We're working on that

Today I was listening to Emma and her friend Alisa have a conversation as they were waiting to go into school. This is how their conversation went.

Alisa-"We take my brother to school before my mommy brings me here."
Emma- "My brother goes to school after me."
Alisa- "My brother is 6 and in kindergarten."
Emma- "My brother is almost 6 and is in kindergarten too."
Alisa- "Sometimes my brother is mean to me."
Emma- "My brother is mean to me sometimes too, but we are working on that in our house, and Jesus is going to help him be nicer to me."
Alisa- "I wish Jesus would help my brother"

I was laughing as I listened to them talk, but I was so happy to hear what Emma told her about Jesus helping him. Something I really try to teach my children is how much we need Jesus, and that he can help us with anything. So when they are struggling with something (like Cayden trying to talk nicer) we pray together that Jesus will help us. I'm was so glad to hear that she understands the concept. Now maybe she'll realize that she needs help too, and not just Cayden.

Poor Gracie!!!

Poor Gracie. Just in case she hasn't had enough sickness in the past couple weeks, I found out yesterday that she has the Measles. I thought she had chicken pox, so I took her into the doctor. I don't know how the heck she got it, but she hasn't been vaccinated for it yet and apparently they had 4 kids in yesterday that all had it, so there is a little outbreak of it. I feel so bad for her. She is miserable. She had a fever for 3 days with a bad cough and congestion, then she started getting these horrible sores all over her body. I took these pictures yesterday and it is even worse today. I feel so bad for her. She has lost almost a pound in the past 24 hours. Don't you hurt just looking at it.
Her face has the least amount on it, but it's all around her eyes and they are really swollen. She also has them in her ears and nose and mouth, so she is just miserable.

Health Care Bill

OK. I am so upset that the House passes the Health Care Bill last night. I am so worried for our country, that our government is taking liberties and powers that are not theirs. Everyone should be concerned about how "BIG" our government is getting. It's scary when these men and women who are supposed to represent the people are doing things that, constitutionally, they have no right to do. The republicans are getting such a bad wrap, that they don't care about the people in need, and they don't care if people don't have health care coverage. The question is not whether our health care system is broken, it really is. The problem is that the constitution does not give them the right to get involved in Health Care, and to tell private companies what they can or can't do. This is not something that should be regulated by the federal government. This is the just next thing in a line of legislation that this administration has passed that is so unconstitutional. If we are waiting for the time that was prophesied by past prophets that "Our constitution would hang by a thread." Well to me it looks a lot like that time has come. So Scary! Serisously one reason we are in this situation is that American's have become apathetic about what our government is doing. We are not making it our business to become involved, and become informed about what is going on. So I challenge everyone. Become informed on the issues. And become involved in your communities. We need to elect new leaders this next cycle that will stop all this. If we remain uniformed and uninvolved, it is our own fault if our country disintegrates. Anyway, I am emotional and passionate about this, can you tell!!!

Happy St. Patricks Day!!

In honor of St. Patrick's day I made a green dinner last night. The kids loved it. Everything seems to taste better when you add some food coloring. And since it was so gorgeously green, I had to share it with everyone.

Cayden loved the green bread sticks.
Emma wanted a picture of her eating.
Poor Gracie. Daddy absentmindedly gave her a noodle to chew on, not realizing that the sauce had milk and butter in it. Within 3 minutes she got this horrible rash on her face.
And now for the wonderful green food that we all gobbled up. Broccoli. I am lucky my kids love green vegi's. Broccoli and Asparagus are our favorites.
The green bread sticks. Don't they look appetizing.
And green pasta, YUM
It was so fun last night, but now it all looks pretty gross to me, except the broccoli.

We also got a visit from a leprechaun who wrote on the kids windows and left them a green cup with green candy and some green bubbles. It was a fun festive day.

We have liftoff!!!

YEY! Gracie is finally crawling. She started scooting and rolling about a month ago, but could never really control where she was going. But the past week she has really started getting around.

She can also get up from laying down into a sitting position, and go from crawling back to sitting which was a big feat for her, (she has been working on this one for weeks.)

I am so proud of her and she is such an easier baby now that she can get herself to what she wants. Also she is taking the bottle like a champ now, and is feeling much better. We had a horrible weekend, but it paid off. Thank goodness it is over!

Worst weekend ever!!!

