Have I said how much I Hate MOVING!

So I have officially decided that if there is anything that I despise it would have to be moving!!! Not moving my arms or feet or moving my head but moving as in packing up everything that has been acquired by 5 people in 4 years.  OK so not all 5 have been around that long, but I swear James is trying to make up for lost time, man babies have a lot of stuff.  The last several days have been long and tiring and while I have began to see the light at the end of this tunnel, it is more like a night light sized light.  I should have everything out by tomorrow or I mean today cause it is really early on Tuesday.  Once a very wise women said "When I move I am taking my husband and my purse, and leaving the rest"  I would amend it to say perhaps a few of my purses and these really cute red shoes that I have.   

Flashback Friday! This One's for you Annie!!

So this is gonna be a quick one cause I am supposed to be packing. This is a shout out to Annie cause I had posted a picture last week with her brother Matt and I, and I sensed she was a little jealous so I decided to pull out a little diddy I had of her! She is the cute little blond in the middle next to me in my famous purple leotard! Love ya girl and so glad you are home and healthy!

Don't Judge Me

Now before you place judgment about this issue I have a strong feeling that most of you have been in my shoes or will be someday. I will also make the reach and say that most of you have thought about doing something or have already done something along the same lines so with that said you may now judge. Just check your "Perfect Parent Card" at the door first!!!

I love all of my children equally but they each have their individual challenges and for Grace that has been the struggle to get her to bed (ok so there are a few others she has but for the sake of this post just pretend she doesn't). Ever since she stopped taking naps it became more and more difficult to keep her to a bedtime routine, she would often fall asleep in the car on the way to get Lexi from school and then when it came for bed time she simply was not tired. It has been a struggle for some time but in the last 6 months or so it has gotten worse. Here is a run down of her schedule

9:00 AM- Drag Grace out of bed to get Lexi to school

9:00 - 10:00- Angry that I woke her up

12:00 - Lunch Time

3:00 PM- Leave to pick Lexi up from school, Grace falls asleep.

3:40 PM- Get home and carry her into the house feeling torn, do I wake her or let her get sleep that she soo desperately needs!!?? I usually went with the latter

6:00PM - Dinner

7:45PM - Family prayer and helping girls get ready for bed.

9:00 PM - Lexi is totally asleep but still taking Grace back to bed after her 1000th time getting out of bed.

11:00 PM - Lexi has been awaken by Grace several times while playing in her room and turning the lights on and off while I continue to wait up for her to go to sleep.

1:00 AM - Everyone but Grace and myself in bed asleep. I finally bring her out in the living room with me and sit her on my lap until she falls asleep and then I carry her to bed.

There were some nights that I gave up and went to bed and that is when she would do things like cut her hair or Lexi's or color on the walls and doors or make messes with water. It just got to the point where we were all being sleep deprived because of her wacky sleep cycle. It wasn't fair to the sister that shares a room with her, it wasn't fair to us parents who already sleep with one eye open (OK so that is just me but still) and most importantly it was not fair to Grace who was having such a hard time. It came time for some serious action so after some serious prayer and then research on the Internet and a recalled memory we made the decision to purchase a bottle of Melatonin 1. I had once babysat for a girl who had been put on the same thing to help her fall asleep because she was having a hard time going to sleep and after looking into it, it just seemed like it was worth a try.

Three weeks ago we began giving her one before bed time and the first night it was a miracle! She fell asleep in less than 20 min and slept the entire night waking at 8 AM rested and happy. She even told me that she felt happy! Ever since we have been giving her melatonin it has made a huge difference in our lives and hers, she is still Grace don't get it twisted, but she is so much better. There isn't a fight for her to take it, in fact I think she likes the one on one time with me or Jimmy every night when it comes for her to have it.

There had been times over the years where I had thought about giving her allergy medicine or I was almost a little happy when she would get a cold so that I could give her some of the night time medicine but I never felt like that was something I could give her in good conscious when she wasn't sick.

This has truly saved us and her, our home is more peaceful and Jimmy and I now have our evenings back to be with each other.


(Oh and before you give me advice on something we should have tried before this, save it cause we did and have and it didn't. i.e Bedtime technique, baths, running her around the block, reading books, singing songs, playing music etc. etc. etc.)

The Story of James

Well my sweet James is 8 months old today. What a quick 8 months, time is just flying by. As he and I were relishing in our morning ritual of cuddles, kisses and laughs I began reflecting on how it is that this little boy came to capture our hearts.

For some reason I have always been able to know my children before I have them or in some cases before I am even pregnant with them. I will never forget the first time I knew I was going to have a son, Grace was just a few months old and I had been called as the Secretary in the Primary Presidency in our new ward. One Sunday as I was sitting at the back of the room listening to the children sing, I looked up from my rolls just as the picture of a father and son walking down the street holding hands and the little boy was wearing a superman cape (a picture I had seen many times before) was held up as an aide for the words in the song. My eyes teared and chills went up my spine and down my arms, I knew in that instant that I had a little boy waiting. Now I think some of my tears came from the fact that I had just had a baby 4 months before and in no way was I prepared to work on another so soon. I put it to the back of my mind but over the next 18 months or so I had several times where I was reminded of this little boy waiting to come to our family.



