Take 4

Take 1:

Take 2:

Take 3:
(my favorite)

Take 4:

Oh how I love this girl.

"Keep Doing a Lousy Job"

In Stake Conference about a year ago, there was a speaker (sadly, I can't remember who) who talked about how difficult it can be to do all the things we're supposed to (i.e. FHE, read the scriptures, family prayer, etc.) when we have young kids. He talked about feeling like we're doing a lousy job because we can't get our kids to sit still long enough to teach them anything. Sometimes it is difficult to feel the Spirit when we're constantly struggling and wrestling kids to sit still, fold their arms, or listen. Sometimes it feels like it may not even be worth trying to do while the kids are so young. I have definitely had those feelings! Well, he encouraged us to "keep doing a lousy job" because that is exactly what we should be doing to build a foundation for our family on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Even if the kids aren't grasping the concept completely, at least we are teaching them that these things are important to us!

Well, that was a very encouraging talk for me - here is our family doing "a lousy job" :)

and then here is Katie's version in "Spanitch" :O)

Our Little Mermaid

If you're having trouble understanding, she's saying "how 'bout a little bit loud?"

I love McKenna

I love McKenna.
She makes me laugh. Really laugh.

The other night, she was having a hard time sleeping in the middle of the night. I think maybe her nose was stuffed. She would ask for a tissue, be fine for ten minutes, and then need a drink of water, be fine for ten minutes, and then need another tissue, etc. etc.
I brought her in our room and sat on our chair with her to rock her. I "forgot" about my huge belly and how cuddling and rocking doesn't work so easily these days. So, I brought her in bed with me. I haven't tried to sleep with McKenna since she was about 6 months old, so I had no idea how this was going to go. Surprisingly, she was good. She was very cuddly and it didn't take her long to roll over and fall asleep.

About ten minutes later, she quickly rolls over onto her back and starts singing, REALLY loudly, "Look at this stuff! Isn't it neat?!....Lookin' around here you'd think....sure...she's got everything!!!" followed by an "Ah-ah-aaahhhhh, ah-ah-aaaaahhhhh!" (you have to sing that one for full effect). I could not help but bust out laughing - I mean really laughing. Dave then says, "McKenna - be quiet." To that, she pops all the way up and says "Oh! Hi Daddy!" I don't think she knew he was there.

It took me a good ten minutes, at least, to stop laughing after putting her back in her crib.
I love that girl!

The Festivities

as you can tell, he was excited about his presents!

and the girls enjoyed the cake - at least what they got in their mouths :)

Battle of the Jensen Singers

These girls crack me up!