It is OURS!!

Can I tell you a GOOD feeling? Having a car paid off, and no more car payments. Yup, it's official. The truck is paid off. We just made our last payment and boy does it feel good. So we have NO car payments. YAY! Our van is not the greatest, but hey, it's paid off and runs, right? and the truck should be around for quite awhile because Kevin rarely drives it, now that he has a work truck. Phew..I had to finally share some good news. It's always nice to have some good news.

I've reached my limit...

on doctor visits for the year, for myself. I had to go TWICE, and it is only March. Maybe it was because it was 2x in one day. Two days ago, I was scratching around the shoulder and realized I had blood on my finger. Now, if you know something I hate about myself, it's been this, what I thought was a mole, around my armpit. Well, apparently I scratched it and ripped off a piece, and didn't even realize it. I called the doctor to see if I could get in and have it either removed or referred to someone who could. I got to the doctor and he told me it was a mere skin tag (that was dark brown??) and that he could snip it off and cauterize it. It was a happy day! I've hated and detested this thing for as long as I can remember. So...off it went.

Well, earlier in the day I was feeling a little bit of tenderness when I nursed Kyle. Have you ever looked at a dietician and "analyzed" everything they ate, because they must only ever eat HEALTHY things and never anything junky. I felt that way yesterday, when I realized the tenderness...was actually mastitis in the making. A nasty breast infection that is painful and tender and makes you achy and feel like you have the flu. I had it with Justin, when he was 7 months old, celebrating Thanksgiving at my parents home, in Michigan. I knew what to expect and unfortunately all the offices were closed and I had to go to Instacare for a prescription. So yes, I feel like--you are a lactation specialist, you shouldn't get "hurt". Alas, it can happen to anyone, no matter what prevention is taken. So, on to antibiotics and rest. Good thing I have today off from work!!

And we have connection

To the outside world that is. Is it pathetic that you feel so "disconnected" from the outside world when the internet is not working. We moved on March 7th to a new house in Lehi. It's a nice house, just weird to be in a house that is "done". The basement is unfinished but to have the upstairs "done" and not things waiting to get done is strange. Anyhow. It's a great house, young neighborhood, but two kids James' age as well. It has a park down the street and a nice play area for the kids in the "loft".

Justin is adjusting well. We were worried the most about him because of his OCD tendencies. He does not do well with change. To give you an example. If I happen to be on Kevin's side of the bed, Justin FREAKS out because it is "daddy's side". I have to change his pillowcases when he isn't around to see me or it sends him into another fit because the new one is "not his". Kyle can't touch his blankets and if I happen to sit in James' spot at the dinner table, another meltdown. He is so not my child. I swear he is going to have an ulcer before he reaches 8.

Hip Hip HOORAY!!

So how do you know if you kid is "officially" potty-trained? Any suggestions out there? I am so proud of Justin. He just started to realize when it is time to go #2....and drops whatever he is doing...runs to the bathroom, holding his bum and yelling...I yuckies, I yuckies!!! It's hilarious. But he has been doing that for 5 days now. It has been at LEAST 2 weeks since an accident at night and even longer since he's been dry during naps. He is an official underwear wearer, all the time. So can I say he is potty-trained? hhmmm...suggestions is good.

Also, on the note of Justin. I have to tell you how proud I was of him tonight. We went around the corner to some neighbor's house to play games, and he rode his little bike ALL the way there! We got a bike for him, from another neighbor, last summer and he would just sit on it and walk it places. In the fall, he was starting to pedal, once I would get it going for him. Well, he's been going outside to ride it everyday, once the snow melted and he is a champ at it! He looks so cute with his "Cars" helmet (it's really just a red helmet, but we call EVERYTHING that is red "CARS", as in Lightening McQueen.) and pedaling his bike. I was just so proud that he was able to steer so well and pedal. YAY! now he can ride his bike while we push Kyle in the stroller, when we take walks!

