Christmas Eve

Each year we spend Christmas Eve with the Cox family. It is really fun for the kids. Normally they have Santa come and bring the kids a stocking, but this year he couldn't make it. We had a nice dinner, followed by the kids acting out the Nativity, while Mark read they scripture of the birth of our Savior. Brooklyn and Brynlee made cute little Shepherds, and Jace was cute little baby Jesus. I love being reminded of why we really celebrate Christmas. I am grateful that my kids are starting to learn the real meaning of Christmas. If you ask Brooklyn and Brynlee why we have Christmas, they would tell you "Because It's Jesus birthday." After the Nativity, the kids got to open presents from Steven's grandparents. They girls got sleeping bags, which they are so excited about. They will love taking them to sleepovers, and will be able to use them when we go camping this summer. Jace got a cute little bear that giggles, and he has had so much fun with it. He is really getting interested in everything. After the party was over, we came back home to let the kids open their Christmas PJ's. We had Jace open his first, he was so cute. I had him help me rip the paper and he let out a cute little laugh like he knew what was going on. Next Brynlee opened hers, and was so excited for her Princess Sophia Jammies. She yelled out "Oh thank you I love them." Finally Brooklyn opened hers. She is so funny. She said "Why you give me these, I like them, why you give me these." Haha my kids each show their own personality, and I love it. I sure love my family!

Jace is 2 months

I am still having a hard time thinking my baby boy is already 2 months. Time is going by so fast. At 2 months Jace is 12 lbs 13 oz (62%) and is 24 inches (91%) He is such a sweet, snuggling baby boy! He definitely makes our days a little brighter. He loves his sisters, and they love him. The girls have really taken into their role as his second Mommy's. He loves standing up, and has thee biggest smiles! His smiles melt my heart. He is turning into a Mommy's boy and I love it!

Santa Clause

The day after Thanksgiving, Manti does a light parade and Santa comes to the high school. The girls had talked for weeks about how brave they were going to be, but when they got there they got too nervous. They made Jace go first, and still wouldn't sit on his lap. They were a lot braver than last year though. They told him they wanted a Doc Mcstuffins doll and cookies. They even gave him a high five, which is more than they would give last year. I love experiencing these things with my kids. Holidays are so fun 

Thanksgiving

Our Thanksgiving celebration started on Wednesday with the turkey pardon. Steven, Jace and I headed up to thanksgiving point to be apart of it, since the farm was chosen to pardon their turkey. Brooklyn and Brynlee had spent the night at my parents, so they stayed with them while we went. It was kinda fun  seeing what they do to pardon a turkey. Nothing too exciting, but now I know what they do. 

Thanksgiving day we spent here in Manti with Steven's family. The turkey and pie were delicious, and we spent the rest of the day sitting around visiting. Steve braved the 8:00 Black Friday rush while I stayed home to get the kids to bed. It was a fun busy day!

The Jazz game

Steven and I decided to be brave and take all of our kids to the Jazz game. For having two 2 years olds and 6 weeks old, it turned out really well. Brooklyn and Brynlee were so excited to see the Jazz bear, and love their new Jazz shirts from their Daddy. Jace wasn't a fan of the noise at first, but eventually slept through it. I love spending time with my little family. Family is everything to me, I am so grateful we are a forever family!

Jace's special day

November 2nd, 2014 Jace received a name and blessing by his Dad. Steven did an awesome job, and gave him a beautiful blessing from our Father in Heaven! Thanks to all our family for your love and support for our little man! We sure love him! 

Halloween

We have made it tradition to spent Halloween afternoon in Ftn Green with Grandma and Grandpa Johnson, and then coming home to do the trunk or treat with Dad. Brooklyn and Bryn had so much fun being Tinkerbell, and Jace was the cutest little moose/bear. 

