No Better Way to Start Your Day...

especially on your 9th Birthday. Kaydree is our early riser and she always likes to be up by 6AM on her Birthday because she was born at 6:14AM. The problem this morning was that she read her clock upside down and thought it was almost 6 but it really was only 4:58AM. She came upstairs all perky and excited while I was feeding Kyce and I said, "Happy Birthday, but get back and bed, you need to sleep longer!"
About 15 minutes later, Benjy's alarm went off because he is teaching Early Morning Seminary this week to High School students from 6-7 AM. He said to me, "You know she isn't going to fall back asleep so I think I will take her to Seminary with me and out for breakfast."
Kaydree was so excited to hang out with cool High School Students and it happened to be one of their Birthday's too! Then her and her Dad went to breakfast just the two of them! She was pretty excited!

Then her day just got better when Karsyn, Kyce and I brought her Subway for lunch. She is the Subway Queen. It is her favorite place to eat along with Applebees.

Does she look excited or what?I kind of broke a school suggestion of not bringing in fast food. Only on her Birthday!
We have really enjoyed how much Kaydree has grown this year. She is becoming quite the young lady. She isn't our LITTLE girl anymore and it is kind of sad and yet so nice at the same time. She is such a great help around the house and she has taken on the role of being a big sister and does an amazing job at being a great role model for her younger siblings. She is a hard worker in school and at soccer, loves reading and learning at church.

We just love watching her play soccer. She is a little scrapper sometimes and smaller then most of the girls, but she is very aggressive and determined to excel.

I guess Kaydree and Benjy were laughing all the way to Seminary about Karsyn's comment from last night at Dinner.

Karsyn to the family at Dinner: "Everyone, I have a problem."

Benjy: "What is it Karsyn?"

Karsyn: "I don't really want to talk about it."

Benjy: "Did something happen at school?"

Karsyn: "No, I am just a little Jealous about something."

Benjy: "What is that, Karsyn?"

Karsyn: "Well...tomorrow is Kaydree's Birthday and she is going to be getting all of the attention."

Poor Karsyn: We all laughed so hard and yet I am not sure it was funny to her.

Last year Karsyn wrapped a box of raisins for Kaydree. This year she gave her a Neopet and an old plastic necklace of hers. Despite her jealous feelings she hugged Kaydree, wished her a Happy Birthday and told her that she loved her!

I asked Benjy which is worse:

A child who acts out for attention after a new baby comes into the family

or

A child who just verbalizes all of the lack of attention she is feeling?

Either way... at times we feel sorry for her, at times we get frustrated with her and at times we just laugh at her. However, most of the time we just try to hug her a little tighter and tell her how much we love her a little more!

Kaydree on the other hand seems to love being the oldest and now that she is 9 she is counting down the days until she can start babysitting so that she can have a cell phone!

Where does the time go?

Motherload...

Motherload as defined on the web dictionary as a slang word for: A very large amount of something valuable. The value is in finding deals...

What did one pay for this cute shirt,
4 pairs of zip up pajamas, (necessity for quick night time changes)

3 onsies and 2 pair of matching pants,

3 long sleeve onsies, 2 more pairs of pants and 3 bibs, (got this set in newborn size from Mary Lensing-loved it, so I decided to buy more for 3-6 month size)

5 piece set: onsie, blanket, pants,bib, pajamas.

Snow suit
4 full outfits. Perfect for church!

If I had paid full price I would have paid: $190.87, almost $200.00 worth of stuff. So the question is...how much did I pay?

The answer is...$49.80

Feeling Normal Again..

After being pregnant and on partial bedrest, having an earlier then expected delivery, losing a beloved Uncle to cancer, sickness, nursing which gives me an unbelievable appetite and sleepless nights, I can say I am finally starting to feel like life is getting back to a normal routine. Joining the gym has really helped! That has always been a part of my weekly routine, at least since I was 16 years old. After not being able to go to the gym for 6 months...I was sooooo ready to get back. It helps relieve the everyday stresses in life and after developing gestational diabetes, I am even more conscientious about getting enough exercise. Now that I am feeling great, again, here are some pictures that show what we have been up to lately...

My friend JoDell and I had a baby shower for our friend Lindsay. Can you believe she is due in 2 weeks. She looks so tiny and fabulous!

We played the poopy diaper game. It was fun melting the candy bars in the diapers and watching everyone gross out when they opened the diaper.

