4month check up

Today we went for Irelynd's 4 month check up! She gets to try rice cereal and she is teething already! I had a feeling she was since she has been crankier than her usual self. When the doctor walked in the room she winked at him! He thought that was so cute, totally melted him! She was flirting with him too, smiling away! She is such a girl! He said she is picture perfect, healthy, so strong, and just so cute. She didn't cry the whole time we were there, usually her most dreadful part is getting dressed, but she stayed happy. She is now weighing 15lbs 8oz and is 25 1/4 long!

Somethings Noted:

She has a strong grip

Loves to stand...actually prefers it

Holds her legs up by her toes

Rolls over

Some new things she has started

Loves buttons, like on the remote

and loves to push the keys on the computer and the piano

And the yelling........My mom swears I will be the only one that has to roam the halls in church because my baby is good. HA!

I am so blessed and thankful for such a beautiful healthy baby! I can not thank my Heavenly Father enough for that!

Valentine's Day

(My friend Angie made her cute Valentine outfit)

We kept Valentine's Day totally low key this year and it was great! Mckenzee was happy, our little Bean aka Irelynd was happy and Kevin was home relatively early for being his late day.

Kevin was so thoughtful, leaving a little Valentine for all of us. Mckenzee was especially impressed that he got her all the things she wanted and by himself too.

I thought I would make a special dinner.............I actually caught the oven on fire! I've never done that before. So crazy! It turned out good! I even tried some ideas from Pintrest. Irelynd sat in her bumbo on the table, we didn't want her to feel left out. Kevin called her "The Bean Father" as she sat and watched us with her hands grasped together grunting at us!

All in all, it was a pretty great day!

My little Bean is 4 Months Already!

4months and Rebel Red Friday

They say Time flies when you're having fun! It couldn't be more true! I just can't believe that my baby girl is 4 months old today! It is just going by so fast. She is so sweet and she is a joy everyday, even if she doesn't let me sleep. She is so finicky... she has separation anxiety already, hates the dark, loves to eat.....every 3 hours, like clock work. If she doesn't like her outfit, she is not going to wear it! She will fuss and cry until it comes off! She loves to snuggle, play, and her most favorite thing to do is be outside or go on a bike ride!

Somethings she is doing right now

* Rolling over both ways

* Rubbing eyes when tired

*Yelling and screaming and she isn't mad or sad

* Drooling like crazy

* Giving kisses, we all love those

* Singing to her favorite CD

I know what you are thinking.........She has a CD, she is to young?! I know, but she really does. She is just an old soul. She is very particular about what she wants and likes. What can I say? If you know her Father, it would make sense.

Irelynd is such a Mama's girl and I LOVE it! Tho, I do wish that she would let other people enjoy her too! She does get excited when her Daddy comes home and she just adores Mckenzee. Kenz can always get her to smile!

We just can't get enough of her and are enjoying her everyday!

Where has the time gone?

2011 in a very quick, small nutshell!

Kevin: He always seems to be doing the same thing........WORKING! Poor guy! He works so hard and for such long hours. He always seems to find some time to spend with us, which we just love! He is still at his office and so busy! He was released as the Cub Scout Committee Chairman after serving in this position for over a year. He still enjoys wood-working and just finished a beautiful entertainment center for our friend's house!

Mckenzee: Started high school......yes I said high school! I can't even believe I have a daughter in high school! She turned 14, got braces, and became a big sister. It has been a big year for her, with lots of changes. One thing I love about her is how easy going she is and how she just adapts with changes! I am so lucky she is such a good girl. She is at a Technical and Career school, taking classes to help her to be a Veterinarian some day. She is also taking a few honors classes for the challenge! She finally gets to go to the church dances and loves it! She also went to Homecoming with some of her girl friends. Mckenzee is still taking horse back riding lessons and was in a horse show in Oct. She is really good and her instructor is very impressed by how quickly she has progressed. I just love this girl!

Melissa: I was pregnant for most of the year, and I loved it! I worked as the office manager at the dental office I have been working at for the past 11 years. I had my little Irelynd in Oct. I love being able to be home for my kids all the time now! It's been a big change and harder then expected, but I wouldn't change it! I love it and would do it again!

