Mr. Jay

Well, last month marked my little mans second birthday.  I can't believe how much he has grown.  This little boy makes me laugh every day.  He is SO happy.  You can't look at his smile without smiling.  He is SO silly.  Having a boy has really made me realize how different they are, but how wonderful they are too.  My little Jaymeson has brought me so much joy!  I really can't imagine my life without my sweet, little, beautiful, happy little boy.  He truly is constantly making everyone around him totally happy.  He has such a happy, wonderful disposition.  It really has been an honour to be his Mom.

 

"Boys are found everywhere -

on top of, 

underneath, 

inside of, climbing on, 

swinging from,

running around or jumping to.

 Mothers love them, little girls hate them, older sisters and brothers tolerate them, adults ignore them...

and Heaven protects them.

A boy is truth with dirt on its face, beauty with a cut on its finger, wisdom with bubble gum in its hair and the Hope of the future with a frog in its pocket."

 --- Alan Beck

You Reap What You Sow...

This spring, we were just moving into our house and had missed planting season.  We had Grandpa Bucey come over and show us what he was doing in his garden.  He brought different seeds and told us what would happen as he planted and tended to his garden.  Grandpa Bucey grew up doing a lot of gardening and still maintains quite a large garden (especially for within the city limits).  If you EVER have a gardening question, you call Grandpa Bucey!

Come October, it's harvest season.  As we missed planting season, we didn't have much to do come harvest.  So, we asked if we could go over to Cahoons garden and "harvest".  We got carrots, turnips, parsnips and potatoes...  but we also got to have a BLAST while tromping through their garden and learning how to properly dig things up!

Jarett sported his fathers classic "rubber boots" look and the girls were such awesome helpers.  It really was a super fun time!  Hopefully next year we'll be able to do something in our little garden.

Jaymeson got his hands dirty and didn't like it, so he sat down in the garden to wipe them off... other than that, he just loved playing in their huge backyard with all their fun toys (thank you Granni).

Tribute to a Super Dad

On 10/10/10, Jarett celebrated his 33rd birthday.  I like double numbers, so I was really excited.  Naturally, when you're excited about something, you go overboard and really celebrate right?  Yeah, that didn't happen.  The 9th was a Saturday and we were able to have a wonderful trip to the temple in Cardston without kids.  My parents watched the kids, took them to Calaway Park and then we met up at our house.  Since the 10th would be busy with my nephew, Tyrus' baptism, my parents stopped by DQ on the way home from Calaway and picked up this cake.

Kaia had decided that they should do a superman cake the second they woke up that morning.  Superman is a very celebrated figure around our house, mostly because of the pajamas that the boys got last year for Christmas...

and so "Super Dad" seemed just TOO fitting.

Jarett really is such a super Dad.  There's a song by the Proclaimers called, "Childhood" that Jarett introduced me to when we were dating.  I heard it just yesterday and started to cry because I know that I have that relationship with my Dad, but ALSO because Jarett is such a great Dad to his girls.  I know how much he loves them, and more importantly, I know THEY know how much he loves them.  What could be better?

Halloween!

With Halloween on a Sunday this year, we ended Halloween early after a Halloween dance on Thursday and a Trunk or Treat at the church on Friday.  It was SO much more peaceful to be over at the cousins house and enjoying family instead of hoarding candy on Sunday night.  We really enjoyed ourselves and it was nice to have a slightly smaller amount of candy (well, from MY perspective).

We get a fun Halloween Gingerbread house from Granni Cahoon every year to decorate with a TON of candy.  It was fun to have Daddy around this year.  We're used to him having Mid-terms and Finals to worry about.

At the dance:  There was a long line-up, so I grabbed a few shots.  We sure had fun dancing with the kids... even though I got a few odd stares when I had Jay sitting on my stomach and still dancing with the girls.  I'm not sure how else you balance 5 kids?!?

 Jaymeson wasn't feeling his best, teething is never fun - even on halloween.  Once he stripped out of his hot, hot costume, he sure got some big smiles as he danced up a storm...

The ward trunk-or-treat had a lot of people!  We sure had fun.  If only I remembered to take some pictures.  We got all dolled up for it and the girls ran from trunk to trunk getting candy and compliments at the speed of light.  Jaymeson wasn't quite sure what was going on at first, but after the 2nd trunk and the 2nd candy put in his bag, he was walking up to EVERYONE lifting up his bag and saying, "Tanks!".  It was really fun to see him learn the Halloween goodness...

