My Cute Kids and a New Nephew!

I've been rediscovering lately just how cute I think my kids are.  They are really sweet and have so much personality - I love them with all my heart.  They are going to be the best siblings to this new little baby coming.  This is one of my favorite things that Ross and Ruby love to do after we say family prayer every night:

Ross is seriously the best big brother.  Ruby adores him and thinks he's the funniest person in the world!

Which apparently falling while hugging IS hilarious.

They actually love hugging each other more than Mommy or Daddy.  They play pretty well together other than the Ruby-stealing-Ross's-toys-and-bolting part, or Ross-stalking-Ruby-all-around-until-she'll-finally-let-go-of-a-toy part.  They make me laugh and laugh and laugh all day long.

We go on a walking route most mornings now around my old elementary school, down Mapleton's main street and then back up to the house.  I've discovered there are certain important, practically historical points we have to acknowledge every time we pass them.  Ross and Ruby make certain of that.  They include:

1. Checking to see if kids are playing on the school's playground once we step out the door.
2. Saying hello to the dragon from the Boy and His Dragon statue in front of the school.
   
3. Seeing if the pumpkins at the corner house are still alive and growing through the fence.
4. Notice the kids playing on the playground on the other side of the school and discussing what they do at school.
5. Picking Ruby a sunflower to pick apart as we go along.
6. Counting how many firetrucks and ambulances are at the station we pass - as well as the police car that is usually parked at the back.
7. Noticing the progress the excavators, loaders, and dump trucks are making across the street as they dig and lay giant pipes in the ground.
8. Looking for the horse poop on the road that has been there over a week (this is very important of course - for scientific reasons ;) )
9. Seeing if an American Flag is still on a house next to our church.
10. Counting sheep in the pasture and looking for the llama that hangs out with them (did you know llamas help keep the sheep from getting attacked by dogs, etc?  I find that fascinating - also it makes sense since llamas are quite mean - don't tell Ruby - her favorite book is Llama Llama Red Pajama)

    

    The infamous llama Ruby loves.

11. Ruby chants "Bye Bye Sheep!  Bye Bye Llama Llama!" the rest of the way home.
12. Ross needs to see the glass that was broken in front of a neighbors house and discuss with me what it was that broke - he usually decides it was a bowl.
13. And then we end up at home - checking to see if the playground is empty again - if so - we head for it - going crazy for the slides and climbing up and down the bridge. :)
14. We end with a snack sometimes eaten on the back porch. ;) 

I love seeing all the things my kids notice around them.  It's like rediscovering my own world.  Kids really do make life so much more fun!

Ross finally getting a haircut that doesn't require Daddy having to hold him. :)

Ross and Ruby both adore their dad and ALWAYS want him to be the one to put them to bed (I'm not complaining) :)  He's way too fun to pass up. :)

And here's a video of the Three Billy Goats Gruff - more for us to remember. :)

And I am beyond thrilled to say I am now an Aunt on BOTH sides of mine and Steve's family.  My baby sister just had her cute little baby boy, Jaxton, this morning.  They both are doing well and he is SO gorgeous with SO much hair.  I love babies! :)  Congratulations to Dain and Rachel!

Isn't he SO precious?!  I can't wait to hold him!

Proud Daddy Dain :)

Sweet family :)

Not surprising Grampa Stan headed up there to see his adorable new grandson the second he could. :)

Big News - We're Going to the Boonies!

WELL - we've been hanging at the White household for the last few months while Steve has been working up in Salt Lake trying to decide if we'd be content with this job of his or able to find something better for us.  

It's been a bit of a limbo stage to be honest - driving us crazy - especially since we haven't felt any huge confirmation that any one job was what we should be going for.  Steve applied for a few other jobs and one opened up in Oregon that I was excited about until we realized it was pretty much the same job we have now.  There was another offer in Colorado - they loved Stephen in his phone interview and wanted to fly us both out to see the place, give us a rental car, and a B&B to stay in.  This place is in south east Colorado - where you would never travel through on purpose - pretty much in the middle of nowhere, but we decided if they would give us the offer we asked for that we would do it for at least a few years.  

SO - we flew out there for the weekend - in to Colorado Springs and then drove the three hours to Springfield - population 1,500 - all part of a major trucking route that goes in to Texas.  

