The Newest Bauman: Graham Lawrence

The only way to describe this time around is waiting...and waiting...and waiting some more. It's unfamiliar to me really-all the waiting-3 weeks more waiting than any of the others. They came on their own-eager to meet the world and surprising us with a quick entrance-a little too quick for ones liking in most cases-Doctors running down the hall as to not miss doing what they were hired to do-nurses firmly insisting to put off pushing even when there was no stopping the inevitable. No time to think, to second guess, to make decisions-and then it was all over-and another member of our family was suddenly here. Me-a mother for the first, second, third time-just like that.

Not Graham though-he wanted to defy the norm-or maybe he was just too cozy on the inside-too aware of how cold the outside could be or how hard sometimes life is. No amount of walking would do the trick of coaxing him out. And I truly understood the meaning of discomfort. As the doctor put it "you are just running out of room" And so an induction date was set....was it the right thing to do-not letting him just come on his own? Would he be big enough-is that why he was still hanging on?  Would it be worse happening in slow motion instead of full speed? All the worry and anxiety mixed up with excitement, anticipation, dread.I knew what was coming, and what I had to do to get him here-so much pain and hard work. Yet, I was ready to have it done and him here safely.

Even with a set date there was still waiting...laying in bed as the darkness faded into light as 6 am, 8 am, 9 am, 10 am came and went- in and out of sleep-waiting for the hospital to call to tell us we could come-that they were ready-that I was aloud to have a baby at a designated time that day...a strange and foreign way of going about it. Finally the phone vibrates and Dan announces they scheduled us in for 10:30 am:
shower
dress
finish packing....
wet hair in a bun-
naked face-
comfy clothes ...
My pillow under my arm.
Kisses and goodbyes
children-big eyed and loving;
wishes of good luck.
A CTR ring to borrow ...
A declaration of faith....you can do it mom!

See you soon with our new brother....A new brother...one they prayed for... one they have waited for ....one I struggled for.... and one who belongs

I could do it...I did it before...and I would do it again... we were on our way.

We casually check in, and slowly walk to our room-the nurse takes time to write our names on the white board and shows us where we could put our things,where the TV remote is, and how to get to the snack room...people have time for these things here? so unusual...at least for me.

I change alone into my gown, oh the revealing gown-more time to be embarrassed and time to attempt to be modest....so odd-this business of having time...nothing like the rush of before-when Dan had to help me strip my clothes as to hurry on to the next step in the process...

And then I'm in bed and reality sets in-I text my sisters for support-only women can understand and offer what i need...encouragement, confidence, reassurance.  "I'm scared-please send positive thoughts, love, and prayers":
You've got this
Your amazing
We love u
It will all be OK
I am praying for you

Just in time for the I.V. please get it in my "curvy veins" the first time...and thank goodness she did. I already like her. And then...we watch soccer and lick cold Popsicle and wait. The Doctor makes a surprise appearance-whistling as he-pushes the curtain aside. With a devious grin, he rubs his hands together as he excitedly announces we are going to break my water to get things started...

I am not scared by his light hearted/sometimes crazy approach to things...I welcome it....his personality  might not be for everyone but it is OK with me. His energy makes me relax a little-things don't seem as serious or hard when an upbeat person is there to keep your spirits high. This is one reason I chose him....looks like a knitting needle-there is no pain-just A LOT of leaking for the next 45 minutes....there is something kind of uncomfortable to feel like you are peeing your pants for that long...

I lay on my side and try to sleep in between watching "pawn star" and more waiting...still no pain or sign of changes-a trip to the bathroom and then things begin to seem different. Nothing major but the nurse seems to become more serious about things and states that I have made significant progress within a small amount of time...I translate that into: the end is coming soon.

I am right-all too soon I am at an 8 and starting to feel the overwhelming waves of pain begin to hit. Daniel quietly moves to the side of my bed knowing silence is how I do things. Slowly-my arms, hands, neck and lips begin to tingle and turn numb as I work through contractions-nervousness sets in and I finally break the silence as I complain to Daniel about this foreign development. He doesn't waste any time pushing the call button..."we need the nurse-parts of my wife's body are going numb"

The nurse promptly arrives and pulls her stool up to the side of my bed...she positions a oxygen mask down over my mouth and tells me to take deep breaths. My body was shifting through the stages of labor at such a rapid pace that it was going into shock-I wasn't getting enough oxygen-thus the numbness. "You can do this" she said as she looks me straight in the eye-I can tell right away which of my patients will be able to handle labor without an epidural and which can't-you can. From this point on-she doesn't move from my side. She holds my hand as she softly directs Daniel as to what to do-there was never time for him to do much before...

"the most important thing is to remind her during each contraction to relax and not tense up. If you feel or see her tense up, tell her to slow her breathing and relax her body."

