Moments of Madness

Thanksgiving Fun!

2010-11-18T20:13:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I think it is getting overrun by Christmas celebrations more very year. Yet, Thanksgiving remains pure and noncommercialized. Thanksgiving is about gratitude, and family, and food. It is amazingly simply and full of joy. I absolutely love everything about the entire weekend. I am not only grateful for an alarmingly attractive and understanding husband, I am grateful for my three intelligent, hilarious, and snugly kiddos... I can never get enough of them. They continuously amaze me. I am also grateful for our fabulous nanny, Whitney, who loves my children when I am away. This week, she traced the kids hand's, then made sugar cookies out of them. She brought them and had the kids decorate them as turkeys. How adorable?! They had a blast, and it was a great way to get this holiday on it's way!

2010-08-20T15:59:00.001-07:00

http://www.projectchallenge.com/challenge.htm

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Say....

2010-03-22T08:47:00.000-07:00

I say, "Kale, say yes mom."

Kale says, "Yeah, Baby!"

Kale's Funny...

2010-03-17T07:47:00.000-07:00

Spring has Sprung?

2010-03-17T07:28:00.000-07:00

Spring seems to have arrived, but I have been fooled before. Either way, we really had fun playing outside yesterday. The kids could not get enough of it, they were having so much fun. Daxton kept telling me how awesome it was not to wear a jacket.

I can't believe how much they all change. I feel so old saying it, but time is flying by and they are growing too fast. If I believe in anything, it is the power of loving. And I love my children so much. Each in their own way, just like they are each their very own self. If it is possible to have opposites in three ways, that would be my kids. The more they grow and learn, the more they are learning who they want to become and how they want to be. I love watching them develop and guiding them.

Reupholstered My Ugly/Comfy Chair

2010-01-19T17:37:00.000-08:00

It was so worth the work! $30 and I got a brand new chair!

Kale's Big Boy Bed

2010-01-19T17:29:00.000-08:00

We moved Kale's crib to the toddler bed stage last week. I didn't want to buy all new bedding for both boy's beds, and I couldn't find anything cute to match Daxton's. So, I took Kale's crib bumper and made it into a quilt. It turned out really cute, and was so super easy! I am glad I did it instead of just buying something new. Kale is doing awesome, doesn't try to get out of bed, still sleeping just as long and napping easily. He is so proud of himself!

Kale's First Night

New Something

2010-01-19T17:15:00.000-08:00

I am not typically one for New Year's anything, I just don't like it. However, this time around I feel that it is important to refocus myself just a little. Time has been flying by faster than I would like lately, and I don't want to be one that looks back and realizes that I could have done so many things different and better. I guess that is most likely inevitable, we can't do it all right the first time around. But I am learning with kids there is only a first time, most of the time. The moments come, then they are gone. And my babies are all getting big, so I don't want to lose the moments as they pass. So here are a few somethings I really want to be better at this year, and many years to come:

Blog- I didn't like the blogging idea at first, and then I was addicted. Then I got so crazy busy I just let it slip. But this is a habit I am going to rekindle, since I don't journal, I am afraid I will have too many memories forgotten without it!
Exercise-This is not a habit I enjoy, and I probably won't. But I need the extra energy, the alone time, and the strength (have you picked up Kale lately?)

Daily Alone Time- I have started this and I am promising myself I will keep it going. Every day, no matter when it is throughout the day, I find 10 minutes to be alone, and alone with each of my family members. This is easy with Jake and I, but I usually am piled up with kids and forget that they need the one-on-one attention as much as I do.

There can be nothing wrong with trying to improve ourselves, and I for one have plenty to accomplish still in my life. I want to treasure my life, my time, my moments.

Makynlie is 3!

2009-12-14T10:28:00.000-08:00

Have you ever seen a cuter Princess? We just love her. Makynlie is so sweet, giving, caring, creative, artistic, and we just can't get enough of her teasing. She has changed so much over the past three years, even if she hasn't grown much! We love you, Little Nemo!

Cute - Maybe Even Too Cute!

2009-12-08T19:30:00.000-08:00

Check out all of my sister's cute stuff! I loved the hat that I wore the other day, and the flowers are my favorite for Makynlie during the winter. The headbands are also really comfortable, they stretch to fit your head really easily. Still time for Christmas orders!

www.forgottenfreckles.blogspot.com

Faith

2009-09-17T15:03:00.000-07:00

Life can be so great! Life can be so hard. There are times that you believe everything should keep falling into place, but it doesn't. I believe in prayer. I believe in getting answers to my prayers. Now, I am learning that just because I pray about it and get an answer, that doesn't mean that those answers are just going to fall into place. There are times when you have to fight for the answers to come true.

Right now, my trial comes from getting the answer I didn't want, and now having to fight for it to happen. I feel like my faith and dedication are being tested. Really tested. And I don't feel like I am passing the test, yet. But I am determined to see this through.

To fight for something you didn't think you wanted, because you know in your heart it is what God wants for you.... this is one of the hardest things I have had to do. This is my chance to make something that is a weakness for me become a strength. To truly rely on what Heavenly Father wants me to do, instead of what I intellectually decide is best for me. I have always struggled with this.

I am so blessed to have a happy, close relationship with my Heavenly Father. I trust in Him, and I know that I need to rely on Him more. I always think I can do everyting myself, but without Him I am nothing. I guess I just needed a great wake up call to see that I need to live more on faith and less on believeing in my own self.

Makyn's First

2009-09-01T12:52:00.000-07:00

Today Makynlie started school. I thought it would be great for her to get inovlved with other kids and have something that is just for her. She is sandwhiched between two big boys and often gets what's left in their path of destruction. Polka Dot Parade Preschool is all for her! She was excited to go, and had a blast!

Kale's First Birthday!

2009-07-28T09:17:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't love this Bear? We sure do! Kale is the best caboose a family could ask for. He is full of personality, smiles, and has an adorable coyness about him. He makes everyone happy, especially his brother and sister. Kale is standing, and can say a few words. He walks with something to hold on to, and I am sure that his first real steps are fast approaching. We love you Kale Bear!

Spiderman Splash Party!

2009-07-13T14:15:00.000-07:00

We had a super fun Spiderman party for Daxton and Kale's birthdays on Saturday! Thank you so so much to everyone that came, and those that helped, and to my grandparents for once again allowing us into their beautiful home and yard for such a great party! The kids can't get enough of the new toys, they haven't stopped playing since the party.

Summer Fun!

2009-07-13T13:59:00.000-07:00

This summer has been lots of fun for us so far. I personally have been loving the cooler weather, and taking time to go out before the heat really sets in. We have gone to the Gateway Discovery Kids museum (always, we love it there) and temple square. Work BBQ's, fmaily grilling nights, and plenty of fun getting used to our new neighborhood and being so close to everything we enjoy. There is more room for bike riding and scooter riding as well, and the kids are getting pretty great at it!

This weekend we are headed to Lava Hot Springs, and then in three weeks we head out to San Diego, so there is still plenty of fun to be had this summer!

