Wow, its been a while since I have blogged. I have finally woken from my coma and have found time to update the last 5 months.
I found theses darling beds on craigslist for only $30. and bought both of them (they were selling 3 identical...if only I knew!) So I bought a sander and sanded them to their bare wood and painted them. I moved the girls into Kaiden's room and put the girls in a shared room with the biggest play room.
Here is how it turned out.
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| I painted their dresser to match their beds and found this awesome huge mirror at a gragage sale for $10, and painted it coral. I love how it turned out. |
We moved Kaiden into the girls room, took down the crib (shouldn't have done that!) and it became a customized, by Kaiden, room. Who knew he had such an opinion. He picked out his desk and bedding. We moved all his toys into this desk and under his bed in cute organized bins and moved Jake and his study desk into what we now call the "MAN CAVE". So now everyone has their own place, and their own place for their stuff and toys. It has worked out perfectly!
I was finally able to finish my last few days of laser school in January and officially got certified. The night before this picture I found out I was pregnant with baby #4, which was a big surprise to us, even though we wanted a 4th, it was just maybe 6-12 months earlier than we expected. I didn't know how far along I was because I had been so busy with the holidays, traveling, getting projects finished and finishing school. I knew I was at least a couple weeks late... I was in shock that morning and a bit out of it, the girls in my group wanted to laser me, but I told them I couldn't and one asked if I was pregnant??? So I told them...
This was also my last day, so the girls in my group bought me some amazing cupcakes to congratulate me on my pregnancy and graduation. It was so sweet it made me cry! I am so excited for this baby. I cannot wait to have her join our family!
In February it SNOWED in ARIZONA! Can you believe it! My kids loved the entire 15 minutes of it. It was fun having snow for a minute and see it quickly melt away and having the weather return to it's amazingly perfect winter weather.
We spent sometime on days I was feeling decent to go to the Zoo.
Macy is getting so big and such a little talker. She is very creative when she wants something, like trying to get outside.
Daddy had school on Valentines so we made a special bed on our bed (just added the blow up mattress to the bed) and watched Charlie Brown's Valentine together. I love theses little ones!
Macy, unfortunately got in a BAD habit of watching a lot of "shows" while I was down. Her movie watching can get pretty intense!
I found on craigslist a box of Star Wars bobble heads for $5.00. Best purchase ever. The kids love them and its kept them occupied.
Every week I find hilarious self portraits of Maggie.
And this is what Jake's life consist of. Less than a year left! CANNOT. WAIT!
In March I took the kids to go visit Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Scotty in Charlotte. I was SO nervous about flying alone with the kids and my horrible all day-all night pregnancy sickness, but the tickets were purchased back in December and I was determined to go. We were lucky enough to be there when Scotty was home from his mission for knee surgery, and we wanted to see him... so I took my zofran, got a blessing from Jake and prayed for the best.
We made it safe and sound! We were so excited to get to the mission home and let the kids play in the trees and grass. Maggie and Macy spent every chance they could get outside.
We went to this really fun park one day and they had native reptiles there, we petted a snake.
and played outside with Grandma and Scotty.
Unfortunately our little man got VERY sick while we were there, a total of three trips the the Urgent Care to be exact. Both of Kaiden's ear drums burst. He was in so much pain and had blood oozing out of his ears. I was so scared, he even lost a lot of his hearing for a couple of days. Luckily I was able to get him in to a doctor that told us exactly what was going on and was able to prescribe him some narcotics to help with the pain. They told me that if he didnt' get better and didn't start drinking he would have to be put in the hospital for dehydration and pain management. The poor kids was in so much pain and his poor ears oozed blood and orange for almost 10 days. His hearing did return completely once his membranes were able to heal. He was literally out of it from the day after we got there until the day before we left. Poor kid! He was such a good sport with all of our outings and traveling while we there. We limited our self a lot because of his sickness and mine. It was however, nice to relax and enjoy my parents and brother.
I flew Jake in for 5 days of our 11 day trip. He got there to help me with Kaiden and the kids since I was not feeling well myself. It was so fun having Jake see Charlotte and to understand everything when I talk about it. He LOVED it there and asked if I wanted to move there! OF COURSE I DO!! He loved being with the missionaries. My dad asked him if he could help teach in a zone conference...Jake did such a great job and wishes he was still on his mission. He loved being with my parents and staying in the mission home. It was such a treat to have him there. He can't wait to go back. He asks every week if airfare is low that week to see if we can squeeze in another trip before the baby comes.
One day we made it over the the Charlotte Race Ways. It was AMAZING and so fun. Kaiden was drugged up and slept as soon as we actually got on the race track...I don't think he remembered any of this trip!
