Some Days are Diamonds....

We have had a rough couple of weeks with Daphne- She is (I hope it's just this) trying to figure out how her life is changing with the new baby coming and has been much more challenging. Now, many of you know that Daphne has a very "intense" personality to begin with, and you throw in the stress of a new baby, school ending and lots of changes and we are in for a whole new kind of roller coaster. Isaac, my easy-going son who lives in the land of oblivion much of the time, has been pretty much unaffected thus far. I know I am babbling a bit, but suffice it to say that Daphne has been banned from markers, pencils & chapstick; she has now also regressed to eating her meals strapped into her toddler booster seat. I have spent many of the last several nights in tears and the last several mornings praying for guidance so that I don't completely ruin my daughter for life. Anyway, we have has some wonderful days with Daphne and I wanted to share a few pics of those days- perhaps that will help me focus on the positive!
Daphne is very creative and she LOVES painting. When we come to school, she spends the first hour or so in my classroom with me and painting is one of her favorite things to do. Here she is with her rainbow.

In my classroom, we had (much to my chagrin), baby chick eggs which sat in an incubator and then hatched. This is a wonderful process for children to see and enjoy, despite the stinky, gross, bloddy mess that I have to deal with ! :( Yuck! Anyway, Daphne was so excited to see the chicks hatch and enjoyed holding them when she came in every morning.

Our school has put on an Art Show for the past few years and this year it was held at the Art Gallery on campus. Daphne worked for 3 days painting this giraffe for the Art Show, which is quite a long time for a 3 year old! Our local newspaper did an article and Daphne's picture was featured in the newspaper (out of the 120 students at our school)! We are so proud of her!

Hmmm... that was cathartic, after all. I don't want to give the wrong impression- being a mother to these children is my greatest joy in this life and I suppose I just wanted to find a way to rejoice through the bad times!

Easter Weekend 2008

Okay, well I didn't intend for this to be the first picture, but here we are just starting the 3rd trimester, 27 weeks on Easter...

Our Easter weekend was wonderful! Here are some pics from our Easter Egg hunt at Nanny & Papa's house. Remember all those days of winter (and Spring) when I was so ungrateful and complaining about the pounds and pounds of snow? These are the days that make it all worth it. Look at those mountains! You can't see too much of the green here, but it is so beautiful here right now! The daffodils are blooming and it is just gorgeous here!



Here is Isaac at the Egg Hunt at our Church party- (He doesn't like to show his teeth anymore because of all the missing teeth!):

Isaac and Daphne are reading a book with "Granny Great", Matt's maternal grandmother. This is right after Daphne looked up at her and said, "You have wrinkly cheeks and poofy white hair." :)


I can't believe I didn't get any cute shots of them in their Easter duds, but hopefully you can see how cute they were in all of these shots!

On Saturday we had a Church Easter Party, which was so much fun! We had breakfast, egg dyeing, coloring, relay races, an egg hunt and an awesome family scripture Easter activity! Here they are squinting.
Here they are in the bunny hop relay race:
This is Daphne crying because she wanted to run to me instead of to the lady in charge of the relay races!
EGGS!

March Odds & Ends

My life is so fabulous! Every single day is brightened by my two sweet angels. I have so much joy from being their Mom and I am in awe of the fact that we will have another child in our family. I wanted to share some of the comments that have brightened my life this month!

On the way home from a Mommy Daughter trip to buy Girl Scout Cookies Daphne said, "I wish they had boy scout cookies so Daddy & Isaac could eat some."

After church one day, we were getting in the van and Isaac called Daphne a slow poke in a very mean voice. Daphne was upset (shocker) and I said, "Isaac, we don't call eachother names- that hurts feelings. How would you feel if Daphne called you a slow poke?" An indignant Isaac replied, "It doesn't matter." Daphne exclaimed, "REPENT, for crying out loud!"

Matt was watching Robin Hood with the kids one night while I was at church. The next day they were singing the song from the movie "Not in Nottingham". Then Isaac said, "Hey Mom, do you know why it is called Nottingham? Cause that sheriff is so Naughty!"

