Massage

Well I had a first yesterday- I got my first massage! I was not sure what to expect going into it since I had never had one before. It was 'almost' exactly what I was envisioning.

 I enjoyed the music that was on- it was very relaxing. I was by myself for a few minutes and was really taking in the nice aromas and music, then in comes the massager- my relaxation ended right there. Not that she wasn't doing what she needed to do- because she really was and I am so pleased with the results and the massage itself. But I was not really happy about the constant talking that she did. I felt like I was at the hair salon- learning about so and so's problems and all the info that I didn't care to know about some of her fellow workers. I mean this lady had no idea who I was or who I knew in the community and she felt so comfortable spilling info about other people. This person obviously does not follow the confidentiality that she should. Other than all that- I was very pleased.

The woman really knows what she is doing. She is more of a clinical massuse (sp?) not really a pampering one. But I was there to get something fixed not to be pampered. She really tore me up- there were quite a few times where I just had to think about other things so I wouldn't yell at her to stop. I had many problem areas and she found them all. I am pretty sore today and I do have actual bruises. But guess what- my lower back and hips feel 900 times better. I am just expecting them to get even better over the next day or so as my bruises heal. I was happy that she also showed me some stretches, etc that I could do to help my back and hips out if they start hurting again. I was not expecting that but am very grateful for the information.

So all in all- I enjoyed getting my first massage. I really want to get a more pampering one a couple times before baby comes in April, but we will have to see. I am just not sure if I want to return to the same place- hehe.

Brookie turns 3!!

Today was my sweet baby girls 3rd birthday!! I can't believe that she is so big already! The time has seriously flown by! Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the past 3 years!! Enjoy!

Happy 3rd Birthday sweet Brookie!!

Brooklyn's 3rd Birthday

We celebrated Brooklyn's 3rd birthday at McDonald's this year. She wanted a My Little Pony birthday party. She chose a pony house cake and was so excited to help mom decorate it! She was so excited to have all her friends come and celebrate with her. She has many little girl friends that she just can't get enough of. It was such an exciting day for her!

She got many great presents and has enjoyed playing with each and every one. Everything from play-doh to Polly Pocket was covered. We sure have some really great friends! We wouldn't trade them for anything! Thanks to all who came and celebrated sweet Brookie with us!!

Today was her actual birthday, so we saved a few gifts for today. Sam and I got her a new baby doll, Silas picked her a real tea set and Grandpa Ken and Grandma Nae sent her princess dress-up stuff! She also got many phone calls and enjoyed telling whoever it was that she was now 3. She spent most the day playing with her new toys, being the different princess' and having tea parties with me and Silas. She told me that today was a good and fun day!



Today she seems so grown up to me for some reason. It just blows my mind that she is already 3 years old. I had a friend ask me yesterday if I remembered everything from the day she was born- it is amazing that I remember every detail from a day three years ago, but the details of days since then are blurred. The time we have shared with her has gone by so fast but we truly have enjoyed every minute of it!! Our little Brooklyn is so creative, inventive and imaginative. Her little mind is always turning and she has the biggest imagination and wants to pull everyone into it! She lights up our home every minute of everyday. She makes everyone laugh and smile! We are so blessed that she is a part of our family! Our house would not be the same without her little sweet self. Happy Birthday sweet girl! We love you so much!!

He figured it out all on his own

I learned that Silas has taught himself something. He knows how to dial 911!! Apparently, he was playing with the phone this morning and practiced what he saw on Home Alone 3 (a new favorite at our house). I heard the phone off the hook a few minutes later. I asked Si to bring it to me and as he did he says, "I know how to dial 911, mom." I said, "That's good bud, now you will know what to do in an emergency". Little did I know, he had just proven his ability. After the phone was hung back up, I get a call from a police dispatcher. Just calling to make sure that everything was okay and stating that he had been attempting to call back for a few minutes with a busy signal. I explained that it must have been my son playing on the phone, because we were not in need of the police. He took all my info and I thought that was it. But no, a couple hours later we had a trooper come visit our house. I had Silas talk to him. The officer told him that he was glad that he knew how to call the police, but to make sure that it was an emergency or that someone needed help next time. Silas thought he was in trouble when the trooper left. I told him that he wasn't, he just needed to know that dialing 911 was something we only do if someone needs help or if I or Daddy asks him to. Anyways, it was a great learning experience for all of us. Silas now knows the real reason for dialing and I now know that he can actually do it for real. Just wanted to share that excitement from our day today!

Starting to prepare

Well since the time for baby #3 is fast approaching, I decided that it was time to start actually preparing. We started that first with a purchase of a bigger vehicle. We bought a Chevy Suburban- it's a "three-seater" as Silas says!! I really like it!! Especially the heated seats!!