How can a girl hear music and not dance with her Dad?!?  

So glad my kids have a fun Dad to do these things with!

Looking Cool.....

After 6 days of going through hip hop and break dancing instruction at their school, Kaia and Kienna had a "Dance Recital" to show what they had done.  Before the show, I asked them if they'd been liking it and how they do it.  They've been showing their moves and everything.  Kienna explained to me, "Mom, when you break dance or do hip hop, it really doesn't matter what you do, as long as you look super cool."  So, here they are.  You think they look cool?

Today!

Well, as I have been horrible at posting for the last - oh, 6 months - I have been told that starting with today is the best way... and since today is actually a pretty good sum up of what we've been busy doing, it's an even better way of starting the ball rolling again.  So, here goes:

Jarett is working late tonight - pretty typical these days.  CPLED (the bar course that has taken the place of the bar exam) is keeping him super busy.  It's supposed to take an extra 15 hours a week and, as he is kept busy with other things during work hours, he's been staying late to get his weekly assignment done.  He came home for FHE last night and then took off to finish some more after the kids were in bed.

I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of baby #5.  I still have no idea if it's a boy or a girl, but today I took out some boy and girl baby clothes to be prepared either way.  I went to the doctor on Friday and found out that these contractions I've been having are making some progress, so hopefully we'll have our newest family member joining us soon.  Other than that, I've been chasing my 4 little sweethearts around and trying to keep up on the housework.  My older 2 leave at about 8am and get home at around 4pm.  My younger two keep me going and almost crazy the rest of the day...  wouldn't change it for the world (except maybe having the older 2 around more often).

36 weeks, 3 days

Kaia came home today with a lost voice... as she told me via note.

 

She's been busy at school and doing home reading, home work and violin practice when she gets home.  I can't believe the HUGE strides she's made in just over a month of lessons...  She's going to be pro!

Kienna has been making everyone squirm showing them her wiggly front teeth.  She lost one on Thursday right before the School Halloween Dance (at Kaia's violin lesson), and she came home today with the other one in a "tooth case" from school.  Apparently the animal crackers at recess were a help in the process...  So, we're looking forward to another visit from the tooth fairy tonight.

Perhaps the biggest change that has been happening is with Saryn and Jaymeson.  Today was the day that we went and picked up their glasses.  Yep, glasses.

Saryn has apparently been compensating for her bad sight by over-working her muscles.  Pretty typical for kids, but her left eye is so much worse than her right that it's already becoming weak.  Without glasses, she would've developed a lazy eye in the next year or so and then have to get it corrected only by surgery.  Apparently, her near sightedness is so bad in her right eye that she'd need glasses just for that, and that's her STRONG eye.  Her left eye is twice as bad.  She originally got the checked and they thought she would need glasses, but wanted to check it with some eye drops that freeze the muscles of the eye so she can't compensate before they gave the prescription.  Once they froze the muscles, the prescription almost doubled.  Poor little thing has been having a hard time seeing - and REALLY over-focusing for a while.  Hopefully the glasses do their job and fix her eyes in the next couple years like they're anticipating.

Jaymeson has the same deal going on as Saryn, only not quite as strong of a prescription... and both eyes are even.  Essentially he would be going cross-eyed soon because his eye muscles are getting so sore from how much he has to focus.  Because they're starting so young though, there's a fair bit of hope that all will be fixed in the next couple years - so hooray for that!

At least they look super cute... don't you think?!?  Today, we went to go visit Manya and walked around Sundance Lake.  As we walked in, he got SO excited when he saw some boats, that he just sat down on the sidewalk, completely satisfied to just watch a boat at the dock.  I really think that he was missing a lot without his glasses.  Poor thing.  So glad that his vision is improved now and that he can enjoy seeing all his many vehicles... anything from boats to trains.

Well, there it is - today's update!  Now maybe I can start giving little updates that I've missed like Halloween, Jaymeson and Jarett's birthdays and other such fun that we've had in the past month...

The Value of Time

A status on facebook:

"Dost thou love life?  Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of."  --Benjamin Franklin

My husbands response:

"Even for those who lovest life, and squander not their time, Facebook wastesth more time than almost everything elseth."

I believe he may finally have a point!

If you REALLY want a smoothie...

Drag out the Vita-Mix from the pantry, all the way into the living room.

If your Mom still isn't responding to your hints, go get a spoon...

Then pull out the flour...

and perhaps the Flax Seed and put those in the Vita-Mix by the spoonful.

