Pics of a Leprechaun

Sienna is so stinkin funny. Today she asked if she was a leprechaun. The way her mind works is logical, but ridiculous at the same time. Yes my dear, you are a ginger, and you are little, but you are not a magical creature that grants wishes and has a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, although you do act like you live at the end of a rainbow. You have you're own little world. I hope that never ends.

Her grandmothers have been asking for pics of her lately, and I will say I have taken less pics of her than normal. This past year she has changed from a little model to the awkward canned smile stage that we all go through sometime in life. Today she looked cute, and let me do something nice to her hair, (which is rare these days) so I thought lets go out and take a couple of quick pics. The child could not hold still. She would take a pic and then say, "Hold on mom, let me get my wiggles out.", and then run the loop around the sidewalk outside our front door. She would then come back and give the forced smile and repeat the before mentioned wiggle getting out process. No wonder why she's so skinny! I got four pics. That's all she had patience for.

She's still adorable. I love her so much!

Our Anniversary

We are boring. Hahaha, that sums us up. We are happiest together at home. This year we tried to make plans for a romantic anniversary, and at the end of the day, we both are just to tired to do anything. I think it was a relief to both of us that we didn't expect a huge romantic gesture. Grant shows his love for me everyday, and I hope I do for him, so maybe that's why? I don't know, but it ended up great that we didn't make huge plans, because they would have been cancelled. I ended up having a small uncomfortable procedure done yesterday that has left me bed ridden and drugged up. I won't go into details, so don't ask, but I will say it hurts to walk.:(

Anyway, I'll start from the beginning of our plan making, because I find it quite hilarious where we actually ended up. We originally planned on getting a hotel for the night in Pocatello at one of those themed suite places. We planned on it for about a month, and then we both decided that it was pointless, and that we'd rather just sleep in our own bed. So then we decided on dinner and a movie. The movie was quickly exed, because we hate movie theater chairs, and we'd rather cuddle on the couch. So then that left just dinner. That was our plan. Well, I ended up at Community Care yesterday evening, and after that we knew eating out wasn't an option, so the plan was for Grant to pick up the food, and we would just eat and celebrate with the girls. Grant got home to take our food orders and it became clear that Maggie was going to be attached to him for the rest of the evening, and he was unsure he could handle her and carrying out the food from the restaurant. We then downgraded to McDonalds drive through.
  
So our anniversary was us eating McDonalds on the couch watching The Colbert Report. It's funny to me to look at the way we celebrated our first year, to this year.  I think we'll end up really going out to eat next week, and probably get a redbox on the way home, but for now I love that we know how much we love each other, and that's all we really need. So far my years with Grant have made me the happiest I've ever been, and I don't see that ever changing. Next year we're planning on a cruise, so maybe that means we'll actually make it to dinner at a nice place without the kids? Who knows, but as long as we're together, I know we'll be happy. :)

This seems like just yesterday, and an eternity ago.

That Time I Went Grocery Shopping

I never go grocery shopping without Grant. Maybe twice have I braved a shopping trip with the kids without him. Occasionally I'll wait until the girls are asleep and he's doing homework to go, but usually we go every other Saturday as a family. Well, that was supposed to be last Saturday, but Maggie and I were sick, and Sienna sounded like she could hack up a lung at any second, so we opted not to go.

Today I wrote a list and decided to brave it. It's really not that the kids run wild, they are actually well behaved most of the time, it's the loading and the unloading of kids and groceries that I dread. Lazy, I know. But the lack of food around lunch time prompted the trip, so I got dressed, got them dressed, and headed out to good old Albertson's. (Walmart in IF was out of the question.) They both still have wicked coughs, and Sienna is running a barely there fever. Even with that, I decided that we had to have food. Grant would have ordered a pizza and called it a day. Sometimes I need to be more like him.

Anyway, by the time everyone was ready to go it was 1:30, and the girls were starving. I debated on making some oatmeal and eggs for lunch, but Sienna and I decided that Jamba Juice sounded better. So we went to Jamba, and we all got shakes and a pastry, and then to the store with shakes in hand. The trip went well. Sienna was occupied with her shake, and the free bakery cookie, so she didn't beg for anything. She did tell about four people that she had a 99 fever and both girls got their cough on. I was one of those mom's that you judge for bringing their sick kids in public. Aside from that, we were in and out.

And then it happened. I loaded the girls in the car, and Maggie started her uncontrollable coughing/gagging. Then her Razmataz Jamba was every where, and it wasn't being spilled out of her cup, if you get my drift. There was a puddle in her new car seat, all over her overalls, shoes, and coat. A mess. All I had was baby wipes, which I learned very quickly are not absorbent. And then the gagging and vomit got to me. As Sienna wisely once told me, sometimes you just have to swallow your throw up, and it's okay. Well that's what I did, and it was not okay. I wanted to die. Not really die, just die for a second to get me out of that moment. Grant is the one with the strong stomach, and he's so good in situations like that. But all they had was me. Sienna was making gagging noises also, but I assume she took her own advice. It was all pretty horrific.

