Look Mom!

He told me: "Look mom. I first did the letter "I" and then made it into the letter "H" and then made one of the "H" legs (right side) into a "F" and then I tried a "J" but it didn't work. Then I made a bunch of little "I's".

He thought he was awesome!...so did I!

Things to remember...

...Bella can climb.

...and rip magazines to shreds!

...and get into the fridge and pull everything out!

Bowling

We went up to see Adam and Julie (Aug's Brother and wife) last weekend. We took the kids (all 8) out to lunch for pizza and then bowling. They had a great time. Riley (8), Audry(7), Caleb (5), Jacob (5), Isaac (3) and Joshua (2)

Not pictured: Bella (10 months) and Lydia (4 months).

Growing Up...

At Bella's 9 month appointment things looked great. She weighed 20 lbs(72%) and was 30 inches (99.9%). I was hoping for an ear infection...to explain why she has been so darn cranky. No such luck. Healthy as can be. So. I guess I will just chalk it up to being a whiny girl. But, amidst her whining she has learned two new things. Take a look at my big girl:

She can go up and now she can go down...without falling.

And, she is walking. When we make her. Crawling is her favorite mode of transportation. I think in a few weeks she will build confidence and start doing it more on her own.

At various moments of the day I will look over and see her in the middle of the room. Then, I look away and she has stood up in the middle of the room just standing there. Not sure what to do next!

FYI

We were sent this awesome link and would LOVE to have Caleb do it:

Snowboarding lessons at Park City Mtn Resort!

Caleb is 6 this year, and I am going to call and see if they will make an exception...Aug's co-worker's son is only 4/5 and doing it. They say it is great!

Random Pics

So. I am learning how to sew. Crazy, I know. Here is my second project. I took a dress of Bella's that she has never worn (becasue it doesn't have a zipper in it and her shoulders are too wide) and cut off of the top, gathered the waist and attached it to the waist band of a pair of tights.

Here is the finished project. I realize it isn't a BIG deal...but the fact that I did it all on my own is FABULOUS! A friends blog had me thinking all about re-purposing! I think it turned out well.

Little China Doll! Say Cheese!

(She is wearing the headband I made out of the legs of a pair of tights.)

Those eyes KILL me!

Rub-a-dub-dub. Three kids in a tub.

We may not be able to swim in the ocean...but we make do.

Birthday Fun

Here is the drawing that my kids and the neighborhood kids did for me on the birthday. So sweet!
You can't beat fabulous friends...to die for chocolate cake and cinnamon rolls that I blogged about before.

Here is my Dad, Bella, Eric, Kael, Nicole, Me, Hayley and Casey at my bday dinner.

My Dad also got me the best birthday present I have EVER had. It will get its own post soon...

Time Out

She crawled under...and couldn't get out.

I will have to remember this technique when she get's older and needs a time out.

Introducing the Missionaries

August's parents have been called to the Independence, MI (Liberty Jail) Mission. They survived the MTC and have been serving for two whole weeks now.

Before they left, we had them over to our house for the "last supper".

Before they left we were able to gather as a family for the setting apart/mission un-farewell. It was a great experience that I won't soon forget. After they were set apart, August's Dad talked with the family and gave us a father-family talk. He encouraged us to do the right thing for the right reasons. I have spent many nights pondering his words. I am sure that I don't always do the right thing for the right reasons, but I was inspired to do better.

I have been trying to play with my kids because I want to...not because I should.

I have been trying to live a more gospel centered life because that is what my Heavenly Father wants me to do...not out of fear of what will happen if I don't or out of "obligation".

I have been trying...at a lot of things.

So, as they spend the next 18 months in "Jail", we will pray for their success, happiness and safety/protection. I am (won't say proud...they don't like that word)...excited for them to finally reach this point of their life (kids grown, retirement, mission) and know that by serving the people in Missouri they are serving our Heavenly Father.

As we drove to get their mail this weekend, Payson didn't seem the same without them. Thank goodness Couple missionaries can still take frequent phone calls. It helps close the distance.

