Where to begin...

This post is probably a bunch of mumbo jumbo since there's nothing in particular I really want to talk about. I can give an update on my sweet babies. Alexander is 3 and I was reading in the Parents magazine how they said "terrible two's and the testing three's!" Straight to the tee they are correct. It was like the instant Alexander turned 3 is when he started to be testy!! He likes to yell, tell us no and he's still scratching. I don't know how to get him away from that. However, he is still a sweet and good little boy. He weighs 27 lbs., still a tiny guy, but he's growing strong and healthy. He's been experiencing growing pains, which are really hard for him, but we always tell him it's because he's growing. Ava is so fun. She is 10 months and at her 9 month check-up she weighed 16 lbs. her height was good and her head is still off the charts because of how small it is. Don't worry, it's in proportion with her body!! She's going to be a little one just like Alexander. She can still wear 6 month clothing and her 9 month clothing is still a little big on her. I prefer that because she'll get use out of her clothes, wear them more than once or twice!! She has two teeth on the bottom and that's all I can see for now. She's not crawling yet, I practice with her every day, but she always cries when I put her on her stomach; probably because she thinks I'm putting her down for a nap! She'll scoot, man it's amazing how fast they can move on their bums. She'll stretch with her scooting as far as she can just so she doesn't have to get on her knees! She's getting close though. She has a pretty big appetite. She LOVES yogurt, mashed potatoes (without milk or butter) bread and those fruit puree things you can drink (thanks Cindy for introducing them). She really enjoys feeding herself and enjoys being held. Who wouldn't?! She waves and I wish I had a video to show you because it's really cute how she waves. If she's really excited she'll get both hands moving as well as her feet! My children bring me such joy. It's truly amazing the amount of love that can expressed and felt for your children. Thank you Heavenly Father for giving me such a wonderful gift, motherhood.

Vacation 2011

Yes I know, summer vacation? It's almost winter. It's better late than never. In August we took a family vacation down where the sun is hot...St. George. Us girls went down early to have a day without the men. It was nice to stay up late, eat whatever you want whenever you want and no one to tell you what to do. With that little entry here is the Top Ten Highlights of Vacation 2011.
10. Christy's "my little blanky;" a blanket she uses to rub her fingers together to create a certain sound and feel. (This blanket is very, very old and very, very sad looking).
9. Mom's "jerky" driving in St. George (mainly the parking lot areas).
8. Hearing this gagging noise only to find out it's Christy contstantly looking at her tonsils. She's obsessed.
7. Vacationing to St. George to swim (partly the main reason), but then realizing after checking into the hotel that the swimsuit was forgotten then hunting the stores for a new one!!
6. Jose and Dad capturing a creature of the forest....a horny toad, not just a little one, but a BIG one. Side note, if you ever catch one they hiss!
5. Mom being banned from sleeping in the bus due to excessive loud snoring!
4. "Earn a Dollar" with Marsha. (Created by Marsha)
3. Dad telling Jose to stay close by so he doesn't get lost only to have us turn around twice! Who's the lost one?
2. The double stroller being set aside and being abandoned at the outlet store. It almost got chucked, literally! That's what you get when you leave your Dad to buy a stroller at a yard sale. Side note #2: I'm not against yard sales, it's just this stroller was a piece of junk; a mind of its own, can't be put up or down without at least 5 people. How many people does it take to work a double stroller?!
And the #1 highlight of vacation 2011: Going to Tuachan to see "The Little Mermaid" and taking pictures with the cast. Not waiting in line to take the pictures. In the words of Jose "I have a baby with me...can't wait!"

All about Ava!

Ava had her 6 month check-up on Monday, wow! It's really amazing how fast they grow. She weighs a whopping 14.6 lbs dropping her to the 20%, her height is 24.8 in. long and I don't remember what her head circumference is. My mom calls her a "baby by the book" because she does everything by the book and when it's supposed to happen. At her 4 month check-up the Dr. asked if she was grabbing things and she wasn't really. Until that day after the appt. she started grabbing things. This check-up the Dr. asked if she was sitting up by herself and she wasn't...until a few days after. She's a "baby by the book!" She started rolling mid-July and exploring her feet and toes around the same time. You can count on her holding one foot in her hand while she nurses, guarantee. I never saw her roll from her stomach back onto her back until today when I put her down for her afternoon nap; sometimes it's an instant thing for her to roll when she lays down. Another thing you can count on is that no matter what time it is, if it's 7 at night or 3 o'clock in the morning she wakes up with a smile on her face. Her Aunts Leanne and Alisa call her smiley. Alexander has a talent for making her laugh. One time we were eating dinner and Alexander just looked at her, said something silly and she started laughing. Alexander LOVES her ears. He just can't seem to get enough!! I can't get enough of my two babies! They both make me laugh and smile. Everyday at work there's something in my kids that reminds me of my own and it makes me laugh and love them more and more. I love you Alexander and Ava.

