She came! And are we ever glad.

Sweet Samantha Jane arrived Friday, December 28 at 1:20 pm. She was a whopping 9 pounds 6 ounces. Are we ever glad she arrived a week and a half early. Whew! She is a doll! She has a full head of black hair, pretty little lips, and a nice olive complexion. The boys were so cute when they met her. Aaron said, "She is the cutest baby in the whole world!" And Grant asked, "Can we keep her?" :) Of course we can!

She is a dream baby thus far. SO sweet. She does not like to get her diaper changed, nor does she like it when we change her clothes. Perhaps she gets cold. In any case, we have absolutely nothing to complain about. She has a very sweet, cuddly disposition. We are so glad she is here and so happy to have her in our home! We can't wait for "Nina who is home from Brazil" to arrive tomorrow and other wonderful grandparents ("Papa who is home from Brazil" and "Nina and Papa who live in Annandale") to arrive a little later in the month. We are SO glad to have two sets of amazing grandparents. Can't wait to see everyone! (And can't wait for the help!) :)

Sweet, loving Aaron

My sister-in-law Kathryn, a wonderful photographer, took this cute picture of Aaron while we were visiting this summer. I will try to post more of the pics she took - she got some great shots!

I am trying to savor and enjoy these final days with just the boys. Soon we will add a baby girl to the mix! I think we are all ready. Ready or not, here she comes! We are so excited to meet her!

The Dressin' Up Duo

The picture to the left is from about a year ago, but it was too cute not to post. The boys' interests have ranged from cowboys to firefighters to superheroes and beyond. But their love of all things cowboy has never waned. Some even asked why they didn't dress up as cowboys for Halloween this year, and we explained that that wouldn't be "dressing up," as cowboy gear is often their usual attire. To actually DRESS UP, the boys wore Spider-Man and Superman costumes this year (granted, Aaron still wore his cowboy boots. Just call him 'Western Superman!') :)

Here they are then ... and now. Some things never change!

Last Game of the Season

The boys had a lot of fun playing soccer this season, and I think they picked up some valuable skills. Aaron proved to be a good defensive player. He was good at keeping opposing teams from scoring. But he also had a knack for getting the ball down the field. Grant's intimidation diminished a little as the season went on. By the last game, he got in there and really tried to participate. It was really fun to watch them.

Baby Shower

 

My friends Amanda Lown, Amanda George, and LaDawn Austin hosted a gorgeous baby shower for me last weekend. They pulled out all the stops. It was so beautiful (these women know how to throw a party,) and I felt a lot of love and support. We received a ton of diapers and lots of cute girl clothes. We felt very blessed! A few women from the neighborhood came, a couple from different church congregations, and quite a few from our congregation. It was a good mix of people. I am thankful to have a variety of friends -- it adds to the spice of life!

The room was beautifully decorated. I loved the shabby chic theme going on. My friend LaDawn even broke out her beautiful china for the occasion. I was scared to use it since I am so clumsy when I'm pregnant! The food was DELICIOUS!

My friend painted this gorgeous two-part painting for the baby room. So lovely! I also received the darling bassinet to the left.

 Someone made this beautiful baby blanket. I definitely wasn't used to seeing this much pink! Guess I should get used to it. We are definitely ready for the baby to arrive. We can't wait!! Only about seven weeks till my due date. Woo-hoo! I can make it! (Just get me through Christmas!) :)

Sweet moments I want to remember!

Today Aaron paid me a great compliment. He said, "Mom, you're prettier than a princess, even with your big, enormous belly!" Thanks! (I think) ;)

The other day Grant and I were making cookies together. He looked over at me and said, "Mom, you're pretty. Even a princess."

I think all little boys think of their mom this way. Their compliments keep me going. I know they're well intended even if they do remind me of my largeness! :)

---

A funny comment from Aaron: "Mom, are we in a movie?"
"No Aaron, this is real life."

---

Granty did the the sweetest thing the other day. The boys were with me at the doctor's office. I was about to get a shot, and Grant looked at me and said, "It's gonna be okay." Then he took my hand and held it the whole time! It was so sweet. Aaron buried his face in the chair because he didn't want to watch. I can't blame him! :)

---

The other day Grant said, "Boys grow up to be cowboys. Girls grow up to be princesses."