We took a couple of days and traveled to one of my favorite places in North Carolina...Ashville and the Biltmore Mansion. I can't get Jake to shut up about this place! We loved every minute of it and I am so happy Jake got to see it. It is so beautiful there, even though it wasnt' lush and warm like the last time we went.
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| My brother Scotty! |
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| Biltmore mansion and the mission van! |
Funny inside story that I will not bore you with....even though it would not bore you...it's quite hilarious! But there was a TREE and my mom HAD to climb it! :) So she did and then my dad climbed it....
We fed the ducks.
and went to the petting zoo.
We then went to this beautiful town full of waterfalls to visit some sister missionaries, but made some scenic stops along the way, including chimmy rock. We weren't able to climb it because we had to get Jake back to Charlotte and off to the airport.
Then it was back to work and school for Jake , and my Dad had interviews in Greensboro and Highpoint, which are known for their furniture. So of course we went to the Furniture Land and did some amazing shopping.
We then went to Seagrove which is a country town completely full of potters. We went to different studios (like the one pictured below) and bought pottery from local artist. It was super awesome. I called my sisters and told them that we need to plan a girls trip and do this again!
While in Greenboro we hit an old war zone Guilford Court House. Kaiden ate up all the history and loved every minute of it.
We spent our last afternoon at one of our favorite parks and had Dean and Deluca for lunch and dessert.
We spent awesome time loving on Scotty.
and then we sadly headed home...
We told my parents and Scotty while we were in Charlotte and also told the kids... they weren't too excited....but they are now! I was 11 weeks when I told family and about 13 when we announced it after our trip to friends. Baby #4.
I was lucky enough to be sick, but not super sick while on our trip, but when I go home man alive it came back with vengeance!!! I was so sick--like couldn't get out of bed-take care of my kids sick. I remember one night when Jake had school I was able to muster up enough energy to call and order a pizza but couldn't make it down stairs to get it, so i wrote a check gave it to Kaid and put him in charge of getting the pizza and feeding everyone.... He did it, bless his little heart. Luckily those dark days, what I call my "coma" stage for about 5 weeks are over, even though I was still sick up until 21+ weeks this pregnancy, but I was able to 1/2 way function after that 5 horrible weeks! Blah! My kids have learned to be very, very helpful. She will be here in no time. September is around the corner!!!
April= playing catch-up.
Kaiden brought home some cute little journal writings. I love them!!
I took the kids to the Zoo one afternoon when Kaiden had early out.
He got stung by a bee while playing in the splash pad... which turned into staph infection and infected his entire hand and wrist. He was out of school for 3 days and once again in the Urgent Care and on heavy pain meds and antibiotics. Poor kid can't get a break!
After church stroll.
Kaiden's spring school pictures.
We even opened the pool.
Donuts with Dad at Kaiden's school.
I was lame and didn't get any formal pictures of the kids. I don't do Easter outfits, so its ok i guess. I use to but it's really lame for Kaiden to get a new white shirt and tie for Easter and the girls get a beautiful dress, so i vetoed that tradition a couple years ago. We just do eggs and candy. Kinda lame, but oh well, the kids loved it anyway. When they get a bit older I will start the tradition I had growing up a new Spring Outfit. I loved this tradition each year!
We did invite our really good friends over for Easter dinner. We made a yummy ham and yummy sides and I made creme brulee for dessert, which didn't turn out very well. ha! But the ham and everything else was de-lish!
Once again I have been horrible this year when it comes to taking pictures....
The kids eating Easter dinner.
Sadly we have done a lot of eating out the last few months due to me not feeling well. One of our favorite places, Firehouse.
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| 18.5 weeks. |
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| Such a great purchase. Tattoo side walk chalk. |
Maggie's field trip to the farm.
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| Yes, Macy really kissed the bunny. She loves animals. |
Kaiden won 3rd place in the Art fair at his school. We are so proud!
I went and got certified in PCA products for work. I work two days a week doing skin and laser and I watch a baby boy twice a week I am one busy girl right now!
I went to a 4 week seminar each Saturday to learn more about Love and Logic parenting techniques. I have read the book and we try to use it in our home. The classes have helped me so much. The kids are even more structured then they were before, not sure if they are happy I went to those classes or not! Less for me to do more responsibility for them...like learning how to clean toilets.
My most favorite Journal entry from Kaiden this year.
May= DONE!=We survived!
Kaiden and Maggie and myself have survived and completed a full year of Let's Play Music. This is a fabulous program for kids. Its a commitment on my part, I have to go every other week with them to class and can't take Macy. It's been a sacrifice but I am amazed at how much my kids know about music at such a young age.... and they love it. They had their performance and graduation from 1st year.
We let them make a fort and sleep in their new sleeping bags after music graduation.
We celebrated Cinco de Mayo....but of course I forgot the pinata!
