Devynee's Birth Announcement

Thanks to a father-in-law photographer and a good friend editor/photoshop wiz, I was able to get a birth announcement for Devynee that I love! Thanks Ray and Carolyn!

Because that is what is most concerning?

Those who know (and love!) Ronnie, know that he has a bit of a "germ" issue.

As in, he really thinks about germs, and how he can stay away, and if things are safe to eat, etc.

Seriously though, I love him.

So anyway.

We were watching Fear Factor the other day (on our DVR, which means I have no idea what episode it was, in case you were going to ask. Also, who else LOVES that that show is back on TV? Did I just age myself?).

Okay, so we were watching Fear Factor and the stunt was going into a tank of 3000 gallons of cows blood (or some other non-important number of gallons) and retrieving cow hearts, which you then had to put in the MOUTH of your partner, who then had to spit them into a container.

So pretty much the sickest thing ever (except for the snake cages, I could never do that in a million years).

And after the first couple is done, the second couple is gearing up to start and Ronnie turns to me and asks (with genuine concern on his face)...

"They better be using new cow hearts, because I wouldn't want to put a cow heart into my mouth that someone else has had their mouth on."

After I caught my breath from my laughing fit, I replied with,

"Really?  That is the most concerning thing about this stunt?"

And that, my friends, is why we will never win the $50,000 prize.

Visiting Santa

Ronnie works with a woman who has a direct link to the North Pole. 

Her husband is the best Santa ever.

Seriously.

Real beard, perfect body type, and a handmade suit with the most beautiful hand embroidered designs.

We were lucky to get to see him twice (once at Ronnie's work party and once at our ward party).

Kendree is not a big fan in the very beginning, but then she loves him later.  At Ronnie's work party she would follow him around the room calling "Santa! Santa!" and then she gave him a kiss.

We managed to capture the kiss on camera at the ward party (see below).

We're all geared up and ready for Christmas around here!

Our sugar cookie man

Grandma Wyo gave the kids a special gift/craft to do this Christmas season and since I could tell that Easton could use a little mama and me time, he and I completed it during Kendree's nap.

Our giant sugar cookie man!

 It could have been a gingerbread man, but mama didn't have any ground ginger (or any ginger for that matter) so we made a sugar cookie man instead and he was a hit!  Easton loved helping and decorating him and Kendree was very eager to help eat him when she woke up. 

The post about Easton's big day (you know, the deets)

We surprised Easton the morning of his birthday (while eating blueberry pancakes) that we would be going to Chuck E. Cheese that day.  He was so excited!  After getting ready for the day, we headed down to Ft. Collins.

Easton was in heaven (my family also met us down there so he had lots of aunts and uncles willing to help him celebrate).

 He loved a basketball game and air hockey the most based on the amount of time he spent playing them, but if you ask him, he liked the football game the best. Here he is playing a game of air hockey against Aunt Alicia. Don't worry he won every game.

 Towards the end of our time there, he became fixated on this blow up crown that he saw another birthday boy wearing, so he had to have one too.  Then we opened presents and headed back to Cheyenne.

 Where he opened the rest of his presents before a few friends came over for cake.

 Mama decided that a store bought cake was perfectly acceptable this year, what with having a 2.5 week old and all.  Easton loved the Cars theme.

 Ready to blow out the candle...

 And enjoying cake with his friends.  All of the kids faces were green and blue...it was pretty funny!

 The traditional shot of the "loot"

 And one with the birthday boy himself...he was wearing his new PJs after all.

 After opening the BYU football uniform, he had to put it on immediately.

And after that, the next thing he had to change into was his new Sonic shirt.  He asks me every morning if he can wear it and wouldn't you know it? It is dirty a lot!

Easton had a great birthday!  Thanks to all who made it so special!

Devynee's First Bath/Church

On December 10th, Devynee got her first real bath.  I decided to do it in the sink this go around (the other kids had their first baths in the tub) because they are really only in there for like 2 minutes and it is so much easier to control a squirmy newborn in a more confined space.  The trick of the towel in the sink  is one I learned from Ronnie's mom and it just makes everything better (no cold sink sides to deal with!).

