Joe, Heidi, Kayla & Isaiah
Family Update

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December 4, 2006

Winter is definitely here in Michigan and it is so chilly.  We have our heater pumping all day, hopefully the bill won't take too much out of our life savings.  Winters in Michigan always get so gray and gloomy and VERY cold to the bone.  I don't know how much the kids and I will be getting out this winter, it is almost not worth bundling them up, clearing the car of snow, driving somewhere, just to get there and turn around again, but I do hope to get out so I don't hibernate too much, Kayla would go crazy.

Thanksgiving was fun.  We had Todd and Sheela (neighbors from where we previously lived), and their baby Liliana, and we also had Reed and Jen (good friends from the law school) and their twin babies Lily and Luke over for the feast. Joe and I made the turkey for the first time ever.   We had a great time,  probably ate a little too much, but we had a lot of good laughs and fun taking pictures of all the cute babies.  The next day we cut down our Christmas tree and decorated it.  What a fun tradition it is to go hunting for a Christmas tree, course here in Michigan they are called Christmas tree farms, so they all grow in rows, so I don't know if you can exactly call that hunting for a Christmas tree.

Kayla can now say HUNDREDS of  words, I can't keep track of them anymore.  She surprises us everyday with her new and improved vocabulary.  Kayla has a best friend named Eliza.  They are so much alike and they love to play together.   Every time they are together they run around the house chasing each other laughing and screaming.  It is so cute.  They even help each other take their tights off, and that is a funny one to see.

Isaiah is still as cute as ever.  He is growing so fast.  At 3 month he  weighs 14 lbs.  He is a big boy.  He is so smiley and I can't get over how cute is dimples are.  We are so grateful he came to us and fall more in love with him everyday.  I am thinking that by the time he is 5 years old he will be able to beat me at arm wrestles, he is a tough kid.  (either he is a tough kid, or I am extremely weak, I hate to think that it is probably the latter of the two).

Joe is very busy with law school.  We hardly see him these days.  The few weeks before finals are always so tough because he studies so much and he doesn't have time for anything else.  But, when they are over it means that law school is half way done.  WOW!!  It is flying by.  I am just so proud of Joe for all he does, I really don't think I could do that..........all that studying........and law, that is not up my alley of understanding.

I am keeping busy with the kids, and holding down the fort while Joe is so busy with everything.  I have been catching up with journal writing, reading a few books, and making Christmas presents.  I love being a mom.  There is nothing like watching kids grow up. Be on the look out for a  Christmas package in the mail.  We love all of you!!!!
 

November 7, 2006

Skousen family #3 is doing well in Michigan.  Joe is keeping busy with school and job searching for next summer.  It is so wierd to think that he is looking for a job for his career after law school.  Jake and Joe are almost half way through law school!! YIPEE!!!  I can't wait until we actually have a pay check coming and we aren't getting more and more in debt.

Kayla and Isaiah are the best little kids, but they sure keep me on my toes.  I feel like I workout all day long.  Who needs an exercise program when you have kids?  Kayla is saying more and more words.  I bet she is up to at least 150 or more.  And each day she surprises me with a new word.  I love how interactive she is getting and she just loves Isaiah.  Isaiah has started to smile alot this week.  He has a cute smile and two great big dimples.  I can't wait for everyone to meet him, hopefully we can make it out next summer.

I will write more very very soon.  I just had to send a few pictures and let you all know that we love you!!

October 18, 2006

It has been a busy last couple of months.  Life never seems to settle down.  Joe and I keep saying that one day it will settle down, but I have a feeling that it never will and it will just keep getting busier and busier.  When we moved back here after an adventureous summer in Oklahoma and Utah, we decided to move to a place a little closer to Joe's school.  We now live in a 3 story condo.  We love it.  I especially love it because we have an office for Joe and he is able to study at home most the time.  It is so nice for me just to know he is in the house with us.  This year, for the most part, has been alot less hectic with Joe's school load.  He decided to take a little lighter load with the baby coming because we didn't know what to expect with 2 kids.  It is so completely different having 2 kids compared to only having one.  With Kayla we felt as if we were playing house, but now with Isaiah, we feel like we are real parents.  We constantly have our arms full, but it is that much more fun.

Kayla is growing up like crazy.  Her vocabulary is exploding.  We are teaching her the ABCs.  When Isaiah was born, we bought her a little baby doll that she could take care of.  She carries her doll with her wherever she goes, and can't go to sleep at night without it.  She is very attached to it.  She loves her brother, maybe a little too much at times.  She smothers him with kisses to the point that Isaiah has a hard time breathing.  It is so cute seeing them interact.  We love having two little ones!!  Kayla still loves Winnie the Pooh, but now she is branching out to other cartoons like Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Looney Tunes, and Veggie Tales.  When we turn on music Kayla loves to dance.  She twirls and does a cute little tapping move with her feet.  I bet she will want to take dance some day.  Kayla is learning the parts of her body.  Even the more complicated parts like: eyebrow (she calls them eyebees), forehead, chin, cheeks, etc.  Kayla has a huge crush on Joe.  Anytime Joe shows any affection to me, like putting his arm around me, Kayla gets jealous and wants Joe to do it to her.  She loves her daddy and gets so excited when he comes home from school. 

Isaiah is a heart melter.  I imagine Joe being a lot like him when he was a baby.  He is an extremly content baby and is very very cute (just like Joe!!).  Isaiah is my new little boyfriend, he has everything that Joe doesn't: dirty diapers, frequent feedings, crys a lot, likes to sleep during the day..............oh wait, maybe Isaiah isn't so different from Joe after all.  Well......... at least it is nice to have two boyfriends then.  Isaiah gave us his first real smile a few days ago.  He has 2 great dimples when he smiles.  I hope he always keeps them.  Isaiah is learning how to hold a quill pen and write complicated prophesy..........he is living up to his name.  Isaiah is definitely a boy, not only does he smell like one, but he is a lot thicker then Kayla was, and a good hardy low cry.  He makes us so proud and we are so excited for everyone to meet him.  Hopefully we can stop by this summer on the way out to Joe's summer job. 

Joe is plugging away at school and is working hard at finding a summer job, which will probably determine his future career.  I only hope that we end up west, preferrably by some mountains.......we miss Utah and the west. 

As for me, I am trying to stay afloat with two kids. Mom, how did you ever have ten?  You will have to tell me the secret, because I am barely surviving with two.  They keep me so busy, but a good busy.  I try to do learning activities with Kayla everyday.  The other day we made fruit loop necklaces.  She was so proud of herself and wanted everyone to help eat it.  After awhile, all the fruit loops on her necklace were wet. It is fun to see how her little mind works. 

We love all of you!  Now that things are settling down a bit, we will send out more updates.  Keep your updates coming!!!!


Skousen Family #3