Happy Fourth of July!!

We went to the Kaysville Parade this year. So much better than Layton's. It is much longer and grander and you get way more candy and prizes. At the end, three water trucks come down the road and spray the audience - SOAKING WET!! The kids had a blast.

This little firecracker slept through the whole thing. I guess at 4 weeks old - its just what you do.

Not only do they have a much better parade, but they throw a much better party - FOR FREE!! I'm all about free. We had so much fun.

The traditional fruit pizza flag.

The Layton fireworks were fun. We were able to get right underneath them.





Happy July!!

Enjoying What Matters Most!!

Love these kids. It's these little moments that I love and cherish. It love the sound of my children playing happily together. The sound of make believe and imagination is music to my ears and brings peace to my heart. I hope it never ends.

...make believe can sometimes end with pictures for black mailing later in life.

...and when I find a ballerina and a pirate swinging together on a hot summer day, there is nothing to do but sigh with satisfaction that as a mother I have the best job ever - and I feel so lucky that I get to enjoy what matters most - daily in my little ones lives.

Little Boys Bedroom Redo!!

Before:

This has been Cole's room for the last 6 years. I have loved it - probably even more than he did - the dalmation spots on the ceiling and walls just mad me happy - what can I say. But with the new little guy joining our family, it was necessary to switch rooms with the girls. The baby furniture did not even pretend to fit in this smaller room. So very begrudingly, I had to paint and paint and paint.

...and might as well switch themes to something Cole wanted - right.

Goodbye fireman curtains...

Goodbye ladder hanging on the wall...

Goodbye firetrucks and boots...

Goodbye Cheif Cole...

I realized I didn't get a picture of the bed - it must not have been made at the time.

After: Had to repaint the girls room. Cole decided he is totally into sports - so thats what we did. I was really nervous about the striping bleeding and being straight, but it turned out great! Had to refinish the dresser - I love the two tone.

My mom quilted this for me. This is Caleb's crib quilt. The curtains are in matching fabrics. Love it.

Had to repaint this bed - used to be black.

So I couldn't find any mobile hangars to match. So I had to take it down. Maybe I'll make something, or find something soon. That would be great.

Well all in all, I love the change. There are a few final touches to be done, but overall I am pleased.

Meet Caleb Jarom!

Caleb's Story...
My little darling was born on June 6, 2011. We are absolutely ...IN LOVE... I knew I would be, but you forget to the the extent of in loveness. There is nothing better than holding your newborn in the nook of your neck, smelling his newness, and feeling his warmth. This is by far my favorite position to spend my days with the little one. LOVE LOVE LOVE it.


So the week before, doc tells me I'm almost dialated to a 5 and 80% effaced. WOW! Not ready to have the babe yet. Still wanted to sew a quilt, curtains, bedskirt, clean the house, finish the yard and have a yard sale. So I took it easy (and accomplished all of the above). But he did say that if I was having any contractions at ALL! I was to come in. He didn't want me having the baby in the car- and if I came in he wouldn't send me home. That week I was sooo swollen and miserable. Well - I was miserable through the whole pregnancy, but you know how it is at 9 months. UGGHH.
So Sunday, June 5 - I had to leave church early because I was totally swollen, and thought I was going to die of heat stroke. So I went home and about 5:00 starting contracting. After about 20 minutes of every 5 minutes. We called my good friend Kandice and she took the other kiddos - while we traipsed to the hospital.
NO LONGER CONTRACTING - once they hooked me up. UGGGHHH! She says wait an hour...no change (in the cervix). They can't induce me unless I'm 39 weeks. I was 38 weeks and some change ...and they can't keep me unless my cervix is changing. Great. What happened to what the doc said?
Doc says keep me another hour...fine.
No change.
By this time I'm hungry, it's 9pm, Adam is hungry...he'd been fasting and hadn't eaten for 30 hours now - my kids are at a friends house - its late and I realized that I am definitely NOT in labor and if they can't start me then SEND ME HOME!!
Doc says to wait another hour.
As I was complaining and telling the nurse to REMIND the doc what he had said to me a week earlier - I sent Adam home to pick up the kids, put them to bed, and I would call him when they were ready to send me home.
He left...I got an idea.
When the nurse left, I unhooked myself from the monitors, went into the bathroom and locked the door. I then proceeded in my hospital gown to do: JUMPING JACKS, SQUATS, FROG JUMPS, JOGGING, CHEERLEADER KICKS, KICKBOX MOVES, STAIRS (UP ON THE TUB) ETC. I was sweating and after about 20 minutes thought "if this doesn't do it..nothin will."
Hooked myself back up.
Was almost a 6 when she checked next. - How about that! Called Adam back in (Kandice went to my house and waited for bro in law to take over the other kiddos), and doc shows up (which I was sooo surprised to see. With my others, I didn't see the doc until the pushing stage. What a good doctor.
He broke my water...
Got the epidural (which made me nauseous and very out of it mind you)...

