Just some thoughts

No pictures this time (my camera is packed). Well we are officially moving tomorrow. The house is packed (mostly packed) and we will load the truck up tomorrow afternoon. Then clean super fast and hit the road. I can't believe it. I would tell people "Oh we aren't moving till after thanksgiving." Well Thanksgiving is Today and we are moving Tomorrow! Aaahhhh. It came too quickly.

Some good things. I called in sick my last day of work. I just kept thinking, well what are they gonna do...fire me? lol, I actually needed the day though so don't think I was out partying. We were packing like mad. My very favorite box that Ty packed he labeled "Misc Shiz". I was laughing so hard. When packing you eventually get down to the stuff that doesn't have a place and you throw it in boxes where the things in it aren't even related.

I was able to get a pedicure with some awesome friends Robyn and Hannah on Wed. My toes look great for the move, and the foot rub was just what I needed. Then after the pedi my car got stuck in the snow so on go the boots and we pushed the car out. No smudges, I was really lucky.

Lots of randomness I know, but I really just wanted to give Thanks to all my friends and family. What a wonderful experience we have had in Rexburg and I will truly miss my first home. I know that we will have many more experiences in Moscow. I haven't shown many people my happy face lately but everyone should know that I'm excited for the opportunity to grow.

The computer is being put away now. Next time I post I will show some new pictures of our new place. Wish us luck!!

Love Steph

The post I didn't want to share

It was a very sad day when the for sale sign went up in front of our house. Emotional for everyone.

Our little home in Rexburg

The lock box on our front door

Tyrel is going back to school to get his Masters at the University of Idaho. He's thinking either Wildlife Resources or a Masters in Landscape Architecture. He's unsure but we know moving now is the right thing for use to do. I've quit my job at Madison (oh Madison how I will miss you) and am currently employed by Gritman Medical on their LDR floor. We have been telling our friends and family we are moving after Thanksgiving...well guys, that's next week. We are moving next week. Aaahhh!! I cried last night at work. Well I guess I cried Monday at work to. Oh how I will miss this place.

The other day I found Kaden crying on the couch. I sat down and asked him what was wrong. He said, "Mom, if we move to Moscow how will I get to see Macy?" Macy is our next door neighbors little girl. I started crying with him and finally Kaden hugged me and told me it would be okay. My 4-year-old was comforting me.

Yesterday we officially started packing. It will be a long process because not only am I a procrastinator but I am an emotional roller coaster. I put my hand on a wall in our bedroom and started crying. Man I will miss that wall.

On a positive note my friend Monica is in Moscow. I feel spoiled because I have someone there waiting for me. A friend! I also met some new friends during my 2 week long hospital orientation. One went to BYU-I for nursing school and then served a nursing mission and another just moved up from Utah and has 2 boys. Knowing that it is possible to make new friends gave me a boost and I'm trying to cling to that positive feeling.

We haven't sold our house yet (thanks to the crappy economy) but we've had a ton of people looking. We are now trying to rent it so if anyone knows someone who would like to rent a home email me. I keep telling myself that if this is the right thing for us to do then things will all work out. We are stressed to the max about the house but continuing to be faithful (well trying at least).

I will try to keep everyone posted and up dated on the process. Thanks to all my friends who have helped me be strong through everything. I appreciate all the kind words and hugs!!

Failed Inspection

My kids go through a very strict inspection before arriving to any public place. Shoes on, check. Face clean, check. Clean shirt, check. Clean hands, check. Ready to go!

How did I fail?

I went to Broulims yesterday to pick up a few things. Never tell yourself that you won't see anyone you know and it's okay to look like you just rolled out of bed because you will always see someone you know. Thus the strict inspection.

How did I fail?

In Broulims I of course see people I know. I wave and say a few words. I guess I didn't notice people looking at my face. I should've seen the signs and rushed myself to the nearest restroom, but I didn't. I check out and visit with the girl scanning my items. She comments on how cute my kids are. I smile. I guess I didn't notice her checking out my face either. Funny.

How did I fail?

I get to my car and pull my sun visor down. The sun was blaring in my eyes and then I spot it. A huge black thing in my teeth and on my mouth and cheek. What? I had eaten a chocolate chip cookie before leaving but how did I fail my own inspection. I had chocolate in my teeth and a chocolate smudge on my mouth, about the size of a chocolate chip itself. Why didn't anyone say anything?

