Happy Birthday to my little Jayne girl!

Jayne, You are so loved!

I remember clearly when I found out I was pregnant with Jayne [Olivia was just 7 mo old] I cried, told Chad and went right to bed. I woke up the next morning still sobbing and took a hot shower. I distinctly recall Heavenly Father saying to me "I'm just trying to bless you". And a blessing is what I got. Jayne has made my life better and made me a better mother. She was such a good baby and is such a joy! She is almost always smiling. Everywhere we go she is smiling and smiles at everyone. People always comment to me at what a happy smily baby she is. I am so proud and grateful to be her mother.

Jayne Cherie was born one year ago today in Lincoln, NE at 12:14 pm weighing 7 lbs 13 ozs; 201/2 inches long.

TODAY!

We went to the Lincoln Childrens Museum to celebrate Jaynes Birthday. We had a good time and I think this was the first time we went that Olivia and Jayne were able to actually play together. Normally I have Jayne in a sling or stroller or something to keep her in. This time she was able to walk around and follow Olivia around for the most part and PLAY!

Potty Training Day #5

Well, today was a step way forward but yet a step back. Olivia went potty in Kinkos today! We had to run a lot of errands today. I was shocked that she would go in a bathroom different that ours. I was so proud. (but i have yet to figure out what to do with Jayne when I am helping olivia go potty. those public bathrooms are gross and she just crawls all over the place...) But, then we also had 2 yucky surprises and 1 other accident. I can't remember how many times she actually went potty and got candy, maybe 3 or 4 hip hip hoorays!

Day #4 of Potty Training

So today I almost don't even count because we put Olivia in a diaper for Church and then she came home and took a nap. So she didn't start wearing her Elmo underpants until like 4 (she took a long nap). We had 3 hip hip hoorays! and NO accidents!

Day #3 of Potty Training

Such a night and day difference from yesterday.
7 YEAHS!
4 nays...
and NO zip zero zilch yucky surprises!

I am absolutely positive that is has to do with the fact that I read my scriptures in the MORNING instead of night and had that spiritual boost early rather than late. We said a family prayer in the morning, praying for Olivia to go potty. We were all in a much better mood and had a positive attitude about the whole thing all day. It was great. I am convinced that success in potty training has entirely to do with the attitude of the mother. A child never wants to know they are failing at something. They need encouragement, not discouragement. We put the elmos on in the morning and tell her when she needs to go to let mommy or daddy know. I ask her constantly throughout the day. When she goes, she gets candy. We do a dance and shout Horray! and make a big deal about it. Also, at first when I would go I would say "YEAH, Mommy went potty, Mommy gets a candy." I had to show her that to get candy you have to have something come out and go into the potty because otherwise she just thought you got candy for just sitting for 2 seconds on the seat and standing up. Olivia would throw a huge fit if she sat and didn't get candy so I had to be an example. Now, when I go potty Olivia says "Horray Mommy, potty! candy! " and she runs with me to make sure I get a candy (m&m). I am perfectly ok with getting candy everytime I go to the bathroom. Yum!

She could care less about getting stickers or getting a toy, she has a sweet tooth so that is the only reward that works for Olivia. It is funny to talk to different moms and their techniques about potty training. They vary in some many ways;Rewards for just sitting on the potty, sticker charts, toys, no rewards at all, it goes on..When it comes down to it, every child is so different and only the mother truly knows them and how to teach them effectively.

Day #2 of Potty Training

pretty much the worst day of my life.

1 success

2 yucky surprises, this time not involving Jayne but other worse senarios I don't care to mention.

and 3 other surprises.

hopefully tomorrow is better.

What's up

so i feel like I haven't posted anything about anything lately. Well, Chad went to Utah last weekend with a buddy and was going to leave me here alone with the girls and I was so sad. so My wonderful Mother said that she would fly out for the weekend. So she came out on thursday and left monday. Thank you mom! Sorry I seriously have 2 pictures from the whole weekend bec. my camera is basically broken, which brings me to my next point. Chad told me that he would be back in time for our 8:30 a.m. church on sunday and I said Yeah right. so we made a bet. I bet him a new camera that he would NOT be back. I won. He arrived at 1:30 p.m. I was glad to see him. So, I get a new camera. It works out great since my b-day is in less than a week. I'm turning 25. I'm getting so old. I still feel like I just graduated from high school and am wondering what i'm going to do with the rest of my life. Well, I guess I went to mommy school and have the best teachers in the world. Olivia is teaching me how to potty train a 27 month old. Today was lesson #1. We had 3 failures and 2 successes. Hopefully tomorrow we get the #2 in the potty and Jayne doesn't decide to stick her hands in it. Lauren just happened to call me right when all of this was going on. Sorry Lauren. Then, Sunday night, Chad's maternal Grandparents call and tell us they are heading our way. Totally unexpected they arrive the next morning and have lunch with Chaddy in Grand Island (2 hrs away) bec. Chad was building a shed out there. Then they came with us to the Mormon Trail Center in Omaha and we saw that and the Temple. And I saw an old Missionary there, Sister Maxfield who served in our area for 7 months. She was our tour guide and it was fun to see her again. After, I took my mom to the airport and was so tired driving home that I missed the exit. I was lost downtown Omaha and had to go back to the airport and start over to find my way. I felt so silly being so tired at 5 p.m. The girls are not sleeping well at night and end up in bed with us EVERY night. Never both of them bec. there simply isn't room. I am trying to fix this without any luck. I am always tired and now Olivia doesn't nap until 3 p.m. and today she actually didn't take a nap at all. So I don't ever get to nap during the day. I am a much better mother when I get some rest so lately I feel like I have been a horrible mother and now I am trying to potty train my child and she doesn't listen so I am bribbing her with candy and I basically don't know what I am doing. Sometimes, I am afraid to say it but I am not a fan of motherhood/house wife. I can't ever seem to be on top of the laundry or the dishes or the crumbs on the floor or the yardwork or the diapers. Poor Jayne has had a diaper rash for the past week (she is incredibly regular, like 2-3 times a day).

