The hard stuff...

I love this little blog of mine.  I love that I can document my life with my kids and share it with friends and family.  I love that I am creating a family record in a way that my parents and grandparents didn't have available.  Stories with the pictures? Amazing.

Sometimes though, things happen in life that don't seem so "bloggable." Things that you want to remember and to have your posterity know about, but things that are hard to share.

It seems easier to just get them out. Quick. Like ripping off a band-aid.

In 2013, I had two miscarriages.

I didn't see it coming. At all.

I had three healthy, beautiful children that were the products of three normal, uneventful pregnancies. I knew many people who had miscarriages and struggled with how to convey my feelings of sorrow for them.  I also felt like none of them could really talk to me because I honestly had no idea what they were going through. And no matter how "open" we are as a society, miscarriages are one thing that is just hard to talk about.  Hard for the ones who have gone through it and hard for those that feel that they have nothing to contribute.

When I learned I was pregnant in May 2013, it was as if Heavenly Father wanted to give me a warning.  From the moment I found out, I had a feeling that the pregnancy wasn't going to last long. I was right.  A little over three weeks later, I miscarried. Even though I was prompted, I was not prepared for how it would feel.  How I would feel.  The weeks of crying myself to sleep and crazy hormones. The sorrow. The disappointment. I obviously talked a lot with Ron and I needed an empathetic, crying shoulder, so I talked to my sister as well. Other than that, I kept my mouth shut.  Overall (despite what you might think due to this blog), I'm fairly private about things that I consider, well, private.  A few months passed and the pain eased.

I was excited to find out I was pregnant again in September 2013. This time, I thought that everything would be fine.  I didn't have any of the promptings I did the first time and took that as a good sign. Surely, given my history, this pregnancy would be just fine. But, again four weeks later, I miscarried.  All of the feelings came flooding back, but seemed to be intensified.  I again leaned on Ron and my sister and a few weeks later shared with my mom and dad.  I'm so grateful for my faith in Jesus Christ, as that faith, my study of the scriptures and prayer helped me greatly as I worked through the emotions.

After the second miscarriage, my doctor started doing tests.  Apparently, it is pretty rare for someone to have three healthy pregnancies followed by two miscarriages.  She determined that my progesterone levels are very low naturally and wanted to put me on progesterone supplements as soon as I was pregnant again. It wasn't a proven fix, but it would hurt anything either.

So, in February 2014, I received exciting news again and immediately began taking progesterone supplements.  Whether the supplements were the reason or not, this pregnancy has progressed just as it should and we feel so blessed.

Oh, the Random

Today was a day where I felt very busy, but couldn't really tell you exactly how that busy energy was spent.

I ran errands (final food items for Thanksgiving), chatted on the phone with family and friends, did dishes and general house cleaning, sent emails and worked on projects for work, and started making my handmade ornaments for Ronnie's family exchange.

Man, now that I type that out, maybe I do know why I felt busy! :)

To make this post as not-boring as possible, let's have a look at that ornament, shall we?

My internal "Christmas Season" clock is seriously messed up with the late Thanksgiving this year, so I'm trying to be proactive about some things in the hope that I will be less crazy later.

We will see how that plays out.

Bad habits

We all have them. (well, at least I hope we do).

One prompt I saw for NaBloPoMo was to name the bad habit you would give up in an instant if you could do it without difficulty.

This was a no-brainer for me.

I would stop biting my nails.

It seems so easy, I've even gone months without doing it, but as time moves on I always, always come back to it.

I can give you excuses (a bored habit, my nails are super weak anyway, etc.) but the bottom line is that I do it and I'm not sure if that will ever change.

Any magic potions for this one? :)

Wish lists

I've been compiling wish lists for the family the past few days.

Well, I've been actively compiling them, at least.  I compile all year long (bless you Google Drive) and then really finalize before the Christmas season.

It got me thinking, do most families use wish lists?

Or should you just "know" what a loved one wants because you know them so well?

Overall, I enjoy being able to purchase items that I know that person wants, but do enjoy a fun surprise every once in a while.

I'm intrigued. Please share your thoughts.

Why hello there!

After a two month hiatus, I am trying to get motivated to begin blogging again.  It honestly feels like I am starting over completely, but I cherish the pictures and stories I have recorded on this little blog of mine, so I know I need to get back to it.

