Our Growing Family

Ouch!

2011-12-29T12:36:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, an unhappy event occured. Baby B got an injury that required the application of his very first Band-aid. Okay, I'll admit, it wasn't his very first, but it was the first one for an injury and not a medical procedure. He has had bandages to stop the flow of blood from blood withdrawals (poor thing had to have his bilirubin levels checked multiple times during his first few days), immunizations, and the PKU. He's not a fan of the plastic strips either! Now, let me get to the story behind this momentous yet sad event.... P Man was playing on the floor in his room with his new Thomas the Tank Engine train set. Baby B sauntered in and began tearing up the tracks his older brother just laid down. Normally, P Man is patient with his baby brother. He will come straight to us if Baby B is bothering him, get a different toy in hopes Baby B will trade him, or simply lets the toy snatching slide. I don't know why all the usual reactions were disregarded during this particular act of toy thievery, but P Man lashed out. P Man lashed out bad! He picked up a piece of the train track and smacked his baby brother on the forehead with it. Baby B's blood curdling screams were heard throughout the apartment. At first, Patrick and I just looked at each other, and at the same time, inquired (with dread in our voices) about what P Man had done now.... Seconds later, Miss B comes racing into the room begging us to come in quick because everything was getting red! I thought she had said "wet," and jumped up thinking there was some sort of spill. Patrick beat me into the bedroom, and soon asked for my assistance. He brought a bloodied Baby B to me and begged me to clean up (whenever I am around, blood clean up duty is mine). I scooped up our screaming son and placed him gently on the kitchen counter next to the sink. I grabbed a paper towel, held it under warm running water, and began gently wiping the blood that had run down Baby B's left eye, cheek, and chin. I then delicately dabbed at the gash in his forehead. His sobs were calming as I scooped him up again and placed him down next to the stove so I could get a Band-aid out of the cupboard. Despite my husband's confusion, I asked for the camera and snapped some pictures of my youngest child's first big "boo-boo."

The Reason for the Season

2011-12-29T11:47:00.000-08:00

Now that I have covered the commercial aspect of the holiday, I would like to express how grateful I am for the true reason for the season, how grateful my husband is, and the pride we both feel knowing our sweet, innocent little ones talk about our dear Lord and Savior like He is their best friend. As a child, I grew up in a home with conflicting religious views (my mother is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ, my father is agnostic). My siblings and I looked forward to Christmas every year. All the presents, Santa Claus, and family gatherings. We also knew why Christmas was such an important holiday. We knew it was to celebrate the birth of Christ. We also knew just how important His birth was for us as well as for all of mankind. I truly believe both aspects of Christmas can exist together as long as the true meaning is emphasized as much as possible. Fast forward to now: I wanted my children to be excited for Christmas. I wanted them to feel the magic of the holiday season and to be happy about their presents. I also wanted them to remember Christ and to feel thankful to our Heavenly Father for sending us His Son. What greater love is there? Miss B's knowledge of the reason for the season is remarkable. She can tell the story of the first Christmas in detail (well, as detailed as one can expect from a 5 year old). This is her rendition: Mary has an angel come see her. The angel tells her she's going to have a baby. The Father of the baby is God. The angel visits Joseph too, and tells him his girlfriend is pregnant with Jesus. Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem, but nobody can let them in to their houses or hotels, so they stay in a stable. Jesus is born, and Mary puts him in a manger. A big star in the sky tells everyone the Savior has been born, and people travel to see Jesus. Pretty good, huh? P Man, who is nearly 3, will excitedly exclaim to anyone who asks that "Chismas is Jesus' birfday!" Baby B was probably the sweetest of all. The innocence and genuine delight displayed by children his age can melt even the hardest of hearts. Throughout the month, he would often take the children's story off of our nativity scene table in the living room and ask one of us to read it to him. It was a short story depicting the birth of Christ. He would get so excited and his adorably sweet blue eyes would light up whenever we came to the part where the baby Jesus was laying in the manger. He would point to Him and say: "Mama! Babee Eee-Sus!" Now, if that isn't one of the sweetest things in the world, I don't know what is! Nothing makes my husband and I happier than knowing we are raising our children to love
Jesus the way we do and to try to follow in His footsteps! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

Christmas Day

2011-12-29T11:15:00.003-08:00

Christmas morning got off to a bit of a late start. Sleep the night before was interrupted by a sad 2 year old insisting on sleeping in his parent's bed and later by a 5 year old who had a nightmare. Patrick got up with the kids and fed them (and kept them away from the gifts) until I finally managed to convince myself to get out from under the covers and meander on out. I heard from my husband that our youngest was fully aware of what went on in our home the night before. As soon as he saw the presents under the tree, he started calling out for Santa. We passed out the children's stockings and let them rummage through for the candy and little presents before handing out the big stuff under the tree. Each child got to open their presents one at a time, and much to our surprise, were very courteous toward each other and patiently waited for their turn. Once all the gifts were unwrapped, opened, assembled, and the garbage tossed out, P Man looked troubled. I actually expected this reaction from his older sister.... Before I continue, I should include a back story so my son's sad reaction to all the Christmas presents will make sense... In October, we were looking at toys at the store, and the kids came across a display case at the end of one of the aisles. Inside was a purple robot-looking thing called a Fijit Friend. When the button on the display case was pushed, the toy's face lit up, it spoke in an anamatronic voice, and the body moved around. I thought the toy was annoying, and to be perfectly honest, a bit creepy. When I saw the price tag, I just shook my head. I couldn't fathom spending $40 on a toy that didn't come with any accessories or do anything. From then on, every time we went to that store (or any other store with toys), our two oldest children begged us to let them see the Fijits and push the button on the display cases. It soon became clear the Fijit Friends were going to be the hot toy for the upcoming holiday season because they were just flying off the shelves. After doing some research (and by research, I mean taking one of the boxes off the shelf at the store and reading it), we discovered the Fijit Friends were interactive toys that respond to key words and phrases. They dance (to built in music as well as external), can chat with their BFF (the child who owns them), and tell jokes. As you can imagine, Miss B decided she wanted one and was determined to ask Santa to bring her a Fijit. Soon after, P Man just had to have one too. At first, we were adamantly against it, especially for P Man. The box said the toy was for children 6 and up, and he's not even 3... Near the end of November, we broke down and purchased one for Miss B. We had to go to 5 different stores just to find one, and were lucky enough to snatch up the very last one at Toys R Us. When we got home that night, a card from my husband's grandparents was waiting for us in the mail box. Inside the envelop along with the card was a note explaining how they were sending us $50 for each one of our children to help out with their Christmas presents. His grandmother wrote about how special the holiday is for little ones, and we should tell them the gifts bought with the money are from Santa. We could have used the money for something else, but we decided to use it for what his grandparents intended. After discussing things, we went on a search for a second Fijit Friend. Now, back to Christmas Day.... P Man was troubled. When I asked him what was wrong, he told me he was sad because Santa didn't bring him a Fijit. He was happy about his other gifts, but was still let down because he didn't get the one thing he had been asking for and wanted most. Then, Daddy got a surprise call from Big Red (aka Mama's cell phone). Santa informed Patrick that he hid 2 very special presents for Miss B and P Man. Patrick retrieved the presents from our bedroom, and the looks on our two oldest children's faces just made our day. They were so excited and so happy to tear off the paper and find a Fijit Friend staring up at them. The remainder of the holiday was spent playing with toys and watching movies until we bundled up and headed over to Grandma and Grandpa Morgan's house for dinner.

