Rex, Becky, Ian, Jaiden, and Kathryn Jones

I'm trying to get through all the highlights to get caught up.
The week before Thanksgiving, we headed down to Dallas. We left early in the morning and made it to our hotel that night. The next day we went to the park (it was warm unlike at home). We found a pretty cool park. Then we went to see Rex's parents and grandparents at their hotel. We went to the zoo for a little bit and then went out to eat. Rex's brother Christen and family were also there (they drove the 24 hours down straight). The kids were very excited to see their cousins and it was very lively at the restaurant.






Saturday morning was Rex's brother Garrett's wedding. All of Rex's siblings (minus the one on a mission) were there. There was a luncheon after the sealing and the reception was that evening.

We went to Vegas for spring break in March to visit my sister Teri before she moved back up to Utah. We drove out there. My parents also met up with us for the weekend.
We went to one of the casinos that has tigers and dolphins. Then we went bowling.
During the next week we did a few different things. We walked the Strip and went to M&M World. We went to a really cool park, the kids had fun playing there. One morning we went to a children's museum. We took our niece (Teri's daughter) with us while she packed up more things. We went swimming one afternoon though it was in an indoor pool since it was too "cold" for the outdoor pools to be open. We visited the Hoover Dam. Rex and I went out one night. We ate at the Hard Rock Cafe and went to the MGM Grand. We screened a tv show episode which was kind of fun. We had a fun time and the boys want to go back.

I haven't posted since May, so I have a lot to catch up on. For now I'll just go through the highlights for each person.


Ian:
-He was diagnosed in July with Type 1 Diabetes. It was a steep learning curve with his treatment, insulin shots, checking blood sugar and counting carbs. He is doing great with this. He checks his own blood sugar levels and does some of his shots by himself (in the leg needs help with the arm still). There is a great nurse and health para at his school.
-He played soccer this last summer and had fun.
-He started 2nd grade and is doing great in school. His teacher is great in helping extend the learning of those students who are ahead. He goes with another teacher a couple times a week for extended reading and math. He has some good friends at school.
-He is getting ready to be baptized this year (in July at the family reunion!).
-He started playing basketball at the YMCA a couple weeks ago and is having fun with it. It is a beginning league/class.
-He has lost several teeth this past year.

Jaiden:
-He just turned 5 a week and half ago. Now that he is 5 he can do more things, like help Kathryn up the play area in McDonalds (he couldn't do that when he was four).
-He played tee-ball this last summer and did well. He is a pretty good hitter. He got distracted on the field a lot, but so did many of the other kids.
-He started preschool this fall and loves it! He has made some friends in his class. He goes in the mornings at the same school Ian goes to, which is nice.
-He knows how to read, but only will do so with prompting and help (pointing to the words).

Kathryn:
-She is growing fast.
-She loves playing with her brothers but also loves having time alone with Mom in the mornings.
-She talks a lot and things have to be her way.
-She is sort of potty trained (doesn't always remember to go).
-She loves nursery.
-She has taken several once a week classes through the local Recreation department and does well with them. She doesn't even say good bye to me when I drop her off, she just starts playing.

Rex:
-Still working at the airport and has split shifts which make for long days.
-Teaching the 10 and 11 year old primary class.
-Was doing the 11 year old scouts for church but then was released but still helps out since they have yet to call someone else.
-Redid our upstairs bathroom this year (I will make a post about this).

Becky:
-I am now in nursery at church (my forth time since we have been married, in each ward we have been in).
-Work at home for a family in our ward when they have stuff for me.
-Stay at home keeping busy with the kids and the house.

Wow, I'm so behind on posts. All three kids have had birthdays since I last posted.
Jaiden turned 4 at the beginning of January. He had a birthday party with some friends from church. We got him some marshmallow shooters. They were a great hit, even with the dads that were there. I forgot to take any pictures.
Jaiden also moved up to sunbeams in January. He was excited, but now he says he likes nursery better.
Things about Jaiden:
-He can be very nice and helpful when he wants (but is a stinker when he wants to as well).
-He is learning to read.
-He likes to do puzzles.
-He loves to pretend.
-He loves to tell jokes about pigs or coconuts (I don't know why). His dog is now named Coconut.

