Alaina Turns 7

Yesterday we celebrated Alaina's 7th birthday!  Alaina was a bit disappointed when I told her we probably wouldn't do a party this year.  Honestly I just don't think she has a big enough circle of friends yet and our place really isn't conducive to a party setting.  I felt bad but have realized that a parent doesn't necessarily have to go all out with the homemade themed banners, costumes, photo booths, and matching themed finger foods to make the day special for their kids.  A favorite dinner of their choice, a cake of their choice made special just for them, a few party decorations from the dollar store, and a few presents is really enough to make a birthday special. 

 This year Alaina asked for an ice cream cake.  Which was a bit intimidating.  Sure I had done hundreds of ice cream cakes back in the day when I worked at Baskin Robbins.  But I certainly don't have the same tools on hand as I did then,  After a bit of research on Pinterest I was able to comply to Alaina's specifications of her birthday cake and I have to say that I suddenly remembered the little tricks of working with ice cream.  It is very different from your normal frosting cake.  She was very excited with the end result and I have to say I was pleased as well.

I don't know about the rest of you parents out there, but it seems that the older our kids get the harder it is to find good gift ideas for them.  Every birthday and Christmas it seems as though Tony and I draw a huge blank and walk around the store for an hour or more until we find something.  This year we settled on a Disneyland Kinnect video game and a pink controller.  Carson has been showing her the ropes with the X-box lately so this seems to be a good change from the usual baby dolls and barbies.

Alaina also got a book and a Doodle pad from Grandma Elton which she has been spending all morning using (she's home sick from school today).

All in all I'd have to say that another successful birthday is down on the books.  Happy Birthday our not so little anymore girl! 

Coming out of Hibernation

*I always write these posts, but then never publish them thinking no one really wants to hear about it, so here is my effort to document what's going on.  I'm really trying not to complain too much*

Today I am 15 weeks pregnant with our fourth, and most likely last child.  Yes, this was a planned pregnancy.  Yes, I'm excited for this new little spirit to join our family.  Yes, I remembered how awful I feel for the first half of my pregnancies.  Yes, I remembered how difficult my pregnancies are on my relationships with my spouse and family.  But regardless of all this that I knew, I have to admit that the last few months I've been in a sort of hibernation.  Only doing the bear minimum when it comes to house work.  Only leaving the house when I absolutely have to.  Leaving my children to their own devices for most of the summer.  Retreating to my room for most of the day, leaving only to eat, go to the bathroom, or throw up.  A sort of waiting until I feel better to be of any sort of use to myself or my family.  No I'm not proud of my behavior, but lets face the facts that most of us go into a sort of hibernation when we are sick with a cold or flu.  Which usually at most lasts a week so no big deal.  I would try toughing it out or pushing through it only to once again retreat to my room.  With this pregnancy I am on some anti-nausea medication that really helps a ton and certainly makes me wish I had had it with my other pregnancies.  With the start of school for my kids and starting to feel like I can function I'm starting to come out of my hibernation.  Starting to do more around the house.  Leaving the house more and for longer periods of time.  Being more present for my family or least trying to.  I've recently been asked to serve in our ward as the Cubmaster.  Which is good.  It gives me something to do...once I figure out what I'm doing exactly.  I've also been asked to sub in relief society in a few weeks.  I've never taught in relief society before so we'll see how it goes.  I'm really itching to start sewing sweet things for this baby, but am resigned to wait until "the ultrasound" and Joann's opens.  Which happen to be around the same time.  I don't think it's a coincidence.  So I'm now trying to get into a new routine or grove.  Being someone useful to myself and others but at the same time not overdoing it.  I'm anxiously look forward to the day of trading pregnancy woes to newborn ones.  In about 6 months...sigh.              

Family Picture

Elton Reunion 2014

Thanks to Tony we have some documentation of this last weekend.  We had the Elton Reunion up at Warm Lake this year.  The kids loved playing with their cousins and we really enjoyed seeing everyone and missed those who couldn't come this year.

 Much of the weekend Charlie was filthy from head to toe.

 Ryan with his super cool stove.

 Aliana

 Tim and Callie

 Emary and Kinsey playing in the sand.  Alaina, Mason, and BreAnna playing in the water.

 Happy baby Ethan.

 Me, Mom, and Becky.

 Lily enjoying the beach.

 Ryan building a sand castle with Nate and Emary.

 Carson

Alaina

Picking Huckleberries

This last weekend was the Elton Family Reunion (I'll post more about that later) at Warm Lake.  My dad found a huge Huckleberry patch and we went to pick.  We took home quite the haul and enjoyed our time together as well.

 Tony hard at work

 My dad, Carson, Alaina, My mom, Mason, and Brady picking away.

 Kinsey enjoying the fruits of her labor, or more like Grandma's labors.

 Charlie eating everything he picks.

After two mornings of picking we brought home two quarts of Huckleberries.  I see some Huckleberry yummy goodness in our immediate future!

Charlie turns 3

Last week Charlie had his third birthday!  The day was very low key.  Just a cake and a few presents.  The cake was bought from the store because I just couldn't handle baking a cake this year.  Hopefully he'll forgive me and hopefully it won't happen again.  Because frankly the cake looked pretty sad and I won't go into detail of how awful it tasted!  He got some puzzles and some fun trucks from Tony and I.  Charlie enjoyed talking to each of his grandmas on the phone.  All in all I think he enjoyed the day.  I can hardly believe how big he is.  He's such a character and we sure love having him a part of our family!

Pregnancy Amnesia

So when I was pregnant with Charlie I vowed that I was never going to be pregnant again!  I was not going to put myself through the months of feeling/being sick, always being exhausted, constant aches and pains, and all the "wonderful" things that go along with growing a baby.  Well, here I am willingly pregnant again.  Why?  Why do we women put ourselves through it all again?  Pregnancy Amnesia.  Sure we remember that we were sick, puking our guts up.  But until we are in the midst of it all again we don't remember how bad it really was.  Sure we remember that we were tired and achy.  But not until we are tired and achy again does it all comes back.  So, here I am vowing that I will never be pregnant again!  That after this we are done.  Don't tell Tony, but I've even gone as far as to tell Heavenly Father that he better send whoever is left because I am not doing this again.  I'm sure that many months from now when that sweet little babe is placed in my arms for the first time I'll say it was all worth it.  Because I always do.  Am I grateful that I can even conceive and bear children when so many women can't?  You bet I am!  But for now I'm trying my hardest to stay positive, not complain too much, work through it all, and take it one day at a time.  Here's to 220 more days until we're done!