Our New Addition

We have a new member of the family!

Maija Elisabeth Mobley was born on Tuesday November 18th at 5:33 in the afternoon. She weighed 7 lbs. 5 oz. and was 18 1/2 inches long.

We are tickled with her, and think she's the greatest. She sleeps well (so far) and is overall just a great baby.

We had our court hearing yesterday and we now have legal guardianship of her and all other parental rights have been terminated. So now we are waiting for the interstate compact agreement between WY and ID so that we can take her out of state.

All three older kids find her fascinating, and want to hold her all the time. For some reason I don't have a picture of Maija and Samuel. Maybe because he wasn't here when I first brought her home from the hospital. (he was with Stuart at home in WY, and they got here on Thursday night.)

Poor poor kids

Is it really Friday already? Goodness this week has flown by, really the year has flown by. I feel like we were just celebrating Christmas and now Thanksgiving is fast approaching. Where does the time go?

The kids have been upset with me quiet a lot this week. At first I found it funny, and now it just makes me sad. I've had 3 meetings in the evenings this week; the first being for PTO which I had to be at because I am the Co-President, the second was a Primary workers meeting (slightly important since they are changing everything around) and the third being bookclub.

Because of these meetings I've had to drop the kids off at the pool a little bit before Stuart was done with swim practice and then head off to my meeting. On Tuesday night I heard this conversation in the back of the van on the way to the pool (I don't know who said what):

"No, we're just going to pick dad up. Mom had a meeting last night she's not going to leave us again."

"Mom, are we picking dad up at the pool?"

Me: "No, I'm dropping you guys off."

"Why aren't we picking dad up?"

Me: "Because I have a meeting."

"But you had a meeting last night."

Me: "I know, but I too have to leave the house sometimes."

They weren't thrilled on Tuesday night although I made it home in time for scriptures and prayer. However they were downright sad about last night's bookclub. I don't think it would typically be a problem, however I am going to be gone for the next 2-3 weeks depending on how long it takes us to get the paperwork we need to take the new baby out of state. And, they know I'll be gone and aren't handling it as well as I had hoped. Thankfully they'll be with me for the week of Thanksgiving.

My poor children, they have to live with just dad (although he'll probably feed them pizza every night...or take them out). They also get to go over to a friend's house after school until Stuart can leave work...it's so inconvienent that the High School gets out 40 minutes after the elementary schools! KatieJo told me last night that she is "going to tell dad every night how much I miss you so that he'll let me call you." What a hoot, and what makes it even funnier is that she is incredibly dramatic. And Samuel said he wasn't sure he wanted to adopt the baby because 1. it's a girl and he doesn't need another sister (a brother would be preferable) and 2. because he wants to go with me but can't.

I know they'll survive, but I still feel a little bit like I'm abandoning them. Oh well, they'll only get to miss me for 4 days. Doesn't distance make the heart grow fonder? LOL...we'll see!!

The act of giving

My sister-in-law does "Wordfull Wednesday", I'm not sure how she either found the blog or knows the person the blog belongs to; but I find it very interesting and feel compelled to do it myself....probably because the topic is "The Act of Giving".

I have been given SO much over the past couple of years. Almost 2 years ago I was pregnant with Phillip (our 3rd child). On December 15th, 2006 I started having pre-term labor. I was exactly 7 months pregnant. At first I had an emergency appointment with my doctor and was given medicine and a couple days later I was still in pain and still having contractions/cramping so I went to the hospital which was 3 hours from our home and my wonderful sister-in-law Aimee met us at the hospital (it was an 1 1/2 hour drive at least for her to get there as well) and took KatieJo and Samuel home with her. (I don't know that I've ever thanked her, it was kind of a blur...so THANK YOU Aimee!)

After spending the night in the hospital I was released the next evening and was given medicine to stop the contractions and cramping and told that I was on bedrest. I wasn't sure how I was going to make it 2 more months without being able to get up and take care of my children's needs. I will be forever grateful for a wonderful visiting teacher who called and set up daycare and meals for us. Not many of the wonderful women who took care of KatieJo and Samuel were members, but they welcomed them into their homes and took care of them when I was unable to do so. Not only did they care for my children everyday the person who watched the kids during the day sent a meal home for us so Stuart wouldn't have to worry about food on top of everything else.

It was extremely hard to accept the help that so many people offered. It's not everyday that I or anybody is placed in a situation that requires that kind of help. But I will never forget how it felt to be on the receiving end of the selfless giving all of those women offered me. I even had to have one sister drive me to my doctor's appointment in Spokane. She wouldn't accept any money for her time or for gas....WOW!

To the women who helped me, it was very insignificant to accept my children into their homes. The vast majority of them had children the same ages as mine and so it wasn't a big deal. But to me it was monumental, and I am EXTREMELY grateful for all of them.

