Dez on the move

Deziree made me laugh. She figured out how to turn the blue tub upside down. She then stood and started to push it around. She moved about 4 feet just doing that. She then got stuck on the wall for a while. She knew where she wanted to go. The boys were playing in their bedroom.

Our Christmas Tree

This year like last year I decided to do a paper tree. We don't have much space to put a tree. I also have no desire to fight the kids and to keep the ornaments on the tree. I figured that Deziree would be crawling about this time too. I really didn't want her to pull a tree down on her.Ben begged to help paint the tree. He wanted to have a tree really bad. Here we are painting our paper Christmas tree. Gavin got paint all over his hands.
Here is the finished product with paper ornaments for a paper tree. Ben even made the star that is on top. Notice how the boys made sure that if Dez came by the tree, that she couldn't get the ornaments.

One Nightmarish Week

This week was awful. Deziree was not sleeping well at night. She was waking up every two hours. This went on for several nights. She wanted to be held all day and cried every time I put her down so that I could use the bathroom. It wasn't very fun living with her this week. And to top it all off she has a nasty cough that would wake her up.

I was not getting enough sleep. When I don't get enough sleep, I am not very fun to live with. Ask Ben and Gavin. I think I made them cry on several occasions. The only way I felt I could entertain the boys while I laid down to try and get rest was to turn on the television. Which didn't work very well. The boys kept bugging me while I tried to sleep. They watched way too much TV this week.

We also got a TON of snow. I was too tired to try and get the boys out of the apartment. With all the snow outside I didn't want to go anywhere. We all went stir crazy in here. The boys had a lot of stored up energy and were bouncing off the walls. I finally took them out in the hall and they had races running up and down the hall. They ran up the stairs and down. Gavin ended up crawling too.

Thursday David came home from work and told me he is taking Friday off. Hallelujah! I decided that Deziree was relying on me to nurse her back to sleep. I was not going to do that anymore. Bless David's heart he got up with Deziree and was doing this pick up/put down (PU/PD) method I read about. She didn't like it at first. David was up with her over and hour doing that. The next time she got up it only took about 20 minutes to get her back to sleep. That was the worst night. The next night she went down around 9 and slept for 6 hours straight. It had been a long time since she has slept that long. I nursed her, but didn't let her fall asleep. It took her about 15 minutes to go back to sleep. All in all I feel like it is working.

I want to be able to move her into the boys room eventually. Right now she is sleeping in the living room.

Gaggy in the throat oatmeal

Deziree doesn't like the baby oatmeal. She gags on it when I feed it to her. This week has been a second attempt at feeding her the baby oatmeal. She still doesn't like it. I guess she is her grandmothers grand baby. My mom doesn't like oatmeal. I don't like oatmeal. And now miss Dez doesn't like it either.

Rub a dub dub three kids in a tub

A butcher a baker and a little stink maker...

We got up Sunday morning and the kids needed a bath. (they really stunk bad.) Since my brother was in town and sleeping in the living room, we decided it was a good time to bathe the kids. Before we put them in Deziree happened to have her diaper leak out and get David. Then she ended up spitting up on him too. David joked that at least she didn't poop on him.

We put all the kids in the tub to wash them clean for church. They were all having a fun time playing with toys. I wasn't quite done rinsing Ben off when I hear David say, "Everyone out of the tub." I wondered why for a second and then saw that Deziree pooped. That was the quickest our kids have ever jumped out of the tub.

When Deziree was only a few weeks old, I gave her a bath. Just as I was getting her out, she pooped. Gavin wouldn't let me forget that she pooped in the tub. I am sure now that she has done it again, (especially with Gavin in the tub at the same time as her), he won't let me forget. We will see if they ever take a bath together again.

Fun Video of Deziree

I love to hear her laugh. It just brightens my day.

Thanks Giving Week

My brother Kenny, and his wife Amy, and their kid Jakob came to visit. We are the closest family each other has. We finally got together after me and Kenny not seeing each other for about 4 years.

