Santa Baby

I know that Christmas is long past, but I couldn't resist sharing this picture of our little Santa. Grandma King gave him this suit as an early Christmas present, and it was perfect. He was so patient with the hat falling down over his eyes every two seconds. Everything fit him just right except for the hat and he was the perfect little elf. He was the best Christmas present any of us could have hoped for.

Big Brother

Collin loves to make Gavin laugh! Soon to come, a video of both of them giggling at each other...as soon as Jamie teaches me how to upload the video clip. It is soooo cute! I'll share as soon as I learn!

Tummy Time

Gavin is getting so good at holding himself up and he loves to play with his toys and scoot a bit. He only lasts a few minutes, but those minutes are filled with pure joy in grabbing and holding and drooling! :)

50 Things about Me

Emily Stout inspired me to make a list of 50 things about me to help all you other bloggers get to know me better...so here goes, we'll see if I can actually come up with 50 things:

1. I have only lived in two states: Utah and Wyoming, but I also lived in Eastern Europe, behind the former iron curtain.

2. I served a mission in Lithuania (right above Poland, former Soviet Union, one of the 3 Baltic States). It was an amazing experience. I had major culture shock, but I loved it...not every minute of it, but I would do it again in a heartbeat.

3. There are very few foods I wouldn't try...I even tried squid when I was back east in Washington D.C. before my mission...however, I'll never eat it again, because it tastes like flavored rubberbands, yuck! I also don't recommend "meat jello" which I had on my mission, it was nasty!

4. I love movies! There are many that I could watch over and over such as: While Your Were Sleeping, Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken, Ever After, Princess Bride, Runaway Bride....and many more that I won't take time to list. However, I must say I am disappointed in the quality of movies lately...there are so few that are worth the time and money that don't have all the junk!

5. If given the choice between chocolate cake and candy....chocolate cake all the way baby!

6. I'm a country girl too, (Emily)...I never was until I worked at Granny's Drive-In in Heber and that's all they had on the juke-box. Oh the memories of dancing with my mop to "Any Man of Mine" late at night while closing! Then when Jamie and I were dating, most of our dates were to city halls or dance clubs where we would line-dance and swing the night away. We even got good at all the lifts and flips! I would kill to be able to do that again!

7. I love the natural high that comes with running and exercising to music. I feel so energized and like I could conquer the world after I hit the gym!

8. I love to sing and would take voice lessons if it fit into my busy schedule with my kids...maybe when they're all in school or something. I would also play the sax if I had a choice. I would love to be in a jazz band and play big band music someday. The best thing in the world though, is to see how much my kids love music and to sing and dance with them.

9. Wow...I'm only on number 9!!! I don't know if I'll make it to 50, maybe I should have said 20. So, I don't love to cook, but I wish I was more creative. I love it when a new recipe turns out awesome and wows my family.

10. Something that I could do all day is ride our waverunner. I love the feeling of speeding across the water, and knowing that even if I wreck, the worst that will happen is I'll get wet and get some relief from the sun beating down on my back. I love the water...I could lay by the water or swim for days on end. I am a true water baby.

11. I'm with Emily on the emotional battlefield as well. I hate that I cry so often. I wish I could react and deal with things without all the drama.

12. I played soccer and volleyball in high school and miss them both desperately. What I wouldn't give to play even church ball or in a community league even once a week or every 2 weeks!

13. I've traveled a bit in my life, Eastern Europe to Lithuania on my mission is the farthest I've been, and I remember thinking on the plane ride there...what in the world have I gotten myself into! I am leaving everything I'm comfortable and familiar with behind...and I can't turn back, not for a long, long time. But it was the best experience I could have ever had. I came home appreciating everything about my life way more: the church, the gospel, my home, all the luxuries we have, clean cities, and much more.

14. I've been to California, Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Ohio, Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia, and Hawaii...I think that's it. Aside from that just the airports in Denmark, England, Minnesota, and Illinois...although that probably doesn't count.

15. I love to hike and bike and camp and be out in the great outdoors. Jamie and I went on a lot of hikes and biking trips when we were dating too. One trip that sticks out in my mind is one that both our parents were worried about, as I guess they well should have been. We went to a Bluegrass Festival with some friends who were sponsoring and running the whole thing and they asked us to help. We took two tents, and even set up two tents...but we only ended up using one tent, wink wink...although it turned out that we only talked and cuddled into the night...so our parents didn't really have to worry ;)

16. I am definitely only doing 20 things...this is harder than I thought it would be. How did you come up with 50 Emily? I didn't really care much for high school, although working fast food and playing sports kept me pretty busy. I got good grades and enjoyed reading and writing stories, and was pretty good at math, but all the drama with clicks and popularity contests just really drove me crazy!

