The Pittard's

Twin Falls Fair 2011

2011-09-04T16:38:00.000-07:00

When I think fair, I think: Foot long Deep fried corn dogs, Elephant ears (deep fried scones with sugar and honey and butter all over), Deep fried donuts dipped in chocolate, ooh and deep fried battered onions. Oh man the food was out of this world deep fried in goodness! I'm going on a diet tomorrow, or maybe the next day. The food is by far the best part of the fair. You also have some crazy people trying to get you to spend 5 dollars on a game that you can't really win, the side show attractions that include the Giant and the Snake Lady (which we didn't end up paying to see, but deep down inside I really really really wanted too), and of course the crappy spinning rides that your childen beg you to ride, and you say yes even though it cost like 30 $ for maybe 3 rides a peice. Oh well, they had fun, the kids anyway, Jon on the other hand, NOT SO GOOD! Right after he went on this one really spinny ride with Logan, we went to the stinking live stock petting area, and his face turned pale white. We had to leave because he was about to blow! Anyway, you have all been there so here are just a few pics of what the pittard did at the fair!!!! Oh and it was Layla's first fair ever. She did brilliant, never once did she cry!!!

Logan posing by the ag building

They loved This Llama:

And they loved each other:

Layla posing by the ag building

Cute little veggies

Of course she had to pick the pink car!

The ride that made Jon so sick. He's smiling now, but about three minutes later the nausea set in...

The Spinning ride that I loved, the kids and I had so much fun!

Layla: Three months and counting!

2011-08-14T11:52:00.000-07:00

Laylas first real time swimming! She loved the water

I can't believe that in 5 days my little cutie will be three months old! It's hard to explain this, but even though she has only been with us on this earth for just a few short months, It feels like I've know her for an eternity. And while her unique physical appearance seems so familiar, it is her spirit and personality that I feel most accianted with. A friend reminded me yesterday that I might not be keeping everyone updated on the newest addition of our family very well, so here are some pictures and a list of a few things that make Layla the sweetie she is.

Physical features:

1. She was only 6 pounds 2 ounces when she was born. Not the tiniest baby ever, but the smallest one in the family. We were actually relieved that she weighed so much. The doctors all predicted that she would be in the upper 4 pounds.

2. She has the cutest little birth mark on her cheek. It's just tiny, and it's starting to go aways, but I love it.

3. When she was born she was so wirey, all I could see while they were cleaning her up were her little leggs jolting up and down. I actually knew before she was born that she would be this way.

4. She is very tall and slender, but at three months she has started to get some cute rolls. However, she still fits in almost all of her new born clothes.

5. My favorite is that she has big blue eyes, dark hair and long dark eye lashes

Personality:

1. Very sweet and content (she rarely cries)

2. She loves to talk (well in baby talk of course) and her noises are so soft. And it's not like she is just making noises, it's like she is actually asking you questions. She will talk to you and wait until you have answered her back before she says something else.

3. She is very tolerant, especially of her brother and sister. They will totally get in her face space, but she doesn't get upset, she just seems to sit there and study their every move.

4. Her daddy thinks she is an angel, I think she is pretty perfect myself.

Milestones:

1. Even though she hates tummy time, she can hold her head up from the tummy position for quite awhile.

2. She loves watching Cartoons with brother and sister.

3. She can almost sleep through the night.

4. She's in size two diapers

5. She just decided that she does not love the carseat

6. she has already had one cold, but handled it with such grace!

Pictures:

First bath with brother and sister. Logan held her the whole time. She loved it!

First camping trip at City of Rocks! She slept the whole night in the tent. It was the best sleep ever.

I just love this picture!

Layla during tummy time. She does a great job holding her head up!

Please Grow!

2011-04-26T19:44:00.000-07:00

I will be 36 weeks pregnant with our sweet Little Layla in two days. Normally I would have about four more weeks left of this pregnancy, but due to our sweet baby slipping to only the 10th percentile for weight, the Dr. will most likely induce me in two weeks. I guess my placenta is no longer giving Layla the nutrients she needs to grow. Just because I'm a little stubborn and selfish at times doesn't mean my placenta has to be also... The Dr.s want her to be a little bigger before they induce me, so in the mean time they are going to monitor her twice a week and do an ultra sound once a week to make sure she is still thriving. That's a little scary to me, I just want her to be safe in my arms where I can nurture and care for her. So for the next two weeks we will be living on nerves and prayers.
It's funny how much you can love a child before you ever meet them. There is no greater hurt then that of your children. Whether it be because they scraped their knee or because someone wasn't very nice to them, the pain they feel penetrats just as deep or deeper in you. Even though I can't see her yet, as a mother, I already feel that connection with Layla. Anyway, I've never had to deal with this with my other two children, so prayers are readily welcomed! And thanks to all of you who have already offered them up, I really appreciate it..

Layla and Lucy's Cute Pink LAMP

2011-04-02T18:02:00.000-07:00

I need to write on my blog more so that I can get better at getting the pictures and writing in the exact place that I want them! ANYWAY!!!!!!!!

I have had so much fun decorating Layla and Lucy's Room! I am not by any means a girly girl, but for some reason decorating in pink has been so appealing to me. I needed a lamp and didn't want to spend a ton of money on one so I bought an old lamp for $4 at the DI, recovered it and added a bunch of fabric flowers and this is what I came up with! I absolutely love it. It is feminine in every possible way. I did end up spending $10 on fabric (because I didn't want to wait for a sale) but I have a ton left over for other jobs and a $14 lamp is by no means a splurge... PLUSSSSSS I got exactly what I wanted!

