Merry Christmas!

Knowing it would be an ordeal, I've put off getting these girls' photos taken for far too long. Despite the girls making silly faces, clinging to parents, and running around the studio, I think these photos turned out pretty cute.

Merry Christmas, from Skylie and Kaitlyn!

 

Photos taken December 26

Courtesy JCPenney Portraits

24 Weeks Pregnancy Picture

These pictures are six weeks outdated. I'm now 30 1/2 weeks, and these were taken at 24 weeks. But it may be another six weeks until I get around to taking or posting another pregnancy picture, so here goes.

Trust me when I say that my belly's bigger now than in these pictures. Just a few weeks ago an older person at the gym asked, "Did you get this big with your other two girls?! And there's only one baby in there?"

Too funny! Gotta love the comments, right?!

On November 3 at 24 weeks pregnant

Skylie wanted in on the action.

Skylie will regularly hug and kiss my belly. If I try to hug her back, she's quick to retort, "I'm not giving you a hug, Mom! I'm huggin' the baby!"

I'm feeling pretty good now. Often I feel like I have half a brain and that I have "Project ADD" (I start something then move on to something else before finishing it). A good nights sleep is incredible, and when I get one I feel like I can take on the world. 

Halloween 2013

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays! I love the activities that accompany the season, and I'm probably overzealous in taking my kids to too many festivities. I've decided though, that I'm a mom who'd rather give my kids experiences than a whole lot of other things.

Some of our favorite Halloween activities are:

• The YMCA's Halloween party
• Our church's Trunk-or-Treat
• Our neighborhood's Halloween party
• The library's Halloween party
• Making candied carmel apples
• Going to apple orchards and pumpkin patches
• Visiting the Children's Museum's haunted house
• And of course, trick-or-treating

YMCA Halloween Party

Matt was out of town, so one of our favorite families (minus the dad who was at work) came with us to the YMCA party. Every year I'm seriously impressed with all the activities the YMCA plans for this event.

Painting pumpkins

Eating candied applies 

Showing off her popcorn hand 

Playing games

Kaitlyn refused to wear a costume this particular night.

Church's Trunk-or-Treat

As you can see Kaitlyn refused to wear a costume, again. Skylie, however, thought putting her costume on over her puffy coat was a brilliant idea. So she became a marshmallow princess for the night!  Poor girl, Skylie had been so excited for the church's party, but she was coming down with an illness and wasn't her normally excited self for the party. 

Trunk-or-treating

 Neighborhood Halloween Party and Trick-or-Treating

On the way to the neighborhood Halloween party. To my surprise, Kaitlyn willingly wore her princess costume for trick-or-treating. :) 

Drinking her favorite juice. What a life! 

On the bounce toys 

Hayride around the neighborhood

Fall Break: October 2013

Skylie started preschool three mornings a week this school year, and between that and me being pregnant we hadn't gotten out and about as much as I'd have liked.

During her two-week break from preschool in October, we took advantage of our free time and visited some of our favorite Indy spots.

 Hiking and Picnicking at Fork Harrison State Park

The mile hike that turned into two was a bit too much for the girls--but it was great for the first 2/3rds of the trip.

I just love that pouty face! And trust me, Kaitlyn's not crying because she doesn't have shoes on. Judge me if you'd like, but I dare you to try keeping shoes on this little one.

Cheesin' it up!

Apple Works Orchard

We made the 45 minute drive south--not once, but twice--to check out this orchard. Both times friends accompanied us, and the outing was a hit! The girls loved the petting farm, barn playgrounds, tractor rides, corn mazes, and the pumpkin patch.

What happens when I leave my children unattended...

...for 15 minutes while I change the laundry.

They pile up every piece of outdoor equipment to make a doctor house. (By the way, should I be embarrassed or proud that every outdoor toy or chair we own I've snagged from the side of the road on garbage day?) 

The couch cushions and pillows make their way outside, as well. 

Skylie helps Kaitlyn completely undress--including her diaper.
But at least Kaitlyn's covered up with a kitchen towel, so that makes everything okay, right!?

Despite the mischief they cause, I do love that my girls like to play with one another.

I wish I could say these pictures were taken recently--but no--that green, green grass is now covered with snow. Photos taken September 23.

