Moving and Growing and Moving Some More

Needless to say, it has been quite some time.  I don't plan on filling you in on every missed happening (sigh of relief), but I will inform you on the biggest events of the passed two and a half years.  

We waved goodbye to our friends and family in Blackfoot in the middle of June last year.  We moved to Swan Falls, ID, as Jake took a training position with Idaho Power as a Generation Specialist at the hydroelectric power plant there.  If you've never heard of Swan Falls, it's because the population was 8, then changed to 13 when we moved there.  It was a thriving 19 just before we moved.

We were actually a Kuna address there, but lived 20 miles south of Kuna's city limits.  We had to drive in to Kuna for school to drop off the kids in the morning, then again in the afternoon to pick them up.  We went between 15 and 20 miles northwest to Melba for church.  Grocery shopping was 30 miles (another 10 miles from Kuna) away in Meridian.  We got used to being in the car...not saying it was always a happy experience, but we got used to it, tears and all.:)

Shortly after moving to Kuna we discovered we were expecting baby number four.  Kalli Deana Stevenson was born March 9, 2013.  She weighed in at a healthy 8 lbs. 6 oz.  She has been growing extremely fast (too fast for my liking!), and is still getting cuter by the minute.  She has a precious smile with a cute little dimple.  She loves to stick out her very long, skinny tongue when she smiles great big.  She was born with just as much hair as the rest of them, but hers has stuck straight up since day one.  Many of you may not know that Cooper's hair stands straight up too, but he grew into that about a year down the road.  
Kalli's hair is finally starting to tame itself a bit...three and a half months later.:)

After one amazing year at Swan Falls (I'm not even being sarcastic.  We grew to LOVE it there...many life long friends were made in a very short time!) we were transferred to CJ Strike, about 15 to 20 miles south of Mountain Home.  I know, another middle-of-nowhere kind of place, but at least church is a mere 5 minutes away and school is only about 15 minutes away.  There's even a bus stop here!!  So, it's just the groceries and doctors we must travel for.

We're hoping for a more permanent position/location in the next year or two, but until then we will continue to get a little taste of these different areas across Southern Idaho.  I don't mind the extreme rural country life as much as I thought I would, and as for Jake, it's his dream come true.  Hunting and fishing out the back door with lots of quiet, wide open spaces.

The kids seem to be adjusting quite well to yet another move.  They have enjoyed living next to the water.  They love going for tube rides behind the boat and playing at the parks that are next to the dams.  

Carter, who turned 7 in March, is happy as long as he is outside riding his bike (mastering popping wheelies and riding with no hands), climbing trees (and I'm not talking just your ordinary 10 or even 15 foot trees, the kid gives me a panic attack every minute of the day) or playing in the water.  That child does not have much down time--way too much energy to burn for that!   

Emily, who is almost 6 and who has been "almost 6" since March...her birthday is in August, is a little social butterfly.  She sometimes takes a bit to warm up, but once she's warm, she's warm.  She LOVES to talk.  She is completely happy as long as she has someone to play with that is willing to follow her rules and doesn't care how many rules there are or continue to be.  Yeah, she's not completely happy very often.  Just kidding.;). Emily also loves anything girly: painting nails, dressing up, wearing make-up, shopping for new clothes...you get the idea!

Cooper is such a happy little guy.  He is smiling nearly all the time.  His grin is super contagious, and it gets him out of trouble quite often.  It's pretty hard to get mad at that face!  He spends a LOT of time riding his strider bike (a bike with no pedals) and is amazingly good and fast on that little thing.  He is still a mama's boy and loves to have some down time to snuggle with me.  I love it too!

I love all four of my kiddos and my hubby and love living through all of these adventures together!  I am trying to focus on enjoying the here and now, especially as our time in each location is limited!  Life is good!

I know a post without pics is not NEARLY as exciting!  But because we have not hooked up our computer since our recent move, you'll have to do with the boring words.  I'm not as techno savvy as I would like to be and am having troubles with the iPad tonight...so, no pics this time:)

6 months already?!!!

My goodness! Where does the time go? It flies by so fast trying to keep up with my three yay-hoos(sp?:))....and hubby! The past 6 months have brought some of the busiest and some of the most fun times of my life!! Hopefully I can make this a fairly condensed recap!

Carter started pre-school this year and is having fun doing "big kid stuff", and getting to go do something that's just for him and not his brother and sister.

Carter also enjoyed getting to do swim lessons to end the summer off big. He did great and definitely overcame any inkling of fear of the water he may have ever had previously! He is now ready to conquer the deep end. We have to keep a close eye on him!

Emily had fun celebrating her 3rd birthday in August. She's at such a fun age for birthdays, presents, and such!
She also loves getting her picture taken all the time! She'll say "Mom, take a 'smile' of me".

