Rowan Turns 6

Rowan turned the big 6 back in January.  We had celebrated on the day of his birthday but also the day after.  They made Rowan feel special at school!  He brought treats for his class and came home with this crown and balloon with pixie stick attached.



On his birthday, he wanted to go to chick-fil-a for dinner and then bowling.  I'm not sure we've ever taken the boys bowling but it was a hit and they had so much fun!


The day after his birthday, Rowan invited about 5 of his friends to a birthday party. He wanted a Transformers party. He was so excited when we started decorating for his party and was definitely in heaven. We played some games, colored transformers, hit a pinata and then had cake and ice cream!

At 6 years old, Rowan: 

• Is 43 lbs 45 1/2 inches tall 
• is amazing at problem solving 
• loves Nutella, GogoSqueez, Edamame, Cereal, Cheeseburgers 
• plays with Duplos, Nerf Guns, Transformers and the ipad 

He is so imaginative and cute!

Christmas 2013

Christmas this year was absolutely fabulous.  It always is though when we get to spend time with family.  We went up to Idaho like we usually do.  I didn't get very many pictures and only had my phone, but that's when you know we had a really great time, right?

We spent Christmas Eve at Snedakers.  We sang Christmas carols, ate lots of food, played the chimes, read the Christmas story and opened Christmas pajamas. Nova discovered how tasty Santa is and enjoyed chewing on his head.

 Nova and her cousin Mason. These two are less than 2 months apart.


 

Everybody singing

 

 All 3 kids in their Christmas jammies!

When Santa came, he was very generous! Chandler got a zoomer, a robotic dog and Rowan got a huge hot wheels set. They also got lots of stocking stuffers, some lego sets from us and a few other toys. Nova got a glowing seahorse toy, soft book, stroller toy and some teething toys in her stocking.


 

 It's always fun to see their faces when they come out on Christmas morning.

Late morning, we headed over to Grampa and Puppy Nielson's house to open more presents. The boys spent all day putting together legos and playing with their new toys. Marshall and I pretty much picked out our own presents this year. I was dying to get the third Naked palette and I LOVE It. I might be a little obsessed with makeup!

 We had a fabulous Christmas and were so blessed with family, health, the gospel and happiness!

Saying Goodbye and New Beginnings

We moved the first week in December.  It was definitely bittersweet.  Eagle Mountain was the longest we ever lived in one place.  5 years to be exact. It was the place we bought our first home, basically the only home Rowan has ever known.  We made memories, started school, brought a new baby home and more.  Although we loved our town home, it just didn't make sense to stay there forever.  We needed more of a forever home, one that we could be in and know that our family could grow.

The moving process was tedious.  I was hard trying to get things packed while having a newborn, working and taking care of the rest of the family.  Let's just say that we ate out.  A lot.   On top of moving, I was trying to keep the house clean to show.  We decided not to sell but rent.  We figured it would be a good business investment as we build equity and make a little money each month.  Thankfully, we found incredible tenants who signed a year lease.

When it came time to finally move, it was a very snowy day.  In fact, I'd say it had to be one of the top days for snow this year.  We were really glad to have a bunch of Marshall's family come down to help us move.  I don't know how we could have done it without them.

We are finally almost unpacked.  Our office still looks like something threw up in it, but most other things have a place.  There is so much home improvement that we are going to have to do, so it will be a process.  It's also really hard to keep clean.  I went from 1700 to 3700 square feet and some days it feels like all I do is clean.  I'm getting better on staying on top of things which makes it more manageable though.  We love our new ward and are starting to settle and make friends.  Chandler and Rowan both started their new schools and are doing well.  Chandler is going to our neighborhood school and is on a traditional schedule and Rowan is going to another school in the district since he is in diagnostic kindergarten.  He is on a year round schedule and has recently been off track for 3 weeks.  He is liking his new school and although we've had some really hard days, he seems to be adjusting ok.

I miss friends out in Eagle Mountain, but I do love being only 2 minutes away from a grocery store and only 5 minutes away from Jordan Landing which has a ton of great shopping.  We are a lot more central and instead of being 25 minutes and an hour from our work places, we are now only 10 & 15 minutes.

Here's to new beginnings!

Chandler's baptism and Nova's blessing

I keep meaning to edit pictures from Chan's baptism and Nova's blessing and the longer I put it off, it just doesn't get done.  I've been so busy with our move, getting settled and the holidays that the blog has taken a back seat.  Instead of editing pictures, they are just coming straight from my camera. :)

Chandler was baptized on Saturday, November 2nd.  Since his birthday fell the day before stake baptisms, he was able to get baptized the day after his birthday.  It was an incredibly special day because we blessed Nova that same day.  We figured it would be easier for family if we did it that way.
The way that our stake does baptisms, we each get our own room and program for our ward.  Chandler was the only one from our ward that month, so it was just him.  We figured out the program and invited friends and family.  My sister Avry gave a talk on baptism and I gave a talk on the Holy Ghost.  It's crazy because I felt like I was just baptized and then I realize that it was 22 years ago.

Marshall was able to baptize and confirm Chandler.  It was such a special moment seeing him take Chan down into the water.  I'm so proud of Chandler for making the decision to be baptized.  He met with the bishop before his baptismal date and knew it was what he wanted.


