So Jory mentioned the other day (ok, a couple of months ago) that I have been so neglectful of this blog/journal, that we are still missing our newest family member.  Remy Jory Kimball was born 11.2.11 (not 11.1.11, much to Jory's dads dismay)...  He is fabulous!  We all try to see "who he looks like"... I think he looks like... Remy... I was just downloading all of my videos over the last 8 years, sometimes Eli was his twin, other times Jonah.  He just has the little Kimball boy look.  We love him!  Jonah is (almost always) the most helpful and best big brother ever!!  Eli tries to carry him around... that is a little scary to watch... and Remy already has a best friend picked out in Jax... no matter what Jax does, tries to nudge him around on the floor like dogs, say "REMY!" as loud as he can multiple times right in his face, whatever, Remy smiles and squiggles with glee.  It is so fun to watch our last little one and enjoy him every minute.  I don't even mind waking up the multiple times at night because I know it won't last forever!  He is still trying to roll over but is sitting fairly well by himself (sometimes gets off balance and flies backwards.. he doesn't like this one bit, but he isn't doing as much of the slow mushing forward that he used to do.. that looked painful!).  And no teeth coming through as of yet... he likes his cereal and stage 2 food, though!!

So, to update us... biggest news, the Heber house was sold a few weeks ago... so besides a small restitution we will slowly pay off and some possible tax consequences, we are done.. I think the best things that we could hope for are happening.  We short sold it, not foreclosed, so that is good...

We are so blessed that Jory's practice is doing quite well.  He is the Elder's Quorum president which is keeping him busy and up some nights.  He is helping to coach Eli's soccer team practice and gets to as many games for the three boys as he can.  Right now, wrangling the lawn, his biggest nemesis, is his greatest project.

I have started spending some time on myself, I've joined a gym that gives me 2 1/2 hours of kid care a day and I try to take full advantage!! It's the only time I get a shower without other little boys yelling at me from the other side of the door!  I love it and have been seeing a huge improvement in my running in just the past 6 weeks or so... I also have been doing a boot camp with my good friend and neighbor, Aimee.  It is killer, but it is so good.  Again I have seen a huge improvement in my stamina.. Thanks, Aimee! 

Jonah is doing soccer and has started piano lessons.  He had "federation" where he played 2 pieces  from memory and was judged on them... and he got a superior!!  He actually had to do it twice because his first pieces weren't quite at his level, so he had new pieces to learn and got another superior!!  Way to go!  He was so cool and well prepared,  we are proud of him!  He is going to a tutor after school for math in in one month his teacher has been extremely proud of his improvement, and he likes the improved confidence he's felt with his math as well.  He has had some big projects and performances and has risen to the occasion each time.

Eli is doing soccer and is in a "Finding Nemo" play.  The play will be held on May 23 at his school.  He seems confident about his part as "Nigel the Pelican" so we are excited to see it since he has been working on it since January.  He is doing well at soccer and enjoys his team.  He is a voracious reader and is one of the best spellers in his class!!  He has "kaleidoscope" and "maneuver" on this weeks list...WOW! With his reading he does accelerated reading at school where they read a book and take a test and he has gotten 200% so far.. AWESOME!  He is so inquisitive about everything... he really makes me think.  One funny thing he did... after his baptism, when he was being confirmed, the bishop (Bishop Mark Dixon) asked him if he knew what a "saint" is... Eli said "I know it's a football team..."  Silly Eli.

Jax is, you guessed it, doing soccer as well.  He is so fun to watch, and usually gets a goal or two (at least) each game, and a couple of assists, too! He is doing well at Newcastle preschool and is trying to read like his big brothers.  He loves to take his turn "reading" scriptures with us in the morning.  It is great!  He is so laid back and a friend to everyone.  We love his little freckles and big brown eyes!!

So that is us for now... we are just here, considering updating some things now that the Heber house is mostly out of the way.  We are healthy and happy, what more could we want!!

Thanks for hanging in with us!

Funny Kids...

The other day Jax was putting on his soccer clothes and he said "Wow! Mom! My soccer coach is gonna say he LOVES my socks!!!"  Who knew how exciting soccer socks could be!!

Later that night I was watching tv and a girl called her mom "mom".  Jax said... "that's just like you, she has your name 'mom'.  I bet her last name is Kathy just like you!!" 

Earlier today we were at the Walmart Market - the 3 stooges and I, and we were leaving and some rude person had ditched their cart right behind our car.  I was annoyed, Eli suggested we ram the car of whoever did it, and I just said, no, we just be sure we aren't that rude to someone else.  As we were having this conversation, Jonah went to work pulling multiple carts from around the lot and putting them in the cart corral, he was murmuring about the people who ditched their carts - "Who put that one there" "Why did someone leave a cart here" etc.  I showed him how to put two carts together to kill two birds, and he thought that was cool.  He got in the car and apologized for taking so long.  So sweet considering he was doing a job someone was getting paid for but not doing.  As we pulled out of the parking lot he said.  "Hmm.  Lazy people, coffee drinkers....the world wasn't made for people like that."  That makes me go "Hmm".

