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Passing Time

2012-02-11T12:31:00.001-08:00

Testing out my new stroller on a walk with the kids. This is what we do while Dad's gone all day at wrestling tournaments. I'm stoked to be able to go on walks now with the little boys!

Charlie at 3 Months

2012-02-09T15:00:00.000-08:00

(My favorite photo of Charlie)

At 3 months, Charlie is a good sleeper. He is almost sleeping through the night, waking up around 5ish for a quick feeding and then off to sleep again. He is a happy boy. He has a lot of personality already and gets really excited. I love the way he looks at me. He does not like to have a wet/dirty diaper. He is drooling quite a bit and wears a bib often to soak it all up. He is starting to look less like Brady's clone and more like his own little boy. He is roly poly and weighs over 16 pounds already! He thinks Clark is so funny and loves to sit with Lucy on the couch. Brady thinks he's so cute and loves to baby talk to him and gets him to coo. He is working on grabbing things and will be there soon.

I love these photos, especially the one on the left. Help me, Mom!

He loves his swing and is lights out within minutes

Oh how we love you, Charlie Boy!

Scrubbly Bubbly

2012-02-09T09:30:00.000-08:00

"Show us your teeth, Clark!"

Soon there will be one more boy in the boy bath!

Blessing Charlie

2012-02-09T09:00:00.000-08:00

The special day arrived on New Year's Day to bless our sweet Charlie. We had lots of family make the trek to Cameron Park to share it with us.

Brandon gave the sweetest and most eloquent and lengthy blessing I've heard him give. Charlie is definitely a special boy and we've got big things in store for him! His Priesthood is such a blessing to our family and I'm so lucky to have a righteous husband to watch over and care for our family.

The McKinley cousins

After church, we came to our house where I served tomato basil soup and had a baked potato bar.

I believe I've mentioned this before on my blog, but my sister Brooke has a gross fetish of cleaning out people's ears. Somehow, we all let her do it. I think we all want to prove that we have clean ears. She pulled out Brady's mining helmet with its flashlight to assist in the cleaning.

She can be counted on to make a disgusted face while checking your ears, too. It makes you feel real good! Luckily my kids and I always get a clean bill from the expert. Looks like I'm doing a good job in the ear cleaning department, phew!

All of the girls in our PJ's:

Joy giving Brooke a dose of her medicine

Meanwhile, the kids had fun playing outside. Lucy hauled our chair up into the ledge and had herself a nice little rest!

Wiiiiiii

2012-02-08T14:30:00.000-08:00

When Brady and Lucy play the Wii, Clark inevitably wants his own controller. We don't trust him with the $50 controllers, so to Clark's luck, one of our controllers broke. It is now his controller (which he labeled with a black sharpie), and he sure has fun thinking that he's actually playing and waving it around.

Old School Mario

Christmas 2011

2012-02-08T12:30:00.000-08:00

I've had these pictures uploaded for some time, I probably ought to post them!

We had a nice Christmas this year. We spent it in Pleasanton with my parents and sister Jessica. Two days before Christmas, we made our way to San Francisco for our annual trip to Union Square. Boy, was it CRAZY busy! Next year we'll get there earlier in the month for sure. But it was still fun to get some hot chestnuts (which kind of taste like mashed potatoes?) and soak up the festive atmosphere. I adore San Francisco. Then again, who doesn't?

On Christmas Eve, the kids acted out the Nativity just like I did every year as a little girl. It was fun to have my dad drag them down the hall in a bean bag the same way he did when he was the dad. Lucy was prego with Baby Jesus and Brady looks like Joseph on drugs.

Baby Jesus was the prize at the end

My mom bought matching PJ's for all the girls - thanks Mom!

Next up: Christmas morning

The electric anticipation!!!

Jess was super stoked about her new Anthropologie dishes...not really, but in a few years, she'll appreciate them!

Never too old to play with your brother's Magna-Doodle!

We've got a thumb-sucker!

Brando's new shoes

The best part of Christmas was getting to Skype with my brother Mike who is serving in Brazil. How cool is that? He was at a member's home and we got to hear him converse with people in Portuguese and see how good and healthy he looks. The highlight was when he got choked up while telling us how his favorite thing is to show people a picture book of his family and how families are forever. He's is an amazing missionary and although he has had his ups and downs with companions, he is a wonderful example of what a hard-working missionary should be!

Charlie sporting his new onesie from his special Aunt!

Howdy!

2012-02-07T21:21:00.000-08:00

What Charlie looks like when left alone with his sister:

Howdy do!

Determined

2012-02-07T21:19:00.000-08:00

Brandon asked me to make this for him to put in a frame for his desk at his office. He is one motivated guy!

Sweetheart

2012-02-07T21:17:00.001-08:00

Mmm...sleeping babies...perfect.

Teaching Sacrifice

2012-02-07T19:31:00.000-08:00

At the beginning of December, during Family Home Evening, Brandon asked the kids why we celebrate Christmas. When Lucy answered, "To get presents," it really bothered Brandon. Of course that is the main thing a little girl remembers most about Christmas, but we both agreed that we would do something special to teach the kids the true meaning of Christmas.

One of Brandon's patients told him about something they did with their children when they were little that had a lasting effect on them. They took their kids to the store and had them pick out a gift for themselves. Then they drove over to a children's hospital and donated those gifts to the sick children.

So, off we went with the plan. We stopped at Target and the kids picked out their toys: Brady chose a Hexbug, Lucy a doll, and Clark a Shake-N-Go car from Cars 2. They were pretty excited about their new toys. On the drive over to the hospital, I looked over at Brandon with worried eyes and said I didn't know how this would all go down. There would be a little drama.

The kids right before the big reveal:

When we explained that we would be giving the presents to the sick children inside the hospital, they each reacted differently: Brady was practical ("Don't worry, Lucy, we can just ask Santa for these presents!"), Lucy was a bit devastated, and Clark was oblivious. She eventually calmed down when we placed our presents under the Christmas tree in the lobby and got a candy cane. They also let her pick a stuffed animal, so that helped.

Looking back, I think Lucy was a little on the young side for such a lesson. But, I know it's something she'll never, ever forget. She told the kids at church about what she did in her talk in Primary. When we saw a commercial for a children's hospital on TV, she recognized that she had given her gift to someone like that.

In the end, I am happy that our children were able to help other children. If we had told them that they were picking out gifts for sick children, it wouldn't have been a sacrifice. And I think it's good to teach children about sacrificing for others just as Jesus did for us. It is an experience we refer to often, and I know Brady and Lucy will never forget this day.

Tonight

2012-01-25T20:55:00.000-08:00

I'm in trouble...hitting the honeymoon period with my baby boy.

Although clearly I was already in trouble!

Charlie

2012-01-23T21:11:00.002-08:00

Charlie boy can focus, interact, and "see" us now, which makes things oh so much more exciting!

Clark's First Play Date

2012-01-23T20:58:00.000-08:00

Clark had his first ever play date last month with his buddies (and twins!) Walker and Brayden. They were so cute together. Their mom Kira told me they were playing "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" in the backyard and took turns calling out, "Oh, Toodles!!!"

Kira also let them make a big mess in her kitchen playing with moonsand. What a good mom! Poor Clark doesn't get to have many play dates because he's usually out running errands with me. The life of the third child!

This Morning

2012-01-10T19:08:00.001-08:00

Things are pretty intense around here these days. High highs and low lows. I find myself losing my temper easily (particularly when my older kids do things they've been told hundreds of times not to do), but I am also realizing its just the way it is right now. It is just going to be a little crazy and I won't be able to control everything like I'd like to.

It has taken me a little longer than normal to slow down and enjoy my baby. The first month or so, I was just focused on keeping things going with everyone else, and when Charlie slept, I took advantage of the time. But now that he's engaging in us more and more, I love stopping what I'm doing and giving in to soaking him up. He has the most delicious neck that I love kissing. He is growing so fast (15.5 lbs. at 2.5 months), and he is just the sweetest. He smiles so big and is a good sport with his curious big brother.

Here are some pictures of this morning and my renewed effort to slow down. And take more pictures.

I woke up to Clark with a big bowl of cookie dough. Of course!

Merry Christmas 2011

2011-12-26T17:43:00.001-08:00

Arg!

2011-12-18T09:00:00.000-08:00

Clarkie has been loving Jake and the Neverland Pirates. He came up to me with this bandaid over his eye and said, "Argg!" I love him!

This is the new smile he gives when you ask him to show you his teeth. We think it's hilarious.

Soccer

2011-12-17T18:34:00.000-08:00

Brady finished his third soccer season last month. He is really enjoying soccer and is getting more aggressive in going after the ball. Last year, he was all about defending the goal and charging anyone who came near it. This year he focused more on going after the ball and trying to score. We were really proud of his hustling. A lot of the season was a blur for me because I was at the end of my pregnancy and then I had Charlie. We always enjoyed going to practices and games. Every time we drive by the field at Brady's school, Clark yells out, "Soccer practice!"

Go Eagles!

With his buddy Max

His cheerleaders

O Christmas Tree

2011-12-06T18:37:00.001-08:00

We started off the holiday season this year the day after Thanksgiving at the Placerville Tree Lighting. This is one of my favorite things. There are lots of people walking Main Street with carolers, performances, games for kids, and all of the shops are open and cozy. It was pretty chilly, and this is the best photo we got right before the lighting:

The following day, we headed to Apple Hill to cut down our Christmas tree. We first stopped at the new restaurant The Independent (sister to Heyday Cafe) on Main Street for lunch. I recommend it! My parents came in town for a birthday party, and they brought Jess with them. We love their company!

This is so Brady. Get that aggression out!

Charlie kept the ladies entertained

After looking at all the trees at the first farm, Brandon was not happy with the selection (see photo above for proof). So, we packed up and headed to the next farm over.

These next two pictures describe my life to a T. This is what I get to deal with every single day, all day. Love that brother/sister relationship!

Did you catch the reflection in the car window? Perfect! Don't worry, she's not hurt, just screaming.

