RIDING BIKES and ROLLAR BLADING

He hauled his bike all the way out of our apartment and up the stairs. He is such a determined little boy. Our adventures ended when he pulled one of the neighbors pathway lights out of the ground and threw it on driveway, it was glass. Guess I will be calling Jamie and replacing that. Sigh, James.

Sierra has become so amazing at rollerblading. I dare say she is as good as I am.

Potty training day two. It is going well but he is ornery. We have had three rounds of this and I know we have a forth coming. I feel like throwing in the towel some days. He was ornery when I brought home Ashton. He finally adjusted. Then he was ornery when I tossed out all his binkies. He finally adjusted. Now, potty training. He is ornery. The last hurtle is transitioning him from his crib to a regular bed. Ashton can't be in the pack-n-play forever. I have no idea how women have babies two years apart. You hit the hardest stage of a toddler the same time you have a new born. Wish me luck. No, seriously wish me luck. Write it in the comments. Good Luck. 

 

Actually, the poor boy can't catch a break maybe you should wish him luck. His mother is determined to grow him up in one swell swoop. Considering, a little orneriness is a small price to pay. You are such a good boy.

POTTY TRAINING

 Potty training is always a chore. I have started and stopped twice because I just wasn't ready. I have always said, "If you aren't ready, they won't be ready." I didn't take my own advice. I have been gearing him and myself up for weeks saying, "We are going to start going on the potty as soon as Spring Break comes." I know it is a lousy way to spend Spring Break but you have to focus on nothing but potty training when you are ready and running the girls to school three times a day just wasn't working. He has had a pretty successful first day. I am feeling hopeful. Here is to a week of potty training. Wish me luck. 

 We have had about a billion baths.

We have had to take a lot of breaks and ride his bike.

We have been reading his favorite books.

COOKING

I love this little boy's cooking obsession. He emptied out all my pots and pans from the cupboard the other day and said over and over again, "Mom, I luff cook." I said, "I know you do buddy."

 

He is always eager to help me in the kitchen whether it is washing the dishes or cooking a meal. I have to admit it is sometimes a frustration. I have to put all ingredients away the minute I use them or he will add a little extra. He has been known to add extra salt, cinnamon, or what ever else is left on the counter. He thinks he is helping.  

 

He also loves his play food. He is a great pretender. He will cook as long as there is someone to enjoy his play creations. 

GOOD MORNING

I love my boys. I didn't know two beings could bring so much joy in their wake. I love every ounce of these boys. They are my whole world. They always wake me at seven in the morning. It is hard to get up, but so rewarding. Ashton's smiles kill me.

 

We had cereal for breakfast and then I spent most of the morning sorting through pictures from last week and posting on this blog. It was an hour before church that I realized I was supposed to be teaching in Relief Society. I panicked. I can't believe I forgot. I think because I always teach the last Sunday, I thought I had one more week but March has five Sundays and I teach the fourth Sunday not the last Sunday. I hadn't gotten ready and I hadn't gotten my children ready. I listened to the conference talk I was supposed to teach on while I was doing the girls hair.

 

Nate hasn't been feeling well. He walked in the door after being out at the farm feeding the chickens, and said, "I can't go to church." I thought, I have four kids I have to get ready and I haven't prepared my lesson. CRAZY. We made it to church a few minutes late. My kids were crazy during the meeting. One word.... teasing. There was absolute chaos in our pew. I passed Ashton to my friend Lily and left with James. He and I were in the hall till the next hour. Then I had to nurse Ashton and I skimmed the lesson. I prayed hard. I was so grateful Heavenly Father allowed the Holy Ghost to be present during my lesson. I know Heavenly Father is merciful to mothers. I have seen it in my life over and over again. There was such a sweet feeling in the room. I know the sisters were touched by His words. I love to teach. I mostly love to learn. I learn so much from my sisters in the Relief Society.



GRANDMA and JENNY's VISIT

Grandma let me grab a picture before she walked out the door. We have had so many people visit over the past year. I enjoy being in the moment so much, I don't capture anything on my camera. I am sad about it now. I begged mom for a picture and she was sweet to consent.

 

We love having people come and visit us. We love sharing our home and food and life. We are always sad to see our visitors leave. Grandma stayed up and watched Big Hero 6 with the girls while Aunt Jenny and I went out for sushi. The next morning we had banana walnut pancakes and said goodbye. It would have been nice if they could have stayed longer but we were grateful to have them for a time. Here it the link to our amazing breakfast, make them you won't regret it, right Jenny! :) Come back soon.