My Girly Girl

2009-07-13T13:58:00.000-07:00

Miss Makynlie is such a little girl. She has grown to love high heeled shoes, she wants her hair long, and she can't get enough of perfume. She still loves to be very active, and can wrestle with the best of them. But she spends a lot of time changing clothes, wearing dresses, combing her hair, being Mommy to her baby, and cooking in her kitchen. She loves to clean, and even makes messes just to clean them up. I love her, and thought I would share a few girl moments of hers with all of you that love her too!

Final Answer?

2009-06-15T12:24:00.000-07:00

So, its been obvious to those around us that Jake and I have been pretty unsettled about moving. First we were going to, then decided not to. But last Monday, here is how our day went:

8:00-Mom tells me Grandpa and Grandma will help us out if we can move closer to family
9:00- Hear back from Jim, owner of the house across from Mom and Dad
12:00-Jake and I decide to put our house for rent on KSL "just to see..."
2:00-Girl calls and wants to come see it
5:30-Her fiancee shows up, loves it, and agrees to a 12 month lease
6:00-We call Jim and tell him we want the house by Mom and Dad

So.... we are moving to Centerville on June 27th. We are excited, and we feel this will be a great move for us, hard as it is. We can't wait to be closer to family, we are so grateful to our grandparents for loving us and helping us make the move possible. We love our Foxboro ward and friends, and we plan on still seeing them plenty!

The plan is that I will be moving over little/breakable stuff on Friday. We will do the big move on Saturday, our loving and generous ward is planning on helping. We will settle in over the weekend, and Monday I will be coming back to the Foxboro house to clean (with all my moms and sisters) for our renters to move in on Wednesday.

Thank you to everyone that has supported and helped us while we made these tough decisions. We can't wait for our new adventure to begin!

I love it!

2009-06-09T08:22:00.000-07:00

Jen was awesome and gave me a sneak peek of our pictures from Saturday... and no, I am not embarassed that I begged her to share just one...

So, enough about sick kids...

2009-06-05T08:03:00.000-07:00

This week has been super emotional for Jake and I. We have been back and forth about moving to a bigger house somewhere closer to family, and we spent a lot of time this week looking at houses and even made an offer that was accepted.

However, we backed out at the last minute. We really feel like we are where we are supposed to be right now. Our ward and neighborhood are amazing, and we feel so lucky to be a part of it. We are grateful to be in a home, safe, and somewhere we are able to afford a nice lifestyle. We love the relationships our kids have with the kids around them, Daxton's preschool, and really feel that we are not done here yet.

I have spent a lot of time evaluating what is important to me through this whole process, and I found one thing to be sure; everything I do, every choice I make, is all about making sure my kids and husband are safe, loved, happy and healthy. As long as I stay focused on this, I will be successful in my life. Every day is a challenge, to make sure the balance between kids, husband, house, work, school, etc. is effective. But I find that when I tip the scales in favor of more time with my kids, everything else is better. I am so blessed to have three beautiful, healthy children to love and be a part of. They amaze me constantly.

So, here we are. Our plans are to stay where we are, at least another year. Who knows what will happen between now and then? We will just keep being where we feel we should be, wherever that may be.

Isn't it summer?

2009-06-04T19:38:00.000-07:00

So, during "the season" it is understandable when my kids are infected, coughing, RSV, and other eww gross stuff. However, when I got to the doctor with all 3 babies, and come out with 6 eye infections, 3 sinus infections, 2 ears draining, 3 wheezing coughs, and 2 cases of pneumonia.... with a grand total of 9 prescriptions to take to the pharmacy- and all this on June 3rd?! I am bugged!!

Our little Ethan

2009-05-26T15:51:00.000-07:00

As you know I am a big believer in prayer, faith, God and healing. Please, send your prayers to a little guy that is fighting for his life right now. I love all of you and have felt your support in my times of need, please send that support to my best friend Alison and her son to help bring him back to the tough little Ethan we all know and love!

http://almsm.blogspot.com/2009/05/ethan-in-picu.html

Grateful

2009-05-26T09:39:00.000-07:00

Over the past week, I have learned of so many pregnancies with complications, a friend's baby boy is in the PICU, other's are battling cancer... All in all, I am faced with the awful reminder that life is precious, often shorter than we would like, and very different than we plan. I am so, so grateful to be so blessed in my life. Come what may, I am choosing to love each day and spend as much of my time loving my babies and husband as I possibly can. If there is anything I have learned it is that it can all change in a blink. I pray I never regret how I spend my time with my family, how I treat those around me, and I hope to share my love with those in my life. I am so blessed, so grateful, and I have a constant prayer in my heart for all of you!

Daxton's Surgery

2009-05-12T16:51:00.001-07:00

Daxton went in yesterday morning to get his tonsils and adnoids removed. We went in to the doctor last Friday, and they decided that he had a pretty bad case of airway restriction and they didn't want his heart to be stressed any longer. So, we went in first thing yesterday morning. We expected to head home only an hour or two after his surgery, but of course that is not how it happened.

He came out of surgery and everythis was going okay, and then he started losing oxygen. He was dipping pretty low, so he was on and off oxygen until the early afternoon. They decided to keep him overnight because he was losing a lot mostly when he was asleep.

The rest of the evening he was happy and playing, so I was hoping they would let us go if he slept for an hour and looked good. That didn't happen, his levels were up and down all night, and he was on and off oxygen periodically. Finally about 5:00 am he lost so much that hey put the mask on him and turned it up pretty high. He finally saturated in the high 90% and stayed that way. He slept for a few more hours and stayed high, so we finally headed home late morning. Boy was he glad to be home! And I am glad to see him doing so much better. Thank you everyone for your love and concern, we definitely felt supported the past few days and are grateful for such great family and friends!

Mother's Day... Weekend...

2009-05-10T20:48:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day is an amazing day. When else do our husbands take over all activities for a day and we get to relax and enjoy our children? Isn't that what being a mother is about? Jake is always wonderful to me, but he made today extra special! I love you baby! And I love our babies...

On another note, my brother is a daddy! And he and Suzie are being amazingly strong parents already, since their baby Karlee came early and is in the NICU. She is doing okay, ups and downs, but doing okay. Here are some pictures, cause she is adorable....

And tomorrow we are doing round 2 of kids surgery, Daxton's tonsils are coming out! We are excited, hopefully this will help him feel better and be back to himself. We expect everything to go smoothly and recovery to be easy. No big deal... Daxton is our super star!

Little Miss Manipulator

2009-04-16T09:59:00.000-07:00

Lately Daxton has been really into helping everyone with everything. As soon as I change Kale's diaper, he runs it to the garbage without being asked. He wakes up and makes his bed in the morning before leaving his room, brushes his teeth, and gets dressed by himself. He opens the drapes in the morning, gets snacks, vacuums, moves the clothes from the washer to the dryer, etc. He is actually a help too, which is amazing for a 3 year old. If I ask him to do it, I can trust it gets done the same as if I did it myself. He has now moved on from just helping me, to teaching Makynlie to help as well. He shows her how to do whatever it is he is doing. He is so patient and explains it to her step by step.

