What!? I'm 28!

My awesome birthday present from the best husband.

Another birthday has come and gone. I really wasn't expecting anything big to happen on the day. Birthdays have never been a big deal growing up in my family. We g0t one present, had cake and ice cream, and maybe the grandparents would come over. Occassionally we got to have a party but more often we usually didn't. Which was fine with me and never wished it any differently. So I wasn't expecting much this birthday. But being pregnant and over-emotional it really effected me that there was no hoopla. In one part of my mind I knew my reaction was crazy but in another part I felt I was justified. So all day I was just feeling down. Even though I got great birthday wishes on facebook, which I appreciated so much, my hormonal emotions overruled that day. Later that night my husband Daniel called and said he was still working and wouldn't be home until late and he really was sorry, blah, blah, blah. In the past he's joked about being far away from home when he's actually been just outside the door. So I asked him if he was joking and he said no over and over again. I hung up the phone and the waterworks began. Well, low and behold who walks in the door a few minutes later? Yup, Daniel. So now I was angry because of the joke and still not happy to see him even though he had cake. He told me he forgot his phone in the truck so he'd be right back. When he came back in he told me to close my eyes. When I opened them he was holding a huge piano keyboard (still in the box). At the sight of the gift the waterworks kicked up a notch and we were in for a flood. I was so surprised! Back in October we were at Best Buys and saw some keyboards. I told Daniel it would be nice to have one so I could start playing the piano again. I never said anything about it after that but he remembered. I was so touched by his thoughtful gift. So that totally made up for how lousy I was feeling all day. I still get teary-eyed thinking about that night and my wonderful husband.

The next day was icing on the cake when I went to lunch with my mom, Diane, Jadyn, Jason, Kate, Haden, Makayla, and my kids. We went to Firehouse and had delicious focaccia bread and a FH'zookie (to die for!), oh yeah, and pizza too. Then later that evening my good friend Ashley came over and we got to catch up and go out for dinner also. It really ended up being a good birthday thanks to my sweet husband, my family, and good friends.

They Grow Up So Fast

It's the biggest cliche ever but one of the most true. My kids are making some big-kid milestones. The first being Blake is enrolled in a Play-n-Learn class without his big sister. We thought this would be good for him because he relies so much on her in social settings and we want him to be able to develop without that crutch there. I was pretty nervous the first day because Blake has always been on the shy side but not to worry, he did great. Jayla had a harder time than he did. She wanted to stay and play and was so mad she had to leave. There were so many cool toys that she wanted to play with. After I dragged her out of the class I think she was shocked/concerned that we left Blake. At the class they have one of those windows that is a mirror on one side but you can see through the other. It was fun to be able to watch Blake without him knowing. I was surprised at how grown-up he was and how much he talked to the teachers. It's a relief to know even with Jayla always being there to lean on he can still stand on his own. It sort of makes me feel accomplished, too. It's a validation that maybe I'm doing something right which we as moms don't always get.

Jayla's grown up thing is she is now in her first dance class. She was so excited and could barely contain herself in the days leading up to her first class. She's taking a community class with 3-4 year olds that introduces them to different dance movements. She did so well and I was so proud of her. She always had to be by the teacher and would push her way in if there wasn't room. The teacher would have the kids follow her around the room using different steps or movements and Jayla kept looking at me to make sure I was watching her. I think she was a little proud of herself too. The other thing with Jayla is she's a Sunbeam now. The first time she was a little hesitant to walk into the room but she sat down by her friends and has been good ever since. Now she doesn't even like to wait for me while I take my coat off to walk her to her class. The other day I heard her singing, "Book of Mormon Stories". I'm so excited to see what she'll be like in her first Primary Program.

The picutre above is super crazy picture to me. It's the day that Blake came home from the hospital. I look at it and I can't believe how young Jayla really was. She was still a baby. At the time I didn't see her so much as one but looking back I think, "How did I survive?!, How did I do that?" The best answer is that I just did it because I didn't have any other choice. Now I like to think that I'm more than just surviving and that I'm doing an okay job. Of course there are days when I feel like I'm doing nothing right and I'm the worst mother and homemaker, but don't we all have those days? The important thing is that I'm trying and for the most part putting forth the effort to do my best.

Once There Was a Snowman

I love, love, love this picture. I think it's one that I will cherish forever. A few days after Christmas there was great snowman-building snow so we headed outside to play. In the past Blake has not been a fan of the cold or touching the snow but luckily it wasn't that cold and he ended up having the best time. This was their first snowman ever! I wanted to build it bigger but I discovered that being 7 months pregnant hinders the snowman making process.

Blake is making a snowball and he got pretty good at it.

