One proud wife

Yesterday was Joe's BIG day. Joe officially became a Lawyer!! It was amazing how fast the swearing in was, but in retrospect, it took MANY MANY MANY baby steps to get to this HUGE step. I was so excited and proud of Joe. I have been the eye witness of this happening in Joe's life and Joe has worked tirelessly to finally attain this huge lofty goal. Joe and I have been through so much together these last 4 short years of marriage. We both graduated from the University of Utah (political science and nursing) had 2 (almost 3) babies, moved many times, spent a summer in Oklahoma and one in Utah BARELY making ends meet, spent 3 cold winters in Michigan, Joe sucessfully finished lawschool and passed the bar.........and the list could go on and on. I am just so happy that Joe has set his goals high and acheived so many AMAZING things. I can't wait to acheive more goals and watch all the wonderful things Joe will do in the future.

Here's Joe waiting for his name to be called (sorry about the bad picture, I was far away)....


Here's Joe getting sworn in (he is on the front row).........


My parents, Joe's parents, Maryann were in attendance for the big day:


One HAPPY family.....



YAY!!! What a fun day!! I am so proud of my husband, GOOD WORK!!!! And good work to all you other high acheivers!!

Timpanogos Cave

Joe's Dad had a WONDERFUL idea of hiking to Timpanogos Cave last Saturday. We made it up there the last open day of the season. Since they don't allow strollers, we took turns carrying the kids up. It was funny to see the reactions of fellow hikers watching me try to lug up my pregnant body and carrying a kid at the same time. At one point a lady hiking down said, "Wow! Good luck!" I must have been a sight to see waddling up the mountain side, but we had a great time.


The group shot:


Isaiah leading Joe through the cave:



Kayla and her cheesy smile.


We had a great time and hope to do it again when it opens in the spring!

Moments like this....

Yesterday was one of those days that is seemed no matter how hard I tried, the kids just could not get along. In an attempt to calm them down, I turned on a cartoon and quickly went upstairs to grab some dirty laundry to throw in the wash. When I came back downstairs, I found Kayla and Isaiah holding hands and watching the cartoon together. It's moments like this that make it all worth it!!!!

First Snow

When we returned from St. George, we were amazed by all the snow we had received by our home. The kids were especially excited when they woke up this morning. It seems that winter has come WAY to fast this year, considering we just came from Michigan. Joe and I don't even feel like we have had a summer yet, but we are very excited for a Utah winter. When the kids woke up, the first thing they wanted to do is play in the snow. I found the boxes the snow stuff was hidden in and we set to work to get them all bundled up. Man, it is a chore to bundle up kids for the winter weather, but this is one of our favorite things to do together, play in the snow and I pull them around on the sled.

Here are the kids all bundled up before we ventured out in the snow:




Of course, Kayla had to start a snow ball fight with Isaiah, and Isaiah finally was able to put up a fight of his own.


Kayla could live in the snow all day if I let her.


Here I am pulling the kids on the sled, Kayla smiling, and Isaiah getting his first bite of snow. He kept saying "Yummy Mommy!"


Here's Kayla and Isaiah at the top of the sledding hill close by our house.


And here they are going down.


The kids are in heaven. I guess they are too used to the cold Michigan weather. I just looked at the forecast and it is supposed to be 70 by the weekend. Can you believe that? Maybe we will post some swimming pictures then. :)

Isaiah's first use of the potty.

I just couldn't resist taking this picture. This past weekend we went to St. George to get away from the cold, but honestly that was the coldest I have ever been in St. George, it was in the 40's. But despite the cold weather, we had a fun relaxing time together.

Over the weekend, Isaiah kept wanting to sit on the potty. He has always been so scared of the potty and has wanted nothing to do with it, but this weekend he wanted to sit on it over and over again. He was so proud of himself.

I love his big happy smile and big sister sitting on the floor looking up at him.

A day with the Cousins

We were lucky enough to have Katelyn and Jacob over to play today!! It was a fun-filled day and the kids are already asking when they can see their cousins next. It has been such a treat being so near to family, I think Kayla and Isaiah are getting so spoiled - two sets of grandparents, uncles and aunts, and cousins. Life couldn't be better for them. It sure has made the transition a lot easier.

Kayla has been wanting to have "spider day" for a few weeks now. Joe doesn't like spiders, so Kayla loves to think of ways to scare him. In fact, we bought a whole bunch of fake spiders and Kayla put them all over Joe's bathroom, pillow and his side of the bed. It was great to see Joe's reaction.

With the cousins today, we made spider webs and spiders out of candy. Katelyn and Kayla loved it.

Here's Katelyn showing off her spider web:



Spider candy:


Isaiah LOVES Jacob. They were making each other laugh all day. I think Isaiah was so glad to have a boy with him today.



Big cousin hug.


And of course, dancing. Life wouldn't be complete without dancing for these girls. I swear they changed outfits like 10 times. They are perfect for each other.

And here's a video especially for you Julianne, so you could see how cute our kids were dancing together. Thanks for a fun day!

Poor little Isaiah.

Isaiah went in for a MRI yesterday. About 6 or so months ago, we noticed that one of his eyes wasn't aligned with the other eye when he looks to the side. We took him into an ophthalmologist and he wanted to do some further testing of his brain with a MRI. It was more of an ordeal than I thought it was going to be.

First, they gave him an IV to be able to sedate him. This picture is after they gave him the IV. Joe is distracting Isaiah with crayons and a coloring book.


