Oops, I forgot to mention...

Well, I forgot to mention in my update the we are having a baby! Ha, that's what happens when it's your third and you've already lost your mind like I have! I am having a baby (first planned c-section) as early as I can in June, which may be the 20-somethingth... later June.

Anyway hooray that I am almost always feeing not nauseous now and boo that I already look 4 months pregnant. :)  And no I'm not exaggerating or looking for "you look so great" comments either. It's just a sad fact. 

Still we are very excited and happy we can postpone moving to have another baby here!

Update

Well, these are from as early as November 19th. And YES, our kids play in the sprinklers that late here! Though as you can tell, they weren't supposed to (fully dressed). 

Here's Jake's preschool Thanksgiving Feast. He didn't like real turkey or pumpkin pie. Alisa really liked the rolls.

Jake is a budding photographer... I left out the indecent ones.

We went to DL while it was still warm (it's a little cold here now) and got to see real reindeer and Santa--from a distance. 

What happens when Jonas and Jake are left alone for 2 minutes?

At Jonas' house, they found the knives and stashed them under the carpet to kill the bad guys while Melinda was in the shower. Nice. That's why my knives are on top of the fridge. At my house, they strip down and run around screaming "Nakie Jakey!" Classic. 

 

We had a busy weekend. A friend Christmas party (pictures to follow), a ward country Christmas party (complete with fried chicken!) and the Stake Musical fireside, where Scott sang a fantastic solo! 

When we got back Sunday night, Alisa found and pulled out the potty from the closet and tried to unbutton her clothes. I stripped her down and she immediately sat, touched her bottom, and went pee-pee! I was amazed! So, 12/21/08 was her official first pee-pee on the potty. She has really been into potty lately. She usually just climbs around on it, though.

Alisa in a pretty dress I got for her last year (gotta love Target clearance! $4). What a sweetie!

This is how we cleaned the house on Saturday... all day. Thank goodness boards exams are over! I have my cleaning partner back! Yea! Jake painted the nativity (thanks, Grandma Seaman) and Alisa dipped the paint brush in water.

Here's another time on the potty. Alisa's thrilled. This is how Jake learned (backwards) because he felt secure and not like he was about to fall in. I'd recommend it if your babe is scared of falling.

Dancing. They are hilarious sometimes. Alisa is shirtless because we ate red sauce that night. 

We're still here... barely!

It's been a little crazy around here since Thanksgiving. Besides frantically trying to MAKE Christmas presents (brilliant, I know. Why don't I have these ideas in June?), Scott has been preparing for boards and I have been sucked in to The Host. I finally finished it. It was a good book. All 613 pages. Scott took his boards exams yesterday and today. Hooray! They're over!

Here are some pictures of our Thanksgiving ski trip to Utah. There was absolutely NO SNOW, so we played a lot of the Wii, swam in the heated indoor/outdoor pool, went to the Olympic park, went ice skating at an outdoor rink in SLC and went to see the lights at Temple Square. We also visited my fave Cafe Rio... yum. Here are some out of order pictures. Finally. Whew.

The whole group at Temple Square. It was lovely. And cold. Very cold.

Family picture.

In front of the Cristus. I love this statue.

Jenni and Kelsi got creative with Alisa's wispy hair.

Outside the outdoor ice skating rink. Jake LOVED it. He asks once a day to go skating again and is looking forward to Christmas so he can go again.

What a little cutie-pie!

Here we are hauling Jake around. We supported his weight while dragged his feet (drug?). It's like riding a bike, peeps. You should try it again. It was fun!

Playing in the outdoor pool. I think the temperature was about 50 that day. Other days, it was 30. Alisa got a runny nose and didn't swim outside anymore. 

Scott throwing Jake.

Watching the Luge at the Olympic park. Yes it was cold. Very.

At the entrance.

Notice I'm hard at work on the rolls while these slackers are rockin' out... ha, ha. Lots of time on the Wii rock band this trip. Linda was ready for some Michael Buble.

Isn't this picture so sweet?

This is what we did when it didn't snow for our ski trip: Wii.

Alisa in the jacuzzi tub in the condo. It had a shower head and the kids LOVED it.

Everyone thought it was so funny that Jake could still eat an apple without the front teeth.

Jake eating Scott's pecan pie. 

I love this little princess!

Wow just look at that face! And those ponys. Love it after a nap.

Peace

Today I discovered that our bathroom door locks. 

I gave my kids a halloween sucker and locked myself in. (Did I mention this was around 11 am? It wasn't 7 am... don't worry!)

I took a nice, hot shower. Alone. No holding the shower curtain closed with one foot while Alisa struggles to tear it open and get soaked. No keeping Jake's undies on so he doesn't hop in and join me. 

It was just me.

I felt at peace.

Until I got out, of course. Jake promptly informed me that Alisa chewed her sucker stick up and swallowed it. He promises. I have yet to find it so I think it might be true. 