We flew in pretty late and got our car by about 11PM.  Steve and I are NOT night drivers - we just get way too drowsy, so we were doing crazy things to stay awake - everything got pretty hilarious too when it was that late.  

First hilarious thing:

I guess people in Colorado love big macs - they're trying to limit you of only 5 per customer - watch out! ;)

Next hilarious thing:

When it's late at night - this name for a gas station - CHAIN gas stations by the way - are hilarious.  We also passed a Tank and Tummy gas station.  Who comes up with these names?

Third hilarious thing:

If you look close enough at the liquor sign on the roof - it lets you know it's a drive thru liquor store - drinking and driving going hand in hand - there are multiples of these by the way!

Fourth hilarious thing:

The lonely mountain as Steve called it.  This area of Colorado is pretty much the Great Plains - FLAT FLAT FLAT with a lot of BROWN BROWN BROWN.  The clouds looked pretty gorgeous though as they'd pass by.  Steve would sing this song from The Hobbit every time we drove by it:

Fifth hilarious thing:

Political signs made out of particle board and barbed rods - very unique!

Everyone who showed us around was incredibly nice and generous.  Steve and I have both grown up in a small town - but it was immediately connected to larger ones.  Springfield is about 45 minutes away from any other town in any other direction.  We found that Lamar is the closest church and as we visited it, felt if this was the right move for us, we'd live in Lamar while Steve commuted to Springfield.  Springfield was sweet and everyone so nice, but I think I might go crazy with how small and far away it is from everything - not to mention the grocery store that closes at 7 every night.  I liked the idea of living closer to the church as well.  

After a nice tour of the hospital Steve would work at, the school they had there, and a bit of house hunting, we left and checked out Lamar and met the brother of PT that Steve worked with here in Utah.  They were super nice and informative and connected us the next day with a bunch of the church members who gave us great tips on house hunting, activities, etc. there.   I seriously couldn't believe how nice everyone was.  That evening we even went to dinner with a couple we had just met that morning at a soccer game - a delicious Thai place.  

There were a TON of windmills on the drive from Springfield to Lamar - 108 to be exact.  Pretty cool

During the day we had a realtor take us around to some houses for rent and others for sale to get a feel for what's available there.  To be honest - most of the homes are old, but some were pretty updated.  Steve and I felt a bit like deer in the headlights with our first experience actually house hunting.  It was kind of fun at the same time.

Steve met with the director of the hospital to discuss an offer and terms of working there and came back shocked that they actually offered him more than what he was asking to work there...we were both shocked actually - there wasn't even any bartering involved.  Financially it was a no brainer, but we needed some time to make sure we felt good about all the conditions of moving to this job.  I am a social person who also likes having things handy when I want them - things would not be so handy here - as well as the way I would like to have this third baby delivered.  It's tricky when you got to smaller places to get all the kind of care you may need in high risk circumstances.  I want to have another VBAC with this baby and the only way that's an option is if I commuted to Colorado Springs to do it - which - I finally decided I could do.  

I still didn't feel 100% about it and wondered why I had such a huge confirmation in my heart that we were supposed to go to Oregon for graduate school, but felt like I was getting nothing on this end of getting a job.  We came home and decided to go to the temple about it and ponder and pray more to get a feel of what we should do.  In the end, we decided to take the leap and have felt good about it more and more as time has gone on.  SO - we're going to boony town and having ourselves another adventure!  We'll have to get a bit more creative in our recreational life, but it's a challenge we'll take.  

It's funny - we're going from GREEN GREEN Oregon, to BROWN BROWN Colorado, but there are surprises everywhere and you never know what friends you're going to make or interesting things you'll encounter.  Like tarantula migration...did you know that actually happens?  Right across the highway tarantulas are crossing like the game Frogger apparently trying to get where they need to be for the winter season.  They say there that when you start seeing the tarantulas migrate the first snowfall will be in six weeks.  I guess we'll have to start celebrating Tarantula Day now along with Groundhog Day!

 We'll be heading there around the end of October and starting yet another chapter of our lives - crazy crazy crazy.  

