Kendall is 13 months

This past month, Kendall has gotten a lot more curious and playful. She's becoming more like a little girl and less like a big baby.

This month, Kendall:
- discovered she can throw toys (she picks them up and throws them over her shoulder)
- stopped eating baby food and is now eating everything we eat
- started helping Logan and Taylor clean up the toys at the end of the day
- started showing more interest in books, and enjoys turning pages
- started throwing balls back at me
- likes to put things into other things, like cars into a bucket or balls into a box
- can put circle objects into circle holes (and squares, triangles, stars)
- says "bop" "ball" "book" and "that" and a few other words
- climbs into and out of the kiddo pool
- enjoys drawing
- loves to be at the park, especially on the swings
- crawls really fast, puts her head down to rest for a second, and crawls again
- chases Logan and Taylor around the house
- throws food off her highchair
- signs "all done"
- looks super cute when she drinks from a regular cup because most of her face fits inside of it
- loves being at the Splash Pads
- screams when Logan or Taylor tries to take a toy away from her
- doesn't cry much, not even when she gets a little hurt, she just opens her mouth and gets that look that says "Outch, that didn't feel very good" or "Mommy, did you let this happen to me?"
- is really easy to put down in her crib, she just lays there until she falls asleep and just talks in there when she wakes up

Kendall is such an easy girl. If I knew all my kids would be like her, I could have 12 other kids. She is such a blessing to our lives and we love her so much.

Splash Pads Play Date

Today we went to the Scioto Mile Splah Pads... and we LOVED it!

It took Taylor some time to warm up to the cold water coming out of the ground. But Logan went right in and got soaked immediately. As for Kendall, she's definitely my "water baby," as long as the water doesn't get in her face. Even then, she doesn't cry, she just looks at me as to say, "Did you just let this happen to me? Really, mommy? Not cool!"

Some people might wonder why I take so many more pictures of Kendall than of Logan and Taylor. To those people, let me explain the difference between a 1-year-old and a 2-year-old. A 1-year-old sits there, content. Even on the go, a 1-year-old can easily be caught. A 2-year-old is constantly on the move, exploring and checking stuff out. Occasionally, that 2-year-old goes missing, until all of a sudden he'/she pops out of nowhere. Logan and Taylor have definitely made me nervous a few times. I have to have my eyes on them at all times.

Girls' Night Out!

I love having a Girls' Night Out every once in a while. In all honestly, I'd have them every weekend, if I could. It was so nice to talk about stuff our husbands don't care about, like hair, nails, and boobs (okay, so they do care about the boobs). We goofed around until we almost peed our pants. I know I say this every time, but the later it gets, the wilder the topics get. I had a blast with these fabulous ladies that I am lucky enough to call my friends. Ohio has been good to me =) And I gotta say, even though the house looked like a disaster when I got home, I think Billy handled the cranky boys and Kendall's diaper explosion pretty darn well.

Me and V

Maloree and E

Maloree and me

E and me

The whole gang!

Father's Day Preview

We've got some special surprises for Billy on Father's Day. This is one of the them. And no, I'm not afraid of Billy finding out, because he never looks at my blog, unless I put the computer on his lap.

Visitors

This past week, we were fortunate enough to have not one, but two amazing friends and their families stay with us.

I met Jenni in Des Moines about 5 years ago. Nick and Billy quickly became inseparable, studying or playing poker until late at night. Jenni and I also became good friends, chatting or playing poker as well.
Well, Nick and Billy both decided to go into anesthesiology, but unfortunately they didn't get into the same residency program. So we'll be in Ohio for 4 years, while Nick and Jenni only spent their first year in northern Ohio and will be spending the next three years in southern Arizona. Anyway, they moved this past weekend and decided to drive through Columbus and pay us a visit. It was fun to stay up much later than we normally do, just talking and playing poker, like in the old times. We miss them very much, but we feel fortunate to have seen them, even for just a short weekend.

The best picture I could get with all 5 of the kiddos.

My good friend, Jenni

Christa and I met in Maryland, but we became good friends after we both moved to Utah for school. We later became great friends after Parker, Logan, and Taylor were born (only 3 days apart). And we became awesome friends after Christa found out she was pregnant with twins (born 2 months before Kendall). Yes, between the two of us, we had 6 kids in 21 months. Anyway, Christa and her family were driving to Missouri and decided to drive through Ohio to spend the night with us. It was fun to see all the kids interact and play with each other.