So, each month I teach my kids something new they can do by themselves. This month for Makynlie it is make her bed. It is a little tricky because she is still bite-size and can't quite reach the sheets to pull them up. So, this morning Daxton volunteered to teach Makynlie the "best way" to make her bed. I was overhearing them work together to make the bed. It went something like this:

D: First you have to pull the sheet up and straight.
M: I can't reach, can you pull it up please?
D: Yes, I can do it. Now you pull up the blanket.
M: (grunt) I can't reach it. You do it!
D: Okay, its easy just like this.
M: Good job Daxton!

(At this point I walked to the doorway and see Makynlie is now laying on her blanket on floor playing with her puppy)

D: Now you have to put the pillows up. The big ones than the little ones.
M: Can you do it? I can't lift them. Too Heavy.
D: Uh, well...
M: Please?
D: Okay, sure I can do that.

So, my little helper, my little manipulator..... who is Kale going to be? Hopefully sweet. Makynlie is going to require a bit more time and attention than Daxton ever has! Oh but I love them all!

Happy Easter!

2009-04-13T09:29:00.000-07:00

Our Easter this year was so fun! The kids loved it, and it went so smoothly. It was easier having 9:00 church than later times, left the rest of the day open to play! Here are few pictures of our Easter. We hope you all enjoyed yours!

Our not so warm trip to the beach...

2009-04-10T08:48:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Jake and I were so lucky to get to fly away to the beach for a few days. We were expecting a wonderful weekend of laying in the sand and feeling the sun, hearing the waves.... instead we got jeans, jackets, and wind. But we had fun being together!

We flew in on Wednesday, picked up our car and went straight to Nate and Brittany's rehearsal dinner. We got a little lost, so we were pretty late. But it gave us plenty of time to bond with Jake's new favorite (not so favorite) car. I pity those who purchase one of these.

After dinner we checked into our condo, this little beachside place that my grandparents got for us. Oh how we loved it! We woke up and walked out of our room to see this:

We spent the day getting acquainted with the area, eating and just hanging out. It was so great not to have a schedule of any kind. We didn't have anything planned all weekend except the wedding stuff, so it was fun just to be.
We went to the reception that night, and it was beautiful! They really went all out for their wedding and it was gorgeous. So fun to catch up with friends from high school and see all of Nate's family again. They are always so much fun!

Friday wasn't raining so we thought it would be a great idea to take some lunch down to the beach. Well, it was way over romanticized in our heads, and when we got there we were freezing, the wind gusts were unbearable, and the pigeons wouldn't leave us alone. So, we ate quick as we could and headed back to the hot tub at the condo.
When all else fails, I can always rely on the basics in life to bring me comfort on a rainy beach trip! So I layed around and ate junk all day, because I was on vacation and thereby allowed to. And then we were lucky enough to get to meet up with Jake's sister Shanda and her kids for dinner and some shopping. We had lots of fun and love seeing them. It is so fun that they are closer now, and right where to love to vacation!
Saturday we had to check out of our room, so we headed to the #1 mall in the world! That's right girls, you can be jealous. And caught a movie and then caught a plane.... We had a blast, got lots of sleep. And next trip we are hoping to actually see the beach!

Ready when you are Spring!

2009-04-06T10:27:00.000-07:00

We are VERY ready for Spring to come at our house. We have been stuck inside for far too long, and we want the sun! In the meantime, however.... I did capture a few cute moments with the kids. Man I love them!

Kale's tongue is constantly out as he is cutting his two top teeth. He has four teeth now!

Canopy Styles

2009-03-21T15:18:00.000-07:00

Check out the new spring and summer cotton styles on http://cuddlycanopy.blogspot.com

Makynlie Claire

2009-03-18T11:53:00.001-07:00

I just love this girl, and I needed to share. Her hair pretty fell out, but if anyone can pull off the messy look, she can! Thanks for the pics Lanae!

Brag time...

2009-03-06T14:21:00.000-08:00

I have always seen and known that my husband is not only adorable, he happens to be extremely smart. This semester in school, he happens to be proving me right!! I just wanted to tell him how much I love him. He is an amazing man, and I couldn't imagine my life without him.

I love you baby!!

Every once in a while....

2009-03-03T13:44:00.000-08:00

..... something really bugs me. I am not sure how I get into these messes, but I get all attached to something I really shouldn't care about. Then something goes wrong and I get all worked up. So when Jason dogged Melissa and went back to Molly, I truly felt broken inside...

Oh the Joy!

2009-02-24T08:45:00.000-08:00

So, after so long of having icky kids, I started to forget how much fun my kids are! They have been so sweet and loving the past few days. It makes me so happy! I love knowing they are feeling better, but even more I love being around them again! They are playing together so well, and Makynlie is a totally different girl. She is still stubborn and wants her own way, but she is also so sweet and funny.

I just have to say that Jake is doing so awesome this semester in school. Our lives were a little tricky last semester and he didn't have all the time he needed to put into his studies. But he is doing so great balancing school, family and still having a life. I love him so much, he is such an inspiration to me and keeps me happy. He never makes me feel like he is too busy to hear about my thoughts. I just love him so much!

I have been trying to get a website up for my baby umbrellas that I sell, and I am also trying to get back into studying. My mom is going to school with me and she is killing me in our studies! I have a lot of catching up to do. Love you Mom!

Hooray!

2009-02-20T09:34:00.000-08:00

We are all doing so much better. Kale is on the road to doing better, improving a little every day and will be all better soon we hope! Makynlie is happy again, although still has a sore throat. She is able to eat and run and play, for which we are all grateful. Dax still has a fever on and off, but is doing better overall and just needs a little extra sleep.

Thanks so much to everyone who loves us! We felt your love throughout this whole ordeal, and hopefully we will start seeing you soon since we are almost ready to be out and about!

So Grateful!

2009-02-17T19:37:00.001-08:00

I kept thinking I would post when I had good news to share about the kids. Well, I am going to post anyway... Not to drag it out too much, Makynlie is finally doing better, hopefully she continues to improve. Daxton is running a fever, cough and hopefully that will be the worst of it. Kale, however, had a really rough day and it turns out his RSV has become viral and bacterial pneumonia. His lungs are heavily diseased and full of fluid. He had a fever today of 103 and his ears are both draining. He is now on antibiotics, breathing treatments, and we are just praying he gets better and not worse. Please, please keep our children in your prayers. We have not had a break in the past 11 days, and it is taking its toll on our family.

I need to say thank you to everyone who has taken time to help us out beyond a simple blog comment or hello. We live in the most amazing neighborhood, and so close to my family who have all helped me so much the past week and a half. A special thanks to those who brought by treats and meals (Caprene, Michelle, Mary Ann, Jenn, Mom) and who called to see if I needed anything from the store or if they could stay with the kids for a while so I could get out (Emilee, Linda, Mom). Those who watched the kids so Jake and I could get some sleep (Michele, Chelsea, Mom). Those who came to help give the kids a bath (Suzie) or took the kids so Jake and I could have a Valentine's date (Keisha, Brandi, Suzie). And for those who brought their sick baby to commiserate with ours and give us some fun and laughs (Jenn, Lars, and Taylee). All in all, the past eleven days have probably been some of the hardest of my life, but I feel so loved and taken care of. So thank you, and please keep us in your prayers until we are all better!