Here's a lovely song to welcome in Colorado - though minus the Rockies in our case. ;)

Baby Bee #3

It's funny how with each child of ours, I've gotten a bit later relaying the news that we are expecting.  We are excited to welcome our little Baby Bee #3 coming February 3rd!  I keep feeling like I'm either dreaming or just plain crazy with this idea of giving birth to our third child before Ross even turns four.
 

Baby Bee at 12 weeks - little head on the right side - hard to see. :)

I laugh, because all getting ready to go to Hawaii, I was quite adamant that I would NOT be pregnant while we spent our month there.  There was no way - absolutely no way - I let everyone know that too.  I'm sure Heavenly Father had a great chuckle at that, because right before we moved back to Mapleton, I decided to take a pregnancy test (in the midst of packing of course) since I was a day or two late.  I couldn't believe my eyes seeing that double line - I thought maybe it was faulty or something.  It took us a year to get pregnant with Ross and about 5 months to get pregnant with Ruby - funny how things go in life. :) I got a handful more pregnancy tests from the dollar store - great place to get pregnancy tests by the way and not spend $20 a pop - and found out they were all positive - CRAZY!  I think I've been in a comatose dream land throughout this pregnancy, because I wasn't quite in the mindset of baby yet, but we are thrilled to be adding another cute little baby to our pack - seriously - don't we just have the cutest babies? ;)  I keep holding out for a brown eyed child - at least ONE of our kids has GOT to have Steve's delicious brown eyes - it's part of why I married him - for the genes. ;) Although, Steve keeps telling me that my genes just stamp his out if you look at our kids.  Third times the charm though right? ;)

I was really nervous to go to Hawaii pregnant since we'd be sharing our room with both our kids, it would be hot, I would be nauseous AND I'd be tired.  Amazingly, I wasn't as nauseous as I thought I would be - mostly in the mornings or if there were horrendous smells around.  I'm pretty proud that I made it through that month - it was tricky, but Steve was a rock star husband and such a huge help.  

It was nice to get over the nausea stage and now I'm in the - yes I'm definitely pregnant phase including the annoyance of rolling over to each side during the night and how it feels like there's a bowling ball strapped to me that I have to heave over every time.  It's fun feeling the baby move again - I always love that part of being pregnant. 

I mentioned to Steve the idea of maybe not finding out what we were having with this baby since we have one of each - he seemed nonchalant about it - whatever I wanted, but a while later when I realized how I would have to wait to have the girl or boy things ready until after the baby was born - all the washing, organizing, nesting activities, etc. - I decided I did want to know.  Steve had somehow become quite passionate about NOT finding out and couldn't believe I would go back on my idea.  I was taken back at how he had suddenly clung to this idea of not knowing.  We debated back and forth for weeks before the ultrasound - even the day of we hadn't come to any decision.  This is mostly because Steve hardly ever asks me to do things like that for him, and I am always asking for my way all the time - which he sweetly gives in to most of the time.  The guilt was hanging in there making me wonder if I could stand not finding out.  I also knew if I made a big enough deal about it, Steve would relent and let me find out - which felt a bit like cheating too...turmoil for me my friends - turmoil.  

We got in to the ultrasound and I decided to ask them to write it down for us and seal it so we could decide later to find out if we wanted.  It took ALL of me not to look at the screen when she was looking for the shot to print out and put in the envelope, but I did it!  I didn't look!
  

It's kind of like the envelope from the board game Clue - I just want to open it and reveal all the secrets!!!

The most important thing for this little Baby Bee was that things all looked great for his development.  That's always something I'm nervous about, but the baby looked nice and health all curled up in the fetal position with the hands by the face.  It was tricky to get any good shots, and some she printed out for us, I can't even see what's actually labeled.  It all turned out well though and we're happy for our baby to come.
 

Little face on the left and the arm and hand tucked up by the face on the right.

Apparently there are feet on the left - I still can't make them out, and the right picture has the head on the right side with an arm by it.

Ready for some thumb sucking :)

We still have the envelope and I've convinced Steve to open it - on the condition that we don't find out what we're having with the next baby....I committed...but we'll see. ;)  Hooray for a family of five!

