Playing catch-up. Again.

The last few weeks have been jam-packed. I'm going to have to just do my best to play catch-up with this post.

We had a special visit from Nana and Papa at the end of February. In a surprising turn of events, my mom and dad have decided to move to Oklahoma. My dad took a job at an airport about 15 miles north of us, and will be starting in April. I'm still pretty shocked by this decision. I figured hell would have to freeze over before my dad ever returned to Oklahoma. His last experience here wasn't so swell - he came to move us out three years ago right in the middle of a heat wave and swore that he'd never come back. I guess the pull of the grand kids is just too strong.

It's a good thing Papa is on his way, because we need a bigger cheering section at the girls' soccer games. June's an old pro after playing last season, but Winn is new to the field. She's on a team with her cousin Amos and her best buddy Sofie. She had a bit of a rocky start in her first game . Things were going fine until she was sent to sub out. I guess she thought she was in trouble and getting kicked off the field. She came running over with tear-filled eyes and wouldn't dare return to the game.

Here's Winnie and Sofie all pumped to play

Kolby and I celebrated our birthdays. He's 33, and I'm now counting down my last year in my 20's. You won't find a picture of me on this blog because I'm turning into an oompa-looma with this pregnancy and am not crazy about documenting it. I'm waiting for that rare shot that captures me at just the right angle and doesn't make me look like a whale.

We also celebrated another special birthday this month. June turned 6! I don't know what it is about this birthday, but it really started to sink in that my baby is becoming a young lady, and it makes me ache.

We were lucky enough to celebrate with Grandma Sara, Grandpa Babe and Yaya Julie. They took us to June's new favorite restaurant, the Olive Garden, and then we got to enjoy the new Alice in Wonderland movie together. We sure wish they could visit every month.

As always, they spoiled us way too much while they were here.

June was also thrilled to bring her grandmas to her special celebrate at her kindergarten class. They sang a silly birthday song, and all of the kids added a picture to a little birthday book for June to take home. She also requested horse cupcakes, and so Yaya and I did our best to oblige. Why is it nothing ever turns out as awesome as it looks in the book? Oh well, the kids thought they were pretty sweet.

I sure do love this little lady. She does her best every day to be helpful to mom, she works so hard in school and is always well behaved, and she always sets lofty goals for herself and doesn't give up until she achieves them. I'm so proud to be her mom. I know she is going to do great things.

And June's birthday wish came true. She's having a little brother! I was certain it was going to be another girl, but June knew better. We are all so excited to finally get a boy in the mix. I just hope he doesn't mind all of the dress-ups, Barbies, and baby dolls that he's going to have to endure. Good luck little dude!

Baby bump and the winter blues . . .

This is my first pregnancy as a blogger, so I figured I had better get around to documenting it. Things have been pretty rough this third time around. I didn't think things could get much worse than carrying June, but this little tadpole is taking it's toll.

So far, I have endured a month and a half of uncontrollable nausea and a wicked gag reflex that keeps me clutching the toilet. Also, the reflux has been murder on my guts and throat. I'm not a big day-time napper, but I don't remember ever feeling this tired with a pregnancy. I think it has something to do with trying to keep up with two little sisters who never slow down. I just keep telling myself that this is my last pregnancy and so I'm trying to focus on the miracle of life rather than the feeling of being at death's door.

Here's my baby bump at 14 weeks. It pretty much just popped out around Christmas time. I guess when your gut has already been stretched to the max twice before, it's pretty accommodating to the third peanut.

We've also been hit by a bad case of the winter blues. Oklahoma has given us some pretty warm winters over the past couple of years, but this year has been just one snow or ice storm after another. In fact, June has been out of school for 4 snow days, and that's not counting the 5 days we were snowed in over the holiday vacation. The kids have made the most of the snow, but we are really ready for spring.

Looks like we're just going to have to hang in there until mother nature gives us a break.

Me and My Buddies . . .

