Happy fall Yall 2012

Its really quite sad how I can not keep up on this blog anymore. Its like I am busy or something.  I was talking to Da about it and he comforted me by saying " oh don't worry, things will get easier when the baby is born"  So anyways, I will just keep on trying, I must, as this is our family journal and photo books, and keepsakes book, and well, pretty much the only thing I do. 

Jack went on a field trip to the fire station a while back.  Just a couple of pics from the field tip.

 

 Every general conference we make cinnamon rolls. Its the only time of year that I make them. The kids find out that general conference is coming up and they cheer.  Not because they can't wait to listen to the Prophet, but no, it means they are going to get cinnamon rolls.  They love to help make them.

 Of course we hit the fair this year. 

 Kev loved feeding the animals  After he ran out of carrots, he started scooping up the dirt and trying to get them to eat that.  We pretty much had to leave after that.   Unless I wanted to keep buying carrots all day.

 Da was able to go to New Orleans to help with the relief efforts for Hurricane Isaac.  He went for two weekends, we missed him and he worked very hard.  But it was a good experience for our whole family to participate in helping others.  This is what the street looked like. They would go into a house, pretty much gut it, and haul things to the street.  

 The helping hands team from Madison.

 Jack played soccer this fall for the first time.  He got better as the season went on, he wanted to score a goal so bad, and he finally did at his last game.  I was so happy for him, I thought I might cry.  Even though I missed it!!!!!!  Towards the end of the last game, I had to run the girls to the church and drop them off, I was gone like 10 mins, and of course that's the only 10 mins I missed of the whole season.  And he scored his goal right than!!!  At least Da saw it, and he said it was adorable. Jack played it pretty cool, but Da said you could tell he was so proud of himself. 

 A couple of cute pics of a couple of cute kids.

 Jack is all the sudden totally into making crafts. He will sit at the table and color, cut, glue, create things for hours. He thinks of things all on his own. In case you were wondering, this is a mustache.

 Carving pumpkins this year.  

 A few pics from Sadie's 2nd grade program.  She has Mrs. Kling this year, and I LOVE this teacher. I mean, we have liked all of the teachers that the kids have had through the years, but this one is a shining star above the rest.  She is sooooo wonderful.  Sadie LOVES school, she loves learning, and going and pretty much everything about school, and of course she loves Mrs. Kling.  

 Maddie had Native American Day at school a few weeks ago.  Here she is all dressed up as an indian with her friend Darbye.

We also celebrated a 9th birthday this fall.  Its unreal to me that this little lady is 9!  Yet its true, she is a fun girl. We are loving getting to know her more mature personality.   She cracks us up, makes funny jokes, and keeps us on our toes for sure.  She is a joy as always.

 We took a trip to Disney world! I am not going to blog about that though, sorry to all you die hard followers of this blog. I decided to make a separate book about that trip, and as we all know,  I am short on free time.   But, this picture needs to be slightly explained.  Jack was able to get "sworn in" as a pirate while we were there, and he got this Jack Sparrow Costume as part of the experience.  It was his Halloween costume as well.  But, before Halloween one day, the girls dressed him all up, made a sign that read: Meet Jack Sparrow for 1$.   They put him on the side of the house and than brought people around after they paid.   They even got an adult to come, and she was very impressed.   Hey, pretty smart kids, they passed an afternoon and made a couple of bucks.

 Now for the Halloween costumes.   We got everything at Disney world. Jack was sworn in as a pirate, the girl went to the Bibbity Boppity Boutique, and were made princesses.  It was all ridiculously expensive, but worth watching their little faces.   Disney world really is MAGIC!

 Kevie went as Jake and the Neverland pirates, from Disney Jr. 

Yeah, I am pretty well caught up!  Hopefully I am not so far behind the next post I do!

