On a Positive Note...

These last few days, even weeks, I have been riding the hormone roller coaster! I have been feeling so down, discouraged, overwhelmed, anxious and frustrated. I am so excited for this baby to come at times but then feel so scared and overwhelmed when I think about it. There is so much to do and get, not to mention the thought of basically starting all over again. Hunter will be 5 years old a month after the baby is born. FIVE YEARS!!! That's quite the age gap! I was going through baby things realizing how old and worn everything is. Then I think about my house. We will be having 5 kids in a four bedroom home! So then my mind starts racing of needing to finish the basement and how, etc... OH MY!

My patience with my kids has been zilch...then add a sick dog on top of that! I worry to easily and stress out too much about how other people think and feel, especially about me. I watch the news and hear how bad the economy is, how people are losing jobs among other depressing and scary things. It really hasn't helped my mood. Yet, through this and seeing other people's trials around me it has really made me begin to think.

I have realized that I have so many blessings that I take for granted and I am trying to think more positively.

So on that note (and a reminder to myself, whenever I start having a pity party, I can come back and read this) I have made a list, in no specific order, of things that I am grateful for.

~I am grateful for the the outdated doors (some hanging off hinges), the worn down carpet and unfinished basement...because it means I HAVE a roof over my head and HOME to live in!

~I am grateful for hand prints and smudges all over my walls and footprints all through my clean floor...because it means I have CHILDREN to put them there!

~I am grateful for all my aches and pains, the sleepless nights and having to go to the bathroom every 30 minutes...because it means I have a healthy, growing BABY inside me!

~I am grateful for some of those sleepless nights being due to loud snoring (or coughing as of late) from my husband...because it means he is home, in bed, next to ME! (and not somebody else!)

~ I am even grateful for bad drivers...because it means I have a running vehicle to be driving around in!

~I am grateful for all the taxes that are taken out of our paycheck...because it means Chet has a JOB and a paycheck to bring home!

There are so many other things that I am so grateful for...like good health for myself and kids, great family and friends and the Gospel just to name a few.

I am trying to realize that I can't control other people's actions or thoughts and sometimes that's hard! But I CAN control my own thoughts and actions and with that I am going to try to be a more positive and better person!

My Forever Family!

Tonight we had the wonderful opportunity of taking the kids to the Draper Temple open house.

The kids have been looking so forward to their chance to see inside a temple. The boys always get so excited just driving by one and when they found out that we were going to actually go inside...well, you'd think we were going to Disneyland! Although, I think Hunter's favorite part was riding in the BIG bus over to the temple from the church parking lot.

We first sat in the cultural hall waiting to go into the church chapel for the video orientation. I looked down the row and was hit with such great emotion and I was reminded of how the temple has blessed my life. There, next to me, holding my hand, was my incredible husband and next to him were our four beautiful children. My ETERNAL family! How grateful I am for the way I have lived my life and the choices I made that allowed me to go to the temple. I am SO grateful for a wonderful man who lived his life worthy to take me there to be married and sealed and because of that our children are also ours forever.

In the video orientation Elder Holland mentioned that for him, it wouldn't be heaven without his wife or without his children. I couldn't agree more and I am so grateful that Heavenly Father provided us with a way to be together forever. I love the Gospel and I love the church. I know that it is true and that it is so important for us to live our lives worthy of those temple blessings.

The Draper Temple itself was beautiful and it was such a great experience to be there with my family. To teach our kids about some of the things that go on in the temple. I hope they will remember this and always make it a goal to go there someday and always live their lives worthy of those blessings.

This was actually at the church afterwards where refreshments were served.
(Hunter didn't waste any time un-tucking his shirt once we were out of the temple!)

We went to dinner at "up"Chuck-A-Rama (as Chet calls it) after and just had a really fun night together as a family. I am so grateful for these opportunities to spend quality time as a family and I'm savoring every moment!

The Smart, The Proud....The Ugly!

Wow...I can't believe that it's halfway through the school year already! Kylee's second quarter ended yesterday and she did it again. She achieved another 4.0!!! Woo hoo :)
She had one A- that was holding her back and we were all worried that she wasn't going to get it up enough to change it to an A but she did. She finally got her contacts that we promised her for her first 4.0 and she is just loving them. Hopefully, she won't have any problems with them and will be able to continue wearing them.

We are just so proud of her. That is something I never achieved and I hope she continues on with this trend! It's things like this that make me so happy and so proud to be the mom of these wonderful kids. I have been so blessed and don't know what I did to deserve these kids.

Being a mom is the best and the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. I realized that when I decided to be a mom there would be some not so fun and yucky things that would come with it. Like, being up in the wee hours of the night with sick kids, cleaning up throw up and even diarrhea messes. And even though I would rather be doing other things, that all comes with being a mom....to kids!

Dogs on the other hand....that's a different story!