It doesn't shame me to admit that most of my deep conversations these days are with these two goof-balls. June is so full of philosophical questions, and Winnie is always ready with a snappy comeback. So here's the latest conversations around our lunch table:

June: Mom, are you 83?

Me: No, I'm 28, but thanks for making me feel old.

June: So next you will be 29, and then 30, and then . . .

Winnie: You will turn into a dog?

June: Will you die when you are 100?

Winnie: No June, Mom will die in 10 minutes. I will never not die, cuz I will turn into a dog when I grow up.

I'm glad we got things cleared up.

Later, in the bathroom while doing June's hair, we were having a nice conversation about baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. I explained what the Holy Ghost is and how he helps us make good choices and be safe. You know, one of those mother moments you hope the Lord witnessed to prove you weren't always a neglectful mother. Then June, with a look of sadness mixed with desperation, said, "Mom, I need to whisper something to you. My teacher at church told me that Jesus knows everything . . . even things that moms and dads don't know. So the other night I prayed that Jesus would tell me when my teeth would fall out, and he hasn't answered me. Why???"

Anyone want to help me out? My answer of, "Some things we just don't need to know," is really not cutting it. And why is she so obsessed with loosing her teeth?

And here's baby number 3. I'm tired just thinking about it.

What to do?

Every blog I visit currently has one thing in common - a list of worthwhile resolutions for the new year. I'm impressed people. Everyone seems like they have set some meaningful goals; good things like showing more love to those around them, eating right, not sweating the small stuff.

And while I'd love to cherry-pick some of these lofty goals to add to my own list, I'm too tired. I tell you, I'm just in a bad way right now. I did set some goals on the day I found out I was pregnant with baby number 3. I didn't want to gain more than 25 pounds, I wanted to work out throughout the entire pregnancy, continue to eat healthy and I wanted to keep up the yoga and meditative breathing so that I wouldn't loose my patience so much with my girls. I should have known that I set my sights too high. Pregnancy has never been a friend of mine, and I am certainly at it's mercy right now.

It is killing me that, all resolutions aside, I am having trouble just rolling out of bed in the morning, knowing full well that I'm going to have bolt to the bathroom for my ritual barf-fest. So I'm cutting myself some slack. I'm going to set some goals that will at least get me through this miserable first trimester and hopefully then I will be on to some greener pastures. So my new, new year's resolutions are:

1. Do a bit of stretching and some deep breathing while I lay on the couch all day

2. Brush my teeth after EVERY time I toss my cookies

3. Eat wheat bread rather than white - even though it hurts a bit more on the way back up

4. Praise my girls for their extra help around the house - even if it still looks like we live at the city dump

5. Read at least one book to my girls every day, and not feel bad that the Disney channel is doing the bulk of parenting this month

6. Get outside at least once a day - dropping a cup of food in the dog's bowl totally counts.

7. Make sure Kolby knows how deeply appreciative I am that he not only endures 3rd year med school, but then comes home to do all the daily chores, make dinner, bathe the girls, play with them, read to them and put them to bed.

8. Send good, loving vibes to this final baby on the way, even though I'm certain it's trying to murder me from the inside.

Thanks Uncle Buck!!!

Not everyone is lucky enough to have an actual "Uncle Buck," but we are. And he never disappoints when it comes to presents! This year for Christmas, he sent June, Winn, Amos and Lyra these awesome rides called Plasma Cars. Of course they were a hit! Even Lyra couldn't hide her excitement behind her usual scowl.

These bad boys are going to be even more fun when it warms up enough to take them out on the open road - the bike path at the park. But for now, our garage will have to do. Thanks U.B. and Auntie Karen, we can't get the kids off of them!

Christmas 2009

This is going to be a long post with lots of pictures. You know, for the grandmas who are missing their girls this Christmas.

Here's June and Winnie in their Christmas church dresses. They were so pretty.

Kolby finally got a couple weeks off from school, and he planned a surprise holiday trip for the girls. They were guessing for days, but had no idea we were heading to the Great Wolf Lodge in Texas for some water fun!

