Wishing on a star

So tonight as I was driving home from my sister's house, Addie informed me that she really wants a baby elephant. Now, we have had this talk a few times and I keep telling her that baby elephants are really big and we just don't have room in the backyard to keep one. Well she told me that she was going to wish on a star for a baby elephant and looked out the car window and amazingly found a star, I checked because I was hoping that she wouldn't. I am not trying to dash her dreams and be a mean mom but she really believes that by wishing on a star she will receive a baby elephant. So anyway she said her little wish and she seriously believes that a stork (yes, she loves the movie Dumbo) is going to bring her a baby elephant. I hope she is not overly disappointed when she doesn't receive this very hoped for baby elephant.

On a different note, Ryan is in New Orleans celebrating the New Year with all the other Utah fans who are there for the Sugar Bowl. I decided to stay behind because I did not want to risk having a baby in New Orleans besides, Delta would not have allowed me to fly anyway. Did anyone catch the story of the lady traveling from Amsterdam to Boston who delivered her baby on the plane tonight? Yeah that has to suck delivering a baby on a dirty airplane....good times. So after I finish this post it is off to do some ironing. Yeah HAPPY NEW YEAR! Really though it is all good because we never stay up till midnight anyway and with as much ironing as I have, I just may make it.

I am at a "2"!

So I had a doctor's appt. today and when I got there, they told me that she was going to check me. I had not planned on this and Ryan and I had the girls with us. So I told Addie that when the doctor came in she had to come stand up by my head and hold my hand. At first she was confused as to why and then when I took my pants off her comment was "ew gross mom, why are you taking off your pants?" I reminded her that when we took her to her doctor the last time for her check up he had to check her bum and that only doctors are allowed to check your bums so that is what Dr. Hinson was doing. That seemed to work and when the doctor came in she very obediently came and stood by my head and held my hand. She loves to watch her listen to Asher's heartbeat and always tell the doctor that she can feel her own heart beating. When the Dr. was checking to see if I was dilating (I am at a 2!) Addie was getting a little curious and tried to walk down to see but luckily I had a hold of her hand and kept her up by me. So anyway, I am dilated to a 2 and she didn't tell me how effaced I was and I forgot to ask so I will have to find out next Friday when I go (without the kids this time especially because Ryan will be at the Sugar Bowl). I am shooting for somewhere around the 16th of January which would be fun because that is my dad's birthday. Regardless if he comes on his own, my Dr. will induce me at 39 weeks.

All I want for Christmas.....

Last year, I stated in a post that all I wanted for Christmas for the next year was no sick kids. Christmas Eve last year, I had to take Addie into the doctor because she had strep throat and the poor thing was miserable. Well, this morning Sadie comes into my room and I realize she is all wet. After putting on my glasses so that I can see, I realize that she is covered in a yellow substance. Just then she starts gagging and let me tell you I moved really fast for an eight month pregnant lady to grab the garbage can just in time for her to throw-up in it. Sadie it seems has gotten that 24 hour flu that has been going around. I thought that she wasn't feeling good yesterday because my little girl who always eats so well did not want to eat at all. Here is hoping that it is only the 24 hour flu and that the rest of us (especially Addison) don't catch it.

Hans Olsen loses Utah-BYU bet

Hans Olsen (BYU) lost a bet to Dave Revill (UofU) with the U defeating BYU. He had to dress up as a cheerleader in Utah colors and recite a poem that Revill wrote. It is pretty funny, especially if you are a Ute fan.

My Parents are AWESOME!

Every year before Christmas, my mom, sisters and I all get together to bake Christmas treats. If my dad doesn't work, he usually comes too and plays with the kids. This year after we were finished, my mom and dad took Addie and Sadie outside to make a snowman. A woman who lives down the street from us who Addie calls grandma gave us a snowman kit that has eyes, nose etc. The girls were so excited and my parents had a good time too. Thanks mom and dad, I love you and Addie and Sadie are so lucky to have you as grandparents.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SADIE!!!

My little Sadie woo woo turnes 3 today....Look how she has grown.

I'm Done....with research papers!

