It has been awhile, guess I have been busy. It was a fun summer. Our neighborhood has improved greatly the past year or so. A lot more kids that are about the same age, so they all play well together. And all of us moms get along well. So we spent a lot of time outside. We also were going to the park weekly, which was fun. My kids actually know how to play at a park now. I guess I will just give an update on everyone. More for my sake than anyone else.

Xavier is growing like a weed. He is almost 8 months now. He has his two bottom teeth. He loves almost everyone and will give them smiles. He is always happy unless he is tired or hungry. He has the army crawl down and will do a few steps in the real crawling. He loves getting up on his hands and knees. He ate baby food for about 1 month and then decided table food is much better. So that is all he wants to eat. I just cut it up really small and make sure I don't feed him anything he can't have. He looks a lot like Mike's side of the family. He can say mama and daddy and yum.

Brooklyn is also growing a lot. She had the hernia surgery in July. It went well. Her belly button looks a lot better now. It still sticks out a bit but not as bad as it did. It took her a little bit to recover. She was in a lot of pain at first that she would not climb up and down things. But that soon went away. She has a very healthy appetite she will eat basically anything I put in front of her. We gave her corn on the cob one day and she loved it. She will eat it down to the core. It has got to the point that she will see it at the store and ask for it. She is starting to talk a lot more. Before it was just to Mike and I, but now she is talking to everyone. She still glares at people she doesn't know, which makes me laugh. She loves watching Mickey Mouse and is showing interest in wanting to potty train. She will put the chair up and sit on it. She is our social bug. She loves going and playing with other people at their house.

Abigail just started her 2nd year of preschool. I was struggling what to do with her this year. It was between being in a group where I teach once in a while or my neighbor offered to teach her for ten dollars a month. She had friends in both groups. I decided to have my neighbor teach her. Less stress for me. She is loving it so far. She is still a very picky eater. I think I can count what she will eat on my fingers. We try not to push food on her, but I wish she would eat more. She is growing too. She is just getting a lot taller. She loves going to primary. She loves her teachers.She loves playing games on the computer, we have a site set up for her that has all her games on it. Which she will play. They are all learning games so it is good for her.

Mike started school again, so he is gone about 12 hours or more a day. It is the hardest on the kids. He has about a year and a half left in school. We are still trying for our weight loss and he decided that he needs to grow his beard the whole time. So it is getting very bushy I will have to take a picture of it some time.

I am doing good. Trying to get more hobby's because Mike told me I needed some. I guess I told him I was bored to much. I got a canning set for an early birthday so I am going to can stuff. We canned salsa last night I still want to do spaghetti sauce, tomato juice and apple sauce. I hate applesauce but my kids love it. Plus I can get free apples from my grandma. I am making the kids pajamas for Christmas and going to try finishing making blankets for them. I am doing good on the weight loss. I need to get working out again. I got sick and so I quit. I just need to make time for it again. I only have 5 more pounds to go until my goal. So I think I am still doing well. I am eating well, so I think that is what helped.

Well that is all for now. I will try to update more often, but we will see.

Life

Our life has been somewhat busy. In June we had Mike's and Brooklyn's birthday. Mike's birthday was very low key. He had to work that day, so we did things that evening. We went out to eat and then we took the kids to the park to play. Since the next day we were leaving for a family reunion we didn't have any cake.
The next day was Brooklyn's birthday. We woke up that morning made breakfast and then left for the family reunion. It was down in Delta at Mike's parents house. There were ups and downs again. I was a bit bored but that is alright the kids had fun. I was going to go the the shoot out they had, but Xavier didn't want to be there. I think the worst part was cleaning up after people's meals. We were all assigned a meal and had to clean up after it. I think I cleaned up after 2 people other than myself. I didn't want to leave it for my mother in law to worry about. I will post pictures later. Though I only got pictures from the first day.
The week after was Brooklyn's 2 year old check up and I took Abigail in for her 4 year old check up. They are both growing but still really small girls. Brooklyn has a Umbilical hernia so we had to take her up to Salt Lake to have a pediatric surgeon look at it. She is scheduled for surgery on the 14th of this month. They said it is a very minor surgery which is good.
Xavier cut his first tooth this week and also started to like solids. He is rolling all over, he will get on his tummy and try to push up. He is still not wanting to sleep through the night. I try to let him cry it out but he just gets louder.
Mike and I set weight loss goal. We are goal is to lose a certain amount in a year and if we do, then we get to go on a vacation. He wants to go on a road trip with his brother down to Arizona and watch a football game. If I lose the weight I will go to Seattle to visit my sister and most likely my sister in law. My goal is to at least lose 20 pounds, but I will keep going if I can. I have worked out 3 times this week and have been cutting back on food. We are not going to eat out unless it is a special occasion or if we are heading to Delta around dinner time.
Well that is what is happening in our life now.