So what it comes down to is that We are just living life here. and that is what is going on with us lately.

p.s. I think I want to cut my hair way short again. I need a change.

Videos

You can't hear what is going on but they are calling out the winners last to first. The winners were our favorites.

answer to my question

oh and by the way, the answer to my question about the fly in my burrito was C. I was furious and drove right back there telling all the people in line to check their food for flies. I got my money back and some free coupons for free meals, but I doubt I will use them.

"The Government Can" by Tim Hawkins

click on the title to watch something you should probably watch.

What would you do?

so this is another post that I would like your vote on. This situation really happened to me yesterday and I will tell you what I actually did after I see what you all would have done if it was you.
SITUATION:
You are starving and don't have time to make dinner so you opt to go get some fast food at Taco Bell. They have these $o.89 chicken burritos that are pretty good. You drive there and get dinner and come home. For some reason, you decide it would be easier to eat and share the burritos if you cut them in half, so you do just that. You dive right into one and take a bite because you are starving! After your first bite you look down at your burrito and see a DEAD FLY in the middle of your burrito! AGHHH!!! You almost vomit and have completly lost your appetite. Now, what is your next course of action?

YOUR REACTION:
a. No biggie. I'm starving anyways so I pick out the dead fly and keep on eating.

b. You take your fly burrito and drive back to the Taco bell and get your money back for the one burrito but keep the others because there isn't a fly that you can see in it and there is nothing else to eat for dinner anyways.

c. You pack up all your burritos and drive back to Taco Bell with steam coming out of your ears. You ask to see the manager and demand all of your money back. You also tell all the people you see in the restaurant to check their food for flies because you found one in your food. You show all the employees the nasty burrito and make the biggest ordeal possible.

PlayShed Response

Thanks for all of your responses to the PlayShed of your choice! It was fun to read and see what you would choose!
Well, I, like most of you liked the last one, E. Chad liked C, which is also cute. We don't know when this will happen, hopefully soon. It will be exciting to see come together and I will post pictures then.

PlayShed

Chad has decided to build a play house/shed for the girls. He wants it to be sweet. We looked online yesterday for some ideas. I thought it would be fun to take a poll and see what you all like the best. We havn't decided yet . We each have our favorites but they are different; So let me know what you think. We would like to build something we could take with us when we move if we really wanted to, that is if the person buying our home doesn't want it.

A

(ok so honestly, this one is kinda a joke. we thought it was crazy)

B
C
D
E

my job

so lately I feel like my main job as a house-wife is to locate things. for example: do you know where the marshmallows are?
mommy, where's baby?
where's book?
have you seen my wallet?
where are my sandals?
ma ma shoes?

You get the idea. Like I'm really suppose to know where everything is in this entire house, the shed and the garage are! What's sad is... most of the time I do.

Q: Can an ANT survive being microwaved for 2 1/2 minutes?

A: YES! surprisingly yes!
I found an ANT in the microwave, I don't know how it got in there. and why. The microwave is spotless, there is not food in there to atract an ANT anyways. So when I saw the ANT I was like, "YES! I got you, I am going to microwave you and you are going to die now!" ( i have lots of ants in my house and i am sick of them, so please forgive the evil nature of this story

So, I turned it on high for 2 1/2 minutes, I thought that was a sufficent amount of time to microawave an ANT. Apparently not! It was alive and well, crawling around the microwave like nothing just happened! I don't get it, how do you get rid of these guys. It's like their immortal ANTS that never go away!