(I hope to get a web-cam soon so we can skype!!...It is coming soon Mom and Dad!)

January 1-New Years Day

Yes, I have been REALLY slow at getting my posts up and going. What can I say...life gets in the way. It is WAY more exciting to experience life then to spend hours blogging/status updating!

So, here is a look back at January. On New Years Day we took the fam sleding in Saratoga Springs. Carson (Aug's bro) has the perfect hill across the street from their house. It is not to big, but not too small either. The kids had tons of fun with the cousins too.

The sled-train

Bella wanted to get down SOO bad. But, she didn't have snow pants and I didn't want her to freeze. I let her do it at the end of the day. She didn't cry once.

I was unsure of how Josh would be. This was his first time and he usually hates the cold. However, he had a blast. He didn't cry or whine. He was all about the "adventure".

Bella never missed a suck.

Day 4: Birthday Fun

Last night before I went to bed I was chatting with a friend on the phone (Dani). When I got off I felt strangely dizzy and my stomach started feeling strange. I tried and tried to go to sleep but I felt horrible and the kids (Caleb and Josh) decided (with my permission) to have a sleep over in my room. Think rolling, kicking and snoring. Never fun. I finally fell asleep only to wake up in the middle of the night throwing up. I must have had the stomach flu. Great way to start your BIRTHDAY!!!!

By the morning, I had remembered that I had left over nausea medication and started to take it. It helped tons and I was able to function throughout the day.

I had lunch plans with Vanee and Amber, but had to cancel them for fear of puking again at lunch. I had looked forward to getting out of the house, but maybe another day. Vanee was still so nice/thoughtful that she brought a bday present (new book!!) from her and Amber to my house.

Other friends showed up to celebrate my bday. Stephanie made a delicious Chocolate cake for me (Steph also gave me a iron bodice/torso earlier...it rocks!) and Becky brought by steaming hot cinnamon rolls that she also made. It is great to have friends that can cook!!! Later that evening Dani brought a thoughtful gift of smelly lotions/potions and a gift certificate to Cafe Rio...since we couldn't do dinner (no husband...no babbysitter...puking...no fun).

Who could have a bad day with friends like these! I had tons of phone calls/emails from friends and family that made my day bright!

The neighborhood kids also drew a huge birthday card/cake on the driveway with sidewalk chalk and yelled surprise when they called me outside! It was adorable. Caleb and Josh are just worried that it is going to wash away in the next snow storm. I reminded them that I took a picture so we can ALWAYS enjoy it.

So, in spite of the fact that Josh cried from the moment he woke up to the moment he went to sleep, and that Bella made me carry her ALL day. It is a birthday I will never forget.

Thanks to all that made it great!

Top 10 things I never thought being 31 would include:
1. Saggy earlobes...yes, seriously. Why did no one tell me...or is this just me?
2. Desire to learn sewing/cooking. Who knew!
3. 3 kids...that I love and adore.
4. Fabulous husband that I have loved for close to 12+ years.
5. It is ok if the sink has dishes in it...but only for a few hours...(still working on this one).
6. Great Friends!
7. Obsession with Cub Scouts.
8. Blogging...I am inspired and uplifted daily by others blogs.
9. Desire to learn knew things...I have always had this, but I thought it would fade. The topics may have shifted (geneology, homaking from nursing/school) but it still is there.
10. Snow...I always pictured me living in a tropical location...this snow is for the birds!!!!!

Day 3

Monday, Monday. Seems like Saturday is sooo far away.

Early Monday AM my mom and Kelly came to visit for my bday. I enjoyed their company, especially because they weren't in a rush and spent a good long while hanging out and chatting.

Josh is a hot mess. He looks sick and acts sick. He doesn't ask...just cries for everything.

Caleb has been a big help. We forgot today was early day and had to RUSH to school. Grandma and Grandpa took him because we would have missed the bus. I was glad they were here because Bella was asleep.

Bella is Bella. She took a few steps today and is crazy happy one minute and then I leave her side and you would think that I left her forever. She keeps looking at the front door and seriously yelling "DA-DA-DA". I think she misses her daddy.

