Where did I leave off?  Right before Halloween.  Our Halloween was filled with fabulous candy and the cutest Pirate and Lady Bug I've ever seen.  Hopefully pics to follow soon.  Right before Halloween I took a new position with in the lab.  I work 7, 10 hours shifts in a row, then enjoy 7 straight days off.  I work 2:30 pm until 1 am.  The girls love having me home for most of the day, and they enjoy only spending a few hours in daycare before Dad comes to get them.  October is usually my most favorite month, but I feel like I really didn't get to enjoy much of it this year.  Kalab had an emergency surgery for his gall bladder on Ava's Birthday, on the 3rd, and took 2 weeks to recover.  I was getting used to my new shift and Kalab and I had a couple unexpected things, take us for a loop.  October was a hard month, and I was so glad to see it pass.

November-rrrrr went by too fast with a chilly breeze. Thanksgiving was spent with our good friends, Beth and Josh, and their family.  We enjoyed watching football and ate early around 1 pm.  November was quite and peaceful.  Same routine, work for Kalab and I and school for Ava and lil Halley just being the cutest 2 year old ever.  Hoping December brings more excitment.

.......Lately

Mama whispered softly, Time will ease your pain

Life's about changing, nothing ever stays the same
And she said, How can I help you to say goodbye?
It's OK to hurt, and it's OK to cry
Come, let me hold you and I will try
How can I help you to say goodbye?

Life as a working Momma is hard.  I feel like I need to mourn the loss of being a stay at home Mom.  Lately nothing has stayed the same so I hear myself sing these song lyrics over and over again.  Especially when my baby cries as I have to leave her, so I can go to work.  The first day after work when I went to pick Halley up, I will  never forget the hug she gave me, I did not realize how strong a 2 year old little girl could be, squeezing me so tight.  I don't think she realized how much she loved until she saw me rescuing her from the chaos she now knows as pre school.  I could barely hold back the tears as she was saying "miss Mommy"  I never imagined daycare would be that hard for both Me and my Daughter.  I realized that my love for kids was way stronger than I thought.  I found myself texting and calling the daycare at least every hour for the first week.  Thankfully with time its getting better.  Halley is now enjoying playing and doing crafts with her "friends".  Ava is doing great and couldn't love school anymore.  We knew she would do fantastic at school, shes always on top of her homework and a big help to her teacher, Mrs. Roy.  Next week I start volunteering one morning a week for her class and she is so excited!  I am feeling a little intimidated by 5 year olds, but am sure it will be fun.

 Our lives have changed so much in past year, sometimes I wake up forgetting who I am.  Life isn't always easy, but am making the best of it.  I do what I can with what I have.  Most nights my kids don't get a fancy meal that I spent hours preparing like we're used to, but as long we all eat together grilled cheese and soup from a can is just as filling and less of a mess, which means more time to spend with my awesome kids. It always takes time to get adjusted to new routines and there will always be a bump in the road, but with a good and loving additude I really feel like we can get through anything together as a family.

Mommies getting a job!

This was a really hard decision for me.  I love being at home with my girls, but with Ava starting school soon and feeling the crunch of no over-time for Kalab, its time.   I put in an application a month ago for a Phlebotomy position at St. Lukes, had an interview last week and start next week.  Its all happening so fast, I'm not so sure I'm ready!

Summer cRazInESs!

Summer is about Friends

Summer is Love and Kisses

Summer is pure joy

Summer is water

Summer is fun!









Summer is about sleeping in your swimsuit!
Eating cereal with a fork
Smiling for no reason at all
Taking long (6 mile) walks to play in the water fountain without your shirts on
taking pictures of yourself with a messy face
taking goofy pictures
Eating cucumbers whole
Summer is anything you want it to be :)

    

July 4th 2011

Some how I got out of being in any pictures, which is fabulous, cause we were camping for 3 days!  Dont get me wrong I love to camp, just not the way I look while camping.  We enjoyed lots of swimming and roasting marshmellows and the company of our Good friends John and Heather!

Young Love

My lovely Sister and her Groom Jay

        

Weddings are so much fun, especially when its your Sister getting married! 

My girls and I spent 3 weeks with my family helping get things ready for the wedding and enjoying the hot Nevada Sun! 

A few highlights of the trip :  "all you can eat" crab legs with my James and Charity.

 M&M Factory  and late night dining at Denny's with Jaycie and Jordan and Leahanna

the new Pirates movie with Jeff and Mint

Dirt Biking with Justin

Surviving the Gorge with Josh Driving 90 passing Semi Trucks

my Dads awesome homade ice cream and rootbeer

8 hours!