Three Posts today --

Here is my 3rd post today. I was reading the Ensign yesterday for February and came across this article written by a woman who I thought sounded like me a little. I cried through the whole article. Don't get me wrong, I love my husband. I KNOW I was supposed to marry him, but there are those days. Anyhow, the article made me realize that I need to show more gratitude towards him for the things he does, rather than focus on the things he doesn't do. We'll take Monday for example. He had to go meet someone for a lunch meeting at 12:15, I was supposed to leave work early and meet him to get the boys before he went to this meeting and then I was supposed to meet some Midland friends (I LOVED IT!!) at a museum to get together. Long story short, I had a mom who needed my help at the last minute and I didn't leave until 12:20. I'm SURE he is going to be so mad at me because I am late. He just said, "don't worry. I have the boys here with me. Just get here and I'll take care of it. I have food for Justin." Now, this is not my husband. I'm thinking, who are you and what have you DONE?! I show up 20 minutes later and he just brings me Kyle and says, "Have fun, I"ll keep Justin and take him home when I am done." I had SUCH a good time and just had fun with the girls and just had to push Kyle around in a stroller.

That is one example of why I need to be more grateful. He kisses me everyday before he leaves and every time he comes home. He still does even if I haven't showered that day (sorry Mom). He loves me no matter what, what trial comes our way, the way I look, my piles on the kitchen counter (again, sorry Mom), my lack of dishes not done or a late dinner. He calls me if he is doing something different than what was previously planned. He calls me just to check in and tell me he loves me. He calls me when he is done with his classes and on his way home and talks to me the whole way home. He sits with me every Sunday at church and willingly attends. He supports me with my Scouts calling and the endless meetings and 6 rambunctious boys at our house, he'll eat peanut butter & jelly sandwiches (he HATES them and calls them poor people food) just to taste my homemade jam, he jumps up and down with Justin when he is dry and brings Kyle to me in the night when I don't even know it.



For those things I need to be grateful. He is a good husband and I don't show it nearly enough. So here is my post to the world to let him know I love him. Thank you, honey.

Oh my little one....

Kyle is such a sweet baby. I love his smiling face and his new tooth! Yup, he has his first tooth and his second is not far behind. We can see it, but it hasn't poked through yet. Any day now. He loves to eat, not quite the avid nurser as Justin, but likes it all the same. He loves pears and zucchini. That is his favorite mix. We gave him mango the other night and he just sat with his mouth open the waiting for more. He is cruising on furniture and Kevin even had him standing on his own yesterday. Yes, he is JUST 8 months old. I took some pictures a few months ago of him in his crib. The card wasn't reading very well and that is why the pictures are so late. He is a cutie none-the-less. He teaches me how good or bad my house is baby proofed. Most days, not so good.







Here is the cute bug though. We decided that he is actually from the Velociraptor family because he picks, pokes and scratches with his middle finger, only. It's hilarious. He crawls over to Kevin and just scratches his ear with the middle finger. I just imagine from Jurassic park where the dinosaur is tapping something with the big claw. Imagine that, and then you'll be able to imagine Kyle, tapping his middle finger.

Some Adventures with Justin

I was busy in another room and I come into the living room to see what Justin was doing. He was being so good and quiet, which can only mean one thing, right? Well, this is what I found.....

Now, if you can't tell what he did, I'll tell you. He found the cupcake liners and put all of his Little People animals inside one, like a boat. He was so proud. They were all facing the back of the couch too, if you can't tell.

Here is another picture of his favorite monkey, Mon-monk, which goes with us to stores, just like this. He loves it.



We love the monkey. Thank you, Jenn. It was a Christmas present 2 years ago and he just "discovered" the monkey. I love it when they don't realize something and then discover something "new". Saves money!!

And here is one last picture of him from last night. My parents gave Kyle a bear with a red bow, which is now "red bear". Justin claimed him and last night I went to check on him before I went to sleep and this is what I found....

Such a sweet angel when he is asleep!