Milk...it does a body good!

I took Makai to his two week appointment today. He's not quite two weeks, but close enough. Anyway...the verdict is he's growing!! He is already 10lbs 6 oz and 21 inches long. I can't believe he's growing so fast!! He still seems so small. Trying to enjoy every second I can say that!

Enjoy the Moment

For Christmas my visiting teacher gave me a wooden sign which reads "Enjoy The Moment". I placed it in my kitchen above the sink knowing how much time I spend there I'd remember to read it everyday. It has really changed my outlook on life and was a perfect gift right before having a new baby. So, as I am trying to enjoy every moment I decided to share with you a few of my favorite moments from this past week.

One of my favorite things about Christmas is my mom's Challah bread. There is nothing like sitting down to a nice warm slice of this bread with melted butter on it. YUM. Add some hot chocolate and you've died and gone to heaven.Tyler is a great help when I need him to be. I love the way he looks at his brother. The other day I know he really wanted to be doing something else when I asked him to hold Makai. I thought he'd resent him, but when I took him back he just said, "Mom, I love having a new brother."I've been a little spoiled as Monty has been off and here to help. He's really stepped up to the plate and helps with the dishes, meals, and the other boys allowing me to get some rest. One afternoon I woke up before him and found him sleeping with Trey. I had to take a picture because I found it so cute that they were sleeping in the same position.Christmas morning Monty's parents both came over and watched the boys open their gifts. Monty's mom made a nice breakfast and his dad brought donuts, so we had plenty of food that morning. The boys had a wonderful Christmas. Trey always rides his brothers scooters, so Santa brought him his very own!(he's not too fond of it yet for some reason?)
Tyler has wanted a remote control car for years. This year he got his wish.

The biggest surprise of Christmas was a Wii Sport. It was even a surprise for Monty and I. We didn't plan on getting one for the boys, but Tyler asked for a Lego Indiana Jones 2 game for his PS2. After searching for it we learned they weren't going to make it for the PS2. The boys have been working to earn a Wii by getting honor roll and we were planning to buy one at the end of the school year. Christmas Eve we still hadn't found a good present for Kyle. I sent Monty out and he just decided to get the boys the Wii so we could get the game for Tyler and then we'd be done. Kyle was completely shocked when he opened his gift. His reaction was classic. He read Wii and then just kind of paused as if he didn't believe it. He looked up and said, "Is this a Wii? Did I get a Wii?" After that it was sheer excitment. We then explained that if they don't make Honor Roll this quarter we take it! It's been fun watching them play.
Kory got a Pokemon puzzle for Christmas and we had a fun time putting that together. As for his remote control plane...that's more of a dad toy. Too complicated!

Trey has been a little sick this week and needing some love. I think he may have been a little jealous of Makai, but never mean. He told me last night, "Mom, I want to keep him." Whenever Makai cries he said, "It gunna be okay Makai. Don't cry. It gunna be okay." I went into my room yesterday to find Trey touching Makai on his nose while he slept. He's come to accept and love Makai and even shared some toys with him yesterday. When I was taking some quick pictures of Makai yesterday Trey asked me to take some pictures of him. He even posed!

I love to watch babies do the simple things like yawn or smile in their sleep.

Monty having some wrestling time with the boys. They love to wrestle with dad.

Trey holding Makai. Priceless.

Monty holding Makai. He's already growing up. I'm so in love with this little man. It's so funny that I lived 30 years without him and now after just a few days I can't imagine my life without him. What a blessing.

Makai has arrived!!

I meant to get a better picture before Makai arrived, but it didn't happen so this one will have to do. This was taken Wednesday. Thursday I went into the hospital at about 2:30pm for an ultrasound to get an update on Makai's size. The estimate was he'd be about 9lbs 1oz and all looked good. I was having a few contractions so they asked if I just wanted to go over to labor and delivery, but I declined as they weren't consistent. Little did I know 12 hours later he'd be here safe and sound weighing almost exactly what they estimated he'd weigh.

I usually wait till my water brakes to go to the hospital, but this time things just seemed different, so I gave in about 11:00pm after I felt like things really weren't going to stop and the contractions were getting pretty close. Sure enough they confirmed I was in active labor and could get an epidural if I wanted. Since everything else was going different for this delivery I thought why not. Bring in the anaesthesiologist. Wow...HEAVEN! Talk about a wonder drug. When delivered correctly it sure made for a fun delivery! Makai arrived about 3:37am Friday December 18th.

It all seemed so surreal as I looked at him over on that table. He wasn't crying just kind of looking around taking in his new world.

