What The...Snow...

Dear Winter,

We have already experienced your crazy weather for long enough and at very intermittent times. Since we already celebrated the first day of spring, could you please stop teasing us and let the nice weather come through. We would love to be able to get over this crazy cabin fever that has gone on long enough. Thank you!

Regards- April, Gennovah, Boston, and Mackay

PS So Gennovah and Boston finished preschool this past Friday so today is their first official day of SUMMER! Mother Nature didn't quite get the memo. Rain I could handle at this point, but not TWO inches of snow! I am not even kidding. All of the snow gear was packed around the time we had our garage sale 2 weeks ago, so there is no hope for them to play outside, which surprisingly they want to do.

Long Time No Post...

Well alot has happened in life since the last time that I posted...here is a run down of what has been going on in our crazy busy lives...

Johnny--Still working at England Logistics and the Olive Garden. So if you are ever hungry and feeling generous, he would be happy to serve you a delicious Italian meal near the District! He has started school again to gain his degree in International Business and then eventually his Masters in Psychology. We are on the school path for a long time but in the end it will all be worth it. So he is gone from home most every day and night and the time we have with him is few and far between.

Gennovah--Has finished her last year of preschool. She has done so well learning so much for the start of kindergarten and wishes she could start at her new school tomorrow! I don't know if I am completely ready for it just because she is officially in school. She will start at Early Light Academy which is a charter school in the Daybreak neighborhood we live in. She has lost her two bottom teeth and her top two are so wiggly that they are sure to come out this summer. She keeps busy on her days off by jumping on the trampoline and playing with all the little girls on our street. No matter what time of day there is always a house to play at or girls at our home. I am so happy that she has so many little friends to play with. It will make our summer go by quickly for sure. She learned how to read, so summer will be filled with reading as well, so that she will be ready to go for her studies. One major accomplishment for her is that she saved enough money to buy herself a "tendo ds" (Nintendo DS). She is so proud of that fact and love playing the only game she was able to afford for now.

Boston--completed his second year of preschool and will be starting preschool again this fall. Happy times for the fall birthdays. His speech is improving day by day. It is so impressive how far he has come. Next year he will be doing speech therapy through the Jordan School District. As they are fighting to keep programs going with their budget shortfalls, Boston may only be going to school 2 days a week, so we will more than likely enroll in Learning Dynamics again. We loved that school, the kids have done so well and the teachers are incredible! The amount of time this kid spends in the sandbox, I can't even believe it sometimes! He is way into Thomas the Train and knows every character by name and is not shy in correcting you if you get it wrong. He loves cars and bounces back and forth between cars and trains. He knows all the sounds the letters in the alphabet make which is quite impressive for him. We are slowly working on our colors. He is getting better day by day with counting and can almost write his name. We are hoping that this will be his break through year and he will be completely ready for kindergarten.

Mackay--Sweet Boy. Love him so very much. He is 7 months old now and has one tooth and I am sure there are more coming through. He has been sleeping through the night which is such a blessing for us (especially me). He just learned to roll onto his tummy and thinks that it is the greatest thing ever because he can move around by rolling on the floor. I am sure that crawling is soon to follow, but for now I am happy that he is still kind of immobile. He is very tolerable with Gennovah and Boston constantly touching him and wanting to play with him. He seriously doesn't mind them picking him up and moving him all around. He still loves drinking a bottle and will not eat his baby food if he is not in the mood. He definitely knows what he wants to eat.

Baby #4--Due November 24, 2010. Perfect timing for Thanksgiving. If I have my way we should meet this little one the week before. I just don't want to ever have him/her have to celebrate their birthday on a holiday. We are not going to be finding out the gender of this little munchkin either. We have found it to be soooo much more fun to be old fashion in that sense. What is the point of even finding out, where is the surprise in that. People may think it is odd, but if you just plan to do it you can find the fun in it. And, your doctor has the opportunity to tell you "It's a ...." I am sure that is rarely done in this society that has to have immediate gratification. All development is going well and baby is on track just like the 3 before. I don't imagine things will be that much different come delivery. I haven't been able to sleep as much as I would like because I have developed a bit of insomnia, so I rely in a sleeping aid, which fourth time around I am so fine with it.

