Oh Boys....

Ammon:  NOOOOOOOO Luke, STOP SSSTTTOOOOPPPPP!!!

Me: Ammon, don't yell! Just tell him what you want him to do. You can say; Luke, I want you to...

Ammon: (now calm) Luke, I want you to........go away.

At least we're learning communication :)

Cute picture from our most resent blizzard

Nerdy fun...

This is blessedly not true in my life but none the less TOTALLY HILARIOUS! Had to share! Have a happy Sabbath!




Dear Tech Support,
Last year I upgraded from Boyfriend 5.0 to Husband 1.0 and noticed a distinct slow down in overall system performance particularly in the flower and jewelry applications, which operated flawlessly under Boyfriend 5.0.

In addition, Husband 1.0 uninstalled many other valuable programs, such as Romance 9.5 and Personal Attention 6.5, and then installed undesirable programs such as NBA 5.0, NFL 3.0 and Golf Clubs 4.1.

Conversation 8.0 no longer runs and Housecleaning 2.6 simply crashes the system. Please note that I have tried running Nagging 5.3 to fix these problems, but to no avail. What can I do?

Signed,

Desperate

———————

Dear Desperate,

First, keep in mind that Boyfriend 5.0 is an entertainment package while Husband 1.0 is an operating system. Please enter the command: ithoughtyoulovedme.html, download Tears 6.2 and be sure to install the Guilt 3.0 update. If those applications work as designed Husband 1.0 should then automatically run the applications Jewelry 2.0 and Flowers 3.5.

However, please remember that overuse of the above application can cause Husband 1.0 to default to Grumpy Silence 2.5, Happy Hour 7.0, or Beer 6.1. Please note that Beer 6.1 is a very bad program that will download the Snoring Loudly Beta.

Whatever you do DO NOT under any circumstances install Mother-In-Law 1.0 (It runs a virus in the background that will eventually seize control of all your system resources.)

In addition, please do not attempt to reinstall the Boyfriend 5.0-program. This is an unsupported application and will crash Husband 1.0.

In summary, Husband 1.0 is a great program, but it does have limited memory and cannot learn new applications quickly. You might consider buying additional software to improve memory and performance. We recommend Cooking 3.0 and Hot Lingerie 7.7.


Good Luck!

Tech Support


(…just a little marriage fun for ya!)

~Unknown Author

Three is a magic number...

Since when did THREE MONTHS happen? Holy moly. Well Elaine has reached that magical milestone where babies get really fun! She is smiling, half giggling, sleeping mostly through the night and rolling over. I can't believe it. It has been a magical three months so far. I think we'll keep her :). Happy Birthday little girl! To celebrate we will:

Fold laundry
Shower for me
Bath for Elaine
Maybe a date with Daddy-o?
Crochet some gifts
Make visiting teaching appointments
and
Snuggle a super cute baby girl

Catch you later!

Jelly roll won't go...

Why is it when you are depressed about trying to lose weight, all you want to do is eat? So not fair.

My new pal...

I'd like you to meet someone...

This is Roz (Rozalin) Isn't she pretty? I think we're going to get along great!

She has really great attributes such as; a drop in bobbin loader (awesome!)

And 25 stitch functions including a one step button hole maker!

I am so excited that she has come to live with me. Jimmy stuck gold this year on the birthday present giving (Love you!!!)

Oh the fabric we will see together.......

I'll be sure to share what creations result from this friendship :)

Happy Birthday...

Happy Birthday to me!!!
My gift came earl-y
I'll introduce you to-morrow
Happy Birthday to me!!

Thanks Jimmy! Love you!

giveaways...

Shanty2chic is giving away a sillouette machine....go check it out!!!

Hello, you look yummy....

Today we met dinner...

His name is Tom and he is Bob's turkey. Well, now he is our turkey! And he will be delicious.

If you would like your own heritage breed turkey You can call Bob and get one of your own!


Happy Thanksgiving week!!!

Hi HOOOOO!!!

I've been singing myself the dwarf song from Snow White for the past 24 hours or so. It's time to get down and dirty! I have acquired the supplies necessary for an awesome homemade Christmas and I am digging in. We may not get to chat much over the next little bit...but don't worry, I'll be back. I have some goodies to make!

Can you guess what I'm making?

The torch; be yours to hold it high...

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

to those who have fallen or who have lost.
- - John McCrae, May 1915

I find it so fitting that Veterans day falls in the month of November. I have always thought that this holiday is one of gratitude right up there with Thanksgiving. This year more then others I have felt rather emotional about the service that has been rendered down through the generations to provide what I enjoy today. What a legacy of dedication! I hope that I can show my thanks in the way I exercise my rights and freedoms, and in the way I teach my children to love their country. I hope today of all days we can recognize, regardless of what divides us, that we are all Americans.  Our idealism is the same whether on the left, right, tea room, or independant table. We are brothers and sisters, made such by these men and women who fought for their American family. I pray that those who have lost someone to battle will feel my love and appriciation for that sacrife, along with my neighbors and friends.

um....wow

So I just took 35 pictures of my daughter in about ohhh....5 minutes. Yeah, I know, crazy right? But she was SMILING for goodness sakes! What could I do? All I have to say is, thank goodness for digital cameras! What did people use to do when their newborns were being super cute? Ugh, I would die! Here are a few to keep you up at night. She really is that cute...

