Lisl, Stephen, Franklin & Lisette Quinn

October Slideshow

2011-11-02T16:28:00.000-06:00

Enjoy the pictures! (photos of our home to come as soon as we have gotten rid of all boxes; you can see some in the background of some of these pictures)

We heart October

2011-11-01T14:46:00.000-06:00

Fall is my absolute favorite season and I know I've said it before many times. This has probably been the craziest one yet for us.

In September we found out we were moving; a mile away, but into a different ward. 2 weeks after that we went on the annual work retreat and had a much needed mini family vacation. The kids really wore themselves out at the water park. 2 weeks later was the Graham County Fair (Stephen and I actually went on a date there, without kids!) and we got the keys to the new house. We packed and cleaned all of the following week. Crazy, stressful and lots of insanity. Moving day was that Wednesday and we are so grateful to everyone that came to help. It went so smoothly, the easiest moving day we've ever had.

We made the mistake of letting the kids hang out a lot in the house because before the move. Every night that week we took another load over so moving day wouldn't be so crazy. The mistake was Franklin became very obsessed with his green room and every night that we didn't stay there he cried. Still, the kids got to go visit friends, have play dates, go to grandmas and have lots of time away from home. Surprisingly I didn't get ahead with packing during that time due to LOTS of orders and loads of work from my dad. I can't get mad at either one because we are thrilled at the success of PaciFashion and I had been challenging my dad all the previous week to give me a work load. So I got what I asked for, a double whammy.

The following Saturday (I still don't know why I thought I could do it) I had signed up to be a vender at a local school craft/boutique fair. My mother-in-law did it with me and it really was exciting to see her have so much success! One woman quickly came to me and asked for a business card because she didn't want her daughter to know she was going to get a Princess Jammie for Christmas while telling her daughter, "No, you can't have one." There were multiple moms and grandmas buying Sheila's Princess Jammies for Christmas, each purchased followed with; Now forget you saw it.
There are still boxes of various things in the house; mostly pictures waiting to be hung. Every wall inside the house is nearly a foot wide; an older built home with plaster walls inside drywall. This house is VERY well insulated. My point is, I have all these Hercules Hooks and not a single one is useful, so pictures are waiting till we are sure of their placement before we put nails in the walls.

The kids really love it here and so do we. We all had become sick during the move and for me, I only got worse after the move was complete. Last weekend we spent a lot of time detail cleaning, mostly the floors (which seemed to almost never have been mopped; please don't quote me) and since then my health has drastically improved.

We have a large garden, but because of my allergies I cannot pick most of it without long sleeves overlapping garden gloves. I have yet to do that because Stephen has been so sweet taking care of that for me. We have LOTS of chili's and peppers, which I will not allow inside due to the extreme nature of my allergy to them. So if anyone in the area would like to come visit me and wants bags of chili's and/or peppers, feel free to stop by.

Franklin has been loving every minute of school. Everyday he makes a deal with me; he will do something I want and then he gets to school after. So I'm having to create a calender with a picture or drawing of a school on the days he actually goes and have a magnet representing him so he can see if it's a day he gets to go or not.

Franklin strikes a deal for just about everything. We've have to reason with him so often because of his obsessive nature that I think he's using it back on us. He's also become extremely bossy to Lisette. He gets in trouble very often for this. He thinks he won't be in trouble if he repeats anything I've said to her; i.e. Get that out of your mouth; Go to bed; Put that down; Get off the cat; etc. He's also picked up on a few phrases; Oh my gosh; What the heck; You make me sad; Gee whiz; Dagnabit (it doesn't quite sound that way); etc. Needless to say I'm really trying hard to watch what I say.

I don't know if it's anger, fun, wanting to be bad, or a bad thing she learned in nursery, but Lisette has bitten Franklin a few times lately. I can count on one hand how many times in the last month, but it's still really bad. It's not just a bite because she had drawn blood and made bruises. Now I don't think I've even been that violent, but it's freaky how much Lisette is just like me. An example is she body slams the cat. Poor Rizzo and he just won't run away either, so she does it several times in a row. Honestly I think he's only bitten her once her whole life; I wish he would do it more to protect himself. Although he has done it to Franklin when he has gone too far.

PaciFashion has been doing very well. I hit over 1000 sales last month. October marked my 2nd anniversary. Keep in mind a sale is usually 3 or more straps together and is rarely 1 by its self. Stephen and I have been enjoying it and have been staying caught up in just the past week since the move. Luckily no one made a complaint and I've given away a few extras in some orders that took me way too long to put together as an apology. I've always hated excuses so they received a gift instead of an excuse.

Halloween was so great for the kids. I made both their costumes. Lisette, who was supposed to be a pink poodle, wouldn't wait till we were done trick or treating to eat candy. She even had 2 suckers in one hand, licking them simultaneously or together. Then when she got cotton candy those uncovered suckers went into the treat bag for later. Franklin, for the first time in his life, was silent; not a word, no recognition to anyone. Franklin was a Sheriff, but I think he was acting like a zombie. 6 people asked him to draw and nothing happened; one track mind, must have more candy. The 7th person didn't even ask about his guns, but out they came anyway. He finally reacted to someone and lit up. All the people we went to were familiar, our last ward held Trunk or Treat.

We finished up at home with decorating cookies and when the kids had their sugar crash, it came hard and with a vengeance. So once they were in bed, sugar washed out of hair, hands and face, they were out. We had a few trick or treaters at that point and that was enjoyable for me. We have never had anyone come to us for trick or treating before. We never lived in a location that kids came to, or that we were comfortable with (Tucson).

A slideshow is soon to come. We took so many pictures last month, way too many things went on, but we had a great October this year. Don't forget to come and get some chilies!

Summer is over?

2011-09-20T14:39:00.000-06:00

Though summer is ending, it does and doesn't feel like it here. It doesn't because the temperatures still threaten to go into the 3 digits and sometimes succeeds. It does because Franklin is now in Preschool and he LOVES it. Lisette is always sad to see him go. She calls him "Wahwah" and though I'm not sure why because she can say words (not all of them understandable) it is very endearing. I've had to talk to Franklin about her name for him and that he needs to respond because she gets desperate for his attention.

Franklin absolutely loves school. He's learning so much and every time I pick him up he always says, "I'm having fun today!" He makes friends so easily and he's just such a happy kid. He wishes he had school everyday, but alas, he only has school on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon - 2:00. I also wish he had school more often. It's amazing the transformation Lisette goes through when Franklin isn't around. Don't get me wrong; she absolutely adores him, but she becomes a very calm and happy girl when she's without him.

Stephen's work has been up and down, over and over for the last few weeks. We had a few, very late, monsoon rains and it got very cool. But then some people noticed they had leaks and so he'd have more work. Then the rains were gone and the temperatures were still pleasant for a few days and no one called. Low and behold, the temperatures have risen again and the few that thought they could just wait it out realized that summer just won't end.

I've been very busy staying ahead with my church calling to have music ready, keeping up with my shop, trying to stay on top of gardening and the lawn, trying even harder to keep up with the messes the kids make and trying to find time to unwind when I can. Lisette is still prone to her fits and we've been working very hard with her to control her dramatic tendencies. Franklin has definitely been showing a more emotional side to him; but it could be that he's napping less because of the time he has school.

We did get to have a very fun camping trip the weekend after Labor Day with the Lewis family (my sister Heidi, her hubby Sam and their 2 kids that are the same ages as mine). We had pouring rain that Friday night and we had not been prepared for how cold it would get. It didn't help that I forgot anything long-sleeved for the kids. Franklin was happy to wear daddy's flannel shirt that had to be rolled, tied and finagled to fit him, but Lisette refused to wear my sweater. She only agreed to wear a spare coat her cousin Tanyth had because she had been wearing one too. The next morning was clear, beautiful and warm. We all had fun hanging out, watching the kids play and just being together.

Now for the big announcement! We are moving... a mile away. Last September up until this last February we had been keeping our eyes open for another place to live; an upgrade from the home (trailer) we are currently living in but still within our budget and we were very picky about where to look since we wanted to stay in Thatcher 4th ward. Nothing came up, so we signed another lease and convinced ourselves that we wouldn't look again for another year or more.

However, a woman from 2nd ward visited my mother-in-law and told her that she wanted Stephen and our family to live in her home. For a few weeks she had asked her what we thought of it, but we hadn't heard. Life got busy for everyone and just last Monday, while we were picking up the kids from grandma's, this woman calls Sheila to ask a few details about our current rental. We went to see their home and though it is very beautiful we decided no; it wasn't in our budget and it wasn't in 4th ward, so saying no was easy. All the while, the homeowner was telling us that she's known for weeks now that we are supposed to be the ones to live in her home.

Stephen had forgotten to call them to let them know and on Wednesday, while we got to have a very special lunch out with daddy (which hardly ever happens) we get a call that they will come down in rent to an amount we could accept. I still said no; it wasn't in 4th ward. So we agreed to pray about it and because I had been feeling sick I had asked for a plain and simple answer that I wouldn't confuse with how I had been feeling at the time. Of course the answer was yes and I cannot refuse for fear I might get struck by lightening because I did get a clear answer.

We will begin moving to the new home on Stadium Avenue in the second week of October. We have begun packing up things that don't need to be out for a while so we can start cleaning the home we are in now. We want this place to be able to have someone move in the day after we move out. The home is literally 1 house away from still being in 4th ward, so naturally I'm pleading that they'll let us stay; I've already begun working on the Christmas program and I will finish it for 4th ward even if they kick us out.

I have loved my calling as ward choir director and this year I have made so many friends and don't like the thought of not seeing most of them anymore just because I live one house away. I have no animosity towards 2nd ward, I just don't want to start as the new family again and it doesn't help me be convinced to switch when I know that part of the street had once been in 4th ward years ago. There is another plus though: plants can actually grow with a little less effort at the other home so I am letting my gardens die and hopefully the bugs that have been destroying my flowers will not follow us.

We are also trying to sell my wonderful car. There is nothing wrong with it and I'm a little sad to be giving it up, but we've been talking about being a one car family and should get something that's between my SUV and the truck. We are also very excited to go on the work retreat that Stephen's boss has arranged for everyone in the company this weekend. Last years was so fun and sure helped us feel like we did have somewhat of a summer vacation since it's the busiest season and it's hard to get time off.

Sorry, I know this was long so thank you for staying tuned. I cannot promise that I will update more regularly but I will try so long entries can be avoided.

Half a year sum up.

2011-06-30T15:55:00.000-06:00

It’s nearly July! That means Stephen and Lisette are both a year older and Stephen and I celebrated our 7^th wedding anniversary. That also means a lot occurred this month. But I’ll give a summary of everything leading to this point…

January = a haze. Honestly I don’t remember much about that month. February: I (Lisl) began having a lot of pain in my hand (remember the story of spraining my finger back in August?) and it was causing pain in my left arm. We battled with Lisette getting sick on and off again; her canines were cutting through all at once and it took over 2 months for them all to FINALLY poke through. Franklin got an ear infection in March and he still talks about Daddy taking him to the doctor.

