Girls Day Out

I love my girl time with my one and only girl! IT is always a blast. It is so cute too because even if we go no where and we are just doing something together in the house, she will say, is this girls day? I love it. I always say, if I only get to have one girl, I am so lucky she is the one!

One Saturday we went out to a mall that is farther than I wish. Just her and I. We walked around, had lunch, she rode the carousel and we just loved being together. She even got some free clothes out of the deal! Everything she would do she would say, I have got to tell the boys about this. So cute.

It was just a couple of weeks after Christmas so she had to bring her favorite gift. Her stroller is a prized possession around here. She looks so adorable pushing that around.

Heard around the house...

Or seen I suppose. Or what happens to be going on right about now.

Bennett is growing like crazy and I am in total denial that he will be 10 in the spring. I love that he is still into his mom. He is not embarrassed by me or his family. He loves to play games with us or watch a movie or just hang out. He is not a child that has to be at someones house all the time or have someone over, he is content and I pray hard that can continue for quite some time. He won in the pinewood derby and gets to go to district. (whatever that is:)) At his parent teach conference which was a long time ago the teacher told me that he does so well in school, but she is most impressed by his concern for others and how he is genuinely nice to every one. That makes me more happy than straight A's for sure. Math is his favorite subject and she reassured us of that. I have always known this. This is the kids that would come home from Kindy so sad he did not have homework and have me make up notebooks and notebooks of multiplications problems. So cute. For some national testing they did the school ranked? 67%, the state 62% and Bennett had a 98.9%. Yeah, I would say he likes math. The teacher said no one finished the math portion so that is why he missed the 1.1% I am guessing! So funny! I had to do that math, he did not get it from me obviously! I love him and there is no doubt he was supposed to be the leader and first in our family. It was his role our family. He is not perfect by any means, this year he has decided that he can say no if he wants to gain some independence and we have taught him that in certain situations that is great, in most situations with us, not so much! He working on that!

Jadeyn is still twirling with the best of them. The other night on our way home for a date night, we were talking about how much we really really love our kids. We talked about all their personalities at birth. Jadeyn was wide eyed and ready to take on this beautiful world. Andy said if we knew what we know now, we would know she was wanting to scream out, "just give me some hair to twirl and I will be fine!" We got a good laugh at that.

She is really wanting this baby to be a girl, although she is prepared for a boy. She still thinks his name should be rock climber and for the life of me I have no idea where that came from. She kisses my stomach nearly every hour and always is talking about what she is going to do with her baby. She is SO excited to have a new baby in our home. She is just tickled

about it. She really wants someone to share a room with, so for her sake, it would be great if this was a girl. She is the only one that has her own room. I am sure in about 10 years though, she would be perfectly happy with that. Or maybe not. I still wish I had a sister to share a room with.

Cortland who just had a major accident yesterday is still my soft little boy. He fell last night and bit through his tongue, nearly all the way through. It was bad. Very bloody and sad. Andy took him up to his office to do stitches because he said it was one of the worst mouth wounds he has ever seen. He got up there and it was a no go. He would not let him do it. Even on nitrous. So he came home and most of the night while he was sleeping he would moan and groan. Poor little guy. It made me so so sad. This morning though he was still in pain, it looked SO much better! I love how quickly the mouth heals!

Although he is my sentimental one, he is also my most boyish one too. He likes anything sword-ish and stuff like that. He will make anything a sword, which I hate. He is still attached to his "nite-nites" and had the best most kissable cheeks! I love to kiss him and tell him all the time how much I love him. When I ask if he knows how much I love him he says, yes. I ask how and he says "because nobody didn't tell me". I have NO idea what that means, but it is so so cute when he says it. I love it! He gets asked that a lot!

Maddox is so cute and so fun. I mentioned before in his birthday post how he has an accent that is sort of a English/long island accent. It melts my heart. He always say "this is for Lata" instead of later. Just today I noticed he said it the correct way and I kid you not, I had a tear in my eye.

Another Maddoxism is when we are doing our morning or evening jobs if he is not into it, he will always say, "I'm too busy". He will actually be sitting there doing nothing at all. It is his way to say, I am not doing it. He does it. I still love when he says it though.

Paxton is talking like crazy. He says the cutest things. Like when you are playing catch which he loves to do, if you catch it he says, "you win!". It is so cute. He says things that seriously make me shake my head! How does he know these things already? He amazes me by what he learns. He can almost spell his name. Which we just got done with the twins learning that. If you ever ask him if he is my baby, he will say "no I'm monkey!" When he goes down for a nap or bedtime if he does not fall asleep right away he will walk out of his room and downstairs and say all cheerfully, "I wake up!" like he had been sleeping. It is so funny.

