Randomness

We have had A LOT of doctor and dentist appointments this summer. I feel like at least once a week we are at an appointment, but hopefully everyone will be in good shape for the start of school.

 We've needed to get out of the house with all the rain we've had, so sometimes we drive far, just to get lunch. Thankfully it was beautiful this particular day for our lunch before the rain hit! We watched the storm roll in which was pretty cool to see. I love Alberta skies!

We celebrated Ethan's 26th birthday complete with birthday hat and all. 

I love these goobers!! They are best little buds. Thea starts kindergarten this fall and James is so sad that he won't be joining her.

We spent time going through the girls' clothes to see what they've grown out of. I'm at the point where I refuse to buy the kids new clothes unless they actually need them. I'm happy to say that despite growing like little weeds the girls still have PLENTY of clothes! It helps that Ella  is the same size as all her aunts and so they pass on their clothes to her! Lucky girl. Liv has all Ella's outgrown clothes so she is good. The boys, on the other hand, are very hard on their clothes and with the huge gaps in age make it hard to pass things down. Soooo, we will definitely need to be shopping for them before school starts. Crazy that we are down to the short stretch before school starts. Bittersweet! 

Life with 5

Ever wonder what life with 5 kids is like? Well, I'll give you a little glimpse. Be prepared to be terrified!! hahah

We had the basement repainted to try and brighten it up down there. It took the painter TWO DAYS to mud since the walls were so hole-y...


There is a never ending pile of dishes in the sink, and at least 2 rounds of dishes going through the dishwasher a day.

Our house is tiny, our kitchen table is the eating table, craft table, homework table, you name it table...

Every corner in the house has a pile of something in it...

Couches are rarely used for sitting... They are either piled with stuff, or used as part of the kids' "Wipeout" obstacle course.

And that's just the tip of the iceburg! The girls have a little "shop" in their room. They've made their own paper money and have crafted things out of paper which now line every inch of their room.
 Our room isn't any better with the babe still being in it.  

Piles, Piles, everywhere!

 
SO it doesn't look like this ALL the time, but it sure feels like it. Sometimes I wonder if a bigger house would solve anything or if this would just be a bigger mess. But I really feel like if we actually had a PLACE for things to go, it wouldn't be as bad as now.

I'm SLOWLY getting things organized. Summer is hard since everyone is home all day long and I can't fit big items in the van haha. But I am determined to get it done so we can ENJOY it before we move. It always happens that I get things close to the way I want just in time to move. Not this time! Well, that's my goal at least. I'd honestly love to find a house and move in August before school starts, but that's wishful thinking.

So much going on….

So last week we had our March Anniversary party for Relief Society. There was so much time and effort put into this night and I just have to say I’m SOOO glad it’s over. A huge thanks to my mom and Katelyn for helping me out. I’ve been so sore and swollen lately that getting things done isn’t easy. For example, check out my feet (yes I know, gross picture) and that was only after HALF the day! Having those 2 extra set of hands really helped me out! THANK YOU BOTH!!


Anyhoo, it was a fun night but again I’m super glad it’s over. When planning for 150 people it’s a LOT of work. We spent hours planning, plus hours the day before and the day of getting ready for it. I meant to take my camera to get some decent pics, but forgot. Thank goodness for the phone! We decorated the gym like a locker room to go with the TEAM theme. There were lockers and pennants, soccer nets, equipment of all kinds, you name it. I took pictures of about 110 sisters in the ward and we had them printed up, then either put them on pennants and used them as part of the centerpiece and the others were used to make a big poster that looked like those high school year book graduating class photos. It looked awesome! And seeing as it was a sports theme, we decided to go casual and had everyone wear a sports jersey or something like that. It was a great night




