She's a big girl now

This post is about a month late, but hey that is usually how my life goes right now so here we go. When the girls and I got back from St. George we decided that it was time to get rid of the paci for Shelby (finally! we tried when we first moved her, but we all know that would just have been evil since I was in the hospital for so long), put her in a twin size bed instead of a toddler bed (since she was to long for it), and the dreaded Potty training. Well let me just start off by saying that she is a CHAMP, because all of these things went so smooth that even I was surprised at how well she did.

With the paci's I had gotten an idea from a $1.00 kids book to "mail" the paci's to babies that need them. So that is what we did! We put all of her paci's in a huge manela envelope and wrote a letter to the babies saying that she hoped they would like them and that she was big now so she didn't need them anymore. In return the babies would send her a jump house when they knew that she was a big girl and could sleep in her big bed without paci's. This worked like a charm since she has ALWAYS wanted a jump house and we had to wait for it to be shipped anyway. It was pretty hilarious because if she was crying in bed we would just tell her that the babies wouldn't send the jump house until they knew she could sleep good. This would always shut her up no matter how worked up she was. Needless to say she is happy to have a jump house and could care less that she doesn't have any paci's anymore.

Her big girl bed was no problem at all, she loves to climb up in it and she loves having sheets with covers that she calls "her tent". Almost every night when we check on her she is completly under the covers because she likes her tent so much.

As for the potty training this was soooo much easier than I thought it was going to be. My sister Jamie sent me a method called 3 day potty training and it totally worked for Shelby. She had about 20 accidents on the first day and only 1 on the second day and none on the third. She still wets the bed about 1 time a week, but it usually is my fault because we ate dinner too late so she drank too much before bed. She loves to pick out which panties she is going to wear for the day and it is so cute to see her little bum in a swimsuit without a huge soggy diaper. I don't really have any pics of her with her panties so you will just have to know that she is potty trained and now has no more diapers. It is crazy to me how fast she is growing up, but I just love being her mom and seeing all of her changes and how proud of herself that she is. GOOD JOB SHELBY! We sure love our Big Girl!

My favorite Moments!

Have you ever noticed that sometimes the best moments in life are the unscriped and undocumented ones? About 2 weeks ago we potty trained Shelby (details to come later) and so we were stuck at home for the weekend. We had so much fun just being our little family and being home alone. I was cleaning up the house and saw this precious moment and thought to myself "this is what it is all about, this is what makes every trial, hard time, frustration, and bad day worth living." These are my favorite moments! I think sometimes I get so caught up in life that I forget to make sure that I am living. I am so grateful for such a wonderful husband and such sweet little girls, I really am blessed.

lots of traveling

Last month was a little crazy at our house because we were constatly leaving town. We first went to Idaho Falls for a weekend to spend some time with Jon's family. We had some great meals and a fun time at the Zoo (I forgot my camera, I'll have to get pics from my Father-in-law). We got to see all the aunts, uncles, cousins, and Grandpa Wirkus. This was the only pic that I was able to take. which by the way was difficult to get everyone or anyone for that matter to look at me!Jon's parents were SO nice to watch our girls on Friday night so we could have an anniversary date; we ate at Cafe Rio' and then saw the movie "Ghosts of Girlfriends past" (really cute). I also got to spend some time with Heidi as we bought our New York tickets and figured out our shows, which have changed a little from my previous post. All in all it was so much fun and the girls did great in the car minus the blow out, spilled formula, throw up, and scratched up hands at the rest area where we were trying to fix all the previously mentioned items.

The next weekend we went to Salt Lake for a wedding of a great family friends. We stopped to see some of our very best dental school buddies Brooke and Darren and it was so much fun letting the kids play and catching up on things, even though we talk all the time it was nice to see them in person. Rylee, Libby, Logan, and Shelby outside of Mimi's cafe in Salt Lake area.

This trip went even smoother and we were able to meet my parents there and stay at the same hotel which was so fun. After the wedding the girls and I hitched a ride to St. George to spend 11 days with the family and cousins. Poor Jon got very lonely and bored, but at least it was quiet...right? We had so much fun swimming every day, going to "what women want" this is a huge convention that has tons of booths set up with things that women would want (purses, bows, hats, shoes, jewlery, photography, books, diet things, etc) SO FUN!!! Shopping and crafting.

