Jesse Barrus, P.E.

That's right, Jess passed his professional engineer test, so he is now titled. It should help him get a good job. We are so proud of him and the hard work that he does for our family! This week he's working for our friend that owns a fencing business, and it's wearing him out. He hopes to be able to find an engineering job again soon. He didn't realize how good his job was until he lost it. Sitting in an air-conditioned office is sounding pretty good right about now (it's 96 degrees outside today). But at the same time he does like getting out and working hard, so a job that gives him a little of both is what he hopes to find. Anyways, CONGRATULATIONS Jess. We are proud of you and love you!!

Baseball, baseball, baseball

This is the one word that describes our life right now. Cordell and Jennifer have 2 t-ball games a week with Jess as one of their coaches, and Jess's softball team plays once or twice a week too. I need to get pics taken of them all, then I'll get them posted. I don't know what happened to my quiet sweet baby girl. She's still sweet, but she is getting a personality, and she's anything but quiet. For the first four or five months of her life we were wondering if she knew how to cry. I think she was just saving it all up for later. I can't complain too much though, she still sleeps 10 hours through the night and usually takes good naps during the day. She is crawling all over the place now, so that keeps me moving. About a month or so ago, she started refusing to nurse. I tried everything I could think of and she just refused. She was breastfed exclusively up to this point with no problems, so it was kind of confusing and frustrating. She went over 12 hours one day refusing to nurse when the day before she seemed fine. Anyways, after 12 hours, I finally became very uncomfortable and pumped. She drank from the bottle and fell asleep. The next day was the same thing all over again. I kept trying for four or five days, but she kept refusing, so I finally gave up and went to a bottle. I got tired of pumping so much, so now she's on formula. I might feel guilty, but I don't since it was her choice not mine, and I tried. She nursed for 7 months, so that's good. We are enjoying our summer so far. Jennifer learned how to ride her 2-wheeler bike and is practicing so she can tie her own shoes before she starts kindergarten. Cordell got a dental trainer that he has to wear at night to help his teeth come in straight, hopefully eliminating the need for braces in the future. I'll have to post pics of that too. Landon is Landon, He keeps us laughing. We took the training wheels off his bike to let him try riding it. He said, " I don't like riding my bike like that, it's too tippy." I told him we were going to the bank the other day. And he said, 'the sticker bank or the sucker bank." (one bank gives the kids stickers, the other gives them suckers) I said, "which bank do you want to go to." He thought about it and said, "the sticker bank AND the sucker bank." Jess is doing good. He's working where ever he can find work and hopefully he'll be able to pick up something permanent again soon, but for now we're still doing good.

I know this is a little late, but I wanted to write a little about Mother's Day. This year Jess's birthday fell on Mother's day. We had his parents out to dinner and his dad made dinner for everyone. He did steaks on the grill, baked beans, onion rings, rolls, and cherry cheesecake. He said sorry this isn't a chic dinner, and I said I'm just glad anytime I get a break from making dinner. The kids made all kinds of cards and stuff at school and church to give to me. Cordell was making stuff at school, so he wrote on his calendar on the Friday before Mother's day to help him remember to bring them home. He wrote, git gifs for mothers day. Friday after school he kept being a pill and getting in trouble. That night he came to me and said, "mommy, I have to tell you something. I'm sorry for being naughty today. I'm going to be good now so that you can have a good Mother's Day." Well, I did have a good Mother's Day, and I'm so grateful to be married to a good man and father and to be a mother to four precious children.

April 2009

I love spring time!! Warm weather, Easter, General Conference, blooming flowers, bike rides. Our community had a month long event called Middleton Unplugged in March. The purpose was to unplug from electronic devices and plug back into the family. They had a different activity to do each night as a family. We also made a goal as a family not to turn on the tv or play the computer for the whole month of March. It was so awesome. We went on bike rides, made cookies, played board games, did yard work, looked at picture books, did spring cleaning, had barbeques with the neighbors, and stuff like every night as a family. About once a week, they also had a community sponsored event for the family. The kids loved it, and they rarely complained about not being able to watch tv. They would get the calendar out every day to see what we were going to do that night. It was probably the best month of our lives. Then came April and General Conference. We made sticky buns for breakfast Saturday morning, thanks to a tradition started by our friends the Woodruffs'. Landon calls them stinky bums. So, the kids tell everyone that we had stinky bums for breakfast, and that they are really good. That story President Monson told in his talk about the lady who had a seven year old boy, a five year old, a three year old, and a baby girl made me cry. That is my family right now. I can't imagine my precious kids starving and freezing and then one by one having to bury them. So many of the talks seemed to be about the importance of the temple and attending regularly. I know I need to do better. It's hard with little kids, especially a nursing baby, but the blessings are worth it. It was great to have Jess home all day Saturday and Sunday, and as you can see by the pictures, we spent most of the time between and after sessions playing outside. Easter was good. We took the kids to the Easter egg hunt Saturday morning, and did all the normal Easter stuff. Once again, it was nice to have Jess around on Sunday more than usual. We had a nice dinner and had Jess' dad out because his mom was in Alaska with his sister who just had a baby. Tomorrow Cordell has a program at school called the Kindergarten Rodeo that he's been practicing for. And Friday Jess takes his test. We'll be soooo glad to have that over with.

OK, I'm starting to figure this whole thing out, but I still have a lot to learn. I don't know how I got that one picture of Cordell's birthday to be that size, but I wish I could get them all to be that size. Does anyone have any suggestions? If anyone knows, I would appreciate it. Thanks!!

March 2009

I decided it was past time to do a new post, since the last one was 7 months ago. Camille Jean was born September 30th at 9:30 AM. She has been a joy and is a dream baby. She hardly ever cries, except for when she gets hungry. Which seems to be often, but I think that's just because hours seem to go by as fast as minutes. She is now starting to sit up and always has a smile for anyone who will give her attention. Landon is as full of energy as ever. He started Sunbeams this year and loves going to primary with his older brother and sister. He played in a little indoor soccer league this January and did pretty good considering he was one of the smallest out there. His favorite movie is Kung Fu Panda and he will quote the whole movie to you. Jennifer has loved going to preschool this year. She loves her baby sister and is always holding her and playing with her. She is excited for her birthday in two days and is having a princess party. So, we'll have to post pics of that. She is going to play t-ball this year with Cordell and Jesse is going to be their coach. Cordell loves School and his teacher says he's a model student. He's made lots of new friends and never wants to miss a day of school. He's excited for t-ball this spring and enjoyed cheering his dad's church ball team to the championship. Jesse has been with his new company for a year and a half and is enjoying the work there for the most part. He's studying to take his PE exam so he can be a Professional Engineer instead of an Engineer in Training. Quite a difference in title, and hopefully a difference in pay. He's actually stayed pretty busy at work even with the slow down in the economy, so we're thankful for that. Our wards got split in September two weeks before Camille was born, and we got put in a new ward they created. Jess got called to be in the bishopric, so that's been a challenge, but as always the Lord is blessing us. Somehow I make it through Sacrament Meeting every week with three kids and a baby by myself with just a few mishaps. Jess had fun this winter playing basketball and coaching Landon's soccer. He's excited for softball and to coach t-ball this Spring. He also has projects to work on in the yard, but nothing's new about that. I am still trying to recover and adjust to having four kids. It's a miracle when I find time to get the grocery shopping done. I've been in to help in Cordell's class a few times, and that has been interesting. I got called to be the 8-9 year old Activity Day leader, and that has been fun, and the girls all enjoy holding Camille.