Finally....an update

I have been so busy & just haven't taken the time to post. I shouldn't assume that my life is that uninteresting to everyone out there in blog land. Here is an update of our family....

Spencer started jr high this year. He is doing great and loves it! He is running cross country and just started swimming. He went to some races with John this summer & has a new interest in auto racing. He is addicted to sports (still) and is glad that football season has started. He is really excited about having more brothers or sisters and is looking forward to it.

Kate is in the 5th grade and at a new school. We decided to switch her to a different elementary school and she is doing great. I know the principal and a friend of mine is her teacher. She has had trouble with school due to her seizure medicine, but the school is working to make accommodations. The neurologist says if she is seizure free this next year she may be able to stop taking her medication. She is our social butterfly and is always on the go. She decided to opt out of dance, but is continuing with piano lessons. She also started swim team this year and is doing very well. She loves to get pedicures and is always trying to get me to take her. She is slowly welcoming the idea of twins. I know once they arrive, she will be overjoyed & telling us all how to take care of them.

John has attended some races this summer, played basketball & golf, and is busy with the start of bowling season. He is bowling 2x a week and has realized he has arthritis in his ankles. Thank you Miles for the laughing diagnosis. He thinks he is getting old and he may be right. Ha Ha ! He is great at helping me out at home & with the kids. We are so lucky to have flexible schedules!

I am 5 months along in my pregnancy and just gaining weight(only 13lbs so far). I am working full time & feeling good. I haven't been sick, just very tired. I have missed eating cereal with milk, yogurt & ice cream. They make me feel terrible. I drink lots of water & of course, am always going to the bathroom. I am trying to work as long as possible so I will have more time off after the babies get here. I am fortunate enough to have 6 months off at full pay for my maternity leave. I go for a 3D ultrasound on Sept 29th and hopefully, we will learn the sex of the babies.

My youngest sister just had a baby 3 months ago & both my brother's wives are pregnant. One of them, Larrin, is having twins too!

Our life has been very simple this year. We have forfeited all of our vacations and have visited places & friends close to home. I have to say I have enjoyed the relaxation and free time spent with the kids.

I promise to post some pictures from summer & will keep you updated on the baby news.

It's Twins!

Where do I start? John & I always thought we would have 3 or 4 children, but somehow we stopped at two. About a year ago, we decided we really wanted to have more children. I wanted two more, but John would only commit to one more. He said he was too old...ha ha ha!
I told him we will just have to have twins so we won't have to worry about it. I started telling myself everyday we would have twins & said lots of prayers. Well, I got my wish! I had my 1st ultrasound last Wednesday and it was confirmed. John could hardly believe it when I called him.
Kate has been a little less excited than Spencer, but I know she will come around. She loves babies & bossing little ones around way too much! We are having another ultrasound late September. We will find out the sex of the babies this time. I have lots of preparation to do before January.

O Remember, Remember

I just thought I would share this video from Henry B. Eyring. I have always struggled to keep good journals and notes of great & funny things about my kids and my life.

About a year or so ago, I found http://www.lds.journal.com/ . It allows me to log in at my computer or on my phone, jot down things about my day and even answer questions about my life & childhood. It has been great to know that I don't have to do my journals handwritten to share my memories & thoughts. You can add photos & even print out your journal entries in bound book form.
I hope my children appreciate the scrapbooks and journals I leave behind. They will allow them to see His hand in our lives every day.

Staycation 2009

Yes, we stayed home for spring break this year. It was actually quite nice not packing up a suitcase, waiting in lines or finding a house/dog sitter. We enjoyed the freedoms of sleeping & eating whenever we wanted, having friends sleep over, and relaxing with a good book or a movie we have been meaning to watch. I did come to a few realizations while on this staycation.....

