Wiggle, Wiggle!

When Larry came home from attending the Priesthood General Session a few weekends back I gave him the usual grilling about the topics that were heard. He laughed and said the best part was when our new Prophet, President Monson had wiggled his ears! I was shocked and bummed that I had missed such a moment. To witness President Monson shed his firm exterior and show such a sight...Well I'm proud to say that the Internet hasn't lost it's mojo and has the whole story for us to watch on YouTube. Click here to watch!

Why Is It? A Week In Review!

Why is it....
- the day before you get your family photo one of your kids always gets a scrape on their face?
- when you finally clean your kids sheets they wet the bed that very night?
- after you vacuum the carpet they always spill chips all over it?
- within minutes of washing your car a bird always uses it as a toilet?
- you notice a "lovely" yeast #)$**&%@ infection 2 days before going camping?
- the day you are taking a long car trip, suddenly your car "service engine" light turns on?
but on the bright side...Why is it amongst all this your son suddenly decides that he loves to gives kisses and can't stop running over to you and kissing you? Even if it is your leg, arm, ear or any body part he can reach? Now that was worth all the other "pit-falls"!

Spring Fling In Our Own Backyard

With the warm spring weather blowing in we couldn't wait to enjoy our new home and all it's wonderful outside amenities that have come with it. It might be small and lacking in toys and plant-life, but it feels like "acres" compared to the 3x5 patio we endured for years! After blowing up a small pool for the kids, and lathering on the sunscreen Larry and I put up our feet in the shade, ate pizza and relished in the relaxing scene. THIS is why we bought a house!

Can you guess if the water is warm or cold?

I don't think Emma ever stopped lay around the water and kicking.

She is just a ball of energy.

Ben is seriously in need of a tan.

I know he liked the water but he never wanted to sit in it.

I think he's waiting for some warmer water!

I'd say Syd needs a tan, but there's NO hope for that.

She'll just get more freckles.

Doesn't it look like they are in the middle of some fancy football moves?

"You go left and all pass it to you!"

I couldn't help myself. I had to pull the slide over for some extra fun!

If You Can Read A Book In 24 Hours...

For all of my family and friends that I have encouraged and help addict them to the "TWILIGHT" series...here's the trailer that's out! (thanks Andrea for the update)

Projects, Projects, Projects

I am exhausted! Last night Larry and I stayed up late and finished off Ben's room.

It was LONG overdue! But I'm so happy with the results.

The stripe concept came about because it reminded me of a boys polo shirt.

I'm planning on getting a few quotes to fill in next to the sports decor.

I know everyone is doing it, but I can't help myself.
I love the name plate idea!

Next is the Living Room.

We plan on painting it 2 tones of green with a chair rail to divide them.

Here is a picture of some recently purchased curtains. They aren't exactly green but they have some great green tones in it.

Now I guess I'm off to the store for more paint!!
They love me there.

How Do You Shower Without Water?

The purchase of our home has been great. We love everything about it. The space, the backyard, the neighbors, the large incurred utilities bills from the previous owners....WAAAIITT....what was that you might ask?! Yes you heard me, the utility company that controls the water and waste is trying to get us to pay the debt of the previous owner. They keep telling us it was up to the "seller's agent" to make sure there was no debt on the home. HA, the only way a Real Estate agent knows of debts is through liens. We have tried to contact the previous owners and have been assured it would be paid, but here I am without water.

Although I promise you, I didn't want to have water turned off. I even dropped off a check last week to make sure it didn't happen. BUT even though I told the company it was a water check upon hand delivering it, I apparently made it out to the "waste" company and not the "water" company (even though they handle both accounts). And thus the "bleeping" $$ was applied to my "waste" account. Let's just say that put me over the edge.

Larry and I have now taken on the role of "collections agency". Who knew? So for the past few hours instead of taking a much needed shower, washing dishes or any of my other mom duties I have furiously pounded away at my keyboard and written a 2 page letter. Which just might end up on the desk of the water company, the mayor, the city council and anyone else I can think of! Now all we have to decide is "WHO IS GETTING SUED FIRST!"

**if you'd like to see a copy of my 2 page rant feel free to leave me your email address, I'd gladly share it**

A Wanna-Be Warrior

If you have never experienced this show on "G4" (ch.149) you are missing out! At least that's what Sydney would tell you! Every night she has an hour to spend with our undivided attention...lately she has been obsessed with "Ninja Warrior". It's a wacky Japanese game show that physically challenges people with weird obstacles to overcome. You wouldn't believe the people that show up to "Mount. Midoriyama" and how EXTREMELY popular it is. Take a look!