Irelynd: Was born in Oct! only 7 pounds and 18 1/2 inches long! She has a strong personality and lets you know she is here! She is so sweet and just fits right in! We couldn't imagine life without this beautiful little bundle!

Update......under construction!

Probably no one checks my blog anymore since it has been years since I have posted anything! It is my New Year's Resolution to GET ON IT! I hope to stay with it and keep you updated in our lives! Stay tuned!

What we've been up to.....

Kevin's birthday was in Novemeber. I threw him a little suprise party- just family. I decorated with things that were his favorite. It was pretty good except for the fact that my mother-n-law kept telling me how disappointed he was going to be and asked him a few times if he was disappointed. Needless to say, I loved celebrating him and his birthday. We had a good time and turns out he WASN'T disappointed.

Thanksgiving was nice a peaceful this year. We went to my grandmother's home. I love spending time with family. I love the Thanksgiving season, reflecting on all the things I am thankful for. We really enjoyed the warm weather we had.

Mckenzee had a Thanksgiving Feast at school again this year. The kids were allowed to dress as either a Pilgram or and Indian. She chose Indian and I thought she looked dang cute. They were each suppose to bring a food they liked that started with the smae letter as their name. This year she brought Mushrooms stuffed with goodness for M. They were gone in a second!

Black Friday was fun. I couldn't believe how many people were out this year!

We had a simple Christmas this year. It's nice to have those, especially when your child is old enough and you can concentrate on the true meaning even more. I loved that Kevin was able to be home with us. We also had a ward party at the begining of the month. It was suppose to be set in the biblical times. The family in charge did such a great job with the decor. Kevin actually built the manger from some old wood. I thought it was pretty authentic looking.

Oh No- The BIG 3-0!

Ahhhh, I can't believe I'm 30. Where has life gone? I'm not sure why it is so hard for us to turn 30 but it seems that way for everyone. I still think turning 25 was harder for some odd reason, but 30 was difficult too. I think it was one of the best birthdays yet! My friend Kendal came into town from Idaho and another friend, Katy, came in from Arizona. We celebrated on the 24th. Kevin threw a big party for me... 80's style. He put so much work into it, to make it the best. I am so proud! In the morning me and Kendal and Kenz were hanging out, trying to get our outfits together for the night and Katy came over. It was just like when we were in high school again, talking, laughing, and telling old stories and new. It was fun to show Mckenzee that when you find good friends growing up, you keep them and how fun it is when you get together again. Then we met Kevin at my party, he had been there all day. It was so fun. There was a band, Bunches of Fives, and lots of good food. Kevin decorated in of course Pink, and also green. There was popular 80's candy that decorated the tables, rubics cubes, and even an old school nintendo! Everyone was dressed 80's, which was so fun, and there was a fabulous 80's back drop for pictures. I loved it and had the best time ever! It was like totally out of this world! Seriously, I have the best husband ever, the greatest friends, and an awesome family. I can't wait to see what this 30th year brings.

Our October

October just seamed to fly by this year. It's gong way to fast. I am just not ready for it to almost be Christmas. Here's a few things we did.....

Mckenzee was invited to a birthday party. They had to try and have the biggest, craziest hair and they were going to be judged. Mckenzee came in 2nd, but I think she was gipped! The girl that won just stuck a bottle in her hair. At least Mckenzee's, I thought, was original and creative.

My friend, Kendal, came into town to celebrate our birthdays. Her birthday is the 24, and mine is the 28. She flew in from Idaho on the 22 and got to stay until the 26. It was fun to see her and celebrate our birthdays. We celebrated like it was 1980! We had a birthday lunch on Monday, thanks to my wonderful mother.

Halloween is one of our favorite times of the year. We love decorating the house and watching Nightmare before Christmas. I just hate that it usually means the weather starts cooling down, the time change is around the corner and so is Christmas. At school, Mckenzee entered into the pumpkin carving contest! Mckenzee found the idea and we all worked together, for FHE, to make her pumpkin. She came in 2nd and again, we feel gipped. Oh well, she loved the way it turned out and it was fun making it. We made the whole class cookies and Halloween skewers and her teachers and staff got a cute little treat also.

