Motherly Musings

Happy Easter!!!

2011-04-24T14:42:00.000-07:00

Redemtion...Holiday style

2011-01-01T19:16:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year From the Edge's
Look...a Family photo!!! We are off to a good start!
(OK, so this was Christmas eve, but since we didn't send out Christmas cards, this will have to do.)

We were lucky enough to get a nice little blizzard this week that has helped to keep our kids occupied.
This girl loves the snow but refuses to wear gloves...burr.
The boy showing off his skills on his new pogo stick. He was pretty disappointed on Christmas morning when his mom could pogo better than him. He is now working on showing me up.
Also not pictured, the boy decided to try out his new super awesome sleeping bag by sleeping in our freezing cold sun-room on a night when the temps dipped into the single digits...thanks grandma. He said he stayed warm!
Poppy wearing her new Rapunzel hair and dress...oh, the indulgent grandma, what would she do without you??? You certainly have the knack for knowing exactly what she would love. I do however win points for getting her a bead/creative box that has been getting pretty good play time too. Pretty sure that Rapunzel didn't have that in her tower!
Hazel didn't even have to ask to know that the barn and animals were hers. From the minuet she walked int o the room she had them in her hands.
The girls were pretty content with their pre-opened gifts prior to breakfast. We generally don't let them open gifts until after breakfast. This way they get to play with whatever is out on the floor and the other gifts come after.
Poppy was happy being Mary for our Christmas Eve nativity.Our good friends Helen and Justin came over for Christmas eve. We made our annual gingerbread trains. I was delighted by the fact that Oscar and Poppy are now old enough to handle the frosting themselves. They are really getting independent!
Christmas Eve I told Rick that I wanted him to take the kids out while I cleaned up the house and got it ready for Christmas. He then told me they were going hiking and I decided to forgo my plan...no way are they going without me! The bonus was that I got a awesome Family photo out of it. BTW I consider any photo that has my entire family in it-with them all facing forward a success. This may just go on our mantle.

(Oscar wore his cycling hat as a winter hat. Funny thing is, it doesn't cover your ears. I lent him mine half way through.)

Oscar did the extra two mile section with me. I always love it when I can hang with the o-man. He always has such great ideas and thoughts that come about when we are one-on-one.

Well, there you go, my first post of 2011. I am hoping to redeem my blogging self with the new year. I would love to catch up on the ups and downs for 2010, but then I get overwhelmed and don't know where to begin. So, lets just say I'll re-commit to do better this year than last. It shouldn't be too hard to do. Happy New year Blog world!

Have I mentioned before that I hate shopping?

2010-10-05T14:01:00.000-07:00

Oscar left me this note last week. Ricky bailed me out and went for me. You will proud to know that I went shopping today. He will be so excited.

Poppy's invite

2010-09-28T14:31:00.001-07:00

Someone is turning five this week...I love her invite.

Missing the Mountains...and my boys

2010-09-11T21:21:00.000-07:00

Back in the day...Oscar on daddy's back

Oscar's First Hike, a few weeks old

Another one of his first hike, see how protective I was...can certainly tell that he was my first baby. The others would have been placed in the bjorn, and we would be on our way.

This is a picture of Ricky backpacking when he was about Oscar's age(from the side profile it looks like it could just be Oscar), wearing the same pack that Oscar is wearing on this trip...thanks grandma and grandpa! (Bet you didn't know back then that your grand kid would wear it.)

This picture may be about what he looks like today...well at least earlier today when they were actually hiking, and not right now when they are probrably snuggled into their tent sleeping (which is most likely what they are doing, that is unless, they are telling silly jokes and making farting noises)...

Here's another "oldie but goody" of Ricky and Big Rick. What good look'in guys!

Yesterday my boys left on an expedition to the wild wilderness of the Willowas.
As I sit here at 9:30pm at night, with my two girls in bed asleep (one of which is sleeping in MY bed, as a special treat), I can't help but really miss the mountains. I want to smell the crisp fall air, feel some rocks beneath my feet, a pack on my back loaded with all sorts of trail friendly foods, sit on a summit and stare off into the world beyond...I want to be hanging with my boys doing one of the things I love most, spending time outside.
I'm not saying that I haven't had a fun weekend with just us girls, on the contrary, we have been having lots of fun. We went to the fair last night and I successfully wore them out and they both crashed in their beds by 7:45pm. We have played at the farmer's market, cleaned the church, went swimming, had ice cream (including a gummy worm topping), I even rented Poppy a "Barbie musketeers" movie, and even painfully watched 75% of it with her (now that is love). We really have had some great time just being together, sans the boys.
All that said...I still am missing those mountains.
I therefore have a job for all of you out in blog world who are near some of those pretty, monstrous piles of rock and rubble. Do me a favor and take a hike. Be in nature and let me glean a bit of that exposure off of you.
In a couple of moths I'll get my fix. In the meantime, I'll settle for some freshly harvested wheat fields and some pictures that Mark Feltis is going to have to take, becasue our "Olympus Tough" camera wasn't' as tough as it was supposed to be, and suddenly quit working without any real abuse...more on that topic later... but I'll hopefully get a re-cap and my boys back tomorrow.
Oh, and I'm missing my boys too. Things seem weird and not so balanced without them. Too much Estrogen in the house right now. But then again, Grandpa Edge is used to that.

I Remember...

2010-09-11T21:00:00.000-07:00

I remember Meeting Lisa at the Salt lake Airport to "see her off" for her transition from the MTC (missionary training center) to her mission in California. They never made that transition that morning. In fact they wouldn't make that transition for a while. As we drove back into Salt lake city from the airport, I left Rick at a bus stop so that he could ride the bus up to school. I turned on the radio and the reports were coming in of an airplane that had struck one of the twin towers. The reports were benign and seemed like a fluke tragedy.
I arrived at my office phone job where I worked customer service for the "Marriott Rewards" program. The phones were silent. Not a single one would ring. We sat their gathered around wheeled in TV's, watching the news unfold as the second tower was hit, as the towers collapsed, as the pentagon was hit and as they had the crash landing in PA.
I felt sick. Everyone felt sick, and helpless. We were sent home from work that day mid-way through. It seemed that no one wanted to see how their rewards were doing, nor did they want to plan a trip. It was very strange.
This would continue for a very long time. Our office had to "let people go" because there just wasn't enough customers wanting to redeem their rewards.
I was in my first trimester of pregnancy with Oscar and I was physically sick anyway. I recall a few days after the tragedy of us being paid to stand in the back parking lot of the building tearing out a page from all of the brochures because it was a page on the twin-tower Marriott.
I wanted to puke...and not just because I was pregnant.
I remember watching with my "cup half full" outlook, praying that they would find more survivors a week+ as they began to try to pull NY back together. I was sadly disappointed. Although there were success stories, there just didn't seem to be enough.
Rick's interviews that he had had lined up for jobs post graduation went cold. He decided to take the LSAT and see about Law school. Never had we considered this option before. In fact because of 9/11 he is an attorney today.
During law school we spent many hours flying across this nation. New security measures, and an ever presence of insecurity in the general populace, I always thought about those flights and those people who never made it home that day. It was haunting.
I wanted to write this down because everyone who was old enough to remember, has a similar story. Just like when JFK died, or many other historically marked tragedies, I will always remember. If I'm not here to tell you...you can pull up the archives of this blog and know that I lived that day and that my life has drastically been altered by this experience. Not necessarily for the worse, but certainly was a path that changed following the aftermath of this national tragedy.
To those who lost the most, I hope you have chosen to live and to share with the world the resilience and strength of the American spirit. We can do hard things and can make this world a better place.

Canned Food Inventory

2010-09-09T13:24:00.000-07:00

Picture from last year

Tomatoes: 58 quarts
Salsa: 73 pints & 4 qt
Peaches: 54 qt
Pears (we haven't canned any this year) : 12 qt
Apricot Halves: 24 qt
Grape juice(none this year, which may include several bottles of vintage 2005): 27 qt & 1/2 gal.
Honey 120 lbs
Apples(none this year): 5 qt
Apple Pie Filling (none this year): 5 qt
Apricot jam: 32 pt
Cherry jam(none this year): 3 1/2 pt
Plum syrup(none this year): 2 pt
Black berry jam(none this year): 3pt
Strawberry jam: 2pt
Peach jam: 5pt
(Not included is the beans and wheat.)
Just in case I loose my handy dandy notebook, I want to be able to compare next years inventory.
Nothing quite like some home canned foods.

Budding Politician

2010-09-08T20:41:00.000-07:00

Spiking your kids food for fun...

2010-09-03T20:39:00.001-07:00

Hazel did her own tampering here...dip your bagel in the nice clean river water so that it softens up to the perfect consistency. (I should note I worried about giardia for the next week.)

If I'm not tampering with their food, sometimes I skip the whole make a "bagel and cream cheese" step, and just give them cream cheese on a knife.

(Poppy feeding herself)
Crapes are another food I find opportunity to stash all sorts of goodness into.

I'm not sure if I actually spiked his cereal, but that is the face I see when they actually figure out I have tampered with their food.

Oscar's spiked sucker that grandma sent 4 years ago...there's a cricket inside.

Tonight as I was preparing my two older children's bedtime snack of oatmeal, I decided I must make a post about how frequently I spike my children's food with all sorts of interesting things. Sometimes I do it entirely to see if they notice.
Take tonight for example: Oscar has repeated multiple times that he does not like whole milk or what her refers to as "Hazel milk". Even when we were entirely out of skim milk he said he would eat his breakfast without milk, so that he wouldn't have to use her milk. Therefore tonight I did what any other good mother would do, I used whole milk in his oats just to see if he would notice, even though we had skim in the refrigerator too. Did he notice? No.
Case in point# 2: Poppy has been getting up in the night for the past week. I decided that she must be mineral deficient or something...therefore I cut open one of my calcium pills and added it to her breakfast oats (I seem to see a pattern with oats, do you? You may want to consider skipping oats if you ever come to my house) did she notice? No.
Sometimes I do it is for nutritional value, or maybe to see if they will actually eat a different food that I know they say they hate, but maybe this time they will like it. The part that is the funniest is when I do it completely to humor myself, and they kids never even know it. Man I crack myself up. Maybe this is what parenting is all about...manipulating my littles.
Maybe it is my way of mixing things up a little. Either way I'm probably going to keep it up. Just to see.

Ocean Trip 2010

2010-09-01T13:48:00.000-07:00

Once again we found ourselves at the Oregon coast doing what we love best, playing.
This year we had the special treat of having Auntie Nat tag along.
She was a big help and it was great having her around.
Here is one of the few family photos we were able to take. Funny how the children and spouse always have about the same crazy faces in EVERY one of them.
Hazel really enjoyed her new found freedom of being able to walk and explore the ocean for the first time.
We rented a Kayak and canoe on our second day. We stayed on Devil's Lake in Lincoln city. It was the best of both worlds...fresh water and salty.
Poppy was really excited about the little crabs. They may be one of the best parts of coming to the ocean. They are not to big to be threatening and very cute.

Broken camera...

2010-07-01T15:32:00.000-07:00

I would like to blame our newly destroyed camera for my lack of posting, but I"m afraid I have simply just been lazy. Otherwise known as a writers block. Not that I haven't had tons to write about...In fact just today we had our bees swarm into our neighbors tree, about 60 feet in the air. Ricky climbed about 50ft up before having to abort the rescue mission. These are the days I am very much missing the camera!! Much has been going on, even if I have been on a little hiatus. Hopefully I can rectify my slump. Here are a few updates that surrounded Oscar's 8th birthday in may.

Grandma and grandpa came to visit..

Grandpa turned 20...I think that is how many candles were on the cake.

O'man got baptized. It was a very special day for all of us. He really is one great boy.

Oscar is officially a scout!! He couldn't be more excited. I was lucky enough to hang out at day camp with him in the very rainy 40 degree weather. Yeah, it was fun.

For his birthday Cake he ordered a lemon custard, chocolate pudding, chocolate whip cream pie. It was surprisingly tasty.

Overall things are well. We are enjoying the summer (with the lack of real summer temperatures) but otherwise happy to have the kids home from school for the summer and busy playing.
life is good!

My boy!

2010-05-21T21:33:00.000-07:00

This is my 8year old boy, who by the way, will be baptized tomorrow.

I'm feeling quite sentimental and proud to be a mother. Not because he is getting baptized, but because he is such an amazing kid. I must have done something really great in our life before this one, to be lucky enough to be the mother of three great kids.
Truly when I sit back and consider this life, and all that I have been given, I am humbled by my Heavenly fathers plan and for the happiness I have received.
This is a special day for him and I hope he will cherish it always.

Happy Day to our Mommies!!!

2010-05-09T21:19:00.000-07:00

Great Grandma Dilworth

Grandma Dilworth

Grandma Edge

(and the birthmomma Rosie)

Some flowers for you!

Dear Mom(grand, great, and in-law),

Thanks for being the great strong loving women that you are! Without sounding too cliche' or generic I hope each of you know that you have had a positive impact on my life and the life of my children. You are an inspiration to me. I often think of you and contemplate what choices you would make when I am in the midst of attempting to make a choice for my own parenting.
I appreciate you much more and more each year as I experience and recognize the million things you do and did everyday so that I and my family could be where we are today.
It is often a thankless job, with few short rewards. Thank you for being the women who made those sacrifices and created a world in which I could experience love, joy, happiness, and continual support as I make my own personal trek through this life.
Because of you I have an amazing husband, three beautiful children, and a sense of beauty, truth, and purpose for being the woman I am today!
Thank you!
I'm sorry your gifts weren't there to greet you this morning. They are coming...I'm sure you remember just how long it takes to get those packages created, assembled, packaged and sent. It is by no means a representation of our lack of love for you, on the contrary it is because we love you and want to give you something special, that we didn't just call and order you flowers today.
Here's a picture of some flowers to keep you company while your packages make their way to your doorstep!
We love you!!!
Love, the Edgie's

Brother Feltis

2010-03-22T21:30:00.000-07:00

Our life on the Palouse would be poorly documented if we were to not include Mark Feltis ( A.K.A. our kids ward uncle). In all of his world travels he never fails to drop a postcard in the mail, making sure our kids get a good education about the deep and sometimes overlooked facts of the world outside of the Palouse. A little bit ago Oscar had his annual "bring someone special to breakfast" for our school. We thought mark fit the part perfectly...Oscar was pretty excited when he knew that Brother Feltis (that is how he is labeled at our house) had agreed to come along. It was great fun and the kids were sure to show Mark their best manners as they battled over the chocolate muffin. Thanks Brother Feltis for taking time for our kids! You are great!

Hazel Turns One...and 9 days

2010-03-14T15:03:00.001-07:00

Our little Hazel who graced this world one year ago...

I'm sorry you had to spend your first birthday in the same place you began your life...
I didn't realize that you wanted a giant gorilla cage and my undivided attention for three straight days. Had I known, I think we could have arranged something at home. Instead, you were blessed with a lovely nose ornament and some extra rich oxygen...what more could a one year old want?
Finally after an extended long sick streak in our household, we decided it was time to give you a true 1 year old birthday party...albeit nine days late. Poppy helped to build a chocolaty beehive with tasty strawberry bees (they were the only part you would really end up eating, so I'm glad you approved of them).
You didn't like the feeling of having your clothes off...or the cold frosting. But you decided to give it a few tastes after eating a couple of the bees.

Poppy, the baking apprentice, was eager to lick the beater.
It was sooooo nice to have you back to your playful self.
I'm not sure what you enjoyed more, the balloons or the wrapping paper? Too bad we can't wrap a hospital bill for you to open. Don't worry, when we get it we will let you open it as a late birthday present.

