Aisley and her CTR Hero

In Primary they choose different kids each week to take home a CTR Hero that helps them make good choices and find ways to serve others. Aisley was so excited when she got chosen! We needed to think of some way to do a service for someone so that we could take her picture and then she got to report on what she did in Primary the next week. So we thought of a few things, and after her daddy left for work that day she told me that she wanted to thank the ambulance people for always helping others. I told her that was a great idea! I was so proud of her for wanting to do it. She knows first hand of how much they help people because that's what Daddy does when he goes to work and sometimes he comes home really tired because he had to stay up all night too. So we made some chocolate chip cookies (her favorite!!) and took them to the guys at Southwest Ambulance to thank them for all they do! It was so fun to see how much they appreciated a little 5 year old to think of them!!

I'm a BIG BOY now!!

It was time to potty train Rigdon. I was dreading it, but he was ready. He wanted to be big and I kept putting him off until after the holidays at least. So we finally decided to try it before he lost interest. That would not be good! So we bought him some unders and treats for bribery, and we started January 30th.

The first day wasn't too bad, but the newness wore off by the second and third days. I think I made it worse just because I kept asking him and taking him every so often that he got tired of going. But he did great! He learned how to make himself go so he could get treats. And his sister was a great help too. She got him to go so she could have treats too, because she helped! We started on Monday and by Friday he made it through a day of shopping in town without any accidents!!! Aisley and I cheered him on and he would remind us to clap if we forgot! We made a chart so that he could put stickers on and that was fun for him and Aisley both. Happy to say it went much better than I anticipated since he just turned 2 in October. He loved the attention, and we are so proud of him!!! I'm definitely enjoying a couple months of no diapers before the baby comes.

Note to self:

Don't tell my wonderful daughter to remind me to clean out the cupboards...because at the end of the day when I am tired, don't feel good, just trying to finish cleaning up the kitchen, feeling somewhat satisfied with what I DID get accomplished today she opens the cupboards and says, "These cupboards are a mess!! Why didn't you clean them today?"

She really does mean well. And when it comes right down to it, she will be right there offering to help! Love my little organizer!

30 Weeks and counting...I thought!

I finally hit 30 weeks! It seems like it's down hill from here, and he will be here before we know it. Or at least before we are ready for him! I just had my 2nd ultrasound this morning and they confirmed that he is still a very healthy, active little boy! He weighs just over 3 pounds, and growing fast. Actually faster than we thought. He is measuring bigger than my original due date so he is now expected to deliver on April 8th!! That means 10 less days to come up with a name for this child!!! The whole naming thing is so hard for me. I stress about it (not that it helps :)) but then one day it just comes to me. I just can't wait, and hope it comes sooner than later! The latest pictures of the boy. A side profile and a face picture. He looks like he has cheeks!!

So 9 weeks to go and here are my top 9 things I'm feeling:
#9: Can't wait to hold him in my arms and feel his little squeezes.
#8: So NOT looking forward to being up all night.
#7: How am I going to go anywhere? I have two hands and they seem full already how am I going to handle a third one in the mix??
#6: I can't wait to see how his personality fits into our family.
#5: Looking forward to getting back in shape...somewhat at least!!
#4: Be able to eat and not be sick or have heartburn!
#3: Looking forward to rock-a-bye time!
#2: Who is going to want to babysit?? It's not just one or two kids...it's going to be 3 now! Will I ever get to have time alone or get to go on a date again??
#1: Can't wait to feel the sweetest spirit in our home that is so fresh from heaven!

There you have it my emotional roller coaster! And yes, I'm crying just thinking about it!! :)

Catching up!

It's been a crazy since I last updated our blog. Some exciting things we've been up to I might have to say though! The week after we got back from Alpine I found out that I am PREGNANT!! A little surprised since we had been trying for quite a while, and it wasn't happening for us. Something that I can say we know too well. But things worked out and I started right off the bat with not feeling good though. Happy to say that finally after 25 weeks of it, I can function and life is pretty much back to normal again! It got better just in time for Christmas and all the fun of getting ready for it. Thanks goodness! Just before Thanksgiving we had our anatomy ultrasound and found out that we are having a very active, healthy, little BOY! I'm due April 18th. We are super excited. Rigdon will have a great time growing up with a little brother. As for Aisley, it took some reminding of how much she loves her brother. She had her heart set on a little sister this time, but she is good with another brother now. She will be wonderful help. She is quite the little mother as it is already, so to actually get to do it for a real baby brother is going to be heaven for her! She is already talking about when he comes out of my tummy, and when she gets to help change diapers, and babysit! It's going to be great!