17. I hate to be tickled, in fact I am no longer ticklish. I have learned to control it because my dad and grandpa and uncles made me hate it and the aversion to it makes me no longer ticklish.

18. I tripped into a cement wall when I was 7 while racing my cousin to the front door of his house and as a result had to have plastic surgery on my lip when I was 17 years old. It was my graduation present...oh how exciting.

19. I have only been to Disneyland once, and it was the day after my cement wall incident, so as you can imagine, it was a bit miserable for me.

20. I love to dance, but rarely get the chance to do it, other than with my kids with the music jacked up in my house...my moves are really pretty awesome, at least to my kids...but probably a bit scary, or more acurately dorky to anyone else, but we sure have fun.

I could probably come up with some more 1 liners, but I'll call this good for now. There you have it, 20 things, not 50 about me. Sorry to disappoint you Emily.

Ok, ok Emily you win...I'll try a few more and see if I get to 50.

21. I love puppies, but hate slobber, so I'm not the one to play with them a lot, that's Jamie's job. I do like a good game of fetch with our dog Tex, and I love to see him catch a stick or bottle and hop like a deer to get his toys.

22. I detest cats...not only am I allergic to them, but I just hate how they rub your leg and expect to be spoiled. Bummer for Jamie because he grew up with them, and loves them. He still thinks that our kids will eventually talk me into getting one.

23.I love to ride horses but have never had one of my own. My sister and I babysat for a lady in exchange for the chance to clean,comb and then ride her horses. The ironic thing is that Jamie had horses growing up, but he didn't care for them. He would much rather have had four-wheelers, which is still on his wish list.

24. Maybe if I wasn't so long-winded, this wouldn't be as hard. I've only been pulled over 4 times in 14 years of driving, but I got a ticket every single time. My first one I was a basket case because it was the first time I had driven in several months after leaving home for college, and it was my dad's car...I was sure he was going to kill me.

25. I love downhill skiing, but I haven't had the opportunity to go in about 9 years...probably mostly because its ridiculously expensive!

26. I wish I could get rid of 80% of the junk in my house so I could have everything organized like I want it...but really, who has time for that kind of purging?

27. I used to hate speaking in public, but my mission cured me of that...I still don't love it or ask to do it, but I'm no longer terrified of it. I think speaking in a Lithuanian sacrament meeting completely in Lithuanian for a 20 minute assignment...then singing solo for the Easter program officially cured me of my stage fright!

28. I shattered my wrist on the easiest hill at Brianhead in southern Utah while on my second time ever snowboarding. I was with my roommate and a bunch of cute guys, one of whom I had a huge crush on...and I fell while getting off the lift (a teenage kid totally cut me off and steered me into a snowbank, and I tried to catch myself with my left arm)...yikes what a dork...very embarassing. Thank goodness it was my left wrist though, because finals were the next week and I am right-handed.

29. I love any kind of competition...sports or games. I love to win...but mostly I just love a rowdy bunch of people laughing and enjoying some healthy competition. My family has always loved playing games together.

30. My favorite candy is Reeses' cups. My kids know them as treats...whenever we get a treat at the store, my kids know I'm gonna reach for the orange wrapper.

31. I love french fries and fry sauce too Emily, but my butt and thighs don't think much of them :)

32. I hit a parked car in Smith's parking lot when I was 8 months pregnant...needless to say it was a very emotional experience...and one my husband should have been way more sensitive about....don't mess with a pregnant lady's hormones!

33. Housework is therapy to me...I'm a little OCD about clutter. My mom used to call me "work-a-Holly" and I was her best worker all growing up. I still can't concentrate or sit still when my house is a mess. I have a hard time napping, even when I'm really tired, because I just lay there thinking of all the things I could be getting done if I was up.

34. This may sound cheasy and bit self-righteous...but if I won the lottery I would sponsor a women's shelter or go to a third world country and devote some time to a poor village or two. That has always been a dream of mine. Maybe that dream will be fulfilled someday if Jamie and I get the opportunity to serve a mission together. I just feel like I have been so spoiled, and I have no idea what it's like to be without food or shelter or the basic necessities of survival.

35. That's not to say that I wouldn't love to buy new clothes or finish my basement or decorate my house...but really, if I had a lot of cash...I hope I would share some too.

36. I only take long showers when Jamie's home (because I know I can when my kids are under his supervision), so he thinks that I always take forever to get ready...most days I'm lucky to even get a shower, let alone pamper or primp for any amount of time.