On a side note, Jake and I had an unbelievable Valentine's night on Friday. We went to dinner at Biaggi's and saw a movie. Jake got me a diamond necklace (that's right.... a little different than the Wal-Mart jewelry I have always worn) and completely spoiled me. I got him a watch, to try and keep up with his big gift! And can I tell you how amazing my husband is? He is the one that makes me who I am, gives me a life I love and gives me butterflies when he holds me. I could not live without him, and I am so happy I won't have to do that anytime in this eternity!

Kale doing his breathing treatment.

My new necklace!!

And Then....

2009-02-09T20:03:00.000-08:00

So, today was the first day that the kids really started to improve. The morning was better, there were happy moments and I finally thought, "Yes, I can do this!" The afternoon brought more sad times, and it was about that same time that Kale started to cough and wheeze. Well, after a trip to our awesome and amazing pediatrician who stayed late to see Kale, the results are...RSV! That's right, Kale has RSV. And the best part is, it is only day one. I was warned that it will get progressively worse over the next 3-5 days. So yeah!!

I decided that I am going to be completely overwhelmed if I give into this, so here are all of the things I am grateful for today. I am grateful that I had two kids have surgery and neither one had complications. I am grateful they are smiling and laughing. I am grateful that Daxton called our new barstools "Freaking Cool!" I am grateful I get two or more days off work to play with my babies and not worry about anything but them. I am grateful tomorrow is Tuesday and Jake only has one class. I am grateful that I changed our insurance deductible on our cars to $0, since someone hit-and-ran Jake's car in the parking lot of the hospital and it needs to be repaired. I am very grateful that I have such a strong, patient and helpful husband. He is my sanity! And I am grateful to live in a neighborhood and close to family where we have so many people willing to help and support us.

I truly love my life. Even today as I was sitting on the floor holding three screaming babies, I realized I wouldn't trade my life for anything in the world. I am grateful for a Heavenly Father that I can be grateful to, and feel supported by. I know He is taking care of me, and that allows me to laugh at this crazy week I am having and enjoy the time I get to sit and hold my babies.

Kid's Surgeries

2009-02-07T09:06:00.000-08:00

On Thursday, Kale and Makynlie both went in to Primary Children's Hospital for same day surgery. Kale had ear tubes put in both of his ears. He recoverd quickly, although it is two day later and his ears are still draining and bleeding . He is happy, but a little fussy when he lays down to eat or sleep. The pressure from laying down is very uncomfortable. He only stayed in the hospital for a few hours, then he got to go home and play with Daddy.

Makynlie had tubes placed in both ears, and had her tonsils and adnoids removed. She has been battling sleep apnea, so we are hoping this will help her breathe better and sleep better at night. She stayed overnight at the hospital and came home the next morning. At first she was losing a lot of oxygen and needed to have the mask on her. So, they watched her for 24 hours. She is a roller coaster of screaming, playing, and sleeping. She is on Lortab, which wires her and then crashes her pretty hard. As the medicene wears off, she gets pretty worked up. But, as time goes by she seems to be getting stronger and happier! We are so grateful both children recovered quickly and with no major complications.

Super fast but perfectly fun trip!

2009-02-07T08:28:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday I decided I was so sick of the cold, and the kids were absolutely stir crazy. So I packed us up and we left Friday morning for St. George. We had a pleasant drive down. There was some of this...

And not enough of this...

But the kids were really good in the car. We got to our hotel, stuffed our bellies with pizza, played some games and went to sleep.

The next morning, we got up early and headed out to Zion National Park. The weather was perfect, and we hiked to Emerald Pools. The kids LOVED it! Especially Kale, he was laughing the entire time. The kids hiked the whole way...

The trail was really icy in some spots still, and the kids handled it well. The last patch of ice on the way back down was almost at the trailhead. I picked Makynlie up and carried her over it, about 3 steps is all, and when I went to set her down, she was asleep! She wore herself right out. I loved it!

After our hike, we went to St George for dinner and some shoppng at the outlets. It was a warm 70 degrees, and we couldn't get enough of the sun. The next morning, we had to head back. Makynlie missed her chocolate milk so much, she was drinking the powder straight from the can!

Our trip was perfect, although one day too short. We love the sun, and really hope he comes to visit us soon!

I'm in Business!!

2009-02-02T19:02:00.000-08:00

Inspired by my little Kale, I designed a car seat canopy to keep him snuggly warm and away from grabbing hands and germs. After being asked multiple times where I got it, I decided to make them for anyone else who wants one! I am posting my blog address, and if you would please pass it along I would really appreciate it! Thank you!

http://cuddlycanopy.blogspot.com/

Kale is 6 months!

2009-01-27T11:25:00.000-08:00

Kale is six months old today! We absolutely love having him in our family. He is such a happy, fun baby. He has not had it easy the past six months, and I am afraid the health issues are not all healed yet. But, he is getting stronger and we know his sweet spirit will not be broken!

His appointment was today, and he is now our chubbiest baby so far. Check out the chunk in these pictures! He weighs 21 lbs. and is 28 inches long. He is stil very proportionate, just a little extra on his thighs. He can roll, sit up, he loves to "swim" on his blanket, and he is eating baby food three times a day. Kale has two bottom teeth and seems to be getting ready for more. He is the perfect baby, and we all love to see him smile! We love you baby Bear!

Freedom of Choice Act

2009-01-21T13:31:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure who is in the loop on the current legislation about FOCA (Freedom of Choice Act), but the Catholic Church has been strongly expressing complete opposition to this measure for awhile now. This bill if passed would constitutionalize the right of a woman in the US to terminate her pregnancy at any time should she so desire. It would also wipe out any and all state regulations that place any sort of restriction on abortion (ex: get rid of all parental consent laws, partial-birth abortion bans). Worse yet, it seeks to repeal the Hyde Amendment--which protects tax payers from their federal dollars being used to fund abortions. Finally, the language of the bill is extremely vague regarding conscience clauses for private hospitals to refuse to perform abortions. The US Bishops have threatened to close every Catholic hospital in the country, before they would participate on any level in abortion . . . that's about 30% of hospitals in the US, and would ultimately effect the poor the most, and be catastrophic for our over-burdened health care system.

To read the bill: http://www.opencongress.org/bill/110-s1173/text . . . Section 4 is the most problematic for health care professionals--opening all health care providers to the possibility of a civil law suit should they refuse to perform an abortion due to conscientious objections. Please consider signing the petition below.

Please sign our petition to Chairman Obey today. FRC will deliver the petitions to his office on January 23, 2009 to express the desire of the American people not to be forced to be complicit with abortion.

