It's not even funny, by 9am it was so hot Avery Ann wouldn't take her nap so we got in the car. It actually read 102 and changed as I was reaching in my purse for my camera.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
shoes, pants, blankets and heat...
You know my kids feel at home at your house when they leave their pants - with their shoes and blankets at the door. Okay, I threw Avery Ann's pants in for the sake of a fun picture, but I walked by the front door at my mom's today and noticed all of this....pants, shoes, blankets. Pretty funny to me.
Also, don't forget to sign up - I'm hosting a swap and the deadline is at the end of the week - it should be fun, I haven't got to do a swap in such a long time!
What: book swap, new, used, magazine, fiction or non, anything goes! I'm going to make things interesting and say there is a price limit of $15, that way if you find something you really love for $14.95 it can go, but no one goes overboard. Find a used bookstore, I can't wait to visit mine again!
When: Sign up now until July 31
How: Email me: wadeanddebbi (at) gmail (dot) com. Include your mailing address and just for fun little bit about your self
August 1st, I will send you an email you the contact information of the person you will send your swap loot too! Please send your package to your partner by August 7!
It's hot! I'm not complaining for no good reason like last time. I'm talking record breaking heat here in the Pacific Northwest. We've been hanging out at my parents house since they have AC and it's so nice! I wish our house had it, but I know by next week it will most likely be 70 or 80s again and I won't need it. I had to take a picture of these temperatures - it's crazy!
(click HERE if you don't believe me that it's hot!)
Also, don't forget to sign up - I'm hosting a swap and the deadline is at the end of the week - it should be fun, I haven't got to do a swap in such a long time!The Summertime Book Swap!
Who: anyone - blogger or non bloggerWhat: book swap, new, used, magazine, fiction or non, anything goes! I'm going to make things interesting and say there is a price limit of $15, that way if you find something you really love for $14.95 it can go, but no one goes overboard. Find a used bookstore, I can't wait to visit mine again!
When: Sign up now until July 31
How: Email me: wadeanddebbi (at) gmail (dot) com. Include your mailing address and just for fun little bit about your self
August 1st, I will send you an email you the contact information of the person you will send your swap loot too! Please send your package to your partner by August 7!
Monday, July 27, 2009
24th Camping
I thought since we had a backyard of our own now that we should start the tradition of camping in our backyard every 24th of July. The boys were in heaven as I set up the tent!
We ate tin foil dinners and read library books in our tent waiting for Daddy to get home from clinic. Every one had a great time!
Last but not least - we hit my parents garden a couple times last week. Everyone loves rhubarb. Especially if it comes in baby size like Avery Ann.
We ate tin foil dinners and read library books in our tent waiting for Daddy to get home from clinic. Every one had a great time!
The boys lasted about 1 1/2 hours into the night before asking if they could come back inside. Goofy boys. Everyone slept well in their own beds and they returned to the tent to play the next day. A REAL camping trip is in the works, hopefully they will do better. At least on a real camp-out they don't have to listen to neighbors doing their dishes and trains going by every hour.
~~
I finally found a sale and was able to buy a book shelf for our living room. I wanted this mainly for my scrapbooks. If only I were caught up!
Last but not least - we hit my parents garden a couple times last week. Everyone loves rhubarb. Especially if it comes in baby size like Avery Ann.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Happy Pioneer Day
Today, July 24th is Pioneer Day, the day that the early Saints made it to Utah after their long trek west. It's celebrated in Utah with parade's fireworks and celebrations, and it's a great day to remember and commemorate all the pioneers that have come before us. Last year I posted about my 3rd great grandmother Ann Allen Paton Low (click for her story), I found so many things I wanted to post today, but I settled on telling some of the stories of 2 women that surrounded Ann, her mother and one of her daughters.
Julia Peterson
Born in Olso, Norway 1851
My 4th Great Grandmother
I lived with my grandmother from the time I was 3 until I was 12. Because grandmother belonged to the Church I could not go to school, the government forbade it. However, she taught me well at home. I had a sister who was 10 years older, her name was Serena. She knew of the gospel too, but didn’t join until after she married David Jensen. Their first child died and they were heartbroken. One day in Oslo they heard a song that touched their hearts, it was called, “Oh My Father” and was sung by some Mormon missionaries. All three of us joined the church and began making plans to join the Saints in Zion.