See what I mean about the boys growing up too fast?

At least these professed super heroes are keeping each other young! :) We love them just where they are and are trying to enjoy and appreciate these sweet moments.

Soccer

Here they are on their way to soccer practice. These photos kind of sum up Aaron and Grant's general attitudes about playing soccer. :) Aaron will get in there and play; Grant isn't too interested in the game at this point. At the game yesterday, he and a fellow teammate were making silly faces at each other while the game was in full swing. :) Although, he did score two goals! Granted they were for the other team. ;) (We were just excited that he was more involved in the game, and luckily there are no hard-core parents on the team. They all seem to have a pretty good sense-of-humor about the whole thing!) Aaron scored three goals for his team though, yahoo!! So I guess they about cancelled each other out! :) We'll get there ... They are so cute to watch. We love them!

Happy birthday Aaron!

Dear Aaron,

You just turned FIVE! I have been rather emotional lately -- granted I am pregnant -- about this milestone. I will tell you, "I'm going to miss you when you're not little anymore!" Your response? "Ya mean when I'm a teenager?" Yes, that's exactly what I mean! :)

You are wonderful. You scored a goal during your first-ever soccer game! You seem to be a good player! You are smart and often surprise me with your vocabulary. You get to start kindergarten next year! You seem to know a lot about the world around you. You LOVE playing with Grant. You enjoy climbing the trees in our back yard and have yet to get hurt (knock on wood!) You're very into super heroes, particularly Spider-Man, Captain America, Superman, and Ice Man. You enjoy reading from the children's Book of Mormon. You seem very attentive and ask good questions. You have a speaking part in the upcoming Primary Program in Sacrament Meeting. Your line is, "This makes it easier to make choices Heavenly Father would be happy with." You almost have it memorized!!

The only fruits that you say you like are apples and oranges. You love chocolate milk and root beer (who doesn't!) and will almost always eat your vegetables.

You had a blast in Virginia when we were just there visiting. Your Ninas and Papas and cousins are very special to you. You speak of them often. You seem to have a good grasp on the importance of family.

You often think of others. Your preschool teacher was sick the other day, and on your own, came and told me you wanted to draw her a picture to help her feel better. You told me what to write.

We hope you continue to be the confident, happy, and wonderful little boy that you are today. You give great hugs and kisses. You seem to be so excited to meet your little sis. The other night you hugged my belly and said, "I'm loving my sister."

You're a sweet little boy and definitely keep things interesting around here! Thank you for being a part of our family and for sharing so much joy everyday.

We love you!

Soccer Season!

Aaron and Grant play on the same soccer team and had their first game on Saturday. They did wonderful! Aaron scored his first goal. Grant was quite tentative on the field; he may be a little too young still to play competitive sports. :) We'll see how the next game goes. But it was still fun to watch. The boys were excited that their team name is the Sharks. (Picture to come!)

I'm sure most of you know by now, but we found out we are having a baby girl! We are so excited to meet this little one. My nesting instinct is in full force. Organizing rooms, getting rid of junk, I don't think I've ever been this determined to have a clutter-free, organized home! I want to only have stuff in our house that we NEED or that we LOVE too much to part with! The rid is just stuff! It feels so good to get rid of it. I love the quote, "Less is more." It's so much easier to keep a clean house with less stuff! I was really grateful to my husband who took a bunch of backyard toys to the dump while we were out of town.

Speaking of out of town, we traveled to Virginia for three wonderful weeks. The weather turned perfect while we were there -- the perfect blend of crisp fall weather. Oh I loved it. We happily spent time with both sets of grandparents and were so thrilled to see them as well as aunts, uncles and cousins. The boys and I had a great time! Unfortunately we were quite sick for a good part of the trip; however, we all bounced back and everyone is healthy now. Thanks to Nina and Papa Stathis and Nina and Papa Mathis for hosting us. We truly appreciate your generosity and your having us in your homes! We loved seeing you all!

