Aprons

For weeks, maybe even months, I've been telling myself I need to make an apron for when I cook.  I'm always making a terrible mess on my shirts and it's uber frusterating.  So the other day, amidst the chaos, I sat down and did it.  I didn't really have any particular fabric I liked, but figured this would be trial run and I'd buy fabric later that I would like.  So I had some left over fabric from something else and set out.  I kinda like it. :)

When Kenya saw mine she wanted one, so for her birthday I mad her and identical one just her size.



Isn't she just the most adorable little chef?!

Attempting to Bake

In my 5 years of marriage I've attempted to bake many cakes.  None have turned out good at all.  Today I again attempted the daunting task of baking a cake for Kenya's b-day party tomorrow.  My first attempt was quite a disaster.  Take a look.

You see, I followed the recipe exactly (cause I know I've messed this up before) and when I turned it over the cake fell apart.  Literally.  It was a mess.

So I set out for a second attempt.  

Now to cut it and frost it and make it look delish!  Hopefully I can manage and not ruin it. :)



Turning 3!!

Happy Birthday to my little 3 year old Angel, Kenya!

I can't believe she's 3 already, it seems like she getting so big.  So here's a shout out to the little girl of our lives!

Kenya, we love you so very much.  You are such a beautiful, brilliant little girl and we are supremely lucky to have you in this family (especially mommy, since it helps her to not be too out numbered with the boys in our family). :) You bring such a sweet presence to our family and we just wouldn't be the same with out you.

You are such an active and happy child. You know how to rough house and wrestle with your older brother and dad and can very much hold your own against them.  You have a sweet, tender spot that shows me you're still my little girl when you come and cuddle up in my lap or give me big kisses.  I just love it! 

You haven't really established your own interests as you are always very much interested in what your brother likes, but I find it to be wonderful that you and he play so well together. 

You are the child who likes to sit and read books and this makes me oh so happy to see.  I'm glad my love of reading has made it's way into my little angel.  You can be oh so helpful when you choose, helping me with dishes and laundry and even the baby.  You get excited and always remind me, "No mommy, I do it." 

You are such a healthy, happy little girl.  You eat well, sleep well and in general are such a well behaved little girl.  Although you do have a stubborn streak in you that is most likely from your mother, you are mostly cooperative. 

My little angel, it scares me to think of you getting older, more independent.  Although I love that you able and willing to do things on your own, I miss those days when you would spend the better half of 5 minutes with your hands on my face trying to explain to me what it was you wanted/needed.  It was oh so sweet and precious! 

You are such a special little girl and I love you so much.  We all love you!  You make our family complete and whole.  So here's to you on your 3rd Birthday! 

Love you my Angel!

Love Always,

 Mommy!

Snow

Thought the kids have seen snow before, it's been on a

 limited basis.  Usually it was when we were in Utah for Christmas and they didn't end up playing in it much. 

Well, now we are living in Colorado and have had our second snow so far.  The first time it was a novelty and the kids just wanted to look out the windows all day, today they wanted to play in it. :)  I was surprised they'd want to play in it (I hate the cold and don't like playing in the snow) but they were excited. 

Since we've lived in snow free (or for the most part snow free) places for the last 3 years and most of the kids lives, we don't have any real snow gear for our little ones.  But I dressed them up as best I could. 

At first they just wanted to go out on the back porch.  There wasn't much snow on it and they played around, but then they saw the ground in the yard covered and wanted to go out there.  So Brian (he's home for the day) took them downstairs and out the back door.  I was busy feeding Trey and was unable to be down there to watch them, but I heard quite the amount of funniness.  :)  The kids went out and as soon as Kenya stepped off the patio she fell face first into the snow.  It's been windy and so there was about a good 8-12 inches piled up.  Kenya was up to her elbows and her bum was in it and all I heard was her scream.  She wouldn't get up so Brian had to run out in his socks and grab her.  Ian also stepped out into the snow up to his knees and was upset by how cold it was.  He wouldn't walk back inside, so again Brian walked out in his socks to get him.  It was rather funny to hear from a distance, although I'm sure the kids didn't enjoy it.  :)  I'm such a horrible mom, aren't I?  Laughing at my children's unhappy adventures into the snow. :)  Oh well, it's not like they are hurt. 

