I've finally finished my crib quilt! I'm pretty slow, but it turned out great and fits well in Lainey's crib. We set the crib up yesterday so that I could measure it for the crib bumper and crib skirt that I need to make. The fitted sheet was the only piece we already had to furnish the crib so far! But I have the material now to make the other crib things. Off to work I go!

We've had a fun week of mild weather and lots of playing outside every day. I've caught Ashton coming inside with muddy shoes on, and crossing the new carpet. It about gave me a heart attack until I saw that you couldn't see any evidence of it. Hooray! We chose the perfect color for carpet! Not that it's allowed, by any means, but my heart can settle down.

I have spent most of this week sitting in my computer chair bored as can be because it is the most comfortable chair in my house and sitting/laying down is all I'm good for! My energy sort of plummeted and I'm swollen enough to not be up for doing anything really active. But I've not always necessarily been using the computer.

I've sat here planning a family vacation for this summer- a road trip through Washington State. Lots of time on the phone making reservations and changing them all up. I've tried to organize the time there and find places to stay that will allow our family to stay shorter visits (not all week) in each location during the peak tourism part of the summer. I'm really excited about it though. It'll be over the 4th of July and the week following. It's all set and reserved, and apparently in the nick of time as most of the places I called mentioned I was taking one of their last rooms left during those dates. We'll be visiting Seattle, Victoria, The Olympic coast/National Rain Forest, Great Wolf Lodge (water park resort), and Mt. Rainier National Park. I made sure what we'd be doing at each place was more kid friendly than Sarah friendly and Brielle is super excited to go. I shouldn't have told her about it so early in the game because now we'll be hearing about WHEN will we go for months to come!

I've also played with photos on my digital photo software program. I haven't done that since I got my new computer because the program install disk was far off in who knew where in the garage. But I unearthed it and remember why I love it. It's so much fun!

In pre-school, Brielle was assigned to make a paper doll sort of version of herself to hang in the class and fill out information about what makes up her personality. She and I really had fun creating it with orange yarn hair and a cute little outfit cut from pretty scrapbook paper. I forgot to take a picture of it before we turned it in to her teacher, but when she gets it back I will take and post one. I got a little carried away trying to draw a face on it for Brielle that made the features look somewhat realistic. I guess I'm one of THOSE moms. I can't just make it simple and have to draw the face FOR Brielle. But Brielle loved it, and had tons of fun drawing the pictures to go with it of her family and her favorite things.

I finally got out and did some shopping Tuesday for having a family over for dinner that evening. It took a lot of energy to be on my feet all day shopping, cleaning the house, and cooking, but it was worth it. We had a ton of fun. The Gibb family that came is still somewhat new in our ward and we've really enjoyed them. Their kids are all the same ages as our soon to be 3. So they all had a great time too. I LOVE company. Especially when I'm really not able to do any of the other things we used to do to have fun- sit through movies at the theater or do any sort of recreation. We had had the most boring weekend of our lives the weekend prior because we were stuck in the house with nothing to do, no where to go, and bad weather out. So we really appreciated the chance to mix it up a bit having friends over.

Tuesday was also the Presidential State Of The Union Address and my step father in law had a nice surprise. He was in Washington D.C. for a national Beet Growers conference- he's a farmer. And the state of Idaho found out, I'm not sure what individual made the arrangements, but that person had an extra guest ticket that upon hearing Galen (my step father in law) was in D.C. gave to him to attend. So Galen was present at the address and was on our local news for it as well as Todd's mom who the news came and interviewed that day here in Fruitland. Kind of fun for them to be celebrities for a day.

I worked on the trim of my quilt for the baby until my machine stopped working. It hadn't ever had a tune up, so I took it in and that was all that was wrong. The timing was off a little and it really needed lubed up as dry as it had gotten. So I can pick it up today and get cracking on it again! I'm probably less than 30 minutes from being done with the quilt, so stopping the project that close to the end when the machine stopped working was SOOOO frustrating. Sewing machines are so fickle! Before taking it in to be repaired, I had even gone to my friend, Marcee's house to borrow her machine and it wouldn't work for her or I either! Which was OK because we wanted time to go over some songs together and that left us plenty of time to sing.

One nice thing, though, is that the repair lady raved over how nice my machine was. I picked it out on my own, on a good sale, because my mom wanted to get me one for my birthday 4 years ago and wasn't close by to help me pick one out or familiar with new models. She sent the money with my dad who was able to come for my birthday and I did all the research I could to pick a nice machine out. So I guess I can't think too harshly about it for not working. It went 4 years with little use which, I guess makes them dry up faster. And she said it was super dry.

