Update

I'm not sure why I haven't posted in forever- I guess I have just gotten out of the habit. I'll try to do better, but for now I just wanted to give you a brief update of how we have been doing.

Dallin is enjoying his job as a PA. He finally has a set schedule working Sunday through Wednesday nights. He comes home and sleeps in the mornings. It can be a little difficult to try to keep the kids quiet while he is sleeping but he is a very good sport (probably because he's so tired that not much will wake him up) and a huge help if ever I need him. It makes it so much easier to be able to leave baby asleep in his crib when I go to pick up Kaia from school. There are a million other little benefits of having Dallin home during the day and we are so grateful to be able to spend time with him. Up until now he hasn't really known exactly what to do with his "off" time (other than all of my honey-do's) so when Kaia's school had a sign up saying they needed volunteers to coach the sixth grade football team, I encouraged him to get involved. His first practice starts tomorrow so it should be fun.

I am busy with my children of course, but I am finally settling in and able to do many things on my want to do list. This is new territory for me because I usually have so many house projects, crafts, and other things that I want to do but I rarely had the "me" time to actually do them. With Dallin working nights I have four nights a week (after the kids go to bed) that I can craft, read, plan, or just plain veg without feeling like I am taking time away from my family! I actually purchased fabric for a project and COMPLETED it not only in the same year, but in time for its intended use! (I made trick-or-treat bags for the kids and OK so I didn't actually do Andan's yet, but he really didn't count this year, right and besides 2 out of 3 is way better than none- Hey, I'm proud of myself :)) I have also been able to ride my horse at least a couple of times each week. For a little while I wasn't able to ride (first having a baby and then the horse unable to be ridden) so I was getting a little discouraged and thinking I was crazy for spending our money just having the horses. However, all it took was one time back in the saddle and, for me, every penny is worth it. I know most people don't quite get the investment (of money and time) involved with horses, but I get soooo much joy, satisfaction and sanity from riding that there is truly something missing from me when I am not able to have it. So right now I am so grateful for my husband and all of his hard work in supporting us, for my absolutely wonderful and beautiful children, for a fabulous home to live in, for the uplifting sunshine daily, and for so many extended family and friends that have made me so happy and content to live here in Yuma.

Kaia started Kindergarten this year and is absolutely loving it. She just eats up everything she is learning and is constantly figuring out how those things apply all around her. She is already doing very well with reading (sight words and sounding out short words) and she loves working with numbers and even amazes me with her ability to add and figure out patterns. She is a huge helper and is growing up so fast. Now if I can just figure out how to get her to quit reacting to her brother......

Talmage is still my sweet little boy, but he is a typical three year old boy and I haven't quite figured out how or where to channel his, ...um..., enthusiasm. He is not in as big of a hurry to grow up as Kaia is and for the most part just enjoys the moment whether it be playing in the sand, carrying on great conversations/ scenarios with his toys, getting under his sister's skin (not hard to do), acting innocent, or loving Andan (often a little too much). We love him.

Andan is growing quickly. He is nearly 7 months old and is now crawling and sitting up. He is no longer happy with his usual toys- he wants to explore and see what the world has to offer. (I won't mention that he "explored" my plant in the ceramic pot onto my tile floor since my husband was so kindly watching him while I got some rest.) Andan is always happy and he has the cutest screeching laugh. He loves to eat and gobbles up any baby food I will give him. He loves his mommy (as well as grabbing my hair) and, of course, I am quite smitten with him.

So you see we are doing very well and have so much to be grateful for.

(The pictures were taken by my SIL when we were on a trip to my mom's house this summer)