Just before Grace was going to turn 2 we decided that we would try for the next, well I could never have guessed that things would go the way they did. After 9 plus months of trying we were so excited to discover I was pregnant but within just days of the positive test and about 7 weeks along the pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. It was hard and I was sad and confused but within a short time I was expecting again and then another miscarriage. This was an extreme low point for me because I didn't know if I would get my boy, my little boy that I had been thinking about for so long. After tests and tears and waiting some more we finally became pregnant shortly after Grace's 3rd birthday and our little boy found my arms in January of this year.

During my pregnancy with James I had many feelings of what he would be like, I only mentioned the feelings to my husband and a few close friends that wouldn't think I was totally nuts. I would often describe him as being like "Charlie" from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, or "James" from James and the Giant Peach.










Quiet, sweet and gentle, then I saw the movie August Rush and it was like my son was there in front of me on the screen. I couldn't explain how I felt what I felt but I wouldn't deny it either, his spirit felt so close to me and I was so excited to have him here with me.

James was born at 4:21 AM and he was perfectly healthy at first and then when he was just hours old he started having episodes of not breathing. After several times he was admitted to the NICU, it was heartbreaking, I finally had my son and now he was hooked up to wires and hoses. He spent the next few days there and after tests and observation they allowed us to take him home. It turned out that he had just ingested so much gunk during delivery that his little body just couldn't handle it.











He is healthy and strong now and such a blessing in my life, he truly is the sweet, gentle spirit that I felt all that time. I love my little boy!




Interesting side note* The same boy played Charlie and August.

A Few Missing Details!

We have had a busy few months and there were many fun things we did that just didn't make it to the blog. While I don't have time to blog about each by itself they did deserve an honorable mention! We had several visits from friends and family, a few weddings, trips to Mt. Charleston, baby blessings, ward parties and just silly days at home.

* My friend Mesa came to Vegas and I was able to go to dinner with her and Brittany.
Love girls night out!!
*My sister Emily got a new dog, Piper and the girls love her.
*Grace & Lexi used their towels to play like they were royalty and got James in on the fun too.
*My amazing friend Emylee got married and we are so excited for them!
*Jimmy & I were in charge of our Ward party, we had a BBQ at Mt. Charleston
*Baby blessing for Kaylee May
*Grace fell asleep after getting in trouble and looked like a caterpillar.
*Jimmy showed the girls his skills with a hula hoop!!
*Lexi & Carson showed me what vampires look like

O Frabjous Day! Callooh! Callay!

This weekend was filled to the brim with good things! A quick run down.

Friday- I went to TOFW (Time Out For Women) with my sweet friend Heather and her family. My Mom and 2nd Mother Pam were also there and I was able to sit through one of the classes. We heard from some great people Sheri Dew, Tom Smith, Virgina H. Pierce and a few others. That evening was a concert with Hilary Weeks. I didn't stay the entire concert because being an old person I was tired.
Saturday- Started very rough because I was supposed to be at the Temple for a very important day. Sarah May was being Sealed to two of my favorite people, Marissa & John, but when my alarm was accidentally shut off I woke up late and missed it. I was heartbroken but since I was taking pictures after wards I made it just in time to do so. It was an honor to be there even just for the pictures and the breakfast after. I love you Marissa, John and Sarah, Congrats to your sweet family!









After the rough beginning the rest of the day was actually wonderful, after finishing breakfast with the the newly sealed family I went home to my family and we spent the afternoon working on the condo. There were little repairs that needed to be done and then we all went to Subway as a family, I love little things like that, just being with each other. That night we picked Jimmy's sister Sara up from the hotel she was staying at and she came over to hang out. We rented movies and just chatted for several hours. It was fun to see her and she was sooo sweet with the kids, Grace was so excited to have her Aunt play with her.

Sunday- We got up and ready and headed to Baby Sarah's blessing, it was wonderful to be there. After church we went to Marissa and Johns for lunch, which was awesome!! The kids all played and the adults talked and watched the football game GO BRONCOS!!!








We left their house and headed to my parents house to see my sister Janna and nephew Ethan before they headed back to Arizona. I love my sisters, we are all spread out but it feels great when we can be together.
Then we came home and did some more odds and ends around the house. Jimmy was really great to help me so much, he did all the little projects this weekend that I had not been able to get to.

*Fix-it List*
One leaky pipe-CHECK
One broken Towel Rack- CHECK
Paint over Red Marker- CHECK
Paint Girls Closet Doors- CHECK
Fix Broken Drawer Front- CHECK
GO HUSBAND!!! Love You!

Late Flashback Friday!!
This is a picture of Janna, Alyssa & Me
I had just had the Chicken Pox when this was taken, you can still see the little marks on my face. I love old pictures!

First Attempt, now I'm ADDICTED!!

Well after some encouragement from two great friends, Sara & Marissa, I decided to make James' crib bedding. Yes, I know he is 7 months but I had yet to buy any for the fact that I couldn't really find one that I loved and they are all so expensive! The girls helped me pick out some fabric after giving them an idea of what I wanted, then some late nights at Sara's it was done!!! It is sooo exciting because I have always considered myself a sewing reject, then with the left over material and a boost in confidence and more help from Marissa & Sara I made an apron!

I am now officially ADDICTED!! I love finding fabrics and looking at sewing machines online, Jo Ann's has also been added to the list of stores that I have to stay away from so as not to spend millions! All I have to say is, for those of you out there that feel intimidated by the whole thing, take it from me, find a friend or make a friend that sews and ask for help and in no time you will be a "Sewing Queen"!!!!!