportive as Kylee usually sings forte! She is starting to branch out to other songs usually sing the same line over and over again. UNDER THE SEA has been a fun one.
My mom is back to work but still has several things she can't do for herself, so we spend lots of time with Grandma. We pray she continues to heal and that the pain will stay managable.
As for me, I have started a third paper route. It's right next to my Wiley route and doesn't take a lot of extra time. I also was able to pick up two daycare kids for Tuesday and Wednesday. I like that it is part time because I can still schedule doctor appointments for Mondays. I also still get to spend Fridays with my mom.
Thanksgiving 2009
I am afraid I don't have any pictures. With trying to gather everything and everyone--the camera was left at home. Good news: that's all that was left and we survived the day. The sad part: no pictures. I am hoping that soon there will be a few on facebook from my cousin Janae.
So the festivites started Wednesday night when the girls got together and did a candy christmas tree. It turned out cuter than it sounds. My favorite was the snickers bars, but the andys, kisses, and doves turned out the cute too. And we had fun catching up and enjoying each other.
Thursday morning we ran in the Tingey Turkey Trott. It's a 5K run. I liked it because we ran a circle around the park--so even us slower people interacted with the faster ones on occassion. The girls rode their bikes. We cuddled Kaylyn up so that all you saw was little eyes and a nose. She was cute. I then went shopping with mom and got ready for Christmas while the kiddos napped and Todd and Garth watched Jack Frost.
Dinner at the church was fun too. It tasted great (even though I ate it cold). Josh swept the board in Settlers afterward. We went home tired and full.
Friday morning I hit the black friday sales for the very first time in my life. I got up and did papers early and made it to Best Buy by 5 am. I stood in line for 5 whole minutes to get in. We replaced our cell phones for $8 a piece!! At that price, I bought an extra just in case Todd looses his. I then ran into my best friend from my Senior year at RHS: Chris Walters. How fun!! Come to find out we have both been in the same city for a year now. We hope to catch up soon. I also got a present for Todd...so no hints here.
It was fun to get to spend some time with Todd. No work, no homework, just play on Thursday with Todd. Saturday was back to work for Todd. The rest of us went to my cousins sons birthday party. We then watched the BYU game. I admit, Kaylyn was fussy, and I spent most of the game nursing.
Now I admit, the real holiday started Wednesday at 4:30 when our financial aid finally pulled through!! What a relief that has been for us. We have a lot to be grateful for! We are now making what we made in Albuquerque--and we are able to live on what we use to not be enough--dispite having another member of the family. That is just one of many blessings. Karla has been very grateful for Christmas presents. But as we talked more--and they finally caught on, Kylee is grateful she can swing high. We are grateful for her healthy body too. Karla is grateful for her wonderful teachers: Miss Lara, Miss Lita, and Miss Dena at Tapteal and Sister Peterson in Primary. They have been wonderful, and Karla has learned and grown a lot this last year. Todd was most grateful to have food in the house again and that, in the mean time, we didn't ever go hungry. We have a long list of blessings!
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