Jace Steven Olson

On a Sunday drive home from my Parents house, Steven and I decided to talk about the future. We never really brought up having more kids, but I did mention that I had to run to Ephraim the next day to pick up my birth control. So Monday morning I headed over to Ephraim and picked it up. By the time I got home, I had a text on my phone saying don't take your birth control. I immediately called him, saying "are you being serious? Are you really ready for this?" We got pregnant very quickly with the girls, so we weren't sure what to expect this time around. This time around it took us 3 months. My sister in law Cassie figured it out, so she was the only one who knew until we had our 10 week check up. It was so hard to keep it a secret!! I decided I wanted to try out Dr. Anderson out of Payson, and I'm so so glad that I did. He was so good to Brooklyn and Brynlee. I was worried they would be scared, but they actually looked forward to going to listen to Jace's heart beat. I had a little more morning sickness with Jace than I did with the girls, but still feel pretty lucky it wasn't any worse. I craved cheeseburgers, and pizza. I found out what we were having at 16 weeks. I went in for a regular appointment, but he couldn't find the heart beat right away and wanted to make sure everything was okay. He told me he was 99% sure it was a boy, but we would do another ultra sound at 20 weeks. I was so excited to go home and tell Steve. I tried to wait a few days until his birthday, but my big mouth told him that night. The pregnancy seemed to go by pretty fast at first. We spent most of our days exercising and taking walks to the farm. The girls really enjoyed being out, and it got me moving (which I didn't do when I was pregnant with them). At about 35 weeks time seemed to slow down. I was ready for our little guy to be here, but knew he had to stay in a little bit longer. I had the girls at 37 weeks, so I was getting a little restless when I hit 37 weeks and he still wasn't here. Dr. Anderson tried stripping my membranes, but for some reason that didn't work for me! At my 38 week appointment Dr. Anderson suggested getting induced at 39 weeks since I lived so far away. I was ready and willing to take him up on that. October 7th, 2014 early in the morning we headed to Payson hospital to get things started. I had thought about trying to go without an epidural, but once they got the pitocin going I decided I was ready for it. The epidural actually went in a lot easier than it did with girls. (my reason for not wanting the epidural was the needle) I was feeling pretty good right after the epidural, but a little while later I started feeling sick. Soon I was starting to feel contractions again, and felt like I was going to throw up every time I contracted. When Dr. Anderson came in to check on me I told him what was going on. He checked me, and told me he thought Jace had moved down on a nerve. Mine and Jace's oxygen levels were dropping a little bit, so they made me put oxygen on. For someone like me who hates things over her face, this was hard. Finally it was time to get Jace here. Since I was able to feel contractions, I was able to know when to push, but pushing also made me want to throw up. Steven had to watch for me, so he could hurry and get the oxygen mask off before throwing up. I did end up throwing up, but it did make me feel better after each time. After what seemed like forever Jace Steven Olson made his way into our lives at 4:08 PM. He weighed 7 lbs 8 oz and 20 inches long. He was perfect in every way, and we were in love at first sight. It was new for me to be able to hold my baby right after delivery, but it was so perfect. He instantly became Mommy's little boy, and I couldn't wait for his beautiful sisters to meet him. I'm so grateful, and blessed to have my husband by my side through the whole thing, and I love him more than he knows. He is a great father to our children!

Life as of now

So I am going to try doing this blogging thing again. Hopefully this time around I can keep up. Life has gotten pretty crazy around here. Brooklyn and Brynlee will be turning 3 soon, and we have now added baby brother Jace into our family. We are so in love with him, and the girls have adjusted to being the best big sisters! Brynlee is Jace's protector. I was afraid of what they would think when we brought him home, but they have been so much better than expected. They love to give him lots of loves, which sometimes gets a little too rough, but he loves them. They were the first ones to be able to make him smile. He is always searching for them whenever he can hear their voices. He started smiling at around 2 weeks old. Jace is the sweetest cuddly baby. He loves to sleep on Mommy's chest. He sleeps really well at night. He only wakes up 2-3 times a night. Jace is now 5 1/2 weeks old, and time is going by too fast. Brooklyn and Brynlee are growing up so fast. I can't believe how much they have changed in a year. They definitely make their Mom and Dad proud. They were potty trained by the time they were 2, and are always on the go. They seriously are the best of Friends. I don't know what they would do without each other. They fight like cats and dogs, but in the end they always have each others backs. Brooklyn and Brynlee are really into puzzles, and doing anything that has to do with learning. Every since having Jace, they have been going to nursery by themselves with no problems, and are so excited for their turn to go to preschool. Brynlee always tells me "Mom i'm going to go to school, and you are going to cry, but it's okay because I will come home when it's over." They are growing up right before my eyes, and i'm definitely not ready. I'm just glad they still like to snuggle Steven and I. They are definitely our little Angels, and now we have our Buddy Boy, and are happier than ever! I'm so grateful that our family is forever!!!