You haven't decided that you want to walk yet, which is perfectly fine by me, but your are certainly perfecting your standing abilities! Poppy on the other hand is mastering the blowing of balloons.Oh, little Hazel!!! How I adore you and your little chipmunk smile!!! I can't believe you are one.
As a means of documenting your little quirks here is a short list of some of your developments:

You can stand, although you prefer to crawl, especially with things in your mouth or while holding the items and crawling with your hands full.

You have mastered the stairs, both to the sun room and the long set downstairs. You find great delight in your newly acquired freedom (I do however, have the right to block such passage to avoid you playing with the dog food...sorry)

You LOVE animals and you have mastered the dog and bear sounds and can give them on command! SOOO cute. Your little belly laugh every time you see an animal of any variety makes me chuckle. It actually was animal books that kept us sane while in the hospital...I was grateful to find the animal channel on the Television when they came and woke you up at 6am to weigh you. (We seriously need to teach hospital staff the importance of baby schedules!!!) The monkeys on T.V. kept you from pulling your nose piece out for about 30 minutes.

You have learned quickly the art of manipulation of your siblings, and your new-found screech that demands what ever it is you are currently wanting...not so attractive, highly obnoxious, but seems to be effective (note to self: figure out how to curb this behavior, especially at 2am).

We polished off the last of your birthday antibiotics and you seem to be healthy and well. You are one sweet baby that the entire family adores you...even smiley. I only have one last request...how about we give up the nursing?

January updates

2010-02-05T11:32:00.000-08:00

Popster ready for pajama day at school...I'm not sure if she likes pink???

Hazel getting some lovin'

Family photo...Edge style. At least we have documentation that we all existed at the same time.

Ahhhh....the BINKI BLANKET!!!! This girl won't live long enough without it for it to be washed. She, just like her big brother, are in love with their blankies.

The girls

2010-02-03T19:31:00.000-08:00

(Poppy 10 months old)

I meant to write on this sooner but I got distracted. This is Poppy in the yellow pj's...a little younger than Hazel in the photo...

Here's Hazel in the same pair. I can see the difference can you?
I will also document soon some of our happenings...it just takes time getting from camera to computer...life is good. Oh, and Hazel is 11months old!!!!

Where's Poppy?

2010-01-07T11:50:00.000-08:00

Hint: She is in perfect 1st position, and may slightly be against class uniform by her tights! :0)

The holiday re-cap

2010-01-06T18:43:00.000-08:00

Hazel made sure that all of the ornaments stayed on the tree...
The making of the ginormous candy train...do you see any train under there?
Poppy hiking in her newly acquired dress (made by grandma Edge) she wore it for four days straight!
The annual Christmas day 5k (we missed it last year due to the pinata accident). Hazel won the youngest participant award...Oscar ran the whole thing! I belive this is his first semi-official 5k. It was fun.
Aunt Rosie and her new boots!
O man working with his new Dremel tool...right up this boys alley. I laugh every time I see him in his safety glasses. He has now begun to wear a face mask too. He dosen't like the styrofoam going up his nose.
Poppy and the beutiful dress. The heaband was made by Aunt Emily.
This my friends was my gift from Rick and the kids...a dinner bell. I think this will be a present talked about for many years!

I'm sad to see the holidays go but grateful for the routines that the new year brings. Last year was really good to us. I'm looking forward to another. I think this was a landmark year for me as a mom. I am learning new ways of prioritizing our life and am finding comfort in simplicity. I'm learning that (as a neighbor recently told me) when raising kids "the days are long, but the years are short." I like being a mom. I really love it. I'm grateful that Rick works so hard so that I can be home with the kids. Because more than ever, I'm realizing that once they hit school years, things start moving much too quickly! Life is good!!!

Skiing...Family Style

2010-01-06T18:37:00.000-08:00

We asked the kids if they would rather go skiing as a family for a few days, rather than get a big Christmas present. They were unanimous, and us parents were quite pleased with their decision.

(Poppy wanted a knife full of cream cheese with her breakfast...Oscar was showing his disgust)
We opted for Silver Mountain in Kellogg, ID with a handy little resort at the bottom of the Gondola that takes you to the top of the mountain. The condo was delightful with the added benefit of an indoor water-park. It was pretty sweet!
Especially because we had Auntie Rosa to accompany us...(aka our nanny) It was really nice having her to take care of Hazel while Rick and I spent some time on the slopes with Oscar and Poppy. It was also a bonus that she could keep an eye on the Popster when she earned a good break on her first day. We all enjoyed her company! Thanks Rosie for coming with us!
Oscar took to the skis like a pro. Although, I inadvertently took him on a lift that may or may not have been a good idea. Needless to say, he and I made it down...it may have involved some tears, prayers and a good deal of coaxing that his mother did indeed KNOW where we were on the map. Yes Oscar, one day when you read this you will laugh.
Hazel hung out with Rosie in the lodge...she liked being bundled up in her suit.
Poppy was very happy about her hot chocolate on the gondola.
Here is Rick Oscar and Poppy on the magic carpet.
Does this look like the face of a girl who is having fun?
I love this picture...click on it so you can see the humor in it. Oscar was taking his lunch break( yes, Cheetos were the lunch of choice)Hazel liked the gondola too...it took about 30 minutes to go up or down. It was pretty relaxing though.

Rosie hanging out on the gondola...
Poppy's little spill and Oscar's snowplow...
Daddy and Miss P stayed together most of the time.
Oscar and me moments before loosing my favorite sunglasses off the lift. Ok maybe nit but it was sometime before I lost them...
I think they enjoyed the gift and will remember it much longer than a gift that could come in a package.

Has it been a month already???

2009-12-13T20:21:00.000-08:00

Let's see...where do we begin?
I turned 30.
Hazel turned 9 months.
We had our 1st Thanksgiving that we actually hosted (thank you Ricky for smokin' the turkey).
Hazel learned to crawl (or fish dive across the floor) and pull herself up on to things.
Oscar lost two more teeth, he is beginning to resemble a really old man or a jack O' lantern. One of his lost teeth he thinks he swallowed during snack time at school.
Poppy started dance classes again and is treating the world like it is one big stage.
Ricky is busy with with work and training for another marathon with a couple of his teenage rivals, I'm constantly in awe at those boys speed and determination!
I have completed two R.S. activities with a very small committee.
Auntie Rosa is finishing up her senior year here with us, and we get to have a built in helper around the house...very handy especially when running Oscar to school for early morning Spanish and reading buddies.
What more can I say? Things have been a bit busy and although I have been checking my email, I just hadn't downloaded any of our pictures from the month until today...The memory card was full. Therefore, I had to empty it to make room for more pictures today.
Maybe I'll get back into the blog world...I now have candy train decorating pictures to download. Supposing my children don't go into a sugar induced coma, I may attempt to post those tomorrow. We shall see.
Life is good...we are gearing up for the holidays and I am seriously amazed that my kids are suddenly so big!!! How is it possible that we have lived here for almost 4 years??? Crazy!

Off to bed I go to start the last week before winter break...bracing myself for the overload...ah, but then we get two full weeks off of school. This may be a blessing or a curse...we may be spending a lot of time at the pool, science center or the library.

Did I Mention She's Eating Solids???

2009-11-03T21:38:00.000-08:00

Really Fun Project

2009-10-21T13:32:00.000-07:00

Visit this sight for a fun paper doll template.

October...Catch up style...

2009-10-21T11:06:00.000-07:00

Grandma and Grandpa Edge came to town just before Poppy's birthday. I believe this may have been the first time in many years that grandma Edge has had her toenails painted. Poppy was pleased to have her undivided attention. It was great having them in town for a few days.
How I missed blogging about Poppy's 4th birthday I don't know, but she had it. She is now a four year old. Which basically means she gets to eat four bites of her dinner, instead of three. It seems to be working...she suddenly has now grown out of the clothes I just bought her last month. I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the four bite rule...
Auntie Rosa has come to live with us for a while, and followed Poppy by turning 18! We had a grand ol' party to ring in her adulthood. It's been fun having her around. It's always nice when you have one more reader to read books!

Grandma and Grandpa Dilworth came to town to bring aunt Rosie's stuff. The kids enjoyed getting to see them for a short little visit. I think we need grandparents to come visit more often! (hint...hint)

Oscar in now officially a hillbilly...he's sporting his new look around town. I can't believe he is 7 1/2!!!! He is such a great kid! Who ever thought that I would have kids that actually loose teeth?? It seemed like it would never happen to me!
More Documentation that the girls are loving having auntie Rosa around.

Ummmm...chocolate chip cookies...

Hazel has managed to make it to her 7th month! She is eating real food, loves drinking water from my glass, can semi-crawl, gives some great belly laughs at her siblings and the dog, and is such a fun girl. And she has mastered the stand on hands trick.
Oscar is in his last week of fall soccer and although he is going to miss his awesome coach and really fun team, I am pretty ready for soccer to take a break. It's getting colder and darker outside, and it will make getting homework done so much easier!
This is his first year where I think he has really learned to love playing soccer as a sport, rather than a recreational playtime. One more sign that he is getting older...
Overall things are going well, busy but good.

Change...

2009-09-28T21:10:00.000-07:00

Here's my recent bonus check(see link for details) ...at least I have one right?

Each year about this time, I play the game of wondering at what point I should bring in the remainder of my garden to protect it from the frost. I bask in the harvest and try to delay the laying of my garden to rest until the last possible moment.
It begins with the shortened days, followed by a distinct familiar crispness in the air. My hunger for fresh tomatoes and salsa subsides (but never leaves) and I begin to crave the comfort of warm soups and a fresh baked loaf of bread. Apples suddenly are the fruit of choice, and the strawberries and raspberries of summer have been laid to rest in the depths of my freezer. I eat one more bite of watermelon knowing it will be sometime before I truly appreciate it's refreshing cool on a summer's day...on and on it goes, each piece in exchange for another.
I often think of my life in the same way, a season of experience/change that will be followed by another. Each one with a distinct flavor and familiarity, that when gone, will leave me with a sense of longing and fondness. They may hold a distinct touch of sadness, excitement, joy or pain, that when laid to rest will linger in my being for the rest of my life.
I enjoy change, I enjoy the blank canvas that gets placed before me, ready for that first brushstroke. I often fear the uncertainty of the stroke, but generally marvel at the completed picture.
A wise woman once told me (Merilee George) that her grandmother told her to embrace every season of life because when it is gone we are unable to get it back. This I too believe, and hope to embrace. Because much like the change in the season, I believe we can feel the change in the air and we can prepare ourselves for the season that is just around the corner. Let us soak in its warm and bundle up for the cold. Whatever the season, let us greet it with a open heart and a willing hand. To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

Hazel bird...six-plus months

2009-09-15T20:37:00.000-07:00

Ummmm...Solid Foods...Peas are the favorite so far.

Still loves the Bjorn! Transitioning more to the pack pack...(to grabby for the bjorn) I fear she may burn her hands while cooking with me.

Loves to suck her thumb...especially with a blankie.

Still loves her mamma...I pretty much adore her too! I can't help but snuggle and kiss her sweet little face. She also loves to grab my hair and pull my face into her mouth. It really is like a big wet kiss. It's like she can't help but attack me too. Symbiotic snuggles.

(Click on the picture so you can see the thumb and blanket in action)
...and yes, lucky for us she still loves the bike trailer/stroller.

Oh and she has her first tooth.

We all seem to gravitate to her. Poppy tried changing her diaper yesterday (without my knowledge) she actually did a pretty good job. I was pretty glad however that it wasn't stinky.
Oscar loves to make her smile. Today after school he took her out of her swing and downstairs so that he could have her all to himself. I finally made him share her with Poppy. The two of them have competitions to see who can make her laugh and smile the most. It usually ends with Hazel crying in confusion.
Hazel can roll both ways and can do a great shoulder bridge. I think she may be a future Yoga instructor. She doesn't quite sit unassisted yet but is working on it.
I can't believe it has been six months! Where has it gone? Why haven't I posted all of the cute stuff you do??? It must be because you are baby #3. Gradually I am resuming normal mother mode...it just seems to have become a bit busier.
Hazel, if we have any more children it will be because you are so adorable! She truly is a great babe and I am so grateful for my three really great kids.

Poppy's Golden First Day...

2009-08-31T21:10:00.000-07:00

THE GOLDEN SHOES...

The Golden girl...

This is how I left her...completely content.

I either raise well adjusted children who have no problem leaving their mother...or I have terrorized them so much that they are happy to escape my company. I'm thinking the latter. Howeve,r I do love that they are excited to see me at the end of their day. After biking over to get Poppy from pre-school (I got held up at a light, yes the one light between here and there, I was the last parent to arrive)...she asks me "why did it take you soooo long to get here?" I was only 2 minutes late.
She had a great first day. She said on her note that they sent home, that she was special "because she is nice". What a cute girl.
When I arrived back home and put Hazel down for her nap, it was eerily quiet. So quite in fact, that instead of surmounting my abundance of stacked up projects, I took a nap. I like to think I was much more productive after said nap, but probrably not. It did feel nice though.

That girl...

2009-08-27T14:25:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty sure this girl thinks Chocolate is a essential food group. I wonder what the food and drug administration would say bout that? I decided to make today a no-chocolate day for her...only because she is asking for it with every meal...What can I say? She takes after her dad.

2nd grade...

2009-08-25T21:17:00.000-07:00

There he goes...

Off on his own...

Away to 2nd grade!
I can't believe I have a 2nd grader!!! He has grown so much!

As for us girls...

Today we:
Read scriptures/prayed while eating breakfast
Did 4 batches of laundry (technically 3 since one is still out on the line)
DEEP cleaned two bathrooms
Vacuumed the living room, hallway and bedroom
Made dinner
Went to the library
Went to Shopko for Poppy Back to school shopping (golden, sparkly shoes were purchased...)
Read a bunch of books
Took a walk to see Oscar home from school

We certainly miss Oscar while he is away...but man, I am much more productive when we are back on schedule. It's not like a whole lot has changed, I'm thinking it has something to do with the fact that I am no longer attempting to cram everything possible into our last few weeks of summer. I can finally chill on the extracurricular activities and go back to my regular routines. I hope I can keep it up!

Trip up North

2009-08-22T20:54:00.000-07:00

One week ago we were up North in the land of Canadians...It was my Mom's family reunion and it had been nine years since I had been up there. That may not bee strange for most of you considering that Rick had never been across the boarder, but to me, it was a visit long overdue. Growing up my family would make the yearly trek to Canada for our Oertli reunion. We would often travel through Glacier National park and camp along the way.
It was strange needing passports to cross the boarder considering that when I was last there all we needed to do was state our business, a few questions and we were on our way. That was in the pre 9/11 days.
We would typically stay at my Aunt Rosemarie and Uncle Heber's house. It was this huge beautiful log cabin house that my uncle built himself. The house was close to the old man river and we would spend plenty of time jumping from the train bridge or riding the zip-line from the bridge down into the river.
We would also frequently go hiking and packing with the horses into the mountains. Rarely did we leave Canada without a fun-filled summer experience. This was largely in part to the hospitality of my Aunt and uncle and other fun spirited family.
I should also note that we typically did the journey in our trusty old Travelall car (the pre-suburban)...my parents would put int he coolers sleeping gear and clothes and then we would all pile in on top of the mattress they would place over the top. I'm talking serious car cramming. We also often had a flat tire or car trouble of some sort...but that is a whole other story.
My aunt Rosemarie passed away while we were living in Ohio and since then my other aunt Sylvia had passed away too. The log house has long been sold and much of the things I loved about our trips are no longer accessible to us now.
It was strange driving those roads filled with wonderful, beautiful memories and when we arrived, partiality due to poor weather and the time/life that has taken place since then, it was a whole different experience.
The last time I was there was the spring before I got married, my Grandma had passed away and it was a trip for a funeral and not the usual vacation variety. That Fall I was married and in the past nine years a whole lot has happened. Not just for me, but for everyone.
I felt like I was going home. I loved seeing the people and catching up. I loved seeing their kids that I have never met and just sitting back a watching how life moves on.
On many levels it was sad too. I miss my Aunts, I miss the continuity that existed from year to year. I missed hiking those hills, and playing in the river. I wanted things to stay just the same...