These are the fabric Flowers. You basically just cut strips of fabric out and twist them around and hot glue it in a circle. Just youtube how to make fabric flowers, and you'll get like a million tutorials. So cute though.

And this is how the lamp looked before I covered it... YUCK, but it had sooo much potential. I did this project in the time it took me to watch the saturday sessions of General Conference. It was pretty mindless so I could still even listen to the talks and actually take away a message! Sorry the picture is sideways. Once again, I'm not yet super bloggy. Maybe my next couple posts will be a little more put together! Let me know if you think I can add anything to the lamp. Ewe, maybe I can add little chandelier style beads to the bottom. I can't wait to get the whole room done.....

LAYLA

2011-02-20T16:38:00.000-08:00

It's sunday and my sweet children are sleeping, so I thought I would take a bit to share our baby news with the blogging world. I am just a week and 1/2 away from starting my third trimester with our third little kiddo! We found out a couple weeks ago that we were pregnant with girl number two (much to Logans dismay). Maybe next time. I can say that because this pregnancy has been much easier then the other two (knock on wood), and I am now not totally turned off by the idea of four kids (I guess when the time comes I better be turned on eh... Sorry, hat's a bad joke). I was sick at the beggining but right when that 13 week marker hit I started feeling great!!! I had some funny cravings at the begining though.. Has anyone ever craved pickled veggies, or pretty much anything pickled? I even craved the juice they were pickled in! Thats a first for me. I recently was working out at the gym (and when I say working out I mean softly meandering on an eliptical, not even going fast enough to get my heat beat going) and I was watching the Italian cook Buddy off of Cake Boss fry up some sausages, sauted red and green peppers and onions that were gently placed onto a fluffy loaf of french bread. I thought about that sandwhich all day until finally I went and got all the ingredients and cooked one up. So much for my strenuous work out. Anyway, pregnancy is great. We already have a name picked out... LAYLA RUTH or LAYLA RAE.. I love them both but I don't love that her initials are going to be LRP (wont be using those in block letters on the wall) It's like LARP... Oh Well... We painted the room pink (so cliche that it's not even cliche anymore). Just to add a little bit more typical to it all, we just painted Logans room blue. I always wanted a pink girls room, and I'm gonna put ballerina stuff in it, -I think... Decisions are hard to make when your pregnant. Oh and this little mamma is a kicker.. She's actually kicking right now, holly molly... And yesterday I felt her first hiccups, and almost thought she was having a seizure they felt like kicks. Jon thinks her little profile picture looks like LUCY... What a character, how can you even tell. You'll have to let me know your thoughts on that one. Well that enough for now. I'll try and keep this blog just a little more updated.. you know... atleast though the pregnancy and the first couple weeks!

The Best Family Ever

2010-06-26T12:03:00.000-07:00

My family are by far the most important people to me in this whole entire world. They are hands down always there for me, even when they don't agree with how I am feeling or what I am doing. We all have those conditional friends who are there for you when it's convenient for them, but my family is unconditional. They will tell me when I need to change, and I love them enough to always try my hardest to take their advice. I look up to them in all things, and know that I need to be the kind of example that they can look up to. Growing up, people would often say to me, "your family must just be putting on a good show in public because no family loves each other like you guys do." Well, we may not be perfect, and we often make dumb mistakes, but we have always loved each other that much, and I am so so thankful for them. They are the best. So hear are a few pictures of the most amazing family in the whole entire world.... I will post some more later.

Lucy and I at Dirkies Lake. I may be a little bit biased, but I think she is so beautiful....

This is Mika taking her swimming test so she could swim in the deep end of Dirkies. She did a great job passing. Darbi, my younger niece who is only 6 took it too. She almost passed. Next year Doobs!!!!
This is Logan fishing at Dirkies. You wouldn't think it, but this little man is pretty patient when there is a fish on the line!!!!
Jon isn't super big into fishing, but he did it because he knows I like doing it... He is the only one that "almost" caught something.

My amazing Brother and Sister. We were all are Jared and Bailey's beautiful wedding in Mackay Idaho. I don't know what I would ever do without these two in my life. Not only are they so fun to be around, but I know that no matter what it is, they always have my back. Love you guys!!!

More to come!!!

The new house and all the pojects that come with it!

2010-04-28T17:01:00.000-07:00

We have loved our new house so much, it has been such a great blessing. Its also been alot of work. I didn't realize how much went into a home. Projects we have accomplished are:

1. With the big help of steve jackson, we got our spinkler system put in. (Thanks uncle steve) We love ya. Oh and a big shout to Yvette (she makes some dang good breakfast patatos. MMMMMM.

2. We put in our sod. You can't see in this picture, but it is now there.

3. WE are now working on finishing the dog run. WE are getting a new dog. Well, he's five, and he's my lil bro's dog. But he's new to us... Thanks Bob, Logan can hardly wait.

Below are a few more pics of our bottom floor. When we finally get the bedroom decorated like we want them, then I will post some more pictues....
Our office/playroom/guest room
Our Kitchen ( which I totally love). It turned out perfect ( to us anyway).
The dinning room. I sits right in the middle of our kitchen and family room. Nomatter what room you are in, you never miss out on family stuff.
Our family room. Notice our big TV, and then the getto bunny ears sticking out next to it. I know ( we are pretty classy).

So there it is. It has been such a great blessing, I still can't believe that it gets to by ours. I even have loved all the projects that have come with it. and more fun to come....

