Good-Bye January!

Today is the day! Can I get a hallelujah?!

I know today isn't the last day of January, but let me tell you about today!

1. Kaycee went back to school. I don't think I heard her cough once this morning -

GLORIOUS!

2. Headed to Target - it's been a while. (It's only to pick up a bday gift for a party Clay's headed to tomorrow, but it's still fun to look around.)

3. I finished my first blog book last night and will finalize/order it today! (only 2 more to go!)

4. Pizza and Movie night tonight with the WHOLE family because . . . .

drum roll please!

5. Ryan's deadline is at 3pm today!! The light at the end of the tunnel is here!

Blessed day! And, I mean BLESSED DAY!

6. And, I'm 15 weeks today!

Happy last Friday in January to you!

January - not really my favorite

January has always been a little depressing to me. After all the holidays and spending time with family, January just seems a little dreary, nothing really to look forward to. This January though, has been a little more rough than we're used to. As soon as we returned from Utah, Ryan was thrown right into work with doing budgets and forecasts - for the WHOLE company. He had warned me that he may not be around as much this month, but I had no idea!

Working 80+ hour weeks - 93 hours this past week. Some Sundays we'd get to see him, but others he had church meeting after church meeting. We are certainly not used to not seeing him as he hasn't had to travel almost at all this past year. We were spoiled.

Well this past 93 hour work week, I toted 5 kids around each evening as we met with the Bishop (I finally got a new calling after being released 8 weeks ago!), trying not to draw too much attention to ourselves although kids loudly proclaimed they did not want to be watching Rylee at her gymnastics lesson, then rushing over to a Relief Society activity hoping to get some sort of needed break - what was I thinking! Olivia was all over me (she had been asleep) as she was coughing and ornery. Poor girl. The next day I took Olivia to the dr and was informed she has RSV. Lucy and Kaycee are now forming to the couch with fevers, coughs, and Kaycee tossed her cookies this morning. I'm wiped. I can't even imagine how Ryan feels or how he's even functioning.

But you now what?

Sounds like life to me it aint no fantasy
It's just a common case of everyday reality
Man, I know it's tough but you gotta suck it up
To hear you talk you're caught up in some tragedy
It sounds like life to me.
(Darryl Worley, Sounds Like Life to Me)

This song made me chuckle when I heard it. But, as hard as life may seem to be, we just need to "keep on keepin on," and push through. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel (unless it's another train!) :) But, it could ALWAYS be worse, right? I must still say though, I can't wait for February!

Eating My Words

"My husband and I both come from families of 7 children and we loved it. We're not going for 7 though!"

Well . . .

We're happy to announce that

Baby Hunt #7 is on the way!

Joining the ranks in July!

They Make Me Laugh - Listening to Kaycee & Lucy

Here are some things I heard from Kaycee and Lucy this past week.

Kaycee is the queen of making up songs. Her latest:
"I love Mom just a teeny bit more than Grandma,
Just a teeny bit more than Grandpa."


Lucy hears me burp.
Lucy:"Mom, say excuse me."
Me: "Oh yes, excuse me."
Lucy looks away and disappointedly says "moms don't burp."


Bless my Mom's heart, she mailed us everything we'd left behind in Utah - which made a pretty good sized package! Thanks, mom! When we opened the package, Kaycee grabs her glitter ball and puts it up to her nose.
KC: "ahh, it smells like Grammies."
Me: "Really?" (you sure it doesn't smell like rubber??)
KC: "No, it actually smells like Sicily." (her cousin)
Me: "Sicily? What does Sicily smell like?"
KC: "Like cotton balls."

By now Lucy is smelling Clay's football and quietly says " I don't smell Grammies."


Kaycee being sweet holding one of Lucy's hands while I put a band aid on a cut finger on the other. Kaycee gasps "Lucy! Don't put up that finger - that's your swear finger!"


Sitting by Olivia on the couch, she grabs a movie case and shoves it in my robe. Nice.

Orange Julius, anyone?

6 oz. frozen orange juice concentrate
1 cup milk (or powdered milk)
1 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1-2 cups ice (about 10 ice cubes or so)

1. Combine all ingredients in blender adding ice one at a time.

I just made this for the kids. It's been years since I'd had one - we used to make them growing up. Thought I'd share. Enjoy!

I've never had one before!

A little klepto...

A few days before we left for Utah, this little one found out the greatness of stuffing random things down her pajamas - her footed pajamas.

First, it was Christmas ornaments, then her pacifier, to random toys (saving for later?), to really upping the anty to cell phones! Just the other day I found my phone down her pants! yum.

On this day, she pulled out a pair of Lucy's underwear (clean!) from the suitcase. She wanted them on, so I put them on her over her jammies. I think this was the best thing ever for her as she realized that she could put things IN the underwear - like pockets! Since the underwear was such a hit, she moved on to KC's pajama shorts. Not as effective, but still held everything on the inside, just right.

Look at that belly!

I love this girl.

Christmas 2009

We spent Christmas in Utah this year with my family.

Christmas Eve - The Nativity

My mom and sister had gone over earlier in the day to set up the tables and put up a Christmas tree in the Relief Society room - it was perfect! I wish I would have gotten a picture of the tree with ALL of the gifts around. Leave it to my mom to make everything look so good! I can't imagine wrapping and making gift tags for all those gifts, it was awesome. And, dinner was incredible too.

After the kids open their gifts from Gma and Gpa, the adults open their gifts from Mom and Dad. After we watch Gma and Gpa open their gifts, we do the family gift exchanges, then some white elephant fun for the adults followed by some games. It's A LOT of fun!

Christmas Morning

This was the only time I think our camera made it out. Christmas morning. Thanks to Micki for all the other photos.

The rest of Christmas Day was filled with good food, friendly volleyball games, kids running the halls, some floor hockey and dodge ball. So fun to be together.

Dinner at The Roof in Salt Lake

One of the greatest gifts from my parents. We had a great time (with a great view!) at this gourmet buffet on top of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. We finished eating and watched the lights come on at Temple Square.

Beautiful!


It was a great Christmas. Besides having various illnesses throughout the 9 days we were there, it was perfect for getting in some R&R!