The best picture I could get with all 6 kiddos. It wasn't easy.

Rambles on motherhood

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Let's start with a few quotes...

• "Your children will become what you are, so be what you want them to be." Who would have thought this would be so hard? I mean, I want my kids to be a lot of things - patient, ambitious - and have a lot of things - confidence, the ability to deal well with stress. And yet, these are things that I struggle with every day.
• "Motherhood is a choice you make every day, to put someone else's happiness and well-being ahead of your own, to teach the hard lessons, to do the right thing, even when you're not sure what the right thing is... and to forgive yourself over and over again for doing everything wrong." I have to remind myself every day that, as hard as this is, I chose to be a mom. This is something I've always wanted to be and something that many women can only wish to some day become. And it's okay that I'm not perfect. My children don't expect me to be perfect. The Lord doesn't expect me to be perfect. All I can do is forgive myself, learn from my mistakes, and be the best mom that I can be.
• "Good moms have sticky floors, messy kitchens, laundry piles, dirty ovens, and happy kids." This one makes me laugh. I wish it were true... but let's be honest here... we'd have ants everywhere, my kids would be eating junk all day, and they would be wearing dirty clothes (or no clothes) in public. I would love to be fun mom all day and every day, but I have to be functional mom to teach my kids to be clean and organized. I think it's okay if I let my kids watch Alvin and the Chipmunks while I fold some laundry. It means that instead of looking for some clean shirts later, I can go outside with them to draw on the sidewalk.
• "Before you know it your children will be grown...childhood goes by so quickly...cherish it!" I try really hard to cherish it, I really do. Some days I am really good at cherishing it. And other days I am not. Sometimes the days seem sooooo long, but the years never cease to fly by. So how can I cherish my kids' childhood? 1) Find ways to be grateful each day 2) realize that my joys during this stage of life come in moments, and 3) worry about being the best mom that I can be to my children, and not worry about what everyone else wants me to be.

Some spiritual thoughts...

• I loved Elder Wilson's talk this past April General Conference about compelling our children vs gently persuading them. I have been working on letting my kids make their own choices and practice their agency. It's not always easy, especially when I know their choices will result in more work for me. But I know it will prepare them for the future and will result in more independency and responsibility. And that's what I want my children to be - independent and responsible.
• I also loved a talk by President Uchtdorf at the October Relief Society Conference. He focused on 5 forget-me-nots for our lives as women in the church. Here is what I was able to gather from his talk: 1) Be patient with yourself. Be as compassionate and forgiving with yourself as you are with others. He also reminded us that it is part of our mortal experience to have weaknesses, and that those weaknesses can one day become our strengths. Instead of worrying about having the perfect Family Home Evening every week, instead ask yourself "What simple things could we do as a family tonight that would bring us closer together and give us a spiritual experience?" 2) Remember the difference between a good sacrifice and a not-so-good sacrifice. Are you committing your time and energy to the things that matter most? 3) Be happy now. He gave a great analogy of the golden ticket in Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. I loved everything about it. If we spend all of our time pining over and searching for a golden ticket, we can forget to enjoy the chocolate bar. While there is nothing wrong with righteous yearnings, we must also try to capture the beauty and joy in everyday moments. 4) Don't forget the why of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Try not to see it as a list of tasks to fit into our busy schedules. The Gospel is not an obligation, it is a pathway. Don't walk the path of discipleship with your eyes on the ground. The what and how of obedience in the Gospel of Jesus Christ keeps us on the right path, but the why is what sanctifies us. Think about why the Lord asks you to follow His commandments. 5) Don't forget that the Lord loves you. God loves you - you are His child. You are destined for more than you can possibly imagine. Even though my life will never be easy, and I am certain there are many hard days ahead, I know that these forget-me-nots can help me to have the perspective and peace that I need.

Some other thoughts...

