House Progress

 

The dust has settled somewhat and we are all moved in (for the most part).  We still have a full garage, but we have moved all of the essential items, and of course I have decorated the downstairs quite a bit. 

 

I told Jon Mark that I feel like we are living in a 5 star hotel.  I feel so lucky and fortunate to have found this home.

 

I couldn't really get a great picture because of lighting, but here is the kitchen.

 

 

A week ago, I decided to set up the trampoline upstairs.  The kids had too much energy and I needed them to have a high energy activity.  It made sense.  It took forever to set up.  As I assembled the final pieces, I realized that we were missing 3 bars that held the net safely.  The net cannot be used without those bars.  Bummer.  So, the next logical step was to roll the trampoline down the stairs, by myself, while being pregnant.  Yeah... that was difficult and stupid.  I realized I was in trouble about half way down.  I couldn't go up and I couldn't go down.  Nick wasn't home.  Jon Mark wouldn't be home for a few hours.  I was stuck.  I waited like that (holding the trampoline on a decline) for about ten minutes.  Finally, a little twist and some heft and I did it.  After I was done, and patting myself on the back, Joshua said, "Mom, do you know why you were able to do that?" I said, "because your mom is amazing and strong." He said, "no, because I said a prayer for you when you said you were stuck and you didn't know what to do." Okay... I was humbled, and thankful.

 

Someday, I'd like to upgrade the TV console and put some big wrought iron things on either side.  That wall is very long and I think that would look nice.

 

The kids LOVE jumping on the trampoline.

 

Hannah is growing so fast.  Yesterday she said, "I want some more." She loves carrying a cup of ice around to eat.  It was gone so she brought the cup to Jon Mark and said the above sentence.  She also told me, "I poopy." She was indeed poopy. 

 

Lukey is always falling asleep around 4:00 in the afternoon and then he has *the* hardest time waking up.  It's frustrating.  He also sleeps with his eyes partially open as you can see in the picture. 

 

Joshua is so big.  Looking at this picture makes me feel so, so something... I can't put my finger on it.  He's just so grown-up looking.

 

They were playing monster with Jon Mark.  It's a family favorite.

 

Mercedes was having a sleepover with Elena while this was happening, so she isn't in the monster pictures. 

 

We're all well and happy.  I am starting to feel the fatigue of pregnancy.  It'll only get worse, and I know that.  That's a daunting thought.  But, I am well and healthy.  I can't wait to find out if it will be a boy or a girl.  I think it's a girl, but I am wrong every single time, so it is probably a boy.  Either way, I am excited and happy.  I told Jon Mark he could name this baby.  I am not sure what I was thinking.  He likes Teancum Jon, and Eve Dana.  I like the girl name, I'm not so sure on the boy name.  I kind of like it, but is it too different??? I might choose to call him Tean.  Like TEA UN.  I don't know.  It's all still in the works.  Well, gotta go. 

Pictures from the Partay!!

 

Well, before I post some pictures from Mercedes birthday, here are some older pictures from when the kids made homemade smoothie pops with Grandma. 

 

This fun, "simple" activity proved to require two adult hands.  It was super messy and sticky, but the kids really enjoyed the process. 

 

Lukey is especially into helping recently.  He loves visiting great grandparents, and he loves helping me unload the groceries.  He loves helping me cook and set the table.  And... he sticks around until the task is done.  If only I could harness this desire and save it up for a later date when his help is actually helpful.  :) Sometimes it is.  His great grandmas really enjoy his visits. 

 

Here is the finished product. 

 

Here is Hannah at about 13 months or so.

 

Now, on to the party.  Here is the cake I made.  Mercedes wanted a mermaid party.  So, we made a beach cake and a sandcastle cake.  We played Mermaid freeze dance, and they pinned a bow on Ariel.

 

This is Ariel.  I was pretty happy about this water color painting I did.  But, kids can be tough critics.

 

All of the kids love watching her open her presents.

 

Joshua particularly loved the butterfly net.  He thought he was hilarious when he caught himself.

 

Jon Mark took a picture of me sleeping the other night.  Yeah, I think I look ridiculous too.

Dumas, TX

This is Papa and Luke and Joshua on the Ferris Wheel (my favorite ride).

As I mentioned in a post earlier, the kids and I had the opportunity last week to visit great Mommom and Papa in TX. It was a nice visit.  The weather was much cooler than in AZ.  We weren't prepared, but luckily the local Walmart had some long sleeved shirts on sale.  While we were there, the kids learned the proper meaning of spoiled.  At the carnival, Papa and Mommom bought them funnel cake, corn dogs, curly fries, and lemonade.  Thank goodness that Joshua didn't throw up on the Tornado ride.  The throwing up came later.  All of the kids came down with the flu-like bug that resulted in lots of vomiting on the 14 hour drive back home, and one trip to the ER for Hannah (because she was the first to start throwing up, and coincidentally had bonked her head earlier which made me think she might have had a concussion.).  Anyway, while we were there, the kids got to go to the park, the carnival, a cool swimming pool/splash pad, to a Texas Roadhouse in Texas (which Joshua was stoked about), and many trips to the nursing home to visit Great Mommom and Papa.  They had fun seeing Papa Mac's hometown.  It was a nice trip.

