decking the hall and other december highlights

'Tis the season to be jolly and it really has been a very happy time at our house. How could it not be with this looking at me everyday? December has been a busy month with decorating, choir concerts, dance recitals, and new baby times. So more than a narrative on the month so far I will just post pictures and you can imagine the fun yourself...

Cami is truly helpful these days with anything we ask of her. She sets a mean table and can scramble like a banshee for a burp cloth...she was genuinely good at helping with the tree. I think Santa is definitely going to find this little lady.

Taryn begged and negotiated and in the end got the honor of putting the angel on the top of the tree. She is such a passionate intense child. Every minute of the Christmas season is appreciated by her...and we try hard not to laugh at EVERYTHING she does...note Brent trying to restrain.

This is how Jocelyn helped with the decorating....Perfectly perfect!

Cami performed in her school choir and even did a speaking part. She volunteered herself to do this and we were quite surprise based on our experience with her stage fright/anxiety. We were a little concerned she would get up there and not be able to do her part then have a horrible experience to reinforce her fears. BUT she surprised us all by just getting up there and saying her part word perfect without so much as trembling. This was definitely one of those really proud moments of parenting where you just look at your kid and tear up with happiness for them. Dang Hormones! She faced her fear and she didn't let it stop her. I was really tempted to stand up and yell "THAT"S MY BABY!!! SHE"S MINE!! YES MY GIRL!!!" but I figured it would have put an end to her desire to be in choir. Yesterday Jocelyn tried out the Bumbo for the first time. She's got the skill but is missing the love so far. Mommy however definitely loved it and Jocelyn will become more acquainted immediately.

The annual dance recital was fabulous. Both girls knew their parts and had tons of fun. It was way more organized and shorter this year so we had more fun too. We did have a minor incident of Cami curlers REALLY curling and her hair looked like a finger in the outlet version of 80's hair. Brent and I were both in tears laughing (as privately as possible) and Cami was in tears crying...We managed to get a pick through it and fix all the make up smears and only be 15 minutes late...I think she was ok with the hair after the initial shock and we washed it out to leave no evidence. Taryn did a great job of her dance and of picking her nose at the same time...yet another proud moment of parenting. Also she stopped and wouldn't get off the stage at the end of the dance because she was so busy squinting into the dark audience looking for me. I had to yell way to go Taryn really loud so she would hear me and then she smiled and ran off. I asked the girls to strike a pose afterwards and these are as good as it got...

This is just a ps and has nothing to do with the above post. I LOVE LOVE LOVE how when Taryn is eating and she likes what she is eating she will start unconsciously humming. You can totally tell how good she thinks the food is by whether she is humming or not and by how loud she is humming. I hope she is always so happy go lucky.

Belated Halloween and Cute Baby

This year for Halloween Taryn was committed to being Cinderella for months while Cami waffled between a ghost, a unicorn, a scoobie doo character etc....In the end we ended up being Daphne from scoobie doo-lucky that we ended up buying it the day before we had the baby....We weren't really expecting a Jocelyn to dress up too. Luckily Aunt Mary Esther took care of that situation. So here are our cute spooks.

Jocelyn letting loose with a horrifying yowl.

Cami/Daphne and Taryn/Cinderella ready for trick or treating. Cami was a little unsure of the wig at the last minute and was kind of hiding...Nothing says scary like a nice orange wig...BOO!

The girls with their Thompson and Ferguson cousins trick or treating. Mostly all smiles and craziness. :)

Last Sunday I was getting a little cabin fever so we drove up through Zion Canyon. Brent stopped so we could feed the baby and saw this and had to capture the moment. We both thought it was hilarious until we realized what does this say about our parenting?

Jocelyn looking cute and cuddly...She was almost 6 pounds this week (5#11 oz) and is such a cute blue eyed cuddler. We are so lucky to have her.

(My daddy bought me my cute hat all by himself...aren't you proud of him? I am)

Surprise?! IT was to us too...