I think it is safe to say I like this monkey. He is such a perfect addition to our family.

Paxton bumped his lip and had a puffy lip and he wanted a bandaid. So cute@

Andy is still in love with his job. It makes me so happy I have a husband that absolutely adores his job. It is like a day of fun for him. Even when drug seekers call at 2 in the morning. He still likes it! He made Presidents Club through work which we are all very excited! We were close. Very close. I am not even sure what it all takes other than a lot. A LOT. It is a lot of work and very hard to reach. They have to make it a hard goal to reach, because they go all for those who make it. We got really lucky and are so so so so excited to go in just 21 short days!!! I am so lucky to have a husband who doesn't look at house work as my work. He is so helpful!

(this picture is so weirdly cropped. What happened?)

I am chugging along in this pregnancy. Still surprised I am 28 weeks or so and have no idea what I am having. I want to be able to bond with the baby. I want to plan and prepare, but I am very surprised I am not having a harder time. I am impressing my impatient self. I have gotten some sort of my "Steam" back because I have been organizing up a storm! I love it. I am not sure Andy does, but he humors me. I also have plans of a laundry room redo! I am excited to see how it turns out. This weekend, I hope!

We are currently looking for a bigger car. We will see how that goes. I am looking for very specifics at the price I want. It is looking to be tougher than I was hoping! I think we are going with a Yukon XL. We will see!

In other great news...I have new niece and she is presh! I am in love with her. If this is a boy, I will have a girl to love on whenever I want! I just love her. So is so adorable.

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That is what is going on in our neck of the woods. There is much more I am sure, but I just wanted to jot some things down while they are fresh in my mind!

The joys of pregnancy

I am sitting here in a quiet house, only two kids are awake. It is truly amazing how quiet just two kids are. Or even three, and sometimes four. Take one child away and it is a whole other ball game. It is strange. Although I have to say, my kids volume level goes up a few levels anytime anyone is here and it drives me a little crazy. Anyway, this post is not about that.

I am getting ready to head out the door for a doctor appointment. I think I am like 28 weeks? I am not even sure to be honest. That IS what this post is about. I was thinking about my first pregnancy and this pregnancy and how different they are. First of all, the biggest obvious, I am almost 10 years older now than I was the first go around. TEN years! That seems crazy to me. Ten years is a lot of years. It does seem real at all or possible. When I was twenty..., well lets just say younger, I had a lot more energy and was able to stay up a lot later. I had a ton of friends going through the same things and being pregnant. I was much more sick, and had random problems like carpal tunnel, planter warts and teeth problems that did not quit! BUT, and that is a big BUT, I could handle it. I was only 23 years old. This time I have had none of those problems, but I could not handle them now either with five other children and again, being ten years older.

I get to take the glucose test today which I loathe. I cannot handle the taste of the stuff. It is disgusting and rude to make any one, much less a pregnant woman, much less a pregnant woman who cannot stand sugar at the time, take it. I seriously hate soda of any kind, so this stuff pushes me over the edge. It is always weird to me when I hear someone say, it wasn't that bad, or even worse, they liked it! Sick. I have never have sugar problem either and I wish at least after three children they would let you skip by them with the other pregnancies. How great would that be? I have found though if I run my finger under water, a suggestion from the lab tech last year, it goes down a little better. I know it is all in my head, but whatever works!

Another difference this time around is the fact that I want this pregnancy to linger out as long as it wants. My first I was ready to meet the second I found out I was expecting. I hope another difference is this one weighs less than my first too. He was so so so cute, but 11 pounds is a little much, I am thinking even 8 pounds will do too.

I am just so thankful to be able to welcome another sweet babe into our family and home. I feel so blessed. I know not every one can understand why we would want another baby, making our children total an even six, but there is not one moment of my life that I would wish it being any other way. I am grateful for what I have been given and feel humbled to be able to bring another baby into this world.

I am a self proclaimed, big old MUSH!

I am sentimental. I am VERY sentimental and that is probably an understatement. The words I love you fly out of my mouth many many times probably every single hour. I do not use these words lightly by any means. I just truly love the people I am telling.