Me--Taking care of the munchkins day in and day out. I love it, I am finally completely at home with no one to report to for work. I am no longer at JetBlue which I was sad about at first, but each day that goes by that I can tuck my kids in and read them stories or give scratches I sit back and sigh because I have the most amazing husband ever who is working 2 jobs to keep me home with the kiddies. I am also going back to school. I am probably starting in July to get my teaching degree in math. Might as well do it while the kids are still young, that way when Johnny is working on his Masters, I can possibly get a teaching degree wherever we may end up. We are a bit nervous to see how it will be for us with both of us in school. I am sure quite busier, but that is what life is, a crazy busy day to day bustle. Now to just tackle the mounds of laundry that I am neglecting trying to catch up on this blog that I completely let go since the little Mackster entered our lives. Anyway, hopefully I will have pictures soon and continue to update as the days pass on.

Visit my Etsy!

If you are looking for a way to organize hair bows, I am selling the hairbow holders I make on etsy.com. you can view some at

http://www.etsy.com/shop/thepickledpoppy

I haven't listed all designs, if you have questions email me through the comments. :)

Bunkees...

It's that time of year as the leaves start to turn color, hot cocoa warms the hands, and we get to venture over to our favorite pumpkin patch to pick the best "Bunkee" for carving.

Boston's speech is coming along. We drive past the pumpkin patch every day on the way to school and one day he said, "Look, Bunkees." So that is what we call pumpkins around here. We are always on search for pumpkins, our favorite car game is looking for them on the porches of houses in neighborhoods we are in. They are always hunting for bunkees no matter the time of day...

Here is our trip to the patch...


It was such a struggle to keep this kid focused on picking the perfect bunkee for him. He wanted to ride the tractor, and seemed to gravitate to this one the most. Grandpa in Chicago would be so proud he picked the John Deere.


Never a dull moment when you have two wanting to have their pictures taken doing the same thing at the same time, but wanting to do it themselves.



Rows and rows and rows of such great pumpkins. This year was so warm when we went so we were able to take our time and walk up and down the rows, scouring for the best shape to carve.


Here is the one Boston picked out. It was way too HEAVY for him to carry, so he rode next to it for a little while, it was short lived because they both discovered there was one "my own size."


So excited to find a pumpkint that would not only fit but also allow her to push.

Very into the "ghost" pumpkin...


Concentration is key to balance...

We didn't end up with this one, but he certainly had a ton of fun pushing it around.

Our annual picture. The shadows were horrible no matter what angle we tried, so this was the best one. The kids look super cute and were so happy to be at the patch, just ignore the HUGE pregnant woman with them. You know what they say about the camera...for pregnant women it adds more than 10 lbs! Only about 3 weeks to go!!!


Super cutie!

Just like sister, adorable little man!

Picking our Bunkees was such fun this year. We didn't leave with four. We had to get one for the baby, so "fie bunkees" are on our porch waiting to be carved.

Lame I know...

So what is my excuse? Sheer laziness or something of the sort, but in all reality I have been so sick this time around. Not sure why, but hoping in the end there will be an extremely healthy bundle of joy :)

So my last doctor's appointment update:

Delivery is set for October 28th at 5am...Unless the babe sees fit to come earlier.

Which certainly could be the case, I had some major false labor today while trying to get some Christmas shopping done.--I know. You might think that I am crazy because I am starting so early, but what if I don't feel up to it come time to get it done. PS-who doesn't love to spend money?!

I feel huge, and have gained the most weight so far out of all three pregnancies and have 2 weekish to go! Hence, no pictures! Anyway, Johnny put some recent pictures on my computer so I am going to try and get back into blogging so that everyone can be up to speed on our life ;)

For the Love...of Sugar???

I dread that glucose test they make you take when you are almost done with your pregnancy...Seriously, I am not going to have diabetes. Gennovah was great, Boston I had a super high level and had to come back and take the dread 3 hour test. And yet again...yummy orange drink here I come for the second time. I guess my doctor is concerned this baby will be huge because I had a high test with Boston and he weighed 8 pounds...

