Sewing and Schedule Change

Not only have I been doing some canning lately, I've started some sewing projects as well this week...yeah, I'm feeling very domestic. The girls have claimed two corners in my living room as their "reading/quiet" spots. During the Summer when Piper was napping I had them do their quiet time there...well, Haley is still claiming that spot as hers. I'm not sure how I feel about it since it's taking up space in MY living room, but as long as she keeps it tidy (she has quite the array of things...books, blanket, pillow, CD player, little toys) I don't mind as much. Soooo, Haley really wants a bean bag chair for her corner...and of course if Haley wants it, Morgan wants it too. But did you know that bean bag chairs can be pretty expensive?! So I'm making them...we'll see how they turn out.

This week Ryan has started going back to the office at his old employer. They need the help and of course we could use the extra money. It's only three days a week for maybe a couple of months, but it's killing me! I got so used to his flexible schedule it's hard to go back to him leaving at 7 and not getting home until 6. Plus, I'm really dreading next week...he's working the expo at the Iron Man championships in Vegas, and then staying for Interbike the next week. So, he'll be gone for ten days...ugh, ten days...oh, Lord give me strength!! Hopefully he won't come home to wife having gone completely insane! I'll try to keep it together.

Let the canning begin!

I've only canned once before, some peach jam years ago. And I did it with my mom and aunt who knew what they were doing. Oh, and I just had a baby...Morgan, I believe...so I did a lot of sitting when I should have been paying attention. So anyway, I've decided to tackle it once again.

I have tomatoes up to my eyeballs, and they're coming in fast and furious! So I decided to whip up some salsa. The last two days I have done more chopping than ever and with every burner on the stove going full blast it makes a very hot kitchen. Summer time + hot kitchen + pregnant = a major case of sausage toes. Seriously, my feet feel so swollen by the end of the day. Gross, but true.

Hopefully, my salsa is good...Ryan says it is...but then he isn't the most picky of eaters either. Thank goodness. But, I'm super scared the jars aren't sealed correctly and then when people go to eat it they just find a yucky moldy mess. I just don't want to poison anybody. But they seemed to be sealed, so I'll just go with it.

Next up, some peach jam. I'm very excited about this one...I love peach jam!

In other news, after almost a year of living in this house I finally got a table for our dining room! I absolutely love it! It's no longer just another play room for the kids! One of these days I'll get it decorated in there too...paint on the walls...window treatments... a pretty hutch...hard wood floors...so many ideas... *sigh *,one day.

It's brand new and I won't even tell you what I paid for it...you'll hate me forever if I do.

Refreshed

My little getaway to Snowbird for the night was wonderful! It's such a beautiful area up there! I arrived right when Ryan got out of his meeting and was on his way to dinner. I figured I wouldn't be able to join him since it was a pretty formal affair with tables already set for everyone. But, Ryan and I just so happened to run into the big man of the company and he insisted that I stay. I wasn't about to argue with that! So in I went. Slightly awkward for me since everyone was talking bike stuff...but the meal was fantastic and it was nice to put faces to names of the people Ryan works with.

The next morning Ryan had a meeting, so I lingered around the lodge while he was gone...it was very relaxing! I tried walking around the resort, but the elevation, heat, and pregnant belly pushing on my lungs just wasn't a good combo. I was pretty much out of breath where ever I went...sad. After Ryan got out we had a nice lunch on the patio, and then it was back home. Perfect little getaway.

I'm a lucky girl!

So, Ryan is up at Snowbird Resort for a National Rep Meeting. He left yesterday and won't be home until tomorrow. His work is putting him up at the resort so he doesn't have to drive back and forth everyday...I know, isn't that the pits (that was sarcasm, just in case you didn't pick that up). And, it just so happens he has his own room...do you see where I'm going with this? You got it...I'm headed up there this afternoon to stay the night with him. My parents are so nice to spend the night with the girls while I'm gone...I'm so grateful!!

Tonight he has a work related dinner so he'll busy schmoozing...but I really don't mind hanging out. Hmmmm...reading, flipping channels, walking around the resort...BY MYSELF (gasp!). Yeah...I don't mind...it's sounds heavenly.

Plus I get to be with my Ryan without children ALL NIGHT...the possibilities are endless people!

Where's my energy?