We had Thanks Giving dinner at the church with many families from our ward. Kenny and Amy pulled in about an hour before we started eating. David barbecued a turkey my father in laws way. It has become my favorite way to eat turkey.

David decided to be a little bit crazy and go to get door buster deals on Black Friday. He left at midnight to go to Old Navy and get Lego Rock Band for purchasing $20 worth of stuff. Mind you ON didn't open until 3 am. He then went to Target which opened at 5am and got some DVD players for the car. And lastly of all went the the mad house known as Walmart to get pajamas for the boys. He got back about 6:30 and slept for a few hours.

We laid pretty low on Friday to let David recoup and let Kenny and Amy not have to ride in the car a whole lot. We did however go to a small zoo with native animals for about an hour.

Gavin, Jakob and Ben in front of the wolf cage.

Gavin, Ben, and Jakob turned around in front of the same cage.

Saturday we were able to attend the St. Paul Temple. Amy and I went in while the daddy's watched the kids and ate lunch. While Kenny and David were in the temple, Amy and I and kids went to Costco and got Ben a new coat that is too big on him. I am proud of myself for driving in the cities and not getting too lost. (I did have to do a few U turns.)

David and Tiffany

Graham Family

Gavin wasn't to content, he had just woken up from a nap.

Amy spoiled me a made us breakfast a few mornings, dinner one night, and desert. My boys enjoyed the waffles and pumpkin pancakes. They did eat the meat and pineapple from the kabobs.

We played Settlers of Catan once while they were here. I have forgotten how sneaking Kenny can be when playing a game. He of course won.

It is a small world. Kenny came to church with me. While there he noticed that in my ward was the companion that trained in on his mission. Brother Hoelzer said he recognized Kenny, but thought he looked familiar because Kenny looks like me.

At nights all the boys slept in the same room. Jakob wasn't used to having room mates. He liked to talk to Ben and Gavin before going to bed. I think a few times Amy took Jakob out of the room long enough for Ben and Gavin to fall asleep and then put him back in. I think Jakob also talks to himself to sooth and calm him for the night.

Thanks Kenny and Amy for making that long drive out here.

Grateful for my kids

I was thinking the other day, life would be so much easier without children.

I could sew what I wanted and when I wanted to, but most of what I sew is for my kids.

I could have fun scrap booking when I wanted to, but I would have very few pictures to scrapbook because I scrapbook for my kids.

My place would remain clean and quiet, but then I would never hear their laughs and enjoy making a mess while playing with them.

When I decided to go somewhere, I could just walk out the door. But where is the fun in putting shoes and socks on every ones feet, making sure they have jackets on, and trying to get everyone out the door?

I would miss out on their curiosity. I would miss that laughter that helps me to remember the joy I have with them. I would miss; that first smile, the first laugh that feeling of having a small baby snuggle while sleeping, everything else that comes from parenthood.

I am grateful for my kids. Being a mom is not always easy, and definitely no glamorous, but it is what I love. I am thankful for the easy times and the not so easy times. I am grateful when they listen and help. I am grateful for these kids that Heavenly Father sent me. I can't imagine my life without them. They are now a part of me.

Deziree is 6 Months

I am six months old.

My likes are

My mommy

mama milk, yum!

my brothers when they play with me

my daddy if mommy isn't around

paper, yummy stuff

squash, mommy hasn't fed me much of anything else yet

sleeping on my belly

baths

sucking on toys

falling asleep on mom or dad's shoulder

My dislikes are

RIDING IN THE CAR!

bland food like rice and oatmeal

when Gavin take toys away from me

when mommy takes paper away from me

being more than 2 inches away from mom

when mom puts me down

when brothers get in between me and mom

I can

roll over when I want to

pull myself to my knees

sit up

smile quite often

laugh

get excited when I see my mom

get anything to my mouth

Gavin's New Bed

We have been talking a long time about getting Gavin a twin mattress. We finally went and did it on Monday. He was so excited to sleep in it. He still ended up falling out once. I hope he will get used to having more room to roll around. The problem is that he likes to sleep on the very edge of the bed.

