Officer Kelly

This is my sister Liz with her husband Mark, their kids and his family. My brother-in-law is a police officer for Mesa and was diagnosed with ALS this past year.  This is a great article about them.     http://mesampa.com/blog/?p=477

We love you guys!!!!

Wipes are so fun!!

I love watching the babies do this. I think they find it so fascinating to pull them out one at a time and they seem to never end. I don't ever let them do it for very long. He did get really mad at me when I took them all away.

Thanksgiving 2009

I didn't take any pictures Thanksgiving weekend until Friday night and then I only took 3. I know, so lame. Thanksgiving this year was really great. We were able to stay at Adam and Amanda's house (Jake's cousins) because they were in South Dakota for the holiday. Thank you so much guys for your house, it was SO nice. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!

We spent thursday with the Lee's and then spent friday with my family, and went home on saturday. It was a good weekend and I'm glad we got to see everyone that was there. All of Jake's family was there so we got to see everyone on his side. Not everyone from my family could make it, we missed you guys, I guess there is always next year.

This picture was friday night at my sister Kim's house. Happy Birthday Cody. Wow I can't believe he is already 15. Glad we could be there for that. This is about half of the cousins on my side of the family.  It gets a little loud when we are all together and I know that some faces are covered, it was the best I could do.

Always into everything!!!

Marshall is constantly getting into things. This is not uncommon to find him in the middle of something. Although usually it is not toys. Usually it is paper, or books or something he really has no business being into.

I made Jacob and the boys Star Trek shirts. They were a hit at the party for the law students. I think this is one of the few time were Jacob was not only willing to dress up but was a little excited to do it.

Captain Kirk was so tired by the end of the day.

Bath time

Marshall really loves to take a bath in the sink. He usually gets the floor in front of the sink and the counters, and me all wet. He loves the water and loves to splash.

Marshall is 6 months old

Marshall was 6 months old on the 22nd of October. I know I'm posting this late but with all he has been doing it is a miracle that I'm posting at all. He has started to crawl, sit, pull up on things and pull things down on top of himself. I had forgotten how it is to have a roaming baby in the house. Nothing is safe anymore and I'm constantly saying "no Marshall", "no no baby" and so on. I wish that I was better at taking pics.

I've changed my mind.

Well, I have been using this stuff for almost two months. At first I did really like it and thought that it worked really well. Now, not so much. I don't think it gets all of the smells that a baby can leave behind, like vomit. I know it's gross. If I washed things twice then it works better but who wants to do that? Not me.

Ta Da!!!!

While I was at my sisters house last week I found some awesome bibs in her kitchen towel drawer. It is simply a dish towel with a hole in it. I ended up using the neck and arm pieces off some of Jakes old ringer T-shirts to make the neck hole on the bib nice and stretchy. I used the rest of the shirt to make sleep shorts for my bigger kids. What a great way to use up some old shirts.

Why workouts are few and far between.

I didn't get to use my mat very much during my workout today. Oh well, Marshall was happy at least. I just had to do without.

Easy trip

Marshall fell asleep in the shopping cart like this the other day while I was at the store. It ended up being a very productive trip.

drama

Katie has been talking about a 2nd grader that goes to her school and how pretty this girl is. Apparently this other girl has curly hair. I told Katie that she was pretty just the way she was and that she had really nice strait hair but she wanted it curly for just one day. We tried the sponge rollers. It didn't turn out well. I meant to get a picture after I took them out but I didn't have the chance. She did not like it at all and insisted that if she went to school with hair like that then everyone would laugh at her. I ended up brushing it out with a wet brush so that it was just wavy. It was also a half day that day so she was able to wear her own clothes instead of her uniform. It was a stressful morning to say the least. I can't wait for her to be a teenager. NOT!

BIG BOY!!

Do you think it might be time to put the swing away? I have never liked using the buckles so this is what I found. Luckily I came in when I did. I don't think that tile would have felt very good.

He is just getting so big. He had a doctors appointment last friday and being 5 months old weighed in at 20lbs 2oz. and is 29 inches long.

BIG BOY!

Katie and I had the following conversation the other day.

Katie: Mom, you have been using your noodles.

Me: Huh? What do you mean?

Katie: I mean your brain.

It really made me laugh.

Cute!

I went into the boys room the other night and found Marshall like this.

Sweet. I think they are the cutest when they are sleeping.

Why? Because.

Lately I have been making my own laundry detergent. I have been using it for over a month and I have to say that I much prefer this to anything I have ever bought. I like it because I like my clothes to smell like nothing. This combination achieves just that. It costing next to nothing is a nice bonus. All it is 1/2 a cup of the borax, washing soda, and baking soda, then 5 oz. of either the fels-naptha or the ZOTE soap grated. Just combine it in a container and shake it. YOu only have to use 1 table spoon. Walmart had everything except washing soda, I found that at Bashas.