Christmas Eve

2011-12-29T11:14:00.001-08:00

Every Christmas Eve when I was a child was spent having dinner at my maternal grandparent's home followed by a smaller get together with my paternal grandparents at their home where we would open our presents. My paternal grandfather passed away in November of 2002, and that was the year everything changed. We decided to no longer attend the Christmas Eve dinner and opted to invite my widowed grandmother to our house instead. This new tradition became the norm for our family, but was disregarded this year due to a strange occurrence. Over the summer, Miss B developed a sudden and completely unexpected allergy. She spent the night at my parent's house, and she had a runny nose, watery/itchy eyes, and was sneezing like crazy. At first, my mother thought she was coming down with a cold. I was sure this was not the case because she had been right as rain when we dropped her off. The following day, we showed up with allergy medication, and within an hour, all her symptoms were gone. We concluded she must have been allergic to something in the house, and after a few more visits to Grandma's house, we knew it was a dog allergy. My parents have 4 dogs with a ton of hair, and our poor little girl is miserable within 15min of being in the house with them. Needless to say, Christmas Eve dinner had to be relocated so she wouldn't have to suffer through her allergies (or be drowsy from allergy medication) during such a special holiday. Christmas Eve dinner was held at our place this year, and I have to say, we actually preferred being home. Although all the mess from dinner and opening presents completely destroyed the once immaculate state of our home, we loved not having to deal with the hassle of packing everyone and everything into the van. In addition, I also enjoyed being able to spend the evening in my “comfy pants” and with bare feet. Dinner was delicious and the clean up was a breeze. Present opening went by quicker than expected, and the rest of the evening was spent putting together and playing with toys, decorating cookies for Santa, and modeling adorable new jammies. Once my family left, we turned on the television and were instantly reminded of the annual tradition of ABC showing the Sound of Music (one of my personal favorites). We (well, mostly just I) watched an hour of the movie before sending the kids off to bed. The boys fell asleep almost instantly, but it took nearly an hour and a half for our oldest's eyes to close. We set out the presents, arranged the cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer on a plate, and settled in to watch a movie.

Family Dinner

2011-12-29T11:13:00.000-08:00

On the 16^th, we had my brother and his family over for dinner and gift exchange. The kids always have a blast with Kaydance and Jacob, and bless their hearts, those two are so patient with our little ones. The dinner went better than I expected. It was my first time cooking a full meal for more than just our family. The kiddos loved the toys and soft blankets they received from a very thoughtful auntie and uncle.

Tree Lot

2011-12-12T13:09:00.000-08:00

Earlier this afternoon, we took the kids to a nearby Christmas tree lot. Baby boy is fascinated with pine trees, and his older siblings find them pretty awesome as well. The great thing about this particular lot are the special friends.... 3 live reindeer! They were nice enough to take the female out of the enclosed pen so the kids could get up close and pet her. Miss B and P Man were absolutely thrilled to be able to touch a "Santa Deer." Baby boy was so excited to be so close to an animal and to walk through the rows of fresh trees.

Halford Family Christmas Party

2011-12-12T13:06:00.000-08:00

On the 10th, my mother's side of the family gathered in Tooele at my grandparent's home for our yearly Christmas party. When I was a child, we would all get together on Christmas Eve at the grandparent's house and again on Christmas Day at our house or my aunt's place. As the family grew and changed, new traditions were made. We now all come together before Christmas so we can all celebrate the season as a family. The kids just had a blast! Here are the pictures:

Temple Square

2011-12-12T13:02:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, we went as a family to see the Christmas light display at Temple Square. This is an outing we all look forward to every year. It took us a while to find parking because we forgot the Christmas devotional was being held across the street at the Conference Center that night, but we eventually found a spot fairly close. Miss B was so excited to talk about why we celebrate Christmas ("It's for Jesus' birthday, Mama!"), and to point out all the nativity scenes as we walked by them. P Man enjoyed looking for the baby Jesus and talking about all the bright lights. Baby Boy was enthralled by all the people, the lights, and seemed to like being outside at night until he started to get sleepy. We all had a very nice time and took some fun pictures.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-26T09:52:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving was nice and relaxing for our family this year. We traveled to my maternal grandparent's house, and we were a bit worried at first because my grandparents have breakables in their living room as well as scary stairs. Turns out, our kids behaved very well (even better than my cousins and siblings who range in age from 14-21). The food was great, the conversation nice and light, and the spirit of the season was strong. Miss B and P Man enjoyed following their Auntie Annie around while making themselves a part of the big kid activities. Baby boy had a lot of fun smiling at everyone and exploring. He spent a good portion of the evening knocking on the door and saying "hello!" Patrick and I were able to converse and relax on the couch before and after the meal without worry which is rare for us since we have 3 very busy kids. I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday!

I am grateful for my family. Without them, I don't know what I would do! My husband makes my life so enjoyable and fun. He is my protector, my rock, my stability. My three amazing children bring so much happiness and joy into my life. Being a mother is, without a doubt, the best job in the entire world!

