More randomness...

Here are some more updated pictures of what we've been up to. As usual it's nothing special, just our day-to-day doings/goings but it's fun to share these pictures (no matter how terrible of photographer I am).

I was horribly sick the other week and felt like I might die but Josh had to stay at work and couldn't come home to help, so the kids and I watched shows ALL day long. It was awful and miserable. Thankfully it only lasted 24 hours and thankfully little Oaklie took a good nap with me- this is her being terribly adorable. 

Logan fell asleep in Oaklie's crib. It was funny to see his big body in that little crib. You can't really see that here....but it brought back good memories of him being so little and sleeping in there. 

Logan and Shaffer LOVE to bring down blankets in the morning and then lay them on the floor and get "so nice and comfy"! They make sure that Oaklie is taken care of too and that she is plenty warm.

This is how we function most of the day. Oaklie naps okay but she always does best in my arms...and sometimes I just can't help but want to hold her and soak up her newness while she sleeps. 

We went to the Littleton Historical Museum the other day and the boys loved it. There were a few farm animals that they could look at and then there were plenty of rocks, sticks and dirt that they loved throwing. 

The boys were looking at the little piglets and were so excited to see them! 

Me & the kiddos! (I can't believe I have 3!! Check out Oaklie's stare!)

I love naked babies! There is nothing that is more adorable than their soft skin and their rolls. Oaklie certainly is not a chunky thing but she's putting on some weight. She still seems really small to me but I know she's growing. 

Shaffer and Logan both had physicals recently and they are both tall and skinny. Shaffer is especially skinny. Shay was nearly 30 lbs, and Logan was 34 lbs. We get asked if they are twins ALL THE TIME, which makes sense because they do look so close in size. 

This is how we've been running lately! We break it up and I go on my own on the treadmill a few times a week and then the other days we take everyone out and run 3-4 1/2 miles with them. Oaklie is starting to do better but still isn't crazy about running. The boys love it. I am exhausted and feel like it is all I can do to put one foot in front of the other. I am constantly exhausted and frankly hate working out right now. I love being together as a family and being outside but running is miserable and I don't know how to shake it. When I'm on the treadmill I find myself running with my eyes closed, hanging on to the bar and barely managing to keep going. Oaklie used to sleep well but isn't doing as great now and my only time to work out is during the kids naptime, so instead of resting I have to workout. This is not a positive exercise post...I'm grateful to be able to do it and I know I have to keep at it but I would love to quit and stop for few months until I can get more rest...and a gym pass. 

Check out that cute smile. It melts my heart every single time. I am so grateful for her smiles because when I am in a bad mood they remind to me to snap out of it and cherish the small and simple things. 

This was after one of our exhausting runs. We took the boys over to the splash pad near our house and let them play after we were done. It felt nice to have the cold water after our run. 

Josh trying to pump up the boys to get them run through the water. They did it but didn't like it. They love to be there and they love the water but they don't like to run through it! 

Oaklie was a happy girl once she was out of the stroller and we were holding her. She is such a cutie pie. 

All-in-all life is good. I love having 3 kids & am often overflowing with joy and gratitude because/for them. Life is challenging but it draws me closer to my Savior and Father in Heaven and reminds me to put my focus on Them and give Them my heart. We have gone through so many challenges and changes over the past 3-4 years and are still in the middle of some of them (not being able to sell our house for one) but I cannot imagine having to have gone through these things without the Savior and without prayer. Josh and I have spent countless hours on our knees praying for guidance and direction and we could not have made it through were it not for our Savior, Jesus Christ and for His gospel. 

I get to go home in a few weeks and then we head to Utah for another week. I am so excited to see our families again. I love Colorado but I desperately miss my family. Jessi and I have talked about living in the same town...which is only a dream..but I find myself getting desperate for it. I would die to live close to her. 

Happenings...

Here are some more random happenings from our neck of the woods. 

I'm not going to comment on all of these pictures because they are mostly just random ones from things we do on a day to day basis and nothing particularly special...although of course they are filled with the kids cuteness. 

My 27th birthday was on the 4th of this month. Did you catch that...27th? I know that's not old but for some reason I feel like I will (and should be) forever 22. It's weird to be getting older.

Josh & Shaffer enjoying a game of 'throw the ball straight up in the air and catch it"! It entertains well. 

Logan trying to feed Oaklie her bottle. =) 

We took Oaklie this past Saturday to get her ears pierced! She was a champ and only cried for 2 minutes. She looks so cute. 

This gives you a tiny glimpse of her adorable dimple & her cute smile. 

Books. Reading. Drooling. Addiction.

I have a problem.

A serious problem. 

I am addicted to reading.

Since having Oaklie earlier this year reading has taken a back seat and has been semi non-existent. But despite that I just can't stop buying books & reading as much as I can...when I can. 

My parents were gracious enough to give me money for some much-needed wardrobe updating for my birthday this year but instead of buying pretty clothes I find myself spending it on books! 

This is a picture of all the books I have waiting to be read! Each one of them is calling my name and I drool and blow kisses at them every time I walk past them. 

This picture doesn't even include all the political books that I would die to go through. This is just some of the fun, spiritual and parenting books that I am aching to read. 

I can never seem to go through just one book at a time. I am always in the middle of at least 2, if not 5 (like I am right now) books. You have to have a book for every mood and having 5 of them meets that need! So..for now I am reading 2 parenting books, 1 spiritual book and 2 novels! Each of them is incredible in their own way. 

If only I was one of those people who could function on 5 hours of sleep a night and then I could stay up until 2 and read 'till my hearts content. Unfortunately I'm not that way, so I squeeze tiny bits and pieces of the books in where I can.

