Updates...

So I realized that while I've been posting pictures, I haven't done a whole lot of describing my kids right now... this may be a bit lengthy, but it's for me...

Bryson is 7 1/2 now.  He has always been so warm and friendly and cuddly- and still is.  If I'm still in bed when he wakes up, he always crawls into bed with me, which I love.  He tries so hard to be obedient!  He is a great helper, and a great big brother.  Bryson is a very passionate person, whatever he is in to, he's in to it 110%- he's gone from Baby Einstein (his first love), to Cars, trains, Star Wars, Legos, Star Wars, Legos, Harry Potter.... right now he's just mostly cycling between Lego and Harry Potter- so naturally, Lego Harry Potter takes the cake right now.  He is also great reader- He's most of the way through the last Harry Potter book!  He is very excited about being baptized in a few months- he even gave fasting a trial run in November.  He decided after he ate breakfast that he would fast until dinner, with a snack after church, of course *grin*  At least he has the desire!  Bryson is also honest, to a fault.

His first grade teacher was difficult for me... he loved her, (he loves everyone), but it was very apparent to me that she did not feel the same way.  She was prissy and had her few 'pet' students and really had no tolerance for silliness... um, you know you CHOSE to teach first grade, right??  I know it would absolutely crush Bryson if he had any idea how she felt.  Needless to say, I was very glad for the school year to be over.  This year, I couldn't be happier with his teacher... Mrs. Humphrey told me a very sweet story that kinda secured him a place in her heart- There is a girl in his class who has some disabilities.  Bryson knew her from church before this year, but at the time, she went to a different school.  Her family moved into a different ward in the spring, but they ended up going to Chester this fall, and Kylah was in Brysons class.  His teacher told me that the other kids are all a little distant from her, a normal 2nd grade reaction to someone who is different- they just don't know quite how to treat her.  I know it helped that Bryson knew her beforehand, and that we had talked many times about treating her the same as we would want to be treated, but Mrs. Humphrey said that he is always so helpful and nice to her, and that when other kids get paired with Kylah, they don't do a very good job at always hiding their disappointment, but when Bryson is paired with her, he does a little fist pump and is so excited.  Thats Nathan's boy- Mr. Friendly *grin*

Phew, this is taking longer than I thought!

Dallin is now 5 1/2.  When Dallin was hitting his major developmental milestones, he was at the very end of the normal range... always within the range, but making me worry!  Since his birthday was in June, I always kinda figured I'd have him start kindergarten a year late- that he would need the extra year.  After his first year of preschool, I still thought he may need a some extra time.  But there is NO WAY I could have kept him out of kindergarten!  He loves school- not the social aspect like Bryson always has, but the learning and activities.  Dallin doesn't need people like his big brother, and while I love that aspect of Bryson, I love the fact that Dallin is the opposite!  It is a strength for him- by no means is he anti-social, but he doesn't need their approval or to impress them.  Unfortunately, Dallin really also knows how to push his brothers buttons... when he's in an ornery mood, he picks at them constantly, and unless I'm really paying attention, I don't even realize Dallin is the one at fault.  He is such a good sharer, and always saves an equal portion of whatever treat he earned at school or church for his brothers, even if they won't be home for hours.  Dallin is a rule follower and a helper, but not a brown noser- he loves changing the laundry for me!  He is also very motivated by rewards- all I need to do is mention that there will be no wii until the family room is cleaned up and I know it'll be done in no time flat.  He is definitely a numbers boy- frequently asking what x times y is, and once he knows the answer, it's for good- he informed Bryson the other day that 90 X 90 is 8100.  During t-ball, he had to stop at each base and check and see what number was on the back of each players jersey!  It's mostly passed, but it used to be that when I would set the timer on the microwave for the chicken nuggets or macaroni, he'd pull up a stool and watch it count down... from 14 minutes!  He doesn't pull up a stool for a front row seat anymore, but rather watches it from his perch at the counter.  Numbers are like candy to him.  He also has a great affinity for anything tech-y.  I've learned to set a definite time for when he can play the wii, my phone etc, otherwise he's a broken record asking permission.  The ultimate for him is the cheezy little electronic handheld Yahtzee game... he used to just randomly hit buttons and watch the numbers change, then, I explained to him how to play the game... it opened up a whole new world to him.  Within a day, he had a high score of 422, and even though it was reset when we had to change the batteries, he still remembers that that was his high score.  Hmmm, maybe I should teach him how to play texas hold 'em... no Jani, gambling and child exploitation... doubly bad!!  Dallins nickname is Dal-Pal or just Dal.