We have all had the worst weekend ever. My PCOS has been getting really bad again so I have to go back on medication for it. I can't nurse Gracie while I'm on the meds so I decided to ween her this weekend so I could start them on Monday. So Grace is allergic to milk and I haven't been able to have any milk for a couple of months cause it would make her sick. So I woke up Saturday morning so excited to have real milk in my oatmeal instead of Almond milk (which I actually love.) Right after I had my breakfast with milk she started pulling on her ears and crying. Emma had started getting a sore throat Friday night so we packed up the kids and took them to the urgent care. Turns out Emma has strep throat, and Gracie has an ear infection. But at this point I had already had milk, so I knew if I fed her she would just get sicker, cause she gets so sick when she has milk. I feel so bad for her, I had to ween her while she was in pain with an ear infection, plus she started having a runny nose and I think she also started teething cause she is getting all slobbery and chewing on everything. I feel so bad for her. I feel like the worst mom ever. She just keeps looking at me like "Why are you doing this to me?" And after two days, she is still not wanting to take the bottle. She will take maybe 2 oz every 5 or 6 hours, but is really mad at us about it. This morning Chuck woke up sick and now he has strep throat as well. Then Emma re injured her toe by running into the baseboards. And to top it all off, My boobs are hurting so bad, I can't even hold Grace without excruciating pain. I forgot how bad it hurts to dry up. Anyway, I think this is my worst weekend of the year so far. Hopefully Grace will start taking a bottle soon and we will all feel better this next week.

Emma Marie

I bragged about my other kids so I have to just say a couple of things about Emma. She has always been my hardest one. She is feisty, independent, and strong willed. She and I have the hardest time of any of my kids. But lately it is like a switch turned on in her and she is so delightful now. She has stopped having tantrums and is being so loving and kind. She is constantly asking if she can help me with anything, and telling me she loves me. Anytime I ask her to do anything she will do it right away with a good attitude. She is just being so sweet. I don't know what happened, but I hope it stays this way. I love her so much, and I even love her feisty, bossy side. She is growing into such a kind and loving little girl. I just love her so much!!!

Cayden

I have to brag a minute about Cayden. I am so impressed with how much he has been growing up lately. He is so sweet to his sisters, and is always thinking of others. He prays every night that Gracie will sleep so that mommy can get some sleep too. Then he will proceed to pray for every single one of us and what our specific needs are.
He has really been getting sensitive to the spirit and lately when I am teaching them about the gospel, he will get tears in his eyes. When I ask if he is OK, he tells me that he is feeling the spirit. I am so grateful that he is able to recognize that feeling. I was teaching him about something today and he started tearing up and told me that he knew this must be important cause he could feel the spirit, he said "Mom, I will never forget what you are teaching me." He will also tell me when he feels the spirit at school about what his teacher is teaching him. He always tells me that he is trying so hard to be like Jesus.
I am so grateful for Cayden. I am so grateful that he is my oldest. He sets such a good tone for the girls. They both adore and look up to him, and I know that he will always be a good example for them and protect them. I keep realizing how old he is getting. He is really growing into a boy. Sometimes I want to keep him my baby forever, but he is getting more and more independent, and smart, and responsible. I am just so proud of him.

Cute little Gracie Bell

I just want to say how in love with this baby I am. She is so sweet. I just can't get enough of her. She is so delightful to be around. She is always smiling, and she loves her brother and sister. Here are a couple updates on Grace.

1. She just crawled with purpose for the first time yesterday, I was so proud of her. She has been scooting and rolling across the room for a while but finally got the hang of crawling.
2. She say's Ma ma ma, and Dad, but I don't think she knows what she is saying yet.
3. She will be 8 months on the 22nd.
4. She loves our little neighbor Gavin, and lights up whenever he is around.
5. She is 16 lbs 4 oz, as of today!!
6. She is eating pretty much any solids now, and loves cheerios and bananas.
7. She still has no teeth.
8. She still wakes up 2 or 3 times a night. Mom just can't bear to let her cry it out.
9. She is allergic to milk, this has been hard for mommy, who can't have any milk either while I am nursing. But I have lost 11 lbs since being off of it.
10. She is in love with her daddy, she starts smiling and cooing and reaching for him whenever he walks in the door and she loves to cuddle him.

I just love this little girl so much. I can't believe how fast she is growing, I am sad that she will be one before I know it.

I like Mike!!!

So for any of you that are involved with politics you will know that Mike Lee is running for Senate to take Bob Bennett's seat. We have been very unhappy with Bennett lately and believe he has been very fiscally irresponsible, and his voting record is getting more and more to the left. Anyway, Chuck really believes in Mike's platform so he signed on to be a volunteer. They were so impressed with Chuck that they appointed him the head of our precinct over all the volunteers. He has had so much fun working on this campaign. Mike is a great guy and really believes in the constitution, and believes that our government should get back to actually following it! Before Mike had announced his candidacy Chuck had the opportunity to sit and talk with him about Law school and gave Chuck a lot of good Advice.

Chuck is more excited than ever about politics after this campaign, and now is even more serious about wanting to run for office someday. Anyway, I'm glad he is having fun and enjoying it. This has been good for me too. It has helped me to be more politically informed, and I don't feel ignorant anymore about what is going on in our country and government. I am actually a little addicted now, and we are both so interested in politics and our government. Anyway, everyone who actually believes in our constitution, and wants a moral, fiscally responsible, conservative senator in Washington needs to VOTE FOR MIKE!!!

