So excited...

For all of you who happen to check my very infrequent blog posts (so sorry) ... I have some good news - mostly for me! After working hard as a nanny to 3 kids for the last 3 1/2 years, I finally decided it's time to be a full-time mum to Marshall! I told my boss this week that i'll be done December 23rd! Woohoo! I seriously can't wait. I can't wait to spend more time with Marshall without having to drag him to places I don't even want to go... I can't wait to take him swimming, to the park, and to see friends without having to worry that I have to be back by a certain time! I have worked full time for the last 16 years of my life; I waited a really long time to meet my wonderful husband; and now I'm a mum, working full time is something I have found EXTREMELY hard since Marshall was born. I feel very fortunate that I'm able to now be a full-time mum! Plus, now when my family come to visit me I can spend all my time with them! YAY

Quitting my job has been on my mind for a long time (mostly since Marshall was born), and last week I unfortunately had a miscarriage. My pregnancy wasn't planned, but it made me realize exactly what is important to me, and helped me come to the decision to resign from my job. I know this is right and that even though we'll struggle a bit financially, that my Heavenly Father will bless us for making the right choice! I have no doubt about that in my mind! Having a miscarriage really makes you reflect a lot and brought out emotions in me that I never knew I had.

I love my family more than anything in this world! I'm so excited to spend all my time for them!

Our 4th July BBQ

We decided to have a bbq with friends on the 4th July, and later went to Thanksgiving Point to check out their firework display.

July 4th Parade - Provo, Utah. 2009

So as you all know, our cute little Marshall won first place in the recent Freedom Festival contest here in Orem/Provo. As part of the honour of winning, he got to be in the parade on 4th July 2009. Unfortunately the float fell through so everyone ended up having to walk. Pretty much everyone decorated their strollers/buggies/wagons and walked for an hour in 85 degree heat. There was a break in the heat when big drops of rain started to fall for 5 minutes. I was a little worried since I was wearing a white shirt, but only ended up feeling rather damp for the rest of the walk. Oh well, it was still fun and it was all about Marshall. We decorated his buggy (stroller) with all sorts of red white and blue stuff, as well as a banner saying his name. It was really cool when strangers, as well as friends there, would cheer for Marshall. It made me beam with pride for my cute little boy. We thought every once in a while that he'd like to walk, but that wasn't very successful because he kept walking in the opposite direction and right into the crowd where the kids were sitting.
Marshall's grandma Nadine and his aunt Kaaren, Uncle Philip and cousin Micala came to cheer him on.

Baby contest WINNER!

So Marshall won first place in his agegroup and category in the Provo Freedom Festival baby contest! His age group was 13-16 month old boys! They asked if he could do any tricks, and of course babies never want to perform when they're asked. However, he did clap, he jumped, walked, waved and curled his tongue! haha
We didn't have to wait too long to find out if he won. We sat in the big hall waiting for his category and results... and as they were announcing the second and first runner ups I turned to Matt and said, "I don't think he got it, oh well, it was fun".... Marshall's name got called! I made Matt go up and collect the winners bag (which was pretty crappy actually - oh well he still won cutest baby) and I teared up! Proud mum of my cute little boy! Could't be more proud!
Love you Marshall!
Now we get to be in the Provo parade on 4th July! YAY haha it's gonna be interesting with having an active one year old who now wants to walk EVERYWHERE!

Baby contest

I'm not meaning to be big headed, but people stop Matt and I ALLLLLLL the time telling us how cute Marshall is... so we've decided to test it and we're putting him in a baby contest tomorrow. And even if Marshall doesn't win, we know he's cute! and we love him more than anything in the world.

Wish us luck! and I'll let you know how we do.

Marshall got glasses

Marshall got glasses about a month ago and is doing absolutely wonderfully with them. It took him about a day to get used to them. People stop us all the time (random strangers) and ask how he keeps them on and how did we know he needed them... Here are your answers:
When my nephew Josh was a baby they found he was long/far sighted because his eye went crosseyed really bad. So, when I noticed Marshall's left eye doing the same thing I mentioned it to our pediatrician, who referred us to a specialist, who then diagnosed Marshall. Marshall keeps them on because he already knows he can see better with them on. He'll pull them off occasionally, and when he does he just hands them to me to put back on him. I never wanted to say "no" when he took them off because I didn't want him to associate his glasses as a bad thing.
We think he looks absolutely gorgeous in his glasses and he looks so different when he's not wearing them. Good boy Marshall, we love you!