Cooper is growing faster than either of the other two kiddos! He is average size as far as growth charts are concerned, which is very unusual for one of ours.:) He feels huge to me!

1 month

2 months

3 months

4 months

5 months

6 months

As you can see he's a very happy smiley baby! We love him to pieces!!

A few months ago Jake and I decided, along with a couple of friends, that a cruise sounded like an excellent idea. So, as the result of a somewhat quick, crazy, spontaneous splurge, we soon found ourselves aboard the Carnival Paradise for a 4 night cruise. We stopped at Catalina Island on the 2nd day aboard the ship.

That's our ship off in the distance:)

We went on a semi-submersible submarine and saw a fish reserve underwater.

Formal night on the ship.

The 3rd day we stopped at Ensanada, Mexico. It was fun to get a little taste of a different culture. The shops next to shore everybody spoke a little English, but a couple blocks into the city, nobody spoke English! We were laughed at a few times, I'm sure just 'cause we're clueless gringos!:)

The beach at Ensanada.

Our main mode of transportation at Ensanada.

The last day we were on the ship all day. We enjoyed some beautiful sunshine and just relaxed. It was lovely! It was hard to be away from the kiddos that many days, but it was such a nice-and much needed- break in the middle of this below zero weather!!!

How's that for a "condensed" 6 month update......

Meet Cooper

I am finally posting pics of our new baby boy!!! Meet Cooper (undecided middle name) Stevenson. He was born Saturday, July 17, at 2:40 p.m. He was 6 lbs. 12 oz. Cooper is doing great, and the kids are loving having a new baby brother. They take advantage of every opportunity they get to give him lots and lots of hugs and kisses. And everybody loves his Grandpa Day hair! These are some of our favorite first photos!!!

A New Meaning for "Snow Bunny"

So, Carter has been thrilled that the weather has been warm enough (40's if we're lucky) to ride his bike again. The snow has all melted and the sun even shines sometimes!! Well, yesterday, I put off going outside until after Emily's naptime because I just didn't want to face the cold. But when Emmy finally woke up, it was hailing and snowing outside. Carter was still determined to ride his bike until he realized we could be making snowballs instead. So, our April Fools (with no foolin' about it) was spent building a snow bunny--for Easter-- and big snow balls! It was actually pretty fun despite my bad attitude about participating in winter activities in April. I just hope we don't get the opportunity to make snow flags for the 4th of July!

FYI: The bunny is supposed to be eating a carrot, not smoking a cigar.:o)

It's a Boy!!!!!

...and if I was talented enough or had the right equipment, I'd show you the ultrasound pics to prove it:o) But for now, you'll just have to believe me. Carter, Emily, and Jake were all able to be there for the ultrasound. Emmy didn't know quite what to think, but Carter loved seeing the feet. He was so excited to find out he's getting a little brother! Jake is excited for another hunting and fishing buddy, of course.:o) We're all very excited for a new addition to the family!!!

I just had to post this link to a news special done on the program I teach! This shows a little bit about why I love it so much! Yea Let's Play Music (and Shelle--the teacher in the video and founder of the program)!!

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid49625183001?bctid=70864321001

Words of Wisdom From the Little Ones

So I know I hardly ever blog, but I decided I should write a few things down before I forget them, even if it is really short:o)

Today I told Carter I didn't want to do the dishes and asked if I really had to do them. He said, "Yeah, I show you. . .all the bowls are dirty. That's why." He is right. Although, we're down to a total of 5 bowls, I think, so it doesn't take much.

Carter asks me every day what time it is. I have learned he is not referring to the time of day, but rather the time of year. Of course, I have to answer "Winter" every day, and will continue to have to for the next few months (bummer). He'll then ask, "Then what?" I'll say Spring. He asks, "Then what?" again, and I'll say Summer. He gets really excited and says, "And we can play outside in the water and go to Kaylee's and play in the pool?" (Cousin Kaylee has an awesome pool by her house, which thankfully is indoor. We just need to make the 3 hour trip south:)) He used to stop at that, but he recently added another then what. I say Fall, and he gets excited all over again, and says, "And then we can shoot the deer and the elk and eat them all gone? Is it open season?" Yes, I know, 3 is pretty young to be such an avid hunter, but what's a kid to do when his father is gone shooting, fishing, or hunting nearly every weekend of the fall/winter?!

Emmy is quite the screamer and likes to start screaming contests with her brother. She'll usually win hands down. I try to intervene asking her to talk nicely or ask Carter nicely for whatever is making her upset. She then raises her eyebrows, and with the most innocent look says to Carter, "Ask you nicely, Caya?" What a doll.:o)

I sure do love my kiddos and can't wait for number 3 to arrive at the end of July!