Things are relatively the same around here.

Husband who is so busy we sometimes forget his name? Check.
Mama working, playing and driving like a crazy person? Check.
Cutest kiddos ever? Double Check.

We are enjoying our BACKYARD (since we finished on labor day weekend last year, this summer has been amazing.  We bought the cheapest swing set known to man, but the kids don't know the difference and Easton especially swings his little heart out.

Our neighbors are so gracious to put up with Easton's batting practice (he hits at least one ball into their yard daily, no matter what I do) and Easton just finished tee ball for the year.

Now we are enjoying our last week of swim lessons, weekly kid movies and lots of outdoor time.  Mom is in denial that she has a kid going to school in the fall and tried to block out the view of the school supply lists that are already out at Wal-mart.  ahhh!

Here's to getting this little thing going once again.

Possibly the best purchase of 2013

Shortly after the new year (or possibly on New Year Day), I saw a blog that mentioned 5-year journals.

Friends, they are the best thing ever! At least for those of us that want to record snippets of every day, but can't commit to long journal entries.

I headed over to Amazon and started searching for the right one.  The girl that I heard about it from had this one, but I ended up purchasing this one. (full disclosure: mine says you are supposed to write about the little Jane Austen quote at the top of the page.  I ignore that instruction and just write what I want).

Basically, the idea is that you record 2-3 sentences about your day at the end of every day.  The things I record tend to do with the kids (surprise, surprise) or something at work or with Ronnie or other family that was significant.  I write as part of my nightly routine when I am reading scriptures and saying prayer and honestly, it only takes me 1-2 minutes, which I feel is worth it.  I have an entry for each day of 2013 so far, but admittedly have had to fill in two or three nights at a time when things are crazy, or I'm away from home and forget to take it.

I get a little giddy when I think that in 3-5 years, I'll be writing on March 4th and read that in 2013 it was the day that Devynee started giving real kisses, with the "mwah" noise and everything.

I realize that now some of you are mad that I didn't say anything around January 1, but who says you have to start on a new year?  If you think this may be a fit for you, order one up and get to writing!

It's been hard

This blogging daily thing is no joke.  I thought I had lots of ideas to fill the days.  Surely I could come up with enough randomness to fill 30 posts.  Especially with a birthday thrown in there as well as a holiday, etc.

But these last five days or so have been torture.  I actually dread sitting down to blog because I feel like I have nothing to talk about.  I will not be a forever daily blogger, but I did enjoy the challenge that NaBloPoMo provides once (and only once) a year.

I've learned that my style of blogging fits my life pretty well.  I blog when I have things to say/time and then don't really feel guilty at all if I go a few weeks with nothing and then burst out with 5+ days of blogging.  I love being able to schedule posts so that I can work on posts for a few hours in one day and have them post once a day for the next week so family doesn't have to scroll down for ages to read everything I have just spewed out. :)

Overall, I would have never recorded many of the daily life things I have captured with this little blog of mine.  It will never be a money maker, but it will forever be a memory keeper.

Perfect.

Thankful

I know you will be inundated with blogs all about how thankful everyone is today, but the bottom line is that it doesn't matter what other people are writing, I want to document how thankful I am for all that I have.

I am incredibly blessed.  I am thankful for my beautiful, crazy family.  For my loving husband and cute (and spunky) kiddos.  I am thankful for my extended family and the family I married into.  I am so thankful for friends, both near and far who help me, listen to me and let me be myself.  I am thankful to live in this country.  I don't know that I think about my freedom as much as I should, but I am so thankful for it.

I am thankful for my physical health and for the health of my family.  For our temporal blessings (house, food, clothing) and most importantly for my testimony of my Savior, Jesus Christ.  I am thankful for His atonement and for the chance I have to repent and become clean of wrongs that I do.  I am thankful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and to raise my children to have testimonies of the gospel.  I am thankful to have a living prophet of God on earth today and to have the word of God in the scriptures.  I am thankful for prayer, for the connection with Heavenly Father that is so precious to me.

Thank you for listening and Happy Thanksgiving!

The one blessing of flat feet

They make a mean footprint ghost during preschool Halloween craft time.

 

What? Too late for Halloween? During NaBloPoMo you have to put up with a little bit of random. :)

And just like that, its been a month

So, how are you?!?!