So once Brian got them striped down and warm again we asked Ian if he liked playing in the snow.  He responded very sternly with, "No playing in the snow, it's too cold!"  It was pretty hilarious!  Maybe I should focus on getting the kids some real snow gear soon. :)

Our Halloween

So here are some Halloween Pictures for your enjoyment.  The hubby and I took our darling children to our churches Trunk-or-Treat!  It was a lot of fun!  We had Chili dinner, Cinnamon roll desert and lots of fun and games for the kids.  I tried to get picture of the kids with normal smiles, but it seemed almost impossible.  So this is what you get.

I mad both their costumes and was pretty happy with how they turned out.  A few weeks ago when we were trying to figure out what to dress the kids up as, Brian and the kids were on the computer looking at different costume ideas.  I was hoping to go with some more original ideas, but Ian saw Superman and was hooked.  For the next 2 weeks all he could think about was being Superman for Halloween.  So I worked hard to make it happen and he is a very darling Superman indeed.

Kenya was a little harder.  I didn't know what to do for her, but I eventually thought that she would be a darling 50's girl in a poodle skirt.  So I set about to make it happen.  It was a fun project and I only had to redo the waist band 3 times.  I also decided that a little kitten would be cuter than a poodle, so that's what I did.

Silly Smile, like I said, I couldn't get anything normal out of them.

Little Trey used Ian's old costume and was a soccer ball.  Brian was a soccer player.  Pretty cute boys. :)

And here we are, the whole FAM!!

(Yes I know, I'm boring, I didn't dress up.  But I was too busy worrying about all the other costumes to dress up.)



The Bitter Cold!

Anyone who knows me knows that I hate the cold.  While the beauty of the first snow is something I love to look at and enjoy (before it's destroyed by the dirt and sludge) it's not something that I want to be out in.  In fact, snow and cold makes me want to curl up with a good book, warm blanket, and a great mug of hot chocolate.  This happens to be my GREATEST weakness.  You see, typically I spend all winter wrapped in layers of warm clothing with a cup of hot chocolate every morning, avoiding any need to leave the house.  But this tradition is what makes it rather difficult to keep my weight the same, much less on the decline over the 4 months that the snow is falling and the temperatures are low.  So far this year I haven't touched a mug of hot chocolate, although I have wanted to.  I, in fact, haven't even bought any hot chocolate yet this year and am particularly proud of that.  But today, as I watched the snow fall for hours and hours, I almost lost control.  I searched the internet for ways to make homemade hot chocolate (because I was not about to go out in the cold) and found several recipes I wanted to try.  But here it is, 10 pm, and I have resisted.  I'm happy to say that soon I'll be in my warm bed with my warm blankets and I'll have faced another cold day and won.  How long will that last??  I don't rightly know.  Will I be able to keep my slight decline in weight loss going over the next 4 months?? I hope so.  I'm down about 20 lbs since having Trey and feeling good, but my biggest challenges are in front of me:  Halloween, Turkey Day & Christmas!  I hope I can win, or at least stay neutral. 

**Of course, there is one problem;  RESISTANCE IS FUTILE!!**  (Let's hope that only applies to the Borg.)

Pumpkin Guts ... and other fun!

We've had some fun the last few weeks, so I guess I'd better share. :) 

About a week ago, Ian attend his first school field trip.  The teachers wanted parental help, so I decided that the other two munchkins and I would join Ian.  On the appointed day we headed over to "Nick's Garden Center" to meet up with Ian's class.  The kids were so excited to get to go on the train ride and jump in the castle and pick a pumpkin.  (I don't have any pictures due to the three munchkins in tow.  Needless to say I had NO free hands. :)) 

When we got there Ian went ahead with his class while Kenya, Trey and I waited behind them.  This created somewhat of a difficulty for Kenya, as she is not big on patience right now.  See, Kenya and Ian are so close in age that Kenya thinks she can do everything Ian's does and be right in there with him.  This includes his Soccer team, preschool class, church class, etc... She's just not quite grasping the concept that he's older than her.  So while Ian went with his class on the Train, Kenya stood crying at my feet saying she wanted to go.  I had no problems letting her go, she just had to wait in line for her turn, and that's where she was lost to what I was saying. 

Needless to say, the trip was fun, but crazy.  Around ever turn Kenya would cry about wanting to do something with Ian and I would have to hold her back to wait her turn.  Poor little Trey was totally neglected, but he's seemed pretty happy anyways.  At the end of the trip was a tractor ride through a little haunted maze.  Ian went with his class and came back clutching one of the other moms, terrified.  Kenya went with another group of kids (and a teacher cause for some reason they wouldn't let me on with Trey) and came back on the teacher's lap crying.  Apparently the ride was way more scary than the employees let on.  Oh well.

