Christmas Eve....

We were LUCKY and got a special visit from Santa on Christmas Eve!!! Ryan & I knew about it...we told some family/friends to come over...but we did NOT tell the kids. They had NO idea...and just told them that we were having people over for dinner...which we did after Santa left...but they had no idea. So when the big man in red showed up...there was LOTS of excitement...smiles...and some nervous faces!!!!
It was a GREAT time and experience...and some adults (me) were probably a little more excited then the kids!!! It was just GREAT!!!

Santa was so SO real looking...how can you NOT believe when he shows up at your door with gifts in his magic bag for you...and they are what you have been asking for!?!?!

Klous was all smiles and didn't stop smiling the whole time!!! He was outside with Uncle Matthew putting something in the truck when Santa showed up...so all we heard was him yell...SAAAAAANNNNNNNTTTTTAAAA!!!!! Then he walked him into the house!!!
Aysha wasn't quite as excited...and would NOT sit on his lap...eventually warmed up enough to give him knuckles....and when she opened her princess baby she was a bit more excited!!!! I love the look on her face though!!!

And Kyson was NOT having it!!! He would not sit or even get close to Santa!! But I looked at the camera...said are you ready? And put him on there!!! This is the picture we got!!! LoL...classic Santa/kid picture right!!!! He was happier when he got the blocks too!!!
We were SO SO SO lucky to get this great visit. Thank you to UCCU for allowing us to be a part of it...and for blessing our Christmas more then they'll ever know!!!! Here is our happy, shocked, AMAZED family all with Santa after opening the gifts!!! Blocks for Kyson...a baby for Aysha...a truck/trailer for Klous...and for the family he brought a Wii....I'm still in shock and so grateful for how we were blessed!!!
Such a GREAT start to our Christmas weekend and holiday!!! I love this time of year!!!

Child proof...Riiiiiight :)

So I thought the snap/button thing they put at the top of footie jammies was to keep the kids from finding the zipper!?!?!?! Well it doesn't....just look how proud Kyson is of his new look with his jammies!!!!

Every time he wears these jammies...this is how he wears them now!!! Silly kid!!!

My baby ISN'T a baby :(

What happened to my sweet, sleepy, cute, adorable, happy, loving little baby!?!?!?! He was so so little...and such a blessing!!!
Oh ya....now he's turned into my sweet, sleepy, cute, adorable, happy, loving little MAN!!! Can't believe the blessings and happiness he's brought into our family...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Kyson!!!! We love you LOTS!!!! Can't believe you're already TWO!!!!

Kids...LOVE them!!!

The kids have really been enjoying our new place!!! The just play...find things to do...enjoy the space...and usually stay out of our way!!! As much as kids do!!! ;) The other night...ok a couple weeks ago...I got these cute pictures of them!!! All three of them just doing their own things...it was so cute!!!

Kyson has always been the one who will just sit and play...he doesn't need anyone else around...he doesn't need to be entertained...he'll just play. Blocks, legos, little people, cars, Mr. Potato Head...whatever it is...he just plays!!! This is how I caught him playing!!! Just sitting content as could be!!!
Aysha May is getting better too...she'll just find something...usually it's taking care of her babies...getting them changed or down for naps or whatever!!! She can be found usually in her room rocking and shushing her babies!!! Too cute...but this night she was at the table just playing with the beads and enjoying them all to herself!!!
Then comes Klous...he's always wanted/needed someone to play WITH him. And isn't too fond of the idea of being told to go find something to do or play with!!! Is that a 1st child thing!?!?!? But tonight he was entertaining himself with paint sticks and a balloon!!! Just fighting, shooting, hitting, and whatever else he could do with it!!! Typical boy huh!!!
I sure do love these kiddos...and I am SOOOO...happy that we have a place of our own...more space for them to play...for them to store their toys...and just for us to be together but not so crammed!!!! Aren't they so cute in their little Santa hats!?!?!? :)
They sure were proud of the tree they helped decorate!!! First time in 3 years we've put up a BIG tree!!! So they had fun!!! Check out Kyson's BIG cheeser smile!!! He cracks me up!!!

