Kenli's Turns 2!

The last few weeks have been a bit busy and hectic. Unfortunately we seem to get sick as soon as we get better. So that has kept us inside for the most part. I was suppose to start in my new calling as 2nd counselor in the primary at church. I am responsible for teaching and conducting sharing time along with the president and 1st counselor. Unfortunately we have missed the last 2 weeks due to illness so I haven't been able to teach yet. Also, I was suppose to give a talk in our new ward, but missed that too. I was a bit nervous since I have never given a talk in front of a congregation as big as the one we are attending now. However, I'll be ready when they decide to reschedule me.

Last week we put an offer on a house in Parkersburg, WV, and it was excepted. We are in love with the new house, and are very excited about the move. It is more than twice the size house we are in now, so we are anxious for the extra, much needed space. However, the only down fall is that the seller can not move until May 15, which is almost 2 months longer than we expected. There is some good and bad that comes along with this. The good, is that Aleigha will be able to finish the school year at her current school. That was pretty important to me. Also good, we have decided to rent our house to the church to house missionaries. This is great for the aspect of a little bit of extra income as well as we know we will get paid from the church as opposed to just having anyone in here. The not so good about this, is that the missionaries need a place by March 1st, 2 1/2 months prior to our closing date. So we have decided to move into mom and dad's for that time. So grateful for such wonderful parents to open their doors and home to us when we need it. For the next month though, we will be busy packing our home up slowly and storing everything in our garage and storage buildings. Hoping everything else during the process goes nice and smooth.

And of course the most exciting thing that has happened, is Kenli turned 2 on the 24th!!! We had a birthday party for her on January 19th, the Saturday before her actual birthday. We had a really great turn out. Luckily it was a beautiful day with temperatures nearing 60. We were able to extend the party outdoors which definitely helped with the crowd. She had a Dora themed party and we had games and stations geared towards toddlers and young children. We had a little play house, play kitchen, ball pit, play dough table, sensory bins (rice, little toys, spoons, cups, etc), and craft paper on the wall for everyone to decorate with crayons and stickers, and of course several outdoor activities. She loved her ice cream cake, but was a bit leery about blowing out the candles. She loved opening her presents, and enjoys playing with them all. However, she's pretty insistent that all her gifts came for "Ho Ho Ho."

On Kenli's actual birthday, we took her out to eat at Gran Ranchero's for her birthday. I was so looking forward to them singing to her, putting the sombrero on her, and wiping ice cream on her. We had a video of this happening to Aleigha when she turned 2 and she loved it and ate up all the attention, I thought Kenli would too! Well....I should have known!!! As much as Kenli loved Santa she refused to sit on his lap....kind of like this :( She seemed to do okay at first. They took a big scoop of ice cream and started going towards her face....she opened up REALLY wide, and then they smeared it on her face instead. She was beyond devastated!!! I felt so bad. I tried feeding her the ice cream while they continued singing to her, but she wouldn't have it...she just spit it out. However, once they left, she sat and ate almost the whole bowl (with Aleigha's help) in peace....and quite happily I might add.

Enjoy the pictures and videos. This post is mostly of Kenli sense she was the birthday girl. The next few weeks should be a little more even.

 For the last few weeks, Katie and I have decided to teach a little preschool-homeschool to the kids. We have been learning a new letter each week.

 Birthday Girl!

 Enjoying some cake!

 Ready to BLOW out those candles!

 Present Time!

 I'm a big girl now!! 

 This little girl knows how to "work it" to get want she wants!

 Kenli loves to play and manipulate the doll house toys and other small toys.

 Happy Birthday to you!

Trying to get a bit of "Kenli" on video.

Happy New Years!

I realize it has been quite awhile since my last post, nearly a year. Of course, my last post, I stated how one of my New Years resolutions was to update my post weekly. Obviously, I have proven not to be good at that. I would love to blog weekly, but this year, my goal is to blog often. Often, being the key ambiguous word here. Often may be once a week, once a month, or maybe just once a quarter, but I am determined to keep up better than last year.

At the start of the new year, I am excited for the new changes that our family will experience. I have made a few resolutions this year, but like blogging, I just want to do better. I am not going to get up tight or give up because I fall short. Mainly, I want to be more productive. For me to be productive, I have to be organized. The week between Christmas and New Years, I organized my life with a schedule and organized my house. We are a week in, and so far, I am doing very well.