Poor Emma

Sunday we were at my mom's and a big solid chair fell on Emma's toe and this is what it did...

I felt so bad for her. She literally cried till the next morning. I figured it must be pretty hurt for her to be up all night crying so we took her to the doctor on Monday and sure enough she fractured her toe. Luckily with toes they just tape it for a couple weeks. She couldn't walk on it for a couple days, but was running around the house by Friday.

Cayden was so cute when she hurt it. That night he told her, "Emma If I knew that was going to happen, I would have pushed you out of the way and let it hurt me instead." Then in his prayers that night he prayed that Heavenly Father would let Emma feel better and he would take the pain for her. He really is the sweetest boy ever.

Emma has had a bad couple weeks. Just since last week she has... gotten a black eye from hitting it on the chair, fractured her toe, got a nasty cut on her nose. And we found out this morning that she has strep throat. I feel so bad for her. I'm worried people are going to start thinking she is being abused!

My birthday

I had such a great birthday this year. It was really low key, but so fun. Chuck gave me my favorite Juicy Couture perfume...
I went to lunch with Becca and my mom and while we were at lunch I mentioned that I had been wanting an asian cookbook. We were right next to Barnes and Noble, so my mom gave me some money and said go get one. I love the one I got and have already tried a couple delicious recipes. My mom also gave me a shopping trip with her to go get some new clothes.
My kids know I like Taylor Swift, they got me her new CD.
When I opened it we put on the CD and danced together, they were so cute.
Cayden kept twirling Emma.


Chuck and the kids took me to dinner at Blue Lemon, my favorite, and to the temple for a date. It was so wonderful to be together. I can't believe I am 27, I still feel like I should be like 21 or something.

Pierced Ears

Emma has been begging me for a month to get her ears pierced. I kept telling her that she was so young, but in the end I realized it just wasn't worth the fight. You have to pick your battles with this one. Plus the only reason I was telling her no is that I thought she was to young. But I guess if she's old enough to ask for them, then she is old enough to get them.
I took her on a date to go get them done and auntie Becca went with us. She was so cute, When they did it she looked shocked for a second then she started crying while saying. "That didn't hurt at all silly." She only cried for a second but then later told me that she was only crying cause she was so happy. She hasn't complained once about them hurting or even about cleaning them. She even reminds me to clean them if I forget. She loves them and was so grateful and happy.

She was so excited to show daddy. She said "He will think I am such a beautiful princess."

Valentines Day

For Valentines Day this year the kids and I decided to give Daddy a heart attach. They cut out hearts and wrote all the reasons they love him on the hearts. Then we taped them to his door to surprise him when he got home from work on Friday.

Our beautiful door

My 3 sweet adorable thoughtful kids. Some of the things they wrote were so cute.


Emma loved that daddy throws her on the couch and gives her blessings when she is scared. Cayden loved that daddy reads us scriptures every night and is his soccer coach. They both had a bunch more, but I didn't write them all down.

For valentines day this year Chuck and I went to the Marriage dinner at Thanksgiving point. Ron spoke at it again this year and it was so much fun. Great food, great speakers, and we got to be there with my sisters and their husbands, and mom and Ron. I forgot to take a picture of us though, I am so mad!
We said no money on presents this year so Chuck wrote me a beautiful poem and I gave him a love journal. I love him so much. I am so grateful for such a wonderful husband, and father in my life.

Classic Skating

For family night a couple of weeks ago we took the kids to classic skating. I used to go there when I was a kid, so it was so fun to take them. They were so excited when we first got there. Neither of them had ever skated before so they didn't know what to expect.

Just got our skates, but Emma still needs help to stand up.

I can do it all by myself!

Chuck tried to teach Emma how to skate, but...

She ended up with this. She was much happier once she was back on her own two feet. I think she is just a little too young to skate by herself. They even had princess ones you could rent. She was so happy.

Skatin with Daddy

Cute little Gracie. She just had fun watching all the bright lights, and listening to the music. Chuck and I had to take turns skating with the kids so one of us could hold her. So I didn't get to skate with him at snowball, so SAD!

Me and my two Angels. I seriously love these girls so much!!!

Dance Festival

Every year at Cayden's school they have a dance festival, and every grade performs a different dance from throughout history. This year the kindergarten did the chicken dance. It was so cute to see them dancing. Cayden did such a great job and he was so adorable. Afterward he told me that he was so nervous because there were so many people watching him.

My cute little guy in his chicken hat.

His class performing. I put an arrow to show where Cayden is.


Me and my little man

American Heritage has high school now so Cayden and Rachael are at the same school. It's so fun to see her whenever I go to school to do anything. She disappeared with Grace for the entire assembly, and went to show her off to her friends. It was nice to not have to hold her and just get to watch Cayden.

Benny, Grandma, and Cayden. Ben's class performed a square dance. It was so cute.