Kathryn turned 2 in March. She is getting so big. Her hair is getting longer and is curly. She is talking a lot more now. We had a friend over for her birthday who have a boy Kathryn's age.
Things about Kathryn:
-She loves nursery.
-She loves playing with other kids.
-She loves pouring water between cups.
-She has started talking in two or three word sentences.
-She loves to play outside.
-She knows what she wants and lets you know.
-Her hair is so curly, especially when it is more humid.

Ian turned 7 this month. He was excited that his birthday was on a Saturday so he could have his party on his birthday. He invited several from school over. He had a water balloon/squirt gun party. They had fun getting wet.
Things about Ian:
-He loves to read and is a great reader.
-He is almost done with 1st grade.
-He loves swimming and playing outside.
-He likes to build things.
-He is a great helper.

This has been going through my head for a couple months now. My sister had a baby this last summer and sister in law in November. Reading about or talking to them reminds me how hard it was with my first baby (and I'm pretty sure it is for every mother). After having three kids though, I always think it would be so easy to have just a baby.
With your first baby, you have no idea what you are doing and that makes it so hard. On top of that there are times when you are so isolated because your baby sleeps so often throughout the day it makes it hard to go anywhere. I remember with Ian, it was hard to get him to sleep, know if he was getting enough to eat, or if he was sick whether or not to take him to the doctor. I did feel isolated and alone at times. Rex was working and going to school, so he was gone a lot (though I don't think much more than now). I probably called my mom and sisters a lot to talk, which is what my sister does now (her husband works crazy long hours). I talk to her a lot more since she has had her baby. I did have awesome visiting teachers who became good friends and helped out when they could.
Travel was another issue with a baby. I was scared to travel with Ian, not sure how he would do on a long drive. Going up to my parents' house an hour away was hard and nerve wrecking. It took me until he was almost a year old to get up the nerve to go visit our grandparents in Idaho (a three hour drive was forever long). I think Ian did alright on the drive, I don't really remember.
When I had Jaiden, it wasn't as hard. I knew more of what I was doing and Jaiden did sleep better than Ian had. It was an adjustment to go from one to two, more in the area of knowing what to do with Ian while I was taking care of the baby. We also moved shortly after Jaiden was born. Since we were 8 hours away, we did make the trip back to Utah every few months. Jaiden (and Ian) got to be a pretty good traveler. Also living out in the middle of nowhere changed my perspective of what was "close," since most things were 30 minutes away.
When we moved to Colorado, I made myself get out and do things (play group at church, story time at the local library, which was by far the best story time I have been to as of yet, they knew all the kids and were super nice and great with them, I even joined the book club at the library and met a few people in town). There were people in our ward that were so willing to help (including one woman who gave the boys and I a ride to church until we got a second vehicle). There was also a family who was LDS that moved into our townhome group and they had young kids too (and the husband worked with Rex).
Fast forward to when Kathryn was a baby, three kids was a bigger transition than 2 (since the older two fought a lot while I was taking care of the baby). We moved here to Iowa. We were in a bigger town, but farther from family. We make the trip back to Utah about once year. Though things are closer and in the same city, my idea of "close" hasn't changed much from Colorado. We made trips with Kathryn as a baby and were seasoned with traveling with a baby, so it wasn't nerve wrecking like it was with Ian. She has been so many more places than Ian had been at her age. We have a great ward(s) here (we have been in both wards and have friends in both). Ian being in school and the city having good leisure service programs has gotten us out into the community more than in the past.
I know I have looked at first time mothers and have thought, "Wow, they have it easy." especially when I am attempting to get my three to follow directions or something. But being a first time mother is hard and in some ways it takes more out of you than having your second or third (I have heard after your third, another baby is much of a transition).