Pittard's unfortunate events

2010-02-15T19:58:00.000-08:00

Logan Skiing at Bogus Basin. ... Story below
Logan's Broken and swollen thumb.... Story Below

Well Jon had a four day weekend so we decided to go to Boise to see our family's and to take the kids skiing at Bogus. This was a much anticipated trip, especially by our little four year old who loves visiting his grandma's and papa's. The weekend finally arrived and just hours before we were to leave I started getting this feeling in my gut that we shouldn't go. So naturally I went to Jon's office to try to talk him out of it. We ended up going up anyway because we wanted to see Jon's bro before he moved to Arizona. Right off the bat the weekend started going bad. My brother couldn't be there, my sister had plans, we spent most of our day friday at a baby shower, which was fun, but a lot of work. Then Saturday came, Bogus time. We put everything in the car (or so we thought) and headed up the mountain. The mood just started off terrible anyway for some reason, but it got even worst when we finally got up the mountain and realized that we had forgotten all of our snow gear at my parents house. We almost just left, but somehow managed to get just enough gear out of Brenda and Bruce's van to be able to stay. So finally we get on the mountain, take a couple runs and realize that the kiddo's are hungry. This is where the weekend hit an all time low. On our way up the grated stair to get to the lodge, Logan slipped on the stairs and Jonathan stepped on his thumb with his ski boot and broke it in three different places. Jon of course feels terrible, but it was such a freak accident and happened so fast that there was nothing he could have done to prevent it. It broke all the way down the length of the bone and crushed the knuckle into pieces. So now Logan needs surgery and we decided to do it in Boise with a much recommended hand surgeon. We are home safe now, but will be returning to Boise next weekend to get the surgery. Wish Logan Luck, he has been such a brave kiddo. Anyway, we have gained something from these experiences and that is not to sweat the small stuff. The only important things are the safety and health our family, our children, and friends. Things like forgotten bags and bad timing with family are just unfortunate events not to get worked up about. Well, we will post how the surgery went, please say prayers for our little man.

Husbands at Church!

2010-02-07T12:00:00.000-08:00

Today was the first day that I have ever gone to church without an adult family member, it was just me and the kiddo's. Jon had to work because the other provider in his office wanted to watch the super bowl (which I get), but now we are spending our Sunday daddy-less. I have to admit, I don't love going to church without Jon, but something good came out of this situation, and that was the realization that not only does Jon help me so much with the kids, but I just love getting to sit with him in sacrament and Sunday school. When he is with me, I only end up spending half of sacrament in the hall, and during class he always cracks little jokes that give me the giggles ( which originally I thought was emberassing) but it has become quite the game to see if I can actually hold it in and not make a scene. Also, I wish he were here taking a Sunday nap with me, he's so snuggly. Well actually he hates it when I snuggle, my body temp is like a warewolf, but he lets me do it anyway because he knows how much I like it. Well, here's a cheers to my amazing husband, without him my world would be a little less comfortable and a lot less fun.

Perfection?

2010-01-29T12:03:00.000-08:00

I caught myself telling my sister-in-law the other day how "vomiticious" it made me feel to read blogs about "how wonderful everybody's husbands are, and how their kids are so perfect." I mean, can they really be that perfect? Do your days really go that un-flawed? I could just feel the envy ooze out of my judgmental pours. It was this fairly hideous feeling that forced me into unwanted reflection. How could I feel this way? My life is filled with more blessing and more happiness than one could ever dream of, but certainly, my life is not perfect. Then it came to me, I was being silly. These people's lives aren't perfect either, their husbands do have flaws, but what makes them a uniquely gracious people is that they simply choose not to focus on the negative. They have chosen to focus on the good, and reward it by saying beautiful things about those wonderful simple moments. I GET IT.... From the bottom of my heart... I GET IT.... Oh how I wish I caught on quicker.

Anyway, it is my hope that my blog can be more uplifting towards my family, especially my amazing husband! Also, I need to thank all those bloggers who have served as such a great example on how to show appreciation to the most important people in our lives. I'm sorry I ever underestimated your sincerity.

I guess Goethe said it best when he said " Who is the happiest of man? He who values the merits of others and in their pleasure takes joy, even as though it was his own."

So to that, I am happy that in such and imperfect world, you have such remarkably perfect moments. It will be my greatest pleasure to share with you some of mine.
Autumn

Logan and Lucy's first ski trip!

2010-01-17T17:00:00.000-08:00

Jon and I took the kids on their first skiing trip this weekend. They both did so great. Lucy may still be a bit young, her legs were just not yet strong enough, but even so she never cried and neither did Logan. Logan proved to be a born natural skier. It took him maybe 30 minutes of listening to us try to teach him what to do before he got fed up and said, "guys just let me go, I can do it myself." We were astonished when he actually made it down the hill with some form of control. Pretty soon he was going through loop obstacles and turning to dodge other skiers. Anyway, it was a great trip and we can't wait to take them again.

OUR NEW HOME

2010-01-14T19:53:00.000-08:00

We finally did it..... WE ARE BUILDING A HOUSE..... I am out of my mind excited. We looked forever, but just couldn't find the house that fit our needs and personality, so here it is, and I love it. It's not huge, but it's JUST RIGHT.

Front view: We are lanscaping on our own to save a little, so if anyone has any ideas, I would love to hear them.

Logans Room: Lucy's looks just like it so I didn't post a picture, but once again, could use ideas for decorating kids rooms.

Master Bath: Not a great angle, but there is a toliet with it's own door to the side and a walk in closet on the other side.

Master Bedroom: Our window looks out right over a field where they let off fireworks after Thanksgiving! I know, what a strange time of year to let off fireworks, but wow, what a perk!

Stairs: You can't see it, but the stairs fan out at the bottom and its cute.

Office/ guest bed: So Jon and I haven't completely come to an agreement on what this room will be, but so far we have settled on office/playroom/guest room. It's not that big of a room...

Kitchen: I love our kitchen, it's so open. I can't wait until everything is in it.