Attitude of Gratitude 3

2011-11-26T09:46:00.000-08:00

NOVEMBER 20: I'm grateful for sweet moments with my adorable 5 year old. I'm grateful for DVDs. I'm grateful for easy dinners that are also easy to clean up. I'm grateful for the grocery store. I'm grateful for heart melting tiny voices.

NOVEMBER 21: I'm grateful for my hubby's smile. I'm grateful for my 2 year old's sparkly blue eyes. I'm grateful for chapstick. I'm grateful for cool weather without the chilly wind. I'm grateful for Christmas decorations at the store.

NOVEMBER 22: I'm grateful for my 3 little sweethearts. I'm grateful for my dust pan. I'm grateful for the bathtub where I can take relaxing bubble baths. I'm grateful for the library. I'm grateful for my comforter and the warmth it provides during chilly nights.

NOVEMBER 23: I'm grateful for Christmas movies. I'm grateful for the radio in the van. I'm grateful for toys that occupy my children for hours. I'm grateful for restful nights. I'm grateful for the refrigerator.

Attitude of Gratitude 2

2011-11-19T12:49:00.001-08:00

NOVEMBER 6: I'm grateful for fuzzy socks because my toes were freezing. I'm grateful for bedtime. As much as I love my kids, I love having a few hours at night to just be. I'm grateful for the mornings when I get to sleep in. I'm grateful for lazy Sunday evenings. I'm grateful for chocolate chip cookies.

NOVEMBER 7: I'm grateful for my phone which provided much needed distraction for my three screaming kids at the gas station. I'm grateful for the Blockbuster movie kiosk since Redbox doesn't get all the good flicks first. I'm grateful for once again getting to sleep in. I'm grateful for apples. I'm grateful for big, comfy sweaters.

NOVEMBER 8: I'm grateful to have a washer and dryer that I can fill with vomit soaked items over and over and over... I'm grateful for ginger ale because it settles the upset tummy. I'm grateful for Disney movies. I'm grateful for naptime. I'm grateful for large glasses of ice water.

NOVEMBER 9: I'm grateful Halloween is over and my kids have finally stopped talking about it. I'm grateful for snuggles from my special little man. I'm grateful for funny stories courtesy of my very imaginative 5 year old. I'm grateful for brightly colored leaves. I'm grateful for Dollar Tree stores.

NOVEMBER 10: I'm grateful to have a bathroom located about 8ft or so from my bed so I don't stumble to it in the middle of the night. I'm grateful for my 2 year old's cheesy grin and infectious laugh. I'm grateful for my hubby's sense of humor. I'm grateful for sleep in general. I'm grateful for cooperation between my kiddos.

NOVEMBER 11-14: I'm beyond grateful for the healing power of priesthood blessings. I was so sick during this time, and at some points, I felt like I was going to die (yes, I'm dramatic). I received a blessing, and felt nearly 100% better the following day.

NOVEMBER 15: I'm grateful for my the way my kids behaved while running errands. I'm grateful for adorable snowmen décor. I'm grateful for my hubby who allows me to indulge in my snowman obsession and doesn't get embarrassed when I get excited. I'm grateful for the Taco Bell drive thru.

I'm grateful for Tuesday night television.

NOVEMBER 16: I'm grateful for photo frames. I'm grateful for cleaning products because they get my place looking good and smelling fresh. I'm grateful for toy bins. I'm grateful for the 3 hour nap my baby boy took this morning. I'm grateful for tissues.

NOVEMBER 17: I'm grateful for boots. I'm grateful for easy dinners. I'm grateful nobody else in the family got sick. I'm grateful for cartoons. I'm grateful for long naps.

NOVEMBER 18: I'm grateful for sweet treats. I'm grateful for night time drives. I'm grateful for Christmas music. I'm grateful for late night movies. I'm grateful for a warm place to sleep when it's snowing outside.

NOVEMBER 19: I'm grateful for my griddle and maple syrup. I'm grateful for slushees. I'm grateful for the snow that has captivated my kids. I'm grateful for car vacuums. I'm grateful for twizzler's pull n peel.

Attitude of Gratitude

2011-11-05T16:28:00.000-07:00

It's November (yes, I realize I'm 5 days behind, but that's what happens when you don't have in-home internet), and it's time for my Attitude of Gratitude posts. I did this last year and loved it so much that I've decided to do it again. For each day of the month, I am going to post 5 things I'm grateful for (as well as pictures).

NOVEMBER 1: I am grateful for my amazing husband and all that he does for his wifey and our children. Having him home so much (the only upside to unemployment) has really been great. I am grateful to be a mother. No other aspect of life has brought more joy and contentment. I am grateful for the health of my family throughout the year. Despite a few colds, stomach bugs, and P Man's unusual yet mild bouts of chicken pox, we have all been very healthy. I am grateful for our van. I love having a vehicle we can all fit into comfortably. I'm grateful for my faith. Without religion, I know I would be lost.

NOVEMBER 2: I am grateful for small miracles. All 3 of my kiddos went to bed without even so much as a peep last night and slept through until 8:30. I am grateful for nail polish which covered my unsightly acrylic tips until I could get them redone. I am grateful for funny movies which always seem to put me in a good mood. I am grateful for hot water. My shower this morning really hit the spot. I am grateful for my kid's Halloween candy (and the fact that they don't mind sharing).

NOVEMBER 3: I am grateful for vibrate mode on my phone so I can locate the device when I lose it in the couch. I am grateful that my hubby let me sleep in because I didn't sleep well overnight. I am grateful for pizza because I did not feel like making dinner. I am grateful for Tiny Toons which kept my kids occupied long enough to get my chores done. I am grateful for hot chocolate because, well, it's delicious.

NOVEMBER 4: I am grateful for toys that keep my one year old happy. I am grateful for the 5 year old who cleaned her room on her own. I am grateful for cereal which fills me up quite easily. I am grateful for window clings that brighten up my front room windows. I am grateful that the first storm is going to hit overnight rather than all day tomorrow.

NOVEMBER 5: I am grateful for ice cream that comes by the pint. I am grateful that the day is almost through and there has been no snowfall throughout. I am grateful for boots because my kids look so cute in them. I am grateful for spaghetti noodles. I am grateful for comfy sweaters.

Pumpkin Patch

2011-11-05T15:57:00.000-07:00

One of our favorite activities during this time of the year is going to pumpkin patches. The kids love the big, bright pumpkins and the tractors. I just love to take pictures of my cuties!