2012 was a bit of a roller coaster for our family. We had many good things happen, like Aleigha starting school. However, we had some heartache and trials that brought us to our knees. Unfortunately, life throws us some curve balls when we are least expecting. These curve balls; however, are what make us step back and evaluate our lives and what's important. Even though we usually already know what's important, these curve balls are a reminder of just how important. If we can come to a realization of what is to be learned from these trials, and use them to make positive changes or adjustments in our lives, then we can come out on top. We can grow and become better. I am determined to use the lessons that I have learned through trial and tribulation and become a better person, friend, wife, and parent.

With that being said, we had a great end to our year. The kids enjoyed the holidays, and I am so glad that we are able to foster in the magical and spiritual experiences with and for them.

Aleigha is really enjoying school. She is continuing to grow and learn every day. She is such a smart little girl. She is growing too quickly. With the ease and conveniences of the Ipad, Aleigha has discovered many new Disney shows such as Hannah Montana, Shake It Up, Good Luck Charlie, and Wizards of Waverly Place. Sadly, it took me 5 or 6 months to realize that these shows are aiding in her growing up too quickly. We have decided to cut back on those shows. I want my little girl to love Barney, and Dora, and Sesame Street. I want her to stay young a little longer. In addition to Aleigha excelling in school, she has become quite the dancer and singer. When she is older she wants to become a famous singer.

Brenton is the little man of the house. He knows how to show us love and makes us smile quite often. One of his favorite things to say is, "Mom (Dad), by the way, I love you." He is our little super hero cuddlier. He loves Captain America and Spider Man quite a bit right now. Captain America took Spiderman's number 1 spot when Brenton realized that Captain America was a good bit more "blue" than Spiderman. Brenton does well with schedules and routines. He likes to know what we are going to be doing for the day. Every morning, before coming to see if we are even awake, he gets himself completely dressed...socks and shoes included, always wearing either his cowboy boots (that he has worn the soles thin over the past few months) or his Spiderman sneakers. He then comes out and asks me to brush his hair. Brenton's day usually cannot continue until these things are done first. If he gets any food or water on his clothes, he must change promptly. As soon as it gets dark out, he then changes into his pj's...complete with slippers. Brenton, is following in his sister's footsteps with the funny things he says and does. He is developing into a happy little boy.

Brenton joined Aleigha this year on the soccer field. They played on the Bad News Bears!


Kenli is almost 2! Where has the time gone?!? It just seemed like yesterday that Aleigha turned 2. Her personality is really emerging. She is such a funny little girl. She loves to make everyone smile. She loves playing with her big brother and sister. She does not parallel play anymore, she interacts with them on a very advanced level. She loves Dora and along with her growing vocabulary, we often hear her throw out some Spanish words...always in the right context. She is our big eater. We are very fortunate that we have 3 kids that are all non picky, good eaters. However, Kenli goes to another level. She is given the same amount of food as Aleigha and Brenton, and always finishes it. She often then goes to who ever is still eating, and begs for more, in spite of giving her a 2nd helping. Luckily we are pretty healthy eaters, so most of the food she eats, is healthy. However, she'll eat the non healthy food just as much. She is still just as little as all my other kids.  She is also our little adventure...often making dangerous (well, not so dangerous) jumps, spins and rolls, and whatever else her little body possesses her to do. I contribute that to the multiple amusement and water parks I attended while I was pregnant with her.

We have been blessed with 3 amazing, beautiful, healthy children. They are all best of friends and have so much love for each other and others. They are all very smart and loving children. I pray every day that we will be the parents that we need to be for them. God has entrusted these little beings into our hands, and it is our duty to do what's best for them.

Chris is just about to start his last semester of college before graduating with his bachelors. I am very proud of him. He has managed to go to school full time, work full time, and be a full time husband and father the past few years. He has provided for us as well as trying to make our lives better by continuing his education. We are very blessed to have such a great husband and father.

Chris hard at work coaching soccer.


I have been spending my days as a full time stay at home mom and home maker. I do work an occasional day here and there, but I really enjoy staying home with the kids. Chris and I just celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary. I am so glad we are still so much in love and are each others best friends. We recently transferred to a new ward for church, and I was just called to serve as the second counselor in Primary. I look forward to my new calling...my first calling in a big ward opposed to the tiny branch where I have spent most of my life in. Also, Chris and I are in search of a new home. With baby number 4 on the way, we will out grow this home. Although we like our quaint little house now, we have already outgrown with the 5 of us. We are excited about this little addition to our family. However, we are not going to wish the time away, and instead enjoy the time we have before our household dynamic changes once again.