I need help

So I keep reading all these other people's blogs with these cute layouts and backgrounds, and I can't figure out how to make mine cute. I did it once, and was really proud of myself, but then I somehow erased what I did and have never been able to recreate it... ugh!
So my lame technologically challenged brain is now pleading for some direction. If anyone can tell me what to do or refer me to a website that breaks it down in lay-man's terms it would be much appreciated!

Another trip to California

I am lazy and haven't uploaded photos yet (mostly because I can't turn on the camera to upload the pictures until I find the battery charger). So this will be a post without visual aids!
Either way we had a WONDERFUL vacation!
First was a trip to the Sacramento Temple to be there for my brother Erik as he took out his endowments. It was such a neat experience because I got to be there with my mommy and all but one of my siblings (Jessica was babysitting with my dad.. thanks guys!)
The next event came in the form of a second trip to the Sacramento Temple for Jessica and Ben's marriage/sealing. It was a great ceremony and Jessica was absolutely GORGEOUS!!! Ben didn't look too shabby either. After pictures we went to dinner with all the Lowers and Taylors, I've never seen my kids slurp noodles as fast as they did that night! The next day was the reception. It was beautiful and I can't wait to see all the pictures.
Finally when Sunday rolled around (after 8 days of being away from home) the kids began to melt down. Preston cried all through Sacrament meeting and all the way home. He kept saying "I want to go back to Utah, I want to see my neighbor kids, I don't like California anymore." That night we all met at my parents for dinner and for the opportunity to give my dad a blessing as he was preparing for surgery this week. It was all so moving and wonderful and I know that the Lord was with him through his procedure because he is doing alright and is on the road to recovery as we speak.
So our return trip home on Monday was mostly un-eventful. We did the usual McDonalds stops on the way so the kids would have a safe place to stretch their legs and play. Adam drove most of the way because I'm suddenly experiencing symptoms similar to car sickness and couldn't handle driving for very long.
The next morning Adam was gone before I got up on his way to Washington for the week. So back to normal life (if you could call it that). I start teaching again on the 20th and am really excited for that.
We have been so blessed and enjoyed all of our time with our family and are sad we didn't get to see any one else (who wasn't at the reception) while we were out there, I'll explain why in a future post, in the meantime, I hope that this 'car sickness' subsides soon.

So the Holiday season is over

My last post talked about how we were excited to spend the first Christmas in our own home since our kids were born- well that didn't happen! I woke up on Christmas Eve feeling particularly homesick, and seeing as how there wasn't a lot going on here my amazing and loving and caring and understanding husband said yes when I started crying and said I wanted to leave for California right then. It took about 2 hours before we hit the road, and another 13 of driving through snow and ice (thank goodness for 4 wheel drive-seriously!) before we arrived at my Grandma Olson's house where we stayed for the next 4 days before we headed home on Monday. The drive home was uneventful without snow or ice. Adam's favorite part of the trip (and he says the reason he was willing to drop everything and go) was the fresh California oranges. He and my dad actually drove out to the orchard in Orland and got them from the guy in his packaging room because we didn't get to his stand before it closed. It was SO worth it though.
We also had fun meeting my sister Jessica's fiance Ben. I am so happy for them and we are excited that our next trip to California will be for their wedding. Preston keeps saying "Next month we get to go to California for Aunt Jessica's wedding and I'm going to stay outside the temple with my brothers and my Grandpa." I tell him he's right and then he'll say "But I just want to go tonight." You make one impulsive trip to California and the kid thinks it's an everyday possibility!
We also got to celebrate Preston's 3rd birthday-WOW! They never stop growing older, do they? He loved his presents because all he got was Thomas the Train and related paraphernalia! If there was ever a child who was obsessed with trains, I swear, my little Preston will literally tell me his dreams about them!
So I guess the next month will be spent gearing up for the twin's 2nd birthday and that little holiday called Valentine's day that falls between now and then. I hope everyone else had a great holiday and to those of you we didn't get to see, we miss you and love you!

It's here!

The snow has arrived and I'm more depressed and my kids are more deprived then ever. First I trap them in the house because I can't handle the heat, then I trap them in the house because I can handle the cold... maybe I'm going through an early menopause! Anyways... the kids aren't too bad off. Adam is done traveling and has been home, meaning within the walls of our house for the last month, he has hardly even had to go into the office. He is my opposite when it comes to my disdain for the snow. He and Preston even made a snowman the other day. We went and bought the kids all their snow gear last week so we can take them sledding (which we plan on doing tomorrow). They are decked out head to toe! It is so cute (as evidenced by the pictures I've included).
So now Christmas is here. We will be spending it at home with Adam's family this year. We have only woken up Christmas morning in our own home once since we got married and that was when we lived in GA and I was about to pop Preston out! Now, three years later who would have imagined?
We miss our friends and family that we wont get to be with this year but you all know that you are in our thoughts and prayers this holiday season and always. We love you all so much and hope that you will have a Merry Christmas and we wish you all the best in 2009!