I had to finally address the issue with my arm and hand very seriously in March. My visit to the Orthopedics office reunited me with a familiar face. My very first roommates’ husband; Cole Bryce, who is now Dr. Cole Bryce!

Dr. Bryce gave me a very painful, but happily accepted shot in the arm that helped with the pain while waiting 2 weeks for surgery on her sprained finger. Surgery was quick and the anesthesia was just right. Grandma April came for a few days to help and after she had to return to work our amazing ward jumped in to help me through the next month. April felt long and slow and the constant wind didn’t/hasn’t helped. Isn’t it March that’s supposed to be windy?

Easter was very enjoyable and fun for the kids. Our ward had a major egg hunt at the ball fields next to the Temple. Then we had a huge (and very rewarding for the kids) hunt in our own backyard. Earlier this Spring we decided to expand the fence for our back yard; so we more than doubled our yard from last year and had many places to put lots of candy-filled eggs.

May began with birthdays. We tried our best to celebrate Stephen’s birthday as work had gotten busier for him. We also took on a project for Lisette’s birthday which included building a back porch. Stephen did just about all the work and the Elder’s came to help put the deck together. I was very grateful since I’m not allowed to use my left hand as much.

June has been crazy busy. The heat came, and the wind still insisted on battling our mood. The second weekend we went to Gilbert for a family gathering with the Randy Quinn clan. Their youngest son, Trevor, was baptized. Back in Christmas they had given us tickets to see Les Miserables that very same weekend. So we left the kids still swimming in the pool (they were being watched, don’t worry) and went to see the most amazing show! We’ve had Les Mis stuck (very happily) in our heads for weeks.

The next weekend was supposed to be Lisl’s 10 year high school reunion and the celebration of 7 years of marriage. Alas, Stephen was on-call and because of many different factors coming to play, we decided not to go. I was planning on seeing some old friends still, but a fire had been threatening the area.

My parents’ neighborhood went on Pre-evacuation and just as we decided it was time to get out of the pool to pack, another fire began just west of us. We were surrounded by smoke on 3 sides of us, with the helicopters and airplanes practically on top of us. Officials were so busy with battling both fires that not a lot of communication was going on and we all felt the urge to evacuate immediately.

So I never saw my friends, and as quickly as we could manage, we all got out of there; I took two of my mom’s cats to stay with us for a week. My parents did go on mandatory evacuation 2 days later and a few days after that they were allowed to go back home.

The following weekend (last weekend) my high school Show Band was having a reunion. Coach (our director, we always called him Coach) had reached 40 years of directing Show Band. So as many who could make it got together for reminiscing and putting together a concert. I had no intention of playing, just singing. I actually started crying when I found out I would get to sing I was so excited. However, at the dinner on Friday night I was told that I should play and represent my years (I was a part of Show Band from fall of ’98 to spring of ’01) and ended up playing for both decades; the 90’s band and the 00’s band.

It was so much fun and such a blast that I never wanted it to end. Sorry to all my fellow Buena ’01 classmates that I ditched out on. I hope you can forgive me and I hope to see you at our 20 year reunion and I truly hope it’ll be during something like Homecoming and nowhere near my anniversary.

p.s. Stephen and I didn’t get to celebrate much, so we are hoping to get a short vacation with just the two of us in the fall when Stephen isn’t so insanely busy. And I’ll have to get back to you about how work is all going when it’s behind us and not at our throats.

The 2010 year Newsletter

2011-01-03T16:36:00.000-07:00

We've been desperate to get newer, up-to-date pictures on the wall. So as I was uploading pictures I got to review 2010 in photographs, looking back on the year.

2010 was a time for change and lots of growth. The year began for us in Lehi, Utah. It was cold and white; just how winter should be (not without the white part). We knew our time in Utah was coming to an end and we didn't even need to pray about where our lives should go next. Instead, Lisl fought, argued and cried for 2 weeks, the end of January into February, about how she didn't want to move back to Thatcher, Arizona. Half way through Feb. we made a visit to Arizona to find a place to live in Thatcher. Our search was only 3 days but felt very long, tiring and we were afraid we'd end up in the wrong home.

On our last day of searching we gave one of the homes on our list a second glance. With the promise of a few improvements before moving in, we signed a lease. We hurried back to Utah with just a few days to pack up everything including the two kids and two cats and began our journey to our new home. Just as March began we settled into a new home, a familiar ward (it was Stephen's home ward growing up and Lisl knew a few from college) and Stephen began a great new job.

April was full of family and friends, between Easter (including a horrific sunburn from being out in the hills and forgetting that Lisl actually burns in Arizona: she still has a tan line from that burn - at least we were concerned enough for Lisette since she inherited her mother's fair skin and kept her shaded) and the Gila Valley Temple Open House. We also began to do a LOT of work around here.

There was zero landscaping on our propery. We had a few early rains to get an idea of what was in store for us for monsoon season with all the mud. 2 different gardens were planted; flowers and vegetables, rocks were laid for a place to park our vehicles and to walk to the door, and we tried our best to make a back lawn with lots of grass. We then discovered the gopher problem as well. (We know exactly what to do about all the many obstacles for this coming Spring, that's for sure)

The Open House ran on through half of May so we managed to visit twice. All the landscaping and growing various things continued into May. At the start of the month we celebrated Stephen's birthday and at the end of the month, our little girl turned 1!

In June we celebrated our 6th anniversary and got in a short get away before the busy season with Stephen's job took over for the rest of the summer. July was hectic and crazy with work for Stephen. August became even more so, but we still managed to celebrate Franklin's 3rd birthday! We began the potty training process with him 2 weeks before his birthday. There were many awful accidents over the next few months and lots of back and forth with progress.

In September, Stephen's employer sent everyone on a weekend getaway to the Arizona Grand Resort and fun at the Oasis park. It was lots of fun and very much needed since we hadn't been able to do much as a family for a few months. Lisl had been called as the ward choir director over the summer but didn't begin practices till Sept. At first it seemed too overwhelming and seemed as if she was in over her head, but the first performance in October went very well.

October was still incredibly hot during the day, but the nights were just right. We decorated our home for the season and Lisl began listening to Christmas music, for her calling (She discovered at that point that she was in charge of the entire program for the Sunday before Christmas). Stephen was gone for half of the month, on and off. He had testing, classes, all for work, then at the end of the month he went on a hunting trip with all of the men from the Quinn family; Stephens dad and all 4 of his brothers (first and maybe even the last time that will happen, so we are all so glad he got to go). Halloween was a bit last minute for Lisl and the kids. We were so happy that "Mom's mom" (that is what Franklin calls Grandma Reed) got to come and spend it with us.

November was surprisingly (and truth be told a bit disappointingly) hot. Lisl had been asked to sing for the Jazz clinics performing for some of the World of Music classes at the college. It was so much fun and it brought back lots of memories; almost as if we never left. The next week was Lisl's birthday followed by Thanksgiving in Sierra Vista with Heidi Lewis (Lisl's sister) and her family. We seriously enjoy doing things with family since that didn't happen much while we lived in Utah.

As December began the pressure was on for Lisl to complete the Christmas program. We decorated our house and tried very hard to make it feel like Christmas since the weather was still too warm for us. It was also during this time that Franklin seemed to fully and completely grasp the concept of, and the necessity of potty training. We haven't rewarded him for going #1 in a while but we began giving fun size candy bars for #2.

The weekend before Christmas was very busy and went very fast. That Saturday Lisl sang with a Jazz Combo at her cousins wedding reception. That was definitely a treat for all and an amazing opportunity for Lisl. The very next day was Lisl's Christmas program which went very well. She had already began ideas for next years program.

Christmas was exciting. The Fellers (Lisl's sister Inga and her family) came over from San Diego and Stephen got a last-second day off for Christmas Eve. We headed to Sierra Vista a day earlier than planned and really enjoyed all that time with family, especially for all the little cousins. On Christmas day we traveled back to Thatcher to spend the afternoon with everyone on the Quinn side. It was so much fun to spend the holiday with so much family! That was what made it a wonderful Christmas for us.

Happy New Year everyone! We know that this year will be even more exciting and hopefully we will see more family, more often.

Lots of Funny Shorts

2010-12-13T16:03:00.000-07:00

My life is a comedy, at least I'm telling myself that so that I can look back and laugh at more things than to be stressed out. Here's a few few funnies from the Quinn family.

Raise your Feet

Lisette is very flexible, it almost makes me sick. She likes to show off her flexibility at the table by squeezing her left foot from under the table, through the small space between her belly and the table, and up on top. Every time we have gathered at the table you will hear at some point "Lisette, foot off the table." She usually complies. Moments later "Lisette, foot off." Most times if we have reached the point of asking her 3 times in a row, that foot will quickly go from under the table, to right on top in just a second flat. "Lisette, stop... put your foot down... Lisette, no feet on the table... stop it!" Each time that foot goes down, then right back up. And so on. She tests her limits; with her flexibility and her parents all in one go. Of course sometimes Franklin joins in "Wisette, foot down!"

Gross!

We are a very affectionate family. We hug and kiss all the time, parents and kids alike. Stephen and I decided long ago that our kids will grow up knowing that their parents do kiss. Stephen came home for lunch, a somewhat rare occurrence now, and as he was leaving I stopped him at the door to give him a kiss. Franklin was standing on the couch and had been looking out with window. Just as we kiss we hear this very loud, "Gross!!"

He actually outbursts with "Gross!" many times about random things; the cat, his sister, me, the potty, food, his room. Makes me laugh every time I hear it. I know he picked that up from me. And sometimes we might hear him say "oh crap!"

Kiss it

I've been very amazed and happy at how much a kiss can cure anything. From the non-boo boo's that don't actually hurt but need a kiss, to the fell-down-large-lump-on-skin that must hurt far more than a kiss should cure. I've also learned that blowing a kiss can heal just as well. Now this has happened more than how many fingers I have... Franklin pretends to fall down a lot; such a silly boy that is just like his father. F: "Mommy, kiss it better." M: "Did you hurt yourself." F: "Yeah. Kiss it better." M: "Where do you want me to kiss?" F: "My butt."

Franklin decides multiple times a day that I need a kiss. I don't mind, usually. Every so often I lay on the floor, on my stomach. Usually that isn't wise for anyone near toddlers and preschoolers. Of course its only fitting that my children turn me into Mommy-playground when I did the same to my mom, especially if I give them that opportunity. On one occasion, Franklin quickly came, nearly belly flopped on my back, and then, with his face already so close to my bum, proceeds to kiss it, "Mommy, I kiss your butt." He has found many occasions to kiss it, while I'm doing dishes, or cooking. Yep, that kid doesn't get the concept of personal space.

Contest

My children are very silly and can be very loud. Every morning I usually enjoy a contest between them. They have 3 different contests that occur daily. At breakfast they usually have a growling contest. Yes, growling. It starts simple: "Grrr!" from Franklin. "Aaarrrr!" from Lisette. And so on until it is very loud and high. Yep, so fun. I was on the phone with one of my sisters once when one of these contests began. I explain what she's hearing in the background and that its all out of fun for them. She replies, "How cute." I respond, "to you."

