Jumpin' Jacks

Check out Jeremy's website, click on the event journal, and find out about the fun he will be having at Jumpin' Jacks in West Jordan over the next few months. He went earlier this week for a "teddy bear picnic" they were having. Besides the balloons he made for the kids there, he built a teddy bear to have on display, then one lucky child got to take it home at the end.

Just Lounging Around

Sometimes you just have to rest.

I'll Share a Secret With You

It's amazing how quickly the kids will pick up the living room when the sharks are coming and they're attracted to balloons on the floor so we have to quickly get rid of all of them and the other things that the sharks might come to get.

The KAT's Meow

Nichole: Oh, my princess friends.
Jr.: I am taking them to the monster.
Nichole: Oh no. I will be worried about them.
Jr.: They will be fine.
Nichole: I got them.

Having a Hard Time

Let me tell you about how things are going for me. I don't often vent or talk about unpleasant things on this blog (I like happy things), but I'm going to today. Bear with me. O.K. Here goes (in no particular order):

It's Saturday. My apartment is a mess. Too many dishes are unwashed. The dishwasher hasn't been working well lately. The pilot light on our water heater went out last night and we haven't been able to get it back on yet. So, even though we have lots of dishes that need to be done, we can't because we need hot water to both run the dishwasher (that doesn't wash dishes very well anyway) and wash dishes by hand. At the moment, mornings are not my best time, and if I don't get the right kind of breakfast, I don't have enough energy to do a lot. I haven't been feeding my family very well, partly because of how I've been feeling, and partly because of the state of my kitchen. I've been wasting too much time with the Wii since we got it. My daughter has a birthday party to go to and we haven't wrapped the presents yet. My son lately has decided to be Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. We all need baths or showers, but don't have warm water for those. I get frustrated with myself for all the things that I know I should be doing but am not and I take it out on my family by getting frustrated or impatient (though I've been doing really well lately with not losing my temper). I'm not as supportive as I'd like to be with my husband's weight loss goals because I haven't felt up to fixing good meals. There are some days when the kids and I don't even get out of our pajamas. Blah blah blah blah blah. There are plenty more, but that's all I can think of right now.

Thank you. Sometimes it helps to just vent and talk about frustrations. Through this all, I do feel very blessed. I have such a patient husband. My kids are adorable. Our newest one had a healthy heartbeat when we went to our prenatal appointment the other day. I haven't thrown up yet due to pregnancy (mostly just feeling hungry and tired). I get to hear or read from my brothers and sisters and parents almost daily because of a family blog where we all contribute. I could go on and on about how many more blessings I have than frustrations. I think I will:

None of us are sick right now (yay for winter being over-ish). We all got to hear the baby's heartbeat. I get to be a stay at home mom (best job in the world). Tomorrow is Sunday and we'll all get to go to our classes at church (because we're not sick). We have a great ward. My kids play together well- most of the time. They are so cute. They are also polite- most of the time. My husband is so talented and I often get to see amazing balloon sculptures up close. Sometimes I even get to participate in creating amazing balloon sculptures (I'll talk later about what we get to build in June). We get to go home to Oregon and Washington for a visit this summer. Taxes are done- we'll get more back than we paid. I can still do laundry because I wash most of the stuff on cold anyway. The slow season is over for my husband's work. He's even got a deal going with Jumpin' Jacks (inflatable playgrounds) to be an option for their birthday packages. Because the internet can be used for good, our current desktop background is a picture taken just the other day of my parents at the Oregon Coast, with the Heceta Head Lighthouse in the background. I do believe the Heceta Head Lighthouse is the most photographed lighthouse on the Oregon Coast. Now every time I look at the computer, I get to see my parents (and the Oregon Coast). I love my parents. They have been such a good example to me of so many things in my life- a happy marriage, supporting each other through trials, loving parents, wonderful grandparents, strong testimonies, good teachers.

I really am blessed in so many ways.

Thank You. I feel much better. Time to get dressed and wrap presents (Jeremy already built a balloon sculpture for the birthday girl).

Now I'm going to start crying because I feel so blessed instead of being stressed.

I'm Pregnant!

Let's see what kind of comments I get on this post.

Wii Have Been Busy

It's been a busy couple of weeks. Here are a few of my favorite moments:

During our Easter Egg Hunt-

Mommy: Nichole, who's in charge of the lesson for Family Home Evening?

Nichole: I don't know.

Mommy: Who's in charge of the treat?

Nichole: I don't know. [walks away]

Mommy: Jr., who has the lesson for Family Home Evening?

Jr.: I don't know. Oh, an egg!

Do the Dino Dance.

Fun with kids while the parents are at the hospital. Friends of ours were expecting a baby and had to go to the hospital to monitor the mom. She had to stay there for a couple days, then she got to go home and be on bed rest for a couple days, then she had to go back to the hospital to have the baby. The baby is healthy, by the way.

Bedtime Story.

And the most recent thing. Wii finally got our prizes for the photo contest we won a month and a half ago. Wii got a Swiffer WetJet and some Mastercard Reward Cards. Our first purchase? A Wii and WiiFit Plus. Wii also got WiiSports Resort as a free gift where wii got our Wii. On the way home from the store, wii stopped by a park with a play area to get some exercise.

Don't worry. Wii will have plenty more exercise pictures to show the more wii play with the Wii.

For Bubby

Recently a family in our ward found out that their son has Leukemia. He is Jr.'s age and his big sister is Nichole's age. They are an amazing example of faith and our prayers have definitely been with them so far during this trial. Nichole even mentions him every night in her personal prayers. She started doing it without any coaxing from us and has continued. I'm proud of her.

With chemotherapy, the little boy was losing some of his hair so the family decided to shave his head. They decided to set up a Bald Buddies Shaving Party for whoever (whomever?) to go and shave their heads in support of this little guy.

Jeremy won't be able to go to the party since he has to work, so this afternoon we shaved his head. He needed a haircut anyway so we thought we might as well take it all off. For Bubby.

Before

After

Catch of the Day

Just for You, by Mercer Mayer. The little critter goes through saying all these things he wanted to do just for his mom but couldn't because of obstacles such as wanting to make breakfast but the eggs were too slippery, or wanting to carry groceries but the bag broke.

Our take on it:

I wanted to read a bedtime story just for you,

But I was too sleepy.