Shelby was so excited because she got to have her 1st sleepover with her cousin Kallie (Jamie's little girl) and they had a blast doing girly things. Jamie and I had a blast to because we NEVER get to just talk without interruptions anymore! Then a couple nights later we got to do it again but Matt's wife Haley and their little girl Macey got to come too so Libby had a little cousin. We crafted until who knows what time and the next day we paid for it, but I loved every second of it. p.s. thanks for teaching me how to do the watch bands "for real" this time and all the other things too. Here are some pics of all the cousin time. We also had some movie nights so Shelby and her cousins could eat popcorn and watch movies. Unfortunatley I forgot my camera both times we were with Jamie's family so they got kinda let out of the pics. SAD!!!

Cru, Shelby, and Treyson hanging out at Grandma's house the first night that we were there. They were all so excited to see each other!

Cru and Shelby eat root beer popsicles. These two are 6 days apart and are the best of friends when they see each other. ADORABLE!

Treyson, Shelby, and Cru for movie night. they are cheesin' it up for me obviouisly.

Grandpa and Shelby watching cartoons together. Since Grandpa actually had to kinda raise Shelby alone for a couple weeks these two have a very special bond with each other.

Koda and Treyson doing something that Grandma didn't want them too. climbing down the hill between the two houses.

Grandma and Shelby eating on the front porch after swimming. These two are so fun to watch.

Aunt Haley and Macey after swimming!

Macey is stoked to have her picture taken... Right?

Treyson being a big helper when the wind blew our napkins out the gate!

Here is Macey's back, Aunt Jamie, Kallie, Uncle Matt, Treyson, Kaden, and Shelby. Sorry it's the best we could do.

Me and Shelby (libby is almost always in bed when the camera comes out so in my defense she was there just sleepy.)

Cruey Louie

Kole, Treyson, Macey, Libby, Kaden, Shelby, Cru, and Kallie the only one missing is Koda because he was in Vegas with his daddy. I didn't think Jamie would like Kallie's face so I posted two pics with everyone looking cute in at least one of them.

The grandkids again!

Kole 1, Libby 9 months, and Macey 1

Shelby got really confortable in the water! this is her waiting to be taken to the shower.

While I was there one of my life long friends Paige Warthen came up to visit me! It was so nice to visit with her and we remembered at 1 am to take a pic so here we are tired, but proof we saw each other.

I braved the airplane with both girls by myself from Vegas which actaully went pretty smooth because they gave my mom security clearance to help me on the plane. Without her help I think I would have had a nervous breakdown since they make you take your kids out of strollers, carseats, etc and make you take their shoes off, fold the strollers up and put them on the belt, as well as the car seats and anything else you have (NIGHTMARE!) but with my mom it wasn't all that bad. My girls were angels on the plane, Libby slept and Shelby talked to anyone who would talk to her and got lots of treats from the flight attendants.

This was a much needed vacation, but I have to say it is good to be home!! We all missed daddy a ton.

Bucket List!

Let me start out by saying that I HAVE THE BEST HUSBAND IN THE WORLD!!!!

Okay, now have all of you seen the movie bucket list? If you haven't then you should. This past summer Jon and I watched this show while I was in the hospital, it was very appropriate for the occasion since it is about 2 men that have cancer and are GOING to die it is just a matter of time. So they decide to make what they call a bucket list which is a list of things that they want to do before they die (no matter how big or how small). Well one of my items on my list was one that I thought may never happen or if it did I would be much older with all my kids grown up. I wanted to go to New York City for a week (not to tourist because I have done that too many times already) but to go to as many Broadway shows as I possibly can. Since I knew that this would not be a top item on Jon's list I said that I would love to make it a girls trip and go with my two best friends from college Heidi and Kate!

Well needless to say, Jon schemed and that is right folks I am going to New York with my girls on June 29th!!!! Now only just recently have I been able to sleep because I have been so excited (for about a week) since I pry ed the info out of Jon. We will be able to see 4 shows and we will actually have some time to tourist as well. Our shows that we will be seeing were chosen by all of us each with a number 1 chose and then a group choice on #4... Wicked, Chicago, In the Heights, and South Pacific! SO STOKED!!!!! We will be staying at the Marriott that is on Broadway looking over time square so it will be easy to walk everywhere we need to go and then there is always the Subway for our touristy things.