Aaronism for the Day

Today we were getting ready to leave for the gym. Aaron and Grant often protest going to the gym because they claim to not like the play area there. (However, every time I go to pick them up, they seem to be happy as clams.) But I digress. Today as we were about to leave, Aaron walked up to me and said, "Mom, can we stay home? Because I have the hiccups." I assured him that hiccups are not a reason to stay home. Oh, I can't wait to hear what excuses he comes up with when he wants to get out of going to school!

Blue or Pink in the House?

Well, we find out the gender of baby #3 one week from tomorrow. But who's counting? :) Our house is pretty divided as to what gender we think (translate: hope) the baby is. Truthfully, I think it's a girl, and the three guys think it is a boy. I just think we need a little more girl power in this house! Just sayin. And I think the boys would be darling with a little sister.

Of course we will be ecstatic either way! If it's another boy, just think, we could have a football team! And, we like boys! I see this as a win-win situation. :) We are honestly just hoping for a healthy baby; gender is almost irrelevant. Any guesses as to what the gender might be? Only time will tell!

My Peanut-Butter And Peanut-Butter Sandwich

I think most moms would agree that some days as a mom are good and some are ... rough. (Let's just be honest here.) Today started out as a not-so-good day. But I couldn't help but get happier as the day went on. On his own accord, Aaron made me a sandwich. I always thought building a sandwich was a skill I would need to teach him, but apparently he picked this one up on his own.

He approached me and told me he made me sandwich. "All by yourself?" I asked. ... "What did you put in it?"

"Peanut butter and ... " he paused. "Peanut butter."

I tried it, and he was right. It was ... well, peanut buttery. And so very delicious. You should try it sometime. Just be sure to eat it with a glass of milk! :)

Kids sure do know how to make us happy!

My sweet little boy and his very own delectable peanut-butter and peanut-butter sandwich. Such a big boy!

Thoughts By Aaron

Today Aaron was telling me that he wants to have a garage sale where only kids are allowed. I asked, "Then how are we going to make any money if only kids are allowed?"

He explained: "Dad will give you money, then you give me money, then I'll give the kids money."

I retorted, "Then how will we make any money?"

"Go to the bank!" he said. Oh, of course. Clearly economics is something we need to work on. ;)

Uncle Ed Visits

We were lucky to have Uncle Ed stop and visit with us while he was in town on a business trip. Thanks for the visit Ed! It was fun to have you! We always enjoy seeing your smiling, friendly face.

Fun In Utah

These are some pictures from our trip to the beautiful reservoir that Jonathan designed and brought to execution. Good job Jonathan! Some friends of ours in Tucson were in Cedar City at the exact same time we were (we ran into them a few times up there.) The husband mentioned that they too visited the reservoir and how much fun it was. So many people are enjoying it, even us Arizonians! :)


We had a wonderful trip to Utah earlier this month! We filled four days with playing with cousins, being outside (in awesome 82-degree weather - can't be beat!), and just enjoying time with family. A huge thanks to Jonathan and Kathryn for hosting us and making us feel so comfortable and at home. A huge thanks to Emma, Drew, and Jacob for playing endlessly with Aaron and Grant. They miss their cousins!

We arrived late July 3. July 4 we headed to Main Street for the annual Fourth of July parade. The boys had a ton of fun collecting candy that was thrown out by parade participants. We then headed to the city park to continue the celebration. That night we met up with more family at a park and played a fun game of baseball. Aaron and Grant even went up to bat! The day concluded with watching fireworks (from inside the mini van. A & G felt safer in there!)

The boys also picked apricots, went swimming in a creek, played in the backyard, played downstairs a lot with new and interesting toys, and saw "Brave." Oh, and we ate at Cafe Rio. Yum! Jonathan and Kathryn were kind enough to get tickets to see Les Miserables at the Shakespearean Festival. It was very moving. I was really impressed by the performance. A beautiful story anyway, but this particular production was fantastic.

We also enjoyed visiting the 10-acre reservoir that Jonathan designed and brought to execution as part of his job. The lake was beautiful, and Aaron and Grant had a blast playing in the water and sand. We had a beautiful visit! It was really hard to leave family and such awesome weather. It felt so good to be outside in such great weather! Thank you so much for having us!

Ice Water Is My New Best Friend

Remind me to never be pregnant again during Arizona summer months. It is miserable. Being sick and having a higher internal body temperature than normal, and then adding crazy Arizona heat doesn't make for fun times. Thankfully ice water helps ... a lot. I drink a lot of it.

