February Pictures

We love having Jon's work so close to us now. We're about a 7 minute drive. The kids love going there to play at his "new park". I love that we get it all to ourselves since the community is still in it's beginning stages and the sand is brand new, which means there aren't any surprises in it! Jon has a "toy" gets to drive around the community when he's there-- he let the kids drive it too- they go crazy!
We've also been taking him dinner at night because he's been working late with so many layoffs. Our favorites at his office are the white board and the photocopy machine--the kids love photocopying their hands! I remember growing up and photocopying our faces at dad's work... I haven't given my kids that idea yet. Maybe that has something to do with my siblings and I ALL wearing glasses by the end of high school!

Above are the awesome ladies I get to work with in Young Women. They are always on the ball and are great examples of going the extra mile with their callings. Below are all the BEAUTIFUL young women dressed up for the Etiquette Dinner by the Young Men... It was a night full of chivalry!

Abby and I had "special times" at her preschool last week. I dropped Parker off at a friend's house, and spent the morning at Preschool with Abby. She thought it was the coolest thing that I was there with her and kept acting a little sillier than usual, according to Mrs. Whitmer. That weeks they learned "Q" for queen and "K" for King.

Parker found Jon's huge mud boots and had a lot of fun trying to walk in them... They're actually longer than his legs, so he didn't make it very far!

Chelsea came for a much anticipated visit-- we got to have her all to ourselves for 6 whole days! And the really nice thing is that we just hung out and relaxed most of the time. Jon was great at letting up slip away to dinner and a movie. And Chelsea (if you know her at all) was great at spoiling us to death-- new clothes for the kids, toys for the kids, fresh flowers on my counter, mopping my kitchen floor, letting me sleep in, changing Parker's poopy diapers even when he absolutely insists that he's not poopy, treating me to lunch & dinner, wiping off my ceiling fans, organizing the baby's room, taking the kids to the park so I could do nothing in the house, giving baths, putting the kids to bed (my least favorite thing to do besides the kitchen floor).
Chelsea-
I <3>

My cute neighbors threw me a Baby Shower!
It was so much fun and I just loved it! I feel very spoiled though =)
We've decided to name the baby Mia, so the ever-talented Alicia made these awesome wall letters for the nursery. I told her she needs to quit teaching and go into business!

Op! This would be Chelsea again-- getting Parker extra handsome for church, and playing hide-and-go-seek with the kids for literally hours! They will still tell you right where they are hiding if you rhetorically ask while you're the seeker--it's pretty funny.

January Pictures...

Hair Issues

Abby got her hair cut last week, which she has been asking for a lot lately. Up until her haircut she would scream and cry at me in the bath NOT to pour the water over her head because "it's getting longer!!!! I don't want it to grow! I want medium hair, not short, not long." I tried many times to explain that the water was not making her hair grow. I explained that it made it long in the bath, but that when we dried it, it would get shorter with curls again... I even explained that her hair grows at night when she's sleeping. I think that's mostly accurate. Anyway--we ended up cutting it since that clearly was the only solution =) Don't worry--it's medium now, not long!

Parker has hair issues too. There has always been wailing and gnashing of teeth when it comes to Parker's hair cuts. So we do it fast and get it done. The weather has been nice the past couple of weeks so I've started trying to drive with the windows open in the van. And for the past couple of weeks, every time I roll them down on a fast road, Parker grabs the sides of his head and cries/yells "Moooommmyy! My haircut! My haircut! No window!" I'm not sure what he thinks it happening to his hair when the window is open, but it makes me laugh every time!

2 Daddy's???

So the last night Jill dropped the kids off at my work so she could go out with her sister and I would bring the kids home later. I had some stuff to finish in my community so the kids and I went around to a few houses checking on things before we left. We left my last model homes and started home.

On the way home Abby began to ask if the last model we were in was another one of my houses that I live at. I explained to her that the model home is just for work and I live in the same house as she does. Since I work late sometimes she thought I slept there.

She then started to tell me that she wanted to have 2 houses like her friend in the neighborhood.
I didn't expect that I would would be explaining divorced families and multiple parents to a 4 year old. But Abby insisted that she wanted two houses. I started explaining about friend saying "Well Abby, you only have 1 mommy and 1 daddy and we live together in 1 house." Abby didn't like that response and commented "No, I have two daddy's..." Of course I was taken back... "No Abby, you just have me, I'm your daddy..." Abby continued, "No, I have you as 1 daddy on earth, and I have 1 daddy in Heaven." I was surprised at the response, but sure enough she was right. I'll credit Jill for teaching her something correct...

The conversation didn't end with that, Abby continued, "Yeah, Jesus lives in Heaven too. Is he going to come and visit our house someday, I miss him." I just let it go and told her, "maybe someday he will..."

It's amazing to see all the knowledge Abby is gaining. She really is a little sponge and takes in everything around her. I guess we'll keep her...

Crazy Little Boy...

So this morning I woke up because I heard Parker downstairs and I wanted to let Jill get a little more sleep. I came down to see my son dipping his hand a container of cool whip then filling his face with it! I guess that's what he wanted for breakfast. He's going through this face where he just eats what ever he wants. Last week I was making the kids some toast; as I turned around Parker was pulling his finger out of the butter and and sticking it in his mouth. That must be from Jill's side...

Christmas in Arizona...

So I realize this is Jill's thing to update the blog but I think I need to step in for my "prego" wife and give her a break (For 7 months along, she still is looking good!). We had a really good Christmas with my family this year. With 9 adults and 3 kids the house was full but fun. We made our annual trek down to the temple for the concert and lights on Christmas Eve. Forunately the performer was 1000% better than last year. Last year my Jill's Dad made the comment that the performance was like the episode of American Idol where they show the rejects. Glad to say we didn't have to deal with that. Most of the time was just spent hanging out, a nice break for everyone.


We did have a chance to go to the train yard and spend some time with the kids. Parker was absolutely thrilled with riding a train. Riding a train is a lot better than playing with his own trains at home.

Abby always has to get a picture with her mommy... that's ok, we like her!

Family Picture Time!

Thanks to Haley for being our expert photographer this year-- She was very patient with us :) This actually took a lot of patience because Parker and Abby kept running around and climbing on the walls. It's amazing that we haven't been to the doctor more often.

Preschool Time

I'm a mean old witch with a hat! And I ride on a broom with my cat!
And my shoes are pointed, And my chin is too. And you better watch OUT!.... 'cause I might scare you. BOO!

I Pledge Allegiance... you should know the rest!