Dreams of Venice

Disclaimer: This may be, and probably will be, boring to most readers....Okay I warned you.

These are the pictures taken at 39 weeks like the prevous post...I just played with them a little more.



This last week has been a quite a roller-coaster ride for me. I have been contracting off and on ALL week. Some much more intense than others. Earlier in the week I felt the contrations a lot in my back...but thankfully that has changed...for now. I have actually been in the hospital 2 times and sent home. With the doctor or nurse saying I would probably be back that night. Both times I was contracting regularly...just not progressing. The nurse thought that because of the pains in my back when I was contracting that baby was twisted the wrong way with his nose in my spine(posterior). If this was the case,then that is why things weren't progressing very fast. I felt a huge movement the other day and wonder if he has turned. I haven't had the back contractions so that is a good sign.

This is the first time I have been contracting so much, and been so progressed. I have thoughts wondering if my body knows how to do this on its own...since it never has. I really want it to. I have elected to not be induced...because I know it will be better for me and the baby. I don't say that to stand on my soap box...I said for ME and MY BABY....not the neighbors not anybody else...me. I really liked the Hypno-birthing method I used last time (even when I was started and on PIT), but I know it will be even better if my body does it on it's own. Plus, I had epidural problems once before and still feel a little of the effects...8 1/2 years later.

I am definately ready to meet my baby boy. I think this week, even if it has been hard and long, has been a good bonding week for Garret and I. I have talked to him and told him I am ready and tired but will wait if he is not. SO... I guess he hasn't been ready. I also think it has been a week to learn patience and waiting for Heavenly Father to be ready to send him. It is funny how long a week can feel when you wonder every moment if this could be the contractions that turn into more. With my other pregnancies I was never progressed at all and always wished it would do something...well here is my lesson. The grass is always greener....

So here is to hoping Garret comes soon, and I am not pregnant as long as an elephant.

UPDATE OF THE UPDATE: Saturday Oct 3, 2009...the due date.

Just came back from the hospital for the 3rd time. Not progressing. I could have stayed but they would have had to augment me with Pitocin...I declined....the nurse thought I was crazy....I wonder if I am crazy....I could have stayed.....Garret, please thank me one day.

and this little number

Today the girls headed back to school. We met their teachers yesterday at an Otter-pop Social. After meeting their teachers, the girls were very excited to start school today. Last night I ironed the "outfits" and made them new hair accessories and began thinking of traditions I wanted to start with our family. I was inspired by Nie Nie ( blogger with an amazing story) right before her plane crash, her family had a back-to-school feast complete with a theme. I loved the idea so we adapted ours to a Back-to-School Breakfast complete with a theme.



Our theme: Now is the TIME to find JOY in the small things

...notice the clocks.....genious.




The girls just woke up in this picture...don't you just love sleep still in th eyes of little kids, not so much my eyes, but kids eyes?

I do.


Breakfast: strawberry, banana, cream cheese stuffed French Toast......(that is a mouthfull) And hot chocolate.
...yum yum!!

(I had to wake-up at 5:30 to go grocery store to buy the stuff to make it....yes I am a little crazy .)



Next the girls received priesthood blessings from their daddy. Individually perfect for their needs and personality.



aren't they they cutest bunch...I love them!




We blew bubbles to symblize blowing our "little worries" away.



Abs joined in.









On our way to school I came across the STAR WARS soundtrack (yes, we are nerds) and played the main theme song. The girls got excited and I got a lump in my throat. They are off on a new adventure.

P.s
Arianna came home just crying about everything...(she didn't stop at the cross walk and wait for the principal...who stopped her abruptly and explained how it worked...she forgot to meet Kayla...and she messed up on her coloring. It was a little overwhelming I think.

I got a lump in my throat ...again so we went and got shakes to make it all better.

So here are the before and after pictures of the entertainment center I found at the DI. Rob and I worked really hard on this...it even got to the point I was wondering if it was worth it....but then the final result made it all worth the hours of elbow grease.

We added trims all over it, beadboard to the back, molding, fixed doors, removed doors, added pocket doors (which Thank you Rob for working 2 days on those...a lot harder than you think to install) faced outside doors, sanded sanded sanded, beat with a hammer, sanded sanded sanded, painted, sanded sanded sanded, stained, sanded some more and added hardware.

