Blog Update Blitz

Okay.  Let's just be real here.  I have SUPER tons of guilt about not keeping up with my blog.  Not b/c I know all my millions of faithful readers are bummed to be missing out on all the wonderful things that are floating around in my head... but b/c the whole point of my blog was for me to write out my children's history... and I'm missing several months of fun memories.  Thus the life of a momma of 3 kids 4 and under!  Which... I COULD have said 3 kids 3 and under- except my baby boy just had a birthday!  ::WAHHHH!!!!::

I'm going to try to be better at blogging... I know I've said that before... but I've GOT to make it a priority.  I have so much regret that I have not documented all of Kate's milestones.   I hate it!  Ugh.  So here goes!  My Jan-now blitz updates:


2012!!!!

JANUARY

Miss Kate is SEVEN months old!!!

Miss Emme turned 2 years old this month!

All the party goodies!

The Birthday Girl and all her Birthday glory!  :)

* Kate turned 7months old the same day that Emme turned 2!
* Emme had a HUGE Minnie Mouse themed party that just about wore me out of parties for.life. !!!
* Emme is talking so much... and is such a sweet, loving, sassy, and SMART little girl!
 * Went to Civil Wars concert
*  and my very first Jury Duty Summons!  Haha!

February

Emme's ready for her 2nd Daddy/Daughter Dance

Poor little girl was so sick...but we didn't realize it!

Ready for her date!

Baby Kate is 8months old!

   

















































































March

I told you that I was going to blitz through this... partially b/c... I don't really remember alot... and partially b/c... there wasn't a whole lot!  :D

Ok- so this is random... but it hailed like CRAZY... and looked SO much like snow.  It was a FB uploaders dream!

9 months already... time is going too quickly!

We spent an afternoon at the Children's Museum... SUCH a fun place...

We haven't been here since Emme was only a WEE little baby!

Mommy went on her first vacation away from home... SEATTLE!  I had SUCH a fun time visiting the Conners with Jaime.... the three of us gals had a blast getting drenched, sightseeing, buying rain boots... and just being together!

I seriously cannot wait to visit again!  (although- if Vi and Daniel could just move back home... that would be great too!  ;) )

April

Mommy got brave and took the kids to the zoo ALL BY HERSELF!  They did so great and had a lot of fun.... we were dirty and tired by the end... and mommy barely took any pictures, but Jude had fun taking pictures of the penguins with mommy's phone!

I love Easter time.  I love dressing my kids up, but not too froophy... I love getting their baskets ready... and I love teaching them about the loving sacrifice that Christ gave us.

We always miss out on hanging out with Daddy during the day... but the kids and I sure had fun at Papa/Hanni's house!

Fifth Annual Logan Family Picnic!

Wouldn't be an Easter picnic w/o bubbles and CORNHOLE!

I rented a lens and decided to test it out on the kids before having to take it back... as you can tell... they weren't really into it!  :)

December

So sad- that I didn't keep up w/ my blog... b/c I'm SURE there are some comedy that I've missed out on!  ;)

OOOh!  I forgot in November....Kimbasa will no longer be housing fetuses in her uterus.  Yup.  DLo got theSnip.  Yup.  Happy.Friggin.Thanksgiving.  :)

Anywhooooooo!  So.  It was SO difficult for me to get into the Christmas spirit this year.  Seriously.  It's been SO SO SO hot...TOO hot...and although 75 degrees is nice in March or April... it is NOT in December!  I want to wear a sweater, dang it!  Or at least... a JACKET over a short sleeved shirt!  :P  I digress!  I felt like I had "thegrumps" all month and other than hiding our Elf on the Shelf, Jack... I just was NOT feeling it... (which is sad- b/c today is Feb 1st- and I SO SO SO miss Christmas!)

December was a super eventful month, as I'm sure it is with many families... We had family pictures, Jude's first school program (SO FREAKIN' CUTE!), a wedding, a reunion, parties, Christmas celebrations and a road trip!  Yup.  We sure did!

Jude's Christmas program was super cute!  Although- it was stressful, as we had family pictures RIGHT before the program! The concert started at 7pm and was scheduled to last until 8pm.  We got there early... and my parents got there EVEN EARLIER! to save good seats.  Jude walked out with his class in an adorable little construction paper made Santa hat...  of the hundred or so preschoolers, my son was most def. the cutest!  (for SURE!)...  It was a thrill to hear him singing Jingle Bells... Up on the Housetop... and even Feliz Navidad (which I loathe!) !!!  In the middle of the 10minute concert (no joke- it was done in 10 mins!!!), Jude's hat slipped down and was covering his eyes... but folks... having a rockstar genes- Jude knew that the SHOW MUST GO ON... Hahaha!  Even without being able to see, homeslice kept singing, until one of the teachers pulled him to the edge of the stage to help him.  ;)  I hope never to forget the adorable look on his face- embarrassment and pride- when he saw us in the audience!  His mommy and daddy, sisters, Papa and Hanni, Mema and Grandab were sure proud of our big boy!

