January

 

Spiderman has to sleep too.

PJ is 3 months and Wes Man turns 4.

 

Lots of help with the decorating process.

But the licking process is a one man job. 

Just washed my hair and can’t do a thing with it.

The artists at Costco always spot on with Weston’s portrait.

 

February

 

Four months and I have found my fingers.

 

Always a Happy Jo when I wake up…and Mom keeps trying to feed me this slime she calls food. 

Red Mango and Julie = fun!

Another thumb sucker?  Doing my pilates while I wait for some shots at the docs. 

 

PJ and Vanessa chillin at Grandma’s house. 

Happy Valentines Day.  Dad came through for all his Valentines. 

 

Someone likes the high chair

Mr. Wes needs it dark to sleep.

Charlie dances to the beat of her own drum. 

 

 

March

Experimenting with angles.

Brian looking dashing in his tux.

B and P at the St.Rose Mardi Gras Gala. 

St Patricks Day breakfast of green pancakes with green peanut butter (nasty) and green milk.

The spread.

SOmetimes Mr. Wes can’t find anything but his Sunday shoes. 

PJ and the cat scratch fever. 

 

Superstar Charlie.

Brian and Mr. Wes at Nascar….yes…Nascar. 

Another trip to Red Mango.

Before you all judge…The phone is Brian’s old iphone which has no service.  We have figured out a way through some free aps that she can call and text mom and dad only.  (unless you all have the same apps)  She babysits now and then and since we don’t have a land line it enables her to keep in contact with us.  Win win!

Charlie and Mo konk out together. 

And yes…we are at Red Mango again. 

 

“To be a super hero all you need is underwear and a cape.”  Mr. Wes

More getting ready for the Gala shots.  Brian’s tux RENTAL cost more than my entire getup.  Something is messed up about that. 

 

 

PJ growing up before our eyes…5 months.

 

Back in January, three months and checking out the bumbo.

 

 

Janunary trip to Arizona for Brian.  He went all cowboy on us.

 

All the bones and veggie leftovers from the holidays made some faboo stock.  Another random birthday shot for wes. 

December 2011

 

    

Christmas before the children come down.  My first attempt at Prime Rib…soooooo goooooood!

 

 

PJ 2 months of cute

     

The Mini-Van express.  After the kids were in their jammies I sent them to their rooms for bed…on their doors were taped a golden ticket.  They were instructed to head down to the van where a bag of popcorn and a hot coco awaited them.  The express took them on a tour of some Christmas lights around the valley.  Next time we will try to find some better lights…the ones we were directed too via the internet were less than stellar.  The kids were more impressed with the lights on the strip than anything else.  We also neglected to bring water.  We had to stop and get some…we were all dying of thirst after all that popcorn.  But it was fun and a tradition we want to continue. 

 

 

       

The golden tickets.  Charlie inside her Christmas Castle.

 

         

Christmas morning…Serra and her new ipod shuffle.  Rosie and her new giant art set…Charlie and some new dollies.

 

      

Christmas morning breakfast has become a tradition.  Egg burritos and OJ while the kids dive into the socks.  Wes got a spiffy fire truck from the big guy.

 

 

      

The stockings…good thing Livvy keeps her nose clean.  Rosie is soooo happy to be in Logan for a few days. 

 

    

Nothing like marshmallows for breakfast. 

 

    

Ally has the right idea. 

 

Nothing compares to building a snowman with your cousins.   Wes showing off his new dragon. 

        

 

Christmas Day dinner.    This is what a trip to the grocery store looks like with only 3 kids.  It’s a new diet plan…no room for the food.

 

 

      

 

Best baby ever.  Wes at the Enchanted forest posing in several places. 

 

 

         

The whole family at the Enchanted Forest.  Brian had to work one Sunday…me with all the kids at church alone…that was interesting.  Charlie longs for summer swim days.

 

 

 

        

Gramps and PJ

 

       

The perfect gift for a guy that has a no beard policy at work and just wants one now and then.  Harry Potter-a-thon.

 

 

   

Trying to share the bear.   One found from Halloween.  A fat ballerina with her lady bug. 

       

A few more from the cactus garden in Late November.

