Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it SNOW!!

So YAY!! we finally got our first snow of the year. The kids and I were so excited to get out there and play in it. Paige wanted to build a snowman, but after 10 minutes she was so cold she was hysterically crying to go in (WIMP!!) Katie and Joey stayed out long enough to see Daddy whoop Mommy's butt at a snow fight. He threw snowball so hard they echoed!! I threw some snow down his shirt and he did the same, but worse to me. Joey thought we were really fighting and started to get upset so we all went in. It was so fun. The kids all had fun tasting the fresh snow too. Especially Joey ;p

Another year over and a new one flies by

OK so I am bummed tomorrow is my birthday. It seems like the years are just flying by and I never do anything meaningfull. I have three kids now and I am turning 27!!! Although this is great, I feel so old for my age. Did anyone else feel this way when you turned 27? I just dread my birthday's now. I don't want to get old!

I look at older people and seriously have a panic attack because I know someday, (at the rate it's going) soon, I will be there. I don't have energy now how am I going to survive old age?
UGH!!! honestly I wish tomorrow would never come :(


On a side note, I do love my family very much and to all my dear friend: You mean so much to me. I am sorry I am such a downer :) I do like my birthday too, it's just really sad that I get older everytime I blink.

Joey's One

Well it happened everyone. Joey turned ONE!!! I can't believe it went by so fast. He is such an amazing little guy. He's very curious, but not as much as Katie, and he's such a happy baby. Along with turning one he has started tantrums, which for my kids start on their birth date. He actually throws himself down and kicks his legs and rolls around. It's quite funny to watch really. He says a few words. Some of his latest are; ear, teeth, na na (for banana), NA-NA (for NO-NO), and he tries to say paige and sister. I am so glad he came into our family. He really completes us. I have often thought of not having any more, but we will wait another year or so to see. If we were assured to have another Joey I would get pregnant right now.

Joey comunicates a lot with sign language. He points to stuff and really lets me know what he needs. I understand him almost as well as the girls. I don't think the girls could communicate as well as JO-JO(our nickname). Well anyway, enjoy the pictures of the big day.

Our View

Ok So I don't like to brag, but isn't our view just so beautiful?????!!!!!

Mountain Boy

Here is my handsome (but bald) little boy. He actually does have hair, but you just can't tell from the picture. Some new things Joey does:

says DAT for cat

says Hi

walks soooo good now

goes upstair to play with his sisters

Loves to play with cars and balls

blows kisses

waves bye bye

claps to if your happy and you know it

points to nose and mouth

and I'm sure there's more, but I just can't think of them

Halloween

We had such a great Halloween. We went to my sister's and had Pizza and went for a long walk to go trick or treating. Paige was a Princess Pirate that turned into a Vampire Princess Pirate and Katie was Cinderella 3. LOL kids are so funny. Joey was GODZILLA!! He fit the bill walking around trampling over Lizzie (who was a ladybug)Their bags got too heavy for them so they were begging to go home. We all had fun, but were disappointed at the lack of halloween spirit in St. George. Our average was maybe 1 house per block. Well Christine, Mark, and I were Pirates. Enjoy the pics.

update

Ok everyone, i broke down and bought a camera on e-bay. Spent a little more than I wanted, but got what I wanted. It should be here in a week or so. So I will take a few pics and post them. I have just been busy working and being a mom. Trying to be a better housekeeper. I got a little down recently and am still struggling to get out of it. The girls are GREAT and Joey is such a good boy. We all just got over the stomach flu, YUCK!! Now I feel like I am getting the turkish flu, only Christine will understand this.

Oh Yeah!! We sold our horse back to the lady we bought it from. When we bought her we didn't realize how much training she needed and we can't afford that right now.

Hi Everyone

Well I still have not found our camera and don't have money to buy one. I am very sad about this. I bought a 10 dollar digital camera, but it is just that. There's not even a flashon it so none of my pictures come out :( Hope everyone is well. We are just living life a day at a time hoping that the economy gets better so that we can start making some money.

What's going on

We are busy getting ready for the Gifford family reunion. We are throwing it this year and need to come up with games, races, meals for 400+ people, dances, meetings, and all sorts of other stuff. We have been planning it for a year and will be going to the Zion property next weekend to finally have it be over YAY!! We're gonna have so much fun, I can't wait. I am in charge of the pie eating contest, which was my idea. I will have some funny footage for you when I get back.

When we come back I have 2 parties to do with Lia Sophia, which I love. John and I are starting a very strict diet/exercise program to get toned, buff, and healthy. He is really excited which makes me really excited because I always have to force him to do things like this. I can't wait to actually have him to do this with and hopefully get down to my pre-Paige weight or less :) I only have 12 lbs to go so that won't be too hard if we do it together. I will keep you all informed on our progress. If anyone wants to join in our journey, let me know. I think that would be real fun. I know Tara is going to be doing the same thing soon too so we can get together and exercise sometimes.