Jude was so cute when he first saw us sitting in the audience!

...but even more adorable singing his songs!

Thankful for Mema and Grandab for coming!

...and Papa and Hanni for coming too!

Let me see...Oh my word... probably the thing that I most enjoyed about December- what I most anticipated (as in for the past FOUR YEARS!) was my reuniting with the Fabulous Mrs. Love Breaux!!!!  It was an awesome day... and I was on pins and needles all day!  My awesome MIL came to watch my babies so that I could drive down to the airport to see the Breaux and welcome them back to Arizona!  It was so ironic b/c the day they left for Japan... the weather was rainy all day... just as the day they returned... as if time stood still for their return!  :)  Favorite memory of our reunion- by FAR- was meeting Aunt Margaret!  And touring Love's new house! 















My sweet baby girl turned 6months old on the 19th.  Words cannot describe the joy this little girl brings us.  She is the sweetest, happiest little girl!  She melts our hearts more than we could ever have imagined!  <3

Oh my word... it's so overwhelming trying to update months later!

I got to spend the morning with Jude at school... to celebrate "Christmas Around the World"... I've been wanting to see Jude "in action"... and it was a very fun experience.  Jude is made for school... he loves the structure... and seems to be thriving.  It was an eye opening experience too... and since I already have preconceived ideas about public school... it helped affirm some of my feelings, and taught me that some of my fears were ill placed.  :)

Snack Time- Jude's teacher helps him peel a tangerine.

Buon Natale!  (Italy)

Australia...apparently Santa surfs...

Jude was such a good boy...

Feliz Navidad...

December was also a wonderful time of celebration... Our wonderful, precious, Jeffy became an official part of our family!  My sisterinlove, Tori and her husband have been praying and waiting for the state to FINALLY give them a court date... there aren't many other things that could make this Christmas THIS awesome!  We love you, Jeffy boy!  You've been apart of our family long before any paper made it official!  We're proud and excited for you!

JDW

 Oh my!...I told you that my December was nutz!

-------------------------

Okay- Let me just say... that everything above that line... was written over the course of SEVERAL months!  Haha...

I'm going to wrap up my Dec... and blitz through my updates... in hopes of continuing my blog updates on a...more regular basis!  :/


Okay- So... Basically.  Christmas was the culmination of crazy in the Logan household.  We had our lil family celebration... followed by a celebration at my parent's house... and finally... we packed up our kiddos... and headed up north to Junipine to hang out with Derrick's family for a "White Christmas".  It was incredibly stressful for me to try to get my family ready for a roadtrip up north all by my lonesome... and the days prior were... quite lovely... for all of us!  But thankfully, we all arrived safely and were able to really unwind and enjoy our time.  The kids were ALL great... it was adorable seeing them all bundled up (and really needing it!) and hanging out by the fireplace.  I will never ever forget the smell of burning embers at night!  It was fun hanging out with the siblings- playing BANANAS and Rook and whatever other random games we played... and of course- it was and always is fun to cut up on DLo w/ the inlaws!  ;)

This is the first year we really did the Santa thing... the kids even had to be on best behavior for Jack, our Elf on a Shelf!

Santa brought Em a Doll House!

Jude must have been a good boy for Santa to bring him the racetrack he wanted!

Daddy always reads us the Christmas story before we open presents.

This was one of his favorites!

The lovely Miss Kate at my parents house.

Present.Overload.

The "Biggies" at the Red Rock Fantasy light show in Sedona

Looking back 5 months later... I'm able to look beyond all the stress and crazy... and see how blessed we are that we're able to do things like that... and have our kids share so many memories.  I find that we take a lot of these things for granted!

Okay- one more update... Miss Kate is cuttin' some teeth this month!  Yay!!!!!

November

OOOH!  I'm ::this:: close to catching up!

I have always loved the beginning of the school year.  Part of it, growing up, was because I loved school so much- loved the nervous excitement you get when you meet your new teacher... see who's going to be in your class- loved the preparation of getting a new bag... pencils... erasers.  Pretty much, I was a big dork!  ;)  But another reason I loved the beginning of the school year is because it meant fall was around the corner (well, whatever "fall" you get in AZ)... and THAT meant that the holidays were approaching!