David Jensen was 28 when he left Norway, Serena was 22 and I was 12. We left in April of 1863 to sail to Denmark, then onto Kiel Germany, and then another ship to Hamburg, Germany. This took about 2 weeks. Then we took third class passage on a small ship over the North Sea to England. The passage was very rough and we had 600 people on ship, along with 40 steers and several 100 head of sheep. Next we boarded a train for Liverpool and the big ship to take us across the ocean. It had been 5 weeks since we had left Norway.
The ocean crossing took 49 days. We had 480 people on board. Several died during the crossing and I saw them buried at sea. After arriving in New York in July we were loaded into cattle cars and taken to St. Joseph, Missouri. Imagine people in cattle cars, and during part of the trip we could hear cannons roaring. The people said something about the Americans fighting against themselves in a civil war.
On July 25 we departed from Florence, Nebraska with 500 other people on a wagon train. My sister’s baby died near Platt River and we had to bury her in a shallow grave and walk on. During the 3 months trek to the valley there were 2 buffalo killed and meat shared with all. I have never been so dusty and never seen so much wide open space.
After we arrived in the valley we went to Lehi to live. I was hired out to a lady to do her housekeeping, her standards were so strict and she was so harsh in correcting me that the stress son my nerves caused my teeth to turn black. Now who would marry a girl with black teeth? I moved back to live with David and Serena in Franklin, Idaho.
I went on to marry David Jensen and had 13 children.
Sylvia Euphemia Low Jensen
December 11, 1877
My Great-Great Grandmother
Sylvia was born on Friday, December 11, 1877, the daughter of Sylvester Low and Ann Allan Paton Low. She was the tithing, the tenth child. The family was living in a white four roomed house in northwest part of Smithfield, Utah.
At a Church Christmas Party, Sylvia made her first public speech, she was 4 years old and repeated: "A little star is very bright, A little snow is very white," then added, "And now I've said my piece, Goodnight."
She guess this was the beginning of the may times she have made public appearances and the making of saying of her own. Her poem, “To a Wild Rose” brought her much pleasure.
To A Wild Rose
Oh, why do I love you wild rose
You’re as common as ever can be.
But of all the flowers that grow
You are the dearest one to me.
It is because as a child I sought you
And gathered your blossoms fair
To deck my halls and castles
And made wreathes to wear in my hair?
Or is it because you come in June
The month of love and romance,
When on the air you so riotously fling
Your perfume, high in fragrance?
Or is it the lesson you teach, dear wild rose
Of mountain and valley and plain
No matter the condition dear wild rose
You are there with the bloom just the same.
When Sylvia was 5 years old, the family moved to Logan. While the family was living in Logan Sylvia had an experience that impressed her the rest of her days. She had been sent alone to the store to purchase thread for her mother. As she was bouncing along the path near the Logan Tabernacle, she dropped the dime. She searched and searched, then she went up to the Tabernacle and got up into a north basement window and prayed. She asked the Lord to bless her so that she could find the lost dime. Then she hurried back and moved a fallen leaf and there was the dime. She quickly returned back to her "prayer window" and gave thanks to the Lord for blessing and covenanted to always pray and always do what was right. The Lord had heard and answered her prayer and from that time on she was faithful in her prayers and in living the Gospel.
Sylvia's mother was a meticulous woman and taught all of her daughters to keep a clean house. She taught them, each in time, how to make tallow, dye yarn, knit and stitch, how to make beautiful lace. She taught them to be feminine (that was back in the 1880's) and their clothes were decorated with lovely hand-made lace.
Junius Charles Jensen, that tall, good-looking, persistent Norwegian, courted
Sylvia for 7 years. He came from Preston to Smithfield on his horse "Pet". They were married on June 18, 1902 in the Logan Temple. On the way to Logan, they had trouble with the buggy and J. C. began to fix it in his calm way. Sylvia didn't think he was progressing fast enough so she said, "June, will never get there." But they did and tied the knot.