TRAILER HITCH

 I finally went to get that blasted trailer hitch on the back of the car. I thought I would just bring the stroller and walk over to Sam's Club and spend four hours over there and then come back and pick up the car. In the morning I panicked and thought, what am I thinking this is going to be miserable. I called my friend Lily and asked if  she would pick us up. She was so sweet and willing. I was so happy to have that behind me finally.

SUSHI with JENNY

Jenny

I really wanted to go out for sushi for my birthday dinner but I knew Nate hates sushi. I waited for the right time to celebrate my birthday with sushi. The whole month of March is pretty much my birthday, so if you want to come celebrate we still have a few days left. We had such a great time. I am bummed I didn't get a picture of our dragon roll it was so pretty. We loved every bite and it was fun to catch up with this girl. We were so grateful grandma watched the babies while we played.

 

I am so proud of this girl and all she is and all she will be.

SPRING is SPRUNG

It was a quick trip. We were back home before we knew it. We don't usually take quick trips to Utah. We are grateful for the warmer weather. Spring is finally here. Sierra is the sweetest angel most of the time but.... this girl loves to tease. 



 

 I know...... I don't know how to stop it. I have tried all punishments. I have tried all reward systems. I just can't seem to nip this one, any suggestions are welcome. He still loves her to pieces.



He loves Madison's old Diego bike. I use to think that maybe somewhere in her soul she knew there was a little boy coming up behind her and she didn't want him stuck in a completely girl world. It makes me happy that he loves this bike as much as she use to.

JAMES, CHARLOTTE, and GRANDMA

Charlotte, Grandma and James.

James loves his grandma and grandpa Craven. When I told him we were going to visit his grandparents, he said, "Grandpa. Cookies. Pump. Choco."  He packed his backpack with pumpkin and chocolate chips, so he could make his grandpa cookies when we visited. He loves to make cookies for grandpa. He has made him for him every time he has visited us. He knows that is just what you do when you visit grandpa.

 

He loves his grandma and he pet her cheek this visit and said, "Grandma cute. Grandma cute." I love this little boy of mine. He makes us all so happy.

ASHTON MAXWELL's BABY BLESSING

Sierra holding Ashton, Madison, and James. From left to right.

These pictures aren't the best. We will never be that family. However, they are mine and I love them. This top picture captures my children's personalities pretty accurately. It makes me giggle every time I look at it.
 



Sierra holding Ashton, Lisa holding James, Madison, and Nate. From left to right.

I think if I had of known what this day would bring I would not have hesitated to make the trip to Utah to bless sweet Ashton. We went to church in the building I grew up in. My grandma and grandpa Craven use to go to church with us. I remember when my grandpa Craven taught Sunday school and I use to go to his lessons. As I was walking through the building I could imagine my grandpa their with me. I was so overwhelmed with emotion thinking of him and my grandma. I thought how fleeting this life and how precious the moments are when we are together.

 

 I got to attend Sunday school with my grandma and grandpa Hair. My grandma shared a story about my sweet Aunt Ruth and how Ruth had a dream once of being healed by the Savior. (She was born unable to walk.) He took her by the hand and she stood. I thought of how much I love her and how much I want to be worthy to be their in that moment, because I know He will heal her.

 

Then I watched my grandma Hair help steady a women older than her as she walked to Relief Society. I had to give her a hug and tell her how much I love her. She has taught me more than anyone person that there is always enough to share. There is enough food and enough time and enough energy and enough resources. I have never gone over to her house without her trying to feed me. This sweet woman has seventeen children and over a hundred grandchildren but I know she is the same with all of them. She is always ready to feed you at a moments notice and she is always happy to do it. I love her.

 

It was such a precious moment to see sweet Ashton being blessed by the men who hold the priesthood in our family. All of the grandchildren were so sweet and held so still during the blessing. Even still I could barely hear Nate as he spoke, but a few words into the blessing he had to stop and compose himself. You could feel his love for his son and love we all felt deeply for this little angel that has come into our lives.

 

I felt the love of family all day. I was sad that James had a break down moments before the blessing and after. I felt like I was so occupied with tending him. I didn't get to really enjoy the moments after. I didn't hardly get any pictures of my McKnight family, but I was so glad Bonnie and Mike and all their kids came and Heather brought her boys. Grandpa wasn't able to come because he had shingles, poor guy but we were glad to have Grandma and Jenny there. Nate also invited his friends Jerrel and Inez and their sweet family. All of my family was able to be their, except my brother Phillip's family. My grandma and grandpa Hair were there along with my Aunt Colleen and Aunt Ruth. I love them both. I loved watching Aunt Colleen lovingly rock Ashton to sleep. I haven't had so much family at a single event since Sierra's baby blessing.