Who We Are

2009-01-21T08:26:00.000-08:00

This week I am thinking a lot about who I am as a person. Wondering who each of my children will become. Can I teach them to be their own self, regardless of who they are around? How to make the choices that will keep them happy and safe, not the ones their friends want them to make? It is already starting. There are habits Daxton learns from family and friends, and thinks it is okay for him to behave that way because others are. I am trying to teach him that we behave a different way, but he has a hard time finding understanding in the boundaries of right and wrong, appropriate and inappropriate. I want him to see the love for our Savior that Jake and I have and let that really be a guiding light in his life. I want the same for Makynlie and Kale also as they grow older. Neither Jake or I made the best choices throughout our lives, and I expect each of our children will grow up making choice that will cause them pain, embarassment, and problems they will need to fix.

I heard on a tv show the other day "It's not about what you can get away with, it's about who you are." It really made me hope I can teach our family to be who they are, who they want to be, regardless of what they can get away with or what others want them to do.

What happened?

2009-01-14T13:16:00.001-08:00

I am not sure how it happened, but Kale got so big all of the sudden! He is still just my baby, but he can sit, roll, eat big boy food, grab things... Ahh!! I am pretty sure we all know what happens when my babies start to get big... So, for the sake of my sanity and my small house, Kale needs to stay little a little longer!

One Flaw In Women

2009-01-14T13:00:00.000-08:00

By the time the Lord made woman, He was into his sixth dayof working overtime. An angel appeared and said, 'Why are you spending so much time on this one?' And the Lord answered, 'Have you seen my spec sheet on her? She has to be completely washable, but not plastic, have over 200 movable parts, all replaceable and able to run on diet coke and leftovers, have a lap that can hold four children at one time, have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart - and she will do everything with only two hands.' The angel was astounded at the requirements. 'Only two hands!? No way! And that's just on the standard model? That's too much work for one day. Wait until tomorrow to finish.' 'But I won't,' the Lord protested. 'I am so close to finishing this creation that is so close to my own heart. She already heals herself when she is sick AND can work 18 hour days.' The angel moved closer and touched the woman.. 'But you have made her so soft, Lord.' 'She is soft,' the Lord agreed, 'but I have also made her tough.

You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish.' 'Will she be able to think?' asked the angel. The Lord replied, 'Not only will she be able to think, she will be able to reason and negotiate.' The angel then noticed something, and reaching out, touched the woman's cheek. 'Oops, it looks like you have a leak in this model. I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one.' 'That's not a leak,' the Lord corrected, 'that's a tear!' 'What's the tear for?' the angel asked. The Lord said, 'The tear is her way of expressing her joy, her sorrow, her pain, her disappointment, her love, her loneliness, her grief and her pride.' The angel was impressed. 'You are a genius, Lord. You thought of everything! Woman is truly amazing.' And she is! Women have strengths that amaze men. They bear hardships and they carry burdens, but they hold happiness, love and joy. They smile when they want to scream. They sing when they want to cry. They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous. They fight for what they believe in. They stand up to injustice. They don't take 'no' for an answer when they believe there is a better solution. They go without so their family can have. They go to the doctor with a frightened friend. They love unconditionally. They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards.. They are happy when they hear about a birth or a wedding. Their hearts break when a friend dies. They grieve at the loss of a family member, yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left. They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart. Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors. They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care about you. The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning. They bring joy, hope and love. They have compassion and ideals. They give moral support to their family and friends. Women have vital things to say and everything to give. HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN, IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

Dinosaur Museum

2009-01-05T13:44:00.000-08:00

We used some of our time off during the holidays to visit the Dino museum at Thanksgiving Point. I am sure you can imagine how much the kids loved it! We went with Thomas's and had a blast. Daxton was busy learning all of the names of the dinosaurs, and Makynlie especially loved the digging for fossils. Daxton fell and hit his head on a rock wall, earning himself a bump with a slight concussion. He was back up and running again the next day, so it wasn't too bad. It's too bad the museum is so pricey and far away, the kids want to get already!

Usually I love winter because we can do all of the museums, create your own ceramics, and other fun inside stuff you don't want to do during the summer. However, this winter is so cold and so full of germs, I think twice before we even go to church! I hope it gets better soon, there is still so much more to do!

Out in the snow...

2008-12-22T10:23:00.000-08:00

Our crazy, sad, wonderful weekend....

2008-12-21T17:09:00.000-08:00

This weekend was one of many places, emotions, and moments I will never forget. Last Friday, Kale started being very sick. His vomitting and other "symptoms" (ewww) were relentless. On Friday evening, Jake and I finally took him to the ER at Primary Children's because he had not urinated for almost 12 hours. They ran some blood work and ran IV fluids, and at midnight decided to admit him overnight. He received more fluids through the night, and was able to start urinating again. He is still having flu symptoms, but he is no longer dehydrated like he was on Friday. We are praying we won't have to go back, but we are going to see the doctor tomorrow to check his progress.

They had to poke his hands three times for his IV because his veins were so dry....

And through it all, Kale cut his two bottom teeth! He is getting so big already!

So... we raced home from the hospital Saturday afternoon because it was me and Jake's 5 year anniversary! So, although it was very hard for me to leave Kale, he was in great hand's at my mom's house. I had been planning our anniversary for the past two months, and just couldn't give up on the surprises I had in store for Jake! He thought we were going to a movie and dinner. We did go to a matinee, then I drove up to Park City for dinner at Blind Dog. We exchanged gifts over dinner, and I got Jake an anniversary ring for his right hand. He got me a diamond band to go with my wedding ring. I love it!! After dinner, instead of driving home I drove him to the hotel we stayed at for our honeymoon. I had reserved the same room even! He was completely surprised and we enjoyed our night together, lots of memories, and we even got to sleep in! Of course, after my night in the hospital, I fell asleep at 8:30, but the weekend was so much fun! I love Jake with all of heart. The past five years have been amazingly blissful, not without bumps, but when you are married to he man of your dreams the bumps don't slow you down for too long. I love you Jake Babe!!

Makynlie is 2!

2008-12-16T09:24:00.000-08:00

We had a super fun birthday party for Makynlie on Saturday. Despite the codl winter storm, we had a blast swimming, eating and opening presents! She is so grown up now, and we love her so much. Our family is definantly complete with her in it! We love you Makyn-a-lynn!!

A great one..

2008-12-08T08:34:00.000-08:00

My friend Laura posted this on her blog, and it really touched me. I think especially when the holidays get crazy busy, us mom's tend to pity ourselves more often. Here you go wonderful mothers that I love!!

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?' Obviously, not.No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all.I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands,nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? & Can you open this?Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer,'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around5:30, please.'One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England ...Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned tome with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe . I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription:'To Charlotte , with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything. A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied,'Because God sees.'I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I seethe sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life.It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree. When I really think about it, I don't want my daughter to tell the friend she's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want her to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to her friend, to add, 'you're gonna love it there.'As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot see if we're doing it right.And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Happy kids!