Jayla thought it was so cool that by rolling it in the snow you can make a little snowball into a great big one.

Oh, what a cutie he is!

I was impressed by Jayla's strength.

It was such a treat to watch the kids play in the snow and make discoveries of what they could do with it, how it tasted, and just how darn fun it is. I remember as a kid me and my siblings would spend hours playing in the snow. It didn't matter that it was cold because when you get the perfect snow your world turns into a magical place. I've always loved the winter but after I had babies I didn't like it that much. It just seemed to be such a hassle but I think I'm back on the snow-lovers side because I'm experiencing that love and fascination of snow again through my kids.

Still Catching Up...Christmas

Blake was really more excited than what this picture shows. He was the one dragging me out of bed. I don't think he wanted to pose for a picture but rather wanted to tear into the presents.

Jayla got a whole set of Little Mermaid jewlery including braclets, earrings, a tiara, and a necklace which I didn't notice played a song until after we opened it. They played it over and over again for two days straight.

I'm so glad that Blake is getting more into boy stuff. Not that there's anything bad about liking Ariel and Dora. I just want him to have a balance. This motorcycle is pretty cool because it plays music and does a pop-a-wheelie before taking off.

Jayla got this awesome computer that helps her write the alphabet. She loves to write and draw so this gift was a winner.

Along with this play food she got a play kitchen. The reason I'm not showing a picture of the kitchen is because the only one I got of her with it she looks like she's stoned. Later when I asked her what her favorite present was she said it was the kitchen. Yes! Santa did good!

Here she is modeling her Ariel jewelry

Blake's favorite gift of all: Curious George The Movie. This summer he nuked his previous copy in the microwave. He was excited to have the movie back.

He also got his first toy train set. I think Daniel was more excited than him but Blake does like to play with it. Every boy needs a train.

It was a great Christmas this year. It was so fun to see the kids get excited for Santa and actually get the concept of Christmas. Starting in the beginning of December Jayla would wake up and say it was Christmas every day. We made a countdown chart so she would know exactly the day Christmas would be. She was so willing to help me wrap all the presents and put them under the tree and had to have a say in everyone's present. I didn't think Blake was too interested in it until Christmas Eve when he got his first present. He was so excited the next morning. I think that as the kids get older and more excited Daniel gets more excited too. Like I said before he grew up as a Jehovah's Wittness who didn't celebrate Christmas, so he missed out on the magical excitement as a kid but I'm glad that he can experience it through our kids. He was out of bed even before I was and I didn't have to drag him out like last year. I know that I'm so blessed to have such a beautiful family. I didn't think we would have much of Christmas in the means of presents but it turned out better than I expected. I'm grateful to Daniel who works so hard to provide for us. I can't wait for the many more Christmases together.

I Gotta Catch Up...Christmas Eve

Jayla in the jacket that "Scott" gave to her. He had Jayla's name and the punk didn't send anything. Good thing my mom had an extra present. I still haven't given Scott any crap about this yet.

Grandma and Grandpa gave Jayla a Disney Princess Piano. It was on the top of her list and as you can see she was so excited to get it. I love this picture.

Blake got a computer from Grandma and Grandpa so now he has one just like sister.

Blake loves this remote control car he got. I can't remember exactly who gave it to him but I know it came from someone in the Jason and Kate family. Thanks guys. I even like playing with it.

After the food was eaten and the presents were open all the kids put on a variety show. Makayla did some awesome dancing, Jadyn performed a great song, Morgan was a good sport and did a dance, and to my surprise Jayla also did some singing. She sang Feliz Navidad and I thought it was the cutest thing. She was singing it around the house a lot but I was surprised that she was willing to sing it in front of everyone. We might have a future star on our hands.

As always we had a great time at the annual Hirschi Christmas Eve party. We missed Scott,who's in Hawaii, not being there but we got to meet Wade's girlfriend and now fiance Tyanne. I'm excited to be adding another member to our family and someone who we can make more memories with. Before we opened gifts we each had to say what our favorite Christmas memory was. It was hard to pick just one and no one had any trouble thinking of one. A memory that I thought of later actually happened after Christmas. We got Monopoly for Christmas and we needed the instructions but they were out in the car for some reason. My dad said he would go get them and didn't put any shoes on because the car wasn't far away. Well, after he got them the wind blew them out of his hand and he had to chase them all over the yard in the snow with no shoes on. When he came back in the house he just bent over and said, "Ouch, ouch, ouch" over and over again. We had no idea why he was doing this and after he explained we all cracked and couldn't stop laughing. I'm so blessed to have a family where we spend a lot of our time laughing. I hope that I can create as many good memories with my own family.