Update on development...This baby is so active I can hardly stand it. I have reached 158 pounds, only 10 to go until I hit my max with both pregnancies prior to this one...new threshold is 175. I will be happy if I stay under that. Since I have less than 10 weeks to go, I am hoping that it won't be that big of a problem. The baby is sitting really low that I had to invest in a support belt, which hopefully will arrive this week. I will let you know if it is a miraculous as those I have talked to about it claim it to be. The baby is sitting super low and on my "last nerve" according to Johnny atleast. Okay, I will admit that I have been a little more grumpy with this one, but wouldn't you be if you were on week 29 and still feeling a sick as you were when you were at week 10?!

So all in all, I needed to vent about going in to do the extra long glucose test...oh did I mention meeting with a nutritionist??? Guess you can't eat the same before you were pregnant if you are me. Seriously I think I eat less so I won't feel that sick...

As long as the baby is healthy, being sick for 40 weeks will be worth it!

Stubborn Already...

Today we had our ultrasound. It was so incredible to see our little ______. (be our guess to fill in the blank, because we didn't find out!) The ultrasound tech could not get a profile picture of the baby's face because he/she would not cooperate, already and not even born this one has a mind of his/her own! I can post as soon as Johnny has his computer up because we got all the pictures on a disk. I was in awe the entire time, despite having to pee so bad (sorry TMI).

We are totally and completely in LOVE.

Pregnancy Update...

I know everyone wants pictures, but I absolutely refuse right now. I think because I mostly look fat and feel fat. Of course all for the greatest reason, but I have felt the worst this pregnancy than my other two. I never expected it to be this bad. I have had a migraine for the past 4 days, maybe we are having a boy?! I always got migraines with Boston, never with Gennovah...so that is my theory for now. Unless I am ruined and the child has caused migraines for every pregnancy going forward. Ugh, I would hate to think the latter.

I have already hit 150 pounds, and I feel like I am eating less than ever, mostly because I am so turned off by food and the possibility it will make me sick. Boston and Gennovah have been so helpful. When I am feeling the worst and go lay down in bed, they are content with watching a cartoon or two, or five which happened the other day when I fell asleep. Gennovah got Boston a snack and they ate all the cookies, but it was totally worth it to catch a few winks. I think Boston is starting to understand that there is something in there. He can no longer fit comfortably on my lap to watch movies. He tries to puch my belly in, but realizes this hard thing is going no where. Super cute. Gennovah has to kiss the belly each and every morning. I don't think she has missed since we told her there was a baby in there.

So is it a boy or is it a girl? I wonder as well, but we have decided that everyone can wonder along with us until the actual day. We are not going to find out at my ultrasound June 26. We are just wanting happy and healthy since we have already been blessed with a beautiful and helpful little girl and energetic little boy. They aren't so little anymore, but they will always be my babies.

So now comes the hard part...Names. I am open for suggestions since we are thinking up boys and girls names. Of course we are going to do a place or a city, I think it would be fun to actually visit the place someday with them for a vacation of some sort. Anyway, I think it is about time I start the day and get the kids going with something fun to do before the rain hits today. Pictures soon, I promise!

Update on Boston...

Just wanted to give everyone an update on the progress Boston is making...

He was diagnosed with Primary Communication Disorder, which was so disheartening, because you want to be able to do everything for your kids and make sure they are healthy and where they need to be. He has been attending preschool through the school district and has made FABULOUS progress. He is able to understand more direction as well as use his word effectively to communicate back to us. It is exciting because he has added more word to his vocabulary. There are days when he says something, and I do a double take because I have never heard him say the word self-prompted before. I am so grateful to his teachers, they are AMAZING! I can't believe the patience they have for him and the love that they show to him while he is in class. He loves school and you can't ask for more than that!

He is continuing to grow and now when you ask him, "Where's Mommy's baby?" He will point to his stomach and say "that." So even though he isn't pointing at me, he still knows where it is. If he really understands what is in there, I guess we will find out at the end of October!

The Countdown Begins...

Surprise...we are on our third voyage! We are so very excited to have another child, hopefully sooner than what is expected. Gennovah has been the spoiler of news. Johnny and I don't get to tell anyone before she says, "My Mommy has a baby in her belly!" It is just too cute and she is the most excited about having a new "sister", she thinks.