I.LOVE.THIS.TIME.OF.YEAR.  Except.  It's the first time that I've had THIS many children!  And... it's the beginning of a pretty busy time of year for Derrick's job... but... still... the holidays are wonderful!

November started off with my FABULOUS sisterinlaw watching my 3 babies... so that Derrick and I could have a kidfree-24hour bday celebration for Derrick!  (We returned the favor w/ her babies too!)... It was a very hard hard hard thing for me to do... it was the FIRST time I've left all three of them... actually, it was the first time that I left Kate!  :/  But I trust Tmama...and it was a much needed time!  Derrick and I enjoyed a nice dinner w/ my parents, dropped off the kids, and headed out to see the movie Moneyball.  Typically, I wouldn't like those types of movies... but I really did enjoy it!  We also grabbed some coffee at one of DLo's "hangs" ::giggles::...  The next day... we spent the afternoon getting massages...then grabbed dinner at the Yard House before getting MORE coffee (at another "hang") and picking up ALL the kids!  :)

To celebrate Derrick, Niki, and Kevin's bdays with Derrick's family... we did something we've NEVER done before:  Cart Racing.  Derrick and I have been invited to do this a few different times with different people, but have never been able to go.  Derrick's parents were so wonderful to treat us all to this fun excursion!  It was comedy from the start- from choosing our "names" to finding the right sized helmet... the 8 of us were ready to rock!  Unfortunately for me... and my SHORT attention span... a 10 min race- especially one in which I am not winning- is too long.  And in the final(ish) lap... I took a really sharp turn REALLY fast (I thought I heard someone coming up on me and didn't want to get passed up again!)... and BOOM!  It was pretty bad... and it hurt something fierce!  I remember just thinking to myself- please do NOT have to go to the ER!  PLEASE!  Thankfully, it looked worse than it was... and although I WAS in a lot of pain for a few days, it ended up being fine!... (I still have a scar to show off too... nice)

OUCH!

Let's see... Miss Kate has started solid foods!  :(  I know.  She's getting so big!  I feel like I held off on solids w/ Kate MUCH longer than I did w/ Emme (I started Jude like RIGHT after 4months!)  It was literally a few days before she turned 5 months.  But it was time... and thankfully... she is a PRO at eating, just like her brother was!  (Emme was a wee bit nutz when trying to spoon feed her!)  I'm making all her baby food, just like I did with the other two... I honestly don't understand why EVERY one doesn't make their own baby foods and just use the jars as back ups!  It's SO cheap and easy and healthy!  :) 

...first time eating rice cereal...

Hm.  Kate turned 5months this month... and let me tell you... as proud of myself as I am that I always take her "month to month" pictures... I always feel SUPER guilty that I haven't blogged about her.  And... what they say is true... the more kids you have, the less you remember.  I mean... there are a LOT of things to remember, after all!  Sheesh!  So.  I know she was rolling from tummy to back and back to tummy... and just started solids.  But... other than being so.stinkin.cute. ...I don't know what else to tell ya!  I DO remember that she eats far less than her siblings... about 4-5oz... and that I was still "nursing".  :)

Thanksgiving, as always, was busy and fun.  Jude enjoys being at his Papa and Hanni's house more than any other place on this planet (minus DLand, of course).  And he loves to play with "Hanni's friends"... which is actually my Uncle Yong!  Haha!  Words cannot describe how it warms my heart to watch Jude and Samchun play.  So thankful for a loving family...very.very. blessed!

Hate that this picture is blurry!  But LOVE this picture!

You can tell Jude wasn't having fun at ALL!  ;)

And Miss Em was being spoiled by Papa going "Highehhhh!"

Thanksgiving with Derrick's family was nice too!  The kids are at a fun age...they play nicely, for the most part, and Jude/Emme are starting to remember the extended cousins too!  Love it!  ...it was sad not to see Pa there this year... but it WAS awesome that my "turkey cookies" that I made from Pinterest was a HIT with the kiddos!  (Especially Abbie!)

Jude and Emme got to taste test the Turkeys first!

I think she's a fan. 

And finally... now that the kids are a little bit older... and since I have this obsession with Pinterest- thus trying to be more creative... I've been trying to be more "crafty" with the kids.  I'm not very good at being "that" mom.  Partially b/c I have THREE kids that are all SO YOUNG.  But also b/c I'm too controlling and a perfectionist.  I have to remind myself that Jude is THREE and Emme's ONE...and that it's OK for the stickers to NOT go where they belong... or that the eyeballs don't HAVE to go on the head.... and that I shouldn't take stuff OFF and put them where they belong... Oy!  lol! 

