A Day in the Life of this mommy...

Okay, I'm sure most everyone has quit checking my blog because I haven't updated for awhile and you think I'm M.I.A. but...I'm still around! I can't keep up with it all and if you read my photography blog, you will see two similar posts....hey it's an update! Take what you can get! :) Hopefully I can get pictures from Halloween posted soon. I'm constantly busy, busy chasing four of these little feet around, answering off-the-wall questions from my Gracie girl and caring for a sweet little newborn. It was near impossible to get a picture with Reece and Violet holding still and standing together, so all you get is of course, Violets little shoes. She is my mellow one. It hasn't been so bad having four little ones. I imagined it being much worse. I find that I really have to let go of most things like...a clean house, a plate of food to myself, sleep, having my own water bottle, a laundry room without a mountain of dirty clothes in it, a car without crumbs all over the place, ears that aren't ringing from all the screaming, and a day without breaking up fights and picking up toys. This is only to name a few of my daily trials and chores. I used to be super organized and a total clean freak. Not that I'm still not a little bit, but I have come to terms with the fact that things are going to get messed up. Numerous times a day I am telling myself to "breathe" and just "let it go." At the end of the day I'm completely exhausted but happy knowing that my kids had a great day, are fed, bathed, sleeping on clean sheets, and they know that they are totally loved by their mommy. I'm mean really, what is it all about? I hope most of you moms can relate to the everyday craziness.
Happy Tuesday Everyone!

I can always count on a good, cheesy smile from my Reece.

Up to no good...

These pictures explain why I have a baby gate blocking the doorway to my room. These little monkeys climb on every surface and get in to everything they shouldn't. Reece even climbs in my tub and turns on the water...fully clothed! I wish I could have a gate on every doorway. Maybe then I wouldn't be spending all day cleaning up messes. :)
We are doing so good. The twins are busier than ever and have their own little language that they communicate with each other. I wish they could talk with me but mostly they just scream. It makes me a little crazy sometimes but I just tell myself that it's a phase. Power of positive thinking!! Surprisingly they are so quiet and well behaved when we are out and about, so we all load up, Daddy or not, and go to Target or some other fun store with oversized carts. :) If only I had a dollar for every time I heard, "Wow you have your hands full!" I told myself that I wasn't going to let the number or age of my kids affect us getting out and doing stuff. We've actually done quite a bit while Dan is busy working long hours. Such trips include oil changes on the car, trips to Walmart, post office, Target, the doctors office, Farmers market, and Freestone Park to feed the ducks. It takes a little longer getting loaded and unloaded in the car but it is totally do-able. You would be surprised what you can get done when you have to...without a husband.
Gracie is still loving preschool. I've been writing down cute little things she says. These are some of her words she still pronounces her own little way. Picnic...picmic, if...ith, crushed ice...crunched ice, real quick...real crick, perfect...perfick, accidentally...accilently. She is also so easily convinced of some things it makes me nervous. We don't have cable but have antennae hooked up to our tv. We get a kids channel that has tons of infomercials between each show. Each time they come on I hear an excited, "OOOHHHH MOMMMYYYY! We have to get that! See it is SOOOO EASY!" So far her list of things she wants are a Snuggie, Perfect Brownie Pan, InStyler hair straightener, Bottle Tops for soda cans, Pillow Pet, and Bumpits. :) She absolutely loves anything Barbie, especially the movies. Barbie as the Island Princess and The Princess and the Pauper are her favorites. We burned her a CD of some of the songs for us to listen to in the car when we are out and about. She has the most beautiful voice and can really belt it. So if you see a suburban full of car seats, with a 4 year old and a mommy singing at the top of their lungs, that's us! I hope everyone is doing well. Love-Becky

Conference weekend...+big news.

Well, conference weekend was also birthday weekend for me. We were in Thatcher because I had several last minute Senior portaits to do. It was so nice for Dan to have a few days off so we could hang out. The week went by way too fast though! We loved conference and noticed how so many of the talks were about love. Loving your neighbor, family, Christ, the Book of Mormon...etc. Every talk was so good and just what I needed to hear.

