Just when I thought I might die from lack of sleep, Aliya went to bed by 11 two whole nights in a row, and last night slept until 8 this morning. Of course this hurt me in other ways, if you know what I mean, but, yeeeeeeeeeeee hah!

Go Kadyn!

Kadyn recently entered an essay contest called "The Voice of Democracy" and won both the regional level (and a $100) and now District 7. So he is one of seven students that now get to go to the state competition in January in Boise to a black tie event and dinner, parents included. I knew those brains would pay off! (He hates this picture)

My Girls

Savanah couldn't be happier to finally have a little sister! And she probably won't have to worry about her raiding her clothes closet either!

It's hard to believe that 2 months have all ready passed. It's way too quick, especially when you're relatively sure this is the last one! Darin's really not convinced but I am! The last couple of years have been a little too much fun for me!

Poor little Aliya has her first cold. It's so pathetic! She can't even hardly cry because she lost her voice and all that comes out is a little squeak! It would be kinda cute if it wasn't so sad. I never had that happen to a baby of mine before. But she's still precious!

All I want for Christmas is a good night's sleep,
A good night's sleep,
Yes, a good night's sleep,
Gee, if I could only get a good night's sleep
then I wouldn't be a psycho mommy!

(3 am last night- a new record)

Baby, oh baby. Very naughty baby. Baby go to sleep at 11:30! Yeah, baby, yeah! Oh, baby wakes at 2, oh no, baby awake at 4, no, oh no, baby awake at 6, alarm goes off at 7, daddy says,"did baby sleep good?", mommy kicks daddy out of bed, baby cries at 7:15, now mommy wide-awake and can't go back to sleep, baby awake at 9 just as mommy drifts off. Mommy awakes to find herself nailing all the pillows from house to bedroom walls. Poor mommy, sleep mommy, sleep. Maybe next year.............

Still sleep-deprived

So, what do you do when you're up until 1:30 in the morning looking into the eyes of a very WIDE-AWAKE baby girl ( mine were more glassy-eyed I'm sure), feed her again at 4:30, fall back to sleep just in time for the alarm to go off at 7:00, get up to get kids off to school, take husband to get vehicle, husband leaves for the day, toddler now up and running (literally), and baby takes 5 minute cat-naps at most during the day. I'm thinking of having a padded room installed somewhere in my house. It would save me a few trips to Blackfoot to just have my own. It's a good thing this baby's cute! (Yes I do check my shoes very frequently, just in case)

Aliya's blessing day!

Beautiful baby girl all dressed in white! How grateful we are to our Heavenly Father to have sent one more little blessing to our home and our hearts. I am so glad to be a Mom! It's the greatest career choice a woman can make I think! I am also so grateful for the opportunities to gather with family and share these occasions with them. We love you all! (Yes, even those who did not attend-we forgive you)

Happy Halloween!

Too cute!

Now that's scary!

Pumpkin carving- no really, that's a pumpkin. Okay, so maybe we planted it a little too close to the zucchini and yellow squash!

The big kids are much too cool to join in the fun anymore!

My how time flies!

This is a giant universal remote, one he can't lose! It even glows in the dark! Every man should be so lucky! He also got some diapers, fiber pills, Viagra, denture cleaner, dog food (don't ask), baby food, and some actually nice stuff.

The old man of the house turned forty on October 10th. He's still got it though....although sometimes he can't find it! Yer still a hottie to me dear! That's all that matters, right?

Darin pretending to blow out the candles that I forgot to bring!

Now for a tribute to Darin:

Dying Day

Like the brilliant sun setting at the end of day,
At forty, youth's glory is fading away.
Gathering together with family and friends,
Trying to forget it's now soft food and Depends.

Night's coming fast, the shadows are looming,
Old age, slowing down, gray hairs all comsuming.
What once was a six pack is now a spare tire,
Without Diet Pepsi the situation may be dire.

Under the moonlight, youth's bright rays gone,
The hairs out the ears and nose growing long.
Wrestling and running were yesterday's adventures,
This point in life we're just glad for the dentures.

Alas, in the horizon, light breaks and we see
That in spite of the sore back and stiff knee,
He's still got his stuff- an ode to his youth;
No need for Viagra, the new baby's proof!

~Kari Hancock