The placement of the hooves was STRESSin me out!

October

Oh October.  What a crazy month that was!  We started the month of with a bang... or a garage sale, rather.  Now... I have GOT to admit.  I hate hate hate garage sales.  Hate them.  I am not a people person... and so having the interact with strangers in that capacity... not my cup of tea.  But my dad and DLo did all that dirty work after I cleaned every crevice of the house finding "treasures" and setting it all up on the tables!  The kids had a lot of fun hanging out at Papa and Hanni's house while the sale was going on...Hanni had left for Korea (for a MONTH!) the day before... so I had to manage the three kids... but they were wonderful!  :)

We headed up north for several days the following week...and let me tell you... I was SO excited to get out of the HEAT!  It seems like this year just will NOT cool down!  (and wouldn't you know...that as soon as we get to Flagstaff...Phoenix decides to have the coolest, wettest weekend!) I had to spend alot of the week with the kiddos by myself in the hotel room- b/c Derrick had to be at rehearsal/church... but the kids and I had a lot of fun- and still had a great time w/ daddy too!  Some highlights from our trip:
*  going to Oregano's- twice!
*  the kids playing "elevator" in the closet
*  SNOW!
* the view of the trains
* the free breakfast- blahhhhh!
* the creepy guy from the church who answered for me that Emme's name is "beautiful" (roundhouse kick- at the ready!)
*  trying to "check out" on my own- and making about 500 trips down to the car (missing phone, missing wipes, more diapers...)
*  seeing the Waltons at church!
*  UFC at the Reed's

October was a month that also brought the family together.  Derrick and I hosted a delicious brunch with his Meme and uncle Jeromy (and family)... it was at this brunch that Meme informed us to go visit Pa at the nursing home... something we had been planning on doing for a while but couldn't due to different circumstances.  ...the brunch was on a Friday.  On Monday... I kidnapped Tori (drove all the way to her son's first day of preschool across town to pick her up!  The look on her face= priceless) and took her to the Red Door Spa for a day of pampering... and on Wednesday we went to visit Pa.  We were so glad we did... it was so touching to watch Derrick read the Bible to him... and to see his poor, frail body respond to the Word.  That Saturday... Pa left this world... it was a very sad sad time... I found myself grieving, not as much for myself, but for my kids- who will only know him through stories... and knowing that, seeing as they have 5 other great-grands, this will not be the last time they experience death.  Although he is young... Jude knows that Pa is with Jesus... and like the rest of us... is looking forward to seeing him again!

Pa's memorial was beautiful.  It was touching to see all the people come to support the Logan/Beaver family.  It meant the world to me, personally, that my dad was there... as well as Pasor Don, Joe  (DLo's boss), and Ashley.  Derrick did a wonderful job singing...we were all a hott mess by the end of the memorial... but it certainly opened my eyes- life is short- even if you get to live a full one... what am I doing with mine...and how much do I know about those whom I love?


And finally... Miss Kate!  She's getting so stinkin' big... and this month, she turned 4 months old.  Her smile brightens up any room... and those HUGE brown eyes melt my heart! 

September

Yup.  I know I'm behind.  Like WAY behind.  I contemplated giving up on this little blog of mine... but then I felt I'd be cheating myself out of some way awesome memories of my babies growing up... so... here we go.  I have quite a few things to catch up on... it's tough when you have three kiddos so close in age... but I'm going to give it a go!


September was a fairly lowkey month... we had a wedding... some baby showers... a trip to Disneyland with my mom... and Kate's 100th Day.   (I had actually started a blog about the Disneyland trip... but never finished!)

Disneyland was alot of fun.  Jude is finally at that age where he remembers things and has opinions on what rides he likes and wants to go on.  Emme just soaks everything in and is along for the ride.  Kate on the otherhand- is our youngest we have taken to DLand... and we ended up only bringing her (and my mom) one of the two days.  It was just SO HOT... and carrying her around was just making me melt!  Thank goodness for my momma, though- who came along and was able to stay with her in the hotel room the second day!  She was also there to entertain the kiddos in the car... which... we have confirmed- perhaps for the final time- that Miss Em is in no way.shape.or.form. a traveler!!!  Oh my drama!!!

Mommy and Kate melting away!