We decided to come home the following day because the boys were not allowed at the hospital and they wanted to meet their new little brother. His first night home he was horrible!! I thought...'You tricked us...you're a terror!!' I think about 4:30am I told Monty..."How do we send him back." The sad thing is I think I really meant it at that point. Last night however he did much better. I'm back in love!:)

Monty and Makai just enjoying some time together.

Trey is as curious as can be with Makai. He adjusted very well. When he came in the door to meet him he said, "Mom, Makai came out! I gunna call him Tarzan." He actually calls him 'akai' or 'kakai'. He's done great adjusting to being an older brother.

The other boys have done well. When I woke up yesterday Tyler was on my bed just watching Makai sleep. He had a big smile on his face and told me, "Mom, I just love Makai." Kyle actually is the most uninterested in Makai. He still hasn't asked to hold him. Kory has asked a few times to hold Makai and loves to come over and just give him a kiss. I'm proud of all of them for adjusting so well to such a big change.

Oh Christmas Tree...

It took us a while this year to find a good time when we could all get together to get a Christmas tree, but it finally happened Monday night and last night we decorated it. It was a really fun time. Kory helped Nana get the ornaments ready while dad and Tyler put up the lights. Perhaps the funnest part of decorating the tree this year was TREY! He was so excited and he couldn't hide it!!

After each ornament he put on he'd say, "Ta, da" or for some reason, "Himalayas". He kept running over to me saying, "Merry Christmas mom". When I'd respond by wishing him a Merry Christmas he'd say, "Kanks" and then go back and put another ornament on the tree and it would start over again. Trey is making Christmas fun. One of my favorite things to do this year is drive around town at night because he simply loves it. Every house is spectacular in his eyes and gets the label of "Christmas!"

Each year the boys take turns putting the 'star' on the top of the tree. Nana has an angle and this year was Kory's turn. He was so excited right up until Monty put him in the air. Then he was scared and didn't want to do it anymore.

However, Monty is such a good dad, he always has the boys follow threw even if they scared. He calms them and helps them until they feel comfortable and can feel success. This was no exception. After a few different positions and some comforting words Kory got the angle on and was all smiles.

To end the night we had hot chocolate and Mexican pastries...our new found love. It was a wonderfully fun night. Can't believe Christmas is so close!

It's raining, it's pouring...

This week is our first week of 'winter weather' in California. For two days it's been raining and the kid have been inside. Today, Monty had the wonderful idea of having the kids go outside and play. After all, a little water never hurt anyone! I was thrilled with the idea as they needed to move...it's just part of being a boy.
Tyler enjoyed it for a little bit, but wouldn't wear his flip flops like I asked. Once his shoes got wet he wanted to come inside. Huh... Trey was in HEAVEN!! This was truly Trey's dream come true. He's wearing his favorite blue 'ninja hat', and running through what the boys are calling the Pacific Ocean. He is humming as he runs through the puddles some action hero song. I think it's superman. Kyle is our other water boy and is still out there riding his bike and laughing as he rides through the puddles.(pay no attention to his lack of a helmet.)

Kory wasn't too thrilled with the whole idea of playing in the rain.

Then there is Monty! His little outside adventure landed him in the dog house when I realized he did wear flip flops--but MY flip flops!! Hope you like them buddy because they are now yours and I'll enjoy picking out a new pair later this afternoon!! Live and learn, don't mess with a Cali girl's flip flops...that's war!:)

Realization

About 10 months ago my mom asked me if I could substitute for her as she knew she was going to be gone this week on vacation, with my dad, in Israel. When she told me the only thing I'd have to do is hand out a mid-term I figured it was something I could do. It's the first time I've ever actually used my BA degree and I felt under qualified even to just pass out tests, but I agreed. It was a perfect class. All the students are from Japan and it's an all girl class. When I walked in they all just pointed at my belly and laughed talking in Japanese so I have no idea what they were saying, but I can guess. When I stood up to start class they all just put away their notes, separated themselves from one another and quieted right down. It was a very pleasant experience and now I'm not worried about going back on Thursday to do it again. At the end one girl talked to me and asked, "When is your baby due?" After telling her she asked me if it was my first. When I told her no it was my 5th I about did a flip! It was the first time I realized I'm about to have my 5th baby!! Holy cow, how did that happen. This all seems so crazy.
(Thanks Beronica for watching Kory and Trey.)

Cute Toes

So, I am to the point in my pregnancy that my feet are starting to give me problems. Problem #1--I can't reach them!! Problem #2--By the end of the day my feet are so swollen and itchy it is enough to drive me mad. Because of these two issues the past few weeks my toes have been looking pretty bad. However, tonight I can say I am going to bed with CUTE TOES. My Mother in Law came in tonight and said, "So, you want me to paint your toes?" I accepted her offer and am so glad I did. She did an awesome job. I felt like I was in a salon. She was a real sport as Trey was pretty much her side kick and didn't get off her the whole time. How she did such a perfect job with him bumping her is beyond me. She spent quite a while just massaging my feet which I totally didn't expect. It was so relaxing. She teased Monty about rubbing my feet for me every night and we all had a good laugh. Then she let me pick what color I wanted and I decided to go festive. I've never done RED before, but in honor of the Christmas Holiday it seemed appropriate. I've looked down at my feet several times tonight in disbelief that they are painted. Thanks so much for the gift Nana. It meant a lot.