My favorite is in the car, the "No!" contest. Don't misunderstand. They aren't upset, or mad at each other. It just starts with Franklin (he's always the one to start these contests) telling Lisette, very kindly, "no". She smiles and says it back. Usually this one has the most laughter between them as they get louder. However, the most common contest in the squealing. The most disruptive and least fun. This one often ends with Lisette mad; you can take that to mean she is losing the contest to her brother.

'Fess up

(*disclaimer, TMI in this one) I wish I could say we have 100%, accident free success with potty training Franklin. However, he's had a very recent and happy breakthrough with going poop in the potty every time when he's already up for the day and in underwear. Our biggest struggle with him was getting him to tell the difference between passing gas and needing to poop. He'd constantly announce, "Poop, mommy!" as he releases gas. Not too fun when in the middle of a store and he says it loudly. Now he'll say "Mommy, skinky!" when he farts or "Wisette skinky" when she has a bad diaper. Not long ago I wasn't sure where the stink came from and I asked in general, "who farted?" Franklin laughs and with his very excited enthusiasm "I farted mommy!" all proud of himself. At least he doesn't get embarrassed, yet.

Christmas!

Though it hardly feels like winter; wearing shorts, T-shirts and flip flops, and running the ceiling fan in the middle of the day because of the heat, we are so happy to see Christmas lights. Around 5:30 every evening, it is dark and the lights come on. If we happen to be out and about, every home we pass with lights is announced, each one as enthusiastic as the next, "Christmas!" by Franklin. He used to say "Snowman!" to everything Christmas. Not sure where that came from, but we've been working on it. I suppose he misses the snow as much as I do though.

Take Nap

Franklin is obsessed with the Wii. And we don't let him play it as often as you might think, mostly because of his obsession. It started to become our way of talking him into a nap. Yes, he is 3 years old, but that boy still shows signs of really needing a nap just about everyday. So now he says every day, "Mommy, play Wii, take a nap." I ask him if he wants a nap and he'll say, "Yes, play Wii, take a nap!" Nope, sorry kid. Its the other way around. Of course if he does take a nap, he doesn't forget that we made that deal. The first words out of his mouth always are "Play Wii!!!" Sometimes he even pretends to take a nap, but we are not fooled.

Of course we even started using it as an incentive to leave Grandma's house, or where ever we might be and he doesn't want to leave. We don't even mention it anymore and he'll still be happy to leave, all the while saying "Go home, play Wii." Maybe once a week we actually let him play.

I have resorted to letting him watch a show in his room, with the curtains down, white noise low, and in bed. Sometimes that is the only way I can get him to sleep. He's like his dad, he can fall asleep watching something. However, the doesn't work for Lisette. When we're in the car, she will fight hard (and win) to stay awake if there is a movie on. But once its off, that girl is out. It doesn't matter for Franklin though.

Mommy's Stress Ball

It's large, bouncy and green. It helps me stress release at times and can be a lot of fun. It also happens to be enjoyed by both the kids. Franklin will bring, or toss, me this big green, bouncy ball and I will proceed to peg him with it. Lisette will even go get the ball and throw, or hand, it back. Yes, I toss this ball at my kids, as they laugh with delight and even try to hit me back. They even try to hit each other with it. Of course if they pick up any other ball to use they are quickly corrected, hopefully no harm done, and we all enjoy play time with mommy's giant stress ball.

Gabriel's Oboe

This one may not be funny, but it is unusual, though it makes me very happy. We aren't very successful in taking away Lisette's dependence with her pacifier or animal blanket. More like our dependence, I suppose. She can scream and fight like no one's business when we are in the car, without her two items, and she is tired. However, we turn on The Mission soundtrack, and play "Heaven on Earth" featuring "Gabriel's Oboe" and she instantly calms down. So we listen to that song, a LOT. Good thing its such a beautiful piece and I'm obsessed with the oboe.

I should probably add right here that, thanks to Geoff DeSpain (band director at EAC), I have an oboe in my possession and have begun playing again. I hope to play with the Symphony Orchestra next semester and I feel that I'm making good progress right now. I've also began singing again. Last month I sang at the college for 5 classes, doing a Jazz clinic with the Safford High Jazz Band and the Gila Jazz Connection for the World of Music classes. This weekend I will be singing at a wedding with Tom Sullivan (my old band director: pianist for Gila Jazz Connection)!

Hope some of these made you laugh!

Terrible two better not last 2 whole years

2010-11-05T15:47:00.000-06:00

So much going on and so many stories to share. I realize that I am failing horribly on the writing blogs multiple times a week thing. And since there is so much, I'm going to shorten as much as I can so that you all can keep up and not get overloaded.

We started painting in the kitchen. Mostly just the cabinets but its a huge improvement. And, no, we're not done. Stephen was gone a lot during October. He had NATE classes and testing, a 4 day long Comfort Adviser training and workshop, and the hunt. He enjoyed all of it, apart from stressing out about his test and we will know the results of it soon. All that time of course left me at home with the kids and Franklin is DEEP into his "terrible twos" now. Two words for you: NOT fun.

I've opened up a new shop on Artfire. I'm very excited about this new shop, there are fewer fees and it takes far less time to upload and create on it. I've also been working hard on updating new photos for everything. Its been a lot of work, but we are serious about my business and enjoy it very much. We hope to get an LLC this coming spring!

Now on to the good stuff everyone wants to hear.

Lisette has been very fun, funny and oh so daring. That girl can get running, without really wanting to. She turns 18 months this month but has been going to nursery already. She can push back when pushed and is an eating machine. We went to Casa when my parents visited me (on Stephen's hunting trip) and my mom was feeding her beans. She wasn't being fed fast enough, so she got her own fork, turned it around and used the handle part to scoop up the beans and feed herself.

My favorite thing Lisette does is putting herself to bed. I was rearranging Franklin's room while he was playing at Grandma's. Lisette was refusing to nap until she was so tired she couldn't fight it anymore. I gave her her giraffe blanket and she climbed onto Franklin's bed and instantly fell asleep. Ever since, at night when she's "put down" to bed, we don't let her out. She plays in her room till she's ready to sleep. She'll fall asleep in the just-crawled-into-bed position. Very funny! I LOVE that she's great with her toddler bed. I made a few adjustments to it myself. Its working out great, looks better and is completely safe.

Franklin has been getting into so much; and most of that is trouble. A wise woman once told me, when Franklin was starting his terrible twos before he was 2, that, "Its not called Terrible Two's because it starts at age 2. No. Its called that because it lasts for 2 years." It has almost been 2 years since that wonderful, angelic, can-do-no-wrong little Franklin disappeared and the wrath of Franklin began. It has been tolerable until now. He throws the most dramatic, emotional fits over something as little as not wearing the right colored bib, or putting on the wrong pajamas, to him calling our home "Grandpa Reeds house" and me correcting him saying, "No, this is our house".

He has been a HUGE bully to Lisette. Good thing she pushes back. He will hit her just because she was in arms reach. He'll forcibly take something from her, or push her off of things. Remember those two words? Not fun! There's been a LOT of crying here. But don't worry, there are a few funny stories of Franklin to share, as well as some good.

I had Franklin screened at Brighter Day Preschool. His non-sense way of talking has caused problems at home with his highly emotional state. Though most of you love and adore Franklinese, I don't, at least not as much as I used to. His screening went well. He ranks average for his age with speech on single words. They did tell me that when Franklin uses sentences he gets ahead of his thinking. That's why he understands me, but I don't understand him. He is very smart though, knows his ABC's very well, and can count to 15 (working on higher numbers) without trouble, though he likes to get ahead of himself counting sometimes too.

Franklin has been a sneaky devil to top it all off. A week before Halloween we made sugar cookies with some friends. It was fun, but I forgot to put those cookies away. Franklin gets up before me, all quiet like, and helped himself to all the ones that were frosted and a few of the not frosted ones. 2 mornings later he saw bags of candy on the table. Tried opening one bag; no success, but lots of evidence that he tried. The other bag had been opened, and wrappers from half of the candy was strewn about the floor.

3 mornings later he rummaged through my junk drawer in the kitchen where I had Smarties hidden for when he did good deeds and hid in the corner of the dinning room to eat them. Would have gone unnoticed if I didn't catch stupid Rizzo trying to eat the plastic wrappers. Nearly a week later he gets banana bread off the counter, pulls the plastic wrapping back and tore off chunks to eat. That last one I thought was his dad being in a hurry to get out the door but Stephen let me know he had nothing to do with it. Needless to say, all the Halloween candy they collected at Trunk or Treat on Saturday is hidden in my closet and daily the child-proof gate is put up in our bedroom doorway. No way is he helping himself to all that with his track record. And because I never saw him actually do any of it, he never got in trouble for it, but I know it was him.

Here's a few pictures of the past month. Enjoy and sorry that this still ended up being long but thanks for sticking with me!

The Fair

2010-10-13T16:33:00.000-06:00

Though the days can reach in the 90's and higher, the nights have cooled down. Fall is in the air at last. The Graham County Fair was this past weekend (Oct. 7-10). The Parade was Friday morning, the pictures were in the previous post, and we attended the carnival on Saturday. We went with Janiel McNeil and her boys. Curtis is Franklin's best friend. He has so much fun with him!

Lisette didn't enjoy herself much, until we got her a balloon. Of course it didn't keep her happy the whole time, and you can't blame her since she missed nap #2 for the day. I also couldn't resist getting this adorable blue halter dress for Lisette from one of the vendors. We also enjoyed the kettle corn so much that I have found a recipe, and still perfecting it, to make it at home. It is very good for any that want it!

Sunday night we visited Great Grandma Reed's home and enjoyed dinner, and lots of catching up! Sonia and Ethan were visiting also (I was so sad to have missed Tanya and her boys who also had visited over the weekend)! We had Casa Manana Monday with the whole clan, so much fun to visit!! I took so many pictures that I decided to make a slide show. Enjoy!

Monsters

2010-10-09T13:10:00.000-06:00

Franklin has reached that point that loves, and is scared of, Monsters. Daily he tells me he wants to watch "Monster Door" aka Monsters Inc. Since Monday we have restricted what he watches due to nightmares. A few nights ago I made a run to the store to pick up a better nightlight, Wall-E and Spirit (non-monster movies with very mild scary images). He loves to go to bed now with that nightlight, and its a relief to know he won't be crying in his room at night. I've also stolen an idea from someone else that I heard years ago, before I had kids. I purchased a Febreeze spray bottle, and am putting a No Monster's type icon on it. So now in the future if he gets scared I will tell him to use the Monster Killer spray in his room. He likes it already.

Lisette is very interesting. She's an amazing angel one second and the next she's screaming murder. She can fall, hit her head, get a bruise and either there is zero crying, or after 2 minutes she's moved on, and on the other hand she will get so mad and scream so deafeningly loud if she doesn't get to stand in a certain spot, play with something not safe, or get her way for any reason. Franklin at her age was far more accommodating and easy to please. She is definitely a beauty though. This morning, during one of her fits because we wouldn't let her sit at the bottom of a slide that other kids wanted to go down, Stephen tells me, "Imagine what she'll be like when she's 13". I respond with "You have just ruined my whole day." I honestly think she won't be quite like this at that age though. Here is the very clip of that fit just so you have a bigger idea of what she's like.