(Hazel sporting her Montana shirt Mark Feltis gave her, Hey mark...here she is in Montana!!)

We left Wednesday night after Rick got home from work and traveled into glacier National Park. We set up camp at 12:30 am in a down pour of rain. We tried to find a hotel and had no luck finding any vacancies. I had come down with a whole body illness (later to discover that it probably was mastitis)...We set up tent and crashed. It was wet and cold. Not the vision of the great glacier trip where we could hike into some back lakes and do some fishing, or nice so that I could ride my bike up Logan pass...no it was wet and cold the majority of the time we were there.
We woke the next morning and the boys attempted some fishing in Lake McDonald in the rain. Poppy and I tagged along but I really felt like every piece of my body just wanted to cave.

(Don't be fooled by the picture...it was raining)

We decided we would ride the transit system through the park (which took up 4 hours of our day) to be able to see the park, but not out in the rain. My head was throbbing and the bus kept going over bumps since there was a bunch of construction going on in the park.

That evening by the time we got back to camp thing cleared up for a short period of time. We decided we would go get something warm for dinner that we didn't have to cook ourselves. After dinner we were greeted with a nice sunset and the kids got to skip rocks into the lake.

The next morning i amazingly woke up to feeling much better...My head still hurt but my body wasn't hurting so bad. I was still holding out hope that I might be able to bike up the pass...that is, until there was a bit more rain and fog.
We drove to the top of the pass and decided that rain or not it was time to take a little hike.

We took the highline trail, very pretty but there are some serious drop-offs and some hose/chain that i made the kids hold onto for safety sake.

Here is poppy holding on, if you look close you can see Oscar ahead of her.
By the time we got back to the car the fog had rolled in and there was no way i was going to bike down the back side with little visibility. We decided it was time to head to Canada.

We were some of the first to arrive and it was great getting to see my Aunt Verena and Uncle dean. She and My mom were the two who put together this reunion. We set up our tent while the rain was still holding back and then we did a bit of shopping. It was delightful getting to buy salt and vinegar chips in a box as well as ketchup flavored potato chips...those go back to some of my earliest memories of Canada. We went through three boxes...
We stopped by the Cardston Temple and were sad to see that it was closed for updates. It is such a pretty temple. We were even lucky enough to see an own perched up in one of the windows...if you look at the picture he was in the upper left window.

Saturday Morning began with a big family breakfast with loads of cousins... many we were meeting for the first time. We cleared away the tables in the lodge and played a bunch of indoor games. It was fun seeing all of the kids together. The only good thing about the rain was that it forced us all to be in fairly close quarters...well, some of us would have preferred a bit more space...but I'm just saying that if you want to get to know people again, nothing like some close quarters will give you reason to get to know each other.
Poppy got her fill of Auntie Rosa time...She was quick to make friends and to snuggle up to the cousins. Oscar too, found some to play with.
I sadly didn't take more pictures...I guess it was because I was busy being with everyone.
I would sit back, watch and just be dumbfounded with the amount of change that can take place in what seems a fairly short period of time. I yearned for the past. We looked at pictures of times ago and realized that they were great times. We were/are an eternal family. These people are the posterity of two really wonderful people who immigrated to Canada from Switzerland sixty years ago. This was their legacy.
On so many levels this trip was less than ideal, especially int he sick/weather departments, but on the other hand it was a coming home for me. I was once again back into the country of my mom and of my grandparents. It may not have been ideal but I now have a sense of peace. I hope to go back again, maybe with more favorable conditions (would someone please stop the global warming???), and although things won't be the same, i still want to be connected to my past and for my kids to know their heritage.
Ricky was a good sport and went with me to the land op north to see a bunch of people he didn't know and endured it well. I may have to go solo next time...we shall see.

Nine years ago today...

2009-08-11T21:50:00.000-07:00

We got hitched! I'm a lucky girl.

Oregon trip

2009-08-02T15:48:00.000-07:00

After repeated failed attempts to embed the sideshow here, I managed to post it to the top of my blog...who knows how long I will keep it there. So it is now a function on my blog, rather than a post. It was a great trip with some great memories.

Backwards Biking Babe!

2009-07-01T21:16:00.000-07:00

Sunday on our bike/walk...

I noticed that not only was Poppy's shirt backwards, but her pants and shoes were too...

She didn't even notice, she just strutted her stuff like the bicycle queen that she is...Oh, and she seems to have developed strong legs again...some of you may remember the days of her not wanting to get strong legs. She is now on her way to really being a tough girl!

Pure Sugar...

2009-07-01T21:11:00.000-07:00

I may have an addiction...Seriously, this girl is Pure SUGAR!!!!

Summer Exploration Week 1&2

2009-06-28T20:59:00.000-07:00

Week one of summer was Bugs, Frogs and turtles...
After a trip to the "Frog" pond and a "turtle" pond, Oscar and Poppy were well immersed in the animal surroundings...literally!

Oscar in the depths of the reeds

O'man had no problem heading into the depths to explore their habitats...you may be surprised however that Poppy only ventured in about calf-deep. I think her lack of swimming skills kept her cautious.
As we have a resident bee-keeper in our midst, it was no problem for a hands on bee-lesson. Having the second veil has been a great tool for the kids to get a little bit closer to the inside of the hive. OScar curretnly has a couple of drone male bees living in a jar(they are the pretty much useless bees that hang around the hive and can't sting you).
Other activities included tracking the number and kind of bugs/insects on our outings. This was a topic very familiar and yet we still learned some new things about how ants carry their young to the surface for air, and that frogs eat their own skin as they shed it. Pretty cool stuff.
Week Two was the topic of "People" (I should note that the kids picked the topics, I merely facilitate their request). We recently met some great friends who happen to be Korean. Shilla the mom of Patrick and Liah (sp?) lived in Korea until she was ten. She was our guest teacher for the week.
She taught the kids how to wrap egg rolls...
How to make some funny rice disks that turn into these fried rice chips...oh, so cool!
Next, she gave the kids a lesson on the Korean flag and the meanings of the markings. It was so interesting and enlightening. It was all about keeping balance in nature and in life. I was once again reminded that there are just some eternal truths in this world. It dosen't matter what religion or culture you are from, everything has to have a balance...Balance is one truth I can atest to. Without it we find ourselves in the midst of chaos...I was excited to discover the meanings of the markings and I think the kids really soaked it in too.
Thanks Sheilla for the great day on Korea!
We also learned about Portugal, Iceland, Switzerland (the land of my grandparents), Canada, Volcanologists, and we sailed through a few books on a few other cultures/ocupations.
Overall it went really well.
Lastly Hazel took her first swim in the pool...the swim suit was a bit big but the girl loved it. Not as long as the other two kids but she was a great fish for her first time.
Next week the topic is trees and wood...we'll let you know how it goes.

Summer begins...

2009-06-13T21:00:00.000-07:00

Ahhhh...SUMMER!

We are now officially into summer mode, despite that the calendar still says it is spring. Oscar is officially out of school, we have veggies growing in the garden, I can hang clothes out to dry, we all seem to have tan lines (farmer tans), the out door pool opened(no that we have been, it is still a bit cold for that) and the farmer's market is in full swing....these are the days that we look forward to all year long!
Beginning Monday we will begin our summer-weekly themes. Fittingly the kids have picked to study bugs, frog and turtles next week. We hope to study habitats, life cycle, and explore their environments...I'm sure they will have no problem getting interested in this topic. The plan is that we will have a topic for the week and each day we will spend time doing different projects/field trips on the theme...I hope to post the progress and results, but if you only get little tid-bits you can rest assured I am mearly busy being a mom of three, and not lost somewhere in space.
Meanwhile Miss Hazel hit her three month mark...and boy is she ever cute!!! We all just about can't stand it. We want to squeeze snuggle and kiss her to death. Even Daddy has a hard time letting her go to bed at night. We all know it is for her good and well-being but man, it is hard putting her to bed knowing that she is so sweet to snuggle.

See that smile? Seriously, could you put that down? She lets us know she done however, she snuggles, a little gives us a cry and wants to be left alone to go to sleep. Reluctantly we let her go. Then each morning once again she greets us with a full gummy smile. She loves to wake up and see us. Poppy always wants to be the first one to climb into bed with her, so she can "make her happy" although she doesn't need to. She always greets us with a smile.
As busy as it is being a mother of three, it is great! And to be honest, I don't mind having a good reason to scale things back a bit. After all, what better reason could there be?

Poppy days...

2009-06-10T19:26:00.000-07:00

(Poppy and Olivia on the trail)

It seems that some weeks have a particular child that is the spot light during the week. The past few weeks have been Poppy weeks...From alergic reactions, recitals, bug bites/stings, and a new bike she has been the family star.
She is the new proud owner of a pretty pink bike, with a basket. She loves to ride. She surprisingly hasn't complained about getting strong legs. She asks to ride frequently, and I sorta wish we didn't live on such a hill so that she could ride a bit easier from our front door.
We went out for a ride on the trail the other day with her good friends Olivia and Lucy.
Last night Poppy rode to the swamp. I think we are training a new Bicycle queen...

(Poppy pooped-out after the dance recital...she fell asleep on the ride home)

She also had her first Dance recital. Being 3 1/2 years old it was no surprise that she was adorable.
We also learned the new art of Recital hair...her dance teacher said we should tie her wispy hair in rags so that we would be able to put it into a side ponytail.This is what her hair looked like the morning after...total afro. It went into the pony tail like a charm. It was hilarious seeing her with such fuzzy hair.

Well, she is a growing fun girl with a bundle of energy and love.
I'm really looking forward to summer!
I'll try to post a bit more frequetnly...it's just that life is happening and trying to stop to document is often put on the back burner.

Hazel update...

2009-05-24T21:25:00.000-07:00

First camping trip

She slept like the baby she is...only one night feeding and keeping with the other Edge babies, she slept great in the tent. I think our kids like to all be snuggled up in the same place. To be honest, I don't mind it too much either. Too bad it is so uncomfortable to sleep on ground or maybe we would do it on a permanent basis.

Caught!!! This baby girl keeps finding that thumb and seems to know just what to do with it. I'm not exactly encouraging it, but then, it is pretty cute how she wraps that finger around her nose.

Human Chia-Pet

She is totally this human chia-pet. Her hair is all coming in at the same time and almost all of the longer stuff fell out. People keep asking me if I buzzed her hair...nope, just a little fuzz head. I have to admit that it is PRIME binking real estate.

Ahhh...warms my soul when I see my littles all together. They even tolerated mildly letting me take thier pictures. Hazel seems to like her big sibling too.

And as you can imagine Poppy can't help but love and snuggle and maul the babe.
Little Hazel girl is such a dream baby to have around. She just goes with teh flow and tolerates all sorts of situations. Seriously, I suppose like most parents, our family just wouldn't be right without her.

Mom my face hurts...

2009-05-21T22:14:00.000-07:00

That was how Poppy greeted me this morning at 6:30 am. Because I was still in bed, without glasses, it took me a minute to figure out that indeed her face was all swollen and red.
Later she would tell me "My face feels crunchy"...
After a little dose of Benadryll not doing the trick, and little blisters beginning to beginning to form, we made a trip to the Doctor's office. He said it looked like she had touched something and then her face, multiple times, and her skin was reacting to it. He prescribed some steroid cream and tonight her face is looking much better...but still a bit crunchy.
We are still trying to figure out what she touched...probably a plant in our yard. I guess we will just see if it happens again.
Poor pop's she looked so sad all day. She was however a sweet girl all day and we even went out for ice cream and dance class...what a trooper. I'm still a bit shocked that the Benadryll didn't knock her out...

Oscar Birthday swap

2009-05-21T21:33:00.000-07:00

By Request the Volcano cake was back....Oscar has been asking me to make the cake for the past year. The last time I made it was two years ago. The morning I was getting it ready for his class party, he said "I think it was bigger last time"...last time I didn't' quite have it figured out and i ended up making two cakes and piling it up with a bunch of frosting and put a cup in the top for the dry ice. This time I totally had it engineered so that I used a spring form pan, a metal bowl and a ramekin cooked upside down in the top so that it all came together much better. I didn't factor in that Oscar would be missing the chaos factor of the previous cake.
He still loved it and I think his class though tit was pretty awesome too.

This Past weekend we went to Spokane for a birthday swap. Oscar wanted to go camping for his birthday and Ricky had a marathon to run last Saturday. We therefore decided we would do a birthday swap. Rick's birthday is this weekend so we swapped daddy's marathon for his birthday and tomorrow we will head to The trail of the Coure de' lanes fora little camp out/mother's day ride for Oscar's.
They spent some time decorating the road where daddy was soon to run past...
Had a couple doses of Ben and Gerry's super yummy ice cream...A carousel ride...
And Oscar still got his birthday climb on the REI climbing wall. He had hoped to make it to the very top, but made it to the first bell instead. I suppose it leaves him room to grow for next year.
As I mentioned before, we got bumped to a mucher nicer hotel than what we are accustomed to. Not that I mind a nice hotel, I just like it better when there is more bed space for our family. Oscar and poppy ended up like this in the morning. Oscar slept in the "crack" of the beds. We pulled the roll-in bed next to the king sized bed and he decided he would sleep in the crack. By morning he was turned horizontal.

I'm thinking this must be Mr. Davenport himself...Oscar thought he would check out the morning paper with him as we waited for the valet to bring our car around.
Overall it was a great weekend and as always it was fun to cheer on our super dad...nicework Ricky!

My boy turned 7...

2009-05-17T21:22:00.000-07:00

I'm still processing the idea of it...Man he is/was such a cute boy!!!! I planned to blog pictures of his seven years and I'm having a hard time narrowing it down. Soon to come will be O' pics and pics of our birthday weekend festivities...
Note on said festivities...Being bumped from your hotel of choice (that would have included TWO queen sized beds and a baby bed, with park yourself and load your own bags which totally feels comfortable to our family of five)...to a fancy-shmansy hotel with obligated valet' parking (where you have to call to get your car each time you want to leave the hotel) ONE king sized bed, a roll away bed and baby crib, no bathtub, just a fancy shower and super nice furnishings isn't exactly my idea of a good trade.
I'm pretty sure they didn't intend those fancy drinking glasses to be used as lucky charm cereal bowls...
I say give me the familiest friendly hotel, with a family friendly pool, continental breakfast, comfy beds that are nice a clean (preferably TWO queen sized beds), with the easiest convience of getting in and out as quickly as possible my idea of a good hotel...call me crazy!
Maybe if I were on a getaway with the hubby it would be a nice exchange ...but when all we have packed is runningshoes/casual attire (meaning shorts and tee shirts) and multiple children to find a cozy, yet not too close sleeping quarters...fancy shmansy is not my idea of comfortable. Especially when it is my child who decided to run down the hallway yelling and laughing...
Oh well...I'm sure the bellboys had a good laugh.

In Light of Mother's Day...

2009-05-10T21:03:00.000-07:00

Grandma Dilworth (my mommy and Hazel)

I love to see the grandma's holding my babies...something about how the cycle of life continues on. I'm continually reminded that the most influence i will be able to have in this life will be to the children I raise. I truly hope I don't break them!!!!

I love this picture of Ricky's mom...it seems like it is taken at about the same phase of thier life as where We are right now. Oncea gain that cycle of parenting...

Oscar's school play was today and it was great to see such a fun little fairy tale theater. He was one of the woodsmen who save Little red Riding hood and the grandmother. The best part was when Little Red and the grandmother went to give him a hug...he turned away. It was great!