I also went through all the totes of baby items that we own, got all the boy stuff together and wrote down the sizes and items that I did have. I just wish we would have held off getting rid of stuff until next summer- I would be better prepared if we had. Oh well! But now I know what to keep my eye out for and tell those people who ask what we need.

I have also been looking on ebay for various wanted items. I have found many cute things and put many items in shopping carts online- I hardly ever buy what I put in them. But maybe this time will be different, since some things are just too cute to pass up. I just recently purchased a crib bedding set off ebay and a new carseat and swing as well. We were just planning to borrow a carseat from a friend, but I couldn't pass up that good deal I got.

So now I am feeling a little more prepared. I am looking forward to a trip to Anchorage in mid-February to get some necessities!! Then sometime in March, we will turn the 'classroom' back into a nursery. I think it will really hit me when everything is set-up and just waiting his arrival.

I still can't believe that we will have 3 children! The kiddos are excited! Brookie was way pumped when we picked up the swing and carseat- she shows it to everyone that comes over. Silas is excited but does not like when you tell him that we might not name him Luke. He says "No, that is his name- Luke"! He is very determined and it is starting to grow on Sam and I. But we will see what it actually ends up being.

So anyways, that is my update for now. I have some random picts of the kiddos that I should post, so we will see how motivated I get in the next few days to do that. But check back in a week or so since Brookie's bday is on Sunday and I am sure I will post then!

Countdown Continues

I just noticed on my pregnancy ticker above that there is only 100 days left until our little man is set to arrive! I can't believe how fast it is going by. I have had a great pregnancy so far and don't mind being pregnant one bit. I think that it has really hit me this past week as to the fact that he is actually coming. I have been looking online at items that we will need to purchase and just trying to decide what I want to get. It is making me get even more excited.

The kiddos are getting even more excited as well. Brookie just started giving my belly hugs throughout the day- it is SO cute. She likes to talk to him too. Both of them still are calling him Luke, so Sam and I are trying to let it grow on us since they don't want to name him anything else. That is my update for this week. Hope you all have a good week!

A Big Ordeal!

Just had to share this story! I shared the basics on facebook, but here is the entire story.

Yesterday Sam and I were outside looking at a suburban for sale that a guy brought over. The kiddos were out there playing in their snowgear and attempting to play in the frozen solid snow. They made their way onto our back deck where the little slide is and where you go down the big slide. I came around back to check on them and told Si not to slide down the big slide since it was solid ice at the bottom.

So he is standing on the deck right in front of the big slide acting like he is going to disobey- I tell him that he better not disobey and I walk back towards the front. I suddenly hear him freaking out. I walk back over there asking what is wrong- he just keeps on somewhat yelling. Right before I can see him I hear him sort of say "my tongue". (but pretend you can't move your tongue when you say that) Right then I see him standing right where he was before with his hands wailing. I carefully make it across the frozen tundra that has become our backyard and up the steps.

This is what I see when I get to him- His tongue hanging out of his mouth with part of it stuck to our metal handrail. The part that is stuck is white- I'm thinking frostbite! He is crying and in real panic. I try to calm him down and tell him to hold still so it doesn't peel off. He had already managed to tear part of his tongue off the metal on his own panicking.

I start to think whether I should leave him there and run inside to get water or just spit on his tongue to get it off. I decide the faster, the better. So I work up a good amount of spit and spit right on the part that is stuck. It comes right off no problem.

Well what I didn't know was that his bottom lip was also stuck, so once I got his tongue unstuck, he immediately stepped back tearing skin from his lip. This causes blood to come from his mouth like a fountain. I am of course thinking it is from his tongue. We head inside and get a wet washcloth and put on his tongue. It was soaking parts of the washcloth in seconds and blood was still dripping from the sides of his mouth. Finally, Sam grabs his handy flashlight and checks out Si's tongue. There is a white line from where the metal was, but no blood coming directly from that area. That is when we found out where the blood was coming from- his bottom lip.

Needless to say, we got the bleeding to stop and Si to calm down. We felt so bad for the kiddo- it looked horrible and I am sure that it hurt like h***! Thankfully he was back to normal by dinnertime. His lip is still missing that bit of skin, but the tongue looks perfect. Looking back, I just wish I had pictures!

So now we know, from experience, what really does happen if you try to lick frozen metal!

Santa Was Here!

This years Christmas was a great one! We kicked it off Christmas Eve night with our church's candlelight service which was good! After arriving back home, we let the kiddos open one gift- new PJ's! Then it was torturous to get them to bed- the excitement just wouldn't go away, but they finally let the visions of sugarplums dance in their heads!

The kiddos loved waking up and seeing that Santa had brought just what they asked for plus a few surprises! Silas asked for Lego City and a Taradactyl(sp) set. Brookie asked for a Dora babydoll.

