A new Year

Well This is in true Joanna Rowland form, a little behind. The end of this year was great. New baby, Ben's break from school, School recitals, Thanksgiving recitals, Christmas pageants, me and Olivia playing Mary and baby Jesus for Tommy's preschool. Olivia's blessing, the holidays. Now we get to begin the year with Ben's new semester at school, a better work schedule for him (no more nights, yay!), Jake turning eight, baptism, cub scouts. Tommy continuing in preschool, Potty training for Ava, Olivia sleeping well at night and growing a ton, and as for me, I have tons of things I want to work on. Get better at reading my scriptures (I never seem to get that one), being a better wife and mother (don't we all think we can improve in that area?) I want to have more time (and energy) to play with my kids and have fun. Be better at blogging so people still know I'm alive and well. I want to get at least one post up a month, I think I can do it. I want to do more things for me...with 4 kids I think I've kind of lost who I am and I need to get back to doing some things for myself. I don't think that's selfish, I think it's necessary so I don't slowly go insane. I am blessed with great kids. They are intelligent, funny, sweet, very energetic children and I'm lucky to have them. I have a great husband who is very patient and loving and helps me to see that, despite my criticisms of myself, I'm a great gal. Anyway, here's hoping for an awesome year!

finally....pictures

Sorry it's taken so long...It's amazing how little time you have to get on the computer when you have another baby. Anyway, here are some pictures of the little lady. I think she looks a lot like Ava when she was born so, she's pretty stinkin' cute. She is a really good baby and Ava has taken possession of her. She always runs over next to me, sits down and smacks her legs letting me know she wants to hold Olivia. The boys adore her and talk about her to anybody who will listen, even random people in the grocery store. We love her a ton and are very happy to have her here.

Olivia

Well, I know I stink at posting lately, but I just wanted to say that Olivia was born this morning at 7:53 am...with no epidural...I don't recommend it. Everything happened so fast that they said I didn't have time to get one. I was terrified, but I got through it, the most excruciating pain of my life, and now I can say that I've done it, but hope to never have to do it again. She's beautiful and looks a lot like her sister. My parents brought Jake and Tommy by to see her and they were grinning ear to ear and so excited that she was here. Tommy wanted to skip the trunk-or-treat to come see her. MY in-laws brought Ava by after her nap. She was little unsure of the whole thing and looked like she was going to cry when she saw me holding somebody other than her. She warmed up a little though and at least gave her a little touch. We are both doing good despite the bumpy road and look forward to being at home. I will get some pictures up here as soon as I can. (yeah, we walked out the door this morning without the camera, so we will get some pictures later)

What the Hey!?!

So, it's been an interesting week. We had an earthquake and a hurricane within 6 days. I can honestly say that's never happened before. The earthquake was super weird and freaked me out seeing our shed moving and everything rattling and falling off walls. And has anyone ever seen windows get all wavy?? weird. The hurricane wasn't as bad as we were expecting but it did take down a lot of trees and we are without power. We gave in and bought a generator which I didn't want to spend the money on but have grown to have a little crush on even though it is loud. At least we will not lose money on tons of food in our fridge and big freezer, plus with the money we save from not paying for electricity for who knows how long we may recoup the money. Gas is hard to find but luckily everyone in my family and their homes came through it OK. It is weird to be raking leaves up in your yard and have them be green instead of orange and yellow.
In other news...if all the schools in the county get electricity back, school will be starting for Jake next week. He will be in second grade. He's super excited. Tommy is less enthusiastic to be going back to school but I told him it's only three days a week and he'll be fine. I think deep down he may be a little excited...then again...Ava is going to be 18 months old on Saturday. My little baby will start nursery next week, just in time for her to get comfortable in there before the new baby gets here. Whoohoo!!! Ben just started the semester and wants to quit his job so bad so he can focus on school. I agree that it would be good but we have to wait a little while. As for moi, I am 30 weeks pregnant and feeling every week of it. But, the end is in sight and I'm looking forward to it but terrified at the same time. Anyway, that's all for now, the boys just got home from visiting their Papa so I gotta run.

To the Mountains!

This weekend we decided to get out of the house. We went up to Carter Mountain Orchards again (we love that place). Jake likes their apple cider doughnuts and their cider and I wanted some peaches. The kids had a nice time and we took a picnic up there. Now, we will wait to go up there again closer to the end of summer for some more peaches. and then head back up for the apple harvest festival in the Fall for the last time before the baby gets here. We are looking forward to it.

In the Pool

Ben decided to get a pool for the back yard. I was kind of wary of it but it has turned out to be a good thing. The boys spend a lot of time in it and it wears them out which is necessary for summer. Ava doesn't like it very much but is very content and happy sitting in a bucket of water right beside the pool. Who am I to tell her what she should do? If she's happy in the bucket I say let her be. Ben has had some time off of school which has been nice since come Fall we apparently won't see him anymore, he'll be super busy. He was stung on two separate occasions this past week from running over bees nests in the ground. Once while mowing our grass and a couple days later mowing my sister Jess' grass...he vowed never to help Jess again, which we all know is a lie, he loves her too much. He had minor complications from it and his legs still itch but at least his legs don't look like the stay puff marshmallow man anymore. We found out several weeks ago that we are having another girl (for all of those who haven't been informed). So, Ava will have a sister. Ben is happy about this as Ava currently goes around with space shuttles and cars making the appropriate motor sounds and likes to copy her brothers as they dismantle a room. I am not worried about her really. She still gets really excited when she sees dolls and stuffed animals in the store so I tell him she's just well balanced.

update

ok,I've been pretty bad about posting pictures and I still haven't totally figured out the new camera. It's not a point and shoot so I'm having trouble getting in focus pictures. Annoying. Anyway, here are some more recent pictures of the kids. They are growing fast and I wanted to get some pictures up here (especially a header picture with Ava in it to prove that we have three kids) before the new baby gets here. I love my kids, they are adorable and funny and I can't get enough.