Sylvia's wedding dress was a beautiful batiste with plaited ribbon. It cost $25, and both her daughters, Anna and Bessie, were married in it. At her death, Sylvia was buried in her treasured gown.
On June 18, 1937, in their 60th years, J. C. and Sylvia took over the Hotel business. They purchased the Hotel LaMoyne in Burley, Idaho. They were "green as grass" about the business but they did well and paid it off in 10 years, with much hard work and many long hours, The Hotel was a worthwhile effort that allowed them to do things for their families. They had the pleasure of supporting 20 Mexican missionaries.
Sylvia and her Junius C. had many wonderful and rewarding experiences with their children. They suffered some heartaches and setbacks but never lost their faith or testimonies of the Gospel. They spent 57 wonderful happy years together.
This last picture was taken at Junius and Sylvia's 50th wedding anniversary celebration. My mom is in the picture - front row, 4th from the left!
Julia Peterson
Born in Olso, Norway 1851
My 4th Great Grandmother
I lived with my grandmother from the time I was 3 until I was 12. Because grandmother belonged to the Church I could not go to school, the government forbade it. However, she taught me well at home. I had a sister who was 10 years older, her name was Serena. She knew of the gospel too, but didn’t join until after she married David Jensen. Their first child died and they were heartbroken. One day in Oslo they heard a song that touched their hearts, it was called, “Oh My Father” and was sung by some Mormon missionaries. All three of us joined the church and began making plans to join the Saints in Zion.
David Jensen was 28 when he left Norway, Serena was 22 and I was 12. We left in April of 1863 to sail to Denmark, then onto Kiel Germany, and then another ship to Hamburg, Germany. This took about 2 weeks. Then we took third class passage on a small ship over the North Sea to England. The passage was very rough and we had 600 people on ship, along with 40 steers and several 100 head of sheep. Next we boarded a train for Liverpool and the big ship to take us across the ocean. It had been 5 weeks since we had left Norway.
The ocean crossing took 49 days. We had 480 people on board. Several died during the crossing and I saw them buried at sea. After arriving in New York in July we were loaded into cattle cars and taken to St. Joseph, Missouri. Imagine people in cattle cars, and during part of the trip we could hear cannons roaring. The people said something about the Americans fighting against themselves in a civil war.
On July 25 we departed from Florence, Nebraska with 500 other people on a wagon train. My sister’s baby died near Platt River and we had to bury her in a shallow grave and walk on. During the 3 months trek to the valley there were 2 buffalo killed and meat shared with all. I have never been so dusty and never seen so much wide open space.
After we arrived in the valley we went to Lehi to live. I was hired out to a lady to do her housekeeping, her standards were so strict and she was so harsh in correcting me that the stress son my nerves caused my teeth to turn black. Now who would marry a girl with black teeth? I moved back to live with David and Serena in Franklin, Idaho.
I went on to marry David Jensen and had 13 children.
Sylvia Euphemia Low Jensen
December 11, 1877
My Great-Great Grandmother
Sylvia was born on Friday, December 11, 1877, the daughter of Sylvester Low and Ann Allan Paton Low. She was the tithing, the tenth child. The family was living in a white four roomed house in northwest part of Smithfield, Utah.
At a Church Christmas Party, Sylvia made her first public speech, she was 4 years old and repeated: "A little star is very bright, A little snow is very white," then added, "And now I've said my piece, Goodnight."
She guess this was the beginning of the may times she have made public appearances and the making of saying of her own. Her poem, “To a Wild Rose” brought her much pleasure.
To A Wild Rose
Oh, why do I love you wild rose
You’re as common as ever can be.
But of all the flowers that grow
You are the dearest one to me.
It is because as a child I sought you
And gathered your blossoms fair
To deck my halls and castles
And made wreathes to wear in my hair?
Or is it because you come in June
The month of love and romance,
When on the air you so riotously fling
Your perfume, high in fragrance?
Or is it the lesson you teach, dear wild rose
Of mountain and valley and plain
No matter the condition dear wild rose
You are there with the bloom just the same.