Let’s see what else… Oh. Ella. I have to write this story down ‘cause it STILL kills me. So We’ve had many challenging mornings with Ella trying to get her to get dressed or eat or whatever. This one morning in particular was a nightmare. She was coloring at the table and I asked her what she wanted for breakfast. She fussed and complained that she wasn’t hungry and ended up running up to her room in a fit. I went up to her room and said “well, while you’re up here, please get dressed for school.” To which I got “I’m STARVING and you won’t let me eat!!!!" ugh. So I left her to go help Will and Liv and hoped she’d calm down. She finally came downstairs dressed really cute and I eventually got her to eat breakfast while I fixed her lunch. Anyhoo, the morning plays out like this back and forth of how mean I am, I won’t let her do what she wants, etc. It comes time to get everyone in the car. Ella has disappeared yet again and I tell her I’ll be waiting for her in the car, I’m going to get Liv and Will buckled in, hurry up. While I’m buckling them up, Ella runs around the van and hops into her seat. Thank goodness. I hate being late! So I’m thinking things will pick up, she listened, I didn’t have to haul her out of the house kicking and screaming, she seems much calmer, all is well. OR SO I THOUGHT!! The day goes on as normal and eventually it’s time to get Alivia to school. I pull up to the school grounds and see Ella, but something isn’t right. She’s wearing these ugly brown pants that are WAY too big for her. I thought maybe she’d fallen in water/mud and they’d given her some new pants to wear. I love that the school has extra clothes on hand in case of emergencies. But I thought it was weird how BIG they were. Maybe they had to lend out a lot of clothes that day, I don’t know… So Ella sees us pull up and runs over to the van holding these pants up. She hops in the car and I ask her why she’s wearing those pants.

Ella - “I wore them to school today”

Me- ummmm WHAT????

Ella - “They were in my room so I wore them”

I take a closer look… Ella!! Those are MY pants!!! Why did you change????

Ella – “They were in my room so I wanted to wear them!”

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I didn’t have time to drive home and get her her jeans, so she wore them the rest of the day. Needless to say I was TICKED and slightly embarrassed that she would wear those to school. You think the fact that you have to HOLD THEM UP that they just wouldn’t be yours… Funny thing was I think she was more ticked at me because I didn’t want her wearing them. You can tell by her face in the picture (taken after school) how impressed she is with me

Then the other day Liv was brushing my hair. She turns to me and says “mom, you’re so big you look like A WHOLE FOOTBALL TEAM” uhh Thanks? So while my visiting teachers were over Will was playing with my iPhone and taking pictures. I found this gem


From that angle I DO look like a whole football team. Imagine running into that! hahaha

I've now made it to my due date. I have to say I’m bummed. I’ve NEVER made it to my due date! EVER! I’ve always gone at least 2 days early. So this is KILLING ME!! I’ve learned that I have to let things go. I can’t be in control of everything and I have to have patience. I KNEW those things, but I’ve really learned it over the last couple weeks. I had everything all planned out. I had finally convinced Jimmy to agree to a home birth if all was going well (this is HUGE people!) Heidi even helped me pack for the hospital and home birth (thanks Heidi!). I had a photographer lined up for birth photos. I knew my dad was leaving on the 22nd, so I had things all planned out to have the baby before then and all would be good. Plus then there would be time for Dave, Ash and Ethan to come up and visit before exams and their vacation. Well, this baby has other plans. My dad is now off on his business trip, the photographer I had lined up has left on vacation (thankfully I have a back up! but man my timing is bad). Ashley, Dave and Ethan came up, but can only stay until Sunday morning, so who knows if they’ll still be around when this kiddo comes. One of the midwives left this morning on vacation. There’s a lady with the midwives that is almost 2 weeks overdue, so they’re most likely going to have to induce her this weekend. So here’s hoping that all works out. But like I said, I’ve learned I have no control over it, and can’t stress about it. I have to admit that that is REALLY hard to do!!

