September 30

It's the last day in September.  Yea!  I want the next 3 months to go by really fast so I can hold my little baby!  I'll try to focus on my 2 kids and the holidays to keep my busy while I try to wait patiently.  I was able to go to Joann's the other night to pick up some supplies for a few projects.  I'm excited about that.

Wrestling season is starting soon.  Ew.  At least right now Devin is only gone 2 nights a week.  He gets home late every night during wrestling though.  That's not a fun part about the holiday season.

I went to Walmart last night and was having tons of contractions while I did my shopping.  Like, every 3 minutes.  They went away when I drove home.  I try to consider it practice and relax and be glad that my body is getting ready.

I'm Gonna Have To & Painting Cabinets

I'm so excited for the holidays this year!  I want to decorate and bake and do all kinds of fun holiday activities!  In the past I have spent minimal amounts of money on holiday decorations.  I figure they are only up for a few weeks out of the year, so having just a few decorations would do.  But this year I think I'm going to have to get/make some more.  I am so anxious for this new baby to come I need something to help pass the time.  Also, with having daycare kids here everyday, I don't get out much and get bored.  It's not a boredom from lack of things to do because I definitely stay busy with 6 kids and Jeni to take care of, but I need some activities for me to do that don't involve diapers and snacks.  So, I think crafting holiday decor projects and decorating will help.  I'm going to see what ideas I can find on some crafting blogs.  

I can't remember where I found this, but here's a simple one to start with...

Any other ideas would be appreciated!

I said I'd never paint my kitchen cabinets because the thought of sanding, priming, and painting them all was just too overwhelming.  But...I read this post and decided it might not be that bad.  And here's another and another and another post with instructions.  We'll see...

Oatmeal

One thing we do in our house is that if the kids don't want to eat the dinner I make for them, they only have one choice...oatmeal.  I'm not a restaurant and I'm not going to make anything they want, but I don't want them to go hungry either.  

Some nights, Henry prefers to eat in the Bumbo, on the table, without his shirt on.  

He's so cute in church when we sing hymns, he just says, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus."  Sometimes when we aren't singing he still wants to and when we tell him to sing quietly, he gets upset and says, "Singing. Jesus" and keeps going!

R & R

This weekend we went up to the cabin for some rest and relaxation.  It was so great to get away and spend time with family.  Devin and Jaxon went up one night earlier than everyone else.  There was a circus in town so they went to that.  They saw lots of fun stuff like tigers, bears, and balancing chair acts.  In the morning, they went fishing and caught 3 fish.

Jaxon got his pants wet and wanted to take them off while they dried.

Another fun thing we did was go shooting.  We also visited and laughed, ate cinnamon rolls, apple pie, and hot dogs, played frisbee golf--no one could beat Josh, searched for desert bugs for Aaron's class, and ate more food!  

I was bummed to miss the Relief Society broadcast, but I set the DVR to record it before we left so I can still watch it:)  

Nada

I've got nothing to post about.  Nothing exciting is going on.  I haven't taken any cute pictures of my kids lately.

I cleaned out Devin's car today and it was disgusting.  Trash and crumbs everywhere.  Surprisingly, it didn't smell bad in there.  Good thing.  I probably would have puked if it did.  I rarely ride in his car and to him, he doesn't care if last week's water bottle doesn't get thrown out, so the car gets trashed.  We took it on our date the other night and I finally decided I had to step in.  I understand it's not one of his priorities because he has a lot of other stuff to worry about, and so do it, but it's just too gross for me not to clean it up.  He doesn't know I did it so we'll see how surprised he is...

The Name Game

On our date, Devin and I discussed the name of the baby.  We had decided on Oliver, but I had to admit to him that every time I talk about the baby, I can't really bring myself to call him that.  I just end up saying, "the baby."  I don't know what it is.  I remember calling both Jaxon and Henry by their names pre-birth, but I just don't like to call this baby Oliver.  But, there is not another name we agree on and playing the name game is getting harder and harder!  I don't know what we're gonna do!

A Date

Devin and I got to go on a date last night!  Every time we go, I am more and more sure he is definitely the right one for me.  We have such a great time together.  He makes me laugh, he listens to me, talks to me, laughs at me when I'm ridiculous.

We planned to go to one of our favorites, Buca Di Bepo, but when we arrived, the parking lot seemed unusually barren.  We were a little suspicious.  When we walked up to the door, there was a sign saying it was closed for some repairs.  We were so bummed!  But, we were craving their salad so bad that we drove all the way across town to the other Buca!  We had some great discussions in all the time we spent driving in the car.

Have you ever been to Buca?  If you have, have you been in the restroom?  They have the wackiest pictures decorating the walls!

4 AM

I don't know what's going on, but every morning at 4:00 am anything in our house that breathes thinks it's time to start making noise to wake me up.  This means the dogs and Jaxon and Henry.  It's driving me crazy!  I have to get up at 5:30 and when our dumb dogs come running into our room at 4, I can not get back to sleep!  Then Jaxon usually needs a bathroom break and for some reason has to come let me know he went in the toilet and not his bed.  Then Henry cries for "water" or the "other one," meaning his other binki since he sleeps with two and if he can't find one, he cries for me to come help.  Devin tries to help, but it only makes Henry scream louder.  So I'm basically wide awake after all that.  I NEED my sleep!  No wonder I can't hold my eyes open after 9:00 pm!