"Your body is running a marathon Kendra and you are almost to the finish line-the contractions are the hills-give in to them instead of fighting...don't anticipate them."

"Sink in-rest during the time that the contraction declines...."

My legs start to shake violently and Dan looks over at the nurse for answers
"It's just her body's way of telling her that she is pushing it to its limits-she is climbing a mountain. It is slowly shutting down....you can do it...hold on...I don't know how much longer I can hold on."

I concentrate on making it through each contraction...one at a time...I try to keep myself from hyperventilating, from panicking....I am taken in sheer surprise as the pain of each contraction escalates and becomes more excruciating than the last. The sweat drips and oozes from my pores. Without permission, tears run freely down my cheeks-I can't keep them in anymore. Despair sets in as things seem to be never ending...finally he drops and things move to a hole other level. I announce that the pressure is becoming unbearable and she nods as she tries not to run to the door to call the doctor. Within seconds he appears-"its time to have a baby" his smile radiates from ear to ear and even through all my pain-I can't help but try to weakly smile back. He will make everything ok...he will make the pain stop.

Just when I think that I am ready to cross my finish line-the challenge of pushing holds me back. I put all my effort into pushing when they tell me to and hear the grunts and guttural moans of agony escape my mouth. I push until both my lungs are collapsed and there is no air left in me-they tell me to rest and breathe...I just want it to be over and continue to push as long as I can before gasping for more air. Frustration arrives as we get to the fourth try and I still can't get him out. My body is tired and I need the waiting to be over.The task seems impossible-yet I know the pain won't end even if I quit. I grab the rails of the bed and shake my head as I cry.

"Just one more push, just one good push and we will have your baby" some how I muster enough trust that he is telling me the truth and enough energy to give it one more shot. His promise is valid and with one more burst of effort and a little help as he pushes against my stomach I scream and seering pain races up my legs- I feel the head then the shoulders and finally the body and legs as he slips out of my body.... my poor sore body. I lay there heaving in and out crying and sobbing as the emotion I have been holding in-controling-lets loose from somewhere deep within me. My heart is still pounding as I take deep breaths.
I hear the distant murmurs of the nurses and doctors around me-
Doctor Empey: WOW! He's a chubby one! Like a train wreck tearing through there...
The Nurse: You did it Kendra! You did great! Your a rock star-it's over and you have a beautiful baby
Other voices: 8 pounds 2 ounces....22 inches long
Daniel: You did it sweets-he is here and he's huge-he chuckles on his way down to kiss my head and squeeze my hand...through his touch, I feel his pride-in me and in our new son
We are parents once again...to a sweet boy named graham. All I want is for my children to be here with us- to welcome their new brother and to feel of the miracle and spirit of heaven.

Small Things Bring to Pass Great Things

I am now 38 weeks prego and am ready to meet my baby boy-oh am I ready to be done....but in the mist of be achy a little depressed, and HUGE-I find myself amazed at the quiet acts of kindness and reminders of love-that HE is aware of me and my simple struggles:

*Dinner brought to my door unexpectedly on a night when dan is away on business and it is already getting late, all the kids are in the bath, and I haven't even started to think of what to make...I was tired and alone-I could tell she wasn't sure if she had done the right thing-especially with how I probably looked when I answered the door-THANK YOU for listening to that small voice-despite your reservations-I cried after closing the door.
* Cookies brought to share with my children and I -pumpkin chocolate chip! On a night when I needed something sweet and we were all out but I couldn't face going to the store:) They were perfect! THANK YOU
*Watching a primary teacher week after week love my child just as I would-accepting her hugs, being grateful for her pictures, patient, and kind-THANK YOU FOR LOVING AND TEACHING HER
*Last, my children-never before have they been so helpful in their short little lives than they have in the past couple days. Running up and down the stairs to get things for mom because it hurts her to do it, getting in the car before I have to ask, hugs, cleaning, the list goes on-THANK YOU FOR JUST KNOWING WHAT MOMMY NEEDS.

It's the little things and the people in life that make it worth trying when life gets hard....

Healing Power Of Nature

There's something about Nature...the sun, the blue sky, the gentle breeze, the beautiful trees, flowers,water, and creatures ...when I am depressed and down-it fills me with a sense of peace, hope, joy and gratefulness. I needed a renewal of those things a few weeks ago. What better way to do it than with family on a walk around Silver Lake in Park City. Life can get heavy at times, but God provides plenty of remedies to cure our heaviness. Life is  meant to have days like this-pure and good.

Kids Say the Darnest Things!