 

       

 

So much about this picture cracks me up.  Rosie Posie.  PJ at 2 weeks I think

Pictures October – November 2011

      

Rosie and Serra at the Cactus Garden in Late November.  Trying to get a shot of all 5 kids.  This is obviously going to take some practice.

 

    

The kids love to help decorate the Christmas Tree right after Thanksgiving.

 

       

It’s a fake tree Wes…don’t pretend you can smell the pine.

 

      

pictures with my kids at the Cactus Garden.        Charlie all tuckered out after lots of food on T-Day.  Wes loves the Playskool nativity.

 

 

    

Wes has the idea for hauling all the candy.  Trick or treating.   And off we go!

5 Little pumpkins sitting on the couch…

 

          

Tinker Rose.      The first of many trick or treat outings.

 

       

Rosie is 6.

 

Presley Jo looking adorable on her blessing day. 

Group shots for Christmas Cards.     Rosie sporting some fancy socks she got for her birthday. 

           

 

Rose and her birthday loot.   Sweet baby booties from Grandma Arnell.   All decked out for some month old shots. 

 

         

One Month Old…Miss Presley Jo in November.

 

        

    

Thanksgiving…Violet Rose and PJ.     Rose, Charlie, and Wes on T-Day at Grandma Andersons

 

 

       

Helping out on Thanksgiving at the Shelter.  Yes that’s a diaper on Weston’s head.   Some Halloween loot. 

 

        

 

Halloween…PJ skeleton and Lady bug…Serra Renaissance lady…Charlie Mulan…Spidey Wes

    

 

 

 

  

Charlie can sleep anywhere.  PJ all bundled up on a crisp fall night.

 

 

At the cactus garden

 

  

More of 6 year old Rose

 

  

Dad Arnell with PJ on blessing day.    Mom playing hide and seek?

 

 

     

With cousins on PJ’s day…The Anderson contingency.  Vito, AKA, PiedPiper on T-day

 

 

     

T-day yumminess

 

 

Blessing Day shots

 

  

 

 

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Once again time has really gotten away from me.  Since my last post Presley Jo (aka…Baby Happy Jo) is closing in on 6 months old.  Rosie turned 6 and Weston turned 4.  I feel like I am always one step behind.  5 kids has definitely taken it’s toll on my sanity and I have officially reached my limit.  It’s a good thing we have such good kids. 

We blessed PJ in November the weekend after Thanksgiving.  My parents, a few of Gary’s clan, the Andersons here in Vegas, and Grandpa and Grandma Gee were all in attendance.  It was a beautiful day.  Some of the highlights of her blessing included:  Health, Long life, a spiritual disposition, to follow the direction of the church, happiness and joy in life and from talents, career, education, and spouse, and to look to heritage and find strength in family.  It was a beautiful blessing and one I will never forget.  Presley is such a happy baby.  She brings such joy to our home.  Even at 5 months old she adds an element that I would certainly miss if it were taken.  She is very smiley from sun up to sun down.  Very rarely do we have an unhappy Jo.  She rolls to the side and can go from her tummy to her back.  She is getting more stable at sitting and I suspect that by 6 months she will be pretty proficient.  We have started feeding her cereal and baby foods and she is reluctant but taking it.  The best part about her is her sleeping habits.  A month ago I moved her into the crib in the master closet.  She has been sleeping through the night consistently since she was 5 weeks old.  She sleeps even better now that she is in a quiet space all her own.  Now if I could just get the other kids to stay down all night long!

Charlie is a full blown terrible two.  We just shake our head at this little minx.  She is so funny and sweet, yet the independent streak in her is loud and tumultuous.  When Weston (especially) pushes the right button (which he delights in doing)  the walls shake with her shrieks.  She is LOUD! and don’t try to talk to her until she gets it out of her system.  She plays really well independently and with the other kids most of the time though.  She loves to build castles with the blocks and to draw.  She especially likes me to draw pictures of her, the kids, and various animals for her to color.  She loves to pray and even when it’s someone else’s turn she just goes ahead and says one right along with them.  She also loves to be outside.  The weather has been great this winter and she plays in the backyard for long stretches even on her own.  She has a bit of a reputation with the crews at Community Ambulance.  It’s like a badge of honor for someone to get a smile or giggle out of her.  Everyone loves Charlie.  On the potty training…with the other girls I pushed the issue at 2.5 years.  She is ready but there is her independent thing that gets a little in the way.  She feels like being a big girl about half the time.  I guess I just have to relax a little with it and let her do this on her own terms. 