I've recently decided that Eli simply makes his own rules... and has since the very beginning.  By no means would I label him as difficult, but he is certainly more difficult that my others!  House rules that my others have never challenged simply don't apply to him!  Case in point: no eating in the family room- Eli is constantly getting in trouble for it- even hiding his orange peels under the couch cushions!  Really?  He definitely operates under the premise of asking forgiveness rather than permission.  A few months ago Nathan went into his office with Dallin and Eli... while he was disarming the alarm, Dallin and Eli disappeared into the front office- Dallin came back and asked Daddy if he could have a piece of gum, Eli was on Dallins heels, chewing a piece of gum, saying "here you go Dallin" as he handed him a piece.  At least he thought of Dallin, right?  All of that aside, Eli is fun and spontaneous and is always making us laugh.  He wears his emotions on his sleeve, and either has a smile from ear to ear, or his eye brows so furrowed, they're touching.  He loves his brothers and is so sad when he's home and they're at school.  He has somehow even won Hailee over, though I'm constantly on him for being so rough with her- I honestly don't know why, but she really does love to play with him!  Eli has lots of one liners, such as "oh, FINE!" as if he's so put out, even if what I've asked him to do is the funnest thing of all.  Another of his favorites is a random, "Mom, *sigh* I just can't take it anymore!" I'll ask him what he "can't take" and he'll come back with something like "signing time" videos or crayons or chicken nuggets... I really don't know where he came up with that saying, because I don't know of anyone who says that regularly...  Thanks to my brother Dan, Eli thinks that 'Old McDonald had a farm, Eli-Eli-O"  So sometimes, he gets called, E-I... or just E.

Nathan and I frequently comment on how our boys really are each others best friends- while they play independently and can get under each others skin, they spend so much time playing together by choice when they could be playing with a neighborhood friend.  They love sharing a room and rarely does it cause a problem.

Hailee has recently discovered that she can get what she wants by being demanding.  At 19 months, she really doesn't have any definite words, which is very concerning to me, but she does have a few signs, and really, I can see progress daily with her attempting sounds that sound like what I'm saying.  For quite a while when I felt so crummy, most of the contents of my lower kitchen cabinets were permanently on the counter tops because she is in such an exploring stage... and has been for quite some time...  I have to keep my bathroom door shut or she's into my jewelry and makeup.  She loves to 'read' books- she'll get a book, crawl up onto my lap and sit and turn the pages on her own- she really doesn't want me to read to her, or at the very least, my reading better not impede her page perusing.  She has a voracious appetite and eats like no other, but apparently her metabolism is super fast too, because she's a tiny little peanut.  She's mostly patient when I'm doing her hair, as long as I don't take toooo long...  She loves showers and baths, but does NOT love puppets, stuffed animals or baby dolls.  She got a baby for Christmas and it kinda freaks her out.  Hopefully the new baby will not yield the same result.  Like her brothers at this age, she is a 'private pooper' and we know if she goes missing, she'll turn up stinky!  She is a great sleeper, and will take 2 naps a day if I let her.  She still loves her pink blankie (that I crocheted when I was pregnant with Bryson!) and her thumb.  We call her Hay-bug or Hay-Hay a lot of the time.

Wow!  I think that pretty much sums them up right now!

Random December Pictures

Even though I've felt like c.r.a.p., I managed to get this done... it's been haunting me for a year to tackle and was a bit (a very teensy bit) of a distraction... 

the best part is, that I filled it with leftover Halloween candy!!

A little Christmas crafting with the kids on a day that wasn't sooo bad...

At least I've got lots of things to smile about!

Snow!

In the car a few days before Christmas, my boys were asking when it was going to snow, because, it always snows on Christmas, you know!?!  (Knowing that snow was NOT in the forecast) I informed them (confidently) that it doesn't always snow on Christmas, in fact, in some places in the world, it never EVER snows on Christmas (aren't I a grinch?)  You'd have thought I told them that Santa wasn't real.  They were devastated.  Fast forward another day, and low and behold, a completely un-forecasted, freak snowstorm hits, and wouldn't you know, I'm a liar.  It does always snow on Christmas.  Thanks Mother Nature.