Horrifying, absolutely Horrifying!

All grown up

I laughed when I saw this picture! I think Ty took it of our boys but today was my first time seeing it. They are so grown up looking. Paycen finally has a cute smile with all his teeth and Kaden is doing his upside down spiderman sprayer. I love this age. They are best buds.

The last 2 months Kaden has been begging me to be Dora for Halloween. He thinks Diego is boring and doesn't even want to be Boots or Baby Jaguar, just Dora. I've been tempted to just let him be Dora and we would just laugh about it in years to come, but deep down this is my little boy. My very boyish little boy.

So at Walmart I was looking for a cat woman mask for myself when Kaden again asked me to buy him a Dora costume. I was trying the "distraction" method and showed him Batman and was like "Batman is so much cooler!"

Nope.

With a frown Kaden said, "Mom, I know you don't like Dora but I do. Please can I be Dora?"

What am I supposed to say? Until Kaden's eyes got big and he pulled a costume off the rack. With big eyes and an even bigger grin he said, "Mom! Can I be IRON MAN!!"

I immediatly put it in the cart and walked away. No more discussion, no more arguing, and no more Dora. Kaden is going to be Iron Man! And to make the story better, today is day 3 of wearing his costume. He has worn it to the park, to the grocery store and he wants to wear it at gymnastics. Love it!! Thank you Iron Man for being so cool!

Our Fun Trip

I'm laughing about the title I gave this post. This trip was far from fun, but looking back on it it makes me smile.

For starters, Ty and I decided last minute to visit family in Utah. We were trying to make it "stress free". So we pack slow and finally leave Friday around 4:00. We hit construction in Blackfoot and it takes us an hour to drive 11 miles. Strike ONE. We eat in Malad around 7:00 and decide to be adventurous. We try a little diner in town. It takes us an hour and a half to get our food. Total of 2 hours in there. Strike TWO. Yikes!! tempers are starting to get high. But we really wanted it to be stress free so I calm everyone down.

We finally hit the road and everything is going great. The kids are asleep and no construction. Then I hear Paycen scream. I look back and he has puked everywhere and is still going. Strike THREE. AHHHhhh.... So we pull off in Tremonton and rinse his clothes in a canal. I give him and the car seat a wet wipe bath. Gross. Ty and I truly wanted to turn around but we pressed forward. We get to Salt Lake in one piece and sleep at my grandparents. Total trip took 7 hours (It should only take 4)

The next day we went to Hogle Zoo. Paycen was feeling better and Kaden really wanted to see the elephants.

Kaden looking at the "Pork-pines"

Paycen I guess really wasn't feeling well. I was still being hopeful by dragging him in the heat.

Man those birds are big. Kaden was more interested in the big fan blowing humidified air next to the ostriches. It did feel good.

Like father like Son!!

Okay so we made it through the Zoo without incident. I was putting Paycen back in the car to head back and I notice he had pooped everywhere. There was diarrhea all up his back up to his shoulders and clear down to his knees. Strike FOUR. No wonder he looked awful in that picture in the stroller. We stop at a grocery store to buy more wet wipes at this time. I can't believe we ran out. The trip was only for 2 days. We hose him down at my grandparents. Then we go to my Aunt's for dinner. The boys did fine with no strikes. That night Kaden woke up and needed to use the bathroom. I race him upstairs and he puked everywhere. Strike FIVE! Oh my gosh. You're kidding. I think he puked a total of 5 times that night. We eventually got him a puke bowl and he hit that every time.

That morning we said our good byes forever because we are never coming back. Grandma just laughed at us saying we would remember this trip for all time. We didn't even make it down the road before Kaden was puking again. We stopped at another store and I ran inside and bought some tupperwares. He would puke and I would just put the lid on it. I think Kaden threw up 4 times in the car. At one point we had two full puke bowls in the car before we could rinse them out at a gas station. It took us 5 1/2 hours to get home. Both Ty and I had to find subs to teach our classes for church. We were not going to make it.

So that was our fun trip. I loved being able to see family. It was a really fast trip and a stress full one vs our planned stress free one. But now Ty and I laugh about it. I think we will always have a puke bowl in the car just in case

Not till 2011...

