Still Pregnant!

40 weeks and the bun's still in the oven. I went in to the doctor today and I'm still dialated at a 2+, as I was two weeks ago. He also said my cervix is about the same (50% effaced), but he wanted to be nice so he said, "Let's say it's about 70%."
Isn't that sweet?
So, next doctor appt. is Tuesday, unless anything happens before that...
Jace is really bummed because he really wants us to be on the news for first baby in 2009, plus he just can't wait to meet his cute little sister!
If it were up to me, although I love the idea of being on the news, I would prefer to have her birthday be further away from the holidays, so she can have her own day. I tried to explain this to Jace.
"How would you like to have your birthday on a holiday?"
"Mom."
"Oh, yeah."
Jace loves his July 4th birthday. Come to think of it, Lance's birthday is on Labor day this year. I guess we'll have to wait and see if she's into holiday birthdays, too :)

More Fun and Hard Work in the Snow...

Lance got this darling Snowman kit from his primary teachers.

If you can see this okay, Lance built the one on the far left ALL by himself! Jared obviously did the beautiful prego-snowwoman on the right, and Dad and Kyle built the other two in the backround. Watch your step! Jace has an army of snowmen x-ing. Can't say he didn't warn you! (It lasted about as long as it took the huge snowplow to come along... that would have been fun to see!)

Hard Work and Originality

I got these in an email a few weeks back. I showed them to Jared and Jace, and Jace was in uncontrollable giggles:

(You don't like my "Snowman House of Horrow", do you?)
(You have to admit it's slowed down the traffic on our road.)

(Mom and Dad don't value hard work and originality as much as they say they do.)
(Snow sharks?)

(That guy's a goner.)

(First she says go out. Now she says come in.)

(Eggplant Casserole tonight?)

(Why, yes!)

(On the other hand, the neighbors keep planting nice big trees next to us.)

(Why does he have a hot water bottle on his head?)

(He's committing suicide)

(I don't think the schools assign enough homework.)

(CALVIN! I'M LATE FOR WORK!)

(I think we'd better get that child to a psychologist.)

(What's wrong with your snowman?)
(It's a snow woman!)

(I don't care. We're not making an anatomically correct snowman in the front yard.)

It's no wonder that I found the boys (Jared and Jace) outside hard at work soon after.

I didn't know Jared had such artistic abilities. I actually feel small next to this prego-snowwoman! (Jared even saw some of our neighbors outside with a camera, capturing his work!)

Celebrating 10 Years of Marriage!

(Photo taken the day Jared got home from Rome, compliments of Jace)

Okay, so we're not really celebrating because Jared is actually taking another test tomorrow; We can't really go on that cruise we anticipated years ago, for more reasons than one, so maybe we'll go in... 10 more years?

I'm just grateful to have this wonderful man in my life.

Here's to many more happy years to come!

It's Santa Claus!

Two Santas in One Day!

(Left) The boys at the annual Chevron Christmas Party. Jared's Dad retired from there, but why does he always dissappear when Santa comes?

(Right) At our ward Christmas party, as Lance approached Santa, he said, "You're the bishop."

It's Beginning...

To look a lot like Christmas...

Kyle: I WILL get this one ON!

Not the Child

Tonight, when we got home, Lance was trying to open the door on his side to get out of our white sedan. We were trying to explain to him that he needs to get out on the other side that we had opened for him because the doors have child-proof locks. On our walk inside, he asked,

"Where's the child?"
I told him that HE is the child, and that the lock is there to keep him safe.
He exclaimed, "I am not the child! I am a Child of God!"

Got Dominoes?

If you don't got 'em, then make 'em.

I think that's Jace's motto. These are made from magazine paper and tape, two things that Jace could not live without.

So the list begins...

20 days left!

Hinges

Tonight, I guess I made a sound as I was picking something up off the floor in the kitchen, because Lance said,

"Mom, you can't bend very well." (I think he may have heard me say this before.)

I agreed with him and ask him if, next time, he would get it for me instead.

He said enthusiastically, "Ya, I don't have a baby in my tummy!"

Primary Spotlights

Lance and Jace filled out their spotlight papers today for Primary. Here's what they said/wrote:

Lance:

What is your favorite thing to do for fun?
"Play with balls and make music."

What do you want to be when you grow up?
"A policeman."

What is your least favorite chore?
"Extra chores that we get when we're not making good choices."

What is your favorite candy bar or treat?
"Chocolate."

What are three words to describe you?
(Mom's words:) Helpful, Expressive, Energetic

Where is your favorite place to visit?
"Zoo and the cabin and a lot of places that we go to!"

What is your favorite thing about Primary?
"Singing songs."

Who is your favorite prophet (modern or from the scriptures)?
"President Hinckley"

What is your favorite primary song?
"Listen to the Still Small Voice."

Jace:

What is your favorite thing to do for fun?
Sports

What do you want to be when you grow up?
a Scientist

What is your least favorite chore?
mopping the floor

What is your favorite candy bar or treat?
Snickers

What are three words to describe you?
Kind, Happy, Athletic

Where is your favorite place to visit?
The cabin

What is your favorite thing about primary?
singing

Who is one of your favorite prophets (modern or from the scriptures)?
Joseph Smith

What is your favorite primary song?
Book of Mormon Stories

When was a time you served or showed love to someone?
my brother

The Next Day...