And the pure joy of teasing a sister. Any ideas for how to make boys stop teasing?

My little man

Jess loves carrying my babies in the carrier. She is going to be a pro mom right out the gate.

This was Clark the whole time, a blur, running free.

And here's me trying to coax him back to me.

Finally Brandon found "the tree". He had his little buddy cut it down for us.

The kids loved riding in the cart back to the parking lot with our tree in tow.

This guy tried to let Clark drive, but he wasn't having it

Until everyone got out of the cart, then he was ready

Everyone was excited to decorate the tree when we got home. Lucy managed to break a few ornaments in the process (she is a little spastic sometimes...well, most of the time).

Clark munched on a few ornaments (part of his oral fixation...remember cigs?)

We love these holiday traditions. It's been a nice, relaxing holiday season so far. It really is a conscious decision to keep it low-key, and I'm glad I am resisting the holiday frenzy that surrounds us!

Slumbering...

2011-12-06T18:36:00.001-08:00

Little Charlie makes us all swoon. I love those lips!

4 Generations

2011-12-06T18:33:00.001-08:00

One more 4-generation photo with Grandma Fox, this time with Charlie.

Back at the Ranch...

2011-12-06T18:30:00.001-08:00

While I was recovering from my C-section, my parents took the kids for the first few days after I returned home from the hospital. (These extra days are so critical to my recovery and sanity) Here are a few photos my Dad took while they played.

Wow, that looks like me...

They took the kids to the pumpkin patch in Lathrop, which is more like a big amusement park. Brady looks amused, right? My dad took him into the haunted house, which come to find out, was truly terrifying. Think Blair Witch Project meets lots of blood and gore. He begged my dad to take him out, poor guy. Which is a big deal for the ultimate tough guy.

Eating ice cream from the Dairy (I'm jealous) and waving

Lucy got to spend lots of time with one of her favorite cousins Haley

Believe it or not, I was really ready for them to come home after 3 days. I missed them, and I was ready to find out what having 4 children would be like. They returned home on my birthday, the best present!

Happy Halloween

2011-11-05T17:01:00.000-07:00

October was certainly an action-packed month for our family! I do love Halloween and the fall so very much. It is the first of the holiday trio, and therefore I'm not burned out yet like I am by the time Christmas rolls around. My Pinterest addiction bloomed in October, and I needed to stop pinning and start doing.

We were inspired by these bats (shown below) and made our own.

Here's how ours turned out. We had many of them in other locations, too.

Our Halloween tablescape

I got a package of these Martha Stewart spiders at Michael's and put them all over our windows. They creeped me out for the first few days before I got used to them.

Another Pinterest-inspired project:

How's that for creepy? Clark decided to eat some black face paint. Glad it was non-toxic. :)

Our Trunk-or-Treat this year was great as always. Lucy was a witch, Brady was Bear Grylls, and Clark was a duck.

Nice and sticky

Cute little witch

Her BFF Eleanor

With the Madsens and Wards

A few days later brought Halloween. This is one of the only shots we got that night. It got dark so quickly. This night, Brady wanted to wear his soldier costume that he dug out of our costume box, and Lucy wanted to be the mermaid she was last year. Fine by me!

It was fun to prepare for and celebrate Halloween in the middle of having a new baby and bringing him home.

First Days Home

2011-11-05T09:30:00.000-07:00

Charlie during his first few days home:

Welcoming Charlie

2011-11-04T10:46:00.000-07:00

I was pretty much an emotional wreck the week before delivering Charlie. Too much anxiety about the surgery, about what it would be like to have 4 kids, hoping Charlie would be a healthy boy. By the morning of Thursday, October 20, I was READY to get the whole ordeal over with, to face it head on.

Brandon and I woke up at 6:30, showered and got everything packed in the car. We got to the hospital at around 7:00 to prep for surgery at 8:00. It is always such a lovely experience getting my IV inserted. They just have a hard time with my veins. After calling in a nurse from the ER to do it after failed attempts, I was hooked up and ready to go.

This is me before receiving the spinal, full of nerves. I was so happy they let Brandon be there for the shot, because he wasn't allowed in during Clark's.

Don't I look cute in my little cap? They don't let me wear any make-up so they can monitor my coloring, but I always sneak a little mascara.

I felt special having my friend Kristen hang out with me before the surgery. She is a nurse at the hospital and was just getting off her shift. She even waited around and got to meet Charlie in the nursery.

After receiving the spinal anesthesia, things start moving pretty quickly. Within a few minutes, Brandon and I were looking at each other, overcome by the emotion of realizing we would be meeting our new baby in a matter of seconds. What a very powerful experience that is!

The anesthesiologist took a few photos of Charlie's first moments. Vernix is not the prettiest, but I think it's fascinating that just moments before, he was in my womb. He weighed 7 lbs. 10 oz., 20 1/4 inches long, and has brown {curly, I can just tell} hair.

First touch with mommy. I haven't been able to "hold" any of my other babies like this during the c-sections. I was so happy to have a few moments with him before they took him to the nursery while I get stitched up.

I spent the next hour in the post-op recovery room. I had slight difficulty breathing, because the spinal had numbed me a little higher than expected. I experienced a much worse case of this when I had Lucy.

Brandon got to spend some quality time bonding with Charlie while I was recovering. He cherishes that time with each newborn, looking them up and down, taking it all in.

When I got wheeled into my room, I learned that I was sharing a room with another mom, my worst fear! Luckily, that only lasted a few hours, and I had the room to myself for the rest of my stay at the hospital.

We had a photographer, Mariea Rummel, there to take photos of Charlie and Brandon in the nursery and our first moments together as a family. You can view them here. I'll share the photos on here later if/when I get permission. Take a look, they are so beautiful! She did a much better job documenting Charlie's first few hours, considering I was a little out of commission.

My mom took such great care of the kids the first day I was in the hospital.

Charlie looks so much like Brady did as a baby.

Grandma Marilyn was a great help those first days, too.

Aunt Kara

The kids came to the hospital after they got out of school. Boy were they excited! Brady and Lucy are wonderful big siblings to Clark, and they've been equally as great with Charlie. Lucy is my second set of arms. She holds Charlie and snuggles him often every day. She reminds me so much of myself, aside from the obvious physical resemblance. That satisfied smile she has below...that is how I feel when holding a new baby. The nurses all had to laugh when they came into the room and saw her sitting in the bed holding the baby. It was a mini-version of me.

LOVE these pictures of Clark holding Charlie. Let the trouble begin!

My friend Kristen (RN)

Day 2 in the hospital

A visit from Leah

One of his daily check-ups with the pediatrician. He got back up to 7 lbs. 7 oz. by the time we left the hospital. He is a great nurser.

One of my two favorite nurses. I got attached to these girls. The night I came home, I cried a little, wishing I was still in the hospital and being cared for around the clock. Those 4 days I spend in the hospital with each baby are so special and sacred to me.

All dressed up, ready to go home

Two very happy, blessed parents!

3rd Annual Halloween Soiree

2011-10-23T09:36:00.000-07:00

Salt & Pepper

Hillbilly Handfishin'

Gangsters

Phantom of the Opera

Twister Game

Surgeons

Geisha

Surgeons v.2

Arnold & his Mistress

Biggest Loser Contestant & Trainer

Bowling Ball (Hey, I know it's kinda lame, but I was going solo that night, and what do I do with that belly?)

Couples Donut-on-a-String...I didn't get many good pictures this year. The Mattesons won for a second year.

We always have the best spread of food: spooky root beer, creative appetizers, and tomato basil and baked potato soup.

I could not stop laughing at Jeremiah the whole night.

Thanks, Ali, for providing your adorably spooky mansion for our party. You went above and beyond with the decorations! Thanks to all who came.

Waiting...

2011-10-19T09:55:00.000-07:00

That sums up what I'm doing. Waiting for baby #4 to come. Obviously, I'm not sitting around and waiting, just waiting. I've got a huge list of things to complete today, it being the last day before surgery early tomorrow morning. I am a huge mess inside. There is way too much anxiety brewing, and it's impossible for me to get a full night's sleep. How do you wrap your head around anticipating one of the biggest days of your life? And how do you cope with going through major surgery? It will be such a relief when he's finally here.

It's my last day of having 3 children. We are going to take the family out for a special dinner tonight, and try to make things as exciting for them. They are all SO excited for their little brother to come. I think Clark is going to miss kissing my belly, though. He loves to give the baby kisses. Soon he can kiss the real baby, which I'm sure will need some serious supervision. :)

It is odd that Clark won't be my baby anymore. He doesn't seem old enough to give up that title. He is so doted upon in our family. Brady and Lucy both take such great care of him. But it's not like that bond will go away with a new baby. I'm excited for Clark to get to be a big brother and to experience caring of a younger sibling.

Basically, I'm just trying to hold it together until tomorrow. My surgery is scheduled for 8:00 am, so I get to arrive nice and early at the hospital at 6:00 am. I can't wait to meet this baby boy, and for him to be REAL!

Celebrating Baby

2011-10-19T09:10:00.000-07:00

A few friends had a little celebration for our baby's arrival. I really didn't want to be fussed over, as this is my fourth child, but they pampered me nonetheless. I'm a lucky girl.

Ali made me her "Magic in the Middle" chocolate/peanut butter cookies. My fav!

Joy and my M-I-L Marilyn

Thanks for doing this last little get-together for me, friends and family! I feel loved.

Craying Mantis

2011-10-19T08:56:00.000-07:00

Brady loves any animal, bug, or reptile. He says he wants to be a "vegetarian" when he grows up. Sometimes he gets it right and says "veterinarian". It's confusing!

I found a praying mantis (he also sometimes calls it a "craying" mantis) on our doorstep the other day, and of course Brady had to come check it out. I think these are so interesting, and creepy.

Lucy wanted a turn, but then got creeped out when it was on her. Don't blame her one bit!