Living room: I love our fireplace. I keep having visions of sipping hot chocolate and reading a good novel infront of the fire. I've never done that, how great would that be...

WELL THERE IT IS. I LOVE IT I LOVE IT. CAN'T WAIT TO GET MY FAMILY IN IT, AND THEN IT WILL BE PERFECT!!!!

Pittard Family Chirstmas

2010-01-12T14:29:00.000-08:00

Alot has happened at the Pittard house in the last month, and I haven't blogged a bit of it. I was going to put all the pictures in this one blog, but I decided that I didn't have the time or patience to do it. So I am going to post them in segments, and hope that I finish posting all of them. Anyway, I wanted to start with the Pittard Family Christmas. We had so much fun being with family, the Pittards are so amazing. There was alot of video game playing, sports, a talent show and Keri, brenda and I got to go out for gluten free brownie and ice cream at the Outback. We also went to the batanical gardens in down town Boise. It was so beautiful, there were lights everywhere, and the boys and lucy had so much fun. Thanks Pittards for the amazing time, the laugher nearly never ceases when we are with you. We love you so much......

Batanical Gardens (PRETTTTTTY)

Don't they look like statues. Well they are not, they are real.... REAL CUTE!!!! (Okay that was cheesy).

Jen sporting her clown costume during the Pittard Family Fashion Show. Melody always enlists the willing to do something slightly embarassing, and Jen is the sort of person that would do anything to make her sister happy. Plus she makes us laugh in the process.

Logan and Jon at the Botanical Gardens. I love the men in my family. So Handsome!

Logan felt that this statue was meant for sitting on. I didn't think it was a terrible thing either,but a lady standing behind me told her daughter very loudly that "statues were for looking at, not for sitting on." So I did the best thing a parent in my situation could do. I told him to get off.... Just as soon as I took his picture.... Sorry Batanical Gardens, I will try to keep my unruley child under control next time.

Lucy loves her uncle Matt. She always want his full attention. Thanks Matt for being such a great uncle.

I just loved this picture of Matt and Keri and the boys. They were totally caught off guard! Don't hate me for putting it in here. I don't even think they read my blog, but I loved it to much, it shows all there fun characters...

A self Portrait of the hubby and me. I really liked this one, we never take good pictures, but this one I think is pretty ok.

Jeff wearin Jens hat. Super cute Jeff, I love it... But I'm not sure I love it as much as this next picture..

Pittards always teases me about my Idaho City "Hick" Roots. Matt, I think you would fit in pretty good up ther in them hills..

And poor Jon, he was destined after almost 6 years of marriage to finally come over to the dark side of the ways of the Hick..

Jen you look pretty

There's nothing cuter than a naked baby...

Once again, great christams, full of family, joy and laughter. I would not change a think about it.

Love you all, and please don't be mad at the pictures I chose. I promise, there were a bunch of normal ones, but others were not nearly as fun...

Highlight of Logans Life

2009-12-16T14:10:00.000-08:00

My sweet little Logan turned 4 yesterday, I'm still in disbelief, four years happend way to fast. Anyway, I just wanted to put down some things that I think highlight his first four years of life. Some of these things you may or may not have known already, but anyway enjoy, I know I have.

-Logan has been with Jon and I 4 out of the 5 years that we have been married.
-Logan came into out lives as a complete shock, but what has been even more shoking is how completely in-love we are with him. I never knew you could love a human being so much, but when I held him in my arms for the first time, I knew!
-His first tooth came in when he was 5 months old, I didn't know they came in so soon.
-He also chipped his first tooth shortly after when my cousin accidently flipped him out of a swing and he whapped his mouth on the ground. (It wasn't us)
- He said his first word (not includeing mama and dada, which it was mama) when he was 1, it was bannana, or (nana).
- In five years he has lived in 6 different homes.
-He got his first set of stitches when he was 2 1/2, right after Lucy was born (right above his eye lid). It is the most terrifying thing in the world to see your child in pain. I almost passed out.
-His favorite word is Donkey
-He knows the entire pledge of allegance without missing a word
-He's the most "High Energy" kid in his pre-school class.
-We are almost 100 % sure he has a red green color blind (he knows every other color, except for those two).
-He never ceases to amaze us with the funny "Logan-isms" that he comes up with, for example yesterday when he got out of bed he came up to me, standing really tall and said, "Mom, am I tall enough to be four yet."
-He loves shooting nerf guns, well any kind of gun.
-Okay, there are a million things about Logan, I can't write them all, but the best thing about him is that he is ours, for all of eternity. I can't imagine a greater blessing.

Logans 4th Birthday Party!

2009-12-12T16:30:00.000-08:00

We finally decided to throw Logan his first real birthday party! It's always hard because his birthday is so close to Christmas time, and it always just gets meshed into the Holidays, so this year we made a special effort. We even made a theme, is was a super hero party. We played the game, "Get the Bad Guys Out of the Basement," using Nerf guns and stuffed animals. The boys loved it, but Annie, the only girl who came wasn't so sure, I think she would have prefered the game, "Princess Dance Party in the Basement." Then we played pin the spider on the spider man, and had some cake. I think the highlight was when Jonathan dressed up as spiderman and made an appearance for the kids. After the party, Logan informed us that he knew that it was his dad that was dressed up as spider man. When we asked how he knew, he got this really annoyed look on his face and said, "Dad, I could hear your voice the whole time." Kids are so smart these days. We ended the day with a pinata and presents. Logan got a lot of super hero stuff. My parents and Grandparents live in the Boise area,and my Aunt Cheryl lives in Makay, and they graciously made the two hour trip in a terrible snow storm just to be here. I don't think they could possibly know how much that meant to me and Logan. It's a little hard not being around family, especially when we are celebrating something, but my family is so amazing and they have always great sacrifices for us. Thank you guys, and thanks to everyone that came. We appreciate you making our little guys special day so wonderful.
Annie Hiding from spiderman