Isn't it convenient that the glare on the water made our little girl modest?

 All ready for church (10/11/11).  Kendree wore this same dress (made by Aunt Aubrey).  It is miniature in size so I have to make sure to get them in it before they get too big!

Picture Overload

Holding Devynee all by himself.  He loves his sister!

 Devynee has only been laid on the ground a handful of times when the kids are awake (aka before 8:30 p.m.) as I have to sit and diligently watch what happens the ENTIRE time!  Here is Kendree showing me Devynee's mouth...

 And then laying down to get the best viewing/bothering angle.

 Easton the night before he turned 4.  Daddy wanted to document his last day as a 3 year old.

 Cheese.  I think.

 Easton before church on Sunday with his BYU football uniform on over his entire church outfit. 

 And little miss Kenny in one of her December dresses. (She seriously looks so big in this picture!)

 The kids all dressed and ready to play outside.  Easton loved it and was out there for 45 minutes.  Kendree was back inside in about 10.  Most of that due to the fact that she refused to help me get on her better gloves and without some help, I couldn't get them on.

 Easton and Kendree with Santa at my work party.  Aunt Sarah was there to help out!  Kendree wanted nothing to do with Santa on this particular day (but has loved him at other sightings).

Those crazy kids of ours

Nothing like being fickle, I always say.

Remember when Easton had his own dedicated blog? [link is dead, so I'm not linking]

And then Kendree was born and I started the "kids" blog?

Well, with three, I have decided that I'm going to migrate all of the kid posts over to this blog and let that one just sit.  I know it gets some traffic, and the initial thought was that those who don't want to know the nitty-gritty about each child's well visits didn't have to read about them, but let's face it...

This blog is about my family and life.

And my kids are my life.

So, if you want to read all of my random ramblings and crafty things (you know, someday when I have time for that again), you'll have to read about how many pounds my kids have gained as well.

I think I will like the simplicity.

Let's hope I don't drive you all away!

I haven't actually done the migrating yet, but just know that I won't be posting to the kids blog anymore. :)  All in good time.

My big four year old

Birth (headed home from the hospital)

1st Birthday

2nd Birthday

3rd Birthday

 4th Birthday

Where to start?

I can't believe my little baby boy is four years old, but he doesn't let me forget, not even for half of a day.

Easton is a great big brother, loves to have real conversations (during which he gets really mad at me if I am distracted), loves both of his sisters (with different ways of showing that love), wants to be with his dad all of the time and is a kick to be around.

It's a good thing that growing up takes some time (although that time still seems to fly by) because I can't imagine missing out on time with my Easton boy.  Luckily he doesn't realize how clueless we are at this parenting thing or we could be in real trouble. 

I sure do love him!

One of the best pieces of advice

that I got when heading into this whole "three kids" adventure was from my all-knowing grandma.

"Don't put on regular clothes for a few days.  When mama is dressed normally, then she can DO everything normally."

How true it was.

I'm sure she told me that exact same piece of advice when I had Easton, but he was young enough that I don't think he really got it.  This time though, he would ask me everyday if I was in my pajamas, I would respond that I was and then he treated me a little differently.

The first day I was in regular clothes was the first day that he didn't ask me that question and sure enough, he expected to be taken care of differently as well.

Something to keep in mind...

2 weeks

Seriously, where has the time gone?

We've been incredibly spoiled as Ronnie's parents were here for the first 10 days of Devynee's life and then Ronnie was able to take off several days so today is the first day that I'm flying solo with the three kids (and technically Easton was at preschool for three hours this morning, so I don't know that it really counts).

We've had meals and babysitting, etc. and I have appreciated and loved it all.  I did take all three kids to a Relief Society Christmas Dinner on Tuesday (Ronnie had a meeting) and it took me 25 minutes to get everyone loaded (when I started 25 minutes before I had to leave I thought that we were going to get there really early.  Not. So. Much.) but I did it.  See?  I can do hard things. :)

Now, on to some pictures of that little Devynee.

 Grandma and Grandpa Cali.

 Devynee does have a sister who loves to give you "the look."

 And a brother who is getting too big.

 Ready for church.

 The girls

 And the boys!

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.