Crappy Mom Moment!

Soooo, I was running behind today to meet my mom. I was trying to get the boys in an dout of the tub, myself ready and them dressed. I was behind of course because I was trying to find some last minute Christmas gifts online. After telling Drew to get dressed, what seemed like a milllion times, I found him struggling in his room trying to decide on what pants and shirt to wear. Got him dressed and taken care of, instucted him to get his jacket and shoes on and went to tackle Hudson with lotion and clothing. I know I am a bad mom for keeping his skin quenched in the winter and warm, but oh well. While wrestling Hudson I kept hearing Drew yelling at me and I kept yelling back for him to come here. I thought "Now what is hie problem?" I finally turned in frustation and yelled at him to get over here! He came in with jacket and shoes on. When I asked what he had needed he said, " I was just trying to tell you that I love you." Yep, Crappy mom moment, I felt horrible.

2010

Ok, so I am well aware that I am the worst blogger in the world as of late. I fell into a slump after Cole passed away and with Nick being laid off his job right afterwards, well it was the icing on the cake. I didn't want to just write about how hard things were and I didn't want to fake that life was great. So I just didn't do anything. But just like after every storm, the clouds part and the sun starts to shine again. And sometimes, there is even a rainbow. So here is what we have been up to!
We were blessed with our third son on October 9, 2009. He is exactly 3 years and a day younger than Drew. Drew's birthday is October 8, 2006. I know great planning huh? But in my defense they were both early. Drew 2 weeks and Hudson 3 weeks. It was a short delivery and I almost had him on the way to the hospital. Poor Drew was in the car and asked Nick why I was yelling. Nick was explaining that I just needed to see my doctor and Drew decided that was a good idea and we needed to drive faster! I will probably need to plan for an at home delivery for the next!

Drew has loved being a big brother since day one. He immediately wanted to feed him a bottle and even assisted me in breast pumping. Yeah way fun. He continues to spoil Hudson and is absolutely the best kid ever! He makes me smile everyday and there is no doubt in my mind, that he is my first child for a reason! He started pre-school this year and is loving every minute of it! He is a natural leader!

Hudson is just great! He is such a happy little guy! As long as he is full he is happy. He has been spoiled since day one and is always being held. Which is probably why he is just barely having some interest in crawling. Between me holding him and Drew being at his beck and call, the guy has it made. We are working on that though. He loves Nick and is constantly saying Da da. He also loves to watch Oakland. He is into cars and tries to say "car" and "Vroom."
Nick recently got a job with Boston Scientific. He is in the spinal cord implant division. He has been through much training and we are so happy to have him back home for a bit.
And for me. I am loving being a mom! I recently discovered a new drive in myself, hence the blog being updated, and feel that there are not enough hours for me to accomplish everything that I want to. I still take pictures occasionally and am in the process of starting another company. I am also wanting to start a yearly yard sale fundraiser in behalf of Cole. Life is still challenging at times, but I have learned that it is all about attitude and surrounding yourself with great people.

Updates!

Well I have to say that I have been horrible at blogging lately. It seems like life it just going crazy and when I have a moment to catch up, I would rather take a nap. So here is what we have been up to. We found out a couple of weeks ago that I am pregnant! Yeah! We are way excited and can't wait to have a nother baby. My due date is October 22, three weeks after Drew's third birthday. My body hasn't been too pleased with this new outcome. I have been sick (which is good) and already look 3 months pregnant! I guess that is what happens when you only go 3 months inbetween each pregnancy! ;) But besides all the throwing up, I am way happy!
Drew has continued to make us laugh everyday! He is growing up to be so independent, at times. He is fasinated with garbae trucks and on almost a daily basis, we will have this conversation:
Drew: "Mom guess what."
Me: "What?"
Drew: "Garbage truck is coming on Friday!"
Me: "Yep."
Drew: sings, "He's comin!"
It is so funny! Whenever he wants to strike up a conversation it is about the garbage truck! He is growing up way too fast into a little man! I hope that everyone is doing well, and I will try to be better at updates! Take care!