It's about a month before Brielle's birthday, so I've starting brainstorming for her b-day party. I LOVE LOVE LOVE doing birthday parties. But I was a little stumped on this one and I'll explain why. Last year, after her pirates and princesses party, Brielle randomly announced that next year she wanted to have a Rainbow party. I'm not sure where the idea came from, but initially I thought of a treasure hunt for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and thought that sounded like a great theme for a little girl! I even ordered a plastic black witch's brew kettle online at Halloween time to be the pot of gold. I thought they'd be harder to find in April.

Well, then I went online this past week trying to find party activity ideas and favors or party decor. Silly me, I forgot what rainbows are so famous for these days! Talk about gay pride! I'm wondering if parents will raise an eye brow at our theme! But everything online for the first few sites that came up on the search engine was adult gay party props/paraphernalia/decor. Marcee is in the primary presidency in church and they are doing a rainbow themed party (in light of the rainbow baptism primary song) for the 8 year-olds in a couple weeks. She was telling me some of their ideas, a rainbow arch made of helium balloons, rainbow candies for hand outs, etc. So those tips may have preserved the plan. But it was a rocky day of party planning last week!

I'm a day shy of 3 weeks until I CAN be induced. I haven't set an induction date yet but it will probably be set for after the following weekend of the day I CAN be because Todd will have his monthly class the evening of the soonest day I can be. Not too ideal to have your baby without your husband! So it's actually going to be more like 3 and a half weeks unless she comes early. Ah, wishful thinking!

"Mommy, look!"




Wednesday was my salon appointment with the new stylist. I'm excited about my hair! I liked the lady who used to do it, but I was shocked to actually get EXACTLY what I asked for, for my very first time. No more Barbie blond, now it looks more natural. Todd and I had apts. at the same time so Rachele babysat for us and we took advantage of the time alone and went out to dinner. We ate at the local Italian restaurant and tried their calzones for our first time. I told the waitress to remind me not to pig out and eat the whole thing because I wanted to save room for one of their delicious desserts. Then I regretted saying anything because the calzone turned out to be so good I didn't want to stop eating it! Not even for dessert! So we'll be back there again soon... I love food way too much.

On the way home we stopped at my friend Allison's house to see her baby. She had him Friday, the 6th (Three weeks early... so unfair). He was cute as a button and she looked great! I brought and loaned her my post pardum bands. They were so nice to have after I had Ashton. They just support a tummy that's been through the wringer and they really help tighten ligaments and bones back into place faster.

Brielle's Valentine's Day party in pre-school was on Thursday. She had fun decorating sugar cookies and making little Valentine tags at home to give her friends. We decorated a jar and filled it with chocolates for her teacher as a big Valentine/thank you. Her teacher had given us that jar filled with peaches to go with a meal she made for us that previous Monday. I've had a rough time getting up and going lately and she was sweet enough to bring dinner- the best potato soup I've EVER had! With home canned peaches and home made bread.

My family drove in from California on Friday morning. I was expecting them around 11:00 but they drove a little on the fast side and showed up at 8:30... I was still in bed! Kind of embarrassing. We had a good weekend with them. Brielle bawled when they left and begged for April to stay exactly 50 more days. I don't know where she came up with that number, but she was devestated to say goodbye. While they were here we went to my sister, Rachele's college choir concert. She sings so good. My parents met her boyfriend, John, for the first time. He's such a nice guy. I like seeing the way my sister glows now that they are dating. Her demeanor seems to reflect in her a deeper understanding of how special and full of worth she is. I guess that is how I gauge how I feel about her boyfriends.

My mom and Rachele also helped me tie the quilt I made for the baby. My mom was sweet enough to pick me up the boards and C-clamps to make our own quilt tying set up over the table. Makes me want to make a lot more quilts! I've really had fun with it. I'm just finishing up the satin trim around the edges and then it's done!

At my Dr. apt. on Friday, the Dr. said I was suddenly measuring a little big for my due date. I hear women getting that news all the time and it never seems to mean anything when the baby is born, they're all still the normal size for that family's babies. But I've NEVER measured off of my due date in any of this pregnancy or any previous pregnancy either. So it did make me raise an eye brow. I've had my passion for FOOD for sure over the last few months. And chocolate... and milk shakes... and... Whoppers at Burger King which I usually hate. So it's probably just ME being bigger, not the baby.

Valentine's Day was fun. Todd and I left the kids with my brother, Marty, and drove to Barbacoa's in Boise while my parents went to dinner and a movie. We had made reservations for Barbacoa's quite a while ago because it's a hot spot. We LOVE their guacamole. The food was great- especially dessert, a chocolate suffle. They give flowers, candy, and a poem while there on Valentine's Day. They make it a special night. Todd and I trade every other year to be in charge of planning our Valentine's date and it was his turn this year. He knows the key to my heart lately is great food.