Kaiden made it to Diamond, which is a HUGE accomplishment in Kindergarten. Only a handful of kids have made it that far. He worked so hard to get it! When you win Diamond the school gives you a special bracelet band and he got an extra hour at water day the last week of school. We told Kaiden if he made it to Diamond we would take him to dinner of his choice and to Legoland. He picked Pei Wei and I planned a trip to San Diego.
I volunteered to go on his last field trip the second to last week of school. We started the day off with Mom and Donuts and then headed to Phoenix to the Stuffington Bear Factory. Kaiden loved that I FINALLY went with him on one of his field trips. We had fun.
We got home from the field trip around 2 and then headed to San Diego an hour later.
We spent 2 full days at Legoland and the kids had a blast.
We spent that first evening playing at the beach.
Kaiden unfortunately got sick, yet again (is there a pattern here?) I think its cause he played and spun around to much the first day. He threw up all night in the hotel room, which made for a VERY long night. Jake took Maggie to Legoland the next morning and they spent a couple of hours playing while I stayed with Kaid and Mace. By noon Kaid was ready to go so we met them at Legoland to finish out the day at the amusement park and water park. We had a great time.
On Sunday, which happened to also be Mothers Day we headed to a San Diego ward and then to the temple.
After the temple we headed to Seal Beach and walked around and then headed home to finish our last week of school.
The last week of school Kaiden had water day and graduation and Maggie also had graduation. I had a Dr. appointment which told us the sex of our sweet baby (my good friend is an ultra sound tech and scanned me at 15 weeks, she thought it could be a boy--but we really didnt' announce anything because both Maggie and Macy were first sought to be boys, so we didnt' hold our breath)
It's a GIRL.
I am soooooo excited about having 3 girls in a row. I love having my sisters and I all in a row, its' going to be amazing. I do wish Kaid had a brother, but he will survive and make the BEST husband ever.
Our little girl will be name Millee. Jake gets to pick out her middle name-so we will see what he can come up with. I picked out her first name. I love the name Millie, but wanted it to be more sentimental so we changed the spelling to Millee. Miller is a huge family name on the Samuelson side. If this baby was a boy we were most likely going to call him Miller. Lee is a family name on both sides of my family, so with that being said we combined both names to make Millee.
We cannot wait to meet this sweet girl. I love her so much. She's been my little side kick for the past six months and has such a sweet personality already-- can't wait to see what she looks like and what kind of little girl she will be. I cannot wait to hold her and raise her and to see her with the other girls. I love little girls, September cannot come fast enough!!
Graduations!
Maggie:
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| Her amazing teacher Ms. Nicole. |
Kaiden:
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| Kaiden's principle Mrs. Wade, Mrs Cammy, and Mrs. W. |
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| I bawled like a baby...like almost had to remove myself from the ceremony. Jake kept on asking if I was Ok. Silly pregnancy hormones!! |
Our amazing friends introduced us to my new found love Pho. I love it and crave it. If you havent' tried it, you need to. We had a great time with our friends and finding a new addiction.
More self portraits of Maggie.
Macy is such a sweet, tender and loving little girl. I couldn't help by snap a picture of her rubbing Maggies back.
Over Memorial Day we took a trip to Tucson and Tombstone AZ.
We visited the Dove in the Desert, a beautiful catholic church built in the early 1700's.
It was such an awesome teaching moment with our children. We explained it was a church and then asked them how they felt in that church and what was different about this church and the church we go to. Kaiden said he felt scared inside and it was very dark (very little windows and light). I asked him how he felt in our church and he said happy and it's so bright and light. I loved we were able to share our testimony with our kids and teach them and have them feel the difference between our church and other churches.
I love old churches and all the architecture. It reminds me of my mom and her love for architecture and history.
We went to this fun place to eat in Tucson called Magpies. We just had to eat there because "that's what Grandpa calls me!!!" We had a fabulous salad and some pizza and some homemade frozen yogurt. We were missing Grandpa and Grandma so we texed them on their mission and told them that Maggie was at Magpies and we missed them.
Across from the resturant at a local bar there was fire dancing. We watched for a while...the kids thought it was so awesome.
The next day we headed to Tombstone, to the Wyatt Earp Days. It was really fun. Of course, someone had to get sick, this time is was Maggie. Poor thing didn't feel good, but was such a good sport. We spent the day there and then decided to head home and get Maggie in her own bed.
and sadly we all caught the cold Maggie had last week. I have been super sick this week along with Jake and the kids. I think it's time to stay home for a while.....
Now its juggling kids and my work schedule and getting caught up on the last 4 months...
I also have been putting our families 72 hour kids together and an evacuation closet together.... man alive its a lot of work and so expensive!! Can't wait for them to be officially done!