Can we say "exhausted"? Not only do the kids need time to get back into a routine...so do I! I feel like I'm just walking back and forth to school all day. Haley goes to school in the morning, then Morgan goes right after lunch, and then they both get out at the same time in the afternoon. So I'm walking back and forth three times a day! Luckily, when Ryan is home he can walk Haley to school...so I got that going for me...one less trip. And lugging around pregnant belly when it's about 100 degrees outside isn't the most fun. I feel like I'm always dripping in sweat! Lovely.

And sleep has been so crummy! When I'm pregnant I get restless legs so bad at night! It's terrible! Poor Ryan has to deal with all my tossing and turning.

This morning I was watching my little nephew for a couple of hours...it was a bit of a madhouse with everyone running amuck. These are the moments that I'm very thankful for T.V.

Granted, they only stayed in this position for about 15 minutes...and then it was back to mayhem. But hey, I'll take that 15 minutes!

And if you're wondering, I have to keep that coffee table in front of the TV to block Piper from all the DVDs and the buttons on the player. They always insist on sitting on it when they watch something...even after I tell them they'll probably go blind. They just don't seem to care...imagine that. Whatever.

New School Year!

Another school year begins! I'm really sad to see Summer coming to an end...although it sure doesn't feel like it! This week has been blazing hot...it just doesn't seem right for school to start yet. But none the less, yesterday marked the girls' first day! I got myself up and going because I was determined to send them off with their favorite breakfast of blueberry pancakes...I did it...whew! I know that's nothing compared to the feasts other mothers send their kids off with and the elaborate traditions they keep...but I'm proud that they got their pancakes! And I'm so, so glad there was at least one cookie left to put in Haley's lunch...that was a close one!

Here they are with their new haircuts (It was hard for her, but Haley chopped about six inches and I'm so glad she did...it's slightly easier to comb now). And Morgan couldn't wait to have a short haircut! Although she wanted bangs, I was able to talk her out of it (I really hate maintaining bangs). New outfits, and new shoes...ready to start the day!

Haley ready for 2nd grade!

Morgan starting Kindergarten!

This week is all about transition. Getting back into a routine with earlier bedtimes, and getting dressed for the day before 12:00! So, I'm hoping teachers cut us parents a little break this week and don't send home any homework. Give me time to get our routine in place...please!

Summer's Bounty

Oh Summer...how I love you.

Yesterday morning I picked a bowl full of tomatoes, tons of cucumbers and corn. Piper hung out with me to help shuck the corn cobs.

Which led to eating them.

BYU Education Week

I had such a nice day yesterday with my mom and grandma attending classes at BYU. I was mainly interested in the parenting classes, and even though grandma and my mom are passed that stage of parenting young children they still attended a few with me. I'm glad...it was nice to have them there beside me. My support group.

One of the classes I attended was taught by Richard and Linda Eyre, authors of several books, but one in particular is called The Entitlement Trap. April, over at Power of Moms have had them talk at her retreats so when I heard they were at Education Week and I was super excited to see their class. They did not disappoint! What wonderful speakers they are! They brought so many good parenting ideas to the table and I tried my best to absorb everything they had to say. But since I know I can't absorb it all, I went ahead and pre-ordered my book this morning.

We went to about six classes (not all were parenting classes) and only one I considered a dud. It was a class on discipline and basically it was a load of crap. That teacher must have had perfect little children who never misbehaved. Her theory was always use reasoning with discipline and just stay consistent. For example, if a kid is jumping on the bed on an heirloom quilt you say, "Please stop jumping." If the kid still jumps, add reasoning..."Please stop jumping, you may damage the quilt and it is very special to me." And if still jumps, you need to just keep repeating in a calm voice until that child finally makes the decision to stop jumping. Now, I don't know how much time that lady has, but I have a gazillion other things to do...not to mention the other kids running amuck while you're trying to reason with this one kid! Call me old fashioned, but I think it's okay to be stern sometimes.

Anyway, I shouldn't go into a class I didn't really care about. The point is, there are so many great classes and great speakers...I'm glad I got to go this year.


I walked away from the day feeling empowered...I know that sounds silly, but it's true. As moms we just get drained over time, and this is what I needed to get me going again. Perfect timing with school starting next week. A fresh start with new ideas!

August Peaches

Something I love about August...peaches are in season! And there are nothing like Utah peaches if I do say so myself! I feel very lucky to have a peach tree in my backyard. I'm hoping it survives though, since last year a deer decided to scrape it's antlers on it and nearly knocked it down (it was still a young tree at the time). We now have to keep in upright using some stakes and rope, but it still gave us peaches! Never mind the fact that it looks slightly pathetic...hang in there little peach tree!