I have been thinking lately that I needed to write down some of the cute things and saying my kids have done and said lately before I can't remember them anymore:

Tavin: This summer we put Tavin in swim lessons- and despite being a little hesitant at first, he caught on pretty well. One of his classmates was named Natalia, and being to good friend that Tavin is, one morning I hear him cheering her on: "good job Italian! Good Job! Keep going Italian!" I had to kindly remind him that her name was Natalia-not Italian:)

Katie:Katie has become a lot more sensitive and aware as she has gotten older, and lately I have noticed she is very serious about "doing what Jesus would want her to do" I am grateful to her Sunday school teachers for teaching her this and for the FHE lessons on this topic that have seemingly affected her. Sh held the door for a man that was in a wheel chair and afterward, with a huge smile on her face, she said to me-that is what Jesus would want me to do:) Or the few times she remembers to share with Livy-she promptly comments that Jesus would be happy that she did that. I quietly encourage her efforts by agreeing and praising her. She understands how doing what is good and right it makes her feel happy inside. Perfect moments to share about the Holy Ghost! She is growing to be beautiful on the inside and out!

Livy: It must be because she has Katie and Tavin to learn from but she is by far the fastest to pick up words/talking. It seems like she has something new to say every week! This week it is "oh man!" We were putting together a puzzle and she would say "mom, where go, where go? I would point to the place where the piece would go and she would happily say "OK!" If a piece didn't fit where she wanted it to go, she would say-"OH MAN!" :)

Her other common saying: "No Way!" is the answer she gives when she is serious about not wanting to do something:) So asking if we can change her diaper often gets this response or if she is ready for nap time.

She says "I love me" when she wants to tell me she loves me:)
or "hold you" if she wants me to hold her.

She also has her own way of saying my sisters' names:
Kissy = Chrissy
Kisha = Krisha
Kimmy = Kimberly

And she calls the baby in my stomach-her soon to be little brother-"My baby"

First Grade Has Begun!

Tavin is now a first grader at Eastlake Elementary and is excited as ever to be in Mrs. Murray's class. The first day he whispered to me "mom, I'm a little nervous" but as usual-he is doing great! So far things have been going well and I can already tell he is improving in his reading skills. He is so good at math-something I struggled with during my school years-he must follow after his dad. And he is so friendly and social.

Back to school night was only 2 days after he started school and I was the first one to enter the classroom. I introduced myself to the teacher and she asked which child was mine:
"Tavin Bauman-the red headed little boy"
Mrs. Murray immediately began to tear up-oh no-what happened in only 2 days of school??
"Oh your little boy already has a special spot in my heart...a girl who is in our class and is in a wheel chair started school two days late. As soon as she came in the class room, Tavin, without even being prompted or asked went up to her and befriended her. He introduced himself and quickly made her feel at ease."

Of course, as a mother, my heart filled with joy, all those lessons on being kind and not judging someone because they are different-seemed to have payed off.

"That is Tavin for ya"

I am so grateful to be Tavin's mom and know that he is bound to do wonderful things! It is a privileged to be along for the ride. Here's to another successful and fun year of school!

Close to Popin' Time!

One of my secret hobbies/interests is watching animal planet or documentaries about animals...I just love it! Daniel is so good about humoring me in this and often times-when it is my turn to pick what we watch-he willingly agrees:) How nature works and the intricate features each animal is given to survive/thrive in life is amazing to me. Part of the animal instinct is to create and take care of/raise their own children. It brings me joy to see what good and dedicated mothers animals can be. And in the long run, I have it the easiest when carrying a child:

Elephant:18 months 

Giraffe: 14 months

Zebra:12 zebra

Humans: 9 months 

The first three months of this pregnancy have been the hardest out of my children. I think with age-my ability to handle the sickness and debilitating affects-has gotten worse. But the first time I was able to hear my baby's heart beat and see him move around so delicate and real in my tummy-it was love:) My heart fills with affection as I feel him kick and grow each day and I am truly excited for the next member of our family to come join us. Only 3 more months until Graham is here!

 I don't often remember to take pictures of my pregnant belly, but as Dan and I got ready to leave for a date last weekend, I had him take a quick one (while I felt pretty and put together. It is rare during my pregnancies that I have the energy to get ready)

Daniel insisted on me posing this way on the couch just for fun-we had a good laugh over it:) He cracks me u sometimes!

A powerful Quote about mothers: Mothers in today's society should be like a female Tiger guarding a gate....she patiently and effectively paces back and forth-aware of any and all predators that might come her way.  We need to guard our homes in a like manner-completely aware of the very real dangers of the adversary that linger right outside our door-waiting to destroy our family and lead our children away.

Angel Kisses

I am grateful to those who show kindness and love to my children and see them for the special people that I know them to be. One of these people works at This is the Place monument and museum in the barber shop. What a great grandpa he must be! When we walked in, he asked if any of the kids would like a shave like they did in the old days. Tavin was hesitant but Katie jumped right up in the chair for her turn. He cheerfully started to lather her face and explain the process of shaving in the old days using a dull blade to clean the shaving cream off her face. He then noticed her beautiful freckles.