(Mckenzee's Pumpkin)

(Gift for the teachers)

(Close up)

A few posts in one.....

Mckenzee is back at Cumorah again this year. YAY! I love it! She was not nervous at all to go this year and she was happy to see some of her friends from last year. We just love it there and we are so thankful we are able to have Mckenzee go there again this year. She is doing well and loves it. She made AB Honor Roll again. I am the Box Top Coordinator and I am also over the Shop for Schools through Fresh and Easy.

(1st day of school)

( Kenz's locker)

The on September 4th our friend passed away. Devon Anderson. We are sure going to miss him! He was such a fun person, he always made you smile. Bye Dev, we love ya!

On September 4th we left for a family reunion in Salt Lake. We carpooled with my parents to save gas and it always makes traveling that much more fun. We stopped in St George and ate at Wendy's. Then all of a sudden when we were almost to Beaver my heart started racing, I felt like I was going to pass out, my tongue felt like it was swelling, and I started shaking and felt short of breath. Then my left arm felt like it was going numb. HOLY CRAP! So Kevin stopped at the Hospital in Beaver. They gave me fluids, a chest x-ray, EKG, Took Blood, and just monitored me. They released me a couple hours later and we finished our drive to Salt Lake. I was pretty much not feeling well the whole weekend. I couldn't eat! Sunday I felt pretty good. Then on Monday, I could barely stand up straight. It was pretty bad. On Tuesday I went to the Centennial ER. Nice hospital, clean. That was a plus. I went in for pain in my chest, short or breath, feeling like I was going to pass out again. UGH! They gave me an EKG, took my blood again, CAT Scan, Breathing treatment. Then on Friday I had a Dr appointment, Monday Dr appointment, Friday Dr appointment. Followed by more blood work, another EKG, an Echocardiogram, Treadmill Stress test, Halter- Monitor, more doctor appointments, a visit to the Cardiologist and now I have to take 2 different medicines and the Cardiologist says I will never feel 100% unless I have surgery. WOOHOO! and all before I turn 30!. I am feeling better but not 100%. Some good things that have come from this are I have lost 15 pounds and I am continuing to lose weight, my eating habits have changed to healthier, no soda, little sweets because all of a sudden I don't crave sugar, and I quit bitting my nails. The diagnosis.... I have SVT- Super Ventricular Tachycardia, my organs are all good, heart is good, lungs are good.

Mckenzee turned 12 this year in September. I can't believe I have a 12 year old. Her favorite present, I think was from Uncle Travis. Kevin and I took her to breakfast on the way to school for her birthday. She got to wear her birthday outfit to school. On your birthday you get free dress. She now gets to go to young womens and loves it. She has made a ton of friends. I do think it helps that she was able to go to camp this year. What a spiritual experience. I was lucky enough to be able to be with her for her 1st year of camp. I was the assistant camp director. We both had a blast. Mckenzee didn't want to come back home! I am so happy she loved it and made

so many friends there.

(From Uncle Travis)

(Playing Volleyball for Young Womens)

(At Camp)

( The Leaders at Camp)

A get away from the court battles.........

After working for a year straight and no days off, Kevin needed a vacation. Since this summer was so horrible for me also, we decided we should plan a family vacation. After all, we were finally starting to get caught up after residency and we have never been on a vacation before. Then I get hit with court drama. We went to court 4 times in a matter of 1.5 months! Lots of fun! The outcome..... we both get Mckenzee an equal amount of hours and he still has to pay child support and he has to pay for 1/2 of her 1st year at Cumorah. AH, We were so tired of all the drama we just had to go. So Kevin found us a really good deal to go to Disney World, except Mckenzee's dad wouldn't let her go, he actually kept he from me for 3 weeks straight..... ask me how that is legal? Anyway so in that time Kevin and I decided that we just had to go. I am so glad that we got to go. We needed it and had so much fun together.

After our fabulous vacation, we came back home to find out that Kevin would no longer be working for IMS. We were shocked, and Kevin was pretty sad about it. ME--- I was so thankful and relieved. I am so happy to report that he is now working for IMA (Internal Medicine Associates) and he is so much happier. Miracles happen in mysterious ways. This truly was a huge blessing, just trying to remind Kevin of that was somewhat difficult.