So three and a half weeks to go til baby's due. 7:15 wake Cami up for school choir. Sit on her bed and have a little cough-dang flu or whatever....Bend down to help her get her clothes off the floor and on her body. What the...that cannot be my water breaking....I totally just peed my pants. Brent enters - what are you doing...Either I just peed my pants or my water broke...Silence....I go to the bathroom and change...Still shloshing...Hmm...740 Brent drives Cami to school and suggests I call the Dr...no contractions so maybe I am just making this up....8:00 call Grandma so she can watch Taryn just in case...830 go pick up Cami from choir and get her to her classroom....and the Dr office calls and says quit messing around, you were dilated to a 4 yesterday when the contractions start you'd better be at the hospital unless Brent wants to deliver in the car...Get home and try to pack but really just wander around wondering is this really happening? I'm not packed or ready...I was really counting on having Halloween fun with the girls THEN doing baby prep. So we don't even have a name chosen out...930 get to the hospital and start feeling things....1030 they tell us people with the flu don't get to hold or see their babies for 48 hours...Amy starts to panic, Brent hacks up a lung....Amy crumbles and despite two previous unmedicated beautiful birth experiences begs for an epidural...they check me...I'm 7 cm and they call the anesthesiologist. 1130 ish? I say my back really hurts...They check me and say oh she's here...they scramble to get the Dr in the room...three contractions later 11:37 out pops the baby...Cami's not even home from school...wow that was fast. not really how I had planned to spend my morning...but they let us hold her and room with her...she just wasn't allowed in the regular nursery and we had to wear gowns and masks...a much better compromise.

What the crap is going on???

What the crap is going on???

Earlier than Taryn by a week but bigger than Taryn weight wise....But an inch and a half shorter... Pretty bald...Brent's big mother big toes and Amy's freaky long tongue...what a good mix.

After staying the full 48 hours (pediatricians request for being preterm) we get to go HOME!!!

My sister's LOVE me! Yes we are all still coughing and wearing masks and lathering up in hand sanitizer.

Time for a nap after such a busy few days!

Announcing Jocelyn Faye Weight

Born October 28, 2009

We couldn't possibly love her more or be more thankful for a healthy beautiful baby!

This is what the flu looks like at our house

So the last few weeks have been a little crazy at our house. Usually everyone is healthier than a horse but somehow Taryn and Cami got the flu then both Brent and I. So this is what we have been doing lately. Hanging out on our bed and watching recorded Disney channel and DVDs....Cami told me the only good thing about being sick is that she gets to watch as much TV as she wants (as opposed to me automatically saying no lets go....fill in the blank) So here's to good TV and movies....may we not entertain you again for a very looooong time!

Belly update again

No it is not just you. These pictures are really funny because of how wide my stomach looks from side to side. Apparently this is what a stomach with a transverse baby looks like. She likes to stretch out really far from one side to the other. This picture was taken last Monday (35+ weeks) by Taryn so it is pretty recent. We are hoping that the baby gets her head down and stays really soon so we don't have any unfortunate external versions....(bad memories of Taryn). I now can say my stomach is really stretched in a well rounded way. I carried Cami insanely low (nice head down falling out baby), Taryn really high (totally breech the whole time until we had to flip her so she could be born hence the bad memory), and now this one transverse (very wide mid section). My stomach is going to be nicely evenly all stretched out...good times.

Last Tuesday when I went to the Dr I was 90% effaced and dilated 2-3 cm so I am glad to be making some kind of progress. My blood pressure was a little high so I guess we'll have to watch that but hopefully before too long we will be snuggling up with this little princess and smooching her and deciding what to call her for reals...Our list is down from 47 to 20 something.... Anyway, just thought you all might enjoy a good laugh at the belly.

Wise words...

Taryn in a very sincere sympathetic voice as I am putting on make up for the day:"Mommy I'm sorry about all those spots on your face."
Mommy in a trying not to laugh voice: "You mean my freckles?"
Taryn grimly nods.
Mommy to Taryn still trying not to laugh: "I'm sorry about them too. I got them because I didn't wear enough sunscreen. Do you think it is important to wear sunscreen?"
Taryn very seriously and concerned: "YES MOMMY! I ALWAYS gonna wear sunscreen!"

Apple Orchard and outdoor fall fun

Last Saturday, after being sequestered with the flue all week, we NEEDED to get outside. Luckily my uncle has a beautiful apple orchard and cabin about 45 minutes away in the mountains (Pine Valley) and he had invited us to come and pick apples.

We stopped at McDonald's on the way (a treat for the girls since we NEVER stop there if we can help it) and ate on the way. When we got there we picked apples and played on the swing set and the trampoline and looked for deer.