Spiderman bring out the cake
My beautiful mother comforting Lucy. She was terrified of spiderman...
This was so funny, when I told the kids spiderman was coming, they all went and grabbed weapons. Look closely at the weapons that Joshua, Logan and Annie chose. I wonder how lethal a football, stick horse and fishing pole are?
Aunt Cheryl helping little Gracie hit the pinata, with a light Savor.
I loved this picture of my Nanny and Logan. Can't you just see the kindness in her eyes. You can't be un-happy when you are near her.
Brady hitting the pinata. I think he's going to be a baseball player.
Cutest picture of Maylee
Kids in the basement look for bad guys
Logan Opening up presents
Spiderman saying goodbye
Giselle makes me laugh, I was taking a picture of the kids and she just popped her head in. She's so funny
Logan playing pin the spider on spiderman
Lucy loves getting her picture taken
Logan loved that we put all the balloons behind the couch and he could just emerg himself in them.
For the first party that we have every thrown for one of our kids, I think it was a success.

Halloween and Cousins

2009-11-11T13:10:00.000-08:00

Jon and I just got a new computer because our last one was destroyed by our sweet little Lucy bug who dropped a heavy full glass of water on it. It was sad, we lost a ton of picutures(back up files are a good thing), but we can get them retreived at the geek squad. Anyway, I've been wanting to post some new pics from my camera, all my latest post have come from brenda and bruces camera, and we have had a ton of pics just sitting on the carera waiting for something to be done with them. So now that I can, I just have alot of random pictures. I'll try to give a good description so you know whats going on:

Logan and I decorated our awsome huge tree for halloween with these cute ghosts and tons of cobwebs and plastic spider ( which you can't see). It was a cool tree. Logan got really sad when I started taking the ghost down (he helped me make them), so I actually had to wait until his nap to take them down...

I just really liked this picture of lucy. This is here excited face. We picked out pumkins from a plant nursery because Twin Falls does not have pumkin patches, but the kids still had fun..

We always try to get a normal family picture, but when you have so many un-normal people in your family, it makes it really hard. Joshua didn't want to be in the picture but he wanted logan to play with him, and logan can't take a picture without the tounge sticking out...

We get to hang out with Joshua and Mailee, my neice and nephew on Jons side alot now that we live in Twin, and I just thought this picture of Joshua was so cute. He is such a sweet boy, and I love his face...

Logan taking a picture without his tounge sticking out, I'm such a liar. I always want to call him my beautiful boy, but he always corrects me and say that he's not beautiful he's handsome.

The Girls, they are going to be such good buddies

This is the best picture of logan and Joshua. It makes me giggle everytime I look at it..

One minute she was wolfin down the cheetos, the next she was fast asleep. Just didn't have enough energy to finish that last one.

Amber, Nick and the kids stopped to visit on there way back from pocatello. I loved every minute they were here. I have the best family in the world. And I couldn't get cuter neices and nephews (on both sides). We took them down to see shoshone falls, and this was a hill that was in the park. They thought rolling down this hill was way cooler than the falls. It was fun to watch them. Even Lucy and Mason went down.

My mom got this shaver for Jon on his birthday. Logan has been watching Jon shave with it, and one day I walked in and Logan was shaving, and when I aked what he was doing, he said that he needed to shave like his daddy. I love that he wants to be like his dad, two great men!

Lucy kept putting this bowl on her head, it was so cute, I wonder if she was watching Jon do this, and she wants to be just like her daddy to.

My Darbi is so beautiful, and she has the funniest sense of humor. I miss her cute little face, but they are hopefully coming to visit again at the end of the month so I'll get to see it again soon.

Mika Moo stading in front of shoshone falls. She's so little and cute...

I love this nickson face. I think he's trying to talk his way out of trouble and I just happened to get it on camera...

Mason man, go get uhm cowboy....

2009-11-03T20:13:00.000-08:00

Here are the kids on Halloween and a couple random, but cute picture in between. They are small huh? How do I get them bigger? Well, Here they are anyway, when I figure out how to make them bigger I will. Anyway, We had such a good time this halloween. I don't have any pictures of it yet, but we had the greatest party at Nany's house the night before Halloween, that I believe was more for the kids, but the Adults, had an equally amusing time. I will post some pics soon. Thanks Nan for all the fun. Them we went trick or treating around Jons Parents neighborhood and the kids got a ton of candy. Lucy was so cute. She was so excited that people were giving her candy that it looked like she was doing an Irish Jig. She kept reaching her hand up and saying "mine." Her Jack Jack costume fit her personality so well. Hailey put a mask on her with eye liner, and even though it took forever to get it off, the cuteness was worth it. Logan, had to go as a ninja turtle, which fits him perfectly. He is always doing the ninja moves on someone or something. At the last minute we found some greed hair spray, so it added that extra little touch. It was all so much fun. It's hard coming back when you just get done having a great time with your family, but that's going to happen everytime we are together so I will just have to get used to it. Anyway Hope you all had a great halloween.
If you ever want to know how Lucy is at home, just take this picture as a little window into her personality. She is such an amazing little sweetheart, but when she wants something, this is how she gets it.

Jeff had fun playing with the kids, they love there uncles.

The whole family. Jon and I didn't dress up this year, which was kinda sad. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. To bad, next year!

Little Jack Jack

He pretended like he was asleep so he didn't have to come to dinner. Funny thing was that he stayed there for a long time. Maybe he really was asleep..