Some day I will enjoy Karma.

Franklin enjoyed the Graham County Fair Parade very much (the carnival is tonight). One great thing about small town parades is the candy and various other things they hand out in plenty. He got an Otter Pop, perfect for the heat, and I didn't have to help him. He loved the bands, and that has made me proud. He had to keep watching them, even after they had passed, and all the other kids had moved their attention on to the next thing.

I will post pictures of the carnival next week.

Wake up September

2010-09-29T11:16:00.000-06:00

Its nearly over, and as I look back at the month, not only do I not know where the time went, all I can think of is how sleepy I've been. As of yesterday I have stopped taking zolpidem (ambien knock off) after I looked up its side effects and realized that I'd rather battle insomnia than what I've been battling all month with this stuff.

On Monday Stephen had a second Saturday. With on-call they get the Monday before they begin (begins on a Tuesday) off. Stephen pretty much does two jobs with the same employer; he was hired on as a service technician and had begun doing sales during the summer. That means that he didn't have the full day off, but we did get a lot done.

I've managed to bring back the elliptical. Its back in its original spot, so Franklin shouldn't be falling onto it again. Lisette does love to climb on it though. We also took down the crib and put up the toddler bed for her. She loves climbing into it, but she still hasn't figured out how to get down. The kids both love to play on her bed. This happens every morning, and after some naps.

We also drove over to Great Grandma Reeds' house. The kids had so much fun, and we got our exercise running after Lisette, putting things back where they go, and moving things out of her reach. I did take lots of pictures, and some videos. The videos are a bit dark, but they are keepsakes. I might make a post on the Reed Family blog about that visit soon.

End of Summer fling

2010-09-22T16:55:00.000-06:00

Stephen's employer sent everyone and their families to the Arizona Grand Resort, and Oasis Park. The above pictures were taken at the end of our time at the water park. My favorite, and the kids favorite part was the river. It was nice and relaxing to just drift along. Franklin didn't want to sit in the water, he wanted to sit on the tube. Lisette however had to be in the water the whole time. She got impatient when she wasn't in the water. Don't get me wrong, Franklin thoroughly enjoyed the water. We would have stayed longer for him if Lisette wasn't getting so sleepy. Afterward they both slept for 3 hours.

During that time I went to the spa and enjoyed a 50 minute massage. I wish I had known more about the spa, when my appointment was and such, before hand. I would have gotten there sooner and enjoyed the whirlpool or sauna. Very relaxing though. If we had more time before dinner I would have taken a nap myself afterward.

Dinner was fun! It was at the Rustler's Rooste, with a live country band, and a live bull out front. Inside they had a one story slide. The kids loved it. Franklin got to go down several times with some of the other wives. Lisette would probably have liked to go more and I wish I had taken her. She did grab Stephens steak knife several times while he wasn't paying too much attention (no blood shed) and dumped Franklins juice all over her giraffe blanket that i can't get her to part with. Luckily Franklin never knew he had it so he didn't miss it.

We returned home on Sunday, a little sad that it was all over so quickly. We did enjoy ourselves, and it was relaxing and fun. We had to get back so I could be at ward choir, I'm the choir director. Its actually been a lot of fun. I was nervous at first about it because I'm more into instrumental music than choral, but I am enjoying it a lot.

Lisette is cutting her molars, so we're having late, or early, nights again. Franklin took to drawing, all over himself. The two pictures were taken about 2 hours apart. I did take away the pen the second time. Notice his facial expression changes.

Fall and fingers, though not relevant with each other

2010-09-10T14:44:00.000-06:00

I've begun pining for Utah again; its Autumn. Aside from the beautiful colors, warm evening breezes, cool nights, and the overall excitement, sites, and decorations adorned on every home, I still don't miss Utah. I do have to keep reminding myself that last Halloween it snowed, and it was memorable but not 100% fun.

I can't make this long because I've got SO much catching up to do but I need report what happened last week. August ended with a bang! I guess it was more of a popping sound actually. The date I reported on in my last blog, about bowling, well at one point I twisted the ball funny, it popped my fingers. One was worse than the other, and I had thought for nearly a week that I broke my left ring finger. Turns out I only sprained it, thank goodness. I've been so angry without the full use of my left hand, and I'm happy to report that I still have never broken a bone. My anger has ebbed, and as you can see I can type again.

I wanted to just clarify that matter, and thought it still hurts and simple tasks aren't so easy right now, at least my finger is not broken. Phew!

Oh the Irony!

2010-08-31T23:17:00.000-06:00

Ok, ok, so I know I said, more blogs that are shorter, and its been, what... 3 weeks? Sorry.

So Lisette is on a mission nearly every time she walks, no, runs. She's fast, she even leans forwards as she goes, gaining momentum. Surprisingly she doesn't seem to be getting thinner in any area, except maybe her face as she's getting older. I've still have to dress, now 15 months old, her in size 24 month pants to fit around her very curvy figure.

Franklin is very comical, and is very aware of how to make a joke. They aren't that funny if it was anyone older than 3 telling it, but he thinks he's very clever. I had a pillow on the floor, a towel nearby, so he lays down on the pillow, pulls the towel over and says "Mommy, I take a nap!" and closes his eyes. See, not that funny, but he thinks it is. His dancing, however, is becoming even more comical. I do laugh the hardest at him when he and his friend Curtis (Janiel's little boy who is a year older) play sword fight on Wii. Curtis will twist, and get into it so hard, sweating a lot, while Franklin just barely makes short, controlled "hits" and will win 99% of the time.

We are so VERY happy to report that we have found babysitters. I told some of you that I wanted college students just in case an emergency ever arose, and they are legal adults who can keep their cool, and drive (even if its our other car they have to use). There are 2 college students, in fact, who are roommates. We happened to make our first night (ever having an at home, paid sitter) Tuesday, August 31st, and as I'm driving Sarah home after 3 1/2 hours (pure bliss and kidless fun) she tells me the cops show up due to a domestic call. It was for the neighbors, but people tend to show up at our place first if they don't know who the Romero's are.

The ONE night we FINALLY get a sitter, and the cops tell her to step outside. Oh the irony; especially since we've wondered ever since we moved in when the cops would have to show up next door. Luckily the kids were being great for Sarah, or so she tells me, and they moved on eventually. Now I'm going to have numbers by the door the next time she comes, and our neighbors info so that she can tell the cops where they need to go and leave her alone. I'm so glad she wasn't frightened by them. She told me how great my kids are; Lisette was an angel, and Franklin was polite and sweet. I so hope she's willing to come back, but no cops next time!

Warning: The dreaded poop story

2010-08-11T18:39:00.000-06:00

Osgood will be turning back into an indoor/outdoor cat. He has been a strictly indoor cat for nearly 3 years. He's also been without his front claws for just as long. Here's my horror story for the week. If you don't like poop stories then stop reading right HERE.

Yesterday I was sewing my latest order, kids watching a movie, all is calm and quiet. Earlier I caught Osgood with some feces stuck to him; its fresh, and was on my bed. I rip off the bedding, and anything he possibly touched. I remember I ran out of laundry detergent. How did I let that happen? I knew I was running low. I continue sewing after I wrangle him and clean him off while he hisses and spits at me. Lisette comes in. She LOVES to get into my work station and pull all sorts of things out of place, and off the desk. It still smells like Osgood so I'm paranoid Lisette will find it before I do. (you know where this is going)

Too late. He left a portion of what I had found on him earlier on the kitchen floor and she found it. Smeared it in a 3 foot diameter as well as her face. I had a breakdown; who wouldn't. My daughter has cat poop on her hands and face. I'm sick and tired of cleaning up after, and off of, Osgood. We switched their food to Science Diet: Weight Control 2 months ago. Still on the same 25 pound bag, Osgood has not lost any weight. Our solution: go outside and move his rear. Perhaps hunting again will get him back in shape. He used to be VERY good at it. OK, end of gross story.

Where's the fire!

2010-08-11T18:36:00.000-06:00

Lisette is walking like she trusts everything, and like there's a fire. She's fast, more so than Franklin was at her age. He didn't fully let go of things till he was a few weeks older than she is currently. Surprisingly this doesn't mean that she's topples, and falls all the time, either. Its cute, and makes us smile. I am having to pay far more attention to what she has her sights set on; in case its the completely the wrong thing.

I also have to make sure Franklin steers clear. He likes to push her away/over if he thinks she's going to take or destroy what he's playing with. Not that its completely unjustified. He's having far too much trouble with sharing. Not fun. I just don't get it. He's such a sweetie, but it seems that ever since we were called out of nursery back in Lehi he has had learned so many bad things and stopped being able to share, period. It doesn't help that Lisette really can be a menace.

I have reached 200 sales 2 months earlier than my original goal. I'm so excited. Stephen has also been having a lot of success in the sales world with HVAC. Stephen getting this job with Advanced Air Systems has really been the best decision we've made; probably ever.

*My next blog will be about a poop story, so don't open in if you don't want to know

Happy Birthday Franklin

2010-08-09T12:18:00.000-06:00

My special guy is 3, and it seems like overnight he literally did grow up. We started potty training last Monday. By Wednesday afternoon he had gotten it down, and been accident free ever since. After two days of frustration and I don't know how many underwear changes, he had proved to me that he was fully potty trained. Makes me feel like super-mom (emphasis on "feel" I know I am not). He has so much more to say in English now; seemed like with the potty training, he was ready to grow up, so he knew that meant speaking less Franklinese. Don't worry, he'll talk your ear off in Franklinese. He knows you all still love it.

We had a Reed-side bowling party for Franklin on July 31st. He LOVED bowling, I already have a blog about that. This is just part of the cakes from that party. He loves anything Toy Story, and hopefully we'll be taking him the newest movie today for FHE. We had intended to take him on our last trip to SV but it was gone.

On his birthday we had Danny and his family, Travis and his family, and Guy and his family come over for pizza and cake. I had meant to make that cake look even more awesome since it wasn't cup cakes, but ran out of time. Besides I used awesome recipes so they tasted great and didn't need frosting. Franklin had so much fun, talking, and being the center of attention. Believe it or not, Lisette was asleep through the whole thing.

We had a long weekend; Lisette didn't sleep well at all, if any, Friday night. We traveled to Sierra Vista to attend a funeral for Saturday; yes on Franklin's birthday. It was beautiful and I'm so glad we went. Clayton is an amazing person, and you know he's doing great things beyond this world. He has such an amazing family too. That whole family had been close to the Reeds long before I was born. Our dad's went to med school together. Their dad was the man that delivered Franklin 3 years ago.

Is it Arizona, or is it just me?

