{this} was loud!

Last night I was sitting on the couch and I heard a big "boom." The house literally shook. I thought a branch broke off the tree and landed on the roof {because it was windy}, but then I heard dogs barking down the street and figured that couldn't be the case.
Who would have thought it could be this?

This was something I definitely would have talked to dad on the phone about! :)

she's so {cute}

I just want to {squeeze} her! And I do, quite frequently. I just squeeze those chunky little thighs of hers. And I kiss those cute little cheeks!
My friend Caroline asked me today why I had/would want another one after Preston {since Preston didn't sleep EVER for so long and just cried and cried and cried all the time! Why in the world didn't I want to stop with him? Or at least why have one RIGHT away?} Well, I think the reason is, because Heavenly Father knows. He knows me, and He knows Paisley. He knew what a sweet little spirit Paisley is, and how {easy} it would be to take care of her. She is such a sweetheart.
She is sleeping through the night, and pretty much has been since she was a couple weeks old! She is just a happy little baby girl. Always smiling, cooing, laughing, and content. Heavenly Father knew that our little family needed {her} to keep us all sane! I am so blessed to be able to raise her.

you're {it}

I actually love being tagged, and it couldn't have had better timing. I've been in such a rut with blogging lately!

Here's the rules:

1. Go to your pictures on your computer
2. Go to your 6Th folder
3. Go to your sixth picture
4. Post it
5. Blog about it:(also picture #7, because the invitations were just so stinkin cute you have to get the "full" effect!)

This is a picture of Parker's 2nd birthday party invitation that I made. I can't believe he is already three years old! For his birthday, we invited 2 of Parker's friends out to Donna and Benji's house for a "barnyard" themed party. They have chickens, goats, and rabbits, and enough room to runaround. The kids were able to feed the chickens popcorn (something Parker always does with Donna), hold the rabbits and run around with the goats. It was so much fun!

And now I tag:
Beth
Pam
Marie
Peggy
Chancy
Deanna

dum deedle de dum

Let's see:

♥Paisley is rolling over {from back to front mostly, but she will do either way}
♥After 3 weeks of pink eye invading our house, it is {almost} officially gone.
♥Parker has started pre-school {taught by a group of "mommy's" in the ward}
♥Ben finishes Officer I class in preparation for Promotional Exam in April.
♥Kate purchased her ticket for Idaho. She will be flying home June 2nd and will be staying for 2 weeks! {She will miss Preston's birthday and the 2nd and our 6th wedding anniversary}
♥Preston vocabulary includes: ish (fish), uhh huhh (no), grrrr (yes), and all of his family member's names. He will say prayers {with a little help from Mom.} He also knows quite a bit of sign language.
♥Parker gave his first prayer in Primary.
♥ Paisley is coo coo cooing! {She is such a happy little girl!}
♥Ben is getting ready for Turkey season to start in few weeks {he might even take the boys with him to the mountains and give mom and Paisley a break!}
♥Kate is eating the most delicious orange right now. It tastes just like candy!
♥Parker and Preston are becoming best friends. Parker goes around and randomly gives Preston hugs and says, "I love Preston."
♥We said farewell to Granny {Ben's dad's mom} as she left for the MTC. She will be serving a mission in Independence Missouri!
♥Kate will be running in a 5k on Saturday. If I survive, I will post pictures! :)
♥Ben has planted part of our garden: peas, broccoli, romaine lettuce, and iceberg lettuce. We need to get some more seeds in the ground!
♥Kate has watched Twilight once (without commentary) once (with commentary) and just about one more time (once I end this post!) Can you say, addicted?

I am sure I left a million things out, but for now, that was a {little} bit of an update for our little family!

Eek! :)

I know what I'm doing tomorrow night.
................Don't be jealous.
I got a hot date with you know who!




What will YOU be doing?

2 years

It has been 2 years since my dad passed away.
It doesn't really feel like he is really gone. Maybe because he isn't "gone." I am so grateful for the knowledge that I have to know that I will see him again.
A couple of days ago, Parker was wearing Dad's Tilly hat, and he said, "Mom, I want to go see Grandpa Joe in Heaven." "Well, Parker, some day, you will get to see Grandpa Joe in Heaven, I promise!"
I think Paisley looks like my dad. We should have called her Josephine! She has his red hair and blue eyes. {Even though Mom says that beautiful little Paisley looks nothing like grumpy old Dad!} It's nice to have that little reminder, that little connection to Dad. He would have gotten a kick out of her having red hair! Maybe we'll nickname her "Red."
Dad taught me so much. He loved learning and reading. That is something I am trying to pass onto my children.
All the cool things Dad knew, he would say, "This is a trick I learned from the Indians. I still picture him having an Indian friend!" I always thought an Indian showed him how to make sugar/lettuce rollups! {what a special treat!}
I remember "camping out" in the back yard. Before we would go outside, Dad would say to watch out for the One-eyed Indian. {You know, the one who is out searching for the kid who poked his eye out with a marshmallow stick? Yeah, that one!} It used to scare me to death!
I remember riding with him to Broulims and him letting me pick out one piece of candy. I'd always get the Jolly Rancher stick.
I remember Dad teaching me how to ride a bike. I remember the day he took me on the road, and ran behind me while I peddled, and then let go.
I remember going camping in High School, and Dad talking in his sleep, and just me just giggling at the gibberish, and on that same camping trip, him really teaching me how to fly fish.
I remember Dad getting me ready for 1st grade, and him combing my hair out with his little black comb.
I remember going to Pocatello with him and getting "snow balls!" {The coconut covered marshmallow covered cake.}
I remember dancing with him at my wedding and him telling me he was proud of me.

