Graduations, and a pending trip to Idaho

This past Thursday we traveled to Hilltop Lakes to attend Kindergarten and 8th grade graduation. Becca is the one in the middle looking at us. Just after taking that picture my camera died. I was soooooo upset because I wanted to get a picture of Maycie(who was graduating that night as well, but from 8th grade--wink). She was so absolutely gorgeous. She always is, but this night she was all dolled up. She had on a beautiful new dress, make-up and her hair was curled. Oh to have her hair. Wow, was a beauty!!!!!
On the way down we got a call from my Aunt Sherry telling us that my grandmother, Grandma Gropp, was doing really bad and would probably not live through the night. So, we made plans to travel to Idaho. Jason, the kids, and I got back around 1:00 in the morning and the next morning I packed and cleaned quickly so I would be ready for the trip. As of now we still haven't received the call that she has passed, but we are packed and ready(including a squeaky clean van). While I am excited to make a trip to Idaho to see family, I wish it were for a different reason. It will be weird to not see and talk to Grandma. Her smile, her squeeze of the hand, and her little chuckle are always a part of our trip and now are already missed. We love you grandma.
Cailyn and Jessica will, if all goes well, be able to spend several days with their Lita and Papa. Cailyn is so excited, she can't calm down. You know that feeling the day before Christmas when you just can't sit still your heart is jumping inside of you? That is Cailyn right now. She can't wait to see you guys. Thank you!

Jessica story:
The other day I was holding David just after feeding him, when Jess comes up to him and with a growl in her voice says, "I EAT BABY!" I of course laugh hysterically and she continues to do it. I love her little personality. Well, I guess I should never refer to her personality as 'little', but I LOVE it. Usually!

Memorial Day

We had plans to go cliff jumping with my family in Whitney, TX. However, Jason and I had never driven there alone before and never from Mineral Wells. Yep, you guessed it. We got lost. We drove all the way to Whitney(about 1 1/2 hours), drove around for around an hour, finally deciding to just go home. Because they didn't have reception down by the lake, we couldn't get hold of my family who were already there. I even called my brothers who live out of state for directions, but couldn't get hold of Jim and Kyle didn't know street names(all the streets pretty much look the same). When we got home we filled our 3-ring pool for the girls and put together our newly purchased charcoal grill for Memorial Day grilling. We got a Red box movie and enjoyed a quiet(as quiet as can be with 3 small children) evening at home. We are sad to have missed the outing with my family, but made the most of our bank holiday.

Oh to be a kid again and make anything fun!

Now we are counting down the days to San Antonio! Only 2 weeks left.

Play group

Our Branch and the Weatherford Ward have officially started a play group. I couldn't be more excited about it. We meet on Fridays, which is good because those are my long days without Jason. Our first one was this past Friday and there was a great turnout from the Weatherford Ward. I was the only one from the Mineral Wells Branch though. I think they are crazy for not coming. Maybe I am just a lesser parent for needing time with other adults.

Anyway, while we were there 2 school buses stopped and unloaded about 50-75 Elementary age kids off. They scattered(but unfortunately the teachers/chaperones did not) and made all the parents nervous. Apparently I didn't pay enough attention to Cailyn because on the way home she tells me that some of the kids in the orange shirts were sitting on her in the sand box. She was making a sand angel and they sat on her; she kicked them off. I was horrified. There were kids everywhere and Jessica was being extremely difficult so I guess I missed the entire thing. Wow, what kind of parent am I. I told her next time someone is doing something mean to her to come tell me and I would beat them up for her. We giggled a bit, but then I got quite a bit more serious about it and let her know that she needed to tell either me or her teacher if someone was being mean or hurtful.

Our happy David just hangin out.

Cailyn having a hard time looking at the camera because we just got there and she wanted to play.

Jessica with her makeshift earrings on.

The princess on her throne:

I guess she wasn't too happy about it.

We love our David giggles

Snap, Crackle, Pop!

I have been working to lose weight and can happily report that I have lost 17 pounds since David was born. I have known for many years that my knees are bad and therefore don't go running everyday, although I feel best about myself after I run(really it is just a jog, but you get the point). The other day I was doing some lunges with a video and I couldn't help giggling as I heard a symphony of snapping, crackling, and popping with each lunge. Old age is the pits ;)

Last Friday the kids and I went over to the track to exercise, but lets just say it wasn't the best workout. I usually jog 1 1/2 miles, but only went 1/4 mile with the kids. We were the only ones there so I thought that the girls would play in the soccer field, but I thought wrong. We even brought some kick balls with us for them to throw and play, but I guess I will have to work out before the kids get up from now on.

*Yes, that is Jessica with a sleeveless dress on. Don't judge me!