  There are alot of things you can do in 8 hours.  I wonder how many other people spent 8  hours in a car yesterday, with 2 kids and no A C, like I did in 80 degree weather.  It might not be the smartest decision, I've ever made, and I may never forgive my husband for not making sure it worked, but I made it to Sunny, Logandale, Nevada, safely and very sweaty!  I am so happy to be here though! Excited to see my Sister Jordan, Graduate from High School and then get Married!  Excited for the nice warm weather and fun shopping.  So happy to be with my family!

Playing!

 I love my husband!  So glad I can call him mine! 

We've been having a couple of really nice days, so what could be better than taking the girls to the park.

Halley Mae is so sweet and a little silly!

Ava showing how strong she is!  I love that Crazy girl!

Jaycie's Graduation

What a fun day to see your younger Sister Graduate with her Bachelors in Dental Hygiene!  Way to go Jaycie!  Even funner when she announces that she's pregnant with a baby boy and  surprises everyone!  Even if it took 2 hours to be seated at the Cheesecake Factory it was still worth it!  Great Job Jaycie, we are so proud of you!

Kalab's 28th Birthday

Kalab's Birthday was in April.  We had fun going out to dinner with our friends and playing Texas Holdem afterwards at their house sans kids.  I haven't mentioned lately how much I love this guy!  It's been a while since his Birthday, but Ava, Halley and I made sure he had a great day!

Easter

Easter this year was too much fun!  Halley Mae was so excited for Easter Egg hunts and Ava was a pro getting tons of eggs!  My Pretty girls! 

Visit with Grandma Cynthia

Kalab's Mom was able to spend a week with us after her Brother, our Uncle Bill died. We didn't really do anything too exciting. Mostly resting after the stress of losing a loved one.  We did some shopping and lots of visiting.  We sure loved having her here and hope that she can come again real soon.  Love you, Grandma Cynthia!

Halley's 2nd Birthday

We love Halley and wanted her to have a fantastic 2nd Birthday with all her friends!  She love "Melmo" so we had a fun Pinata for her and I made cute little cupcakes and a big cake for her.  She loved all her presents and was spoiled like a princess!  Halley Mae is such a sweet girl.  Just thinking about her puts a smile on my face and warms my heart.  She gives such good hugs and kisses and needs them about 30 times a day.  She had a late start at talking but is finally putting words together.  She loves to talk to Gamma on the phone.  She knows all her body parts and can count to 5.  She has a weird fascination with our keys and loves to go for walks and play at the park.  Her favorite foods are everything!  This little girl eats more than her big sister Ava, so far I really haven't found anything she wont eat, all fruits and vegetables, noodles, she calls them noonels and of course french fries!

Sooo far..................

Behind on blogging I don't know when I will be able to catch up.  To make matters even worse, Ava accidentally deleted over 100 pictures off my camera :(  leaves me with a terrible feeling.  Usually she just scrolls up and down looking at pictures, I don't know how she did it.  I was trying to keep her entertained on a long car trip by letting see a few pictures and when I got the camera back, they were all gone.  Halley Mae's 2nd Birthday, my Birthday and Lady Gaga concert, my last night out in Pocatello with my girlfriends,  Moving and my Brother in Laws Wedding.  Without any pictures, I really don't even feel like blogging about these huge events.

Visit with Great Grandpa and Grandma

Halley enjoying ice cream and cake they made special for us!

We wanted to get a last minute visit in with Kalabs Grandparents.  We love these guys so much.  They are very caring, hard working, sweet people.  We're going to miss them so much!

Kalabs New Job!

On Monday we found out that Kalab is  SOCIAL WORKER 1.  He will be working for the State Of Idaho doing Child Protection. I couldnt be more proud of my awesome Husband!  I have really been praying that he would get a job.  He has been to several interviews since last May when He Graduated with no luck.  When he started his Major 4 years ago, this is exactly the job he wanted.

So in just 2 short weeks we have to be moved to Twin Falls so he can start his new career.  We do not have a apartment lined up yet, I have started packing little things, but there is so much to do to do!  I am so excited for Kalab and our family.  Good Work Kalab, we Love you!

Uncle Bill

Kalab's favorite uncle passed away last week of a heart attack.  It was a very sad funeral.  Nobody was ready for him to go.  He was such a good hearted person, even if his actual heart wasnt very good.  Doesn't seem fair sometimes, when somebody so young, and so nice leaves our world.  I loved Uncle Bill.  He was a great man.  Kalab loved him as well.  His Daughters and Son and Grandkids, Wife, Sister and Brother will miss him very much.  Rest in Peace.   We will miss you!