Oh, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!  Welcome 2012!  (and please hurry Spring!)

Dallin-ism..

This morning we were all laying in my bed, having a lovely, lazy, Christmas break morning.  Discussion turned to the baby and how many more days til it would be born (must we really count the DAYS??)...  I reminded the boys that babies come when they are ready, not usually on the day a mommy is due.  Bryson chimed in that he was  born early... so then we started comparing each of their due dates with the day they were actually born... I told Dallin he was due on June 11, but was born on June 3rd, to which he excitedly replied, "MOM!  I was born on my birthday!"

Merry Christmas!

We hope you've had a blessed Christmas!

Santa's Visit

 I love that Bryson still believes...

 Even if Hailee despises...

Thanks for stopping by Santa!
(It sure beats waiting in line at the mall!)

An early Christmas gift...

Dallin got to start Christmas a little early with eye surgery... Poor kid!  I must say though, he was not scared leading up to surgery!  I almost think he was excited about it!  The night before surgery, it was as if he were bragging about it to his brothers!  Saying things like,"I get to sleep in my clothes, because I have to go to the hospital early in the morning for my surgery" and, "Eli, I have to go to sleep, I've got to get up early for my surgery tomorrow."

The next morning, he was ready.to.go!  (literally.  I had him sleep in some comfy sweats so I could just put him straight into the car *grin*)  He was all smiles in pre-op... 

especially once they gave him some versed... note the 'x' above his right eye *grin*

After surgery, he was a little more grumpy...

until he got to play the wii that is... this boy lives for the wii... it's a dangerous thing.

A little later in the day (and a little time on the wii) and he was feeling great!

 and not looking too bad either, considering!  I think he didn't do enough resting that day though, because the next few days were kinda rough for him... he was just tired and cantankerous!  

But today (2 days post op) he's more his happy self

And his eye looks pretty good... and straight!

K, really, this was Dallins THIRD eye surgery, and the EIGHTH surgery for my kids... most moms I know have never had to have ONE.  And there is NO way that it is our last surgery either!  (Eye surgery looms in Hailees future and Dallin will have to have his spleen out eventually...) I'm just sayin'!  I sure hope this baby is healthy!  I DO realize, in the grand scheme of things, I'll TAKE these surgeries and issues over many others out there... I am so blessed at ALL of my kids health issues (yes, even Dallins blood disorder) will resolve over time!

Dallin-ism..

Today when I picked Dallin up from kindergarten, I informed him that it was the last day of school for 2 whole weeks... even though he really loves school this year, I was surprised by the "awwww" that came from the backseat.  When questioned why he was disappointed, he replied, "because I love school!"

8 weeks...

Seriously?  As IF at 8 weeks that's from a growing baby... (and yes, the pride in me must state that the pre-pregnancy me had a flat belly!)  That there, is pure bloating and misery... and lack of digestion.  It hurts...

Family Pictures

Fifth (and final) time...

It was so wonderful to me that even on our 5th baby, I was so excited to get a big fat positive (especially when I was sure I was starting my cycle!)...

But day one of week five knocked me flat... morning all day sickness kicked in hard and fast.  I was hopeful that I just had a flu bug and that it would pass, but its only grown worse... I was totally unprepared, because I usually have until I'm 7 or 8 weeks along before I start getting sick.  And (though Nathan disagrees) I have never been this sick.  With my other pregnancies, I didn't feel well, and my digestion sucked, but this time, it is magnified by 10 times... pure unadulterated nausea- to the point where I am literally swallowing it down most of the day because I've learned that throwing up only makes me feel worse.  And why, if I've struggled so much to get it down in the first place, would I let it back up??  I obviously have a very strong non-puking-will. I feel awful complaining about it, it really only makes me feel worse because it adds to the guilt factor- I know so many women who would gladly feel this way to experience another baby- and deep (deep, deep) down, I am thankful, as this generally is a sign of a healthy pregnancy.  I will be even more thankful when it passes and I can rejoin my family as the wife and mother that they deserve.  Yes, this is our last.