2010-08-06T15:52:00.000-06:00

Once upon a time I had been (mockingly) called a "doctor-bill". Not a nice name and I would appreciate no one calling me that now. I had seen more than my fair share of hospitals, and plenty of doctors offices. I've had 3 hernia surgeries, 2 kidney stones and half dozen ER visits, all this aside from having 2 pregnancies, and births; none of this is bragging and if you know me, you know I HATE this kind of attention, if I want any at all.

For a several days now I've been having this pain that at first seemed gradual then it seemed like the next day I could barely do anything without doubling over. Because I'm afraid as coming off as a wuss, or that I do things for attention, I decided I wasn't going to do anything about it, just let it run its course. My last kidney stone, which this felt similar to, came and passed without me seeking medical attention, and no one knew I had it apart from those at home. After a few quiet hours on Thursday while Sheila, my mother-in-law, watched the kids, I thought it could do it. After Stephen came home, had dinner, and changed he decided we should go. Dropped off the kids back at grandma's, at 8 in the evening, we headed for an ER visit.

First I had a CAT scan. They told me I do have a kidney stone; its small, and "tucked away" in my kidney, but it wasn't the problem. I had an ovarian cyst on the right side. They needed to do another test. Its a hemorrhagic ovarian cyst. I was told that as far as cysts go, its pretty common. Just check up in a few weeks to see if its gone away. For now, stay medicated to control the pain. Funny, since I had tried that, believing it was a stone, and wasn't able to harness the pain any. Don't worry about me though; I'm alive and mobile. My kids can't tell that there's anything different about mommy, and I can still cook and clean. I just am on a more fervent search for sanity during my day.

Bittersweet

2010-08-04T14:25:00.000-06:00

One thing I have learned from the movies "Julie & Julia" and "Motherhood" is that a blog doesn't have to be long, not even more than a paragraph, to make an entry. Now having said that I will tell you that this blog won't be just one paragraph, but I'll try to shorten it. Besides, shorter blogs might mean more entries.

Franklin will be turning 3 on Saturday! I can't believe the time has gone by that quickly. I remember, after pushing for 2 hours, the first thing he did was pee on my doctor. When they handed him to me I was so tired, and so frustrated that it took so long that I didn't want to hold him; not till I had a breather. Last Saturday we had a small party going bowling with Papa Reed, Heidi, Sam, Reyn and Tanyth. Franklin LOVED bowling. He caught on pretty quick that we all had a turn, and he was pretty good at waiting for his; most of the time. He did not want to leave the bowling alley, but at least after 2 hours of being there, and with Grandpa Reed, he was able to leave with less crying than the day before when I went to reserve.

He's definitely becoming more his age. Lots more English comes out of his mouth. Just this morning, after putting Lisette down for a nap, he picks up a cat toy. "Kitty's turn! Kitty, where are you? Where'd that kitty go? Come here kitty!" Of course Rizzo is the cat he's looking for, and his favorite place to nap is under Lisette's crib. He's also potty training. We are on official day 2 and he has told me 3 times now, before he has wet himself, that he needs to go. I'm so thrilled, and I know that this isn't just a coincidence. However, I'm not sure he's (aka: I'm) ready to tackle this when we're out and about.

You say: How can she know that he's got it? Simple, Franklin has some obsessive compulsive behavior and has a particular way about things. Doing routines with him is so easy and this would be one of them. We've gone through several isolated mornings over the past 3 months that I tried and gave up. I always had an excuse; running errands was the most common.

Monsoons are over, pretty much. I'm very sad about that. I love rain and seems I can never have enough. However, now that things are drying up, and the rain is no longer coming down, the "lakes" out front are drying up. That mean no more screaming frogs! I've had 3 nights of silence, and it has been bliss. I realize that I took silence for granted. I should say silence at night, when the kids are already sleeping. I haven't taken silence for granted overall. I'm a mom; lets be realistic.

Howling Dogs and Screaming Frogs

2010-07-30T12:44:00.000-06:00

6 days a week our neighbor has a friend that drops off their dog. When this first began we weren't sure what breed it was, not that it mattered, but it looked like a large Jack Russel Terrier. Now that it has been a few months we now realize that it is a mix with a greyhound. As if I needed one more reason to feel better about my cats never going outside again. That dog can jump the fence like it was laughing at it. It runs all over the place, and across the road (and its a very well traveled road).

We both used to be very impressed with that dog. It wouldn't get too close. It has zero aggression. It never barks. I was impressed.

This dog now howls; all the time. From almost the minute it is left for the day, till someone arrives back at that house in the afternoon, that dog will howl. At first I was unsettled, thinking maybe one of its friends died; after all its not the only dog next door, and those chihuahua's I once mentioned I have not seen in a very long time.

I was afraid of what I might see if I went to check on that dog. It did run in the road a lot; maybe it was hurt. I have a horror story of a cat I came upon that had been hit by a car. Stephen and I were living here in Thatcher, when we were first married. The cat was alive, and I was so horrified that I ran off to pull Stephen out of class. I couldn't just do nothing, but I also didn't want to pick it up.

Anyway, back to my story.

That dog was just howling out of loneliness. Nothing was dead, no one injured. So I scolded it, and every few minutes went back out there to tell it to shut up. I have kids sleeping and I'll be danged if some stupid dog will wake them up. This still continues, but a few days ago I heard it whining as if it really was hurt. "What now!!?" I had to laugh. My neighbors either got sick of nearly running over it, or someone heard me, but they now keep that dog tied to a rope in the back yard. I've watched it longing at the fence, dying to jump over. Sucker!

The monsoons have been awesome. We've had some amazing lightening storms, and so much rain. I'm so glad that my parents have given us the leftover rock from one of their projects; such a life-saver; no more trekking through inches deep mud to get to/from our vehicles. For any of you that know where we are located, or have been to our home (thanks for visiting, we love having visitors!) we have water treatment ponds nearby. True, a northern wind doesn't smell pretty, but we do have lots of wildlife, also thanks to the river less than 1/2 a mile away.

We were watching a movie the other night, and I about had a heart attack. I heard screaming! I instinctively wanted to dial 911 but thought I'd make sure I wasn't the only one hearing it. We paused the movie, and then I realized I was hearing a lot of screaming, not just one voice. Stephen laughs and tells me its the bull frogs outside. Stupid frogs! Ugh!! They aren't all that loud, but I thought it might have been a murder going on, or maybe one of my kids cries was being muffled by a pillow. Stupid amphibians! Just like those stupid peacocks that sound like they are crying "Help!".

hmmmm...

I've got an idea for a cruel joke. Get a peacock, and at least 3 bull frogs and put them in someones back yard in the middle of the night. I can just picture it now...

War of the Sunflowers

2010-06-27T12:01:00.001-06:00

Ever since I planted sunflowers, back in April, I have been battling forces to let them grow and keep them alive. Our home is surrounded by fields, and because we live in farm country we have gophers. Not just one, or two. Stephen has been able to catch and kill 6. The first one Stephen get it stranded by filling its tunnels with water, and it was either drown or face instant, painless death by Stephens hands. Does that keep them away, or diminish their numbers? Never!

My first sunflower to survive through the first sprout fell prey to those pests. It was over 2 feet tall and I believed it was going to make it. Nope. One gopher ate right through the main root. We even tried transplanting it into a bucket, but that was a wasted effort. Out of complete frustration as more sprouts were shriveling up from heat and lack of water and we saw more and more dirt mounds piling up (a sign of more gophers) I bought more seeds. I planted the seed every 6 inches in hopes that with more sprouts there would be more that could survive all at once.

A week later I lost another 2 feet tall stalk to a different gopher, a smaller one that I don't believe we have been able to catch. Because I saw several new sprouts I wanted them to have a chance, as well as all of my existing plants that were still living, I went to war. We first purchased this funky stake thing that you put in a fuse, light it, and toss it in a gopher hole. Essentially it gasses them out, or kills them. We lit one, and for a day or two we didn't see any new mounds. That supposed victory was short lived. We tossed in 2 stakes in 2 holes that were 20 feet away from the other.

It was like that gopher that took down the second stalk was mocking us. 4 hours after lighting up a stake there was movement around it. It returned for the remaining roots and water. I was so angry! I was losing this battle, and at this rate I would never have a single bloom; not if the gophers kept eating through any stalk that was big enough to produce one.

So I got 2 of these babies.

And guess what!...

There are 2 blooms on that one stalk, with about 5 more close behind. And I'm not worried that it'll be taken down by any gophers.

Of course seeing that many blooms on one stalk made me realize that planting seeds 6 inches apart from the next was far TOO close for these gigantic plants. However, now that I've purchased a 3rd gopher repelling device I'm going to extend my line of flowers all the way to the back fence, and maybe even around the corner a little.

I do have to report that though I've won the battle against the gophers, the war isn't over. The previous tenants were so kind as to dump oil in random places throughout the property. The biggest dumps sites are along the fence line. One reason why no weeds have been growing there, and another reason why my sprouts keep dying.

If you look in the picture of my bloomed flower, the stalk in the foreground is the one suffering from the oil. The rest of the sprouts (and seeds that never sprouted) have died. So on Saturday Stephen dug out 10 (5 gallon) buckets full of oil-tainted dirt from that spot, leaving the sad looking sprout. Today it is already perking up, and its newest leaves look stronger and fuller.

I better set the story straight before it gets lost in translation

2010-06-12T17:21:00.000-06:00

Franklin fell off our bed while playing and goofing off. He cut his head on my elliptical and it bled pretty good for a few minutes. He was hysterical, and he had every right to be. We got him to calm down by playing some Wii, so we were able to asses that it was wide enough that we should take him to the ER. The only way to could brake his need to play Wii is we brought Monsters vs. Aliens (a new-to-our-collection film that he's now obsessed with) on the portable dvd player. If you don't have one, and you have small children, get one. You never know when you'll need it for an unusual situation.

I hate waiting, not a fun game when its already after 9:00 that you get to the hospital. We weren't home till 11:30. Franklin was so tired, and emotional. They put 2 staples in his head (sounds odd) and he didn't need a hair cut, thank goodness. The bandage was to hold the anesthetic to the wound so they could put the staples in. Upon leaving they told me that we have to wake him every 2 hours just to make sure he's not unconscious.

We had him sleep in our room, and that booger hogged the whole bed. We went to sleep after 12:30, and woke up for the day before 6. The elliptical is on its way to storage till we can put it in a secure place, and Franklin acts as if nothing is different. Oddly enough he's less emotional today than he has been all week; go figure. He's also back to bossing Lisette and driving my nuts with it, but I am enjoying the less emotional about everything part. The staples can come out Thursday. Now we just need a doctor to take them out so we don't have to go back to the ER.

When did that happen?!

2010-06-09T20:00:00.002-06:00

(WARNING: since it’s been a month since my last post, this one is going to be long. Now you can’t say I didn’t warn you.)

We’ve had so much fun this last month, and there was so much going on! Stephen has definitely been busier than ever. We’ve been experiencing 100 degree heat and higher and summer has only just begun. On top of that his company is now down to 2 technicians instead of 4. One guy has a bad back, and too many injuries have caused him to finally stop doing this line of work. The other guy was let go suddenly, so that day was very interesting for Stephen and the other remaining employee who has only just begun taking calls on his own 3 months ago. So they’ve got Stephen and a newbie. All I can say is over-time, and it makes me believe I can learn to be more patient about his job.

