Kaitlyn's First Easter!

Despite downpours in rain, we had a great time this Easter celebrating with Evan, Monyka, Mom, and Dad this year. We all met at Evan and Monyka's apartment that Saturday for some tasty "Evan's" BBQ, egg coloring, and egg hunt. Danelle was the expert this year at egg coloring and egg hunting. With a little help from Uncle Evan, Danelle found the golden egg filled with money and I loved watching her say, "LOOK MOM! WE'RE RICH!" It turned out to be about $8 in change. The Easter Bunny brought by the girls Easter baskets at their house too! Kaitlyn was especially fun to watch her opening her first basket and plastic eggs filled with binki's and hair bows. Easter Sunday the girls wore their pretty new Easter dresses to church and later that night enjoyed a festive dinner at Mom's house. We hope you had a "HOPPY EASTER" too!

The Moment Every New Mom Dreams Of

Kaitlyn just tackled one of life's hardest lessons. Putting herself to sleep, and staying in bed all night. I always wonder when a baby is "ready" to not need to be rocked or assisted to sleep, but I think the answer for both my babies it was when I realized rocking and soothing them was keeping them awake longer than it was helping them fall asleep. Then I noticed with both girls they would wake up and expect me to rock them again to fall asleep as well. It was taking at least 3 hours total every night to try to get Kaitlyn to sleep. I was exhausted. She was not getting good sleep and I sure wasn't!

I read a book called "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" by Dr. Weissbluth. It helped give me the push and reassurance that it's alright for Kaitlyn to teach herself to sleep on her own, even if it meant having some protesting cries in the process. I did my own personal touch as well and rocked her just long enough for her to drink a bottle, and laid her down tired but awake as well. Between the two, Kaitlyn was sleeping on her own in only 2 1/2 days. Another positive change was her moving from the pack and play in our room to being in Danelle's room.

The entire process was taxing on us both though and very emotional and stressful for me. I am pleased that we are both getting our much needed sleep again. We all all happier, healthier, and better rested and it shows! I plan to enjoy it until the day we decide to have a little #3 to keep us up at night. ;)

April Fools Day

Our family has a little too much fun with April Fools Day. Every year I both plot and plan but dread this day. This year, It seemed that we had more "gags" than scary or messy things which is always nice for a change.

We started the morning out with an innocent breakfast. I made Shayne and Danelle and omelet each and when serving it hung a FAKE disgusting booger hanging down from my nose. It was hilarious! I said, "here is your breakfast, and Elle can you get me a tissue?" She looked up HORRIFIED at what she saw! She ran to the bathroom to get me a tissue while I put down her meal. I have to admit this next part was kind of mean, but when she handed me the tissue, I threw the booger right in her hair. She danced around screaming and very upset until I told her it was a joke! Needless to say she was mad at me for a good part of the morning.

She got me back though. During my shower, her and Shayne turned off my hot water a few times. I later found out they flipped the switch to my bathroom outlets too.

We sure tricked Daddy though too. He had to work that night so we packed him a loving little lunch. The main coarse was fake cockroach and jelly sandwich, and fake mouse in nacho chips. I couldn't stop laughing thinking about him finding it later at work. He thought it was pretty funny, but worried I had done more to the food and didn't eat much of it.

Even Kaitlyn was fooled with some fake dog poopie. Shayne and Elle didn't know if it was real and Kaitlyn had a funny expression watching them look at her with the poop in her mouth! Luckily it was fake because she was chomping on it pretty good!

Shayne and I played one trick together on Elle. I made some banana cream pies, only with hers I made with baby food banana's. First she thought she would joke "me" by smashing the pie in her face... still trying to understand the logic there... but then she tasted it. "I don't like banana pie!" We were laughing and questioning why. She just thought it was yucky! So we told her it was a joke and gave her a real one.

I didn't tell Elle that the sucker I gave her that day was fish flavored because she seemed to really like it. She ate it all the way down to the stick! That was the only prank that didn't workout to plan. All in all it was a fun and funny day. I am glad I got by with only a cold shower and some outlets not working though. Phew! We hope you had a fun one!

OH HAPPY DAY!!!