Autumn

2011-10-22T18:25:00.000-07:00

Yesterday on a whim, we decided to take a ride up the canyon to look at (and take pictues of) all the beautiful fall colors on the trees. We've been meaning to do this for a few weeks now, and I'm so glad we were able to do so before the fall covers gave way to frost and snow. We hit the grocery store first for dinner and snacks because Miss B insisted we "eat on the mountains." After driving through the canyon, we found a nice little spot with a picnic table to eat on and then explored a bit. I got some great pictures of both the leaves and my kiddos.

5, 5, 5, 5, 5......

2011-10-11T14:35:00.000-07:00

October 8th 2006: I went into the hospital at 7:30am for my scheduled induction (my baby's heart rate was low and the doctor felt it would be a good plan to get her out so as not to run into any serious complications). I was induced at 8:30am, and started feeling the contractions immediately. I was planning on not getting an epidural, but after about 2 hours of very intense, right-on-top-of-each-other contractions, I decided to end my suffering (and regulate my breathing since I was holding my breath) and go ahead with the medication. Once the epidural was administered, I felt better within minutes. I was able to talk, laugh, and just relax throughout the duration of my labor. Around 2:15pm, I began to feel an intense pressure in my pelvic area, but figured it was nothing, and didn't mention anything to my mother until almost an hour later. She went and grabbed my nurse to come check on me, and within seconds, she informed us that I was fully dilated, my baby's head was in the birth canal, and I was ready to deliver. She went out, grabbed a second nurse, and together they prepared all the equipment for my baby once she was delivered and walked me through the pushing process. Once I was in the birthing position, my doctor entered the room, and I began pushing. Ten minutes later at 3:25pm, my sweet, precious, absolutely perfect baby girl made her debut! She weighed in at a pretty impressive 7lbs 12oz, and was 21in long. She looked exactly like me, and has remained my "twin." She just celebrated her 5th birthday, and it amazes me every day how quickly the time passes.

This amazingly sweet, sassy girl brings so much joy, happiness, laughs, fun, and excitement to our lives, and we don't know what we would do without her. She is getting to be so smart, intuitive, and is great at solving problems. She is such a great big sister to her baby brothers. She shares well (most of the time), watches out for them, and makes them feel included in whatever she is doing. She is our big girl, and as hard as it is for her mother to deal with her growing up, we are excited to be a part of these magical moments and can't wait for what is in store. We are so proud of you, Miss B! We love you very much, and hope you had the greatest birthday ever!

I'm 5 Now....

Quotes from the now 5 year old:

1. I can clean up because I'm 5 now

2. I can go look at scary Halloween

stuff because I'm 5 now

3. I can be a good big sister because

I'm 5 now

4. I can brush my teeth by myself because

I'm 5 now.

5. I can be Mommy's big girl because I'm 5

now.

Mom: How did you get to be 5?

B: Cause I've had lots of birthdays

Mom: What are you going to be when you grow up?

B: A kitty cat doctor and a singer

Mom: What is your secret wish?

B: To marry Justin Bieber

Mom: How many kids do you want to have?

B: 2. A baby boy and a baby girl

Mom: Who is your favorite person?

B: Oma because she gave me ten little dollars and has cookies at her house

Mom: What was your favorite present?

B: My new Barbie house because it has a bowl of chips

A Year and a Half Already?....

2011-09-24T11:23:00.000-07:00

I really miss this....

I miss this too....

But this perfect, wonderful, adorable, sweet, loveable, kissable, delicious baby boy is now this....

A perfect, wonderful, adorable, sweet, loveable, kissable, delicious big boy!
\

I have a hard time believing my youngest is already 18 months old. I have yet to discover how to stop time, but if anyone does, please share..... This milestone is very bittersweet for me. The last time I had an 18mo old, I also had a 5mo old, so I could still get my baby fix. But, this time around, all I have to cuddle with is a 30in long, 19lb wiggle worm (although when he's tired, sick, or just wants attention he'll snuggle up with me). Enough about me.... Let's talk about my sweetheart....

He has 6 words: Mama, Dada, ball, car, hi, bye. He's not a big talker, but we're okay with that. He always knows what we're saying to him and communicates his needs with us well.

He's started running. He's only been walking since mid March, and now he runs (more like power walks, but that's about all a toddler can do).

He goes down for naps and bedtime like a champ. There is never a struggle to get him to go to bed. He may cry a bit or play, but he stays put and falls asleep rather quickly.

He absolutely loves being with his older siblings and is learning how to share toys and cooperate well. He's also great at playing by himself, and we often find him sitting in one of the kid's rooms by himself surrounded by toys.

He's not really into TV (wish I could say that about the rest of us), but when there's an animal on the screen, his face lights up, he screeches happily, points, and laughs. If there's music, he likes to shake his booty (literally).

He really is a joy to have in our family. I always look forward to seeing his face every morning and spending the day with him. He makes me smile. He makes me laugh. He makes my heart melt.
Happy 18mo, my sweet boy! Mama loves you so, so, so, so much!

Remembering September 11th: 10 Year Anniversary

2011-09-11T14:58:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that it's been 10 years since the attacks on September 11, 2001. I guess the more traumatic an experience is the fresher it is in your mind regardless of how much time passes. I can remember nearly every second of that day from the moment I woke up until I went to bed that night. I got up and got ready for yet another day of my first year in high school, and all I could think about was giving my best friend the greatest birthday surprise ever! I hopped on the bus and was still half asleep and anticipated getting together with my tight knit group of pals to surprise our besty who was turning 15 that day. We wished Britt a very happy day, and headed to class. At this point, we were all still completely unaware of the horrorific images we were about to see on the TV. I slumped into my seat in French class, and within minutes, the student teacher announced that there had been an attack on our nation and we were going to skip the lesson for that day and watch the news coverage. I remember feeling apprehensive and completely confused. I kept thinking: What in the world has happened?.... Then, we all watched the news coverage and listened in disbelief as the anchor described how a plane had crashed into the Pentagon in Washington DC and 2 more planes hit the World Trade Center towers in NYC. Shortly after that announcement, the world felt as if it were spinning out of control and I had to ask (nearly incomprehensively) for the hall pass. I ran down the hallway as quickly as my jelly legs could carry me, and barely made it to the sink before I lost my breakfast. I attended one more class where we did absolutely nothing but watch TV before going to Seminary and having to make another trip to the bathroom followed by a complete and total breakdown. I was beyond overwhelmed with the morning's tragic and disturbing events, and I just couldn't believe that something like that had happened. I didn't want to think about the lives lost, the lives turned upside down, and how the nation was shattered. I felt a surge of gratitude that I was not there when the planes hit and that I didn't know anyone who was, then I felt guilty for being grateful. I silently prayed for comfort, for the men and women who lost their lives and the people who were grieving. I cried for the children who lost their parents. There was a heavy silence that filled the hallways of the high school that day. It seemed like nobody wanted to talk about what had happened and everyone felt too guilty to carry on life as usual, so it was better to just be quiet. On the bus ride home, there was more silence broken by muffled sobs and sniffling noses. I went inside my home to find my mother watching the news, and as much as I didn't want to keep seeing the same awful images (like the one of the man throwing himself from the building), I couldn't stop looking. I remember feeling rage and pain. I remember feeling so much anger toward the men who hijacked the planes and changed so many lives. I remember feeling so many different emotions at once. I remember choosing to go to bed without eating because my stomach just would not settle.