• While I admire working moms and their ability to juggle working life and family life, I am so grateful to be a stay-at-home mom. And let's not forget that motherhood is a 24/7 job.
• Am I the only mom to secretly overjoy upon seeing another child throw a tantrum in public ("My kid would never throw a tantrum like that!") or gag while reading a post about how motherhood is bliss ("She's totally lying right now!")?
• All children have special shining characteristics, and as parents, one of our responsibilities is to help our children develop them. I look forward to discovering the talents of each of my kids. And I hope that I will be able to focus a little more on the best, most special parts, and a little less on the areas where I think they need improvement.
• Sometimes feel like a circus act when I take all 3 kids out by myself, which is every day. Logical-me likes to think that no one is really gawking at me like it appears, they are all too worried about their own lives and their own problems. But self-conscientious-me is certain that they really are staring and thinking all sorts of things about how "I've got my hands full" and I must be crazy to have 3 kids all so close in age.

In the rush of getting to church, I missed getting a picture with my handsome boys






But I must say, Kendall was looking fabulous!






This counts, right?

Somewhat uneventful celebrations

April 28, 2012: Anniversary (6 years)

A lot has changed in just 6 years. But 3 children, 3 moves, and 40 pounds (between the 2 of us) later, we're as happy as we were when we first got married.
I love my family, I love my husband, and I love my life. I have absolutely everything anyone could possibly want. I am so lucky to have Billy in my life. He is my best friend and he completes me in every way.

On our anniversary day, we woke up at 1 AM to drive all day to Disney World. Exciting stuff!

April 28, 2006



April 30, 2012


May 1, 2012: Kendall's birthday (1 year)

I can't believe Kendall has been in our lives for a year already, and yet it's like she has always been a part of our family. She is the sweetest, happiest, cutest girl, ever!

For her birthday, Kendall got her FIRST Barbie from Bonne-Maman and Bon-Papa. And we played in Animal Kingdom all day.

May 1, 2011

May 1, 2012

May 6, 2012: My birthday (24 years)

Ok, that is a lie, I'm 27. Blah!

For my birthday, Billy brought me breakfast in bed, we went to church, the kids took a 3hr-nap, we barbequed, and we had ice cream for dessert.



Not exactly sure how old I am here

From baby to mommy

Disney World

We had such a great time with the kiddos in Disney World. Thanks to my parents coming along on this very much needed vacation, we all got to see a lot more and do a lot more than we otherwise would have been able to. It was so nice to be in the sun all day and eat at a restaurant for every meal. But it is nice to be back home, eating healthy food and sleeping in our own bed. And it is good to be back into our routine. The late 10 p.m. bedtime for the kiddos is OVER.
Thanks, mom and dad, for coming to Disney World with us, creating unforgettable memories and making our vacation more fun than stressful. You're the BEST.

Day 1
Highlights:
- Downtown Disney
     The singers and bands in the streets were so amazing that they made the singers on American Idol sound like crap.
- Rainforest Cafe
     The boys absolutely loved the live-size elephant and gorilla that "came to life" every 15 minutes or so. The atmosphere was fantastic.

Day 2
Highlights:
- It's a small world
     All 3 kids were fascinated and entertained the whole time.
- Peter Pan Flight
     I don't think it was as fun as I remembered it, but it was decent and the kids liked it.
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
     This was probably Logan's favorite.
- Mad Tea Party
     And this was definitely Taylor's favorite.
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
     This was the very first ride the kids went on. They were a little nervous at first, but it wasn't long before they started smiling and laughing.
- Space Mountain
     In all honesty, it wasn't as scary as I had expected.
- Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
     Definitely Billy's favorite and mine.
- Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
     I had to leave early because Kendall was not enjoying the show. The kids were definitely too young to get the jokes.
- Olive Garden
     Well, ya know...
- The Magic Kingdom fireworks
     Billy and I were able to go thanks to my wonderful parents who had a sleep-over with all 3 kiddos. Surprisingly, they all did great. I thought I was setting my parents up for a terrible night filled with screaming and crying, but they all went to sleep easily.