Look at this cute little hand. Joe could distract him for a few minutes, but then Isaiah would look up at me with tears in his eyes and say, "Owie mommy!" It just broke my heart.


Joe took the above picture with his phone. This was after they had sedated Isaiah and got him all ready for his MRI.


Kayla and I waited in the recovery room for about an hour and a half and this is how my little boy came back to us. Completely out. He was in a deep heavy sleep and they let him sleep for about an hour and a half and then we began waking him up.



This is how Isaiah woke up. One groggy, but happy boy.

Here I am trying to get him to eat and drink. He did really well.


After the recovery period was all done, Kayla and Isaiah were able to ride in a wagon out to the car. I love how Isaiah is all lounged out and Kayla was having the time of her life in the wagon, she couldn't be happier.

When we got home from the MRI, Isaiah could hardly stand and he kept bobbing his head back and forth because he couldn't hold it up straight, it was so sad, but funny to see him try to walk around.

Thankfully, today, the drug is completely out of his system and Isaiah is his cute little self again. I am so thankful for modern day medicine!! What a blessing!

We love you Isaiah!!!

Chili Sauce!!

I feel like an old mom. I have entered the canning world and I am loving it. I always thought of canning as an old person thing. I just never realized how fun it is and really, how EASY it is. I thought it was more of a scientific process.

Ever since Joe can remember, his mom has made Chili sauce. They like to eat it with all sorts of things, but especially good Sunday roasts. This recipe is SO SO good, and if you get a chance, try it out, or at least call us and invite yourself to dinner at our place, we would love to share some with you.

The special thing about this Chili Sauce is that the tomatoes are from my Mom and Dad's garden. I have always LOVED garden grown tomatoes (way better than store bought) and I have to say that I am biased of my Dad's tomatoes. So thanks Mom and Dad for the tomatoes, it has made this sauce extra special.

Here's the recipe:

Chili Sauce

6 celery stalks
48 ripe tomatoes skinned
8 onions
12 green peppers
2 red peppers
4 T salt
3 cup apple cider venegar
4 cup brown sugar
4 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp allspice
1 T dry mustard

Cut tomatoes in small pieces and then puree in blender. Puree onions, celery and green peppers with some of the pureed tomato juice. Mix vegetables in a large bowl. Stir in spices, vinegar and sugars. Cook on stove top with very low heat until thick enough to hold up a spoon. About 10 hours. Stir occasionally. Fill hot jars to 1/4" from top. Seal with lid and cool.

Yummy!

Thanks for the recipe Mom Skousen!

Pregnancy update

A few people have been requesting that I post a pregnancy picture, so here you go. This pregnancy has been so different from the other two, but I really can't complain. Of course, at first I was really sick and throwing up a lot, but now it has calmed down and I hardly throw up. I found that taking Unisom has worked for me this pregnancy. If I forget to take it, however, I am extremely sick the next day, so thank you Unisom, it has become my new best friend. A few weeks ago I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. At first (about the first 2 weeks) it was so hard to get used to it because I am trying to control my blood sugar soley with diet, but now, I am getting more and more used to it, although I have to admit, I still need a little dose of chocolate every once in awhile. Maybe it was my high intake of chocolate that threw me in my diabetic state :). I have 2 sister-in-laws that have type one diabetes, and let me tell you my respect for them and what they have to deal with on a daily basis and very much gone up. I am so thankful that once the baby is born I won't have diabetes anymore, but Lizzy and Jen will have to deal with it until a cure is found. I makes me want to go into research and help find the cure, but I think the researchers are getting so close. Anyway, I am so excited to get the baby here in a few short months. Kayla is convinced that she has two babies in her tummy. Kayla and Isaiah will be great siblings to this little one. I can't wait to meet him or her.

A trip to the dentist

Today was Kayla and Isaiah's first visit to the dentist. Kayla was very hesitant when I told her yesterday that we would be going to the dentist today, but the visit turned out to be really enjoyable. In fact, Kayla is asking when she can go to the dentist again

First, Kayla walked into a cow room and had her teeth x-rayed. She sat nice and still. The staff was wonderful and calmed her little nerves.


Next, Kayla was able to watch a movie on the ceiling. Isn't it so tough going to the dentist? I wish I got this treatment when I was her age, this is the life. No wonder she is begging to go back.


Kayla had her teeth cleaned while watching her movie and she held so still and listened to whatever the hygienist said. I was so proud. I thought it was going to be a disaster, but Kayla proved me wrong.


Here's a video of Kayla holding so still. It was so cute watching her get her teeth cleaned.



I love this picture because it shows just how little and petite Kayla is on this big long table. Can you see Isaiah's little hands reaching the tools? He wanted to try them out on his big sister.


When it was Isaiah's turn to get his teeth done, he was very hesitant and didn't want anything to do with them putting their fingers in his mouth. So they did a quick checkup while I held him, and that was enough for him.

Two happy kids with all their fun things. They made them animal balloons. Kayla requested a butterfly and Isaiah a snake. He knows I hate snakes, so right when they gave it to him he ran over to me with the snake and said, "SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.........."



The kids also got new spin tooth brushes. Kayla chose Little Mermaid.


And Isaiah got a red Power Ranger. He couldn't be happier with his new power tool.

Here's a video of Isaiah trying out his new power tool.



All in all, this was a great visit at the Dentist. If any of you are looking for a fun place for your kids to go to the dentist, check out Kids Dental Barn in Riverton, Utah. I highly suggest it.