 

Sweet Ashton Max, there are so many who love you.



Emma holding Ashton

Ashton and Lisa.

Kate, Madison and Tessie

Grandma holding Ashton.

Tamara and Chase

Tamara and Chase

Grandma and Jenny holding Ashton

Grandma Hair and Grandpa Hair

Aunt Michelle and Leo

Tessie, Madison, and Kate.

Grace, Tyler, Sierra and Emma.

CHARLOTTE and ASHTON on my BIRTHDAY!

Charlotte was loving Ashton. She kept wanting to hold him. James kept telling her, mine baby brother. He was a little protective. She was so sweet with him and wanted to hold him again and again. Ashton was also sweet to put up with all the attention he was getting. I don't think he fussed once. He is such a sweet, good-natured little baby.

 

March 14th was my birthday. I love my birthday. I had such a beautiful day. I got to spend the day with my sisters. First thing in the morning my sister Karalee took me down into her apartment and gave me two new beautiful shirts. Since I have always envied her style I was so elated. My twin sister went and emptied out the entire bin of chocolate covered cinnamon bears at the store. They handed me the biggest bag you have ever seen. I was in heaven. My favorite candy, besides jelly beans and peanut M&M's. I spent a big chunk of the day running around picking up food for the luncheon after Ashton's baby blessing the next day. I got to spend time running around with my sister Jennifer and my sister Emily. It was fun to talk and laugh and cry.

 

Nate came back early from the river and hung around the house until I was done running my errands. He asked me if I wanted to go out to dinner. He said he would take me anywhere but I knew he would be happiest at Tuccano's. Dinner didn't disappoint. He was so happy. He was like a little kid in a candy store.

 

While we were waiting for our seats at Tuccano's we walked around Riverwood's Shopping. We watched a couple get engaged. I don't know why it made both of us giggle. It may have been the awkwardness of the proposal or the speed of it. He got down on one knee and stretched his arms wide, asked her, stood up and hugged her quickly. A few minutes later we passed the couple again. She was talking a mile a minute giving him a second by second rendition of her story of how the moments leading up to the proposal had played out. He was just nodding. Nate smiled and stretched out on the bench and said, "He is going to have a long life."

 

The only thing that would have made the day perfect was if we could have finished it off at the temple but we just couldn't fit it all in with a nursing baby.

 

I have spent eleven birthday's with Nate. I have to say everyone gets better and every year gets better and I am grateful for the relationship we share. I am grateful that he chose to marry me. I am in awe at how hard he works and how much of himself he gives to everything he does. He started his practice two years ago, and it has been successful beyond any of my expectations. He insists he is starting a new one by the end of the year. I have no idea what drives him but he never rests.

 

We both did so much in the last year. We bought a house, we have redone a lot of it with the help of our family. (We have been so blessed by so many this past year.) We bought a building for Nate's practice and the build out will be complete on the 9th of April. We had sweet Ashton. The girls started at a new school. I am certain it has been our busiest year yet. Maybe why we are both so tired all the time. Bring on my 36th year, may it be as happy and busy at 35.



MEET the FAMILY, ASHTON MAX

Ashton smiling at Leo and Aunt Michelle.

 I drove to Utah for the first time with all four of my children. I was a little nervous. It took me a good week of going back and forth on my decision before I finally committed. Nate had to be in Utah to pick up some dental equipment. He suggested that it would be a good time to take Ashton and bless him with our family. We were suppose to drive together but we needed to take the trailer to bring back the equipment. I was supposed to have the trailer hitch put on the back of my car in June of last year but I never did it. I know it has almost been a year. I tried to schedule it the week we were going to leave but they were unable to get it done. I was so frustrated with myself. I begged Nate to take at least half the kids, but he was on a timeline and he thought it would be too difficult. He finally caved and said, "alright I will take the girls," but they didn't want to go with him for some strange reason. He finally threw up his arms and left. Later, I found out that they didn't realize we were going to the same place. Secretly, I felt like the girls could help out with the boys and didn't know what would be better them going with their dad or me.