Things I love

I really love fresh eggs

beautiful produce, Jake just doesn't understand this

new fabric, and old fabric

dishes

gardens, and yard work

fruit trees

the desert, I know it's weird

salsa

good salt, regular table salt is no good

my sewing machine

going out to eat

A good purse

finishing a project

canning

Your probably wondering why I haven't mentioned family. Well I think that goes with out saying and I am listing things, not people.

Time with some of the cousins

This last weekend Jake and I went to the Gila Valley to see some family. My family is rarely ever all together at once and since living in Tucson I don't get to see my sisters that still live in the Gilbert area very often. Well Liz was there with 3 of her boys and my sister Kim lives in Pima. It was fun to see them and I know Katie and Zach had fun with their cousins.

This is not the first time this has happened to one of my parents trampolines. In fact I think they are more fun when they have obstacles.

This is Katie with two of her cousins, Aubrie and Ashlie. I think Katie is only 3 weeks older. Katie can't tell them part until they tell her who is who. It is funny to hear her say, "which one are you?" They are nice about it but sometimes they get tired of reminding her.
I think Zach was really glad that Liz and her boys were there because usually he is the only boy in his age group. Hyrum and Harley are so fun to have around and Zach loved it. Usually it is his cousins on the Lee side that he plays with but they were not there this last time. So I'm glad the Kelly boys were around.

The tall one is Jessica and she is so good at keeping the little one entertained. They absolutely love her.

This is just a few of my parents grandkids. They currently have 30 grandkids and at the end of October they will have 31. Hurray!!! I think a new family picture will be in order.

Prickly Pears

I really love putting food in jars and then putting it on my shelf and using through the year. It is very satisfying.

A few weeks ago I finally made prickly pear jelly. Ever since we moved to Tucson I have wanted to make it and last week I finally did. It was not easy. Those things are covered in small fur like stickers that you can't really see. I did already know this so I picked them with metal tongs and then dropped them into a small plastic bucket. I'm glad that I didn't use one of Katie's baskets because my bucket was lined with stickers and thorns when I dumped them into my pot. The bucket just washed right out, but I think I would have had to throw away a basket.

I thought that if I soaked them for a bit in some warmish water then they might peel a little easier. I don't know if it worked because with all the stickers they were not easy to peel at all. I had to hold them firmly with the tongs, slice down with a small knife then cut the whole thing off. I had my pot full of pears, a bowl for skins and then a bowl for fruit. I think I had 40 to 50 of those nasty things.
Apparently if you cut them in half you can scoop out the seeds and throw them away. I didn't know this until I had mashed them all up and realized there were too many seeds to let them just stay in the jam. They are not like a strawberry seed. Wish I took a picture of all the seeds. Oh well. I ended up having to put all of it through a fine wire strainer and I was left with this beautiful juice. The color was so lovely.
It did take a few days to set and then it didn't totally set until I stuck a jar of it in the fridge. It is a very different tasting fruit. It does not taste like a berry at all or anything that I am familiar with. I read that some people think they taste like kiwi but I didn't think so. I doubt I'll make it again. Glad I did it, but it was too much work for something that I don't think anyone else will really eat. I have to give it away.

Pretend Play

Zach has been so bored since Katie went to school. I miss being close to my sisters and Zach being able to play with his cousins.

Since he's had nothing to do except follow me around I made him an eye patch and a super hero mask. He was really excited and they have kept him playing for a good amount of time. I am glad he likes them. It is so funny how differently girls and boys play. I just Don't think Katie would care about an eye patch.

I had him sit in this chair for both pictures because it is about the only clean place in the house right now. I guess I need to quite making things and start doing some house work. I'm sure I'm not the only one who would rather work on a project then clean.

Am I mean?

I set Marshall down on the couch the other day and Next thing I knew he was screaming. When I went to see what the problem was I found him like this. I had to take a picture before I rescued him because I couldn't stop laughing.

School starts

Katie started school last Monday and she absolutely loves it. On the first day Jacob and I took her to school with the boys, so the whole family was there. On the second day she asked if only one of us could take her. On the third day we get to school and walk in the doors and she says to me "ok mom, you can go now". She didn't even want me to walk her into her class room like all the rest of the parents. She really has not had a problem leaving me. And she loves to wear he uniform.

Zach has not been so excited that she is in school. He is having a hard time with it. I think it was Wed. when he asked if Katie had to go to school again. He gets really bored. I think it is going to be a long year for him. He will start kindergarten next year so at least it is only one year. Yes, my kids are that close in age. What?

Happy Baby

Marshall has gotten to be so much fun in the last week or so. He is so happy most of the time and smiles a lot. He has started to make a slobbery spitting noise with his tongue and it makes all of us laugh every time. He is also fascinated with his toes and is always grabbing them.