I wanted to get a picture of Kaydree and Karsyn's wild hair last night. They both looked like "ragmuffins" which is a term of endearment in our home. Meaning, you look tough but so cute at the same time. Kaydree was too embarrassed to show off her crazy hair.

I had to capture this sweet moment with the men of the house. They looked so cute all snuggled up together! Like Father....like Son..

Our Little Man's Necessities.

I use to think the only things we needed in order to bring a baby home were diapers, wipes, blankets and clothes. I was wrong! We have discovered a new way to meet the daily needs our our child they are:

a swing that swings side to side, rather than front to back. It puts Kyce to sleep almost everytime. Having his little Glow Worm buddy next to him helps, too!

Thank you Tanshea for lending it to JoDell, Thank you JoDell for lending it to me and who knows who the next lucky baby will be? I hear by 5-6 months they are ready to move on..so we will gladly pass along this little piece of heaven..

Ahhhhh, the vibrating bouncy seat! We used this very seat for both of the girls and it was the one item I did not get rid of and are we ever so thankful. Right after Kyce is in his delirious state after eating he loves to hang out in the bouncy seat for his "activity time."
And the newest addition to our MUST HAVES... is the BUMBO! Thank you Grandpa and Grandma. This little seat didn't exist when we had the girls. Kyce loves the independence of sitting up that it gives him. He doesn't last in it for very long, his little head gets too heavy, but we can see that it will be very useful in keeping a happy independent baby!
We are just enjoying each and every moment with our little man...and with all that hair he does tend to look like a cute little old man..too cute!

Can You Guess Who..

Kyce

Kaydree
Kyce
Kaydree

Karsyn
Kaydree

Karsyn

Question: Who do you think Kyce looks like, Kaydree or Karsyn?

Thankful for...

I can't help but come home from church feeling extremely thankful for all the many blessings in my life. I am thankful for many things but some are on my mind right now...

a testimony of a loving Heavenly Father
Believing Christ and what he can do for me each and every day
an eternal marriage
a loving family
a baby that we didn't think we would have
helpful daughters that love each other and their brother
a warm home
friends that chose to be supportive and accepting of all my faults
sleep, sleeping in, napping, getting to bed early, dreaming, a sleeping baby...
working vehicles
food for my family
Benjy's job
a gym membership
a love for reading
running shoes
a soft bed
my blanket that a friend made that goes everywhere with me...
toothbrush, toothpaste and floss
Charlee (when he isn't out getting dirty or waking up Kyce by barking)
my computer
neighbors
wet wipes
wet wipe warmer
my new aloe socks...looooove them.
hot baths and hot tubs
Living in Minnesota because you never know what the weather will do....
paint
coupons
chocolate
being a wife, mom, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, grandaughter, and friend.
That is my short list for today.....
P.S.
I am going to bed now...wish me luck!

Christmas by Candlelight...

This is what we woke up to on Christmas Eve Morning.

All of us were so excited to have such a White Christmas..

The kids went outside for hours and played. Benjy's 4 Wheel Drive Truck that he has been waiting 10 years for...came in handy getting home! (Background)
Sledding down the rock pile... some exposed rocks (eek) but the guys covered them up.

We had both fireplaces going, thank goodness because...at 4:30 PM the kids put on their annual Nativity program, except this year we actually had a baby to play Baby Jesus. Right after the program the electricity went out and stayed off until 6AM Christmas Morning.
It was pitch black, but the camera flash makes it look like we had light, but this reindeer was all that lit our traditional oyster stew dinner.

The kids ate by the light of this little candle.
Auntie Em snuggled Kyce while we opened gifts in the dark.
Grandpa hung a camping lantern so that he could read the names on the gifts. It was fun.. whoever had flashlights would spotlight the person opening the gift. I almost wish the flash had been turned off so you could see how dark it was...

We all thought it was so cool and a Christmas to remember...but when the temperature in the house started to drop and we realized we couldn't flush the toilets or that the water wouldn't run because my parents have a well and the pump wasn't running, we started to get a little anxious about how long we would be without power.

I guess when my mom was 6 months pregnant with me...they got stuck without power for 3 days and 4 families piled into a little house that had a wood burning stove and they still have fond memories of that experience. I am sure all of us will remember this Christmas and remember to be thankful for modern conveniences.