Just a few minutes ago Eli was asking how the baby could be due next Friday when he and Jonah are off school - kind of annoyed that that would ruin his plans or something I guess.  I said "That's cool!  Now you can come and watch!"  He said "No thanks, I don't want to see your organ".  Now I must explain this and clarify.  He hears the story often how I had to have an emergency c-section when he was born and Jory's embellishments lead the children to believe that all of my organs were out on the table when they got Eli out.  After he said he didn't want to see my organ and we had a good laugh, he said "Do you know which organ, Mom?" I said "No".  He said "Your heart".  Oh my.....

Okay... Maybe more than 2-3 months...

Hello... I am sure no one is looking at my blog by now. I have gone a full pregnancy without even blogging about it once (another thing Jory gives me a hard time about). But I'd like to look back at the last nine months before our fourth son arrives and remind myself how lucky I am. I have had a very non-eventful pregnancy. That is usually how it goes for me. I have the trauma initially of whether or not the pregnancy is viable, or an ectopic pregnancy (I'm sure I've mentioned I've had 3 of those, the last one a year ago July taking my right fallopian tube), but once it has gotten to the right place (uterus), I usually am good. I have the nausea and I also have an icky aftertaste that makes things like chocolate not taste so good (which I am sure is most of the reason that I have only gained 1 pound my whole pregnancy), but I'll take that over so many other things that can be annoying or more traumatic during pregnancy. So I got the crib set up, with Jory's help, today, and am working on washing and putting away the clothes. I need to pack a hospital bag but other than that we are doing A-OK. Melinda Kunkel (our Primary President) has demanded that I wait until after the 16th at 2:15 - after our annual Primary Program. I hope that all works out - 11 more days, I think I'm good.

Jax is so funny about this baby. He initially named him Jack-Jack - not confusing at all, is it? He's not a big Incredibles fan, so I'm not sure he expects serious super powers out of his baby brother. He is getting very excited though. He then wanted to name him Scamper, which is from this ancient VHS movie the boys always watch at my parents house in North Carolina. Maybe this could be a nick name some day. Eli seems pretty indifferent, not talking much about the baby, and Jonah is ready for it to move in with him so he can change diapers and babysit him. We'll see how it really works out. He says "I've held Keira and Maylie, I'm like a parent!". Uh - sure thing, son.

We also have had a short-sale offer on the Heber house that we just found out last week the bank is accepting, so other then a little bit more money and a huge knock to our credit (I still can't get myself to look at my score), we will hopefully close on the house before or right after I deliver around the 28th. This will truly be an answer to our prayers. Bring it all on at once!! Not to mention all of the Halloween festivities I have to be ready for - and all three finishing up soccer seasons (the rain-out today puts me to the 26th for Eli's last game, and November 2 for Jax's.. that should be interesting.

Hope I've covered most things here..thanks for looking me up!!

The other day Jax said he would have milk to drink "It will make me strong because it has bones in it!".. He he he..

February already!

Wow, how time flies. We are so having fun - our best news to date is - 2 of my 3 children can tie their shoes!!!! I am vowing to work earlier on this with Jax!! 7 is too old not to be able to tie freakin' shoes!

Jax has been running a fever the last day or so - but I can't complain because this is the first sickness we've had since - well - since last winter - KNOCK ON SERIOUS WOOD!! The other boys are doing great (especially because they can tie their own shoes now)!!!

We've had some issues with the Heber house - we are trying to figure out what to do with it, but it is like a bad dream - just when you think it is over, something jumps up and bites you in the bum!

Well, I need to work on some things - keeping my house in order better, purchasing things for my home that I LOVE, not just want to buy now, and the perpetual losing weight. I also seriously need to work on my spirituality. Jory is always mentioning the admonition I've been given to study the scriptures. Now is a great time with that being such a focus in primary.

Hopefully I can get back in less than 3-4 months - put that on the list of things to work on...

peace out...

I AM THANKFUL....

This sure has been a crappy year. Not only for me but for quite a few people that I love dearly. But right now I NEED to write down - for the 1/2 second I have - the things that I am most grateful for - fortunately this list is ALWAYS longer than my trials and tribulations... so, for my sanity right now, here I go:

A FABULOUS, WONDERFUL, AWESOME, PATIENT, and KIND husband - what else can I say - for those of you who know him - therefore love him too - what more is there to say

3 beautiful HEALTHY boys... Jonah for his smile - and that he is at the age where I can joke around with him. Eli for his randomness - in just about every conversation I have with him I end up wondering where the subject turned from a serious conversation to his random thinking pattern (what can I say - I think I know what side of the family he gets THIS from...). And Jax for those big brown eyes - and how he hasn't given up on wanting to play with me. Jory says I take it for granted that he always wants me - but I do love it... I play it down so Jory doesn't get more jealous.

