Latest projects....

I have been nesting in a different sort of way this time and it seems to come with stress about not accomplishing things that I've always wanted to do. Instead of cleaning out cupboards or closets, I'm finding that I want to get projects done or do something new. I have really been wanting to get back into sewing and what a GREAT time to be having 10 sewing projects right? I'm overwhelmed with the lack of sleep I am getting by just laying awake in bed thinking of something else I want to accomplish. I wish I wasn't feeling this way but I did get some things done the last couple of weeks.

I had a friend help me make this REALLY cute baby sling for the new babe and it turned out great! I can't wait to see her in it and I'm also anticipating the next sewing adventure for the newbie of the fam.

I LOVE bread!!! I have always wanted to learn to make french bread so I looked up a recipe and tried it! It turned out just okay but hey it was a first time and I'm looking forward to messing with more recipes.

On to something new!!

No diapers for 14 weeks!!

We have made a major accomplishment at the Balls home! Jake is officially potty trained!! I NEVER thought I would say those words. I decided when we got home from Christmas vacation that we were going to go cold turkey. The first few days consisted of alot of following around and asking and pleading but it really only took about a week and he has it mostly down. I think I had it in my head that it was going to take forever, but the kid has not wet the bed yet and is even telling me when he has to go! It's going to be the greatest 14 weeks not having to change any diapers, then it starts all over but hey I will take what I can get! Sorry for the boring post to most folks, but I am just elated that this step in Jake's life is CHECKED off my list!

Gotta love the no diaper saggy pants :)

Christmas 2008

This Christmas was great for our family! Even though it was our first Christmas away from Rupert and we missed the rest of the family we had such a great time with the many things we did in St. George.

We had a little Christmas of our own at home with new pjs and slippers, Polar Express, popcorn and hot chocolate.

Christmas Eve in St. George we had snow! My kids don't see snow very often so they thought this was a big deal.

How many men does it take to put a bike together?

We had a nativity where we had 5 minutes to come up with a costume for our character, the kids were Mary and Joseph, Cam was a Shepherd and Mat was an angel.


Christmas morning the kids slept in until 8 unlike their aunts and uncles who were up WAY before them and were very tempted to wake them.

Jake got a BIG boy bike!
Alex got a cash register!

Cam got a nose hair trimmer! :)

(Mom got a Dyson vaccum YEAH! Sorry no picture, we had to leave it at home.)

Alex also got a art easel that she rarely left alone and was very adamant that NO one looked at her master piece until it was finished.

We went for many bike rides through the neighborhood.

The temple lights were a favorite with the kids even though it was freezing cold for the Arizonians.

Jake and Grandpa at the top of the temple stairs.

We got a chance to go to Zions Park and hike the waterfall trail. Even though it was a snow covered trail we had such a great time and plan on doing it alot more in the future.

Grandpa Bob gave Alex my dads old cowboy belt for Christmas and she has to fight to wear it with her brother around. He thought it was pretty cool and wore it every day!

Mr. Snowman at Zions Park.

We did alot of hiking on our trip and the Narrows were not to be missed. The kids thought they were in heaven! They would have stayed there all day!

Alex and Jake were not afraid to hike right through the small space, they beat their dad to the top.

Jake was a mountain goat! We had to keep a watchful eye on him because he would just take off and be half way up a mountain in no time at all.

Thanks to Mom and Dad for the great time and letting us stay so long and all that you do for our family. We got to see cousins, eat lots of food and play hard, it was an awesome Christmas and we can't wait to see what the year 2009 has in store for our family!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Our favorite Christmas present ever!!

I can't believe 3 years ago we were having our most special Christmas present ever! Jake has been the funny man in our lives and we couldn't imagine our family without him. Some things I love about Jake are...I love that he gives kisses whenever possible. I love that he is silly 100% of the time. I love his 3 dimples that are just to die for! I love that he cares so much for his older sister and pretty much is her shadow most of the time. I love that he loves to cook and clean with me and hope that sticks with him all his life :). I love Jake because he comes and snuggles with me in bed in the morning. I love everything about our little Jake and hope he has the greatest birthday ever!

Christmas festivities Part 1.....

We have been busy busy with holiday fun this year! Kids are the best to have around to boost up the level of the holiday spirit. Cameron led us all in the making of our annual gingerbread house and the kids had a blast! I just kindof sat back and watched the fun happen.

Before the decorating started...

The kiddos going crazy! Jake LOVED eating more than decorating, and Alex was her usual precise and everything has it's place self.