When Sylvia was 5 years old, the family moved to Logan. While the family was living in Logan Sylvia had an experience that impressed her the rest of her days. She had been sent alone to the store to purchase thread for her mother. As she was bouncing along the path near the Logan Tabernacle, she dropped the dime. She searched and searched, then she went up to the Tabernacle and got up into a north basement window and prayed. She asked the Lord to bless her so that she could find the lost dime. Then she hurried back and moved a fallen leaf and there was the dime. She quickly returned back to her "prayer window" and gave thanks to the Lord for blessing and covenanted to always pray and always do what was right. The Lord had heard and answered her prayer and from that time on she was faithful in her prayers and in living the Gospel.
Sylvia's mother was a meticulous woman and taught all of her daughters to keep a clean house. She taught them, each in time, how to make tallow, dye yarn, knit and stitch, how to make beautiful lace. She taught them to be feminine (that was back in the 1880's) and their clothes were decorated with lovely hand-made lace.
Junius Charles Jensen, that tall, good-looking, persistent Norwegian, courted
Sylvia for 7 years. He came from Preston to Smithfield on his horse "Pet". They were married on June 18, 1902 in the Logan Temple. On the way to Logan, they had trouble with the buggy and J. C. began to fix it in his calm way. Sylvia didn't think he was progressing fast enough so she said, "June, will never get there." But they did and tied the knot.
Sylvia's wedding dress was a beautiful batiste with plaited ribbon. It cost $25, and both her daughters, Anna and Bessie, were married in it. At her death, Sylvia was buried in her treasured gown.
On June 18, 1937, in their 60th years, J. C. and Sylvia took over the Hotel business. They purchased the Hotel LaMoyne in Burley, Idaho. They were "green as grass" about the business but they did well and paid it off in 10 years, with much hard work and many long hours, The Hotel was a worthwhile effort that allowed them to do things for their families. They had the pleasure of supporting 20 Mexican missionaries.
Sylvia and her Junius C. had many wonderful and rewarding experiences with their children. They suffered some heartaches and setbacks but never lost their faith or testimonies of the Gospel. They spent 57 wonderful happy years together.
This last picture was taken at Junius and Sylvia's 50th wedding anniversary celebration. My mom is in the picture - front row, 4th from the left!Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Bread Recipe
Here it is - the recipe I used yesterday (and this morning!) for bread. I know there are a lot of fancy bread recipes out there, but this was super easy and tastes good!
(My pictures aren't that great, we are still using our WAY old camera, but at least it is a camera. We never found our nice one, Wade thinks he sacrificed it to the 4 wheeling trail God of Southern Utah.)
Delicious White Bread
Pillsbury Cook Book
5 - 6 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons salt
2 packages active dry yeast
2 cups water
1/4 cup oil
1 tablespoon margarine to brush on top
1. In large cowl, combine 2 cups flour, sugar, salt, and yeast.
I substituted - one cup whole wheat and one cup white flour
Mix well. In small saucepan, heat water and oil until very warm (120 - 130 degrees). Add warm liquid to flour mixture, blend at low speed until moistened. Beat 3 minutes at medium speed.
I used my hand mixer for this step, it seemed to work just great
By hand, stir in additional 2.5 to 3 cups flour until dough pulls cleanly away from sides of bowl.
2. On floured surface knead in 1/2 to 1 cup flour until dough is smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Place dough in greased bowl, cover loosely with greased plastic wrap and cloth towel. Let rise in warm place until doubled in size (45 to 60 minutes).
Mine did not that this long to rise. Maybe it helps that it's been really warm lately and that I am doing laundry and put the bowl in the laundry room to rise!
3. Grease two loaf pans. Punch down dough several times to remove all air bubbles. Divide dough in half, shape into loaves. Place in greased pans. Cover, let rise in warm place until dough fills pans and tops of loaves are about 1 inch above pan edges - 30 to 35 minutes.
On top of the dryer :)
Again - mine didn't take that long to rise.
4. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Uncover dough and bake for 40 - 50 minutes until loaves sound hollow. Immediately remove from pans and place on wire racks. Brush with melted margarine.
