We're Still Alive?

Austin and Zac are, once again, sick. Why is that they don't sleep when they're sick? Seriously, when one kid is up the other one is sleeping, once we get that one back in bed the other one wakes up. The nights are a never ending blur.
On top of it all, our realtor met with us last week and told us that we don't have much competition but what we do have is new construction... so our house has to be "prestine" (in her words). Our closets have to be mostly empty and everything has to be "open and spacious" - translation - even our toothbrushes are in an organizer under the sink. EVERYTHING has a place out of sight! What a PAIN!!!
We've had some good news too, though...
Zac had his 4 month check up and he is right on target. He weighs a whopping 16 pounds and is in the 85th percentile for weight and 90th for height. He's not quite rolling over but he rolls from side to side. He's such a cute little guy.
Austin started school and although he told me his favorite part of the day was when his teacher told him that I was there to pick him up, he seems to really like it.
Landon's school principle called the other day and told me Landon got a citizenship award. He cleaned up the melted snow in his class room without anyone asking him to. It makes me really proud to know that he is being a good boy.
Cameron has been so helpful lately. On Friday he got Landon ready for school and took him to the bus stop so that I could sleep in. Yesterday he got his "room" cleaned and cleaned out the garage.
We've also been having fun with friends lately. I went to lunch at a friends on Friday and had YUMMY pork burritos. That night we went to some friends house and played "Rock Band". It was really fun - there were lots of people there that we haven't seen in a while so it was kind of a reunion! (P.S. now I know why so many people like kereoke!!)
So all in all life's been good. Having sick kids stinks and cleaning out all your closets and cupboards at once stinks but I guess you gotta take the bad with the good!

After the market we're going to Chuckee Cheese!

Remember when you were a kid and you knew big changes were coming in your family? You didn't completely understand what was going on but you didn't worry too much 'cause Mom and Dad would take care of it. Well, my kids are starting to come to grips with the fact that we are getting ready to move. We've had the realtor over and I am frantically going through closets, de-cluttering, touching up the paint, cleaning just about every square inch so that we can list our house before the end of the month.
My house is pretty clean right now and I've been enforcing the rule, "put it away when your done with it" like never before. As a reward for helping to keep the house clean I told the kids I'd take them to Chuckee Cheese when our house sells. Austin of course immediately asked, "is our house sold?" So I explained that we have to put it on the market and then people will come through and then they'll think about it and eventually someone will buy it.
Sunday afternoon at nap time Austin started crying (serious crying - on the floor, fists banging, feet kicking). He didn't want to take his nap because he wanted to go to the "MARKET" with us so we could go to Chuckee Cheese! Poor kid, he has NO idea how long of a process this is. (if only it could be that easy!)
So yeah, Austin knows we're trying to sell our house and we need to keep it clean but all he really cares about is what happens when someone buys it: Chuckee Cheese!

Better Late than Never: Christmas Memories!

Christmas was wonderful. Getting there was not. We were snowed in at the Des Moines Airport and spent 6 hours at the airport, 4 hours on the airplane on the tarmac, 2 hours talking to customer service getting our flights switched, finding a hotel, and trying to get an idea of when our flight was leaving, 5 hours sleeping in a hotel, and 3 and half hours actually flying. Whoever said getting there is half the fun... they did not know what they were talking about! Here's how we spent the time in the airport: (Isaac spent his time in a make shift bed made of Cams coat. Austin's cheeks are so red because the four hours in the plane - while it was supposedly waiting to be deiced - really dried his skin out. Landon kept up a good attitude but you can see just how bored he was)



We love being with our families. There's just something about being with people that love you unconditionally.

Life

It just keeps going.... Don't you wish you could freeze frame a moment or just stop time for a while you catch up? I am completely behind. The suitcases are still not completely unpacked, the laundry is washed and folded but not put away yet, the Christmas tree is still up. I look around and I really don't know where to start. There are calls to be made, errands to run, babies to put to bed, and SO MUCH WORK to do around here.
I really want to post pictures of our fabulous Christmas in Utah but I just can't catch up... Zac is crying (again!) and Austin just threw up (again!) so I gotta go - Such is LIFE!!!

Christmas Makes Me Sing

We've had a lot of things happen the past couple weeks and we've definitely been BUSY. I haven't felt like singing much. Landon sang in a Christmas concert for his school the other night and "Christmas makes me sing" was one of the songs. I LOVED it! Landon was darling - he had an ear to ear grin the whole time he was on stage. Since, I heard that song I've been trying to calm down, take it easy and... sing once in a while. It really has helped me get more into the Christmas Spirit. Today, Austin and I were singing "If you Believe" (the song from Polar Express) in the car and even now he's singing it in his bed. What is it about Christmas music that just puts you in a good mood?

What we've been up to:

We played in the ICE, oh I mean snow... Well whatever it is it's cold but somehow the kids still love it.

Zac was blessed about a week ago. Cameron blessed him to have a "special and content spirit" and to be a "beacon of peace and love to those that know him"

We took the kids to see Santa... and waited in line for 40 min! This is us entertaining ourselves in line.
Isaac is playing with toys now and practicing sitting up.

Cameron had a {wOnDerFuL} birthday party! Complete with his favorite key lime pie. See the "easy button" in his hand? I think that was his favorite gift! (that was easy!)

A child's prayer

The last few weeks have been a little rough around here. From fighting RSV(Issac) and bronchitis (me) to getting ready for Christmas and our trip to Utah we've had a ton of stuff going on. Just keeping up on day to day life has been a challenge. We've been so exhausted and haven't been getting up on time. Every morning just when I think we're not going to be too rushed Isaac needs to eat or someone can't find their snow pants or.... something ALWAYS happens to make us run late (Getting three kids bundled up for the 10 degree Iowa winter takes so much time!)

This morning I left Landon in the house to put his snow gear on while I went and scraped the windows on the car. After we got everyone in their seats it was 7:47 - the bus usually comes between 7:45 and 7:50. When we got to the bus stop the bus was just coming up the street. I turned around to tell Landon to jump out and hurry to get in line. He was just sitting with his eyes closed. After a second I told him to grab his back pack and go. He said, "Mom I just had to say a little prayer to Heavenly Father to tell him thanks for helping me not miss the bus. I always say a prayer in the morning that I wont miss the bus."

I am so thankful to Heavenly Father too. I've needed help to get Landon to the bus on time and his sweet little prayers I'm sure have helped us all. What a wonderful lesson Landon has already learned. Heavenly Father answers even the most simple prayers. I'm so glad Landon is gaining a testimony of God and Prayer. And I'm thankful for his little example.

New Years Resolution - GET UP EARLIER!!

3 Months and Counting...

3 months! The last three months has FLOWN by. I can't believe that I was giving birth to this sweet boy just three months ago. What a time it has been. Zac compliments our family so much. He is always so smiley (although I'm finding it REALLY hard to capture one in a picture). He seems to always be telling us something with his eyes. You can just see the contentment on his face. And his little coos - I just LOVE them. He usually starts a "conversation" before he cries. It's adorable. He also starts cooing when he sees me - I'd like to think he's telling me, "I'm glad to see you!" I must say, though, he's another Daddy's boy for sure. Cameron always gets great big smiles and lots of cute little "words". He loves his dad! Austin and Landon are good at getting smiles out of Zac too. They love to sing him songs and play finger puppets with him. We love having him in our family.

People always ask who he looks like. I'm not sure. Here's some pictures of the boys side by side. You be the judge. Landon's six months in this picture so it's kind of hard to tell but you can still see the resemblance.