Preparing for Christmas 2011

Oh Christmas Tree! This year I made the executive decision that I wanted a fake tree. Ben didn't put up too much of a fight so we went to Target and picked one that we could both agree on. In the store it looked on the ugly side, and wasn't as full as I wanted it to be. Once we got it setup, I couldn't be happier with it. I don't think that the person that set up the tree fluffed out all of the branches of the tree. There are hundreds of those things to fluff. Katelynn liked the box and Mark made sure that we put the tree together correctly. I also decided that I was just going to put lights on the tree without the ornaments. I am glad I did that since the day after we set it up Katelynn knocked the tree over and a couple weeks later she did it again. 

Katelynn did make sure that we turned on the lights on the tree everyday and she would decorate it with the Little People Nativity set. We did acquire a few more decorations throughout December that I put high in tree that Katelynn would point to and want to play with everyday.

Katelynn and I went to the Clovis Light parade. Which was going fine until the parade started. All that she wanted to do was run up and down in the street and wouldn't stop and sit so, we left the parade early again. Maybe one year we will make it through the parade. I did make little powdered doughnut snowmen that were very cute and very gone! They went so quick that I didn't get a chance to take a picture of the final product. Katelynn helped me to make the snowmen and some cookies. I also caught her eating the candy cane marshmallows and the rice-crispie treats. Mark was just as cute as he could be throughout it all.

For Ben's Birthday this year I did the "12 Days of Ben's Birthday" Starting on the 16th. He got a few lego things, a lego book, and Big Rig. Jelly beans from Jelly Belly, a couple of board games and stuff I can't remember. He was very surprised by it.

The Swann's came over for dinner one night and Tara and Brynne were able to help make gingerbread houses. This year the set came with five little houses and I think it worked out great since you got to design your own house and they weren't too big. I think Tara, Brynne and Katelynn had fun making them. 

I also took some pictures of the kids at Primary and here is the picture I took of Katelynn.  

Mark is 3 Months

Yesterday Mark had his 3 month birthday. I just love him. He usually is in a good mood and is such a mellow little guy. He is wearing 6 month clothes very well now and should be moving on to size three diapers soon but I hope to use up the size 2 that I have left. He eats about 6-7, 4-5 ounce bottles a day. Sometimes he will just eat it all and sometimes he will only eat 3 ounces, which is just fine since he isn't lacking in the growth department.
His naps are a work in progress. He would just love to sleep on me or Ben for his naps all the time but that isn't going to happen. He usually takes at least 4 catnaps a day. I can't wait for him to stretch those out. He falls asleep in our arms and then we put him into his crib and he will wake up in about 20 minutes with an average sleep time of 45 min to an hour. Hopefully, something will get figured out.
Today we went to the Dr for an immunization and he is now 14lbs even. He is me bald headed, blue eyed, bowling ball, baby boy. And just as cute as can be.
He likes tummy time so much better than Katelynn ever did. He can hold his head up at about 90 degrees and will look around for a good 5 minutes. He loves to sit in his bouncy and kick to make himself rock. He also loves to bat at the over the head toys he grabbed onto one of them octopus legs and was tasting that. He smiles so much and is starting to giggle.




He also rolled over from his tummy to back three times yesterday. I didn't think it was a fluke, but he hasn't done it since, so maybe it was a fluke.

For a special treat yesterday Mark and Porter met. Porter was one day old. Katelynn had a runny nose so Ben and Katelynn stayed home while we went to Kevin and Beth's for a quick peek at our newest nephew. Boy, what a difference three months and 7 lbs make, but boy is Porter a cute little thing with a ton of hair.
Porter was singing "Popcorn Popping"

2011 Thanksgiving 2

We had Thanksgiving Dinner with Ben's family on Thursday. It was pretty mellow, well as mellow as it could be with 8 grandkids running around. It was great that it was nice enough for the kids to be playing outside. There is a cinder block path in the backyard that they were having a good time walking across. Uncle Caleb gave the kids some oranges to eat and I think that they were a little sour. Mark slept for most of the time. 

We did take a couple minutes and take a family picture of most of us. John and Ammy were in Colorado, Porter was still in Heaven (for three more days), and RW was taking the pictures since he doesn't like to be in the pictures. It is wonderful to see all the growth and changes in our family over the years.