One of Jude's FAVORITE rides

Bug's Land- another FAVORITE

Love these stinkin' faces!

Mommy and Jude snuck this ride in last minute!

The highlight of Jude's trip... a kiss from Belle!

One of the highlights of mommy/daddy's trip was seeing Jude be brave and attempt to participate!!!

Soon after our Disney trip... Kate turned 3months old.  I win the MotheroftheYear award for not blogging all of her milestones.  Kate- my apologies... but mommy barely has time to do ANYthing these days!  I do remember.. that sweet little girl started cooing up a storm and would just warm my heart every time I heard her sweet little voice!

Can't believe she's 3months old already!!!

And then came Kate's 100th day. Once again... it was a bit of a fail on mommy's part... With one extra baby- and one going to school... my life has become this whirlwind of crazy and I had forgotten to send out invites to this event. Mema and Grandab were out of town on a cruise to the Holy Land... and Uncle Jerrod didn't get a call in time to come... but with Aunt Tori and all my Korean family- we were able to celebrate Kate's Baek-Il.  We even called some friends over to eat the millions of pounds of food my mom made!

Happy 100th Day, Kate!

...homework...

Jude is just LOVING school.  It's so cute to hear him excited to "talk my fwends!!!" and see "Meh Leech!"... and while it's REALLY hectic for our family during the middle of the week to get him to and from school (loading the girls up and whatnot)...I love that he's learning and have to admit that he's learning things that he REFUSED to learn from me!  It's nice picking him up and knowing he missed me and his sisters... and it's wonderful to hear "Mommy!!!!" and see his bright smiling face as he runs to give me a hug.

...but...

Oh.My.Word.  Homework.  Really?!  Haha!  We were given an assignment recently that almost had me rocking in the fetal position!  Okay- not really... but it has been a HOT minute since I've had homework... and anyone who knew me "back when" knows that I'm quite...particular...about my work... I even read and reread the directions... to make sure it was a project that Mom/Dad had to do vs. Jude... Nono...the directions are very clear that it's a project for the parent to complete.  So... I rolled up my sleeves... busted out with some scrapbook gear... and got straight to work.  Lies.  Actually... I let that project hang on the fridge for about a week before even considering it.  Well... I did consider it, but had NO idea where to start.  The project?  Decorate a cut out person to represent your child.  Where.to.even.begin?!

It wasn't until one of my friends, whose son is in Jude's class, posted a picture of HER project on FB.  Buahaha... I didn't cheat... didn't copy... but it gave me a starting point- and motivation to finish the stupid thing! 

The end result?

Jude's "About Me" Project

Mickey ears for our love of Disney... Skull shirt b/c he's a pirate captain... Guitar b/c he tooootally ROCKS (and it's a Taylor like his Daddy's)... Book b/c he loves reading... Crazy Cool felt hair... HUGE squiggly eyes... Mouth that was drawn on b/c I couldn't take it anymore... and Pants.  I refused to make shoes or a nose.  Re.fused.

I forgot to mention that his "book" contains 5 pages of "Facts about Jude".  Yes.  It does.  You would not believe my disappointment that his teacher has YET to compliment me on my hard work... and I'm preeeeettty sure she isn't going to give me a grade on it... bummer... but at least Jude's project ROCKS!  ...poor thing...Although I will probably help him (and his sisters) often on their homework/projects... I refuse to do them- unless specifically told to!!!  ...but I will have pretty HIGH expectations on the quality of their work!  Oh well, eh?

...two...

Well.  It's happening again.  Time seems to be speeding up and my lil baby is two months old!  Already... I know!  It's really quite unbelievable that my youngest child is already 2 months old... Nuts.















 Miss Kate has just captured my heart.  She is such a sweet baby.  I don't know what I did to get so lucky as to have three really easy babies.  Kate is a joy- she loves snuggling and ALWAYS has a huge smile for me in the mornings!  She only wakes up once at night...but falls right asleep to "theboob"... She's def. going to be spoiled by her momma b/c I'm holding on to every SECOND of her baby-ness!  ::sigh::

I absolutely love:
* when she sucks her thumb
* her dimples
* that she hates having a dirty diaper (the other 2 kids did NOT care!)
* that she loves her momma
* her sweet noises
* her HUGE eyes
* her dark hair
* her button nose
* when she stretches and sticks her legs straight out



Kate-
Please stop growing!  Momma can't handle how big you're getting... already you're starting to learn and grow and it breaks momma's heart that you're getting so big so fast... I love you, sweet lil girl... you bring us so much joy...and our family would not have been complete without you...
-Momma