Am I paranoid?

I think I may be paranoid. We just had someone come to our door trying to sale meat. I said that we were not interested, she said well we accept food stamps. I told her again we were not interested. She then yelled FINE at me and stormed off our porch. She didn't have any paper work, or anything to prove that she actually had meat to sale. I also got a bad feeling about it.

I don't mind all door to door sales people, but some are very creepy. I just think they need proof of the company they work for. Maybe it is just me.

Sewing projects

Need to retie the ties

So yesterday and today I decided to do some of the sewing projects that I have been meaning to do forever. First I made a new tote bag for my primary stuff. My old bag was ugly and falling apart. I like this new bag it is reversible so I can use what ever side I am in the mood for. Not even 3 hours after making it, Brooklyn took a crayon to it. I guess that is part of motherhood. Next I made some ties for Xavier. I found a pattern and they were so simple to make. I think I would of got done faster, if I didn't have to take care of the kids and Xavier wasn't clingy to me. But here are the pictures. 

Thankful

As I lay in bed at 5 this morning. After being woken up about the 5th time by one of my kids. I started to think what I am thankful for.
I am Thankful for my husband and his willingness to stay home some nights so I can get out. He even takes Xavier who lately hates bottles. He will help clean the house, and cook dinner. He changes diapers without being asked. He will bathe the kids. If it is nice outside or snows he takes the girls out to play. He taught me how to be a better cook. He works to support our family.
I am Thankful for Abigail. She is a really good big sister. She will throw diapers away for me. She will help to clean willingly. She likes to tell us if Brooklyn is doing something wrong. She is learning so much at preschool. She will read to her little sister or try to. She loves to sing and loves going to sunbeams.
I am Thankful for Brooklyn. She is our most dramatic little girl. She has the cheesiest smile. She loves playing with her big sister. She helps clean, for the most part. She is a really good eater, we can put anything in front of her and she will eat it. She loves meat the most. You can give her meat and a veggie and she will eat the meat first and want more.
I am Thankful for Xavier he is such a sweet little boy. He is starting to interact more with us. He loves his sisters, but loves his mommy the most. He is starting to roll, and grab everything. The other day while changing his diaper he grabbed both of my hands and pulled them towards his mouth.
I am also thankful for my food, shelter, our beds, and clothes.
I am thankful that we have a car. I know it is sometimes hard to just have one car, but at least we have one. Someday maybe we will have 2.
I am thankful for the gospel in my life. It has truly been a blessing in my life. I feel at peace because of it.
I am thankful for Mike and my parents and for all the love and support that they give us. For the way they play with our kids and love them. If we need help they are always a phone call away.
I am thankful for my ward. For all how friendly it is. Everyone is so nice.
I am thankful for our family, for how nice they are and that we can all be close. I know of people who are not even close to their family or pull away from them.

I just have a wonderful life!

A visit to grandma's

This past weekend we went to Delta to visit Mike's parents. We told Abigail that morning that we were going to go when Mike got off work. So all day she kept asking me when we were going to go. I tried to keep her busy, but time passed very slowly for both of us.
Soon Mike came home we packed up the car, and we were on our way. Luckily the kids slept on the way down. We stopped in Nephi to get dinner, which they ate pretty good. Brooklyn ate her whole kids meal, and a bottle of chocolate milk. We were surprised.
When we got down there Abigail gave grandma a mother's day gift and then they started to play. We let the kids play until 10. Xavier went to bed, about 8 or 8:30. It shocked my mother in law all I had to do was feed him and lay him down and he went to sleep on his own. He gets mad if we even try to cuddle him anymore.  After we got him to bed we played Rook with Mike's parents. I didn't know how to play Rook until I met Mike and it has become one of my favorite games. We ended up beating them pretty bad, it mad me feel bad.
Saturday we went to the park. The girls had fun playing on the playground. We took them to see the stream and Brooklyn went right in and sat down in the water. I didn't think to bring her a change of clothes. All I had was a spare diaper and a pair of Xavier pants. So I put Xavier's pants on her. They were really cute. Mike's parents were nice and bought us some ice cream cones. Mike ended up eating 3 because Abigail took one bite and was done. And Brooklyn ate some then was done. We stayed and hung out at Mike's parents until 7 or 8 then drove home. It was a good visit.