I got to talk again with August today. He filled me in on his Chinese adventures. It mostly revolves around food. He is very picky about his meat. Here is a small sampling of what he had to eat via Wayne's email to Vanee about last nights dinner:

We had Potato salad that was covered in bright orange Crab Roe. (eggs) He (August) did very well and ate almost all of it. I couldn't taste anything but he said he could. We had Prawns but they cook them in the shell with the head, legs, eyes, tails and shells still on. You have to cut the head off yourself, pull the legs, shell and tail and then eat. He got one down...

We had a funky dish where they cook scallops in an oyster shell with Shark consume and other stuff and they let it boil on the grill. He ate it all. We had a scary fish with the skin on and he ate 1/2 of that.

They threw black squid tentacles on the grill in a big pile and the heat from the grill makes them move and twitch... Neither of us ate those!!!

Then they pulled out two Prawns that were over 1 FOOT LONG and about the diameter of a soda can! They grill them with whole (Eyes, legs, etc) and then they open them up and de-vein them in front of you. It looked like a red, flat tapeworm! They de-terd it and then cut off the head from the tail and steam it in shark consume on the grill. After they take off the shell and tail and cut it into pieces and serve it with the head. It looked like a small lobster and it was pretty tough. He got 2 pieces of that down... We had some meat and Chinese vegetables and real Chinese fried rice. There was raw fish which he didn't eat but everything else he got down. I was very proud of him! This morning at breakfast they served stewed chicken's feet and he was no longer brave. Lunch today was our second day eating at the on-site cafeteria. It was a little rough for both of us. We just eat a lot of veggy's and rice and fill up before on power bars!

LOL! I can't even get August to like ground beef, let alone all of that nasty stuff! I am very proud of him for trying and being a kind visitor. I wonder if they feed the Americans the crazy stuff just so they go home with stories!

Anyway, for FHE tonight we made and decorated cupcakes and had a lesson on Christ washing the apostles feet (being an example/Christ like). The kids had a great time and we finished it off by me washing them in the bath and giving them each a foot massage. It was a pretty good night.

Sunday: Day 2

I got to talk with August today! Our cell phones don't work in China (Love Sprint) so he is currently using the hotel phone and working on getting an international phone there if he can find one in the midst of all of his traveling.

He said the flights went great. It took him over 24hrs to get there. He left our house at 6:30AM on Saturday and didn't get to the Hotel until Sunday morning at 10:00AM Utah time. When he got to the airport Saturday morning he found out that his 9:30 plane was delayed 2 hours. So, he was already early for his 9:30 flight and now REALLY early for his 11:30 flight. He had to go back out through security (long lines) and re-book his flights because they were going to miss the LA connection. So, they finally flew to Portland (2 hrs) and then on to Tokyo (12 hrs) and then to Hong Kong (5-6 hours). This doesn't include the lay overs. I am glad it was him and not me!

He said it is surreal being so far away. He hasn't ever traveled abroad, so this is out of his comfort zone. We only had a few minutes to talk, but he did say that he feels really tall. The hallways of the hotel feel small and he said the shower sprayer was NOT spraying his head. He said I would laugh seeing him in the shower...I of course thought it would be great to see and told him to take a picture! We will see...the shower of course.

I am glad August is traveling with Wayne. Wayne has been to China and knows his way around. They are in China for work...something about contract manufacturing. They will be home on Saturday Evening. Can't wait.

Sunday ended up being a quiet day. Once Ty, Brady and Brit left we cleaned up the house and put Bella and Josh down for naps. Bella seemed absolutely fine...back to her usually whiny self. It must have been the chip she choked on. Josh is even worse. He keeps crying and whining and sounds horrible. Ahhhh...utah winters suck!

I think I took a mom day off. We ate nothing healthy and I let the kids eat lots of treats and watch TV and play the Wii all day. They were happy! I actually got a small nap and then had a friend drop by from down the street.

All in all, it was a nice sick day.