Another finished Project

Kristi said that I needed to show off my banner cause it is way cute! I really like it. I think that I will be making a thanksgiving type one! It is a fun decoration!

Oh and here is a cute veido of Jonathan counting and jumping!

Halloween Party

After the party we cleaned up and put the kids down for naps! Well, we didn't sleep at all and Dave got a ticket to the game (thanks Jason). So I was to go to our ward Halloween party solo. So Kristi invited me to theirs and so we went! Jonathan and Sarah were way excited!

Our Monkey!
Our Flower!

When we got there Jonathan went straight to the clown. This was his first time seeing a clown and he thought they were pretty cool. The clown made him a giraffe from a balloon. Jonathan loved that!

My cute girl!

Enjoying the duck pond, but when she got a duck she would throw it back in!
Sarah is a smart girl she learned very fast that the candy was in the orange pumpkin and she started to just go up to a booth and put her hand in and get a piece of candy! :)

Jonathan loved the cotton candy! Jonathan soon learned to take a handful of candy instead of just one! What can I say they like candy!

So did Sarah, and she would even try to steal it from other kids! What a girl!

Our family picture! We had a fun time, thanks for inviting us Kristi!

Family Birthday Party

Our Big Birthday Boy!

We had a family Birthday party for Jonathan, and to start off the party we went to pumpkin land. It was supposed to rain, but I prayed that it wouldn't cause Jonathan and I were set at going to the pumpkin patch. Well, the weather was perfect. That morning before going I set out two present and Jonathan knew exactly whose they were. But I told him it wasn't until after lunch. On the way there he kept talking about the present, but I tried to explain to him that present where great but it is fun to be with family (I think I will have to explain that to him again later). We got there and took some pictures!
Cousins!

Our Cute Family!

On our way into the corn maze! The kids had a blast, and especially Jonathan (don't let that face below foul you!)! He got down and ran through the maze and he finished before a few of us. This is Jonathan at the end with me cause he came and found me! It was way cute!

There was inflatable slides, a bounce house, animals, playground, kid friend spook alley! IT was a lot of fun and everyone enjoyed themselves!
After we went back to our place and had lunch!

If you can tell Jonathan was so EXCITED to have cake and open presents. He knew exactly where to sit! I had to explain to him that we needed to eat first then we would have cake! I kept the cake a surprise and Jonathan LOVED the monkey George cake!

All I can say is EXCITEMENT! Look at that face!

There was a little of this!
Jonathan waited as long as he could and then he was back on the talk ready for the festivities!

Opening presents! I love him in his hat- thanks Craig and Liz! Everyone was so great at giving Jonathan what he needed or would love. He has loved reading his new books, playing his new game, coloring in his new coloring book, riding around on his new car. He has been in HEAVEN and just been wanting to play with everything that is new!

Enjoying his cake!

I think that for me this has been the best Birthday to celebrate yet because Jonathan totally understood what was going on and was so excited about everything. Which in turn it made me so happy! I love my little boy!

Birthday Boy

I had to work on Jonathan's Birthday, I was sad about it. However, I wanted to make sure that he had a special day! I made Birthday muffins for Jonathan to blow out a candle! All the cousins came over to sing Happy Birthday!

I just thought this was cute of Lydia

Enjoying her muffin!

By the end of the day, Jonathan was able to say that he was "three" when someone asked him how old he was. (Today is the first day he cane put three fingers up- way to go Jonathan).
When Jonathan got home from Papa's house there was a bag from one of his neighbor friends and Jonathan felt so special! I called him from work and he told me all about his day and was so excited to get a present!

The next day Jonathan got some gifts from Grandma H. and he was thrilled! He hasn't opened everything up, but his favorite thing right now is his car and truck!
Jonathan has always loved Birthdays, no matter whose, but he is definitely into Birthdays now.

Donuts

As a Birthday treat we went get Krispy Kreme Donuts for breakfast on Saturday as a Birthday treat to Jonathan. This is us on our way!

Jonathan and Sarah thought that it was interesting to watch the donuts pass. We have been here one other time because the hot light was on and ever since that day Jonathan always says something when we pass the donut shop!