In light of President's Day yesterday; I've been watching the news and hearing a little about Chavez, the Venezuelan president, soon to be dictator. I served my mission there soon after he was elected president. I saw how quickly fear hit the people. Several times we weren't allowed to leave our apartments because of violence from protesters and governmental abuses on the streets in many towns and cities. Instantly the country was divided by the poor who feared but needed Chavez and all his promises to take their freedom in exchange for being given the things required to live. And the rest suddenly dispised him. The middle class was gone almost over night. He has taken so much control of their means to live that they all fear him NOT being reelected because they fear losing all that they need to survive. He is 10 years strong running and now having the vote to have no limit for time in office. Which I'm sure people will fear voting against for the same reasons. It's a great example to me of what a little extra power given to the government and a few unconstitutional favors given the people will do over not very much time.

I've been making home made bread a lot lately now that I have my red wheat. It made all the difference! The bread turns out perfect... just the way I love it. Even the kids are begging for bread with honey and butter for treats. We're going through it fast enough, though, that I may need to start substituting some of the regular white flour from the store for part of the wheat or my kids will have some major cases of the runs for a really long time. They need broken in to all this whole wheat.

It's warming up just enough outside that my kids are playing outside again with no more than coats on. Snow gear was just such a hassle! And Ashton couldn't walk around too easily with tall boots on and deep snow to trudge in so he'd be done and back inside within 10 minutes of gearing him up and sending him out. With them out more, I can already see a significant change in how much easier it is to keep my house looking presentable. I can't wait for Spring! A new baby, lots of flowers, warm sun, happy healthy kids getting exercise, starting the garden, a clean house, it's all getting me super excited.

So Ashton was trying to fit in.....













We've had a week of painting! I'll get some pictures on here once the kids clean their rooms up enough to look nice in a picture.... After finally deciding on bedding I liked for the kids's rooms, ordering it, and receiving it in the mail, I was able to hit Home Depot and pick out matching paint colors.

Brielle's bedding is butterflies and polka dots in two shades of pink and two shades of green. So the room is now the lighter green on top, with the two shades of pink in stripes on the bottom. I really like it. We didn't have a Wayne's coat trim around the center of the wall to divide the colors, so I painted a vine and stamped pink flowers along it. Brielle LOVES it, which feels nice since the poor girl has had a drab room with half torn off wall paper hanging around its walls for a year now.

Ashton got a planes, trains, and trucks room in the primary colors. We left the yellow upper walls alone (from when it was Brielle's room), but we painted over the purple bottom with stripes of two shades of blue. It was surprising what a HAPPY room it became in those colors. Ashton loves his new bedding and room. For now, he actually LIKES being in his crib because of it too.

We only had one paint mis-hap. We were not thinking when we ordered bedding AFTER the new carpet got put in because that meant painting AFTER just getting new carpet. We painted the rooms after putting the kids to bed. One of the nights, we stayed up pretty late and slept a little sounder than normal that next morning. Brielle and Ashton were sharing a room while the other room would be worked on, so Brielle let them out of the room in the morning (there was a child proof knob on the inside to keep Ashton from escaping), and Ashton let himself into the other freshly painted room without us hearing anything. He had enough time to pick up a half dried paint roller and drop it on the floor before Brielle started shouting for us to wake up and come see. We used finger nail polish remover on the basketball sized spot of paint in the carpet and it all came out miraculously. But it was a big scare and we felt pretty stupid for leaving it all out. We were just used to getting Ashton out of bed ourselves and didn't expect any other scenario. Plus we were bushed and knew we weren't completely finished.

I love re-doing rooms, it's so fun to do any side crafts along with the painting. For Brielle's room I bought wooden letters for the girls' names and painted them. For Ashton's I bought on clearance some wooden picture frames and painted them red to hang some theme-matching art I got for his room. Now I'm working on the baby bedding. My very first quilt! I'm so green at quilts that I even forgot to buy matching fabric for the OTHER side of the quilt. I was so focused on the fabrics I'd use for the design on top when I first bought my supplies! But it's well on its way and I'm having fun doing it. I'm still waiting on back ordered sheets to start on the crib bumper and crib skirt projects.

I threw a Pampered Chef party for a friend from Todd's work that last week in January. It's always fun to have company over and mingle with friends. But I always feel guilty doing sales parties. At least Pampered Chef is a popular one, usually people are waiting to hear of one to come to because they like the products so much. But I vowed to Todd it would be my last sales party. Since I've lived here I've done this one, Mary Kay, Uppercase Living (wooden sticker signs), and Stampin' Up and I don't want my friends to get burned out on them! I am excited to get the items I received free for throwing the party.