Humbled to our knees

 

Much has been going on in our family.  We are always busy, but things have picked up even more in the last several weeks.   Damon was called to be the Bishop of our ward about a month ago.  We have been very overwhelmed and truly humbled to our knees.  We moved to Mississippi over 4 years ago, and Da was called to serve in the Bishopric immediately serving with Bishop Hansen.   It was a rewarding time for him and for me, and Da is so grateful for all he has learned from Bishop Hansen to best prepare him for this calling as Bishop.   They truly are best friends, a friendship that will last through eternity.  I can't express how much that warms my heart, to know that Da has been able to serve with Bishop Hansen and to know of the deep friendship they share.  A friendship that is based on a testimony of Jesus Christ, and the opportunity to serve in the capacity they did.   I know my wonderful, sweet and caring Husband will be a wonderful Bishop.   I have seen a change in him these last few weeks.  I have no doubt he can full fill his calling. I hope that I can be a good wife, that I can support and love him and encourage him. I hope  I can be a good mother to these 5 children!  The task before me is incredibly overwhelming and daunting. But as a wise friend said to me, I will take it one day at a time, and Trust that the Lord will bless myself and my family with what we need for that day. 

 

Below are the two Bishoprics that Da was a part of....

 

 

John Mcnamara, Bishop Ryan Hansen, and Damon

 

Damon, Bishop Ryan Hansen and Stuart Grange.

 

 

As for some more news in our family......we found out that baby number 5 is a BOY!  Three boys in a row! What are the chances? Da is ecstatic, I am happy he seems to be healthy, and the girls are majorly disappointed.  During the ultrasound I told the girls it will be fun to have another little brother and Maddie responded " Sure, whatever"  When I asked Sa if she was excited she said" kinda, I'll still love him"  So, with that bit of news, its nice to finally call him a him, instead of a it.  We have decided to name him Carter John. I have always liked Carter, and truthfully I didn't think that Da would go for it, but he did! So I said, since I picked the first name, why don't you chose the middle name. And John it was.  However, one night before we had chosen a name, Jack was asked to say the prayer. Maddie said, thank Heavenly Father for James.  She than said to me that she felt like his name was suppose to be James.  Jack looked at her and said, No, I think his name is going to be Shadow.  And that night, he thanked Heavenly Father for Shadow his baby brother!   Its very different having a baby with already 4 children in our home, with their own ideas and opinions about things! 

He is healthy, however he is breech right now.  I knew something was different, I could just tell things did not feel the same.  IF he does not turn on his own, and he could, than I will let Dr. Gebhart try an inversion.  I have heard they are very painful, and not always successful, yet I don't want my fifth baby to be a c-section!  Hopefully all goes well and he either turns on his own, or the inversion works! 

 

Recently my phone was destroyed by putting it on the counter in a puddle of water. I had so many cute pictures on my phone, it breaks my heart that they are lost.  Some included pictures of Jack's first day of school.   So the rest of my post will be picture less.   Sad!

 

Maddie is doing great in 3rd grade.   She is thriving and loves that they actually get real grades now. She is driven by the idea of getting an A.  For now it works, only hope that lasts.   If she does not want to study for a test, I tell her, "so don't., but I wouldn't count on getting an A" I love to watch her internal struggle with that.  She always decides to study, and usually gets an A.  That tactic would never work with Sadie, but it works with Maddie.  She really loves violin this year, and though she doesn't really enjoy piano, she is really getting better.   I love her little personality. She is growing up so much. 

 

Sadie is doing great in 2nd grade. She totally LOVES Mrs. Kling her teacher. I will admit, she is the best teacher.   She is perfectly lovely in every way.   She does great in school too, with hardly any effort.   School comes easily for her. She must have her daddy's brain.   Now, she LOVES piano as opposed to Maddie. She is doing really well, picking it up so fast. I think the last year of having violin, and already knowing how to read music gave her a great advantage.  

 Both my girls run in from school, finish their homework in record speed, practice their instruments, and run out the front door to play with all their friends. They are both so social, and love to be outside riding bikes and rollerblading.

I love those two little ladies, and it breaks me up that they are so grown up and seem to need me so little for things.   They like to sit and talk and that I enjoy. 