I know I don't live in California anymore- that is why I'm putting this plea on my Blog to all of those who do to make sure you vote YES for PROP 8. It is imperative that we preserve the sanctity of marriage between a man and woman. Marriage is not a rite, it is a privilege. As a firm believer that Homosexuality is not something forced upon a person but is a choice that is acted upon, I feel that you should not be allowed to marry someone of the same sex just because you want them and love them. The same logic to same-sex marriage can be applied to people who want to marry underage- we have not allowed it by law, nor are we willing to because it would deteriorate the moral fabric of our society. Please don't take me as a 'homophobic' or tell me I am denying people a 'rite' I am simply exercising my opinion in a free country to disagree with a faction of people who I feel are wrong. Love the sinner, hate the sin.

The A says Ahhh

So I know I say this all the time, but the kids are growing and learning so much everyday that I am surprised almost every time they open their mouths! This morning when I was changing Landen's diaper Preston was watching a show on PBS called "Super Why?" It is a show that teaches kids about letters and words. One of the characters asked what the B says and Landen goes Buh-Buh-Buhhhh! Next the show explained the sound 'OX' to make the word 'box' and Landen laid there saying "box, box, box!" It took me completely off guard. We have a DVD by Leap-Frog that teaches the letters and their sounds but I didn't realize how effective it was (thanks Angie for the referral). Preston has learned all his letters and sounds, but up to this point the twins would just copy whatever we said, the difference this time was that Landen answered the question before Preston did!
Then later in the morning Jordan knocked Landen down and gave him a bloody nose (on accident of course!) I took Landen into the kitchen so he wouldn't bleed all over my almost-white carpet. He was crying and screaming on our way in but when he saw the fruit bowl on the counter he just stopped crying completely and goes "I want uh apple." Clear as day! I was more then impressed with my one child genius so I decided to see if Jordan could say it too. I told him to say apple and clear as day he goes "apple" Yesterday the twins were calling apples 'bappus' but for some reason today they can say apple as well as you and me! Everyday a new discovery, every day we get one step closer to a complete exit of the Cole house's baby stage... for now at least ;)

Teaching more than Natural Childbirth

I know it's been a while since one of my infamous rants on the worth of a natural childbirth- and I'll try to refrain from sounding too preachy- but now that I'm teaching my Bradley classes I have to give a shout out to my super great students. They are such awesome couples and have actually taught me a lot about why natural childbirth is not just important for the health of the mother and baby, but can also be a huge boost to a marriage through the bonding that creates a family when a child is born. I have two first time Mommy's and Daddy's in my class and one couple who is pregnant with their third. I get such joy every week as we talk about not just how to have a natural childbirth, but seeing how much their relationships can be strengthened by working together to get through one of the most important moments of their lives- the creation of a new one! The way the fathers in our class have become so much more attentive to their wives needs, the way the moms have learned to trust and lean on their husbands- I'm blown away! I didn't realize how much influence these classes could have on people's lives, I only knew how much mine and Adam's relationship was improved and how much I appreciated him for being an active part of the birth, and not just the conception. I'm not saying that couples who have epidurals are any less loving towards one another or their children, I just think that there is a power behind creation that is numbed with the use of drugs. A power that is spiritual, emotional, and amazing. A power that bonds us together as a family when two loving individuals work as one. I haven't even mentioned how amazing it made me feel as a woman to have achieved what society has deemed to be the impossible. To connect with your body, to work with it, to feel the decent of your child and experience the power of it's entrance into the world is indescribable. When you take the drugs you are surrendering your power as a woman to the directions of a Doctor or Midwife. On the same note if you haven't had any training or education about how to have a natural childbirth then to try it would most likely be a very unpleasant experience.
I don't know if I'm really saying this the way I want too. I guess my point would be better made by saying whether it is you first or your tenth child it's never to late to experience the empowerment of a natural childbirth, the bonding power of full husband participation, and the ability to fully enjoy the process. I hope that soon I will be able to post my students birth stories so that you can see first hand how natural childbirth benefited them.