• Having no schedule for an entire week is really quite liberating & relaxing

• I do enjoy cooking & wish I had more time

• I'm glad we have family dinner together almost every night
  
• We don't really watch that much television when the weather is nice
  
• Car rides are quiet when the kids have ipods
  
• I can read a lot when I am not working

• The Zoo was great even though we were cold all day

• We own too much stuff & don't need it
  
• I have a great husband & kids
  
• We are all looking forward to summer vacation
  

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

I am always trying to find new recipes for my picky eaters. We eat a lot of chicken & it's hard to find creative ways to serve it up. This was recipe was a hit, so I thought I would share.

4 chicken breast halves, skinless & boneless
4 slices of Swiss Cheese
4 slices of thin ham
1 can cream of chicken soup plus 2/3 cup milk
2 cups of fine seasoned stuffing or bread crumbs (not cubes)

Mix soup & milk in a bowl with whisk. Set aside. In a baking dish, sprinkle bottom of dish with about 1 cup of seasoned stuffing. Top with chicken pieces, then ham (I cut mine into 3rds) & then top with Swiss cheese (also cut mine into 3rds) Pour soup mixture over all. Sprinkle rest of seasoned stuffing over top.
Bake at 300* for 1 1/2 hrs . Cover with foil if getting too brown.

We enjoyed this with a salad & crescent rolls. What an easy meal!

Spencer's Birthday

Well, I had almost forgotten to post for Spencer's birthday. I can't believe how much time has past since we had our first child was born. He turned 12 yrs old this year.

Spencer Davis Downing was born on March 11, 1997. He shares his birthday with my mother too. He was such a great little baby & we couldn't believe we were parents. He made it very easy for us.

He was so good & John loved taking him to the race track. He would talk to anyone & was such a good car rider on our trips.

I love this picture. After he got his glasses, they were always hanging off the end of his nose. I think that is when we started calling him "little man". This is one of the bunnies we found in the back yard.

As he got older, he loves to be outside. He enjoys riding his bike, playing with friends & developing his love of sports. How many jerseys can a boy have?

Spencer is a true sports junkie. He can't get enough!

He remembers all the facts he reads & loves to watch games 24/7.

Now instead of just watching sports, he plays. He loves playing football & basketball.

He is crazy about his dog, Wayne. They sleep together & hang out watching

sports. He is a growing & changing boy. He got braces this year, wears contacts & now has an attitude.

Overall, Spencer is a good kid. He has nicknamed himself "Beast" hence why we had to take

this picture at the Beastly Bazaar. He loves his sister & his family, is great with his younger nieces & nephews, and makes us laugh.

He makes the move to jr high school this fall. He plans on trying out for football. It makes me nervous, but he will probably be just fine. He has had a rough year & is looking forward to a great summer of swimming & fun with friends & family.

Spencer, we love you & Hope you had a great birthday!

Kate's Birthday

Katherine Audrey was born on February 18th, 1999. She was
so adorable and such a beautiful baby. We couldn't begin to imagine the joy & laughter this little girl would bring into our lives.





















She didn't have much hair and we let her play cars with her brother. She was a messy baby, but she was so funny too! She grew up fast, but still loves to snuggle & tells us she loves us about 5x a day.














She finally got some beautiful blonde curls. I couldn't have been happier to have a daughter with curly hair, but it soon would straighten out & disappear. Some even got cut off by her brother.



















She has a great smile and loves to get her picture taken. She loves to watch people, make silly faces, and loves to draw & color. She is a daddy's girl and knows how to work her magic on him.








She is a smart and talented girl. We are very proud of her. Don't all parents think their kids are the best?

Of course, they do!!!










Now, She is 10 years old. She is a social butterfly, loves music & High School Musical on every level, American Girl dolls, loves to bake, help in the kitchen, and shop for clothes. She has great friends, still loves to snuggle and play with her baby dolls.


















She had a little sleepover this year for her birthday. We made strawberry cake with vanilla icing, played school, and watched High School Musical 3. She makes me laugh everyday & we are crazy about our little girl.














Happy Birthday Katie Bug!
We love you!

(She really does sleep like this every night. Crazy. huh?)