Today I'm off for my day of fun...BYU Education Week day. I'm hoping I come home refreshed and ready to tackle the world!

Family Reunion/Tour of Utah

I'm not one with latest book crazes...Harry Potter (never was in to it) and Twilight (meh). They're probably really good, but they just don't interest me. But, way back when, when I was on bed rest my sister-in-law sent Hunger Games my way. Loved it! I ended up buying and reading the second, Catching Fire, and now I'm not so patiently waiting for the third, Mockingjay, to arrive any day. I know this has nothing to do with family reunions or the Tour of Utah, but it just popped in my head.

Okay...now on to the real subject of this post.

We had a pretty good weekend. Attended a family reunion on Saturday. Haley and Morgan were all geared up for the auction they had. They both had their eyes on a couple of cash boxes (with combination locks). So they sat there at the auction with their little purses and grandma and great grandma by their side (they were determined not to have any broken hearts and had their pockets of dollars at the ready!) Well, Haley ended getting her cash box for $5...they had to battle it out a little with another lady. Morgan however lost out to that same lady, even though grandma was ready to throw down the money for her (she's very competitive!). But when the price for this little cash box went up to about $15, enough was enough...that lady can have it! Luckily Morgan took it very well. Of course we are now on a mission to find her a cash box of her own.

Sunday we drove up to Alpine Loop to see the Tour of Utah race come through. My mom and my brother joined us. We had a picnic lunch and had some fun with chalk while we waited. I'm always amazed how beautiful it is up there...I feel so lucky to have the mountains so close to my house!


Piper with jam on her face.


Some of our artwork:

After the race we met up with my grandparents at our house for a BBQ. Perfect ending to a pretty nice weekend.

What's new.

My mom and grandparents arrived yesterday...have I mentioned how much I love when family comes to town! We have a few things planned...today is a family reunion up at South Fork. The girls are so excited about it! Haley has been preparing for it the last couple of days by scouring the house for loose change. You see, last year there was a little auction at the reunion selling homemade (lots of knitted blankets last year) or gently used items to raise money for next year's reunion. Anyway, last year there was this stuffed bear that Haley fell in love with and tried to bid for it with money she didn't really have (I had no idea she was even in the mix bidding). However, another girl got it for a dollar...Haley was crushed. She literally sat in the field and cried her little heart out for a while. Well, this year she's determined to buy something! Morgan and her and their little purses ready this time!

Next week is BYU Education Week. This is when BYU opens the campus for people from all over to come and sign up for classes on about a gazillion different topics...everything from religious topics to gardening. My mom and grandma go about every year, and they sign up for the whole week. Well, this year, since Ryan's work schedule is more flexible and I'm not nursing a baby for once in my life...I get to go! Well, not for the whole week, but I'm signing up for one day. But it a whole day...just for me!! I'm really looking forward to it!

Last week Morgan saw the movie Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs at Costco. It was only 8 dollars so I bought it. It seems they are pretty sick of all of our other movies and since we don't have TV I caved. Well, they have watched that movie EVERY SINGLE DAY since then. Seriously. I'd say it was worth the 8 dollars.

How did I get so lucky?

Okay...so I'm going to post something that will probably bug the crap out of a lot of mothers. There is nothing worse than reading peoples' blogs about how wonderful and perfect their lives are. Seriously, you know the ones. Moms describing their delightful children and how they could do no wrong. Organized homes without an ounce of clutter anywhere. How the children ALWAYS put away one toy before pulling out another (that one really gets to me!). Firecracker moms who get a gazillion things done in one day and still have time for their cutsy little hobbies, PTA, church activities, sports, make a gourmet dinner, and then, just for the heck of it, paint the house while the kids sleep. (I had a neighbor like that...seriously...I thought she was a robot...kinda scary.)

Anyway, blogs like those bug me. BUT, I do want to share something that falls into one of those annoying catagories. Don't hate me...but Piper is the most perfect baby EVER. Now, don't get me wrong, I love all my children dearly! But lets face it, some are easier or harder than others. And I feel I can blog about my angel baby because I have put in my dues people!! I deserve an easy third child!!