I usually just take him in the shower with me because that is a lot easier but he does like to sit in the water in the sink for a bath. It always starts a giggle fit.

Blessing

Jacob gave Marshall his baby blessing today at church. It was really nice to have friends and family come. I should have taken at least one picture but it was so hot the whole time that I completely forgot. The A/C was out in the Chapel, then we all got together at the nearest park for lunch. It wasn't so bad in the shade, and we had plenty of cold water bottles. It is still the beginning of August in Tucson, AZ so I guess the extreme heat was to be expected. I knew it wasn't the best idea, but it was the only idea, seeing as our apartment is to small to accommodate for our super large family. It was a good time and I'm glad we got together even though it was really hot.

My domestic skills

This morning we woke up at 5:30 to go pick peaches in a "pick your own" orchard just north of Tucson. This place was so pretty. I think it was only two acres and this guy had a ton of trees. I wish I had taken a picture of it. I loved the way he planted his tomatoes on a fence line. If anyone knows me well then they know that I really like tomato plants. Well, I just like gardens in-general. Anyhow, when we got home I got right to work on the peaches and canned 14 pints. I still have a bunch of peaches left and so I will make jam on Monday. Hopefully it will set right and not just be thick syrup. Wish me luck.

I have also canned beans, chicken, zucchini relish, and grape jelly. It has been a productive summer. There is something about canning that is so satisfying.

Camping on Mt. Lemmon

Last Friday we loaded up the car to the breaking point to spend the weekend with some friends of ours on Mt. Lemmon. Jacob packed the car and between the camp stove, ice chest, chairs, and sleeping bags, there was no room to spare. Jacob and Marshall were the only ones that didn't have something surrounding their feet. I told Jacob that I wanted to drive on the way home and he just laughed at me.

I think we got there around 5:00 pm and right after we got the kids tent and the canopy that we put over the table up, it started to hail like crazy. Our friends took some pictures of the road on their way up and it looked like it had snowed. This is a piece of it in Jacob's ring just so you can see the size of the hail that was coming down hard on us in the middle of July. Crazy.

Soon after it stopped coming down, this fog showed up. Almost all the hail had melted by the time I got around to taking this picture.

The second day our kids were so tired and cranky. We told them to go lay in the tent and talk to each other and within 5 min the were out. I think they slept for about 2 hours and It gave us a good chunk of time to play cards with our friends.

They were much happier when they woke up and played really well together until it was time to eat. Cooking was nice and easy because we used Jacob's two burner camp stove. One of those big ones that uses a full size propane tank. It was really nice and was so glad that we had it. I highly recommend one.

The last night we had smores and the kids were SO happy to finally get one. We all only had one because they were way to sweet.

We had a fun time and I think we will make camping a yearly event. We were there two nights and we got super dirty and the laundry was ridiculous when we got back. I think it took me like 5 days to finally get the last load all folded and put away.

11 weeks

Marshall is now 11 weeks old and is finally starting to be fun and have some personality. He smiles a lot and doesn't really know what to do when I tickle him. I think it stresses him out. He just gets really grunty. I took him to his 2 month appointment about two weeks ago and he weighed in at 16 lbs and 26 inches. I like his fat roles and all of his creases.

He still isn't sleeping very well and I can't help but think that it is something I am doing wrong. He falls asleep for Jacob no problem, and then he stays asleep too. It takes me much longer to get him to stop being so squirmy. I hope his sleeping habits change for the better because I am so tired. Oh well, thats just how my life is right now I guess.

A normal day

I find myself sitting on the couch nursing a LOT. Then I usually get the laundry started but then it take two or three days to get it folded and pt away. The kitchen is rarely clean and there is always a dirty dish in the sink. We eat a lot of ham and cheese and pb&j for lunch. And quite often Zach is the only one that gets dressed before 2 pm.

On the flip side, Katie and Zach are best friends ( they still fight and get on each others nerves) and play so well together. They are so happy to see Jacob when he comes home from school or work and they are so happy with the simplest of things. My baby Marshall is not the best sleeper but he is starting to smile at me every time I talk to him.

Even though I get a little cranky and emotional about dumb things pretty frequently, my life is happy and good and very blessed.

Big Baby

Some of my friends were not able to see me at this point in my pregnancy. And those that did have told me a number of times that I need to put this pic on my blog. So for the sake of documenting here it is.

I was 2 days away from having Marshall in this picture. When I had him 2 days later he weighed 9 lbs 7 oz. and was 21 inches long. I know it's not like I was having twins but for a single baby my belly was pretty big. I love not being pregnant!

Sweet things children say

A sweet little conversation between Katie and her Daddy.

Katie: Hi Dad, how was work?

Jacob: Good, how was home?

Katie: Good, it's always wonderful.

It made me feel good that she would say that.