She didn't choke. And I still got a moment of peace.

Happy Birthday to my Sweet Niece

I can't believe I didn't get to talk to my sweet niece on her birthday! I love her so much and am so grateful she is part of our family. She is such a sweet girl and a natural nurturer. I love how she plays with and takes care of my kids when we see her (I wish we could see her more often!). She is smart and fun. She's a good helper and good big sister. Jake adores her and we all love her. Happy late Birthday, Ash! I can't believe how grown up you are! We LOVE you!!!

Don't they look alike? I think it's those big Crane brows. Thanks, papa Crane! :)

Angel Sleepers and Pony tails (plural!)

Mercifully, Jake has figured out how to play with Alisa without me getting out of bed in the morning. He still comes in and wakes me up around 6:15, but he'll go back to climb in the crib and dump a bunch of toys out. Sometimes I actually get to fall back asleep! Ah! I love that they play together more now. 

Jake's wake-up phrase: Mom, the sun is up! It's time to get up! Get out of bed! The sun is up!

I caught these angelic poses the other night. I know I just posted some sleeping pictures, but Jake was such a crack-up! Then I saw my princess sprawled out in Jake's old shirt and couldn't resist.

Isn't this funny?! Who knows how long his hands were clasped like this. He was out.

Ok, doesn't she look like a GIRL?

I had her playing with my old prom jewelry--yes, from 12 or 13 years ago and yes it's cheap from Claire's. Back view. She has so little hair, but hey! That mullet fits into 2 cute pony tails!

Aw, how CUTE! I like it much better than the wispy mullet she has going on lately...

These two trouble makers (with Alisa) probably scared Abby away for good today. With all the growling and getting of bad guys, Abby was definitely more content to play dress up and puzzles with me. While I didn't get a picture of her, Abby DID make Jake's prayer tonight, so she IS his friend, even if Jonas is his #1 love.

They turned on the hose outside this morning and doused each other. It was before 9 so it was a bit chilly outside (as in, it wasn't in the 90's yet), so they got to wear some of Jake's clothes and what better motivator to wear clothes than to match? They loved it.

For Grandma

So my mom complained that I was slacking off on the blog (especially pictures) scene. This post is of the pictures we've taken since my last post. Now, if you read Melissa's blog, I swear I did not take these pictures/videos AFTER she did. I just posted them after. Great minds think alike. Or our kids are the same age and we both like Christmas! :) 

The Christmas music has been playing since early October (Scott actually initiated this one!). Jake was SO excited to put up our tree, and since we put it up last year around Nov. 1st, we thought, What the heck? So we did it.

Fuzzy, but isn't that smile TO DIE FOR?!

Alisa with Casey. Jake and Casey's brother go to preschool together. He is a month older than Alisa and probably 5 inches shorter, and calls her the baby! (Common phrases: No, baby! Go, baby!)

Great three year old baseball idea! Seriously. This is the best thing I have put up yet. The baseball is hanging from a rope (it's actually a tennis ball). So no retrieving necessary. Jake loves it!

Excuse Alisa's soggy diaper. Jake is in his usual attire.

Jake taking over the ABC song.

Here is Alisa singing the ABC's. She's such a crack-up! She stopped singing to grab the H and hit Jake on the head. Too bad I stopped the camera before it happened. She's learning all kinds of things from him!

Pony Tail, Bandaid King, & Terrible Twos

Here are our first attempts at a pony in Alisa's hair. Notice the placement. I had to take it out (and Jake took it out once, too) and try again for closer to where hair would normally be. Poor little baldy!

Part of Jake's trick-or-treating got him a whole bunch of fun bandaids, which he decided to immediately use, despite the fact that he did not have one scratch. 

Alisa's FIRST EVER pony. Like the outfit? Nice shirt. Mom of the Year.

My little angel asleep in her crib with the blanket my Grandma Crane quilted for me. What a sweetie! 

Look who's also a sweetie in his sleep! Here is our choo-choo boy (Polar Express jammies and robe from last year--thanks, Grandma). He is mostly out of the Terrible Twos but he sure knows how to push my buttons. I am trying not to react. I went to the grocery store today at 4:15 pm. First mistake. With both kids. Second mistake. We were all hungry because of daylight savings time. Third mistake. I had no room to make Jake sit in the cart. Fourth mistake. I HATE grocery shopping with kids. Especially with a hyperactive smarty-pants like Jake. I love him to death, but sometimes I want to run him over with my cart! Especially when he is on the opposite end, pushing with all his might against me. I finally gave up, bought a rotisserie chicken, and we (meaning mostly Scott) made some killer chicken salad sandwiches on sourdough toast with cranberry sauce and brie. See recipe here. 

Anyhow, he really is a good kid. So sweet most of the time. It's so fun to watch him grow. And to watch him sleep. Peaceful. I love him. Will I ever learn not to react? Ah!!!