One of my old roommates got married at the start of this month and we were invited to the sealing!! It was so great to be there, and my mom overnight babysat for us which made it all worry-free, kid-free for us. It also made me realize I need to do that more often, having overnight sitters. Natalie is so beautiful, and her dress!! You just have to see the pictures, she’s just so stunning, words can’t describe! I ran into her mom after, while she was waiting for Natalie to come back to the bride’s room. She thanked me for coming and I told her that I owe Natalie; after all she was my only roommate who was cheering me on from the start to go for Stephen.

I also have reached 100 sales with my on-line store, and it’s only been picking up faster since. I’ve recently added more styles to my inventory, and in celebration of reaching 100 sales I am giving away a “Bright Blue Tie” that I personally love. The way to win it is fan me on my facebook fan page and comment on my picture of the tie. On Friday at midnight I won’t be taking anymore entries and will announce a winner on Saturday (this is for any of you who may read this and haven’t been on my facebook page and want to enter). We’ve also changed things around a little at home to make my work station more organized and easier to see what I have made and ready to go.

Franklin has been so funny. Just on Monday I heard him say “Oh Man” and I couldn’t help but giggle. He’s definitely been paying attention to things we say, though he hasn’t been repeating it; yet. I’ve begun the whole “if you’re a good boy, and obedient, then you get a treat”. An almost sound like I’m training a dog, but since I started it there has been far less whining, and that was my goal. I have to keep snacks with me at all times now so I can stop the whining before it gets out of hand. Trips to the store, getting into his seat, opening his scriptures, putting a game or toy away, etc. has been far more pleasant. Threats just weren’t working anymore, and now I know that I can make a positive situation work with rewards.

Lisette is miss attitude already. What am I going to do when she reaches the phase that Franklin is at?! (Rhetorical question) At least she’s been letting us put her to bed when Franklin goes to bed, no more of this 10 p.m. or later nonsense. She definitely loves her brother to the point that she’s annoying him already. Because of that annoyance he’s been having episodes of not being very nice to her. She’s also very quick. Sometimes I just can’t keep up with her. I get distracted by Franklin or the cats doing something they shouldn’t and all of a sudden she’s practically falling into the bath tub (empty of course) reaching for the knobs, under a bed, in a closet, or if I left the gate down, on her way to the cat box.

She still stares down people she doesn’t know but she can sure smile, laugh, and play it all up around people she’s close and comfortable with. She’s a ham too, she knows when people are watching her, thinking she’s cute, and plays it up; little miss center of attention, what kind of monster are we creating?!

Lisette also LOVES the water. It’s another one of those bravery things. I’ve got to start her on swimming lessons as soon as humanly possible for her. Franklin I need to because he’s afraid of not having something under his feet, so he sat on the steps the whole time, but still in the water. Lisette was too funny, I’ll need to keep the camera close by next time, but she was leaning back in her floater thing, and kicking her feet so she started to travel. She thought it was so great! That’s my girl! She doesn’t like the feel of grass on her knees though, changing subjects.

My baby is 1!! However, unlike most parents, I was ready for her to be 1, and move to the next stage; walking! She's a brave little girl, oh my goodness. She loves to jump, and almost achieves air. Mostly she jumps on her bed while holding onto the rail, or similar situations. She still has yet to completely let go of things to stand on her own, but you can tell that she wants it very much. She's also starting to cut teeth again. Finally!! Back to her big day…

To tell the truth we had to big days if that makes sense. We had a party with the Reed’s in Sierra Vista the weekend before her birthday, and one the day before her birthday with the Quinn’s. Sierra Vista was busy, but so much fun. That Saturday morning we went to a little ranch with Heidi, Sam and their kids, of someone Sam works with. They have alpacas, goats, horses, chickens, dogs, and donkeys. Franklin really enjoyed himself there!! Oh boy did he throw a fit when it was time to go. That night we had a little picnic on my parents’ porch since it was too windy to go to the park. Lisette got a wagon for her birthday, and because Reyn (7 months older than Franklin) and Tanyth (6 weeks older than Lisette), Heidi and Sam’s kids, have one too, we all went for a walk after the party to take the kids for a ride. They loved it!! Franklin and Reyn rode in the green one while Tanyth and Lisette rode in her red one.

Then for the Quinn party we went to the local park to do a joint birthday party for Lisette and Bridger (Travis and Jamie’s little boy that is 2 days older than her). So much fun! I was allowed to make the cakes and I tell you it was an ALL day event. I used 8 cake mix boxes!! What was I thinking?! Well, it was worth it when I saw some people’s reactions to my fancier cakes. After all I do like to entertain and cook/bake. We stayed till it was getting a little too dark to stay any longer, but it was so much fun. Stephen could only be there for an hour and a half before he had to get back to work (on-call that week) but some friends came to our place afterward and we had an after party, I guess, till Stephen got home.

Whoa, this is a novel so I better end my stories here. Just know that it’s been an exciting month, and we’ve been so busy, and very happy. Enjoy the slide show!!!!

What a gal

2010-05-10T19:08:00.000-06:00

So Lisette has taught me a few things, lately. She's amazingly good at taking things easily; go figure for an almost-one year old. However I must add that its not always true. She's still such a girl and can take her dramatics over the top sometimes. She’s a little bit of a daredevil and I love it. She likes slides, swings, being thrown around and she’s trying to stand up on her own (can definitely pull herself up but now she’s trying to let go of things) and I think she’s wanting to walk already. I’m ready for that. But what I’m talking about is the other day I was in my room and heard Lisette getting mad; not crying, just grunting. I come into the living room to see Franklin laying on top of her. Too funny. He thinks he’s doing the same thing we do, hovering over her to give her raspberries and tickling. I wonder what’s next; Body slamming?

Franklin is helpful sometimes, but I have to remember he’s also a 2 year old. He’s still a charmer, and wins people over. Everyone enjoys his language and I’m glad they do; doesn’t mean I have to. I’m working on my patience as I’m trying to get him to say things that I understand. I know he understands everything I tell him, so at least I have that in my favor. I’ve been wondering if the reason he still speaks his language is because everyone encourages him to. He also can finally pick what show he wants to watch, and we've got enough of a variety. He loves "Toys" (Toy Story 1 and 2, he likes 2 because there is red on the disc) and calls Woody "boody". Too funny, but hey, at least thats one we can all understand.

Stephen and I are coming with plans for our place. I’ve been talking about finding somewhere else to live but honestly we’re both tired of moving, and we’re free to do things to this place. Our sprouts are getting bigger, and so are the sunflower sprouts. We’re going to grow a garden and I’m really looking forward to that. I never once thought I’d grow anything, especially a garden.

We have a kiddie pool (thank you Grandma Reed) and a sand box (thank you Grandma Quinn) for the kids and they are both having fun. We’ve put the end of a slide into the pool, and Lisette loves it, so does Franklin. We’d do more out there if the wind would just go away. For all of you with kiddos, bring their swimmies and sandals to let the kids go out back and have fun. Jessica Tilton came over on Saturday with her boys. Though Dallin slept the whole time, and Corey and Bryson didn’t really want to play outside, they did want to help Stephen shovel out all the mulch that Grandpa Reed brought over for our garden. Thanks boys, I didn’t have to do it and Stephen had tons of help!

Stephen has been very busy with work. When we moved down here they said that it was the slow season, and yet he still worked a full 8 hour day. Now he’s making, at the very least, 2 ½ hour overtime daily. Yep, I’m finally able to sacrifice Stephen for work; they are definitely making it worth it for me, or for him, which ever. We’re not even into the hottest part of the year yet, just a few months away still. The residential calls are starting to build up, and now he is back into his realm.

As for me, Stephen has been encouraging me to build up my inventory. I go through spurts of struggling with loss of patience/interest? The ties have been my vice. We’ll see, once I finish the first 24 I’ve been trying to get done for 2 weeks now, maybe longer. I will conquer! We’ve been trying to get some ready for sale in a local shop, the one I mentioned weeks ago, but we discovered that we don’t have enough snaps and clips to supply both the local store and my shop. We hope to have the resolved very soon, and never to get too close to being out ever again!

What a busy Spring

2010-04-12T23:21:00.006-06:00

Unfortunately we have all become sick over the past few weeks. I’m finally getting over a sinus infection, and both the kids are back to good health. Lucky Stephen wasn't even phased by his momentary turn of being sick. Things are heating up, but that’s nothing new about Arizona, or even interesting. That does mean that business is picking up for Stephen. My business is picking up as well. 82 sales in the last 6 months of actually selling (the last 20 in the past couple of weeks alone). Sheila will be opening a space in her home to sell her jammies (culottes) and my pacifashions. She also has gotten us a spot in a shop in Pima. I’m super excited to see what that holds in store for my product!! Thank you Sheila!

Franklin slowly prefers English over Franklinese. I’m very happy about that since we are struggling with communication. He’s very sweet, and somewhat patient. He’s also extremely eager; finally!! I haven’t pushed him to learn everything since he didn’t have patience, or interest. Now it’s a steady flow of information, and he’s soaking it all in. He’s so much fun, but he’s Franklin, he’s always been so great!

Lisette is dead-body crawling, at least that’s what I’m calling it, in correspondence with her whole “rigor” thing. She uses her toes and her arms and propels herself forward; it’s very funny to watch. I honestly was beginning to think she’d skip this stage, she’s been so proud of her rolling abilities. Her other new trick is putting herself in the sitting position. Don’t worry if you thought she could do it all along, just about everyone else did too. After all she is 10 months old. I can’t tell you how elated I am that she can FINALLY sit herself up. No more yelling and crying at me to put her in a more comfortable position. I just about cried when I saw her do it the first time I was so very happy. Stephen likes to tease her with the laser. There is a video I am uploading of this very thing, and why not get some laughs about her new tricks!

This will probably be useless information to most of you, but I am very thrilled about this; we have discovered what breed of cat Rizzo is. Now I never really needed to know, or care much about cat breeds. Granted I grew up with Persians, the very beautiful, “Fancy Feast” type Persian (no squished faces) and I cared very much about that breed. Now that is a beautiful breed of cat. However Rizzo is a VERY odd cat. He doesn’t entirely act like a cat, nor does he have much of the same temperament of our fat lazy Osgood. Thanks to Animal Planets series Cats 101 we have discovered that Rizzo is an Egyptian Mau (Mau actually means cat in Egyptian). It truly is an amazing breed, and very beautiful, too bad they are so rare. Rizzo is definitely the perfect cat for me, I wish all cat lovers could have a cat like him. It’s almost a shame that we had him fixed; almost, but not quite.

We are also making an attempt at growing flowers. We have two beds of watered seeds, at the current time, in front, and we planted a long row of sunflower seeds along the century-old wood fence along the road. It’ll look awesome, if we actually can get it all to grow. Let’s hope.