Weston.  Oh Weston.  We are still struggling with the poop thing but I have high hopes after this morning.  He has been promised camping with Dad if he can jump this hurdle.  He is so excited about the prospect of sleeping in a tent, fishing, and camping with Dad that he talks about it every day.  We forgot to put a diaper on him last night (We both thought the other one did it) and he went to bed in underwear.  He got up in the night and took care of business on his own.  This is a good sign.  We are going to move forward with this and keep focusing on the positive reward for these milestones and hopefully he will overcome his anxiety of sitting on the pot.  He is such a sweet boy (not smelling usually though) and my life will improve by leaps and bounds once he gets past this.  With both he and Charlie we are finding that we get further with making a big deal about the good things that happen.  So here is to only 1 kid in diapers by June!  (Dare I have a goal on this matter?)

Rosie is quite amazing.  I have read to her often and I knew she was doing well in school but she brought me a book on Sunday and started reading it to me.  She was throwing out words like beautiful and princess with very little effort.  She is pretty pleased with herself.  She also has been learning multiplication and understands the concept which amazes me.  She will try to trick us with math questions.  As she gets older the tantrums which defined her just a few years ago are fewer and far between.  It’s a lovely thing.  She laments she has to share a room with the little girls but alas it is the lot of being in the middle. 

Serra is once again struggling with kids at school.  She is so sweet and has no problem with kids at church so we are a little at a loss at what to do about school.  She seems to be a target for being mocked and made fun of.  She doesn’t know how to deal with it on the spot and just takes it I’m afraid.  There are a lot of tears and her teacher is clueless.  Kids steal her lunch, her school supplies etc., and her teacher tells her not to tattle tale.  There are also not enough desks for the kids to sit in so she has to sit on the floor most of the day.  I have addressed these things with her teacher and am not getting anywhere.  We are just encouraging her to stick it out for the few months remaining and are trying to make things good at home for her.  She has commandeered Brian’s old iPhone which has no phone service.  We have been able to add some apps that allows her to call and text us as long as she has wifi service.  She feels pretty cool.  She has been great for babysitting.  We leave her with the kids (minus the baby) for 1-2 hours at a time and she does a great job.  She is able to keep in contact with us with the phone.  Brian and I go on short dates for lunch or dinner with the baby now and then and she keeps things peaceful at home and even puts the kids to bed.  We reward her with one on one dates with Brian or me to her favorite frozen yogurt place, Red Mango. 

I have been able to keep up with Etsy and it has treated me well.  I love having the extra cash to spend on the (as my sister Serra puts it) the unessential essentials.  Just last week Brian took Wes to Nascar for the afternoon so I took all the girls to the outlet mall and we spent about $100 on trinkets and treats.  The clearance section at Claires Boutique is like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.  Rosie especially is so thrilled with her new trinkets.  The girls like to take the money they have earned as well and spend it on something.  I remember doing that as a kid and it was really fun. 

I have changed my Etsy name to Silk Inspirations to encompass a new endeavor.  Silk Purses.  I only have one listed and am working on a few more.  I don’t imagine I will sell a lot of them right away until I find the style and price range that folks like but I really enjoy making them.  It’s a creative outlet that helps me to keep a little of myself during this time in life when it is so easy to lose track of that. 

Last Saturday was the St. Rose annual Mardi Gras Gala.  I have spent the past month or so getting ready for it with the dress, purse, shoes, mask, etc.  It all came together for less than Brian’s tux rental.  We are so buying one for him next year.  It’s lame to rent a tux for $140 every year.  I felt very glam and it was fun to get mani/pedied and dressed up for the occasion.  The event was pretty awesome this year with great food and entertainment.  Kevin Eubanks and the Tonight Show Band played most the evening, a magician, and Frankie Moreno as well.  It is definitely a perk of Community Ambulance that we get to go to this. Because it fell on our wedding anniversary weekend we decided we will celebrate #14 next weekend.  We have a babysitter planned, dinner, and then the Las Vegas Philharmonic at the new Smith Center downtown.  We are getting dressed up again and each have things planned for the other.  It should be fun.

I am working on getting pictures together and updated hopefully before another 5 months pass.