I stripped Maggie down to her onsie, and strapped her in the middle seat belt, which if you know me that's a HUGE deal. I'm all about car seat safety, and it's one of my biggest pet peeves, but the store is literally less than 5 min from our house, and there was a huge puddle in her car seat that wipes weren't cleaning, so I decided this was the best course of action. Then I loaded the groceries, and came home. Sienna was a big helper and helped carry in and put away groceries while I changed and cleaned Maggie up. It's funny how well things were going until that point, I was even thinking, why don't I do this more often. Now I know why. I can promise you that it will prob be a while before I get the courage to go without Grant again. 

She's a mess.;)

And the Name Is,...

Baby boy has a name. Kind of. Well a middle name. That we shorten into a nick name. Is that confusing enough?! Sienna and Grant have fallen in love with the name Phineas or Finneas. Can't decide on the spelling. I just can't bring myself to use that as a first name, so it will be the middle name and we have been calling him Phin, or Finn. His first name is up in the air still. I would tell you what we are considering, but I don't want you to report us to CPS, so we'll just announce that on the day he makes his appearance, but for now we are referring to him as Phin, or Finn. I think I like the spelling Finneas better, so that it will be Finn, but my mom says that people will think we are idiots because we don't know how to spell Phineas. She may be correct. But we are in Idaho, and just click on THIS to read why I don't think people will think twice about a weird spelling here. But anyways, we've slipped up and referred to him as Phin so many times in front of people that it's pointless trying to keep it a secret. So there you go. 

P.S. When I spell checked this only Finneas and Phin were misspelled. Way to make me feel even crazier spell check.

Things that are weirder than having a SIX year old.

Prob should be more weird, but whatevs. In case you didn't know, my Sienna is six. She turned six on the 17th. Yes I'm late in blogging, but last week was crazy, and we got sick this weekend, and I'm not great at blogging, so there. The cashier lady that rung up the birthday goods looked at me in shock when I told her my oldest was turning six. She was all wow, six, is that weird?! I took it as a complement, because I obviously look way to young to have a six year old, or maybe it was that she's 18 and only sees other 18 year old college students at the store in this college town, but I'm gonna believe the first.

Anywho, when I thought about her question, I decided it wasn't weird to have a six year old. Actually it's really nice. She's my helper, my comedian, my drama queen, and the best playmate to her sister. I love this age she's at. She tells me what she thinks, she has opinions about everything, including her disgust for matching socks (hers NEVER will match, by choice), and she comes up with the funniest stuff. The other night she asked us if ketchup is healthy, and Grant and I decided it is because it has lycopene in it. She then was all, "So I could just drink it and say,'What, what, it's healthy!'" I keep expecting to go down in the middle of the night to find her in the kitchen guzzling ketchup. Yes ladies and gents, that's my child.

There are so many other things that I find way more mind blowing than having an older child. Like that my lil sis, the baby of our family is in her 20's. Or that all of my brothers are married. Or that I'm having my third child. Or that Grant will be done with his bachelors this year, and he has a big person job. Or that we might live in Idaho for the rest of our lives. Or that we've gotten almost no snow this winter. Sienna being another year older is just fun now. She's a little person that is all her own, and every year she's older, I get to know that person a little better. I'm loving every moment of being her mom.

Here's a quick recap of the birthday festivities:
Tuesday she woke up early and we all ate donuts together as a family. It was early, but worth it. She didn't have school, so we took her BFF Lily to go get manicures, then we came home and ate McDonalds, and played dress up. At that point we were going to take her on a shopping spree later on that week, and at 5pm she told me that she wanted presents to open. So the second Grant got home I ran to Walmart and went crazy. Later we went to Sammy's, her favorite place to eat, and she opened all her presents and we took Lily home. A fun day.

                                                                                                         

We planned a surprise cake and ice cream party for Saturday. Lots of people from the ward, and her teacher Mrs. Judy came, and we all yelled surprise! She was so happy, especially because she thought the shakes we got at Sammy's replaced her blowing out candles. Babe, you will always get a cake as long as I'm your mom, which will be forever.  I was busy with the festivities and put Grant in charge of pics, so we got like one or two on his phone, that I don't have, so those pics aren't included, but just picture tons of balloons, and poppers that made a huge mess, and lots of kids, you get the idea. But here's a pic of the way Maggie smiles now. Closes her eyes every time. haha

It's an honor to be Sienna's mom. She's so wonderful, I feel like the most blessed mom in the world!