My Monday Effort

It is once again Monday...I've decided they should be outlawed! But since I doubt I can convince anyone to do that I guess I'll just have to live through them.

Today for my Monday Effort I've decided that I need to write something that I am VERY grateful for, and today that happens to be my husband. I was SO irritated at him last night for something pretty silly, and instead of waiting for me to apologize he did it first. I'm grateful for all that he does for our family, and I'm always surprised at how much I love the man. (I'm only surprised because I was convinced when we got married that I would never love him more than I did at that point in time...I was wrong I love him more each and everyday!)

Phillip and I have had a good morning. I'm not sure we've done anything terribly productive except dishes and laundry, but I've really enjoyed his company today. Right before lunch I got a phone call from my mother-in-law. (For those of you who don't know we are adopting my sister-in-law's baby and she is due on Nov. 23rd.) Anyway, my phone call started with..."I just thought I'd give you a heads up" and all I could think was "SHOOT, I'm not ready for Maria to be in labor yet...I don't have the baby clothes washed, I don't have any of our clothes packed etc." Thank goodness she was just calling to tell me that Maria had been to the doctor's this morning and provided the hospital has enough room they will be inducing next Tuesday. So, I have now set up someone to pick KatieJo and Samuel up from school next week since we are now planning on me leaving this weekend, at the latest Monday; I have also found a sub for Stuart for our Ward Choir and re-arranged some appointments. I still have a lot to do, which means I had better get myself in gear! I'm not sure if I should spend my week preparing meals for the freezer or not. Stuart can cook, but I kind of feel like I am abandoning them for a few weeks.

I'm starting to get a little nervous about this baby. I'm not nervous about having an infant. At least this time I've already had an infant. It's just that I haven't felt her growing for 9 months and I'm worried about the bonding. We'll see I guess!

We are Thankful!

As Thanksgiving is fast approaching we decided to make a Thankful Turkey for FHE. Our poor little Turkey started out cold and without feathers. Then we started writing what we are thankful for. It turns out it's somewhat hard for the kids to come up with the things they are thankful for. We got the standard answers..."Jesus Christ", "Heavenly Father". And we are all thankful for that, however our goal this year was to look at their lives and see what they are thankful for, i.e. a bed, the food we eat, warm clothes etc.

Here's what we're thankful for:

1. The Sun (Phillip)...at least that what it sounded like he said

2. Mom (Samuel)

3. Family (KatieJo)

4. Suckers (Phillip) HE LOVES suckers!

5. Toys (KatieJo)

6. A warm home (Chaney)

7. Crayons (Samuel)

8. The Scriptures (Stuart)

9. KatieJo and Samuel (Phillip)

10. Food (KatieJo)

11. School (Samuel)

12. Friends (Mom)

I also have to say that I have been appaled over the weekend....my "baby" is getting big! He has abandoned his booster seat and has decided that he is big enough to sit next to KatieJo and Samuel on the bench for meals. Sniff, sniff....I can't believe how big he his and how many words (and sentences) he says!

The movie IGOR

Stuart coaches the local movie theater owner's kids on the USS swim team, and so for Halloween KatieJo and Samuel got free movie passes to see the movie IGOR.
So tonight Stuart had parent teacher conferences until 8 and so I arranged to have a friend watch Phillip and KatieJo, Samuel and I headed off to see the movie. We don't get any t.v. reception and so we don't see the trailers for the movies (or political ads, thank goodness!).
We were a little excited to see the movie. We rarely go to movies as we prefer to watch them in the comfort of our own home. And, they very rarely get mom alone without Phillip crawling all over everyone.
So, as we're sitting in the theater watching the movie I start to realize maybe this isn't such a great movie. It was dark, and well self professed "Evil". During 90% of the movie Igor (the main character) wants to be an evil scientist in a dark dark world and he has invented a monster who somehow manages to be good; but he tries his very hardest to make this monster evil.
To make a long story short, the only part any of us liked was the end when the darkness went away and Igor decides it's not bad to be good.
In short, I DO NOT reccomend this movie; KatieJo and Samuel don't ever want to see it again and thought it was scary. Oh, and did I mention that they take the Lord's name in vain several times? That REALLY bugs me, it's a kids movie and granted the main character wants to be evil...but do they really have to add that on top of it all?
Maybe someone else has a different opinion of this movie, but I found it a horrible choice and I am sorry that I took my children to see it!

My Kids

I thought it might be fun to blog a little about my kids. Each of them has such a unique personality and I want to share that with you.

