7 months old today!

Respect

Sometimes it takes someone else to make me realize how special my own kids are, and how well behaved they are. (most of the time) I was at the orthodontist with Rion listening to a conversation next to us. The daughter was very rude to her mother, saying how she didn't want to wear her rubber bands to help her braces do what they needed to do. When the mother replied, "But if you don't wear them, then you'll have to have the wire," the daughter did a high pitched, "I don't WANT to wear the wire." I looked at Rion and his easy going nature and just smiled. I really do have good kids who are mostly agreeable. I'm so grateful for that and for the respect that they have for us as parents.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Valentine's Day Dinner

Nothing like a big steak and lobster for Valentine's Day Dinner!

Complete with a yummy smoothie. MMMmmmm.

Happy Birthday Hailey!

Happy 8th Birthday Miss Hailey!

Hailey's Birthday Present

With Hailey turning 8 this year, we decided it was time to get her ears pierced. She was so excited to do it the day before her birthday (as a surprise) during Family Home Evening.

Such a happy girl! I love the look of relief after the first earring was put in! Enjoy the earrings Miss Hailey!

Resin Board Tutorial

I've had a lot of questions lately about these boards, so I decided to do a little tutorial. Here is a list of things you will need:

1. picture (this one was from the 2010 calendar)
2. routered board (this 8X10 was purchased at the Hobby Center for less than $1)
3. liquid hardener AND liquid resin. These can be expensive, so split the cost with someone if you can.
4. disposable cups (4-5 to hold up the board depending on the size, 1 to mix the liquids)
5. tongue depressors
6. Glue stick
7. Cutting board
8. garbage bag
9. drinking straw

Step 1: Trim picture to the desired size to fit on your board. If you have a board that is larger than your picture, paint the board your desired color, then let dry completely.

Step 2: Cut picture and glue to board.

Step 3: mix equal amounts of resin and hardener in disposable cup. The amounts just depends on the size of your picture, but needs to be enough total to spread over the entire board. Stir thoroughly for about a minute until nice and bubbly.

Step 4: Cover workspace with garbage bag, making sure table top is level. Place board on cups, then pour mixture over board.

Step 5: Using a tongue depressor, spread mixture over entire board, making sure to fill routered areas. Let drip over sides. Run depressor over sides so that the side's color changes. (don't worry about drips underneath yet.)

Step 6: Can you see all of the tiny bubbles? Using the straw, very gently blow air over the whole picture. This will pop the bubbles. Be careful not to let spit fall through the straw onto the picture.

Step 7: Wait 30-45 minutes, then take another depressor and "dig out" the routered areas. You may have to go over them a few times to make sure they are clear. Once again, blow out any bubbles that may have formed, then drag the depressor along the board underneath to get rid of any drips. The mixture will level out as it sits.

Step 8: Let dry for 24 hours, then frame or prop on a stand an enjoy!

MTC

My parents entered the MTC at 10:00 this morning. I'm so proud of them! I'm sure last night was one of the longest nights of their lives. I'm sure they will enjoy their time in the MTC. They will be there today through next Wednesday, so that at least they'll be able to have Thanksgiving with family in Utah before they drive to Baltimore. Much better than eating at Denny's somewhere in the midwest.

May the Lord bless you during your Mission Mom and Dad!

And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

Helaman 5:12

2 months!

I can't believe Avery is 2 months already!

Missionary Parents

So exciting! My parents received thier mission call today, and they are going to the Maryland, Baltimore mission! I think they were hoping for somewhere with consistent weather patterns, like Hawaii or the Caribbean, but the Lord had other plans in mind for them. They will be performing assignments according to what the Mission President needs, so at this point they aren't sure what they will be doing. The Mission President is from Meridian, so at least they will have something in common. They report to the MTC on Monday, November 15th. Very fast! My mom was hyperventilating a little, but she'll be fine. So proud of you Mom and Dad!

Announcing Baby Avery!

To back up just a little bit, this picture is from Sunday, September 5th. Eric and I had gone into Labor and Delivery after 12 hours of contractions, only to find out that there had been absolutely no progress from the Monday before, and that they were sending us home. Very sad for me, but at least we got to have an ultrasound to make sure that Avery was still head down. We had also realized that she still had her fists up by her head, which was keeping her from engaging. After that, we just planned on the scheduled c-section for Wed, Sept 8th, as the day she would join our family. (even though the painful contractions did not fully go away)


Avery had other plans, though.

Tuesday night, September 7th, I had decided to start taking Colace at 7:00 pm. If you don't know what it is, look it up. I wanted to be ready for the c-section and the fun of recovering. Silly me, though. I had accidentally taken the "Colace with stimulant". In other words, a laxative. Now, while I didn't have the typical affects of the laxative, I did begin what I "thought" were cramps from it beginning at 9:00 pm. By 9:45, I was in tears when Eric got home from the temple because they were so painful and I was just done having pain. Eric gave me a blessing at that point, and then we starting timing in the event they were regular and turned out to be contractions after all.

By midnight, after a long, hot bath, and a lot of pain later, we realized that these were not regular at all. Because they didn't feel like normal contractions, we chalked it up to being a side affect of the Colace. At 1:00 am, I told Eric to go to bed and get some sleep since I would need him rested for the c-section later that morning. At this point, I just walked around and tried to work through the cramping, and at 1:30 I decided it was time for another hot bath.

