Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Growing

I was folding laundry and Corbin pulled this shirt out and insisted I put it on him...
But it is also true!!! Are we crazy? Yes, but excited too! We are hoping this little one will arrive on or before April 11th. Send me all the names you can. As you know, or if you didn't, that is the hardest part of our marriage- agreeing on a name! Thankfully, I am feeling much better and survived the rocky beginning. Sadly, those around me did not have much of a chance for guessing I am prego, I look well beyond my months already!

Monday, November 2, 2009

Savings

I want to know what "savings" Daylight savings is doing me? I really hate in the Fall that my kids will wake up at 5am for a week and in the spring they are never tired at bedtime. It is just as bad as traveling- except at home!!!

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Happy Halloween

I was tired of carving before it even began, so a few of us opted to do our pumpkins a little different way...
My pumpkin (Connor said he gave me and A for effort), Ashlyn's painted pumpkin and Corbin's potato head.
Little Bo Peep and three of her sheep...
I kept wondering what would happen if I really did "get lost" - I know Corbin wanted to.

Bumble Bee...
Transformed...

I think next year I will have to plan three month in advance, 2 am nights making costumes only made me like Halloween a little less.
The kids, especially Corbin, loved trick-or-treating. It didn't last long, thankfully. Just enough candy to meet my "parenting tax." It was also a nice 75 degrees while we were out!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Pumpkin Patch

Last week my friend Ali and I took the kids to Hill Ridge Farm. We went last year for one of Dylan's preschool field trips and we all loved it enough to go back.

The hayride to the pumpkin patch. Corbin was in awe...
Dylan with his pumpkin...
Ashlyn with hers...
And Corbin trying so hard to just sit on any pumpkin he can...
All the kids at one of the mazes...
The corn pit that keeps everyone happy, I wish I had one at home!!!
Levi and Corbin chill'in...

Ashlyn in Heaven (she loves sandboxes, you can only imagine)...

Dylan got really creative with the slide this year, he went down every way possible, I was just surprised they let him.
Ashlyn and Corbin in the bouncy (literally) haystack...

Ashlyn and Corbin on the School bus...

We sure had a great time, decorated pumpkins coming soon!

Monday, October 26, 2009

Nails

My Husband was giving me some weird looks tonight at dinner, not that this is very rare! However, usually it has meaning, so I shrugged it off the first time. But after the second time I gave it right back! Then there was the "aha" moment! He said, " You painted your nails." He had been watching me all during dinner- this was even one of those very long and entertaining meals that we have every once-in-a-while where everyone is laughing. Corbin was sticking both fingers up his nose on his own accord, Ashlyn was laughing uncontrollably and then there began the mouth popping (is that what you call it- where you put your finger in your mouth and as you slide it out you can pop it?) Corbin tried, and well, failed. Dylan figured it out. Anyway, I have NEVER in our married lives painted my nails. And I DIDN'T put on a nice, pretty, subtle color either- a dark purple, almost black, perfect for Halloween. I was doing my toes (a deep and ingrained fetish that I have that all started with dancing- a new thing you know about me now- they have to been nicely groomed and always painted to help other's overlook the once blistered beaten feet I used to sport) and decided to try my fingers too, why not! (Was that grammatically correct in anyway- I hope you get the point?) So this whole time he was trying to figure out what was different about me. As much as I use my hands to just talk, I was surprised it took that long!

What is your fetish?

Friday, October 23, 2009

DWTS Michael Jackson Tribute Dance

I saw this and it almost made me cry. It really was Amazing!!!! Take a look if you already haven't seen it.

See it Here.

I know this isn't the best quality video, I was trying to spare you from watching the whole episode, which you can do in great quality if you go to abc.com

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Transform Your Shirt

My friend Anna invited me over for a fun girls night. Really I was there for the food since, to me, she is a gourmet cook.

We also did a craft to keep our hands busy while we talked. This one was fun and EASY!!! I am all about easy!
All you need is an old, boring t-shirt (or anything else- bag, pillowcase etc.), fabric paint and some freezer paper! Tutorial at: http://artfulparent.wordpress.com/2008/05/10/freezer-paper-stenciling-so-fun/
So here is what I came home with. Ashlyn was super pleased and I was glad to make a once, unworn t-shirt seem brand new and fun!
I also put a giraffe on Corbin's shirt pocket, picture didn't turn out well, so just imagine.

The possibilities are endless with this one!

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Finally- Some Sleep

This is what we had delivered yesterday...
So far, I am in heaven. I know I am bragging about a one night stand with my new mattress, but I really love it. We have talked for three years now about how badly we need a new mattress- and an actual bed would be cool too. Our saggy bed was giving us lots of pain and not enough sleep. So we broke down and searched, and by far I loved the Tempur-Pedics!!!

We all had a great time going to the store to pick it out- the salesman did not mind that Dylan jumped on every bed in the store. They were arranged so that he could jump in a continuous circle. He was sweaty when we left and was excited to come back the next day for the final decision.