2008-12-08T07:28:00.000-08:00

So, I am not sure if it is Christmas in the air or something else, but our kids have been so happy lately! Daxton is really enjoying preschool and I am amazed at how much he has learned since he started in September. He counts well, knows which month it is, how the seasons change, can draw shapes and even write a few letters. Makynlie will be two a week from tomorrow, I can't believe it! She is speaking in sentences and has the funniest little sense of humor. She can count to 3 and loves loves loves to read books! She can be read to for hours. She enjoys making art projects and usually sits to make her creations every morning after a wholesome breakfast of waffles with chocolate milk. Kale is eating well, and having no reflux problems. The tube worked to cure that and we still have him on medication to prevent it from coming back. As the swelling went down in his throat, his little extra flaps in his throat are able to move easier now. So he is noisy and healthy. He is the happiest little boy I have ever seen, really. He is always laughing and smiling, and as long as he gets his naps in, he can't really be upset by anything. Jake is finishing up his semester, and I am excited he will have a month off. Lots of good time with the kids, and help me out with work schedule and the house stuff so I can study more. I love all of them so much!!

Our Thanksgiving!

2008-12-04T15:11:00.000-08:00

So what if it is a week overdue? Our Thanksgiving/Jake's Birthday was fantastic! We loved being with family, swimming at the Grandparents, playing cards and just being together. I know it is short, but all in all we are doing great but busy. I will do a detailed update over the weekend. Love you all!

What is missing....?

2008-11-17T08:56:00.000-08:00

We started to wean Kale off of his tube last Thursday. We thought it would take up to two weeks, but because he was handling it so well, he was officially done yesterday morning at 8:00 am! Last night was his first night in a month not having food in his belly the whole time he was sleeping. So, we were very worried he would be up all night. But, he slept like a champ! Even with a stuffy nose, he was out for 10 hours. I am personally so relieved to have the tube out. But more importantly, we are happy that his eating and breathing are so much improved! Even if he has a few extra pounds, as you can see, he is happy and healthy. What more could we hope for?

Grateful...

2008-11-12T13:01:00.000-08:00

Many of you know that I work from home. Sometimes, this is less of a blessing than others, but for the most part, it is something that I take for granted and I really shouldn't. Jake is going to school only right now, which means that I am the sole money maker for our small establishment. Now, my job is not what I want to be doing when I grow up, nor is it full of fun and money. But, I do get to come down for family dinner with my babies. And when I look over my shoulder, and Kale is right by my side playing in his saucer, I find myself washed over in gratitude for the ability I have to be with my family. My kids are little, but getting bigger every day, and where would I be if I missed all of these little moments? Probably in an office building somewhere...

The singing Freeman's

2008-11-12T12:56:00.000-08:00

So, the kids have started to love singing, even making up their own songs. Here is a little taste, although they were being uncharacteristically shy for the camera...

Daxton no longer a baby...

2008-11-03T09:41:00.000-08:00

I am sure many of you have seen the signs, but I have chosen to ignore them until now. Yet, I can deny it no longer.... Daxton is no longer a baby. He tells me that he prefers to be called Daxton, not Dax. He goes to school, attends friend's birthday parties without us there, and has buddies to hang out with and doesn't need us to stay while he plays. He is my Helper around the house, with the other kids, and just in general. He loves to play guys, battle, and do anything boy. Man, I love him but did it all have to happen so fast? This is a clip of Daxton and his friend Caden cruising around.

Happy Halloween!!

2008-11-03T09:37:00.000-08:00

This was our most fun Halloween yet! The kids were old enough to enjoy their costumes, trick-or-treating, and they were inspiration for Jake and I to dress up as well! We had fun at a party for ourselves, and the kids loved seeing all of their family on Halloween. Jake and I were Diego and Dora. Dax was Spiderman with a Batman twist. Makynlie was Tinkerbell and Kale was a chunky Pumpkin. We had a blast!!

My happy kids!

2008-10-29T18:13:00.000-07:00

With all of the chaos in our house lately, there are a few things that keep me sane... Daxton, Makynlie and Kale. They are so much fun! You all are caught up on Kale's life, but Makynlie and Daxton have been busy too. Makynlie is very active, still, and keeps me on my toes. She loves to sing "Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree" and giggles hysterically when we zip up her footsie jammas. She is now potty trained (Wahoo!!) and loves to read and do puzzles.

Daxton is loving preschool these days, they even went on a field trip this week! He has fallen in love with football just like his dad. He loves to play, to watch, and generally will tell you all about the touchdowns he makes without prompting. He is so happy, and is my little snuggler still. He tells stories now, it is getting tricky to find the truth from what he tells me. But, all in all, he keeps me guessing and smiling!

Kale's New Diet

2008-10-24T15:48:00.000-07:00

Last night Kale was placed on a feeding tube. This is meant to keep him from refluxing, so he will be able to keep acid away from his damaged throat tissues and let them heal. He is doing really well on the tube. He hated getting it put in, as you can imagine. But after a couple of hours it seems like he doesn't even know it is there anymore. He is hooked up to it 24 hours a day right now, getting about 1.5 ounces every hour. It runs on a pump as you can see in the picture, and we just fill the bad every 8 hours. He was sad most of the night last night because we put in his tube on an empty stomach, and instead of getting a full 6 oz bottle he started to get a slow drizzle. Now that he is caught up on his food, he is very happy! In fact, he took a longer nap today than usual because he didn't have to wake up for a bottle! For now, we are just going to let his throat heal, and in about 4-6 weeks do a sleep study to evaluate how his breathing is doing. Thanks for everyone's love and support!

Kale is all hooked up! This is his pole for at home use.

This is his little red backpack, it holds his pump and bag when he is out and about.

Update!!

2008-10-17T08:49:00.000-07:00

Although Kale has been smiling for weeks now, this is the first one that I finally caught with the camera. Isn't he adorable? We went to see a GI specialist yesterday and are still working through how best to help him. We are going to treat with medications for the next 2-3 more weeks, and if that doesn't help enough we will have to place a tube down his nose and throat to feed him directly into his small intestine. This will give his stomach and throat time to heal so that we can get his other problems fixed. We will also be doing an overnight sleep study that will help us see if he is breathing okay at night. Thanks for all of your support and prayers! He is a such a tough little boy.

Yesterday Jake took the kids to Gardner Village to see the witches. They had so much fun!! They can't talk enough about the petting zoo, they keep telling me all of the animals they saw. They always love time with their cousins as well. We love that we all live close enough for these kinds of outings.

Kale's Blessing

2008-10-06T09:21:00.000-07:00

Jake blessed Kale yesterday after conference at his Mom's house. It was such a great blessing, and we loved having our whole family there. Thank you to everyone that made an effort to come and be with us on such a great day! We love being so close to family, and spending so much time with those that we love. I am grateful for my little Kale Bear and pray that he continues to get stronger.

Circus Circus!!

2008-09-29T14:05:00.000-07:00

We went to the circus on Saturday and had so much fun! We got really great seats, on the third row, so the little ones could see everything! Daxton loved the tigers, elephants, and motorcycles. Makynlie loved the puppies and horses. Daxton is still playing with his sword, and sleeping with it, and eating with it..... For all of you who didn't get to go this year, make sure you do the next time we go!!

Kale is 2 months!!

2008-09-29T14:00:00.000-07:00

Isn't he so big and adorable? He is our baby bear, and we love him. The past two months have flown by so fast, and we have loved getting to know his little personality. He is so smiley, and he giggles now! He is very strong, and we love how he already fits with the other two kids so well. He is eating and sleeping very well, and his throat is no longer getting worse. We are still hoping it will get better.... but we have two more weeks until we go back to the doctor. We just love him!