We did have a lot of fun once I decided that the workout wasn't the most important thing at the moment. We all went into the soccer field together and kicked the balls around and played and screamed as loud as we could. It wasn't the most beautiful day(really humid and sticky) but we made the most of it.

Cailyn was so excited that she could be as loud as possible(which is surprisingly loud). She was so much fun to watch as she ran and giggled, danced and posed. What an absolute "JOY" to have around.

David was a little trooper. He just watched and giggled as we ran around and chased each other. It was fun to watch him as well, just as much engaged in our games as we were. He is such an easy baby, I can't believe how blessed I am.

Potty training update: Every day that we are home I take Jessica's diaper off of her. She and I went to the store to purchase the candy that she gets each time she uses the potty. After a few fits she now understands how she gets candy and uses it often. She has even used it to go #2(which incidentally she gets 2 candies for--maybe that is why they call it that--just a thought). I cannot be happier with her progress. Maybe after a couple of weeks we can try putting panties on her(right now if I put them on her she just wets in them, but doesn't if she is bare). Many times a day I can find her sitting on the potty all on her own and then with that proud-of-myself look on her face she comes to me saying, "Candy". We go to the bathroom to check and clean up, then she gets to choose her candy(s). I think that it really helps to have Cailyn so excited to sit in there with her and cheer her on.

For the record, Jason took this picture(although I probably

would have if he hadn't already done it).

An answered prayer

This morning Cailyn and I are having a discussion about caffeine. She says that sprite has caffeine and I tell her it doesn't. We go back and forth for a while until she finally says she is going to her room. When she comes back she says,"Mom, I prayed to Heavenly Father and said that sprite has caffeine in it and he said Yes." (all said with her hands on her hips). I couldn't hide the giggle I had and then said, "okay". Who am I to argue with the answer from her prayer(even though I am pretty sure sprite doesn't have caffeine in it).

All I can say is, "I just love my little man."

random insights into our life

This post is going to be extremely random, but that is kinda how my mind is nowadays.

I will start with a couple of Cailyn stories.

#1 One night Cailyn is telling me a story about a princess and her prince(or course-almost everything is about a princess these days). She tells me that they live happily ever after, but they don't get married. When I asked why she said,"Because she didn't want to get fat." Well now that makes complete sense.

#2 Cailyn and I were playing the other day and we both had guns and were fighting each other. However, she informed me that MY gun didn't work because she took out the batteries.

One of our new favorite songs as a family.

Happy belated Birthday Papa(recorded before your actual birthday, but delivered late).

There you go, it took a couple of takes to get Jessica's, but none the less--Happy Birthday Papa!

This past weekend we went to Waco. You see this past Saturday was my mother's birthday and then of course Sunday was Mother's Day(our first without Mom). I thought originally that we were going to give my Dad support, but I realized as the day arrived that we were there for me to have support. I really think that Jason does a FABULOUS job of supporting me emotionally when I can't stand on my own. I KNOW that my Heavenly Father gave me Jason because he can comfort me the best way possible. Thank you Jason for being so strong for me and always being patient with me. You have more patience than anyone I have ever known(anyone who has lived with me knows this must be truth if he can stand to live with me still). I love you and appreciate you more than I will ever be able to express!!!!

I wanted to share a picture of my Mother's Day present because I want to use it as inspiration to decorate my bedroom. However, I have not yet received any inspiration with it around. I am hoping that you guys could leave me some suggestions. I am almost completely clueless when it comes to this stuff so I need specifics(colors, frames, plants, anything). Please help the decorating impaired!

A beautiful wax warmer from Scentsy.

Cailyn is constantly making a funny face these days. I love it. She is becoming so fun to be around, always trying to make everyone around her laugh. Notice Jessica's face is colored on. I guess when she was told not to color in the books she resorted to her own face. Thank goodness for washable markers.

What would I do without these sweet children around to brighten my day? They are constant reminders of my Heavenly Father's love for me. What amazing little blessings. I pray that they think the same about me.

David update:

He now weighs almost 14 pounds.

He holds his head up with the best of them.

He has started to giggle when we tickle him.

He consistently goes to bed at night at 7 or 7:30.

He can definitely get my attention with his volume now(although he can still be drowned out by Jessica's)

He is still absolutely adored by his sisters and adores them in return.

He brings a sweet spirit into our home that we wouldn't trade for all the world. He is our precious David Christopher and we love him.

Cailyn and David; Jessica and her potty

A little craziness before bedtime. Cailyn loves David; the feeling is mutual.

Our posing Cailyn.

Our REAL Cailyn.

Another new step in the right direction for Jessica: "wetting" in the potty! Yeah, she has gone several times in the potty chair and I couldn't be happier. We are all cheering her on, join us. ***Don't mind the mess behind her, we(and by we I mean Jason of course) are doing some repair tile work in the bathroom after some plumbing was done.