Both my sister and I had different baking time than the recipe called for. I baked the bread for 25 minutes and then put tin foil on the top because it was looking very brown. Then I baked it an additional 5 minutes and pulled it out, so my baking time was only 30 minutes.Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Bread
One of my goals for this year was to learn how to make bread for my family so we don't have to buy it - and seeing that July is almost over, I thought I better get cracking on this goal. I have always been hesitant to baking my own bread because mostly because I don't own a kitchen aid mixer, we haven't had room for one, and now that we have room for one, I'm saving money for one.
Well, I got brave enough (or I'm just bored enough) to try it anyway, mixer or not. My sister Jenny blogged about some bread she made last week so I got her recipe and decided to only made enough for one loaf so if it turned into a disaster it wouldn't be so bad.
My only regret now is that I didn't make more! It was super easy and very yummy.
Jenny snuck in a little bit of whole wheat flour into her recipe so I thought I would try it too. You can't even tell, it makes me feel a little bit better about it and maybe next time I'll sneak in a little more!
I sure hope that our one loaf can make it till tonight when Wade gets home from clinic. It just might not make it with the ways the boys love this bread! Noah loves it plain, Gage with a little butter, and I prefer mine with some of my homemade strawberry jam from a few weeks ago!
Well, I got brave enough (or I'm just bored enough) to try it anyway, mixer or not. My sister Jenny blogged about some bread she made last week so I got her recipe and decided to only made enough for one loaf so if it turned into a disaster it wouldn't be so bad.
My only regret now is that I didn't make more! It was super easy and very yummy.
Jenny snuck in a little bit of whole wheat flour into her recipe so I thought I would try it too. You can't even tell, it makes me feel a little bit better about it and maybe next time I'll sneak in a little more!
I sure hope that our one loaf can make it till tonight when Wade gets home from clinic. It just might not make it with the ways the boys love this bread! Noah loves it plain, Gage with a little butter, and I prefer mine with some of my homemade strawberry jam from a few weeks ago!It's not even gone yet and I can't wait to make some more!
Monday, July 20, 2009
My Reading Spot - Story Time Monday
I've been busy updating My Reading Spot lately. I'm very excited about some reviews I have coming up later this month and I'll also be hosting my first author interview!
I'm also added new feature - Story Time Monday. Each Monday morning I will feature a children book that I love. I will post ideas that we've used while reading it, activities or just a short story of why I love the book. I have so many children books that I love, I could post almost every single day. I'm excited about this fun new feature and am really looking forward to the next couple weeks on My Reading Spot. (click for the link)
I'm also added new feature - Story Time Monday. Each Monday morning I will feature a children book that I love. I will post ideas that we've used while reading it, activities or just a short story of why I love the book. I have so many children books that I love, I could post almost every single day. I'm excited about this fun new feature and am really looking forward to the next couple weeks on My Reading Spot. (click for the link)
Friday, July 17, 2009
Swimming
H-O-T-T, Hot, Hot, Hot.
I know this is a post many of you will laugh at, because hot is all relative. I know it's not really Vegas, Tucson, Arkansas or even Utah or Iowa hot. But for western Washington it really has been hot the past few days - which means high 80 degree weather. (Everyone laugh now.....)
Seriously, the houses here aren't built with air conditioners, we don't have one and honestly you don't really need one, except for the handful of days a year like the past few. We have some good friends that we've met that are a year ahead of us at the same program. They are awesome! We were fortunate enough today to spend the afternoon with them at their complexes pool. So fun and refreshing!
Noah - this kid continues to crack me up. Clothes of all sorts 'hurt' him he informs us. Shoes, socks, pants, shirts. If it goes on your body it 'hurts' him...except a diaper, because he also informs us that he would much rather wear a diaper and tell us when to change it than wear big boy undies. Silly boy. He decided to wear this to the pool today. I couldn't get him to wear his sandals.
I know this is a post many of you will laugh at, because hot is all relative. I know it's not really Vegas, Tucson, Arkansas or even Utah or Iowa hot. But for western Washington it really has been hot the past few days - which means high 80 degree weather. (Everyone laugh now.....)