"Little Lady you have a wonderful bunch of freckles on your cheeks and nose. Did you know that the pioneers had another name for freckles? Angel Kisses! You must be really loved to have so many-the same with your brother. The angels have kissed you lots:) "

He then put some mild aftershave on her cheeks and she happily jump down so brother could have a chance.  To someone else, this might seem like just a simple remark, but to my children it meant something. Ever since we left the Barber Shop both Tavin and Katie tell everyone what freckles are really called. The comment on other peoples' freckles and their own. It gives the confidence and fills them with love. Thank you to the man who took time for my kids.  

Boppa was able to come spend the day with us and I am also grateful for him and the part he plays in my life and theirs. We are glad when he comes to make memories. We learned a lot about our Heritage and those who made if possible for us to be here and have the blessings we enjoy...he is part of that heritage.

 Tavin standing in an Indian hut these were really cool to see and hear about. This particular one is for males. They would come here after battling in wars to clam their souls and clean their minds before going back to their families. I know we have some Indian heritage in our background from my father's side. Maybe that is where Livy has gotten her beautiful dark skin. Tavin was very intrigued by these structures and asked a lot of questions. He then asked if he could just sit in one for a little while....my sweet sweet boy who at 6 years old ponders, wonders, and meditates.

The actual "this is the place monument" commemorating the moment when Brigham Young announced that Utah would be the resting place/home for those who traveled so far. We are grateful for them and their sacrifices. I can't imagine taking my kids in unbearable conditions, have some of them dye.....that is faith....

 We were able to see an oxen up close-he was very friendly and even took a liking to Katie's dress-the bottom part is hot pink...he swiftly liked it up with his long tongue when she got close enough-thinking it must be some tasty kind of food. Thus only Tavin standing in the picture;) It was interesting to see a real life image of the animals that pulled the hand carts.

Kids visiting a small hut where thirteen people had to fit inside each night. During the summer months the boys would sleep up on the roof to create more room and in the winters they all huddled around the fire to keep warm. This little hut was about the same size as our bedroom.

See Them, Know Them, Accept Them For Who They Are

I had a long talk with my sister today about how moms sometimes have to celebrate the little things in our days to remind us what life is really about and how we are truly blessed....at times monotony can get the best of us and I have found that if I take time to look for the good at the end of each day, I don't get sucked in. Most of the good that happens during my days is given to me by my kids. 

Recently I was taught by my children-not by their words but by their kind and innocent actions in two specific incidences that I hope I will never forget. It isn't a new lesson or concept that I've never heard before, but for some reason, Every once and a while, I need to be reminded of it...."See them, know them, accept them for who they really are! not what you first perceive them to be."

Let me explain:

Experience #1: While on our trip to California this year, our family got to spend the day at Sea World together. The whales, the dolphins, the sea turtles, the otters, the seals, and the fantastic shows that included many other amazing and fascinating animals on display there were memorable BUT I think the most memorable part of my day was when we were standing in line to ride the round viewing elevator in the middle of the park.

 I was chatting with Daniel-probably about the plans for the rest of the day, when I overheard my Katie girl say, "What is that on your forehead? I want one." Worried that she was offending some innocent bystander with her curious question, I quickly turned my attention to who she was speaking with. It was an Indian woman dressed up in her custom clothing and she had a small red dot on her forehead, which seemed to be the topic of Katie's inquiry. The woman, intrigued by Katie's question, and seemingly happy and pleased with my redheaded girl, replied "This is a mark we wear in our country. It helps us to feel beautiful. You may have one if you would like." Then she turned to Daniel and I to ask if it was OK...she explained that this mark was usually given to a girl at the age when she turns into a woman-a right of passage of sorts but that it was OK for Katie to wear if she would like. 

We agreed and to Katie's delight the woman took a sticker-like dot off a sheet of paper from her purse and placed it on her forehead. Then, she got out her mirror so that Katie could admire her new mark. Katie was so excited. They took a picture together and Daniel and I smiled. We continued to frequently run into this woman and her husband as we wondered the park since it was a week day and less crowded. Each time the woman would embrace Katie and talk with her. They were friends. Thank you sweet Katie girl for reminding me that even though others might dress differently or look differently, they all want to be accepted, they all want to be beautiful in their own way and culture, and they all want to be seen for who they really are...they want to be friends. 

Experience #2: As we played at the park this past week...a man and woman COVERED in tattoos (from their feet to the space right underneath their eyes-with pictures and numbers of all kinds) walked up with their 5 and 7 year old daughters and a 4 month old baby strapped to the woman's stomach...she was smoking. They were a rough looking sort. My sister and I automatically relocated ourselves and quickly judged them on how they appeared. 

