The Walkers

I just got crap from my mom about my month-long absence from the internets. It's been a busy month and I will attempt to summarize it in as few pictures as possible. (Especially since we still have Christmas photos to sort through too.) This is how Kaiya sleeps pretty much every night. It's a little ridiculous; each doll needs covers and a kiss goodnight from us. This particular night, Kaiya arranged everybody on her pillow, then got really worried and asked Brad, "Where do I sleep?" He made her some room. A couple days later, she thought Ben needed a sleeping buddy as well. Here's a photo from the crazy snowy days we had last week. This is the sidewalk in front of our house, and Kaiya is sporting this winter's BeanLee from aunt Megan. I LOVE IT!! We invited the families over for Kaiya's second birthday on the 18th. I can't believe she is already two!! She is getting so big. She got some help opening gifts from her cousins. Between both of our families...

I took the kids to get pictures taken today. I should have booked the whole family to remedy our last fiasco, but I'm not that smart. It turns out my children can turn out a decent picture or two. I guess they're forgiven. Some of these could use some more editing, which I'll get to eventually, but I had to share them anyway. And no - we couldn't get a single shot of the two of them together.

Family photos sure were a whole lot easier before we had kids. Why is it that in the pictures where Brad looks freakin' hot and my hair looks amazing (let's be honest - it totally does), our kids can't perform? I don't mind Kaiya's non-smile so much, but Benjamin looks kind of like a Troll. But really, how hilarious would it be to actually mail this Christmas card? "Ya, we had a baby. Too bad we like to torture him regularly while showcasing our own vanities. Merry Christmas!"

It's a little unnerving to feel so busy and so tired and yet so unaccomplished. How is it possible that I've done everything and nothing in the last month? Needless to say, life has been crazy around here... finishing end of term grades... receiving much-needed help from family and friends... running on pure adrenaline for weeks... I feel like I'm just starting to get a hang of this mom-of-two-kids thing. Anyhoo, I should probably fill you in on what we've been up to. Kaiya dressed up as a peacock for her first trick-or-treating experience. She was pretty stinkin' adorable. She's been a good helper with Ben and it's been funny watching her use her new found skills during playtime. For example, I caught her nursing and then burping her dolly. She also spent an excessive amount of time swaddling a squash (Yep. I said squash.)and rocking it to sleep. Little Ben is doing really well. He's already gained a couple pounds and grown an inch. He's a pretty ...

Alicia is awesome for posting some pictures of Ben for me. It has been a crazy week and I'm finally getting around to looking at them myself. So here's the story: I was adamant about not going into labor early... I actually had made a to-do list on Thursday, the length of which brought me to tears. What can I say? I've always been a procrastinator. Unfortunately, it looks like Ben has the Walkers' if-you're-not-early-you're-late mentality because he decided to come two weeks early just to teach me my lesson. At about one in the morning last Friday, I woke up to contractions. I didn't want to believe that's what they were and actually tried to go back to sleep. For five minute intervals. Anyway - after deliberating, waking up my hibernating husband (who, for the record, didn't believe me), and taking a very sleepy and confused Kaiya to Amy's, we made it to the hospital at 3:15. Ben was born at 4:01. (Yes, I barely had time for an epidural.) He is ...

Hey, it's Michelle's sister, Alicia. Click here to see baby Ben.

Brad sold his Acura RL last night (within an hour of listing it on KSL!)and has been moping ever since. I don't blame him; this car is amazing and so so pretty! We just need something bigger for our family. It looks like we'll be sharing the Accord and borrowing dead people vans from the mortuary for a couple weeks until we find something new. Poor Brad... he's lost his motorcyle, his car, and a large portion of his former self this month. Be nice to him.

Laurel and Jason were babysitting Kaiya today and managed to capture this moment on video. That's my girl.

Kaiya looked so cute today all dolled up in her new fall duds. It's too bad she wouldn't quite cooperate for the camera. This is the best I could get before she ran away and fell head first into the ditch. She cheered up again when I got her bike out... but still wouldn't actually look at me while smiling. Oh well.

Brad called me Tuesday night to tell me that he loved me. Then he told me his bike was totaled and he was on his way to the hospital in Aberdeen, Washington. He was able to catch a flight home last night with a broken arm, jacked up ankle, and wicked road rash in the one place he wasn't wearing leather (you know what those chaps do and don't cover from behind). But I think the thing that is most damaged is his ego. We just might be done with the biking world altogether.

I did find my camera (in my diaper bag - where I put it), but haven't had the time or energy or brainpower to post anything exciting. So, while reinforcing said unexcitingness, here are my last few weeks: Both of the kids' rooms are repainted and adorable. My nephews, Jake and Vance , had birthdays. Kaiya's hair finally fits in pig tails. Kind of. I moved my bookshelves into the family room. None of my bras fit. I ate Allyn's Swedish Pancakes and fell in love with the Walkers all over again. I love my church calling. My verbal diarrhea hit an all time low when one of the Mia Maids retold one of my stories at her dinner table. Good thing her parents have senses of humor. Word to the wise: don't talk about thong underwear at church. I read The Alliance . I read Mockingjay . I loathe Box Elder bugs. Especially their babies. School is well into its third week. I think I found a substitute for my maternity leave. I've discovered that little boy shopping might be mor...

This car passed Megan and me a couple weeks ago and I nearly caused a traffic accident while switching lanes to take a picture with my phone. It's a bit blurry... but it's not every day you see a couple boasting two dogs, four cats, and three (what I can only assume to be) fowl. I just wish I could read their names.

We spent last week in Washington visiting my parents. It was so much fun... I love it when Kaiya gets one-on-one time with any of her grandparents. I'm pretty sure she's the favorite. While in town, we were able to attend my friends' wedding reception and celebrate our five year anniversary! Wow. My friends Ashley and Geoffrey got married a couple months ago in Maui (I'm totally jealous) and decided to celebrate with family and friends last week. It was so good to see everybody from home and catch up. It's funny to me that they're all getting married now (four of my best high school friends had/have weddings this summer!) when I'm chalking up anniversary number five and pumping out kid number two :) Anyway, I left my camera at my parents' house. I think. But Brad took some pretty good pictures on his phone that are worth sharing. These ones are from some hiking trails around Round Lake (where we had our wedding party pictures taken). This pretty p...

Kaiya ditched me in her room this morning and shut the door. Not a minute later I heard water running and found her in the bathroom. Yes, she had climbed up onto the counter, into the sink, retreived her toothbrush and toothpaste, and proceeded to brush her teeth. She actually turned the water off before I snapped the picture, whining that her jammies were "messy".