Family Pictures

FAMILY PICTURES DWTN HIST HAYMARKET


We had our family pictures/Olivia's 2 yr old pictures taken last Friday. Becky Anderson (at bandersonphotography.blogspot.com) took them for us at Downtown Historic Haymarket area. It was great! She did a great job at getting the girls to look AND smile. It was an almost impossible task considering the two. I have so many to chose from so let me know which one you like best. I can't decide. I have to pick one for the family and one for Olivia to hang in her room and for Jayne as well. Oh and this slideshow got a little out of hand, I was having lots of fun making it on onetruemedia.com so just get past that and see the pictures. :)

at least I have some influence

I may not be able to potty train my little girl but I have taught her a thing or two, here or there.

#1 say PLEASE when you want something. Maybe not to strangers, but to me she always says please when asking for something she really wants.

#2 New clothes and shoes are the most fun. Olivia loves to get new clothes/shoes and gets excited to wear them.

#3 Bugs in the house are bad. so, what do you do with bugs in the house? you flush them down the toilet, of course. Olivia has successfully learned this on her own. She watched me do it a few times and we said bye bye to a couple bugs together and now when she finds any moving small creature she first catches it with her little fingers, or smashes it, whichever comes first, and then puts it in the toilet and says bye bye while she flushes. It's a good thing for every girl to learn. Especially in the mid-west.

#4 When you hear music, you dance. She is a great dancer and will dance to any tune. She even dances to the Matlock tune.

#5 and last but not least, the glare. Olivia has an evil look. She tilts her head down, frowns her eyebrows, and purses her lips together. Maybe she learned it from me or maybe it is all her own. I'm not quite sure. Chad's parents say it's like the glare I give to Chaddy when I'm cross. :) but of course I'm never cross.

Jason MRAZ!!!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE him! My new favorites has to be his songs "I'm Yours", "Lucky", and "if It Kills me". Listen to them and you can't stop yourself.

Wheel of Fortune EveryDay!

SO, those who know us know that we LOVE to watch Wheel of Fortune and we never miss it when we are at home. So, Olivia has been watching with us from day one. She actually first started to clap because of this show. She would clap along with the contestants. Well, now she is repeating the contestants. Tonight, she would repeat the letters that the contestants would call. They would say "I" and Olivia would yell, "I". and so on. It was so funny to watch her do it. Maybe she will be on the show someday. or MAYBE WE COULD BE ON IT TOGETHER! LIKE MOTHER DAUGHTER WEEK! (I don't even know if they do that or not... oh well. they can start.)

1 1/2 hours at Wal-Mart

While in Utah, my sister-in-law Jen told me that they had a 72 hour kit for their family and that they had them in back-packs; 1 pack per 2 people. I thought that was a great idea. I decided that we needed to have a 72 hour kit too. Maybe right now we can't do the whole food storage thing but at least we could handle a 72 hour kit, right?! After running the idea past my husband, I found that he was not as enthused as I was. I was pumped, I had researched what to put in it and how much you needed per person. I was already to go spend money! :) (I think that is why the excitement was not double-sided.) anyways, I went to Wal-Mart to return somethings and get some hairspray and lotion... well while I was there I got carried away and ended up shopping for our 72 hour kit. I was by myself and was not distracted by any children so it was great times for me. Chad was not surprised when I came home and wanted me to return everything. So, I am asking you all if you have a 72 hour kit. What is in it? How much is too much? if you don't mind sharing, how much did you spend on the whole thing?

back to life

Well, we have been gone for a while but are back home. We went to Utah to visit Chad's family there. We had a good time visiting with everyone. I will upload some pictures of our trip later once I find my camera again. Unpacking takes a while and locating one item is near impossible right now. I have no idea where it went. So, for now, we are back in Lincoln. Chad started a summer class monday and that goes for 5 1/2 weeks. He is busy selling sheds again. Olivia and Jayne are busy at work playing with all their toys they missed for 2 weeks. Jayne learned to crawl while in Utah and also got her first 2 teeth. Olivia is saying sooo many new words. She basically says anything you say to her. We are back to attempting to potty train her again. So far, no luck, all accidents. I guess I can say I have figured out the way NOT to go about potty training your child. It is no fun, especially when your pupil is as subborn as Olivia. I am just trying to stay with it and not give in even though she tells me she doesn't want to. We hope all is well with you all.

Diaper vs. Elmo underpants

So, lately in the mornings when I go to change Olivias diaper, she asks for Elmo, meaning her Elmo underpants. I usually don't put the underpants on her and just put on the diaper. Let me explain why, because we have been through this time and time again. She wears the underpants and has accidents all day long. She doesn't go potty in the potty. It is frustrating. So, this morning I again said no and proceeded to put on the daiper. This time she revolted and kicked and screamed, so I put on the Elmo underpants. About and hour later, she told me she had to go so we went and she went #2 in the potty. Great! She got candy. Later, she was watching an Elmo Potty movie and had an accident while watching how to go potty. Ironic, don't ya think. so I put a diaper on her. I would like for her to learn to go potty but I don't have the time right now. I have sooo much to do and think about as it is. Diapers are just so much more easy. I don't have to deal with thinking about every hour or half hour to remind Olivia to go potty. I think she wants to but just doesn't get it quite yet. If she didn't keep asking for the Elmo underpants then this wouldn't even be an issue. I would just forget about it until she is a little older. Olivia will be 2 the end of this month. What do you think? What did you do with your kids? Should I just go for it and forever get rid of the diapers or should I keep playing it by ear? It is hard for me to tell if she is really ready, or if she just thinks it is a game.

