Monday, September 12, 2011

Family Update

Ivan: Teaches Algebra and Special Ed at Poston Butte High School. We love his new job. Its a lot closer and the kids and I try and take him lunch at least three times a week since its only about 10 mins form our house. The girls LOVE to see him at lunch time!! He continues to work on our irrigation port and fencing so we can have grass soon. He cares for our goats and milks them daily. Serves in the Elders Quorum Pres. He recently finished his Masters. He ran in a track meet recently and did AWESOME!! I love watching him with the kids and they love any minute they can have with their daddy!

Me: Having child number three has been a bit of a challenge. Less sleep, outnumbered, etc. But I am absolutely loving motherhood. I love having Ivan close and not doing homework all hours of the night. I started teaching preschool again this year and have a fun, small sized class. I am serving as YW President and love it. I went to girls camp this summer and thoroughly enjoyed the girls and felling the Spirit. I went to Utah and had a great weekend with my sisters at my Grandma's bed and Breakfast. It was a much needed bonding/relaxing time!

Marlee: She LOVES to swim. She wants to get better each time. Jumping off the diving board/rocks- She won't come up for air until she runs out which scares us... She is the BEST big sister to Brandtson and helps me out so much through out the day. She is super friendly and enjoys playing with pretty much anyone. She is the oldest kid in my preschool and is such a good helper. She is starting to write some letters and we are beginning to understand what she is drawing. She loves calling and talking to people on the phone and is pretty much a good kid. We got a second opinion (other than my own) about her being allergic to milk and it is confirmed. She also has enlarged tonsils which we are trying to heal naturally for a couple of months before having to remove them or not. Part of the natural way is to avoid sugar, dairy, etc. So in church on Sunday, her primary teacher told me how she was offered Skittles. She said, 'Does that have sugar in it?" And of course the teacher said yes so Marlee responded, "My mommy said I can't have sugar." I feel bad but know that it would be worth it in the long run if we can save her tonsils. She is really into playing babies, barbies and pretend.

Josie: Josie is a little sneaky thing. She gets into my make-up, Daddy's tools, my necklaces and cooking utensils-pretty much anything that is off limits. But we still love her. She is a a water lover. She will go and put herself in the bathtub any time of day to play in the water. She enjoys swimming too, but is a little apprehensive. She is a great nap taker! She loves when Brandtson wakes up and loves waking him up if she wants to play with him while he is napping. She is a cuddler. She likes to tease and get a reaction out of Marlee and loves to wrestle with Anyone and won't stop when her opponent taps out! She is a follower to whatever everyone else is doing as long as its fun and but yet she is totally okay with playing by herself while other are playing. She loves the Toy story characters as well as the Rapunzel characters.
 
Brandston: He is on a roll this month....He is six months old. He started crawling last week. Started pulling himself up on furniture and walking along the furniture as well as his first tooth broke threw skin last night. He is growing up WAY too fast. He is a great little baby. He loves all of the attention his sisters will give him. He chases them around the house at a slow crawling speed, but still loves it! He is starting to become a mama's boy and says, "mama" when he is stuck, super sad, etc.(Thanks to his sisters and dad who think its funny and taught him how to say "mama.") I'm a little nervous he is going to start walking soon!


 Overall, we feel completely blessed to have such wonderful kids and for Ivan to have a family orients job. LIFE IS GOOD!!!

Sunday, August 7, 2011

"No pictures" is holding me back...

So I have had a hard time blogging because Ivan doesn't want me to download any pictures to the computer til he is done with his Masters because it slows our computer down. I will have to sneak one in:)

Last week was super fun. I spent the weekend in Utah with my sisters. We stayed with my grandma at her bed and breakfast. massages, pedicures, make up, hair, my grandma fixed us breakfast/lunch/dinners, picnic at the lake, etc. One of my favorite things was that I was able to go to the Manti Temple. It seriously is so gorgeous. It sits on the hill over looking the valley and is stunning! Plus I had a great session and felt the spirit! I got to visit with two of my Junior high friends and see my cousin Jace, who just returned from his mission!
While I was gone, my kids had fun with the Winter's, Mack's and Lesueur's! Thanks to everyone who helped out! I took Brandtson and he was super good, of course- he's such a good baby!



Monday, August 1, 2011

Hay

Hay as in-- Hay for animals....Here is a little story about Hay.
We got goats about a year ago and hay cost $7.00 for one bale.
In the winter, Hay was hard to find and it was $12.00 a bale.
We thought it would go back down during farming season, but it has not. But here is the sad part...
Rumor has it that come this winter its going to cost between $20-$30 a bale! SERIOUSLY!!! I guess its the whole supply and demand concept. So if your in need of hay, better stock up before winter hits!!!