Maui

Hey Everyone!! Nick and I just returned from Maui on Friday. It was such a blast! We didn't want to leave! Too bad we couln't of had Drew and Oakland shipped, so we could of lived there longer! Here are some pictures to help you get through this gross and never ending winter!! Enjoy!

Happy Late New Year!

We are so excited for the new year and the snow to leave! Here are some of the fun things that we have been up to. I'll start with this week. On Monday I decided to try potty training Drew. He had been showing some interest, and life had slowed down a bit, so I thought what the heck! After 4 hours, I wanted to give up! We stuck it out untill Wednesday morning, when he peed 3 times in 1 hour. And only one time was in the potty. Mission aborted, not enough patience. He told me that he wanted to "safe" his potty party, and I agreed. On Monday I also discovered a crayon in the dryer that had gone through the wash. After reading online I found that you had to spray each individual stain with WD-40 and then rub on liquid dish washer detergent and wash again. Oh I did this, however online they do not warn you about the fact that some dish washer detergent contains bleach. And yes, I ruined a whole load of laundry. Luckily nothing too important. Oh you also have to scrub out the dryer. They recommended toothpaste. If you have a cold do this. Cleaing in a tight compartment with peppermint paste clears out the sinus.

First day of potty training!! We were so hopeful that it was going to work!!

Drew's potty candy stash! He had to get a new sucker each time and one for me also. I am not a huge fan of tootsie pops so I just faked it!

Helping me clean the dryer.

Helping me "bleach" our clothes!

Playing with Nick in the snow!

His first snowman! Yeah it's tiny because the snow wouldn't pack, but he was determined to make one!

Temple Square!

For a week straight Drew kept falling off of our kitchens chairs, while trying to dance or just goofing off. Nick started questioning my parenting skills, and this was his latest just in time for Christmas!

Abbie as the Angel, Drew as Joseph, Emmalee as Mary, and Ava as the Shepherd.

We all decided that she looked more like a gypsie. And of course Drew's "baby Cole" as Jesus

My family's annual Christmas pagent.

Christmas Morning! Thomas jammies and tools!! Life is good!

Drew on Christmas Day! This is how much snow we received!!!

Helping shovel with his snow broom

Ava, Drew & Kendrea
We tried to take them sledding, but they just wanted to crawl around acting like dogs and eating snow! At least they were well hydrated!

Christmas Eve party at Errins! Thanks for such a fun time!

Hey I started a photography blog. Check it out and let me know what you think! Thanks!! www.mekeleimages.blogspot.com

Updates

Well as many of you know, we lost our precious baby boy Cole, on November 10th. He was such a blessing to us and we continue to heal as a family. We have been trying to keep busy, and thanks to our rambunctious two year old, that hasn't been too hard. Drew continues to make us laugh everyday. We prayed for snow for a week straight, also for Barney, Baby Bop, BJ and Riff, and he was so excited when it finally came. He had to go outside first thing in the morning so that he could make a snow man. It has been so nice to be caught up in the holiday bustle and spend time with family. I have more pictures of Cole to put up on his blog, and will probably try to do that by the end of the year. We love everyone and hope that you have a great Christmas!

Family Pictures

Happy Birthday Nick!!

I just wanted everyone to know what an amazing husband I have! He is always so determined, patient, kind, loving, fun, hardworking, hot and so many other great attributes. I am so blessed to be his wife and have him be the cute daddy that he is to our kids. Thanks babe for all that you do! We love and appreciate you so much! Love always, me and the boys!

Pictures!

Hello!!