UGHH!

I have had terrible luck with little critters lately! ahh it gives me the shivers to think about it. Yesterday, I went outside to play with Olivia. We were having a great time running around and throwing the Frisbee and the football. I was running around in the grass barefoot; one of my favorite things to do during the summer. It had been kinda rainy lately so the grass was a little wet. But, mid-stride I felt something mushy in between my big toe and the next one in line. I looked down, and there was a WORM! in between my toes all mushed up!!! aaahhhhh! I screamed! Olivia thought I was just having fun and started laughing and screaming with me. I went inside and washed my feet.

So, today I am folding a pile of towels (that have been sitting on the floor for a day or so). I get to the last towel and I pick it up and a HUGE cockroach comes crawling out onto me. Again I scream and run away with my arms flailing all about! Olivia thought it was fun again and started laughing and screaming with me! It took me a while to work up the courage to catch it and put it outside. I hope a bird eats it!

My Day

So, today a friend of Chad's from Law School dropped by to visit with Chad. Chad wasn't here but I thought he would be back soon so he came in and chilled with me, Olivia and Jayne for about 40 minutes. We were watching Sesame Street while I folded laundry. We were talking and he asked if this was what a normal day was like for me. Thinking of my wet unfixed hair I hadn't had time to do yet, I looked around at the pile of laundry, the stack of dirty dishes waiting for me by the sink, the crumb and milk mixture on the floor from breakfast, and the television playing Sesame Street, Elmo's World, at which Olivia was singing the la la, la la Elmo's World song. I said yep, this is about it. This is the only show that entertains Olivia and Jayne long enough so I can get a shower in and some chores done. He then said that he was a day care child from about 7-8 weeks old until he went to Kindergarten. He said it was like child prison. He and his sister hated going and would cry. He then went on to tell me that my children would someday thank me for taking care of them at home, and that he hoped I would continue to be able to stay at home and raise my children.

I have always known that staying home was the best for my children, but something about hearing it from a daycare alumni was different for me. It somehow means more.

Visiting MO Day 6

SIX FLAGS BABY!

Chad and I went earlier than everyone else and came back for lunch so I could feed Jayne. Around 1,We met up with Christy, who took the afternoon off work, Lauren, and Courtney, who skipped the afternoon of school (rebel), and off we went again for more.

We couldn't take the camera in the park with us so we just have a before and after picture. You can tell how exhausted we were at the end, I felt so nauseous.

Visiting MO Day 5

Tuesday: We planned on going to the St. Louis temple ealy that morning; however, our children were up since 3:30 that night and we didn't get much sleep. We were so tired, at least I was and I contemplated not going at all because I thought I might fall asleep anyways. But I figured that is just usual when you plan on going to the temple, something always happens that makes you not want to go. Last time we planned on going, Chad lost his wallet, which had his temple recommend in it and we spent the whole morning frantically looking around and were all flustered. But, we went and had a good time. We were in a session group of 11 people including us. Not exactly the number that I am used to. We were the witness couple, everyone else was too old to do it. :)

Visiting MO Day 4

The St. Louis ZOO

Visiting MO Day 3

On Sunday, We went to church in the morning and just hung out the rest of the day. Lauren, Courtney, Jordan and myself had a fun time taking photos of each other.

Visiting MO Day 2

On Saturday we just hung out, slept in from a long previous day. We had a BBQ at my parents house, Olivia went for a tractor ride, we hit some baseballs, golfballs, and had fun.

Visiting MO Day 1

The first day was the day we drove down to St. Louis on Friday the 15th. We drove straight to Christy's house, freshened up and went to Christy's graduation ceremony. She graduated with her MBA from Lindenwood University. Way to go girl! It was long, starting at 7:30 and we left early at 10p.m. We then went back to her house for cake and ice cream. The girls were surprisingly well behaved for such a long day.

Beautiful Nauvoo

walking towards the Carthage Jail

This is Carthage Jail. The upper window was the window that Joseph fell from when he was shot twice from inside and twice from below. He fell just by that water well. The room they were in when they were shot was a bedroom that the family who owned the jail slept in. They allowed them to be in that room to write letters since the jail room is so dark.

This is the jail room inside of Carthage Jail. It was very gloomy with very little light. It was sunny outside when I took this picture and my flash was on, so you can get an idea of what it was like for Joseph and Hyrum, and John Taylor, and one other person whose name I cannot think of right now.