 

Jack is doing OK in school.  He rarely wants to go in the mornings, not because he doesn't like it while he is there, but he would just rather be at home being lazy.  The second week of school he had to move his clip to yellow for punching a girl in his class.  When I asked him about that, his explanation was that the girl pushed down Ross( a friend) and laughed at him, so he punched her.  Though I saw his point, we still had to have a talk about not punching or hitting friends in class.  A couple days after that, he moved his clip again for not listening and being disruptive in class. When questioned about this, he said that Miss Shonna lied, and that she said he was not listening, but he really was.  Hmmm.......  The next night, Da had to pull him out of his soccer practice because he was tackling kids on his team trying to get the ball.  Da had to explain this was NOT tackle soccer. He assured us later that it really is tackle soccer and that its OK. Umm......yeah not really Jack!  Also, today at lunch I asked him who he sat by today in class. He responded, "Oh the fat girl"  I explained that was not nice, and that he can't call her the "fat girl"  He responded with " well I don't know her name, and she's fat, so  I just call her the fat girl"  I just about died!  So, it appears that Da and I have  "one of those kind of kids" 

 

Kev is a growing 2 year old. He likes to talk about Carter, his baby brother.  He is talking more and more, and we think he is just so stinkin cute.  He jumped out of his crib last week, and since has been in a big boy bed.  Well of course that pretty much sucks the bucket!  Nap time is pretty much a joke, and getting him to bed at night is not much better.  Oh well, we have survived this before, I guess we will again.He loves to read books, and he also is following in Jacks footsteps and is a total TV junkie.  How Da and I don't even watch TV, and we have these TV junkies is beyond me.  Potty training is pretty much a bust. Put him on the potty, and he will totally go.  Put him in underoos, and 5 min later he comes running up to me and says "peed"  I asked him today where are you suppose to put your pee, he said "ummm..floor?" So needless to say, we are pretty much still with diapers most of the time. 

 

Well as crazy as things are with 4 kids, and another on the way, we wouldn't trade our life for anything!   

 

  

Summer wrap up

I apologize in advance for this post, only because I have not taken many pictures lately.   We have been busy though and much to tell.   Below is a picture of Maddie at the oral surgeons office.   We have a friend who removed 5 of her baby teeth for her.   Damon took her to the appt., he said it was hysterical.   They gave her this drink that was suppose to make her a bit loopy.  Apparently it worked well!  After the surgery, Da carried her out to the truck where she wrote him a note and asked what just happened?  He told her that she had her teeth out, her response was, How did you do that?  Obviously she remembers nothing. I really wish I could of been there because I guess she was laughing in hysterics, trying to touch her fingers together and was unable to do it.   I think that Da enjoyed himself.

 This picture is actually a sad story.  Da had been out of town for a week at a training conference.  His flight was going to land around 11:00 in the morning and the kids were so excited.  Well he kept calling me and saying that his plane was delayed, so we just stayed at home waiting to find out what time he would actually be there.   Well  I was busy, I knew the kids were cooking something in the kitchen.  Da called me and said that his flight had been cancelled!  He had rented a car and was going to drive home.   He was going to arrive around midnight. I felt so bad for him, getting up early, sitting in a airport all day, and than having to drive all the way home for many hours.  Just after getting off the phone, the kids come and get me all excited.  They had the table set with all kinds of food, and they announced it was for a party for Daddy coming home.  It was so sad to tell them that actually we would have to have the party without Daddy, they would not really see him until the next day, as they would be sound asleep when he got home.   Well you can imagine their disappointment. 

 This little batman had a birthday last month and now is 2!!!  Unreal.   When we ask him how old he is, he holds up 5 fingers and says two.  Than we ask him if he's a big boy or a baby.  He always says,  I baby.   Its so cute!  He had a great little day.   He was so excited for all his presents!  It did not take him long to figure out that inside the paper was fun toys just for him.   When he opened this present from my parents, he seriously jumped and yelled MAN!!!  Which is what he calls batman, spider man, superman......etc.  He was so stinkin cute. 

 Hard to believe that this little guy is 2.  He is such a joy, talking so much and is all around very entertaining.   He brings us so much happiness.  