That weekend was my new nephew's baby blessing. Ashton wanted to go up to the front of the church with Todd to participate in the blessing circle. So he made a little scene when I had to contain him in the back. We ultimately spent the blessing outside the Sacrament Rm., but I was able to hear most of it. After Sacrament, the relatives all met up for a meal. Every guy there was watching the clock because it was also Superbowl Sunday. Once the clock struck 4:00, they all snuck out to the car to get the goodies they brought and hid up in a bonus room glued to the TV. For the first time, Todd and all his brothers were rooting for the same team- the Cardinals. I should have warned them... Todd is cursed with always rooting for the losing team. So they were all disappointed in the end when sure enough, the Cardinals lost. Todd hates it when I point this quality out, but it's TRUE!!! I took him to a Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns game two years ago for his birthday. It was more convenient to go there than to Phoenix even though our team was the Phownix Suns, but they had about a 20 game winning streak so we felt safe not being at a home game. They lost by over 30 points!!!!! We were SOOOO upset that the ONE game we went to, they would get beat to smithereens.

Back to the Superbowl. My family didn't watch sports on Sundays, partly because we didn't watch sports period. But I knew where my parents stood on the Sabbath Day issue and I feel guilty that it occurs in my home. But I'm waiting for Todd to make that choice for himself. For now, I'm OK with sharing some of the cookies and sleeping through the game on the couch :)

This past Thursday morning I got a call from my sister at the salon she works at. She said the girl who did my hair was suddenly fired that day and she (my sister) didn't know any of the details yet and wasn't supposed to ask any questions or talk about it. Simply, she had to call everyone with appointments and re-book them with a different stylist. That was shocking. My stylist was well loved there. I still don't know what on Earth happened. And my apt. was already almost 2 weeks over due and set for THAT very next day. So I now will be seeing the salon owner, a pretty prestigious stylist in this area, which is kind of cool. But he's so booked I had to wait ANOTHER week to get in. My hair is really needing a change or some attention.

Thursday evening, I accompanied a friend in the Stake Young Women's Relief Society Presidency to a presidency meeting with the Spanish Branch Young Women's President. I was asked to translate. It was fun to polish up on my rusty Spanish. Afterward, they asked me to come to the Spanish Branch's branch conference the following Sunday (yesterday) to translate during the Young Women's portion of the hour. Unfortunately, by the end of the meetings, we discovered they only have 2 blocks of meetings in the Spanish Branch and only do Young Women's for the second block once a month. The other Sundays they have Sunday School instead. And all of the youth speak English. I would have still been needed if the Young Women's president had attended and spoken with us afterward, but she was not there.

Todd and I were assigned members of the Spanish branch our first 6 months living here and it was nice to say hi to old friends. But I remembered how hard it is to sit through their meetings. They sing the hymns at least 3 times slower than English wards because the pianist and chorister are usually untrained. And talks are often given by guests from English speaking wards so every single sentence has to be repeated in Spanish. Thus the talks are twice as long and I understand both versions. Which makes them feel a lot slower.

I spent several hours this weekend typing up 5 pages full of the ins and outs for a Disney World trip for a friend of Todd and I's. Her family is going in March, which is VERY soon and hard to plan such an extensive trip in so little time. We just went with Todd's family about this time last year. I really spelled it out for her in what I typed up so hopefully she won't be too stressed for what to do in so little time. If anyone ever plans a first-time trip to Disney World and would like the help or suggestions, I saved the file on my computer and would be happy to e-mail it. It was nice for us to have friends who had just gone to give us advice and explain a lot of their trip to us when we made our vacation plans.

Sunday I also substitute taught Relief Society in church. It was my first time attending Relief Society for a very very long time. I've had the same calling- Primary Worker, since we started attending this ward. I've bounced around within that title, starting as the Achievement Days coordinator, then a teacher, now a sub. So it was nice to be with the other women and also nice to be able to attend Todd's Gospel Doctrine class for my first time. Everyone always tells me what a wonderful teacher is and I'm proud to hear it, but didn't really know for myself. He did do a great job.

Brielle is very excited for Valentine's Day this week. She has been drawing Valentine pictures for her friends at school to exchange in their mail boxes. We bought some X and O cookie cutter shapes to make and decorate cookies to go with her pictures. They have their party at pre-school on Thursday.

Ashton likes to copy Brielle and draw scribbles on the paper and say "Mom, look!" over and over to get my approval. Brielle draws really well for her age. She teaches Ashton what he'll learn from her all the time.