We put our old mattress in the kids room, it fits perfectly between their twins with a foot to spare. It is now the official indoor gymnasium. I will have to post some videos of Dylan's acrobatics! I wonder how long it will take me to regret not having the delivery guys take it with them.

I will give you a more accurate review of the bed in a month! Are you enjoying your sleep?

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Forts

What is it about a few sheets...

That can keep little people occupied for so many hours! I have so many wonderful fort making memories from my own childhood (watching conference in them, having sleep overs in them.) I would like to think I am an expert at it. The kids would have liked it to be permanent. I don't think Connor could have handled another week with it up. But it has been a good distraction with ALL of us being sick and therefore stuck at home.
I think Dylan is about to burst, he is on his second week of being at home, this kid is not ment for the indoors! I am also worried about all the bad habits we have formed due to my desire to baby my sick kiddos.

Monday, September 28, 2009

The Big Day

We have talked about today with Dylan for MONTHS!

Dylan's Tonsillectomy
He did a wonderful job, I would like to attribute that to my amazing Child Life Skills but he really was amazing himself. He knew everything that was going to happen and it really helped. He was a trooper taking his very yucky "silly medicine" (versed) and here he is being very silly...

The anesthesiologist even thought he was funny. By far the hardest part was waking up! Harder for mom or Dylan I don't know (notice no picture for that.) He slept all morning but then he was ready to be back to his old self. We are having to get really creative to keep this kid resting! Our doctor specifically told me he needed three days of REST!!! I will feel lucky to get two!

I know it wasn't a fun experience, but I hope I did him a favor! It definitely beats my three week recovery!

We also wish best wishes to our friend Ali (Dylan's best friend's mom) who was right behind Dylan for the same procedure.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Little Gifts

I've been busy making birthday gifts and they are just so yummy that I had to share!
An adorable bagA Skirt with a flower pin to match
The flowers are so cute and fun, make one here, and make a quick skirt here! Happy sewing.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

All 13

Today Dylan passed off his 13th article of faith. I believe he knows them better than I do. I am so proud of his hard work and persistence in learning them. Well, hard work, it actually comes really easy to him! I have already seen the fruits of his labors as he is now helping Ashlyn learn them as well. However, the down side is that he sings them ALL THE TIME! He wakes up at 6 am EVERY morning and will lay in his bed singing them- inevitably waking up Ashlyn. I am sure the Lord will bless us in the end!!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Meena

Our little friend down the street left this earthly life on Sunday to go live in Heaven. We did not know her long but she radiated a special spirit. She had a rare brain tumor and battled it well. I am glad to know that she is a child of God and is loved dearly. We are so grateful to know that her family will be able to see her again soon -an amazing and everlasting gift of love.

Monday, September 14, 2009

He Did It!!

Saturday night (our time) was Jamie's Big triathlon. He did great:
Swim: 12:46 - 19th place after swim
T1: 1:50 - He ran right past his bike and couldn't find it - dropped from 19th to 25th!
Bike: 31:20 - 16th place after bike
T2: 0:52 - still 16th
Run: 19:01 - 15th after run - probably his fastest run ever!
Total: 1:05:47
Place (age group): 15th (2nd American)
Place (overall): 126 (but this includes a whole age group that is messed up) - And 10th AMERICAN!!!!

Congrats Jamie!!!

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Triathlete

My brother, Jamie, left today for Australia. What is he doing in Australia you say? He is competing in the World Championship. He has traveled all over the country for years competing in Triathlons and has always done very well. He recently competed in CA to qualify for World. I think it is safe to say that I have a famous professional Triathlete for a brother!!

Now, Connor would not let you forget that "if it hadn't been for him Jamie would never be where he is." Meaning, Connor was the first one do compete in a triathlon and now my family, especially Jamie, has taken over the sport with flying colors. I could go into detail about how awesome they all are (my mom constantly wins her category and does about 3 official ones a year.) So Jamie just started this sport about 4 years ago!

This is a picture of my brother coming out of the water at his most recent Echo Triathlon. He made the cover of this Western based magazine. He is super amazing and I am proud of all he has accomplished and all that he has accomplished on the side (new wife, graduation ,brand new baby.) He has amazed me that his two strongest sections (swimming and biking) of his triathlon are one's he has completely had to learn from scratch and his weakest part (running) is the one thing I thought he would never be able to do again (so many knee problems in HS.) Not to mention that in the middle of all these years of training, he was in a huge bike/car accident where he was hit by a car and flipped over it and tore his MCL. That didn't slow him down a bit. He now works for PowerTri and teaches spin classes. By the way, Carrie, out of no bias, says he is the best spin teacher!

Check out his triathlon blog here where you can keep tabs on him during his big race and learn about his triathlon history and even SPONSOR him!!!

Congratulations and Good Luck!!! Have fun in Australia