Christmas is just around the corner...

We had the most WONDERFUL surprise... SANTA!  He was just there on our doorstep (unannounced, of course) and he bestowed gifts on the family.  The big boys got chocolate kisses and Skyler and Mommy got a little extra pampering with baby shampoos and lotions.  What an AWESOME surprise!

Skyler - 2 weeks old

Cole - 6 years old

 Danny - 3  years old

Hunter - 9 years old

The boys together...  I think I need to hire a photographer next time.  It's IMPOSSIBLE to get 3 kids to look at the camera at the same time!   

Aunt Cherae with Skyler

The donkey (Cole), Joseph (Connor), and Mary (Julia)

I wish I had more pictures of the nativity...  I was enjoying it rather than taking pics!

Those first few weeks...

The first few weeks were filled with sleepless nights and lots of visitors.  This little guy has been showered with love and more love.

Julia and Skyler (cousins)

 Julie, Chanin, and James - we're so glad you went out of your way in busy December to come hold Skyler.

Danny isn't a visitor - but he LOVES to hold Skyler every day.  Hunter is also a huge helper - I just don't have a picture of him holding Skyler.

 Aunt La-La came to visit.  And while she was here, we PARTIED!  We threw a baby shower for La-La (she's expecting a girl in March) and I officially confused all the neighbors with pink balloons outside my house.  LOL!  It was so fun to have La-La here... come back soon!

My aunt Martie and my cousins Heidi and Cindi

 Great Grandma with Skyler.

Skyler Kirt

the story

I had a terrible night of sleep on Sunday night and still got up to go the gym as usual.  I just walk on Mondays - so I walked for about 30 minutes and felt completely miserable.  In fact, when asked if I was ok, I burst into tears... "I guess not."  So, I went home and laid down again.  My back hurt more than anything and there were contractions - but not consistent or close together.  BUT MY BACK HURT SOOO MUCH!  It hurt all morning and when I called my mom around lunch time, she said, I'm on my way and I'm taking you to see your Dr. - I insist!  The Dr. wasn't available, so off we were to the hospital.  At the hospital they observed me for an hour...  very small progress (1 to a 2), so they decided to wait another hour so I could walk the halls.  Still small progress, and the Dr. on call said wait another hour...  I thought for sure I'd be sent home (even though I didn't want to go home!).  So after 3 hours of observation, I progressed enough that the Dr. admitted me!! WOO-HOO!!  The progress was VERY SLOW...  but at 1:50 am they called the Dr. in to my room and at 1:53 Skyler was born!

Skyler Kirt 

(middle name is after my hero, my dad!)

7lbs 12 oz   19 1/2 inches

This is at 2am - I loved having my mom and Shayne's mom there with me - such a blessing in my life to have them so close!

It took us 48 hours + to decide on his name!  Here you see the nurses were trying to help us - definitely the most decorated bin in the nursery!

He was posterior through the labor (hence the back pain I was experiencing).  See that little bruised chin, mouth, and nose?  I guess that's from being pushed out so fast.  Sorry!

Grandma and Grandpa with Skyler the next morning.

Meeting his big brothers for the first time.

Hunter is soooo sweet with this little baby.  He just wants to hold him and hold him.  Cole and Danny's attention is short and fleeting - but Hunter is going to be a very sweet big brother.

Papa (my dad) meets Skyler

We're so excited you are here Skyler!!  I have literally been waiting for you since I delivered your big brother Danny - I knew right then and there that you were missing.  We love you!

My thankful list...

I did my Thanksgiving post and I didn't even pause to say what I am thankful for - so let me take a minute and write some of the great blessings I enjoy in my life...

• A wonderful and loving husband who makes life fun and exciting.  I keep a card in the window of my kitchen that he gave me last year and it's so true - "Next to you (Shayne) is my happy place"
• great kids - they can throw tantrums, be grumpy, and demanding, but the sweet moments of I love you's and hugs are worth more than gold.   I'm in awe of their individual personalities, talents, and the joy they bring to my life.
• A warm house - really it's a beautiful home and I'm so glad to come home to it and see everything "we" have put into it to make it our place of refuge.  I love that family and friends love being here with us too.  
• Opportunity to serve in the church - a couple weeks ago I led the primary children for a special Sacrament meeting and it was absolutely a spiritual high.  The tears streamed down my face and I'm so grateful for the spirit as it moved me beyond words during the program.  Those children are so precious and the message they shared was beautiful.
• The gospel - it is my constant source of strength and comfort.  I know everything I have and am is thanks to my Savior.
• My washing machine.  I've had the "opportunity" to wash clothes by hand - luckily it was just for me.  I do piles of laundry every week for our family.  But, I've especially grown fond of the "steam cycle" to help me deal with pee and poop accidents - I LOVE THAT FEATURE!  
• Unisom - I'm not one to take over-the-counter medicines - even with a huge headache.  But, this pregnancy has been ruled by Unisom...  I couldn't have done it without it.  
• My daily OJ - I'm grateful for my little splurge of my YUMMY OJ each morning.  It's such a silly and trivial thing - but I do love my OJ.
• Maggie (our dog) - she is part of our family and when she gets to have a 'mini-vacation' with her "2nd family" I really miss having her here.  
• My extended family.  I can't really do names - I love them all.  I'm especially grateful that my extended family includes all of Shayne's family - what a blessing to be "related" to so many wonderful people who enrich my life daily!
• My friends - truly, my "eternal" friendships started at college and I keep making more and more friends who are such a blessing in my life.  Thank goodness for e-mail and cell-phones that make it possible to keep all these friends close despite miles and/or years between us.  A big shout out to Kristy for being my constant gym companion - I'm so lucky to have you as such a dear friend! 
• Nap-time.  I'm grateful that I have the luxury of an occasional nap while Danny takes his nap.  Seriously - nap time is such a blessing when I get to enjoy it personally!!  