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Week in a nutshell

Monday, watched my friends kids. Ivan started his first day of teaching!!
Tuesday, Nat and her kids came over and helped me move things around in my house to get things ready for my preschool. It was fun hanging out with them :)
Wednesday, went to the FLOW rider in Mesa with the priest and laurels for mutual. It was so much fun!!!!
Thursday, Nat came over again to help with the house more..Gavin and Mary came over and I helped tutor him in math. Had a good visit with him!
Friday, I just went to town on cleaning the house so we could have an enjoyable weekend.
Saturday we had family time and had our neighbors over for a visit. Then we made home made ice cream and watched a movie together as a family!
Sunday we went to church, took a nap and then visited with mine and Ivan's families! Good day!

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Missionary Work

Today was a great day. It stared off at 6:30 in the morning with gong to ward council~! Then church. The Elders that are serving in our ward spoke in Sacrament meeting along with a ward missionary and the ward mission leader. It was a great meeting. I love hearing peoples conversion stories. I love hearing about missionary work. Ironically, our YW lesson was on missionary work too. It was a good lesson and I really love my Laurels! I challenged them to push their comfort zone because we never really know who is interested in the gospel or the seeds we can plant! one of the best ways to share the gospel is to live it!
We came home, ate lunch and then we all took a three hour nap! Then headed to a friends family get together . Overall GREAT day!

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Setting up Ivan's class

Today we had a good family day. We had spent the night with Gavin and Mary and went swimming again. We also went an ran errands to get things for Ivan's classroom. We then went to his classroom and set it up. He starts school on Monday. He is going to be teaching math to reg and sped students. I am excited for him:)

Friday, July 22, 2011

Fun Friday

Ivan had work. I hung out with a new friend and her kids! Its the tender mercies of the Lord that make life great. I have had a few close friends move away and another one to move next month and I was thinking that I was going to miss them since our kids always hung out. Well, at church I met a new friend and our kids are the same ages:) She and her boys come over and we hit it off so well, I know that the Lord allowed me to meet her and act upon it.
After work, we played Volleyball with Kyle, Bobbi and crew. Then we went night swimming with Gavin and Mary and our kiddos. Ivan and Gavin worked with Marlee on how to swim. She's getting so good!
We spent the night with them too!

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Swimming

We went swimming with the Winters today. Marlee loves to swim on the first step that is shallow but won't venture out, which is good, but I would love for her to want to learn to swim. Josie is scared to jump in. She likes using floaters, but still wants to hang on to an adult. Hopefully once of these years I can afford swimming lessons for all of my kids! Brandtson loved the pool too. All of the swimming wore us out so we all got to take a nap! Then we hung out with the Stalder family, while Ivan finished up a big assignment he had for his class. That's pretty much our day! Good night:)

Back in Business

Well, I have five months of daily entries in a word document and pictures in Picassa that I just need to get it together and upload! I still have been journaling but for some reason the blog scared me and I felt overwhelmed, but I am over it :)

So I am starting up again! YEAH!!!!

So today was a super fun day. Watched my friends kids, then she watched mine. Made chocolate and strawberry custard with goats milk. We had a fun activity tonight for mutual. The girls milked a goat and then tried butter, cheese and ice cream all made from goats milk. It was pretty awesome!

Just an FYI:
  • Goats milk is really good for you, its way better than the ultra pasteurized cow' milk that is full of hormones...Glad for this knowledge and can actually now say after a long time, that I AM GLAD WE HAVE GOATS!!!

Here is a quick family shot from Disney Land til I get it all back logged with pictures...

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Going Home... well kind of AND ramdom thoughts

Today we got to home! Well, I am actually going to stay at my moms house for a while until Marlee can get over being sick. We are blessed that Ivan has some time off and can take care of the girls while I recover.
Well, Brandtson gets cuter by the minute. (Of course ever mom thinks that about their own baby.) I just love watching him while he sleeps. Its amazing these little spirits get to come to us and be part of our lives. Heavenly Father puts a lot of trust in us to raise His children. Wow!Yes nursing still hurts with baby number three. And I am now starting to feel the full delayed aches of child birth:) Miss not being with Ivan and the girls. Grateful for all my family and Ivan's family for all their help. Oh and we sold another goat tonight! Our neighbor called us ans said someone was stealing our goat but I had to explain that we had already arranged for our other neighbor to buy our goat. Gotta love our watchful neighbors.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Good Night