I feel so blessed to live in a nation with such strong people. From this tragedy, we found hope and grew stronger and became more untited as a nation. I am so grateful to the men and women of our armed forces who are willing to fight and die for the freedoms and liberties we often take for granted. I feel grateful to the men and women who did their best to rescue and help the people stuck in the crumbled towers. I feel grateful for all the men and women who donated blood, money, and other services to the victims. My heart goes out to all the grandparents, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, children, and friends who lost someone they loved on that day. My heart also goes out to the children who lost a father on that day and never got a chance to know them. All those who died that day died as heroes. September 11, 2001 is a day that nobody in this nation will ever forget not only due to the tragedy that occured but also for the hope and determination of the people who inhabit our beautiful country.

The Zoo

2011-08-24T14:32:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it's been few weeks since our trip to the zoo, but I've been so busy (actually, I've just been lazy) that I haven't had time to put up the pictures from our fun day! First, we decided to eat lunch because I was sure that once we started seeing the animals, there was no way I'd get my kids to sit still long enough to eat.

After we ate our lunch, we started making our way around the zoo trying to catch a glimpse of every animal there. Miss B's favorite was the giraffes. P Man loved the monkeys and elephants. Buddy loved everything! This Summer, the zoo had an extra attraction.... DINOSAURS! The kids were so excited about them until they actually saw them ha ha. They were flat out terrified when we even thought about going near them. The same thing happened with the giant elephant statue (Buddy was the only one brave enough to sit on it for a picture).

Now that you've seen some fun pics of the dinosaurs as well as the animals, here are my favorite pictures of the day!

On Hold

2011-07-26T13:52:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, I wrote a blog post about how the hubby and I had started trying for another baby. This quest was abruptly postponed when we were no longer receiving a steady paycheck. I know that for some people, the loss of a job doesn't put their life plans on hold, but for the sake of my sanity (which is not always fantastic during the best of times), I just didn't feel right about adding more uncertainty. At first, I was really upset. I've been wanting to be pregnant again since shortly after giving birth to Buddy (call me crazy, but it's the truth). Knowing that we were working on making that longing a reality gave me hope, and when I discovered that having another child would have to wait, I felt literally crushed. As time has passed and our situation has remained the same, I find myself feeling very conflicted about having another baby. Some days, I feel just fine with our family size and the stage we're in right now. I lay in bed at night, and revel in the fact that I won't have to get up to feed or change anyone. I love having 3 kids who can all walk and entertain themselves and they don't require as much of my attention as a baby would. Other days, I just want to cry. I see a newborn baby or a swollen belly (my ward is chock full of both), and I feel very sad. The longing to feel a tiny body wriggle in my abdomen and snuggle up with a sweet smelling new addition is quite often overwhelming. I'm wondering if the fact that we know we want more children and will pick up where we left off as soon as we can has caused me to feel conflicted....

Job Situation Update 2

2011-07-26T13:24:00.000-07:00

It's been a little over 2 months since Patrick lost his job, and the hunt for a new one is still going. There was an interview (okay, 3 interviews) with one company, but they interviewed him for a full time position with really great pay, but ended up offering him part time for a lot less pay. Should we have accepted it? Well, everyone seemed to think so, but based on the distance, we felt it really wouldn't be worth it. We recently had another job offer that we were really hoping would pan out, but are still waiting to hear back from them. They called less than 24hrs after Patrick submitted an application, had him do an e-mailed assessment, but they never called again (even after he called them about it). About a half hour ago, Patrick got a voicemail from a company he applied to a week ago, and they want to set up an interview with him. This company is located out at the International Center (which is near the airport), and we live on the other end of the county.... If they pay well enough, we'll definately give it a shot! Aside from searching for a job, we have also decided to try to get Patrick back into school. We looked into a program offered through an online school, and hope to get more details on that soon. We're taking this one day at a time (although sometimes it feels more like one minute at a time), and remaining prayerful and hopeful!

Done

2011-07-20T16:15:00.000-07:00

I was reading one of my friend's blogs (and leaving her comments because I'm so nice like that ha ha), and loved the idea she had about making a "done" list as opposed to a "to do" list. She's a freakin' genius! You see, I've never been good with making lists of things I have to do because I get overwhelmed (that sounds better than lazy, right?), or I feel discouraged when I don't complete them. Instead, I just wander around our apartment cleaning as I go. I tend to have room ADD and quite frequently start cleaning in one room and remember that I left dishes in the sink or there are wet towels on the bathroom floor. Other days, I just never get anything done, and although I am fully aware of this, I often do nothing to rectify the situation. I've also realized that I've been falling short when it comes to engaging in quality time with the kids and making time for us to do memorable activities together. Trips to the store just don't count, so I've vowed to do better with that! To make myself feel better about my shortcomings, here is a list of the tasks I've accomplished this week:

1. I thoroughly cleaned both bathrooms twice. I scrub the sinks and toilets every other day and the bathtubs once a week, but I actually swept and mopped the floors for the first time in, well, a long time....

2. I only let the clean laundry sit for a day. Now, don't judge! A family of 5 goes through a ton of laundry a week, and even though I guess it makes sense to do a load every day, I usually wait until the hamper is full, the wash machine is full, or I want a certain shirt.... Sometimes all 3.... Well, not this week, I did 3 loads and folded it all and put it all away.