Now I need to fill it with books and things.






ps. The care tag from the previous post was from a scarf my cute neice bought while she was here. I guess they just want you to buy a new one when it gets dirty. It was a cotten/ poly blend.....nothing too fancy. But I couldn't get over the tag.

Okay....Now what?

I am a bad summer blogger. I have also slowed down because I have been contemplating going private on my blog....but not sure. Any thoughts? I have also been busy doing lots of things. I hope to expound on them more.... but here is a sneak peek.

For our anniversary I surprised Rob with a picnic (Swiss style) and a swim in a crater. Awsome huh?





Movie night in the tent for the last day of school. Yep we set it up in the living room.





YARD WORK. YARD WORK. YARD WORK.





Arianna and her fairy of all fairy parties






Rob got a major snake bite.



Tennis lessons ...



I don't have photos to prove it, but Rob and I went to youth conference. It was a lot of fun. I was one of the cooks and talk about cooking for at least 8 hours every day...


Watching fireworks from my patio....AWSOME. Never done that before.





And this little baby I found at the DI. We have been working on it for weeks. It looks much different....I will show you next time.

I know it has been a while....I have had a few things occupying my time and a few others that keep me from posting. I wanted to update on a few things that have been happening in our lives the past few months.

So if you haven't heard....WE are having a BOY!!! I know, big adjustment. We are very excited and I think it has finally sunk in. I really didn't expect him to be a boy...and I have never had to think about boy things...so it took a while. He is growing good...just too low. I have a condition right now that is called Placenta Previa. This means the placenta is lying low (and to me it seems the baby is lower too) so I just need to take it easy. ( and I have been. It was hard at first, and sometimes now, but I know it is for a small moment for a for a tiny angel that I am putting of MY desire to do more) Things can change and it can shift (cross my fingers) but if it doesn't the baby may come early ( I am not complaining if it is a few days or weeks early....but earlier than that is scary to me) I also have to deliver C-section if it is still the case when I do deliver...that really scares me too. And I would really like to hypno-birth again....but I am finding "Joy in the Journey" through this, which leads me to the next thing I have been up to.



In my ward's Relief Society I was asked to decorate a classroom like a shop in a mall and teach on a subject for 5 min at a time. I was very excited to to this and I want to again. It was so much fun. My store was Journey's Shoe Store. My store didn't look like the modern Journeys, but more like a lady's shop. I took most of my lesson from President Monsons talk from November General Conference entitled "Finding Joy in the Journey" It is an amazing talk, that I highly recommend. One of my favorite quotes from it is this,

"This is our one and only chance at mortal life?here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and non-existent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey?now."

I love it! This really has changed my life and helped me focus on the small things that are more important. Also in my store I carried purple hats because of a cute poem I came across that fit perfectly with the lesson. I am not sure of the author to give credit to but here it is,

THE PURPLE HAT

Age 3: She looks at herself and sees a Queen.

Age 8: She looks at herself and sees Cinderella.

Age 15: She looks at herself as the "Ugly Sister"-"Mom, I can't go to school looking like this!"

Age 20: She looks at herself and sees, "too fat/too thin, too short/too tall, too straight/too curly"-but decides she's going out anyway.

Age 30: She looks at herself and sees, "too fat/too thin, too short/too tall, too straight/too curly"-but decides she doesn't have time to fix it so she's going out anyway.

At 40: She looks at herself and sees "too fat/too thin, too short/too tall, too straight/too curly"-but says, "At least I'm clean," and goes out anyway.

Age 50: She looks at herself, sees "I am", and goes wherever she wants to go.

Age 60: She looks at herself and reminds herself of all the people who can't even see themselves in the mirror anymore. Goes out and conquers the world.

Age 70: She looks at herself and sees wisdom, laughter and ability, goes out and enjoys life.

Age 80: Doesn't bother to look. Just puts on a purple hat and goes out to have fun with the world.

Maybe we should all grab that purple hat earlier.



Here I am in my little purple hat. I have it displayed in my entry to remind me to grab it more often.





ps. isn't that a funnest wall hanging in the center? I found it all beat-up at the DI yesterday. I refinished it and.... voila! i love other people's junk!!