Things have been going pretty good for the most part, I have felt very sick this time around, but I think because Boston and Gennovah are older and I have time to feel the nausea setting in. Right now I am 14 weeks and should be nearing on the feeling better wave, praying for it every night actually. The house has surprisingly stayed clean, it's like the kids understand that I am sick and put their toys away when I ask them the first time.

Thank you everyone for all of the offers to have playdates and help me out. I am so very grateful to feel so loved by everyone around me. Johnny has been such a huge help in letting me get up in the morning when I feel best. I love that his job allows him to be able to do that.

I will keep everyone posted as we progress on this journey...until then...

Taken Over By...

Well if you have ever seen this you will know what I am talking about...My kids love it and sing their songs A LOT! If you are ever looking to have something stuck in your head for an entire day, Yo Gabba Gabba is it! They teach great things, but seriously does it take much to make a successful kids show these days?!

Chicago on a whim+Trip to ER for Gennovah...

So working for JetBlue has major benefits as we can take off to Chicago if we want, as long as flights look good. So on April Fool's Day Gennovah asked if we could go, and I figured why not. The flights would be free and the rental car cheap, so it wouldn't be that expensive. So we got packed as fast as we could to catch the red-eye to Yew Nork (as Gennovah would say) and then head over to Chicago. We had a ton of fun watching shows until about 2 am and then the kids finally konked out. We got donuts during our layover and jamba juice and made new friends. Our flight to Chicago had mechanical problems so we were delayed about 30 minutes, and JFK is down to one runway due to repairs so we were then 31st in line for take off. Besides being late we were happy to be hugged and kissed by our Omie and Grandpa, finally!

One of the highlights of our trip was Gennovah's trip to the ER!


Here is the brave little girl. She held her puppy the whole time, making sure it could see her face always to see how brave she was being.


So an explanation as to why we went to the ER. What you can sort of see in her back are cactus needles. Much to my dismay, I only thought this happened in movies. My little brother has three cactus growing in an aquarium near the sliding glass door to the back yard. My sister went outside to show her boyfriend the backyard and Gennovah and Boston were both standing there fighting over who was going to look out the window. I thought it was big enough for both of them, but apparently not! Then there was screaming...first thought...slammed finger in the door. Gennovah turned around to show me her back and sure enough, cactus needles were sticking out. My mom and I tried to get out as many as we could, but I talked with her pediatrician and they advised me to get to the ER as there could be potential infection. So off we went...



After 2 hours of waiting and having the doctor not be able to pull them out either, we went to get the medicine, went home, and ate dinner at 10:30 that night. All in all, she is okay and staying as far from cactus plants as she can. But this is definitely a story she can tell over and over and over!

We've Sprung Forward, But Where is Spring?

I was so hoping that with the time change there would be a change in weather. For the past couple of weeks we have had warmer temperatures and some days you could go out with just a long sleeve shirt on. Then we set our clocks ahead and what happened?

SNOW!

Yesterday we got hit hard. It was so cold and was super blizzardy--new word by me, outside. Last night was horrible and the road are super slick today. I don't know about anyone else, but March makes me think of Spring Break and Easter = warm weather. Maybe I just need a vacation to somewhere warm...Any ideas?

You never think it can happen to you...

As mothers I feel that we try so very hard to protect and shield our children from everything that we possible can, so they can feel happy all the time and not know the sorrows that parents might go through. But then what happens when you as a parent feel that you can't do everything to help your child...

Boston has been diagnosed with PCD, Primary Communication Disorder. The short version would be that this blog was written in Chinese and you wouldn't have the first clue in how to read it. Now just imagine that it was the language entering your ears and having no way to comprehend it. Time is the cure. This disorder does have autistic tendencies, however, those should go away as language slowly develops.If those characteristics are still around once he is talking, then we are dealing with an entirely new issue. I knew that everything wasn't right considering he is 3 1/2 years old and not talking.

I just feel like I can't do anything to help him. I cry throughout the day as different emotions take over inside me. I am jealous of the parents that have little boys this age or younger and can communicate that their child is hungry or wants a drink. I feel frustrated that there isn't a way to help him develop his speech quicker. I feel upset when he can't understand the simple instructions of "pick that up" or "put away". It is hard to face the fact that the language barrier prevents such simple actions from taking place and the only prescription for this is LOVE. I guess I wish there was more.