Logan and Lucy jumping in the leaves

Aunt Jen is the Best!!!

She's my little Princess.

Late night thoughts don't always make sense

2009-10-25T22:08:00.000-07:00

I'm laying here in bed at my parents house, not quite ready for bed, but not really knowing exactly what to do, so I decided to blog. The kids and I are here for a week while Jon is still in twin working. My amazing sister Amber is going to watch the kids during the day, while I get some much needed studying in. It's so fun to see my kiddo's with their grandparents and aunts and uncles. I think when I was living here, I really underestimated have incredibly blessed I was to have so many wonderful people to help raise my children. It's funny how you don't realize that until they are not around you every day. Luckily we are only a couple hours away, so visiting is fairly easy. I had the opportunity to visit with a couple of people this last week, who were all in very different stages of their lives, but they all seemed to have some sort of trial they were facing, which got me thinking about life. I guess when I was in high school I used to think, when I get out of here, life is going to be so much better, I won't have deal with all the immaturity, I will definitely be more confident in myself and there will no longer be anyone telling me what to do all the time. So, I graduated, went to college, and finally got away from all those people, and entered a world entirely different then what I had every known. First of all the people were far more mature than I was (not like it was hard), I got my first bill, my first heart ache (while at the same time breaking my first heart), my first failure in sports, uhg... dating... What a nightmare (I felt like a four year old in a new york subway). It was at this time I was having my first of nearly everything and all I really wanted was to have back those immature kids that I was more alike than I thought, a trace of the self confidence I had in high school and someone telling me what to do all the time. It was also at this time though that I met some of the most amazing people, life changing people. But even then I was still eagerly awaiting the next phase, caught up in the idea that life would be better when I got married and had a little family. Once again a new world of firsts began. At a very unexpected and weird time, I met an amazing man, loved him to much to not have him in my life and we got married. It was the most incredible thing that had ever happened to me. We moved to a new school together, rented our first crappy basement apartment together, got our first horrifying jobs at the same time, and fought more together than we had fought with anyone before. We went to every free movie that played at the campus theatre, including the biology movie on bugs. We once signed up for a credit card at subway so we could get a free sub (it was a date). Oh, and once we looked through our couches, junk drawers and anywhere change might be so that we could afford to rent the notebook for valentines day. It was also during this time that we got pregnant with our first beautiful baby Logan. But even after all this I kept thinking, when we are finally not in school anymore and we have real money making jobs, life will be so much easier. So we did that, and in the mists of it had a beautiful baby girl named Lucy. Jon now practices medicine as a PA, and I stay at home with my two kiddo's while going to school, and life is still not easier. I run from place to place getting logan to pre-school and playgroups. Lucy patrol is endlessly tiring. She pulls the pots out of the drawers, I put them back in while she has already moved to her next target, everything in the bathroom drawers ect ect ect. I play city league Volleyball twice a week, Jon plays basketball twice a week. Searching for a home takes up so much time, and our poor real estate agent might just jump off a bridge if he hears from me one more time that the house is just not the right one. Holy cow, I bet nobody continues to read until the end of this, but I guess in all life's stages, there is the crappy parts, the good parts and the amazing parts. But just because there is crappy parts, that doesn't mean that the next stage is going to be better. From my experience, it's just means that it's going to be different. I'm pretty sure I'm writing this more for myself than anyone. I'm loving the stage I'm in right now. It's not perfect, but hopefully I'll take it from my past and realize that it's only what I make it.

Family Pictures

2009-09-27T20:12:00.000-07:00

It has been about four years, two grandchildren, and a sister in-law since the Callahan's last got a family picture taken. I am glad we finally did it! We took these pictures by the train depot in downtown boise. Christina, a family friend of my sisters took these pictures, and believe me, with all the Monster kiddo's in our family, she had her work cut out for her. I think she did a pretty good job!! Thank Chistina.

It's been so long since I have blogged, but just to up-date anyone who doesn't know, Jonathan and I recently moved to Twin Falls, were Jon got his first real PA Job at a urgent clinic in town. He really loves it, and I am really starting to love Twin. Logan is in pre-school, I am finishing up my Nutrition Degree fully on-line from WSU and eastern Michigan, Lucy is learning tons of new words and we are probably going to start building our first home. Things are very busy and very exciting right now. We are definately experiences a bunch of firsts. Anyway, hope you are all doing well. I'd love to hear from you all, let me know how your families are doing!!!!

I'm so glad we got this on camera, I knew he loved his sister!

My friend Jennette Rice Took all the pictures from this point on. I think she is so talented. She just started taking pictures, and I think she does such a great job. My kiddo's are the hardest to get good pictures of because they are always on the go, and she managed to get some awsome pictures. Thanks Jennette..
He looks so angelic in this picture

This is our little pincess.

Joy School 2009

2009-07-13T20:26:00.000-07:00

Sorry these took me so long to post. This was the last day of Logan's first Joy school experience. We spent the morning at Lake Lowel in Caldwell. The kids had so much fun. But just so I don't confuse anyone, the little boy in that first picture is not Logan, it is actually one of his Joy School playmates... Brandon... Logan loved playing with Brandon, he will miss him a lot. I loved this picture of Bentley. Just chillin doing his own thisng. Maria, I love his boots, Logan has been begging me to get him some.

These are all the kids in Logans first Joy School class. Starting Left to Right: Brandon, Bentley, Lizzy, Logan, and Amelia. Amelia was a little older and not really in our group, but she was so wonderful to have around.

Lizzy and Brandon are to stinkin cute, and I love how hard Bentley was trying not to get wet.