I woke up about 2:30 this morning to the sound of Bella licking and cleaning herself. I could smell something that resembled that awful smell of dog gas. I was worried that maybe she had to use the bathroom and had some bad indigestion because she had finished off some shrimp fettuccine I accidentally left out on my night stand next to my bed. So, I got up and the minute I opened my bedroom door the smell was stronger. I knew then that it most likely wasn't Bella.

When it's really cold outside Chet brings Gunner in from outside and lets him sleep in our laundry room (which is not very big) just off of our kitchen. The closer I got into the kitchen the stronger the smell was and I had a pretty good idea what he had done in there. I just didn't expect it to be what it was....horrible diarrhea!!! And it was EVERYWHERE!!! Not just all over the floor but splattered up the door, dryer etc. Now those of you who haven't seen Gunner, he is our very large Golden Retriever. It couldn't have been little Bella who only eats a cup of food a day...no, that would just be to easy. Or should I say "merciful". It just had to be my huge, honkin, bear of a dog, who is an outside dog at that!

Now that you are all grossed out by that let me just mention the fact that he had laid in it so it was all over him too! So, I couldn't let him out to the garage b/c it was on the other side of the laundry room. So, I had to take him out through the kitchen to the back door...all the while his tail is wagging and splattering "stuff" everywhere. And to be honest, I was really freaked out about it happening so close to the kitchen/food quarters. I seriously starved myself for half the day because I couldn't bring myself to eat anything.

I swear I just sat there forever, wanting to cry, throwing up into the garbage can, not even knowing where to start and with what! Needless to say I need a new rug, mop, scrub brush buckets and rags b/c everything that touched that stuff is now garbage!

Now, I will gladly clean up after my sick kids but this... this, I didn't sign up for! Or at least I didn't think so!

"33"

It's been a while since I've updated on my pregnancy. Things are going well other than the increasing aches and pains! :) I am especially getting a lot of ligament pains in my lower abdominal area...more so than my last pregnancies.

I had my Dr. appt yesterday and I just had to laugh at my stats...

33 weeks pregnant
measured 33 cm
weighed 133 lbs.

Now, if only I was still 33 years old! Either way, it makes it really easy to remember where I was at during this time of my pregnancy!

Apparently the baby's head is sitting really low into my pelvis. Chet and I were even talking about how different I am carrying this one compared to the others. It is really low and right in front. The other's I carried more into my back it seems. I guess that explains why I am having so many pains in my groin area! But hey, on the bright side maybe that means LESS pushing!!!

I am starting to feel a bit anxious and overwhelmed at everything coming so close to an end. There is still so much to be done, yet I'm ready to be done. What scares me the most is the starting all over again. Hunter is now 4 1/2, very independent and I was kind of enjoying a little bit more freedom. Yet, at the same time the thought of him going to kindergarten next fall and leaving me home alone saddened me. I'm not ready for that time in my life either. So, here we are...no turning back now. Ready or not here baby comes!

Here's what's happening with baby!

For all the weight and bulk you’re lugging around these days, you’d think your little champ should weigh much more than a mere 5 lbs and measly 17 inches in height, but nope, that’s about the average size for a baby in its thirty-third week. In terms of appearances, they’re getting cuter and pudgier every minute as they pile on the baby fat for those adorable little wrist rolls and chubby toes. And as we’re sure you’ve already noticed they’re getting stronger with every passing day. Nowadays, it’s possible to observe a well-placed kick just by watching your belly—but you already knew that didn’t you? Although they’re getting stronger, your bigger-by-the-day baby is losing space to move around, so the actual rate of movement will drop off in the last few weeks, despite that powerful drop-kick they’ve been working on. Hey, did you know you’ll continue feeling their movements even during labor?

January Birthdays!

I have been such a slacker with the January birthday wishes so here they go...

{Happy Birthday to...}


Kyle Crowther

Jaxon Crowther of the Wild, Wild West!

and...

ELDER Andy Neff who has 58 days left on his mission!
(is that right Shareen?)

A Little Bit of Humor...

{A Child's Prayer}

We have had quite the laughs this weekend. Today Hunter's class was in charge of opening exercises for Primary. Because his class is so small he had to do both the prayer and scripture. We taught him his scripture which was in Psalm: "All of you are children of the most High". He practiced it all morning and was so excited to do his "part".

He had to say the prayer first and as he got up he started his prayer in the normal way, "bless that we can have a good day..." then came, "bless all the children of the most High that they can be safe..."

Oh my goodness! Chet and I were just elbowing each other trying our hardest not to burst out laughing! It was just SO stinking cute and funny. Then when he was supposed to give his scripture he kind of looked confused like he was thinking, "but I already said my part!". Maybe he figured he would just kill two birds with one stone and do it all at once! What a cute and sweet little guy. I just love being his mommy!