I have so many things to post about first but I couldn't help myself to post my excitement for Breaking Dawn. Kristen Stewart is gorgeous. And I can't wait till next year!!

Hair

For those of you who haven't seen Paycen in awhile, well let's just say he's blonde now. I was looking through pictures and I was blown away by how dark and long his hair was. So I thought I would blow everybody's minds by posting those pictures.

2 weeks

4 weeks

3 months

5 months

10 months

11 months

1 yr

15 months

18 months

Crazy huh!?!

The 4th

I didn't get very many pictures of our 4th of July celebrating. We had a ton of fun though! This was my first year taking my kids to the parade. Past years I've had to work the night before the 4th so I usually have slept during the parade. Kaden loved it except when he didn't get candy. The kids around us were bigger and would take big handfuls while my cute little Kaden took one at a time.

Genuine Smile!! He was excited to see the firetruck!!

Here we are at my Aunt Donna's lighting fireworks. It was fun, but I soon realized that sparklers are not for kids.

Paycen sure loved them. It took all my strength to hold onto that little sparkler. He kept trying to take it from me which would've been disastrous.

T-Ball

Kaden and Paycen got a T-ball set from the Easter bunny. Unfortunately, if you all remember, we received 6 inches of new snow on Easter and since then it has been raining and cold. Finally some nicer weather permitted us to go outside and test our skills with the bat. Paycen actually did pretty good for his first try and loves to swing the bat back and forth. Kaden is a professional though and has really good form hitting and throwing the ball. I can't wait to put him in T-ball next year, but for now we'll just practice in our backyard.

In the video, Paycen is giving his best try swinging the bat and actually hitting the ball. He's so cute!!

Update on allergies...

I currently have tape all over my back to help keep in place the allergy strips. It's itchy and annoying. I won't be able to shower or get my back wet until tomorrow afternoon, but hopefully it will be worth it. My doctor said that the most common allergy is Nickel. Weird huh? Anyway, I needed to post again because I couldn't stand looking at my mug shot every time I looked at my blog. I'm still tempted to take down the photo. But maybe it's for the best. I guess there has to be a before picture before the after picture.

I'm allergic to the hospital

I guess I should've smiled for my mug shot. I was really debating whether to post this picture or not. I look lovely. Anyway, it's official...I'm allergic to the hospital. Every time I work now, I get hives and this red itchy rash under my eyes. This time was bad, it went clear down to my cheek under my right eye. I want to itch it so bad. So I decided to do the patch allergy test at the dermatologists office. They put I think like 29 strips on your back and you leave them there for 48 hours. And if you react then BINGO, contact dermatitis allergy. I just hope it's something. If I'm not allergic to anything that he tests, then why do I get hives? Let's hope for good results. Something that I can easily avoid at the hospital.

Happy Thoughts!!

Memorial Day Weekend

This was our first time ever taking a vacation on Memorial Day. Usually one of us has to work (that would be me) and the other spends the weekend planting the garden (and that would be Tyrel). Well this year we planned a trip to Montana. Tyrel had a cousin graduating from HS and so it gave us a small excuse to head up to the treasure state.

What a good way to start the trip! We got to see some big horn sheep. To my surprise this was Tyrels first time ever seeing one. I used to see them all the time in Challis.

Our first exciting adventure was hiking up to the Lewis and Clark Caverns. It is like a 2 mile hike and takes about 2 hours. Kaden loved the beaver slide where you actually have to sit on your bum and slide down this slide through the caverns.

Family picture in the caverns

Steph and Kaden in the Cathedral room

Tyrel and Paycen near the brown waterfall

Returning to the Motel after the caverns. A much needed nap!!

The next day we went to Virginia City. It's an old mining town now set apart for historical preservation and tourism. The town used to mine gold and I think totalled about $300 million worth of Gold. Awesome. Now I think they are going through the gorge again and mining for gems. I guess the pioneers didn't realized the shiny red and green things were worth anything. Just the gold things.

Here we are at Cousins Candy Store. They make some of their own candy and there is just shelves and shelves of candy. We gave Kaden a bag and said fill it up. This picture is before I got a stroller for Paycen. He was going a little too crazy with all the open barrels of candy.

