Dani Girl

 

You are bright, polite, and beautiful! Recently you turned 8, although carrying on a conversation with you is generally more like talking to another adult. You still love school and are a little learning machine, we love that you love to learn! You are playing basketball again for your schools team and have become quite the little guard and you are one mean gal on defense. What a difference a year has made on your coordination and knowledge for love of the game. You just started taking a knitting class every other Saturday and we can't wait to see some of the neat projects you will make. You are growing like a weed and my bet is it won't be much longer before you're taller than me. Kanyon adores you, you are one of his most favorite people and the bond you two have is incredible. You are an amazing little artist and have your very own art room that is SUPER awesome in your new house. At the school auction, you had a painting that sold for $75 (your mom bought it LOL). Keep up all the hard work and life will open many doors for you!

14 Years Old - MAKE TIME STOP!

At some point in the last 14 years, I blinked and my sweet little Charlie Brown tot turned into a not so sweet, loud, funny, and sometimes mouthy teenager. In the last year you have grown an enormous amount, it's unreal to me. We always had a pretty good idea that you would be tall but now we are extra curious at just how tall you might end up. You are almost 6 ft already, I'm convinced its from all the sleep you get haha. You are trying so hard to find your place in this world, I think it's fairly common at your age with all the added hormones running through your veins. I never dreamt you would be my "hard" child but somedays you push limits that add gray hair to my already graying head. You have a new found rebuttal for everything and seem to "HATE" all rules. You have a slight temper; however, you are learning that it's more beneficial to walk away and recollect versus punching things. Your sister Kennedy drives you INSANE and you two basically go the rounds daily. Regardless of all the challenges you've presented us with lately, my love for you is out of this world. You have the most kind and gentle soul (you always have) and want so much to make everyone happy. When you notice that I'm having a not so great day, you come and put your arms around me and tell me that "everything is ok and you love me." You give some of the worlds best hugs and I pray that will never change as time ticks on by. I have to be completely honest I'm not so overly found of the whole girlfriend thing. It's just one more thing that makes me realize how much you are growing up, plus now you text her more than me SO NOT COOL DUDE! I pray that you will always use your best judgment and make wise choices and when you do make mistakes (we all do) that you learn from them. I hope that all of your passions stay just that and you don't ever overlook the small things in life that bring you happiness. Keep hunting, fishing, camping, finish school, give your mom lots of hugs, say sorry when you're wrong, sleep when you're tired, and be successful in your endeavors. I'm so grateful for you (even the bad) and my love for you brings mounds of joy to my world.

Pieces of Kimbree

Kimbree is completely kissable from the top of her (old man hair) head to the tips of her dainty little toes. We love all of the kissable pieces in between too!

"Kids Say the Darndest Things"

As most of you know 3 year olds have quite dynamic personalities. Kanyon soon to be 3 and a 1/2 has no filter or volume control so I figured what the hay let's share some of Kan's boastful and gut wrenching funny darndest sayings. Yes these words came from his mouth and I have to apologize for the language (still a work in progress. So here they are in no random order: "For hells sake Kimbree Jo SHUT UP" (in the midst of one of her crying fits). "I pooped on Pauls's shirt, Paul's going to be so ticked off that I pooped on his shirt" (this happens when you put a shirt 10 sizes to big on a little boy that has to poop, the back of the shirt ended up in the water). "Son of a ------ that hurt." "I don't even like her, she's freaking weird" (in response to brother Kaleb's girlfriend). "S*&T I was going to save that for later" (after dropping his bowl of applesauce on the way to the fridge). "I don't like cat food meatballs they taste like a cow" (after a bad elk meatball recipe). "Mom's a girl she has no pee pee." "I'm not your son I'm the holy spirit" (after telling him son don't do that). "Bubba crapped his pants" (obviously after a nasty smelling fluff). "My poop looks like a mean duck." "Mom are you pumping breastmilk for Kimbree, I can make special milk to feed her too." "If you don't give me fruit snacks I'm not your best friend anymore." "gasp HE SAID A BAD WORD" (after the priest said Jesus Christ during mass). "Are you super tired" (picked up after baby Kimbree was born). "Don't talk to me like that I'm just 3 years old" (after being asked to do something). "You can go sit in time out missy." "Mom are you frustrated, do you still love me" (after being told he was making mommy really mad). "It's ok babe" (picked up from listening to daddy call mommy babe). Oh how I generally love the little phrases that fly out of Kan's little mouth. I'm not always proud of certain words that come with those phrases but we generally get a good chuckle.

