Having fun taking pictures!

I have been the worst about getting pictures of my kids, lately. So, I got out the camera and went to town. I also, finally, did something with Dakota's room a couple of weeks ago. It still isn't exactly what I had envisioned but it will do for now. She is so into clothes, shoes, makeup and hair. What a girl? Her room is still a work in progress but it will be fun as we make changes.

Crazy days!

Wow, what a weekend! Friday morning always starts it off for me. I have Psychology on Friday mornings and my friend Christina is so kind to trade babysitting with me so that I can make it to class each week. In turn I take her kids on Tuesday morning so that she can do whatever she wants. Her husband is deployed to Iraq, so this is her break during the week. After I get home from class, I take Dakota straight to preschool and then I have about one hour with Jaxon before I go pick up TC and AJ from early release on Fridays. That makes Friday so crazy for me. By the time I get them, I have about one hour before Dakota is out of preschool. I know, what is the point in coming home, during the day! This Friday, Steve and I went on a date to Famous Dave's. I have to admit that it isn't the most romantic of places to go on a date but Steve loves his BBQ. So, I will indulge him. It was pretty tasty, I will admit. We had a Saturday full of birthday parties to go to and then ended at Chic Fil A for dinner and play time. As if the family didn't get enough during the day.

I have some really fun pictures of AJ at Diana's birthday party. She had it at the gymnastics center and if you didn't know already, AJ is my daredevil. He has no fear, and never has had it. He does front flips and back flips on the trampoline and will jump and bounce everywhere he goes. He loves climbing and just doesn't ever stop. He is my Energizer Bunny. I knew he would absolutely love being in the gym with the trampoline and all of the bars and balance beams, etc. Steve was so kind to take some pictures that I thought were kind of fun.

Sweet Dreams!

I couldn't help myself when I saw Jaxon taking his nap on his desk. I just had to get this one on camera. I guess when you are the youngest child, you learn to sleep whenever and wherever you can. At least that happens to be true for me and my little brother and now Jaxon is like that.

Please Don't Forget!

Since this blog serves as a diary of sorts, I have to post things that I don't want to forget. One of those things is a comment that T.C. made the week before Halloween. Since Halloween ended up being on a Sunday this year, I gave our FHE lesson on keeping the sabbath day holy. After the lesson, I brought up Halloween and asked the kids if they thought that trick or treating would be keeping the sabbath day holy. TC started pouting right away. He was upset, knowing that it wasn't keeping the sabbath. So I explained to him that we would be going to the church on Saturday night for a trunk or treat activity and that he would get candy. Then I explained that coming home from church and rushing around to get dressed and out the door wouldn't be the best thing for a Sunday activity. T.C.'s reply to me was, "How is that any different than going to church?" I have to admit that it is a little crazy getting out the door on Sunday mornings but did he have to draw the correlation between the two? Oh my goodness.

Update!

Steve starts his new job this morning and I am so excited for him. So excited that I am up at 3:30 this morning. Okay, not really but I really can't sleep for some reason. I'm sure the reason has nothing to do with the fact that I have 3 other people sleeping in my bed right now. Where am I suppose to fit in? This has become a weekly or almost nightly occurrence. What am I going to do?

Merry Christmas!

This year I will take advantage of email and blogs to write my Christmas letter. As many of you already know, I have been enrolled in classes this past semester. I won't deny that it has been extremely busy but I have always loved being in school and learning. This past semester has not been the exception. I thoroughly enjoyed being back in school. I started my college career with hopes of being an Accountant. After many years of taking classes and taking off to take care of my babies, I have fallen in love with science and hopes of being in the medical field. Maybe it was all that time I spent in the hospital that I wanted to be back, but on the giving end rather than the receiving end. Steve and the kids have been so very supportive and do so much to help out around the house. That doesn't mean that my house is always clean and toys are always picked up. It just means that they are doing everything they can to keep the house under some control. :-) Steve and I were disappointed this year at the loss of a large plumbing job that Steve and his dad were suppose to complete. Then the Monday after Thanksgiving, Steve was told he wasn't going to be the fifth grade teacher anymore. Due to all of his observations being given proficient or better, we were stunned. We assume it may have something to do with him having a side job and they probably didn't like that. :-/ Anyway, we are back to job hunting. We have a few leads but they can't come fast enough for sure. On a brighter note, the kids are doing great.
T.C. and A.J. love school and are both straight A students. They have both enjoyed hiking this summer and the best part is stopping on the trail to put our feet in the river. They love riding on Papa's 4-wheeler, watching movies and playing basketball at the Y. T.C.'s favorite movie this year was Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and A.J. loved Avatar: The Last Air Bender.
Dakota started preschool this year and her teachers love and adore her. I've been told that she is the perfect child. My jaw drops as the teacher tells me this and I picture my house with honey poured all over everything or the time she dumped hot sauce all over her room. I'm thankful that those stages don't last forever.
Jaxon has become a little man this year. It is hard to believe that my baby has turned 2. He is quiet but his vocabulary has grown tremendously. Jaxon loves hot wheels and has to have a ball in his hand at all times.
We are very grateful to have such wonderful friends and such a great family. We have been blessed by your examples in our life and hope that this letter finds everyone happy and healthy. We love you all and have a Merry Christmas and a great 2011!

Love, Steve, Beth, T.C., A.J., Dakota, and Jaxon

A Mother's Work is Never Done!

I don't understand. I have spent the last semester going to school full-time. Most people know what that requires. Especially with 4 kids. I have been homework free for 2 days this week already and do you think my house looks any cleaner? Heck NO! In fact, it seems more chaotic. It is 8:45 and I had to scream at the top of my lungs to get the kids to stop getting out of bed. They are in bed every night by 7:30 but now that mom is home, they are pushing the limits for sure. Now, I have to run off to finish laundry. UGH! Finish... yeah right, more like, keep doing laundry.