 Now this little lady had a birthday a few weeks later and she is 7!!!  For her birthday, she wanted a new bike.  Not just any bike, she wanted an "old style" bike.   We thought it would be best if we just took her shopping and let her pick it out.  I mean, we didn't want to buy the wrong thing! She is now flying around the neighborhood cruising in style with her old style bike.She is so sweet, the same sweetness we have always known with our Sadie Jayne.  She is still a bit of a free spirit, which we appreciate.  She is starting to get a bit more moody, girl moody that is.   However, she is still miles behind Madelynn. We love you Sadie! We love that you are in our family.  
     Sa was also lucky enough to have Grandma Sue here for her birthday!!! Sadly, no pictures of that event, as I said, I kind of suck taking pictures these days.  Anyways, the kids really enjoyed spending time with Grandma!

 School started last week, and I almost did a happy dance.  I mean I love these kiddos, but having 4 home all day, being pregnant and sick, I was really ready for a break.  Plus, they were ready to get back too.  Maddie is in 3rd grade this year. She has Mrs. Jenkins and so far is loving it.   Definitely more homework this year than in past grades, but of course I hardly notice as she does most of it on the bus, on her 5 minute bus ride!  Always been a good little student this girl.   She is growing up.  She started private lessons for violin this past week. She is still planning on taking strings at the school, plus she started up with piano again.   She also enjoys going to activity day girls at the church, and is looking forward to starting girl scouts again.  She is a busy girl for only being 8! 

 Sadie is in 2nd grade this year and has Mrs. Kling.  So far she claims Mrs. Kling is her fav. teacher ever!  She does seem to be sweet.   Sadie is doing great so far!  She is busy with Violin again with her private lessons, and is planning on joining strings this year as she is old enough now.   She also started taking piano this year for the first time.  So far she is really enjoying it!  I am so glad that they both need to practice both instruments this year, makes it easier to get them to practice.

 Two cute sisters

 Maddie and Kev.  

Well looks like I don't have a picture of Jack on here, but he has some things to report as well.   He will start preschool next week at the same school that Sadie went to.   He has Mrs. Shanna and he is so excited!!!!  He is ready to go and be a big boy like his sisters.  Plus he really needs some structure outside of the house.  He does enjoy playing with Kevie, but he needs to spend some time being in a class.  Learning to listen to a teacher, having friends and such.   I will take a picture of him on the first day of school. 

Jack is still a crack up.   The other day ago, he had a friend over.   I had taken them swimming, and I sent the boys in to the bedroom to change their clothes.   Several minutes later, Jack, who is naked by the way, comes up to me very mad.   He asks  "Why did you cut that off my peepers?(word we use for his private parts)  I at first was speechless, wondering what the heck he was talking about.   It dawned on me that of course Lars was not circumcised, and Jack was, and Lars must of explained it to him in some way.   Before I could answer, he says  " Why did you cut that off my peepers?? When I was a baby??!!"  " I wanted to keep that!"  I explained that some boys have it cut off, and some boys keep it on, but that both ways were ok.   He was not happy with that answer.   "Well I wanted to keep mine, because now Lars and I don't have matching  peepers!!!"  And than he stomped off.   I could not contain my laughter!  I was so taken back, this was not a conversation I ever anticipated having with him. 

On another note, last sunday getting ready for church was rough, as they often are around here trying to get all four kids ready and out the door on my own.  Da has early church meetings.   The girls were being especially difficult, we had several disagreements.   We finally get in the van to go, and I over hear the girls arguing over a pair of shoes.  They had one pair of shoes in the van, both girls wanted to wear them.   I was mad, yelled at them to work this out immediately and get another pair of shoes!  They both stomp into the house completely in a mood, and I mutter under my breath " what a great morning"  Jack says  " mom, I have been feeling the spirit today because I have been a really good boy"  It was so cute, and I am sure true, as he had been a good boy that morning. 

Well that pretty much sums things up.  Da has started going back into work, getting ready for his classes.  Sometimes I almost forget how blessed I am to have a husband home all summer, because when he goes back I don't really like it!!  All is going well with the pregnancy, I am 18 weeks today, and we will find out what we are having on Sept. 5th. Of course the girls really want a sister, and the boys(including Da) really want a boy!  I started feeling the baby move a few weeks ago and Da got to feel it move for the first time a couple of days ago.  I am feeling so much better, its so nice to be past the sickness.   We are looking forward to meeting this little person!