Maybe the napless day was worth it. He's been taking naps ever since.

Simple Things in a Can

Yesterday was a bit of a rough day. I depend too heavily on naptime for my break to unwind, get things in order, and think. Since Kyle has began climbing out of his crib up to Jace's top bunk bed to get into the fish tank next to that, Jared took the crib down. We moved Kyle's mattress to the other room, on the floor.

For the first week, he slept quite well in it... or off it.

But on this day, he decided that he would explore his independence and go without a nap. He played, got up, went back down after being spoken to sternly by his mother, only to repeat the process. It was a constant battle. I was exhausted by the end of this day, if you call 4pm the end of the day. By that time Jace, Lance, and Kyle were all beginning to ask for a snack, but, like I said, I was done. I opted to skip the snack and go straight to dinner, kitchen closing soon after that. I grabbed a couple cans of Campbell's Chunky Vegetable Pasta soup and Voila! Dinner's done.

So you can imagine how my heart melted when Lance had his first bite and exclaimed, "Wow! Mom! That is so good! How did you make it?!"

I don't know why I didn't discover this soup thing a lot earlier. Lance was still pleased even when I told him it came out of a can. How sweet it is to be with someone that can appreciate the simple things...

As for my little no-napper? He was in bed early, with not too many complaints.

A Day at the Cabin

Jared just completed his surgery rotation at the VA hospital (3 weeks) and Primary Children's Hospital (the last 3 weeks). This is pretty much what we saw from dad during the last six weeks... (Ya, Kyle! See if his nose goes, "Honk!")

Jared actually REALLY enjoyed this rotation, despite the lack of sleep. He got to do a lot of stitching up after surgeries, and he said that there were times when the surgeon was trying to find something inside, and Jared wanted to just get in there and find it himself! It was a fascinating one for him... I can't wait to find out what he decides to do.

For the next 6 weeks, Jared will be in his Psychiatry rotation, otherwise known as Psychation. (He went duck hunting this morning.)

And since Jared gets the weekends between rotations off, we decided to take a trip to our 2nd home this past weekend...

Houdini... or not?

Yesterday in church Kyle did another "Kyle". We were reverently enjoying our sacrament meeting when I looked down to see Kyle's one arm and head stuck through the hole in the back of the chair. He was pretty content, but seemed a little uncomfortable. I tried to gently help his head back through the chair, but it didn't quite fit. "I think I've done this before," I thought, as the friends behind us shared a laugh with me, all to Kyle's expense. He's just so funny in these situations. He doesn't seem to let the idea that he is stuck get to him. So he is still sort of laying there, arm outstretched through the hole of the chair beside his head, reaching for his car that he must have dropped before this ordeal. I asked Lance to get Dad. Dad looked over and laughed. It's just so hilarious, seeing Kyle quietly sitting there in that awkward position. Kyle is such a good sport. I wished that I had my camera, even though it would have been a bit inappropriate.

With Dad's help, we were able to get Kyle safely and, for the most part, quietly, out. I wonder what's next for this little Houdini, or not.

Wanna Kiss?

Consider yourself kissed!

Happy Halloween!

Whew! What a fun-filled week!

... It began when I found this spunky spider strutting around in my living room...

...Jace wasn't seen as much this year, possibly because he was hiding behind an alien mask and it could have to do with the fact that he was off with his friends at most of the events. The carnival at the school was different this year. He hung out with his buddies instead of mom (sniff*sniff)

...Kyle was a bit scared of his caterpillar costume at first. But it only took once for him to learn that it's fun to wear the costume; candy goes in the bucket each time he wears it!

This was another attempt at a Halloween picture. I think Lance is putting his contact lens in.

The Halloween events included: a carnival at Jace's school on Friday, Trick or Treating at Officers Hollow on Sat (below, I love this picture!) Jace also went but, again, he was with his friends.

Dinner and games and GREAT prizes, here at Shoreline. Jace and Kyle won $20 at Build a Bear for their costumes!

The U of U did a party where Lance got to paint a pumpkin. I don't think he enjoyed it at all.

After which we headed over to Sherrie's to carve pumpkins. Lance is de-gutting his pumpkin of seeds, a project he took quite seriously. He ended up taking off his shirt "so my sleeves won't get dirty"

Dalton and Jace and their works of art.

Last night, we went to a trunk or treat party put on by the ward. Jace and Dalton decided to be soccer players this time conveniently enough for their soccer game to follow. I think they had more fun handing out candy then getting it! Isn't that how it should be?

Tonight, we had a few neighborhood friends over for a movie night. Kyle is making a better door than window and loving the extra attention.

I feel like this Halloween was well spent. Tonight, after the party, Lance asked me, "Why is my costume in the hamper?" I explained that it's time to wash it; Halloween's over and we won't be wearing it any more this year. "Oh." was his reply.