My friend Sarah Green has got a job as a teacher's aide and we never see her anymore and we really miss her. Paige misses Jessica and Anna too, but I am sure when things calm down from just starting school we'll be seeing them again. If you're reading this WE MISS YOU GUYS :) and hope all is going well.

Paige is doing great in soccer and as soon as I find my camera will post the pictures I have of her playing. they're SUPER cute. She really gets in there to get the ball. Next year will be real fun because she'll be bigger and not so afraid of the other taller girls. They are much taller than her and I would be scared too.

Katie is going to be starting gymnastics again. she has been off for 2 months.. They didn't have her class in the summer. We were all upset about that and they wouldn't let me put her in the higher class, although they let Paige when she was Katie's age. OH WELL! She is talking so great now. She puts many words together and loves to play make believe with her sister. She loves Paige dearly and they do sometime get along. (LOL)

Oh yeah, I have like 4 jobs now. I am a independent contractor (IC) for some companies with my parents and do mystery shopping and some merchandising. I am an IC for Lia Sophia. I am also starting to babysitt a little girl in our neighborhood, which will bring in some extra $$ and best of all the girls will have a friend to play with. I am really excited about all of these things and hope I make enough to buy clothes and the little extras every woman needs (pedicures, lunches, haircuts, and maybe nails).

John is still a truss salesman and is working really, really hard to sell in this economy. I appreciate everything he does for the family. If he's not working at work, he's working at home. If he's not working at home, he's doing something for the family. He never has a day off. I want to do something special for him for our 5 year anniversary, which is next month, but our funds are short so I might just make his favorite meal and get a sitter for the kids and have a movie night together. Any ideas of what I can do for REAL cheap, let me know.

Well there's an update of what's happening hope you all didn't get too bored :) BTW I hope that the little boy, Ashton I think, gets better. He got hit by a car and is in a coma. His family had a yard sale to raise money for his hospital bill, that we donated some stuff to, and I hope they made a lot for him.

TOOK A STEP!!!!!

Ok so my little buddy took his first step on the 18th. YIKES!!! I am not encouraging this. I actually don't want my little guy to walk yet. Ugh, oh well I am very happy he is trying. He walks all over the place with his little walking toy. He stands all by himself for at least a minute and that picture is of him doing practicing it for the 2nd time.He also is teething right now and is a bear, but we will get through this. His favorite thing to do is to play with the dishwasher when it's open so I can't get the dishes done when he's awake. Oh and also Paige put the camera somewhere and I have not found it yet. Little Turd!

The girls' new things

The girls have been in this new phase. They love to catch bugs and put them in jars. I am finding bug jars all over my house with all sorts of things in it. Oh well when they grow up I will look back on this and laugh.

Katie is talking so great now, her favorite saying is "OH MY GOSH!!" she is such a funny little girl.

Paige is in to memorizing songs. She asks to listen to a song over and over and over and......... until I finally say no more because I cannot take it anymore. But this also I will miss and think is super cute. She starts soccer soon and I can't wait. That picture was her sucking her nostrils in after i sqeezed her nose. She's so silly. Katie tried it too, but couldn't do it :(

New Accomplishments

Yay for Joey!!! Here are some new things he can do:


Says MAMA
Pulls self to stand
Crawls regular now and Super fast, he gets into lots of trouble now, UGH!
says roarroar
CLAPPED HIS HANDS FOR THE FIRST TIME YESTERDAY YAY!!!!!!!!
likes to play on the bottom stair
eats some table food, and LOVES it!!!
OH YEAH!! He has 2 teeth now YAY!!!
does this funny thing with his tongue
screams whenever any of us screams, being a copycat
loves Paige and laughs at her constantly
he's even trying to stand alone every so often, I hope he's not an early walker (stinker!)

Father's Day the Pectol Way

Here is another one of our adventures. We went camping this year with our good friends and neighbors, the Green's and Jensen's. Poor Sarah got the flu while we were out there and we missed her while she was gone, but we all had a blast (even Sarah before she got sick). I rode my very first four wheeler all by myself. Thank-you Tara and Trent. I also drove the Rhino a little until I thought I broke something on it.....ooopsy:) Thanks Sarah and Jared!!! John went on the canoe with the kids while I cleaned dishes, but he got scared because the girls were standing and rocking the boat and it was dusk. Then he went out all day Sat. and caught 2 fish and they were YUMMY!!! I stayed and chatted with Tara and played with the kids and tried to get Joey to take naps and not get into too much trouble. He tipped his baby camp chair over and got his first owie. POOR GUY:( Anyway we had so much fun there. When we got home we went to My parents on Sunday and went swimming and had yummy BBQ. I love BBQ:) John got some DVD's from my parents that he's watched all of them already. Thanks MOM and DAD!!