The weather was perfect meaning it actually felt a little cool like fall time. It was a wonderful break for all of us. By the time we got home Taryn had a fever again but we all coped a little better.

Yesterday we made 48 pint jars of applesauce from the pickings and the girls had a fun time helping with that part too. We ate some for dinner tonight and it was really good (to Cami's surprise "Hey this IS really good"). While up there I got Brent to take fun pictures of the girls and although they look a little glassy eyed I think they turned out great.

Cami with the apple picker. The trees were planted in 1890 something and are huge so you really do need this contraption to get the ones in the tops.

This swing is the first thing they go for every time.

Taryn looking cute.

Cami looking cute.

I love that my girls are buddies.

Cami pulling her Air Jordan look.

Soccer so far this year

Soccer this fall time has been so so fun, for us and for Cami. Last year Cami was a little hesitant and didn't want to get nailed or nail anyone. She was just a little sensitive when it came to taking the ball away from other people too. It is amazing what a difference a year has made. She is a serious go getter.
In the first game she scored twice and jumped up and down cheering for herself. It was so fun to watch her find her confidence and aggression. I truly feel like she is my daughter now. Every game she tells us how she is going to score and how she'll stop them from scoring and how she's going to win. I love it! She has a great team-everyone seems to have about the same level of skill so everyone gets equal opportunity. They have only lost one game so far but only because they scored two goals for the other team right after half time when they hadn't quite figured out which goal they should be shooting in. This year with the baby due in the middle of soccer season I decided not to coach but to offer to help whenever the coach needed it. I have run a couple practices and one game and I still love it. Next year I am so in again.

Taryn really wishes she was playing...She occasionally rushes onto the field during the exciting parts and wants to help out...next year baby, next year. :)

Cami winding up for a super soccer kick.

Cami catching actual air.
Mommy coaching and telling Cami just where to kick it.

Taryn's birthday

I cannot believe how time flies. Taryn celebrated her fourth birthday last Sunday the 11th. Since it fell on a Sunday we played on Saturday and she begged to go to Sandhallow, a swimming pool with a huge water slide. She loves going down that thing but the water was super cold so it didn't last too long. We went to Wed Wobin (red robin) for dinner because they have crayons and balloons and she loved getting all the waiters to sing to her. Sunday we had the local family over for cake and ice cream. She was pretty wired all day having to wait to open presents.

She is such a joyful happy passionate child and we are so lucky to have her. Other than that first year (colic and constant screaming and no sleep) she is so fun and just a really nice kid to have around. She has so much energy for life and she sparkles when she smiles. She is a very accommodating sister and gets to be the kitty or puppy a lot when they play-and does so happily. She also is a phenomenal independent player. Just give her some books or puzzles or polly pockets and she can entertain herself for hours. She is still pint sized (27 pounds now I think if she has just eaten and is fully clothed) but when she is hungry she can out eat anyone. She is so excited for her baby sister and sings to her and reads to hear and smooches her constantly. She is really brave and will try anything and I love that I don't have to talk her into swimming lessons or talking in church. She just gets up and goes for it and is a good example to Cami. She is also feisty when the need arises and no one is ever going to make her do anything she doesn't want to. She has the cutest, high pitched, fast voice I have ever heard. Half the time we have no idea what she is saying but the way she talks and sings just cracks us up-loud and proud baby! (We are getting her into some speech therapy to help with her actually being able to make consonant sounds.)

Anyway we just really love her so much and we feel so blessed to be her parents. Our family would not have half the happiness or the laughs without her. She can always be counted on to light up the room and for that I will love her forever.

Brent videoed instead of taking actual pictures so we only have about two but here she is opening presents....Amazing how many times a kid can say "WOW!!!" in ten minutes. Her big gift was a two wheeler. She is so coordinated. She just hopped on and took off...we're hoping with Taryn riding it that Cami will get brave and let us take off the training wheels someday.

From Exported Videos

Happy Birthday to the Best Woman I Know

I just wanted to wish Amy a Happy Birthday today. She is by far the Best Woman I Know.