Our day at the zoo!

2008-09-23T12:48:00.000-07:00

Today we took a trip to the zoo. It was such a perfect day! There were hardly any people there, and the weather could not have been better. We stopped and saw the leopard show, the monkeys were making such noise, and the cougar is still the favorite! It was fun to go with my mom, she had the day off, and Brandi and the kids. The four cousins have so much fun together! If only my kids weren't so sleepy! Kale loved being carried around for 3 hours straight!

Who is who?

2008-09-18T19:24:00.000-07:00

These are pictures of Shaleen and Makynlie, both a year and a half old...

My baby bear...

2008-09-18T14:15:00.000-07:00

Just a few of the precious moments I have been able to share with Kale. I am truly so blessed to be his mother, he has the most perfect sweetness that he shares with us, he brnigs tears to my eyes whenever I hold him and feel of his love. He is one of God's perfect angels ( I am lucky enough to know three perfect angels...) and I am grateful to be able to love him!

Jake has an ouchie...

2008-09-17T13:27:00.000-07:00

Jake's ankle has been bothering him for a few weeks, and is now super swollen and he can't walk on it. So, he went to the orthopedic surgeon today and it turns out he has two small chunks of bone floating around in his ankle from an old injury. So, he is now in a walking cast, and if that doesn't help will soon be on crutches as well. He goes back to the doctor in a week, and then they will decide if he needs to have surgery to take out all of the fluid and the bone fragments. We are hoping we can get this fixed so it doesn't bother him again in the future!

Kale Update

2008-09-16T13:43:00.000-07:00

So, we went to the ENT at Primary Children's today. They checked Kale and put a scope down his nose and throat to see what was going on. He was diagnosed with laryngomalachia, which is different than what we thought he had. He also had a lot of swelling, and his throat was very aggrivated. They think he may have reflux that is making his laryngomalachia worse, so they are putting him on medication for the reflux. We go back in a month to see if the medication is making things better. If not, he will most likely have to have surgery to cut back the excess throat tissue that is causing problems for him. We will continue to watch him and hope things get better and not worse so we can avoid surgery. Thanks for all of your prayers and love, we will continue to let you know how he is doing.

Kale-Bear

2008-09-08T12:33:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all of you who have kept Kale in your prayers and fasts the past few days. We were caught off guard to learn that he potentially has some development problems. I know many of you are curious to know exactly what he has, and what we will do to fix it. So are we! We have an appointment with the Pediatric ENT at Primary Children's next Tuesday the 16th. After that consultation we will know for sure what is going on. In the meantime, I am going to tell you what we know so far from the pediatrician.

Congenital tracheomalacia is a weakness and floppiness of the walls of the windpipe (trachea), which is present at birth. Tracheomalacia in a newborn occurs when the cartilage in the windpipe (trachea) has not developed properly. Instead of being rigid, the walls of the trachea are floppy. Because the windpipe is the main airway, breathing difficulties begin soon after birth. The symptoms are:
Breathing noises that may change with position and improve during sleep
Breathing problems that get worse with coughing, crying, feeding, or upper respiratory infections
High-pitched breathing
Rattling, noisy breaths
A physical examination confirms the symptoms. An x-ray will be done to rule out other problems. The chest x-ray may show narrowing of the trachea when breathing in. A procedure called a larngoscopy provides a definitive diagnosis. This procedure lets the otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat doctor, or ENT) see the airway structure and determine the severity of the problem.

Unfortunately, we don't know for sure if this is what he has until he see the ENT. Also, the treatments for this are pretty extreme: have surgry, or do nothing but watch him. We are nervous but Jake gave Kale a comforting blessing yesterday and we feel confident he will be able to grow strong and overcome this.

We love you all so much, thanks for everyone caring and loving us! I will let you know what we find out.

Daxton Starts School

2008-09-08T09:01:00.000-07:00

Daxton started preschool last Wednesday at Fox Tales Preschool. It is just down the street, and he loves walking to school with Dad in the mornings. He adores his teacher Miss Lindsi and gets excited every morning knowing he gets to go say hi to his friends.

His first day, sporting his new backpack.

He is "so tough" to go by himself.

Spiderman Dax!!

My Three Favorites

2008-08-31T20:46:00.000-07:00

I had one of those days today where you just want to capture each moment and freeze life for a while. We were able to spend all day together, and all three of my beautiful children were happy, cooperative, loving and made me laugh. They are all so very different from each other, and bring so many various gifts to my life every day. I am so grateful for them and I love being their mommy. Makynlie started saying short phrases and sentences this week. Dax can't stop talking about school starting, he is so "tough" to be able to go by himself. Kale is starting to really com to life, give real smiles, and talk to us in his sweet baby voice. It was just one of those perfect days!

Our August...

2008-08-22T13:11:00.000-07:00

Here is our August in review... since I have a little less time on my hands these days, you get the short version!

Fun at the fair.... we had fun seeing the animals, riding ponies, carnival rides... so much to do!

Kale at 2 weeks, he is a very sleepy boy!

We got to see the awesome fire trucks at the big 8-8-08 party my mom threw! The kids loved it!

Dax is still loving being a big brother! He can't get enough of Kale and loves to play with Makynlie.

Kale at 3 weeks... yes, still sleeping! But he is getting so big!

Update...

2008-07-31T20:36:00.000-07:00

Yes, Kale is home now and we are all very happy! He is the perfect addition to our family, and all of us have loved the time together the past few days. He is a great eater, sleeper, and overall has a very happy personality. Daxton cannot get enough of him, he is always singing to him, kissing him, teaching him the names of the Ninja Turtles.... Makynlie just wants to hold him, calls him "My Baby" and hasn't had any jealous moments yet. Jake and I are getting used to baby mode again, and luckily we have had a couple good nights since you never know what the future holds! I am loving the time away from work, and Jake has been able to be home with us also. I feel so amazingly blessed in my life, I couldn't ask for anything more than what I have. I am so grateful that my Heavenly Father has entrusted these beautiful babies to me, and I hope I can be what they need. Here are more pictures, of course.....

Kale Macuen S. Freeman

2008-07-27T20:34:00.000-07:00

Kale Macuen S. Freeman was born today, Sunday, at 1:39 pm. He is 6 lbs. 15 oz. and 21 inches long. He has blonde fuzzy hair, and the most perfect face! Labor was fast and good, no complaints! Daxton and Makynlie couldn't love him more. They didn't want to leave the hospital without him! I will write more soon, just wanted to get some pictures up since we have so much family that aren't able to come see him. Look at his face!

Quick Baby Update...

2008-07-23T13:05:00.000-07:00

I went to the doctor today, and he thinks that Kale will be ready to join us any day now! However, if he does get too comfortable, we are prepared to encourage his arrival Wednesday July 30th. We are excited to have him come into our family, and we hope that he waits until our extended family are all back in town. We will let you know when he arrives!

Dax Turns 3!