This was the only nap Olivia got that day and she was surprisingly well behaved.

Afterwards we thanked the horses for the ride. Olivia would not touch the horses, she was to afraid of them.

The Nauvoo Temple looking from below. Isn't it beautiful?! It is hard to imagine the saints forsaking everything. The city of Nauvoo was very industrious and growing continually. There were buildings everywhere, that grass field you see was covered with homes and businesses. The Saints were forced to flee all that they had worked so hard to build; including their glorious Temple. Many sacrifices were made to build up the kindom of god on this earth.

Chad and Jayne on the Wagon ride. We rode with a group who were not LDS. It was interesting to me to listen to their questions. They were very courteous and very interested in the temple and why genealogy work was so important to our faith. The elderly sister missionary did a great job explaining it connecting both together.

This is the final resting place of Joseph Smith JR., Hyrum Smith, and Emma Smith. Joseph's parents were buried close by this monument. Their bodies were moved several times before being put here. They were afraid that his body would be taken if it was not hidden. It is now owned by the Community of Christ.

The grave overlooks the Mississippi. It really is a beautiful site. I don't remember appreciating the view last time I came. This time I really noticed how large the river really is.

The girls playing in the log cabin made for the children to play in.

They had a bunch of toys that the pioneer children played with back then. They were fun and very creative.

The sticks and ring that you see Chad and Olivia holding were a game that you played. You put the sticks inside the ring and flung the ring to your partner by pulling the sticks apart. Kind of like catch but with a ring and two sticks. Chad and I had a good time doing it. It is harder than you might think.

lunch time

Jayne!!!!

HE'S DONE!

Just a short post to tell you all that Chad did it! He took his last final monday morning! I know he did great, he studied really hard. Now, Chad is working hard to finish 4 sheds he has lined up. He will do one this week and then, We are going to Nauvoo for a short vacation this weekend. He will finish up when we come back.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I haven't posted lots of pictures lately due to the fact that Chad has been studying a lot lately for finals and needs the lap top. So I decided doing a slide show would be best. There are a lot of pictures here. They are of seeing the Fire Truch at Library time, playing outside, going to see the trains in Omaha and going to the Omaha Zoo. We had some great times!

One Woman Show

So I can offically say that I do everything.
I mowed the lawn today. Chad had to start it for me but I did the whole yard. Mowing was the only thing Chad had on me, but not anymore. I'm a one woman show during final season.

Mowing is sort of addicting. I was just going to do the front so the house wouldn't look vacant anymore, but I got going and didnt want to stop. Olivia was a great help. She followed right beside me the whole time. It didn't matter how many times I would tell her to get back or stay away she was determined to make sure I didn't mess up. At first Olivia stood at the side lines and I could see her talking to me and jumping up and down. I'm pretty sure she was cheering me on. My little lawn mowing cheerleader.

Easter in Sioux City, IA

We had a great time visiting Joe and Carolyn and their kids over Easter. We had the same Stake Conference broadcast so we went up there early (we left at 7:30 am) to go to conference with them. After that we played and watched the movie Bedtime Stories. Then we ate a great lunch and had an easter egg hunt outside. The kids had a blast. Isaac likes to growl and chase Olivia around the house. Olivia loves to be chased! Lizzy reads books very well and likes to hold baby Jayne. Lydia is walking and is so cute with her curly hair! We played a games (I cant remember the name) but I won! I never win any games so this was an exciting event for me. We hope you all had a great Easter as well.

p.s.if you get the Friend, it had some great easter lessons to laminate and keep for you family.

AHHH! I Hate Daylight Savings Time

I don't know why we move our clocks around. It doesn't seem to me that it makes any difference at all; back forward, forward back. I was completely wrong about which direction the time should go. I thought it went back. We would've looked online but our computer battery has been acting funny and wouldn't work for us last night. So, at (what we thought) 6:15 this morning we wake up thinking it is awfully early for it to be sunny outside. We check online and find out it is actually 8:15 and we have church in 15 minutes! Oh great! We rushed to church and arrived around 8:55. We missed the sacrament; but what can you do when the world changes the time on you unaware of it!

nothing particular

I'm sitting here on a Sunday afternoon eating a cookie while my husband and 2 children are sleeping. This happens every Fast Sunday, My husband sleeps until it is time to eat. I understand though. Who would want to be walking around a house full of fresh home made bread and sugar cookies? Not me. Fasting has never come easy to me and I was thinking about the last time I did it. I think it was fall of 2006. That was a while ago. (thanks to pregnancy and nursing I've been off the hook.) Chad gave the lesson in Priesthood on fasting today and so maybe that is why it is on my mind. I was listening to him go over his lesson last night and something he said rang a "pay attention bell". It was a quote and I have no idea who because I wasn't paying attention until that attention bell rang. He said that when we fast, we put ourselves in the position of the hungry, those who are less fortunate. I had always thought about fasting in a "let's pray for a cause and watch the blessings unfold" sort of way. I realized then that that is what it is like to actually go hungry. I realized that fasting lets you experience the feelings of those who are less fortunate and in need so that you can hopefully develop compassion and other Christlike attributes. I have always been taken care of as a child and we, as a family have always been blessed with means to provide food on the table. I don't really know where my thoughts are going with this. It was just interesting to me to picture people,... no myself in that situation in some far away place I can't imagine being actually really hungry with no next meal in sight. It gave me a better reason and urgency to pay those offerings. Maybe it will help someone who is actually hungry and in need of something that comes so easily to us. What a blessed situation I find myself in today...