Today I even had a strong urge to go jump in a cold pool to cool down. And I was inside in air conditioning. But alas, Grant was napping so that wasn't possible. I am trying to stay cool. Trying to stay awake during the day (though I admit I do close my eyes sometimes,) and trying to remember how fortunate I am that it is hot at the beginning of my pregnancy and not at the end when I am large and uncomfortable. My heart goes out to women in their last trimester right now! I truly am so grateful for the miracle of being able to have another baby. This summer shall pass, and then the weather will be truly beautiful and I will be in heaven! In the meantime, ice water is my new best friend!

Insomnia ...

.. stinks! I have had the worst insomnia this pregnancy. I've never had it this consistently until now. For the last several weeks, every night without fail I am awake in the middle of the night for up to several hours. Last night I think I was awake from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. (This is why I'm in bed by 9 p.m. I've got to squeeze some sleep in!) It's just hard because I'm sick all day and then can't adequately rest at night. Last night I was tempted to read or do something "productive" during my awake time, but then I didn't want to stimulate my mind and make it even harder to fall back asleep. I should just get up and throw in a load of laundry ...

Has anyone else out there had bad insomnia during pregnancy or at any other time? Any advice for helping to reduce it or get rid of it altogether? Any tips would be appreciated! Thanks :)

Sincerely,
So sleepless

p.s. I must say I am very grateful for Sunday afternoon naps. (For some reason I can easily conk out on this day.) They have been my saving grace! Mike has been so kind and understanding about giving me this time to rest!

Grant's Curls

Here's a closeup of Grant with his curly hair. It's so cute on him, I guess I'm glad we passed the trait on! ;-) I think this bundle of locks comes mostly from his father! Even my hair isn't this curly.

My New Bike and Pregnant Belly!

It seemed appropriate to pair the two together (the bike and the pregnant belly) since they're both fairly new to us!

I look really weird in this picture -- sorry! I don't think I could have gotten Mike to take any more pictures though :) My belly has already popped and I'm only three months along! (Oh, by the way, I'm pregnant!) A friend of mine who's an ob/gyn told me my uterus is more flexible since I've already had a couple kids -- hence the fact that I'm showing earlier. Anywho, I just hope I don't keep growing at this rate to the end. :)

We're excited to be expecting again and feel very blessed. We'll meet our new baby January 7 or thereabouts. Perfect weather in which to bring home a baby in Arizona! We're excited to meet him/her!

And Mike bought me this gorgeous bike for my birthday. It's exactly what I wanted. It's yellow with a cute basket up front. We already cruised around the neighborhood as a family unit Saturday night. :) Aaron and I were up front, and Mike stayed behind with Grant -- though they weren't too far behind! It was so fun to pedal beside Aaron. Here's to many more family adventures! Thanks, Mike, for the great bike! Love it.

p.s. And Grant is the cute curly haired boy standing next to me!

Grant's Stats and New Bike-Riding Skills!

Granty had his three-year checkup today with our new pediatrician, who is just wonderful. She hails from Colorado and has 25 years of experience. She is just warm and friendly -- I love that! She asked Grant where he got his blue eyes from, and Aaron piped in, "Jesus!" The doctor said, "Yes, Jesus did a great job making this little boy" (or something like that.) I thought it was so sweet. With Grant in the 77th percentile for weight at about 33 pounds, she noted that Grant is not fat, but "stocky" with big bones. :) She asked him what his favorite fruit was, and he replied, "pineapples." That was a surprise to me! He has good taste though :) He's in the 56th percentile for height at 37.5 inches. I should also note that Grant is a very sweet little boy and, although he's heavy and I don't like carrying him anymore, he's still my little sweetheart!

Turning 3 marked a big milestone for Grant -- he learned how to ride a two-wheeler! (This is what happens when your husband is a bike enthusiast.) Grant learned in just a couple of mornings with Dad helping him before he left for work. He's riding like a pro now and can ride alongside his brother. I see many bike adventures in their future! I hope to get a bike soon, too (hint, hint) so I can keep up with these boys! A beach cruiser will do ... one with tassels and a yellow basket up front ... something to putt around the neighborhood on!