The other day I was doing laundry in my room with Trey on the bed and Ian came up stating that he needed to read Trey a book.  So he promptly sat down on my bed and started telling Trey the story of the Great Pumpkin.  Soon Kenya joined him and all were enthralled in Ian's book.  (Well, I'm not sure if Trey really knew what was going on, but it was cute regardless.)

This picture was taken by Brian.  On Sunday before church, while I was getting ready, Kenya came to Brian, showed her Mr. Potato head and said, "Grandpa!"  For those of you who have never met my father, this is quite the striking resemblance to him -  of course though, my dad has eyes.  :)   The picture made me laugh.  She probably spent most of Sunday, other than church, saying "Grandpa!"  It's always fun to know that my kids know their grandparents well enough to simulate their looks or point them out in a picture. 

I was trying to get pictures of Trey smiling, which does very often now, but he wasn't exactly game for the task, so this is what I got.  :)  

Trey is growing so fast.  he's got chubby little legs and arms and giggles and coos and I love it!!  He's also rolling from him stomach to his back, but not he other way.  He's really not a huge fan of his belly, so I'm guessing that is the motivation for rolling onto his back. :)

The last pictures are of us carving our pumpkins.  Every year when we carve, Brian cuts and I scoop out the gooies.  This year, before we began, Brian announced, (I'm quoting this) "I'm manning up this year and I'll scoop out the innards!"  Needless to say, I was quite impressed that he was going to atempt it. :)  Of course that didn't keep him from making funny faces and squealing each time he stuck his hand inside. :)  

Ian's pumpkin's face.

Hard at work.  The kids colored theirs before we cut and Brian was working on the big pumpkin.

I was quite impressed that both our junior pumpkin carvers scooped out their own pumpkin's innards.  They did an astoundingly good job too.  I barely had to help at all. :)

The fam and all our pumpkins!  Don't they look fab!!

Pictures Of Trey

Sorry it's taken me so long to get these posted, but here they are.  Trey is 6 weeks old here.  I wish I could get new pictures of him every 6 weeks for the first 4 months cause they grow and change so much.  He's much more chunky now.  :) Enjoy!

All About Them

I must brag.  I know it's not usually a good thing, and I guess it could be deemed that here, but I just must. :)

MY KIDS ARE TOO DARN ADORABLE!  I JUST LOVE IT (and them too, of course).  :)

Ian:  Participated in his very first Primary Program and I was just so very proud!  I can't believe he's getting so big and I just love to watch him grow.  I will admit, I had tears in my eyes as I watched him on the stand singing and doing his part.  Every time he looked at us I'd smile and he'd smile his big goofy smile at me and then try and hide it so he could be serious.  What a great kid!  I'm so proud of him!

He's also big into numbers these days.  He loves counting and adding and subtracting and playing with Brian's calculator.  It's so awesome!  He's gonna be just like his dad, totally number smart. What a kid!

Kenya:  She's quite the spit fire and I love it.  Every time I look at her I'm in awe of what an amazing little girl she is.  She is growing so fast.  She'll be turning 3 next month and in just 3 months she'll be a little sunbeam.  It's awesome but at the same time makes me cry (tears of joy of course).  I just can't believe my babies are getting so big. 

Today Kenya was playing with Mr. Potato Head and took off everything by the feet, mustache and nose and turned to me and exclaimed, "look mommy,  it's daddy!"  I couldn't help but laugh and then as Brian walked up I asked Kenya who Mr. Potato Head was.  She again exclaimed, "It's daddy!"  I smiled and said, "Are you sure??"  She pointed and said, "yes, look!  It looks like daddy!" 

So funny I tell ya... but then again, you maybe would have had to be here. :)

Trey:  He is becoming quite the hoot!  I love the little guy and have forgotten until now how fun it is to have a chunky little baby around.  He's very into cooing and playing with his toys and his smiles are to die for.  Every time I go to change his diaper he breaks out into huge, adorable smiles.  I LOVE it.  He's also giggling and it's so CUTE!!  AHH!!  I love, love, love it!

So there it is, I bragged!  I can't help it, they are just the light of my life! What would I do without these three wonderful blessing from God?  And of course, what would I do with out a wonderful husband and father to make it all complete. :) 

More photos

So Kenya was being kind of a cheese yesterday and looking absolutely adorable (or at least I think she was) and I got some awesome pics. So have fun lookin' at them!  :)

 

We also got some great pics of Ian playing in his soccer game this last weekend.  He was much more lively at the second game than the first.

Ian defending the goal.  He was an awesome little defender.