2008-07-10T11:26:00.000-07:00

Daxton turned 3 on Tuesday! I can't believe how big he is. He is truly the light of my life, I could not imagine life without my little buddy. We spend a lot of time together, and I treasure every moment we share. He is so sweet and funny, the perfect big brother and keeps me laughing. Here are some pictures from his birthday party!

Our Trip to the Cabin!

2008-07-08T15:07:00.000-07:00

We were so excited to get to go to our cabin for the 4th weekend. It was perfect! Jake and I both got to read a lot, the kids played, it was nice and cool and Mom was awesome with the kids. We went on some walks, saw animals, and Dax even climbed the rocks by himself! We had a blast!

The 4 cousins watching a movie before bed!

Jake and Dax on the bridge.

Dax the adventurer climbing the rocks.

Jake unshelling sunflower seeds for Makyn.

My little helper...

2008-07-01T13:34:00.000-07:00

So, I was a little worried about having three kids, three and under.... but as you can see by the picutre below, I have more help than I really need! Daxton is so excited for Kale, and with how much he cares for Makynlie I am sure that we will all be taken care of!

Makynlie's Ouchie!!

2008-06-26T17:27:00.000-07:00

Makynlie fell today and cut open her chin. The doctor decided it would hold together with glue, so thankfully no stitches!! She is so super tough, and after a long nap, she is back to herself again!

Happy Summer Days!

2008-06-23T13:00:00.000-07:00

Well, it is finally hot outside and that is pretty much where we are spending all of our time these days! We are lucky enough to live so close to almost all of the cousins, so we try to get together with them whenever we can. These are a few of the fun things we did last week!

Going for a ride on Grandmachele's new Jeep!

Went to the fountains at the Gateway!

A quick climb after swimming at the rec center!

Late Night Snack...

2008-06-09T13:02:00.000-07:00

Makynlie was so hungry just before bed the other night, and wow did she love her oatmeal! She is starting to talk so much, and she is so much fun. We love her happy little personality, it is always bubbling over to everyone around her!

32 Weeks!

2008-06-09T13:01:00.000-07:00

Here is my belly at 32 weeks pregnant. Kale is getting to be such a big boy! He still moves around so much, and he is measuring right on for a helathy sized boy!

Baby Name Vote

2008-06-02T19:00:00.000-07:00

Okay, let's put it to a vote.... How would you spell our baby's name? We love the name Kale, but can't decide if that is the best way to spell it.

Kale
Cael
Cale
Kael

Let me know what you think!

The Joy of Cool Whip!

2008-05-27T13:49:00.000-07:00

Makynlie discovered the world is a much better place with a container of Cool Whip!

Piggy Tails!!

2008-05-27T09:14:00.001-07:00

Makynlie wore her first real pig tails the other day. It was such a proud moment for me! I can't wait for when they will stay in all day... They get destroyed by the car seat still. They are both so big!

Our Lazy Days...

2008-05-20T20:23:00.000-07:00

The more pregnant I get, the less we go outside with this new heatwave.... Which leaves plenty of time playing around the house and our backyard. Makynlie loves to be outside every second of the day, and she is getting the tan to prove it! She is so tough, never one to cry about a little fall or bump. Daxton loves to do a million things at once, he is constantly going. He loves to make up games for us to play, read books, play Ninja Turtles, and always has time for a small "chips" snack. I am so excited for this summer! They are both so much fun and I am truly blessed to live the life that I do!

Breakfast Time!

2008-05-20T20:18:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite times every day is having breakfast with Dax and Makyn. We all sit together, and they are so happy that early in the morning. They usually walk away dripping in syrup, and it is always the perfect start to my day!

Happy Mother's Day!

2008-05-11T20:19:00.000-07:00

I had a great Mother's Day today! The kids and Jake gave me a great day, and we got to see all our family too! There is nothing more that I love in life than being a mom. I am so blessed, and I am grateful every day that I get to live my life!

Our Trip to Cali!

2008-05-11T19:59:00.000-07:00

Jake and I were lucky enough to go spend a week on the beach just north of San Diego! We loved the time together and the fun with my family. We went to the beach, Disneyland, the Padres game, and were very lazy. It was not sunny except the day we left, but we absolutely loved it!

San Diego Padres Game

Walk on the Beach

Date night out

Last day there!

Big Kids!

2008-04-29T14:26:00.000-07:00

Wow, they are getting so big! We are having so much fun as a family these days. The kids are at just the right ages to do fun stuff!

Jake's Football

2008-04-29T14:23:00.000-07:00

Jake is playing on a flag football team this spring. He play quarterback and is loving it! The team won their first two games and played hard their third game. We will miss the next one while we are on our trip, but he has plenty more!

Makynlie works with Mommy

2008-04-29T14:13:00.000-07:00

Makynlie gets to help mom work a lot, and these are some of the very helpful things she does!

Easter

2008-03-31T17:59:00.001-07:00

We had a great Easter! Lots of eggs and candy. We loved that Makynlie ate her candy as she found it! And so did Dax!!

It's a Boy!

2008-03-14T19:54:00.000-07:00

We had our ultrasound today and know for sure we are having a boy! They moved my due date from August 12 to August 6th, which is great news for me! He is perfect and healthy. I am trying to post the ultrasound picture of his cute face, hope you can see it! Also, there is my belly picture just for Laura!

Pictures from Allen and Suzie's Wedding

2008-03-09T12:42:00.001-07:00

Bowling

2008-03-05T19:25:00.000-08:00

We recently went bowling and the kids loved it! They actually did awesome, almost catching up to Jake and I with their scores. They are born bowling champions!

2008-02-21T11:11:00.000-08:00

Makynlie is now "so BIG!" and loves being able to keep up with Daxton. They are great friends and have perfectly matching Cheesy Grins!

2008-02-21T11:10:00.000-08:00

During one of the many snow storms we have had this month, the kids went out to "shubel" some snow. They were loving it!

Makynlie's Burn

2008-02-03T10:32:00.000-08:00

Makynlie was burned on our fireplace Friday evening. Here are some pictures... Turns out they are 2nd degree, but they should heal just fine.

Daxton's Spots

2008-02-02T16:29:00.000-08:00

Last week Dax and Makynlie had double ear infections and started on anitbiotics. On Tuesday, Daxton spiked a high fever that continued through to today. Yesterday morning, he woke up covered head to toe in red spots. The fever and spots got worse, so we went back to the doctor today. Turns out Daxton is allergic to Amoxicillin, the anitbiotics for his ears. They gave him a shot of super drugs and then a new medicene to take the new few days. He is already feeling so much better. Here are some pictures of his spots. They covered him head to toe, including his ears, palms and feet. The pictures do it no justice, but give you an idea...

Shaleen Is...

2008-01-28T18:17:00.001-08:00

You Are Elmo

Sweet and innocent, you expect everyone to adore you. And they usually do!

You are usually feeling: Talkative. You've got tons of stories to tell. And when you aren't talking, you're laughing.

You are famous for: Being popular, though no one knows why. Middle aged women especially like you.

How you life your life: With an open heart. "Elmo loves you!"

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz