The Kerr Klan

Eden

2012-01-27T23:54:00.000-07:00

This is Eden... She has crazy hair. Her hair is long and all over the place.

Sometimes we put it in a ponytail so she looks semi-normal but thats only when we remember and we have a ponytail holder around.

So I decided to cut it. I cut off about 3 inches in a very hurried and rushed minute

Now she is blonde but super cute and you can actually see her face

Sometimes she likes to steal her sister's pudding and spread it all over the place

2011 - Quite Possibly the LONGEST year ever

2012-01-02T10:19:00.006-07:00

2011 was hard for me. There were a lot of changes and I didn't change well this time. Hopefully 2012 will be better or at least that I will react better.

A Year in Review

January - We celebrated the New Year in Boise with Todd's family. His sister Tricia and her family and his brother Kirk came to stay with us for a few days. Todd turned 33 and started his last semester at LDS Business College.

February - We welcomed our 3rd baby Eden, Kensington turned 3 and my mom came to stay with us for a month to help us adjust to this new life.

March - Todd got accepted to BYU-Idaho, Todd's Mom and Brother came to hang out with us for a week. We blessed Eden and took no pictures of her with her family.

April - Todd graduated from LDS Business College and 2 days later we moved to Rexburg, ID. In the first week that we lived in Rexburg we had snow, rain, freezing rain, wind, hail and ice.

May - Todd and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary. Instead of the cruise we had been planning for 5 years we went to dinner and a movie while my mom watched our babies.

June - We spent a lot of time at my sisters house while Todd was at school all the time. The kids enjoyed having a dog and learning to use the doggie door.

July - We celebrated the 4th of July with Todd's brother Kirk who came to hang out with us. The kids enjoyed playing in the backyard and making some new friends. I threw a baby shower for my sis and got to do some fun party planning

August - Todd finally had a little time off from school for us to hang out. We took turns sleeping and did a little local exploring

September - I turned 29. Todd started back to school. Kensington started preschool and finally decided to use the potty. Xander turned 2. Eden started to crawl.

October - I got lazy for Halloween and barely dressed up the kids. We went trick or treating in the freezing cold wind.

November - I finally got a job! My mom came with the kids for Thanksgiving and we had a nice meal at my house. The kids had fun hanging out with their cousins

December - I started working and the kids started going to daycare. I love work and the kids have mixed feelings about daycare. Todd finished his 2nd semester at BYU-I and gets the next 4 months off to be a stay at home dad. Christmas came and the kids got spoiled by everyone but their parents. We rang in the new year by putting the kids to bed and watching a movie on the couch.

I hope 2012 brings a little less change and a little bit of a better attitude from me. I hope my kids are a little less crazy and that I can finally figure out how to deal with them successfully so that we can all get along better.

Tea Party

2011-10-26T09:59:00.000-06:00

Kensie earned a tea party for finally deciding to use the potty. I put it off for a while but we finally had the party. I as usual went a little overboard but the kids had fun.

Birthday Boy

2011-10-21T23:24:00.001-06:00

I can't believe my baby boy is 2! He is such an awesome little kid. He has grown up so much in the past few months. Its been fun to watch him change and discover the world around him. Of all my kids he is definitely the best sleeper and he gives the sweetest little boy kisses.

He is OBSESSED with STOP signs so for his birthday I made him a stop sign cake. He loved it. Even though he can't quite peddle yet we got him a Diego bike. Kensie rides it more than he does but he still thinks its pretty neat.

2 Year Bio
29ish lbs and 34 inches tall
He can say The Pledge of Allegiance, his ABCs, count to 10 and sing "I Am A Child of God"
He loves basketball, Diego, playing outside, reading books, coloring, playing with his sisters, throwing things, trying to copy his big sister
He annoys me when he screams really loud, has to do everything himself, runs away and thinks he's the funniest thing ever
He hates to be told what to do, being dragged around by Kensie, being left behind when someone leaves

I love my little 2 boy!

Pink Skin

2011-10-21T22:59:00.001-06:00

A few weeks ago Kensie fell off the monkey bars at the park and broke her wrist. At least I think that's what happened. She did fall off the monkey bars but I was able to get her calmed down and she seemed fine so I didn't take her to the hospital. A few days later she was trying to jump over Xander and he sat up and she started freaking out about her wrist. Of course it was Saturday so instead of the regular doctor I had to take her and the other 2 kiddos to the ER. 3 hours, 2 x-rays and a huge splint later we were headed home.

After about a week she was able to get her cast. She of course choose pink. We were in and in out in less than 30 minutes and Kensie was so excited to have pink skin.

Call me Daddy

2011-10-06T14:05:00.002-06:00

The sweet sound of your own name
Nothing else is quite the same

You want it to be your babies’ first word
From their lips to your heart, daddy is heard

Nothing brings you more joy inside
Or fills your heart with more pride

Something you’ve earned by sacrifice
So having your child say it is nice

Call me daddy!

Mommy, mommy, come and see
I climbed a big tall apple tree

I’m jealous of my daddy name
Don’t make changing it a game

I enjoy the hugs and kisses
But that don’t make me a Mrs.

There’s one thing that I insist
Something lately you’ve missed

Call me daddy!

Mommy, mommy, come and see
I found a yellow bumble bee

For the hundredth time, that’s not my name
Moms and dads are not the same

We’re different in ways I can’t say
As spirits, God made us that way

I love you, so I’ll try to be nice
Listen, I don’t want to tell you twice

Call me daddy!

Mommy, mommy, come and see
I met a three-girl just like me

Trying to be the patient dad
I bite my tongue and don’t get mad

Boo-bear, what you’re saying is absurd
Not just a slip-of-the-tongue or careless word

Do you really want two mommies?
Then call me daddy, PLEASE!

Okay, mommy-daddy

Poem for Xander's Birthday

2011-10-06T13:55:00.002-06:00

He thinks his name is Buddy
Since we call him that so much
Cheeks are nice and chubby
His skin is kind of ruddy

Loves to play basketball
And draw on all the walls
Trips over his own fat feet
Is growing really tall

At night hates to go to bed
Routine of books & snuggles
Pitch black with white noise
Sing and stroke his head

He’s sweet to his little sister
Says, “baby’s sooo cute!”
Plays with her on the floor
And tells us that he loves her

Has a temper for a little tike
Tends to be a bit OCD
Repeats stop sign & Snake River
Or anything else he might like

Walked and talked real early
Especially for a boy
Copies his older sister
But is definitely not girly

Loves to make a mess with yogurt
Hits you, laughs, and runs away
Is shy but can be surprisingly bold
Cries giant tears when he gets hurt

Plays in the sink and gets everything wet
Says the Pledge of Allegiance
Sings, “lead me, guide me”
Knows his numbers and alphabet

I love this little boy
Being his daddy is a joy!

Catching UP

2011-10-05T16:29:00.000-06:00

Life with no internet makes it seriously hard to blog...

Kensington

- She started Preschool last week and she LOVES it. She is doing so well and the only drama we have is that Xander wants to go to and so he screams when I drop her off
- She is finally potty trained! She decided she wanted to do it and so it happened. She earned a princess tea party with her friends that will happen in a few weeks.
- She is art obsessed lately and is constantly coloring and drawing. She is learning her letters and writing.
- She got a haircut a few weeks ago and we cut about 5 inches off. She had so much fun having her hair washed and loved all the attention.
- She can say the Pledge of Allegiance and sing a few church Primary songs. She is always changing the words of the songs and making them silly.

Xander

- He turned 2 and he is definitely 2!
- He is obsessed with stop signs and even had a stop sign cake for his birthday
- He can say the Pledge of Allegiance and is so proud of himself
- He has become such a boy lately... climbing and being brave on the playground
- He LOVES his sisters. He is so excited with Kensie wakes up in the morning. He loves to play with and talk to Eden.

Eden

- She gave up on sleeping and everyone is exhausted. We are working on this and I still have some hope that someday she'll sleep again.
- She loves her brother and sister and they are her very favorite toys. She especially thinks Xander is hillarious and loves it whenever he is around.
- She is almost crawling... I know she is 8 months old but she just barely made it to the floor and she rolls everywhere but hasn't quite figured out crawling.
- She is finally over 14lbs. She is such a tiny baby and I love it!
- She refuses to eat baby food but LOVES regular food and gets so excited whenever you feed her.

Todd and Eve

- Todd is crazy busy with school and we don't see him too much.
- Eve is still looking for a job but spends most of her time hanging out with the babies

Life is as crazy and hectic as always but we are having fun. I look forward to the day Todd is done with school and just has work and his evenings free. I can't believe how much the kids are growing and changing but they are actually a lot of fun right now.

Dixie

2011-07-10T21:44:00.000-06:00

Kensie LOVES horses so a while back we took her to ride a sweet horse named Dixie. Dixie is my sister's mother-in-law, Amy's horse and she is the perfect horse for kids. She is super calm and relaxed. Kensie has ridden Dixie once before and has since named all of her stuffed and plastic horses Dixie.

The kid has no fear. She got right up on the horse, held on and was led all over the pasture. The only reason she quit is because Amy had to leave. I also had a chance to ride Dixie and it was my first time ever on a horse. I was super impressed with Kensie after I got up on Dixie. It was so high up!

Amy has another horse, Smudge who had just had a baby a few weeks before. This beauty is Goldie. She was the sweetest little horse ever.

Our Sweet Girl

2011-06-26T23:30:00.001-06:00

Eden...

- is 4 months old
-is seriously the best baby I've had yet
-sleeps 6-8 hours at night (and not in our bed!!!)
-is pretty happy most of the time and only fusses if she needs something or if its between 8 and 10 at night
-doesn't roll over yet (she doesn't get much time to just hang out on the floor)
-has gotten some solids but doesn't eat much because her bro and sis like to try and help feed her
-still has a ton of hair that is starting to lighten up
-loves to lay on the grass
-smiles a ton and loves to look at people
-is still really petite and cute
-thinks her brother is hilarious and loves to watch him play
-isn't really sure what to think of Kensie but still loves to watch her
-eats her toes
-doesn't really like baths
-falls asleep every time we go in the car
-rode in a forward facing car seat for about 5 minutes and thought it was so fun
-spits up A LOT
-will always grab your finger if its anywhere near
-loves to pull my hair
-hates it when her sis blows in her face
-I couldn't have asked for a better 3rd baby. She is so easy going and she actually sleeps which is pretty much a miracle for my babies. She is so sweet and fun and just brings so much happy into our family.

The Boy

2011-06-26T23:20:00.001-06:00

Xander...

- is 1 year and 9 months old
-loves to eat and will eat pretty much anything
-is learning how to talk and doing amazing... he repeats most everything we say and is constantly talking
-sleeps great... still takes a 2-3 hour nap every day and sleeps 10+ hours at night
-LOVES basketball. He will point out every basketball hoop that we drive past
-loves to push buttons.. he walks around the house saying, "push button, push button..." just looking for buttons to push
-is getting much more brave on the playground
-gives the sweetest little kisses
-is really good and mostly only misbehaves when he is following his sister
-loves to play in the water
-FINALLY gave up the bottle... it was a fight but we did it and survived
-loves to shut doors
-loves to flush the toilet
-is a little scared of the bath water running but loves to jump in the bath once its turned off
-will watch TV but isn't really a TV zombie like Kensie
-is so excited every day when his Daddy comes home
-loves to play in the water
-uses kitchen chairs to get into things he can't reach
-is pretty obedient and will actually do what I ask a lot of the time
-hates being left at nursery (or anywhere) but does great once he's there
-is starting to mimic prayers and loves to yell amen at the end
-LOVES the book "the little mouse, the big hungry bear and the red ripe strawberry"
-wants to be just like his big sis and get into everything she does
-loves to play with his little sis
-He is so different from Kensie and such a neat little boy. He is so sweet and tender and so much fun to be around.

Little Miss Diva

2011-06-26T23:09:00.000-06:00

I keep thinking I should blog more. Not because people actually read it (I'm convinced most people don't, including my family) but because I like to look back at it and see how my kids have grown and my life has changed. In that spirit I'm going to make an attempt to blog every month about my crazy kiddos and all the fun and mostly boring things they do.

Kensie...

- she is 3 years and 4 months
-still uses a pacifier even though it drives me CRAZY (I don't have the patience to take it away but its coming...)
-isn't potty trained - she knows how to use the potty she just won't unless she wants to
-LOVES Barbie movies - her favorites are 12 Dancing Princesses and Diamond Castle
-Dances all the time but she has to have her glass slippers and a dress to do this
-Talks about getting married every day -this week she is marrying one of the boys that lives in the house upstairs... he says no but she is persistant
-loves to hold her sis and help take care of her
-"reads" the stories she knows
-shows off her growing imagination every day and is starting to play pretend a lot more
-ALWAYS wants to go outside
-tells me most days that she needs a new mommy and that I am mean
-makes her brother be her handsome prince and dance with her
-is being somewhat reverent in church. The past 2 Sundays we have sat by the same family and she sits with them and reads or colors and tells them stories. Its no where near where I want her to be but it is definite progress.
-must have a snack and a drink to go to bed
-misses her Centerville home and tells me about it all the time
-thinks she has a baby in her stomach. His name is Dachshund, he is 4 years old, he talks and walks and he will be coming out in a few weeks...
-is so full of energy that I don't know what to do with her most of the time
-has started dressing herself and goes through multiple outfits her day (I moved her clothes out of her room to try and cut down on this but it hasn't really worked)
-is super excited to go to preschool in the fall
-She is a crazy, active little girl and so much of the time she makes me crazy. I'm not sure either one of us will survive these years but she's so special. She is sweet and kind when she wants to be and despite what she says she loves her little family.

A New Song and A Trophy

2011-06-07T18:46:00.000-06:00

Kensie sang me a new song today. It went a little something like this...

Mama Mama
You are so mean
I don't love you any more
Mama Mama

And then Todd walks in the door from school and Kensie runs down the hall.. "Daddy, you're home! I made you a trophy!" and then hands him a pretty cool trophy made of legos.

Oh the joys of stay at home parenting...

5 Years!

2011-05-26T21:30:00.001-06:00

Despite the fact that some people said we wouldn't last a year (thanks Becca!) Todd and I have now been married for 5 years. I didn't really think I would get married and it wasn't something I was all that interested in doing but this cute boy from California caught my heart over the phone and I've never been the same. The past 5 years have been crazy and nothing like I've anticipated but we've had fun!

In the past 5 years we've...

- had 6 different jobs (Todd 2 and Eve 4)
-bought a home
-sold a home
-moved 4 times
-bought 1 brand new car
-been to 10 states (WA, OR, ID, MT, UT, AZ, NM, TX, TN, GA)
-lived in 3 different states
-had 3 kids
-welcomed 5 nephews, 3 nieces, 1 sis-in-law and 1 bro-in-law to the family
-earned as Associates degree (Todd)

Tonight we celebrated our anniversary the same way we have celebrated at least 4 of our other anniversaries... we went to dinner with my mom. Crazy I know but thats how it always seems to work out. Its been a crazy 5 years but there is no one I would rather have spent it with. I look forward to many many more years, many more adventures and even a few more kiddos... eventually!

Bear World

2011-05-08T21:35:00.000-06:00

For Easter this year we went to Bear World. They had an Easter egg hunt, some small rides, a petting zoo and then the drive-thru to see the animals. While we were there we saw a bear climb on top of someones car. It was awesome!

Finger Paints

2011-05-08T21:21:00.000-06:00

A few months ago I tried to do finger paints with the kids. They had fun but lost interest a lot sooner than I thought they would. Most of the paint ended up on their bodies but it was fun. I have dreams of someday being able to do projects like this with my kids on a regular basis but I'm not sure it will happen any time soon.

Graduation!

2011-05-08T20:34:00.000-06:00

Todd graduated from LDS Business College in April. It was quite the whirlwind weekend. Graduation was on Thursday, Todd spent Friday in Provo taking some tests and we moved on Saturday. Busy and crazy but I am so proud of Todd for this accomplishment. He worked really hard and learned a lot over the past 2 years.

Family Pictures

2011-03-26T21:19:00.000-06:00

We went and had family pictures made. We've never had professional ones done and the last family picture we have is from my sister's wedding last May. It was certainly an interesting experience. Eden screamed the whole time. Kensie wouldn't listen and was just being silly. Xander was scared of the photographer. It was a pretty crazy hour but we got some good shots. I can't believe how grown up my babies look.

Frozen Tundra

2011-03-18T18:40:00.000-06:00

Todd is finally graduating from LDS Business College and so the time has come for us to move. We had great hopes of going to BYU-Hawaii but life doesn't always work out the way you want so we are going to BYU-Idaho instead.

Instead of sunshine and ocean waves we get snow. We're a little bummed but in honor of our move to the frozen tundra we took a new family picture... Rexburg here we come!

The Kids

2011-02-27T14:18:00.000-07:00

Its still weird to me that I have kids. I know I've had 2 for a while but there's just something about 3... its like I'm actually a mom and there is no denying it.

I wanted a pictures of the kids together for Eden's birth announcement. I didn't have high hopes because 3 kids that little isn't actually conducive to a posed picture but it was fun to try. It started out well but didn't take long to deteriorate...

Baby Comparision

2011-02-11T21:58:00.000-07:00

I personally think they look pretty different as newborns but Todd can hardly tell them apart.

Baby Eden

2011-02-03T21:40:00.000-07:00

We are officially a family of 5! Eden was born February 3 at 9:16am. She weighs 7lbs 1oz and is 19.5 inches. She has a full head of hair and is adorable. The c-section went well and everything is progressing smoothly. We are so excited to have this new addition to our family.

Just Born

Monkey Hair

Counting Fingers

I want these

2011-01-25T13:51:00.000-07:00

I'm not normally into these kinds of shirts but I saw these onesies and I seriously want them. I don't know why I think they are so funny but I do. If only I could bring myself to spend $10 on something for a baby. I'm so cheap sometimes and this little one already has plenty of clothes.

The Dentist

2010-12-26T17:55:00.000-07:00

I wish I had pictures or something but I don't and I wanted to brag on my kids anyway. We went to the dentist this week. I had rescheduled the original appointment because I had a panic attack about taking 2 kids to the dentist by myself and so waited until Todd could come and assist. We have been to the dentist once besides this trip so Kensie was vaguely familiar with the place.
We had a plan - Todd would take Xander and I would take Kensie and hopefully everyone would still be alive in the end. The hygienist came out to get Kensie and she took her hand and walked back to the chair all by herself. I sat like a nervous mother in the waiting room just waiting for something to happen but nothing did. Kensie got her teeth cleaned and got x-rays and was happy as a clam the whole time. When she was done she showed me her brand new purple tooth brush and talked about how they took pictures of her teeth with a special magic camera.
Xander on the other hand was pretty entertaining. He didn't cry but he basically refused to open his mouth and even went so far as to clamp him mouth shut every time the dentist got close. She was able to see in his mouth and the trip was a success.
Sometimes they drive me completely bonkers but seriously my kids are awesome!

Santa

2010-12-04T19:50:00.000-07:00

This pretty much sums up how my kids feel about people in general. I'm not even sure who told Kensie about Santa because it certainly wasn't me.

Halloween

2010-10-31T17:32:00.000-06:00

It was a bit of a headache this year. I may never make costumes again. Hopefully we'll get some better pictures eventually but they both got too messy so this is the best we have. Xander is batman and Kensie is a pink princess. She picked out both costumes.

The ALMOST Perfect Weekend

2010-10-31T17:28:00.000-06:00

Surprisingly enough last weekend turned out to be pretty great. Friday night we had our new neighbors over for dinner. It was nice to have people in our house and the kids had fun playing.

Saturday morning the kids slept in until a little after 10. I LOVE when this happens because I get to sleep in too and I love my sleep. We were planning on going to the children's museum because of the rain but by the time we got out the door it was clearing up so we headed to the American West Heritage Center.

They had this cool barn thing with old farm tools and wagons and stuff

Kensie and Xander got to ride some ponies - Kensie loved it and Xander wasn't quite sure

We took a train around the farm

Kensie got to feed some goats

We hung out with some fun scarecrows

They had a hay maze for the little kids - Kensie found her way out in just a few minutes

There was a slide and a hay jump too

Kensie got to pick her very own pumpkin

And Xander was crazy about the corn cobs

We finished up just as it started to pour rain. We headed into Logan and had a late lunch/early dinner at LaBeaus. The kids were actually a little worn out so they went to bed that night without much of fight.

Everything started to fall apart on Sunday. We woke up to a leak in our laundry area. It was quickly taken care of but it was a still a crappy way to wake up. The kids fought with us about church but once we were there we survived and then everyone napped when we got home. All in all it was a good weekend. I love spending time with my kids...especially when they are happy and fun.

The BIG Boy

2010-10-08T12:29:00.000-06:00

I can't believe my baby is 1. Honestly, we had a bit of a rough start when he was born. He was fussy and didn't like to sleep so we didn't really get along for the first few months. Now he is less fussy and a much better sleeper so we are doing better. I can't believe how big he is. He's pretty tall (30in) and has a pretty big head. He loves to laugh and play. He has it our for any electronic device and will beat the computer if he can get to it. He doesn't walk yet but is a great crawler. He loves being outside and climbing up and down the stairs. He is definitely a Daddy's boy and gets mad if Todd doesn't acknowledge him as soon as he walks in the door. He loves his sister and thinks she is pretty much the coolest toy ever. All in all he is just an awesome kid and I'm really glad he's mine.

A little late but yeah for California

2010-10-01T10:54:00.000-06:00

We went to CA over Labor Day to visit the family. It was craziness but we had fun.

the kids had a blast playing in the backyard every day

Kensington LOVES ringpops

The little roller coaster

Xander is always picking his nose - its actually pretty hilarious

Kensie loves her new cousin Cole - She always wanted to hold him and love on him

Uncle Bryson

We took the kids to Folsom Zoo

Kensie loved chasing the chickens - she wanted to pet one

The trip was fun and it was really nice to see the family.

Stuff I Want

2010-10-01T10:28:00.000-06:00

I was sitting in my kitchen this morning making chocolate chip cookies and really wishing that I had a cookie scoop and I started thinking of all the things that I want. Last year I tried really hard to want less because we didn't have any money and I had just given up a lot of stuff so wanting just made me depressed. It turns out it didn't work. I guess I am a lover of stuff... so here are some of the things I've been wanting lately.

a cookie scoop - so my hands don't get covered in cookie dough when I make cookies
a pineapple corer/peeler thing - I LOVE fresh pineapple but its such a pain to peel and slice
a Ju-Ju-Be BFF diaper bag - I've wanted a new diaper bag for a while and this is the one that I've found that I like but I just can't bring myself to spend $150 on a diaper bag. I mean what if I don't like it? That's a lot of money to spend for something I might now absolutely love.
a minivan - having 3 kids in car seats in the backseat of my car is going to suck a little but we can't even consider buying a van until we know where we'll be living next year.
a vacation - I'd really like to take an Alaskan cruise or a Hawaii cruise. Todd and I are suppose to go next spring for our anniversary but I just don't see how its going to be possible. I keep hoping it will work out but I haven't figured out how its going to happen.
a house - I don't need to own it but I want to live in a house again with a backyard where my kids can play and a garage so I don't have to herd my kids to the car and a functional layout that has enough space for all of our stuff.
an embroidery machine - I don't actually have time to sew but I'd like to think that someday I will and I'd love to be able to embroider things. It just sounds cool

For Sale: 2 Kids

2010-09-12T21:00:00.000-06:00

1 Girl: 2 years old - loves to play, make messes and eat. Refuses to listen to anything you say and will not obey any request whether direct or indirect. Hates to sleep and screams when told its time for bed. Requires 27+ books at bedtime and at least 25 minutes of snuggling.

1 Boy: 11 months old - loves to play, hit you in the face and follow you around like a lost puppy. Does not like to be put down and lets you know when he is upset. Also hates to sleep and requires at least 2 hours of screaming in his crib before he even considers succumbing to his tiredness.

Both yours for free and if you act fast I may even throw in $50 and the option to purchase a third child as it becomes available.

Update

2010-07-21T12:01:00.000-06:00

So despite the fact that I'm pretty convinced that no one actually reads this blog I thought I would update and add some pictures.

Life is pretty much the same. Todd is crazy busy with school and I am just crazy. Kensie loves to play outside and would live out there if we let her. Xander is crawling and starting to get into everything.

We still take a million pictures of Kensie for every five we take of Xander

Her Uncle David's Harley - She was obsessed with this and the John Deere

A few weeks ago we went to Temple Square so Todd could take some pictures for his photo class. It was hot and Kensie decided to sit/play in every fountain she could find and there were a lot of fountains.

Quirky Kensie

2010-06-13T09:14:00.000-06:00

We sure do love this girl

Deep in the Heart of Texas - Part 7: Going Home

2010-05-25T10:32:00.000-06:00

Driving home seemed to take twice as long as driving there. The wind was crazy and there were a few times I thought we were going to be blown off the road. We chose this route because I re3akky wanted to go Four Corners and be in 4 states at once. We drove the 40 minutes out of our way and this is what we found...

I was pretty annoyed but there wasn't anything I could do about it. Grrrrr...

The kiddos are awesome road warriors!

Deep in the Heart of Texas - Part 6: Random Stuff

2010-05-25T10:23:00.000-06:00

We went to visit Todd's Uncle Steve and Aunt Dianne

The kids had a blast playing in the yard

One day Xander was on the floor and he rolled/crawled halfway across the room. This is how we found him. He sure does like his food.

Deep in the Heart of Texas - Part 5: Fishing

2010-05-25T10:15:00.004-06:00

Gabe has been wanting to learn how to fish for over a year so while I was there I taught everyone how to fish. I'm terrible at teaching casting but everyone seemed to do okay. The ponds are stocked with trout and bass and catfish but we only caught little baby blue gill.

Deep in the Heart of Texas - Part 4: The Dallas Aquarium

2010-05-25T10:08:00.001-06:00

We took the little kids to the aquarium one day. They had lots of cool fish and birds and even monkeys.

Deep in the Heart of Texas - Part 3: Fort Worth and the Rodeo

2010-05-25T10:04:00.001-06:00

Ryan was off for the weekend so on Friday night we headed to Fort Worth for the rodeo. Todd has never been to a rodeo and I've only been to one which was incredibly lame. First we stopped for dinner and the kids had a blast playing on all the mechanical horses and carousels.

On the way over to the rodeo Todd decided to try a mechanical bull

We got to meet a real cowboy

Every time the rodeo queen came out Kensington was convinced that her horse was actually Kensie's horse. She screamed, "that's my horse" and "give me my horse." It was pretty hilarious so after we had her picture taken with the queen and her horse

Deep in the Heart of Texas - Part 2: Down by the Lake

2010-05-14T21:54:00.001-06:00

Tricia lives in a neighborhood with lots of lakes and trails so while their girls were at school we took the kids down to the lake to play.

They threw rocks

And they played with a giant stick

It was a nice break after a long drive and the weather was awesome! I almost forgot what it felt like to be warm outside.

Deep in the Heart of Texas - Part 1: The Drive

2010-05-13T11:35:00.000-06:00

Our trip started out with a nice long drive. We drove south through Canyonlands.

We stopped for lunch and a car break at the Monticello Temple.

We kept going to New Mexico and then on to Texas to start our vacation!

The kids did awesome in the car and we made good time on our drive. Whoever came up with portable DVD players is a genius!

This is the Place

2010-04-19T11:52:00.000-06:00

Saturday Todd took the kids to This is the Place. Kensington had so much fun doing all sorts of fun things.

She rode a horse

She climbed on rocks

She went to school

She got in trouble

She went on the train

She got chased by the train

She made butter

Ate some lunch

And finally took a little nap

It was a very busy day!

From a shirt to a Dress

2010-04-06T13:10:00.000-06:00

I had this shirt that I liked but it doesn't fit right anymore so I decided to try and turn it into a dress for Kensington. I didn't have a pattern and I pretty much had to wing it but I think it turned out okay. Its not symmetrical and slightly uneven in parts but Kensington loves it and I guess thats all that really matters.

Easter Kensie

2010-04-06T13:05:00.000-06:00

She got a scooter for Easter. She LOVES it! She hasn't quite figured out how to make it go but she's definitely working on it.

Easter Sunday Best

2010-04-04T22:05:00.004-06:00

Basket Cases

2010-04-04T21:54:00.004-06:00

Here's some pics...details to follow. Hope everyone had a good Easter!

Funny Faces

2010-04-04T21:35:00.003-06:00

Once in a while we catch Kensie and Xander doing something really cute or crazy. Here's some recent favs!

Bowling Beauties

2010-03-24T20:35:00.001-06:00

We finally got around to going bowling for Kensington's 2nd birthday. Bad idea. 2 year olds and bowling don't mix. Craziness ensued and after an hour we were all spent. Maybe next year will be better.

Ladies Man

2010-03-24T20:19:00.000-06:00

I have a friend with twin girls that are 11 days older than Xander. We hang out sometimes and let the kids roll around on the floor and bug each other. Its pretty fun. Xander is quite the ladies man.

Xander and his ladies

Handsome Man

2010-03-11T20:08:00.001-07:00

I love little boys in ties.

Kensie's Kitchen

2010-03-11T12:03:00.000-07:00

We finally found Kensie a kitchen! We've been looking but I didn't want to spend $100 so its taken a little while. She got play food and dishes for her birthday and then we found this beauty at DI for $5. She loves it!

Finneas the Fish

2010-03-03T15:15:00.000-07:00

There is this Curious George episode where George saves a fish caught in a small pond. Kensington thinks its the funniest episode ever and laughs out loud every time she watches it. I thought it was cute so I decided to buy her a fish of her very own.

We made the trek to Wal-Mart and she picked out a pretty blue beta boy. We brought him home and named him Finneas. Kensington is in love. The first night she give him hugs and kisses when she went to bed. She loves to watch him swim around and she wants to catch him. She was a little disappointed though when she realized he wasn't a flying fish. Oh well.. maybe next time.

Seeing Double?!

2010-03-03T14:56:00.000-07:00

When Kensington was about Xander's age I did some cute pictures of her. I thought it would be fun to do the same thing for Xander and then compare. They look different but they are definitely brother and sister.

2

2010-02-21T20:53:00.000-07:00

I can't believe my baby is 2! We had a fun party this weekend with some of her friends.

She played with her friends

She opened presents

and we had cake

The party was awesome and Kensington had so much fun! I can't believe my baby girl is 2!

Haircut

2010-02-15T09:32:00.000-07:00

about a month ago I took Kensington to my friend Brooke to get her haircut. She wasn't letting us put it up and she kept getting everything in her hair so I decided it was time for short hair.

I took the DVD player and she watched George while Brooke gave Kensington the cutest A-line cut. It turned out so cute and she looks like such a big girl.

Its a KERR thing

2010-02-03T21:26:00.000-07:00

Tonight at dinner Kensington sat in her chair, looked down at her plate of lasagna and cauliflower and then pointed and said, "SPIKE! SPIKE!" She is definitely a Kerr.

Quirkie Kensie

2010-01-30T13:33:00.000-07:00

Her daddy is her favorite toy
Playing with him is her greatest joy

Pony rides and a basket race
Teasing daddy till he gives chase

Hide and seek and peek-a-boo
So many fun things to do

Dancing crazy to Taylor Swift
Always seems to give her a lift

Jumping on the bed high in the air
Getting into mommy’s underwear

Curious George on the TV
Giving her dollies a spot of tea

Drawing on herself with every pen
Showing off the art on her skin

Sinking her duckies in the tub
Squirming during her lotion rub

Wanting to read the same book
Making a mess as a little cook

Stacking canned food like lego blocks
Messing up all of the alarm clocks

Screaming and streaking through the hall
Wanting to go in the hoop like a basketball

Putting her feet on the table when she eats
Trying to unfasten her booster seat

Protesting when it’s time for bed
Even when she’s a sleepy head

Saying hello to everyone she meets
Eating olives off the toes on her feet

Giving you a kiss then slapping your face
Scattering her toys all over the place

Running to the door when her mommy’s home
She always wants to talk on the phone

Wearing mommy’s high heels
Eating an orange through the peel

Sitting in the closet and closing the door
Fake sleeping on the kitchen floor

Running away at the Wal-Mart
She’ll never just stay in the cart

Wanting a snack at the grocery store
Keeping her happy can be a chore

Getting into the fridge for a yogurt
Outgrowing clothes in one quick spurt

Getting excited when she hears a dog
Being the star of her mommy’s blog

Kiddos

2010-01-19T21:43:00.001-07:00

3 Months

2010-01-04T23:55:00.001-07:00

Xander is 3 months already. I can't believe how quickly the time has passed. He has started to roll over but hates being on his stomach so he doesn't do it very much. He loves to laugh and kick his feet. He hates to have a blanket on him and will kick one off whenever he gets the chance. He thinks Kensington is hilarious and will often watch her and laugh.

Christmas in California

2010-01-04T23:22:00.001-07:00

Christmas is California was awesome! It was so nice to not have to worry about snow and bundling up in a million layers just to go outside. We got to spend time with both the Kerrs and The Solomons as well as visit some of out old haunts. The kids had a great time too.

They opened gifts

Posed by the tree

Did a little hunting

Went on a spy mission

Played at the park

Wrestled a lion
Got beat by the lion

and hung out with the cousins

Cousins

2009-12-28T12:37:00.000-07:00

2 Months

2009-11-30T23:14:00.001-07:00

The boy is 2 months today. For him we are doing cookies instead of cupcakes. We did have cookies for his 1st monthiversary but I never took pictures.

He is an awesome kid. All smiles most of the time. He is patient with his sister and very low key most of the time. Just like his sister he doesn't really like to sleep but when he does its often for hours at a time. He is a big boy that eats all the time. We definitely love having him as part of our family.

When Sisters Attack...

2009-11-21T21:15:00.000-07:00

She sure does love him

Blessing

2009-10-28T20:06:00.000-06:00

A few weeks ago we blessed Xander at Todd's sister's house in Idaho. My mom was able to be there and Todd was able to have half his family there. My friend Jen who lives in the area even got to come. Kensington had so much fun playing with her cousins and new friends. It was so nice to get to visit with family and friends too.

Photo Shoot

2009-10-28T20:01:00.001-06:00

While my mom was here and I could use her Costco card I took some pictures of Xander for his birth announcements. I was so glad I got some of him smiling. He is such a handsome little man.

I forgot

2009-10-19T20:55:00.001-06:00

Newborns are EXHAUSTING...

What's in a Name?

2009-10-15T13:29:00.000-06:00

Your parents gave you the name
That others would call you by
Something you’ll answer to
And on papers you will sign

But what’s in your name
Why did they call you that
What are you to become
Who are you to emulate

Kensington is a palace
Home to a princess full of love
You can be that princess
With your palace up above

Jewell for your Great Grandma
Remember and cherish her name
She is smart and independent

They want you to be the same

Christine is after your mother
Who loves with all her heart
She makes your house a home
And struck dad with cupids dart

Kerr is after your father
It’s also the family name
Always act with honor
And never bring it shame

Kensington Jewell Christine Kerr
Is what they named their baby girl

Kensington Jewell Christine Kerr
The prettiest girl you'll ever see

Kensington Jewell Christine Kerr
She loves to dance and loves to sing

More Xander

2009-10-10T21:31:00.000-06:00

Our little man is already growing and changing so much. He is very animated and always making silly faces. He still sleeps most of the time but has decided that he likes to be awake from about 2 to 4 in the morning. Luckily I have my Mom here for another week to help with Kensington so I get plenty of naps.
Kensington is adjusting much better than I anticipated. She loves to hold Xander's hands or feet and to give him kisses. She wants to hold him sometimes but is usually just content sitting next to him. She is constantly trying to give him a bottle or steal his pacifier out of his mouth.
I still can't believe that I have 2 kids.

Baby X

2009-09-30T23:04:00.001-06:00

Xander Kerr
Wednesday September 30, 2009
9lbs 30z 20inches

The C-section went well and we are all doing great. Kensington loves her little brother. I'm not quite sure she knows he's coming home with us later but she loved to hold him and stroke his face. Hopefully I'll be out of the hospital on Friday and life can begin settling into its new normal.

Too tired for a title

2009-09-29T20:27:00.000-06:00

I feel like its been a while since I put some pictures up so I thought that I would. I'm usually too tired to do anything fun and so we haven't taken too many pictures lately. Kensington is growing like a weed and gets more interesting every day. She is finally back to sleeping like a normal child. She has some mornings where she wakes up between 5 and 6 but usually she is nice and lets me sleep until at least 8. Its nice to have some peace again and not dread bed time every night.

I'm hoping to finally get some pictures of my baby belly tomorrow. My Mom who was a labor and delivery nurse for at least a decade says I have the wierdest looking pregnant belly that she has ever seen and she's seen a lot. I still have a waistline and I'm only pregnant from the waist up. She even wants me to ask my doctor why I look so wierd.

Assuming everything goes as planned Xander will be here tomorrow and hopefully I'll be able to get some pictures posted. I'm excited to finally meet the little guy but I'm not sure I'm quite ready to have 2 kids.

She is obsessed with the phone

She finally let me put in pigtails

She doesn't actually pick boogers but loves to stick her finger up her nose

She loves to climb and gets into everything

A Little Peace

2009-09-16T09:40:00.000-06:00

We are making progress on the sleep drama... its not perfect but its working a million times better than being awake from 2-5 in the morning every morning.
After searching for a week for a crib tent we gave up on that and decided we needed to do something else. We tried the pack and play, we tried letting her sleep in a different room and even tried letting her sleep with us but nothing worked particularly well.
So finally I took the furniture out of her room (so she can't climb it and tip it over) and put a mattress on the floor and let her sleep there. She doesn't like it and spends 5-30 minutes each night banging on the door and throwing her body into it but eventually she falls asleep. Usually its on the floor but occasionally she makes it over to the bed.
She still wakes up at least once during the night and has to cry it out some more but I can live with that for now. Hopefully she'll adjust soon so that she doesn't freak out the new baby and wake him up at night too.

Do They Make Sleeping Pills for Babies?

2009-09-08T10:29:00.000-06:00

So I was under the false impression that by 18 months we would have sleep fairly well established. She has always had some issues with sleeping but it really hasn't been that bad until now...

It all started (or should I say stopped?) about 2 1/2 weeks ago. She would throw a major fit any time we tried to put her down to sleep and then after crying it out for an hour or 2 she would sleep for 3-5 hours and start all over again. We were all exhausted.

We started giving her melatonin to see if that would help and for 3 wonderful nights we got sleep. Peaceful, happy, uninterupted (at least by her screaming) sleep. Now we are back to the sleep drama with a vengence.

There seem to be 2 major problems...

1. She won't go to sleep in her room. She hates her bedroom and throws a complete and total tantrum any time we attempt to put her to sleep in her room. She'll fall asleep in the living room, in our room, in the car... anywhere but her room. If she wakes up her room she is incredibly mad and absolutely refuses to go back to sleep... anywhere.

2. She just won't go to sleep. She fights it with everything she has and the girl has an iron will. We can't let her cry it out in her crib because in her anger she has started to fling herself over the edge of her crib and I'm worried she may break her neck. If she were just trying to climb out of the crib like a normal kid I might not worry so much but she is flinging herself over the edge in a fit of rage.

So now I don't know what to do and I'm tired. I can't be up all night with 2 screaming kids so I've got to get this thing figured out quickly...

This is How I Feel

2009-08-24T23:02:00.000-06:00

How are you?

Alturas Lake

2009-08-14T21:42:00.001-06:00

A few weeks ago Todd took Kensington to Alturas Lake in Idaho for a family reunion. I stayed home because camping and pregnancy just aren't my thing. Plus my Mom was in town and we were able to get LOTS of stuff done without having to worry about Kensington. They were gone for a whole week and had lots of fun.

They played in the sand

went canoeing

hung out with cousins

played in a hammock

climbed on everything

Hopefully next year we can all go together.

I Want One!

2009-08-07T15:43:00.001-06:00

So I know these skirts have been pretty popular for a while but I think they are adorable and I want one for Kensington. I would love one for myself too but I don't think I would actually be brave enough to wear it outside. I can't believe they sell for over $60 each but I actually found a how-to on Martha Stewart so I'm going to add it to my project list. I just might get around to it by the time Kensington starts school.

Yellowstone

2009-07-30T01:10:00.001-06:00

While in Idaho we went to Yellowstone for one of their free weekends. We most drove around since I'm pregnant and lazy but we were still able to see some awesome stuff. I thought the small geysers and springs were a lot cooler than Old Faithful. We got to see some elk and I made friends with a bison. Apparently they are quite dangerous but they look kinda cute. Kensington did awesome on the car ride considering she hates the car. I would love to go back sometime when its not so hot and we can stay for a few days.

Idaho

2009-07-30T01:05:00.000-06:00

A few weeks ago we went to Idaho to visit my sister. While we were there Kensington got to ride a miniature pony. I thought it was cool since I've never ridden a horse but Kensington was much more interested in the little baby kittens. We also went to the lake one day. Todd and Kensington had a great time but the water was freezing so I only got in up to my waste. I wish we had a pool where we could all go swimming in semi-warm water. Kensington loves to swim and it would be such a nice way to beat the heat.

Day 6

2009-07-11T11:39:00.001-06:00

I was suppose to use a square photo but I love this picture and it was too wide but I went ahead and used it anyway. I wish she could still wear these shoes. I love them!

Day 5

2009-07-10T09:56:00.001-06:00

This class was about textures. I didn't actually like this picture because it turned out rather grainy but with the different textures and the frame I think its a cool family picture.

Day 2&3

2009-07-09T21:39:00.000-06:00

Brushes and Hand-Tinting. The brushes thing is awesome! I have a million of them saved but I had no idea what to do with them.

Class

2009-07-09T21:00:00.000-06:00

I'm taking an online photo editing class so that one day I can achieve my dream of having fantastic digital scrapbook pages. This class is all about frames and special effects. This is my day 1 assignment... Only 13 more days to go...

ouch

2009-06-29T09:45:00.001-06:00

Some kids kick. Some kids hit. Some kids throw tantrums. My kid bites.

I wonder if she's teething?

One Lazy Mom and the TV

2009-06-15T09:40:00.001-06:00

I've always felt like I'm a lazy mom. I play with Kensington but I don't do any fabulous activities and I let her just do her own thing most of the time. I try not to watch TV all day because Kensie loves it so much and she's not really suppose to watch TV but ever morning she goes in the living room and turns on the TV. All she wants to watch is music videos. She is obsessed with CMT. Its funny and cute and also a little frightening.

Olives!

2009-06-15T09:35:00.001-06:00

Kensington loves to "help" me make dinner. Usually it means me trying to make dinner quickly and with only 1 hand. I finally figured out that if I give her food and let her hang out at the table she'll sorta leave me alone. She likes olives but has never had whole olives so that was her predinner treat one night. She LOVED it! We put them on her fingers and toes and she ate them right off. It was so hilarous!

A Funny Story

2009-06-01T12:25:00.001-06:00

Before I was ever even pregnant with Kensington I wanted a boy. I'm not exactly girly and I knew Todd would want his daughters to be girly and so I figured I would be better at raising a boy and Todd is definitely manly so it would just work better for us.
Then came Kensington and she isn't girly and there isn't anything we can do about it and she is a total blast. So then I thought it would be nice to have 2 girls so they could hang out and because girls weren't as hard as I had thought and I had all the stuff so when I got pregnant we wanted a girl.
I'm 23 weeks along and we've always thought it was a girl. When we went to the doctor he couldn't see anything and the baby was acting the same way that Kensington had so I was pretty sure it was a girl. I was happy, Todd was happy and Kensington couldn't have cared less.
Today was another appointment and another ultrasound. I didn't think we'd see anything because we never have so I didn't exactly have expectations. The sonographer is doing her thing and gets a nice shot right between the legs... Its a BOY. What am I going to do with a boy? I must admit I'm excited and I also feel like I might have a panic attack. At least I have 17 more weeks to get use to the idea.

Memorial Day

2009-05-25T09:53:00.000-06:00

When Todd was young he lost 3 of his siblings. One of his sisters died in an accident when she was a young baby and then a brother and sister set of twins that died shortly after birth. They are buried in Utah where his family lived at the time. For Memorial Day we decided to visit the grave and take some flowers. Todd had never been there before so it was pretty emotional for him. After we got home he wrote a beautiful poem.

A Short Cut to Eternity

Why is it such a tragedy when a baby dies
The answer is in the mother’s cries

A little child who doesn’t move
Emotions that you cannot soothe

There’s a future that was snuffed
Words of consolation are not enough

Does it still belong to you if it never cries
Will I get to raise my child if it dies

Were they meant to live on earth
Or were they only here for their birth

To receive a body and take a breath
Then be ushered home through death

Were they better than the rest
Had they already passed the test

Too pure and innocent to abide
Heavenly Father’s joy and pride

On the other side of the veil
Can they see or feel you there

Are they sad when you cry
Disappointed when you lie

Do they help answer your prayers
Give you hope when all else fails

You must call on a higher power
To give you comfort every hour

So many things on your mind
Only questions left behind

Listen to the still small voice
Understand they had a choice

Heavenly Father had plans too
There was a greater work to do

Together in the same garden place
Able to hold them and see their face

All things shall be restored
You’ll get to see them grow old

God is mighty to save
Christ has overcome the grave

They got a short cut to eternity
Showing us how we need to be

They’re helping our eyes to see
Guiding us back to eternity

In the Lord's House we were sealed
One day our family will be healed

Since families are forever
One day we’ll be together

I Wish These Were Posed

2009-05-11T14:31:00.000-06:00

Kensington likes to go. She is constantly grabbing my keys, purse and sunglasses and going to the door. Yesterday I had my church shoes out and she decided to try those too. I'm not sure what I'm going to do when she learns how to get the door open on her own.

Thanksgiving Point

2009-05-11T14:19:00.001-06:00

A few weeks ago we went to Thanksgiving Point for the Baby Animal Birthday Party. I thought Kensington would have seeing all the animals. I was wrong. She was completely uninterested and desperately in need of a nap.

Kensington with Miss Utah

Very Happy in Jail (a bad omen for her future?)

The Llama that tried to eat her
Milking a fake cow

Riding the fake cow

I guess in the future I'll have to plan better and not take her out during nap time.

The Big Reveal... Or Not

2009-05-04T11:46:00.000-06:00

I guess I have modest kids who just don't feel the need to show themselves on ultrasound. This baby is positioned in exactly the same way the Kensington was.. facing my back with its legs curled up. The doc said its probably a girl but he couldn't get a good enough shot to really tell anything. There's only so much you can see from the butt. I have another appointment on June 1 so maybe we'll get a little better picture then. Everything else looks good though which a nice to hear after 12 weeks with no prenatal care.

Boy or Girl!?!

2009-04-30T15:06:00.001-06:00

So I finally have a doctors appointment on Monday. We've been waiting forever for the insurance to start and it finally will tomorrow. I'll be 19 weeks when I go to the doctor so there's a good chance we'll find out the sex of this little kiddo inside me. I personally don't want to find out but after a few weeks of trying to convince Todd that it was better not to know I finally gave in to his desire to know. We both want a girl which makes me think its a boy... what do you think?

Princess in the Red Highheels

2009-04-20T12:37:00.001-06:00

She wanted to wear her shoes that FINALLY got unpacked. The don't exactly fit her anymore and they have a heel on them so she can barely walk but she had blast!

Red Nosed Kensington

2009-04-20T12:30:00.001-06:00

Saturday finally brought some very nice weather and so we took Kensington to the park. She promptly ran away from the park, onto the asphault and tripped. She now has a little red nose. It doesn't seem to bother her too much. I just hope it doesn't scar.

A Small Problem

2009-04-20T12:18:00.001-06:00

Moving hasn't been too bad for the most part. I knew we were going to have to downsize and I was okay with that. I actually really like the place we found and its a lot bigger than a lot of the places that we looked at. I only have one BIG problem....

This is my OLD kitchen

Its quite large with LOTS of cabinets and counter space and a nice pantry and all that kind of stuff.

This is my NEW kitchen

Its not so big with not so many cabinets and not a lot of counter space. Its been 3 weeks and I'm still trying to figure out where to put things. Our dining room table sits right in the middle of the room and no matter what I seem to do its ALWAYS a mess (these pictures were taken after me being sick for the whole weekend so its messier than normal). I'm still not sure what I'm going to do about the whole thing... any suggestions?

Baking Cookies

2009-04-20T08:57:00.001-06:00

I was on the phone and Kensington was quiet. This is highly unusual for her as she is usually making some kind of noise. I went into the kitchen to find this.... I guess she wanted to make some cookies or something.

The Aquarium

2009-04-20T08:41:00.000-06:00

I kept seeing these commercials for the aquarium in SLC. I thought it would be fun and so one Saturday we decided to head over and take Kensington to see the fishies. Apparently since it was raining everyone else decided to go too and the place was packed. Kensington did good for about the first 5 minutes and then she was ready to run. She also thought it was a petting zoo and felt the need to "pet" everyone standing near us! I guess she's not quite old enough to appreciate the fish yet but Todd and I had a good time. I'm going to try and take her back sometime during the week when there's less people.

Little Sickie

2009-04-20T08:37:00.001-06:00

We've been in our new place for about 3 weeks now. We still aren't completely moved in yet but its coming along. Downsizing is hard and we haven't quite figured out where to put everything. Mostly I miss my kitchen! A week after we got moved in Kensington decided to get sick for the first time. We were watching LOST and she just decided to puke all over the couch. Poor Todd had to take care of it because it made me want to puke too. The next day was horrible as she wouldn't keep anything down and we didn't know what to do to. After a few more random episodes in the following days she is finally back to normal. Hopefully this is the last time she'll be sick for a very long time.

Now Back to Our Blog.. AKA The World's LONGEST Post

2009-03-17T20:52:00.000-06:00

So being homeless can really put a damper on blogging. We've been lucky to have great friends to stay with during our transient state but its far more complicated than living in your own house. A lot has happened in the past month and there are TONS of pictures.. Enjoy!