Oh a happier, less complain-y note...I made bread (it was vegan, if you are my crazy vegan family and wondering, but only because we didn't have any eggs) yesterday and it makes the most delicious toast!  Homemade toast + UT peaches = heaven!

A Regular Weekend

What did we do this weekend?  Hm...

Friday night we picked up our Utah fruit!  Oh the apples made the best apple pie and the peaches are about the best food I've ever tasted!  We'll be ordering some more because we just about ate the whole 25 pound box already!  I need some to make canned peaches and applesauce.

Saturday morning I had a Relief Society meeting and it was very uplifting.  I'm glad I went.  While Devin was at work, I took the boys to a birthday party where they played games and had lunch.  After Devin got home we headed to Elisha & Josh's house for some family time.  Then that afternoon, we were off to the ward water party and BBQ.  It was fun to visit with everyone but I only got through half my sandwich before I was full!  This baby is hogging all my stomach space so now my meals are just about child size.  I'm still adjusting because at the beginning of the pregnancy I would eats tons, so now I have to remember and serve myself less.  My plates seem so small now!

Sunday was a great day at church and relaxing and visiting teaching.  I just love the weekends.  Wouldn't it be great if we had a 4 day work week instead of 5 days?  I wish everyone would switch to that.  It would make the world a better place!

Diapers

I guess Henry observes when I change my daycare kids' diapers.  When I changed his diaper he said, "Henry has poopies on there.  Chloe has owies on there.  Camille has adacado on there."

Chloe had a diaper rash and apparently, Camille's poop looked like avocado.

It's so cute when he talks because if he's concentrating on forming a sentence, he takes breaths between each word.

Running Music

There are some songs/artists that I just can't listen to because it reminds me so much of running.  Like, Owl City.  I used to listen to them at the beginning of every run while training for the marathon.  Now when I hear it, it sets off something in my brain that makes me think it's time to run.  It's like torture not being able to respond when my body wants to.  I just have to tell myself there will be a day when I'll be able to run again.

Finished

(Spoilers)

I finished Mockingjay last night.  I did love it, but it was so sad!  (But, not sad enough to make me cry.   Surprising, huh?)  It finally got happy on the last 2 pages.  Really.  Like 398 pages of sadness and 2 pages of happiness.  Well, there are some happy things throughout the book, but I can't even think of any except the end...

There is so much to say!  I think I'll break it down by character...

Katniss
I feel so bad for everything she has gone through.  She was brave and didn't give up, but she wouldn't let herself love and it drove me crazy!  She loved Gale and Peeta, but it took forever for her to allow herself to really love.  I loved when Peeta would sleep with Katniss and she always felt safe and didn't have nightmares...that's maybe more 2nd book, but still...  Also, in the second book, I loved when Katniss hung the dummy with the ex-gamemakers name on it.  That was a fabulous moment for her.

Peeta

I misread a blog and thought Peeta was going to die so I kept expecting it to happen.  I'm so glad he didn't!  It was so hard to read about how crazy the Capital made him.  I just felt so bad for him.  It would be terrible not knowing what's real and what's not and not knowing who to believe when they try to help you.  I did almost cry when they brought out the wedding cake he decorated because it meant there was hope that he really might recover.  I wanted him to get better and be able to love Katniss again.  

After all Peeta and Katniss had been through, they were the ones who could comfort and understand each other.  They needed each other.  

The end was so sweet... 

"You love me.  Real or not real?"  

"Real."  

:)

Gale
I wasn't a big fan from the beginning.  I like that they are friends and he always had her back, but that was all she needed.  It seemed like in the end, that was all he could give anyway.  He totally abandoned Katniss after it was all over.  I think he did love her, but he didn't really fight for her.  I thought he seemed more into fighting and the rebellion than into being there for Katniss.

Haymitch

I love Haymitch.  He's funny and has an attitude!  I don't love that he's always drunk, but he is always there for Katniss and he's always right when he gives her advise.  I loved how he would tell Katniss things without saying them straight out and she always understood.  They had a special relationship.  He was alway honest with Katniss and told her things the way they really were.  She didn't always like it, but I think she appreciated it because she knew she could trust him.  Haymitch had no one before Katniss and Peeta.  They gave him someone to care about again and they cared about him.  

Finnick
I thought he was great.  He was always there for Katniss.  They understood each other when no one else could.  It was sweet how he was so in love with Annie.  I felt so bad for all he'd been through.  I wasn't even sure if he really died when he did because there wasn't much to his death.  For such a strong character, I thought there should have been more said about his death.  I don't think he should have died. He was finally with Annie again!

Cinna

I was so sad he died!  I love Cinna!  He was so smart and brave in his defiance of the Capital.  He took care of Kaniss as long as he could and even after he died!  

Boggs
He's so great too.  Funny and always there for Katniss.  He always trusted her and was very loyal to her.  He gave Katniss a heads up that Coin shouldn't be trusted.  It's sad he didn't make it.