I just wanted let all the mothers know how much I appreciated all of your time and effort in giving my kiddo his first learning experience. He still talks about it all the time. I'm only sad that we will not get to do this next year. All of you kiddo's are so wonderful and I had so much fun doing this. You are all amazing mothers. Thanks so much, from Logan and I both.

++++++++++++++

2009-05-10T12:27:00.000-07:00

Today's mothers day has been just a huge cry fest for me. I know that I am a very sensitive person, I always have been, but for a very special reason, when mothers day roles around I turn into a soggy mop! Let me just tell you why, I have a Heavenly Father who must love me so much because he sent me, not one, but two of the most amazing mothers in the whole wide world and then, if that was not enough, he turned right around and let me be a mother myself. So thanks to mothers day, I have the opportunity to share my appreciation. So here it is and I'll just get right to it:
Brenda (mom), you are such a great mother, and have so many wonderful things to teach! You serve your family and community with all your heart. Your actions are a true definition of a what a mother is. Thank you for loving me and my childen and excepting me just as I am into your family. I am thankful for your example and your love, and hope you have the best mother day!!

(Robin) Momma, I don't think you will ever fully understand just how beautiful your smile is, and how it will change my world from gray to a bright rainbow in seconds. Your opptimsm is powerful, and your love for me and my family is something I can't completely understand. How do you do it? How do you love so strong? It is a gift, and with it you make people happy, you make them feel cared for, safe. Today in relief society they were talking about if you ever feel alone or un-loved, just know that your Heavenly Father loves you. Well, not that I'm comparing you to a Heavenly being, but your love is as constant as the one who let you be my mother, of this I am sure and am so thankful for!!! I want to be a mom like you, because I know that if I am, my children, even in hard situations, and in times when we don't agree, will never doubt my love for them. I think that's the most important right. So happy mothers day. I love you

Autumn

2009-03-29T09:28:00.000-07:00

I just got back from a wonderful trip to Arizona with Jons Side of the Family. Unfortunaltely Jonny couldn't be there with us due to a schooling conflict, but Logan, Lucy and I still had an awsome trip. I just wanted to post a couple pictures to share with you a few of the memories that we were so blessesd to be able to make. I also wanted to thank all of the Pittards for their help with the kiddo's, you are amazing aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. I appreciate your love for my children, they are the most precious part of me, and when you share your love with them, I feel it to.

Thank you Thank you, the trip was unforgettable.....

This is one of Logans many bump recieved during the trip. Some how he and melodies heads collided when he jump off a rock wall into the swimming pool. Mel tried to catch him, but the only think that caught was mels mouth and logans forhead...
We used this cooler that Matthew and Keri Provided as Lucy's high chair. It was quite invetive, and worked out great.... Thanks Matt and Keri

I just love this picture of my beautiful little Lucy. So sweet

OOOOUUUUUCCCCCHHHHIIIII. I think this is prickley pair cacti. Not sure, but that would be my guess....

2008-11-01T14:34:00.000-07:00

LUCY BABY

2008-09-29T20:38:00.000-07:00

This is our happy little baby girl
Lucy with Great grandma and grandpa Luke
Lucy loves her brother! She laughs at everything he does.
This is her serious face!
This face is like between serious and happy! You choose

Our 4th anniversary!

2008-09-22T18:35:00.000-07:00

Jon and I decided for our fourth Anniversary we would try something new,so we went zip lining in horshoebend.
This is Us in our gear.
And of course this is me flashing my "I'm number one" sign, which I've decided that I flash it not because I really think I'm "number one," but because I really don't know what else to do for the camera. Maybe next time I should not do anything. In all my young childhood pictures I used to wink one eye, maybe I'll start that up again. I don't know, it's complicated
They had this tiny little hammock at the top of the mountain to relax on, you know, since we were exerting so much energy while being pulled down a zip line by gravity. Anyway, it was so little and unstable that every time Jon tried to get in it, it would flip him out. It took him so long to get in it that when he finally did he was exhausted! Ironic huh!
Jon being a stud!
It was during this part of the trip that I decided I was no longer going to flash the "I'm number one" sign. From now on I'm going to flash the I'm scared to death sign.
Jon looking very err "comfortable" on this complimentary mountain hammock.

If the hammock doesn't get ya, the zip line harness will!

Road side camping anyone?

2008-09-13T22:02:00.001-07:00

Jonathan forgot his swimming shorts when we went camping this summer, so I almost too willingly let him borrow a pair of mine. I thought for sure this would make him feel a little un-easy, and I would get a few chuckles from his embarresment, but come to find out (and to my dismay), Jonathan actully likes the short shorts!!! What is it about these not so illusionary "basketball style Daisey Dukes" that intrigues him so? Is it the freedom of it all, or is there some secret unseen admiration of the scimpish styles of David Hasellhoff? A mistery...

Just when I think Jonathan has turned "BAY WATCH" completely, he almost without effort or warning, transforms into the jungle tamer.....Jon Irwin..... (next sentence to be read in an Australian accent). While exploring the campsite by the exotic Lucky Peak shores, Jonathan Irwin discovered an extemely venimous dingbat garden snake, who as if he were on grog, Kanackered it's way into the populated vicinity. Jon gave it a good shalaking and sent it on it's way, to no doubt bother some other unexpecting mate. (Back to the american accent now) Wait... Maybe that's steve Irwin I'm thinking about?????
Australian word meanings:
Dingbat: Someone odd, or crazy
grog: alcohol, beer, spirits
kanackered: completely exhausted
shalaking: giving a stern talking too
mate: anyone's a mate

Jonathan is the animal tamer of the family, but I am more interested in the study of insecti. I found this cute little Lucy Mae Bug just hanging out in a temporary habitat called a camper... So I carefully picked her up, studied her current mood, and in my many years of education in this field, I discovered that she was in deed, Hungry.. HHHHMMMM (I thought to myself), very interesting. After much observation, I found that this hungry disposition was quite common, one of only four things she did. The other three being Pooping, sleeping and crying.... And Yet still so cute!!! Amazing!!
For all of those who are reading, I strongly suggest that if you ever see these two creatures in the wild, I would slowly turn around, and run like wild in the opposite direction. Their common names are Logan and Nickson, but to the animal kingdom they are known as sillyius wildicus beasts. Not only are they indeed very silly, but they are also extremely wild. If you come in contact with them, you may find yourself asking yourself how? How do their parents withstand the rash and uncanny behaviors exhibited by these pygmy size savages. Thank goodness Jon the animal Tamer was close by. But let me remind you, he is a trained professional.