Later, I glanced around to make sure I knew where each of my kids were-guess where I found them, yep playing basketball with that family-talking and laughing-making friends. We slowly made our way over to make sure everything was OK. The man engaged us in a friendly conversation about our kids, his kids, and life in general. Tavin talked to him about RSL (our favorite soccer team) and the man and woman willingly listened. 

They were VERY nice and he was a good dad from what I saw. He even helped my kids get down from high spots on the climbing gym. When it was time to go, they warmly said their goodbyes and we were on our way. As i contemplated this event while lying in bed that night, I realized that if I were to see them again, I would greet them willingly and happily-instead of turning my back on them. Who am I to judge another. Thank you Tavin, Katie and Livy for reminding me once again of one of the golden rules: Don't judge a book by its cover see the, know them, accept them for why they truly are and not by how they appear.  My kids didn't see the tattoos or smell the smoke, they just saw friends. 

Pretty Much a Perfect Kind of Day!

Have you ever been asked the question: If you could describe your perfect day what would it be? Well a couple of weeks ago while visiting an Aunt in CA I experienced exactly that-"MY PERFECT KIND OF DAY" A beautiful sunny California day with blue skies and a subtle breeze blowing every now and then on the beach. The sound of people chatting, kids laughing, and the feeling of relaxation in the air. Warm sand under my bare feet and my family enjoying life all around me. As a mom there is nothing more satisfying than watching your children discover life's mysteries and wonders. 

 Tavin drying off and resting after a "hard" couple hours jumping waves, building sand castles, catching sand crabs, and collecting shells. He loved playing with his cousins who came from Riverside CA to spend the day with us. We wish they lived closer-crossing our fingers and our toes for that to become a reality in the future:) There is nothing like a nap on the beach!

 Livy's first time actually aware of the sites and sounds of the beach. Last time we came, she was only a couple months old. I could just see her mind reeling as her senses experienced for the first time, what the beach is all about. She decided she liked the sand-and didn't even mind it when her fishy crackers had some on them....just made them a little crunchier right!:) She had no reservations about being dirty and enjoyed being covered/covering other people with sand. The water was a little bit of a different story-its' enormity was a little overwhelming and she was hesitant to stand in it on her own. Luckily her daddy was there to hold her and assure her it was OK:)

 Daniel enjoying some of that relaxation time:) He played hard too! His favorite: boogie boarding

And here is the beach babe herself:) She, out of everyone, LOVED the beach the most! She tried everything with no fear. Dan even taught her how to do a little boogie boarding on the small waves coming into shore. I loved her excitement and enthusiasm for it all. Maybe because she reminds me so much of my younger self....spending hours finding/or in her words, saving the shells in buckets...chasing the waves, and wanting to create master pieces in the sand.

 I am so glad I have these guys with me for eternity! There is no better people to spend my perfect day with than them....including our new addition in my belly-graham!

ALL the MANY shells we collected and washed and hauled home with us to UT:) She is very proud of them. I am still searching for craft she can do to preserve them as a memory of our day. Maybe just a jar for her to put on the shelf by her bed.

As Rare As a 4 Leaf Clover!

Recently I read an article about blue eyed/red headed individuals-Tavin is blue eyed and red headed. This is some of what I found:

"The majority of natural redheads have brown eyes, with others likely to have hazel or green shades. But like red hair, blue eye colour is a recessive trait, meaning that both parents must carry the gene for a child to be blessed with it. This makes those with red hair and blue eyes the rarest minority in the world, with only 1% having both.

So, each one is about as rare as a four-leaf clover."

How handsome is this kid! He is the full package, sweet, funny, kind, smart, and so sincerely good. How did I get so lucky? People always come up to me and comment on  what a good job I do on raising my son...but i always tell them, it isn't me-he came that way:) I just hope I don't screw him up! 

Words I have had to analyse to figure out what he was talking about:

"Mom look that tree has a lot of porcupines on it" = pine cones

"Katie here are the constructions to it-have mom read them"= instructions

"We learned about pili-grams today in class" = pilgrims 

"I can't figure out which governments are yours and which are dads when I sorted the laundry so they are all in one pile"=garments

On our drive home from picking him up from school: "Mom today we learned about Americans. And we are Americans, I am American, you are American Katie, and the person in the car right there next to us is American" Then he broke into song: "I'm proud to be an American" :)

Tavin has a very strong spirit about him and expresses it often in prayers at night. Dan and I had to glance at each other as Tavin said: "thank you for the babies that grow up to be parents" :) this coming from a six year old. He also is very aware of those who are sick or having a hard time in some way and need our prayers...he often tells me about his prayers that have been answered. "Mom we prayed that I would feel better today and I woke up and I am feeling better-Heavenly Father heard us! He gets it at such a young age.