Holiday Post

It's been a great year! Job promotions, moving, having a healthy pregnancy, Sienna starting Kindergarten, Maggie being Maggie, and so much more! We are so blessed!!! We found out a couple of weeks ago that we are having a BOY! I was in shock. To tell the truth I'm so anxious. The only thing I can compare it to is the nervousness that some second time moms get about loving their second child as much as their first. You can't fathom loving anything as much as your first child, but then that baby is there, and your heart literally grows! I can't imagine loving a boy as much as I love my girls, but I'm sure I'm in for some major growth in the heart area!!!

 Our holiday decor

We decided to stay in Rexburg for the holidays. It was a gut wrenching decision, but we had that nagging feeling that we shouldn't travel to Texas. It broke my heart to admit to it. We had the money set aside and all the plans made. Both of my grandma's, plus my favorite Aunt are there, and my little bro got married. Grant's grandma who we named Maggie after has never met her! His mom was so looking forward to us being there and so were we! Plus ALL of my five siblings are there for the first time since Daniel got home from his mission. Needless to say, we REALLY wanted to ignore promptings and go, but I looked at Grant one night and told him what I'd been feeling, and he instantly said he was relieved because he was scared to tell me he'd been feeling the same way. After some doc appointments we are sure that we made the right decision not to go, and my doctor agreed. So we are making the best of it and continuing traditions that we started last year!

 Our AWESOME pajamagram.com PJ'S!!! Thanks Bella!!!

Our Christmas plans are to wake up Saturday and to take the girls sledding. We are doing most of the celebrating like present opening and such on Saturday so we can make Sunday all about Christ. Both Grant and I think it's so special that Christmas is on the Sabbath this year, so we intend on making it even more spiritual. We are still doing the three presents plus one from Santa, representing the three presents Christ received. Grant will read the Christmas story on Saturday night, and then we'll open presents. Sunday we go to church, talk with family, eat great food, and we'll do a couple of spiritual things that we have planned. Of course there will be piano playing of our favorite Christmas hymns, and much singing. It's going to be a great weekend!

On a totally different note, Grant finished this semester, and fingers crossed, we're pretty sure he made straight A's again. He's such a hard worker!!! I'm so proud of him! He deserves a major vacation, honestly we both do, but we'll have to wait until next summer for that. He's such a good daddy, and husband. He devotes every ounce of his being to us, and I'm so grateful for it! I'm so lucky that I found such smart handsome man! I hope our little boy is just like him!!!

And also totally not on the holiday theme, Sienna lost her first tooth yesterday. She was so nervous, and when Grant pulled it out she had a little freak out, but once it was out, she was so proud. Love that girl! Here's a little video of it, and a post interview video. Enjoy! She's one theatrical little girl! I wonder where she gets that from. ;)

New Place, New Baby, New Sister.

Lots of new things in our lives right now! We moved about a month ago, and we love it. More space, new decor, and a feeling of home. I've done a lot of redecorating, and eventually, when I can have the rooms picked up for longer than a min I'll take pics. We are going to totally redecorate the girls bedroom after Christmas because they are getting bunk beds, thanks to their Bella. (Grant's mom.) It's just fun to be out of a stark white environment, and so nice that my friend/landloard, Melinda, has such great taste and picked wonderful paint colors for this place!

We also are expecting our third baby. No we do not know the sex yet, but we really don't care what it is. We just want a healthy baby. Of course a girl would be nice because it would save us lots! Sienna is super excited, and has her boy name picked out, but she also says she thinks it's a girl. Maggie is oblivious, and her world will be rocked in May. It's so funny that we tried for a year, lost two babies, and right when we stopped trying and got on birth control, we got pregnant. The timing of things couldn't be anymore perfect. Grant will graduate a month before this little one arrives, and he'll actually get to be home more to help after the baby gets here. I think we've decided to do this birth by ourselves. My mom was there for Sienna, his mom was there for Maggie, and it was awesome to have all the help, but this could be our last baby, so we are going to have just me and him in the delivery room, and he'll get to take a week off to spend time with our new little family. I'm so looking forward to it! Then we can bring on the Grandmas!!!

Last of all, I'm getting a new sister in December! No my 50+ mother is not expecting, my little brother is getting married! I haven't met her yet, darn this living so far away, but Sienna spent a month in Texas this summer and she adores her new Aunt Sammy. From what I hear, she's pretty impressive,  is going to TCU, and is a track star. (at least to my brother) I've seen pics, and she is gorgeous, so I approve! We are going for the wedding and I can't wait to meet her! After Daniel gets hitched my parents have only one child left to get married! I can't believe how fast it went from living at home and us all being kids, to becoming married adults. My little sister, who is the only one not married, even has her own apartment, so you can hardly still call her anything but an adult. So weird.

So for our trip, I'm going to get some new maternity clothes. That's what I'm getting with my B-Day money.  Here are a few looks that I'm hoping I don't look awkward in!



I love this dress. I'm hoping it will be long enough on me!