Christmas Sunday

So Sunday was an interesting day. Jared had to be at the church early for meetings and then stayed because he had to be there early for practice as he was the narrator for the Ward Choir Christmas Program. So I was getting three ready for church, and of course, Conner couldn't cooperate for ANYTHING. So, we ended up 15 mins late, and all the way Conner was complaining that he hates Sundays, and he hates church clothes.

So we get there and not 5 mins goes by before Conner has earned a time out. I try to get Raelee to sit with our friends while I took Jack and Conner out, but she insisted on coming. So I literally dragged Conner out and to the Mother's Lounge, all the while holding my precious Jack with Raelee towing behind us. Two seconds after we get into th eMother's Lounge, there is a knock on the door, and a friend asking me if I needed help. To which I informed him that Conner just needed a little time to remember what good behavior looked like, and that I was fine.

As soon as we got back in the chapel and sat down, Raelee decides she needs to go to the bathroom. This time Conner is happy NOT to go with us. So, still holding Jack, I get Raelee up and moving just as the choir begins. That's when Raelee realizes that her Daddy is talking up on stage and has to run up there to him. So I go chasing after her just before she gets to him, hoping not to distract him as he is narrating on time with the prelude music. So I grab her and head out the nearest door as she is yelling that she wants Daddy! All the while, still holding Jack. A good friend met me out the door (okay so two people and later found out a third was about to head out the door to help when she saw the other two go out) and grabbed Raelee and took her to the bathroom. To which at first I was offended that people would think that I couldn't handle my three little children all by myself! But later was humbled by the third friend who didn't get up, who informed me that they just love me and remember what it was like when their's were that age, and they wanted to help.

So. Glad it's over. Just want to disappear for a while :)

Halloween 2009!

So for Halloween this year Conner was a cowboy, Raelee was Snow White, and Jackson was one of the seven dwarfs, but everyone kept calling him a garden gnome. So whatever. It was next to impossible to get a picture of these people. Raelee wouldn't stop moving! And then Jared was in a hurry and wasn't cooperating to get the kids in the light. So, I have what I have and this is why I posted so many pictures. You can piece them together :) We had a fun time even though we were all very sick with the flu, and I didn't know it yet but I had the beginnings of shingles. I was diagnosed the next day, Sunday, with shingles which I am still suffering from. For those of you who have never had them hope you never do. They are excruciating and they are taking forever to get over! I had them on my upper right face, my eye and my scalp. It has been a yucky four weeks so far. But at least after two I have been able to function so I will count myself lucky :) And while the lesions are still on my scalp, they have cleared up on my face and almost all the way on my eye..thank goodness!!

Happy Birthday Conner!

So it has been a while since I have updated, and a lot has happened since then. The first thing was Conner's 5th birthday. He wanted a batman cake so that's what he got, simplified :) It looks orange, but it was yellow and black. Sorry the pictures aren't that great, but it was a great day. Conner wanted cheeseburger soup and I used Carrian's potato roll recipe...YUM YUM YUM. BEST rolles ever! And we were so thankful to have the Harper family (Jared's aunt/uncle) with us as well...awesome family. This was our last hoorah with Angie and her kiddos whom we miss tons and tons, so I love looking at these pics of those sweet girls! So Happy Birthday Conner! Kindergarten next year, YAY!

Mt.St. Helens

I made him take this pic with me :)

The "butter" view....I mean better view

Coldwater Lake(the water was so clear and beautiful, I just wanted to jump in!)

At the forestry center

Last weekend we made a day trip to Mount St. Helens. On our way I realized that I have lived here practically my entire life and only been there twice. And I don't remember either trip. The weather was perfect, the kids were very good, and the views were beautiful! We ended the day at Coldwater Lake, and we had a great time. Saw an elk herd at the Forestry Center. The kids got a kick out of that even though they didn't actually see anything. They kept saying they saw the elk, but Raelee was more interested in just using the binoculars. She kept saying she saw the elk, when in fact she had the binoculars backwards and her eyes shut! :) She cracks us up. Conner just kept commenting on how "awesome!" the volcano was. "that's so awesome, huh mom!" I just love him.