Thanksgiving Vacation

We had a FABULOUS Thanksgiving vacation in St George this year.  There was plenty of fun to be had as Chanin and Steve's house is definitely the FUN PLACE to be!!!  Check out a few of the highlights!

Clayton - guess how that felt after he landed.

The boys swam daily - yeah for the heated pool!

Hunter did a "back flop" and he SCREAMED after this shot!  Poor guy...

Clayton, Hunter, and Grandma

 Hunter and Carson

All the boys loved playing X-box.... good thing Uncle Shayne brought the console, games, and remotes - this definitely was a crowd pleaser.

Enjoying the hot tub - great smiles from all!

I just love this pic - that muffin is almost as big as his head!

Someone did sleep a little bit!

I think we counted 13 dishes of food for 18 people...  Here is a snapshot of my Candied Yams - the marshmallows EXPLODED and made a very sticky mess.  But everyone said it was worth it - they were YUMMY!

The cooks...  or chefs....  Thanksgiving cooking is lots of fun with lots of hands (and paper dishes to clean up!)

We took a hike on Friday morning - Cole and Danny were troopers (so was mommy being so pregnant!) and I'm grateful for those who lagged behind to help us along (Grandma, Grandpa, and James)

Weather was fabulous - lots of basketball fun.  Even Cole got in on a few games!

We saw Santa at a Christmas boutique at the Dixie Center.  Hunter asked for books, Cole asked for a computer, and I have no idea what Danny asked for.

After a weekend in St George - we extended our vacation and went to Vegas for a couple days so Daddy could go to a conference there.  The boys were a little disappointed to miss school for 2 days (HA HA HA HA).  There were all sorts of costumed people along the strip - and for tips you can take pictures with them.  We chose Bumblebee - his costume really was soooo cool.

Danny ran ahead when he saw this famous guy - sooo sweet.  You have to admit that it's a rare moment to get a pic with Mickey - the lines are WAY TOO LONG in Disneyland or DisneyWorld to get this sort of picture!

Then we decided to go to Paris after Vegas....  (JK)

We checked out a new hotel/shopping area called the Aria.  There was this cool display in the mall with tubes of sorts of water-tornados.  The boys loved these!

Our family...  just a couple more weeks till that belly pops!

Today...

Today I went to Walmart with Danny.  I made sure I fed him lunch before we went - but I was determined to get my shopping done before the big kids got home from school.  As we started off our shopping adventure - it was fairly typical.  I had to buckle him in - since he now knows where the donuts are and will dart over there and eat one! (dead serious) and for today's entertainment I gave him some spare change to hold which made his morning.  Every time he dropped a coin, I put it in my pocket.  It honestly is a feat to bend over and pick up a penny (or anything) and I told him whatever fell on the floor, became mommy's.  Soon he had no change (since he thought it was a game).  Then he started to WAIL... seriously - WAIL and CRY and CRY and CRY.  And I'm sorry - but I'm not giving into it.  I let him cry.  I let everyone look at me like I was a mean mom.  I let everyone look at him like he's an awful child and they were glad he wasn't theirs....  we got all those looks and more.  Honestly, he cried out loud for 15 minutes straight.  I don't think he even knew why he was crying at that point.  Then an old woman looks me straight in the eye and says to me....

"Why on earth would you let your child cry like that?"

I looked at her and said, "Are you asking me that question seriously?"

"Yes, I am" was her reply.

I was completely befuddled at her judgement of me (even though I was ok with the looks, I didn't appreciate the commentary I guess).

I responded quickly, "Go ahead and ask him to stop."

So, the old woman proceeded to talk to Danny and asked him why he was crying.  He said he wanted money (which I thought was funny) and her reply was, "well, so do I.  But we don't all get what we want.  You seem like a nice boy and you have a good mommy who wants you to be happy.  When you cry, it makes me think you are hurt and are you hurt?  No, you aren't.  So, stop the crying and be kind to your mother who knows what's best for you."

Part of me was cheering.
The other part of me was still erked that this lady had the gall to think I WANTED my child to cry like that while I was doing my shopping.  At least he stopped for a few minutes.  By the time the tears came back, we were heading out the door so I could take him home and get a well deserved nap...  for both of us.

The Sample Store

There is one place my kids don't complain about going to.... the sample store!  (Otherwise known as Costco).  Even Danny gets excited and cheers if I say, "the sample store" is next.  They use their hawk-eyes to find every sample table and try something new.  There are a few things that will not be touched (ie Cole and anything with potatoes) but really, my kids try a whole lot of random foods while walking through that huge store.  So, why won't my children try the food that I cook at home?  Maybe I need an apron, a sample tray, a small card table, and a name tag.  I think I may be on to something here...