Go Ian, GO!!



Playing Catch-Up.... Again

It seems that lately either I don't post anything or I'm always playing catch-up.  So here is a little news and some pictures of the last few months.

On August 10th we were super excited to close on our house!! Yippee to no more tiny apartments!



The look from our back porch.  Pretty, ain't it!

We are loving being in our new house and can't wait to really get settled in and have company! 

Brian and Ian have jumped feet first back into school (Ian for the first time) and are loving it.  Brian only has 8 months of his Master's left and he's excited to be done but also loves to learn.  Ian started a twice a week preschool and LOVES going.  His teachers are wonderful and he loves to tell me all the fun stuff he's learning about!  It's a wonderful experience.  Although I can't believe how quickly my little boy has grown and it does make me a little sad he's growing so quickly, Kenya and I do enjoy our time at home together while he's at school.

Ian's first day of school.

Brian is also coaching Ian's fall soccer team and although it seems to be a challenge sometimes with young kids, both Brian and Ian are quite enjoying soccer in all it's aspects.



Ian kicking the soccer ball (or missing, not really sure).



Kenya is now on the path to being potty trained and it's been a little rough, but she's progressing.  I won't lie, I hate potty training, but now it's only one in diapers instead of two.  :)

Trey is growing quickly and we just love having him in our family.  He's a darling little guy and is doing so well in our crazy little family. 

We now have our wonderful dog, Comet, back with us and the kids are super happy he's here. 

I have had very little time for myself through all of this, but I'm hoping that we can soon settle into a routine and I can get back to a tiny amount of "me" time and some much needed exercise and weight loss.  Can't let those baby pounds win.  Right??

So that's us and our lives in a nutshell. I'll try to keep on top of things, but no guarantees at the moment. Here are some pictures to suit your fancy. Enjoy!

 

Moments That Matter Most

My friend posted this message on her blog and I loved it!!   So I'm reposting it.  Enjoy!

"We would do well to slow down a little, focus on the significant, lift up our eyes, and truly see
the things that matter most." - President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

The Every Day Moments

The past 3 weeks have been an adventure to be sure.  Being a mother of 3 such wonderful children of God is a blessing for which I'm truely grateful.  My children are such wonderful little people.  They amaze me on a daily basis. 

Yes, I'm tired at the moment and feel that I'm going to fall apart from pure exhausted at the end of each day, but I wouldn't have it any other way. 

Yes, Ian and Kenya decided that going to sleep is optional and getting up at 7 am on the dot every morning is an enjoyable thing, but when I think about it, it actually makes me smile. :)

Yes, I have been spit up on, kept awake for hours on end and struggled to stay awake to help my newborn sleep, but how can you be anything but overjoyed when you look into his beautiful, little, precious face.

Adjusting to 3 children hasn't been terribly difficult, but it's different.  I'm so very grateful that Ian and Kenya are able to entertain themselves so well when I'm unable to help them out.  As we speak they are running around playing some sort of imaginary game and both loving it.  It's quite hilarious to watch and I love it!  They are such wonderful little tykes.  :) 

Who knew that raising kids would be such a wonderful adventure and bring such pure happiness??

Brian was just telling me about a guy at work who asked him if he (Brian) wanted to even go home after work each day.  Brian said he was quite shocked when asked this question, but his response brought tears to my eyes.  He told his co-worker that if he could be at home, he'd rather be there than at work.  Work is what provides for his family, but his family is what make him happy.  :)  What a wonderful husband I have!! 

Trey has been an amazing little guy.  He's growing so quickly.  Already he's weighed in at 8 lbs 10 ounces (almost a full pound bigger than birth weight and almost two pounds bigger than the lowest weight he reached after birth).  He's such an adorable little guy and he's already received many compliments when we've been out and about.  Jus tthe other day while we were at Costco (and yes, I'm bragging, sorry) I was stopped 5 times while shopping as people wanted to see his little face and commented on how beautiful he was.  I feel very blessed, VERY blessed indeed. 

There hasn't been a day yet since I came home from the hospital that I have felt I've accomplished much at home.  I feel like I'm either feeding Trey, feeding Ian and Kenya, changing diapers, or rocking Trey.  Although I feel that nothing is getting done, Brian came home yesterday and assured me that I was getting plenty done.  He told me this: "You are feeding our kids and keeping them happy, that is accomplishment."  :)  Thanks dear hubby for the comforting reasurance that I needed to know that I'm not failing as a wife. :) 

Here are some updated pictures of Trey for your viewing pleasure.  Enjoy!