Tavin has no fear when it comes to expressing himself and his testimony in front of others. He often asks us if it is testimony meeting at church so that he can go up and bare his testimony. One particular time I recall he talked about how Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us ANYWHERE we may be. And that he was happy that he would be able to live with them again. On another time he talked about a family home evening that Dan and I gave-how we need to be careful with the things we watch because it can be bad for our minds. 

Tavin is doing so well in Kindergarten and can now read the "bob" books to me. He is an eager learner and wants to excel. He surprises us with knack for Math-which was definitely not my strong point growing up-and can often do addition and subtraction problems we give him in his head. 

He loves the Salt Lake Soccer Team RSL and often sings their fight song around the house and pretends to be them when he plays soccer with us. He is currently playing indoor soccer in a program called Soccer Shots. They teach skills to the kids and teach them "key words" such as being good sports, team work, honsesty, etc. Tavin has done very well and we are impressed with the way the classes are run. One night while I was watching, the other team scored and a boy came up to Tavin-pointing in his face and said: HA HA WE SCORED. (demonstrating poor sportsmanship) It was a topic they had recently discussed in one of their classes and I was so proud of how tavin reacted....he simply put his hand up for the boy to high five and said: good job! that was a great goal! His coach made sure to recognize Tavin's good behavior and my heart was happy in that moment. What a good boy!

Tavin also enjoys baseball and is looking forward to playing again this summer

 He was a big help when picking the raspberries. He wanted to make sure to find the ripest ones and was willing to be patient to find them:)

 Tavin the very first Dragon( his school's mascot) award for his kindergarten class. They do this a couple times during the year and one person from each class is chosen for being an excellent leader, example, friend, and being determined in academics. This fits Tavin perfect. He was very proud and excited and we all made sure to be there when he high fived the principal as she handed him his award:) His teachers note read: "Tavin is always excited and ready to learn when he comes to class every day. He always has a smile on his face and does his best on all his work. He is a great friend and a great leader!" We got a nice breakfast as well.

 Tavin always has creative ideas and it doesn't take much for him to convince his sisters to join him in putting it to action. He loves to plan out treasure hunts, and make obstacle courses for us. We even had an indoor snowball fight with crumpled up paper as the snowballs all planned by Tavin. This particular night, he wanted to sleep on the shelves of the closet. We didn't know this so when Dan went up to check on the kids, he called down to me to come and see where he found them:) 

Tavin turned six this year and asked to have a pirate party. His wish was my command and this was the cake Dan and I came up with. It started to slide to one side so Daniel had to come up with a way to even out the weight using a cutting board propped up on an angle. It made it till cake cutting time, thank goodness!

Tavin and his serious pirate face, this was one of the only times that I didn't see him smiling from ear to ear, and that made everything worth it for me. We had a treasure hunt for a treasure chest, made pirate hats out of newspaper, popped balloon cannon balls, had a pirate ship battle at sea, and walked the plank! It was a great success and he was excited to have 2 of his best friends this year in kindergarten attend along with all his cousins!

 Tavin walking the plank, with Dan as an alligator to get him if he falls:)

 Tavin and his cousins dressed up as some of the characters from Star Wars and he was very proud to be apart of the group. They had a great time! we had a little bit of a "scare" this Halloween we for about 45 minutes we lost Tavin. The area we live in fills up quickly with kids and their families trick or treating. And add our entire family and some friends all out together but sometimes not at the same house-and you end up with lots of people thinking that one person has a kid when that person is thinking someone else has a kid with them. Thus, we got home to sort and trade candy and no Tavin. We set out in groups to find him and it was Daniel who spotted Tavin. There is one particular house in our area that really goes all out for Halloween and has a huge line of people who come to see it, take pictures, and get candy. Daniel found Tavin at the house next door on top of a "dad's" shoulders. 

When Dan came up...was Tavin scared and crying, worried that he would never be found?? NOPE he was happy and talking to this man and his family as they patiently waited for us to find them. Tavin: "DAD FINALLY-YOU FOUND ME! I looked around and didn't see anyone I knew and THEN I felt someone looking at me....so I turned and there was this Dad who asked if I was lost, I said yes, so he put me on his shoulders to see if I could see anyone and I didn't. Then he said he would stay with me until someone came to get me. The mom called the police to tell them about me and help me find u but u came before the got here." I am grateful our prayers were answered and that we were able to find our sweet boy, that someone kind and caring came to help and wait with him while we searched, and that he was not scared or worried.

Tavin playing paintball with his cousins at our yearly visit to Cornbelly's this past fall. He loved it and I am sure this will be a must for them to do on our next visit. He is so entertaining to watch and so animated about everything!