Day 3
Highlights:
- Meeting Mickey Mouse
     By far Logan and Taylor's favorite activity this whole trip. They were so excited to meet their favorite character that they couldn't stop smiling. I was grateful that Mickey Mouse didn't rush us. He took his time giving the boys high fives, letting them kiss his nose, and hugging them. When we told him that he is their favorite character and that they love him very much, he got on his knees and signed that he loves them, too. It was really sweet. Downside: the 1-hr line.
- Kilimanjaro Safaris Expedition
     This was definitely a family favorite, even for Kendall. The animals were all so close that we literally could have touched them. There were no cages and no sleepy and lazy animals. I especially liked the elephants that were playing in the water and the giraffe that was sticking her tongue out to reach a leaf on the tree.
- Expedition Everest
     Once again, Billy and I agreed that this was our favorite ride of the day. It was pretty scary, but that's what we loved about it. And the line was so short that we got to ride it twice.
- Festival of the Lion King
     These acrobats, dancers, and singers were amazing. Disney definitely hires some of the most talented people in the country, maybe even in the world.
- Finding Nemo, the Musical
     This show was pretty good, especially considering the fact that people were moving gigantic fish figurines around the stage.
- It's Tough to Be a Bug
     The kiddos definitely enjoyed this show, even though the 3D glasses were too big for them. They loved spotting bugs around the theatre and feeling the puffs and drops etc.
- Dinosaur
     This ride was for sure more bumpy than scary. Dinosaurs don't really scare me for some reason...
- The Tree of Life
     This tree was huge. Up close, animals were carved into the bark. And inside, there was a theatre. Pretty cool, I tought.
- Some Brazilian Grill restaurant
     The food was good, but I didn't get to enjoy it much because by that point the kids were driving me insane.

Day 4
Highlights:
- Swiss Family Treehouse
     I would love to live in a treehouse like that one, for a summer.
- The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
     Same idea as the Dumbo ride.
- Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room
     I had to leave early because Kendall did not enjoy this show, either. From what I've been told, Logan and Taylor really liked it, especially Taylor. This was probably his favorite show of the day.
- Jungle Cruise
     Billy and I agreed that this was our favorite ride of the day. I think the guide made it that much better with his jokes that almost made me pee my pants.
- Pirates of the Caribbean
     Logan and Taylor DID NOT enjoy this ride. Fortunately, they didn't cry, but Taylor covered his eyes with his hands and Logan covered his mouth to keep from screaming. I didn't think it was that scary... but maybe it was.
- Splash Mountain
     This ride is a classic, and it was a lot longer that I had expected, which I liked a lot. (For future reference, do not sit in the front, you will get soaked.)
- Tomorrowland Indy Speedway
     Logan and Taylor drove the speedcars 3 times, each time with a different adult, and each time with the line getting longer. The first time, we didn't wait, the second time we waited 10 minutes, and the last time we waited 30 minutes. But the boys loved it, especially Logan. This was for sure Logan's favorite ride of the day. He loved driving the car by himself, and he loved letting go of the wheel so the car would "crash" into the rail.
- T-Rex
     This restaurant was like Rainforest but better. The glowing igloo was cool, the giant jellyfish was great, and the dinosaurs that "came alive" were awesome.

Day 5
Highlights:
- Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
     This was pretty cool, especially the fighting scenes and the explosions.
- Muppet Vision 3D
     Billy and I were in line for another ride while my parents took the kids to this show. Kendall slept but the boys apparently really enjoyed the show.
- Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure
     This was definitely Logan and Taylor's favorite activity. Logan loved the tunnels and Taylor loved the spider web. Taylor went through the web (made of ropes) at least 15 times, and he was faster and faster every time. I went with him the first 3 times, then I let him go on his own, because he was too fast for me.
- Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show
     This was Billy's favorite, and my second favorite. The stunts and explosions were... WOW! There are no words to describe how cool that was to watch. But while Logan and Taylor enjoyed the stunts and explosions, they did not like the explanations on the special effects. Blah blah blah.
- Toy Story Midway Mania
     The fast passes for this ride were gone, for the day, by 11 a.m. I know, ridiculous, right? So Billy, Kendall, and I stood in line while my parents and the boys went back to Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set. We were in line for an hour. And the ride was good, but not great. After the ride, we were able to get my parents fast passes so that they could go on the ride with Logan and Taylor.
- Disney Junior - Live on Stage
     Those teenagers were really great singers, and as I was listening to them, I thought to myself, "I wonder if any of these kids will become the Next Britney Spears or Justin Timberlake."
- Beauty and the Beast - Live on Stage
     I was wondering how they would turn a 90-and-some-minutes movie into a 45-minute show. Well, they did a really good job.
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
     This was definitely my favorite ride of the day, and my favorite scary ride overall. And it was scary. My butt literally came off the seat when the elevator dropped us. And I was literally screaming for my life. It was awesome!
- Golden Coral
   Well, it's Golden Coral...