Tonight I was looking up a recipe on the computer and Jadeyn, who has inherited my mushiness, ran up to me, hugged me, squeezed me and said, "Mom, I love you. A lot." She then ran off to find her baby "Sohpie" and love on her. I think my kids were born with this sense of gratitude towards their family, but I also think a lot of is is learned.

As she was running away, I noticed her little barely five year old body in her pink fuzzy, footed jammies and I had tears well up in my eyes. I am so grateful I adore these moments, but it pains me to think of how fast life is passing us by. That little body, that seems so big to me after watching some home videos when the twins were just one and Maddox was born, now all of a sudden seems so small. Everything she does revolves around me and our family and I love it that way.

There is a season for everything and I am aware of that, and I pray everyday that instead of focusing on how fast it is all going to just enjoy every single moment we have together. I often say I wish I could just freeze time right now, or maybe in May. I would have a newborn and a two year old, a four year old and two five year olds and a fabulous 10 year old! (TEN, yikes...) I need a pause button, because I just can't imagine life getting better than this!

It is finally here!

Oh Maddox. The day is nearly here. Tomorrow you will be FOUR YEARS OLD! I am not sure I have ever, ever seen anyone so excited for their birthday. Just the mention of it sends you to the moon and back. You are so excited about this special day. I think because you feel like you are a triplet, and have to wait after the twins birthday it is so hard to wait a whole three weeks for it to actually come! It is hard. I know, I like birthdays just as much as you.

Tomorrow you will wake up and it will be your day. The house will be filled with green and only green balloons. You will run a few errands with me, just you. You will even get to hear your new brother or sisters' heartbeat. You will have a special lunch with daddy at the "balloon place" you will attend your brother and sister's belated Christmas program and we will finish it with the dinner of your choice and some beautifully wrapped green presents. I am so excited for your day. Tomorrow will be a day of all things happy.

For about two weeks now every morning you wake up you say, "see mom, I am big. Wook at me...I'm big!" It is really cute and really funny especially because if truth be told, you are a tiny little guy. I can see that you are getting taller and your feet and hands are abnormally big compared to your tiny frame and only weighing around 28 pounds.

Your eyes tell stories that words could not begin to tell. You sparkle. You shine. There is something extra special about you. Your accent, even though you have never been to England or Long Island. You colic right above your eyes that still takes me back to the day you were born, the way you express you're mad or frustrated by talking really fast and basically saying the same thing over and over. Your passion for green and chocolate, or shall I say Choco-lit. The way you brother Paxton like you are decades older and wiser, always looking out for him and never ever even once saying a unkind word or using an unkind gesture towards him. Your love for shopping and have I mentioned your love for green? Yes? Well it needs to mentioned a few times. You love to sleep in the hall for some reason, which I think is funny. Your little stork bite gets brighter when you are crying or get mad. Your eyes are dark and your hair too. You remind me often that "mom, you and me have black hair the same." I love that bond about us little man.

I sometimes feel sad that your life has seemed to go by so fast. When Jadeyn and Cortland were only 4 months old you decided it was time to make your appearance in our family. I still remember the shock I felt when I took not one, nor two or even three, but 12 pregnancy tests and found out you were indeed coming. You restored my faith in myself that day. I was nervous, how could I do this I thought, but I knew without one single doubt you were meant to come to us when you did. Your life blessed us in ways I cannot even begin to describe. The love I felt for you that very moment is not the normal kind of love. It is the love only some very lucky people are able to feel.

It is weird for me to think that this whole year you were only 3. That is little. That is really little. You have always seemed so grown up, probably because in essence you were the same as J and C. You talked so much, you did the same things they do, you are at their level on so many things. I would just have to squeeze you every day and tell you to slow down, stay a baby. Be my baby.

You were the most pleasant baby I have had. All of my babies have been a dream. That is part of the reason I do not feel any need to stop having them! It is a breeze! You slept like a champ, at like one too. I remember one time you had just turned four months old and daddy asked me if I had heard you cry yet. We both realized then, that you hadn't really yet. The day you were born they whisked you away to the NICU. (What is up with all my babies feeling the need to visit that place? Well all of them, but the twins, which is just weird in itself!) It has been about 5 hours and I had still not seen you yet. I was so so sad. I finally convince a nurse to wheel me down to the nicu in my bed. Now to back up just a moment, daddy kept going to check on you and ALL he would say was "He is SO SO SO SUPER SWEET!" I heard this more than a dozen times and finally had to ask, well isn't he cute. He told me that you were beyond cute, but your sweetness was above and beyond overwhelming. Well as the nurse wheeled me in, she passed up a darling little tiny baby and I said, out loud, "can't that baby be mine? He is SO cute and so sweet!" She told me know and kept moving then stopped suddenly and told me I was in luck. We already passed you up and my baby was the one I wanted after all! I would have taken any baby truth be told, but I felt so beyond blessed at that moment that you were mine. I have not for once this entire almost 4 years of your life felt any differently. Not once.