My Pretty Baby

I entered Halley Mae into a baby photo contest and she is one of the 10 finalists!  If I win, I get tickets to see Lady Gaga in Salt Lake City, hotel accommodations and her Fame Monster CD.  I am very excited!  The concert is March 19th, which is a pretty special day to me :)  my Birthday!  So if you haven't already voted, please do!  Go to Star985.com  click on the Vip Club tab, sign up, then click on the home tab, and click on the Gaga for Gaga link and Vote #5.

Parenting

This is such a touchy subject.  People get offended easily, when talking about their kids.  I do too.  But when its your family judging you, on how your raising your kids, you might as well stick a knife through my heart.  I know that I am a very different parent.  I am pretty relaxed and just let my kids be kids.  Which type A personalities are not comfortable with.  I am not rigid or uptight, schedules have never worked for me.  I would rather let the day take me where it will.  I think coloring and playing are more important than having an immaculate home all the time.  For the first 6 months of Ava's life I worked, leaving her at daycare, which wasn't  good for either of us.  After that I decided the best thing I can do for my kids is to stay home and give them as much love as I can.  Making sure they get home cooked meals, life lessons and hugs and kisses all day, from the person that loves them the most.  I am by no means saying I am a perfect parent, I make mistakes, but I try every day to build my girls up to make sure they have good self esteem and that they are happy, good human beings. I get to know them and learn how to best deal with their personalities.  I know how and what makes my girls tick.  I know that they will eat when they're hungry and sleep when they're tired and play when they're imagining, watch t.v and read books when they want down time.  I simply do what works for me.  There is a method to my madness.  I feel that if I was to constantly be on my kids, not to do this and that, and to be careful, eat, wake up, don't make a mess, don't spill your food, go to sleep, when would they have time to just be kids.  To imagine a fairly tale world where the Easter Bunny and Santa Clause are real.  Where princesses marry their princes.  When would they have time to develop a sense of self and become independent.

 I am so thankful for my opportunity to be able to stay at home and love my kids to pieces.  How thankful I am for everyday ordinary miracles that my girls  are.  How thankful I am that my Princesses are smart and healthy and very Happy.  How thankful I am that they have and do teach me everyday to have patience, empathy, and love.  The best kind of love.  The kind that brings you joy every minute you're around them.  I couldn't picture my life without them.

In the end I think it doesnt matter how you parent as long as your doing the best you can for your kids.  It would be nice if people didn't always think that their way is the best.  I dont judge, I just do whats best for me and my kids.  Life is to important to have any regrets, live every day to its fullest, keep your heart open and love will find its way in. 

Fun Mommy day

My kids were so adorable today!  At lunch Ava was talking about the stuff/things she wants and Kalab told her she needed to get a job, Ava's reply, "Dad the only job I can have as a five year old girl, is to be a model!"  Then she went on and on for about an hour about how much she would love to be a model.  Ava is such a good big sister.  Always taking time to be nice and play with Halley.  Sometimes I forget Ava is only 5.  She is so smart and is pretty mature for age.  Lately she has also been doing her own hair, and it is actually decent enough to leave the house.  She picks out her own bow and even makes a little pony to put the bow in her hair.

Halley is growing so much.  I am so impressed with what she has learned just over the last couple of months.  Its only a short while before she turns two.  Today I gave her a bowl of cereal and went about my daily chores, when I looked up, Halley had left the table, and was in her room, trying to open her dresser, at first I scolded her, when I went to pick her up, I noticed she had spilled her milk all over her shirt.  She was trying to get a new one.  How independent.  She has been talking so much, I love it.  Yesterday as we were trying to get out the door, Halley handed me my coat and said "dere u goo"  which is what I am always saying to her, when I hand her stuff.

I sure love being a Mommy and I couldn't ask for two better girlies!

My days seem to all just run together.  We have just been so busy!  I am surprised I have time to think lately, but we have really been enjoying our time with friends and family.  Life is good.  My days are pretty full, with cross guarding, swim lessons, dance and gymnastics for Ava, kids klub for Halley and working out for me and lots of playdates with our Moms Group. A new hobby of mine is couponing.  Its pretty fun, once you get to know the ends and outs of it.  I am always looking for that great deal! I am so thankful for a good friend, who showed me how.  Also I signed up to sell Avon.  I havent done much with it yet, but am excited too.

