Business Venture...

I'm getting really excited for April. I'm starting my own soccer academy for preschoolers! It all started on Sunday when I got online to get Donovan signed up for soccer with the YMCA. I found his age group and was disgusted by how much they charge! $86 if you aren't a Y member and $55 if you are. Ridiculous right? You would know just how ridiculous if you have ever watched any of the games! Most of the kids don't even touch the ball during the game! I wasn't about to spend that much to watch Donovan run up and down a field...sorry. I told Brad this and told him I might as well do something on my own and he said, "Why don't you?" That got me brainstorming and it hasn't stopped! I texted many family members for advice and I finally have everything worked out. A girl at Iowa Western has even volunteered to design my logo and get some flyers/registration forms made for me. I know most of you are in Utah, but I'd like to think you would all jump at the chance to sign your kids up:) Wish me luck!!

Pictures

I haven't been taking very many pictures lately. I need to get better with that, I know.


Corbin and Chamae. Don't be fooled. Corbin looks a lot smaller next to her in person.

He looks really sweet doesn't he? Don't let that fool you, he has been a little stinker lately! He has learned to talk back and has been sent to time out on more than a few occasions lately. Don't get me wrong, he has his sweet moments.

Our adorable little Chamae. I wish I could say she was perfect, but she has her moments too! She is so demanding! She is already high maintenance!

We watched Addi for a couple of hours the other day, we miss having her come over! She's so stinking cute, even when she thinks she can do everything by herself!

Poor kid, he has to ride his scooter inside. It was actually pretty warm this day, but I didn't want to take 3 kids outside. I was already starting to feel sick and I had already promised Donovan a zoo trip that afternoon.

Chamae still doesn't like to sit up to get her picture taken. I probably could have kept her in her pj's because she slept in the baby carrier the whole time we were at the zoo.
Donovan and Sydney looking at the fish. She is such a cutie. She broke her leg in a sledding accident and had her cast taken off a couple of weeks ago. She still runs on her toe the way she did when she had her cast was on.


Mr. Attitude. He was doing silly things with his arms and watching his shadow.

Not quite up his nose, but he has been doing his fair share of picking.

We've been able to get into a routine lately. Kids are usually in bed by 8:30 and Chamae usually has a 6 hour stretch of sleep, gets her diaper changed, eats, then has another 2-4 hour stretch, eats, and takes a nap depending on how long her last stretch of sleep was. I have been getting up before the kids so I can have a little time alone to read, exercise, and just be alone (well, sort of alone, Brad has to get up early to go to early morning training). I didn't get up early this morning because I was feeling sick. Turns out I have the flu! Awesome. I don't think I've ever had the flu. I'm not throwing up or anything, but I'm feeling pretty miserable. I don't think it would have hit me so hard if I hadn't gone to the zoo. I felt okay while we were there, but once we got home I was wiped. I had zero strength and hardly any energy. Being a mom and sick is not fun.

...

I feel silly for saying this, but I'm glad we waited until Donovan was older to have another baby. Now the girls I went to school with are starting to have babies/getting pregnant with baby #2...I don't feel like such an anomaly anymore. Now if only my I-dub friends would catch up! Still waiting on one to get married and waiting on all of them except 2 to have babies!!! Now if only there were more girls my age out here in middle earth with kids...

Smiles

Blank stare.

Half smile.

Big grin! I get even bigger grins, but I couldn't believe I actually got a decent picture of her smile! Her cheeks are so chubby, I love it! I also love her double chin.

And this quilt is so awesome! My best friend Jessica made it for Chamae and we got it in the mail this week. I love it! It's so pretty, she did an amazing job!! Thank you again Jessica!

More Pictures

This is what most of our evenings consist of...well not so much for the last week or so, but it used to be! Now Brad and I try to think of how we want to remodel the house we're in the process of buying while Donovan plays Wii.

Little Chamae is getting so big! She still has tons of hair in the back, but it's thinning out on top. We try to keep a headband on in public so you can't see her male pattern baldness.

He's still being a stinker about pictures!

Pretty little girl! She's so cute. Her head is so big and chubby, but the rest of her is still long and skinny.
Her first Sunday outfit. This isn't the first time she has gone to church, but this was the same dress she wore the first time. It fits her much better now! She wasn't happy about me putting her down so I couldn't get a cute picture.

Daddy trying to make Chamae sit up. She actually didn't do too bad, her neck is really strong so she was able to support her head really well.
Her eyes are staying really blue, I love it! She'll be blond and blue eyed! Maybe not blond, but so far it has stayed pretty light.

I was tricking Donovan and got a few pictures.

She makes this face a lot when she's happy. She flashes some pretty big grins too, I just haven't had the camera when she does it! You'll just have to take my word for it, it's super cute!!

Bottomless Pit and The Stinker

Lately, Donovan cooperating for the camera has been a rare occurence. Everytime I take out the camera, he turns his head. He thinks it's really funny. Thankfully I've been able to sneak in a few shots.

Keep in mind this is pre shower and makeup for the day! At least Chamae is adorable! Funny story: Donovan was pretending to sleep and told me to take a picture. He was out about 5 minutes later...don't worry, the headlamp stayed on through his nap.
Chamae was giving Bradley a big hug during her nap. This is her favorite position for naps. She usually prefers someone with "pillows", but daddy is okay for short naps.

She is growing so fast! She's my little bottomless pit! I've been able to keep her happy for 1 1/2 hours between feedings, but it's almost down to the minute and she's ready to eat again! Thankfully she spaces feedings out better at night. Her face is so chubby, but her legs and arms are still pretty skinny. She looks like a chubby stick figure.

It was "warm" for a couple of days in a row last week so Brad and Donovan got outside for some fun in the snow. They decided to build an igloo. I love this picture.

Don't worry Grandma Milda, Papa Sam already gave us the lecture. He hasn't played in it since they built it.

Chamae's other favorite position. She likes to be over the shoulder. It's how I space out her feedings even more during the day. She doesn't always sleep, but it keeps her content for about 5-10 minutes at a time.
An example of Donovan turning his head for a picture. He's such a little stinker.

Chamae will cooperate sometimes. As you can see, she's getting a little bald on top, but she still has plenty of hair in the back! She will definitely have a mullet for a while.

The best pictures I got of him that day.

We're starting to get to know Chamae's quirks a little better. She's not a little stranger anymore. I could sit and talk to her and enjoy her little faces for hours. She has started to give us some big smiles and I'm loving it! So far I'm her favorite, but only because she likes to eat so much. She got to meet her Granny this weekend! I need to remember to get some pictures of them together before Tia leaves. I can't believe she's a month old! She really has grown a lot, it's amazing what a difference 4 weeks makes. She's staying awake more during the day and staying content for longer periods of time. I still can't put her down for more than a few minutes so it's a struggle to get dinner ready in the evenings before Brad gets home, but we're working on it! I love watching both of these 2 little children grow and develop. Donovan can still be a little stinker and he's still a ball of energy, but he's becoming a little more mature and he's a great big brother! I worry about Chamae being on the floor when he's in the room because he doesn't always pay attention to what he's doing, but so far we haven't had any accidents! I try not to leave the room with her on the floor but she's doesn't like being alone in her bed when she's awake.