You are a special treat my dear sweet Maddox. I can't describe the passion for life you have or the zest for it either, but it is endearing. You are a force. You have bright things in your future. You are someone I am and will be so proud to say I even know, much less be the mother of. You hold so much "incredibleness" in your tiny little almost four body. I love you more than you love the color green or choco-lit. I hope you forever know that.

Happy Birthday sweet boy. The day has come. You are four, tomorrow. Now can we talk about time slowing down bit so I can eat up every moment with you. I love you sweet son.

Pointing out to me that it was green!

So sad it was not your birthday too!

Always sharing with your brother's and sister!

You certainly have passion for life!

You are SO tiny, I have yet to find a pair of pants that will actually stay on or up!

The New Year

I can hardly believe we have entered a new year, ALREADY! Where does the time go? Just last night Bennett, 9, said, "does it seem to you like the months go by really really fast?" Ah, yes it sure does. And he is 9! Time surely doesn't move quite a quickly as it does for an adult, right?

I cannot tell you how many times during my days, months, years I wish for this time in my life to just slow down already. I struggle with time moving too fast. I just adore this moment in my life and I do not want it to pass by this quick.

Anyway, each year about this time of year Andy and I really try to focus on our goals for our family and our personal goals. Normally the first Family Home Evening of the year, which we have on Monday nights, we discuss the goals with the the kids. This past Monday we were all wiped out from the constant party at our home over the holiday so we will hold FHE tonight. This year I have been really trying hard to come up with a great family motto for us. It can be just one word that has great meaning, or a phrase or a scripture. I have been thinking about it for weeks and think I have finally decided on one. Our kids will hear this a lot this coming year, I promise.

I keep a little journal notebook in my desk drawer and every year start a new one and pack away my old one. It is fun to look back and see what was on the grocery list, to do list, to craft list, to call list, to pay off list...you know the lists. Andy teases me about making lists for my lists. I will not lie, I have done that before. I am a big list maker. If I walk into a store without my list, anxiety hits like a ton of bricks. It does not bode well for me. So I will keep on with my list making.

This years journal already has goals filling the pages, things to do for my new primary calling and birthday planning for Maddox. I love having it at my finger tips to jot down whatever I am thinking or needing at the time.

Some of my big goals this year are just that. Big. I have them down to Family goals, personal goals, goals as a mother and homemaker. The two goals I have for my children is to teach them patience and self control. The concept of not going form 1 to 10 in a half of a second when something doesn't work or work to their advantage is a big thing to teach. Especially when they are little. Patience is something they are pretty good with, but being raised in a larger than the norm family, it is something that will have to be instilled in to them.

Personal goals are the normal goals I make for myself every year. Read more, especially the scriptures, I have a goal to read the whole BofM by my birthday. Pay attention to everything I am eating. When I am not pregnant I am so aware of this and when I am, not so much. Should be the other way I around, I agree. Move more, up earlier, prepare more and earlier, go the distance, pay even more attention to detail and those kind of things.

As for Family goals we have a few. Most of them we already do, but it is good to reinforce them. As I mentioned, Family night. Family council every week where we discuss the weeks agenda, our goals, our needs. Reading with the family every single night. An ensign article discussed at the table every morning or as close as many mornings as we can. Up earlier with a more relaxing morning to benefit from it. I am going to incorporate a family award that when we see you doing something special for someone or something in the home that you normally do not, you get an award along with your name on our board. We are going to have a game night once a week that that is all we do. Have the three middle kids do more jobs than the past. Now typing it all out it seems a bit daunting, but my kids really love structure and they really love to do anything that makes them feel like they are helping. They will sure love all these ideas.

I love the newness of the year and I love the goals we can all make. Resolutions, not so much, but goals that can only help us become better than we were the day before is my thing. So here's to making a better tomorrow!

Feeling like a kid...

It seems like this time of year gets people a little more anxious, a little more hurried, a little more stressed which is odd because isn't it the time of year that more than ever we should be enjoying one another and feeling peace and mindful of the reason why we celebrate this season.