We were able to watch and be a part of the excitment of things happening on the farm. Lots of prep work had to take place for the drip system to be put in. Jed tried to do as much as he could on his days off. So the kids loved to go ride the tractor with him. They plowed, leveled, drug, and then planted some of it. The kids (and Jed!) were in heaven!! Those are such great family memories. Couldn't stop for lunch so we had lots of picnics and naps on the bumpy tractor.

The kids are growing so fast, and everyday seems to be a new adventure. Rigdon had his 2nd birthday and Aisley just turned 5!! Rigdon had a party with cousins at the park. I made him a "tracta" cake, and he was so happy! I just love his personality. He is my little lover boy, he gets mad and can throw the biggest fit, but he is so much easier to reason with than his sister! He understands when he gets in trouble, and then he is happy again! He is his Daddy's little sidekick. He loves to go with his Dad. Especially on the "tracta" or in the truck! He and Aisley are the best of friends. They love being together. Rigdon is so much fun to have in our family!

Then for Aisley's birthday she got to have a Dora the Explorer and Boots Party! She was so excited. She invited all her friends and cousins to go on a birthday adventure with her. We even had Swiper the fox which made it even more fun! It was great, and it made her happy so that was all that mattered! It is so fun to watch her grow up. She has always been so shy, but the day she turned 5 she decided she wasn't afraid to do more things. One thing she decided that she was going to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what she wanted this year. Which was huge progress from last year, since she bursted into tears when he came in the room! She is so beautiful inside and out! She can be so sweet and caring. Especially when I was on the couch alot. She took care of Rigdon and tried not to bother me with every little thing. She has always been the best helper. I don't know what I'd do without her. Everyday I cherish our friendship. But don't let me fool you, she is her Daddy's girl too! She loves to be her Daddy's helper and put on her work clothes (her boots and hat) and go with him also.

Halloween was in there somewhere too! The kids were so cute. Jed had to work on Halloween so we dressed up the kids so he could see them and then went to grandparent's houses to show them. They still thought we needed more candy, so I took them trick or treating on Monday so we could feel like our Halloween was complete now that they had a bucket of candy!

And Christmas! It was great this year. It started off with making gingerbread houses with a friend on mine. and going to the ward Christmas party. Rigdon was so happy to get a sucker in his bag from Santa he ran back and told him, "thanks!" Too cute! And that is all he could talk about until Christmas day and he got more things to be excited about.

Christmas time is always filled with the stress of what to get everyone, but it all worked out. I think we did pretty good this year. The kids were so excited. Their happiness makes it all worth while. Spending time with our families is always my favorite. We don't get to see everyone much anymore so it's great when we all get together for the holidays. We took the kids on the Polar Express as part of their Christmas. It was so fun with Rigdon. He loves trains, and all the way to Flagstaff he kept saying "ride the train, it's gonna be so fun!!"

Then when we got home Santa had to get to work early. The kids got a swing set that had to be put together...and Jed had to work Christmas Eve. So it had to be done before he left. He started on Thursday and finished it Friday night! Then I had to keep the kids inside and away from the window for three days! It's a good thing it was cold and we were busy. We were able to pull it off, and they were so surprised. It was great! Aisley told us that this was the best Christmas EVER!!

And all dressed up in their new Christmas outfits ready for church!! So dang CUTE!! I love these kids!

Trip to Alpine

We got to enjoy a weekend in Alpine with all of Jed's side of the family which was really nice. We haven't all been together for quite a long time. We were afraid we weren't going to be able to go since the fire burned so close to the cabin we were staying in and didn't want to have everything be black and burned. But since the fire it rained quite a bit and the grass came back really good. Perfect for our adult softball game in the meadow! The kids loved being together as well. They played and played. We tried to take them fishing, but there wasn't much fishing since all the roads were closed due to the fire. But on the way we did get to see the helicopters loading and dropping straw from the air on the sides of the mountains that burned. So that was exciting since we have so many adults that love helicopters too. Hard to say who was fascinated by them the most!

One night after dinner we were all sitting around talking just before bed, and grandma Norton went around the room and asked everyone to say something they are thankful for. We laughed about it, but it's always good to think about the things we have and not take for granted.

We enjoyed our weekend. Good company, fun times, great food, beautiful weather, but most of all we did it together as a family! Thanks everyone for making the effort to be there.

and finally the pictures!

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