Bummin' Around and the Bean Museum :)

My kids have been loving the playground more and more.  Ruby is a slide addict and has made Ross a little more interested in them as well. :)  They are quite entertained at the playground across the street, and I get to enjoy how cute they are. :)

It's fun when you can race :)

Ross loves stopping at the statue of the boy and his dragon at Mapleton Elementary.  He makes me take pictures of him in front of it :)

These kids like snuggling with their dad when he's home. :)

Morning snuggles :)

Ross teaching Rubes how to drive :)

Ross and Ruby both LOVE the back of Grandpa Stan's truck - especially when he opens his toy tool box. :)

Ready to go!

Being a helpful older brother (I LOVE this picture) :)

 

Bravin' the head first position :)

The consequences of a slide addict :) Static hair!

HellOOOOOOOO :)

We got together with our friends, the Jaggi's who are in Utah for an internship.  The happy middle meeting place was Wheeler farm of course. :) Have I mentioned the kids love it and it's free? :)  Ross and Jack were just same ol' same ol' and were completely entertained by a little stream, throwing a giant stick (okay more like a branch) in at the top and running along with it until it hit the drain, only to pick it up again and run back to do it again.  Ruby just liked throwing leaves, rocks, and sticks in the whole time.  They chased ducks and geese, and then LOVED walking on top of the hay stacks they were setting up for a maze. :)  

Ruby ran everywhere - getting some battle wounds to the face when running got out of control.  This girl has had scrapes and bruises all summer!

Playing with the stream :)

Ruby playing in a rock bed - putting all the rocks on the bridge. :)

Haystack walking - it's an art.

It was so nice to catch up and chat while our kids were happy playing and seeing all the animals.  There's nothing like good friends. :)

We also decided to go check out the Bean Museum when Steve was able to get home earlier one day.  It was super fun even if we never got to stop to really read anything.... :)

The hippo was a bit scary

So a few things about Rubes:
Loves:
Slides, suckers, toothbrushes, mac and cheese, pears, cheerios eaten with spoons, putting shoes on, saying bye to any and everyone as she goes to leave, grandparents, asking where everyone is a thousand times a day "where Daddy? where Young? where Beka? where Papa? where Ross?"  (If you ask, "Where's Ruby" she immediately covers her eyes then pops out saying, "There she is!"), binkies (she's only allowed at bedtime now - and is NOT happy about naps without them), sticks, balls, coloring with everything and on anything, taking Ross's toys and running, the books: Llama Llama Red Pajama, Moo Baa La La La, No David, Me Too, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Hippos and Blankelies as well as tickling toes... :)

 Ross Loves:
Airplanes, taking breaks to lay on the couch during meal times (don't ask me how that started), tattling on Ruby, telling us every night, "Don't go anywhere and don't go upstairs" when he's been tucked in, books about planes and machines (big surprise :) ), pretzels, carrots, cheerios, baking muffins and eating them (he LOVES making muffins), wrestling dad and getting sat on, counting, asking what a lot of words mean - like patience ;) and email. :)  discussing ANY movie we're watching throughout the entire show (he's like his mom), telling everyone what to do, giving hugs (Ruby LOVES it when he hugs her after prayers - it's like a ritual now or something - she could care less about hugging mom and dad - Ross is more her size) :), playing the Go Fishing game, wearing overalls and McQueen or Dusty shirts. 
 

Ross still hoards his toys - sometimes in his bed, sometimes on the floor...and sometimes on the chair :)

LOVE him :)

Steve Loves:
Frozen orange juice with 7'up, reading novels again, hanging out with his kids, BYU football season, Indian food, Mexican tacos, chips and homemade salsa, working in the yard, exercising, convincing his wife to rub his back or feet, watching movies late at night (aka falling asleep after starting them), making his wife happy (like getting her flowers ;) ), not being a student anymore, and having an income! ;)

Stace loves:
When Ruby doesn't run away whenever we go outside, White chocolate raspberry truffle Haagen Dazs ice cream, learning to knit, taking a quilting class, Ross or Ruby snuggles, naps, taking walks in the morning with all the sunflowers around, date night, that my kids still are on a bit of Hawaii time and don't get up until 8:30 or 9 sometimes, that Ruby's hair is starting to fit in pigtails and ponytails, thrift finds, getting together with friends, and whenever I don't have to make dinner. ;)