Well, it is official, no longer will I have to sit at the kitchen counter for hours on end with my books spread all over the table behind me. I just finished my last research paper (18 freaking pages) and my final for my Vietnam class. My professor was very nice to give us a final in which we had to write 2-3 pages on what lessons we learned in the Vietnam War. I was so happy, no wrong answer, it is fabulous! Of course there was the one idiot kid in the class who said he would rather take a test and actually made us vote on it. Anyway, I have two more finals to go, one on Thursday which luckily will be a breeze and my Spanish final on Saturday. It is a good thing my Spanish teacher likes me because he has sure cut me a lot of breaks here and there. Gracias Senor Jensen. Anyway, yeah I am done with papers and in the future, I will plan my classes more carefully. This semester has nearly done me in.

Newton Family Christmas Party

For the third year in a row, my family has done a Christmas Party in which my parents take everyone out for lunch at Texas Roadhouse, we go ice skating at Gallivan Plaza and then we go and see the lights at Temple Square. It is my parents Christmas present to all of us and we always have a great time.

This year, Addie learned to skate by herself and boy was she proud! She would skate around with a huge grin on her face and one of my sisters would follow behind her to "try" and catch her if she fell. At times they were successful and other times they weren't. When she would fall, she would lay on her back and move her arms and legs like she was making a snow angel and then she would pop back up saying she was okay and off she would go again.

Sadie had a great time skating and each turn around the rink she would go with someone else. It was pretty tiring to hold her up for more than one lap.

My dad this year again tried to perfect his turns....I don't know who has a better time skating, Addie or my dad. It is definately a toss up.

Jen (Willy's wife) and I sat out this year due to the fact that we are both going to have babies within a month of each other.

Addie skating by herself

starting to fall.....

...she has fallen

My dad and Ryan ....awwww


I am so lucky to have such cute parents....there is hope for me when I am their age


Addie and Sadie


Sadie and Willy

Rafal and Alek....so cute!

Sadie skating

Two Down, One to Go....

Tonight I finished up with my second research paper and it isn't even due until Monday! I am so excited for this semester to be over that I am trying to finish up my last research paper that is due next Tuesday by tomorrow. So far I have finished a paper on the "Cuban Missile Crisis" totaling 12 pages and requiring a minimum of 6 primary sources. I also finished a 15 page paper on "The Black Sox Scandal of 1919" with 21 primary sources. Tomorrow I hope to finish my Vietnam paper on the "Battle of Ong Thanh" that as of right now encompass' 7 pages with probably 7 more to go. This semester each of my papers was a "primary source" paper and let me tell you those suck to write especially where I am an under grad and I am not going to fly to some of these cities to dig through their archives. I mean come on, most don't do that until grad school. So anyway, you have to work with what you can acquire on campus or through the net and I think Ryan will be excited to not see me sitting at the kitchen counter for hours on end. Halfway through the semester I realized that I work much better when I don't sit in front of the T.V. (crazy I know) so when I get home from school at about 1:30 I plop myself down in the kitchen and work through dinner (thanks again hon for making dinner every night) until I either get sick of it (around 10:30 - 11:00) or like last night, determined to finish I stayed up until 1:30. Hopefully tomorrow I will have finished my Vietnam paper and then I have 4 finals to take next week. Two weeks from today I don't think I will be able to wipe the smile from my face because I will be done with the semester and have three lovely homework free weeks until the next one.

Addie and Sadie Make the News

Thursday when Kimberlee and Amber took Addie and Sadie to the Festival of Trees, Channel 4 was there and was filming them. They asked Kimberlee if they would talk on camera and she told them that Addie would for sure. I guess they cut the part where they ask Addie her name and she responded with "Addie Poo stain a Crocodile." Amber said that when she told him that was her name he looked really confused. Anyway, they are just on the story for a minute and they have Sadie saying, "Santa Clause is coming to town." Awww...Ryan and I thought it was so cute. This is the second time in six months that they have been on the news. In May, channel 5 cornered us as we were coming out of the zoo and wanted to check the car seats. We of course failed because Sadie was in a booster and was only 2 so she was not old enough to be in it according to age. If they would have weighed her and measured her they would have seen that she met both of those requirements. Anyway....it has nothing to do with this story. They are on at the very beginning so you don't have to watch the whole story if you don't want to:) The title of the story is "The Man who would be Santa."
http://www.abc4.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=89564@video.ktvx.com

Thank you!

