Gender Discovery

IT'S A BOY::

Coast

A cell phone pic of me (I suppose I should have smiled) in Lincoln City on the Oregon coast

P and I took an impromptu trip over the weekend. He had to pick up something for his new diesel truck, and I decided to tag along. The kids are in Iowa for the month, but they would have had a blast. We stayed the night, had dinner on the beach, saw a whale off the coast line. I wasn't feeling the greatest, but that didn't keep me from wearing those awesome white shades from the 90's that I found of Preston's ( I couldn't find mine).

I'm glad we took advantage of the opportunity to get away together before I'm bound to the house in a month or so. Once I hit 23-24 weeks I won't be allowed to go anywhere past the grocery store due to my high risk pregnancy.

A Special Kind of Dad

I couldn't let this day go by without a small tribute to my husband for being the man that he is to me and my kids. Although he wasn't there when my children were tiny, when they got potty trained, or when they rode the school bus for the first time; he has been there for them for what I think are the most crucial times of their lives. It's only been just over a year since we've all lived in the same home as a family, and his dedication to them and me is astounding.

He spends hours a day thinking and pondering over how to father Brynn and Caden best. He is constantly wanting to discuss tactics and ways to better raise the kids. Sometimes I think he's too hard on them, expects too much. But I really know that he wants them to be better than him. Better than me. Better for having come from this situation and this family.

If there is one thing Preston wants the kids to look back at him and know, it's that he loves them just as much as he is going to love the little baby we have on the way. That he loved the kids enough to make them great. That he was with them every morning before school, at their games, their school plays. To discipline and to love.

He even changed jobs this year and started his own business so he could set his own hours to be home in the evening with us. He just couldn't stand the thought of being gone when he knew the kids were home. It just wasn't good enough. He wanted better for them. Especially in their younger years before they start their 'tweens.'

It's hard a lot of the time. To be the Dad that has to send them to bed every night, to dish out consequences, to lecture on what it means to treat a girl with respect, or how to pick up after yourself. Not to be the one that gets to be super fun and have party time every time he sees them. To be the man that has to earn their trust and love because that which is usually a natural bond is something that has to be created over time. But he doesn't even skip a beat. He knows as a step-dad it might be easier to not care at all and leave it up to me, or just try to be the fun one and give them want they want. But he has to give them what they need. It's his nature.

P and Cade bonding over model rockets on the day of the big launch.

Anytime Brynn is near P daddy, you will find her either sitting on his lap or
hanging around his neck.

Growing

Bee Bop

Preston and I are constantly talking about what a unique and special girl we have in Brynn.
She is truly the most well-behaved, obedient, and sweetest person.

PLUS, she rides a much 'too small for her' bike with a nightgown and boots on:

Some News

a new blog: www.prestonandrochelle.blogspot.com

Character Kid

Cade recently earned the March 2011 Good Character Kid award at his school.

Mr. Griffin and I received a letter in the mail from the Principal. I must admit that my heart skipped a beat for a tiny second when I saw a letter addressed to us from the school at such a random time during the year! Lucky for Caden, it was nothing but praise...this time! Just kidding. He's a good kid. I was again reminded the other day that sometimes our children are given to us in order to provide us with the experiences and lessons that we as parents need, and not the other way around.


Caden's Character:

He loves sports. Playing. Watching. Discussing.

Everyday after school he practices hoops in the driveway.

He is stubborn.

He makes me laugh everyday.

He also tests my patience. Everyday.

He is smart. He knows it.

He can dance.

He is amazing with little children. Babies adore him.

He's great with animals.

After he finishes his daily chores he works at his job for Griffin's Gardens, putting in all the support brackets on the garden beds. He has his own tool bag and power tools. He even made a resume, dressed up, and interviewed for this position. Look for the upcoming blog post, complete with his interview video!

He taught FHE tonight on Let Your Light Shine. He bore his testimony and did his best to not cry. He did a little though.

GC

I really enjoyed General Conference this past weekend. I always do. And even though I wasn't feeling very well on Saturday and Sunday, I had the perfect set up in my bed:


The kids watched in the front room, QUIETLY, which was a huge blessing in and of itself. I think these Conference Packets had something to do with it:


Preston even brought me breakfast in bed on BOTH conference mornings. He also made lunch for the kids and helped them work on preparing this month's FHE lessons. I'm spoiled. You have no idea.


For the past several weeks we have decided that Sundays need to be made even more holy and different from the other days of the week. When P and I were engaged, we got a resource packet from the Bishop's wife on all things Marriage. We've taken a few hours every Sunday after church (and after naps of course) to go over the talks and studies and set weekly goals for ourselves. It's been wonderful.