Pictures

Here is a picture update. I finally had them done and I think they turned out pretty good. Not so thrilled that Conner is watering flowers in just about all of them...don't know why I didn't catch that when we were there! :) I'm going to see if the gal can crop the one of Conner and Raelee around the wagon so that there is just Conner. The one I posted of him by himself doesn't look like him...so that is why I want the other cropped. Anyway. By the end there were no good pics of all three of them. Oh well. They did a great job considering I took them all at the same time.

It seems like we are always just CRAZY BUSY anymore. And our kids aren't even in school yet! Jared's calling keeps him very busy (YM President) and there have been so many baby showers, and birthdays, and weddings, and baptisms, and holidays, and boy scout camp- outs, and Eagle projects, and now they want Jared to go on the last two days of the Pioneer Trek (which they have been trying to get us both to be MA and PA for....are they out of their minds! I am a nursing mother!). So yeah. I am feeling a bit, well a lot, overwhelmed lately. And we have finally put our house up for sale. By owner for now. But I have a feeling we may have to go realtor and just cut our losses. So if you know anyone who is looking, we are selling our 4 bedroom 1 bath ( I know, only one bath, but you could easily add one off the main bedroom) for $139,000 in Kelso. Very cute house with a nice yard, fenced in back with a raised garden bed and flower bed. Detached garage. Hardwood floors in kitchen and two bedrooms downstairs. Hmmmm. Anything else? Nice quiet neighborhood. Close to Elementary. Okay, I'll leave it at that.

A little about the kids:

Jackson has been rolling over for about a month now. He also started eating solids about a month ago as well and he loves it! Can't get enough. I am still just absolutely smitten with him. I just adore him. He is a silly, sweet, happy boy. I love watching him play with Conner...that's when he gets silly. He is teething right now, poor baby, and so he has a constant drooly chin and soaking shirt....drool rash! Poor guy. He still sleeps through the night (YES!!) and eats every 2 hrs in the day (CRAPPY!). He talks a lot and we all just love him to pieces.

Conner is starting to read and write simple words. It is fun to see him get so excited over his accomplishments. He is a very good big brother to Jackson. You can tell he loves him very much. He is really turning into a big kid and I am loving watching him grow up a little. His behavior has gotten a lot better. We still have our weeks where I pretty much just lock myself in the house until it's over. Luckily there is my sweet sweet chocolate friend to get me through it ha ha ha. We made a volcano the other day and filled it with baking soda and vinegar, and now Conner thinks we should fill it with black powder?! All his idea. Obviously we will not be doing that. But we will be trying mentos and coke next.

Raelee, Raelee, Raelee. This girl is CRAZY! And I love it for the most part. Definitely know we are in for it when she turns teenager. She is doing better with potty training, but we aren't "there" quite yet. She has been so stubborn about it. She is still suffering from baby jealousy, and asks me to hold her all the time. She tried to nurse on me the other day...NOT GONNA HAPPEN :) She is constantly wreaking havoc and getting into things she isn't supposed to. Every time I turn around or finish cleaning one mess she has made another. I am just waiting for the day she finds the scissors! But other than that she is a funny, happy-go-lucky little girl in her own little world for sure. She is a wild spirit and difinitely a leader. And we just love them all so much!

The Three Stooges

They look so innocent don't they? Boy do they have us all fooled! HA HA HA. Raelee and Conner were making cards for their dad for his birthday, which happens to fall on Mother's Day. Twice Raelee came to me covered in marker (arms and face). I wish I had thought to take a picture before I rushed to clean her. I did happen to get this one of the chairs and table though. I am just greatful for whoever invented the most washable markers in the world! :)

New pics of Jackson

Here's a new pic of Jackson. Hoping to get them proffessionally(sp?) done here in the next week. This is almost 4 mos.

Easter 2009

Easter was fun this year. The kids dyed their own eggs and had a good time with that. Easter fell on my birthday this year, so we also had birthday cake! Raelee is horrible when it comes to taking her picture. I can't get her to sit still, so I get what I get.