Seriously, the houses here aren't built with air conditioners, we don't have one and honestly you don't really need one, except for the handful of days a year like the past few. We have some good friends that we've met that are a year ahead of us at the same program. They are awesome! We were fortunate enough today to spend the afternoon with them at their complexes pool. So fun and refreshing!
Noah - this kid continues to crack me up. Clothes of all sorts 'hurt' him he informs us. Shoes, socks, pants, shirts. If it goes on your body it 'hurts' him...except a diaper, because he also informs us that he would much rather wear a diaper and tell us when to change it than wear big boy undies. Silly boy. He decided to wear this to the pool today. I couldn't get him to wear his sandals.
Talking about kids that crack you up, this is Max. I love Max he makes me smile. He is 7 and decided to wear all of this to the pool today.
And last but not least, I took the most pictures of little Avery Ann. I found this swim suit on 50% off clearance just this morning and picked it up for next year. Then I came home and thought I would at least try it on her for kicks...it was big but so stinking cute I had to have her wear it.
Gage and Noah had a great time when I would jump in and play "Dolphin and Shark" with them. Noah was the dolphin and Gage was a shark. I help Noah jump in and out of the water like a dolphin while Gage swims around trying to eat us. It makes them giggle.
And last but not least, I took the most pictures of little Avery Ann. I found this swim suit on 50% off clearance just this morning and picked it up for next year. Then I came home and thought I would at least try it on her for kicks...it was big but so stinking cute I had to have her wear it.
Look at her chubby thighs!
We had a blast swimming and hanging out with our friends. It was a perfect afternoon cooling off from the "heat".
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Projects
I've been busy with a few house projects lately.
I was able to score these two bar stools for the kitchen - two for $10. I wasn't too excited about the blue so I spent $2 on a can of black spray paint.
Before:
After:
I love the way that they turned out. Gage is a little disappointed that I didn't paint them rainbow but I think they will make a great addition to the kitchen.
I was able to score these two bar stools for the kitchen - two for $10. I wasn't too excited about the blue so I spent $2 on a can of black spray paint.
Before:
After:
I love the way that they turned out. Gage is a little disappointed that I didn't paint them rainbow but I think they will make a great addition to the kitchen.Our bedroom needed some more window treatments. The owner had left some funky bamboo like blinds on the windows upstairs, but at night when you have the lights on inside you can see through them. I got tired of never having my bedroom light on and crawling on the floor to get in bed, so I really needed some curtains to go over the top. I found 2 twin flat bedsheets for $3 a piece and made these curtains. I then bought some curtain hooks for $10 and finished off the project. Not bad for $16. I can now turn on the light at night and read before going to bed!
After the post about my house my mom pitied me and went shopping for some curtains for Avery's room. She found some at Big Lots for a good deal and so she helped me finish up the boys windows as well. It's now dark in their room at night when they go to bed. Since I'm a mean mom and they go to bed at 7:30 Gage is always complaining that it's light outside when they go to sleep. However, since they wake up with the sun at 5am I don't feel so bad. Hopefully this will help them sleep a little bit longer in the morning.
I saw this (click for the link) idea today on Tangled and True and love it. I think it will work great for this space. I know a place that will make vinyl lettering, I might make it say Think, Imagine, Explore. Someday I'll finish off the room with real bookshelves, not boxes.
Little Miss Avery Ann now has a pink room. Since her room faces another house the light in the evenings and morning really isn't a problem, but those funky bamboo shades are. My mom found these pink curtains and Avery loves to stare at them and the sparkles. She oohhs and aahhs at them, it's pretty cute.
After the post about my house my mom pitied me and went shopping for some curtains for Avery's room. She found some at Big Lots for a good deal and so she helped me finish up the boys windows as well. It's now dark in their room at night when they go to bed. Since I'm a mean mom and they go to bed at 7:30 Gage is always complaining that it's light outside when they go to sleep. However, since they wake up with the sun at 5am I don't feel so bad. Hopefully this will help them sleep a little bit longer in the morning.
I saw this (click for the link) idea today on Tangled and True and love it. I think it will work great for this space. I know a place that will make vinyl lettering, I might make it say Think, Imagine, Explore. Someday I'll finish off the room with real bookshelves, not boxes.