My Favorite • Sephora Glass Nail File

2011-10-11T10:18:00.000-07:00

I like nail products. Even when I bit my nails (all the way into college, yuk!), I still loved nail polish and such. I hate buying nail file after nail file when they get dull or shredded on the edge. I figured I should invest in a good one, and found one at Sephora. It is made from glass, never dulls, and washes clean under water. I love it - it files my nails precisely and smoothly, never leaving a rough edge. Get one for $8.

SF Luxury

2011-10-10T21:41:00.000-07:00

My pretty little sister Jessica turned 21! And to celebrate, we had a girl's trip to San Francisco. Joy wasn't able to come because she has her new baby Andrew. My mom won a raffle at a charity event where she received a 2-night stay for 4 at the Four Seasons downtown. It was 3 blocks from Union Square, our version of heaven!

I took BART in from Walnut Creek to meet up with my mom, Brooke, and Jess. We hit a shop or two before closing time. Then we headed to the hotel. It was so beautiful, roomy, and just so well-designed. It was all the little things that made it "Four Seasons" material. I took advantage of the big, comfy bathtub a few times during our stay.

Brooke had just returned from Hawaii, so she brought some treats along. Yeah, I think I ate about 75% of that box. Don't mind if I do.

Don't mind if I do this, either.

The funniest/craziest part of the trip was when we decided we needed to order another rollaway bed (we already had one in the room). Brooke panicked after we made the call to order it, and decided we should hide the one we already had in the bathroom, because they wouldn't give us two. So, they hurried along. Right about when this picture was taken, the employee was at the door with the additional bed. I'm sure the guy was wondering why it took us so long to come to the door as we were shoving it and trying to get it to fit. We were all laughing so hard, and somehow I got pushed to answer the door. The guy totally knew something was up and kept asking if we already had a bed. I just kind of stood there, not knowing what to say. In the end, we had the extra bed and we all slept soundly!

Lunch at the Rotunda in Nieman Marcus. Such a treat - all you can eat popovers with strawberry butter!

We stopped at Fresh and tried their lip scrub...so many items I could buy in there.

Dinner at Buca di Beppo, my first time there

Thanks Mom for the wonderful getaway, and thanks Jess for turning 21 and letting us celebrate you! I had the best time. Until next year?

The Final Countdown

2011-10-09T09:59:00.000-07:00

My friend Kim is getting into photography, and she offered to take some maternity shots of me. I was excited because pictures of me pregnant are very hard to come by. Since I am the primary photo-taker in our family, like most families, we all know we are the most neglected in appearing in them. And, given that this is most likely our last baby, I really wanted to capture this special time and my extra-voluptuous body! (That's a nice way of putting it. :)

These silhouettes are my favorite. We saw a similar idea on Pinterest, and luckily Kim could recreate it.

Next, we headed down to Folsom Lake and got a few shots during sunset. Can you tell that there was about 2 weeks in between these photo shoots? I'm definitely popping out more.

I'm almost there! 11 days from today, I'll have a new baby in my arms. Holding each of my children for the first time is the closest thing to heaven I have experienced. What a wonderful thing to look forward to.

It's a time that is full of anxiety and nerves, too. Anticipating a major surgery and recovery is not very fun. But, knowing that I'll have a little sidekick to cuddle with throughout it all makes it a lot better.

Labor Day

2011-10-06T22:12:00.000-07:00

We had a great day together as a family on Labor Day this year. We started out heading up to Apple Hill. We stopped at the Red Apple Cafe on our way. I wouldn't recommend it, for lunch anyway. It took forever to get our food, and when we ordered "chicken strips" for the kids, we received Mickey Mouse nuggets, the ones they sell at Costco. Nice.

Apple Hill is such a very wonderful place. It's so peaceful and serene. The kids kept themselves happy by running up and down a steep hill. I kept myself happy by eating a caramel apple.

Of course there were several tumbles. Nothing my pain-resistant children can't handle.

I'm glad I got a photo of these missing teeth, because there are two big permanent ones filling the vacancies already.

Super poor-quality photo, but I wanted to get it in here anyway. We're enjoying the fresh apple juice samples.

Me and my belly.

Immediately after taking this photo, Brandon ran to retrieve Clark, who was getting a little too close to the pond. In doing so, he didn't notice that he stepped on and completely smashed my brand new Kate Spade sunglasses. I had a little bit of a meltdown, and we left soon after. Can you believe Nordstrom took them back a few weeks later? Of course I told them the truth about what happened to them. That's why I love Nordies!

After I calmed down a bit, we decided to go swimming. It was a little late in the day and the water was a little chilly, but they still got some quality swim time.

I love holidays spent with family. The best.

Loving Fall

2011-09-16T10:36:00.000-07:00

This picture makes me happy, because it means the mornings are cool enough to justify a blanket. Which means fall is here! I've had pumpkins on my doorstep for a while now, my fall wreath hanging, and yesterday I made these Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins, they were really good. I changed my Wallflower scent to pumpkin spice. I haven't put up Halloween decorations yet, I think I'll give that another week.

And I can't escape the fact that all of this means that our little boy is coming. Soon. It's such an incredible thing to meet one of your children for the first time. I really need to see him to believe that he's real, even though he is very much a part of my daily life already. I'm definitely slowing down, feeling belly discomfort and occasional back pain (good thing I know a great chiropractor). I'm taking it easy in the sense that I am not overbooking myself, but our house is running as normal, which is important for me. I have to have order. Brandon thinks I'm OCD, but homemaking makes me happy.

I have always been a huge fan of weekly menus, but I tweaked my existing system a bit to facilitate all of the stores I shop at. I made this new grocery shopping list/weekly menu to help me get all my shopping done in one day. In the box under the day, I list any activities we have in the evening, so I can plan the meal accordingly. I omitted Friday and Saturday from our menu, because our plans are usually played by ear on those days. I have noticed a big difference in how smoothly our week runs when I sit and do this at the beginning of the week. You can click on it and print it if it would be helpful/applicable to your family.

Here is a version where you can fill in your own store names:

Lucy's 5th Birthday

2011-09-10T21:33:00.000-07:00

When Brady turned 7 back in April, Lucy started thinking about her 5th birthday. A lot. She would see things everywhere and say she either wanted to do that for her party, or she wanted me to buy it for her as a gift. But, this mom is very pregnant, and to be honest, prefers simple parties to anything elaborate, so we decided to make it easy without sacrificing any fun by having her party at Chuck E. Cheese. Glamorous? Not for an adult. But for a child? Does it get any better?

The kids enjoyed plenty of pizza, drinks, and tokens. They dispersed and had a great time with their independence.

My nephew Andrew...doesn't he have the best smile?

S-I-L Amy and I touching bellies. I'm about 2 1/2 months ahead of her.

I have about 20 pictures of Rich (Brandon's dad) doing this exact thing throughout the years

Brandon wearing his BYU football shirt in preparation for the game that night. It was a disappointing loss.

On a good note, I made the BEST cake - I'm so proud of myself. It's a Martha recipe, part of a collection of cake recipes based on candy bars. This one is based on 100 Grand. I remember back in high school, we had a cheerleading fundraiser selling candy bars, and I had a box full of 100 Grand to sell. I ate about 95% of the box myself. I'm sure my parents appreciated having to pay for them.

Anyway...back to the cake. It was sublime. Moist chocolate cake, caramel, chocolate-covered rice krispies, and the best frosting I've ever tasted. I loved that when we were picking out a cake, Lucy went for a decadent chocolate one instead of a pink sprinkly one. One of my kind. :)

She was blowing out her candles during the happy birthday song.

Oh how I love my Lucy. She is the sweetest, and I am so thankful that she's all mine. Having such adoration returned ten-fold is an incredible thing.

Love Chuck the Rat!

Clark liked the train game, but mostly he enjoyed roaming around and staring at Chuck E. Cheese.

I love Abby's bling that she picked out for her prize. Word up!

For favors, we gave gum with personalized wrappers. What kid doesn't love a pack of gum all to themselves?

Lucy and her friends had a super time at her party. The gifts we gave Lucy will be for another post. Let's just say they have changed her life.

Punchfork

2011-09-01T13:11:00.000-07:00

My friend Jessica posted about this new food website yesterday, and I have been so impressed that I think all my friends need to know about it, too! It's called Punchfork, and it is a site that compiles recipes from all of the best food blogs out there, including Pioneer Woman and Smitten Kitchen. So nice to see so many good recipes all in one place. I'll be referencing this often when it's time to plan our weekly menu.

Camping in Redwoods 2011

2011-08-30T06:25:00.000-07:00

Somehow I never did get to blogging about our annual camping trip to the Redwoods with the Fox family. Maybe that's because I only took about 10 photos, at only one location. Yikes! I guess I was in one of those lazy pregnancy moods. After the two solid days of packing and prepping, by the time we got there, I kind of crashed. Here's what photos I got, anyway. These were after the group floated down the Smith river in tubes and rafts. It's so beautiful and peaceful, and I missed doing it this year.

Christian in his wetsuit - always prepared!

Cute Claire, I love this little spitfire!

Brady caught this little fish with his bare hands

Evan and Kamille. This was Kamille's first time camping, and I think she had a great time. She went for the full 10 days, whereas we only went for 5. I think that broke her in!

Luckily, my bro-in-law John took more than enough pictures, so I'm grabbing a few of his photos to document what else we did.

Aunt Suzanne brought these light ball things that the kids loved spinning around at night

Brady had fun wowing everyone with his good hits

The boys all went crabbing and brought home a huge crab feed (too bad I don't like crab)

This was probably the highlight for me - watching all of Brandon's siblings (minus Amy who is prego, turning the rope, and about to pee her pants) jump rope together. Let me tell you, the person who screwed it up every time got an earful from this competitive group.

Lu and her cousin Claire learned how to jump rope

They even had a mini session, so cute!

Clarkie wanting to be a big boy so badly

Even if he has to wear pink

The hike to Stout Grove

This picture is just awesome. This was at church on Sunday. Evan doesn't bother packing church shoes to go to the local ward. So classy! Pair that with his jacket, beard, and a short tie, pretty Kamille was not feeling it!