I'm not real sure where September went, but I do know that we've been busy!

My weeks have suddenly gotten very busy. I still travel to Laramie for work two days a week, then Easton has preschool through a school district run program two other days and I teach preschool with my friend the remaining week day.  The latest we have to be all ready for the day is 8:45 a.m. which means I've stepped up the organization a notch. I know you are thinking, "But KaLee, is that possible? It is you we are talking about."

I've put myself on an actual cleaning schedule and am doing an index card system that a good friend from our Provo days introduced me to years ago that I've never actually implemented.  So far (one week in) it's been pretty great. I'll report on it in a few weeks if anyone is interested.

Also, the kids have chores that we follow through on daily (well, pretty much daily).  This includes cleaning up toys TWICE a day and that has been life changing in and of itself.  Easton also has to do all of his chores before he gets to do anything electronic and that motivation has really helped him.

September also included a work meeting/event for me (Now I have a 6 month break from those. Love that) a trip to Jackson, Wyoming for Ronnie (for work as well), soccer games for Easton and more work on the house (another flood in the basement if you can believe it!).

I'm tackling potty training Kendree this weekend.  Considering she can tell me in paragraph form the condition of her current diaper, I think we are ready.  Now, if I can just get that strong will of hers to work with me, we'll be set.

I have a 10 month update on Devynee in the works (10 month! Are you kidding me?) and hopefully more posts as well so family far away doesn't start sending me hate mail. :)

Things might happen

You have to watch out when you don't blog for a long time...

Things might actually happen to you that need to be blogged!

Things like a massive rain storm right after your new basement windows are put in (but before the window wells are in) that results in 3+ inches of water in your basement...

Or things like your car doing crazy 4 wheel drive/transmission things on the way to and from Laramie and finally dying on your street (The kids and I were so blessed!  I guess that 45 minute prayer (the entire time from my mom's to my door) actually worked!)...

Not to mention swim lessons, t-ball, summer movie series, dentist visits, Angel games and Denver friends visits, and a certain baby turning SIX MONTHS OLD!!!

I promise this blog is in the back of my mind and as soon as more pressing things (you know, basement clean-up and the like) are complete I'll get right back at it. :)

Mama and Devynee

Since it seems I am the one usually behind the camera, I don't have many pictures with my kids.  I'm trying to be more aware of that fact and hand the camera to Ronnie every once in a while.

Here I am with my sweet Devynee.  As hard as it is sometimes (okay, a lot of the time), I really do love being a mother.

I attended a baby shower the other day and had to give some advice for the mama-to-be.  I had a hard time coming up with what I could put into words to help her.  I think I've been inspired to come up with my favorite tricks and tips as a mom.  I want all of you to start thinking as well.  I'd love to add to my knowledge!

Don't worry, I totally give you permission to pin this*

Wanna know how I remember that it is time to mop my floor?

When one of the sticky spots takes off my sock as I am walking through the dining room.

Reminds me every time.

[*I kid.]

Sooooo close!

Wouldn't you know that I make it all the way to the 29th of NaBloPoMo just to fizzle out?

Ah well! Maybe next year.

I suppose having a baby is a pretty good excuse, so we'll go with that one.

My favorite kid...

websites and apps.

You didn't think I was going to pick a favorite out of my own kids, did you?

Websites
Notes: Easton loves playing on the computer.  I used to let him watch some Youtube.com videos, but then he got a little too good at navigating without me, so now, at my house Youtube.com is broken.  And it will stay broken for a very long time.  Now I try to keep him on websites that are educational and fun.

http://www.pbskids.org/ I suppose this one is a no brainer, but I thought I would mention that I feel like it is geared toward a little older kids, as Easton could navigate other websites (namely disneyjunior.com) way before he really got this one. Some of the show specific websites are hard for even me to find the link back to the main page, which is annoying.

www.disney.go.com/disneyjunior/ This one is easy to navigate, but also has lots of printables so you have to watch how many pages your kid prints out.

http://www.starfall.com/ Easton has only ever played on the free version, but the learning games are easy to use and he will be so excited to answer the questions about what sounds different letters make, etc.  I've heard that the pay version is fantastic, but haven't forked out the money just yet.

That is it for websites that Easton can go to.  His other favorite computer activity is to pull up folders full of pictures of him as a baby (of which there are lots, as he is the first child) and scroll through them one by one.