Little Miss Avery Ann now has a pink room. Since her room faces another house the light in the evenings and morning really isn't a problem, but those funky bamboo shades are. My mom found these pink curtains and Avery loves to stare at them and the sparkles. She oohhs and aahhs at them, it's pretty cute.
Window and chair project total: $26. Not too shabby.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
5 Months
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Two
Three
Four
Five
Miss Avery Ann is 5 months old. She is such a joy. She drools constantly but has no teeth. We often joke that if we are ever lost we can just follow the drool back home. She eats every 3 hours and sleeps well at night. She weighs 15 pounds 6 ounces. She hasn't been introduced to baby food yet, but she likes to sit at the table in her high chair each night while we eat dinner. She loves to watch her brothers and really wants to play with them. She can move and cannot be left alone on the bed or the couch. We know she can roll but she doesn't always choose to do so. From her tummy she can get up on her knees and then use her head and move forward. I don't consider this crawling yet, but I am confident she will crawl soon. She still loves to be swaddled to be put to sleep and has finally, for the most part, made peace with her car seat. She likes to read books, chew on her blankets, sing songs and smile at just about anyone as long as her mommy is the one that is holding her.
Time never slows down and she just keeps getting bigger and bigger. I better not blink or she will be 16 and going on her first date!
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Happy Anniversary!
41 Years.
6 kids
12 1/2 grandkids
Lots of fun memories
Happy Anniversary Dad and Mom. I should have snatched your engagement photo at your house and scanned it in to surprise you! I'm blessed to have you two as such a good example. You still go on dates. I love that you still hold hands in the car. I can't ever remember you fighting or yelling at each other. I know you really want to go on a mission, but I hope you don't get called away too soon so I can spend some time living by you guys, I didn't appreciate it when I was growing up but I consider you guys two of my best friends.
Hope you are having a great day!
House
The house is still a work in progress, imagine that, that unpacking a house by yourself and 3 small children is work?! (ok, really Wade is home a lot and helps, but it's still hard) It's livable but not where I want it to be. Bit by bit I unpack or reorganize a room all while my 2 boys unpack and unorganized another room. I love it!
Each room has a few things that are on my wish list. Paychecks are starting to come in, but it will all take time.
The master bedroom still has a lot of work. It's huge, we have room for a lot of things, I have a scrapbook table and area! Not pictured, because it's not done. Wade also has a study area - BOO/YAY? Not sure?! Yes, he still has to study and read a lot. Right now a card table does the job, I have a small black desk picked out on my wish list.
The best thing about his study area? His diploma - it looks great! What an accomplishment!
Each room has a few things that are on my wish list. Paychecks are starting to come in, but it will all take time.
The master bedroom still has a lot of work. It's huge, we have room for a lot of things, I have a scrapbook table and area! Not pictured, because it's not done. Wade also has a study area - BOO/YAY? Not sure?! Yes, he still has to study and read a lot. Right now a card table does the job, I have a small black desk picked out on my wish list.
The best thing about his study area? His diploma - it looks great! What an accomplishment!
My other favorite part of the master not pictured is the bathroom. It's HUGE! We have a walk in closet connected to the bath so Wade can kiss good-bye the days of wearing brown socks with black pants all because he had to get dressed in the dark. He can now shut the door and get ready with the light on! I joke that we could fit a small army in that closet. It's nice and I'll take pictures sometime.
Avery Ann's room is coming long. So far she doesn't need much in her room, she has a dresser in her closet and she has her crib and chair, what else could a princess ask for? The picture is blurry because she was actually asleep in her crib when I took the picture, so I had to hurry, turn on the light, take the picture, and get out of there. On my wish list for her room: some pink curtains.
The boys room. They love it and that is what matters. Their favorite part of this house is having their bunk beds back. If I fully convert the garage to a play room I can take more toys out of their room and take the beds apart with the dresser in the middle. My wish list for their room: they need some book shelves, the 5 boxes I have turned sideways on the floor work well for books now, but real book shelves are always a novel idea!
The boys bathroom. Nice, done. Except the fact the toilet is brand new and so hard to flush Gage can't do it. Seriously, it takes me two hands to press down on the lever. Kinda funny!