If you are asking why Jon is doing this for me it is for my Birthday/Anniversary present. We will be celebrating our 7 year Anniversary tomorrow (I'll post about that tomorrow) and my Birthday was last month, but I was pretty sick so we didn't do anything. Anyway I am just so excited about this that I thought I would share a bit of my joy with all of you! Thanks again honey for doing this for me, you are the best!!!

March 28, 1922 - April 12, 2009

Shelby, Me, Grandma Leck, Grandpa leck Aug. 07


This post has been pretty difficult for me to put on here or even write about because I think I am still in shock or denial. This Easter Sunday my 87 year old Grandpa past away. He was diagnosed with cancer in his kidneys, liver, and possibly his pancreas 10 days before he passed. The doctors wouldn't give him a time other than "it could be 2 days, 2 weeks, or 2 months".


Many of you know I was born on my grandpa Lecks birthday so I feel that I have always had a special bond with him and he with I. We have celebrated our Birthday together for 27 years; many times even traveling to have a combined "party". I know I haven't been as close since I have been out of the house, but I always look forward to hearing from him on March 28th!


I was really trying to go see him one last time, but with my own health it just wasn't in the cards; in fact my mom flew in just hours after he passed away. I have a lot of guilt and a lot of sorrow for this decision to not be there for him when he needed me most. I know he wasn't too coherent, but at least I could have held his hand and told him I Loved him one last time. I was going to write him a letter to tell him, but I didn't do that in time either. The other thing that is so aggravating to me is that I was to sick to talk to him on our Birthday so I didn't even do that. Plus I have ALWAYS saved his birthday cards that he sends me every year until I get the next years so that I have the last card he ever wrote to me. Again I don't have that, for some unknown reason I guess it got thrown away. The other thing that is difficult for me is that he had in his will that he wanted to be cremated and not have any type of funeral service; while I respect his wishes I do have a hard time that I won't be able to say goodbye and see (at least his body) for the last time. This blog is kinda just rambling but I am sobbing to hard to really think about what I am typing, so I am just trying to write whatever comes to mind (as you can see I have a lot coming to mind).

I know that I will get to see him again and I know that it will better than it was hereon earth, but sometimes that doesn't make me feel any better. I loved my Grandpa despite all his quirks and I will miss him. One thing I do remember that he wrote in my Birthday card is "Annie- I have always loved you more than anything or anybody in this world and I hope you know that! Please bring those beautiful girls of yours and your handsome hubby to see your old gramps...soon." Well I am sorry I didn't make it Grandpa, but I will bring them all to see you later...I promise!

5 years a comin'

I'm sure we all have friends out there that you would consider to be "best friends", but because of life, family, geography, and circumstances you don't get to see them very often. Well for me that is Kate.

Kate has the most beautiful olive skin and ALWAYS makes me look like a ghost in pictures!

She and I went to BYU-Idaho together and met the first summer we were there. While at school we were roomates some of the time and friends always. She has been threre for me through a lot of ups and downs over the last 9 years and I like to believe that I have been there for her as well. It has been over 5 years since we have seen each other and on Easter Weekend her and her daughter Brooklyn came for a visit because her younger brother was getting married in Boise. I was so excited that they stayed with us and we stayed up WAY TO LATE catching up. I had never met Brooklyn and she had never met my girls so it was so fun to see each others "mini me's". Our girls got along like they had known each other for years and were best buds. It was so cute to watch them play and use their imaginations together.

Here the girls are"Hiding in the kitchen" and singing to one another!

Playing in the ball pit while watching for monsters to come.

Brooklyn had to get ready for the wedding and Shelby couldn't let her take a bath alone. Can you tell that my little Shelby is having SO much fun in every pic?

Even though our lives have changed a ton in the years we haven't seen each other it seemed like we picked right up where we left off. We definately didn't get to spend as much time as we would have liked, but hey I will take what I can get. Plus we get to have a girls week in June so I am so excited. I will post details about that later.

Our Easters!