Ok, Easter! On Saturday we went out to Cedar Hills and had fun with the Quinn clan. Nearly everyone was there, and though our family didn’t camp out (due to illnesses) we stayed for several hours that morning. I also forgot that the Arizona sun burns me very quickly. I got used to being in Utah and hardly ever got sunburn. It was worth it. Franklin LOVED being out there with his cousins, Aunts, Uncles, and Grandparents. He learned about playing in the dirt from Brooklyn, and Caylee (yes, the girls had to show him) who are his age. His uncle Danny helped him color an egg, which he loved. Later, after lunch, we went for a drive in Brent’s awesome 4-wheeler. Franklin could sit between us. I didn’t think we had been gone that long, but Franklin started to fall asleep. We headed home after that to let the kids sleep.

My parents joined us Saturday night for the festivities the next morning. Franklin got to be 100% center of attention between conference sessions as he did the egg hunt. There are some videos of that as well; one is long, I must warn you, but it was just cute to hear Franklin say egg a million times. When his basket was getting too full he’d put his eggs in Lisette’s. I wish she was old enough to appreciate that since I really don’t see that happening ever again in the coming years. However, Franklin does always surprise us. After a very filling, and delicious ham dinner, my dad returned to Sierra Vista, and my mom stayed behind to hang out with me for the rest of the day. I had to go to Sierra Vista the next morning anyway to finally get Franklin’s birth certificate, so my mom rode with me, and Franklin loved having her there.

Enjoy the video below of Lisette's version of crawling!

The promised pictures

2010-03-15T11:03:00.005-06:00

I'm glad I was able to get right to it this time, instead of waiting several weeks. I didn't take as many pictures as I had liked, but here are a few, and I hope you enjoy them. Also make sure that you go to the bottom of our blog page to see the new videos. I'm still working on adding a few more. I've discovered with our new internet that I can't download several things at once; it takes way too long for my patience. Enjoy the slide show, and videos!!

Baby Got Back

2010-03-14T16:17:00.000-06:00

We're back in Arizona, and it feels just like home. Not that Utah wasn't but we are happy to be so much closer to family, and able to visit/see family members far more often than we have in the last 2 1/2 years. The kids are liking it just fine, and probably more since there's so many more willing/wanting hands to hold Lisette, and Franklin has double the amount of playmates, just with cousins around. Jaycee, and Ashley seem to favor him very much. He has that affect on little girls; they want to play with him, tote him around, and get him to do things with them (which he is more than happy to do, and this started back in Utah at McD's play places). Just the other day at the park he somehow got a little girl to do everything with him/for him. What a little stud!

Lisette is 9 months, and weighs 24 1/2 pounds. I thought she was less, just because of her age, but her bulk doesn't lie. That baby does "got back". She has major rolley thighs, and a very round bum. Yep, at 9 months old, that girl has ghetto booty. There I said it. I'm not sure if it makes her more irresistible or not. She has been amazing! Sorry Greta that wasn't as easy, and content before we moved away, for you. I'm not sure why the sudden change, but I LOVE handing her off to adoring arms.

I love my daughter, but my kids have turned me into mommy-playground, and even though I probably deserve it for what I did to my mom at their age, I'm not willing to always allow it. In Sacrament meeting she was perfectly fine while Stephen held her, but once Franklin was getting to silly being with me, we traded and then she took over Franklins' duties. She had to be grabbing and pulling something, and if I didn't let her torture me she'd turn to pull Franklin's hair, shirt, colored pencil, etc. Finally I handed her off to the Knights behind us, and she calmed right back down; thank goodness.

The cats are loving it here. They have many more windows, and different views from all around the place to look out. Birds are of plenty here, and they are constantly on a frenzied attack (all play) with each other. Franklin loves to birds too. You can sometimes hear the train faintly, and he enjoys that. 3 Firetrucks drove by yesterday morning, and Franklin was very excited about that. (don't ask what they were up to, I never found out but did see a very small black cloud an hour later that only hovered, and no source)

We love having a yard, and Sheila has let us borrow some playground equipment. Franklin love that too. We spent all afternoon out there with the kids. They played while we cleaned. For some odd reason the last tenants had a HUGE spread out pile of chilies, all dried up, and some had been burned in a small fire. I could tell you lots of thing we're discovering about the last tenants. Lets say that this house is very happy, and lucky to have us. I do, however, hate the wind here, and that was the only thing I've never liked about the desert. There has been some rain, and I've been thrilled about it. That is until we need to go somewhere, and there's way too much mud out there.

Stephen is so far liking his job. I'm loving it, and I have yet to meet anyone he works with. This job has definitely been an answer to our prayers, and been very good to Stephen (so far, I have to add that). He's been happy to work, and I'm please that thus far everyone there has been very welcoming, treating him like he's an important part of the team, and boosting his self esteem. They sound like they treat everyone like they are important, and that is truly how a business should work. (Unless there is an employee that is bringing everyone else down, than that guy isn't as important)

I'm happy here, and Stephen says that's the most important part of the whole change. He's right. If mom isn't happy than the whole house tends to fall apart since she's the one keeping a clean home, raising the kids, and feeding daddy. Stephen will tell you, it might be his home, but I rule it. In truth we do it together, but don't cross me. Since we've moved back I've been feeling, and seeing my old self return. Its been a while since the real me has been around, and I got to say it feels dang good, and ABOUT time!! Sheesh, its been too long.

We've moved back to a place where we both know a lot of people; Stephen from growing up here, and me from attending college. There are quite a few old college friends that have also returned to the valley. Everyone is hugely welcoming, and friendly. Yep, we definitely feel like we are home at last.

Don't worry, pictures will come soon.

an update soon

2010-03-13T21:49:00.000-07:00

I had to make my comments be word verified now since some idiot keeps spamming me. I promise I will do a full blog soon, perhaps tomorrow. But i just wanted to let you all know that if you wanted to leave a comment on my blog you will have to do the word verification. Its not a big deal, just a little lame. Sorry others had to ruin it for the rest of you (and its people I've never heard of, so don't worry).

Stress, Snow, and Kidney Stone

2010-02-20T21:27:00.000-07:00

I'm sure the word has leaked out now that we are moving. Stephen hasn't had work for 3 weeks; a serious lack of snow has put all technicians on hold. Stephen did take one of those weeks for vacation so we could go down to Arizona. He had been planning on installing some heat pumps at my parents home. However, we took a detour to Thatcher, and began a house search.

Stephen had been offered a job with Altech Heating and Cooling of Thatcher, Arizona the same time he was offered a job up in Utah to work for One Hour Air. Arizona requires 2 years of training before you can be paid to do what Stephen has been doing for the past 2 1/2 years. Utah doesn't have that same requirement, so we obviously took the smarter option at the time. Now that Stephen has had his training, and years of work behind him, that job in Thatcher made him a new offer. This offer was stated more than a month ago, but we weren't sure if that was the direction we wanted to take. We love Utah, but Stephen has hardly been working at all, and then all the snow melted with none to take its place.

We took an earlier-than-planned vacation when we got our tax refund, and decided to search out all our options. This job in Thatcher was an amazing offer, but we still were undecided. When we made the choice to go to Arizona things fell into place too beautifully. We decided to house hunt, and after 2 1/2 days we made our decision. We feel extremely good about our move. If you know Thatcher, our place will be off of Reay Lane, before you get to the river.

We will be packing for the next 4 days, and on the 5th (Thursday) we load up the rental truck, drive away from Lehi, and arrive at our home in Thatcher on the 6th day (Friday). With 2 kids, and 2 cats we will definitely be making a half-way stop and split the trip in 2 days.

Our trip has been long, and insane. High levels of stress were our constant companions. The kids got colds while we were still there, and my cold has appeared now that we're home. We're going to keep our fingers crossed tightly that Stephen doesn't get it too. On our return trip home we hoped to make the trip in one day. It could have worked, but driving through the canyon between Panguitch and Beaver, we hit a huge snow storm.

My dad researched the weather report on the internet for us, but by the time we could see Beaver (and we almost couldn't see it due to extreme fog on top of the snow storm) we decided to stay the night. The kids needed it more than we did. Not long after we got our room Stephen heard a trucker who had been coming down from the north said that just before the exit we took there were already 6 accidents.

So we woke up to a winter wonder land. At least 4 inches fell during then night, and was still falling in the morning, but more gently. You'd assume with all that snow we drove through that we would return home to the same scenery. Nope, still no snow!!

Lisette didn't have a good night, and neither did we. Tonight is already following the same pattern; poor girl is so sick. We are happy to be home, even if its for a few days, and filled with cleaning and packing. Our cats were happy to see us, and our wonderful neighbor, Arnie, has been taking such very good care of them.

So about the kidney stone part, yes, I had another stone, just over 6 years since my last. If you knew me during that time, I was in pain for 2 weeks, then it went dormant for 4 1/2 months, then it hurt for 3 days till it passed. I don't know when I got this one because VERY fortunately it didn't hurt during the first stage. However I did get a gosh awful bladder infection, only find out (my own diagnosis, but since I didn't see a doctor about it I didn't tell anyone, except Stephen, I had it) I had a kidney stone, and it makes perfect sense that my infection was so horrible.

I didn't hurt me all the time, but riding in the car, between stops, it would remind me it was there. Our first stop on our return trip the nasty little booger came out and I then knew I was right all along. It made our return trip more pleasant than our trip going down, for me at least. So that's the past few weeks in a nut shell.

What we've been up to

2010-02-02T09:43:00.003-07:00

I realized that the post I started was all about my shop, and its corresponding blog. I figured it'd be better to leave that as its own post since it was pretty lengthy already, and write a separate one about us.

Franklin is sweet and polite. People keep getting surprised when they'd hear him say thank you for any little thing, and of course they'd say how wonderful it is that he says it on his own. Yep, we didn't teach him to say thank you as often as he does. We're still working on communicating better. We're sick and tired of "Uh, uh" and the pointing. We try to get him to repeat what we say, and his only response is "Yeah!" Yep, we're frustrated.

He likes to help me make cookies, so I tell him the name of each ingredient we put in. My favorite is flour. You have to hear him say it, its so adorable! That and butter. Sugar I'm not sure if he's saying his own version or actually trying to say it. He loves his books, and very proudly announces the names to things he knows in english. Most of the other words he'll still tell me his name for it. I'm still not good with Franklinese.

Lisette is getting better about letting others hold her. She still prefers if there are other children around; Franklin and Chloe are her favorites. I've been called to be the Relief Society pianist (I'm glad to be playing again, but I've been years out of practice) and someone else has to hold her while I play. This past Sunday the chorister held her, even while she directed, and Lisette didn't fuss much after the first few minutes. I didn't have to hold her at all during Relief Society. She claws at my face so much, mostly to get my glasses. She can draw blood on me, and many times a week.

She's eager to move, though she isn't crawling yet. She's pretty smug on herself that she can sit up all on her own. Our neighbors across the way have 2 children; a little girl who is 2 months older than Franklin, and a little boy who is 2 days younger than Lisette. We invited them over Sunday night for some conversation and cookies. Franklin and Serenity played (mostly throw) and Lisette and Trayson oogled each other and even got grips on each other when they were close enough. It was funny, cute, and we all had some fun. Its great to be getting to know more people. Stephen and I are eager for friends, and even more eager for Franklin to have friends.