And just to prove I was there, I think the only picture of me.

Snuggles

2011-08-24T09:18:00.000-07:00

Lucy and Clark are so sweet with one another. They cherish the mornings until Lucy heads to school. Lucy teaches him how to do all sorts of things, and he is always a most willing pupil.

This morning, Lucy snagged my phone first thing in the morning and Clark joined right in. Moments like these make everything worth it, don't they?

Undies

2011-08-17T20:59:00.000-07:00

Lucy decided Clark should be potty-trained and put him in big girl undies.

Lookin' good. Nevermind that she has since done this without my knowledge and guess who ends up in wet undies? We keep sitting him on the toilet to see if he'll go potty, but nothing yet. Lucy swears she has gotten him to go, and he certainly doesn't want to wear his diapers, so maybe we'll attempt to potty train as soon as he can go on command.

Freakshow

2011-08-16T08:53:00.000-07:00

I am in love with this picture my dad took of Clark all decked out in his swimming gear. He wants to be JUST like his siblings. He insists on wearing goggles, even when they're fogged and half-full of water. I could eat him...

It was sad, though, when he jumped off the bench on the right side of the photo, thinking he could make it to the spa. He landed on all fours on the ground. He is way too adventurous for his own good. I also like Lucy's little face popping out of the water. That is pretty much how she swims!

My Favorite • Goody Spin Pins

2011-08-16T08:17:00.000-07:00

I don't know if you've tried these yet, but I picked up a pack a few months back when my good friend Shilo recommended them on her blog. I LOVE them and use them all the time when I put my hair up or back in a bun.

You get two pins. You spin one in from the top and one in from the bottom, trying not to interlock the two. The pins glide through your hair like butter. The best part is that they keep your hair secure all day, they're very inconspicuous, and they don't pull or tug, preventing headaches I sometimes get when I put my hair up. They're around $6 for the pair (I got mine at Target), try them out!

Back 2 School

2011-08-15T07:03:00.000-07:00

I officially have two children in school! What an exciting time in our lives. Brady is in 2nd grade and has a male teacher. He is in a 2/3 combo class, so I'm sure he'll step up and thrive in that situation. Lucy is in kindergarten and has Ms. Niccolson, Brady's kindergarten teacher. We loved her, and Lucy has known her for two years, so she's super excited to follow in Brady's footsteps. She couldn't possibly be more excited, the little lady.

The night before, we had a special back-to-school dinner with fancy sparkling cider. I made one of our favorites, my mom's crunchy parmesan chicken.

Dinner was followed by a father's priesthood blessing for each child, even Clark. He was so cute and sat still the whole time. This is always a most special time of the year for this reason. It really causes me to reflect on the needs and accomplishments of my children. I'm really proud of the little people they are!

Lucy is in afternoon kindergarten, so in the morning, we all piled in to take Brady to his new class. It was bustling at the school, and I know he was a little nervous.

Once he sat down at a table, all of his friends from last year quickly sat down next to him, which made him feel really good. :) Lucy was next. At home, she was asking me about every five minutes if it was time for her to go yet. It made the 3 hour gap in time move very slowly...

Of course she went in without a hitch. See ya, Mom!

She is just the sweetest...

...and loves her brother to the end and back.

Clark was hysterical when we dropped Lucy off, and was SO happy when we got to pick her up. He especially loved eating her leftover crackers from lunch.

After school, we stopped by Cafe Santoro for an ice cream. I didn't know it was $1 scoop day, and the place was an absolute madhouse! With Clark taking off his shoes in the middle of everything and refusing to stay by me, I was exhausted & overheated by the time we got home.

Brady borrowed my camera and got a few pictures for me:

His friend Logan

My friend Caryn

And just like that, the first day is all over and my life has changed once again.

My Favorite • Stearns Puddle Jumper

2011-08-02T11:34:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in my swimming post, I am in love with my new Stearns Puddle Jumper life jacket. It's not your average life jacket. My good friend Leah introduced these to me last year, and said she swore by them. They teach children to swim in a natural position, leaning forward, instead of sitting more upright like they do in a traditional life jacket. As we began teaching the kids to swim, I realized what a detriment that upright position was to their progress, because they need to put their head down to make real progress in the water.

So, I realized what a great idea they were for my older kids. But I still had Mr. Crazy (Clark) to worry about. He is too young for a life jacket, and he won't stay in any floaty contraption. I don't have the most faith in arm floaties because I just picture them sliding off. When we were at the lake the other day, I decided to see if he could maneuver the Puddle Jumper. I was SO happy when the jacket kept him upright and in a safe position. He loved the freedom and being able to swim like the big kids. As many of my friends know, Clark gives me a heart attack about 10 times a day, especially around water. It's the best feeling to know there is something that can protect him.

Here's a video that demonstrates how it works:

Gapper

2011-08-01T14:19:00.000-07:00

When Brady had all of his baby teeth intact, I was dreading the day that he would lose the precious little buds for some large, awkward teeth. :) When he lost his first front tooth, it looked a little weird, I'm not gonna lie. A little WT. I was thinking it would look even worse when he lost his other front tooth, but I was so happy that once symmetry was reinstated in his smile, all was well! He looks so cute with his two front teeth missing. Now I understand why my mom loves it so much.

Brady was heartbroken when he lost his tooth down the drain moments after pulling it out. I assured him that the tooth fairy would still bring him a surprise just like she did the last time he didn't have a tooth for her because he was playing with it on the couch. He was a little nervous as he went to bed that night, and was pretty happy when he woke up to a $2 delivery from the Tooth Fairy.

Love how direct his note is.

Summer List #1: Learn to Swim

2011-08-01T11:55:00.000-07:00

We're making very good progress on our Summer To-Do List, which is a good thing since we only have about a week and a half left of summer. I won't be heartbroken if we don't get to every single one, but with only a handful left, I feel great about our balance of relaxation and productiveness.

The most important item on the list for me was to get Brady to swim, and Lucy able to save herself if she were to fall in a pool. We signed them up for private lessons with a young woman in our ward. The kids LOVED going to lessons, and were so excited about their progress. I am so proud of what they accomplished.

By the end of the week, Lucy could jump off the edge, touch the bottom, and swim to the side. She could swim through hula hoops, retrieve diving rings, and swim the width of the pool.

Love that little bum sticking up

My goal for Brady was to be able to jump into the deep end of the pool and swim well enough that I wouldn't worry. Accomplished!

Brady + Nikki

We went to Cameron Park Lake the other day, and it was so exciting for me to see Brady swimming in the deep areas and Lucy swimming well in the shallow area without a lifejacket. And now that I've figured out a solution to keep Clark watersafe, I am one HAPPY and relieved mom!

Summer List #17: Bowling

2011-07-27T20:37:00.000-07:00

Our fam went bowling in Folsom, it was the perfect evening activity. All I had was my phone to take photos, but it's better than nothing!

Clark kicked it by the ball machine the whole time, loving to see the balls come through the chute. We had the bumpers up, so Brady and Lucy fared pretty well. I didn't bowl, but I did take a turn or two. And I got the only strike of the night! That bowling league in Provo payed off. :)

Poor Brandon took third place...Lucy won with 95. I'm not laughing.

Elder McKinley

2011-07-12T11:14:00.000-07:00

My only brother Mike, the last of 5 children, is officially on his way to Recife, Brazil to serve a 2-year mission for our church. He is currently in the Missionary Training Center in Provo, UT learning how to speak Portuguese and teach the gospel.

The day of Mike's farewell

He was so, so excited to go. And I think he scored on where he got called. I am so proud of him in so many ways. He had become a most impressive young man. It is such a blessing for all involved to have a missionary serving in the field. I got to experience it when Brandon's brother Evan served in North Dakota, and I'm so glad my family will now get to experience it.

I created a blog devoted to his letters home and pictures from his mission. I would do a big old post on his farewell and all, but I already blogged about everything over there. So I'll just post a link! We just received his very first letter from the MTC.

Elder McKinley's Blog

Summer List #3: Drive-In Movie

2011-07-08T12:25:00.000-07:00

About 2 weeks ago, on a very rainy day, our family headed to the drive-in movies to see Cars 2. We weren't sure if it would still be raining while we watched the movie, but we figured we'd still be able to see it OK with the our liftgate open in the back of our van. We totally lucked out, and it didn't rain at all. We had a comfy (although quite snug) bed of pillows and blankets. Being there, together and close, was one of those special moments when I thought about how good life is.

Summer List #2: Giants Game

2011-07-05T22:48:00.001-07:00

Brandon and Brady made it down to SF for a game tonight. It was almost painful to send Brady away in pants and socks with a sweatshirt when it was 100 degrees today, but even when you think there's no way SF could be cool, it is.

They got good tickets right at 3rd base. I'm a little jealous they got to cool off by the bay, not to mention eat all the good food. I'm sure Brady ate some garlic fries for his mom!

Happy 4th

2011-07-04T13:35:00.000-07:00

Our 4th of July is off to a good, HOT start. We've had some toasty 100-degree days. I'm not a big fan of those days.

We were excited for the annual 4th of July Fireworks Party at our friends' house, the Baileys. They go all out with a huge inflatable slide, picturesque backyard, and wonderful food. Clark loved roaming around drinking everyone else's drinks. The best was the can of orange soda that left him with an orange mustache and orange shirt. Brady and Lucy were buzzing all over the place, mostly hanging out at the slide. Thanks again, Baileys!

Our ward had a pancake breakfast and bike parade at Brady (and now Lucy's) school. During the bike parade, Lucy must have grown weary of riding her little tricycle around. Of course she got someone to carry it for her!

He feels so cool in sunglasses

Lucy + the Carlson twins

Brandon got to captain the bike parade, Clark was bummed he missed it

My friend gave me back some of Clark's shoes I had left at her house, and Clark immediately sat down and wanted to switch shoes. Lucy tried to help get them on.

That hurts a little!