Don't get me wrong, there is something kind of fun about the hustle and bustle. Something invigorating about it all. And this year I have decided I do not want the holiday to pass by without remembering much from so much going on. We have been doing a Christmas activity every single night, which isn't always easy, but I am always super happy we did it. We have even played a game with Bennett every single night. I like that I will be able to look back and remember these moments.

This year I have been very blessed because I do not feel stressed or anxious at all. I got my shopping done early, kept everything pretty organized and once Bennett's school party was over, which was yesterday, I was breathing a lot easier and felt the Christmas spirit stronger than ever.

On the way to Andy's office today we all sang Christmas carols. I get tears in my eyes just thinking about their little voices singing to their little hearts content. Jadeyn did a little solo of Silent Night and I know that will be a moment I will think of fondly forever. Her tiny little feminine voice singing such a reverent song about such a wonderful night.

Tomorrow is my day to finish up my baking and the wrapping. Here is a little secret about me. I hate with a passion, wrapping. I detest it. Luckily my mom has offered to come and help. I always have visions of these beautifully wrapped gifts and then when it comes down to it, I go to get it done mode. Hopefully tomorrow will go as I hope in the wrapping department.

This was Andy's last day of work for four whole days. I was a like a little girl tonight when I got the call he was on his way home. I cherish every moment I get to spend with him. I adore that guy and honestly cannot get enough of him. Hands down, he is my greatest gift.

I normally get my cards out the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I like to get them out early. Not this year though. They will be more like New Years cards. I am really sad about that. I had the hardest time formatting my picture for the card and finally when I figured it out and got them sent out the return time was way longer than I expected. So hopefully they will be out in the mail tomorrow. I am really sad that they did not go out sooner!

I am overwhelmed by the Christmas spirit this year and am so thankful for it. I feel like I can pause more often to reflect on why this is such a special holiday. I feel like I can cherish each moment with my kids better and relish in my time with my sweet husband of mine. I am so happy for the next four days. The only thing I am sad about is it all ending.

I truly hope everyone enjoys this holiday season and can spend it with the ones you love the most. I feel like a little kid the days before Christmas. You can hardly contain your joy. I hope everyone can feel this same way this year. It is my Christmas wish.

Being preggo with number 6

Wow, can I just that this pregnancy could not be any different than my others? It is so weird! With my last pregnancy, I threw up every single day and I would say I averaged throughout the entire nine months, 9 times a day. Even the very last day of the pregnancy I threw up. I was so so sick. I took so many different meds, it felt like all the time and all I did was just lay on the couch. Which looking back, I am not sure how I did that with a 7 year old and two 2 years olds and a 1 year old...hmmm. I had to have Iv's because of dehydration and I could not even keep down the pills that were supposed to make me fell better. It was no fun.

This time around, even up to like week 10 at my first appointment, I even questioned if I was pregnant. I was not sick at all. Normally I feel it and throw up before I even take a pregnancy test and this time was so so different. No sickness at all. So crazy and weird. I am not complaining just not what I was used to and just didn't feel pregnant.

At 6 weeks I got really tired. I mean, REALLY tired. Like I seriously couldn't imagine making dinner or even pouring milk for breakfast. I dreaded walking up the stairs and that was when I decided every one will dress themselves. Crazy tired. So I thought, that would be my struggle this time.

At my 14 week appointment, the nurse said it should go away by about 14 weeks. I didn't believe her. That is what everyone said about being sick too. Never happened for me. But you know what? Later that week I got my energy back. I was like a mad woman around here. I went from barely being able to hold my head up, to the person I like to be. I got projects done like you would not believe, Christmas shopping done, house looking OH SO MUCH better. It was great.

I guess the one thing that I found to be on the bright side of being so sick with the others, is I was constantly thinking about them. Always connected to my sweet baby. Every time I would throw up I would just think how great it was going to be to hold my new precious baby. This time though, I have to literally remind myself I am even expecting.

The first trimester flew by and we decided it was time to tell our families. We waited to tell every one around 18 weeks which was Thanksgiving. I had great ideas how I was going to tell everyone and every single one of them flopped. For my family I had a shirt on Paxton that said big brother and no one got it. I nearly spelled it out for my mom, and nothing. Finally after a day of being with her, Bennett said, "Grandma do you get it???Paxton. Big brother?" Finally the light bulb went on. For Andy's family at Thanksgiving I was taking big group photos of everyone and for the last one I said, "Ok on the count of three every one say, Paxton is going to be a big brother!" Well there was so much talking and laughing going on, I am not sure anyone heard! Oh well. Every one know now either through that or cards I made and sent out and we are excited that everyone is in the KNOW now.