Kensington's Birthday -
We celebrated Kensington's 1st birthday a little early because of the move. We went bowling with the family and had a great time! Kensington loved it for the first 5 frames or so and then she kind of lost interest. The adults had a good time though. After bowling we went back to the house for cake and ice cream. She's only 1 but she seemed to have a good time.

This is the house right before I left. Todd drove with me to Utah and then headed back to CA to do all the hard work. He was amazing and got everything done! I'll always miss our first home but it was fun while we lived there.

Once we got to Sariah's she made a cute little tutu for Kensington. It turned out way better than the one I made for Halloween. Kensington thought it was pretty cool too!

A few weeks ago I went up to Idaho to visit my sister Rebecca. We went to Bear World so that Kensington could see a bear cub. It was totally cool! The cub was so cute and cuddly. I want one but I know it will grow up to be a GIANT bear.

While I was there I got to see one of my dear friends who is serving a mission in Idaho. I haven't seen her in over 3 years so we had a great chance to catch up a little bit. She is such a cute girl.

This is Kensington at a restaurant. She seems to like to put her feet on the table while she's in a high chair. Does anyone know how to break this habit?

Rebecca has a puppy and Sonney loves Kensington. She thought he was hilarious and this is what happened any time we let them near each other.

Kensington got to feed herself spaghetti. She had a blast and was a mess. I'm not sure she's quite ready for self feeding yet.

Kensington got a snow suit and boots for her birthday from Rebecca. Todd was so excited to dress her up and let her play in the snow. By the end of the day all that snow was gone and we've had springy weather ever since.

We went to the Church History Museum to explore. They have a kid's room and they have an illistration on Lehi's dream. Todd tried to get Kensington to hold to the rod but she wasn't quite tall enough.

We went to Texas Roadhouse one night for dinner and they bring out a saddle for birthdays. The table next to us were having a birthday and Todd just couldn't resist putting Kensington on the saddle. She didn't mind the saddle but she was pretty scared by the 40 somethings women at the table next to us.We went to an Asian Buffet for lunch. They had octipii on the buffet and Jake got some to give his boys. They were scared but I wanted to see was Kensington would do. Todd was grossed out but she didn't seem to mind it and even took a bite out of it.

Things it Utah have been going pretty well. We haven't had much luck on the job front yet but I'm sure it will happen. I'm still feeling sick from the pregnancy but its getting better. I just have to be more careful about making sure that I eat all the time. Kensington is having fun with her new "cousins" and enjoys having kiddos to play with. She is a little too adventurous for my taste sometimes but she is a great kid.

2009-03-07T13:56:00.000-07:00

It was Monday and I was headed to work at 6:45 in the morning like I do every week. This week was different though; I'd talked to Eve on the phone the night before and she sounded miserable. She is sick and nauseous from the pregnancy and was missing me terrible. I made it to the parking lot at work before I turned around. I decided that I wasn't going to stay in California and work until the end of April and that Eve needed my physical and emotional support more then she needed my financial support. I didn't go home right away though, I had a lot to think about and sat in the Wal-Mart parking lot for more then an hour. When I got home I called Eve to see what she thought about the decision. I wasn't sure what she was going to think when I told her. I'd hoped that she'd be relieved and happy but part of me worried that she'd think I was being reckless and irresponsible.

We had money saved but I lost most of it on bad investments speculating in the stock market. It is a scary prospect in this economy to quit a job in this economy without another job lined up. I started thinking that maybe I should just have Eve move back here and I'd keep my job and forget about going back to school. It's warmer here and we have family, job, friends, etc. But I remembered back to a priesthood blessing that Eve had me give her when we found out that we were pregnant again and remembered that the Lord told us that our next baby was suppose to be born in Utah. I remembered what my Patriarchal Blessing said about trying to get as much schooling as I can to support my family. In Utah in a couple of years after I got my degree I'd be able to get a better job and enable Eve to stay at home permanently with our kids. I had to move!

On my way back from Rancho I stopped by the storage unit and got some suitcases, money, and other stuff out. Part of me really wanted to just pack up and go the same night but then I though better of it because of all the things that were still unfinished. I called my boss at work and told him why I was missing in action. I told him that I'd be quiting and that my last day would be on Friday. He said that he understood why I was leaving and that he'd take care of the legistics for me. After I hung up I experience a little freak out. I dropped to my knees and prayed for help. There's been a lot of things lately that have had that effect on me.

The rest of the week I fasted for 2 meals a day and went to the temple at night. The first day I did Initiatory, the second an Endowment and Sealings, and the third I went with the ward and cleaned. There's so many things that are out of our control and the future is so uncertain that I decided the best thing I could do was turn over our lives to the Lord. I'm headed to Utah after I say goodbye to my family this weekend. I've been praying a lot and fervently; I'm more then a little bit scared and I'm sad to leave the place I've called home for the last 15 yrs. The Lord has given me a lot of peace. He's already answered by pray about a job and there's a position that just opened up in SLC with Franklin Bank that I should get. I applied online for the job and I feel really good about my prospects of getting it. If I do get the job then hopefully I'll be able to start soon and we won't even have a gap in our healthcare. The health care has been one of the scariest things with everyone in the family getting sick lately and will Eve being 11 weeks pregnant. The Lord is gracious!

Time Apart

2009-02-24T20:55:00.000-07:00

It's really hard being apart from Eve and the baby for awile. She's in Utah staying with her friend Sariah and I'm still in California moving house and finishing up my work. I'll be joining her in April or May to start school at LDS Business College but I'm hoping she'll be able to find work earlier then that so we don't have to be apart for so long. I'm staying with my brother Shaun and his wife and two kids in Roseville. It's nice here and being around family helps me to deal better with the distance from my own family.

Shaun spent a whole week helping me move despite being on paternity leave becuase they just had a new baby girl. Eve definently got the better deal with the moving because although she did some packing she was able to jet off to Utah and I had to finish up all the moving and cleaning. She likes to point out that now that it's over I've got the better deal because I don't have to get up in the middle of the night to give Kensie a bottle or change any diapers. I'd change all her most nasty diapers if it meant that I got to cuddle her again.

A closer look at what's in the "Spending Bill"

2009-02-10T21:58:00.000-07:00

Hello friends and family,

You may want to take a closer look at what the government is spending your money on (warning it will shock you). Please help me to make sure that this healthcare bill sees the light of public scrutiny. Here's an excerpt: "The goal... is to slow the development and use of new medications and technologies because they are driving up costs. He praises Europeans for being more willing to accept “hopeless diagnoses” and “forgo experimental treatments,” and he chastises Americans for expecting too much from the health-care system."

"-+The stimulus bill will affect every part of health care, from medical and nursing education, to how patients are treated and how much hospitals get paid. The bill allocates more funding for this bureaucracy than for the Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force combined"

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&refer=columnist_mccaughey&sid=aLzfDxfbwhzs

Read it please!

Moving!!!

2009-02-07T15:13:00.001-07:00

We sold our house and I am headed to Utah with Kensington at the end of February. The next two weeks are going to be complete chaos as we pack and get everything ready to move but we are already making good progress. Todd will be staying in CA for a while until I get a job and stuff and then he will come and we can get all nice and settled in.

For those of you who live in and around Roseville we aren't going to have a chance to have a garage sale but we are getting rid of a TON of stuff. So if you want anything thats mine come on by and take it. Everything is off to DI or Goodwill on Wednesday Feb 11.