37. I hate shopping...my idea of a good shopping trip is to know exactly what I will buy when I get to the store, go in, grab it and leave! I hated the hours and hours at the mall with all my sisters and mom--I would literally collapse on the floor of the millionth store we went into and whine about when we got to go home. Once in a while I like to browse for decorating ideas... but I'm usually pretty grumpy if I don't get to take at least one or two things home with me...I'm definitely not a window shopper, I want it NOW! :)

38. I have the sweetest, most adorable kids on the planet! Look out world, when I become a grandma...I will be a horrible bragger!

39. This is taking forever...I don't think anyone besides Emily will actually read this entire entry...so this is for you Emily! I am definitely long winded...there is nothing brief about any of my stories or conversations!

40.I'm a sucker for Chick Flicks. There that was short.

41. I love the rain, the smell,the humidity...going on a walk or run right after it rains is heaven.

42. I love to fly. I would travel all over the world and see all the sights if money and time permitted. Maybe someday I'll convince Jamie to go with me.

43. I've always wanted to try scuba diving and/or sky diving...but having kids gives you a new perspective I think...both are quite dangerous...but I've always loved a rush.

44. I used to go cliff jumping at Lake Powell with my cousins who own a houseboat down there...I think the highest one I went off was about 35 feet. I didn't have a death wish like my brothers who went off closer to 75 feet. I don't think I'd jump from higher than 10 or 15 feet now...I've really become a wuss.

45. I love to dress up and go to a symphony or the opera....not necessarily only for the show, but just to feel like there's a purpose to really get really "fancy" (as my kids would say).

46. I'm boring everyone, but it's fun to reminisce a bit. I once got off on the wrong stop on the Metro in Washington D.C. and felt like I stepped into an actual ghetto. I was sure my friend and I were going to die. Luckily, a well-dressed business man came and took my arm and escorted us back on the train and said, "don't you dare get off for another 3 stops".

47. I've only gone skinny-dipping once in my life, and it was with my Auzzie friend Daynia in Hawaii. We swam about 50 yards out to a private beach...hope nobody had binoculars!

48. I know several "Wiggles" songs by heart because my kids love them.

49. I love to see my kids sing primary songs. They are so close to the Spirit and I learn so much from them.

50. I made it Emily, aren't you so proud of me! I'm gonna cheat like you did and just be proud of myself for getting this far.

Primary bloopers!

So this was a conversation that I eavesdropped on this Sunday:

Daddy: "Isabel, what did you learn at church today?"
Isabel: "um...about da Howee Ghost."
Daddy: "Oh wow, that's pretty cool."
Isabel: "No, I don't want da Howee Ghost come to my house!"
Daddy: "Oh, really, why not?"
Isabel: "I scared a da ghost. I need to hold you Daddy."
Collin: "But Isabel, the Holy Ghost is so nice, he helps us find our toys!"
Isabel: "Oh, our toys?"
Collin: "Ya, he loves us, he's so nice, but if we make bad choices he will eat us!"
Isabel: "No eat us, Daddy, I'm scared again!"
Daddy: "Collin, he doesn't eat us silly...the Holy Ghost helps us to feel good inside when we make good choices, but he would never hurt us."
Collin: "Oh, yeah, the Holy Ghost loves us, and helps us feel good. See Isabel, you don't have to be scared!"
Isabel: "Oh, the Holy Ghost loves me, yeah, I feel better, thanks"

I'm not sure I got the exact wording on everything, but those were the basic sentiments. Kids say the darndest things! Love to all!

Big Sister

Isabel loves to hold Gavin's hand in the car to calm him down and even after he's gone to sleep like in these pictures, she continues to hold his hand and give him love and security. It's amazing to see the love that my kids have for each other. It's so pure and it's a miracle to me.

Smiley G

Gavin is such a smiley happy kid. He has been right from the start. He is so easy-going and good natured. We love his smile. It makes us all just smile and and giggle right along with him.

Baby Bel

Baby Bel decided she wanted to climb into Gavin's saucer and she actually played and played and had a blast, so much fun, in fact, that I couldn't convince her to get out to have a nap, and didn't have the heart to force it (choose your battles), so she ended up having her nap in the saucer. She has also reverted back to the crib, which makes it hard for me to transition Gavin into it, until she decides she wants to sleep in her "big girl bed" again. She has been talking about monsters and ghosts in her closet, so I figure it's best to let her get over that first before I force her to sleep in Collin's room in her big girl bed again...on top of which, Gavin much prefers his bouncer to any other sleeping surface...ah the joys of parenting...will I ever have a full night's rest again? But they are definitely worth it...they are soooo cute and how can I tell them that cuddling is against the rules when it's bedtime...I know that if I don't take advantage of those moments when they still want to cuddle me, I'll regret it. They're only babies once. Gotta love it!!!