Great Parents... who raised me - let me make so many dumb mistakes and learn from them, to be the person I am today. Maybe I'm a little biased, but I think I turned out okay. And even better yet - they still (at least act) like they want to hang out with me and my family, well, at least my family :)

My Heavenly Father - who allows me to learn, therefore grow, from my mistakes every day. I am anxious to ask him a few questions, and continue to grow while I am here.

I am glad I am here - learning and growing - hoping to be more compassionate, loving and giving - mostly to my own family. To learn when to care, and when to let go. Always knowing all things are in God's hands, and that I am here to try to make a difference to all that I come in contact with. It is up to me what kind of difference I choose to make in other peoples lives. I pray I will always pray that I will chose love and compassion - I am really needing to do that right now...

Thanks for reading my ramblings. I really needed this!

Post North Carolina Editorial

Hello all! I have had such an eventful few months. I wanted to remember as much as I could so here I am. In late May I miscarried - no real problems, my doctor said come back in a couple of months pregnant again. So I went on my merry way to North Carolina for our month on the beach. Jory came out for the first week for the first time. he loved it - although nobody can say much for the humidity. After he left I played lots of golf, beached, pooled, gatored, aquariumed, rested and relaxed. I was spotting some while there, but figured I'd deal with it when we got home. I thought if I was pregnant, it would only be a few weeks. So we were to come home Wednesday night, the 14th of July, but once I got to the Raleigh airport, I realized with the delay I would be stuck in Minnesota. Deciding I'd rather be stuck in Raleigh, my parents, luckily, hadn't left to drive back down to Calabash, so they were able to take me back to my sister's house right outside of Raleigh for one more night. We got out the next morning with no problems (they had even oversold the Dallas to SLC leg, so we were lucky we got a ticket on that flight).

So we got home and I was pretty zonked Friday, but I did take a pregnancy test and it was positive. Saturday I woke up and had some terrible cramping - lasted about 1/2 hour but then went away. We had my SILs baby shower and it went just great, and I was fine until Sunday night. I thought I was going to die. I couldn't move. I was in my bed, Jory and Jonah just staring at me like I was breathing my last breath - which I can't blame them because I said I was dying. My good MIL and FIL came over, just in case we needed to go to the ER, and I called the doctor. He said I needed to have my rhogam shot (I'm rh negative) either way, but I should go to the ER if I am dying, but I was surviving by that point so I decided to tough it out.

The next day I had a dentist appointment and a neighbor was coming to bbsit for me anyways, so I decided to just go straight from the dentist to the doctor because the nurse hadn't called me back. I went in and was able to talk to the dr and nurse. They said have the rhogam blood taken (they need to make the shot from my blood), and have an hcg count taken to see how far long I was. Went back home around 11:30 and was still pretty achey. The nurse called me at about 1 and said I needed to come back for an ultrasound at 3 because my hcg was 3500! That is a huge number! So I went back in, and the tech, after searching all over, found the fetus stuck in my right tube. The thing that really got to me was I could hear the heartbeat. I had really talked myself into this being my last pregnancy, but to have that hard evidence of being pregnant was hard for me.

Because I have had 2 other ectopic pregnancies, I thought, okay, they'll send me right over to the place where people have chemo, that is where they give the methotrexate to dissolve the pregnancy, so I'll cramp a few days and be good. Not so. The doctor said that if they can hear the heartbeat, it is too far along and they need to do surgery because the methotrexate may not work fast enough and I could still rupture. So my MIL kept the kids and Jory got there around 6, just as I was going in. We talked about making it so we would be done - hard to decide in about 3 minutes, even though Jory was done a couple of kids ago (LOL). So the doctor said he would look at everything and if it looked like it would be bad on both sides, he'd take care of it. So Dr. Rigby, my anesthesiologist, nurse Betty, Dr. Stephen Terry (the best) and his partner, Dr. Lloyd (who Jory is probably related to) all scrubbed in to save my life. As it happened, my left side is just fine and still in tact - so more decisions to make. It was kind of relieving, I think being in the hospital for 2 days emotionally thinking of my future and having it be the end of that stage of life for me would have been hard. Not that I'm not done, but I think that will be good to be our decision.