KatieJo is the "little mom" in our house. Sometimes (ok most of the time) it bugs me that she tries to be Samuel & Phillip's mom, however I'm starting to realize that she will someday be a mom and the reason she does it is because she sees me being mom and I would like to hope she's just trying to emulate me. KatieJo is also our contortionist. She can twist and move her body in ways I've never seen, which is why she is taking a tumbling class. She is also one of the sweetest little girls you will ever meet. She is constantly trying to please us and do what she is supposed to. She loves school and loves to learn and is really good at math and reading.

Samuel is my child that looses EVERYTHING! He can take his backpack off at the front door, walk into his bedroom and then back out and not be able to find his backpack. He's pretty emotional (and sometimes uses that to his advantage). He is also very smart and thinks of things the other kids at school don't think of which typically gets him trouble. He is my child who would spend all day with me just following me around and asking me questions. To say he his a momma's boy is an understatement. He is such a crazy kid who is generally a very happy child. He thinks he CARS movie is the best, and has a fairly substantial collection of the cars from the movie.

Phillip is a hoot. He wants to do everything KatieJo and Samuel do, and he ADORES cars! He drives them everywhere. He is also a climber. He can and will climb anything that stands in his way...including bunkbeds...it's always more fun at the top right? He has recently discovered babys and somedays carries one around all day. He also figured out that mom will let him take the baby in the baby carrier in the car and so likes to do that when we go have lunch with dad. He too is a mommy's boy and well due to the fact that we spend all day together follows me around.

I love each of my children for so many reasons, and I am grateful everyday that I have them in my life. Notice I didn't say every minute because sometimes they drive me crazy.

Yea!

YEA, I get to vote! I was reading the phonebook the other day (yes I know that sounds silly, but I like to look and see what kind of business there are in Rawlins), and I read the voting page and in WY you can register to vote the day of voting. And since we didn't manage to register 30 days ago, we can register today! YEA! Who knew a person could be so excited about this; however this election scares me a lot and I was worried that if I didn't vote my opinion just didn't matter. And, I want it to matter!

So, in about an hour Phillip and I are going to head over to the Jeffery's center and vote....and then go have lunch with Stuart.

Voting makes this day awesome, I get to do my duty for my country (and hopefully get the candidate I want into office...I'd say who that is but I don't want this post to be too political!).

Unfortunately we have parent teacher conferences tonight. Again, Phillip gets to tag along while KatieJo and Samuel are going to swim practice with Stuart (Stuart got his wish and doesn't have to go...poo on him, I hate being the one that has to go to these things alone...I'm always worried they're going to tell me something bad!) I'm fairly certain that I won't hear anything bad since I'm at the school all the time, but you never can tell.

My Monday Effort

I know it's still Sunday, but I'm getting a head start on the week. I REALLY liked looking back at what I love about Mondays so I thought I'd do it again although I thought I'd make it pertain more to tomorrow than my typical Mondays since I really need it today (and tomorrow).

We got some sad news over the weekend that I'm not going to go into since it's depressing, but because of that news I LOVE the fact that my children will wake up tomorrow morning and take their time getting ready for school and will have to be hurried along because they move like snails unless Stuart is the only one up when they get ready for school.

I LOVE the fact that I can hug them and send them to school where they will learn so many new things.

I LOVE the fact that I can work at the bookfair and not have to worry about Phillip for a few hours. (THANK YOU Shonda for exchanging daycare with me!)

I LOVE the fact that I get to use my artistic talents tomorrow and put up a new bulletin board for the PTO.

I LOVE the fact that I will get to spend the evening with my family...they're the TOPS!

Oh, and I LOVE the fact that I get to finish re-arranging the dinning room/library room and the living room (we swapped the rooms on Saturday much to Stuart's dismay).

And I LOVE that sometime tomorrow I will get to sit and enjoy some quiet time to myself.

I also LOVE that my husband will tell me that I am beautiful regardless of what I actually look like. (I just read this to him and he told me "You are always beautiful and I don't lie about that"...Yea for WONDERFUL husbands!

SUGAR!

What a Halloween! I cleaned quite a bit yesterday morning and then went to the school for the Halloween parties...holy cow, they sure give those kids A LOT of candy! Then we came home and I had to calm the kids down before my parents got here. Because once they got here it started all over again!
Trick or treating in this neighborhood is AWESOME! There weren't very many trick or treaters, so we have a whole bag of candy left (and we were dumping candy in kids bags to get rid of it.) the people here buy the GOOD stuff..i.e. snickers etc. KatieJo the kangaroo and Samuel the bat kept running off ahead of us and Phillip the lion who wouldn't wear his hood kept letting go of my hand and ran after "bampa" and would hold my dad's hand (by the way, my dad NEVER went with us so this was a new one for us). Phillip even managed to get Grandpa to go to the door with him...WOW! After a while Phillip started chasing KatieJo and Samuel and did manage to say Thank You at every door.

Today we made carmel apples with Grandpa and Grandma which are pretty yummy. Yea for candy and sweets?!?