Later we hopped between two pool parties and ended the night with a fireworks show put on by Brandon's cousins.

Happy 4th of July, everyone! I enjoyed explaining the reason we celebrate Independence Day to the kids. How extremely fortunate we are to live in America!

Moments That Matter Most

2011-06-24T11:13:00.000-07:00

This video is pure happiness.

It is also where the quote on my sidebar is derived from. This talk touched me so deeply. It gives me a sense of purpose and direction in this life.

Nevada City Camping

2011-06-22T11:47:00.000-07:00

Our friends the Ralphs invited us to go camping at their family property about an hour and a half away in Nevada City. I wasn't feeling super hot the day we were going to leave, but I knew all the work of preparing would pay off over the next few days. When Brandon came home from work, we hit the road.

Let me just say, this is luxury camping. We had a complete kitchen, nice bathrooms and showers, and a huge grassy field to put our tents on (SO much better than dirty dirt). It was seriously relaxing and we had such a great time with our friends.

Lucy & Paige in the Bailey's tent trailer

That grassy field was so aweome

The Ranger, used on trips to acquire cell phone service. It was so nice to be "disconnected" for a few days.

Clark and his oral fixation...he constantly rips Maggie's pacifier out of her mouth and into his.

The boys played a little baseball

Clark with his lollipop, to soften the pain he had by not being allowed on the trampoline

Brady's face after a good hit

Love that Lu!

Brandon brought along his bow and arrows

The coolest part about this property is the man-made swimming hole, complete with a ginormous water slide. We spent hours on this, and I even braved a trip down, all the while hoping that my baby wouldn't get hurt!

After two days, it was time to take down the tent and head home just in time to make it to church.

Since it was Father's Day morning when we left, we ended with a special breakfast for the special dads. We had pancakes, potatoes, bacon, eggs, sausage, and fresh fruit.

Thanks, Ralphs, for sharing your Mountain Fortress of Solitude and Fun!!!

Summer List #9: Teach Brady to Ride Bike

2011-06-15T10:11:00.001-07:00

For FHE on Monday, we took our bikes to Ponderosa High School to make some progress in teaching Brady to ride. I was expecting a similar outcome that we had last time, where Brady gave up quickly after starting. Case in point:

(that's him giving up, not having just fallen)

I think he was more excited to do it this time because we talked about it and set it as a plan. Once that boy sets his mind to do something, it's truly incredible how successful he is.

We started out by having him ride down a small grassy hill, so he wouldn't have to pedal and it would be a soft landing. When he mastered that the first time he tried, we soon moved to the blacktop.

He immediately knew how to balance and pedal. I mean, I know he's 7, so learning should be easy. I was just so happy that it was such a breeze.

I'm so proud of him! You will like this video where he almost runs me over. Clearly we have some steering to practice!

Brandon took Brady and his bike to football practice last night where he practiced some more and mastered braking.

Summer List #9, check! Way to go, Brady!

Our Summer List

2011-06-13T18:36:00.000-07:00

(image source)

I first saw the idea of writing down a list of summer family activities on Design Mom years ago. She wrote them all down on a big piece of butcher paper and posted it in her home so that when her kids got bored, they could think of something to do. And look at what this cute mom did with her family (photo above). Then, my friend Ali posted her list on her blog, which encouraged me to make the most of my summer, brainstorm all at once, and then always have something to do.

I don't know if I'll get to a physical list posted in my house this summer, but one on the blog is working pretty well so far. I've posted them on my sidebar as well and will highlight them as we accomplish them. Some will definitely be done more than once. This week we got off to a good start and wrote down the activities we wanted to do on each day of the week. So far, it's been a productive and more relaxed week.

So, here's our list:

1. Teach swimming
2. Giants game
3. Drive-in movie
4. Beach
5. Camping in Redwoods
6. Cameron Park Lake
7. Hiking
8. Sprinklers
9. Teach Brady to ride bike
10. Family bike rides
11. Crafts
12. Garden
13. Sew one quilt
14. Make popsicles
15. Chore chart
16. Farmer's market
17. Bowling
18. Practice reading (L)
19. Learn to multiply (B)
20. Concert in the Park
22. Library
23. Mom + Dad getaway
24. John's Incredible Pizza
25. $1 Regal movies
26. Sidewalk chalk
27. Bubble machine
28. Homemade ice cream
29. Donuts
30. Boating

Final (?) Score: 3 - 1

2011-06-09T22:44:00.000-07:00

3 boys, 1 girl, that is. We are having another boy!

First and foremost, everything looked great with the baby. Creating a baby is so nerve-wracking every single time. By the fourth child, I began feeling like my luck was bound to run out. To have a healthy baby so far is a huge blessing and relief.

I admit I was in shock when the ultrasound tech revealed that it was a boy. My instincts and secret hopes were that it would be a girl. Of course I would want things to be perfectly even, 2 boys and 2 girls. A brother for each brother, a sister for each sister. It made me sad to think of all the cute little girl things I have from Lucy that I won't ever get to use again. On the one hand, I'm really excited to purge my garage of all the bins of girl and maternity clothes, but it's really tragic at the same time. :) Brandon and I are feeling good about having four children, that this might be our last, but you just never, ever know.

The tech was having a hard time getting a profile, but this was a pretty good shot

Right after our appointment, we went to pick up the kids to reveal the sex of the baby. They were all pretty certain it would be a girl. Lucy had the name "Violet" picked for a girl and "Lucky" for a boy. I tried to make sure she was prepared for a boy, and she always said she would be happy either way. Now tune in for the reveal...

A little heartbreaking, but I love how at the end she says she just wants an ice cream. And it is so Clark to capitalize on a moment when Mom and Dad are distracted to book it for the street!

So we went to Rite Aid for some Chocolate Malted Crunch ice cream, my favorite since I was a little girl.

It healed Lucy's crushed dreams of having a sister

Calling to share the news

Oh yeah, it was good

Brady got a hold of my camera and took some pictures, smudging my lens in the process :)

Lucy is now an even more precious commodity in our family

We went to grab some lunch with Brandon a little later...

All in all, a good, somewhat surprising day!

Caged

2011-06-06T20:51:00.001-07:00

Poor Clarkie is now the resident of "the tent". When he started climbing out of his crib last week, putting him back in his crib to the tune of 200 times in one afternoon, I knew it was time to borrow Aunt Amy's crib tent. It also wasn't such a good thing when he would wake up before anyone else and roam the house unsupervised.

It broke my heart zipping him in there (and seeing that sad face in those little hands), but he quickly fell asleep which made me feel much better. I am just not ready for my 22-month old to stop napping with a new baby on the way. Update: Yesterday, I put him in his crib and forgot to zip it up, and he stayed in there until he fell asleep as well as when I came to get him out. Success!

Speaking of the baby, I felt it move for the first time last week. That made everything very real. And, we have our 20-week ultrasound on Wednesday! Whatever the sex, it will have a great impact on our family. This is the exciting part for me when I can actually envision a new member of our family and start planning a little. Wish us luck for a healthy baby!

P.S. I created this post using the iPhone app Blooger+. Pretty cool!

Dancin'

2011-06-03T23:20:00.000-07:00

Lucy has been taking a 5-month-long dance class where they teach dancing, singing, and acting. It was a really fun experience, and Lucy loved getting to go to the same place her cousins Ashley and Leah take their classes from.

It was too funny - the kids wear microphone headsets a la Britney Spears. You can imagine a bunch of 4-year-olds wearing headsets for a 5-minute performance...there was lots of dialogue we got to overhear!

Waiting for their performances to begin (Lu + Leah)

A little snack before the show / Performing

Lucy's poor tights were brand new and wouldn't stay up around her waist, so she was pulling on them during most of the performance. I was surprised at how well she knew the routine considering each time I peeked in on her practices, she was doing her own thing.

Leah's performance / with Aunt Joy and new cousin Andrew (we're doing our part to keep the redhead population alive and well)

We were so proud of you, Lu!

Ruth's Chris

2011-06-02T16:48:00.000-07:00

Once every other year or so we get the chance to see my Grandpa (mom's dad). He's a busy guy, very involved in the fitness industry, and he spends a lot of his time living in his homes in Mexico. When he came to San Francisco for a fitness convention, most of the family made a trip into the city to have dinner with him at Ruth's Chris. Oh my goodness...I could eat their steak every day. It melts in your mouth.

Me and blue eyes

Lucy of course has to park it next to Granny

Brady and Davis had fun burning things in the candles on the table

I love sleepy baby pictures

Our Family Traditions

2011-06-02T11:07:00.000-07:00

I was inspired by another talk we heard at church from our Stake President on family traditions. This is a topic that I have been passionate about since my BYU days, but have been quite lazy at executing. Nonetheless, after hearing this talk, I came home and went to work compiling a list of our family traditions. This way, I will actually remember what to do each holiday, and I will also realize, "Hey, we DO do a lot of fun stuff around here!" I love the thought of my children eagerly anticipating certain things throughout the year, and attaching strong feelings of love and closeness to those memories.

I like to keep things simple, not too much work to the point that I dread holidays. I know the list will continue to expand and change as our family grows. Also, not all of these are things I'm currently doing, but want to make traditions.

I also got a lot of fun ideas from this book.

The Three

2011-06-01T09:10:00.000-07:00

A few weeks back, we headed to Grandma's house a few houses down for Sunday dinner. Photo op!

Lu wanted to bring her new camping chair to Grandma's...always having to have a little something in tow.

It's SO painful to take pictures!

Anyone want my shoe? Because I can't keep mine on for 2 seconds...

Life has been good lately. I have had my emotional ups and downs (of course solely due to pregnancy hormones, right?), but I am getting a grip and am enjoying my children. Oftentimes I am hard on myself, too concerned on what others "may" think of my parenting, and am overly critical of my children's behavior. I know that's part of being a mom and having such a huge responsibility on my shoulders, but I still hate it when I let negativity get the best of me. I know better.