Now, I have heard stories about how some children/babies willingly take naps, and willingly go to bed at night. No fuss occurs, they just are ready and wanting to sleep. I just didn't believe that could actually happen! Haley was my first and she was all I knew. And let me tell you people...she was a fighter for EVERYTHING!! Still is for that matter! Many nights Ryan and I listened to her wail for hours while she fought her bedtime. When I tried to lay her down for naps she just cried the entire time in her crib. BUT, little did she know, I'm a pretty stubborn girl myself and I was going to win the sleep battle no matter what! I'm a firm believer of the "cry it out" technique and I'm not one for sharing my bed with a baby...works for some people...not for me. So, I had a lot of rough times with her. It was hard...I remember a lot tearful calls to my mom sitting in my hallway listening to Haley "cry it out". And I won't even begin to share my potty training horror stories I had with her...I'll leave that for some other time.

Morgan was a little different. She slept a little better which was nice...but she hated everyone! Kid you not, if it wasn't me or Ryan she pretty much hated you. "Don't look at me, and don't touch me" were her rules. So, it made it very difficult when we were out and about because she was extremely clingy to me. The first time she finally gave her own grandparents a hug was a freakin' miracle! Luckily, that didn't last and she's very affectionate with others. Now she'll even say "Love you, see ya!" to the UPS man as he's walking away from the house. Talk about a complete turn around!!

So, back to those children who willingly take naps...yeah, the really annoying stories that I never could believe. Well, Piper is one of those babies!! She is a dream sleeper! When it's time to take a nap, all I have to say is, "Are you ready for your nap?" and she heads for the stairs and goes straight up for her room. I lay her in her crib and she cuddlles right down with her Pooh bear and pacifier and goes to sleep! She does the same at night too. Rarely, does she cry. And to top it off (or for you to hate me even more...which ever) she sleeps for looooong periods of time. If I have her take one nap during the day, she'll sleep up to four hours. Or on days when I have her take two naps (yeah...she can still take two naps...I'm a lucky girl), each nap will be 2-3 hours long! Plus, she'll still sleep 11-12 hours at night. Again, she's my angel baby!

So, there you have it...my annoying post. But like I said, I know I'm lucky, and I'm grateful because I know how bad it can be too! Remember...I've put in my dues!!

Checking off the list.

With less than two weeks remaining before school starts we've been checking things off our "to do" list slowly but surely. Last week we went shoe shopping for new tennies...the state of their old ones are down right embarrassing! Anyway, I should have got some kind of award for surviving with three children shoe shopping in the afternoon when every single store is an absolute mad house! Seriously, did everyone decide to go shoe shopping on that very day?! Luckily, we made it out alive and with new shoes...check!

They already got a couple of new cute outfits for school, compliments of their great-grandparents! New clothes...check!

Yesterday we walked to the school to get them signed in and find out their placements. Haley found several of her friends from last year, it was cute seeing them catching up on their Summers. Morgan got afternoon Kindergarten (it's what I requested) and she is just thrilled to pieces to start school! Received placements...check!

Today, Morgan had her five year check-up and got caught up on all her immunizations. She needed three shots, poor thing. I tell ya though, she's my bravest child, she did super duper! Piper gave the nurse the evil eye the whole time since she was just there getting her shots the week prior...you would think she would have forgotten...but nope. I think she was very glad it was Morgan on the table and not her! Immunizations...check!

Now next week we have back to school night to meet their teachers and find their classrooms. And also next week they need to get much needed haircuts. Then I think we'll be ready.

Fremont Indian State Park

Our overnight camping trip turned into a day trip...probably just as well. I felt too rushed to make it an overnight thing...because as you know, when three children are involved there is a lot of prep, even if it is just for one night. I didn't have laundry done, I never made it to the grocery, flashlights needed batteries, not sure if we had any propane left for our stove, I still needed to go through the camp cook stuff (it's been a while since our last camping trip)...so anyway, yeah, I just wasn't quite ready in time. So day trip it was.

We drove South to the Fremont Indian State Park via the 89 with a stop in Fairview along the way. Such a pretty drive! It's a just a two lane highway that winds around and goes through several little towns. We stopped in Fairview first to visit the visitor center and museum. We felt very special as we were the only ones there for a while. An elderly couple ran both the visitor center and museum and I felt that they opened it up just for us...sort of like a private tour!

Then it was back on the road to Fremont. We had a picnic lunch at the campground there...very pretty, shady with a little stream nearby...perhaps a future camp trip there. Toured the visitor center and museum before hiking around looking at all the petroglyphs in the area...very cool! But the big hit were the pit houses the Indians lived in during that time. They had a model of one in the kid zone in the museum that the kids literally could have played there for hours. They also had a replica of a pit house that we hiked to. The girls loved it!