Watch out Lance Armstrong

Guess who taught himself to ride a bike?!When Tyler was in Kindergarten we would pack everyone into the car with all the bikes, drive to a safe location and spend hour after hour, and day after day patiently(and sometimes not so patiently) teaching Tyler the tricks of the trade. He had elbow pads, knee pads, gloves, and a helmet which we made sure were securely in place before he made each attempt.
I've been watching Kyle ride his RAZOR the past few weeks and thought to myself that he was ready to learn to ride a bike. I didn't think it would take long as the RAZOR requires the whole 'balance' technique. However, I just kept putting it off. Imagine our surprise when Tyler came running into the house today saying Kyle was riding a bike. In disbelief Monty and I went out to find Kyle(with no helmet) as confident as can be riding a bike!! We quickly told him to put on a helmet and then clapped and said to each other..."Gotta love Kyle!" Great job buddy!! (Thanks for rescuing me from the guilt of not teaching you!)

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow....in the mountains!:)

Last night was the first rain we've received all year, so we thought we'd take the boys up to the snow for a little while today. The boys knew exactly what to do...SNOW BALL FIGHT!! It was so fun to watch them play around.

Kory of course came up with the great idea to make a snow angel. Monty and I were pleasently surprised by how much Kory enjoyed the snow!!

Kyle joined in the fun. He's always up for fun.

Tyler prefered the snowballs. He is the only one that actually came into the car to warm up. While in the car he said, "Mom, I feel young again." After laughing I asked him what he meant and he explained that the last time he'd played in the snow was when we lived in Cheyenne.

Unfortunately we had one mishap...a snowball in the face. This didn't go over so well and I don't blame Kory for crying one bit. I would have been crying too. It was crazy cold outside. As payback we gave him a free shot at Tyler and he hit him square in the back.

Trey was different from his brother. He wanted nothing to do with the snow. In fact, the only time he got out of the car was to get a photo with all the brothers. He was shivering for this picture.(Trey has a nice warm coat...however, he refuses to wear it. It took a lot just to get him to wear this one.) While I took this picture he was saying..."Mom, it's too cold!"

And of course the famous Monty and his shorts. In Wyoming people use to always ask me why my husband always wore shorts. Well...he's still the same man. Shorts and snow! Who said they don't mix.

Although we didn't last long in the snow due to lack of the proper gear, we had a great time just hanging out for a bit. Now all the boys want mittens for Christmas. Not gloves...mittens. They think mittens will help them make better snowballs!:)

Sisterly Surprise for Makai and I

Saturday my mom invited me to go out with her for the afternoon. Upon arriving to her home I was completely overwhelmed and taken back to find all the Peterson sister in laws present for a fun surprise. Apparently for months they have had the idea of doing something special for me and Makai. I had no idea because when I found out I was having another boy I told everyone I didn't want to have a shower or anything...I had everything I needed. However, I have to admit that this surprise was something I needed. I felt so loved was simply brought to tears.
The house looked so nice. It was set with my mom's china. When is the last time I ate on china?!! UM...I'm still thinking.

They thought of everything. There were cute 'It's a Boy' balloons and a couple sets of amazingly beautiful roses. There were even gifts wrapped in bags other than the bags they were bought in. Needless to say there was a definite girl presence in the house.
We started off eating an amazing meal. It began with minestrone soup, followed by a salad and mom's priceless rolls all followed by chicken parmesan that was cooked to perfection. I also enjoyed the sauteed mushrooms and cauliflower dish. I can honestly say I enjoyed each and every bite! Oh, and I can't forget the wonderful punch with ice cream, soda, and grape juice to top it all off. I think we were all kind of taken back not having to cut up food for our kids.

After lunch we all decorated onesies for baby Makai. My sister in laws and mom are very talented and the shirts turned out super cute.

