New family pictures

FINISHED!! Horray!!! & some fun pics :)

So... We got a little money for Christmas to work on our basement and used a little of our tax return to frame our basement and finish the bathroom. While I was SO excited to have a bathroom downstairs I was NOT excited for the mess that working down stairs would bring. Luckily the project did not last that long!! But now that it is all finished it is SO nice! So here are some kindof before and after pics.

Back bedroom and family room BEFORE:Family room BEFORE:
Working! Our amazing contractors!
Bathroom DONE!! YAY
Family room... not done... but livable for now... we are still working on it... but slowly :) The wiring is almost done and we have some sheetrock still to hang but not enough to finish it.
Aiden fell asleep at the table during snack time

Busy... is not quite the word!

Aiden is such a sweet boy! He loves his brother and his daddy. If they are not close by he doesn't know what to do with himself! He gets whiney and wanders the house calling for them... as he whines. The boys also fight.... A LOT! Which I know to be normal... but can't it still drive me batty??.... cause it does!

I have to watch Aiden very closely so he won't get into things... his favorites are the garbage, daddy's tools, any drawer he can successfully get into, his shoes, his dresser, anything in my room & as of late....

Yes... he climbed into the tub.... right after he had just gotten out and dressed!

I think the only new thing since my last blog is that we moved Aiden into a big bed & he is loving it! He struggles a little bit.... but not near what kyler did. He sleeps pretty good in it and looks so little in that huge bed!

Aiden is still very particular about his sleep and will fall asleep anywhere if he isn't in bed on time!

He is eating... and sleeping at the same time!

Kyler I can't believe how big this kid is getting. He is so fun! He is a loving little boy.... most of the time. Yesterday at church, Kyler was asked what he can do to obey the prophet and he answered "Love my mommy". We teach sunbeams too so I was in the room to hear that and it made me giggle a little. Love this little boy!He is not too interested in learning things it seems, we have awhile until school so hopefully he will get interested here soon. He loves to play and manipulate his little brother. I constantly here him to tell aiden to say or do things. A couple days ago I hear this conversation.

Kyler: I want that toy... give it to me

Aiden: No

Kyler: Aiden say "ok"

Aiden: ok

Kyler: ok now give it to me... you said ok!

I laughed so hard! He also tells me that he either needs something or can't do something because his body hurts. I can't take my shoes to my room and put them away because my body hurts!

He got his new bed and is loving it! I have a little obsession with taking pictures of my kids while sleeping.... they just look so darn cute I can't help it!

christmas time Kyler tripped in his room and hit his ear on a bookshelf and cut his ear. It looked terrible. Now it is hard... like cauliflower ear.

I feel so blessed to have such good kids. My family is the love of my life! I don't know what I would do with out them.

Andy and I are doing great. Andy is off track, but taking one class here in IF. So we see him A LOT! Its a good change! He starts school back up again in a few weeks and is going to be working with my brother in law. We won't see him much! But life is going great! There are some struggles... but nothing that we can't get through together!

Life is grand!

Its amazing to me how when you stop to look at your life you realize how much you take for granted! I have a wonderful husband who loves me so much! He is doing so great in school & I am so proud of him! I have great kids! (most days) We live in a great ward (which we need to be more involved in), we have awesome neighbors, a great house & an awesome extended family who is behind us every step of the way. There is nothing like taking a step back and seeing the big picture! While I was in Pittsburgh, I did just that and came home with a new love and appreciation for my life & my family. Being away from them made me think about how much they mean to me and to get my priorities back in order. I love being a mom and being able to teach my kids and watch them grow. They grow so fast... its hard to keep up! I am so grateful for these two in my life.

Pittsburgh!

PITTSBURGH!The steeler's game was just about starting.

I had been planning a trip to go see my "sister" ( Alex and I were roommates in college and became really close) Her husband gave her a ticket for me to fly out and see her for her birthday. We'd been trying to figure out when to go before Andy was laid off, and it just hadn't worked out. I was going to take Aiden with me but because of the recent changes in him and the long flights I talked my amazing husband into keeping both boys and letting me go alone. It was just what the doctor ordered! The flight out there was so long... but so worth it! I've missed having Alex close, she used to live in Rexburg... and then in Provo.... and now she is so far away!

On the trip there I had a two hour layover in Phoenix and my sister-in-law came to see me and brought her two girls! I wish they were closer! But it was so good to see them! I had my camera in my other bag... so I didn't get pictures! :(

The flight to Pittsurgh this old guy sitting across the isle from me scared me to death with a little envelope of "rattlesnake eggs" that were supposedly hatching! FREAKED me out! Him and his buddies that were with him all got a good laugh the WHOLE flight.... it was kinda funny, I guess.

When I got there it was so nice being able to see Alex, Tyler and their little boy Parker! Anytime we went anywhere Parker had to hold onto my hair.

Alex and I had a great time trying new recipes, went to a movie, lunch and shopping. Best of all we got to stay up late chatting like we used to when we were roomies. We made these DELICIOUS cake balls! I think parker enjoyed them the most!!Thanks Alex and Tyler for letting me come visit! It was awesome. And again thanks to my AWESOME hubby who let me leave the kids :) Love you! It was great... but I sure did miss my boys!

Aiden's endoscopy

I've been really bad at blogging this past month! Aiden had an Endoscopy done in Boise trying to figure out what is causing all his digestive problems.

He was so sweet in the hospital. He snuggled up to me and even fell asleep in my arms before going in. I got to carry him in to the operating room. Laying him on that table and having to hold him down while they sedated him and then having to leave him there, was the worst thing I think I have ever done.... and hope to never do again.

He was only away from me for about 20 minutes... but it was a LONG 20 minutes! The doctor said that he had quite a bit of damage done in his esophagus and it looked like more in his stomach and upper intestines. They did biopsies of all the areas. He said to put him on a gluten-free diet, thinking that was what was causing all the problems. The nurse said that when he came out of anesthesia he went from out to WIDE awake and wanted held right then! When we walked to recovery to see him he had just woke up and wanted me to hold him. I didn't want to let go again!

He slept most of the drive home.

A week later when the results came back. They took him back off the gluten-free diet and put him on prevacid, thinking the damage was from reflux. It was a pretty stressful week.

Happy Birthday love!

My niece, grandpa & SueAnn's mother-in-law and Andy's birthdays are the same week so we did a big birthday bash on Sunday where all the birthday boys/girls got to wear crowns! So cute!

Andy's birthday was yesterday.... spent most of the day in a hospital or the car... wasn't the greatest day.... but I'm glad we got to spend it together. You are such a strength to me, I don't know what I would do without you. Thanks for being my sweetheart! I love you!