Our ultrasound was yesterday. We had gone back and forth about finding out this time. Let me say that I honestly believe it is crazy not to find out. I don't get it. I really don't. People say it is so fun to be surprised, but I am surprised at 20 weeks when I find out? I like to be prepared and ready to go, I want to truly enjoy this new person when they are born not be thinking about other things when they come into this world. That being said, everyone and their dog says to us, even when they did not know we were having another baby, "Oh we so hope it is a girl" and everything else attributing to us having a girl. Yes I would love another girl, for sure! I never though or expected Jadeyn to be my only girl. I always wanted a large family and I it was always important to me for my girls to have sisters and my boys to have brothers. So don't get me wrong, I would love another girl. Who doesn't love pink and all those cute girls clothes? BUT!!!! I will not be sad if this is a boy. I will be very very happy. In fact, I am so sure it is a boy for the past 16 weeks that I have connected to him. I know him. I have a bond with him. Already. If it is a girl as weird as this sounds, I will miss him, but will be extremely happy to hold a sweet little girl in my arms too! SO, either way we are thrilled beyond belief.

So we went into the ultrasound and after seeing everything looked perfect about 40 minutes into it, being that the baby is transverse, we could get no shot at all of any gender indicators. The cord is going right down the tummy and over the "parts". Andy and I were sure sure sure it was a boy, until we walked out of that room and we both looked at each other and said, "that was a girl?" So who knows...we don't. That is for sure.

I am hoping he will do another scan just so I can know. I really hope. I don't think I want to be on team green or yellow, but what team I do like being on is a mom to six! I am truly blessed.

I'm back in the blogging world

The night before my "babies" birthdays I always reflect on my good ole blog. Last night was no different. I was reading post from when they were wee ones and their birth story and all those fun little posts where they literally little babies. So adorable.

Then last night as we were blowing up 150 balloons, I was feeling a little down that I haven't been better about blogging. So I am hoping to start again. I am SO behind and that is honestly that was one of the reasons why I couldn't start back up. I am going to go from here though. I will recall special events that need to be remembered, but I am going to take my time.

I know how important it is to keep a journal of sorts. I love reading the things I wrote even just as of last year. It is fun to see the stages my children are in as well as myself.

So here is to a whole new blog life...it's a start!

The day I had been waiting for!

My babies are five today. It doesn't seem real or possible to be honest. How can five years really go that fast? I really can't muster up the words that really describe how I feel about my twins, as I sometimes refer to them. The love I have for them goes beyond words, beyond ways I could truly express what they mean to me and what they did for me.

After we had Bennett, I knew we wanted a large family and knew I wanted another little one fairly quick after we had Bennett. I thought we would wait a year and when Bennett turned a year old we were ready. I had already been pregnant twice before this moment, one ending in miscarriage and one ending with our beautiful boy, so I did not think for a moment we would have a hard time conceiving.

Well that simple dream crashed a burned about a year into "trying". We moved from Utah to Chicago to start our endeavor in dental school, took a short break from trying and regrouped and decided it was time.

Well throughout three very long years nothing was working. I felt broken. I remember every month that dreaded day, just having tears run down my face and question why this would happen to me. Why would such a righteous desire be with held from me? I was confused and hurt. I remember one particular night while saying my prayers, saying to Andy, "I would just rather have too many, than not enough babies." I only used the term too many because in my book, that did not exist. I rolled over that night and fell asleep crying and woke up crying.

A few months later Andy was video taping Bennett reading stories to his animals in bed and he kept calling them Jadeyn and Cortland. Andy, on video, said "who is Jadeyn and Corltand?" Bennett said, "They are my brother and sister. They are coming soon you know." Andy told him that brother and sisters normally come one at a time, but that did not discourage Bennett in the slightest. Bennett wanting a sibling SO bad did not help my wanting a baby so bad in any way. I was mourning for him now.

Cut to two or three months later while I was running on my treadmill the nurse called me and said, we got your blood work back and by the looks of your numbers, you could be having triplets. I remember the treadmill was still going strong and I was sitting right next to it and just began to cry. This time though, they were such tears of joy. Tears that had never felt so good.

I did not for a second believe that I was pregnant with triplets or twins for that matter, but it was confirmed that I was indeed pregnant. I felt as if I had waited for so long. I knew them instantly. I loved them beyond belief. They restored my faith in myself, in life. I felt like the family I had dreamed of was going to not just be a dream, but a reality.