My most recent purchases are, "Heaven is Here" by Stephanie Nielson (and wow is is a page turner); "A Return to Virtue" by Elaine S. Dalton (a very good, spiritual book); and then I'm in the middle of "The Book Thief"...but that one is an audio book that I listen to while I run and boy is it good. 

It's my dream, one day, to have a small library full of books, with a nice bay window where I can sit and read (and eat chocolate) for hours and hours. 

Until that time comes I am grateful that my time is spent raising my kids and soaking up their cuteness! 

What we've been up to...

Get ready for a picture overload because here it comes....

We have a busy bunch lately. It's not even that we have had a lot to do per say, it's just that having 3 kids ages 3 and under is busy in and of itself. 

Oaklie (or Leelou as I am affectionally calling her- it's a nickname stolen from my fav. cousin) is now 3 months old and is rapidly changing. I catch myself with tears in my eyes at least once a day because of how adorable she is and because of how quickly the time is flying by with her & the boys!

I had a relatively non-serious surgery on my back just over a week ago. It's embarrassing/nasty, but true that I had a pretty good sized lipoma on my upper back and it was finally time to have it removed. My sister came out to help with the kids while I was recovering from it...and it's a dang good thing she did too because I was flat out of it for 2 solid days. They gave me anesthesia and I swear that stuff works so easily on me and knocks me out for days. 

As always, it's a blast having Jessi and her adorable little boy William around (too bad Rich couldn't make it too). I am determined to have at least 1 or 2 more kids (in a few years) because I insist that Oaklie has to have a sister and that they will be BFF's like me and Jess. It's a must. The End. Period. 

I love this picture because it completely sums up Josh- sarcastic! 

Does your heart do the same thing mine does here? Melt like a puddle! Here comes that tear that I told you comes at least once a day. 

Sweet little Logan wouldn't stay in his room for the life of him so he finally fell asleep in the hallway. 

This is the boys playing with these (awfully messy but totally fun) balls in the back of our van. They think it's a blast and ask for me to put them in the back and let them play. This was my attempt to keep them content while I ran on the treadmill one night. 

I love this picture because if you look close enough you can see that Logan is trying to help Oaklie press the button the toy to make music. That is so typical of Logan- always looking for things to give her to make her happy and to include her in the fun. 

The boys are OBSESSED with 'Mickey Mouse Clubhouse' right now. They beg to watch it all day long...so one of their favorite things to do is to have a picnic lunch on the living room floor while watching an episode. 

We have some amazing parks really close to our house. This park happens to have a little creek that runs across the cement path that the boys LOVE to run through. Shaffer and I hold hands and walk back and forth across the water (to make sure he won't fall). I love the chance I get to hold his little hand and to adore the fact that I'm important to him still (he tends to not be super lovey so I take advantage of the moments that do come where I can sneak it in)! 

Almost every night after dinner we walk down to the park right below our house and the boys run up and down this hill while Josh throws to the ball at (not to...at) them. They think it's the funnest game in the world. 'They' meaning all 3 of the boys! =) 

I heart my life! 

Leelou & Mr. William! 

Who can resist a chubby baby in the bath? If this isn't one of the cutest sights in the entire world then I don't know what is. Do you not just want to kiss her cheeks off?

Mr. Logan is 3 1/2 years old and I swear he has been looking more and more grown up lately. When I pictured my life as a mother I imagined myself always having toddlers. They can't really grow up. It was just a fact- they will always stay little- forever! And now here I am watching him shoot up and change so fast and we are leaving the toddler stage and he is turning into a big boy. It's sad on one hand but on the other it's amazing to watch him and Shaffer grow up. I love all the things they can do and they crack me up constantly. 

Sometimes I remember that this is the only chance (EVER) that I will have them little. When I think about it like that part of me is filled with a great sadness and then another part is filled with a sheer determination to be valiant in my efforts as a mom- to raise them right and to soak up every second I have with them right now (hence getting rid of facebook...it's just enough of a time waster that it had to be done).

Auntie Jessi with Oaklie! She is the best aunt and sister...ever! (Check out her ripped arms here. She is such a babe!)

Cute little Leelou smiling. 

Shaffer! Shaffer! This kid is down-right hilarious. He has the most contagious laugh and says some stinkin' funny things. He has been such a good brother too. I can't imagine life without him. Logan would be so bored without him...as would we. 

I know that I am a bit biased but aren't these boys handsome...and HUGE!?! 

Oaklie is a huge mama's girl. She screams whenever Josh (or anyone else) holds her. I love holding her but there are times where it becomes exhausting and I desperately wish she would be more content with someone else. Thankfully she was happy when we took the picture! 

One of Josh's old track buddies invited us this past weekend to go to the lake with him and his family. We had a blast being outside all day. The boys were in heaven throwing rocks, playing in the water, meeting new friends, going on the boat, and eating good food. We stayed all afternoon and into the evening and the boys were so bummed when we had to go. 

I don't say enough good things about Josh. We have been so busy since moving here and since having had Oaklie that we, unfortunately, haven't had near enough time together but I am always amazed at how incredible he is. He works so hard for us and does so much for our family. He is the best dad and I'm so grateful that our boys (and Oaklie) have him to look up to! It's such a blessing to have such a kind & faithful dad & hubby. 

Here are some more pics of little Will and Oaklie. Jessi did a mini-photo shoot while she was here (because she has the talent and the sweet camera). So here are a few of our favorites! 

I won't comment on them because each picture would be the same- ooh's and ahh's, lots of drooling, oogling, and adoring! You get the picture...I am totally and completely obsessed with her. 

(I can't resist...don't they look like a cranky old couple? Ha! Not that I'm encouraging incest here because I'm definitely not...)

Bahaha!