Here he goes:

Are We Living A Christ-Centered or A Self-Centered Life?

Today's Sunday School lesson was on forgiving and not judging others and how, if we expect to be forgiven of our mistakes, we too must forgive others of theirs. Because we all make mistakes, right? It is not up to us to decide who gets to be forgiven and who doesn't. We are to forgive all men. It was a beautiful lesson.

The part that stuck out to me, though, was a comment made by a woman in the congregation. She said either we live a Christ-centered life or a self-centered life. If we're living a Christ-centered life, then we are striving to be like the Savior and are loving and forgiving of others, because of course no one is perfect, and because that is how the Savior lived. We're less likely to judge and criticize; we never truly know other's circumstances or their reasons for doing things. We love freely.

However, on the opposite end of the spectrum, if we're living a self-centered life, then we may be less likely to forgive and quicker to judge because we are only thinking of ourselves and aren't showing Christ-like love. I am not putting it as eloquently as she did, but I think this was the general idea.

I just love the idea of striving to live a Christ-centered life -- to be as quick to forgive as children are; to love others, even if it might be hard; and to not judge others -- period. As Elder Uckhdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said in his amazing talk on not judging others: "When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following: Stop it! It's that simple." If you want to read his talk, you can do so here.

Oh, I love it.

This is my absolute favorite part of his talk, a "self-test": (Easier said than done, but I am trying.)

My dear brothers and sisters, consider the following questions as a self-test:

Do you harbor a grudge against someone else?

Do you gossip, even when what you say may be true?

Do you exclude, push away, or punish others because of something they have done?

Do you secretly envy another?

Do you wish to cause harm to someone?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may want to apply the two-word sermon from earlier: stop it!

In a world of accusations and unfriendliness, it is easy to gather and cast stones. But before we do so, let us remember the words of the One who is our Master and model: “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone.”¹²

Brothers and sisters, let us put down our stones.

Let us be kind.

Let us forgive.

Let us talk peacefully with each other.

Let the love of God fill our hearts.

“Let us do good unto all men.”¹³

What beautiful words, and what a beautiful way to live! Lovely message today!

 

A Few More From Graduation

Aaron listening to his teachers.

The boys and me.

Grant attentively watching the ceremony.

Aaron's Preschool Graduation

Aaron has grown so much this past year. We'll forever be grateful to Mrs. Adrienne and Mrs. Jerilyn for their kindness and wonderful teaching abilities. Aaron really enjoyed preschool. He has one more year before he starts kindergarten since he misses the cutoff by about a month. He and Grant will likely be in the same preschool class next year!

Here are some pics from the little graduation ceremony ~


Here he is walking down the aisle.


And receiving his diploma.


Singing a song with his class.

Teaching Our Children

Tonight we had a cool experience with sweet little Aaron, and I wanted to write about it before I forget. We were reading to Aaron and Grant from the children's Book of Mormon, and after I read, Aaron started asking some questions. We answered his questions, and then Mike and I testified to him and to Grant that we know that The Book of Mormon is true. Then Aaron said confidently and with a smile, "I know the Book of Mormon is true too!" I asked, "You do?" And he said "Yeah." Then, totally on his own, he said, "I know the church is true too." I said, "How do you know that? Is it because you feel good when you're at church?" He said, "Because Jesus told me it's true. I knew all day today that the church was true." What a sweet boy! After our discussion he prayed before bed and asked God to help him to keep the commandments. After his prayer I asked him if He knows why God gives us commandments. He said no, so I explained that God gives us commandments because they help us to be happy and keep us safe and because God loves us. I went into more detail and explained that God blesses us when we keep His commandments. It is so neat to be able to share our feelings about this beautiful religion with our children and for Aaron to openly and sincerely share his feelings as well. I'm so grateful for all that Aaron is learning and experiencing in the church's Primary program. It is awesome! His testimony is growing, even at this young age, and I know he knows of the love that his Heavenly Father and Jesus have for him. It is never too early to help our children develop faith! I'm so glad that we have open communication and that he feels comfortable asking questions. Questions, of course, are how we learn and grow. I'm so glad Aaron knows that there is someone bigger watching over him who loves him and cares about him. He knows he can always pray to his Heavenly Father and that He will always listen, and this is such a blessing. I know the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest thing we can ever teach our children -- for them to know that God loves them and is always there for them! What a great evening!