O-Man with the flowerpot he decorated for me in school...

Two months old! I love the fuzzy hair that is all coming in buzz style.

Poppy has taken to the big sister role quite naturally. Poppy is a natural leader. I'm beginning to learn that I have to work with each of my kids individually...she is one I'm still trying to figure out. Her drive for life and enthusiasm is great. I really love her sparkly fun personality.
Great Grandma Dilworth...the woman who taught me to draw and love the scriptures, among other things...
To all of our mommies and grand mommies, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! thank you for all that you have done for us!!!

Spring...stuff

2009-05-06T16:04:00.000-07:00

Ladies ride...my odometer read 40.5 miles at the end of the ride...
All I can say is that these ladies were tough!!! Seriously we had a head wind for 3/4 of the ride. That is we only got a small break at the half way point before a storm blew in and made us push the rest of the way home!! It was a nice intro back into real life.
The Hazel girl slept the ENTIRE ride!! from eatign at 8:15am she slept until 1:30 pm. It was awesome!!! This bodes well for the up-comming mother's day ride.
Ashely, Maren, Me (Hazel), Betina(Georgia), Kristin...Sadly not pictured was Camille who met us a couple of miles down the trail. She was the one who kept reminding us that the wind resistance was "more calories ladies!".
Poppy is fitting well into the middle child...slightly neglected and self sufficient. I know this role well being that I'm #six of eleven. I do love how handy she is. Always so resourceful. Lov'in the outfits!
We also made a visit to Oscar's class so they could all meet Miss Hazel. It was a great day!

hmmmm...

2009-04-29T21:58:00.000-07:00

Man I love this kid!

Tonight after coming home from a evening of learning to cook Indian food, I stopped by Oscar's room and he was up tinkering with some things. I said hello and said "Hey kiddo thanks for being such a great kid. I sure love you."
To this he responded: "Why did you say that?"
Me- "I dunno because I do?"
O-"Oh, I was just wondering because you usually only say that when you were mad at me."

Me-(Insert all sorts of guilt laden feelings...I'm sure i say it more frequently than that...Don't I????)
"Well, you know I love you all of the time, right?"

O- "Yeah mom"

Me- "I do love you, have a good night, and turn your light off soon."

O-"night mom"

Am I seriously this mom who only tells him I love him after I have been mad at him??? I suppose that isn't the worst thing. I mean, at least after I have been angry with him, I tell him that I still love him. That should mean something Right?

Note to self: shower that boy with hugs and kisses until he can't stand it!!!! No more of giving him his first grader space...He MUST know that I have adored him since he was born! He must know how much I love him! Sometimes I love my kids so much it just hurts!!!
I hope that he knows that I adore the way he takes on this world full of curiosity and kindness, with a soft heart and an eager mind. He should know that I miss him when he is at school and I long for the days when we used to go hiking for hours, just him and me.
Is all of that forgotten? Am I becoming too distracted for him to realize just how much I can't imagine this world without him being a part of it????
Well, at least one day when he is grown and he looks back and remembers his childhood, maybe then he will read this and know that yes, I do love him and that the majority of my days are spent trying to create a place of Love, joy and safety for him. without sheltering him too much.
I'm sure this is just the beginning...but he can expect a lot more hugs in the near future!

Bee Man

2009-04-28T08:49:00.000-07:00

The Rickster is lovin his new hobby...

He loves to look at the bees and doesn't even wear gloves. Here he is holding the queen bee's box before she ate her way out. Surprisingly the bees are pretty docile and you can just stand around the hive and they will fly around, sometimes land on you but then go away. We have only had one sting and that was Oscar who started batting at the bees when one landed on him.

Saturday Oscar did his first ever three mile run. He finished in about 37 minutes...we are so proud! Rick ran with him and the girls (it seems funny to type "Girls") and I did the 10K with a couple of other friends.

The best part about this run is the jet-boat ride back to the starting line. Poppy and I sat in the back of the boat with Missy Hazel. It is so nice to be running again, albeit pretty slow! Thanks to Ashley and Linda who convinced me to do the 10k it was nice to feel a little bit back to normal.

Wheels are a turnin'...but not blogging

2009-04-26T22:01:00.000-07:00

We are still alive, I have every intention of posting about a million blog posts...yet I seem to never find the time. Very soon you will get an eyeful.
Still to post about...Yesterday's Seaport River run with friends (believe it or not I am beginning to be able to run again!!!).
Bee updates...Ricky's new hobby
Hazel updates...I must cath her smiling!
garden updates...cold stuff is in (minus the peas, note to self...get them in!)
Oscar and Poppy updates...They have been quite the silly kids. Poppy is mildly obsessed with people dying...must update about our conversations and her prayer routine. Oscar is a zip line king!
Ahhhh....I'm sacrificing blog time for real life. Sorry!

Pretty soon I hope to resume normal capacity. Meanwhile the good news is that the #3 transition is going much better than expected but I am having to prioritize my time a lot more.

No comments just pics...sorry

2009-04-23T11:25:00.000-07:00

Catching up...part one: Grandma's Funeral

2009-04-15T20:55:00.000-07:00

In an attempt to Document some of the important events of our family life, I'm going to play a little bit of catch up.
We recently went to Utah for the funeral of Grandma Kayser.
We had planned to bless Hazel on March 29th and Rick's parents came for the blessing. They cut their trip short on account that Grandma Kayser passed away the 28th. They headed back home that morning and we followed them back to Utah the following week for the funeral.
The funeral conveniently landed during Oscar's spring break which made it quite easy for me in the "planning things to do during spring break" department.
The funeral was very nice and just the way I'm sure grandma would have wanted it. After seeing this above photo, I could just see Grandma commenting on what a handsome group of men they were and how nicely they all looked. She always liked to look nice and I think it was so fitting that this handsome group of men were there to carry her to her resting place.
During the stay we were able to have a lot of cousin time. Poppy on Seeing Willie ran to him and they gave each other this big hug...I had them hold it a little longer for the photo but it was very cute! I'm sad I didn't get one of all of the grand kids together...maybe next time.

Arriving at the cemetery Poppy had fallen asleep...staying up late and all the hustle and bussel tuckered her out. Oh, and she stole grandpa's carnation during the funeral...I think he didn't mind giving it up.

Grandma Edge, despite all of her responsibilities of the funeral, found plenty of time to snuggle the grand kids. Hazel seemed to enjoy it too. On our way home we stopped in Boise and saw my Grandma Dilworth. She has always been a kindred spirit to me and it was so wonderful to see her. She loved seeing Hazel and Hazel loved looking and smiling at her.
I continue to hope that our kids will remember some of their great-grandmothers. I have fond memories of my Great-Grandma Johnson and love that I was able to know her and connect with her. There is something about knowing that grandmother, rather than her just being a picture in a photo album.
Overall the trip was great. Hazel did fabulously int he car and the other two did really well too. We have opted to not take the DVD player the last two times going to Utah and I think it is a good thing. They seem to fight a lot less.
Well her is the first installment of updates...hopefully soon I will catch up on Easter and other happenings.

Totally caved...

2009-04-15T20:51:00.000-07:00

Rick made some of his delicious (and I mean soooo yummy and tasty) all whole grain, nutty chocolate chip cookies last night...I covered the cookie jar with a towel to pretend they didn't exist...I ate a million baby carrots...I drank a hundred glasses of water...ate a piece of gum even though it hurts my jaw...and then I caved.
I thought I could just eat one of them...nope!
I ran a couple extra miles this evening to justify it. I don't feel too guilty.

Regular Schedule...

2009-04-10T12:20:00.000-07:00

Random picture Parallel Universe...this could be Oscar, Hazel and Poppy...but really it is Ricky, Emily and Meg...see the family resemblance?

Can you remember a time when you hopped on your bike, sunshine in the sky, not time constraints, just you the bike and the open road? Or maybe a time when you were driving with the sunroof open, music playing a song with a great beat, sunglasses on, open road and you felt like you could fly?
Yeah, I taught my first spinning class today since Hazel was born...It felt a bit like that. I actually got goosebumps during some of the songs because it felt so great to be back on the bike. ahhh...the feeling of getting back to normal.
That being said:

This week marks the first week of me resuming our regular schedule activities. Up to now since Hazels birth I have been doing a few of them but not all together. I have discovered that i like the slower pace better. I like not having so many other obligations and responsibilities out side of our house. I want to cut out some things but I'm not quite sure what...I"ll have to keep working on that.
Along with resuming the "regular" schedule, I decided it was about time to track my calories to get rid of this extra baby weight that is hanging around...I made myself a list of rules and have pleasantly been surprised at how great it feels to have a little bit of self control again. Don't get me wrong, going cold turkey on the junk food department has been a bit challenging...but no worries I haven't faltered yet.
I have thought of eating chocolate and jelly beans about a million times, but then I think of the photos of our family that were taken last week and I remember that I want to be back to my normal size!!!
The down side of the cold turkey diet is that I no longer have the sugar rush to pull me through the 3 o' clock hour. Honey toast has been working ok but it still isn't chocolate.
Rick keeps trying to peer pressuring me into indulging but when he mentions it i think it fuels my desire to prove that I can keep it up.

Grandma K

2009-04-04T09:33:00.000-07:00

One of the tests before Ricky married me was to meet Grandma K and to see what she thought of me...When we walked into her house she greeted me with a smile and a hug and I knew that I was in. From that moment I was blessed to have known such a fun, interesting, and quirky woman.
I loved to visit with her and see her insight and perspective on things. I loved to see her hold my babies and rock them back and forth and pat their little chins with their blanket. As they got bigger she would wrap little handkerchiefs so that they looked like they were a cradle for a baby and she would show them how to rock it.
I have so many fun memories and am grateful that I had the chance to know her. I'm going to miss her contagious smile and laugh.

Learning Curve and the Privledge Child

2009-03-29T21:42:00.000-07:00

I can hear it now..."Mom was Hazel the favorite child??"(cue in adult Oscar and Poppy as they review the records of Hazel's life).
You see it isn't really the case, it just so happens she is the first child who was born while I was a blogger, first to receive an abundance of monogrammed blankets as gifts from friends, first to have "professional" baby pictures (Betina), first that I may actually document what I remember from their baby blessing.
You see, I'm not really playing favorites, it is more a result of the learning curve and very generous people.
Postpartum with Hazel has been a much smoother road this time around. I'm certain it has a lot to do with the fact that I have had two other children first, we are more stable than we were for the first two, and I am much more laid back than I used to be.
I remember when Oscar was a baby that people would say "oh, you won't worry about that with your third child...etc." I would roll my eyes and be certain that I would maintain the same level of parenting objectives as I did then. I would chalk up their comments to their disillusioned parenting. I would certainly have the same objectives, ideals, and parenting style as I did then... Yeah, I was wrong.
I don't particularly mind being wrong. I don't mind chilling out and discovering that baby #3 has been a much easier transition than baby 1&2. Hazel could be the reason, but there are seriously some big differences between her and the first two.

With Oscar and Poppy I experienced some form of postpartum or baby blues emotional breakdown shortly after their birth. Oscar's was over his belly button getting stinky, and Poppy was over her having to stay at the hospital a couple of extra days. In both cases the situation just seemed bigger than life. I felt as though the whole world was going to fall. Oscar I even had postpartum for about a year...it was just something I figured out after it was over (gotta love hindsight).
This time around however I haven't had so much as a few little tears of joy. I haven't broken down, I haven't felt like I was going to fall apart. I'm not sure why, it could be that Rick took the entire week off after Hazel was here, or maybe that we are more established...what ever the reason, recovery has been smooth in this area.
I am beginning to wonder this time around if my Postpartum is int he result of food addiction...seriously my body isn't going back to normal as quickly as before and I seem to not have any self control...So, I suppose maybe postpartum this time is in the form of junk food.
Here are a few other differences:
Hazel has not been interested in a binki...the other two were binki lovers from birth (once again I'm not sure if this is a result of me or them???).
Hazel is a back sleeper...Oscar and Poppy would not sleep on their backs, I tried I really did, but no they were good sleepers as long as they were on their bellies.
Hazel eats on demand rather than me scheduling feedings every two hours. I know this sounds strange but with Oscar and Poppy would just feed them every two hours. It was peace of mind for me to know that they were eating frequently enough and that I could schedule them and know that I could do certain things during those two hours before the next feeding. I realize this was entirely my doing, but with Hazel I have chilled and let her let me know when she wants to eat. I have discovered that this has been nice. I know I can't predict the next feeding, but I no longer worry about having to feed her in public. I don't mind having a two hour break one feeding to a 1, 3 or 4 hour break the next. I just do what I need to do and when she lets me know, I stop and feed her. NO BIG DEAL!
These all seem like funny differences but believe me they are pretty big when you consider that your life is dictated by these small little things and how your baby responds to them. I'm a much more low key mom...I never thought that would happen. I have taken my sweet o'l time getting back to normal routines, and I really don't mind. I like the calm side of just letting this baby #3 flow naturally. So far this has been a good thing.

Today Hazel was blessed...she was beautiful and the blessing was enlightening. I really listened this time, I actually jotted down a few thoughts from it. It may be the fact that we had no family here for me to be thinking about, or that I wasn't worried about dinner after church...what ever the reason (along with all the other differences) I was grateful that I am learning, growing and discovering that I really don't know how to be the perfect mom but I don't mind changing along the road. I hope Oscar has patience with me as he is number one on the learning curve. I hope Poppy will know that even as the middle child, who I don't remember what was said at her blessing, will know that I love her and think she is a great big sister. Lastly I hope that I will continue to learn and grow into a much more capable, moldable mother.

Courtesy of Betina

2009-03-26T14:26:00.001-07:00

Creaping Back to Normal

2009-03-22T10:46:00.000-07:00

Because I am taking my sweet ol' time coming back to "normal" life, blogging has taken a hit. I have a bunch of things to post and everyday I seem to find new things and yet, I never manage to actually spit them out.
So, here are a few updates...Poppy as you can see from the above photo is being very well groomed and attended to.

Just the other day she told Hazel :
"Hazel if you were to fly to the sun you would die...but you can't fly."
She is being the very big sister and quite helpful in the baby world.
Oscar and Poppy love to herd the chickens around the yard. The other day I found that they had put all seven chickens in the tree house. Oscar even built a make shift fence to keep them in...I wonder, do you think they would have jumped off?
Walking has been the exercise of choice lately. I'm elated to discover that Hazel loves the stroller and Bjorn. This is a good sign. The girls are already getting along great in the stroller. Although poppy has her occasional must snuggle fix and smothers the girl until she squeaks and then she moves away.
Now that we are a family of 5 (that seems like a lot...) we have taken out a wall in the basement and have built a new one. Oscar will soon have a room in the basement. Hopefully by the end of this week, he will be moved.
I have been overwhelmed with gratitude for the kindness of others. I have been so blessed to have so many wonderful people delivering gifts, flowers and food. To all of you who have given to us we are so thankful! This is Ashley and Hazel displaying the beautiful blanket she made for her...I can't wait to get the crib up so that we can put it on it. The moses basket is a little too small.
Ricky got his bee keeping gear and our hive. The bees will be here next month. He will then have about 20,000 new babies to care for.

Here is the lovely Hazel modeling her cold weather gear.

Lastly but not leastly Grandma and Grandpa Dilworth came to visit shortly after Hazel was born. I should have posted this much sooner, but as I said before I have taken a break. It was delightful to have them hear and the kids loved to see them.
The down side of having babies when youa re far away from family is that they change so quickly you wish they could see all of teh changes...I will work on posting more frequently so they can see via blog.

Well friends this isn't quite as elequently written as I had hoped to do...but at least it is a post.
Hopefully I will get a few more of the posts from my brain on here in the near future.

Worth a thousand words...