and had this little guy 2.5 hours later. Caleb Jarom was born at 12:54 am Monday morning.

This is one of my favorite moments in life. It doesn't happen very frequently and is so sacred

Dr. Sumpsion.



My favorite all time newborn position. Still enjoying it today. I will cry and cry when he's to big for this - and it will be soon.

Discovering the newness of her new baby brother.
Our little mommy. Ambra is soo good with Caleb. I am lucky to have 3 very helpful children.
Still all puffy from delivery. My mom gave him this cute little sleeper.
Cole is thrilled to be a big brother to a boy, and sharing his room with him. "We are best buddies, because we spend the most time together." Meaning he sleeps in his room all night.
Candlelight dinner the hospital prepares ... well minus the candles. Why do they call it that?
My mom made this blanket. Love the embroidered Caleb.
...and she made this darling car seat cover. LOVE IT. It matches my cutest ever baby bag that I don't have a picture of right now.
...and she made the blanket to match. Am I spoiled or what. Not only do I have this cover and bag, but she made me another one and bought another baby bag so I could switch it out. I know, I know, spoiled rotten :)

... and going home. I always am sad to leave the hospital. Having your every whim and desire cared for with the push of a button is sooo nice... aw well, back to reality...oh wait - Adam is home for 4 WEEKS!!! Not quite yet. I know, I know, I spoiled rotten and loving it:)

Thank you friends and family for spoiling us rotten with visits and dinners and gifts. You are all so wonderful. We feel so blessed and loved and happy. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Bad Mommy Marks!!

My precious little Colie has been looking forward to the day he lost his first tooth for 3 years now. Ambra lost hers when she was 5 and he has had to wait significantly longer for his to come out. Well one finally did and boy was it a big deal!

Bottom little guy came out and he couldn't wait to see what the tooth fairy was going to bring...

Guess who didn't come! He was heartbroken. There is nothing worse than the disapointed look on your child's face when something really exciting and important was supposed to happen and it didn't.
I locked myself in the bathroom and had a good sobbing session. I felt awful. He was gracious and just knew that the tooth fairy HAD in fact come, but just couldn't find the tooth. The next night a note was left confirming the said story and left extra money and a toy.

Just the other day he lost another tooth and the tooth fairy did in fact come on time.

That dang tooth fairy is the most unreliable, irresponsible, fairy around. I guess the sooner the kids know that, the less hearts will be broken.

This last time though, Cole got fairy dust that was good for up to 3 wishes. All he has to do is sprinkle dust on moms head and she magically does whatever he wants.

Wish 1: " I wish to eat a whole bag of chocolate chips, without having to eat any dinner." - Granted

Wish 2: "I wish to have no chores this week, and still get paid for them." - Granted

Wish 3: "I wish for you to rent Harry Potter One". - Granted (its the only one I will let my kiddos watch.)

He had a blast with this. I'm glad the tooth fairy has some fun things up her sleeve with being so unreliable and all :)

More More More!

Cannot get enough of my little one. We are enjoying every minute of him. He is still sleeping most of the day, but just this week he is having a bit more of awake time.

I am very diligent about using the book Baby Wise. It puts your baby on a schedule and by about 6 or 7 weeks gives them the "gift of nightime sleep". It has worked like a charm with my others and hope it will with Caleb too. I am such a schedule type person anyway, and its nice to know when your baby is going to be doing what so that I can plan my day better too.

Caleb is doing well on this. Awake time is easier now.

He is eating at about 11:30pm, 4am, and 7am. Adam helps with the 7am feeding and lets me sleep until about 10. What am I going to do when he goes back to work (next week). I guess I'll be a bit more tired and a bit more onry.

I love this picture. Already playing cars together :)