Raelee turns 3

Happy Birthday Raelee! Raelee turned 3 on March 10th. We had a spaghetti dinner and brownies and ice cream that night. Mom and dad gave her a present and then we celebrated with the rest of the fam on Saturday. The cake was aweful looking. It seems that not much turns out right anymore since having Jackson. Hopefully this isn't a permanant thing! It was supposed to be a purse, but I made the frosting too runny and so it looks wierd. Not digging the red licorice either. But it is my own fault because I didn't even think about it until Saturday morning! BUT, the IMPORTANT thing is that Raelee thought it was great. She had a good time and couldn't care less that their were stripes on her purse, red handles, and runny frosting :) And yes, she dressed herself that day. She wears a dress pretty much every day now...usually over her other clothes. Anyway, we had a great time with everybody and Raelee was very much aware of that the day was all about her. It was a princess theme and she definitely played the part.

I can't believe she is three already! It is strange to think that we moved to Kelso, into our first house when Raelee was Jackson's age. This is the longest we have ever lived anywhere, so it feels a bit strange.

Jackson's Blessing

We blessed Jackson on March 1st. I think I mentioned this in a previous post, but my parents were the only ones there from my family which made me miss my sisters a ton. We had a pretty good turn out from Jared's side which was great. Always good to see them. Thanks to all who participated. Jackson did great, he didn't cry or even fuss so that was good and Jared did a wonderful job.

Leavenworth

A few weekends ago we were so graciously invited on a weekend in Leavenworth, WA with some good friends of ours. I had never heard of Leavenworth, but a weekend away! I am no dummy! I jumped on that offer right away and we had a GREAT time! It turns out that Leavenworth is a charming little German town about 300 miles away, northeast of Seattle. We stayed in a condo and shopped till we dropped, took a sleigh ride, ate well, and stayed up late playing games and again, eating well :) It was so beautiful there. Surrounded by mountains and snow. And the Christmas lights were still up. Jared and I have never done anything like this together so it was a real treat, even if we had to take Jackson with us. We would love to go back some time, during the summer when the flowers are in bloom and we can hike and raft and fish. The shops were AWESOME. We just really enjoyed ourselves on a much needed break! The pictures are from the sleigh ride. I will add more when I get them. My friend took some on her camera that I am waiting for. The sleigh ride was really fun. Our driver was absolutely HILARIOUS. A real wise-guy. So we fit in quite well. Between Jared, the driver, and me we could take our show on the road. Three wise-guys. It was a lot of fun. I only wish I had recorded the whole thing because he was really funny. They owned around 300 acres and built all the buildings/homes themselves using their own timber. I got a picture of the turkeys for Conner. Anyway. 300 miles that were well worth the trip. Thanks Jen and Eric!

2 mos

Here are some new pictures of Jackson. He is smiling now and cooing. I LOVE IT!! But we can never catch it on camera...but I finally got one! I have noticed he is a thumb sucker as well. AHH! I'm always catching him with it in his mouth so I gently replace it with the binky. Want to squash that habit right now!

He has begun the fussy stage, and I will be grateful when that ends. We blessed him last sunday, the 1st. I will get some pictures of that up soon. I have to get them from my father-in-law because he was the only one who remembered a camera! I am so horrible at that! Jared did a great job and Jackson behaved. Lots of Jared's family were there and then my parents came. It really made me miss my sisters! I think a trip to Utah is in the near future to visit two of them. I think sisters have this connection with each other that creates a necessity for sister time every once in a while. I am definitely feeling homesick for them.

Having three children, two of them being toddlers, has been a challenge and a blessing. We have entered a really difficult time with poor Conner. I feel so lost right now because I just have no idea how to help him and we are all going CRAZY. Raelee is finally on board now and has entered the terrible threes. I don't know who ever came up with the term "terrible two's" because it has been my experience that "The Change" always happens at three. Raelee turns three on Tuesday. I am seriously looking forward to September 2010 when Conner can go to Kindergarten :) I may cry, but I think it will be 95% JOY. Ha ha ha. I love him dearly, but he is most certainly a CHALLENGE.