I told you. Good luck sleeping now...

HELP!!!...

Yea!!! I've been playing around with html, what do you think? Three columns totally rock right? Love it!!! I know, I'm a nerd.

Random cuteness to keep the Grandparents happy. AWWWW

ALSO, I left a subtle hint yesterday that was apparently too subtle. I need help! I have less than 7 weeks till Christmas here people and alot of folks to make/get gifts for. I am entirely unprepared for this holiday season! So, even if you do not expect a gift from me, or you already know what I'm giving you, would you mind sharing your ideas??? Any idea is a good one. I need mass gift possibilities so I don't have to spend precious making time trying to generate creative thoughts. BRING IT ON!

Thanks in advance for you help!

What are you making for Christmas gifts?

Back...

Well, we're alive. Barely! We made it through our week of illness. All of us got sick, even Elaine :(. Jim is still a little under the weather but we are back and kickin! So much so in fact, that Luke decided to throw Elaine on the floor this morning. YIKES! Not to worry, everyone is fine. Pupils are reactive and evenly dilated, soft spot is still soft and nothing is broken. Except Luke's heart I think. He was pretty shaken up by the whole episode (as was I.) Phew. On a lighter note, I've started compiling my list of gifts to make for Christmas. I'm a little late getting started this year, mainly because of a certain girl who has recently joined the house hold, but hopefully not too late. So now is the time to clue me in....

What do you want for Christmas???

Yuck

Momma fly is down for the count :( AND everyone one else has joined me. Ammon has the stomach thing too as well as Luke. Elaine's the only one left.

dropping like flies...

If you have ever been in my house during the summer, you would know how seriously scary it is to be a fly who has crossed my threshold. Well, we are not swatting bugs today. However, I am watching as my family is falling left and right to GERMS!!!! Ammon is STILL running a fever, Luke decided that spending 24 hours puking all over the house was a great idea and now Jim has an intestinal bug from H E double hockey sticks. Elaine and I are the only ones unaffected so far, but I'm afraid that won't last long. We're the next flies :(. So far today I've: washed all the door knobs with hand sanitizer, doled out two doses of medicine, mixed one quart of Gatorade, and nursed a baby (please let those antibodies work!) and it's only 8am. This is going to be fun.


Update:  Ammon has pneumonia. Lame. At least there are antibiotics for that. Cross your fingers I don't catch it!

I want it...

Isn't it pretty?

Little Boo's and a blessing...

This weekend was exciting! Actually the whole week was exciting, but I don't have enough time to blog about everything we did while the Grandparents were in town. Suffice it to say...it was totally awesome. Any who, back to the weekend. We decided to go to the Shaker Wards trunk or treat Saturday night for our Halloween fun...the boys looked amazing!

Here they are! Luke starring as BUZZ LIGHTYEAR! And Ammon as a Giant Yellow Lego! Grandpa made the Lego all possible. It turned out so cute. Nothing like a few cold stone cups, spray paint and cardboard boxes to brighten the life of a little boy! The Elders were totally drooling over it. (I think they must have been wondering why they weren't as cool as a four year old.)

Sunday was a special day around here. Elaine was named and blessed during sacrament meeting. My parents were both there with their respective spouses, which was really nice. Dad got to be in the circle, Jim was emotional and the long awaited dress that my mother in-law made had finally come in the mail. It was perfect.

Aren't they adorable?

So sweet!

The dress was so pretty, I loved the little details and the fact that it was made by her Nana. The bonnet was made out of a hanky that belonged to my Great Grandmother on my Mom's side and she was snuggled in my blessing blanket that was made by my Great Grandmother on my Dad's side. It made the day very special to me. Having a little girl has been such a dream come true. The way the blessing made it sound, this is one very special little girl.

We were all very sad later that afternoon. Grandma and Grandpa had to get back on the plane heading west this time. We were all pretty choked up after they left. It was a wonderful visit. Ammon is still saying that they need to come back to "..be here with me in Cleveland." Hopefully soon. Then we'll party again!

To console ourselves, we carved pumpkins!

Jim has mad skills with a pumpkin!

Happy Halloween!!!

Sleep like a baby...

This is what a busy morning of running errands will do to you. Don't you wish you could sleep like that?

The Grandparents are coming!!!

I just had to share my total excitement in the fact that I will have not one but TWO very special helpers with me for the next WEEK!!! My Dad and Step Mom are flyin in tonight! Watch out Ohio, those two know how to party (and wash dishes, change diapers, and read books to insistent toddlers) I love it! Life is good.