After the baptismal program, Marshall blessed Nova.  To be quite honest, I don't remember much that was said in her blessing.  I do remember the feeling though and crying almost instantly.  After 3 such amazing ordinances, I thought my heart would explode out of my chest.  In a good way.  I felt so much peace and happiness that day.  I felt grateful for my wonderful husband to perform all of these priesthood ordinances.

Nova wore a blessing dress that my mom made.  It was absolutely beautiful.  She was such a champ that whole day.  Didn't cry, let everyone hold her.


After the blessing and baptism, we went to a church and had a lunch with all of our family and friends.  I am so grateful to be a mother and for the blessing it is.

Nova at 4 Months Old

I can't believe that my baby is 4 months old.  It seems like I blinked and the last 4 months went by.  I still have a lot to blog about her, but wanted to do a 4 month update so I didn't forget specifics.  Everyone always says how each kid grows at their own pace and is different.  Not my kids.  At birth, they were all within 1/2 lb of each other.  At 2 months, they were all within 3 ounces.  At 4 months, Rowan and Nova are just once ounce apart.  I'm not sure what Chan was at 4 months, but I'm sure it was really similar.  Crazy, right?

We took Nova in for her 4 month checkup.
Stats:

Weight: 15 lbs 10 oz
Heights: 26"
Head: 16 1/2"


She is 90% for weight, 95% for height and 75% for head.  I know she will start to even out at 6 months, but I am totally loving the chunk on her.  She is wearing some 3-6 month clothes and some 6-12 month stuff.  Her 3-6 month stuff is really getting too small but I don't have the heart to pack it all up yet.


I remember holding my boys quite a bit as babies, but Nova is extra spoiled.  I've realized just how quickly time goes and hold her a LOT.  I will make any excuse I can to stop what I'm doing and hold her.  She really is an incredible baby.  She very rarely cries, will smile at anyone, almost never spits up, and is laughing and rolling.  She doesn't roll often, but has rolled over a few times starting a few days before she turned 4 months.  She is grabbing onto toys and figuring out how to use her little hands.

She's still exclusively breastfed except when I work.  Then it's breast milk in a bottle. :)  She does an amazing job transitioning from bottle to breast to paci.  I thought it would be really hard to go back to work and while I do miss her while I'm gone, I don't worry.  She's with Marshall and is so easy going so that gives me peace of mind.  I'm planning on breastfeeding her longer than a year.  I'm hoping to make it to 2, maybe a bit longer.  I used to care what others thought and stopped BF Rowan at 13 months because of how others viewed it.  Now I could care less what others think and will do what works for us.  It's a great bonding experience and I know we both enjoy it. :)  I wish that I had that attitude from the get go.

Nova is currently also working on some teeth.  Her bottom gums are so swollen and I'm expecting her to pop something through anytime, but who knows...maybe it will be a while?

She loves to watch her brothers and is quick to laugh at them.  For some reason, she just thinks they are so funny.

Right before Nova gets tired, she has this really funny giggly window.  She will coo and talk, laugh and is very social.  Once that window is over, she fusses just a little and is out in a matter of minutes.  It's so funny and cute.

She hasn't started solids yet, and I'm probably going to wait until 5-6 months depending on how much interest she shows.  If she shows interest at 5 months, we will start then.  If not, I'll hold off longer.  One thing that will be good with solids is that her poop will be more solid.  She is my super pooper and blows out of any diaper I put her in.  We've just come to terms that she will blow out of a diaper at least once a day.  I've tried going up a size, different brands - she blows out of them all.  Silly girl.

Her eyes are still blue and I'm thinking they will either stay blue or go hazel.  Marsh has brown eyes and mine are hazel so I guess my hazel gene is just that much more dominant.


Nova's fuzzy hair has really started to come in and she's very blonde.  It's so cute.

I think that's all I can think of for a random Nova update.  Love this girl!

Family Pictures 2013

We had Foto Fly take our family pictures again at Thanksgiving Point.  I'm always happy with what a good job they do.  It was pretty cold that day with snow flurries since it was right before Thanksgiving.  The kids all did really great, including Nova.  I love my little family!  PS - Yes, it is picture overload.

Chandler's 8th Birthday

Chan turned 8 on November 1st.  He woke up in the morning and I pinned his birthday boy pin to him.  I always remember how special I felt as a kid when people would know it was my birthday and make a big deal.  He loved wearing the pin and said lots of kids told him Happy Birthday at school.
This year we didn't do a friend party, we opted just to do a family party.  He told me he wanted a surprise party which basically means that we decorate before he gets home.  The boys had recently seen Monsters University and he wanted Monsters University decorations.  We obliged and he was so excited.

My parents were here for his birthday and they joined in on the fun.  Chandler got a Lego Chima set, a Lego Chima figure, Mario Tennis Wii and some clothes.  Normally I don't wrap up clothes for the kids besides Christmas pajamas.  I just buy them clothes when they need things or outgrow them.  When Rowan saw Chandler open a package that had some t-shirts in it, he exclaimed, "Clothes?!?  That's not good!"  It was pretty funny.  Chandler also got new scriptures from my parents with his name on the front.  They are a really nice set and will be great to use for years to come.  They also gave him some stickers to put in his scriptures and my mom gave him some neck ties for scouting.  My mom has been in scouting on and off for like 25 years so she had just a few.