Kaden's first choice was of course a Ring Pop. His favorite!!

And then he found the biggest lollipop ever. Look how happy he is!!

A sword fight commenced after this picture was taken. I had to yank Paycen's sucker out of his tiny hands. He was devastated.

That afternoon we attended a graduation in Sheridan. Only 20 kids graduated, it was awesome. After the graduation we ate this huge dinner. Tyrel's uncle roasted a pig on a spit. I should've gotten some pictures, sorry. Kaden even ate some. We visited with family and then headed home.

The next morning, Ty wanted to take Kaden fishing. So we packed up everything again and headed to Spring Creek. It was super fun because I set up my camp chair, soaked up the sun and read my book while Tyrel taught Kaden how to fish. Lovely.

Cute little Kaden holding his new fishing rod.

Like Father like Son. So cute!!

Finally!! A fish. Actually Kaden totalled 6 fish. He wouldn't touch them but he sure loved to catch them.

We got home and treated ourselves to ice cream cones. The boys loved them. And I think they loved our weekend.

We are sure glad to be home. Sleeping in our own beds, taking naps in our own beds instead of the car, and eating good foods vs licorice, crackers and m&ms.

Eat Pray Love book review

I finally finished Eat Pray Love. I say finally because it was really painful to get through. I laugh at the thought because this wasn't my first time reading this book. I have come to the realization, that I don't care how much Oprah loves this book, I will never Love it.

I devoured the first 3rd, the first 116 pages or 36 chapters of this comically witty book. The author, Elizabeth Gilbert, writes first person in her own adventures around the world. First stop, or the first third that I love, she visits Italy and writes about eating and learning the romantic Italian language. One of my favorite parts, Elizabeth writes about going to a soccer match with some friends. She sits and listens to the "gorgeous flower-chain of curses" as the fans yell at each other and the teams.

But it takes a turn after Italy that I can only describe as painful. Elizabeth visits an ashram to find God. It's painful to listen to as she is chanting a Sanskrit in an Indonesian cave with practiced yogis when I myself have already found God and religion and I didn't have to take such drastic measures. I do like the idea of meditation and the act of praying and then listening for answers and find our own inner peace. I counted the pages and chapters until I was done with her adventures in India only to have to succumb to the last third of her book.

In the last part, Elizabeth travels to Bali to help an old medicine man. I like him, I like when she visits him. But there was a whole chapter talking about *should I say it* um... masturbation. I just took my black pen and crossed it out. More like scribbled, so in case I chose to read it again, I will be reminded to just skip this inappropriate part. I also enjoyed the end. I don't know if it was because it was the end, or if I enjoyed her now balanced life. Her commentary was a little more mature and well written.

To recommend this book to a friend, I would have to say maybe. I enjoyed some parts, and I underlined some good thoughts and ideas. I didn't come away feeling spiritually uplifted by any means. I have heard of groups of book loving people using Eat Pray Love as the center of their book club world. This is the one they always turn to. Well, In Mormon world I think that book would be Twilight. *Speaking of...June 30 is coming up*

Recent Realizations

*Bubbles spill...so keep a back up supply

*Making your kids go bare foot outside doesn't keep them from going to the road

*Singing the song "Mama had a baby and his head popped off" while flipping the top off a dandelion is not appropriate.

*Having your OB/GYN say "Who's your Daddy!" while delivering your baby is also not appropriate.

*I have wrinkles around my eyes

*Don't make promises you can't keep...kids remember everything

*When your 3-year-old asks to play "Duck, Goose" with you (even if there is just two of you) PLAY!!

*My neighbor has a rooster

*80lb junior high school girls do not need to go to Zumba

*I hate when we say to our husbands "You have it so easy" because they don't

*by saying husband don't have it easy I'm not saying we do, because we don't either

*hair is the number one culprit of clogged drains...correction my hair is the number one culprit of our clogged drain

*no matter how many crunches I do, I will never have a six pack

and finally

*Modern Family is my new favorite sitcom

Tummy Love

I have a couple tummy lovin' kids. Paycen just recently started lifting up his shirt and rubbing his tummy. I think it started when I stopped putting onesies on him. It was getting warm so now he just wears T-shirts, full access to that cute little belly. I tried to get him rubbing and showing off the tummy for the video but he found Kaden's gun and was too entertained by that to cooperate. I had to post the video though because Paycen is making the cutest sound effects as he is shooting me.