2009-03-13T15:30:00.000-07:00

I can't get enough of this girl!
Thanks to Betina for the beautiful photo.

Adjusting...well

2009-03-08T21:16:00.000-07:00

All of us are adjusting to the presence of our new little Hazel...so far it seems to be an easy thing to do. Daddy has resumed his favorite napping position...

Oscar and Poppy can't seem to get enough of her...they love to come snuggle her in the morning. I can't blame them...I too can't help but squeeze in one extra snuggle before I put her down.

Smiley is curious...he likes to take a little sniff when he get the chance.

And Poppy...she is a Pro-big sister already. She loves to help me with all of the diaper changing...her job is to pull out the wipe. She also wouldn't think of passing up baby bath time. In fact the other day Rick had to convince her to go with him to the science center because she wanted to stay home with me and the baby. I think she is afraid she will miss something while she is gone.

As for me...I'm sure it has to do with this being #3 and having done this a couple of times, but recovery has been pretty smooth so far. I have had zero meltdowns (not to say there won't be any), my milk supply hasn't come on with such force as previously, I actually feel pretty good. the pain meds help a bit with the discomfort issues, but overall I would say that it is going well.
I have loved having Ricky home with us, it has been so peaceful (short of Poppy and Oscar squalls) and pleasant. He is so great at being a star hubby and dad that I have been able to sit back and really relax. In fact I haven't felt a itch to get out or even blog...I am just content. It feels great to have my little family home and around me. I know it can't last forever, Dad will have to go back to work and the kids will have to do their activities and I will have to resume my outside responsibilities...but for now, I'm content. And it feels great!

Hazel Daphne

2009-03-05T15:39:00.000-08:00

Born Tuesday March 3, 2009 @ 9:21pm
8.15 lbs 21"long
(Picture courtesy of Pullman Regional Hospital)

Proud Daddy, Big Brother and Sister
All is well and we are home.A very relieved and happy momma!

Cliff notes: ( I may post a more detailed version later)
Tuesday morning see my Dr. she strips my membranes and tells me that I should fry up some scrambled eggs in a few tablespoons of Caster oil to see if it will promote labor.
Scheduled an Induction for Saturday because I was seriously SICK of being prego.
Poppy and I buy some caster oil...walk to get Oscar from school, research a little on caster oil and decide I'll give it a go.

6pm we have Dinner. I scramble up my eggs and quite truthfully they weren't too bad.
I don't know if it was the caster oil, because it never gave me the poo's and truthfully I never really felt anything in response to the caster oil...unless it actually threw me into labor???

8:31 One 15 min Contraction followed by continuous contractions...no breaks.

8:50 tell Rick it is time to go-he calls our sitters/ we leave...

Hospital arrival 9pm

Room 9:10pm

Delivery 9:21pm
Hazel was born "in the caul", meaning that the amniotic sac did not break and my Doc broke the sack after her head was delivered. He informed me that this indeed is lucky. I suppose it is only flitting for our March baby. Lucky baby, lucky month.
Doc delivers baby in his sweatshirt (he did get gloves on) luckily he lives 3 minutes from the hospital.
I was still in my shirt and jacket post delivery.
Doc changes into some scrubs to stitch me up and we joke about that it took him 4 minutes to get to the hospital because he couldn't find his car keys. He had just gotten out of the bath tub and had crawled into bed when he got the call.
Due to Poppy's Delivery being 1hr 45min...he knew he had to get there quick. My actual Dr. was called first but because she was 20 minutes away they called him.

Rick got to spend the night with me at the hospital, because some of our great Friend Helen and Justin stayed with the kids.
Rick went home at 6am and the kids never even knew we left.
Everything went really well and we were able to go home last night.
Today life is good... I can move, breathe, and to be quite honest I think Hazel is much more snuggly on the outside.
We are all smitten by her good mellow nature and both of the kids adore her.
Tonight, I am basking in the blessings I have. So many well wishes and close friends that care for us. I truly feel an overwhelming sense of love...and I know it isn't just the hormones!

For the record (despite all of my whining and complaining)...It was worth the nine-plus months of work.

Flour Pop

2009-03-02T16:47:00.000-08:00

What happens when you look into a cup of flour and blow???
I think Poppy just figured it out...notice the flour in the eyes stare.

Due Day!

2009-03-01T18:03:00.000-08:00

(Oscar is my in-house photographer)

I almost can't believe I'm posting this, but for the sake of our posterity (and curious blog friends and family) here is a picture of today...Due day.
It shouldn't really be a surprise since the other two were late, but I couldn't help but hope that this one would come early. I mean so many other people have their babies a week or two early. I would have even taken a day early. Alas, not so.
I have tried the wives tales...including cleaning ALL day yesterday and all it did was give me some big contractions with no follow through.

I keep telling myself that this is just like a marathon. Training has pretty much finished, tapering always feels slow and you just want to get to race day so you can get it over with. All of your hard work is in place and you just want to pound out the miles.
I'm currently feeling like I'm about mile 21 of the race. I'm tired, my muscles are feeling each step, you dare not walk for fear of not getting started again, you keep telling yourself that there are only five miles left to go. Five miles is nothing compared to how far you have come...You can feel the finish line close, and yet it is so far away. You know you will make the finish, that there is no doubt, but you keep thinking it hast to be just around that corner...only to find one more.

I'm anxious to just get it over with! I want to gorge on Oreos and orange slices at the finish line, while my legs tingle and twitch from the effort. I want that shiny little medal that says "you made it"! Not to mention a warm snuggly little medal that I'm ceratin will be much more delightful on the outside, that on the in.

Typically when I run a marathon I get a black toenail and blisters...so I suppose that it is only fitting that my feet go though some form of metemorphasis during this last bit too. But I don't recall ordering marshmallows for feet. I swear church always makes them the puffiest. This my friends I will not miss!!! Behold the Hooter-Hider

Lastly, I have just completed my first ever "Hooter-Hider", at least that is what the lady at the fabric store informed me it should be called. It is a nifty little nursing blanket that has an opening at the top that the baby can see you, and you it, without a peep show. So cool! And really easy to make. I think I'm going to start making these as gifts for other expectant mothers.

Pineapple?

2009-02-25T16:07:00.000-08:00

Last night at dinner we were finishing off with some tasty fresh pineapple (My Dr. Informed me that it was supposed to promote labor...no luck) when the following was discussed.
Rick: "Look guys what is this?" (he shows them the tiny little seed stuck to his pineapple)
Oscar: "A pineapple seed"
Poppy: "Are you going to grow a pineapple in your belly?"
Mom: "Hey, maybe that is what's growing in my belly...Should we have a pineapple instead of a baby?
Poppy: "No way Mom!"
Oscar: "Yeah! I think that would be better"
Poppy:"Am I going to grow a pineapple in my belly?"

Hummm...what would you choose?

And one more thing...

2009-02-22T20:35:00.001-08:00

After a fun filled Sunday evening of dinner and making pretzels. We delivered some to our friends whose mom is out of town, then came home to eat one ourselves. Oscar ate Two. Just after eating his two, he asked for a dink of water. I say "ok, get yourself one" he is after all a big enough boy...I hear his cup get really full from the other room, hear him chug the water down, only to immediately walk into the living room saying " I hate it when I drink to much water"...
He continues to whine and moan...Rick tells him that if he is going to puke then go to the bathroom...I then hear THE sound!!!!! You guessed it! PUKE! The worst part was that he was laying down on his back, so much of it went all over his face and head...yuck!
Rick and I couldn't quit laughing...not that he puked, but that he drank so much water that he puked.
After getting him cleaned up, PJ's on, and prayers said he asks "why is the couch cushion sitting by the fire place?". Rick says "There was vomit on it so I washed it off and now it is drying..."
Oscar responds "Oh, someone put vomit on there?" We quickly reminded him that yes, 20 minuets ago, he was the one who put the "vomit" on there.
Ahhhh...the joys of being a mom!

This is why...

2009-02-22T19:09:00.000-08:00

A Mother such as I will endure the pains of pregnancy and child birth! Chicken RaisingBecoming the neighborhood eggs-pert (sorry it couldn't be helped), egg sales entrepreneur...
Becoming a eggs-pert chicken catcher...All on her own.

Coyote Hunting

Valentine Candy Picnic...Gorging
What? Only one at a time??
Little kisses and snuggles from the princess in her new Valentine's Dress from Grandma Edge.
Who asked the other day "Will you never hold me again?" after explaining that I can no longer carry her around this belly of mine!
A boy who still loves to play with his very pregnant mom...just today while he was on top of the jungle gym he asks "Mom will you play with us up here?" I respond that very soon I will be able to again!Posing in their Sunday best...at their Mom's request and complying.

Creating Rick and I Muddy heart Valentines a week in advance so that they would have enough time to dry...all on their own with no knowledge of either parent! I think I may need to shadow box their creations. Possibly the best Valentine I've ever received!

This my friends, is what makes this whole process worth it! I'm certain there will probrably be nothing else in this life that will be more worth the effort, than the joy my kids bring me!
Now to place this on constant brain replay to get through this next week or two...I can't wait to meet our new little Edgie.

Ready...

2009-02-19T20:25:00.000-08:00

Last night as I lay in bed experiencing the lovely pains of contractions (almost to the point of convincing me of going into the hospital), the stupid things decide it was just a joke, and that they will hold off for another session, at a later date. This is nothing new, I experienced similar events with the Popster. Just when I think that this must be it, they seem to fade and I'm left with two hours of sleep time and a body that feels like it has been doing core work all night long.
The pro of the false labor work is that it tends to dilate me VERY slowly over a long period of time, so that when the time actually comes it goes pretty quick (at least with poppy). I do find some comfort in knowing that at least I've dilated some and that it is that much less I have to go before this child will enter this world.
The con is that I'm always confused during the process as to exactly what point do I decide to go in. With Poppy my water broke so I had a sure sign. This time however, I wonder if I should go before my water breaks? If I'm timing my contractions and they are very close (like in false labor) how far do I let them go before I have waited too long? Will they just fade as I arrive at the hospital? I wish Vicky were here like last time so I have a close reference to get inspiration.
Now because I have very little control over this, I have made a few big steps today.
I am now officially off as the spinning instructor. Last nights workout was enough to keep me sore today and unsure of when this baby will actually come. I decided it was time to cave in. Time to throw in the towel and let this baby know that I'm seriously ready for it to arrive!
I've cleaned what I want to clean (short of possibly mopping the kitchen floor one last time), I've washed and prepped the baby stuff, the car seat is ready to go...people are lined up to take over parental duties short term....
In fact I have now delegated out all of my normal responsibilities and as of today have no real obligations to speak of...nothing to worry about, aside from the welfare of my kidos.
Therefore i thought that if i declared it loud enough and to a wide enough audience, maybe this little edge baby will get the picture and grace us with it's presence!
Here's hoping...but if I'm still pregnant two weeks from now, don't be surprised. That's just how my body does this. i suppose I come by it honestly, my mom has told me that I had her convinced three times that I was coming...even had her mom come from Canada who had to turn around and leave before I actually came. My mother also gave me the week late baby syndrome too...I guess what goes around comes around. Only this time, I hope that maybe just maybe it will arrive a little early or even on the due date!

Oh, and I promise not to lament any further on this labor and delivery process...I swear that I will be patient and content as best I can.

Kneady Friends...

2009-02-16T15:50:00.000-08:00

(From L-R Jori, Kelly (with baby Georgia) Beth, Me and Betina)

Last week the Lovely Sue(not pictured, due to her early departure and my failure to catch her) arranged for a group of us mommies to get together for a bread party in her amazing kitchen.
It was our normal bike-buddy group, gone bread baking instead of riding.

Sue not only organized the bread day, but she acquired for each of us a set of these awesome industrial bread pans from her brother who owns a bakery. I love how they match my counter tops...A perfect addition to my kitchen. Now I just need to have the local welding shop break them up into two's...too bad I don't have a cutting torch, I could do it myself.

I love making bread. I have done it since I was about 8 years old and although I hated it at the time, I am grateful that my hands have developed a love/need for playing with dough. I began back then with a simple whole wheat bread recipe that I would make once a week or so as a "chore". Since then It has evolved into many different forms of bread. It includes rolls, hard breads, sweet breads(although I don't get to knead them), pita, pizza, pretzels etc. I rarely get intimidated by a bread recipe and generally find that making some new kind of bread is exciting. Yeast breads are my favorite. I love the smell, texture and process of them. The one thing I would say that I have not delved into is the sourdough world, that I leave to my sweet spouse who does it so well.
The other day I was thinking that if I had to be a servant in a house I would hope that my one and only chore would be the bread making!

Here is a picture of the kids helping out with the pretzel making.

Each of us brought a loaf of bread to share, with the recipe (that is, I don't have Beth's recipe but when I do I will post it). It was fun to see the difference in the breads. We also made soft pretzels and pitas while we were there.

Here are the loaves that were brought...in the back was Jori's, then mine, Beth's, and Betina's.
All were delicious and slightly different. The first 4 are my recipes (some taken from various places...sources not posted...I'll find them later. Just be happy I'm posting this!)

Pita Recipe
Makes 8
2-1/2 cups bread flour, plus more for sprinkling while kneading & rolling out dough (I use about ½ wheat)
2 teaspoons salt
1 Tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
2 Tablespoons good olive oil
1 cup warm water (105-110 degrees)

Lay aluminum foil across bottom rack of oven in the lowest
In a large bowl, combine 1 cup flour with the salt, sugar, and yeast. Add the oil and water. Beat vigorously with a wooden spoon for three minutes, then stir in the rest of the flour 1/2 cup at a time. The dough should be a rough, shaggy mass that will clean the sides of the bowl. If the dough is moist, add a small amount of additional flour.

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and knead for 6 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 500 degrees.
Divide the dough into 8 pieces. I patted the dough into a circle cut it into eighths (as if cutting up a pie).

Roll into balls, dust lightly with flour, and cover with a damp tea towel. Let rest for 30 minutes.

Use the palm of your hand to flatten each ball into a disk. Finish with a rolling pin, flattening the dough into a disk about 6" in diameter and 3/16" thick. Their thinness is more important than making them perfectly round. Irregularity adds charm.

Roll out two at a time and place on the foil in the oven.

Bake for 3.5 to 5 minutes, or until they are puffed. (mine usually never go longer than 4 min)

Repeat with the remaining disks. Letting the oven re-heat back to 500 degrees before doing the next two pitas.

When you remove the breads from the oven, stack them up and wrap them in a large piece of foil. This will keep the dough soft while the tops fall, leaving a pocket in the center. Cut them in half (so you can fill the pocket) and serve warm or at room temperature, or let cool, wrap tightly in aluminum foil, place in a zipper bag, and freeze. Thaw frozen pitas before using (this only takes about 5 minutes at room temperature). To reheat, stack several in a pile, wrap with foil, and place in a 375 degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes.

Soft Baked Pretzels

1 Tbsp Yeast

2 Tbsp Brown sugar

1 1/8 tsp. salt

1 ½ c. Warm water

3 Cups all purpose flour (or I like to use 1 cup wheat flour and ½ cup wheat gluten four to replace some of the white flour)

2 C. Warm water

2 Tbsp Baking soda

Butter (for basting the tops when finished

Kosher salt/ Cinnamon and sugar to top pretzels.

In a large mixing bowl, add yeast, brown sugar and salt. Test water temperature with thermometer. When it reads 110 degrees, add to bowl. Stir to dissolve. Add both types of flour and stir well. Place dough on floured surface. Knead dough until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. ** (To knead dough, press down on dough with your palm, fold the dough over and rotate 1/4 turn, repeat until dough is ready.) Grease a large bowl. Place dough in bowl then turn dough upside down to coat the surface. Cover with a towel and let rise for one hour in a warm spot. Combine 2 cups warm water (test again for 110 degrees) and baking soda in an 8-inch square pan. After the dough has risen, divide it into 12 pieces. Roll each piece into a 1.5 foot rope, ½ inch wide. Twist into a pretzel shape, and dip into the baking soda solution. Place on cookie sheets with parchment paper and let rise 15 to 20 minutes. Bake at 450 F for 8 minutes or until golden brown. Brush with melted butter, and then sprinkle with coarse salt or cinnamon sugar.