I think Alex gets it from her father, Cam is REALLY into it and I think his fam can back me up on that.

The finished product!!! The kids and dad had so much fun and I had a great time just relaxing and popping a few m&m's in my mouth.

Gainksgiving....

We headed to St. George for Thanksgiving this year and spent it with Cam's sister's family and parents. We had a very yummy dinner with all the fixings and topped it off with some great pie. I didn't get very many pictures of the kids, but managed to get them eating their pie. Jake loved the pumpkin pie and had seconds but realized he liked just the middle on the second round. Alex has been begging for months now to have a pumpkin pie so she was pretty pumped when she dug into her slice. It was a great, relaxing weekend and we had a great time with the family and can't wait to get together again. Our kids LOVE going to the movie so we took them to Bolt and I'm not sure if it's just that I'm pregnant and not a real fan of sitting that long but it seemed the movie was sooo long. The kids seemed to like it and I guess that's all that matters. We are looking forward to returning to St. George for a fun Harman Christmas with EVERYONE there! It doesnt' happen often enough and it will only get harder so we are excited to get together.

Ps: If you are wondering if I spelled Thanksgiving wrong, I didn't. Alex has said it that way ever since she started to talk and we think it is SO cute that we haven't corrected her yet. :)

Yummy pie!!

Movie time..

Raiding Grandpa's pantry...

Gratitude...

I have been reading the General Conference Ensign lately and have been very touched by Pres. Monson's talk on "Finding Joy in the Journey." With Thanksgiving coming up me and Cameron have been trying really hard this year to instill the real principles of Thanksgiving and Christmas to our kids. I don't know if it's the world around us or just the prompting to make our home a better place. Alex has been learning alot about Thanksgiving at her preschool and has told me countless times what she has been grateful for. She said the other day she was grateful for her my little pony's and I laughed there for a minute, but in reality she is grateful for what is around her. Sorry for the long post, it's mostly for when I print off our blog one day. I took a few of the quotes I really liked from Pres. Monson's talk and thought I would share.

"This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now.
Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. Wrote William Shakespeare, “They do not love that do not show their love.”3 We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us.

Said the Lord in a revelation given through the Prophet Joseph Smith, “In nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things.”10 May we be found among those who give our thanks to our Heavenly Father. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues.

I LOVE the last quote where it says gratitude takes it's place among the noblest of virtues. I have always felt being grateful for what is around you is SO important and I sometimes forget with all the stress in life to stop and realize to be grateful for the people around me and never forget that my life has been so blessed.

I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving and eat lots and lots of good food!

Breaking out pink again....

It's a GIRL!! Another girl I should say, we went to our ultrasound yesterday and the tech said she couldn't see any "boy parts" so that if she were to guess she would say it was a girl. Real assuring huh? I'm just hoping to get a better look sometime and have more of an assurance, but for now we are happy with the results and can't wait to have her here. Alex is SO excited, we took her with us and she thought it was pretty cool to watch the screen and see the different images. Jake says he wants a baby sitter, not sure he really gets it yet. The picture above shows her sucking her thumb which I think is very cute now but I'm not so sure I'm going to like it if she keeps up with the habit. Now if the next 20 weeks go just as fast as the last we will be set!!

Iowa..

About a week ago I got the chance to go and visit my sista Katie in Iowa. I not only got to visit, I got to go by myself!! It was so much fun! It's probably one of the funnest weekends I have ever had. Day #1 I slept in!! Yeah for that! Katie came home from working the morning shift and she took me to the spa she works at and I got the most AMAZING facial ever! We then got a tour of the dental school my brother in-law is going to and that was quite fun to see. Katie took me downtown and we shopped a few little boutiques and had a yummy Mexican dinner. Day #2 we ventured to the big city of Des Moines, got lost but found our way to the biggest, most crowded mall ever! We did stop at the outlet mall on the way there and back too. Just a fun day of early Christmas shopping and some good company. That night we went to a place called Hot Hut and had some really great noodles. Day #3 we went to church and then laid around the rest of the day on Katie's ginormous couch and watched What Not to Wear. It was a great trip and I'm planning on someday hopefully getting to escape and go back again. Thanks Katie and Benny for the good times!

On the way to Des Moines, I think this must have been before we got lost because we are still smiling. Des Moines


Hot Hut, yum yum!


We had barbecue one night and I had to try their fried oreos, I know it sounds weird but they were actually really good.

What we did pretty much every evening. LOUNGE!