I always try to get our house clean and the laundry done before I leave for Utah. This time it felt like I was moving in slow motion. Truthfully, I always feel like that but this time it was worse. I had to get gas and get breakfast and I didn't want to mess up the kitchen, so I thought we would stop of at McDonalds for breakfast. I nursed Ashton before we headed out the door. I felt like I was on a countdown. I had to get to the next town before his timer went off and I had to pull over and feed him. I will admit that as I was driving to the gas station I didn't come to a complete stop at the stop sign. My mind was so occupied and I was so rushed, which isn't typical of me, usually I am a slow cautious drive, but that day I wasn't. I pulled into the gas station to fill up and this man came to the window of my car and started yelling at me. He said, "You blew through two stop signs and you have kids in the car, what are you thinking." I think my definition of blowing through a stop sign and his might be different. Frankly, there was only one stop sign between leaving home and hitting the gas station, but when someone is yelling at you like that and your babies are in the car you defuse the situation rapidly by apologizing. He finally walked away.

We got breakfast and made it to GreenRiver. The kids were good the whole way. We stopped in a grocery store to go potty and pick up a few snacks. I was happy when I saw a playground across the street. We pulled into the parking lot and the little ones played while I fed Ashton. They were happy and got a lot of energy out. I discovered later when I stepped out of the car that the whole playground was covered in goat heads, but the kids didn't seem to mind or notice. I noticed because I was wearing ballet flats and they went straight through my shoe. If you aren't familiar with goat heads, they are a noxious weed that grows large burs all over its vines. They will pop tires on bikes, jogging strollers, or anything with an inflatable wheel. They will stick to your sneakers and fall of in your house and you will step on them with your bare feet and scream like a baby. My kids sneakers were covered in them. When they climbed into the car they littered the back floor of my car. I was stabbed in the fingers several times by them when I was reaching for things off of the floor of my car. Still, a small price to pay for a playground halfway through the trip.

The kids were good the whole rest of the way to my parents house, which is a huge accomplishment because we have no DVD players in the car. They went out a year ago and I haven't had them fixed.

My whole family was so excited to meet Ashton for the first time. He has grown so much in two months. He is such a big baby. He is already in 3-6 month clothes. He was so happy and smiled for all of them. He is such a smiley sweet baby. Leo and Charlotte loved him the most. They were both so cute and possessive of them. We are excited that Miss Charlotte will be having a baby brother or sister of her very own in September.


Charlotte laying beside James. She made a little bed for the two of them on the floor using Ashton's car seat cover.

 James, Charlotte, Audrey, Emma, Tyler, Grace, and Leo in front. From left to right. Watching a movie in Karalee's apartment.

STROLLERS and BATHS

 James and Ashton have to be walked every day or they go crazy.

I am sure not all children need to be walked daily but these cave dwelling children must.

The hardest thing about living in a basement apartment is that we don't get much sunshine at all.

I am so grateful for my Christmas present this year, a double jogging stroller.

We practically lived in my last jogging stroller until it died.

I didn't realize how hard it is to get out of the house without a stroller.

I have felt so liberated with the freedom it has afforded me.

I have walked, jogged and rollerbladed behind this stroller.

We can go anywhere and everywhere, and we do.

James loves when we stop by the park.

Ashton only fusses when we stop moving.

 I bath this little boy more than I don't.

He is constantly peeing through his diaper unless I change it every feeding.

I have tried every diaper I know of.

I have even bought really expensive ones, nothing seems to help.

His cold hasn't cleared up and it seems to be his constant companion since birth

I will be grateful when he is over it.

He is constantly puking because of the phlegm in the back of his throat.

Between the peeing and the puking there is need for constant baths.

Although I have to admit, I don't bath him every day.

Sometimes I give him a quick wipe down with a wet wipe.

I just don't have time. Who knew being a mother of four would be so crazy.

INSTAGRAM

 Dear Instagram,

I thought about you for a few days.

I loved you.

Then I hated you.

Not sure why.

I think it was because my pictures of my babies looked like crap.

Maybe if I had bought that IPhone like Nate wanted me to I would have loved you more because my picture would have been better.

However, I couldn't rationalize the $650.00. I mean, my nice camera cost that much.

I would rather buy a new lens and continue blogging.

I think I am going to stick with blogging.

I like you better.

I know. I just instagramed a week of my life I will never get back.

However, I learned a valuable lesson.

Instagram is fun but it isn't for me.

I think I will blog more.

Lisa

 

 

I love this precious boy.

He has been so easy.

He is one feeding away from sleeping through the night.

He sleeps from 10:00pm till 4:00am and then till 8:00am.

I couldn't ask for anything more from a two month old.

He is starting to coo and smile and even laugh.

I love that he cuddles down into my neck and falls asleep.

I wish he would get over this month plus long cold, it would make him happier.

However, he is still sweet even with this illness.