I just wanted to say thanks to all of my sisters for their help with my children while I go to school. Amber watches the girls three days a week and when they go to her house she always has a project for them to do (it must be the 1st grade teacher in her) she also works with Addie on her letters and their corresponding sounds. Addie really gets preschool five days a week thanks to Amber. Brianna watches them from time to time if I only have one class sometimes. She lives so close to school that it is so convenient for me and easy to drop them off. Also thanks to her husband who is home sometimes when she is watching the girls, they love their uncle Mike. And last but not least to my sister Kimberlee who now has Thursday's off and has volunteered to watch them from time to time. Last night she called to say she would take them today to the festival of trees so that I could write a paper that is due tomorrow. It was such a big help and I really appreciate all that my sisters have done for me this semester. You will never know how much I really appreciate it and I don't think I could ever pay you back in full. Thanks again and I love you guys! My kids are so lucky to have aunts who love them and love spending time with them.

Addie and Sadie with Amber at the Festival of Trees. Notice how Addie is the one in the stroller.
Eating lunch at Aunt La La's (Kimberlee)

Hitler reacts to BYU loss

Mountain West Conference Champions!

Last night the Utah Utes soundly defeated the BYU Cougars 48-24. We of course were there and it was such a fun game especially because we came out on top. It was a fun game even with though my brother-in-law had beer dripped down the side of him. The drunks behind us this year for the most part were pretty well behaved and I must apologize to Ryan Pace for all of the classless Utah fans who chose to throw frozen taffy and yell expletives at him because of his Cougar gear. Congratulations Utah, we had a great time! To all of you Cougar fans, you can now thank the University of Utah football team for becoming the biggest contributer to the BYU athletic program with their undefeated season and their more than likely chance to be invited to a BCS Bowl game.

Going Bowling....

With the Utah Utes soundly defeating the team down South last evening, we are all anxiously awaiting to see which bowl game we will hopefully be invited to. Ryan has already reserved rooms in three cities of which the Utes may be invited to and I am just hoping that I will be able to fly since I will be 36 weeks pregnant. We were lucky enough to go to the Fiesta Bowl 4 years ago and it was one of the best trips that we have been on to date. We will have to wait two weeks to see what Bowl game we get invited to and whatever one that may be we are sure to be there supporting our UTES!

Birds Nuts?

Sadie had been outside with Ryan while he was raking the leaves this afternoon. She came inside and very politely asked me if I would "come outside with her for a minute please." I followed her outside to one of the trees in our park strip. She pointed up at the Bird's nest in the tree and said, "Look mom, there is the bird's nuts." Ryan of course thought it was hilarious and so we had to get it on camera.

Shout Out to my Husband!

I just wanted to post and say thanks to my sweet husband. Lately with all the stress of my semester building up (three research papers all at least 15 pages in length)I have become very ornery and stressed out. He is so good to listen to my frustrations and then do what he can to help. The last two nights when we have said prayers with the girls he has prayed that I will be able to finish my papers and my mind will be open so that I can accomplish what I need to. Well since yesterday, I have churned out 12 pages so far for one of my papers so I am feeling a lot better about it now. Ryan has also been helping me around the house a lot more. He comes home and makes dinner so that I can keep working and cleans up so I can keep working. It has really helped a lot and I don't know that I tell him enough how much easier it has been. Thanks honey, I appreciate it and love you for it!

Primary Program

Yesterday was Addie's Primary Program and she was the only Sunbeam to have her part memorized, I was a very proud mom. She did a great job and I just wanted to post a pic of Addie and Sadie yesterday before church, I thought they looked so cute.

One Semester of Spanish, Spanish love song.

I am learning Spanish this semester because I have to learn a language for my major. I took ASL in the spring but found I didn't use it that much so I switched to Spanish since Ryan speaks it and could help me. It has been nice having him help me and I love this video so thought I would share.

Wanda Sykes on Bailout

Love Wanda....

Yeah Snow!!!