Aren't they darling?

A Visual Feast of Cuteness

Gratitude

So life as explained earlier is a little nuts at the moment. We are all adjusting well but early on in this rotation I knew that there needed to be some serious efforts made to find a way to stay happy. This has been one of those moments that you know BEFORE hand that you will not be able to fully rely on your own strength and pluck to pull you through. Cue coping techniques. First on the list was a humble jar. (I love jars) This little puppy holds my gratitude.
This talk from general conference made me think alot about the way I allow myself time process thoughts of gratitude. I decided that a more concrete expression would help me hold those thoughts long enough to truly feel their blessing in my life. Each time I feel moved by the tender mercies from answered prayers or the thoughtfulness of others I jot it down and add it to my jar. (It is also quite useful when all I am having is negative thoughts and I need a way to pull myself out of my own crankiness.) Writing the words "I'm grateful for _____________" has been so enlightening. I amaze myself at the things I can come up with, even when, by all accounts, life should really stink at the moment. I love that when we pay attention to these small but important details we are better able to deal with craziness. Like today, for instance, I was on the phone with my sister-in-law (who also just had a baby)about life and other happenings. It could have been a rough moment. I had just found out that Jim was staying late for another surgery (which he didn't end up doing!) I was making dinner, and I had not napped. Ammon started bawling and as I went to see what was up I discovered Luke peeing on the floor, having just removed his clothing. Instead of feeling overwhelmed I just laughed, let my sister-in-law know what she was up for and cleaned it up like it was no big deal. Ammon stopped crying and dinner wasn't burned. Everyone lived and I maintained my sanity. There's a hymn that says "When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed, When you are discouraged thinking all is lost, Count you many blessings name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord has done... So amid the conflict whether great or small, Do not be discouraged God is over all. Count your many blessings angels will attend Help and comfort give you to your journey's end." I have felt attended by angels in these last few weeks. I know that Heavenly Father cares about me, and my peed on carpet and my sanity. I know that when I pray to be able to "Run and not be weary, walk and not faint" That means physical and emotional support. That is something I can be grateful for.

Change

We've had alot of it lately. I mean BIG change. The kind that makes you wonder if you are still you when you wake up in the morning. For example, we are now a family of five instead of four (weird) Jim is on Neurosurgery rotation which equals 80 hours per week of getting picked on. Ammon is in school again and Luke is decidedly two. Life is.....good and hard. Definitely hard. However, it has been nearly 4 weeks since Elaine joined us and I have already left the house by myself with all three children twice. I feel pretty good about that! So, I think I'm still me, the boys are definitely still the boys and Elaine is just cute. We'll make it, and we'll make it great! (Even if I do cry sometimes when I go to bed at night)Also, if you really feel like it, you could say a little something in your prayers for our crazy lives and I would be ok with that. Or drop off Cinnamon rolls on my porch, that would be ok too!


cuteness

Belly love

Isn't it lovely? I get so easily wrapped up in preggie boredom and anticipation by this point. My days (hours?) are numbered but for today I will love my belly and everything that it means. Today I am a vessel. I am a cocoon, a treasure safe to one very precious jewel. This is something I will only do a few times in my whole life. What a gift. It doesn't make the aches go away but it does make me feel noble and most lovely. Such trust. This is still MY body, I just chose to share it for a time. Can't wait to meet you baby girl, enjoy your cozy womb.

Ammon's new look

What do you think?

Nice to see ya...

This is me blogging. Blog, it has been awhile. I was disenchanted with you, and frankly felt I had no time to write at all. I have since recovered and am now back, maybe, for a little while. This is what is going on.

Since October:

Ammon has been doing awesome in school. We had a great trip to The Red Umbrella Farm for Christmas. We have a Grammy living with us now. This has been a particularly exciting development. She came out in December and is living in our newly finished attic. She has been going to school, playing with the boys and meeting a pretty awesome guy. We love having Grammy around! (This has also meant weekly date nights for Jimmy and I!)
Luke is running and says over 200 words and he's not even 20 months old! Ammon is in speech therapy outside of school and is loving it. Jim has finished his second year of residency and is currently studying for the board exams on April 28th!
We found out in January that we are expecting another baby (another good reason for my lengthy absence.) We had at one point suspected twins, but an ultrasound cleared the air and we are happily expecting only one baby. This one should arrive sometime at the end of September. I have decided to see a midwife for this pregnancy and I plan to deliver at Westlake hospital which is on the other side of town. I've decided to do this because unlike UH they strongly support natural labor and delivery and have the equipment to help in that process. Please ask me questions about this decision! I am WAY excited about it.
Other then all of that, life is pretty chill. I'm finally starting to get over morning sickness. Spring is on it's way and we have big garden plans! We're excited to find out what the baby is, but we'll have to wait another 6 weeks before we do. I'll keep ya posted. We just keep livin. I'd love to hear from you all, sorry I've kept you waiting!!!