By then your Mom should have responded, so it's best that you have an apologetic face and say, "Uh Oh"

While she cleans up the mess you've made and then makes a smoothie for you, you may even get a chance to play with a favorite toy (this one was just discovered and had the batteries replaced - which has been played with non-stop ever since).

Thought I'd share my advice to you other kids out there.  This sure worked well yesterday!

A Slight Difference

Well, after having 3 girls, I didn't know how it would be to have a boy.  I just knew it would be different.  How different?  THAT is what I underestimated.  Just a few things that I've noted recently.

If you give a child a spoon while waiting for dinner:
Girl: Play house with it.  "Hello, I'm the Mommy spoon"
Boy: Play Airplane with it.  "Vrooommmm....." as it does dips and loops in the air.

If you give a child a doll:
Girl: Cuddle, nurture, love and dress it.
Boy: Squeeze it super tight, toss it in the air and wrestle with it

If you put on a good dancing song:
Girl: Twirl, spin, go up on toes, move arms in beautiful ballerina moves and ask parents if they look so beautiful.
Boy: jump, stomp, kick, hop, run, turn, fall down on purpose and improvise arm movements to make these look more macho.

If you read a child a picture book:
Girl: point out families and flowers and all things beautiful
Boy: point out any truck/car/airplane etc.

If you teach a child "sounds":
Girl: understand and repeat any and all animal sounds with only a few repetitions
Boy: throw animal book in the corner insisting that he wants a truck/car book and will learn all automotive noises flawlessly after only a few repetitions

If you see a child communicate and play with toys:
Girl: will pick up books, dolls, barbies, stuffed animals etc. and almost anything is made into a family setting where they converse or at least make distinct communicative sounds.  They interact and verbalize almost everything from a VERY young age. 
Boy: find out how to move and run and climb VERY early.  They point and make attention getting noises until you come and give them what they want... Their toys all become cars/swords no matter what they are.  (Jaymeson once found lip gloss in my purse and was driving it along the pew at church.)  Anything long and skinny instantly is a sword as well.

If you see a child eat:
Girl: Complain if a mess gets on them and, generally, they stay put until done (which isn't always with a finished plate)
Boy: Non-selective.  Enjoy any and all food (especially stuff that feels gooey in hands and on face).  Can never have enough.

If you are on the phone:
Girl: "Mom, can I talk to _________?" Then they talk to the person longer and harder than you'd ever imagine.
Boy: "Mom! Mom! Mom!"  or..... you instantly become a jungle gym with your arm bent for the little guy to climb on.

If you put on a movie:
Girl: Will sit and watch the entire duration and act out the movie for weeks to follow.
Boy: Will notice when the loud noises come on and any cars, but will be running around, doing flips off the couch until those parts come (if they manage to even stay in the room).

If you build a tower from blocks:
Girl: This instantly becomes a tower in a castle for a princess
Boy: This is an invitation to knock it down and laugh really hard while starting to build another one.

There really are countless other examples, if I was to name them all, there would be no end to this post.  Many of these, I noticed while watching my sisters boys... but many have come to life at a whole new level with little Jaymeson.  I can officially say that anyone who has the opinion, "Boys and Girls are exactly the same, it's just how you treat them that makes the difference" has clearly not had a boy and girl to raise on their own.

I sure have loved having my girls in all their prettiness and princesshood.  They are sweet and tame and so much fun to play with.... boys sure keep you busy and constantly on the move, getting into mischief all the time.  They are so much fun and teach me a new perspective.  They are both so wonderful in their own individual ways.  Being a mom is SO much fun - being able to get to know the different personalities of each child and each gender.  It really is a constant learning experience!

Your Own Backyard....

On Sunday, we were given a lesson on Gratitude.  There was an example of a guy who lived in Manhattan who was in Utah filling up with gas on the way to the Grand Canyon.  He was talking to the pump boy who had never been to the Grand Canyon (just a mere few hours away).  The guy was shocked, but then realized that he had lived in Manhattan for years and had never made it to the Statue of Liberty.  I think this story really illustrates how we, as people, really don't appreciate what we have nearby.  This summer, Jarett remembered a little place in Fish Creek Park (a provincial park in the middle of Southern Calgary) that he had admired on a few bike rides.  We only got there twice, but at least we got there.  It sure is a gorgeous place.  Why go all the way across the country when you have such beauty right here, just a few minutes from your house?!?