Santa surprised them both with their very own guitars too! He also stuffed their stockings with many little items that were a big hit for both of them!

Santa brought mom and dad a new Dyson vacuum!! I had no idea that was coming, so I was pumped!! We have needed a new one for quite some time!! So now, no more excuses from me about my old vac not working- Santa sure did a good job this year!

The kiddos took their time opening their gifts from under the tree. They decided themselves that they would open them all before they opened any to play with- I was surprised at that. Some of the stand-out gifts were: Brookie- a princess piano, barbie car, jewelry box, and of course her Dora baby doll. Silas- drum set, legos, Toy Story Wii game, and a remote control helicopter.

Once all the gifts under the tree were opened and played with for a little while, we headed over to Sam's moms house for breakfast! The kiddos got a few other goodies there as well.

We headed back home and enjoyed the rest of the day just relaxing, watching movies, playing Wii, assembling legos and playing with all the new goodies! It was a great way to celebrate Christmas as a family!

We are so grateful for this holiday and what it reminds us of. We are so grateful for all our blessings and the people that surround us who love us! But most of all we are so grateful for our Savior and the sacrifice that he made so we could be here and enjoy all these blessings!

We hope that all of you had a great and memorable Christmas! We wish you the best for 2010!

Gingerbread Houses 2009

After we got home from Arizona we were happy to get right back into the swing of things and spend some time with our friends up here. The kids and I went to our 3rd annual Gingerbread House making shindig. It was a bit crowded this year due to other things going on at our church, but it was still a good time. Miss Heather read the Christmas story to the kiddos and let them put together some nativity scenes. Then the mess began! There were quite a few of us this year which made it hard to visit with everyone while monitoring the house building, but judging by the noise and happiness of all the kiddos it was great having everyone there!

I got a good deal on some houses this year so I got one for each of the kids. They were so excited about that. I hot-glued the house together to prevent the houses from being in shambles. I put the frosting on and the kiddos went to town decorating their houses with all the included candies and a few that we and Miss Heather had brought from home.

We had a great time and always love seeing what each kiddo comes up with. We almost left this year without getting our annual picture of everyone with their creation. Luckily, some moms didn't let that happen!

Aren't they all so cute!! The houses and the kiddos!!

Arizona

We were able to travel back home to Arizona this December! It was so good that ALL of us could go. Sam had not been back in almost 3 years, so he was really excited to go as well. Unfortunately, our camera did not make it into our luggage so we have no pictures of any event while we were there. But I am hoping that those of you who check our blog will see this and email me any picts that you might have!
I will give you all the highlights as best I can!

Our travel was stress-free and relaxing for the most part. I just wish there was a faster way to get from here to there. Two- three hour plane rides and two- two and a half hour car rides just isn't the ideal traveling scenario.
Once we got to AZ, we were all tired but glad to see family. We stayed with Sam's Dad for the first few days and nights. It was a lot of fun and the kids loved Grandpa and Grandma Nae!
My extended Nikolaus family party was on a Sat. afternoon. It was so good to see many of my relatives that I hadn't seen since before we moved in 2006. It also reminded me how fast kids grow. I hardly recognized a lot of the kids since they all are huge now compared to last time I saw them.
My immediate family had our party later that evening. It was a lot of fun! We rented the local teen center that had ping pong, Wii, basketball, board games, etc. to just hang out and have fun! We did our annual ornament exchange and had fun playing a ping pong game where everyone in the room had a paddle- it got a bit crazy at times.
Though we were only there for a week and the time went by really fast- we were able to see who we needed to see and enjoyed every minute of it.
Thanks to everyone for everything! We love and miss you all so much!

Snow!!!

These are picts of the first time we ventured out to play in the snow this past November. There wasn't much on the ground, but the kids loved it just the same! They had been waiting for quite awhile to play in the snow.

As you can tell, they absolutely love jumping on the trampoline with snow on it. Here's to a long winter full of snow much fun!

Halloween FUN

Here are the highlights from our Halloween this year! We all carved pumpkins together and enjoyed being able to light them up that night. Silas and Brookie really enjoyed making caramel apples this year. I had never attempted this with them, so I thought this year would be a good year to try it out. They loved having their mini-apples all covered in caramel and sprinkles. They sure were tasty!

Silas wanted to be a bat this year and this was also the first year that we did not get his costume at a store. It wasn't the greatest costume I've ever attempted but he really liked it. Brookie started talking about being an alligator way back in September and I found this really cute costume online. She loved that she also got to wear face paint this year!

Sam had to help his Grandpa winterize his house so the kiddos and I took on trick-or-treating by ourselves. It was a lot of fun walking around the busy neighborhood and ending at some friends house for food, fun and friends! We enjoyed our Halloween this year!