I apologize if this seemed extra personal. It is just what came out when I sat down to write a blog entry not knowing what to say.

For Tia Juana

So, I just read this post on my sister's blog (FYI-Courtney, She is 17, a junior in High School. She is the 6th child & the youngest girl). I laughed so hard I cried. Olivia thought I was nuts. I had to share this story with the rest of you so you can laugh, too! Enjoy!

I've had a request to tell this story. I think most everyone has heard about it; but, it is pretty funny so here we go. Last summer (or was it 2 summers ago?) our neighbors called and asked Jordan to feed their dog for a week while they were out of town. He agreed and wrote the date on the calendar. After hanging up however, he realized he had a camp that week or something so I agreed to do it. $100 for feeding a dog - um, yes, I am fine with that :) The week rolls around and I ride my bike over to their house Monday morning to feed the dog breakfast. They(the Tranklers) live so close there really was no point in driving and I don't think I had my license yet anyway. So I ride over there, how cool am I, and feed the dog. I go home and I feel bad that it's so lonely over there. Mom says "Why don't you go over and play fetch with her for a little bit". I hum and groan but finally decide that it would be a nice thing to do. I take one of my tennis balls over there and play fetch. I accidentally threw the ball into the woods, however and I soon find myself entangled in their woods when I suddenly hear a door open. It was Mrs. Trankler. You can only imagine how taken off guard I was. It's one thing to be in some body's yard, playing with their dog when they're gone, but wholly different when there home- I suddenly felt like I had been trespassing."Oh hello. I thought you guys left town.""No, no we just got back today. We left last week. Did you get the dates mixed up? ""Yeah. I'm so sorry. I thought it was this week""We had a really nice time.""Oh well that's good."A few minutes of this awkward chat I ride my bike back home. Lauren and Mom had been in the kitchen while Jordan wrote the date down and heard them talk. To Jordan's credit, Lauren said she thought she heard that it was this week. It was probably a mistake on their behalf, not Jordan's. So I wasn't too embarrassed- until I thought about how they probably were sitting around the kitchen table, eating cereal, watching cartoons, and wondering why there was somebody in their backyard. Had they been watching and laughing? (I probably would have) For how long? No, I did not earn $100, to my disappointment. And I lost my tennis ball. I was just relieved that I didn't kill their dog. The end.


aren't you laughing hysterically!? cuz I am!

What kind of mud is this!?

So I was watching the news and saw a short clip covering an elderly lady driving through some barricades right into freshly laid cement! I laughed out loud when I heard this! I hope you think this is as funny as I do or maybe my life is so boring right now (taking care of 2 sick babies) that anything will brighten me up. I can only imagine the poor old lady spinning her wheels wondering why, in the middle of a large intersection, am I not moving anymore? Then opening her door to find that she is in the middle of a newly laid section of cement! What do you do? You can't get out! Cuz, then YOU are stuck in the cement! All you can do is hope that a kind Samaritan will call someone and come to your rescue.

She ended up getting a tow truck to come and drag her car out.

Jayne is 4 months Old

Well, another month has passed by and my children are another months older. Jayne is 4 months old! Wow! I still feel like she was born last week. She is growing and weighs 16 1/2 lbs. She sleeps through the night now, better than Olivia does actually. :) Olivia's cries don't even disturb her in the night (they share a room). Jayne loves Olivia and watches her all the time. When we change Jayne's clothes, Olivia blows on her tummy and they laugh and laugh! Jayne rolled over from her back to front 3 times in a row on the 13th. Olivia thought it was so much fun to have her roll over and then clap, so when Jayne stopped rolling over by herself, Olivia thought she would help her out. So, Olivia would roll her over and then laugh and clap her hands. She did this many times until Jayne had enough. It was cute. Jayne can now reach for toys and grab them. When she can't get ahold of something she gets frustrated and squeals. She has totally discovered her voice and can flucuate her tone up and down. She is making the cutest baby noises lately. I love it! Olivia is attached to her cup. Most toddlers carry around a baby doll or a blanket, nope, Olivia carries around a cup and doesn't go anywhere without it. She takes it to bed, church, grocery store. It's only water but she likes her cup. It's the first thing she asks for in the morning. They keep me busy and I love it all, even though I may complain about the numerous diapers or the never ending messes. It is what I love doing and wouldn't change being a Mom to these cuties for the world!