Thanksgiving 2011

Before we left for Legoland I commissioned myself to be in charge of cooking the bird this year for my families Thanksgiving. I got the recpie from Our Best Bites (I get quite a few recipes from there). So, I had to get it thawing before we left so that it would be ready by Wednesday night. Over the years it has become our families tradition to have Thanksgiving on the Wednesday night. It just seems to work out best that way. I had never even thought of brineing a turkey before but the blog post made me want to give it a try. So, the bird was brined and then cooked and then eaten so fast there was no leftovers! It was the best turkey that I had ever eaten. I don't know what everyone else thinks but I am hoping to do that again. 

Ben Carved the turkey. Ever since I can remember my family always has an appetizer bar for family dinners. It usually consists of: Potato Chips, onion dip, Mike's Salsa and Chips, Veggies with ranch dip, Ritz, and maybe some other random stuff. It is one of the things that we look forward to on family dinners. And I have gotten a picture of Mike at that bar quite a few times now! Aunt Sarah and Damien trying to console Mark. Katelynn playing with the puzzles. I was wondering why I had a random picture of Jesse then I looked closer and saw what was on his feet. Cinderella's Glass Slippers! There were two pairs of shoes that night and Katelynn, Max and Jesse were wearing them. 

Getting together is always a fun and crazy time especially when Katelynn is there.We all survive though. 

Legoland California

 A couple weeks after Mark was born we went over to Adam and Sandy's to swim and have dinner. While we were there they told us that they had went to Legoland CA using a Homeschooling option and were able to get into the park a lot cheaper than paying full price. Since Ben LOVES Legos we decided to check into it and see about going. There are only certian days that you can go and only one day that would work in our schedule, the    Monday before Thanksgiving. We planned it and decided to go. We packed ourselves up, and headed to Caleb and Heather's to stay the night on Saturday and Sunday and the cousins had some fun playing together, as you can see, Uncle Caleb is somewhere underneath all five of the kids on that chair.   Then we went to Legoland on Monday. 

Ben and I went on the rides with Katelynn since she of course couldn't go on any of them by herself as she was too young. Katelynn didn't like having to wait to get into the park. 

Mark was along for the ride. He chilled mostly in the stroller. Another reason Ben wanted to check out Legoland was because he heard that there was a Star Wars display going on. Katelynn and Ben checked out the displays of Chewbacca and R2-D2. The Millennium Falcon was pretty huge.

Katelynn's Favorite ride of the day was a helicopter that went around in an oval and whipped you quickly around the turns. Let's just say during the ride there was squeals of delight and when we had to get off there were squeals of horror since she wanted to stay on the ride. Taking turns and waiting patiently for things isn't something she likes to do. Ben or I would wait in the line she and Mark were with one of us outside the line and then when it was her turn we would grab her to take her on the ride.

We stayed for about 3-4 hours and that was enough time for her and us. They did have their Christmas decorations up so we were able to get a picture in front of the Christmas Tree made of Legos. One thing we did wish they had was more things made out of Legos. There really wasn't too many things that were made out of them throughout the park. It was fun and I am glad that Ben had a good time too, theme parks aren't his favorite thing but he loves when Katelynn is happy and this did make her happy. 

Family Pictures

I wanted to get family pictures done this year and so I called Gwen Hawkins and we met at Woodward Park to take these. I am so happy that she did them. They turned out great.

I asked Gwen to take this last picture because I liked it when I saw it on Pinterest. Ben thought it was corny oh well I don't and that is what matters! I don't think that we would take pictures there again since there was so much duck poop! And poor Ben got some on his pants and boy does that stuff stink too.

Mark's Blessing

For Mark's blessing we kept with our tradition and had the blessing not during Sacrament meeting. Ben gave him his blessing on Oct 16, 2011. My parents, Ben's parents, Caleb, Heather, Jackson, Eden, Jonah, Joshua, Kevin, Beth, Tara, Brynne, Mike, Sarah, Max, Jesse, Ben, Katelynn, and I were in our home for that special time. Ben gave Mark a very sweet blessing that we were able to record correctly this time, unlike when Katelynn was blessed and there was a user error that didn't catch her blessing.
I am grateful for the Priesthood that has been restored to the Earth to give us a greater knowledge of he love that our Heavenly Father has for us. I am grateful that the power of the Priesthood that it can give me and my children the comfort and strength whenever they need it. I am grateful that Ben has been able to bless myself and our children countless times, I know that there have been many more blessings in our home since having kids than ever before and I am grateful that Ben has been worthy and able to give the blessing to us.