Twilight's Eclipse Trailer #2

No words can describe my excitement!!!

http://www.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK//video/imdb/vi984483609/

Tampons are not cheese sticks

This story starts out with Paycen...the climber. That's right I said Paycen. For those of you who follow my blog, 2 years ago I posted about Kaden the climber. Well now I have a TWO climbers. Paycen moves chairs and climbs up everything including counter top, living room heater and kitchen table. The JOY life brings.

So I am enjoying a book on the couch while the boys are playing with trains. I hear Kaden yell at Paycen something like "Payce. You can't eat that cheese stick. You didn't ask mom." and then "MOM! Paycen is eating a cheese stick. Can I have one to?" I put my book down puzzled. I told Kaden he could have a cheese stick but thought...how in the world did Paycen get one. He can't open the fridge. To answer my thought provoking question, Paycen toddles in gnawing on a tampon. WHAT! A TAMPON! not to worry it was unused and in the wrapper. He had climbed on the kitchen table, opened my purse, opened my tampon pouch concealer and thought to himself "This looks good! I wonder what it tastes like?" and started chewing on it. He was pretty happy with himself when walking around the corner with the tampon in hand. I took it from Paycen and shook my finger in his face saying "No, no Paycen. Tampons are not cheese sticks." I was laughing to myself the rest of my day. I can't believe I said that. And I can't believe he was actually chewing on it.

Sorry. I had to share my funny story. Hope you had a laugh!!

'Kaden' isms

Things Kaden says in prayers:

* "please help Paycen to walk" (side note, Paycen has been walking for 4 months now)

* "please bless Mommy to let me eat Cheetos for dinner" (nice try buddy)

* "bless the food to have vitamins"

* "help me stay in my chair" or sometimes "help me stay in my bed" (the funny thing is that he says it then jumps down and runs around crazy like still)

* "bless me to not pee in my undies" (yes, please bless Kaden to not pee in his undies)

* "thankful for chocolate milk" (me to)

* "thankful mommy's awake" (slow tear trickling down my face)

* "thankful dad can work and make some money" ( I don't know how he came up with that one)

* and lastly "please bless Paycen to not get sick because he ate some kitty food" (that was last year)

Twilight's Eclipse

I have had regular episodes of acute shock syndrome ( yes I made that up myself ) everytime I find out one of my friends hasn't seen the new Eclipse trailer. Are you kidding? I love Twilight and am looking forward to Eclipse. Yes Jacob you are hot, my husband envies your abs, and I got goosebumps when you told Bella you will fight for her till her heart stops beating. Here is a site you can view the trailer. Amber this is for you.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2422342681

Bear World Conspiracy

Hey One and all!! Come to Bear World and see the new baby bear cubs for free!!

Yeah, right...

Well, I guess technically it isn't false advertising but this is how is works. You get there expecting to see these cute cubs running around and all you see is about 100 people standing in line. Okay, we knew there might be a line so we stand in line. Waiting. Waiting. For an hour. We finally get near the front and we see the cubs. Actually just a lady holding a cub. Kaden couldn't tell what we were pointing at. Well by that time the kids are going crazy and Kaden wants to hold the bear cub like all the other kids are. So after an hour we could go home after seeing some lady holding one bear cub or we can pay $15 for a photo with the kids holding a cub. So much for Free. We pay because Kaden wanted to hold one. They sat the kids down, shoved a cub in Kaden's arms snapped a photo and took the cub. We were then shuffled out the doors with a photo in hand. Thank you Bear World. It was a Memorable experience!!

Self Confidence

Getting back my self confidence after having Paycen has been slow going. It's been so hard accepting compliments when I haven't felt they were true. I feel totally frumpy in the front and saggy in the back.

Well today is a new day...all with the help of a new bra!! That's right, yesterday I told Ty "I need to go to the Falls." He was like what for? I said "To go to Victoria's Secret." I didn't have to say anymore. We packed up the kids and headed down the road. I think Ty was thinking I was going to buy something else at Victoria's Secret besides just bras, but all in all we had a good time.