KATIE BEGINS WITH K

Update on our Katie Girl:

She is 4 years old now and  as spunky, mischievous and beautiful as ever!

She has been attending a preschool close to our house and loves it-her speech has come a long way in the past few months and she is learning how to express herself better.

She is really good at giving compliments to others, the definite ARTIST of our house and loves to do anything crafty-especially making gifts for other people. She can now do a handstand against the wall without any help. She loves to cut things out and is a big helper when it comes to cutting out my coupons:) A very big help around the house, Katie is always willing to sort laundry, clean the bathroom, or do dishes with mom or dad. 

She is one to learn by experimenting unfortunately... and has learned that it isn't good to sneak up stairs under hear bed and eat a whole bag of milk chocolate chips. Mom and dad will find out when Liv brings some to us and she is no where to be heard or found...plus later she will have a horrible tummy ache and will end up throwing up the chocolate chips in the toilet!

 She also found out the hard way that using mommy and daddy's food to make a "potion" isn't a good idea either. After the third time of mom catching her doing it, mom made her and her accomplice brother-eat the whole bowl of "potion" (consisting of raw oats, oranges, bananas, cooked shredded chicken, and peanut butter). They ate it, but she got car sick on the way to a gymnastics show and she barfed it before we went into the gym. (don't worry after she barfed, she felt much better and was running, skipping, and jumping again:) Not much keeps her down for long, although I bet her and brother will think twice before making potions again!

She loves to party and with any good party comes confetti right! Katie can often be found filling up a big mixing bowl with cut up news paper to throw up in the air with her siblings. Christmas is one of her favorite times to party and she especially loves to sing the song "U Better Watch Out!" If her siblings are acting up-she will remind them who is watching:) She is working on saying prayer when it is her turn-all by herself and recently helped her unicorn stuffed animal say the prayer by telling it what to say in its ear and then repeating it in a "unicorn" voice:) Things got off to a good start until she ran out of things to say... then she helped the unicorn break into song. It wasn't just any song, it was "the song" U BETTER WATCH OUT! We are learning right:)

We also had to have a talk with her about what is OK to say to people and what is probably better not to say to people-especially people we don't know....we were out grocery shopping the other day and Katie felt it was important to go up to a lady and tell her that her hair looked pretty crazy! Luckily the woman was a good sport. she also informed our pediatrician when we went in for a check up that his hair also looked ... "weird" on top. (he is going bald:) I guess she is being honest right?

Katie is very brave, probably the bravest of our children thus far. She is usually the first to try something and if she gets hurt, doesn't usually cry for very long. While we were at the doc. for check ups, we got flu shots. She was the first to go and as I explained that she was about to get a shot in the leg, she slowly and knowingly nodded her head as she said, "ok mom". Then the shot...her reaction: a body shudder and "That hurt mom!" that was it, she was excited about the pink band aid and she got down. 

She often uses the phrase: "you broke my heart" to tell someone when they have hurt hear feelings. We aren't sure where she learned the expression from. She also remembers and uses a lesson we taught one night for family home evening about making peoples hearts rise or sink when we say nice or mean things. It makes me happy to know that she understands that we can influence how others feel and to be careful with the things we say. 

She loves it when her dad calls her "princess" for that is what she truly is:) 

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 First day of Puddle Jumpers Preschool with her Dora Backpack-can you tell she put her shoes on all by herself:)

 We are very pleased with the preschool we decided to enroll Katie in-each class day they move through a series of 5 rooms that each have their own theme and activity that they do in them. She knows the letter K, X, and O, all of her colors, and most of her shapes. She LOVES to do anything artsy or crafty-coloring, painting, gluing, cutting.

 For her 4th birthday party this year she chose a princess tea party with her aunts, cousin Maddie, and her special guest-great grandma Lee! We had such a fun time and Katie was a beautiful princess! She got a belle dress as a surprise before the party and mommy did her nails and makeup so she would be ready for her guests. Maddie wore her snow white dress as well. 

 Mommy served some of Katie's favorite foods at the tea party: grapes, chocolate covered strawberries, brownies, energy balls, chocolate covered bananas, and pink lemonade-and decorated the table in her favorite color: pink!

 We were so happy to have Grandma Lee and Grandpa Dick come spend the day with us and join in the fun. Katie has a special love for her great grandma.

 Katie is quite adventurous and daring-she saw this tractor at the pumpkin patch we went to and climbed up on it to take a ride!

 We are so lucky to have family come and visit us often in our new house and have room for them to stay as long as they would like-we love them all and enjoy the time spent and memories made with them. Parker is also one of Katie's favorite people-can you guess why?:) He plays barbies with her. This made my heart melt. She had so much fun that night with him and he was such a good sport. What a good dad you will make one day Parker! Katie definitely loves her dolls and barbies-she is a good mom to them.