3. I (well, we) did the dishes after every meal, every time. No more cleaning cups or bowls when they're needed.

4. We sat down for dinner all together last night for the first time in a week. I know this is awful, but my kids are picky eaters, so we often feed them first when I make something for Patrick and I that we know the kids will not eat. We have also been super busy, and have not all eaten at the same time or in the same place.

5. I scrubbed the front of the fridge, stove, dishwasher, cupboards, and pantry door because, well, they were getting disgusting.

6. I convinced Miss B to eat salad! This was quite a feat since she never wants to eat leafy greens. Now, we just need to convince the boys to eat salad too...

7. I got out of bed before 9am. I've been having a hard time sleeping at night (darn my anxiety), so I've been sleeping in while Patrick watches the kids.

8. I allowed myself to look at the kids' messy bedrooms, and walked right on by. I've decided it's easier for everyone to just let the kids make messes in their rooms (within reason) and clean them up at the end of the day instead of 2, 3, 4, 5+ times.

9. I pulled my hair up twice! My hair is getting longer, and I prefer to leave it down styled in flattering, face framing ways, but it's a hassle. I have to part it, blow dry it, straighten it, and hope it doesn't decide to frizz out or do its own thing. So, I went against my instincts twice and pulled it up.

10. I let my husband his video games a lot more than usual. This is a big one for me since he unintentionally tunes the world out when he's playing, but it really is a stress reliever for him, so I've been allowing him to play more often and for longer periods of time.

3 Years

2011-07-20T15:37:00.000-07:00

Patrick and I celebrated 3 years of marriage this month. We didn't do anything too special, but with 3 kids, any sort of alone time is amazing! We had my sister come over to spend the night (so we wouldn't have to take her home late). She watched the kiddos while Patrick and I went to dinner and a movie. On our actual anniversary day, Patrick took us all out for dinner and a romp around the mall.

The beginning of our relationship was unconventional. We had one date, and the very next day (okay, more like 9hrs later) we decided to become exclusive. Sounds very quick, I know, but it was just one of those things. I've never been one to believe in the fairytale notion of love at first sight. In fact, I always laughed at the idea. I never believed that one could instantly fall in love with someone until I saw (not met, saw) my husband for the first time. I just knew, and when you know, you know, you know? ha ha ha. We were engaged a little over 2 months after the beginning of our courtship, and were married on the morning of July 12, 2008, 6 months after we first met. A lot of people were skeptical. They truly didn't think that a marriage that was entered into so quickly was sure to fail within the first six months, but we proved them all wrong (not like we got married just to spite anyone). Three years later, we're still just as devoted to each other as we were the night we met. I feel so blessed to have married a man that is not only my husband, but my best friend. He makes me laugh, knows what so say when I cry (even when I refuse to believe the words sometimes). He lets me choose the music in the car and watches all my favorite movies even when he really dislikes the plots. He makes me feel like I'm the only person in the world he'll ever have eyes for. I love you, babe. Happy 3 year Anniversary!

Job Situation Update

2011-06-12T13:39:00.000-07:00

It's been almost a month since Patrick lost his job, and we're just trudging through. The shock and worry have pretty much dissipated, and we're just determined to continue life as normally as possible for our own sanity and for the sake of the children. After Patrick's former employer put us through the wringer, we recieved his fnial check (which included an entire week's worth of continued pay). We got everything figured out with the unemployment office and are finally receiving money from them. We are also receiving food stamp benefits which is a huge relief. Patrick met with our bishop last week, and he agreed to help us out with bills and whatever else we stand in need of. I feel like I just need to say this: The Church is a HUGE blessing to us! Without the generosity of the bishop and various other ward members, we would be in real trouble! Our families have been helping us out with money as well which was a big stress reducer for us while we were still waiting on our unemployment benefits to kick in. Patrick is continuing his job search both by applying for 4 (or more) jobs required by the state in order for us to qualify for unemployment benefits as well as looking on various job search engines. We have yet to hear back from any of the companies, but we are remaining hopeful that someone will find us soon.

Recent Photos

2011-05-30T19:12:00.000-07:00

Walking....?

2011-05-30T18:49:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday while we were at my parent's house, our youngest did something we weren't sure he was ready to do yet.... He took independent steps! He walked from my mother to my lap as if he'd been walking forever! Since then, he's been experimenting with walking from couch to couch on his own. He also allows me to place him in a standing position about a foot or so away from me and walks to me (he then falls forward so I'll catch him). We are so proud of our little munchkin!

Frustration

2011-05-24T16:27:00.000-07:00

Patrick came home last wednesday at 2:15pm which was a huge surprise to me since he doesn't usually get home until around quarter to 3 or so. I announced that he was home early. He announced he'd just been fired and that his final check would be arriving within 48hrs. My mind just started spinning with worry after worry (we have 3 kids, rent, bills). We immediately formed a plan of action: call Workforce Services to get the ball rolling for unemployment benefits as well as food stamps, get in touch with the bishop for additional assistance, and of course, look for new employment. Fast forward to Monday, May 23rd: We had still not received Patrick's final paycheck via Fed Ex, and were growing more and more impatient as well as irritated. So, he called the Human Resources department at his now ex work place. He was transferred to someone over in the payroll department who told him that his ex supervisor neglected to inform them that Patrick's employment was terminated! We were waiting around for a check that wasn't even coming.... After that call, Patrick then called his ex supervisor to ask him what had happened, and rather than take the blame for what he did, he tried to blame it on a technical update that occurred over the weekend (my husband was fired on Wednesday which means his supervisor knew about the impending termination on Tuesday, so a technical update in their system over the weekend is irrelevant). We then called HR back because we wanted to find out the status on the food stamp form we brought in. A specialist consult concluded that the company only processes employee terminations once a week! A little while later, Patrick was able to get in touch with a representative at the Labor Commision who confirmed a suspision we already had (checks must be made available within 24hrs, not 48hrs by law). Now, the company Patrick was employed at for almost 3 years is going to be investigated. NOTE: If you want to know the name of the company, let me know.