Here are a few pictures from March... This is Isaac & Daphne enjoying the GREEN Rice Krispie Treats we made for St. Patrick's Day! They particularly enjoyed turning the marshmallow goo green. Matt began a new job this month and had a few days off in between careers. I had been telling the kids it was Daddy's last day and that afternoon, Daphne said, "Today is Daddy's last day at work and then he gets to stay home with me!" Ummmm... that was a little sad to try and explain!
Anyway, we took a day and went to the Children's Museum and here are a few pics from there:
Isaac rock climbing:


Checking out the Helicopter... Okay, so there was a little theatre where the children could put on costumes and choose a backdrop and put on a little play. So we were making up the story while the kids acted it out. Here is Daphne being a "lonely leopard", because her brother wouldn't be in the play with her:
Now, the leopard is no longer lonely because Daddy Sunshine head is here to keep her happy! :)

Pinkalicious!

Pinkalicious! This is the hottest topic at our house right now. My sister recently gave this book to Daphne and 3 days later she began retelling this story to her friends and anyone who would listen. She remembers so much of the phrases and lines- it is one of the cutest things ever! A few weeks ago, Daphne' class went on a field trip to the Annual Story-Telling Festival, where her teacher was to be a Story Teller. As they were waiting to go into the auditorium, Daphne re-told the story "Pinkalicious" to her class-mates and several other classes! She did great and did get a little nervous toward the end when she looked up and realized that there were so many people watching her. These are some pics that one of her teachers took with her phone:

Hole In My Head

Well, Isaac lost his first official tooth this week! Many of you know that he fell in the bathtub when he was 18 mos and killed his top frotn tooth. We had to have it pulled when he was 4 1/2. But this week he lost the tooth right below the top one, leaving one very large hole in the front of his teeth! It has been loose for a while, and Matt pulled it right before bed on Monday night. He was very brave and didn't even wince (which is really impressive if you heard about his Kindergarten shots fiasco last summer!) Isaacwas incredibly excited to find a dollar under his pillow in the morning! The other top tooth, and the bottom one right next to it are both loose as well, so we could have one supersized hole in a month or so!

It's A Girl!

Well... we've known our little angel is a girl for some time now, but I had the ultrasound tech check one more time during our level two ultrasound today. We are definitely still having a girl and we got some really awesome shots of her little body! I know she looks a little bumpy in the Ultrasound photos, but you can still see her little nose and mouth very well. All of her parts and organs seemed to be perfect, and we are so thankful!

I am just beginning my sixth month of this pregnancy and it feels as though time is flying by. Reality is starting to set in now. You would think I would be totally prepared for bringing a new life into the world; as this is our third child. I must admit that I have been somewhat lost in a blissful state of ignorance. For one thing, I sleep very well now. My children are past the age of consistent night waking, although we have the occassional nightmare or night-time potty break. They are very early risers, so we don't sleep in much, but I typically sleep through the night, which is every mommy's dream. I know sleep deprivation, I promise. I need no reminders. Unfortunately, I was reminded of that knowledge during today's very active ultrasound. She doesn't seem any less active than my other two little rambunctious angels.

The other item today's ultrasound brought to my remembrance was the complete and utter miracle that is parenthood. (Forgive me as I try to put this into words...) As intimidating and overwhelming as motherhood can be, I am intensely thankful for this gift from God. I am completely in awe that He is entrusting another of His precious children into our care. As I looked at her sweet face on the monitor today, I thought of how much closer I feel to my Father in Heaven because I know what it is to love another being so fully. I truly believe that we can come to understand Him and His plan (if even by a miniscule fraction) more deeply by partaking of the bittersweet (but ultimately glorious) blessing of parenting a child. I am so amazed by His plan- by His mercy- and by this precious life living within me.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I worked really hard to try and get some pictures of my sweeties on Valentine's Day.... Daphne was less than cooperative, which is sort of a personality trait for her. This is a picture of us in my classroom after all my little preschoolers went home for the day. She loves to come to my classroom and play.... Here we are at the Sand & Water Table and I am trying very hard to get her to smile. I am actually only including this photo so you can see the cuteness that is Daphne in pigtails. When I was pregnant with her I imagined a little girl with brown hair and brown eyes... Needless to say I was a little surprised by her cotton top! Every day, at least once, I turn around from doing laundry or cooking dinner or ready a storybook and my breath is taken away by the sight of her blonde curls and hazel eyes- I can't imagine our little girl any other way!
This is Isaac with his very meticulously decorated Valentine Box. I spent much of the last two weeks helping my kiddos write names on envelopes and decorate various odds and ends, which gave a whole new feel to Valentine's Day this year. It was a little exhausting, but fun and memorable! Isaac was very careful as he decorated this box. I brought home lots of die cuts, stickers, glitter glue, and markers, sort of expecting to see something the "glitter monster vomited out of his mouth" (Thanks, Matt Mulkey!). But then I was reminded of my sons need for order and symmetry. If I had gotten a complete shot, you would see that Isaac had to have one of each decoration on each side of the box. One cupid, one large heart, one flower sticker, one circle sticker, and one carefully- drawn heart in each corner. He was so cute!! I don't think he'll be a creative artist, but maybe an architect or something..... time will tell.