Laurel’s Kitchen Oatmeal Bread (with nuts)

2 cups leftover oatmeal

2 3/4 teaspoons salt

2 teaspoons active dry yeast * (Next time I may add an additional ½ tsp)

1/2 cup warm water (about 105-110 degrees)

3 tablespoons honey

1/4 cup oil

5 cups finely ground whole wheat bread flour (I ended up using more)

½ cup toasted walnuts or sunflower seeds (I used a mixture of the two) Next time I will also put in some flax seed.*

If you use leftover oatmeal, bring it to room temperature.

Dissolve the yeast in the 1/2 cup of warm water.

Mix the honey, salt and oil into the oatmeal and add the mixture to the yeast. Mix well. Begin adding flour one cup at a time. If the dough is very stiff, resist the temptation to add more water just yet -- the dough will draw water from the cooked oatmeal. However, if the dough is unincorporated and is more like chunks of wet flour, add 2-4 tablespoons of water and mix thoroughly.

Cover the mixing bowl and let sit for 20 minutes. This will allow more water to be drawn from the oats and will allow for better gluten formation.

Knead the dough for about ten minutes until soft and supple. If the dough is still too stiff (i.e. when you pinch a chunk of the dough you feel it in the muscles in your hand) add a little more water gradually either by wetting your hands as you knead or by sprinkling a teaspoons or two onto the dough as your mixer kneads. Form the dough into a ball and place it smooth side up in the bowl. Cover and keep in a warm, draft-free place**. After about an hour, gently poke the center of the dough about 1/2 inch deep with your wet finger. If the hole doesn't fill in at all or the dough sighs, it is ready for the next step.

Press the dough flat and divide in two. Shape it into balls and let them rest, covered, until very much softer, 10-15 minutes. Shape gently into hearth-style or standard 8"x4" pan loaves. If you'd like, sprinkle a greased loaf pan with rolled oats before placing the shaped loaves in them. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Let the loaves rise once more in a warm place until they test ready and bake about 45 minutes.

* Mix in 2-3 tablespoons toasted chopped walnuts when you shape the loaves for a nuttier flavor and a boost of omega-3s. (Next time I am going to add the nuts just after adding the flour. They seem to be better incorporated that way.)

Simple Whole Wheat Bread

Yields 3 loafs

3 Cups warm water

2 Tbsp yeast

1/3 cup honey

5 Cups Whole wheat flour

3 Tbsp butter melted

1/3 cup honey (I sometime omit this for a less sweet bread)

1 Tbsp Salt

3 ½ C. Bread flour

In a large bowl, mix warm water, yeast, and 1/3 cup honey. Let stand until bubbly. Add 5 cups of flour, mix well. Mix in butter, and optional additional honey, and salt. Mix well. Add additional 2 cups of flour. Continue to knead bread adding flour a half cup at a time until dough is soft to the touch and pulling away from bowl. Soft like a baby’s bum, but not sticking to your fingers. It should have just a slight little stick to your finger before it pulls away.

Place upside down in a greased bowl and turn over. Cover with a grocery bag and let rise in warm place until doubled. (Thanks to Allison for informing me I forgot to put in the following directions!)

Remove from bowl, divide dough into 2-3 portions ( depending on size of pans, three small/two large) and knead into nice smooth loaves tucking the edges into the bottom of the loaf. Place in pans, smooth side up. Let rise again for another 30 min or until dough is coming above rim of pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes; do not over bake. Lightly brush loaves with butter. Cool completely.

Jori's Flax & Sunflower seed bread

1 1/3 c. water (or warm milk)
2 1/4 t. yeast
1 t. salt
2 T Butter softened
3 T. Honey (You can substitute molasses)
1 1/2 c. Bread flour
1 1/3 c. Whole wheat flour
1/2 c. flax seeds
1/2 cup sunflower seeds

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Add butter & Honey. Add remaining ingredients. Knead dough for 10 min. Let rise 1-2 hours. Bake in 2 loaf pans at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Betina's Fabulous Honey Oatmeal Bread
2 1/4 c. Water
1 c. Honey
3/4 c. oil

Warm honey and water in microwave for 2 min.
Add oil

5 C. Wheat Flour
3 C. White four
1 C. Gluten (sometimes called gluten flour)
2 C. Oats
3 tsp. Salt
6 1/2 Tbsp Yeast

In Kitchen Aid put the wheat flour, gluten, oats, salt and yeast. Mix well.
Add warmed wet ingredients to mixture
Mix with dough hook thoroughly
Add white flour 1/2 cup at a time until dough pulls away from sides, I don't always add the full amount.
Knead with Kitchen aid 2-5 min until "it's just the right consistencey" ha. Whatever that means.
Spray K-aid bowl and dough with Pam
Wrap a plastic grocery bag around k-aid bowl (this creates a warm humid place for it to rise better). Let rise for 1 hour, or double in size.
Knead dough with hands, divide into 4 equal parts and place into small greased bread pans.
Second rising- 1 hour, or until doubled in pan.
Bake 350 for 18-22 minutes or until golden brown.
Remove from pans and cool on cooling rack.

Project update

2009-02-11T16:27:00.000-08:00

Baby dresser, complete with baby belongings...Check!

Wall to basement...Check!

Window from Betina, only a year after she gave it to me...Check!

Dumpster bookshelf, that surprisingly holds a ton of books...Check!

Although the majority of these are completely non-baby related, they seem to be important tasks that when once finished, bring a sense of peace to my pregnant nesting brain.
I think it is the gratification that comes with being able to manage a task from start to finish, on my own choosing. Unlike choosing when this baby is going to get here. It goes with my impatient side...Busy tasks that fill the space between now and when the baby arrives.
I am seriously trying to fill up my days so that I can focus on other things besides pregnancy. I just recently noticed that so much of what I am doing and thinking revolves around pregnancy. I'm a little burned out on it. I'm ready to resume my "normal" everyday stuff. I want to be able to focus more on whats around me, rather than on the self-pitying tendencies I have been experiencing as of late.
Therefore, because my other two children were a week late, I'm sure there will be more "projects" that I will undertake to take my mind off the impending "due" date.

Speaking of which...I just had a great morning making bread with a bunch of lady friends that i will post about later. In the meantime my next task is...Dinner!

37 weeks

2009-02-06T14:50:00.000-08:00

This is what happens when you self time a photo of yourself and play with some editing features!

Here I am 37 weeks and feeling a bit like an overstuffed turkey. I haven't really posted much lately due to the fact that pregnancy occupies the majority of my thoughts and if I shared even a fraction of those with you, you would be sick of me.
I have been thinking about some things I will share...

1. Each of my pregnancies have been so different. Different phases of our life (1-school/working/no children, 2- school/moving/buying a house/Rick taking his first pseudo-real job/one prior child, 3- semi-settled/ Rick having a real job, that he likes/ two kids (one in school)/ a more settled community around us), each phase has had different atmospheres, different support groups, different lifestyle habits etc.
It seems like each one has been a completely different experience (including deliveries). It will be interesting to see how the remainder of this pregnancy plays out.
The point is, that although I have done this before, it seems like I have to re-learn all the tricks and changes all over again.

2. Pregnancy seems to me to be one of the longest challenges in patience that can exist for an extended period of time...I'm talking even raising kids doesn't require as much patience for a straight nine months. I like patience in smaller doses. I like being able to hurdle the task in one bound, rather than having to continually change my focus and concentration in order to endure the prolonged changes.

3. Exercises helps! No big surprise there, but being more stable this go around, I have had a lot more pre-set routines that have helped me to keep exercising even though it has become a bit uncomfortable. I'm grateful for the physical outlets I have to keep me busy. It may not feel very good at the time, but almost each time I feel better at the end of the day.
I'm also very appreciative for students who endure seeing me stretched out on a bike for the duration of a spin class (I'm sure it isn't the prettiest sight). They are most encouraging and always supportive.
This is my coping tool to not become too impatient...that said, I still have dreams that I am running and not pregnant. I also must confess that I find myself longing for the day when I will be able to resume my normal physical abilities.

4. As you can see, I'm quite the complainer... but deep down there are some other things I am really enjoying. As I pulled out the newborn clothing I was once again reminded at just how small and amazing new babies are. I look at these teeny, tiny onesies and my heart can't wait to meet our new little Edgie. I look forward to snuggling this little soul on the outside.
Not to mention that I am a bit curious as to which gender of child we will be adding to our family.

5. I'm still not certain how we will be dividing up the room situation. I'm glad the baby will be in our room for a bit so we can make better preparations post-delivery. I'm torn between Oscar who is the hard sleeper, with a room that has taken on the smelly little boy essence. I can see him sleeping right through a hungry baby scream, but this pack-rat stashing habits have me wanting to avoid his room whenever possible.
Poppy on the other hand is a light sleeper, and will most likely want to play in her room during the time period which would probably be baby nap time.
We have the extra room downstairs but it is a bit awkward (I have to go through there to get to the laundry room). We are thinking of re-structuring the basement but it may take a bit of work...so I guess we shall see what happens.

6. Each time I am pregnant I can't possibly imagine going through this process again...I truly gain a much greater respect for those women who have had many children. I know there are some people who love being pregnant, but I find it hard to believe. Therefore, kudos to all of you amazing women out there!

7. Chocolate...I seem to have developed an even greater affinity for the yummy stuff! I seriously have lost all self control in the chocolate category. I can no longer maintain my 1 small handful of chocolate chips a day. To say that we have been going through bags of chocolate chips at exponential speed would be putting it lightly. The funny thing is that it is the basic dark chocolate that I want. Nothing fancy, just good'ol dark delicious chocolate chips.
Oh, and last week I was bombarded with the intense urge for oreos...no need to fear i somehow mustered up the strength to avoid buying any at the store. But I was delighted to find that at two of the events I attended last Saturday, had a plate of oreos. I actually was even able to limit myself to just one from each plate. I was quite proud of myself.

8. Lastly, because I could go on and on...I am having to become a fish in order to ward of the curse of puffy leg syndrome (aka edema). I thought I drank a lot of water before, but even though I was consciously trying to drink lots of water, I have found that the amount is somewhere in the 2 1/2 liter amounts that seems to keep the edema at bay.
The problem with pushing fluids is that there is only so much space left for the fluid to go. How can my body need so much??? It's like it is storing up for a departure into the Mojave desert. All I can say, is that I hope it isn't gearing up for a long labor session.
Oh, and the last thing I will say is that I seem to be dreaming about what ever it is I was last thinking about the night before. It goes over and over though my brain with little to no resolve. This too, will be another thing I look forward to...normal dream cycles, that is, if I get any sleep at all.

If you actually read all of this...I am impressed! Next I hope to do a post about the birth of Oscar and Poppy (don't worry, no gory details)...we shall see.

Zippity.. do.. dah...Oscar style

2009-02-03T20:13:00.000-08:00

(Oscar showing off some skillz)

Since Christmas when Oscar opened his new ZIP LINE from the male Santa in this household, he has been looking forward to spring. He would say to me, "Mom can you wait for spring? I can't, you know why? I get o ride my zip line".
Now I know it isn't spring, I won't even tempt my brain with the thought of that...but Saturday Ricky and Lil'O set it up. Oscar loves it!

Today he stayed home sick from school due to a couch and runny nose. He wasn't allowed to ride the zip line, or play outside, if he was going to stay home...He was sick enough to convince me to stay home, but well enough that he really wanted to play outsid ein the mid-40 degree weather with teh abundant sunshine.

I've decided I was really punishing myself. After seeing the sunshine through the window all day I am a bit sad that we didn't go for a walk or play in the sunshine a bit.
Daddy on the other hand allowed him to ride the Zip line one time this evening in the promise taht he would be well enough to go to school tomorrow....After a day of Oscar and Poppy both being a litttle bit sick (aka grumpy) I think I am ready for him to go back, and for Poppy to get off her whinny streak...I hope the sun decides to stick around one more day.

Sub arctic

2009-01-27T09:00:00.000-08:00

This morning as we were getting ready for school and "spinning" I took no notice of the outside temperature. On these mornings we are generally all busy getting ready to go and I'm usually finishing gettign Poppy ready when Oscar is walking out the door. Our neighbor boy Austin who walks with Oscar came and picked him up and off to school they went.
It wasn't until twenty minutes later on my way to spinning that I discovered it was minus 7 degrees outside and I had not even checked to see if my boy was wearing a hat or gloves!
It was too late to check and so I just hoped he had been smart enough to take them (lovin logic?).
After school I picked them up (it had warmed to a mere 10 degrees) and they informed me that one of our other neighbors had stopped and taken them. Thank goodness for nice neighbors.
The deception of the temperature, or should I say what should have tipped me of that it was so cold, was the gorgeous sunshine that graced us with it's presence for the first half of the day. I can't quite remember the last time it was around, and I was loving the drive to Moscow with the sunshine on my face.
Poppy was grateful to have a good excuse to wear her sunglasses too. Though she still insisted on wearing capris under her dress with boots instead of pants...crazy girl.

Dancing Queen

2009-01-26T21:10:00.000-08:00

(Exercise class at the church, Notice the pretty tap shoes...)

(Melt downs often follow the prior dancing exertion)

First Position

(No I did not choose for her to wear that hat...nor did I pick it out from the Goodwill, this my friends is all of her own choosing. Though I'm sure you are not surprised!)

(The Giraffe Move)

Need I say more? I think she is enjoying the "dance" class even though we only go 3 times a month. She certainly doesn't need a dance class to strut her stuff.
On Wednesday's I teach a exercise class at the church. This is the perfect floor for stomping around in her tap shoes.
She did hit a little bit of meltdown at our last class. She was pretty tired and she didn't want to be doing "tap". She missed singing "lollipop" with her tap shoes (they tap it out with their feet) and was devastated that she had taken hers off and that they had moved on to a new thing.
Maybe next time she will be a little bit more patient. But I doubt it.

Weekly post...

2009-01-18T21:28:00.000-08:00

Oscar's 2nd spelling test. Last week he barely missed his two bonus words on the real test but had them on the practice. This week he nailed them. the bonus words this week were king and Rockhopper (as in the penguin). I love how his teacher put WOW all over his paper. He was so proud of his test and I suppose I was a bit proud too.

Poppy had her first dance class ever. It is a Mommy and Me dance class and it was so fun doing it together. She even got to put on some tap shoes and tappity tapped around.
The nice teacher is a good friend and lent us a pair until we get her a pair of her own. She has been tapping around the house and loving them (Oscar has been putting them on too...).

Here's her doing the crab.

I'm now at 34 weeks and it appears that I now look VERY pregnant. As though I didn't notice it. Today at church I believe I heard the words..."Wow you have really popped out", "how soon are you due", and "you look ready", over and over again.
Not that I mind really, I mean at some point this baby needs to be big enough to come out. And besides if everyone else is thinking that my due date is close, then maybe they know something I don't.
During the Mommy and me class I was just happy that I could still reach the floor with my fingertips to do the giraffe with Poppy. At this point it is the little things that bring a smile to my face.