Happy Valentines Day!

I would like to wish everyone a Happy Valentines Day!

It is the day to remember and celebrate the love you have to those you care about. So, We love you all and hope you have a great day!

Today, It has largely become about sending Valentines Cards. It is estimated that about 1 Billion cards are sent each year. Whoa! Becoming the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas. ( I got this info from wikipedia.) I was curious about how this all got started to I googled it and I posted what I found here.

The origins of Valentine's Day trace back to the ancient Roman celebration of Lupercalia. Held on February 15, Lupercalia honored the gods Lupercus and Faunus, as well as the legendary founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus.In addition to a bountiful feast, Lupercalia festivities are purported to have included the pairing of young women and men. Men would draw women's names from a box, and each couple would be paired until next year's celebration.While this pairing of couples set the tone for today's holiday, it wasn't called "Valentine's Day" until a priest named Valentine came along. Valentine, a romantic at heart, disobeyed Emperor Claudius II's decree that soldiers remain bachelors. Claudius handed down this decree believing that soldiers would be distracted and unable to concentrate on fighting if they were married or engaged. Valentine defied the emperor and secretly performed marriage ceremonies. As a result of his defiance, Valentine was put to death on February 14.After Valentine's death, he was named a saint. As Christianity spread through Rome, the priests moved Lupercalia from February 15 to February 14 and renamed it St. Valentine's Day to honor Saint Valentine.

My Toothbrush and the Toilet

So, I just got done doing the dishes when I realize that it has been too quiet for too long. I go to see what Olivia has been up to and guess what she has gotten into. Olivia is dipping MY toothbrush in the toilet, sucking the water from it and dipping it back in. Over and Over again. EWWW! Luckily I saw her so I know NOT to use my toothbrush anymore!

and since I've sat down to write this post, Olivia has now gotten the box of graham crackers out and is making a mess all over the house. I guess I'm done blogging...

3 Months Old

I'm also posting that Jayne is already 3 MONTHS OLD TODAY. WOW! Time has flown by. I feel like she was just born yesterday. She is such a cutie. She is holding her head up great now. She is actually trying to sit herself up. She smiles all the time. She is definately a mommy's girl and her gaze follows me the entire time I'm in the room with her. She sleeps about 6 hours at night now. She has really discovered her voice lately and always has a story or two for Daddy when he comes home from school.

Here she is today.

I had to put this picture up. This is Olivia's new glare she picked up. I have no idea from whom... I think it is halarious.

Jayne's Baby Blessing

We finally blessed Jayne on Sunday the 11th of January. Chad gave her a really nice blessing. I wrote down what Chad said and who was in the circle. I wish I had done that for Olivia but I just didn't think about it.

Her Uncle Joe, Aunt Carolyn and cousins Lizzy, Isaac, and Lydia came down from Sioux City, IA to be here for the blessing. Our church starts at 8:30 a.m., so their family left at 5:45 a.m. to be here in time. Thank You Thank You for sacrificing your sleep! We were so glad to see your family and always enjoy your visits!

This was taken later on that day. She has such an adorable smile. We are glad that Jayne is part of our family and we all love her so much! She is such a joy and has such a calm spirit. I love to just sit and hold her.

By the end of the day, we were all tuckered out. I found Jayne is a funny sleeping position. She had quite the back arch going on.

MY afternoon project = Chad's 3 day project

So, I've been wanting to paint the bathroom and it was the perfect time to do it because we had a while before school started. I told Chad and we went together to pick out the paint. Chad wanted it done "professionally" so he insisted on doing it himself. That was fine with me if he wanted to help out. He paints the walls quickly and they dry. The next day, he wants to paint the ceiling. He tries to paint over the cheap texture we have up in our house and it doesn't work. So, now he has to take the texture off. He scraps it off and has to go buy the stuff to texture it with. He spends forever making sure the ceiling is perfectly smooth so he can then make it bumpy again... I don't get it. Anyways, He goes to paint over the texture and it bubbles up and he has to take a portion of that off again. He retextures that part and it dries. It's now Sunday and nothing can be done. Monday, he paints the ceiling and puts another coat on later. Somehow, what I would have done in about 4 hours turned into a 3 day project for Chad. And since it was the bathroom, we couldn't use the shower. good thing I didn't see anyone over this time period... I really shouldn't complain because it looks great. At least I can be sure that when Chad does any project it will be perfect. Although Chad said he wasn't doing anymore projects for me because I complained it was taking so long. (all I wanted to do was shower people; was that too much to ask?!)

notice all the dust from the ceiling, it was a mess!

Chad scraping the ceiling.

Sorry I don't have a completely picture, for some reason I couldn't download it on.

Why is January 5th so important to us?

...because it is the day that Chad and I were sealed together in the Salt Lake Temple for time and all eternity.