{Doggy Diaper}

We have had our suspicions that Bella was...how do dog breeder's put it...."in season" by the way she was constantly licking. Our suspicions were correct and yesterday there was "evidence" all over the tile...I know, EEEWWW! (despite Tammy's wishes we are highly considering getting her fixed because of this, Sorry Tam!) So, we did the best thing we could think of. Hence the word "doggy diaper".

We laughed so hard not only because of how funny it looked but because she just stood there forever with her head down looking so embarrassed and ashamed that she had to wear such a thing. She literally just stood in one place for the longest time looking so embarrassed. Then it was even funnier to watch her walk in it. She looked like she was in a cast. Moving her hind legs directly up and down without bending them. She is doing much better in it today and after the first diaper I figured it couldn't be comfortable with her tail so I cut a little hole at the top and fit her tail through. I think that gave her back a little bit of dignity!

Poor little pooch...I just apologize each time I put one on her just telling her how much I can sympathize!

Oh to be FOUR!

These last couple of days I have just enjoyed watching Hunter be a little kid. He is just so stinking cute with all of the funny things he does and says. He is just so small yet he acts so big sometimes.

{ COOKIES }

Today we made cookies...all his idea...when he got home from preschool. He just couldn't contain his excitement and he wanted to help SO bad. After helping me scoop the dough onto the cookie sheets this was our conversation:

Hunter: "Am I doing a good job mom?"
Me: "You are doing a FABULOUS job!"
Hunter: (With a big giggle and grin) "I'm a good helper"
Pause: (worried face) "Wait, what does that word mean?"
Me: "It means you are doing a really, REALLY good job"
Then the beaming smile returns to his face..."Yup, I am!"





Hmm...maybe if you lick both spoons at once you get double the flavor! (and double the fun...go ahead, finish the jingle b/c I know you're all singing it right now! Well, those of you who are old enough to remember it that is!)

{ YUM! }

He has had so much fun playing with Bella and I think she is in heaven having a little boy around to shower her with attention and play with her. Last night I caught them sitting (and laying) on the kitchen floor playing and loving each other. He was actually giving her Eskimo kisses...or maybe we should rename it "doggy kisses".


He also can't wait for his big brother to get home. Every morning he asks me if it's "shote" (short) day. When I tell him no its, "awww man!". Then the second Talon walks in the door he's asking him if he wants to play "Star Wars" or other games on the Wii. He loves playing with his big brother and I'm so glad that they have each other. It still amazes me that at four years old (even earlier for that matter) he already knows how to work video games and controllers. Maybe that's a bad thing!


I absolutely LOVE having that little guy around. There's just something about having little ones around the house that just puts a smile on my face :)
(most of the time...)

To A New Start!

New Year Comments |

As we begin a new year I think about this last one and all that has happened good and bad. I ask myself if I accomplished my goals and resolutions that I set for myself and quite honestly, again, I feel as if I did not. Every year I set a goal to be a better mother, to be more patient with my kids and to try and set a better example for them. I just don't feel that I have done that. But, do we ever feel that we are good mothers or "good enough" all together for that matter?

There was so much that happened this last year. We had some great things happen as well as the not so great. Both Chet and I had events happen on our birthday's that we will probably never forget, to say the least, but through the bad things it has really made me focus on what is important in life and also made me realize how blessed I am. I have an amazing husband and great kids...who could ask for anything more!

The other day I got thinking about all the events and I realized that I have been pregnant for pretty much this ENTIRE year! I got pregnant last January, lost the baby, and immediately got pregnant again. So other than the waiting period we had in between I have been "with child" for most of 2008! Makes it seem like a LONG pregnancy :)

Here is our year in review... (mostly the highlights)

Chet: Got a raise (wahoo), Traveling more for work, coached little league football and went to the state championship, continues to stay involved with boxing.

Kim: Got pregnant, lost the baby, got pregnant, released as secretary in YW presidency, continues to run kids everywhere.

Kylee: Got a new room downstairs, turned 13, started 7th grade at SJMS, got a 4.0 first quarter, takes tumbling and piano.

Makayla: 4th grade, takes dance, doing very well in school.

Talon: 2nd grade, played spring and fall baseball, started Jr. Jazz, doing very well in school.

Hunter: Started preschool, played T-ball, learned how to write his name (among other things) and is anxiously waiting to be a big brother.

We had a great Holiday week and hope everybody else had the same. We went to Good Wood for our New Years Eve dinner and it was really yummy. Then we went to Shareen's and had our annual battle of Password, in which... I hate to admit, the women lost to the men...again! (I swear that game can cause divorces!) We brought in the New Year with kisses and our version of champagne...sparkling cider! Then it was Karaoke time!!! Josh, again, paid tribute to Whitney Houston and Dolly Parton. I think fun was had by all :) New Years Day was at mom's with food, games and QUARTERS!!!

I am so grateful to have such wonderful family and friends and hope you all know how much we love and appreciate you all and everything you do for us! Happy 2009...may it be a great year for EVERYBODY!!!