Infertility is not a fun thing. It is tough. The thing that makes is so hard, is no one could understand the pain and grief it causes. Even if you have been through it. People would look at us now and never think we had fertility problems. We are expecting our 6th child for goodness sake. It just goes to prove you never know about any situation for sure. I am just so happy that through those years of wanting a baby, I was able to love on the baby I had. I am grateful for those moments in our lives because they made me stronger, they helped develop the person I am. They are moments I cherish and honestly think of fondly.

Today Jadeyn has had me tell the "birth day" story about five times already. Every time when I get to the part when I say, "The nice doctor handed me baby A and said, here is your sweet tiny baby girl!" she gets the biggest smile on her face and cannot contain her excitement. I know how she feels, because I feel it every time I think of that great day five years ago.

I am one lucky mama to have such beautiful, healthy children whom I adore. I feel blessed beyond belief. Happy Birthday to my sweet twins. I can not thank you two enough for blessing me with two more people to adore my whole life.

talkin' cookie

I am a cookie kind of girl. I don't care for cakes, I don't care for pies, I don't care for sweets a lot, but I do love cookies. I love a good chocolate chip cookie and peanut butter blossoms the best. Well that is until I came across this little beauty of a recipe. Oh. So. Good! You have to make these like right, right now! Of course they came from my beloved Pioneer Woman!

The Best Cookies you will ever eat!

{or at least I think so;)}

Ingredients
1 cup Shortening (Crisco)
1 cup Packed Brown Sugar
1 cup Sugar
2 whole Eggs
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1-½ cup All-purpose Flour
1 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
3 cups Quick Oats
½ cups Finely Chopped Pecans
Preparation Instructions
In a large mixing bowl, cream shortening with both sugars until well combined.
In a separate bowl, beat eggs together. Add vanilla and stir to combine. Add to the shortening/sugar mixture and mix well.
In a separate bowl combine the flour, salt and baking soda. Mix carefully into the egg/shortening mixture until well combined. Now add the quick oats and mix well again. Finally add the finely chopped pecans and mix well to combine.
Divide the dough in half and place each half of the dough onto a sheet of waxed paper. Roll the dough into a log and then wrap it tightly in the waxed paper. Now you can either chill or freeze the dough until later or you can go ahead and slice the dough evenly into cookie rounds.
When you are ready to bake them place them on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes until they are golden brown.

What I like to do is make about 4 batches and freeze three rolls! They are so nice to slice up when people are coming over or take to a friend!

A new blog

Every time we get back from Disney, I have so many things running through my mind and I think, I should just start a blog! This time, I did! IT is not that great by any means and in it's very early stages, but I can't stop thinking about things to put in there! So if you want to take a peak, even though it isn't quite ready yet, go ahead! Enjoy!

http://terica-disneytipsandtravelingtricks.blogspot.com/

Goals...

Am I the only one that is constantly setting new goals??? I think that with the start of the new school year, as this happens every year, it gives me the motivation to reevaluate and see what needs a little tune up.

This week I have a few goals that have to get done. First and foremost! LAUNDRY! We just got back from another Disney trip {more on that later} and I have mounds of laundry to do. I am just not looking forward to that. I don't mind doing it, it is the putting away and all that stuff that does not sound too fun to me.

Another goal for this week is to get this blog more current, print pics from my frames in the basement, and get my booty back to the gym! Even though I was sweating like crazy, Disney is NOT the place to go in August!, and was walking all day, I gained four pounds! That is frustrating. My treadmill is calling my name! I am also planning on finishing my cookbook that I have been working on for far too long!

My goals for this school year are just some that I am adding to my current goals. Like, I am making myself pack B's lunch every night before school. I also want to be better about making Bennett study. Last year he would come home without any homework ever, because he would do it at school, but I think it is good for kids to study every day to keep their brains going. So I have different things I am doing with him every day after school and then he gets to read for 20 minutes before he goes to sleep in his bed. I also want to be better about reading my scriptures. My day always ends up going better when this is done. So before the little ones get up, that is what I will be doing. I will also keep up with my marathon a week along with my 30 day shred every other day.

So there you have it. I am still not sure on this starting school stuff. I miss him. A lot. Every year about this time I wish I home schooled. Why do "they" get him the whole day?

Just playing!