Yesterday was our 3rd Anniversary. It was hard to believe that it has been 3 years; but, even harder to believe that we have 2 children already! Looking back though there isn't any other way I would want it. We love each other very much and we both love our children very much! Chad gave be a dozen roses in the morning. They are beautiful! I absolutely LOVE getting flowers! They make my house smell good and I love having fresh flowers to look at. I gave him a box of chocolates because the last box we had Chad claimed he barely got any. Some friends were so nice and watched Olivia and Jayne for us while we went to dinner at FireWorks. It was really good. We got a redbox and came home and watched Eagle Eye. It was a GREAT movie and I would recommend it to anyone. It's an action packed movie and very entertaining. That was our special day. Now we are one day closer to 4 years!

A look back at 2008

It is the start of a brand new year. Anne from Green Gables always said "Tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it". (Great advice for anyone if you ask me.) I've been reflecting back at this past year and I feel like SO much has happened. It went by so quickly but had so much action jammed into it.

We started the year with a 6 month old baby and Chad half way done with his first year of Law School. We found out we were expecting another baby March 17 when I was 9 weeks along. We were both surprised but looked forward to it's arrival on October 23rd. I visited my family in St. Louis in April while Chad was taking his finals. We planted a garden with some friends in May and they offerred to take care of it while we were away for the summer in Utah. We left for the summer May 20th. Chad built sheds with his brothers in Utah while Olivia and I (about 5 months preg.) played going to the pool, playing with cousins, aunts, uncles, grandma and pa. We were in the Art city Days Parade in Springville where Chad's parents pass out carnations for their flower business. Olivia sat on my lap while I drove the van.

We got to meet new baby Clara born to Jen and Jc early June. We also met baby Isaiah born to Seth and Jenna in Febuary, and baby Brooklyn born to JaNae and Dan in April. We go to attend Brooklyn's baby blessing. We celebrated Olivia's 1st birthday with the whole family (except Sam who was serving a mission) on the 28th of June, her real birthday was the 29th which was a Sunday so we celebrated early. She took her first steps a couple weeks prior to her birthday and was walking well by her birthday! We left for home in Lincoln, NE at the end of July (about 7 mo preg.). We then left to go back to Utah for Sam's mission Homecoming mid-August. Chad started school the 25th of August. I went into pre-labor at the end of Sept. My mom came out for a week to help out around the house while I was on bedrest. My parents then came out together October 14th and Jayne Cherie was born to us Oct. 15 at 12:14 p.m. Seth, Jenna and Isaiah made the long trip out for Thanksgiving and we went to Sioux City to spend it with Joe, Carolyn and their kids. Chad finished up his finals mid December and we left for St.Louis to visit my family for Christmas. Here we are with an 18 month old beautiful daughter, Olivia, and a 2 1/2 month old beautiful daughter, Jayne. Chad is now half way done with Law School. A lot can happen in one year. Just think what I will be typing one year from now.

What have YOU done?

I saw this on someone elses blog and I thought it was pretty cute. It's easy to do and kinda fun. You're suppose to highlight what you've done in life. I went a step farther and italized the things I would like to do in my lifetime. Everyone should do this, I think it will be fun and interesting to see what everyone has done or would like to do.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
(does high school syphonic band count?... )
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (eeewwww.. who would do that)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Seen Mount Rushmore in person
101. Learned to play an instrument
102. Bottle fed a calf
103. Attended the Calgary Stampede

Pictures from Christmas Break

Brace yourself! I am about to post a ton of pictures. They are from our Christmas trip to St. Louis.

Olivia took her time and looked at all the sticks along the way. By the end of the 2 mile hike she wanted to be carried. She did well for her first hike without a stroller. We had to leave it behind because it wasn't paved.

We went on a hike for my Dad's Birthday. He loves to go on hikes and requested that we try out a new trail. It was a nice day but a windy day as you can see by our hair. Bowling with the Fam.

Chad getting ready to go paintballing.

Bryan and Jordan

Jayne and Cousin Lucy

Grandpa Rahm holding baby Jayne

Jayne and Olivia, (Check out that smile of Jayne's)

Olivia, meet Sammy! AHHHHH!

Christy, Baby Jayne and Lauren

Jayne and Mommy.

All the Siblings

back:Courtney, Lauren, Heather, Kelsey, Natalie

front: Christy, Jordan

The entire Family!

Just an update.

Sorry it has been so long since I've posted anything. We are in St. Louis right now visiting Natalie's family. We are unsure exactly when we will arrive back to NE. It depends on the weather. We have had a great time here visiting family. It has been the first time that everyone has been together in a long time. I will post pictures as soon as we can. We hope you all had a Merry Christmas as well and that you have a great New Years!

Congratulations!

Yeah! You did very well at guessing which pictures were Olivia and which were Jayne. I was hoping to fool at least one of you but you are more observant than I thought! :)

A and D were Jayne and B and C were Olivia.