I have so many memories of Dad. I miss him. I love him.

{Will you share your favorite memory of him? Just leave a comment!}

I Love to See the Temple

No pinching me!

Because, I am wearing GREEN! :)





Happy St. Paddy's Day!

Nice Socks!

Stylish?

Sometimes, you gotta let it be and just take a picture. (And maybe even roll your eyes!)

WoW!

9 months (March 2008)

21 months (March 2009)

warmer weather

Who doesn't like warmer weather? After being cooped up for the past couple of weeks, we welcomed some nice spring weather this past weekend.

I took the kids to Mt. Trashmore, aka the highest point in Va Beach! :) They had so much fun running around, and even wanted to climb the "mountain." We hiked up the steps and almost got to the top when Parker started crying. I asked him what was wrong, and he said it was too windy. (Okay, it was pretty windy, especially being on top of a huge mountain!) I asked him if he wanted to go back down, but he was adamant about climbing to the top. We reached the summit, and Parker and Preston almost blew over, literally! They both started crying, and I was trying so hard not to laugh at my two children barely being able to stand up because of the wind. We safely made it down the mountain. Parker tell s me, "I like Mountain Trashmore. I do! But it was very windy."

Why

do they grow up so fast?



.


If you couldn't tell already, I love looking back at the pictures of the boys {and Paisley} when they were so little.

This is why

my husband has a job.

Forest fires? Naaa.
Houses burning down? Naaaa.
Rescuing cats from trees? Naaa.
Hampton Roads gets a "light dusting" of snow, and drivers cannot handle the morning commute.

(But, for the record, my husband has put out a brush fires on the interstate, fought multiple structure fires, and rescued not a cat from a tree, but a raccoon. Humm...)

what a week!

It's been kinda a rough week this week. I can't believe it is already almost Friday. The kids and I have been sick pretty much all week--runny noses, sore throat, sinus headache. Yucky, yuck, yuck! {That's what I call it!} Poor little Paisley woke up with it this morning. I'm over it! I guess that's what happens this time of year, right? It builds their immune system.
Anyway, I haven't felt like doing much of anything {blogging, working out, thinking}. I haven't' even felt like eating....when you can't taste a thing, the appeal kinda goes away. {I even made Parker peas for dinner tonight, I couldn't even smell them! For once, I didn't seem to mind being in the house with peas cooking! Literally, the smell normally makes me gag. You know I can't smell anything! And for the record, Parker and Preston tore up some peas. They loved them.}
But, I did get some scrap booking done. I finished up some pages I started on, and completed one page. My lighting is way off with these photos....but I think you'll get the gist of it! {Is that how you spell gist? Or is it jist?}
Well, I'm off to bed. I can't breath...we'll see how much sleep I can get tonight! :)

out of control?

What do you think? Is Paisley's hair out of control?I don't mind.....she is such a cute/happy/easy going little baby. I love her to pieces!

I find this amusing.
Parker was our first child make the face that we like to call the turtle:



Then Preston:

And now, Paisley!

Happy Birthday to ME!

(A) I can't believe I am 25 today.
(B) I have had a wonderful Birthday! :)

My 25th Birthday started out by Parker waking me up, me stumbling sleepy-eyed to the kitchen, and on the table was a gift from Ben. {He had to work today. But it's okay, he's taking me out tomorrow.} He got me a gift card to my favorite scrapbooking store.
My VT's came over at 9am this morning. They are the best!♥ They brought me some cupcakes, which Parker and Preston have licked the frosting off of!
I got a call from my sister, Penny, wishing me a Happy Birthday. {While the boys were running around acting all crazy. Sorry, Penny!}
At 11:00, my friends Robin and Debi and my sister Pam came over. They brought me lunch {so I wouldn't have to cook anything} and an amazing Oreo pudding cake. Oh my! I ate some. {Hey, I've been exercising all week to make up for the goodies on my birthday. Can you blame me?} It was so much fun. I don't know why we don't get together more often. {hint hint!}
I then laid the boys down for a nap about 1:00, Preston and Paisley were both asleep. But by 2:00, Parker was still awake. Thinking that I could get a little snooze in, I laid down with him, and we slept til 4:00! Yeah!
My Mom called {from London} to wish me a happy birthday! It was so much fun talking to her. I can't wait to go home and see her in June. {BTW, my friend Shay is getting married, and I just found out the date and I should be able to make it! Yeah!}
My mother-in-law came over and ordered a pizza so once again, I didn't have to make dinner. She got me 2 gift cards, one for a pedicure, and one for a massage! I'm way excited for that. Ester also came over...and she got me a purse {I need one extremely bad. It's kinda tacky carrying around a diaper bag without any kids in tow!} and some clothes {she has really cute taste!} Donna made me my favorite cake, we ate a bit {hey, it IS my birthday, isn't it?}, and then I got the kids in bed.
My other sister-in-law, Emily called up, and I got to talk to her about her ultrasound. I am way excited that she is prego and is going to have a baby GIRL! Yeah, Paisley will have a girl cousin. :)
It has been a perfect birthday.
It's not over yet. Tomorrow Ben is going to take me out to dinner to PF Changs {thanks Emily and Justin! We're finally going to use the gift card!} Pam's going to babysit for me. Thanks, Pam.
I pretty much have the coolest family and friends, ever! Thanks, guys. ♥