Happy Birthday, Granty!

This is Grant when he first woke up this morning. If only we could all look this cute first thing in the a.m.! :)

I decided I would write "birthday" letters to each of our children on their birthdays. They can collect these when they eventually leave home (yes, they will leave home) ;) and have a bundle of letters to take with them filled with memories and milestones.

Dear Grant, one of my sons and best friends,

You are 3! When you were born we had no idea how wonderful you would be. You are such a fun, light-hearted, sweet-spirited little boy. You bring us SO much joy! You love playing with Aaron, your best friend. You are fiercely loyal to him and will always defend him and take his side. :) I think you two will always be best friends. You enjoy reading books (and often want to take over and do the "reading") and love playing cowboys with Aaron. You want to do whatever he is doing. You love your cousin baby Max and often want to hold him. You love to eat. It is hard to keep up with your appetite! You particularly like fruits and vegetables, which is probably why you are so strong! You seem to have a strong, solid build, and people often make comments about this. :) You love strawberries, blueberries, yogurt, oh, and ice cream! You are a natural at sports. You instinctively know to dribble the soccer ball and to keep it pretty close to you. We are signing you and Aaron up for soccer for your birthday. I think you will really enjoy this.

You say very good prayers. Once a babysitter told me that you prayed before you went to bed. She said you went on and on and on as you prayed, but she said you were so sincere. This really touched me, and I think it touched her too. You love Jesus and Heavenly Father, and you know they love you too. Once when sitting in church, you told Daddy, "Jesus loves me." Oh how wise you are! :)

I can always count on you to make me smile. You give the sweetest hugs and will often hug for a long period of time. You love seeing Daddy when he comes home. You say the funniest things. A few weeks ago you and Aaron were up before I was. When I walked into the kitchen, you said, "Mom's awake! Da, da, da!" Yesterday after waking up from your nap, you emerged from your room and exclaimed, "Cock-a-doodle-do!" You are constantly keeping up smiling and laughing.

You talk very well. People often comment on how well you speak. We think it's probably from hearing your big brother speak a mile a minute! :) You have really enjoyed going to preschool. You seem very bright. We were at the playground the other day and you identified a hummingbird and named it without any coaxing. You seem to remember well the things that you learn. We feel so blessed that you are so healthy and happy. We hope you always know of our great love for you and of the immense joy that you bring to our family. You are such a special little boy. We can't imagine our lives without you! We love you! Happy birthday, Grant! Here's to a great year.

Love,
Mom

Living Room: Complete!

Our new couch.

Aaron and Grant in front of our TV with white mantle beneath.

Our new chair.

Side table.

Photo gallery of sorts. :)

The kitchen is the heart of the home, as the saying goes, but the living room is a close second. It's in the living room that we hold Family Home Evenings, watch TV together, read together, laugh together, visit with friends, and generally "take a load off." We finally acquired enough furniture to "complete" this room. Turns out we bought the same Ashley furniture that my sister has -- who knew! It's pretty comfy; I can see why they bought it, too!

Happy Mother's Day

We want to thank our amazing moms for all they sacrificed to rear us, to care for us, to teach us, to guide us, and to help us. Because of you, we have a great family with two amazing little boys who bring us an enormous amount of happiness. Thank you for your sacrifices!! We hope you can look back and consider them not as sacrifices, but as investments. Thank you Mom and Dianne for your great examples of immense love and selflessness.

Happy Mother's Day to our moms, and to all the moms out there who give and love so freely. You are awesome!

Cowboy Photo Shoot

I'm updating the blog today -- hence the three new posts! Hopefully you're not too sick of seeing Aaron and Grant in cowboy apparel -- it's just the clothing they've embraced. Hey, we all have our style ;) The third picture features Aaron's new cowboy boots. His last pair broke down. I think he wore them nearly daily for a very long time. They had been purchased from a second-hand store, so we can safely we got our money's worth! These new boots weren't so second-hand. They're the real thing. So hopefully they will last a good long time and then get passed down to Grant!