So my MIL and SIL all hopped on board to help with the kids. I have had dinner brought in Thursday through last night (but we went to the in-laws for Sunday dinner). I really took it easy from being home from the hospital on Wednesday to Sunday. Yesterday, I decided while I was already dying, I had the post put in for my implant I needed. It is just because I had the rogue tooth that was causing lots of bacteria to build up because of how it was in my mouth, so I had it pulled about 3 months ago and in 2 weeks will have it done and my front tooth recapped - so Jory can't call me "gray-tooth" any more. Anyways - it killed, so I hung out yesterday afternoon with Jory, then today FINALLY got to some yard-work - I think my neighbors were about to kill me - the grass is looking really good, but our flowers and plants were horrendous!!!

My SIL, Kristi Kimball, had her baby girl, Lila, today - I guess she went in at 10 pm last night and had her about 11:30am. Not too terrible for a first baby, but she said on Sunday she was feeling some movement - even though she was not due for about 2 more weeks or 10 days or so. And my neighbor, Andrea, is having her baby c-section today so I will go to St. Mark's tomorrow to see all of these adorable baby girls!!

That's about my life right now - just trying to take it easy a few more days. One lucky thing is that the day we left for NC, I started one of those additional insurance plans to cover pregnancy - really they are for any hospitalization, but both of them will cover me for the ectopic pregnancy, so that should help out with some of the medical costs. Our insurance will also cover 80%- so we should be okay - helps with some of that emotional stuff.

So I hope to enjoy the last 3 weeks of summer with my boys. Eli has pinkeye - Jax may have it too, so we are all staying close for now. The boys have stuff at Dimple Dell, Jonah sports and both Jonah and Eli are doing a swim/water camp, so that will be fun. We are camping some - and hope to get out and go the next week or two.

Thanks for hanging with me!!

Hello! Yes we are still here! What a crazy school year- with driving the kids up and back - and Eli being half-day kindergarten, it has eaten a good hour plus out of each day. Thank goodness the kids will be going to Sprucewood next year and can walk if I want them to. Jax will have preschool 2 times a week for a couple hours each - so that will be a good break!!

Well, we leave for North Carolina a week from tomorrow - so I've mailed out the kids clothes and am trying to get errands run - but Jax was very sick yesterday - running a fever of 103.8 most of the day. It broke for a little this morning, but he is warm again. So he's sitting around again - and the boys (Jonah and Eli) are just hanging out with Dylan. I would really like to get some things done- but I am getting a ton done here, like blogging for instance.

The Heber house is still there - attempting to short sell it, but we'll see - I really wish the torture would end. Jory's office is turning over big time - Maria is moving and he has 3 new people coming in. It's been a tough month for him. Our callings in church are going well. I need to get working on my part of the Primary Program for October. And work on my SIL baby shower right when we get back from NC.

Anyway, we are here, we are doing great and are so grateful for all of our blessings!!

keep on moving. . .

hi there,
again - it's been a while. . . we are in the process of trying to sell our house here in Sandy (anyone looking - nice house, great neighborhood, anyone?). . . and still dealing with the Heber house - I am going to post pictures of that home sooner or later. Anyways, my other all-consuming thing right now, besides "my three sons" is my calling.

. . I am a food storage junkie - that is actually a huge part of the reason that Jory doesn't want to move - he doesn't want to have to lug the food storage around. . . I love Macey's caselot (and every week) deals - I go there now a couple of times a week. I also have started a bulk group through Emergency Essentials (www.beprepared.com). I just bought 90 lbs of wheat for $40 - in the extra insulated super pails!! (actually I did that twice . . . they were out of the hard white the first time, so I got soft white first). Anyways - check out the cool food storage analyzer calculator

Here I am

So much has been going on - now a chance to sit down and reflect for a second. . . I am so blessed to have my family. We are now going through our big decision with the housing situation. The Lord has seen to it to soften the banks heart and give us a steal on our home in Heber now that it is finished and we have to roll into a permanent loan. Jory thinks we will just sit on it for a while, the only decision now is do we sell this house and move in to it. I'll tell you, that, for me, is much easier to just mull over then bigger decisions like the "f" word (foreclosure, that is) or how to sell it. I may become a realtor so we can save that cost when the time comes to it . . . we'll see.

I have been spending time on my calling the last few days - organizing the plethora (I love that word) of things I have on preparedness so the ward people have information that I have. I am so excited to have this calling - I do really enjoy it. I have great ward people (I just got off the phone with your mom, Sheri) who do so much for our ward. I am truly blessed to be with them.

Of course I am blogging because I went to Julie & Julia last night with my MIL and SILs - it was good and I have renewed my love for Julia, but it reminded me how much I miss my blog.

Jax is getting bigger - Jory went to turn off his light the other night after he had "reading" time (he likes to "read" with his brothers before bed) and Jory opened the door and Jax looked at him, put his hand up, shook his head and went "woah, woah, woah, woah, woah". He is such a big kid - he says "OH MY GOSH!!" all of the time - and is just plain old big kid (he thinks).