Ben is now on the top bunk. He is doing well up there. Both boys like to climb up the ladder. Gavin just won't climb down if there is no one in the room. Ben get bothered when Gavin goes up without Ben's approval.

They have had lots of fun playing up there pretending it is a rocket ship, or a boat.

Book Review, and how my family held up while being ignored

I have been waiting forever for the latest Robert Jordan book to come out. About a year ago I was wondering what was taking so long for it to come out. I went on the Internet and found out that he had passed away. I thought is that the end of the Wheel of Times series, will I never know what happens to Rand, Mat, Perrin and all the other characters? After research, I found that the had all the notes that Jordan had left, and announced that the were going to have a different writer take over. I am usually prejudice when someone adds more to a book. I will not pick it up. But because the book was outlined, just filled in by another writer, I decided to read the book.

I got the book in the mail Tuesday. I only got through the prologue that night. For the next several days I have been reading whenever Deziree was nursing or down for her nap and when David was home to entertain the kids. They boys watched movies while Dez was asleep, so that I didn't have to entertain them.

All in all, they survived. I did feed them lunch and a snack, so they didn't starve. Gavin got his diaper changed when he was stinky. Ben even got some reading lessons which I really didn't want to fight him to do.

I can't say that I abandoned my children all the way, but they did receive less attention from me.

Happy Halloween

We had some fun for Halloween. The boys didn't chose their costumes out until Monday. We bought fabric at the fabric store. That day Ben was asking if his costume was ready yet. He was worried that it wouldn't be done in time for Halloween.

On the 30th we had a ward chili cook off and Trick or Trunk. We fed the boys before going because there was no way they would eat beans. It's not like I don't serve beans at home, the boys just don't eat them. They were bored while I scarfed down a bowl of chili, and David went around sampling each chili.

We had the Trick or Trunk inside because it was raining outside. They walked around the primary and Relief Society rooms for candy.

On Halloween we took the boys to a friends neighborhood to go trick or treating. It is more fun to go with friends. David stayed at their house while I took the boys around for a while. We came back and switched so that the other kids could put on a coat and go around again. David took the boys out this next time and had to carry Gavin around too.

Warm one day, Cold another

Can you believe this? This was Monday. It was about 65 degrees outside. I am so glad I took the boys outside. We haven't had many nice days lately. I was afraid I would not be taking them outside for a long while.

It rained Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Friday I looked out the window, and humongous snow flakes were falling down. I wish I had taken a picture, because it did look pretty. Well the boys wanted to play in the snow. David came home from work and took them outside. They made a snowman. It even has a carrot for the nose. Sadly we only had baby carrots, but Ben was content with that.

The boys checked on the snowman today and told me it was like the snowman song. "In the sun it melted small, small, small."

Deziree and solid food

Her is Deziree eating her first bit of solid food. She made some funny faces while David tried to feed her. The next few times I fed her she just spit it right out.

Gavin's Birthday

Gavin turned 3 today. We had a party for him yesterday. Not just any party, a Scooby-Doo party. He had requested a month ago that he wanted a party and it had to be Scooby-Doo. Thank goodness it wasn't another Transformer party.

Scooby-Doo Birthday Cake

Decorating cupcakes, and eating them too! Yummy!

Opening presents. What's this a Scooby and Shaggy gift.

Blowing out the Candles.

Presents on Gavin's Birthday

Puzzle all put together. Thanks to Ben's and mommy's help.

This is of Gavin opening a present he had asked for. He loves Maisy Mouse, and asked for all her toys. (well that would be way too expensive to buy him) He did however get one plush toy and 3 books. He was so excited over it.