Eight Years

Eight years ago today Matt and I married in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple. Three degrees, eight moves, fourteen jobs, and two-and-two-thirds kids later I love him more than ever. Those of you who know him well may think you know what a great guy he is. But really, you don't even know the half of it.

I knew I had a good catch when I married him, but as the years have passed I realize more and more what a genius I was when I snagged him and convinced him to marry me.

If I'm being completely honest, I should give him some credit for working hard to win me over.

• He never complained when we were dating and I'd go on dates with other guys. (After the dates had concluded I'd usually call Matt and spend the rest of the evening with him, so I don't think he worried too much. :)) 
• When he said "I love you" for the first time, and I responded with, "I'm not ready for that," he didn't bat an eye.
• He claims our relationship crept along taking two steps forward, then one step back, and that he had to be subtle and sneaky with his feelings for me--an unsuspecting freshman in college.
• He didn't give up when after dating for seven months I told him, "I'd give it a 50/50 chance we'll be dating after our summer apart". (For the record, I thought those odds were good.)

As it turns out we talked on the phone an average of three hours a day that summer, and shortly after returning for fall semester at BYU-Idaho, Matt proposed. The rest is history.

 

Four years ago I made this short video. (It's compressed and really pixally. Wish I had the original, but I don't.) Because I'm lazy and pregnant, I'll just repost it. Add four years, Kaitlyn and this third daughter joining our family, and you haven't missed much!

Happy anniversary, Matt. I love you.

Myrtle Beach Vacation

The second week in September our family took a vacation to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The 11 and 1/2 hour drive may seem long to some. But compared to our usual 24-hour trek to see family in Utah, less than 12 hours seemed like a breeze! Matt's parents let us use points from their timeshare to snag a two-bedroom beach-front condo at Wyndham Ocean Boulevard Resort. It was great, and oh so relaxing! I came back feeling like a whole new person. Thank you!

Highlights of the trip (in no particular order) included:

• Spending almost everyday at the beach and pools
• Morning runs on the beach
• Feeding the fish, buying treats, and playing on bounce toys at Broadway at the Beach
• Cable T.V.
• Stuffing ourselves at a seafood buffet
• Ending up at Olive Garden when the barbeque place didn't look appealing
• Getting the best Chinese takeout I've had in a long time
• The fishermen letting Skylie catch a fish (In actuality they simply helped her re-reel in one they'd just caught.)
• Kaitlyn's initial daredevil attempts at bounce houses and slides. On our second visit she'd climb the tall slides, stay at the top, and wait for Matt or me to come get her. :)
• South Carolina peaches
• Lots of time with Matt

Picking out candies at a store at the Broadway at the Beach shopping complex. Days later when I asked Skylie what her favorite part of the trip had been she said without hesitation 1) picking out candies, and 2) catching a fish with the fishermen.

Playing on all the bounce houses and slides at Broadway at the Beach. The kids loved this attraction so much the first evening we visited that we took them back a few nights later. I should have known the novelty would have worn off. Though they had a good time the second night, it was nothing compared to their sheer delight during their first experience here.

Kaitlyn slides

Skylie slides

Kaitlyn reveling in solitude

Skylie and her beach BFF

Matt and the girls made sand castles to their hearts' desire. To Matt's chagrin the girls always knocked the fortresses down before they could make an impressive display. Maybe someday...

Vacation living consumed me so much that I had no idea why these fire fighters marched the coastline. Mid-afternoon when I turned on the news I realized the date--September 11.

Kaitlyn and me in all my pregnant glory. For some reason, the only times Matt and I have taken real beach vacations have been when I'm pregnant. Don't get me wrong. I'll take a beach vacation any day. 

Floating in the lazy river became our post-beach ritual every day.

Kids' Stats

On Skylie's first day of preschool, August 19, 2013

As of September 30:

Kaitlyn (26 months):
Length: 31 5/8th inches; below fifth percentile
Weight: 20 pounds, 12 ounces; below fifth percentile
Head Circumference: 17 7/8th inches; below fifth percentile

Skylie (4 years, 1 month):
Height: 40 1/2 inches
Weight: 31 pounds
Body Mass Index: 13.1