Well I have finally found some time to update our blog. It's midnight and I am up with heartburn, and thought, "Well I might as well get something accomplished!" So here we go! We have been really busy this summer, or so it seems. I cannot believe how fast the summer has flown by. We love fall and are excited for cooler weather and football games. I decided to tell about what we have been up to, and then add a slide show of pictures. June was busy with a family trip with Nick's family to Marysville, UT for some four-wheeling. Drew got really bad allergies so we were able to get some killer pictures of him drugged up on Benedryll while going for "we-weeler" rides as he likes to call them. The trip led to all the grandsons becoming only more obsessed with Papa than they already were, so we we went through withdrawals for about a week afterwards with Papa having to go back to work. I tried to keep Drew busy with weekly trips to the Zoo, Wheeler Farm, the splash park, and anything else to wear him out! In July Drew and I tagged along with Nick on a business trip to Seattle, WA. He loved flying in the plane and thought that eating snacks on your own tray was the greatest. We watched boats, threw rocks in the ocean, visited the Children's Meuseum and Pikes Place, and rode a "train." It was more like a trolley but he didn't care! When we returned, Nick had to leave again for work and I for girls camp. August has been full of shoots for me, so all of my spare time has been involved in those. We have been to baseball games, the zoo, a cow dairy farm, swimming, parades and so much more! I have also been nesting. Nick thinks that I am crazy, which I am, and I am constantly hoping from one project to the next, with each one having to be done in a specific order. I have been planning, and plotting the boys' rooms and I think that I finally have them both figured out. Yep! The BOYS! We are having another cute little boy, due December 1st. However I am determined to have him in November for my own crazy reasons! So I am preparing myself for a house full of testosterone, wrestling, biting, spiting and all the other fun things. Drew captured my heart the other day when he dug out my swimsuit (yes the one he always like to wear,) had me put it on and then stood there saying "Cheese." Needless to say we had a 15 minute photo shoot with him posing in my swimming suit. LOL! Black mail for sure!! I guess that's what he learns from having a mom for a photographer! So there is our summer in a nut shell. I apologize for not keeping up on all of your blogs, but lately I am either shooting, sleeping, or working on photoshop. We love you all and hope that all is well. Take care!

Locked!!

Hey everyone!! I have been meaning to get our blog locked because I have been hearing about safety concerns. So will everyone please give me their email address so I don't miss anyone? Thank you!! Love you all! Update coming soon!!

Where have we been?!?

Ok so it has been forever since I last posted so I thought I would give a brief update. In April Nick was out of town for 2 weeks and then I was gone for 2 seperate weekends to Las Vegas on some girls' trips. (I know I am spoiled with great freinds and a understanding husband.) In May we spent most of the month picking up the left over pieces from April and battling that nasty cold that has been going around. Each of us got it, plus Drew had an ear and eye infection and then Nick got his eye infection! So here it is the end of May and we are looking forward to a much warmer, and healthier June! Oh and yes! We did hear the baby's heartbeat! The little bugger finally decided to partipate and show up!! :)

Kelly, Shelby, Jakelle, me, Shannon & Portia

We decided to make it like the old days working and go on a trip! It was fun to hang out with friends that I consider close like sisters and get dolled up to go out, and sleep in! We had massages, and went to the show "O" which if I had seen when I was younger would of died to be in! Those performers are amazing!!

Mari, me, Aubrie, Leslie, Jen, Shea, Errin, Lindsay
Second vegas trip!! Shopping, good dining and basking in the sun!! What more could a girl ask for? I love all of these girls! With both trips, I hadn't seen most of them for well over a year. You know you have good friend when you can just pick up where you left off, and feel totally comfortable in minutes.

Ok so here is the thing. I was trying on my swimmsuits to see which ones I would take on my trips and Drew thought that this one was absolutely great!! He just had to try it on and was so proud!!

Drew learned that he has two ears and two nostrils. When I told him not to pick his nose he couldn't resist shoving both fingers up there just to show that he could!

Play date with Kendra!! Giving love one minute, and then taking a break the next!