Aysha's birthday...a month ago :(...

We forgot to post about Aysha May's birthday!!! She turned THREE on Thanksgiving day!!! We were a bit overwhelmed and busy...but we made time for sweet Aysha's birthday!!! It's not her fault it was on Turkey day...OR that we were moving!!! So we relaxed for that day and just tried to focus on HER!!!
Can't believe my sweet baby girl is already 3...crazy how fast time goes!!!

We had the kids sit in the family room and watch shows til it was time to open her presents!!! I carried them in, but we didn't have enough PRINCESS wrapping paper for all of them...so she had to cover her eyes while I carried them in!!! Isn't she cute!!!
Then she got to open her gifts...one of which was a sleeping bag/eye mask/purse all in one!!! She was very excited...as you can tell!!
That evening we invited all the family over for cake and ice cream...but I forgot to get ice cream...oops. But the cake was good...seeing as how everyone was still full from turkey dinner and pie!!!
Here's cute Aysha getting sung to and preparing to blow out candles!!!
And there she blows!!!! She's so darn cute!!!
And then the presents from everyone else!!! She was very excited and happy that day!!! She's turning into such a big girl. Even on her grumpy/moody days...she just needs to bat her eyes and smile and it'll melt your heart!!!!
LOVE YOU Aysha May!!!! Happy 3rd birthday!!!

Pictures....FINALLY!!!

Ok everyone...here are the pictures I've promised!!! The first collage is pics of the house BEFORE we started anything....kids running like animals through a completely empty house!!! With ugly WHITE walls!!! This was the point we thought it was such a GREAT idea to paint EVERY room with a DIFFERENT color!!! What were we thinking!?!?! Who knows!?!??! :) But this is the before stuff...
And then there are these...tried to get as close to the same poses or standing for the pictures!!! Not all of them are great...but good enough!!!! This of course is the AFTER pics!!!! The first two are the family room...next two kitchen...then the dining room (notice the sliding glass door is GONE!!! And the shelf/knick-knack-dust collecting thing is gone too)...then the next two are the living room area...and finally boys room...Aysha's room...and our room!!!!

No the house is NOT finished...far from it I'm sure...but we are DONE with painting for awhile. I don't really want to look at another paint brush/can/roller or anything for awhile!!!! We're happy and content with how it is...for now!!! Just trying to get things organized and put together as much as we can!!! Then throw in Aysha's birthday...Thanksgiving...Christmas parties...Kyson's birthday...Christmas...YA...NOTHING is really getting done around here :( Ugh!!!
Oh well...we're not going anywhere right!!! Just thought I'd FINALLY post the pics and let you all see the comparisons!!! It's fun to look at it and see where we've gotten!!!! Thank GOODNESS for amazing friends and people who are willing to come help at all hours of the day/night!!! You know who you are...and we LOVE you!!!

We're IN...we're hooked up...and we're alive!!!

Well...it's official. As of November 18th, we are official homeowners!!! Here's our cute little abode!!!! :)
Sorry I've been MIA...between packing, cleaning, painting, moving, unpacking, cleaning more, Thanksgiving, Aysha's Birthday, and being BURNT out...we just barely got internet hooked up again at our new place...and we are still alive!!! Tired...but alive!!! We have to be out of our apartment by Monday...so this weekend has been finishing up cleaning there and getting all our CRAP out!!! Ugh...such a process...how do people accumulate so much STUFF!?!?!?! Do I really need it all!?!?! Ugh!!!!
Anyways...I will be posting before/after pictures of this place!!! It's coming along..."done" enough for us!!! Touch-ups all over that need to be done...but the majority of the BIG projects are done!!! Now it's just a matter of finding a place to put everything!!! How in the world did we fit all this stuff in such a small place!?!?! Cuz I'm beginning to wonder if it's all gonna fit here!?!?! And we have 1000 MORE square feet...so!?!?!? It's gotta right!?!?!?!
Just wanted you all to know we're alive and getting moved in & settled!!!

You think they're related!?!??!

This was last week...but I had to laugh when I looked at all my boys...