summer 2009

So it's the start of the summer holidays. I have the 3 kids I take care of and Marshall to look after and the schedule's pretty busy, but hopefully I'll find time to update my struggling blog! I know I haven't updated it for a long time and I'm going to try harder!
For all those of you who are interested in my crazy life happenings,... keep your eyes peeled (haha I hate that phrase cos that would be gross)!!
Love you all

Swimming with Granny

So we're in florida with Granny and grandad Amos and Marshall's having a whale of a time. He got in the pool today with granny Amos and thought it was hilarious when we were splashing her. But as you can see, Marshall's got a lot of catching up to do to get as good a tan as granny! haha

Miracles can happen

So I was talking to my mum the other day and she mentioned how my sister Mandy makes sure her baby, Faith, has 2 good naps in the day and then keeps her awake for the rest of the afternoon/evening so she goes to bed early... WHY this hasn't occured to me to do this before is beyond me. I think I always had good intentions but Marshall would often just fall asleep at 5ish and then I'd wonder why he didn't want to go to bed til midnight... WELL, I tried it the other day. Marshall had two 2-hour naps in the day and at 8 o'clock we noticed his head bobbing while he was sitting watching tv and playing with his toys. (We got it on video - so funny). Turns out he was so tired he'd fallen asleep sitting up. We put him in his bed and YES!!!!... he slept for 11 1/2 hours! YAY! He's done pretty good in the 2 nights since then and we're gonna continue with this routine. He still likes to wake up once in the night, but we're hoping this will phase out slowly, providing I can be strong and not get up with him when he SCREAMS at the top of his lungs in the middle of the night.

Packing for Florida

I know it's only 45 days til I fly to Florida, but do you think it's too soon to pack? haha

Since I booked my flight I've been dying to start packing. I know I'm sad haha but I seriously can't wait.

how many days?

Only 45 days til me and Marshall fly to Florida!!! WOO

just thinking

So I just realized that today is the day my mum and dad arrive in florida, where they'll be for the next 3 months! I'll be joining them there on my birthday for 10 days. Me and Marshall will be flying out there to spend time with granny and grandad! We can't wait... or should I say I can't wait. It's been 2 1/2 years since i've had a holiday and I'm in desperate need of one. My mum can't wait to take care of Marshall which will be a nice break for me. I didn't get to see my family when they all went to Mexico in november so this will be lovely.
But one thing I love about the fact that my parents are in Florida for the next 3 months is that I can call them whenever I want!! YAY no more 7 hour time delay. I love it. Just knowing that when I'm having a bad day I can just call my mum and dad. FABULOUS!

Christmas 2008

Christmas 2008 was a busy time for our family.  December 13th was when Uncle Jake and his girlfriend Dani came to visit us here in Utah.  We'd experienced a lot of warmer than normal weather in November so we weren't sure they'd see any snow... how wrong we were.  They got to experience 2 huge Utah snow storms.  Uncle Jake even attempted to shovel the driveway (I took a picture for all those of you who don't believe me... hehe).  We got to go snowboarding up at the Sundance Resort.  I skiied cause I don't fancy my chances on a snowboard.  Jake and Dani did really well for their first time... I think that was mostly due to the excellent teaching skills of Sunny! (Thanks sunny, you're amazing).  Jake got stuck in about 2 feet of powder and it took him about 20 minutes to get out.  I wish everyone could have seen him because he was doing the army crawl with his head down using all his energy to get out.  I showed him an impression later that night and was laughing my head off about it.

We held our annual Gingerbread house making party and had all our friends over.  Jake and Dani were able to be there for it and made their own house.  Dani did it all cute and Jake decorated his half of the roof with a face with a golden (orange) tooth.  It was funny.  I made a mess as usual, spilling some of the icing on the carpet (Matt said I would have freaked out if he'd done it, but since I spilled it myself I laughed).  I managed to get icing all over my hands as the roof started to slide off.  Luckily I salvaged the roof and the gingerbread house looked pretty damn good if you ask me!  Later that night we gave each other white elephant gifts.  One of Matt's friends had printed out a picture of a guy wearing thong underwear and super-imposed his face on it.  I stole that gift and decided to decorate the guest bedroom with the picture.  It was really funny!  Maybe I should scan it in for all to see.

Christmas was fun.  Marshall experienced wrapping paper and many presents, but was mostly interested in the paper and bows.  He got so many clothes, a basketball hoop for future and a radio flyer wagon which he loves cause he gets to go outside and play in the snow in it.  We had a smaller Christmas than normal, but it still seemed like we all got a lot - all that bargain shopping saves so much money.

We were surrounded by wonderful friends and family.  I loved having my brother here cause I hadn't seen him in over 2 years.  December was FAB!!!