Enjoying his donut!

On the way home I said to Jonathan "Thanks for having your Birthday so we could go get donuts, that was a real treat!" Jonathan then said "Your welcome". It was so cute I had to laugh! I love my little boy

Becoming a mother three years ago!

As Jonathan's third Birthday came closer and closer I started thinking about how three years ago I became a mother. I always wanted to be a mother, however actually becoming a mother was very overwhelming. I remember holding Jonathan the first time in the NICU, and not know how to hold a newborn in my arms. I remember breaking down after having an unsuccessful time feeding Jonathan trying to call my mom and then my sister and breaking down and saying I don't know how to be a mother. Well, now I am three years in and I can't say that I know how to be a mother but I have a better idea of how to be one. I am so thankful that I am a mother to my wonderful little boy that brings so much joy and love into my life!

I love the challenges and the frustrating of being a mother because I love finding the little small joys and laughter of the day that comes and makes being a mother all worth it!

Projects for Jonathan's Birthday!

This was one of the projects that I have been working on and it turned out cute, and looks even better on Jonathan (pictures to come).
Jonathan LOVES curious George or Monkey George as Jonathan calls him! SO I decided to make him a curious George cake. It was a lot of work, but Jonathan loved and it was all worth it!

Fall Break and Life

This was two Sunday ago, but I never posted about it. This was Family Home evening, Dave prepared the lesson and the kids thought it was great! We have been learning about Lehi and Nephi in the scriptures, so Dave had a great idea to act it out. Dave and i were the camels and we led Lehi (Jonathan) and Sariah (Sarah) through the wilderness and ended up in at there tent. Dave did a great job. It was prior to church and so Jonathan wanted to wear this signs that said Lehi and Nephi to church, I thought it was rather cute!
Dave went and did a few errands with Sarah. I stayed home with Jonathan. Jonathan entertained himself with trains. I thought he was was cute playing!

Dave posted below what happened, but here are a few pictures of cute Sarah!

This past week was Fall Break for Dave, which was a very much needed break for him. But, with him being home I worked a LOT. I mean I worked four days in a row! It was so HARD I had a few meltdowns. The night before the last shift Dave gave me a blessing, which helped immensely! With me being at work Dave was at home with the kids, he did great trying to keep the house clean and make dinner. On Saturday night he even had the kids bathed and ready for bed when I got home (maybe that was a sign that he was DONE). On Friday night we canned chicken and they had to be processed and it was a rather long process. But Dave did all three batches for me! He was great this weekend for me, thanks sweety! But, on Sunday night we both said we ready to get back to normal life- Dave going to work and me being home!

On Sunday, after church I was talking to Jonathan on the phone and he was talking to me about his day, and I asked him about what he learned in nursery. He told me he learned about Joseph Smith, temples and church. I thought okay but didn't really think that he learned about Joseph Smith- but he has a thing about him right know and refers to him often. Well, at dinner that night we were talking about how church went and Jonathan blurted out Joseph Smith he was in the forest and then Dave showed me what he made in nursery. I thought it was great he was actually learning and listening!

I am really liking the stage that Jonathan is at right now! He is really starting to understand consequences. So today we went over to Papa's and I gave Jonathan the choice between sleepers or shoes. He couldn't find his shoes so he choose slippers. Which is a choice probably not the best in my mind- but it didn't matter that is what he choose. I did remind him that he couldn't play outside if Benny or Abby were out there. He said okay and we were off. So we got to Papa's and I started to practice and Jonathan asked Papa to put a show on. Well, later I see Sarah with one of Jonathan's socks. Well, he thought that if he just took of his slippers and socks then it would be fine. So I sent him to time out. And then when I went to get him out I talked to him about why he was in there, and he knew. Then I asked him bout what he could do differently to play outside and he answered shoes. He understood. It was a wonderful feeling, as a mother, that he understood the consequences of his choice. Yes it is small, but that is where it STARTS!!

Our Sarah is doing better at not screaming back when she is told no, or something is taken away that she is not suppose to have. She still has a long ways, and goes to time out here and there but I can till she is connecting why she is going to time out in her little head. However she doesn't still understand that the sooner she stops crying and calms herself down she can get out. But I believe she will get it!