Shirt

I'm so proud of myself. I picked up a brown shirt like this. I have loved that shirt. I wanted a shirt to go with a black skirt. So I decided I would mimic the shirt. Now I have this gray shirt to go with black. With all my responsibilities as a mom, and a high maintenance baby, it took me a day to do.

David's Days off work

In the last few weeks David took several days off work. Some days we didn't do much, but others we had lots of fun. Here are some pictures to highlight what we did.

Last Time in the pool!

Ben's Birthday cake.

Ben's Birthday party. We had a water balloon launch for the kids to do. They had a lot of fun launching the balloons and their dads. David even broke a few on the top of his head.

At the IBM park. We had fun playing on the playground and in the sand.

At Quarry Hill. We took the boys bikes and let them bike on the path. This wall is one of our favorite places to take pictures. Ben found a frog there. He had fun picking it up and holding it. Gavin didn't want anything to do with the frog. He barely would even touch it. When we asked him if he wanted to hold it he screamed at us.

Ben picking up the frog.

Gavin a little apprehensive about the frog.

Ben's Birthday

Ben is now 5 years old. I can't believe how fast this time has gone by. He truly is growing up. I love that he is so sweet and tender. Yesterday we went to pay rent. Verlaine (the manager) turned to Ben and said, "Ben today is the beginning of the month and do you know what that means?" Ben responded, "Yes, it's my birthday!" Verlaine ended up giving Ben $2 to spend on something. Gavin then started whining and saying he wanted money too. Ben was kind enough to offer money to Gavin. That was just so sweet of him.

We waited until David got home to open Ben's presents. All day long he was guessing what his presents were. He was basically right about a few of them.

We took Ben out to dinner. He wanted to go to McDonald's and get a Happy Meal. I don't personally like their food, but it made him happy.

He sure didn't want to go to sleep last night. He wasn't done playing with his new toys.

Staying Here

After much waiting for acceptance/rejection letters. We got the letters saying classes were all full and so we are staying here for at least another year.

Anniversary

We have been married six years today.

6 wonderful years

5 of which I was pregnant or nursing

4 baskets of laundry each week

3 children

2 1/2 years in our apartment

1 Very happy couple

My Growing Baby

Deziree is growing so fast. I can't believe how big she is. I have enjoyed her so much. Accessorizing her is lots of fun too. I love putting her on purple. Thanks to my sister Amber for letting me borrow clothes for Deziree.

Deziree pulls many different faces. I thought this was a funny one.

Como Zoo

I don't like traveling up to the cities by myself. I don't like being lost by myself. If I get lost with David, I'm okay. David took this week off, so we decided to make a trip up to the cities and go to the zoo. The boys enjoyed looking at most things. While we were in the prime ape house, we were looking at the gorillas and one charged at the window. This freaked Gavin out and he started to cry. Ben and Gavin on a metal turtle.

Ben looking at the sea lion swimming around.

The boys in front of the tiger's cage.

Gavin in front the giraffes

I think Gavin was looking at the zebras. He really enjoyed the zebras and didn't want to leave.

The only thing we really wanted to see that they didn't have was an elephant.

After we went to the zoo, we headed over to the Mall of America. We let the boys play with legos. The lego store has bins outside the store for kids to play with. There is a place to make a car and race it. There is a place for little kids and the duplo blocks, which the boys played with. After playing with legos we ate dinner at the food court. I have been wanting Panda Express for a long time. We don't have one here in Rochester, so we have to travel somewhere to get it. I really enjoyed the orange chicken. We splurged for happy meals at McDonald's for the boys. I was shocked to see that they ate mostly everything. I did however hide their toys until they were mostly done with their meal.

Deziree doesn't like traveling in the car. It seems as if she ends up crying all the time. I think part of it has to do with Gavin grabbing her and waking her up, or better yet screaming and shocking Deziree. Another part has to do with Deziree doesn't like her car seat at all. She ended up doing pretty well considering not liking travelling in the car.