Halloween 2009

I love Halloween, however this year I wasn't really on the ball. Decorations did not even go up until Kenny brought them into the house a week prior to Halloween and costumes were decided the day before the festivities were to begin. Drew wanted to be Darth Vader, so that one was easy because we already had the costume. Ian wanted to be Spiderman, but our Spiderman costume was too small and due to last minute shopping, we were unable to find one for him. So he went as Obi One Kenobi, whoever that is! I was told it went along with Star Wars, which I have never seen, but I thought how appropriate to go along with Drew. It was even super cheap, which is one benefit of last minute costume purchasing! I do feel bad because Ian kept coming up to me and saying, "Mom who am I?" I promise to do better next year! Owen wanted to also be Spiderman, so he got the costume out of our prop box and was easy to please. Mya was a flower, thanks to my mom getting her a costume. I was a witch and Kenny, well of course he wouldn't dress up because he is too mature for things like that!

The Aunties are Here!!!!!

Carol and Cat arrived on Sunday and the boys could not be more happy! They love their aunts because they are given so much attention and play monster with them. Ian was ecstatic about their arrival because grandma Summers gave the boys a gingerbread house to decorate, but told them to do it with the aunts. It was on the top of the "to-do" list and has now been completed and nibbled on.
So here is the picture of the box that I told the boys they could use to help them decorate the house.
Here is the Finished Prodcut!
Not quite like the picture on the box, but it was their first time putting together a gingerbread house! This is what a craft done by 2,4, and 6 year old boys looks like.

Drew and Ian hard at work.
Owen just really liked eating all the candy!
The construction crew!

The Family Help Continues....

My parents departed and Kenny's parents arrived. I am so grateful for them coming out to help us after my c-section. It was so nice to have them here and so nice to have the extra hands. I'm not sure how I am going to do this mothering thing by myself. I have been so fortunate to have such supportive family. Currently, Mya is doing great! She has gained a lot of weight and now even has some rolls. She continues to be smothered/loved on by her brothers and is easy going. The older boys love to hold her, but continue to call her a him. Owen continues to call her an it. He always says, "I wanna hold it. I wanna tiss (kiss) it! So toot (cute)!" We do think she is pretty cute! I love having a girl! After 4 c-sections the recovery has been harder after each one. I am still sore, but getting stronger each day. I can't wait to feel like myself again, so I can "mother" my four children.

Grandpa Summers meets Mya
Loves from Grandma Summers
A mighty miracle occurred while Grandma was at our house. Do you see that leafy green being placed in Owen's mouth? Owen, our only child who would not eat fruits and vegetables, was converted over this week to a fruitatarian while grandma was here. I was truly amazed as grandma told Owen to open his mouth and Owen obeyed. He didn't really seem to enjoy the whole vegetable experience, but he chewed and he swallowed upon grandma's request! Truly a hallmark moment in my eyes. He now eats carrots, broccoli, green beans, salad, and some fruits! I'm not sure how long it will last, since grandma has returned home, but I now know it can be done, even if not that enjoyable.

Three Generations of BYU Fans!

Drew and Ian got to go to their very first football game while grandpa was visiting. How fitting that their first football experience was going to a well loved, by dad and grandpa, BYU game. BYU played San Diego in San Diego so it was a perfect game to attend. The boys loved going to the game and are now true BYU fans themselves. BYU won which made it even more spectacular! I'm glad they were able to have this experience with their grandpa summers and Kenny.

After a week and a half of Kenny's parents being here we now move onto Kenny's sisters being here for another week and a half! I can't wait!

Blessing Day

On Sunday, Mya was blessed at church. Kenny gave her a beautiful, heart touched blessing. I was so thankful to have both of our dads there to participate. Mya wore a dress given to me by my mom that she has had for over 25 years. She was unable to afford such beautiful dresses when she had me and my siblings, so as soon as she had the money she bought a little blessing dress for each of my brothers and sisters to use for our own children. I've had my little blessing dress hanging up in the closets of every house we've lived in with the hopes of using it one day. Well my day came and I don't think Mya could have looked anymore beautiful. It was a very spiritual Sunday for me as I sat with my four wonderful children, a loving husband, my parents, my in-laws, and friends. I am so thankful for the knowledge that my family can be together forever. I am so very blessed.
Mya in her dress given to her by Ge. She is also using the blanket that Ge made for her.
The boys adore Mya and are constantly telling her how cute she is!
Our family with both sets of grandparents.
Her sweet hands! A friend from church gave Mya a little blessing bracelet.
Misty, who traveled from Las Vegas to be apart of our special day. We always love having her around! Thank you for taking such great pictures!
This blanket that is hanging with the dress was made by love from my grandma Scott, Mya's great grandmother. She has since passed away, but her thoughts are always with us and I know she was one of the many people who loved on Mya before she came to us.