We are so looking forward to warmer weather and hoping everyone is enjoying the New Year!

..........January.....................

Wow this month has flown by to fast.  I feel like I haven't had a moment to rest. I was really looking forward to having lazy pajama movie time this weekend, not thinking that's going to happen.  It will be a fun weekend, but with a night out with my girl friends, Birthday Party for one of Ava's friends, and dinner with our neighbors, it will be over before I know it.

I started working on January 4th.  I really enjoy it so far and its so easy.  A little extra cash is nice too.  I am helping elementary kids cross a busy street, before and after school. It takes up a lot more of my time than I thought it would, so unfortunately house work is really lacking.  Hopefully soon we can get into a new routine and everything will fall into place.

Kalab has had a few interviews lately. None of which are in Poky.  Which really scares me.  We've been here 2.5 years, and I am finally starting to like it.  I feel comfortable.  BUT I love my husband and and trust that we will go where we need to.  Hoping and praying that where ever that is, it will be great.

The girls are doing great and happy as usual.  Halley is going to be 2 soon, not quite my baby anymore.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We thought it would be a fabulously fun idea to have a family fun run in negative degree weather.  The girls actually had a blast, running and singing Happy New year, while blowing they're little noise makers!

Dinner was pretty Yummy!  Japanese chicken wings, sweet n sour chicken wings, potstickers and fried rice!

New Years Eve!

Cheers!

Friday we picked up Victoria in Twin Falls and she was ready to party until 12 AM! Ava was pumped and ready to go, Halley and I both wanted to crash at 10, but somehow I made it, Halley did not! We had a dance and singing competion and tons of yummy snacks and Sparkling Cider. We played Disny trivia pursuit and had little fire cracker poppers, for the girls. It was just our little family, but we had a blast!

North Dakota for Christmas

Nothing like a good old fashioned crazy family Christmas to warm your heart and make the Christmas spirit come alive! I loved Christmas this year. Our Family was so blessed during the holidays, my heart is full of gratitude, especially for my older Brother, James! We wouldn't of been able to enjoy this spectacular Christmas without him and his wife, Charity. His generosity was truly appreciated, I feel like I can't thank him enough, for helping us out and making sure we could make it! I am so thankful we could spend a week with them and my family. We sure kept busy, busy.

Christmas Eve was spent doing last minute shopping and eating Chinese buffet, Thanks need to go to my Oldest brother Jody, for covering the bill for everyone! When we got back to James we lit some fireworks, which happened to be illegal but were awesome! Good thing the cop let us off with a warning! We played games and wrapped presents and played Santa until early morning hours. Charity pulled out a ton of Chocolate oranges, peanuts, Tolberone, Life Saver books, and Christmas Candy galore, for everyone. Thank You Charity, that was Awesome!

Christmas Day was perfect. We opened gifts, had a snow ball fight, went to the see TANGLED, and had a yummy Christmas dinner. My parents really surprised me with a nice bracelet from Kay Jewelers!

The Day after Christmas we went to Canada, to the peace gardens and Bottineau Winter Park, I went Snowboarding for the first time. AWESOME! I loved it, can't wait to go again, which Thanks need to go to my parents for paying for everyone who wanted to go!

Monday was a take it easy day! We did a little bit of shopping and ate at an awesome Pizza buffet, Thank You James and Charity for paying for us!

Tuesday we took a tour of James Air Force base and where he works on Nuclear Missiles. Wow! That was cool, I learned alot about Nuclear war, I have an awesome Brother.

Wednesday we drove home!




Avas favorite!

Halley Loves her pillow pet!

Game Face!

Me and Hal Christmas morning!

Grandpa on Christmas Morning, enjoying the Grandkids!

Halley is half in North Dakota and half in Canada!

Merry Christmas!

December was spent going to Parties, The Nutcracker, baking, shopping, decorating, Singing Jingle Bells and Swimming in hot pools, watching Elf and Grinch, sipping hot cocoa and the best OPENING PRESENTS! I loved December so much, I was so sad to see it go.

Ava's favorite gift, from Us!

Ava sweet Ava! So dramatic that she pretented to faint, she couldn't believe I got her a real glass tea set!

Baked goods for our neighbors and family and friends!

On Our Way to the Nutcracker, just us girls!

Which one of these is different?

The one Halley ate half of, before I noticed, 3 year old gingerbread cookies, yum yum. Glad she didn't get sick.

First night of enjoying the Christmas tree.