What a fun year. We found out we've outgrown our trailer though, so once we sell this house we'll buy a new one. (Hopefully!)

Fun in the Sun!!!

Here are the kids playing in the sun out here in HOT southern Utah. Doesn't joey look cute in the hat. He is so bald I try to make it so he doesn't get sunburn on his head. That's the only hat I could find

SLC

We went to Salt Lake City for our sorta family and went to the zoo. Katie had tons of fun and Paige was awnry from not sleeping good in the hotel. Joey wouldn't sleep in the stroller for some reason, but the carousel and train were fun.

Fun at the creek

We were hot one day and decided to go with some friends to the creek and have some fun. Katie got scared of the rushing waters.

Paige's Recital

Here is Paige's gymnastics summer games. She got ribbons and a t-shirt for attending.

Paige's Recital

Here is Paige's gymnastics summer games. She got ribbons and a t-shirt for attending.

Shadow Fun

Here is "JOE JOE" playing with his shadow. You can't see it because of the flash, but it was soooo funny

ARRR!!!

Here's my little pirates. They were playing Peter Pan. Katie was Captain Hook.

I've DONE IT!!!!

Hey everyone I have some GREAT news!!! I lost ALL of my baby weight! I have lost almost 20 lbs since January 1st and I cannot be happier. I have worked hard trying to cut out snacking and eating the right size portions. I tried weight watchers, but I am a self sabotage-r. I am excited because every pound from now on will be what I kept on from the girls' pregnancy, lol!

COMING SOON!!!!

Hi everyone, sorry i haven't blogged in a while. We have been Super Super busy. Right now I am trying to clean my house from HURRICANE KATHERINE and TYPHOON PAIGE. We need FEMA to come help that's for sure j/k :) I am busy working to clean up from our trips to SLC and Yankee meadow. I will put pictures in the next week or two. So keep checking in.

Fun at the Creek

SO right by our house is a run off creek. We

BITER ALERT!!!

So the other day I was outside with John after we put the girls to bed planting some plants in the garden. I came in after 5 minutes and Paige was screaming bloody muder. I asked her what happened and she said "Katie bit me!!" She stuck out her tongue and I didn't even want to know why Paige's tongue was in Katies mouth...UGH.

BIG BOY!!!

Well I took Joey to the doctor today and he weighs 20 lbs even and 27.5 inches. He is in the 86% on his head too. Some new accomplishments:

Says DADA

Says BABA

is rocking back and forth to crawl ( i give him till monday and he'll be crawling)

Eats everything loves graham crackers, corn, applesauce, basically anything except he doesn't care too much for peas but he'll still eat a little.

tries to wave bye bye and gives 5

splashes and grabs toys in the bath

LOVES his daddy he's the only baby I had that is happier to see daddy than mommy

Well I am sure there's more, but I can't think of them right now

LOVIN SITTIN'

Here is Joey loving sitting. He likes to crinkle the wipes package. He is such a HAM!! He's always smiling.

Lizzie came to visit

The other day Lizzie came over so her mommy could go help our parents work. She got fussy, but all I did was pop her in the jogging stroller and off we went. It was hectic at times, but when we were alone, she smiled up a storm and was happy. She just likes all of your attention. She sure is cute playing with toys and putting them in her mouth

Almost Crawling!!!

Ok so Joey is on the verge of crawling. He's geting up on his hands and knee now. YAY JOEY!! I am actually telling him, "Not yet, Mommy's not ready" but he doesn't listen! oh well I have another mover. He gets so upset because the girls can move so fast and he is just stuck rolling everywhere. He has perfected the roly poly too. I caught him almost tipping over the laundry bsket trying to get a toy. silly kid!

POTTY TRAINED

Well I am just so proud of Katy. SHE IS POTTY TRAINED!!! Pee and Poo! she does it on her own too! YAY KATY!!!

POTTY TIME!!!

Well everyone, that's right, Katie is potty training. It's taken 2 months, but she has finally started telling me when she needs to go. This morning she even went #1 and #2 on the potty BY HERSELF!!!! I was sitting in the living room with Joey and Paige comes yelling that Katie was going potty all on her own. I was a VERY pround mommy. Happy mothers day to me!!!

Kickin', Toes, & MMM Sweet Potatas

OK so I have not found a food Joey does not like. Suprise anyone??? He loves all food he's eaten peaches, green beans, rice cereal, and of coarse sweet potatoes. He was kicking his "new" toy( one a neighbor let us borrow) and he was just so cute I had to snap a few pictures.