 Katie came with a love for animals like her mommy. She enjoys playing with them and taking care of them. When we watched a parrot for a week-Katie was Zoey's biggest fan. She would sing to him, talk to him, and let him sit on her head:) She is eating one of our yummy fruit smoothies. 

Katie was a Nome for Halloween and she rocked it! We even found a boy Nome for her to pose with at one of the houses we went to. She is serious about anything that involves candy and raced to each house. She also is a sneaky one...I heard one of the boys handing out candy say: "That Nome, she knows what she is doing, she just reached right in and took a handful of candy!" We had to have a little talk with her about saving candy for other kids after that:) Her favorite candy: M&Ms and pretty much anything chocolate. She isn't a fan of fruity, or chewy candy-especially sour things-she says they are too "spicy". 

As time ticks away, my baby grows bigger every day!

Time and I don't always get along-it doesn't ask my permission to pass so quickly, and with it, take away my babies and  replace them with  2, 4, and  6 year olds! How rude:) So to say the least, the months have flown by since my last post and we have been busy at our house! Time for an update on what we have been up to:

Update on Our Olivia Anne:

she is soon to be 2 years old in just a few short months-22 months old

Recently added a few new words to her vocabulary: 

Suey=Cereal

Bucky=Bunny

Ah mama Ah mama whereshe whereshe=Where is mom, Where is mom, Where is she:) 

Things she loves: 

*going out-she loves to go for rides, go outside, go shopping or visiting. When she sees that mom or dad is getting ready to leave the house, she b-lines for her shoes and is right next to us! 

*She loves shoes-when she sees shoes in stores, in her closet, in her siblings closets, or in mommy's closet, even shoes sitting by the door from a visitor-she can't resist putting them on. She loves to be girly and dress up-sometimes in layers of clothes because she wants to wear it all! She also loves necklaces and it surprises me that she will keep them on all day!

*Olivia loves gummy fruit snacks( she calls them yummies instead of gummies), cheerios, LARABARS (a health bar mommy uses for snacks), brown sugar oatmeal

*Like her sister, she LOVES to bust a move when there is music and she can keep a beat to a song at one and a half years old:)

*She loves to take showers with mommy-cuddles, plays paddy cake, and sings while we stand in the warm water

*She loves to help with the laundry and dish washer-puts the clothes in the washer for mommy and puts the dish washing tab in the dish washer, closes it, and knows how to push the on button.

*She loves to brush her teeth

*Ring Around the Rosy is her favorite game

Facts about Olivia: 

*She was the fastest in crawling, walking, and climbing stairs out of all our kids and we often here the comment: "she is too little to be walking!" from on lookers

*She is by far our best "healthy" eater and will usually try new things-she loves hummus, salsa, cottage cheese, bananas, oatmeal, and smoothies. She will often try cooked veggies that we make and chilies or soups we have for dinner. One thing she will not eat...BREAD. I can't figure that one out-since the rest of us could live on sandwiches.

*She is also our best sleeper and goes to sleep by herself in her crib. We learned with tavin, the best way to help a child learn to sleep well and on their own is to put them in their crib and say goodnight-that is it:)

*She is our most independent child at this age-wants to feed and dress herself-wipe herself off after eating, brush her own teeth and wash her own hands. She now slides a chair over to get snacks from the pantry

*She is now on the growth charts for the first time at 15% it only took till almost 2 years of age!

*When she tries to climb down from our bed, her round tummy often gets stuck on the bed frame that goes around our bed and she hangs in the air:) 

*She thinks markers are like lipstick and draws on her face/lips with them if she gets a hold of one. THANK GOODNESS for crayola washable markers!

*She is good at sharing with others and often offers food or toys to those around her

She can say sorry and gives kisses

*I thinks she is very well adjusted because she has two other siblings to watch and learn from as well as lots of family that are constantly around to love her.

*She has been a joy to watch grow-I have loved being her mommy and am so grateful for her little spirit that touches my heart in ways that no one else can. She has made some tough times more bare able. I can't wait to see what the future holds with this baby of mine! 

Eating Raspberries at a pick your own patch we went to this summer! YES, she loved them:)

Eating whip cream off the top of some crock pot apple cider we made for a family party, yummmm!

Dressed up and looking oh so pretty with her hair bow, necklace, and snow white that she got for Christmas

 Trying on shoes and clothes she found lying around the house!

Parker's (My Cousin) boots when he was visiting at our house!

 Playing in the corn box at a pumpkin picking patch we went to around Halloween

 Olivia was the cutest Minnie mouse for Halloween!

She loved the idea of getting candy at each house-her favorite candy: M&Ms! She kept up with the rest of the kids and brought in LOTS of candy!