Leslie and I took the kids to Gatway because it was hot and we thought that they would enjoy the foutains. Plus I was looking to get some cute pictures of them. They decided however, that it was much more fun to sit on their towels and eat snacks while the other kids got wet. Little stinkers!! It was still way fun though!

BABY!?!?

Drew practicing on being a big brother!

Giving Kisses!

Well it is official!! I am PREGNANT! It came as a suprise, but I went to the doctor today and everything was ok. We didn't hear a heart beat so hopefully the little bugger was just being modest and there aren't any complications. My due date is approximately December 1, but the baby will probably come in November because I was early with Drew. We also had to discuss labor because with Drew, from the time my water broke to his delivery was about 3 1/2 hours! Yikes!! Drew is enjoying mimicking me while I dry-heave into the toilet, which considering the circumstances I still find funny. The two little tikes will be about 26 months apart and I am very excited to add another rascal to the bunch!!

Still the Lucky One!!!

Well Nick and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary last friday and I still consider myself the "lucky one" that he married me! For those of you who don't know him well, he is an absolutely amazing man!! I am so blessed so be his wife and and grow more in love with him everyday! So as a tribute him I thought that I would share new things that he has introuduced to me over the years!

*Hot Dogs from the ball park!

*Breaking out of my shell and being more confident

*Sushi!! I am even starting to like some of the real RAW stuff

*Gas Stations

*Saturday, Friday, Wednesday, ok everyday foutain drink runs!

*Spices in cooking

*Family BBQ's

*Flag Football (Leslie need I say more?)

*Football Games

*Summer Baseball games outside

*I now know the theme song to Sports Center and don't really mind watching it sometimes

*Sunday night football

*Super Bowl parties

*Investing

*Reading books to gain knowledge and not just for pleasure

*Always improving oneself

*Home run derby

*Being Proactive

*Watching sports is just like reading gossip columns when you know what the issues are with steroids, pay checks, trades, fighting, lawsuits, rivalries, etc...

*Yard Work

*Giving back

*Planning for the future

*You have to help yourself before you can help others

*Yummy authentic Mexican food!

*The Dominican Republic

*BYU fan!

*Chicago Bears

*The Jazz really aren't that bad of a team afterall, I guess

*Yankees!! Hello baseball boys!!

*Four wheeling!

These are some of the ones that I can think of now, and I know that there are probably hundreds more. But Nick, I love you Babe! I always have and always will!! Happy Anniversary!

Drew's little photo shoot!

Busy Times!!

Drew is continuing to test our patience, make us laugh, and thank out Father in Heaven everyday for allowing us to be the parents of such an amazing boy! He lastest facination is with nuts! We have a huge bag of pistachio's and I have allowed him to play with a few of them. He carries them around like little prized possessions and transports them from one hiding place to another. If he loses them or catches that I have thrown the lastest batch away, he will walk around the house calling for them. "Nua Nua Nua," that is his word for nut, without the "t." Latley he loves the theme song for "Signing Time." He will point to the tv and start dancing if he wants it on. We watch the first 15 seconds and then he wants it rewound and played again. Thank you tevo for that great technology! Hopefully we will get over this obsession sometime soon! Like it states, we have been busy! With the warm weather it is so nice to finally be able to go outside! Luke & Hollie's wedding was absolutely amazing! I am so glad to have her as a new sister. Their pictures were great also! Go to Swensen Photography and the password is hollie. Sorry Hol's I hope that you don't care, but everyone should see just how beautiful you were!! Anyways here are some pictures to let you know what we have been up to!!

Drew in his cute little tux! Yeah it was a bit small!

My handsome guys!!

Josh, Nick and Drew!

At the wedding! Thanks Leslie for teaching me a sexy way to wear my hair!! I don't know what I would do without you!!

Drew and Kendra hanging out!

Smelling feet! Your turn!

Easter Sunday!!
Austin, Madi, Drew, Kenna & Easton

Checking his loot of candy and making sure that it is all there!

Best Buddies