We had a good night last night. Brandtson and I slept for four hours straight. Not much to report other than we are doing well. Ivan went to take care of the girls while my mom came to the hospital to take care of me. Not much to report.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Brandtson Guy Mack

He arrived today! Brandtson finally decided to join our family. Here is how it came about...
We were sleeping downstairs at the Macks. At around two twenty  I had a hard contraction. I fell back to sleep and twenty mins later I had another. Fell back to sleep and had another one ten mins later and then another ten mins later. So I figured I should wake Ivan up and let him know they were progressing fairly quick. I did not want to have a baby at home or in the car so we decided to get ready to go. We woke up Moneta to let her know we were going to go to the hospital. Marlee woke up and asked me if it was daytime and I told her no, but that mom was going to go have the baby! She got excited, went to the bathroom and came out and said she had clean hands and can hold the baby when he comes out. She rubbed my belly and said I love you. Another contraction hit at seven mins  so I did some of my yoga moves to work through the contraction and Marlee asked if I was doing yoga. (Nothing gets by this girl)then six mins and another contraction so we headed out the door.
We arrived at the hospital and they checked us in. Checked me and I was at a 3. The nurse told me she was going to monitor me and the baby for twenty mins then see what happened. Of course once you lay down and stop moving, the contractions slow down. So twenty mins later, Ivan and I started walking around and the contractions picked up and by five thirty I was heading to labor and delivery. The contractions picked up as well as the pain. They called the doctor and prayed he'd get there in time:)
Well, I did not have time for an epidural but got some numbing in my spine which did not really kick in fully but did mask some of the pain. It was about four or five series of pushing and then he came out! I loved how they put him right on my chest and I could see the little cutie.
Brandston was born at 6:45am and weighed 7lbs 7 ounces. He was 20.5 inches long and was six days past due!


 The girls came and visited and Marlee was sooooo excited to hold him! We love our new addition to the family and glad we are all doing well!


Rain and wedding stuff

It rained a ton today. It was nice and refreshing. Since we slept over last night at the Mack house we had a fun time playing with Amanda and the kids today. We finalized bridesmaids outfits for Sasha's wedding. And just hung out.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Fun Friday

We were all over the place today. Nat and I (and of course the kids) went to San Tan mall to let the kids play there. We then headed over to some other stores to walk around and try to get labor going. No luck. Then we put the kids down for a nap and headed out to Last Chance. Nat got some shoes. Had some spicy wings for dinner. Headed to the Mack's and helped Sasha with some of the runners for her wedding.
Still nothing labor wise:)

Thursday, February 17, 2011

O is for Octopus--
Lindsay came over with her kids and Josie and Bostyn had a cute little tea party...


Went to a viewing for Breanna Pena. She past away last week from cancer. It was a sweet viewing service. She had such a strong spirit and was a good fighter. She will be missed by so many.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Quality time with the girls

Today we had an enjoyable day and I am glad I got to spend a day with the girls before this baby comes. We went to the park for about and hour. Then we went to the library for the first time. They lasted about five mins reading books, but they have a fun kids corner with puzzles, toys and other small books for kids to read. Afterward we ate lunch together, took naps and then went for a walk.

 We went to mutual and then when we came home we played princess dress up and danced. Now I get to sit and listen to them talking to each other in their beds when they are suppose to be sleeping, but they are enjoying each others company.
If our little guy decided to come tomorrow I am glad that I got to spend the day with the girls.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Due Date

Today was my ultra sound due date and still no baby. I went and taught preschool. It was fun. We made little Valentines for their parents and practiced counting with conversation hearts. Afterward, Natalie and I spent a good five hours at my house, cleaning, organizing, etc. No labor signs though, but at least I have a house ready to come home to :)

Monday, February 14, 2011

Valentines Day

Mostly hung around since everyone was sick. Marlee made little Valentines for her preschool classmates and for Ivan, Nana and Papa.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Strep Throat

Marlee, Ivan and Josie all have strep throat. Praying I don't get it and want to wait to have this baby boy til its out of our little family or at least til they've been on antibiotics for 48 hours.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Sold another goat

Yes it seems that all we do is sell and have baby goats this time of year. We sold one of Sheeba's boys today. Nice couple bought it. Marlee was sad, as she is every time we sell a goat, but I think Sheeba was sadder.
Had a fun day with Ivan, the girls, Nat and boys and my parents. Just hangin out till the baby comes.