Eli is needing to get out his tonsils - the earliest I could get is 1 week before school starts, so we'll have to see. I really don't want it to be that close, but another year of not breathing. . . ? He reads almost as well as Jonah, and really LOVES LOVES LOVES Pokemon.

Jonah just wants to play with friends, all day every day - no matter who or what or where. He still likes reading and is picking up money and time well. He is getting so big - he was baptized by Jory on July 11th - wow - an 8 year old!!

Jory's business is going so well - we are so blessed. His Grandpa Kimball passed away 2 weeks ago tomorrow - but it was a blessing for him - Todd is really seeming like a huge weight is lifted from his shoulders. He has been such a good example to us through this whole thing with his dad.

Well, I will try, try, try to get back sooner - I love to read what I write (it is my life, don't you know :)

I'm Back . . .

Hello,
So sorry I haven't been around for a while - I got a new Stake calling in January - the Individual and Family Emergency Preparedness Specialist. I have gone storage crazy - deal shopping, etc. Tons of meetings (city, CERT, cannery, training, etc.) and just more stuff to do.

Okay -that was yesterday - my five seconds of inhaling pizza nobody else liked. So, it is Conference Saturday - Jonah says how much he loves conferences, but the little booklet he got from primary is kind of driving him crazy - he wants to know what they are talking about, before they even start talking. I don't know where he gets that from. I have recently decided my kids ADD (especially Jonah's) is a direcet result of my ADD. I need to relax a little. . .really.

One think that I have started since I wrote last was working out at 24 hour fitness. Eli thinks that I go there so he can play MarioKart on the Nintendo in the play room. It is actually very nice that he is so motivated to go and asks to go everyday. The only thing that has thrown a wrench in my program was that Suzi (my neighbor with 3 kids that are tube-fed) has asked me to help her get the kids ready in the am. Actually, it was Taylor, her husband, who called because he is now back to being a patrol officer (Salt Lake), working graveyards. I love going - the boys are great (I do know boys!), I only really feed them (they have a bather, Juan, who is awesome), and the kids like the dogs (Jax shows this by kicking the little one in the gut - yeah, that will be ending VERY soon!). They even pay me to come through the funding they get, but once I am back home, it is tough to go back out to the gym.

Next week, Monday at 9:30, we'll have a breakfast get together at my house (everyone is invited, just bring something to share that is breakfasty)for my birthday on Tuesday. Sometimes we celebrate at Hagermann's Bakery, but Jax is SUCH a nightmare - I decided that I wanted to have it at my house - stop by and check out my new wood and carpet flooring - (there's my ADD) - anyways, Jax is SO bad to take anywhere. Yesterday I dropped Jonah at Dylan's party at the bowling alley, and Scotty is just hanging there with the kids while Kriss is at the counter - Jax would have been down the wood floor, getting stuck in the ball return and running around with pins. During indoor soccer, Jana's Jakey just sits and hangs out with her - not a peep from him. The two times we took Jax I had to wrestle him kicking and screaming so he wouldn't run around on the court. So, my point is, it is my birthday, so my house is much more relaxing for me:)

Jax showed his true form yesterday as we took Eli to another ENT to check his tonsils. He probably needs a tonsillectomy (if anyone has any thoughts on whether or not we should do the surgery, let me know) because his tonsils are enlarged. He doesn't complain of a sore throat and hasn't had strep, but he snores and doesn't seem to sleep very well. So, at the appointment, the kids are running around in an 8'x8' room, while I am intently trying to listen to the doctor - finally I corral them both (by stuffing them with tic tac's) and are holding them - and Jax hits Eli right in the face - even the doctor's eyes got really wide and amazed. That's my cute little boy!

Our summer is pretty much PACKED!! The Sunday after Eli gets done at school (June 14th) we leave for North Carolina. We come home on July 4th, my parents coming with me to help on the flight home (THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!) - that is the LONGEST flight ever! Jonah has scout camp (yes, he'll be a scout by then!) on the 6th, My parents will be here for Jonah's baptism on July 11th. They will then leave to go visit my brother in Colorado on July 16th, we will drive to Newport Beach with Jory's whole family on the 17th and get back on the 24th (just in time for our neighborhood party maybe?). Jonah has soccer camp August 3-7 all day long - we need to find something for Eli to do in August - before school starts on August 26th. Eli is so ready to be in Kindergarten - actually ready for about 2nd grade - he reads as well as Jonah does - with great inflection and all. He actually read the first 2 pages of Twilight before I did!!

