Wood Cutting Service Project

This last weekend we traveled up to Ensign Ranch a church camp about an hour and a half from Moses Lake.  Our Stake was doing a wood cutting service project for the camp and we went to help.  We decided to camp and brought along our trailer and lots of coats and blankets.  It rained all Friday night but we all managed to stay dry and warm.  Saturday morning after breakfast (the food was provided by the Stake) we got to work.  I really didn't do a whole lot, mostly just helping the kids and keeping them away from anything dangerous.  By lunch time all the cutting, splitting, and stacking was done and between all the wards all the wood sheds were filled and then some.  And let me tell you that I'm not exaggerating when I tell you there was a lot of wood!  I have to be honest that I had a preconceived notion that Tony would be working the whole time while my kids whined and complained about how hard it was and asking every 10 minutes when we could go home.  But to my amazement they got right in there and help wherever they could.  Alaina helped stack wood.  Carson helped run the log-splitter, roll logs into place and whatever else needed to be done.  Charlie also helped stack wood and ran the log-splitter for a little while with some help for me or Tony.  I was told on multiple occasions of how awesome my kids were that they were helping and working so hard.  Major proud mom moment and I'm not ashamed to say that my eyes got a little misty as I watched my family working together.  I thoroughly enjoyed being out in nature.  I love the mountains in the fall!  The crisp air and the autumn leaves of the trees mixed with the evergreen pines is just beautiful!   It was a lovely weekend.  We were all exhausted when we got home and the muddy cloths and shoes were less than fun to deal with, but I'd say it was all worth it.       

 Our camp

 Charlie and Alaina found a place to sit among all the log waiting to be split.

 Charlie, Alaina, and I took a bit of a break from the wood cutting a found a neat little stream.

 Cuties by the stream.

 Carson

 Tony and Carson rolling logs.  

 Alaina and some of the other kids made a makeshift see saw.

Charlie was insistent that Daddy help him split some logs.  He wanted to help too!

For Little Man

My first complete sewing project for little man.  A receiving blanket and burp rags to match.  As always I love how these turned out and the best part is this time I get to keep them!

Now I need to make a cute girly one for my sister-in-law and waiting to hear what gender my sister is having to make one for her.  These really are my favorite baby gifts to make.  

Pumpkin Picking

So this weekend my parents were in town visiting.  On Saturday we went to a pumpkin patch about 45 minutes from us.  The patch had a small and large maze, a slide and other games.  We all had a really fun time and we managed to be done right before the weather turned bad.

 Charlie figured out a shortcut through the maze pretty quick so he could get to the slide.

 Grandpa with camera always in hand.

 Grandpa and Grandma

 Dad, Carson, Mom, Charlie, and Alaina.

 Dad with his pumpkin.

 Our family and our haul of pumpkins.

 Grandpa and Grandma with the grand-kids.

Grandma and Grandpa.

Life is Precious

On Friday I reach the half way point in my pregnancy.  This Friday I also have my ultrasound to see the gender of this baby.  As many of you know being pregnant is one of my very least favorite things in the world!  And there are many days that I just can't wait until the day that I feel like myself again.  I'm sure that Tony would tell you that I complain way more than I should, and I really try not too.  But after hearing news of a family members loss of a second baby, makes one really stop and think.  They had a baby boy a few months before Charlie was born with a genetic disorder, he lived for 10 days.  Then a baby girl born 5 days ago was born with the same genetic disorder and passed away last night.  Oh, how my heart aches for them.  I can't imagine what they're going through.  It makes me think how dare I complain at all when my babies are born healthy.  I've always been able to to carry my babies full-term and have natural un-complicated deliveries.  I know that there is always that chance that you could loose your precious little ones at anytime.  So today I've been reminded to be grateful for each of my children, even this little one I'm carrying that causes me (inadvertently) to feel physically ill.  Today I'll be grateful for the piles of dirty dishes and laundry because that means that I have them to care for.  Today I'll be grateful for the fighting and bickering because that means that I have them to teach and guide.  Today I'll be grateful for each sick feeling in my stomach because that means that I have the opportunity to give this little spirit a body and a chance to be part of our family (as imperfect as it is).  Today I will remember that life is precious.        

Sewing Fast

Shame, shame on me.  I was looking through old posts to discover that the last time I really sewed anything was in April!  What that can't be right!  But alas as I look back, it's true.  With moving and pregnancy my love of sewing has gone to the wayside.  Oh sure I've used my sewing machine to hem this, alter that, and sew a few scout patches here.  But no real sewing projects.  Of course I've got tons of potential projects floating around in my head.  T-shirts for Charlie made from shirts of Tony's that don't fit or he doesn't really like anymore.  Doll dresses from Alaina's 10" doll.  A Sunday dress or two for Alaina.  And of course lots of things for baby,  just trying to hold out until we find out the gender in two weeks!  Also the opening of a Joann fabrics in a week!  Hallelujah!  I've got some fabric on hand but nothing like what my mom had growing up or what my sister-in-law Maegen has, it makes me a bit jealous actually.  To be able to sew just because you want to and have all the supplies on hand.  Sigh.  So I'm hoping that I'll be able to do some sewing soon.  I might just have to ignore the house and my kids for a day. ;)      

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.