My kids are now all out of school on Spring Break. Add that to my list of things that I was stressed about. I had really hoped that this baby would at least come a few days before the break started so that by the time they were all off of school I would at least feel decent enough to get around, maybe even do a few fun things with them. But again, I’ve learned I can’t control it and we just have to make the best of the situation. Now to find ways to A) get this baby out (most importantly haha) B) keep these kids busy so they’re not playing video games all day or beating each other up like they’re doing now. WISH ME LUCK!!! hahah

Crib quilt and random belly pics

I’ve been trying to get a bunch of things done before this baby comes. One of those is setting up the baby’s room. Not an easy task! BUT this past weekend Jimmy and Austin took apart the bunk beds and moved them to their “new” room. My project was to make a crib quilt.
I'm not a sew-er by any means, but I was determined to make as much of the crib quilt by myself as I could. And I did it!! Between my mom, Aunt Mame and Sandra helping me out I was able to do it start to finish! My mom helped me pick out the fabrics (driving around with me in –40C degree weather I might add!), helped create the “pattern”, and helped me sew it. I did do most of the sewing which is a first for me.
Sandra helped me with the binding and even helped Ella with sewing a little stuffed monster too. Aunt Mame watched Will for a couple days so I could just work on getting it done. He had the time of his life! It doesn’t get much better than snuggling in Aunt Mame’s bed with Maggie, playing on the iPad, eating snacks and watching Treehouse on the TV. Thank you all for your help!! You’re wonderful!!

If you know me and projects, you’ll know it nearly killed me having it take 4 days to finish the quilt. I think that’s partly why I don’t like starting things unless I KNOW I can get it done that day. If I can’t finish it the day I start… well… Just ask Jimmy how that goes haha
And here’s the quilt! I'm sooo glad that Sandra had the polka dot minky for the back. It’s so soft and the polka dots are much cuter than the plain stuff I was looking at.
There is SO much fabric left over that I made a bassinet blanket as well. Sadly not enough to make the crib skirt or curtains, but still, a TON! Any thoughts of what to do with the extra?


It feels good to get something done. Now on to painting the bedroom which will be a fun undertaking seeing as the baseboards, trim and doors need to be painted as well as all the walls. FUN! haha I think I’ve figured out the color for it which is always part of the stress of painting a room, right? So I’m glad that’s figured out! I cannot wait to get it done! Next week’s project, right? haha Here’s hoping anyways. If not that, then I figured out what I'm going to do for the curtains so I can work on that and SHOULD be able to finish it in a day.
Anyone want to teach me to crochet? Or better yet, just make this for me in yellow?? Just kidding (sort of). Isn't he cute though??? Now to find a lion and a zebra. Wouldn't those be cute in a yellow, grey, black and white room?


And these are random, not so hot, prego pics from November to today.
Random iphone pic November 23, 2011 – 22 1/2 weeks

Another lousy iphone pic December 17, 2011 – 26 weeks (do you like that I have to wear Jimmy’s sweat pants since I don’t fit anything of my own? Nice hey)

January 2, 2012 – 28 1/2 weeks.

January 21 – 31 weeks

Today – 32 weeks

8 weeks and TOTALLY COUNTING! hahah Maybe I’ll be lucky and it’ll come a few weeks early like Will did (just minus the growth restricted part…) and then baby will be here in FIVE WEEKS

Gift for Me!

Last year my parents gave me money for my birthday to buy a camera bag. They weren’t sure what I’d want/like, so they left it up to me. Only took me a year to figure it out hahah. There are so many out there that are really cute, but I was hesitant to buy one off of Etsy just in case the homemade ones weren’t sturdy. I LOVE the Kelly Moore bags, but those cost a small fortune. I finally found one that I love (and it didn’t break the bank haha)

I bought it online from Cheeky Lime and it works awesome! Beats carrying around that nasty Canon bag that came with my first DSLR… Funny thing is now I want the red one to use as a diaper bag haha.

Day 14 - Some Pictures You Love

I LOVE this post day, but man is it hard to narrow down!!! There are some photos from artists that I love, but that was too easy. So be prepared for a LOT of photos! There are SOOOO many more, but these are just a few.

Alivia at about 3 months old (where did that dark hair go???)


My goofy brothers


Oh Ella, how you make us smile!


Big day for our family - Jimmy admitted to the bar!


I was SO privileged to be able to photograph Shaun and Mariana's wedding in Hawaii.



I chose these because I have such amazing memories tied to these photos. These girls will always be numbered among those considered my best friends. I will never forget the fun times we had! I just wish we could be making more memories.






I loved Cuba