Holy Poop 2 months already

2 months sure flies, especially when you are just enjoying the poop out of it. Kimbree has added a great amount of joy to our home and hearts. She has a smile that lights up the darkest of days. She has found her voice and she simply loves lying on the floor cooing up a storm. She recently discovered her tongue and is our little lip licker. At her 8 week shot appointment she weighed 10 lb. 3 oz. (mommy's milk is doing her little body good) and she is 23 inches long. Like most babies that must endure the inevitable nasty shots, she screamed. She has a slight pooping problem by slight I mean she doesn't poop lol without being coaxed by a suppository so the Dr. is in full swing of fixing this. I won't go into details because it's just plain gross but if it helps her poop then so be it. We still love playing dress up and I've added painted toes and bracelets to her ensembles. I forget how much fun baby girls are to dress. She still loves her baths and the warmth of the blow dryer. Kimbree's personality did a complete 180 after she started going to daycare when I returned to work, she basically put herself on an eating and sleeping schedule WHEW what a god send to have her sleep 7-8 solid hours at night and be sound asleep by 9 p.m. Her fussiness has subsided and she has been a true gem, I immensely enjoy the time we get together, I fall more in love with her each and every day.

2014 Christmas Pics

I do have a slight tendency to go overboard with pictures so to narrow a few down to post is quite the chore for me. The kids had a wonderful Christmas, despite that dreaded call Christmas morning letting us know that my grandpa passed away. We are truly blessed to have known such a remarkable man, he will forever be in our hearts and dearly missed. From Christmas day going forward he will always be known as our special Christmas angel.

Mother's Heart

I loved you from the very start,
You stole my breath, embraced my heart.
Our life together has just begun
You’re part of me my little one.
As mother with child, each day I grew,
My mind was filled with thoughts of you.

I'd daydream of the things we'd share,
Like late-night bottles and Teddy bears.
Like first steps and skinned knees,
Like bedtime stories and ABC's.
I thought of things you'd want to know,
Like how birds fly and flowers grow.

I thought of lessons I'd need to share,
Like standing tall and playing fair.
When I first saw your precious face,
I prayed your life be touched with grace.
I thanked the angels from above,
And promised you unending love.

Each night I lay you down to sleep,
I gently kiss your head and cheek.
I count your little fingers and toes;
I memorize your eyes and nose.
I linger at your nursery door,
Awed each day I love you more.

Through misty eyes, I dim the light,
I whisper, "I love you" every night.
I loved you from the very start,
You stole my breath, embraced my heart.

1 Month & Thriving

When it seems like you're bound to be pregnant forever, you blink and all of a sudden your brand new baby is already a month old. We've had some definite chaos in the last month in our household. Managing an already large family is sheer craziness and then you add a restless newborn and tired mommy and you better run for cover. Kimbree hasn't proven to be the best baby in the world and even still I can't get enough of her. The days that we've had together make my sleepless nights ok. I feel like I could snuggle and keep her tiny forever. Some of my favorite traits of hers are: she's a definite mommy's girl, it's always mommy to the rescue in her raging fits to calm and soothe her down instantly. She loves the sound of the blow dryer, its an instant soother. In the mornings when she's wide awake she loves to lay on the floor in front of the fireplace where its nice and warm. She hates to be juggled from one person to the next, it's a sure fire way to screw up a good mood (kids don't always understand this). Her favorite place to sleep is on a warm chest wrapped in a fleece blanket. She DOES NOT sleep at night and naps inconsistently during the day, there's already no solid with this little gal. I love to dress her up and match headbands to every outfit (daddy hates this). She now loves her baths, she didn't the first few. Everyone seems to love her more than she loves them, sad but true and I hope time will change this personality trait. Regardless of all the downsides to having this beauty controlling our house, she has added an extra amount of joy to our lifes and we look forward to all of the months to come.

My Sweet Sweet Kimbree Jo

Without hesitation we are beyond elated to introduce our precious sweet angel Kimbree Jo. She made her grand debut and not only joined but completed our family circle on November 11th at 8:20 a.m. weighing 6 lbs. 15.5 oz and 19 inches in length. Whew talk about a long taxing labor (32 hours) Kimbree was hanging onto mom's womb for dear life, already a stubborn little cuss. She was by far my longest labor, after being admitted into the hospital just after midnight on Saturday, she arrived Monday morning. I can't really go on and on about a grueling labor because it really wasn't that bad until the end when I might have snapped a time or two at my poor husband who was merely trying to comfort me.  I loved Kimbree long before she was ever placed into my arms but the moment this tiny little piece of heaven looked up at me, the insane amounts of love my heart already possessed grew times ten. She was so tiny and perfect. Her color was perfect upon arrival and all of her features (except that darn Hough nose) were all so petite and beautiful. As long as I live I will always remember our first moments with Kimbree. The way she stretched her little neck and head up to see me when she was placed on my belly. Her sweet smell that still makes my nose tingle. Her long fingers and monkey toes. Her soft sweet cry letting the world know that she is here to do many great things. Kimbree, as long as I'm living I will do everything in my power to protect you, provide you laughter, catch your tears, shelter you from the many hardships that life bestows upon us, and show you an abundance of love that will last your entire lifetime. You're my little ladybug and I'm blessed to be your mommy, I love you more than words will ever express. Welcome to our world little one!!!