That is the downlow on what we are doing - Oh - one other thing - as I eluded to earlier, Jory surprised me with new carpet while I was at scrapaway at the end of February. Because I wanted wood in the kitchen, though, it turned into a big project and thanks to Sheri (at Georgia carpets) and Jamie (the amazing "Mexi-CAN", it all came together beautifully!!

Thanks for checking up on me!!!

Indoor Soccer, Here We Come!!

So, we've started the indoor soccer season. Jonah is loving it. His coach doesn't do much, just rotate the kids sometimes. I was screaming at the first game, but no one else was, it is pretty silent, actually. The kids enjoy it - they run and run! It is 4 on 4 and they play no out of bounds, so it's play off of the walls and everything, and there is no goalie. Jonah's team got SMOKED by an all-girls team his first game last week, but last night he got about 4 goals and they beat the white team pretty badly.

Thank goodness my MIL was watching Jax because Eli had his very first soccer game at exactly the same time as Jonah so I was going back and forth the whole time. The two courts are only separated by a hole in the wall to walk through, and both play with no boundaries (off of the wall), so I was walking through games standing in the middle the whole time. Eli had a blast and just ran and ran. Greg Summerhays is a GREAT coach - especially for this age when they are learning - the Sandy City kid in charge even said that he is the one coach he saw actually talking to the kids and helping them out - way to go Greg!

It was a great experience, as you can see, for all!!

Funny, Funny Boys!

So a couple of weeks ago we were in the car and had just dropped off Jonah at school. I looked in the rear view mirror and saw the light above where Jonah had been sitting was on. I said to Eli, "please turn that off" knowing full well that he couldn't reach it at the time, but hoping when we got out he would turn it off. He reaches up and over as high as he can (he can barely reach the ceiling straight up when his seat belt is on) and says "It's of no use, Mom".

Eli woke me up yesterday to a faint "I love you so much, Mom" - what a great way to wake up!!

Yesterday afternoon we were going to Walgreen's and I had said it was a "drug store". Jonah questioned that because he knows not to do "drugs" so I explained good and bad drugs. We get to the store and Jonah asks what we are getting. I said I needed a medicine and again Jonah was alarmed. I explained that I take a medicine so that we won't have another baby. Jonah looks appalled that we don't want another baby and I said that the three of them were all I could handle right now. So I said "three is enough, isn't it?" just to see what they would say. Jonah muttered something about three boys and so did Eli. So I said to Eli - "three boys are enough, aren't they?" to which Eli replies, "Yeah, three boys and a sister" (this is not the first time he has mentioned having a baby sister:).

After school, as I was making dinner we watched my favorite "judge show" (The People's Court) after which "The Insider" comes on (about all of the star gossip). Yesterday, however, it started with President Obama's (wow that sounds weird) inauguration ball's and the events of the previous day and night. Jonah has been very into the new president and all of the events around the campaign and just everything about having a new president. So he is watching all of this (mostly about what Mrs. Obama was wearing and such) and then Beyonce comes on (because she is so aware of what makes a great president), but she says something and then adds "He was born to lead us." Jonah scrunches up his face and looks annoyed and says "He was born in Hawaii, not Toledo".

Yesterday morning on the way to take Jonah to school we were talking about Eli's school and I accidentally called it "preschool". He went on and on about it is CHALLENGER school - Jonah jumped in and said his grade was preschool - turning into a small brawl. Then this morning I was telling Jory that yesterday I we were talking about Eli's school and I called it "p-r-e-s-c-h-o-o-l" (which, by the way, Jory hates the spell-it-out thing - my mom used to do it all of the time, but Jory doesn't spell that fast), anyways, Eli pipes right in and says "yeah, it's CHALLENGER school, not preschool" - he is a young and fast speller!!

Jax is just talking up a storm!! His favorite phrase this Christmas season, with all of the lights and that outside, has been "oooo wa wa" (like "ohh la la"). Generally it was really cute, although sometimes it was the WHOLE time "ooo wa wa, ooo wa wa, ooo wa wa") but it was a nice distraction when it was needed. He loves the toy trucks and cars at Grandma's house and threw a fit screaming and crying "toy, toy, toy" the other day when we were going just to pick up the boys from a sleepover - he wanted those "toys". He loves "planes" and "boyds" (birds), and calls both his blankie and binki "budgie", which actually works okay because he usually has them both only at bed times. "Chew-e" is "Lightning McQueen" - "Cars" is his favorite movie ever! "Moonya" means both "movie" (which he got very spoiled with when he was sick over the holidays), and "morning". At night we say "love you", he says "duh doo" and we say "see you in the morning" and he says "moonya" and "have good dreams" he says "goo dwe". The first time he said morning, I thought he was asking for a movie at bed time, which was strange because they all really go to bed just great.

Christmas Day 2008

Christmas Eve at the Kimball's

Happy Holidays!

Great Break!