Oh, and for Heaven sakes people, don't feed the animals PEPSI!!! It seems to only intensify the inherent silly and wild behaviors.
Finally the bug lover and animal tamer came together and climbed an rather large mountain, for no other reason but then to get away from the craziness of the campsite below...
And again without warning, Jonathan transformed from his animal taming pre-self, into what appears to be a Bald Eagle. What this man can't do...

And now into wolverine... Watch out Lucy Bug....After all the exploring was over, we released these wild animal back into their natural habitats.
And I read a good book (The twighlight book number two) while I observed one of Lucy Bugs behviors. Sleeping.

I think that's one of those lazy bugs, or is it called a lady bug?

2008-09-13T22:01:00.000-07:00

2008-08-17T22:24:00.000-07:00

I love this picture of Logan. For all those who think that this is an outward expression of a hidden ferocious inward personality, you are absolutely correct. I think Heavenly Father meant to make Logan a roaring tiger. He is always growling and wanting to pounce on people, and he loves a good wrestle. Logan is one of the spunkiest kids I know, he's going to need it, and I sure hope he passes it down to his sister.
This is Logan at the hospital, getting ready to meet his new sister.
The first thing he did to Lucy when he met her was give her a great big pinch on the nose. Needless to say, she didn't like it very much... and....Logan wasn't to keen on another kid invading his space. He was so upset by the whole "new baby thing" that he ran out of the room sobbing and went and laid down in the hall way, where he eventually fell asleep. Poor kiddo... 10 week later however, both Lucy and Logan are getting more and more adjusted to each other.

Our Family Grew By Two Feet

2008-07-10T12:19:00.000-07:00

This is Logan and I a few day before we went to the hospital to have our little Lucy. I don't think Logan was even aware of the big change that was about to take place. He was very content in his little only child world. All he knew was that there was something inside me called a "baby," (whatever that was), and that is causing his mommy to get pretty large... and tired.... and grumpy.... and whinny.... And 0h how the list goes on. Although, I actually felt pretty good in this picture, maybe it's because I could see a light at the end of the tunnel. I don't have the greatest pregnancy endurance, but I sure like the means to getting pregnant (if ya know what I mean ;). But most of all, I love my beautiful little children.

Alright game time. We were all more than ready to meet our new baby girl, but we weren't the only one's. This was a picture of me and my cute little nurse who should have been in the bed next to me prepareing to deliver her own little one, let alone trying to help me deliver mine. She was maybe a day away from her due date, and yet she was still truding through another work day, serving others when she herself should have been served. Which leads me to my next point, women are freaking tough... and amazing.... Thanks nurse

Here is my beautiful mama and Nany, two people of which I would not dare to deliver a baby without. I usually have plenty of nerves going into a delivery, always tortured by the thought of any complications to the baby, but these two have always been my internal storm calmers. They are my own personal sunny days, and I will forever be thankful to my Heavenly Father for giving them such beautful smiles and calming voices. I would be lost without them.

These two on the other hand, decided that I was not in nearly enough pain, so they decided to stage a pseudo birth, one which did not include an epidural, (clearly not the path that I had really chosen). SUCH IRISH... NO PAIN NO GAIN I GUESS, (or atleast the illusion of pain... right) Thanks dad and sis, due to this picture, nobody will ever question my true Irish toughness.

This however was a little more like how I really felt... pain free, just the way I like it. Hey, who would ever in their right mind, go to the dentist and ask for a root canal with no anesthetic. Sounds a little silly right... I guess to each their own.

Finally Here!!

2008-07-04T22:32:00.000-07:00

After only 4 hours and 2 pushes, lucy finally arrived. She came out screaming, letting us know that she was ready to take her place in the world.
She was 6 lbs 15 onces; smaller than her older brother logan by a whole pound.
In this picture, she looked almost identical to Logan.

Finally, after what seemed like decades and more than a million unnecessary painful medical procedures, Lucy was in my arms. Well actually they stuck her in my shirt because she was a little cold. It was one of my favorite memories of the whole experience. The moment I met my daughter is one that I won't soon forget. I can't really describe it, but having her perfectly innocent little spirit so close to mine, made me feel like Heaven was a lot closer that day.
This was our first family picture together, minus Logan, he didn't come until later that night.
Jon was in love with this little girl from the git go, but as you can see the whole labor process tired him right out. You know, as much as I want to tease him, it really is taxing on the dad's to, just not in the same way. He's a great daddy, it's fun to see him interact with his little girl. He's a lot softer with her than he was with logan. And Jon wasn't the only one exited to meet Lucy. Mammu Callahan was one of the first to get to meet her.
This is my best friend Andrea, she is about 5 or 6 months pregnant in this picture. I love her smile, she'll make a great momma. She was such a huge help to me during and after my pregnancy, I'm not quite sure if I could have done it without her. Thanks Bumb