This morning when the girls woke up I told Addie to open the blinds and tell me what she saw outside. She was so excited to see the snow but was very concerned that it was not going to last because the last time it snowed, it was all melted by the time we got out of church and she did not get to play in it. I assured her that it would still be there when she got out of school and she could play in it. Sadie was so funny and kept going from one window to the next throughout the house I guess to see that the snow wasn't just in the backyard. Sadie could hardly wait for Addie to get done with school so that they could go play in it. They did play for about an hour until their hands were wet and their noses frozen. Addie wanted to get out my skis so that she could ski on the snow and I had to explain that that was not going to happen and we would try and take her skiing this year. Anyway, the kids are excited that it snowed, I don't know about all the adults though.

Halloween

Halloween was a lot of fun this year with even Ryan and I participating. After I got home from school, we headed up to Ryan's work to go trick-or-treating. The kids don't even need to go out at night with as much candy as they get at Ryan's office. Ryan's costume was a big hit, we bought extensions and glued them on his head to create his comb-over. Everyone was wondering where he got the "fake" chest hair to go along with it. No ladies it is real, I know I am a lucky woman. Halloween night, my family always comes over for homemade Enchiladas and Ryan and the grandparents take the kids trick-or-treating. I might go next year since thankfully I won't be pregnant. It was a good night, and the kids had a lot of fun as did the adults.

Addie was Darth Vader (I was so proud) and Sadie was a Witch

Sadie fell asleep on the way home from trick-or-treating at Ryan's work.
She was such a mess and had been eating her candy right up until she fell asleep.


She tried to clean herself up with a wipe but couldn't stay awake.




Amber was a Kitty, Alek was an Owl, Addie, Sadie, I was a witch and Ryan was a used car salesman...comb-over and everything.

Ryan and I, we never dress up but it was fun this year.

Ryan in the process of taking off his "comb-over" decided to make himslelf a beard

Isn't my husband SEXY!

I just want to sleep!

So here I sit at nearly five in the morning wondering why in the hell I can't sleep! I had insomnia in the beginning of my pregnancy but have not had it for a few months. We finally got the girls sleeping through the night again after moving them downstairs into the same room (not a fun experiance) and now I can't sleep. I have been awake since two-thirty and after tossing and turning for an hour and a half listening to Ryan snore, I decided that I would try and do some homework because during the day when I do it, I can't stay awake so it should do the trick right? WRONG! Still wide awake, even drank some Pero hoping the warmth would help make me sleepy. I know that in about an hour, I will finally feel it coming on only to have to get up an hour later to start getting Addie and I ready for school. Oh well, what do you do? Good Times.

Alek

A couple of years ago, my parents got everyone gag gifts. Well Ryan was lucky enough to receive the key chain that makes six different farting noises. I don't know who pulled it out of the junk drawer on Friday but we ended up giving it to Alek to play with. He was so funny because he would push the buttons inadvertently and then after the farting noise he would talk to it. He played with it for probably 20 minutes. It was so funny, except when Ryan got home and decided to take it with us to my doctor's appt. Luckily he did not push any of the buttons until we were walking out of the office and I don't think anyone heard (It takes a lot for him to be embarrassed).

Sadie's sweet tooth

Every time I bake, Sadie has to be right there helping me. She has to taste everything that goes into the bowl and after each ingredient she is asking if it is done. When I tell her "no", she then asks if I am teasing her. She is so funny and I love that she wants to help (even when she helps too much). Addie usually doesn't have the patience to sit and help and goes on doing her own thing. Sadie however, will sit up on the counter and help me add each ingredient. Today I made chocolate cake and these are pictures of her licking the beater after we made the frosting for it. She had it everywhere (don't you love the swimsuit she insisted on wearing today) and when some dropped on her leg she just bent over and licked it right up. The beater was loaded with frosting but don't worry, she had no problem putting it away.

Golfing with Dad

Last week over UEA and Fall Break (for me) Ryan took Thursday and Friday off so we could take the girls and do a few things. Thursday we went to the Children's Museum and of course my camera ran out of batteries so I don't have any pictures. The girls loved it though and we ended up buying a pass. We rode trax up which of course is one of their favorite things. We ate lunch and went to the museum. Afterwards we went and got icecream and of course on the way home, Sadie fell asleep on my lap (or what is left of it as Asher continues to get huge!). Friday Ryan and Grandpa Jeffy Poo took Addie golfing at Cedar Hills. Grandpa had bought Addie a wedge and putter a couple of years ago. Unfortunately they are right handed clubs and she swings a bat and golf clubs left handed. She had a good time though and Ryan even let her steer the cart. She can't wait to go golfing again!