Isabel and Gavin

Gavin has been loving tummy time, and he lasts even longer when Isabel gets down with him and talks to him and dangles his toys. She is so cute, she tells him she loves him, and tells him he's "fancy" (a word we use a lot at our house for some reason), and that he's a good boy. It was so fun to capture their smiles while at play.

Musical FHE

So we recently had a family night where we got out all the musical instruments from around our house, from homemade shakers (paper towel rolls with rice or beans inside and taped shut) to Isabel's pink keyboard that she got for her birthday. We had our mini drum set, wood blocks, whistles, a flute, a recorder, a slide whistle, etc. We had a great time playing along to some Kindermusic tunes (Collin attending a few sessions of this German rooted music-based developmental class). Collin especially got into it as demonstrated by the attached pictures :)

Our little Princess Bel!

Isabel really is our little princess. She is all girl and loves sugar and spice and everything nice. She loves her brothers and is so loyal to them. She helps mommy tons with little Gavin and showers him with affection, sometimes a bit too passionately. She helps cradle him and bounce him and just gives him whatever he needs. The best is when she uses her soft, high voice (mimicking mommy) and says, "oh, what's the problem" and "it's ok, it will be all right, mommy's coming" and "oh, I love you, don't cry sweetheart" and so on. She is just the best little "mommy" to her babies. Because mommy is nursing baby Gavin, she is already starting to mimick a little too much with her babies...:) But they say that imitation is the best form of flattery...if you really like that sort of thing, although sometimes I think her mimicking a cow would work just as well LOL! Anyway, she loves to be in dresses and princess dress-ups. But mostly she loves her "snuggly" which happens to be her favorite blanky. She wants to drag it everywhere and especially when she's sick or sad she asks for it. If we ever leave it anywhere, we panic. She is the sweetest, cutest baby girl in the whole world...of course I'm a little biased, but I still hold to it. By the way, this is Isabel at Pumpkinland the Saturday before Halloween. Love that sweet smile!

Donuts anyone?

Collin is our little police officer, writing out tickets, shining his flashlight into our eyes, begging us to let him handcuff us over and over while we "patiently" wait for him to unlock them with his keys, but mostly just being adorable in those big 70's glasses! The ironic thing is that a few months after he took such a liking to this costume, mommy got a ticket on the way to Aunty Em's house in Ogden. All mommy heard the rest of the way to Em's house was: "Mommy, that policeman made us stop, he said you need to slow down and be careful...but he was glad we were "strapped" (a.k.a. wearing our seatbelts)..." and much more. And of course he was happy to report to daddy and most of the extended family that mommy got a ticket and he went around for the next few days writing me tickets on his little police notebook...saying, "Mommy, how do you spell your name again? You really do need to slow down and be karfo (careful)" So cute...ha ha ha!

Gavin's first days

Gavin's first days were a little rough, but he got through them. He had to have antibiotics through an IV in his little arm and he had to stay in the nursery for an extra couple of nights. But he is now healthy and happy and growing like a weed. We sure love him...his laughs and squeals and smiles are definitely more precious than gold. We love to just sit and watch him respond to our little family. He watches Collin's and Isabel's every move and I'm sure he'll be crawling after them to join in sooner than we realize. Kids really are the greatest. They present many challenges, but we wouldn't trade those challenges for anything. They make us stronger and they mold these kids into great people. They teach us so much every day. They are amazing! The little rascals teach us patience, long-suffering, charity, and more patience...they are the best!

Our newest addition: Gavin Joseph King--Born September 22, 2007

Gavin is such an easy-going, happy baby. We just love his smiles, laughs, and coos. He will be 5 months in a few days and it's hard to believe it went so fast. They just grow up way too fast, but every stage is so fun and rewarding. Gavin's brother and sister sure love him. They are so good to help mommy with him and to play and laugh with him. He is our little baby G.

More Dress-up Fun

King and Queen of Dress-up

Collin and Isabel love to dress up in all different costumes and play together. They are so cute! I love to eavesdrop on their conversations--they are so simple and sweet. I love that they love each other so much. Not that they never tease each other or squabble over toys...all kids do that, but they sure are loyal to each other, and Collin is very protective of his little sister. They help each other and serve each other already. I am so proud of them!