Of course there are pictures from that day.

Mark ready for church. Ben and I both agreed that we did not like the white blessing outfits that were made for boys. So, after some trial and error of trying to find something that we agreed for him to wear we settled on a blue button down shirt with khaki pants.

Mark's, "Oh, you were talking to me" face.


Another surprised face.


Mark Andrew 1.5 months old


Katelynn being soft to Mark


Katelynn eating the remnants of an empty Mint and Chip Ice Cream container.



Our first ever attempts at a family picture. Next time, don't try and take a picture with cousins running around having fun, made for great memories though!


Mommy and Mark



The afternoon went very well and I think that everyone had an enjoyable time. We really love having family in our home. It is a tight space to have everyone there, but no one seems to comment about that while it is happening, we just worry about it before the event happens. We do wish that our entire family could have been there but they were missed and loved.

Halloween

Halloween was fun this year. We took Katelynn and Mark to the Pumpkin Patch, I don't think that we will go there again, the pumpkin selection wasn't the greatest,  but we did enjoy hayride. 

I liked my Halloween decor this year. It really did feel pretty festive.

This was the first year that we actually carved a pumpkin. I tried to carve the pumpkin but I wasn't getting too far so Ben ended up carving it all while I emptied the pumpkin. Katelynn thought it was pretty weird what we were doing but she was pretty entertained by it too. And Mark just watched from his carseat. After we got the face done Katelynn liked to put it back together like a puzzle.

For Halloween Katelynn was Dorothy Mark was a lion and was a witch. I made Mark's mane,   even though some thought he was a flower. He looked cute no matter what.

We had a good showing of people come to our house Trick-or-treating. By the end of the night Katelynn  was so excited to hear the door bell and she would be wanting to help hand out the candy. She was also excited to hand out candy to herself. By the end of the night she was saying trick or treat to me so that I would give her candy! 

Katelynn's First trim

In two and a half years I haven't cut her hair. It was finally time to do something with it though. It was looking pretty scraggly. I was going to take her in and have someone else cut it, but after Ben said he only wanted an inch cut off I decided to do it myself. Her hair has so many different layers cutting an inch off wouldn't even get close to trimming all of her hair.

Katelynn's hair EVERY morning, quite the raggamuffin


Before

After


She didn't even know I did anything. I was hoping she wouldn't see the scissors cutting and get an idea.



I barely cut anything off, but it looks so much better. I did save that tiny bit of hair that I cut off.

Katelynn 2.5 years old

Katelynn is now 2.5 years old. She is my ball of fire, always wanting to go somewhere and do something. She is fun and she is a handful. You really never know what she is going to get into. Her conversation skills are improving so, that is nice. I am trying to increase my conversation level with her to help her know more words and be able to express her needs to me.
At 2.5 years she likes to watch Cinderella (yea-yea), Princess and the Frog (Frog), Mulan, Tangled, and Toy Story (Woody and Buzz) and Mouse (Mickey Mouse Clubhouse).
She likes to line things up. She will get her letter and number magnets and line them up and down the fridge. She will also line up the silicone cupcake wrappers.
She is starting to know wonder where Mark is more. She asks where the baby is quite a few times during the day and she won't give up looking for him until he is found. He is usually napping and so I try to quietly show her where he is but she will call out "ere he is" and wake him up 50% of the time. She knows to be gentle with him but isn't always gentle. She hasn't hit him purposefully that I have seen but she will try and put too much of her weight on him when she is giving him a hug.
Her favorite toys at the moment are Mr. Potato head and Mega Blocks (which we have 200 blocks) and her Little People Farm.
She is growing up right before our eyes and I am just trying to love this time that is going by too fast, but loving this time is hard when she is whining at you that is for sure.
Katelynn was playing in the bathroom and Ben called to her in the front room, she stopped playing and said, "I comining...I comining daee" (daddy) and went to him in the front room. I thought it was the most adorable thing to hear her say that. She is learning and growing and I love her to death. I surely hope she understands what I say when I tell her I love her each day.

Pictures taken on 10/5/11
She was saying "Oh No!" in a sad way about something.


I took these pictures while I was chasing her around the tree in the front yard. I knew by doing that I would get a good smile, and I did.


My personal Favorite! The true wild woman in action! LOVE it! I can just see the life in her eyes.



A Smile