TODAY: As of now, Patrick has applied to about 16 or so companies, we're waiting on unemployment benefits to kick in (which can take up to 4 weeks), waiting on food stamp benefits (which can take up to 2 weeks), and to get in touch with the bishop in our home ward since we have been attending our old ward back in Murray. I will post more on our situation later!

Pre School

2011-05-16T15:18:00.000-07:00

I didn't go to pre school, my siblings didn't go to pre school, most of my friends didn't go to pre school. We all turned out fine, right? Well.... No, I'm just kidding! As for the subject of pre school concerning my kids, I was on the fence about it. I know it's not required for kids to attend a program before enrolling in kindergarten, but pre school certainly has major benefits. Aside from the academic achievements, pre schools provide a fantastic social opportunity as well as ease the transition from home to school (which is something my daughter has issues with). So, why am I on the fence? Because we just don't have the money to pay for pre school at a center right now, and I don't mean any offense with this, but I really don't feel comfortable leaving my child at someone's house for a few hours. So, I decided we would forget about pre school and just send Miss B to kindergarten next year. Well, a few months ago, my father in law offered to pay for it if we could find a nearby pre school to enroll Miss B in. I had forgotten about the offer until 2 weeks ago when I just decided to look up some pre school centers online. We found a great one that has received rave reviews, and are hoping to get our little girl enrolled in their 2 day a week program!

Buddy and Walking

2011-05-10T15:37:00.000-07:00

So my sweet little almost 14 month old is not *sarcastic gasp* walking yet. This seems to stun everyone, and I honestly have no idea why.... If I look back on his development since birth, him not being able to walk on his own yet seems perfectly normal. Buddy didn't sit unassisted until he was around 7 months old, didn't crawl until 10 months, stood at 10 1/2, cruised at 11 1/2, and just barely stood without support yesterday. Of course he's not walking yet! I guess it just irks me that people think all children are supposed to follow a specific timeline when it comes to developing skills like sitting, walking and talking, and if a child isn't doing those things at those times, there must be something wrong with them, right? Um.... WRONG!!! So wrong! Children grow and progress in their own way and in their own time, and I would expect fellow parents (especially those with more than one child) to know that. Maybe it's just been so long since some of them have had little ones that they don't remember specifics about when their own children learned to walk (frankly, I don't know how anyone can forget something like that, but this is coming from a mother who documents everything).... Maybe they just assume that all children are like their's and walk and talk by 9 months.... Well, for whatever reason, people need to stop asking me this absolutely ridiculous question: "Why isn't he walking yet?" I don't know how to properly answer that anyway.... "Um, because he wanted you to have the opportunity to ask?" My most recent answer was, I will admit, a bit rude. I think the individual just caught me at a bad moment or something, but I replied with "He's not walking yet because he secretly enjoys watching his mother get annoyed by people constantly asking me why he's not walking!" In hindsight, I probably should have just said that he'll walk when he's ready....

Trying

2011-05-10T15:13:00.000-07:00

Patrick and I decided to begin trying for a baby last month. As far as I know, we have not succeeded, but that's alright since we literally just started. This is an entirely new and exciting (get your mind out of the gutter) experience for us because we have never had a planned baby. We have never sat down, made a plan, tried, and got pregnant. All 3 children in our lives came as complete surprises at seemingly awkward time (not that we would change anything, of course). I have always loved the idea of trying to create a life instead of being surprised, but I have to admit, it's a lot harder than I thought it would be. I have babies on the brain more often than I would like to say. I also find myself staring (sometimes a bit to obviously) at women in public with swollen bellies or fresh out of the womb infants with longing. I obsessively comb the baby aisles at the store for adorable items I hope to someday buy for a new little one. I think I have a problem..... ha ha. I feel like I'm crazy or something because I have 3 beautiful, amazing children already, but I'm craving one as a childless woman would. I know that I will be blessed with another child when I'm meant to, but I can't help but hoping that this blessing is granted sooner rather than later.

Mother's Day

2011-05-10T15:07:00.001-07:00

“One cannot forget mother and remember God. One cannot remember mother and forget God. Why? Because these two sacred persons, God and mother, partners in creation, in love, in sacrifice, in service, are as one.” (Thomas S. Monson, “Behold Thy Mother,” Ensign, April 1998, 2).

This endearing quote was on the back of a candy wrapper taped to a Hershey's milk chocolate candy bar given to all the mothers in our ward on Mother's Day courtesy of a very thoughtful primary presidency. There are many famous and not so famous quotes out there about mothers and their roles, but I feel that this particular one really hit the nail on the head for me. Mothers truly are masters of creation (along with fathers who have a hand in this miracle as well). They nurture, support, and carry a precious being inside of them for 9 months (and many do this multiple times). Mothers truly are all loving. No matter what their children do, a mother's love is never ending, never quavering, never lost or forgotten. Mothers truly are all sacrificing and serving. Not only do they turn their bodies over for 9 months and endure the hardships of labor, they never stop giving of themselves for the betterment of their offspring. The last person on a mother's mind is always herself. I don't know about anyone else, but it seems like I was never truly able to appreciate my own mother until I became one myself and experienced first hand what it takes to be an all loving, sacrificing, serving being.

Mother's Day to me is not just a day to acknowledge our mothers. I also feel Mother's Day is an opportunity for mothers to show appreciation for the special ones in our lives that call us Mommy.

Miss B: You are forever and always my special little miracle. You came into my life when everyone was sure I wouldn't be ready, and you helped them all see that you truly belonged and came when you were meant to. Your amazing personality, curiousity, zest for life, and sweet little voice make every day just that much more special. You are my mini me, my best girl friend, my princess, and no matter how big you get, you will always be my precious girl.

P Man: You are my sweet little man. Your adorable half smile, irresistably pinchable cheeks, infectious laugh, and helium voice make Mommy's heart melt every time. You have the funnest personality and I love watching you explore and discover. You have your Mommy wrapped around your chubby little fingers (especially when you say “peas?”) and will always be Mommy's precious boy.

Buddy: You are my tiny love. The happy screeches and ear to ear grins you flash me every time I enter the room make me feel like I'm the most important person. You give the best hugs and wettest kisses, and I love your sweet snuggles. Your personality blossoms every day and I can tell you are super smart and intuitive. You are now and will always be my eensie weensie love bug.