7 Down An Eternity To Go

Today is mine and Larry's 7 year Anniversary. (and yes we are prego with the 4th kid...do the math....it means I've been prego or nursing for 90% of our marriage) I've never been very good at remembering these type of special things. And I've become especially good at procrastinating with all the other distractions that life dishes out. Thankfully Larry is thoughtful, never thinks of himself and always puts his family first. It makes up for all that I fall short of. Emma probably put it best last night when she said her prayers:




"Dear Heavenly Father, thank you Daddy, Mommy, Sydney, Emma and Ben-Ben. Emma go to sleep, Ben-Ben sleep too, Sydney watch TV, Daddy take care of Mommy, Daddy make pizza for Mommy. In the name of....Amen".














On Saturday Larry came home with a great anniversary present and one that I like to call "A Marriage Saver". I never thought it really mattered but a KING size bed is GREAT. Especially toward the last months of pregnancy when I start taking over the whole bed. I even got to spend an hour by myself shopping for some new bedding. Here's the results:








It's beautiful and we love it. But it really made the rest of our furniture look 2nd hand...(like crap). I guess we'll need to take another trip to IKEA!

It's Beginning To Look Alot Like Home

I've been working pretty hard the last few days...now that my energy is coming back and I'm tired of looking at all the "projects" that have been left unfinished over the past month.

On Wednesday Larry had the YM come over and fix the mess a leak left in our ceiling. I'm kind of surprised at how good it looks. Next my sticker word order came in and I am very pleased with the results! It really helped solidify our stamp on the house...

I've always loved the little wood burned signs they sell at fairs

& amusement parks, but this is definitely more my style.

Doesn't the entry look cozy?

Here's a great little table I found that met all of my requirements.

1. Tall enough to keep little fingers away 2. Sturdy to with hold a childs "hanging-fest" 3. Simple
(next I'm looking to add a little plant and a small statue of a temple)

Since this living rm is going to be green (someday) I wanted to add touches of nature. So I enlarged some photos of the girls holding plants.

I removed all of these bright red wood chips from our front planters and found these great stones hiding inside of it. So I took out the ugly bricks and lined it with the stones! I love it!

And I can't forget my "going green" project. Or maybe it's because I'm lazy to remember to turn the porch light on/off every night. Either way, I added 4 solar lights lining the walkway.

Yummy, PIE!

Once again, Jenn has pulled through and posted a great recipe. I tried it last weekend and LOVED it. It was right up my alley...quick, easy, and can be made the night before!

(I'm even lazy enough to steal her photo of the pie, too)

Blueberry Cream Pie
1 cup sour cream
2 Tbsp flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg, beaten
2 1/2 cups fresh blueberries
1 9in graham cracker pie shell
1/3 cup flour
1/3 cup butter (soft)

2 T brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix 1st 6 ingredients. Beat 5 minutes at medium speed. Fold in blueberries. Pour into pie shell. Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes. Mix rest of ingredients. Spread on top. Bake 10 minutes. Chill over night or several hours in the fridge.

29 wks to go...

I guess you know your pregnant when...

Today the girls and I finished this whole carton of ice cream. Just for the record I didn't buy it. I know better then to bring something so delicious and fattening into the house! But it was very, very yummy! Thanks Larry!

For an update: I'm definitely moving past the 1st trimester and getting over the "all day" tired feeling and the "yucky-blucky" tummy. AND I'm very proud of myself for actually only "loosing my lunch" 1 time. That's got to be some kind of prego record! ;)

Inspiring!

A long time friend put up a blog about this amazing miracle. I was so inspired and touched I wanted to share it too! Thanks Jenn!

Here's the story:


The picture is that of a 21-week-old unborn baby named Samuel Alexander Armas, who is being operated on by a surgeon named Joseph Bruner. The baby was diagnosed with spinal bifida and would not survive if removed from his mother's womb.

Little Samuel's mother, Julie Armas, is an obstetrics nurse in Atlanta . She knew of Dr. Bruner's remarkable surgical procedure. He is practicing at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, he performs these special operations while the baby is still in the womb. During the procedure, the doctor removes the uterus via C-section and makes a small incision to operate on the baby.

As Dr. Bruner completed the surgery on Samuel, the little guy reached his tiny, but fully developed hand through the incision and firmly grasped the surgeon's finger. Dr. Bruner was reported as saying that when his finger was grasped, it was the most emotional moment of his life, and that for an instant during the procedure he was just frozen, totally immobile. The photograph captures this amazing event with perfect clarity. The editors titled the picture, 'Hand of Hope.'

The text explaining the picture begins, 'The tiny hand of 21-week-old fetus Samuel Alexander Armas emerges from the mother's uterus to grasp the finger of Dr. Joseph Bruner as if thanking the doctor for the gift of life.'

Little Samuel's mother said they 'wept for days' when they saw the picture.. She said, 'The photo reminds us that this pregnancy isn't about disability or an illness, it's about a little person.'
Samuel was born in perfect health, the operation was 100 percent successful. This is the actual picture, it is awesome...incredible....!