My advice to anyone who needs a lift (pun intended)... go buy a new bra. Your life will be perkier. Victoria's Secret even had a sale. Their cotton full coverage bras were 2 for $40. Reg. $26.50. They had some fun colors!!

Harry Potter Marathon

I'm done!! Finally!! I told myself that I would just read them slow and enjoy myself, but I swear once you hit books 5,6,and 7 there is no stopping you. My poor family has been neglected. I am so glad no neighbors or friends have come over the last couple of days because they would've found a pale face woman in her sweats frantically giving her kids more crackers while her eyes poured over the pages of her beloved Harry Potter books.

I love them. These books are the greatest. This was my first time reading all 7 books in a row. J.K. Rowling is a genius. She had it all planned out from the beginning. I caught on to things in the first couple of books knowing what was to come that I hadn't really paid any attention to earlier. Fabulous!!

Anyway, tomorrow I am putting on makeup and going outside. I need a break from the couch.

Going for a Spin

Mr. Bear and Monkey are taking their first spin. They were in much need of a bath. I am so thankful for washing machines and the convenience of having one in my home.



This is me and Kaden waiting for the washing machine to finish. Kaden has such a great smile. I love when he wakes up happy and runs out of his room yelling "Mom! I awake and I happy today!" Me to buddy, I love it when you wake up happy.

What?

Quick story,

I was floated to the postpartum unit last night at work. It was a nice night with some fun people. We watched 2 movies and our patients were abnormally quite with the call lights. Hallelujah!! Anyway, we were supposed to be getting a scheduled c/s coming in early and I was going to get her ready and send her for surgery at 6:00. This was a quick funny conversation between me and my charge nurse before she arrived.

Charge Nurse: "Steph, are you okay with getting the c/s ready?"

Me: "Yeah"

CN: "Well isn't it protocol to have a labor nurse come down and do the assessment?"

Me: "Well, any labor nurse can do the fetal assessment. We don't need to call labor to send someone because I can do it."

CN: "Well...are you good enough?"

Me: (...pause for a second while I think this through, I don't know what to say at the moment, I come up with...)

"Yup, I can get her ready. You don't have to worry about a thing"

I just walked away baffled. I usually can figure out what people meant to say when they say something stupid, but I am out of my league on this one. What was my charge nurse trying to say? Hmmm...???

Boise Trip

I was able to go to Boise for a week to visit my sister Michelle. I went to hang out and to help with her kids while she went to delivery Baby #4. We had such a wonderful time. Full of swimming, bike riding, playing at the playground, eating, taking lots of walks, crafts, shopping and best of all just enjoying the 50 degree weather outside. It was FABULOUS!!

Swimming:

Paycen and I watching the swimming from the side lines.

Splashing!!

Jacob, DJ, Kaden, Catherine, and Ashlynn

Cousin Jacob

Kaden asking for help with his goggles. He was so cute with them on.

Riding Bikes:

Finally a smile from cousin Jacob.

Kaden showing off his new Buzz Lightyear bike! Love it!!



Cousin Jacob, Catherine, and Ashlynn.

Ball Pit:

Paycen loved the riding toys but...

...loathed the ball pit



I guess he still loves me even though I forced him into the germy yet colorful pit of balls.





DJ and Catherine wrestling. Priceless smile!!

I tried to get a ton more pictures of the kids at this play place, but all I got was backs turned as they were running away laughing. I was the lunatic mom yelling "Kaden smile" and "Jacob come here for a sec". Yeah right.

What happens when Mom is in the hospital and Aunt Shawney is babysitting:

Yes that's right. Playing dress up. I refused at first, but I gave in when the huge crocodile tears appeared from both boys. I had to take pictures even though Ty wishes I hadn't.

Finally a Baby Boy:

Meet my new nephew Benjamin Scott. Weighing in at 7lbs 11oz. What a snuggler!!

DJ holding little Ben

Michelle holding her new sweet baby boy!!

I had so much fun and was sad to leave. I wanted to just hold that baby all day everyday. The drive home went quick and the boys did pretty good. The car was a mess though with lots of goldfish crackers and fruit snacks covering the floors.

Congratulations Michelle and DJ on the new addition to your family. We miss you and Kaden still asks every morning if we can go see Jacob today. I just have to say "another day bud".