I am so thankful that I was about to go to "Love and Logic" Parenting class twice and I have read the book once. But it is on my Christmas list cause i want to read it again to help me be a better parent and pick up more technique and ideas to help Jonathan and Sarah.

This is more just for me, I think it is cute of Sarah. She was dancing to this slower music while Daddy was singing to it and getting dinner ready. So I picked Sarah up and started dancing with here. I then put her down and then she would sign more. It was cute so Dave taped it. On a side note, Sarah picked up candy as a sign- the important things of life you know!

Where Are They?

So, I don't usually post on Shirlene's Blog, but today I couldn't help myself. I'm finishing the canning process on the chicken we bought the other day. It requires a lot of babying, checking the temp etc..., well in between checks I couldn't find the kids anywhere. I was looking, and looking, and looking. No where. Then suddenly I heard a noise coming from Sarah's room. The following is what I found!!!

Fall

I love FALL! I love the crispness of the air and the turning of the leaves. We have been wanting to go up the Canyon as a family for awhile, but it just hasn't happen. Well, today I was called off from work; so we were able to get thing done in the yard. Then after naps we went for a drive it was so nice. Jonathan kept saying look at all the colors. Sarah just was content looking around. We even saw two deer, however Jonathan wanted to know where the Moses' were. then he said they were sleeping. It made Dave and I laugh.

All BOY!

This morning I was practicing the piano at my parents; Jonathan was playing with Abby in the backyard. During the middle of practicing Jonathan and Abby come in and Abby is crying and holding her hand and saying over and over again "it got me" (or something like that). Then Jonathan is following Abby saying "I got it" over and over again. Then I looked closely and Jonathan had a live wasp in his hand (we have had a lot of run in's with wasps and I am so surprised that Jonathan was brave enough to hold it, and none the less a LIVE one). I knocked it from his hand and Dad got rid of it. It made me laugh! My little boy is all BOY!

Another cute story of Jonathan happened with Dave but I am telling it. So on Wednesday night I was prepping Jonathan and Sarah for when they were going to go over to Papa's for the day cause Dave and I have to work. Jonathan loves being at Papa's and loves to play with Abby and Ben. Well, the next morning Dave was doing his routine and opened up Jonathan's door and let him get up when he was ready. Well, Dave was in his room and he hears Jonathan running down the hall saying hello to Sarah and then being really excited "I get to go to Papa's and see Benny and Abby". I thought it was so cute that he was so excited to be with his Papa and play with his cousins! (Sad note is that Benny and Abby didn't make it to Papa's)

Words

Yesterday morning we were painting some trim and the kids just loved to be outside and free. I took a break and there were Jonathan and Sarah just sitting together. I thought it was cute!
Yesterday Sarah was just loving having me home and being able to hold her while we listened to Conference, and so I got a lot of this yesterday and it was wonderful!
Jonathan of course wanted to get in!

We have a nightly routine; so each night we put a blanket out and sit on the blanket and then kids look at the pictures in the children's Book of Mormon and then Dave or I read in the scriptures and then we sing a song of Jonathan's choosing (usually Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam or I m a Child of God). Then we pray as a family. After we shake the blanket (I need to video tape it cause it way cute of Jonathan jumping and Sarah trying to shake the blanket) like we do in nursery and they love esp Sarah. Then we give kisses and hugs. And I guess we always say I love you because this past week Sarah first two word phase was "LOVE YOU". I was so surprised and it was so cute. So Dave and i both told her that we loved her again and she said it again. We love it. She also says "amen" and is very good at folding her arms the entire time we pray! It is funny how Jonathan's first phrase was "uh oh" and Sarah's is "love you"; they are so different in there own ways- we love it!

With having scripture study we have been taking about Joseph Smith, Nephi and Lehi. So yesterday I was looking at Kristi's blog and she had a collage of the twins with a picture of Joseph. So Jonathan started naming them Lacey, Luke, and Joseph Smith. It made me laugh and then I corrected with telling him that it was cousin Joseph. He is such a smart boy!