Then....BAM! A really painful one came at 1:45ish. I couldn't take it any longer and I just began to really cry in the bath. I kept thinking it was going to be the worst night ever and that I would have to suffer another nearly 6 hours until I could go into the hospital for the c-section. Thankfully, Eric jumped out of bed when he heard me crying and said we were going to go in and get some relief for the cramps. He called our neighbor Shannon, and she came right over. We were in the car by 2:00 am headed for the hospital. I cried the whole time in the car, while Eric timed them once again...and this time, they were every 1 1/2 minutes.

We had a lot of road construction on the freeway, and once the construction ended, the fun began. My water broke after 15 minutes in the car...or rather, it exploded. Thank goodness for leather seats! At that point, I realized that it was NOT cramps, and I was indeed in labor. We were driving right behind 2 big rigs at that point, and once my water broke, the big rigs parted (one went to the slow lane, the other to the fast lane) and Eric was able to step on the gas and drive right between them. The next contraction came, at which point the cries changed to screams of, "I have to PUSH!" Avery was indeed coming, and she wasn't waiting! Eric's reply..."On no you don't!"

After 2 pushing contractions, and knowing we were still 15 minutes away from the downtown hospital that we were supposed to go to, it was decided we weren't going to make it and we needed to get to the closer "sister" hospital. Eric was going 100 mph when I looked at the speedometer, in between screams and pushes. It was just a couple more minutes when we pulled up to the emergency room, with Eric blaring on the horn. The security guard and an ER nurse came out to see what was going on, and after Eric yelling, "Her water broke and she has to push!" the nurse ran for a wheel chair. There was no way I was walking. She wheeled me right up to Labor and Delivery while Eric hastily parked the car and followed, me screaming the whole way up. I did not want to deliver the baby without meds, and I was worried her fists were still near her face.

Several L&D nurses joined us in the hallway as went, reassuring me that it was too late for a c-section. We made it into the delivery room, with Eric right behind. He and the nurses helped me up on the table, the nurse made sure that Avery's hands were all clear, then away we went. Two pushes later, she was out....and then the doctor walked in. Great timing! At that point, the nurse informed us that she estimated us arriving at 2:18, and Avery was born at 2:20. I still even had on my sweatshirt! Thank goodness we didn't try to go downtown. She would have been born in the car!

And now the stats:

Avery Janae Warren was born at 2:20 am on Wednesday, September 8th. She was 7 lbs 2.8 oz, 19 inches long, with a perfectly round head.

We had been joking that we had her "eviction" date scheduled for the 8th, but I guess she wanted to leave on her own rather than being forced.

And later that day, she was able to meet her siblings, and they just adore her!

Welcome to the family, baby Avery!

Lawn Mowing Skills

In honor of the up and coming BSU vs VT game on Labor Day, Rion decided to show his favoritism using his lawn mowing abilities. Can you guess who he is supporting?

How about now?

GOOD LUCK BSU!

Typical Idaho Weather

Personally, I'm liking how the weekend is looking!

First Day of School 2010

Yes, it's that time! School started today. YAY! All of the kids were so excited to go back. They've been ready now for about a month. So glad it's here!

Rion - 6th (middle school)

Hailey - 2nd Grade

Chase - preschool (Chase was sad because he had to wait another 3 hours to go to preschool)

When I told Chase he had to wait to go to school, he said to me (in between sad sobs), "But that will take forever!" Poor thing. He probably cried off and on for another 2 hours.

Chase at preschool! So much happier!


Here's to a GREAT 2010-2011!

More Cute Sayings...

During dinner today, we were teasing Chase about being so cute with things he says. While the babysitter was here on Friday, he kept saying, "Hey baby" or "Hey ladies", then winking while pointing his finger at the babysitter. Too cute. So we were telling Eric about it. Chase got all embarassed, pulled his shirt up over his face, and said, "I am not here." Wow, that was hilarious!

32 Weeks

32 weeks pregnant, 7 to go until her scheduled eviction date! Probably one of the only pics I have of me. :-)

...you live in Idaho.

FORGET REDNECKS; THIS IS WHAT JEFF FOXWORTHY HAD TO SAY ABOUT IDAHOANS !

If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you live in Idaho .

If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you live in Idaho .

If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed the wrong number, you live in Idaho .

If "vacation" means going anywhere north of Salt Lake City for the weekend, you live in Idaho.

If you measure distance in hours, you live in Idaho .

If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you live in Idaho .

If you have switched from "heat" to "A/C" and back again in the same day, you live in Idaho .

If you install security lights on your house and garage but leave both unlocked, you live in Idaho .

If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in Idaho .

If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, you live in Idaho .

If the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph -- you're going 80, and everyone is still passing you, you live in Idaho .

If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow, you live in Idaho .

If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction, you live in Idaho .

If you find 10 degrees "a little chilly" you live in Idaho .

If you actually understand these jokes and forward them to all your IDAHO friends, you live in Idaho.

Funny Prayers

Tonight was Hailey's turn to say the night-time prayer. As she did so, she asked Heavenly Father to "bless the people who are sick that they will get over it." I've never heard it quite phrased that way, but it was pretty funny.

Potty Time

Chase was using the bathroom this morning. When I went in to check on him, I found him on the toilet with only his socks on. When I asked him why he was naked, he very seriously replied, "I not nakee, I have on socks!"