I was so excited about this part of the new house, my new pictures. My mother in law got me this iron hanger and I stole the idea from my sister in law Chandra. I hope she doesn't ever post pictures of hers though because she did a better job and it looks better than mine. (The frames hang from ribbon, this picture makes it hard to tell) It was hard fitting the 3 kids on it I know they sell larger iron hangers, but hopefully when Ted and Chandra get their next baby (soon!) she can help me with some ideas. Gage likes to stand on the stairs with his hands on his hips and tell me in his bossy voice that the pictures are out of order.
Downstairs half bath. Yes, Gage can flush this toilet. I thought about painting it red, but then I found red bathmats and towels on sale so I just went with that.
Dining room (& boys eating their oatmeal). My wish list is pretty simple, I just need two more chairs for the table. We use folding chairs when people come over, but two more chairs would be nice.
Kitchen. I love it, I love the island. The boys love moving chairs over and helping me cook now. We've talked about getting some bar stools sometime, so that would be on my wish list, but I'm ok with not having them right now.
I found these cute magnets in Utah this spring. I had to snatch up a few, they were only 50 cents.
The living room is still a huge work in progress. We can only fit one of our couches without feeling overwhelmed so the love seat is in the garage. Hopefully once I sell my washer and dryer (this place came with new ones) I will have the money for a new couch and chair. I also need one small book shelf for this room. I bought one this week that would have worked great but 1/4 inch too short for my scrapbooks. Too bad, I ventured back to the store and returned it. Right now I have a love/hate relationship with this wood floor. I love the looks, I love that all I have to is sweep - but sweep I do, and do and do all day long. Thank goodness that Gage and Noah like to use the swiffer sweeper for me, they do it most of the time and do a good job.
The boys room. They love it and that is what matters. Their favorite part of this house is having their bunk beds back. If I fully convert the garage to a play room I can take more toys out of their room and take the beds apart with the dresser in the middle. My wish list for their room: they need some book shelves, the 5 boxes I have turned sideways on the floor work well for books now, but real book shelves are always a novel idea!
The boys bathroom. Nice, done. Except the fact the toilet is brand new and so hard to flush Gage can't do it. Seriously, it takes me two hands to press down on the lever. Kinda funny!
I was so excited about this part of the new house, my new pictures. My mother in law got me this iron hanger and I stole the idea from my sister in law Chandra. I hope she doesn't ever post pictures of hers though because she did a better job and it looks better than mine. (The frames hang from ribbon, this picture makes it hard to tell) It was hard fitting the 3 kids on it I know they sell larger iron hangers, but hopefully when Ted and Chandra get their next baby (soon!) she can help me with some ideas. Gage likes to stand on the stairs with his hands on his hips and tell me in his bossy voice that the pictures are out of order.
Downstairs half bath. Yes, Gage can flush this toilet. I thought about painting it red, but then I found red bathmats and towels on sale so I just went with that.
Dining room (& boys eating their oatmeal). My wish list is pretty simple, I just need two more chairs for the table. We use folding chairs when people come over, but two more chairs would be nice.
Kitchen. I love it, I love the island. The boys love moving chairs over and helping me cook now. We've talked about getting some bar stools sometime, so that would be on my wish list, but I'm ok with not having them right now.
I found these cute magnets in Utah this spring. I had to snatch up a few, they were only 50 cents.
The living room is still a huge work in progress. We can only fit one of our couches without feeling overwhelmed so the love seat is in the garage. Hopefully once I sell my washer and dryer (this place came with new ones) I will have the money for a new couch and chair. I also need one small book shelf for this room. I bought one this week that would have worked great but 1/4 inch too short for my scrapbooks. Too bad, I ventured back to the store and returned it. Right now I have a love/hate relationship with this wood floor. I love the looks, I love that all I have to is sweep - but sweep I do, and do and do all day long. Thank goodness that Gage and Noah like to use the swiffer sweeper for me, they do it most of the time and do a good job.Despite my big wish lists items we do really love it here. I got Gage enrolled in kindergarten and he is so excited. It's the school district I've wanted all along and only offers half day. We love the ward and the cute neighbors we've met.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)