I know this is soooo late, but like I said before I am just trying to catch up. :) WARNING: This will be kinda long so unless you care you can just look at the pics.

This Easter we celebrated a couple of times and the girls didn't mind at all. It was so much fun because Shelby actually got it this year. First we had our Best Buds ever come and stay with us, the Schow's.

Here is Shelby with her concentration face while dying eggs!

Shelby and Jonah. These two are really good buddies despite their age difference. I reserve the right to use this pic later in life if I need too.

Sharing the colors! Jonah was really good at this and Shelby well ummm she is 2 so she just dyed the same 6 eggs over and over and over! But she did love every minute of it and Jonah was able to go to town and did an awesome job.

Dying the egg yet again just in a different color this time.

Shelby's Loot!

Jonah and Shelby dyed eggs together and we got a few bribery pics for when they are older and then we had an Easter egg hunt. The kids had so much fun and Heidi and I had tons of fun laughing our cute kids. It was so fun to have them visit! We mostly watched a TON of movies because apparently Jon and I are way behind on all the good flicks plus I was still a little sick from the week before. I finally got a picture with Heidi; only because I MADE her promise. We have been friends for almost 9 years and this is the ONLY pic I have of her (go figure) I guess we just are too busy having fun when we see each other.

Then on Easter Sunday we had the easter bunny come and the girls loved that. It was way fun to have them rummage through their baskets, but it is difficult to get a good pic so these are the best I got.

Our Little Bunny Lou Lou! She actually didn't mind these ears and wore them for a really long time. Pretty funny!

Shelby was pretty excited about her ears to and the rest of the stuff.

I know you are all asking "this is the best you had" and my answer is "i know pathetic, right?" Shelby was ready for the day and poor Libby is still just loungin'

This is our attempt to get both girls and their baskets. Libby wasn't too great at sitting up yet which is why I had to be in their. (p.s. she is a pro now and can sit up on her own!)

Later that night we went to our good friends the Hermansen's for dinner which was super delicious and then we had another easter egg hunt at our neighborhood park. All of our girls loved it as you can see from the pics below.

Libby, Chloe, Shelby, and Rylee. These girls are best friends and can't stop talking about one another. I love it!

Shelby found one!

Chloe was sooo cute and got this excited with EVERY single egg!

Rylee is adorable and was so much fun to watch run around and find the "hard" ones.

We are so grateful for all of our family and friends and are blessed to have so many people in our lives that truely care for us. I am really one of the luckiest Mom's in the world to have such a wonderful family and life. I am grateful for the atonement and the true reason for this celebration and everyday I live I realize how lucky I am to have the chance to still be around. Thanks to all who celebrated with us! We love you.

Grandma Hammons to the Rescue!

After I got out of the hospital (in March) my mom came up to Boise to take care of us for a week. It was so nice because she had just been here with my dad the day before I was admitted in the ER. The girls always love to have her come visit and she is a life saver for sure.

Here is Shelby with her Chocolate pudding that Grandpa Hammons had gotten her when he was here. As you can tell she is nothing like her mother, she LOVES chocolate!

"Grandma you want a kiss, special for you?" Can you tell that Grandma is not quite sure she really wants that chocolaty kiss?

I am convinced that NO adult can pretend and play like my mother! this is their city that they made and this game lasted for at least a good hour or so. Shelby and Grandma are on the same page the whole time and just keep playing off of one another. Amazing!

Libby is my thumb sucker but she will only do it right before you lay her down or when she first gets up in the morning before her bottle is ready. I had to catch this cuteness because it is only at certain times and usually I am the one who has her. Grandma just eats this little bundle of joy up. She is seriously so stinkin cute, if I do say so myself.

I had been trying to get Libby to eat "baby food" and she would just get the throw up shivers and spit it out so my mom decided to make homemade baby food and freeze a ton for me while she was here. It was night and day difference, now my Libby Lou loves to eat her food. She is always this happy, but when she is eating she is so giggly and blows bubbles and squeals. So fun!

As you can see we had a blast even though the circumstances were not ideal. My mom is amazing and so helpful and selfless. I couldn't ask for a better role model or friend and I just hope that one day I can be a mom just like her! Love you mom and thanks again!!!