I think sometimes we get so preoccupied with our own little family bubble that we forget so many others have the same challenges, or at least different challenges. I've been expanding my gaze to include the big picture. I don't want to micro-analyze every little thing that I don't particularly like.

At church on Sunday, an older couple I have known since I was a little girl spoke in Sacrament meeting. The topic was parenting, and I was captivated the entire time, soaking up every word. One thing the husband said hit home:

"Now, with the passing of enough time and events we can look back at some of the results of our child rearing, which is mostly good. However, if it were possible to do it again, here are some things we might do differently.

1. Spend more time with each child: play more, listen more, give more counsel and praise; be more forgiving and less judgmental.

2. Give each child more responsibility and see that they complete assignments."

I have to admit that sitting and playing with my children and giving undivided attention is not my strong suit. I get so busy with cooking and cleaning and running errands. I know that's only natural with 3, almost 4 children, but I want to be better. But more than that, I want to "be more forgiving and less judgmental." I want to accept my children entirely for who they are. I know I have been incredibly blessed to care for and love them. They are my greatest treasure, and rearing them is what I have always dreamed of. I love them!!

I also liked the second point he made and plan on raising the expectation level of helping mom around the house and doing chores. Getting Brady to complete assignments is pure torture! So, I need to make a realistic chore chart. I've made them in the past, but have failed to follow through. With summer coming at the end of the week, it's time! I'll share when I figure one out.

Zoo Field Trip

2011-05-30T15:56:00.000-07:00

I went on a field trip with Brady's first grade to the Sacramento Zoo. It was my first time going, Brady had been last year on a field trip. It was the first field trip I've been able to go on since Clark was a baby when Brady started Kindergarten. It was a lot of fun, and I loved being able to be there with him.

Brady learning about the spine of a giraffe, and in front of a big snake.

Our group

Man vs. Wild: Brady Turns 7

2011-05-13T11:34:00.000-07:00

For Brady's 7th Birthday Party, it only made sense to have a Man Vs. Wild party. Especially given the backyard we have, which is really like a large campground.

This party was Brandon's brain-child. Perfect for me - all I worried about was the food!

The very first thing we did when the kids walked through the door was get some camo face paint applied. You gotta blend in when you're in survival mode!

They watched an introduction to a Man Vs. Wild episode, where he usually jumps out of a plane or helicopter to his destination.

The kids then went to the back deck where they dropped little paratroopers off the edge onto the ground below.

Next up was, of course, ziplining. Everyone got two rides.

Brandon set up an archery area. You had to hit the bear in the heart or head. I was surprised that most kids at least hit the bear. It wasn't easy to pull the bow back, so Brandon was there to help guide them.

Even prego wanted to give it a try. Brandon has found a new hobby and wants to spend time practicing archery down in El Dorado Hills.

For lunch, we roasted "lizards" (hot dogs) over an open fire. The kids had to collect wood around the backyard for the fire pit.

They also had to find a good, long roasting stick. Survivor Master Brandon whittled the sticks down for the roasting.

The kids demolished the pinata and collected lots of treats to take home.

I'm bummed I didn't get a better picture of the cake, but here it is anyhow. I used a bundt cake pan to make the snake.

All of the kids loved the adventure and we were happy to celebrate 7 years with our boy! We love our Brady.

Tomato Sauce with Onion and Butter

2011-05-03T16:49:00.000-07:00

Photo from Smitten Kitchen

I had seen this recipe here and there in blogland, so I decided to give it a try. It originates on Smitten Kitchen, a new-to-me food blog that is fantastic. I know most of you probably already know of it. This sauce had a rich, fresh, mouth-watering flavor, and it really is shocking how simple it is to make. Only four ingredients and a little time.

Serves 4 as a main course; makes enough sauce to lightly coat most of a pound of spaghetti. I doubled the recipe when making it for my family, leaving about 1 serving leftover for the next day.

28 ounces whole peeled tomatoes from a can (San Marzano, if you can find them)
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 medium-sized yellow onion, peeled and halved
Salt to taste

Put the tomatoes, onion and butter in a heavy saucepan (it fit just right in a 3-quart) over medium heat. Bring the sauce to a simmer then lower the heat to keep the sauce at a slow, steady simmer for about 45 minutes, or until droplets of fat float free of the tomatoes. Stir occasionally, crushing the tomatoes against the side of the pot with a wooden spoon. Remove from heat, discard the onion, add salt to taste (you might find, as I did, that your tomatoes came salted and that you didn’t need to add more) and keep warm while you prepare your pasta.

Serve with spaghetti, with or without grated parmesan cheese to pass.

The pasta in the photo above is Giada de Laurentiis pasta sold at Target stores. It has great texture, try it!

The Beauty Department

2011-04-29T17:41:00.000-07:00

I came across a new blog that I LOVE. It's called "The Beauty Department" and is written by Lauren Conrad (of "The Hills"), her makeup artist, and hair stylist. I love the tips, tutorials, and eye candy they give. I have always loved Lauren's style, and it's so fun to get firsthand tips on how to get her look.

Check it out!

Easter 2011

2011-04-29T13:35:00.000-07:00

Easter is a sweet holiday. I like the simplicity of Easter baskets, a delicious dinner, and remembering our Savior. It is the perfect family holiday.

We had our Easter dinner at my house this year, a week early because my little sister Jessica had to go back to BYU. Sadly, I didn't think to take any pictures. I made Pioneer Woman's Roasted Turkey, and brined my first turkey. A helpful tip: soak your turkey in a large paint bucket lined it with two garbage bags. I couldn't find any brining bags at the grocery store this time of year. I really think it gave it a lot more flavor. Of course there had to be one mishap, I somehow place the turkey breast-side-down, so when I thought the turkey was ready, it actually had another hour to cook. Whatev! We also had funeral potatoes, fresh fruit, green salad, and these butterhorn rolls. My mom made creme brulee for dessert. It was delish!

So, this last Saturday was Brandon's 31st birthday, and we stayed overnight at a hotel. The kids stayed the night at Grandma Fox's house, so we had pick them up to take them to the Easter Bunny's delivery at our home. We managed to get a few pictures amidst the excitement!

Brady showing Clark the Easter Bunny's footprints up our walkway

Just in case anyone wanted to know what I look like in all my glory first thing in the morning!

Baseball Opening Day

2011-04-18T09:09:00.000-07:00

Brady had his big opening day for this year's baseball season a few weekends ago. We all look forward to this fun event. This year he's on the Tigers, and his friends Gordon and Maya are on his team. This is the first year he's been on a team with friends, which is great for him and me. :) He is no longer on a T-ball team, he's now moved up to Minor A where they actually have outs and can slide into bases. Brandon sponsored Brady's team this year, and I know he got a little flutter seeing his name on the banner and the back of the jerseys.

Clark was not a happy boy this day. He probably wasn't feeling well, and he was just angry!

These pictures kind of break my heart. Look how happy Lu is to be with her brother. He is mostly annoyed that he has to take a picture, but still...

Brady and Lucy got wristbands so they could go on all the rides they wanted. First up was the rock climbing wall. It was not easy to do in a) baseball cleats and b) saltwater sandals. But they each made it about halfway up.

Poor Clarkie, still mad...

Mitt Romney: "Believe in America"

2011-04-12T07:47:00.000-07:00

I am SERIOUSLY stoked this morning! My favorite guy announced his run for presidency.

My Grandpa

2011-04-11T18:57:00.000-07:00

My fun-loving, excitable Grandpa passed away last week. I was actually really happy for him to have moved on to a place where he can walk and talk and play golf again. :) He had a rough year, starting with a broken hip, then diverticulosis, and finally a stroke three months ago. He hasn't been able to talk much or walk, which has frustrated him to no end. So, when he passed away last Tuesday, I was relieved for him.

He was larger than life. I always got lost in the old photographs of my grandparents, wishing I had lived in that era. If you have ever seen the movie "Big Fish", the dad in the movie reminds me of my grandpa, with all of his tall tales. He worked for and met Howard Hughes, had a radio program, told exotic tales of World War 2, and lived a life full of honesty, charity, and resourcefulness.

Doesn't my dad (on the left) look just like Clark here?

One of the things I mentioned in my message at his funeral were his happy, sparkly eyes. I loved when he smiled!

Over a week ago, we knew he was going to pass away soon, so our family visited to say goodbye. It was his last conscious day, and we were so glad to have made it in time.

He hated looking into the camera, stinker!

My mom entertained the kids by making floral arrangements from Grandma's garden

My dad taking care of some paperwork

Getting one of his last feeding tube meals. Can you tell how angry he is? He hated needing help like this. My sweet Grandma was ever patient with him.

Brandon was the entertainer that day. My grandpa managed to ask Brandon how his wrestling season went. He loved sports, and these two always had fun talking with one another.

My grandpa's funeral was a wonderful tribute to his life. He had a military funeral where they played Taps and three members of the U.S. Navy presented my grandma with a folded U.S. flag.

I'll definitely miss my Grandpa, especially at family gatherings. It won't be the same without his laughing, dancing, and opinions. But, as I said, my overall feeling is of peace and comfort. It is seriously a blessing knowing the plan of salvation and that we'll be together forever.

Lastly, Brandon made one of his famous videos with photos from my Grandpa's life. We showed it at the luncheon and it made for very tender moments. It was so nice of him to volunteer to do that!

Baby #4

2011-04-08T11:10:00.000-07:00

I'm happy because I had an ultrasound on Wednesday that confirmed that not only is the baby healthy and thriving, but I also gained back 5 days! Not a whole lot, but we all know how every single day counts when you're pregnant. So, I am a little over 11 weeks and I think it's time for a pregnancy ticker!

And thank you, friends, for all of your kind wishes on our announcement. I just love this blog world of ours and the support we lend to one another. I love you all!

And for entertainment purposes, a few of the things that happen MULTIPLE times a day with Clark around. It is literally one disaster after another!

He empties my purse at least once a day, especially enjoying the contents of my cosmetics bag

Getting into the PB &J left on the counter from making Brady's lunch. We have officially removed the stools from the bar because it was just too easy for him to climb on the counter.