There are 10 reasons I love her so much:

10. She has a beautiful smile
9. For moments like "ambulation increases bowel motility"
8. Her awesome rendition of "Happy Birthday to You"
7. Time Expansion
6. She keeps my ears clean
5. She puts up with my job.....for now
4. She laughs at my jokes even if no one else does (Either she is kind or we have the same sense of humor :)
3. She is 100 times more Christlike than me (There is hope for me as long as I stick close to her)
2. She is the best mother ever
1. She loves me despite my shortcomings


Amy, I will love you for ever. Thanks for letting me trick you into marrying me :)

Belly Update

For those of you who care I love to share...This is little Miss Ginormous at 28 1/2 weeks. Yes, I officially out weigh my delivery weights from both girls...Hopefully she weighs more than 4# or I'm gonna hate losing the weight later. She is still pretty active-especially at about 11 at night. She likes to push her sisters when they are pushing on her but plays hide and seek with Dad. They both like to sing and talk and kiss the belly...I hope this baby likes cuddles and loves because she is really in for it! She has moved from completely breech to transverse and hopefully she will continue until she's head down.... We are all getting excited to name her and set up the crib and get ready for her. If you are scandelized by a naked belly close your eyes now.

Yes that is strawberrie jam all over my shirt-the baby was nice enough to catch it for me before it hit the floor.

Baby busting out...

And just because I thought this was super funny...She was begging for big girl night curlers....no matter that she has a very short A-line hair cut...And of course she can't sleep without stinky bear...

A Trip to the Zoo...what is a hogle anyway?

When Brent got home from work Friday night he announced he had meetings in Park City on Monday and maybe we should spend the weekend up north. We packed the car and took off and it turned out to be a great weekend. Saturday morning we went to the Zoo. Grandma and Papa decided to join us and bring some of the cousins. At first I was sad that our girls aren't really of stroller age anymore because I was sure that after a few hours in the sun they would be done. But luckily I forgot that northern Utah is considerably cooler than what we are used to and it was overcast nearly the whole day. The timing couldn't have been better as all the animals seemed to have just had babies. We saw tiger babies, giraffe babies, and pictures of the elephant baby (he wasn't out yet). Taryn's favorite animals were the penguins and Cami just liked everything. After the zoo we spent the night with our good friends the Francoms. The kids had so much fun in the back yard and running all over. Sunday we had a great family dinner thanks to Carolyn and Michele cooking like it was thanksgiving. Monday the girls and I just hung out with Grandma and Papa in Heber while dad worked. His meetings lasted really late so we decided not to leave until early Tuesday morning. It was a very spontaneous very fun weekend and I hope the girls made a lot of fun family memories.

Bravely petting the turtle (both girls did it but Cami was very fast with the post pet hand sanitizer so the camera missed her).

Both girls kept climbing fences to be able to see the animals...I preferred just to hold them up a little so they didn't fall in and really get an upclose view.

Cami lost in thought...

Grandma and all the cousins taking a break.

There was a fun train ride and carolsel around the zoo and I think they were the highlights of the whole day. This is Taryn and Lily very excited to go.

This is Natalie Cami and Jakob in front and Papa and Grandma bringing up the rear.

Love Birds practicing self photography.

Swinging on Monday at Papa and Grandmas. Before we even went outside Taryn explained which color of swing she wanted and why...I couldn't figure it out until we got out there and I realized there really were two colors of swings and she totally knew what she was talking about. What an observant kid!

Cami and Daddy messing around cowboy style in the basement...One of the few times I have ever seen Brent embrace his inner Texan...

Happy Birthday Brent

Brent turned the big 34 this year. I think his day for the most part was uneventful and that is a good thing. We had a family party then I arranged for him to go get a massage. I made a special BBQ peanut butter spicy chicken stuff with mango salsa for dinner...By the way it takes FOREVER to dice a mango if you have never done it before. Grandma Rice brought an ice cream cake and it was good-Taryn especially thought so. So anyway Happy Birthday to Brent!

May all your wishes come true...you deserve several for the number of candles on that cake! :)

Too Good to use manners...

What?!?

If you chance to meet a frown

I don't know if anyone is familiar with the song if you chance to meet a frown but it roughly goes like this "If you chance to meet a frown do not let it stay. Quickly turn it upside down and smile that frown away...."
Saturday Cami was having a rough day with the grumpies...(probably related to the fact that she got up before the sun did). After several warnings I finally said "Cami this is your last warning. You need to stop being so grumpy and whining. If you don't stop and I have to remind you again you will go to time out."
Taryn quickly responded by running over and hugging Cami and saying "Oh Cam! Turn it upside down!"