What sites am I missing?

Apps
Notes: All of these apps are for the ipod/iphone.  My phone is actually a droid, but after watching how my ipod touch was officially commandeered overtime by the kids (yes, Kendree can work it as well), I have not downloaded anything for them on my phone and I take the ipod with us to doctor appointments etc. and that is what they get to play with.

I'm not going to provide links for these, as I assume you'll find them through the appropriate app store.

Alphabet Car (free although my kids love it so much I paid for the upgrade)- Love the educational aspect and there are levels for even the very youngest of kids.  Plus it includes driving, which is always a plus.

Shapes by Toddler Teasers (free) - A game that lets you guess as many times as it takes to get it right, applauds and then gives the child a sticker.  A winner in so many ways.

Curious George Dictionary (free) - If your kid loves Curious George they will love scrolling through the words and pictures of this dictionary.

Make it Pop ($1.99) but oh so worth it - Love that there aren't insane ads that take the kids to the app store, and this one is one of the quietest games that my kids love.

I know I am missing lots here...please enlighten!

Nesting?

Some people clean when they hit that nesting stage of pregnancy...

Me?

I have the sudden and uncontrollable urge to have everyone in the family get their hair cut.

Kendree and I are taken care of as of yesterday, now on to the boys!

Sometimes...

it is NaBloPoMo and you have never participated but this year you decide that you are going to try and participate (well, until you have a baby at least) and then you have a really busy day where you leave your house at 9:00 a.m. and don't set foot in it again until 7:00 p.m. and then you realize as you are heading to bed that you didn't post and you were supposed to post so you decide to write a really long run-on sentence so you can still say that you are "in it."

Gotta love that.

And then I tune out...

I have this thing I do.

I tune things out.  Like REALLY tune them out.  As in, you can be shouting my name in the same room as me and it will probably be the 3rd or 4th time you shout it before I realize you want me to listen to you.

I like to think it was my way to cope in a family with 5 kids (I realize that is not that big of a number when we are talking about LDS families).  I would want to read a book but there wasn't a quiet place in the house, so I would plop down on the couch and turn off my ears.

This is still a talent I find useful, although it annoys Ronnie to no end when the kids are yelling my name (mind you, they are not in danger or dying) and I'm ignoring them. 

But you know what? 

Sometimes mama needs her quiet time and she'll take it anyway she can get it. :)

So am I alone?  Are you able to create your quiet time?

Oh the Random

Last week we dog-sat for one day.  I would have volunteered to do more, but going into this little adventure Kendree was terrified of dogs.  Even this sweet little one.  When we have gone over to our friend's house before she has required that either Ronnie or I hold her the ENTIRE time and even then is whining or crying.

I was hoping that dog sitting would help cure the fear, but since I didn't know if it actually would, I didn't think I could do more than one day of holding Kendree.  Little did I know that after about 15 minutes of whining, we wouldn't have any more issues.

Buster loved hanging out under the piano and Easton spent some time laying with him.

 There were times when both kids felt like Buster should be "doing something", this was one attempt to play.

I think I'll just continue to dog sit when I feel the kids need some animal exposure.  Saves me from actually getting a dog...

Also last week we hit a milestone with our Mazda:

That's right.  50,000 miles.  Crazy that when we drove this baby off the lot, there were 32 miles on it. :)

We were also able to go to the Rockies game last weekend with our good friends.  The kids did remarkably well.  Easton wanted to know the name of every batter and Kendree was her normal crazy self.  We had a lot of fun though.  Perhaps the most fun was when Chelsea (who is having her 3rd child in 2 weeks) and I walked halfway around the stadium with our pregnant bellies and a kid in each hand.  Oh and it was raining as well. We got not just a few stares. Good times, good times.

A Funk

You know how sometimes you get in a blogging funk?

Or a funk in general for that matter?

I'm in one and trying desperately to get out.

My house is relatively put together and I still haven't taken pictures to give you a tour.  That's #1 on my list, I promise.

I have orders for what feels like one bazillion cards that I need to get on top of.

Not to mention the sewing, etc. that I would love to do for this little one.

Oh, and you know what?

I have a family too.

Bottom line?  It's okay to let blogging take a back seat for a while.

Just know I still love ya!