3 + 1

2011-03-27T20:33:00.000-07:00

This picture is now incomplete...

Because we are expecting our fourth child!

Back in October or so, Brandon and I figured that since it took 4-5 months to get pregnant with Lucy and Clark, we might as well start "not preventing" a pregnancy. Then, when December rolled around, things started getting a little hectic and busy with three children. So, we decided to hold off for a few months until we felt better situated. But let's be honest, things aren't going to be getting easier with 3 anytime soon. (Remember when I wrote this post? I found out I was pregnant the day after I wrote it. Funny how once you admit that your load is hard, you find out it could always be harder :)

Then, I was late in getting my p. and visibly started showing a bump (I start showing immediately). I was in a bit of denial and waited to take a test. Finally, one night, I took one before Brandon came home. I just started laughing when it turned positive. I mean, really? This is the first time we haven't been actively trying for a baby. It is quite a different experience. But, I immediately got that buzz you get when you know and your husband doesn't. And when you realize there is literally a baby inside of you. It's just crazy, and it never gets less crazy the more kids you have. It is always such a miracle.

So, Brandon was a little surprised. :) It was fun to tell him. He reacted just like he has with every reveal, by either acting surprised, insisting that the test is probably wrong, etc. I had to remind him to come give me a hug because we are having another baby!

There is a good chance this is our last child. Brandon is pretty set on it. I am about 90% set on it. But, I have always fretted about knowing when I should stop having children. How will I know? As of now, I've worried about it so much that I'm forcing myself to put it out of my mind and just enjoy this pregnancy, knowing it could be my last.

I thought I was about 11 1/2 weeks pregnant, but I knew that my due date would probably get pushed back a week or so because my cycle length is longer than average and the typical 28-day cycle due date calculator doesn't apply to me. But, I was a little shocked when I went in for my first appointment and got pushed back 2 1/2 weeks! That was not a great afternoon. What a blow. They also found what they think might be blood surrounding the amniotic sac, so I am going in for another ultrasound in a week and a half to check up on it. Luckily we saw the heart moving and the little hand and foot buds moving, so hopefully the baby is okay.

I've been cruisin on the couch a lot lately, not feeling like doing much of anything. I know the energy will come back soon, so I'm just being patient and taking it easy.

We are really excited and everything seems to be falling into place. And heck, if I wasn't a freakshow before, I'm certainly going to be now! Here's to controlled chaos!

Here's a video of our reveal to the children:

Lately: Lucy

2011-03-22T16:42:00.000-07:00

I know I'm not the only mom who thinks their little girl is special. But I have to say, Lucy is a serious ray of sunshine. I feel so lucky to be her mom. She is never mad or sad, she is happy pretty much 100% of the day. She loves to chat with people and no one is a stranger to her. This comes with its own challenges, where we're working on boundaries and what is appropriate/inappropriate, but she is learning quickly and always wants to be a good girl.

One day, Brandon was talking to Lucy about strangers and how some want to hurt us. She asked, "Why do they want to hurt us?" Brandon replied, "Some people make bad choices." After a short pause, she said, "Oh, I know why they make bad choices, because they listen to Laman and Lemuel."

Later in the conversation, they were talking about Satan. Brandon told her that he wants us to be sad, angry, and miserable. She asked what 'miserable' means. He said, "Sad." She said, "You already said that."

As I was doing Lucy's hair one morning, I got angry with Brady, and Lucy said, "Mom, you can't do those things. The Lord doesn't want you to be like that." I loved her use of the word "Lord", because we usually say "Heavenly Father" or "God" or "Jesus". But she truly has a way of calming me down when I get upset, and I feel so grateful for my little peacemaker.

She is the best little mother to Clark. She has been such a big help to me lately, I don't know what I'm going to do when she leaves me for kindergarten in the fall.

One of her famous outfits. Lots of layers and color combinations.

My cute girl outside as we waited for Brandon to finish coaching at a wrestling tournament.

They all three love the tire swing. Clark ended up slipping through the center after a few rotations...maybe in a few months you'll be ready, buddy!

One lazy afternoon we were lounging on the couch, and Lucy had fun with the dust particles floating through the sunlight. Her whimsical interpretation and fascination were so sweet.

We went to Costco to pick up my contacts. It was pretty chilly inside the store, so Lu got resourceful and turned her sweater into pants. (She also borrowed Brady's 100th Day Celebration hat from school.)

When we go to Trader Joe's (aka heaven on earth...I cannot put into words how much I adore that store), she loves getting her own cart. It can be an adventure at times, making sure she doesn't ram into my achilles tendons and other people, but it's worth it because she loves going shopping with me here.

When our friends Nate and Alison came to visit, they put Lucy and Brady in the Hurricane Simulator machine at the mall. It reached wind speeds of over 80 mph. We were a little nervous that it might overwhelm them, but come on, these two live for fear. They loved it.

Remember Brady's scowl about riding the kiddie ride at Funderland? Well, Lucy was happy as can be. She is always so grateful and happy to do anything.

Brandon gave Lucy a rose and a valentine, and she felt pretty special. I guess I hyped it up for her a bit, too! Here is the video of him presenting it to her. He made the cute homemade card during his seminary class:

She put Brady's hat on and wanted me to take a picture and send it to Brandon. He thought it was pretty darn cute.

Riding the Jeep at Granny's house. Clark loved riding shotgun, and he was holding on for dear life!

That tops off my "lately" series, and I am left feeling so grateful for my children, challenges and all. I am one lucky mom!

Lately: Brady

2011-03-02T11:40:00.000-08:00

Oh, my Brady Boy. My firstborn and the one who broke me into motherhood. You certainly made it so nothing surprises me anymore!

Brady has had an interesting school year full of ups and downs. To sum it up, he is doing great academically, but behaviorally, he chooses when he wants to be good. His teacher and I have a good system that seems to be working where he can earn two stickers per day, one for am and one for pm, if he behaves. We reward him at home when he is good. It is a little difficult for me at times because I feel like he should just be good on his own, but honestly, if this is what I have to do to create a pattern of good behavior, I'll do it. We are all happier when he has had a good day, so it's worth it. He's been doing really great, and I'm pleased he's choosing the right.

Brady's hair has several cowlicks that make it difficult to let it go au natural. So I force him to do his hair each day. He hates it. The reward Brady requested if he got two stickers every day for one week was to not do his hair for a day. Here is the sign he posted on his bedroom door.

I like how curly hair = frown and flat hair = happy. Someday he'll appreciate his hair. :)

Brady is still very much obsessed with Bear Grylls from Man vs. Wild. He models his attire after him, preferring fleece jackets and cargo pants, which I think is pretty handsome. He really wants some waterproof pants like Bear has, and he believes that if he is wearing them, he could jump in water and his body wouldn't get wet. Here he is watching an episode via Netflix on Brandon's phone (with our friend Nate, a fellow Bear lover).

The kids created a little "store" a week or two ago in front of our house. Brady and Jake sold precious "gems & crystals" they found in our yard. $1.00 each. Ashley, the 11-year old in the photo, had actual goods to sell including hair bows and bath salts. I think them made a couple of bucks, all from the Hart's dad Forrest. :) It was pretty adorable, and it took me back to my days of impromptu lemonade stands with my sister Brooke. Brandon found the table and setup still in front of the house when he came home, and he thought it was so cute.

(notice Clark capitalizing on everyone's distraction)

Brady has lost two bottom teeth and loves getting visited by the Tooth Fairy. Here is one of the letters he wrote to her:

I love having two boys! They are the cutest together. Clark loves to run up, say "Brady!" and give him kisses.

We took advantage of Sacramento's free museum day, but to our dismay, our plans of visiting the zoo were shut down when we learned the zoo closed at 4. It was 4:15. Totally sucked. So, we went to Funderland across the street for a while. The lines were insane for the rides, so we ended up going on the little kiddie rides because their lines were shorter. Brady wasn't too happy about it.

But look who perked up once the ride started to get going...

Brady loves a challenge. He certainly inherited his parents' competitiveness. One night a few months back, when Brady's cousins came to visit, we went to get a Cheesesteak Shop for dinner. They had some whole peppers on their condiment stand, so of course Brady had to challenge himself to eating one. He loves shock value.

We love Brady. He has taught me so much about being a mother and has made me a stronger, better person (sometimes by pushing me to my limits!). Because of him, I have learned that each child is different, unique, and special, and they all have different needs. I have to parent each of my children in a different way, and though it can be challenging, it is the most important work of my life and I thrive doing it. He loves to love me, and that is the best! He is always making sweet notes for me and ALWAYS has a kiss and a hug ready for me. He and I have a special relationship and he knows I adore him.

Lately: Clark

2011-02-20T10:58:00.000-08:00

Boy oh boy, life has become very busy with three children.

I have to say, the first year of Clark's life was blissful. He was such a wonderful, calm, happy baby. He still is a happy little boy. But he has turned crazy! He is into everything. He puts Brady and Lucy to shame, and that is saying something, something big. It is from one thing to the next to the next, and I just can't seem to keep on top of him.

Here are a few of his favorite crazies:

Opening the front door (which I keep locked, but Brady and Lucy go in and out of it frequently, so there are opportunities for him to escape) and letting himself out only to be rescued by my neighbor as he is crossing the street to go to her house (ridiculously scary!)
Drinking urinated toilet water with a deodorant cap
Hopping in the bath fully clothed with Lucy about 0.3 seconds after I get him dried and dressed
Climbing out of the bath, running into the kitchen, peeing on the floor, then running back to the tub
Throwing all of his food on the floor
Climbing on EVERYTHING - his favorite is the kitchen counter where he wreaks all sorts of havo. This is probably the biggest offender that consumes most of my monitoring
Taking off his socks and shoes the moment they are put on so that I can get comments from strangers that "his feet must be freezing"
Sucking on all of our iPhone cords so he shorts them out
Placing a few beloved DVD's on top of my lamp so they melt into one another
Honestly I could go on and on...