Saturday was my birthday and I woke up to breakfast in bed and a huge bouquet of Roses from Dan. We just chilled during the day and I even got a nap! Best birthday present ever. :) Then Dan, Norah, and I went to Casa for dinner. So yummy. We've really missed good mexican food and I was so spoiled with it while we were there. The day before my sisters, mom, and friend Erin went to La Casita for lunch. We had such a fun time and I'm so glad I got to spend it with family.

Now for the news...The last time I posted we had big news, I announced that we were expecting twins....well, not this time. :) We are enjoying our little Norah and will give my tired body a rest for a couple years. (at least thats the plan for now) :) Anyway, last time we were in Thatcher I got a call from my brother Ladd who told us that there was a position open at the hospital in Safford and that Dan should go interview. So he threw on a nice pair of pants, shirt and tie, and headed down there not having his resume with him and hadn't filled out an application. We weren't getting our hopes up for much as he was going against nurses that had years of experience and one of them was his nursing instructor. After having completed the application process and a couple days passed we heard back and he got the job!! He was very surprised because he just graduated in May and it's such a tough market for brand new nurses. The lady that interviewed him said she was really impressed with the critical care work that he is doing at his current job and wanted him to occasionally float over to the ICU. That's exactly what he wants to do! Dan worked at Mt. Graham hospital as a CNA, tech, and at the nursing home as an LPN but when he graduated there were no openings for nurses which forced us to move. When she asked other co-worker about him they had nothing but great things to say about him. Dan is known at each of his jobs for being a team player. He's more than willing to help others out and I think that is a big part of what got him the job. I'm so proud of who he is and I'm so lucky to have a husband that works hard at his job and at home. He's always so helpful to me with the kids. I definitely have a keeper!

Hope everyone is doing great!
-Becky

I couldn't pick a favorite or even a couple that I liked best. Guess I'm one of those moms. :) We've really enjoyed having this sweet little thing around. She is so animated and easy going. She is gaining weight steadily and at her week old doctors appointment she had already passed her birth weight! Now I've just got to get on the ball and get her to sleep through the night. :)

Norah Jane and Aunt Jane

I love family visits! Last Friday my sister Jane and my mom came down for the day. We got to visit and they spent some time with us and Norah. They also came so they could take Gracie, Reece and Violet back to Thatcher. It was such a fun day. Here's some pictures of Norah and her awesome Aunt Jane. When Dan and I think of names for our kids their first name is one that is their very own and their middle is after a family member. My sister Jane is one amazing mom, wife, sister, and person. I admire her so much for the way she nurtures her kids and is so funny, kind and down to earth. I would have to say that aside from our age difference we are the most alike. I just love her to pieces and I hope Norah will take after her. Thanks again for the much needed visit and for spoiling us rotten with diapers, outfits, all that delicious food and for taking the girls! We love you guys.




Love those huge yawns!

Norah Jane McArthur 09/06/09

She is here!!! Two weeks early weighing in at 8 lbs. 1 oz. and 20 3/4 inches long. Last Sunday I woke up not feeling too well and was having more cramping than usual. Dan suggested that I just go get checked out to be sure things were okay. I didn't really want to. I figured I wasn't feeling that bad and I really hate being in the hospital more than I have too. I got there and the nurse started to do her routine tests. She sampled for amniotic fluid and found nothing. The monitors showed I was cramping with a few contractions here and there. When she checked me she said her head was engaged but I was still only at a three and I would probably be going home later that afternoon. Soon after that I started to bleed and the nurse called my doctor and she told me I would probably be having my baby within the next hour or two. I called Dan so he could get a babysitter and get to the hospital. They got the O.R. prepped and ready and she was born at 11:39 am! I did have a c-section scheduled for the next Sunday and I was really hoping for her to come on 09/09/09 but she decided to come early. :) She is such a beautiful baby and we love her so much. We are so grateful for this sweet little girl and that we get to have her in our family.







I tend to freak out a little as soon as the sheet goes up between me and everyone else. Dan was having fun taking pictures. :)































































My very tired self :)


Norah and I decided to do a little photo shoot while we were in the hospital. There was such great light to work with.



































Dan picked out her take home outfit all by himself. I hadn't bought it yet. He did such a good job. Thanks Sally for the adorable bows!