Sadie can sleep anywhere.

Sadie was so tired and I was trying to work on homework. Ryan kept trying to have her come sit with him but she wouldn't have it and stuck herself between me and the arm of the couch. Within 60 seconds she was out, she is not even fully on the couch. It was so funny, she typically will fall asleep anywhere if she is tired enough.

Pumpkin Patch

Wednesday, Grandma Val and Grandpa Kimbo took Addie, Sadie and Alek to the pumpkin patch to pick pumpkins for Halloween. Addie and Sadie were not interested in looking through the patch for their pumpkin and opted for the pre-picked ones on the back of the truck. At the patch they also had a little maze for the kids and the biggest hit was a stack of hay that both girls enjoyed jumping off of. Alek was content to sit and try (Amber is his mom so of course it did not fly) to eat his pumpkin and the hay. Afterwards, we went to "Old McDonald's" for dinner. They had a great time and can't wait to carve their pumpkins with grandpa in a few weeks.

OOHHHH Sadie.....

I realize that I should not post pics of my kid's bare butt online but since it is only one cheek, I could not resist. Sadie came out of the bathroom minus her panties so I told her to go back in and put them on. This is how well she accomplished that feat. Ryan told her to come in and show me and this is the pose she struck.

The waistband is up her butt....it is amazing how they can make it work.

Hayze posing with Sadie

U of U Homecoming Game

Saturday was the University of Utah Homecoming game against Weber State. While the game was a bust (yes we did win but the U has lost the fierceness it had under Urban Meyer), we had a great time. We tailgated with some great BBQ beef (thanks Jeff) and the girls had a great time playing frisbee with their dad. Here are some fun pics from the tailgate and game.

Sadie eating her cookie

Addie of course being difficult while trying to take her pic.

Sadie and Uncle Brett

Addie poo

Stinky Cougars and an Icee

I took the girls to get and Icee and while we were paying, this was Addie's conversation with the clerk
Addie: Are you a Ute?
Clerk: What?
Addie: Are you a Ute?
Clerk looks at me for an explanation to which I ask him if he is a UofU fan.
Clerk: Oh as a matter of fact I am.
Addie: My boyfriend Mikey, he's a stinky Cougar.
The clerk starts laughing to which I replied: We teach them the important things in life.

It was one of the funniest conversations that I have heard her have with some random person. I don't know what possessed her to ask him if he was a Ute, he wasn't wearing red or anything.

Too Big!

I am sitting here trying to do homework that of course I have put off until the day before it is due. Addie is sitting here by me making up invitations for what she says is a tea party. She is asking me to spell her friends names for her and she is writing them on these envelopes. It is so crazy how big she is getting and that all she needs is for me to tell her the letter and she can write it. Preschool is really paying off!

When Daddy is out of town......

Everytime Ryan goes out of town, Sadie thinks that she gets to sleep with me. On a normal night, she will typically get in bed with us around 4:00 in the morning but when Ryan goes out of town, she thinks she gets to sleep with me from the get go. I don't know why I keep saying "she thinks," when I should be saying she does. Anyway, these are some pics of her and I when Ryan was out of town last. She thought it was so fun to lay in bed and take pictures of the two of us. At least when Ryan is out of town, she keeps her feet out of my back!

Utes Home Opener!

Saturday was the Utes home opener against UNLV. Addie and Sadie love to go to the games even though they don't watch a lot of it. They spend most of their time climbing the stairs and playing on the railing as well as going between our row and my in-laws row (Thanks Brit for helping with Sadie's bathroom issues). It was a great game, well the second half anyway once the Utes pulled their heads out and decided to actually play the way they should. They came out on top so we all went home happy! Hoping this will be a great season....GO UTES!

Addie and Sadie after the game....they were so tired and Sadie is actually asleep in these pics. She always has to wear a pair of my sunglasses while in the car whether she needs them or not.