Well, thanks for the plug, Nikkie, but I took Jax to the doctor this morning and I guess he has adenovirus. Everyone has had it here but me (SERIOUS knock on wood!). Eli finally was better by Monday, that is when Jonah got sluggish and Jax started his normal 104-105 fever at night routine. It wouldn't be too bad, but he will NOT take any medication - we've tried everything - and he has even figured out how to poop out the suppositories we have digressed to. Today he does have a little appetite back and he slept in until 10:45 (I had to wake him up for his doctor appointment). But what a great 2 week break we've had.

I did get to take out Eli for an adventure yesterday - he is such a good kid. We had fun at Cabelas and then I took him around on errands - he is really laid back.

Today has been laundry, laundry, laundry - washing EVERYTHING in the bedrooms and around, scrubbing the kids tubs and putting towels on everything that he is laying on.

I'll try to post some pictures tonight!! Thanks for checking in with me.

Happy Christmas Eve!

Good things the holidays are close together or I'd be writing every 6 months!! I vow to try to do better (again). . . Well, we're still working on the house in Heber. I ordered appliances this last week, and I went up on Monday (yes, for those of you here in Northern Utah, Monday) in a blizzard and can't believe we made it back alive - I had the three boys with me. When I got to the house, some subs were there working on the house next door - it was one of the subs the builder didn't pay with our money, so it was a little awkward. But always a good time to explain our side of the situation. I was planning to go inside and pick carpet colors for the house, but there was no getting into it. Maybe if I didn't have the kids, I could have killed myself, but I wasn't going to strand them up there. The guys told me they were supposed to get 17 inches of snow, so I promptly went back home, with more questions than answers.

Enough about that. How about the adventure that night. . . Jory's grandpa always has a Christmas party. Because there are so many great-grandkids - and all of us, this year we went to one of Jory's family's favorite mexican restaurants, El Farol's. So I was already wiped out - I had stayed up all night wrapping and getting Christmas all ready, then the white-knuckle drive to Heber. . . So I sat with the kids, Jory sat at another table with the baby. I kind of manned the doorway, so I was up and down. Eli ate a bunch of chips, but seemed fine. When his dinner got there, he ate one fry and then made a gagging motion - his face went pale and I grabbed him and ran for the bathroom - we almost made it, at least it was right in front of the dishwashing area and out of the dining room. He would have picked fruit punch to drink, though. So Jory changed him - thank goodness for the updated spare clothes always kept in the MV. Then not long after that Jax started gagging- I grabbed him and ran to the bathroom - holding him on his back so at least then it would be contained on him - he let out a little, but it wasn't too bad. So we did the obligatory family picture and bolted.

That night Eli was spiking a fever of 103, but he wasn't complaining, though he did have to go to the bathroom and didn't quite make it at about 3:00am, no biggie, but at 3:30 Jax woke up puking and did that about 3 times through the night. I was up, giving him a bath, waiting for his "budgie" (that can be blankie or binki, depending on what he wants) to wash and dry. Then have him puke on the couch - needless to say I went to bed about 5:00 am. Eli was hot all day but thank goodness didn't get sick again, and the two of them went to bed at 11:00am for a nap - Jax waking up at about 4:00 and Eli waking up about 5:30. Neither of them ate too much and Eli was still spiking a fever of 103. They went to bed, Eli ended his night by telling me he wasn't going to throw up, "I only did that one time at the cafe", and by telling Jory "I have a broken heart, Dad". So dramatic.

Eli was up about 5:30, again running to the bathroom, but he made it without going in his pants (whoo hoo). But he said his eye hurt - Dad does eyes. So he woke up Dad and we both noticed he was burning up - his eyes were just dry, so more tylenol and some eye drops, and he slept in bed with me the rest of the night - he is so peaceful to watch sleep. He did ask me, before nodding off, if I thought he was cute - I love that they ask me instead of just wondering - even little men know we don't read minds.

So Jory is off to work a half day, and do his annual Christmas shopping afterwards (which is now) - Jax just went down for a nap, and the boys are playing their Leapsters. . . Jonah told me last night that he is hoping Santa brings him good stuff for his stocking. I asked him what good stuff would be. . . He said "A box of the small candy canes, or maybe one big candy cane" I thought, what a nice, simple, not too greedy request - good boy - then he adds thoughtfully ". . . and a dog". Oh he will be sadly disappointed.

We will be going to the Kimball's house for Christmas Eve - for dinner and presents with the family. Tomorrow we will do our own morning and then Robyn and Todd will come out to us in the late morning. Then we'll have a buffet midday with them again. That's where we'll see Grandma Jeannine. Grandma Jeannine's 80th birthday is in just over a week and so we'll have a surprise party for her at Jory's Aunt Tammy and Uncle Jim's house - I don't need to worry about her seeing this because she still has a rotary phone - no computers live at her house :).