You think they're related?!??! Or that they take after Daddy!?!?! Yes Ryan is making the funny face...but he did NOT pose with his arm like that...he really was sitting like this!!! LoL...and then after I put the camera away...I realized Aysha was laying with her arm up too...just didn't get a picture...funny things kids acquire from us parents huh!!!

House...OUR house!!!

So...we're buying a HOUSE!!! WooHoo right!!! We're VERY excited...we're VERY busy...and we're tired and worn out EVERY night so far this week!!! We've been in painting and prepping to move in!!! We are closing TOMORROW...so please everyone pray, cross your fingers, whatever so it all goes through and goes well!!! Yay!!! I can't really believe it...I can't believe it's really happening and that we'll really have a place of our OWN...it's been a LONG time coming...and to have so much space...so many rooms to paint...so much space...so much storage...and so much SPACE!!! Hallelujah!!! I am just HAPPY!!! :) :) :) :)

I've taken pictures of the house before...I haven't put them on the computer yet...but I will...we've painted Aysha's room...and the boys room...working on the dining room...family room...kitchen...and Ryan is doing OUR room...he says it's HIS surprise...and I can't see it til it's done!!! So...YAY!!! Stay tuned for pictures and things...hopefully I'll get some on tomorrow!?!?! It's all FOR REAL!!! Closing is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon...wish us luck!!!! :) :) :) :)

Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon When You Take the North "Poll"

I don't know if any of you are familiar with these toys...but they're AMAZING!!! So you should check out this GREAT deal they're having!!! Great for the holidays!!! :) :) :)

Melissa & Doug want you to tell them which of their educational toys you think is the best! Just click on the image below to place your vote in the North "Poll!" You'll Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon** to use at MelissaAndDoug.com just for voting!

Seriously!?!?! How do I choose!?!??!

So we're waiting to finally and hopefully hear from the underwriter TOMORROW...as long as everything goes well!!! Then we'll HOPEFULLY be closing next week!?!?! Who knows...by the way...we're BUYING a house!!! For those who don't know!!!!
Now as for this post...I am going NUTSO looking at all these paint options and colors and everything!!! HOW DOES ONE CHOOSE!?!?!?!
My eyes are going blurry...my mind is getting too stimulated...and I just DON'T know what to do!?!?! Really??? This is OUR choice??? WE can decide??? It's so fun and so exciting...but SOOOOOOOO overwhelming!!!! Ryan and I have sat up til now...1:20 a.m...trying to decide colors to put in the house!!! I wish it was as easy for us as it is for the kids!!! Klous/Kyson want blue/white...GO BYU...(mostly Klous, Kyson just says...YAH!!!) And Aysha...well she's our little girly, girl...Princess!!! So she's all about Pink and Purple!!!! Oh to have such easy choices and decisions!!!!
Now for the living room...and the dining room...and the kitchen...and the family room...and the bathrooms...and OUR bedroom!!!! WOW...here's to hoping the colors we decided on all look ok and go well together!?!?!? We'll see how much I like painting after all these rooms get done!!! :) :) :) I'm excited now...how long does this excitement last!?!?!?!

Try it out...

Ok...thank you all for letting me know that you want to be included...or that you stalk my blog...or whatever!! I appreciate it and love knowing that people really do read up on it!!! I will keep your emails and things on file or whatever....but for now...I'm trying this out.

A friend of mine told me that I can just not accept anonymous comments...so I changed up my settings...and we'll see how things go like this for now...I know I don't check the "private" blogs as much as the other ones...so I really didn't want to have to do that...but I will if I have to.

So for now...we'll try this out and see where it gets us...but it sure makes me happy to know and see how many TRUE friends/family members read this and want to help me and love me!! So thanks!!! Means a lot!!!

Going PRIVATE....

Not cuz I want to...but more so because I HAVE to...I've decided to make my blogs private. It sucks, because I've had this blog for 4 1/2 years or more...and I've NEVER had issues or problems. Then this year comes around...and I have issues and problems on my "Burn Becki's Belly Fat" blog...anonymous comments coming that are very much un-called for. I thought we were good...I made changes...protected myself and family a little more...and then......