I think the biggest lesson for me from all the GC sessions was to stop focusing on my TO DO lists and work on my TO BE's. For those of you who know me best, or even barely know me at all, you know that to-do lists are my thing. Hmmm...is it is possible to make a to-do list of to-be's?

{my absolute favorite planner ever. yes, i actually took pics the day it arrived in the mail!}

What do you all of you do on Sundays to keep it a special day? I'd love new ideas.

Come On, Let's Coupon!

I have been going coupon crazy. My stock pile has been overflowing and is now located in my mother's food storage room, the room that's almost as big as my entire house! I love getting the above little freebie packs in the mail on a near daily basis. I later add the samples to our 72 hour kits.
I feel so savvy when I come home with bags upon bags of stuff for our food storage without spending hardly anything. I recently started looking at the 'total savings' amount on my receipts and have been putting that amount into savings. Its amazing how much I've saved in such a small amount of time.

Recent Top Pics (from my cell phone)

Tiny miracle. Baby Beckham. First time I've seen him with his little hat off and no SiPap covering his face. I can't wait to get to know him better.

Oh this little girl. What you can't fully tell is that she has a pair of BRIGHT pink undies on under this 'gown' as she calls it, and everytime she bends over they stick out. Her hair is a mess and she probably has marker or food on her face, or both. No socks or tights, and it's pouring rain outside. She is my Bryncess though. She is sweet and soft and sensitive. She is tenderhearted and thoughtful. She tells me her feelings and wants to know mine. She gets along with anyone and all the kids in her class want to be her closest friend.

These two nuts have become the family 'babies' over the past few months. They have personalities and help the kids fill the void of not having more siblings. When I'm not scolding these kittens for being ridiculous and hyper, I can see myself actually starting to semi-like them.

{view from my front porch}

On Christmas Eve morning, we packed up the family truck and headed up to Mt. Hood. It was surreal in its beauty. It's amazing how still and quiet it was when we first got up to the sledding hill...before the mountain echoed with the screams and laughter of the four of us barreling down the slope on our sleds!

The little town of Government Camp had the most authentic and breath taking horse drawn carriages. Complete with bells on the horses harnesses.



At one point we all got in a line on our backs next to each other and looked as the snow fell to our faces. Brynn, in all of her 7 year old awe, said, "Oh, it's just so magical." It truly was. Caden has repeatedly stated that it was his most favorite Christmas ever.
I just loved the wheels on the carriage. Made me think of what it would be like to live in another time. After freezing for hours though, I decided that I am really happy where I am in life.

Ah, the Christmas Advent mini tree that I made for the kids. Each day was filled with a special treat, story, scripture, or service activity. One of the seasons highlights for sure.

Just the four of us.

Kissy kissy.

The special ornament P and I got on our honeymoon at Disney World. We got two others while on our trip; one on the cruise ship and another in Nassau.

More memories...

THE TWO

*Pictures provided by Erica Youngblut Photography

grATTITUTE

One of Preston's biggest life lessons that he wants to teach the kids is on being grateful. Preston consistently prays that we can be a humble and grateful people. I am truly grateful that he has been raised this way.

It seriously makes him ILL when he sees what material things children are given these days. He can't stand it when a child refuses to eat something their mother has prepared for them. When one of the kids is bored at home, saying they simply have NOTHING to do or to play with, Preston immediately puts them to work.

He wants us to all be grateful for our EXPERIENCES, our life lessons, our trials, the list goes on and on. He won't put up with just giving the kids something without them EARNING it. When we did sub for Santa for a family this year, the kids earned the money to help pay for the gifts. It's well and all when a child goes shopping with the family to buy for others less fortunate. They pick out wonderful gifts and mom or dad goes to pay the cashier with money that seems to come from a plastic card. It's easy for them. But what happens when the children are the ones to pay for it? I'll tell you. It MEANS something to them. Brynn and Cade were so invested in the picking out of gifts, finding the perfect item, and purchasing the presents with money that they had worked for.

Grateful Garland. 200 strips of paper.

Lots of thinking and writing what we are all thankful for.
I love that B spelled Christmas as 'Krestmus'

The finished product went from one side of the room allll the way to the other.

The Gratitude Jar. 30 days of activities and service to foster a thankful heart.

Grateful Board. Passed around to both of our families on Thanksgiving Day.

In August I had the amazing chance to go visit my

dear sweet friend, JennyB! Oh how I love her so, and her kiddos.

They were hilarious. I wanted to stay forever.

I HAVE A FAVORITE

Hallie. My sweet, precious little niece. I am in love with this girl. She makes me light up inside every.single.time I see her. She runs to me, jumps into my arms, and immediately asks if I have any gum or lip gloss?! So, of course I stock my purse now.