We are celebrating today because Shayne GOT A JOB!!! We have been waiting for this moment for a while now and are THRILLED to finally say that he found work. Shayne starts work Monday for a company in Draper called Occurrence. Occurrence sells things seen on infomercials such as Rosetta's Stone. He was hired as a Supervisor and was told that because it is a growing company that if he impresses them he might be made to project manager quickly.

To celebrate, the girls and I bought a balloon, card, and cake for him and my mom came over to babysit so Shayne and I could have a dinner alone. With this news a huge mountainous weight has been lifted and we couldn't be more happy. With this job being in Draper, this might mean a move up north in our future as well but at this point we'll go anywhere! We plan to stay until Danelle finishes her year at Kindergarten and move the first week of June.

Having Shayne be unemployed was hard on our family. We were under a lot of stress and tension as the search for a job dragged on and on. We are looking forward to good things happening for our family again. Thank you to everyone who prayed, put our names in the temple, offered help in finding him employment, those who suggested where to apply, and for all the support we have been given over this time. Life felt like it was at a stand still for a while; we are glad to get moving again.

St. Patty's 2011

I consider myself a holiday person. Infact, to some people this is what sets me apart. I am always decorating my house for the next holiday, big or small. We plan activities and have traditions for almost every major holiday. St. Patrick's Day might be a fun day to wear green to almost everyone, but it's no small day for our family. We LOVE it.

Thinking back, I think the love for St. Patricks Day started for me in the second grade. I had the best second grade teacher, Mrs. Walton. This day, we went to the library and when we returned green footprints were scattered around the room! A leprechaun had visited and left goodies and confetti everywhere! From that moment on, this holiday had some magic to it and I knew I wanted my family to one day share in this magic.

We started our day with green eggs... and green ham. Usually, I dye the eggs green but this year Shayne took it one step further and we had green ham as well. They were tasty but every year the green does make us question. I had great plans for a green lunch, but after such a large breakfast we decided LUCKY CHARMS were sort of St. Patrick's Day-ish and had a bowl full instead. For dinner, my Mom joined us for chicken pesto pasta, asparagus, green jello, rolls, and key lime pie for dessert. The leprechaun made his usual visit leaving the girls a couple of bags of goodies and everyone was decked out in green all day. We had a great day. I hope that you had fun with it too!

Harlem Globe Trotters

Thanks to America's Best, we enjoyed an evening watching the Harlem Globe Trotters as they toured in Salt Lake City on February 22. Evan and Monyka graciously took our children so we could enjoy this much needed night out. It was a great time! It was so fun to see Shayne laugh and smile as he really enjoyed the show. I am not much of a basketball fan, but found the Globe Trotters to be amusing but enjoyed being with my sweetheart most of all. It was a memorable night and we are glad that we were able to do this together. Thank you to Evan and Monyka for babysitting for us!

Another "Married" in the Family

While in Hatch every year, I like to hear my Uncle Brett call the married nieces and nephew's "the married's" as we gather for our own special combination picture. This year, we have another married in the family; my brother Danny married his lovely fiance, Uurtsaikh, in the Salt Lake City Temple on February 11, 2011.

It was a special day for everyone. Shayne and I were blessed to have current temple recommends to attend the sealing in the temple. I have only been to one sealing before this and it was awesome to be a part of one of the most memorable special days they will ever know. Seeing my brother with tears gently coming out of his eyes as the temple worker spoke was something I will not soon forget. I had never been more happy for Danny than at that very moment. He and Uurtsaikh are so wonderful together.

I was so tickled to be asked to be one of Uurtsaikh's bridesmaids. It was through this process that I got to know her better. When wedding dress shopping, there were many choices to pick from. Most brides are quick to say what they don't like about a dress, but Uurtsaikh was so kind. When presented with a dress that was not her style she smiled and said, "they are all pretty, but I like this one best" and careful not to offend anyone who may have liked the dress being picked. It was then that I knew she would be easy to love and want to be around and we will be friends for life and longer.

I am so happy for my brother and his new bride! Congratulations to the newest set of "marrieds" in the family. I look forward to seeing their lives unfold as this journey together begins. Glad that you are finally, "Closer to heaven in 2011."