BAM

It happens again...so I'm done. I can't take it anymore. I can't let pathetic, low, inconsiderate people put things on here and then NOT take the credit for them.

So even with the headache that comes along with it...I will be going private this weekend...please send me an e-mail or message or comment or something so I can add whoever would REALLY like to be a part of this blog. I'll get the invites or whatever out as soon as I get things going this weekend. Sorry for the inconvenience...

Halloween 2011

We had a good Halloween...and the kids were THRILLED about their costumes!!! Thank goodness we have a sweet Aunt who helps us out and loves us!!! Cuz they wouldn't have looked near as cute with anything else...

Here's the kiddos...before all the fun festivities and parties on Saturday...Kyson - puppy, Klous - Iron Man, Aysha - Princess Belle
We went to Daddy's work Halloween morning...and ran to other places...it was a BUSY day...and I was exhausted by the end...but it's worth it all for the kids right!!!
And here's the most important part!!! THANK YOU AUNTIE KIM for making this Halloween so GREAT!!! We love you more then you know!!!!
Hope you all had a good Halloween too!!

SO good and SO true...

Just had to share this, because it is SO incredibly true...and SUCH a good quote. Amazing how things come to you or you find something when you need it most. I've needed this for quite some time now...but things always have a time and a place and a reason...just glad I found it!!! Hope it helps someone else too!?!?!

10 Years...

Well it's been 10 AMAZINGLY fun, exciting, hard, trying, love building, faith building, best decision of my life years!!!! It was 10 years ago today that my parents, younger brother Danny, and I drove from Swan River, MN to Hudson, WI to see my fiance and all his family...as well as my family for the BIG DAY!!! Oh what a time that was...
I went through the temple on Oct. 19, 2001...and that was the beginning of knowing it was the BEST choice I had ever made...we hung out...we visited...we had YUMMY homemade spaghetti dinner...we laughed...we went to the Mall of America...it was a GREAT day!!!! But really didn't compare at all to the next day...when I would marry the man of my dreams...the one I loved more then anything....the one who treats me like a princess...the one who would do and still does ANYTHING for me. I couldn't have asked for a better man...Ryan Dee Jones...I sure do love him!!
The last 10 years have been quite the roller-coaster ride...and I'm sure it won't stop...but it's been SOOOO... worth it. We've been through a LOT...and yet our love for each other has only grown stronger....how did I get so lucky!?!?!
It was on our 5th anniversary we were celebrating and enjoying our brand new baby boy Klous...sitting there thinking...man this is kind of a BIG anniversary and all we did was hang out at home and enjoy our baby boy....now we're 5 years past that and celebrating our 10 year anniversary...and are we doing anything big or extravagant??? NO...we're sitting at home...debating whether or not we should start packing or what we should do. You see...apparently Heavenly Father wants to give us some BIG blessings and things every 5 years!?!?! The 5th year we got a baby...and now the 10th year...it looks as though we'll be buying our first house!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO :) :) :) No it's not the cruise I wanted...or the tropical vacation I wanted ALONE with my hubby...or the new diamond band to go along with my wedding ring...BUT...it is a house...a place of our OWN...where we will have MORE room...MORE space...MORE storage...and it's OURS!!!!
YAY!!!!
Anyways...it's been a GREAT 10 years...and I'm positive the next 10, 20, 30, 50 years will be just as amazing and wonderful. Trying at times yes...but SO worth it!!!
I love you Ryan with ALL my heart...and I'd be completely lost without you. THANK YOU for being my best friend and for loving me unconditionally. Can't wait to have a day with you tomorrow!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!

Families ARE Forever...

I was just watching some of the "Mormon Messages" videos tonight...and WOW...that's all I can say. They are truly amazing...but this one really touched me...and I wanted to share it...so THIS is the link...and I hope you will all take time to check it out...cuz I sure am grateful for my family...my husband & kiddos...my side of the family...Ryan's side of the family...extended family...REALLY...what would we do without family!?!?! How lonely would life be!?!?! When all the other people in the world turn against you...are hard on you...make you feel worthless...who do you go to!?!?! FAMILY...I sure love my family!!! Hope you enjoy the video!!!