Playing in the pit house in the museum.

It was a tight squeeze for Ryan, but he managed to get inside the replica pit house. They are not made for a someone who's 6'2"!

The girls were a little nervous to climb the ladder down to complete darkness...but they got over it.

Trips like these really highlight the differences between my kids regarding the weather. We can throw Haley into anything and she'll adapt...hot or cold climates, it doesn't matter. She's happy really anywhere and can entertain herself with anything, and she is VERY independent. Morgan is a little more fragile. She's not good in extreme weather climates...too hot or too cold. (It was quite warm hiking around) If she gets a little uncomfortable, watch out, she likes to let people know it! And she needs water with her at ALL times or she thinks it's just the end of the world and may die! I have learned to ALWAYS have water for her where ever I go! Morgan would be the one ordering room service and Haley would be the one cooking her meals over a an open fire.

Happy Anniversary

12 years and still going strong!

Love you babe!

Summer Days

Summer is coming to an end all too quickly...the kids start school in less than two weeks. I can't believe it. I'm desperately hanging onto the few Summer days we have left. Late wake up calls, jammies all morning, picnic lunches outside, movies at home, Popsicles and ice cream, grilling, water park, lazy afternoons on the porch, kids playing outside, and late nights.

The only type of routine I have in the Summer is daily quiet time (a mother's best friend). During Piper's afternoon nap the kids go to their "quiet corners" and can look at books, listen to their headphones, or actually rest like Morgan happened to do yesterday. Gives me a chance to lay down as well. After quiet time the girls work on their workbooks and do journal. Sometimes they do this willingly...sometimes not so much.

So as much as I do like not having a routine, it will be good to have some structure in this house again when school starts. I feel like my house is in a constant mess. Toys...are...everywhere! So perhaps I will be able to catch up on some cleaning. And although it's nice that the kids have hours and hours of play time...fighting, bickering, and arguing between them occur more often.

So with less than two weeks remaining we're going to take advantage of it! We're going to pack in the swim park, eating ice cream and walking to the pond, slip'n'slide, evenings walking to the dog park, perhaps a late movie night at home, gardening, more lazy afternoons hanging out of the porch and we're evening considering a last minute camping trip this weekend! The fighting, bickering and arguing I can do without...but we'll see, that's a lot to ask.

Ultrasound Update

I had my ultrasound this morning with the perinatologist. Gosh, I was nervous. But luckily, everything will be okay. It's not a band stretching across my uterus for the baby to get tangled up in, thank goodness! It's some kind of membrane "sheet" that covers part of the outside of the sac. They're not sure why it's there or where it came from exactly, but it's not harming the baby...and that's all I really care about!

I already got all the jokes from my dad: "Don't let your sheet hit the fan." "Take care of your sheet." Yadda Yadda. Leave it to my dad to always see the humor in things!

So there's the good news for the day! Yay me!

Kick away baby girl!

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to my sweet Haley Girl!

Today you turn 7!!

23 Weeks

December can't come soon enough...yes, that's right, you read that correctly. The sooner I am to have this baby the better.

I had my check-up this morning...all was routine until the discussion of my last ultrasound at 20 weeks...that's when reality set it, and a reminder that this pregnancy has been anything but routine! This mysterious tissue in my uterus basically can be one of two things. And I'm sorry, I know that I my non-medical language is not helping things. I refuse to try to look things up online because it just seems that I run across horror stories and I just don't need that right now. So, I'll do my best to remember what the doctor told me.

First, it could be a uterine band. A piece of tissue or membrane that stretches across the uterus. This is rare, but could cause potential problems with the baby getting a limb caught in it...not good, and this thought absolutely terrifies me.

Or it could just look like a uterine band at first, but it can actually be a separation of the sac. Apparently there are two layers of the sac and they come together as the pregnancy progresses. Yet, occasionally there is a separation. This actually wouldn't cause any threat to the baby...and if it has to be one or the other, this is the outcome I'm hoping for.

As the doctor was explaining these things to me I could feel my eyes starting to well up...I hate that. I hate losing it in front of people. Luckily, I held it together. But, he kept asking, "Are you going to be okay?". I said, yes...I lied.

Fact is...I'm so scared. This pregnancy has been been extremely challenging on me physically and emotionally.

The day I hold this baby in my arms for the first time will no doubt be one of the happiest in my life!!

I'm to go back to the perinatologist this Wednesday. I'll be praying for some good news.