Poppy took this, lovely picture of me the other day. Lovely I know. But there you go. You can see a little of the progression in the letty pregnancy.
You may note however that the black eye has disappeared. The nose is still sore but the superficial shiner has left the building.
I saw my Doc this week and she informed me I did in fact pass the Glucose test! She also said I probably did break my nose, as evidenced by the bump, but that really there is nothing to be done about it.
I'm now down to the two week visits and I am really trying to occupy my mind so as not to get to impatient with this final month. I'm trying to embrace these final moment of our little one kicking in my innards. Trying to bask in my lovely round figure, and hoping that my self discipline (in regard to junk food) returns soon, so I don't become a whale before this baby comes out. Otherwise we may be delivering a baby Shamu.
Part of my distracting process has been getting things ready for the baby...or not. I find that I am completing tons of projects lately, but also picking up a few more along the way.
I found a new (to us) dresser and headboard for our bedroom while I was trying to find a dresser for the new baby. I then decided that I would refinish one of the old (dilapidated) dressers that was in our bedroom for the new little one. Yesterday I did the stripping and later this week I hope to have it completed.
While I was driving to look at the newish dresser, I noticed a hutch/bookcase/cupboard by a dumpster. I stopped to check it out and thought it would make a great book shelf. I waited a whole day before I waddled my prego self back to the dumpster(it was sitting beside it) and hoisted it into the back of my mini-mini van. After loading it, I noticed there was a couple standing there watching me in quite intently as I left with it in my car.
The book shelf too, is going to get a new coat of paint and will take the place of our shelf that has become too small. It is a really solid piece and I'm excited to see how it is going to turn out.
Along with this I am hoping to get my lovely window from Betina painted and hung in my living room. There are also some picture frames I'd also like to paint, and if I really get nesty I may just paint the wall going to the basement.
I would suggest you not hold me to any of these commitments, because really who knows...tomorrow all of my steam may be gone and I will once again be left with a bunch of projects that sit around until my next (if there is ever one) pregnancy.
More pictures are sure to follow, albeit who knows how soon...I seem to get lazy when it comes to blogging lately.
Things are well and life is good.
Oh, and did I mention that Rick is one of the Seminary teachers for our wards? Busy guy, who really is amazing! This is a topic I plan to cover more in depth in the near future...although, I'm sure he will hate the post when I actually get around to it.

Week in review...

2009-01-12T20:19:00.000-08:00

(Oscar kindly holding back for his sister)

I can't believe it has been a whole week since I last posted...I have had a ton of blog posts run through my brain and yet, none of them have actually made it.
After the dump of snow and my lamentation the week actually progressed to rainy days and warmer temps. The chickens decided to exit their coop for the first time in quite a while. The snow melted enough that Poppy was able to take out her scooter a few times. The sun came out and it has felt a little like spring. I won't jinx myself but it has been a nice respite from the cold.
Poppy is loving the new scooter...The best part is that we can now go for walks much further and I have yet hear "I don't want to get strong legs!". She will ask me to help carry it if she gets tired, or for me to push her a bit but the weakling is slowly dwindling.
With the weather subsiding I finally made it over to Colfax to see the new baby Georgia. She is so pretty and Betina looks great. I would be lying if I didn't say that I am slightly jealous that she is at that point in the baby making world and I have about 6 more weeks to go.
It did make me realize that I really ought to be getting ready for this baby. I am suddenly feeling like I should really be getting it together.
It just may be that my nesting instincts are kicking in. I have completed a few projects taht have been about a year-three years past due. (that is a whole other post that I will post someday)
Poppy and Oakley were showing us their dancing moves...they said they were getting married. It was pretty cute.
I also have been utilizing my new Christmas present. Ricky and the kids got me a pasta roller and so last week I made a batch of Peirogies. It was fun being able to get the dough so thin.
Always in the past when I have tried to get the dough thin, I still end up with it being too think. It was nice for it to go so smoothly.
Overall things are going well. It is nice to be back to our routines and getting ready for a new arrival. I think the kids can't wait. They keep asking when (along with may others...) it will be here. Today Oscar said "It sure takes a long time for a baby to come out of your belly".
I told him it takes about nine months but I think that is a lifetime for little kids.
Well, I'll try to catch up a bit more later...

@#*%#@ SNOW!!!

2009-01-05T08:01:00.000-08:00

Gotta love how the snow is up to their waists.

Seven more inches of snow...NO SCHOOL...Had to cancel my spinning class...We re home bound for another day. I wish I were a little more capable to navigate the snow with this pregnant body. We could do a bit more sledding/skiing/fort building etc. Not to mention this Prego body NEEDS exercise! We will have to get creative.
On the flip side I think we may de-clutter Oscar's bedroom (very scary). I'm sure I would rather be spinning. But it will at least get it off of my list of things to do before our baby comes.

Update: Kids are outside loving the snow...I shouldn't be such a curmudgeon.

New Year's Progress

2009-01-04T20:37:00.000-08:00

(Oscar testing out his photographic skills, caught me on the phone while I was sewing)

Having a two week break from school has been fun, albeit a roller coaster of ups and downs. Oscar and Poppy LOVE each other so much one minute, and the next are constantly bickering and teasing one another.
I have found myself wrapping my arms around them and snuggling up with books to read, painting, sewing, cleaning, playing games, and a bunch of other activities, only to find myself in the very next moment, reproaching them for their intolerable annoyances of each other and myself.
Friday Oscar had a birthday party to attend and Poppy told me that she loved having the house to herself. I think the princess was relieved to have some time to just be by herself.
Tomorrow we go back to our normal schedule and to tell you the truth, I'm looking forward to it.

My eye has improved considerably...here is a photo update as of today. Still lookin pretty green by my mouth.
This is a photo I took on New Year's Eve...If you wondering why I am always wearing this same sweater, it is because it is super comfy and fits over my expanding belly. I promise theses were different days. As for the sweater, to be honest, if you were to stop by here probably any day in the near future, you will find me adorned with it. I may have a clean shirt on underneath, but the sweater...it goes nicely on top and keeps me nice and warm.
New Years eve we had a nice and quiet evening with just our family. We made some homemade ravioli with my new pasta roller I got for Christmas.
I rolled the dough while daddy and the tykes filled them. I believe we made about 100. We froze half of them and had them for dinner tonight. They were very delicious, although Poppy doesn't seem to be a fan.
We then let them watch Back to the future and we were all snuggled down to bed by about 10:30. Rick and I tried to stay up and watch Pirates of the Caribbean (#3) but I think because we never saw 2, we had no idea what was going on and we both fell asleep.
I don't feel bad one once about not staying up to usher in the new year. I suppose I figured i would get an hour and a half of extra sleep to prep myself for all that will await us this coming year.
A few things I'm looking forward to:
Baby related-
Getting this baby out!
Finding out what our baby will be, and what we will name it.
Seeing how our family adjusts to the new addition.
Finding out how I handle delivery #3

Physically-
Trying to control myself from eating too many sweets so i don't have as much to loose post-baby.
Being able to run again (or bike).
Sleeping on my stomach.
Seeing how the orthodontic splint works, getting my jaw troubles under wraps.
Hopefully run another marathon...at least a couple 1/2 marathons.

Maternally-
Snuggle my kids and really listen when they talk to me.
Focus on the important things.
Challenge them and give them praise for their accomplishments.
Be tough when they need it.

Wifey-
Cook with fewer experimental meals, especially if they involve squash or curry.
Organize a few of the kitchen drawers.
Be flexible with the new-beekeeping plans.

Overall I just hope to put one foot in front of teh other and seriously take eachday and be grateful for what I have.
Oh, and becasue I really won't keep track of this list, nor will I mark off any of them (ok maybe the baby ones) I have chosen a new word for the year. The "word" that will sit in the back of my mind and keep me thinking about all of these wonderful aspirations is : Embrace!
I hope to embrace what I have been given and embrace all the good and bad that comes our way, with as much clarity and purpose as I can muster. Even if I get a broom handle plummeled into my nose!
Cheers to all and I wish you a wonderful new Year!

Soon...

2009-01-03T21:38:00.000-08:00

Soon I will post a "NEW YEAR'S" Post, and a post about being tired of my house bound, cabin fever children...but in the meantime, what do you think of the name Abner for a boy and Hazel for a girl?
Ricky dosen't know I'm posting this...just wanted some input. Anyone have any other great unique names?

Smart boy...

2008-12-30T11:15:00.000-08:00

Loving his new Science toys!

(For the past week he has been begging me to teach him to sew. He actually does it pretty well as long as he can remember to put the foot down. Funny boy.)

While I am down the stairs, taring down the mound of Christmas boxes, I hear the computer come on. I had left Oscar and Poppy contentedly playing "space ship" in the two boxes I allowed to escape the razor, before I went downstairs.
I holler up the stairs to Oscar "Oscar what are you doing?" (we have a "must ask mom" rule with the computer)
He yells back down "I want to check something!"
Me- "What?"
O-"I want to go to NPR."
Me- "Why do you want to go to NPR?"
O- "I want to listen to the story about the dinosaur museum we heard in the car yesterday."

How could a mother resist such a nerdy request?

I came up and he had the computer booted up and said "I just have to go to NPR, it will be there."
I then explained that within NPR (which we have set as our homepage) there are a lot of different programs and that I would need to find it. Funny thing is, I didn't even remember hearing it. I had to call Rick to see which program we were listening to. It is amazing what my kids catch onto and absorb.

Now the only thing I have to worry about is curbing his Nerd genetic (certainly they are not my genetics, but i probably didn't need to tell you that) tendencies so that he won't be socially backwards, rather more well-rounded.

Progression of the shiner...

2008-12-28T18:41:00.000-08:00

Day 4- Today we are getting better, more yellows and greens have appeared. Gravity also seems to be working on pulling the blue-green bruise and swelling down my face. I now have a bruise on the right side of my mouth. It has been really cool to see how may pretty colors have come out of the bruise. It keeps changing and the kids love to see what the new colors are each day.
I am their current physical science model. I suppose it's great to be good for something!

You wouldn't believe how many times I had to repeat my story at church today...glad to see that so many care, but tired of telling the story.

Day 4-I think I didn't get a photo on Friday (Day3) so here is Saturday's Pic.

Day 2- Christmas walk...Wow! I look really homely...

Day 1- Christmas-eve (sometime post-trauma)

Christmas Day

2008-12-28T18:12:00.000-08:00

Christmas Day walk. I tried to get my kids to look at the same time, and smile, and this is what I get. I think they get this cooperative behavior from their father.
Poppy is loving her new set of "silkies" sent by grandma Edge. She loves putting on multiple layers and using them for all sorts of baby/toy things.
Oscar has been going crazy over his new science kits, cars and of course anything that Poppy received. I even have a great video of him dancing with her new ballerina doll. ( I was trying to post it and am having trouble. Maybe later I will figure it out.

Oscar also wanted to try out dad's new puzzle. He is the versatile gift kid. Anything that is new, must be explored!
Poppy received her first scooter. The only down side is that she won't really get to use it until spring. In the meantime she makes the rounds about the house.
Overall we had a fun filled Christmas that was very laid back.
The kids are loving their loot and I am about ready to pack up all of the Christmas stuff. Yesterday I loved it. Today I feel crowded. Tomorrow may be the end of Christmas at our house.

Shiny-er Christmas-eve Party

2008-12-25T17:54:00.000-08:00

Edge Family 2nd Annual Christmas Eve Party

The Edge Family 2nd annual Mexican Christmas-eve party had a new addition this year. We like to call him Frosty. We spent the past week making him. The kids helped with the paper-mache and the painting. Little did we know he would be the bang of the party.(Notice that the "broom" in Poppy's hand has a blue handle...)

After a tasty Mexican dinner (short the heavily anticipated veggie tamales, due to Patty's kitchen miscalculating orders) we gathered around the living room for a bit of Pinata fun.
Soon it was Oscar's turn, and just as I snapped this photo (notice the missing broom handle) I was smacked in the nose with the handle.
To be honest, I truly had no idea what hit me. All I knew was there was a sudden gush of blood and I ran to the bathroom. Who knew just how much one's nose can bleed? After the considerate care of my house guests (which I really never got to see off properly) I spent the rest of the evening with a bowl, ice pack and tissues.
I didn't get to to wrap the gifts I was planning on, nor did I get to snuggle up to my spouse to play Santy-clause...nope, I was on the couch avoiding the blood going down my throat.
No need to fear, Ricky pulled off the whole Christmas story, putting kids to bed, played Santy clause, all while I watched/sat on the side lines.
Today...here is the shiner. It is getting better, but man it really hit me hard.
Oscar felt so bad and was crying. He even brought me Frosty's lower abdomen full of candy as a peace offering (that is, after he stashed a bag of his favorite pieces in his room). I felt pretty bad for him.
It did however take me back to his own shiner incident and made me remember just how bad I felt when he pulled the dresser on himself.
I'm sure this will be a Christmas party to remember. My friend Laurel who was there called today and said "We had a great time, until I was suddenly cleaning blood off your carpet." She also joked that this was a nice "Mormon" Christmas party (sans alcohol) and wondered if I could imagine what it would be like if there were alcohol involved???? It was also her husband Jeremy, who moments before we began the whole pinata process, joked that we should be video tapping it because someone always gets hurt...hahaaaa very funny!

Now the only problem is Rick not feeling like an abusive husband when we go out in public...

Next post will be our Christmas-day re-cap...

Christmas Preparations...

2008-12-22T20:35:00.000-08:00

Well, we've got it, snow, that is. Not only so we have snow, but sub-arctic temps to go along with it. The kids don't seem to mind. They still find the snow an adventure.
Poppy received a sled ride to and from getting Oscar from school the other day. On the way home all of the "bigger" kids wanted to pull. Here is Spencer George (who by the way loves Poppy) pulling her along.
She also loves to climb up on the counter to play with our nativity set. I love this set but parents beware...it is the playmobile set and all of the pieces of each character come off...that means that their hair beards, halo, turban, etc... Wonderful for play yes, but horrible for a mom who tries to keep track of them.
Our solution has been to place it ont he kitchen counter. Not as many pieces get lost in the couch and around the living room. One time Poppy put a couple of wise men in the bookcase for safe keeping. It was a few days before we discovered them again.
Oscar had his Christmas party at his class. This is their lovely graham cracker house village. It was so pretty.
Oscar's teacher this year is wonderful! He adores her and she has certainly earned it. We stayed a little after school so she could open her gift. It wasn't the main gift. All of the parents pitched in ogether to get her a digital camera. She was still in analog world. She cried when she opened it. It was wonderful!

Now with school out, both kids at home, and a TON of candy around...I'm finding myself constantly battling the picking on each other. They can't seem to get enough of it.
Today was a no-junk food day, that is until Family Home evening and then they each only had one cookie.
I currently have the threat out that if they keep fighting...all candy (including the candy train they keep sneaking into) will go into the garbage. I"m just waiting for my breaking point to actually enforce it. I'm close...we shall see.

(Update...The train went into the trash. Followed by Oscar telling me that we (me and Rick) want to make this the worst Christmas ever... Yeah, too bad for poor decision making. One day he will forgive us. Oh, that's right, I think he already has!)

Sassy girl...

2008-12-17T14:08:00.000-08:00

(Notice how bundled up the boys are?)

When Oscar was about Poppy's age he went through a phase where, for teh entire winter he would only wear "turtle shirts" meaning, turtle neack shirts. When spring and summer rolled around he could not stand wearing short sleaved shirts and shirts without a turtle neck. I was suddenly rememnded of this phase when Poppy for the past few weeks has insisted on wearing her summer clothes. She will be sitting there, shivering adn refuse to put some warmer clothes on.
Therefore to those of my loyal readers this will come as no surprise when I tell you that Poppy chose to wear the above attire on our way to drive Oscar to school. She was not deterred by the fact that is was a mere 5 degrees outside, oh no, in fact she insisted that she would not be cold.
Being the lovin' logic (aka learn from their choices) kind of mom, I let her wear it. It may be the first time in a long time that I was happy that the car took it's time warming up. It may sound horrible, but the fact that she had to remain cold for the full 20 minutes of the drop off gave me a renewed sense of strength that, indeed she would have to suffer the consequenses of her decision.
This morining came in the midst of a week where she has been particularly pushing her boundries. In fact there have been three stores this week, that becasue of bad behavior, I have actually taken things out of the cart and let my child cry the whole way out to the car, and all the way home. Meanwhile maintaining my composure.
I think it began with the mass consumption of candy she ate Sunday night during the ginger train assembly. Then there is the nap problem...or lack thereof. But today, I won...she is currently napping (it only took 40 minutes of me laying there making sure she would not leave her bed).
I hope to find a refreshed princess who will let me be the nice mommy I want to be, and not the mommy that has to constanty be butting heads with her.

