Valentines......

We had a great Valentines weekend! I love Valentines Day with kids! It is one of Alex's favorite holidays, her and Jake love any reason to decorate cookies and have pink pancakes! Friday we made our traditional sugar cookies, the kids and I decorated them for daddy and some friends. Jake has come a long way since the last decorating party. Saturday morning brought the kids some fun treats and a playdough kit that their cousin Taylor has and had been begging to get since we were there for Thanksgiving, they have non-stopped played with it since. My mom sent the coolest book she made which I will post later and some fun socks for the kids that I couldn't get them out of for 3 days. Me and Cam got a kidless night out and went and saw the movie Taken, it was pretty good I would recommend seeing it. I'm still not sure how he talked me into going to see a action movie instead of the many romantic/comedies that are out but he won and it was a great night out with my valentine.

Funny story: Alex had her preschool Valentines party on Thursday and got some treats and one of the many was the famous, old school Fun Dip. She shared candy with Jake but the Fun Dip was hers and while she was eating it Jake saw how fun it looked to eat and got really sad and asked why he couldn't have one. We explained how it was Alex's and that she had shared all the rest of her candy. He pouted for a little while and climbed up on Cam's lap and said, "Dad, I want the perfect candy like Alex. Will the Love Bug bring me the perfect candy in morning?" (The Love Bug is a family tradition who brings candy on Valentines) It was pretty funny and sweet to see that he thought this was the "perfect" candy. SO, being the cool parents we think we are :), we went to EVERY store in a 5 mile radius to find the "perfect" candy. It took us 1 Walmart, 1 Target and 6 Walgreens later to find the Fun Dip. Needless to say Jake was pretty excited about his surprise Saturday morning.

Our cute Valentines!

My babies......

I was reading about a couple the other day who had lost their 10 month old to cancer in finding out within two weeks. TWO WEEKS! It is unbelieveable how you plan for the future and you think you have all this time with your loved ones but in reality it could be taken away in seconds. As a read their story it made me want to hold my kids a little tighter and cherish EVERY second we have together. I just wanted to write a little bit about what is going on with these two fun, crazy, hilarious, loveable, sweet kids of mine.

Alex has always been a cautious girl and really thinks twice about doing anything wrong. Don't get me wrong, she has her moments of being naughty, but it very seldom happens. She has recently found her love to start learning to read. Ever waking moment is either spent coloring, drawing, or make believeing. She told me the other day she wanted to be an artist when she grows up, exactly what I said when I was little. She is very special in our home. I used to say it was silly when parents would say they didn't want their kids to go to school and they just wanted to keep them home. I would think, yeah right they are just saying that, but I REALLY am having a hard time thinking her and I will be seperated each day for a significant amount of time real soon. She is my buddy and my helper.

Jake, oh Jake, what can I say he is the all time silliest kid I have ever met. He makes us laugh 24/7. He is very animated and loves to tell me that "actually mom" or "this just can't be possible" just about in every sentence. Unlike Alex he gets into trouble quite a bit each day but is really trying harder to be a "good guy." He loves his sleep lately, which we are hoping he is growing :) and comes rolling out of bed at 8:45 some mornings. He is our never ending story teller and is aspiring to be the next Emeril. He will do just about anything to help mommy in the kitchen. We love love this little guy not just because he keeps us on our toes but because he is just a world of pure fun.

I tell my kids all the time that they are always going to be mommy's babies even as they grow older. I still think of them as the two precious babies we brought home from the hospital just a little taller and alot smarter. I love these two with everything I have and even though I would like to give them away at times I wouldn't last a second without them.

Sewing Mania.....

I recently took a trip to my mom's and anyone that knows my mom knows that she is a AWESOME sewer. SO, I used and abused her skills and used some of my own not too shabby sewing skills and put us to work for 4 whole days of non-stop sewing projects! I was in heaven and could have stayed for another week! We accomplished so much! I knew I didn't want to do the traditional pink and purple nursery bedding for the baby and had been looking into fabric for months and finally settled on the cutest navy Amy Butler fabric (whom my whole fam is obsessed with.) The picture doesn't do it justice but with my mom's creativity with the ric rac edges and my obesession with minky it turned out just like I hoped! I also have been blog stalking crafty blogs alot lately and came upon the CUTEST blanket ever and decided even with the not so Arizona friendly minky back I had to make it! The balls trimming is just to die for and I love loved the pink fabric version of the baby's quilt.

With Alex also loving anything crafty, she got a little jealous watching me and mom make so much for the baby that she kindly asked why she wasn't getting a new blankie. Needless to say we had been to the fabric store at least 10 times already so decided what the heck one more time wouldn't hurt! Alex picked out her own fabric and we whipped her up a blanket and with the left over minky and one of grandma's old pillows we made her a pillow to match! It was SO SO much fun and thanks to my mom for her mad skills and her determination to help me accomplish some projects! Love you mom!

I have more to post with this crafting adventure but need to finish up some things and will be sure to post my next project.

If you look closely you can see the minky is imprinted with paisley's. SO CUTE!!

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.