Then I opened gifts. There were a few things I still needed, but now I honestly have everything I need for this little man. My mom really surprised me with a bassinet and car seat for Makai. Thanks girls for everything. The afternoon was so special and unforgettable. I will never forget this surprise. You gals are awesome.
p.s. thanks to all my brothers and my husband for watching the kids while I borrowed your wives. You have wonderful wives!:)

A LOAD, a LUNCH, and a RELEASE

Friday, I had another ultrasound. I was happy to see that our baby is healthy and the cord is no longer around his neck...just around his shoulders. He wouldn't stop moving through the entire ultrasound, so we didn't get any good pictures. I took it as him being upset and fighting with the technician, but my mom said maybe he was just playing with her. I guess in a few weeks we'll see which one of us was right. In this case I'm hoping I'm wrong. Anyway, we also found out that he's not a small baby by any means. They are estimating him to be around 6 lbs already. (Kory wasn't even 6lbs when he was born!) When the doctor came in to discuss the ultrasound I believe his exact words were, "Well, you're carrying quite the load." Not the words every mother wants to hear when she still has 5 weeks to go. To ease my fears mom and I went to get some frozen yogurt afterward. Probably not the best thing, but it was sure good.

Saturday was a fun day. Tio was home from Georgia and we had a nice lunch with him. It was great to see him. He seems to be doing great in the Army, but I can tell he's missing being with his family and they miss him. Thankfully, he's almost done with training. Anyway, he had this desire to cook while he was home and we were all excited. It was the best lunch with Carne Asada, Guacamole, Tortillas, beans...you name it. During lunch I suggested we change Thanksgiving this year to Carne Asada instead of Turkey...after all...this is California. Anyway...we'll see if we really do it. Thanks for a wonderful lunch Greg! It was great to see you and we look forward to seeing you again soon.

Today Monty was released from the Bishopric. Last week they announced our ward was being dissolved. It was kind of a sad moment, but these things happen. Monty did a great job in the Bishopric and really grew to love the people of our ward. I'm thankful for his service and the good man he is. I wasn't able go to church today as three of our 4 boys were sick, but he gave me the lowdown on our new ward. I was also released from Nursery, but that was very welcomed on my part. It was getting a little difficult with this belly to do a good job in Nursery. I started singing 'head, shoulders, knees and knees' to the kids because I haven't seen my toes in ages!

Kory's special lunch

Yesterday my mom called to see if she could take Kory out to lunch for his special birthday lunch. When I told him he was so excited. "Yeah, this is going to be so fun," he said,. As I got him ready he told me just where he wanted to go--McDonald's. He knew just what he wanted too--a happy meal with chicken nuggets, apples and chocolate milk, with of course an Astroboy toy. He had such a fun time. Afterward my mom took him to Target and he got to pick out a toy(even though she'd already gotten him a birthday gift. It's fun to be grandma). Along with his new toy she also bought the other boys colored pencils(drawing is one of their favorite past time) and some bubble gum. After they had each had a piece I told Kory to put his gum in a safe place. Obviously, he didn't put it in a safe enough spot. After dinner Trey disappeared for a long time. Finally he emerged from his room with the biggest smile I've ever seen on his face and cheeks that seemed mighty full. When he opened his mouth I swear he had about 5 pieces of bubble gum in his mouth. He was SOOO happy. It cracked me up. I went ahead and let him chew it as long as he wanted. I figured as long as he stayed out with me so I could be sure he didn't choke on the 5 pounds of gum in his mouth I'd let him live his dream!! Glad you enjoyed yourself buddy.

End of First Quarter

Yesterday was the last day of first quarter. Tyler and Kyle have done great so far this year. We are so proud of them. I've been busy attending awards assemblies for both of them. They were both chosen as their classes 'Star Writer'. They had a special assembly in the library where they had the chance to read their story before receiving their aware. They also both earned Principles Honor Roll, meaning they got all A's and P's in academics and all 3's in behavior. We are so proud of them. Kyle also earned Student of the month in his class. He's really good at helping to teach other kids concepts they don't understand. Kyle is a born teacher. In fact, if he's having trouble with his homework(meaning--staying focused)I just send Kory over to the table and tell Kyle to teach Kory want he is learning. Most of Kyle's math pages are colored by Kory who loves to be taught by Kyle. Great work Kyle!!The boys 'Star Writer' Stories.
Tyler:
One day in the jungle, Tasan was having fun swinging with his lucky leaf when sudenly he crashed into a tree! Tarsan said, "OUCH!" and droped his lucky leaf into a streem. "NO, my luucky leaf" said Tarsan. With out it I have no luck." Tarsan started thinking about what he should do. Then sudenly a bright lite blub apeeared above Tarsan's head. "I know, I can bild a raft, go down streem and get my lucky leaf." said Tarsan. So Tarsan went and bilt a raft using logs and the stem of the strongest plant in the jungle. He saled down the streem and got his lucky leaf. Even at this moment Tarzan still swings in the jungle.

Kyle:
I like cumeleuns becus they camruflosh or blend in. They have cool ies! I no they liv in Americu. Cumeleins are reptils.

Now three weeks of vacation!:)