No biggie at all...

With a fake tarantula in his mouth

One thing I have to highlight a bit more is his sense of humor. Since around 6 months, he would do things that would make Brandon and I look at each other and be like, "Wow, how does he know he's being funny?" He loves making us all laugh. He is a huge tease, in that he knows when you want him and he acts coy and feigns bashfulness and whips his head away.

Just like he is doing here:

He continues to have a strong, unspoken bond with Brandon. Kinda like any of us would have if we had a clone.

His current words are: Mom, Dad, Brady, "Get Down!" (the phrase he hears the most), he's starting to say "no" more often, hot, wa-wa (water), hiya, and he makes several animal noises.

So, life at the moment is maxed out for me. Three children finally feels a little overwhelming. But, I do know that Clark's phase is just that, and he'll be too big too soon. He is seriously the most charming, funny little boy, and I'll take the crazy as long as I get this sweetheart. He is delish!

Right Round, Baby Right Round

2011-02-11T12:09:00.000-08:00

Lazy Susans are fun.

Fancy Lucy

2011-01-31T12:05:00.000-08:00

Lucy's friend had a "Fancy Nancy" party, which was adorable, and Lucy was so excited to dress up very fancy for the event. We added a little of this and a little of that, and here's what we ended up with!

I could eat this crazy little girl!

Me and My Stones

2011-01-21T08:24:00.000-08:00

Well, the day came that I was dreading for a little over 7 years. The day I got a second kidney stone.

The first kidney stone I passed was ill-timed. I was 5 months pregnant with Brady, working full-time, and pretty clueless about the awful things your body can do to you. What started as a painful backache very quickly worsened to almost blackout-type pain. If you've been there before, you know what I mean. The kind that you're barely conscious for. Because that stone was 8 mm (a very large one), I couldn't pass it without breaking it into smaller pieces, and that wasn't an option because of Baby Brady. So, the only option was to push the stone back into my kidney and place a stent in my ureter to keep the stone in it's place. 2 weeks after delivering Brady, they finally removed the stone, and the awful, terrible stent that caused me so much daily pain.

I learned that if people who have had one kidney stone are going to have another, it is usually around 7-10 years after the first. And, if you have two kidney stones, you are pretty much guaranteed to continue having them for the rest of your life.

I tried to drink more water on the whole. I meant to have Brandon take x-rays of my kidney every so often to see if he could see a stone forming, but I guess I didn't get around to it.

So, last Thursday night, what seemed like digestive discomfort mixed with menstrual-type pain did not subside when I took a bath in an attempt to alleviate the pain. I went to sleep thinking this whole feeling was a little odd. I woke up around 11:50 and tried to go to the bathroom, figuring that was the problem. As I sat there, a familiar sensation crept into my back, and I immediately knew.

I did not mess around. In popped 2 percocet (which I keep on hand specifically for this reason) and my father-in-law was called to come give me a blessing. I had about 45 minutes of intense pain, and then the medication kicked in. I was so happy. I fought some nausea the next day, but all in all, I wasn't in pain and I was so grateful.

Brandon had read that drinking apple cider vinegar, straight up, helps break down kidney stones and aids in their passing. I knew I would do whatever it took to get that out of me. It felt like pure acid going down my throat, and was upsetting to my stomach, but I was SO relieved when I passed the stone two days later. It was around 5 mm.

I feel so blessed because the first stone was such a long, drawn-out nightmare, and this was over relatively quickly. My friend Leah saved me by taking Lucy and Clark the next day, and my friend Lisa who lives across the street saved me by taking care of me. But Brandon was really my angel, orchestrating all of the details, calling frequently to check up on me, and making sure everything was taken care of. He was so wonderful.

2 down, ? to go. Oh goodness...

Hoarder

2011-01-11T14:51:00.000-08:00

Hi. My name is Lucy. I am a hoarder. I like to get plastic bags and fill them with a variety of snacks and carry them around with me. I am always sure to get an extra bag for Clark because I'm a thoughtful sister like that. My mom tells me to eat food only in the kitchen, but I really like to eat in my room, so I don't listen to her. I also like to collect rocks and keep them stored in places like my shoes and my kitchen. I used to have a rolling backpack that I would drag around everywhere, including the grocery store and through the dirt in my yard. I had all sorts of treasures accumulated in there, until it mysteriously disappeared one day. No mind, I have lots of other bags that I use for my collections. I sure like stuff!

My Favorite • Amazon Subscribe and Save

2011-01-11T10:24:00.000-08:00

I LOVE Amazon.com. I am sure you all do, too. I was fortunate to receive a free one-year membership for Amazon Prime, which gives me free 2-day shipping on any order, no minimum purchase. I have utilized it so much over this year (doing virtually all of my Christmas shopping there) that I'm thinking of paying the slightly-pricey fee to maintain membership through this next year.

One of the programs I have been amazed by is their "Subscribe and Save" program. I use it to buy my diapers, so I will use diapers as the example. You can buy anything from laundry products to cleaning items to wipes, etc. The way it works is you tell Amazon that you want a case of diapers sent to you once every two months. You save 15% right off the bat. They send you a reminder before they ship, and you can postpone the shipment if you don't need diapers at the time, and you can cancel at any time.

The other half of the equation here is Amazon Mom. Here's a description of this program:

"Amazon Mom is a free membership program aimed at helping parents and caregivers, from the prenatal days through the toddler years, use Amazon to find all the products their family needs. To join, simply sign into your Amazon account and tell us whether you are a Mom, Dad, or other caregivers of a child. By providing information about your family, you can help us personalize offers, e-mails, and product recommendations to help you find exactly what you need at just the right time. Amazon Mom members receive benefits such as 30% off diapers and wipes, FREE Two-Day Shipping with Amazon Prime, as well as exclusive offers via e-mail." Read more about it here.

So, you get 30% off diapers, free 2-day shipping, and you don't have the hassle of trying to remember to buy diapers and lug them into your cart.

Here's how the price breaks down versus Costco.com, per diaper:
Costco $0.219
Amazon $0.143

Love it! I just had to share these great programs with my friends!

Jelly Belly Factory

2011-01-10T09:21:00.000-08:00

After Christmas, we took a trip to the Jelly Belly Factory with all of Brady's Fox cousins. We had tried to go on the tour at the end of summer, but we missed the last tour by a few minutes. The line this time was out the door, about an hour wait. I guess we weren't the only ones who thought it would be fun to come.

The kids loved seeing how Jelly Bellys are made, and especially enjoyed the treats along the way. Brady bought a Jelly Belly dispenser with some of his Christmas money. The drive back was a long one with an accident and traffic slowing us down, but we're glad we we have finally been to the famous Jelly Belly Factory.

There was no picture-taking allowed on the tour, but we did get a photo of this mural of John Wayne - made out of Jelly Bellys!

Christmas

2011-01-08T09:17:00.000-08:00

Our Christmas was so much fun this year. All of Brandon's family came into town, so that meant lots of game playing (for Brandon, typically until 3:00 - 4:00 am), eating, and celebrating.

It was beyond wonderful to get to stay at home and not have to pack and travel anywhere. But I have to say, now that Christmas has come and gone, I appreciate our routine even more. It's good to be back to a normal schedule.

Our Christmas tree. This Silver Tip has made me an official convert, I believe.

Letters to Santa left on our fireplace. Luckily he was able to redirect our presents to Grandma's house 3 doors down.

Brady wanted a clip-on flashlight from the Dollar Store (I think Santa could manage that one), and a new rubber band gun.

Lucy wanted a Pillow Pet. In a separate letter to Santa, she requested a Corolle doll. "The one wearing a pink hat with a blue flower."

We had to wake the kids up at 7:30 because our cousins are early risers. I know 7:30 isn't the crack of dawn, but luckily these two will sleep in later. Clark is a different story.

Heading to Grandma's house, and Clark opening his stocking. He got some board books from my very favorite series for boys.

Lucy got her Corolle doll, and Brady got a Marble Run set.

I made stockings for our family this year. I made them out of wool felt, and I'm really happy with how they turned out. I need to dress them up next year, but the foundation is done. I have ones for Brandon and I (almost finished) and I even made an extra one for our next baby (no, I'm not prego!). Check me out!

Santa's deliveries

It's not a Fox holiday without a little wrestling

Christian was in charge (of course :). He got to pass out the presents. He's not mad, he just didn't whose present this was. :)

Kamille made this awesome collage for Evan. Brandon and Christian were drooling over it. Sarah and I have a little something up our sleeves, though. :)

Grandma Fox gave Brady these cool night-vision binoculars

The Potato Gun Gang

We bought potato guns for all of the boy cousins (and Emma). They spent most of Christmas Day in the backyard with about a dozen potatoes. These things are the best!

Brandon's Dad bought all of his kids (except poor Amy) new Giant's sweatshirts. And check out the rest of the Giant's memorabilia...do you think they're obsessed or what?

For some reason, Evan's size large sweatshirt isn't quite the same size as Christian's size large sweatshirt...it was more like a XXL.

Clark trying to figure out how to make the potato gun into a cig, like most everything else. He also liked trying on Brady's gift to himself that he bought at our school's Christmas fair. You know, the one where you buy presents for other people in your family? :)

Lucy likes to help other people open their gifts, too. She gets just as excited for them as though it were for her. She's such a sweetheart. Grandma was opening a bell chime set that Chris & Sarah's family gave her. We had fun trying to play a few Christmas tunes later in the day, despite the way we sounded.

Clarkie opening his gift from Grandma and Grandpa Fox...Rody!

So excited!

We had a yummy breakfast, and I whipped up some Orange Julius. I also made our family tradition, Cheese Fondue. I don't think Brandon's dad was a big fan of the way it smelled as it was warming up, though. But it tastes so good!

Later, it's tradition to go visit Grandma Fox at her home. She gets flooded with all of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren all day. I'm sure it is one of her favorite days of the whole year.

I love this picture...Clark picking, Lucy eating, Brady chillin. Those are my kids alright!