On our first night, we ate at this Rain Forest Cafe. Once Winnie was able to uncover her ears and just enjoy the animals' screeching and howling, she loved it. Especially the Elephants.

We finally checked into the Lodge and headed for the water park. These girls were going non-stop. Winnie spent all of her time on these fun kiddie-cat pool slides, and shooting water at unsuspecting passers-by.

June got a bit more daring on this trip and took turns going with mom and dad on the bigger slides. She takes after her mom in the height department, so the life guards had to measure her for every ride. She even got to sneak onto a few that she was about an inch too short for. But Kolby and I loved taking her down. It's like she's really growing up!

Here's how Winnie eats a hot dog. She takes the "corn on the cob" approach.

Kolby, as usual, turned into a big kid. He really needed this break from school!

Here's June, Winnie and their pal Sofie. By the end of the day, these girls were raisins from the water, but we still had to drag them out of the pool.

There was so much to do at the Lodge, even if you weren't swimming. At night, the girls got to listen to animal story time in the magical lobby that snowed. And they finally got their turn to sit on the big guy's lap and make sure he got their letters.

June's only request of Santa: A white Christmas. Little did she know that we would be coming home on Christmas Eve to a blizzard. That girl always gets her way, I swear.

June played outside right through the blizzard. Winnie made it outside to the edge of the back porch, turned right around, and headed back inside. Too cold for her!

And June finally realized her dream of building a snow man in Oklahoma. His name was Leafer. And he is still standing.

Here are some shots from Christmas morning. I think everyone got exactly what they wanted!

So thanks to all of those who love our girls and sent so much good stuff to keep them busy for the next few weeks. It was a great Christmas!

Love,

Jess, Kolby, June, Winnie, oh, and our mystery baby on the way!

We're Ready for Santa!

This year, Santa's all the rage at our house. I was wondering when the idea of a jolly fat man who brings free presents to nice children was going to catch on. And although our year was filled with loads of naughty deeds, These girls are making a strong finish in hopes that Santa will remember their more recent behavior.

Mom also implemented a new behavior program just to help keep them on track. We keep a jar on the kitchen counter. On one side of the jar, you will find a bucket of "warm fuzzies." Every time the girls do something nice or helpful without the typical whining, I toss in a warm fuzzy. Then there's the "cold naughties." These little, black, plastic beads find their way into the jar whenever mom hears fighting, yelling, naughty words, or witnesses disobedient behavior.

Every week, we empty out the jar. If there are more warm fuzzies than cold naughties, the girls get rewarded. You can imagine what kind of looks I get in the grocery store when Winnie loudly reminds June, "You better be nice, or mom's going to give you a cold naughty!" Oh well, at least we found something that works.

This week was a success! So we had a girls' day out and saw The Princess and the Frog. And we couldn't resist taking a picture in front of Alvin, Simon and Theodore in the "Movie Vader," as Winnie calls it. Maybe we'll go see their movie, too, if we can just be good, for goodness sake!

Anyways, back to Christmas. We got all of our decorations up over Thanksgiving break. Here's our tree tucked neatly in the corner. The girls spend most of their evenings shaking their presents, and trying to sneak peeks through the "accidental" rips that keep magically appearing in the wrapping paper.

I'd love to own an ornate, beautifully-crafted nativity, but for now, this Fisher Price one will have to do. The girls have had a ball setting this one up over and over again and we've had some great talks about the baby Jesus this year.

This is the first year we will be spending Christmas day in our Oklahoma house, so we decided to put up some lights. We are usually visiting Utah for the month of December, but Kolby just couldn't get away from school long enough to make the trip. We're all a little melancholy that we won't be spending the holidays with the fam, but I'm actually a bit relieved in a way. Traveling with two kids that hate to fly and enough presents to fill a mini U-haul always proves stressful.

So I guess we're ready. Bring it on, Santa!