It would take me forever to express how grateful I am to be a mom. No role on earth is more gratifying, satisfying, or amazing as that of a mother. When the children wake up too early after a sleepless night, the laundry pile seems never ending, there are toys strewn all over the house, dishes are in desperate need of a good scrub down, everyone is crying, nobody is listening, and I feel like a chicken running around without a head, I want to remember the quote from the beginning of this post glorifying my blessed and sacred role as a mother.

Easter

2011-05-03T15:26:00.000-07:00

We began the day like any other day. We got up, showered, bathed the kids, ate breakfast and let the kids watch a movie while I styled Sissy's hair. Around 11, we let the kids search for their Easter baskets. Like with every holiday and birthday, we kept things small and simple. The kids each had a few eggs filled with m&ms and jelly beans, a small toy from Dollar Tree (yeah, I love dollar stores and I'm certainly not ashamed or afraid to admit it!) They each recieved one larger toy compliments of Wal Mart's wonderful clearance section. We were planning to go to church, and although it pains me to say it, we decided not to go. Now, before the judgements come, let me explain why church was not exactly an option that day.... We had to be at my parent's house for dinner and a small egg hunt for the children at 4 which is right when our ward lets out. That wouldn't have been a problem because we could've attended our classes and skipped out of Sacrament Meeting early. Both P Man and Buddy must have their naps every single day. Without them, they both get super cranky and bedtime becomes more like a war with battles of wills. Not good! Neither of my boys will sleep in public any more, so we had to stay home from church in order for the boys to get their naps before we went to our family get together. We ate dinner, the kids found eggs, we visited for a bit, and headed home. The kids went to bed right on time! Simple holiday, but that's just the way we like it!

Meet the Family

2011-04-26T15:01:00.000-07:00

Patrick: AKA Daddy. He has been employed with the same company for going on 3 years now, and seems to enjoy it. Of course, some days are worse than others, but all in all, he likes what he does. He enjoys playing games on his XBox360, watching and playing sports, watching comedy and action movies (and even if he won't admit it, he likes some chick flicks). Aside from being an awesome husband, he is a very involved father. He changes diapers, gives baths, makes food, deals with the occassional bedtime and cartime struggles, and is the best playmate EVER! He is always supportive of me and my crazy ideas and creative endeavors. We love our Papa!

Rachael: I'm a SAHM (stay @ home mother) by choice. I love to read, write, and create. I also love music (kind of an understatement), movies, and everything social. I spend my days chasing after 3 small kids while being elbow deep in laundry and dish soap (and various other unidentified smudges), and love every minute of it. I have my down days, but try to make the best of everything and find the miraculous in the mundane.

Miss B: AKA Sissy. She is the oldest of our 3 munchkins at 4 1/2 years old. She is spunky, vivacious, dramatic, emotional, and hyper. She is also sweet, caring, nurturing, and protective of her younger siblings. She loves all things girly like make up, dress up, shoes, barbies, dolls, ponies.... She enjoys watching her favorite Disney movies, playing make believe with her toys, being outside, and putting on shows for her adoring fans (Daddy and Mommy).

P Man: AKA Brother. P Man is our middle child at 2 years old. He is a total boy! He loves to run around, play with cars and trucks, throw and kick balls, roll around/jump all over, and growl like a monster. He is a sweetheart through and through, and still loves to serve up lots of love through big hugs and kisses. He adores his older sister and is fascinated with his younger brother. He is obsessed with Elmo, Cars, and Toy Story.

Buddy: AKA Little B. Buddy is our tiny love. He just turned 1, but still resembles an 8mo old in size and height. He has a spunky personality, and has no problem expressing loudly what he wants. He is big on smiles and cuddles and chasing after his siblings. He is starting to enjoy Elmo and other fun kid characters, but is still more interested in his toys and being with his Mommy.

Protection

2011-04-26T14:45:00.000-07:00

Every day, I protect my children. I place sharp objects, chemicals, and hazardous items out of their reach, I make them sit and strap them properly in the car, I never allow them to play in the kitchen while I'm cooking, I don't let them climb on or jump off of anything too high, I never leave them unattended in the bathtub, and I watch them like a hawk outside and in public (just to name a few). Then it dawned one me..... I am not doing everything I can to protect them from one of the most unlikely and potentially harmful things of all.... The Internet. Each and every one of my children have been photographed from day one, and not only have these pictures been plastered all over social networks and on this blog, but I have never though to shield their identities by using initials or aliases. I have decided to fix this. I originally decided that I would go back through all the posts on this blog and replace my children's names with a nickname or initial. I've been posting on this blog for close to two years and didn't want to just erase everything. Then I realized what a collosal task it would be to go back and fix everything, and I would also run the risk of missing some. So, I deleted everything except my first two posts. From this point on, my oldest will be referred to as Miss B. or Sissy, my middle child will be known as P Man or Brother, and my youngest is Buddy or Little B. I figure everyone already knows my children's names, and whoever doesn't has no reason to know them in the first place.

Engagement Proposal and Wedding

2009-05-07T19:47:00.000-07:00

On March 17th, 2008, Patrick and I went to dinner and then to Temple Square. We walked around for a bit before he stopped me a few feet north of the visitor's center. He stood in front of me, pulled out the ring, and asked me to marry him. I'm sure he would have proposed at the restaurant or a more public area of Temple Square, but he was respected that I'm not a fan of being the center of attention and I would have been extremely embarrased.

We originally planned to get married in October, but decided that a summer wedding would be more fun and would fit our personalities better even though it would only leave us with a little under 4 months to plan a wedding. After careful consideration, we decided on a date, location, and party size. We were married on the morning of July 12th, 2008 at the Millcreek Inn. We had a wonderful ceremony and reception that was very intimate (only 50 guests present).

How We Met

2009-05-07T19:40:00.000-07:00

Patrick and I met on an online dating website. We both had determined friends who created profiles for us since neither of us were interested in trying out online dating. After some subtle, yet frequent urges from my friend to log on and check it out, I finally decided to. I noticed there was a message from Patrick expressing his interest, so I decided to write him back. A few weeks passed and him and I emailed back and forth until one evening we exchanged cell phone numbers. We were text buddies for a month or so before deciding to meet in person. After a few failed attempts to get together, we met on January 5th, 2008 for dinner and a movie. When the movie ended, we stood in the parking lot outside my car and talked for a few hours. Despite the fact that it was cold out, we had a blast. The next morning, Patrick asked if I wanted to date him, and I said yes.