SIMPLE JOYS OF LIFE....WHILE WORKING

Sorry no pictures for this entry. It dawned on me yesterday while telling my mom a story or two I realized I should write these down to put on my blog. Then I realized I should carry a notebook with me at all times to write not only funny/cute things Alexander and Ava do, but to just write about anything. I started work a week ago and I realized there are some simple joys in my life while I work. It may not be much, but who knows there could be more.
#1. There's just something about coming home from work being on your feet all day and putting on a pair of flip-flops! It's pure bliss.
#2. Coming home to see one baby's face light up with a smile when they see you and the other one saying "mommy" while he runs to jump in your arms. It reminds me that being a mom is very worthwhile. Thank you Alexander and Ava, Mommy loves you.
#3. Being at work and feeling you have a connection with a lot of students you've taught before to where they love to come up to you and give you hugs, a high five or just a simple wave.
#4. Coming home from work after being dressed "professionally" and being able to dress down in the most comfortable clothes imaginable. For me it's scroungy! For some reason being a mom is nice because you can stay in your pj's or dress scroungy all day and it won't matter. Where else do you have to go? What else are you going to do? So working gives me an excuse to dress nice and not just to look presentable!! Is this a problem?!!
I know 4 simple joys doesn't say much, but like I said who knows. I mean I'm only in the 2nd week of school!

Construction Zone

I know in Utah we seem to always complain about there only being 2 seasons: Winter and Construction. This summer there has been construction everywhere, and not just on the streets, but in my house as well....literally! After 4 years and 10 months of living in our beautiful house in Woodcove we had to say goodbye; and in 2 weeks!



While Jose was off working I stayed home to take care of the kids, pack and find a place to live. Yes, it was stressful and overwhelming. However, we did it and managed okay.


We are living with my parents for a while until we can save money and have more time to find somewhere else to live. Although it's sad that we left our home the Lord has blessed us and me I feel in particular. We were able to stay in the house as long as we did without the home turning into a foreclosure. Through that time I was able to find and feel peace about leaving my home, which was a very big thing for me. We were able to have Ava Grace and get her settled for a bit before we moved and deal with the adjustment period for Alexander. Now we deal with the adjustment of a new "home." It's been an adjustment for everyone. Not true, Ava is the only one that seems to be adjusting very well!! The pictures you see are some of the construction zone and the aftermath!

The last 5 months

I know it has been a really long time since I wrote anything. I'm told I need to update more and with pictures!! Sometimes at night when trying to fall asleep I think of posts and what I'm going to write and what pictures I'm going to put up, but nothing happens!! The first one I have is entitled: Natural Disasters.
Living in the United States I'm sure none of us expect to see a natural disaster, well I have and I'm not just talking metaphorically. Literally I have seen a natural disaster, but it's more of the after math. My grandparents have a cabin, which we refer to as "the bus" down at Duck Creek. Early June my mom received a phone call from the neighbor who lives next to the bus; he said there were a lot of trees that had fallen down and the property needed to be cleaned up. We decided to go down with my parents and sister Christy to get away and see how bad this actually was. I thought "oh it won't be bad, it's just a bunch of talk." I was wrong and here are the pictures to prove it. After seeing what a disaster we had encountered it was time to cut down trees, burn the dead needles and make it clean again.

The "terribles" hit when?

I had envisioned that I wouldn't experience the case of the "terrible twos" until Alexander hit the age of 3. I envisioned this due to seeing/watching my niece Kianna go through the "terribles" at the age of 3. 2 was a piece of cake, 3 on the other hand not so much. Hoping this would happen with Alexander I was wrong. Alexander's "terrible" stage hit after his baby sister Ava was born. Us parents put up with so much! Please tell me they grow out of this "terrible" stage! Between all the pinching, biting, scratching, hitting, pulling hair and shouting what's next?! We're trying to teach him not to do those things, but how much of it actually goes in? I know there are those of you who just can't see Alexander being this way, but trust me he has his violent side and some of you have witnessed this side. So my vision of the "terribles" remains to be true as "the terrible twos!"