Delly
She had a small part, but I loved how she stood up to Peeta for Katniss.  Delly just seems like a sweet girl and I liked her character.

Coin
Yeah, I knew she was trouble.  Didn't see her death coming, though.  I'm glad she wasn't the new leader because it seemed like she ran things just like President Snow.  I kept thinking that the revolution wasn't going to change anyone's lives except hers because she would be the new leader.  I couldn't believe she wanted to have another Hunger Games.  She is just as bad as Snow!  Maybe worse because she lied to people.  At least Snow never lied to Katniss.

Oh, one thing that drove me crazy was that like every 5 minutes, Katniss was being knocked out or passing out.  It was like the author didn't want to finish the scene, so she just had Katniss blackout and wake up at the next scene.  I get it happening a few times, but it seemed like it kept happening over and over!

Hunger Games II

I finished the first book and really liked it.  I also finished the second book and I think I like it even more.  On to the third...  I've heard it's totally sad and with my emotions, I'll probably be bawling every couple pages.

PS
Gale reminds me of Edward and Peeta reminds me of Jacob.  It's probably lame that I'm comparing them, but it just seems like Katniss has always loved Gale, but Peeta makes her so happy and totally loves her too!  But what's weird is that I like Edward, not Jacob, but I like Peeta, not Gale.  Does anyone know what I mean?

Shark Week & Coconuts

A couple of weeks ago on the Discovery Channel it was shark week.  One one of the episodes, the narrator said sharks kill 15 people a year around the world.  He then went on to say that falling coconuts kill 10 times that many people a year!  Really?  150 people die every year from falling coconuts?  I never knew.

I debated whether I should post this or not, but then I decided, sure, why not?  It's a little embarrassing, but whatever.

So...
One night after watching a show from shark week Devin and I were kissing before bed.  It looked like things might be going somewhere, but then Devin said, "I keep thinking about sharks."

Really?  That's too weird.  Yeah, I wasn't really into kissing after that.  So we went to sleep.

DejaVu

Lately when I drive down a road I would run down for my marathon training, I think of all the hours spent running there and it makes me really crave exercise.  I loved going on my long runs where it was just me doing what I love to do.  Even though I know now is not the time for it, I want to exercise so bad!  I miss it terribly!

Labor Day

We had a great holiday!  Devin went dove hunting early while the boys and I had a lazy morning.  After he got home, we headed to our friends Mike and Molly's house for lunch where we also met up with Tank and Jill.  It's fun to see these guys because Mike and Molly have one little boy and Tank and Jill have two boys like us...there were so many little boys running around!  

After some delicious bbq, we went for a ride on the light rail to Chase Field to watch the Diamondbacks play.  The boys were excited for the "choo choo train" ride and even more excited to see a baseball game.  It was more walking then we expected, and super hot, but still tons of fun to be with friends!

Henry was SO tired and desperately needed a nap, so I gave in with the binki.  He hung in pretty good as long as he had that.  

Oh yeah, on our light rail ride back, there was a crazy guy on a bike who almost got in a fight!  Another guy told him he needed to hang up his bike on the train and he got all crazy all of a sudden!  They started yelling back and forth and exchanged some insults.  It was awkward and scary for the kids.  The guy who started it in the first place, ended up stopping, but the crazy guy just kept yelling stuff!  Mike used his skills he learned while working in the psych ward to keep him from totally going crazy.  We were all a little scared for Mike, but the guy ended getting off before things got too serious.  It was definitely a memorable experience for our first time on the light rail!

24 Weeks

Little Henry's hands too

Henry has been so clingy and winey lately.  I remember Jaxon was like this before Henry was born and I can see it happening now with Henry.  I think he knows he's not going to be the baby for much longer.

Hunger Games

Everyone is doing it, so I thought I'd give it a try.

So far, I don't love it.  I don't like the idea of sending away children to battle to the death.  But, I have heard from a few people that this series is better than the Twilight series.  That's the only thing making me read on.  I don't believe them yet.

Playing Doctor

When I was little I remember my mom discouraging me from playing doctor.  I never knew why.

Well, the other day the boys were playing in the toy room and from the kitchen I heard Jaxon say to Henry, "Now it's time to check your penis."  Of course I went to see what was going on.  Jaxon said, "I'm pretending to be the doctor."

Then I knew why.

Us little girls didn't do those kinds of examinations.  We just listened to the heart and pretended to give shots.

And yes, we call it by the real name.

It's A Little Short

Jaxon thought it would be fun to wear the teddy bear's shirt.  Mommy thought it was pretty funny!

Oh, and the other day Jaxon informed me that my swimsuit bottoms were too small because he could see my bum.  I told him I needed some new ones and he said, "Yes, get some bigger ones because if people see your bum they will like it."  He must pick up on things his daddy says to me...

Henry's Birthday Pictures

We didn't have a party for Henry's birthday, but Devin wanted to bake.  At first Henry said he wanted chocolate, but then changed his mind to vanilla.  He was excited when we sang and when he got to blow out his candles.  

Blowing out the candles

Eating the sprinkles

Birthday love from Brother!