Happy 6th Birthday, Isaac!

Here is my six year old boy! (Note the cupcakes in the shape of a six.) We celebrated at home on Sunday afternoon and he was so excited. All he wanted on Saturday was to go to Sonic for dinner, and so we did. As we left, he said, " That was the best birthday ever!" I guess he just needs a corn dog to be happy. It says a lot about his sweet character- Isaac is so easy going and easy to please. We did inform him that he would actually have a cake and presents the next day! Isaac and a chocolatey Daphne!
Isaac's cousin, Corbin has his birthday the day before Isaac, so we celebrate their birthdays together- and they certainly don't mind. Corbin generally refers to Isaac as his "best buddy" and they were so great about sharing turns and sharing the spotlight.

Snow Snow Snow

You know, I really do love where I live the great majority of the time. But not in February. I have yet to enjoy a February in the last seven years. December? What's better than a white Christmas? Spring? Glorious- "You fill up my senses like a mountain in Springtime". Summer? Flies by too quickly- Autmun? Gorgeous and Breathtaking. There is a certain melancholy that comes over me every February, and here it is again. You never know how snow swamped you are until you find yourself literally giddy over 45 (count 'em) degrees. Today and yesterday were in the upper forties and I felt like singing Rocky Mountain High as I drove home. Tomorrow it is supposed to snow again- but Ienjoyed the break- and seeing my driveway again. Anyhow- here is a picture of me- now five months along I guess. Note the scene out the window. Early in January, my wonderful friend Carole and her family visited us. It was so great to be with her and Daphne LOVED fussing over Baby Hunter. Here they are together. Hunter didn't love the snow much either, I might add. Aren't they cute?

I know, I know, I am becoming the forever apologetic late poster- but at least I am posting I guess... Anyhow, Matt's family celebrates Christmas on Christmas eve every year. It is a wonderful, festive, and spiritual experience- here is Daphne with her candy cane head dress! Isaac and Matt waiting for the gift opening hubub!
Daphne and her cousins presenting a special musical number for our Christmas celebration!
Isaac gleefully opening his castle from Nanny and Papa!

We had a wonderful time and I was extremely thankful to be over my morning sickness enough to enjoy Marsha's fabulous Christmas dinner. Thanksgiving was pretty traumatic with all of the delicious food around and with all of the roller coaster antics taking place in my abdomen. We had lots of singing and laughing and joyous festivities in commemoration of our Savior's Birth and went home thankful and happy!

YOGA

I have a Yoga video- I really love to do Yoga- I have just found it is too hard with my small children. It doesn't have the same relaxing effect when your preschooler comes and sits on top of you. Anyhow, Isaac's new favorite pastime is "doing some yoga" where he watches the video and tries to imitate all the poses. Every few minutes, he asks me to pause the video so he can take "three deep breaths". On this particular occasion, he was able to engage his sister as well. It's one of the cutest things I've seen in a while!

Anderson Family Christmas Party

Matt's Family (The Andersons) have a Family Christmas Party every December and we were able to have the kids go and meet "Santa"!! They were really excited and we had a lovely time!