The above picture is Joshua's robot army that he had fun playing with.  The yellow tops are girls and the blue tops are boys.  He played with these legos a lot!  

Luke fell asleep in this position one night which I thought was funny.  Joshua really wanted Papa to take a picture. The kids all missed Jon Mark.  At one point, it was like Luke was trying to remind himself that he had a dad.  He looked up from the ground and said, "Papa, do you know that I have a dad? His name is Jon Mark."

On our last day, just before we drove home, we went to the annual parade for Dogie Days. The kids got so much candy!! I'm glad we had this unique opportunity to be alone with Mommom and Papa for a week or so, and that we got to see the great grandparents again. :)

Updates, Updates, Updates

Jon Mark: He's not up to much of anything new.  He is rocking family law.  I always knew he would be great at being an attorney.  He's got the charisma and the intelligence... not to mention good looks and confidence.  Yup, he's pretty much the whole package and he's mine.  He's an awesome dad and husband.  I'm in Texas right now with his parents.  The kids and I are visiting Great Mommom and Papa, and we all miss Jon Mark, but we are glad for the opportunity to see relatives. 


Ralae: Well, I am rocking it at being an awesome mother (if I do say so for myself).  Of course, there are lots of areas for improvement, and sometimes motherhood kicks me in the pants and makes me feel insane, but overall, I rock it like a boss!  Haha! I am anxious to move into our own home, the countdown is on! Only 15 more days!! I am excited to open all of our stuff that has been stored in Lindsay's garage.  It will feel like Christmas in June when we are all set to make up our home!  :)


Joshua: He is all boy.  He loves soldiers and armies.  He plays with his little soldier set and sets out some "scouting" soldiers all over the house.  Sometimes he forgets where he places them.  He tells me that I need to keep an eye out because they are tricky, they are camouflaged. The other day, he drew a Nazi flag (don't worry, he wrote "bad guys" underneath the flag).  On the other side, he drew an American flag and wrote good guys.  He drew a large X over the Nazi flag.  He loves nonfiction stories, especially stories about WWII, hence, the Nazi's v. the Americans.  The other day, he had a tunnel over him and he was spinning around.  He told me that he was a tornado.  He said that I shouldn't worry because he was only hitting the government.  He said he was a natural disaster and couldn't control his path.  Oh, dear.  He is a sweet boy, too.  When he isn't playing "army" he is making his younger siblings laugh. He is a good example to them of choosing the right.  Grandma reads with him every morning and he is catching on so fast.  Spelling in front of him is a thing of the past.  Also, Mommom has taught him how to play checkers and he is pretty good at it.


Mercedes: She is missing her daddy like crazy right now, but she is still able to have some fun.  She loved playing monster with Papa Mac last night.  She loves puzzles and she is great at coloring and writing.  There really is a difference between boys and girls on that front.  The other day, Lukey was pitching a fit and Grandma said, "it's not like it is the end of the world".  Mercedes looked up from what she was doing and said, "yeah, Luke.  If it was the end of the world, then Gavin and Jesus would come back". She prays every night that Jesus will come back to earth soon so that she can see Him and meet Gavin.  She is a sweet heart.  She told me that she can't see the Holy Ghost but she can feel him in her heart and that He feels nice. She tries to do what is right, and she is very remorseful when she makes a mistake.  She is very introspective and can recognize when she has done something wrong.  When Mercedes apologizes, she means it very sincerely.  And, when she has been wronged, she will hug the offender and say that she forgives them, she does that very sincerely too. She is such a special little girl.


Luke: Lukey Bear is very loyal to me. He is very sensitive and needs lots of cuddles.  He is very independent and wants to do everything himself.  He is a big boy and he wants everyone to know it.  He has been very proud of the backpack that I packed for him for this trip.  He wears it everywhere.  He likes it because Joshua has a backpack and so now he feels big because he has one.  Yesterday, Mommom told him that if he didn't eat something then he would blow away.  He took it quite literally, so now when he doesn't eat his lunch and I ask him to come back and eat it, he looks up at me with a concerned expression and says, "so that I won't blow away?".  He has potty trained himself and does pretty good.  He needs reminders from time to time. He is such a cute little guy.  He makes my dad laugh because he can be very obstinate. 


Hannah: Hannah is so funny.  She is learning so much.  She tries so hard to talk and babbles all the time.  She makes voice inflections to match ours, and sometimes it sounds like she is talking.  Papa Mac was playing a game with her in the car on the way up here.  He would tickle her and make her laugh.  He tired out before she did.  He turned around and tried to take a nap.  She waited a few moments and then said, "Papa?" then she would let out a little giggle.  It was so cute. She walks like a pro and gets into everything. Also, every time I go to give her food, she folds her little arms first for prayer.  If I say that the food is hot, she starts blowing and blowing like she is going to hyperventilate.  She is a cuddly little banana and I adore her. 


Life is good for our young family.  We are counting our blessings and trying to live our lives for Heavenly Father and Jesus.  This world is confused and our country is on a slippery slope.  But, there is a lot of goodness in the world, too.  Our family is blessed, we feel so thankful to our Father in Heaven for all that we have.