{they weren't even trick candles!}

like it, love it, gotta have it?

2 weeks ago, this is how long my hair was:



Last week I got it cut and now this is what it looks like:


I'm am debating whether or not to chop it off really short. I don't think I like the length. And now that I am over the fear of cutting it short, I want to do something drastic. Here are some pictures of how my hair looked before I had Parker. I loved it short. I'm thinking about getting it cut like that again.



What do YOU think I should do? Do you like my haircut? Love my haircut? Or gotta have a shorter haircut?



Oh...and Paisley says, "Happy Valentine's Day." (She's a little late, but she is a little young to know that!)

Kate Needs

I thought this was too much fun! :)

Here’s how it works: Google “[your first name] needs” put it quoted to that specific phrase together and share the first 10 results. That's it: it is that simple. But be honest!

1. Kate needs a shave.
2. Kate needs a cold shower.
3. Kate needs some flowers.
4. Kate needs a date.
5. Kate needs to trust Angel.
6. Kate needs a stylist.
7. Kate needs to be exposed for everything evil she has done.
8. Kate needs a macro system.
9. Kate needs a pinup photographer in Chicago!
10. Kate needs your help.

in case you wanted to know {about me}

My friend Deanna "interviewed" me. Here's {her} questions, and {my} answers.

1. Are you where you thought you'd be 10 years ago?
Holy cow. 10 years seems like it was forever ago. But, it has honestly gone by way so fast. Where was I 10 years ago? Let's see, that was 1999. I was a freshmen in high school. Living in a small town in Idaho was like living inside a bubble. I don't think I imagined myself living my life clear across the county in Virginia. I'm sure I pictured myself with a college education, and probably working somewhere. When people would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I think at that point I wanted to be a marine biologist. But really I just wanted to be a mother. I wanted to be able to stay home with my kids and raise them. I guess that's where I am now. I just never thought how rewarding it would be, how wonderful having children is, or how amazing my husband would really be {and handsome}. I am so lucky!
2. Whose wardrobe are you most fond of, and why?
Ummm...not mine! :) My wardrobe consists of a few Shade shirts, one pair of black pants {that are starting to get baggy}, one long black skirt {that I wear to church every week}, a black pair of shoes, and flip flops {that I wore yesterday because it was 50 degrees outside}. I'm not joking. So not even cool! I wish I had a sense of style. Maybe someday...especially when I am no longer wearing maternity clothes! {actually, I just tried on a pair of pants that I had bought about 6 months after Preston was born, and they fit!} But I LOVE Audrey Hepburn. She is just so classic.
3. What is your favorite ingredient to use in cooking or baking?
Vanilla. I love to bake. Way more than cooking. I love good quality vanilla, and I always at least triple it in every recipe! :)
4. Where do you hide chocolate at your house?
Right now, nowhere. I haven't eaten any chocolate in the past month. :) But, normally, I just need to keep it high in the cabinet, the boys never know it is there, and I can sneak a bite in every once in a while while they aren't looking!
5. When are you the most happy?
8pm at night when the boys and Paisley are safely tucked in for the night and I can breathe. I sit on the couch and relax. I then think about how much I love the kids, and I try to think if I yelled at them during the day, or if I was too mean to them, or if I told then I loved them and they believed it. I reflect on what a blessing it is to be a mother; how grateful I am to have 3 healthy, beautiful children, and a husband who loves me even though I have stretch marks and and basket full of laundry that isn't done. Because, at the end of the day, there is no place like home. And I realize that this is happiness.

Now, I would love to interview you. So here is what you do. I will be nice, I promise. It is a great way to get to know you. Besides it's great way to have something to blog about when you're in a rut. {Like I have been!}

1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions).
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

{Love} it!

When I heard this song the other day, I immediately thought of Ben. He is such an amazing husband. I know that my life wouldn't be as wonderful as it is if I didn't share it with him. I am grateful for the patience he has for me. I know that he loves me. I just {love} him so much. Happy Valentine's Day, Ben!

Enjoy!