This baby is just so much fun! He loves to play. He knows he is loved by all of us and we all love to play with him. He is so cute when he counts. He literally thinks you count like this...ONE, TWO, THREE, I get you! There is no four or he says I get you and then says four. Apparently we play a lot of tag around here! I love this boy and he is my baby and forever will be.

HE loved playing with this bundle we got from Sams. He would color on there, and play with his toys, it was like a little archetit desk. So cute!

They love this aqua doodle as do I. They all color on there forever! No mess, which is even better! Please note the denim diaper. How cute is that!

Looking old

At least I am not feeling old...yet.

I remember a few years ago a good friend of mine said that one day she was looking in the mirror and noticed lines and wrinkles that should could have sworn were not there the day before! I remember looking at these photos and thinking I am not longer in my twenties am I! I mean literally I am well beyond my twenties, but I feel like I am 24. That must have been a good year for me because when someone asks how old I am I always think 24! I am far far from 24, so I am not sure what that is all about.

Anyway, have fun dissecting this horribly looking old face!

Can we day deep wrinkle cream???

and holy bags under my eyes!

The Lazy Days of Summer

This poor little boy cannot keep pants up ever! It could have something to do with barely being 30 pounds and being 3 and a half!

This baby could not be any cuter!

I am not sure how this saying came about, but man this does not depict our summers. I had so many plans for this summer and feel like I never have time for anything! I have tried super hard to make time for our pool. I love having a pool. It is so nice! The kids are just little fishies. They would spend all day there. I just love being there because nothing else is on our minds, but enjoying being together!

Desperate Times...

Certainly call for DESPERATE MEASURES!!!

These photos would be even funnier if the were turned the right way! We went to my grandparents house for dinner and somehow left the house without diapers. Well Paxton had a little accident and we needed a diaper. Luckily my grandma had some of these on hand. {she would kill me if she knew I was posting this, but she does not even have a computer so I know she will not be checking out the ole blog anytime soon!}

While outside getting ready to leave Andy was laughing so hard and I could not for the life of me figure out what was so darn funny. Then he lifted up Paxton's shirt and told me he didn't have a diaper so he looked around and found this! I laughed so hard and I am still chuckling every time I think about it. How super funny is this?

Cobbler anyone?

Andy's parents have a blackberry bush that gives tons of blackberry's and we are always the lucky recipients of lots and lots of blackberry's. You name it and we have tried it with blackberry's. My favorite is blackberry yogurt, which is big for me because I cannot stand that stuff. We also like it in smoothies or shakes, but we always make lots and lots of times is The Pioneer Woman's Blackberry Cobbler. It is SO Divine! Here is the recipe. Go to your in laws right now, get some blackberry's and bake away!

Pioneer Woman's Blackberry Cobbler

Ingredients
1 stick Butter
1-¼ cup Sugar
1 cup Self-Rising Flour
1 cup Milk
2 cups Blackberries (frozen Or Fresh)
Preparation Instructions
Melt butter in a microwavable dish. Pour 1 cup of sugar and flour into a mixing bowl, whisking in milk. Mix well. Then, pour in melted butter and whisk it all well together. Butter a baking dish.
Now rinse and pat dry the blackberries. Pour the batter into the buttered baking dish. Sprinkle blackberries over the top of the batter; distributing evenly. Sprinkle ¼ cup sugar over the top.
Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour, or until golden and bubbly. If you desire, sprinkle an additional teaspoon of sugar over the cobbler 10 minutes before it’s done.

The Magic House

I remember when I was in the third grade we took a field trip to the Magic House and it was sure a special treat. I dreamed of going back there with my kids and said I would take them there all the time. Well we have lived here for three years and we finally made it.

There is a website called groupon and they send you specials everyday and this particular day was for the magic house. You got 5 tickets for 20 bucks. That is a steal. I think tickets are normally 12 maybe...not sure on the price, but still a great deal! So we grabbed some of those up and off we were the very next day.

The kids loved it and we all had a good time. We stayed there pretty much the whole day and then finished the day off at the Home Goods Store, one of my personal faves, El Pollo Loco and topped it off with Dunkin Doughnuts which just came back to the Lou. It was such a fun day. It felt like we were back on vacation. I just love all these moments with my little family. There is nothing better!

How cute is it that they walk hand in hand?

Literal musical chairs

Pax was in Heaven with all the balls!

Be in a bubble!

Concentrating!

This was my favorite little spot. It was like a little market. We had so much fun shopping and then paying for it and playing with the cash registar. So cute and fun!

How adorable is this...I want to do this in my future house someday!