On a positive note...she has been (in her more pleasant moments) a great helper, and super fun to watch getting excited about Christmas. I think this is her first Chirstmas where she is really getting it. Nww if we could just get it together (her and I) we will be set.

Failed...

2008-12-15T21:49:00.000-08:00

I'm not quite sure the last time I have actually FAILED a test, and yet today at 7;30pm, my Dr. called to inform me that I did indeed FAIL my glucose test. dum, dum, dum...
One of my Doctors is in my ward and is a super nice guy. Tonight the message said something like this: "Hi Collette this is Dr.___ remember how we were hypothetically saying that you would have to do the three hour glucose test if your sugars were to high? Well, it isn't hypothetical, give me a call at the office and we will set it up."
He says it so nicely, just like earlier today when the scale revealed that I had indeed gained 6lbs this past month. His oh, so kind comment was "Yeah, I was gonna ask about that. You are above the curve (the optimal weight gain range) but your blood pressure looks great."
We then proceed to discuss exercise and diet (which really haven't changed)...and then I FAIL the test.

To be totally honest, I'm not surprised. I have failed this particular test with Poppy's pregnancy and I have done the three hour test before...but it stinks! You have to go fasting and they then give you this miserable drink, and it makes you want to throw up and dizzy(which if you do throw up you have to start over) and you have to stay there for THREE hours getting your blood drawn every hour...

This all happens after a Sunday full of inquiry of "when are you do? you are huge!" Yeah, I suppose I'm showing more these days than in the past.
How is it I can go from one month (Nov. appointment) where she tells me that I'm petite and that the baby is petite, to now I seem to be HUGE!!!
Ugh...gotta love pregnancy, here you have very little control and some foreign little being takes over and dictates what my body is going to do. These little souls have quite the ability to manipulate and change things at their own rate, regardless of how many spinning classes I teach, or the laps I swim, or the food I eat (Ok, so I do have some control there), they ultimately put my body in auto pilot and I am mearly the vessel with very few controls.
HUmmmm....so now I just hope to pass the next round so i don't have to have a resricted diet where I am certain, chocolate won't be on the menu.

Look'n like Christmas...

2008-12-14T20:51:00.000-08:00

(Our last veggies from the garden)
What? A bountiful garden harvest doesn't sound like Christmas to you???

This year our last harvest made it a bit longer with the cold frame. The carrots were amazing!!! I have never tasted a sweeter carrot. I think the frost may have done them some good.

Hello, merry little tree from our front yard...My, you look grand in our front living room. You now get the grand exit from our front yard as our Christmas tree.
You shouldn't feel bad, considering your life was sentenced this past summer, and then spared for this grand exit. And boy, don't you look pretty...

Here are a few of the trimmings we have been working on...Feather ball ornaments. The kiddies spent the better part of an hour gluing all sorts of feathers to these paper-mache balls...so cute!
Each of the kids made a nest for their birds. Can you tell who's bird is who's?
These two love to pretend they are birds and build nests out of all sorts of things. It was fun to see how much care went into each of their nests.

Yesterday, they both created a Christmas masterpiece for me to hang. I LOVE them. It was great to give them their own canvas ans to watch them go crazy...especially Oscar! I can't help but love all of his art projects lately. He is at the stage where he finally is getting it and the results are great!
Next, although it is hard to tell...is our gingerbread train we decorated tonight.
What you don't see it? Just try deciphering the candy heap and you will discover a cute little engine, four train cars and a caboose. If you want to make one of your own here is the sight where I found the recipe and the templates.
We made these a couple of years ago with the Workman family and Betina made this great discovery, when you are printing the templates off, if you choose the two-pages-per-page option it scales the train down a bit. The original is pretty large. This half size seemed to be just about perfect. With the extra dough we made two extra train cars.

We've also had our first snow. We went from mid 30's with no snow to freezing temps with 6-8 inches. The kiddos are loving it!

Poppy is loving the snow this year (as evidenced by her sassy face), which gives me great hope that one day she will want to ski.

She doesn't even mind getting it in her face, that is until she goes down the sled hill face first and gets a little too much...She decided she had had enough of the cold and wanted to go home.

Oscar man (AKA snow boy) doesn't seem to notice the cold. First thing the last two mornings at 6:30am he is out in his winter-wear shoveling the drive.

We are in full Christmas mode, music, lights, decorations and a few more Christmas projects to go...we hope to make a snowman pinata tomorrow! I love Christmas!!!

Now, I just need to pass my glucose test tomorrow morning (having eaten a ton of candy during train building this evening)...we shall see, wish me luck!

Post # 250!!! Note to self...

2008-12-05T20:39:00.000-08:00

Dear Pregnant self,
In the event that you wake up on a spin-teaching morning, and think that you do not want to teach, please remember the last 2 weeks without spinning and you will quickly remember just how great it feels to move your body!

Oh, and be grateful that you can still do it! With the narrowing of previous abilities, take joy in the fact that there are still things you CAN do! Oh, and stop whining...after all, your body is in the process of creating a whole other being and you only get the chance to do this a few times in your life.
Be patient!

And while you are at it, please devise a holiday eating strategy that does not involve eating pie-crust, for it seems to give you heart burn...no matter how much you love it.
As compensation for the pie crust, I give you freedom to eat as much Chocolate as you like, as long as it is dark.

I'm not sure this is a quality post for #250...but then again, one day I will look back and laugh.

Thanksgiving part 2 (prepare for overload!)

2008-12-05T18:25:00.001-08:00

Because I'm sure all of you didn't get enough of the chicken education...here is the bird.

In a visit where there are lots of people to see, we opted to have a sister's pizza party at Verena's house. After, I made them work on thier own Christmas gifts...aren't I so nice? Here are a few of the sisters: Verena, Katrina, Joanna, me and my best friends from High school Angie (who made a special trip to come see me).

(I must say this is one of my favorite pictures of Oscar...what a cute boy!)

After a delightful time at the grandma and Grandpa D's house, we shuttled down to Utah for the Grandma and Grandpa E segment.
Oscar, Daddy, Auntie Emily and Uncle Carvel spent Wednesday Skiing up at Alta. If you sense a slight hint of jelousy in my writing you would be correct. This year they had a bunch of early snow and they had a wonderful time skiing.

I don't think they look happy...what do you think?

One piece of our trip that was really cool, and not pictured was our trip to see the exhibit "Body Worlds" it is the exhibit where they take human bodies and plasticize them. It was really cool and Oscar kept great notes about the things we saw. If you get a chance you should check it out.

(Oscar's pocket's bulging with golf ball findings)

We then made sure to get in our annual Golf ball hunt.
Not only did we find a bunch of golf balls, but uncle Reed and Ricky found some sort of cryptic message stowed away in a little capsule of sorts. If any of you know this language, maybe you can decipher it for us. It was a funny note that was spinkled with some incense of sorts.
Cousin Willie, Auntie Meg, Uncle reed and baby sam came along. Aunt Natalie was there too (just not pictured, as well as grandma)

Daddy and Poppy walking the line...And lastly was the trip to see the temple lights. We rode the train downtown and spent a bit of time shuffling through the crowd. Althoughit is always very crowded, I was delighted to see how much the kids liked the pretty lights and the Temple.
The next day after a few last minute stops we headed on home.
We spent Saturday night in a hotel in Boise where we stuffed ourselves with Pizza and went swimming. Sunday mornign we stopped in to see great Grandma Dilworth and made the last of our journey home.

Thanksgiving break part 1 (Grandma and Grandpa Dilworth's)

2008-12-02T09:33:00.000-08:00

(Grandpa's pep-talk, notice the knife in his hand)

In every child's life there comes the point of discovering how the world really works. This Thanksgiving, Grandpa Dilworth shared with our kids the lesson of life and the food chain.
During our visit Grandpa had a chicken that was crippled and severely picked upon by the other chickens. It became evident that it was time to put the poor chicken out of it's misery.
Oscar was especially sensitive to the poor chicken's plight. The night before grandpa put it out of it's misery he told Rick "Dad I think it might be better for that poor chicken to die, so it won't be in any pain anymore."
The next day grandpa pulled all the kids together to teach them the lesson of life. During his pep-talk to the kids, he told them that deep inside each one of us is a sad feeling when we have to take the life of another animal. He said that God gave us this feeling so that we would only kill what we need, and not any more. He told them that the best way to put the chicken out of his misery was to cut off his head so that his brain wouldn't feel the pain anymore. The kids took it really well. They saw grandpa cut off his head and watched as it's nerves reacted post-beheading. This is a picture of Poppy checking out the severed head.
They then watched briefly as grandpa hung it up and skinned it.
Overall I think it was a great life lesson.

Meanwhile they spent the majority of thier time at Grandma/pa Dilworth's playing in the hay fort. Grandpa had constructed a fort with thier hay bales and the kids loved playing all day in there.
When they weren't in the fort you could find them building nests and pretending they were chickens.

Nest building

Grandma put the kids up on Montana's back for a little bare back.

This is just a little of the trip and I will be adding more later...it seems I'm in slow-poke mode in getting caught up from the last week. So, more to come...

Check lists...

2008-11-20T15:03:00.001-08:00

For the past few weeks there has been a lot on my pregnancy mind...It seems that there is a checklist of sorts running continuously day and night. In fact I seem to begin a project just to get sidetracked on another one. I'm in this continual cycle of incompleted tasks. I heard that I should be taking more omega-3's, so that is what I'm doing.
In fact these unfinsihed tasks seem to keep me in this shallow-sleeping cycle, and it is quite the nuisance. Last night however, after numerous nights of not good sleep, I opted to take half of a Unisome pill.
This morning I felt great, rejuvenated and ready to go. I'm not sure if it was the sleeping pill or the realization that I have now crossed off a ton of stuff from my to-do-before-we-leave-for- Thanksgiving checklist.
Here is a little synopsis of what has been keeping me up and what has been completed...also included is the list of the things left to do.
-Craft day...a big fat check, aside from the few projects I'm still working on from it that will also be gifts taht i'm giving. Yes, these still need to be sompleted but I'm 3/4 of the way there.
-Othodontist appointment -missed the appointment due to a scheduleing prego-brain-loss episode. But today I spoke to him on a phone consultation and can now give it a Check!
-Finishing Christmas gifts: for both families, in an effort to avoid having to mail the mass packages. This is stilll incomplete but hopefully by tomorrow will be a check.
-Giving tree: each year teh Relief Scociety heads up our ward Giving tree that collects presents for the children in need within our ward. This fell under my responsibilites and so I have successfully matched up 43 kids to 43 donors and have sent off the gift tags and instructions to each of the donors....this was a biggie but I can now say is a check!
-Stopping the mail and newspaper for our trip...not so big yet, is finally finished as of this morning!
-Finish baking the goodies for our trip and the goodies for the grandparents...not quite finished but I wanted them to be fresh and not devoured beofre the trip.
-Clean the house and do laundry I won't completly say check but I have made progress...although I seem to get side tracked each time I get into the cleaning zone.
-Find people to feed animals while gone: check!
-Depositing all of the checks from the craft day (seems simple but yet so complicated) and help the few ladies who came over today to finish thier projects. Check!
-Recieving a refund check from the librabry for a book that has been missing for the past 6 months that I was certain was NOT in the confines of my home...yes, htis means that they found the book within the library and it wasn't lost at my house afterall!!!! This means taht all of those deep-cleaning-book-seaking-house degrunging was for nothing...they had the book all along! Check!
-Hair cut for me and Poppy. Check!
-Oh, yeah Blog...rememebr to keep posting. Simple yet, gets put off.
Well, that is some of the stuff...tucked in around the everyday other stuff. I'm glad to see so much of it being finished and grateful that I had a good nights sleep.

Sorry to bombard you with my daily checklist (if you can call it that since I'm not particularly a check-list oreiented person, like some people I know).
You can now go back to completing yours!

The good stuff...

2008-11-16T20:56:00.000-08:00

(Fuzzy, but fun photo)

Poppy was snuggling on my lap this evening right before bed time and suddenly she said
"Mom you wiggle me!"
She was referring to the little one inside of me, that was kicking her in the belly. Her eyes got really big and she was so excited.
Oscar on the other hand has been trying to feel it and hasn't been so lucky. Maybe he needs to snuggle a bit more so that he will get it at the right time rather than always rubbing my belly post-kick.

On other news of interest...Oscar lost his second tooth tonight. He is now a missing both of his lower front teeth. He actually pulled this one out on his own. Well, he actually just kept waiting until it was holding on by a tiny thread and just happened to fall out while he was playing with it...gross.
After losing his tooth he says "Dad don't I seem to loose a tooth every Sunday?"
Rick's response was " You have only lost two teeth?"
Oscar "Yeah, but they were both on a Sunday!"
Oh, and he loves to respond to the tooth fairy as..."I know it is you mom!"

Today they played really well together. I love it when they can loose themselves in imagination world and really have a good time. They even spent quite a bit of time doing sneaky service and leaving a little paper heart that he got from primary in the place he did the service.
They thought they were being soooo sneaky. In fact they went into my bedroom and shut the door and I was thinking they were goign to get into mischief, when low and behold they had tidied up the bed and picked up some things. It was so sweet...I felt a little bad for telling them not to shut the door or to not play in my room.

All day today I was filled with a great sense of joy in having such a great family. And truthfully it may be that the R.S. Craft day was yesterday and I could finally not worry about it any longer...ahh, the nice feeling of having it over with.

Tonight I will sleep well...

Pregnancy...

2008-11-13T14:42:00.000-08:00

This morning Poppy and I embarked on a Dr. Appointment packed morning. We first hit the Ob office for the monthly exam...all things looking good. I do love that one of my Dr.'s is female and that she has had two children and totally gets the "I feel like my body is being taken over" feeling. She encouraged me to do the half marathon, and is ever encouraging for me to be able to act as "normal" as possible (within reason).
Fair warning...i am shortly going to sound like a shallow, whine baby that needs to find a good hobby, but still, for posterity sake I'm going to say it.
One of the big challenges with pregnancy for me is the whole body image/expansion process that suddenly is out of my control. I fully understand the purpose, reason, design for the whole process (at least most of it) but yet, feel like a beached whale. I hold up a shirt that says "small" or "medium" in the maternity world of clothing, and it still looks like a tent. Not only that, but it still feels like a tent. There is little comfort in knowing that there are larger sizes that are still too big, because I know all too well that here in month or two, that is exactly what I will be wearing.
Some days I find it humorous, but most I find it discouraging.
So, with this "woe is me" unload I will note that my particularly wonderful Dr. just happened to tell me that I was Petite ( a word that has long been lost in my vocabulary)...she didn't have to say it, and I'm sure she was just being ever-so kind, but really it was so delightful to hear. She made my day.

Now that I am done whining, I will continue to say that Poppy was a dream girl through all of the visits today. She got to squeeze the jelly onto my belly to hear the baby's heart beat and she didn't throw even one tantrum!

In fact, it was a lot of fun to have her with me. I don't know the last time that we have had multiple errands to run that she didn't hit melt down at some point.

The eye exam went well and for all of her good behavior the Dr. offices gave her some candy, a sticker, and a pencil.

It was a good morning!