What exciting times we have had this month. MaKayla turned 8 and we prepared for her baptism. It was such a special day with a lot of people we loved there to share it with her. She was just beaming when she came out of the water. She was also confirmed and the blessing that followed was one of the most beautiful I have ever heard. What a special day. We love you MaKayla!! You are such a great example to us.





Her circle of Priesthood.


ps. I left out a lot of details on purpose. They are special details that I am going to record in a more personal journaling spot.

This is what it feels like today

MaKayla has been planning a hula party for her birthday since her last party. I do have to say this was one of my favorite ones so far. (And I have done a lot). The party started with the girls all receiving their beach bags packed for Hawaii, with their new Hawaiian name attached to them. ( I am getting smarter. Have everything labled and picked out before the party saves fighting over colors and keeps everything organized...they used these bags the whole time to add things we did so their things would stay together....I must pat myself on the back for that one.)


Next they flew through the yard to Hawaii and were greeted with "the placing of the lai" and then off to make their grass skirts. We made them out of mess fabric and they tied them onto elastic waist bands. (fun idea....probably not do that again.) Next we made their hair flowers. The girls chose the order of the petals and Rob glued them together while they limboed.
With grass skirts made, flowers in process and the limbo out of the way, it was time to learn the hula. This was a lot of fun. I looked up some moves ...like waves, ocean, moon, stars smile, palm trees, and around the island. ( how true to Hawaiian hula...I don't know but they were fun.)



Next we played " hot coconut". The girls sat in a circle and passed around a water balloon and when the music stopped she had to break it on or next to her. The girls really loved this game and played it over and over.





After getting wet they all came in to watch a short video about how the islands of Hawaii are made from volcanos. (This was a last minute idea Rob came up with because of the cake disaster.) So I was in a hurry making the cake before the party and didn't let it cool enough. I had plans for a tropical coconut cake with pinapple glaze and whipped topping. Well the cake fell apart and so I dyed the glaze red and dumped it on to look like a volcano. I will admit it is the Ugliest cake I have ever seen....and it did get wierd looks from the girls before we showed the volcano clip. funny huh?



It was time for the island luau food. Ham and cheese on a stick, fruit cabobs and best of the island smoothes. (okay best I could come up with smoothes)



....opened presents...posed for a cute hula girl picture and made a huge flower ( which I didn't take a picture of) Two quick hours later the party was over....I just sat on the couch for a while.....that is what I do after every party....but I love it.





Oh I can't forget to show you the lucious palm trees we had in Hawaii....aren't they ......lucious?....can't see them? Follow their white fluted trunks all the way up and you will see.....

Yesterday MaKayla turned 8 years old. (Wow how these years have flown by.) MaKayla is, and has always been, a very caring and sensitive little girl. She is always looking out for others, her sisters in particular. She is ALWAYS sharing things she recieved somewhere else. When she was in Kindergarten she would get a gummy worm everyday after class. Every time she would break it in half and give part of it to Arianna. I don't think I have seen many times when she hasn't shared something with them. She is a very good sister.

MaKayla is very smart and is always thinking. She loves math and loves inventing things. We are all amazed at the ease she seems to have with harder math questions...her brain works a lot like her daddy's. MaKayla also likes to be helpful. Her teacher comments on this. She is a little adult.

A few last things about MaKayla. She loves the color green, monkeys, and her favorite food is stuffing. A funny side note about her I have to mention is she is kinda a "hypochondriac". She is very dramatic and will will some acting awards in the future. It is a funny quirk and we love her to pieces.

Her day started off with the traditional Breakfast-in-bed. You can see we really woke her up. Her birthday was a day full of many activities. She had singing/ dance lessons, and right after that, swimming lessons. So by the time she got home for dinner we had a cold, wet-haired cook-out. It was still fun, and I can still smell the campfire.

We Love you MaKayla!!! You are our angel.

...yep....29 weeks to go........

ps. Thanks Lori for the photo shoot ...with the disco-ball beam light on my belly.... and the angel glowing hair. Doesn't she do great?!