Jonah just came in and had gone to wash the screen of his Leapster - he says "Mom, this strange thing happened. . ." and is holding out the Leapster - dripping wet - he ran the whole thing under the faucet - OMGoodness!! Santa will need to rethink some gifts tomorrow!!

Well, hope there are some positive things you can glean from this - I hope that some people I sent Christmas cards to have found us. I always think how boring my life is, but then when I sit down I think of all of these things that happen that I want to remember forever. . . and that was just the last 2 1/2 days!!

I will look later to find out what friends have been doing - it takes me a day to do mine and a day to look at all of the fun stuff going on with everyone else. I'll also try to get some pictures on today or tomorrow!!

May you find peace in our Savior's love, especially at this time of year, and know that he was born and died for each of us. We are grateful for his life - for what he did for us!!

Thanks for bearing with me!!

HAPPY TURKEY DAY!

Well - a couple of weeks later - here we are again. . . no more snow to speak of.

The kids have had Thanksgiving festivities at their respective schools. My Mom and Dad are here and so it has been nice to go do things, at the same time it has been nice for me to get things done and talk to teachers and such that I couldn't do with the baby. We are doing great - so thankful for all that we have been blessed with - good friends, a good business, good family - we are SOOOO blessed!

Not much else has been going on - as many of you know, we have been building a spec home in Heber - hoping to turn around and sell it - obviously we've been working on it before the real estate bust. And now we're working with a not very forthright builder - so that has been the bulk of our time and stress. The kids are happy and healthy so we will not complain - just try to get through this and then learn from our bad judgment.

So Happy Holidays to you all - may you always remember to be thankful for what you have - and grateful that the Lord doesn't give us what we deserve :)

One Week into November

Here I am again - a week later and it was a good relaxing one. We had Jonah's parent/teacher conference this last week. His teacher didn't say much about him, she is wanting me to grade some math so she went over that most of the time - that is good I guess. . . he really is doing so well!!

As you can tell the first snow came and went - Jax had fun until he was stuck because the snow was just too high for him to get through. Eli and his friend Henry had a blast and even helped shovel for a second. I had taken my camera in to the shop the day before I took these pictures - it just stinks - the lighting is so bad inside with it - I hope they junk it - anyways I took these on my camcorder I got when Eli was a baby - not bad for a 2-in-1 that is almost 5 years old.

My parents are coming out the 18th to the 3rd of December - we are so excited!! AJ may come out - maybe with or without Courtney. That will be great. Jonah is sending his Flat Stanley to them first and Jonah said "do they know who I am" - that was kind of sad - but he knows AJ and Courtney know and love him.

Eli is a reading fiend - he says "I can read now because I'm 4" - yeah, most 4 year olds are reading chapter books like (the abridged version of) "Frankenstein". . . Even Jax will sometimes act like he is reading something.

Jax's favorite book is Eric Carle's "The Very Quiet Cricket" board book - he loves that it chirps like a cricket at the end - he also loves any Veggie Tales movie - he is the first kid we've had to figure out how to pop out the DVD's from the case - NOT GOOD!! You have to watch that one!! The only thing is that even if he begs for it to be put in (which he does- he follows you around holding out the open case to you saying "peese, PEESE". And if you do something for him, he will follow you around and say "dat doo" (translation "thank you") until you say "you're welcome" and whenever anyone coughs or sneezes, if he just hears it like in the store, he says "dess doo" for "bless you" - so polite!!

Jonah turned in his reflections photography of Yellowstone Park this last week - we'll see how he does - his grandma is going to take him on Wednesday to Library Night at school so he can show it off - yes, Robyn, brownie points for you!!

I will try to get a little slide show going soon - if anyone has any camera buying advice, that would be great - I am so frustrated with the Canon A560 I got last May!!!

Thanks for checking in with me - I start my new calling today, but I am already subbing in my old class today - it will be good though - Luke Lloyd is moving so I had already planned a party for him, so we'll just cover them both today!!

Is Halloween Over Yet?

I do love this time of year, but this year I made myself a little crazier than usual... - I'll get a slideshow together soon I hope. But I just wanted to say Hi - that I did serious Halloween partying and I survived. The funny thing is that I looked at the calendar for this coming week - NOTHING in the evenings!! Maybe I should get my VTing done this week, although I just saw everyone last week - that will teach me!!

New news is that I was released from my Primary calling at church today and called as the Relief Society Chorister - I know, Mom and Nicki, stop laughing!! There is a little story behind that too, but I'll update that later as well.

Well, I'm here and alive and well - Jonah has that hackey cough thing - he gets it with the change of seasons, as a lot of kids do, but we're doing great... Thanks for hanging in there with me!!