Preschool next week

I have preschool next week. We are going to make a mother's day craft. I have thought and thought about it. Mike told me I needed to use the pipe cleaners. I finally figured out what to make, I also figured out how to make them so they look nice. I can't say what it is right now, or post a picture. Just because I don't want it to get out to one of the moms. But I really like them.

Now I just need to figure out what to do for Tuesday. I have the color yellow, the number 28 and the word not. I know I am going to make banana cream pie one day, because it is a yellow dessert. But who know what else.

This is my last time teaching preschool. Still trying to decide what to do for next year.

My silly girls

Here are a couple of pictures from the past little while of my girls being silly.

 We were getting to go somewhere Brooklyn had tights and a onesie on and put her coat on and boots. We thought it was really cute so we didn't make her get dressed anymore. We were only going on a drive so no where public.

 Abigail like to do hair all the time one day she asked me to do their hair. She brought me a bunch of rubber bands so I put them all in their hair. The loved it. I really like how Abigail's looks.

 Back view

 One day Brooklyn got into stickers and this was the end result. She thought she was so funny.

Abigail wanted to be like her.

Easter weekend

Easter weekend was really busy for us. Saturday morning we woke up and colored Easter eggs. We did Tye dyed ones. They were so easy. You put a little color on the eggs in the baggie. Then you rub the color around. Brooklyn tried, but I had to help her out a lot. Abigail was really good at it. We decided to do eggs like this again.

 Brooklyn showing off her pink egg

 Abigail and Brooklyn. Don't mind Abigail's hair I didn't do it yet, so it was nice and poofy. Curse of the natural curly hair.

 Abigail rubbing her egg.

 Our finished product

 Xavier and Brooklyn in their Easter shirts.

For lunch I went up to Salt Lake and had lunch with some of my old roommates. We went to Zupas. It was really good, and fun to catch up with these girls. One of them is pregnant and due in 3 weeks she looks about 6 months pregnant so small. We are going to try to hang out more often.

Saturday night we went to dinner with most of my siblings. My sister surprised us and came down from Seattle. We were going to go to Texas Roadhouse, but there was a 3 hour wait. So we decided to go to Tacanos, but there was a 2 1/2 hour wait so we went to La Jolla Grove. It is a really yummy place. Mike and I have been before and when they said a 10 minute wait we were happy. After dinner we went to my brother's house to have cake for my sisters birthday. It was just a good night got home late, Mike and I stayed up later, because we had to make food for the next day.

 Xavier in his Easter outfit. I bought it big so he could grow into it.

 Brooklyn in her Easter dress. The most serious look I have ever seen her make.

 Normal Cheesy girl

 Our girls

 Cute boy

 They made funny faces in this one.

 Abigail by herself.

This is my side of the family. First time in 5 years since we have been together.

Sunday we went to church, Mike sang in the choir and they sounded really good. Our two youngest took turns being cranky and crying. Mike and I were in the hall a lot. Abigail had to give a talk in Primary so we  went and did that, then left to go to my family party. We had lunch, then we took pictures. After that we had an Easter egg hunt. I hid eggs then had to go feed Xavier so I didn't get any pictures. After that we had desert Mike made Creme Brulee. It was so good. He hasn't made it since we got married. My family loved it and asked him if he would make it again. We only had enough ramekin's to make 1 per couple plus 1 extra. Everyone wanted more so we told them to buy us more and we can make more next time.  We also had pound cake and strawberries that my sister-in-law made. Which was pretty good. We went to my grandma Smith's house after that, it was her birthday and they have an annual Easter party. Mike and I didn't stay very long, because it was cold and windy and Xavier hated it and was screaming the whole time. We thought it just wasn't worth it. We came home and did a puzzle with our kids then played the wii. It was a good Easter.

Getting ready to celebrate Easter

We have been trying to teach Abigail the true meaning of Easter. We still got her a basket and stuff, but we want her to know why we celebrate it. After telling her about the resurrection we asked her why we celebrate. She said "because Jesus died, but he was really sleeping so he was awake again." We are going to still work on it. But I think she is slowly getting the idea. Before she thought it was all about eggs and stuff. Abigail is giving a talk in primary on Sunday about how Jesus was resurrected.

I am so excited for them to get their new Easter dresses to wear to church. I will post pictures of them. Last year I got them the same dresses. This year they are almost the same style but different. I got Xavier and outfit too, but I bought it to big so he could wear it for awhile. So hopefully he will have some of it on.