One of a Kind...

Mya's name sake, Mya Coleen after her Ge, Vickie Coleen.

My mother is a saint! I have been so blessed to have had my mother with me for the last month as I welcomed Mya into the world. She has been with me through all of my four c-sections and has always stayed a little bit longer with me after each one. I know what a sacrifice it was for her to be away from her home, my dad, and her much loved Granny Mae's pumpkin patch for a whole month. I am truly grateful for her and all of the many tasks she did for us while she was out here in CA. I miss her terribly and have shed many tears since her departing yesterday. When Drew got home from school and asked where Ge (aka my mom) was, I told him she had to go home and he responded, "Well that is very sad." It is very sad, but most of all I will truly miss her cooking. Kenny and I have been eating like royalty with my mom here to cook for us: biscuits, dutch honey, breakfast cookies, breakfast cake, fudge, cookies, KS Dirt cake, toffee bars, are only a few of the many things we have been feasting on. She is like super-mom and has done it all. She did laundry every day, cooked, got pooped on by Owen, fixed Drew's school lunch, did our shopping, killed some mice (eek), cleaned, cheered at soccer games, bathed and changed Mya, snuggled and played with all the kids, did homework, and took care of helpless me. I do not think I would have been able to get through this last month without the help of my amazing mom. I will always cherish the time and selflessness she showed to us. Thank you mom for your love and wonderful example. I only hope that I can be as good of a mother to my children as you are to me and that Mya will always cherish her name and try to be like her GE!



I cannot forget to thank my dad too, for giving up my mom for so long to come out here, for being with us for the last week, and being apart of Mya's blessing. My dad is just as amazing as my mom! I am so lucky! He is often on fixing, playing, and snuggling duty when he is here. He always comes out and does projects off my "Daddy-Please-Do List!" He does things Kenny doesn't feel like doing and always goes above and beyond what is asked of him. Thanks for hanging that light dad in the garage! He plays with the boys and can keep up with them, which can be a very difficult task. He taught the boys new games, took Ian out jogging with him in the mornings, and exhausted the boys on many hikes. He loves babies, so I caught him many times snuggling Mya up close and humming to her softly "Edelweiss" from the Sound of Music while putting her to sleep.

I count my blessings daily for having such wonderful parents. My parents have always been there for me and I will forever be grateful for them.

So the question is, "How will Johanna handle this mothering thing without her parents?" The answer, I don't have to! I am lucky to have Kenny's parents to help now for the next week and a half and to have his sisters the week after that. I have such a supportive and loving family!

{Ge and Grandad to the Rescue}

My parents really came to the rescue when they were here during the mouse infestation of 2009!  As I sat on the couch snuggling Mya i kept hearing scratching by the wall.  My parents thought it was all in my head and that I had taken one too many pain pills.  Later, I saw a mouse run across the room and I started yelling!  After just having a c-section I physically didn't have it in me or emotionally to killing the pack of mice that entered our house!

 

The boys actually enjoyed it and helped with the hunt!

We cornered 3 of them behind the tv and my dad swat them to death with a broom!  It was the most disgusting thing ever!  We learned that the city burned a field nearby and the mice went scurrying...Yuck!

My parents also helped with the cooking, cleaning, taking care of kids, and chauffeuring around.  I couldn't have done it without them!

Ian loved exercising with Grandad every morning!

The boys are smitten with Mya!

Mya's 1st photo shoot

Mya had her 1 week photo's taken by Darcy at our home last week and I am so happy with the results. She made me a dvd of the photos with the music to my favorite singer, Martina McBride, "In My Daughter's Eyes." I balled like a baby the first five times I watched it. I will cherish the DVD always and a huge thanks to Darcy for being so great and creative!

I had so much fun decorating a girls room for Mya!  I got her bedding from Pottery Barn Kids.  Crissa Harris made the birds and Darcy Patterson painted the tree on the wall.  It al came together beautifully!