Upon our trials and tribulations comes great joy. I know that I have to sit back and realize that this test of Boston's language will benefit us all. I can't fathom every concept of how, but I know that I have gained more patience.

I just thought I would let everyone know where we are at in all of these doctors' visits and hearing tests. We will have another update in March...

Chaos...

This says very little about our life since Christmas...

Many of you may know that we never sold our first home, but have it as a rental. We look forward to the day we sell it or may actually make some headway on paying down the mortgage, but it has been wonderful for the most part. Our renter gave us the heads up that she and her family would be moving out right before Christmas. Of course we were already stressed with the holidays and getting everything done, but this was icing on the cake.

Christmas came and went, it was wonderful. The kids enjoyed every minute of helping with Christmas breakfast, opening presents, and the clean up afterwards.

New Years' wasn't anything special, I had to work and we got to bed early...I guess as you get older you wish that the days wouldn't pass by as fast as they do. So I guess I was sticking it to the start of 2009.

4 days later, Johnny got laid off from work. I am sure I developed some sort of ulcer from all the stress going on in my life. I am so very grateful for the Dave Ramsey financial program which we have been doing for the past almost year. We felt confident we could make it for a little while if Johnny wasn't able to find something quickly. Work didn't give any reason except that they were cutting back the work force...This statement is complete BS, because they called Johnny to come in for an interview 2 weeks later. What a joke, and even though it is terrible that he lost that job, he is now home every day.

That is why I have been absent from the blogging world. I have just not had the energy to blog about our life since there really isn't anything exciting going on. Just eating up our food storage and praying something really great comes along for Johnny.


Anyway, we are all healthy and happy...so that is my main focus...until I post again!

MeRrY ChRiStMaS!!!

Have a great holiday!

We LOVE you all and wish you the best!

Thankfulness...7

~Family~

Both family near and far. I am so very grateful for this amazing support system that we have. I am so very grateful to my family and the support they give to us despite how far we live from them. I am grateful that they care so very much about us and call when they are thinking of us. I love how much they love Gennovah and Boston. It makes me smile when the kids get excited about Chicago and everyone who lives there.

I am grateful for Johnny's family. With having them so close we get together often, but not as often as we should. I am grateful that the kids have so many cousins that live close by and older cousins that they can look up to as examples. I am grateful for how willing everyone is to help each other out. I am especially grateful for weekend getaways with family. We have had so much fun and plan to make it whenever we can. We really miss Johnny's parents who are diligently serving a mission in Hawaii, as well as Bruce and Natalie's family that live in Montana. We wish that we can see them more.

To all our family...Please know that we love you so very much and think of you often!

Thankfulness...6

~A Clean House~

Every time Johnny comes home from his business trips I try to have the house completely clean. Key word...TRY. It seems that every time I have most of it cleaned I have to turn around and sweep up crumbs or vacuum something else that has spilled. My vacuum has a permanent home, not in the closet, but in the corner of the family room, much like a piece of furniture.

Last night I finished cleaning around 9:30 and with the kids in bed, I was able to sit in this clean house for over an hour. I just watched a movie and caught up with reading blogs. It was so nice I didn't want to go to sleep. The kids kept the house clean before they went to school which was so nice, but then once they were home, the toys came out and the crumbs were spilled. So when the house is cleaned for even just 2 minutes, absorb as much as possible because it is rare that it happens!

Thankfulness...5

Thought I could not miss a day, but Monday came and went!

~Being out of Diapers!~

I think about how I did it all those years with Gennovah in diapers and then Boston in diapers at the same time. I was so grateful when Gennovah decided enough was enough and took potty training on her own. Boston has been a slower process and much later one at that. Finally we have got it down. We do have our occassional accident. Seriously, I wonder how much money I was spending on diapers alone. Where is all that money going now? You got me!

Sad Blue Day...

Just thought I would say sorry to all of those mourning the loss of BYU in last nights game against Utah. Just kidding!!! The game was so awesome and each team played well, but Utah played better! GO UTES!!!