Just thought I would send some love on the "Day of Love". I love what Valentines means to me now. It used to be a holiday that I didn't really like because I never felt like I had someone to share it with. (Before I had Rob of course) But now, to me, Valentines is more than that. It is more than having someone who you are romantically linked to..It is just celebrating love. I try not to get into the commercialism of it but more of the fun of it. I know I don't need a holiday to do that...but why not celebrate. I love my sweet husband...he is my life. (he wrote me another song last night...he is so romantic...I love that.) I love my little family with all of my heart. I love my big family all over the country. I love my neighbors and friends far away. I love my trials and triumphs. I love my blog. I love to read blogs. I love my callings and the girls associated with them. I just love that we can love. Thank you Heavenly Father for allowing us to love.


Here are my older girls valentines for the year. I can't take the credit...I saw some on another blog and thought they were a fun way to send our valentines this year.







I hope you have a great "LOVE" day!!

So I have NEVER done one of these and won't promise to do anymore....(Same with those chain letters Sorry to those who have sent them to me....I am terrible at them.....so Don't send them to me or I WILL break the chain.) But it was pretty fun. I Love this Man Named Rob, so it was fun for me.



Facts about Rob Tag

1. Where did you meet your hubby? Blind Date, set-up by my brother the summer before my senior year.

2.How long did you date before you got married? That is complicated. 5 months before his mission....not so much during his mission... and was engaged 1 1/2 weeks after his mission...then a 6 (LONG) months of engagement.

3.How long have you been married? 9 years in May.

4.What does He do to surprise me? He trieds to surprise me but I usually figure it out. (same with anybody else...I am a good reader of what other people are thinking, feeling or their intentions...not psychic..but I am pretty right on...so don't try to hide from me...haha) He brings me flowers and is always helping me. He is a good man, that doesn't need to surprise me.

5.My favorite feature of his? His eyes and his lips. They are perfecly shaped.

6.What is his best quality? He is a good man. Always thinking of others...giving of his time and money to others...he Humbles me a lot.

7.Nickname he has for me? .....I don't know....it used to be Tiny Tin....

8.His favorite food? Lasagna and popcorn and not in that order.

9.His favorite sport? College Football.

10.Where and when did you first kiss? 3rd date on my front porch. ( he watched a musical when he was younger...I can't remember which one...that said if you kiss a girl on the 1st date you're _____(I can't rembember) and if you kiss her on the 2nd date you're a ______( can't remember) But If you kiss her on the third date you're______(still don't know but it was something good....) So He kissed me on the 3rd date because of that. Cute huh? I do need to find out what the song said though.

11.What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? I LOVE LOVE LOVE to Latin dance or swing dance with him. It has been a while...babysitters are harder to get late at night....But I love it. We both go into character and it makes me laugh out loud. It is pure bliss!!

12. Do you have any children? MaKayla 7, Arianna 5, and Abigail 2

13.Does he have any hidden talents? He can talk gangsta with the best of them....

14.How old is he? 30

15.Who said I love you first? Rob....for a long time before I did.

16.What is his favorite music? Almost anything....with exception of country and Rap

17.What do I admire most about him? He is an AWESOME Dad and Husband!! He does a lot more than most men I have ever heard of. He wrote lullabies for all my girls and sings them to them often. (they love them) He is very kind and generous. I am his Queen and he treats me a such. I truely married a good one.

18.What is his favorite color? I don't know....he used to like purple...maybe he still does.....I should check.

19.Will he read this? I don't know...He will if I tell him about it.

20. I tag Livia, Sandra, Lori and Elena.

So.... I had a great idea for a photo shoot, out in the snow because the lighting would be nice, and if I had to have snow still... I might as well have some pretty pictures....Have I mentioned I have spring fever, cabin fever and any fever for change...yep I have been pretty sick. MaKayla got ready....and this is how they turned out. Funny huh. So the photo shoot wasn't what I hoped for... but...it unded up on my blog anyways...













ps the answers to the post before is Ari, Ari, Ari, Abby, Abby,Ari. It was a little easy because for one I had posted all these pictures before and the ones of Abby were the same. Plus the older ones look older. I hadn't intended to have a guessing game until I was finished and I added that....I will be more sneaky next time. But they do look a lot alike.