Dentist...Klous' BIG dentist experience!!!

After a LONG time waiting and thinking they weren't THAT bad...and wondering if they'd just fall out on their own...or wondering when Klous would complain of pain...(p.s...DON'T let it get to that point)...Klous finally got to go in today for his BIG dentist appointment. He's been before and had cavities filled...and we've talked about what would have to be done for the front teeth...but we're just not the best parents...and kept putting it off...dentists AREN'T cheap...

Anyways...today he went in...we knew the plan was to pull one front tooth...cap the other front tooth...cap a couple molars in back...(because the dentist who did the fillings did something that the tooth was cracking all around it...AWESOME)...and then maybe fill a couple last cavities. Well Ryan took Klous in this morning...Klous was doing GREAT and not too nervous or worried about it...obviously doesn't like the dentist and didn't want to go...(who does???)...but he was being a good sport!!!
About 30 minutes later Ryan calls me and says...so the dentist says there's a chance that when one front tooth has so much decay and problems, that there's a GOOD chance the other one does too...SO??? We can pull both front teeth...or still cap the other one, but run the risk of needing it to be pulled soon because of problems...WHATEVER...just pull them. They're baby teeth, they'll grow in soon...he'll be 5 next week and will start losing teeth in the next year anyways...so ya...just pull them both...
Well Klous was put under...completely out for the WHOLE procedure...(when Ryan brought him home he asked..."Daddy, did I even go to sleep??" :) So cute...totally unaware of what just happened!!!)...so after waking up and coming out of anesthesia...he was with Ryan again and quite the toothless boy!!!

Here's the silver caps on the back molars...to hold the teeth together...
His big toothless mouth...those poor bloody spots...gross...
BIG gummy smile!! He was still pretty loopy and groggy during these pictures!!! But what a good sport!!!
And check out those teeth...HUGE roots huh!?!?! Why are they so big??? When kids 5-7 yr olds lose their teeth...the roots aren't that big!?!?! So what's up with these being so huge!?!??!!
The cute little treasure box he got to put his teeth in...so he can put them under his pillow for the tooth fairy!!! "She'll be SO surprised tonight, because she doesn't know he got BOTH teeth pulled...she only knew he was getting ONE!!!" He's so cute!!!
All in all...he was a GREAT sport...and he survived a MAJOR dental procedure...not something I like at all...actually I STRONGLY dislike the dentist...but such is life and we all must deal with going right!!
Here's to hoping Klous doesn't have more major teeth issues and that I can learn from this and do better with the other kids' teeth!!! UGH...dumb teeth!!!

Finding Charity...and HAVING Charity...

I know I need a LOT of work on this topic. I never understood completely what "charity" was, until people would suggest I pray for charity for others...or be more charitable. So then I did some research...and realized it was about loving others...accepting them for who they are...and on and on. I still SUCK at it...but I'm trying...I'm working on it...and eventually it'll get better!!!

This last Saturday at the Relief Society meeting...Sister Allred talked about charity...and a lot of it really hit home. I re-read some of the quotes and messages this morning...and this is a quote that really got me thinking...it says...

...“Don’t be limited in your views with regard to your neighbor’s virtues. You must enlarge your souls toward others if you [would] do like Jesus. As you increase in innocence and virtue, as you increase in goodness, let your hearts expand—let them be enlarged towards others—you must be longsuffering and bear with the faults and errors of mankind. How precious are the souls of men!” ...

All of us have faults, struggles, and problems...I'll be the first to admit all of mine. But at times I don't remember or realize that other do as well. And instead of wanting to help them or wondering why they may be doing what they're doing...I'm just too quick to judge and be rude. So here's to working on this and trying to have MORE charity!!!

FABULOUS thought...

Got this from a friends blog and I had to copy it...(hope she doesn't mind???)...but last night at the General Relief Society Broadcast, Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf (2nd counselor in the 1st presidency of the church) gave an AMAZING talk. And I know it really touched me and made me realize how much I have and how many things I CAN be grateful for...and that I just need to accept and love myself. So SO SO glad I went to the meeting last night!!!