Stephen's work has been at an all new slow. Its record breaking, and we hate it. The weather has been way too warm up here, and that is rotten for business. He took a few vacation days last week, and we did some family activities. Franklin has LOVED having Daddy around so much. Lisette is also getting spoiled. Its also the reason we've been able to get some much done, and started with our business, because he has been home.

We've had some sickness in our home, but happy to report that for the most part everyone is getting healthy again. I've had an infection for a while and am finally getting rid of it. It came in handy to have Stephen home when the infection got to its worst. I'm almost all better, though I already feel better. So that's us in a short novel. I promise I'll be better about updating once a week since I'll have to update my other blog 4 times a week.

p.s. If you read my other blog, and have something you'd like to see posted you can always write me. Use q-luv-it@hotmail.com for posts to my PaciFashions blog.

keeping up with myself - all about our shop and blog

2010-02-02T09:19:00.002-07:00

Stephen and I have been putting a lot of time into my etsy shop, and have recently begun a new regimen of blog posting. This has officially become a real job, but at least its something we like. For my blog, the week will be split into 4 days:
Q Find It - Sundays deals, specials and great finds that catch my eye
Q's Day - Tuesdays anything I feel like posting, the first is a "get to know me" post
Q Review - Wednesdays Any other shops that get my attention I'll write my own review
Q's Tip - Fridays tips I know, or that are shared with me.

If you haven't figured it out "Q" represents me and 'you' together. (i.e. q-luv-it is meant to be for Quinn, and you) Last nights post was pretty quick to write, but tonight's I need to pick a shop to write a review about. I'm sure as I get more into this my reviews get better, and more professional, but for now it won't be too much.

We've reached 50 sales, in 100 days. Pretty awesome! It works out to be as if we've sold something every other day since we opened shop. Of course we hope to make it bigger and better. Some of our ties are made out of a stiff polyester ribbon we'lll replace it all with a better polyester soon, maybe in March for Easter sales. For all of you who have some of our straps, thank you for your advertisements!! We love hearing what you, and your admirers, have to say about our products!

Lindsey is our winner

2010-01-26T21:50:00.002-07:00

So during that long random conversation the topic became (very briefly) to dead bodies. Heidi lay Lisette on her belly for a short time, but when she picked her back up, Lisette locked her knees. She does that every so often, mostly when she wants to stand. Its funny, and Stephen called it like riggor. We all laughed, agreed, and Heidi said, "Like a dead body", and of course clarifying that she's nothing like a dead body. So Lindsey, you are our winner!

January Photos, and Lewis visit

2010-01-21T20:57:00.003-07:00

So Heidi and her family were up here for a very (and I mean VERY) short visit. So I took a lot of pictures of that brief encounter. The cousins had fun, and the adults had fun watching them, and talking. If you go to the bottom of my blog to the videos, I have uploaded 3 new ones. 2 of them are quick, but one is longer, and you can hear our interesting conversation as the kiddos played. Hope you enjoy it all!

p.s. first one to tell me what we were referring to as a dead body wins. Not sure what the prize is, maybe its just praise from us.

The Laughing Fit

2010-01-18T07:51:00.005-07:00

I know this video is also at the bottom of the site on the video slide. Since its been months since my last video post I thought I should also put it in a blog. Enjoy!

The Claw

2010-01-13T23:00:00.001-07:00

Alright, alright. I've been telling some of you that I've got a killer of a story. I'll get to it in a bit, but in this post.

Lisette has managed to get even chubbier. That girl is round and rolley polley. Last week we ran out of purified water, and decided, since she's also eating baby food regularly now, to test her tolerance for tap. NOT a good idea. I was going aboslutely INSANE. That girl has got lungs, and highly emotional. Sunday night we couldn't take it anymore. She had been going to bed around, even after, midnight. We went and got more gas meds and purified water. I'm happy to report that she has been better behaved. I suppose its not a bad thing if she has to have purified water all her life. There could be worse things.

She sure loves Franklin, and her daddy. She wants to grab on to Franklin, to play with him. They sometimes have random laughing fits between them. Not sure who starts laughing first, but it goes on for a little bit, taking turns on laughing. We love it. Sometimes we join in on the laughter.

Franklin is turning into a momma's boy, and I'm thilled!! He gives hugs often, and loves his sister. He doesn't like her grabbing him; hair, shirt, arm, hand, face, pants. He'll grab her hand and push her away, not rough, but he tells her to "Top" (stop). Earlier today he randomly went up to her, grabbed her hand, opened her palm, and gave her a high five. Yep, that's my boy!! He sure is a bean pole though. We're still trying to get him to eat more than cereal, bread, and crackers.

So, I have rules that I have set up for certain things. Rules meant for me. That rule is; when bathing the cats always wash Osgood first. They have been getting more and more stinky, and it helps my allergies a little after they are clean. During the process of bathing them, my allergies are the worst, but the reward is great enough for me to deal. My other rule is have extra hands around. Stephen was gone working, and I was sick and tired of putting it off. Franklin was bugging me to get in the shower. (I never had to have a rule about kids because I always had extra hands around)

So Franklin and I get in. And who do I grab to be first? Rizzo. Broken rule #1. Rizzo had always been pretty good though, so I figured nothing tragic would occur. Boy I was wrong. He gets wet, and freaks out big time. I'm trying to pin him down. Unfortunately his back claws streak down Franklin back. Rizzo is pinned, and Franklin is heartbroken and terrified. How could his favorite kitty hurt him like that? So instead of just letting Rizzo go, I got Franklin to calm down a little, and then take a rag, and rub it on Rizzo. I need him to be ok with Rizzo now, not later. He starts laughing, and smiling. Good. Should have ended it there, but no.

I decide to actually wash him now. I get his front half, the non-lethal half, rubbed, and rinsed of cat shampoo. So he starts to struggle. I'm nervous he's going to get Franklin again, so I try to position myself differently. That moment was all that Rizzo needed. I never even noticed that he got my leg pretty good. I was too scared for Franklin. He already had 3 long gashes down his back. Franklin is backed up to the opposite side, and I didn't notice that either since I was pre-occupied by a thick claw stuck in my arm, and pretty deep. Yep, he got me, and dang good. His front half of his body was held by one hand on his neck. His back half was attached to my arm. I had to drop his front half to grab his back foot, and pull it out of my arm.

Maybe more than 5 seconds his claw was stuck. I'm not sure, but the blood sure gushed out for 10; lots. Then it just stopped, just as fast as it started. The vein collapsed, that was all I could think happened. It's happened before, in that same part of my arm with a failed IV insertion. Franklin hadn't been making any noise. I was so afraid he had been hurt, that I started freaking out that he wasn't crying, or yelling. Obviously Rizzo was long gone out of the shower. I called Stephen from in the shower, and then started to have a short panic attack. As I was frantically checking out Franklin, he was hugging me, and gave me a kiss. He was perfectly fine, aside from the original scratches Rizzo gave him.

I hear too often how people get rid of a pet because they hurt someone, especially a child. Most of the time its the owners fault. Owners know their own pet (at least they should) and should know how they react to different, and highly stressful, situations. Rizzo is an amazing cat, and always been a great friend, and companion to all of us, including Franklin. I know he doesn't handle stress all that well, and is also easily spooked. I'm fortunate that my vein collapsed so the gushing of blood only lasted a few seconds. Rizzo is still a good cat. He was cautious around me for a day, knowing he was sorry for what he did. I, too, am sorry that I broke my own rules, and put him and Franklin in that situation. Franklin still beats, and plays with him, and he continues to take it like a pro.

We're all doing well. We're praying for snow, and cold weather. I suppose for most of you we already have too much snow, and its too cold. Not for us, and not for Stephen's job. Utah needs way more snow/rain. We also have new callings in our ward. We hope Franklin doesn't care that we are no longer in Nursery, and Lisette will get better attention; not that she isnt' getting enough already.

We do have more videos. I will let you know when we have more posted!

November and December Slideshow

2010-01-03T20:07:00.001-07:00

Sorry, but to save myself some time I'm not putting captions. You are more than welcome to comment, and I will respond. I just don't have time with a crying baby protesting in the next room. Enjoy!!!

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T10:01:00.003-07:00

Ok, so happy New Year everyone. 2010 seems to be promising for more people other than just us. Not sure what was so odd about last year, but we were ready for it to end. Now on to another quick blog. I promise I'll get a slide show soon, I just wanted to get through the holidays.

A few days after Christmas Danny and his family stopped by. We both can't believe how much Brett, Braden, and Ashley have grown. We shouldn't be surprised since it has been a long time. After all they've never met Lisette, and Franklin wasn't walking or talking last they saw him. It was a very short visit, but it was great! Franklin ran around in circles, showing off. Rizzo was social and played fetch with the kids, and Lisette was loving Uncle Danny; I think it was the goatee that did it. Now that we've had a teaser of the Danny clan, we are definitely wanting more, and hope to do something about that this year. (We also hope to do the same with Randy's family, and Christian's family. Haven't seen the Randy clan since before Franklin was born, and have only seen part of the Christian clan in the last 4 years)

Stephen was on-call this week; nothing too eventful. We did get a LOT of snow between Monday, and Wednesday. Snow is beautiful, but hard to appreciate it when people who should know how to drive in it, because we get it every year, drive like morons. Some snow drifts fill the air with glitter, and its very beautiful. Moving on.

Stephen has been on and off busy. For New Years Eve he didn't get home till after 10 at night. Franklin stayed up till 10:30. He watched 3 movies (I know, I'm horrible) while I opened up shop and made a couple of ties; ties do take some time to make. Out of the 10 I started, only 4 are actually done all the way; 3 movies worth of time (of course Lisette had something to do with taking up some of that time). After that I couldn't just stay sitting in front of my machine anymore, so I set up the Wii to play tennis with Franklin. He's funny to watch. I'll have to video tape it.

He's been calling me mom for a week now, so I believe it has stuck with him what my "name" is. He's gone to bed twice in the past week without dinner, but that's just part of the struggle to get him to eat what we give him. After all, we are the parents. And Lisette is huge. I say it all the time, but she is. She's 7 months old, and just at 21 lbs. She laughs at the cats and Franklin all the time. We're incredibly blessing wish such easy kids, and extremely lovable. As we've been out and about strangers have been complimenting Franklin, and "ooh" and "aah"-ing over Lisette and her many rolls. We all know chubby babies are hard to resist.

In response to my last blog about what new tradition we'll start, here it is:
As a family we will give to someone in need. On Christmas morning as a family we will "open" that gift, and take it to the recipient. Not a huge change but we hope to teach the kids, and remind ourselves what Christmas really comes down to, and not get caught up in the commercialism of it. (Utahan's are kind of crazy during Christmas, and we don't like it)

Christmas

2009-12-29T17:17:00.003-07:00

To save my sanity, and get dinner out of the oven on time I'm going to do highlights, and not get into detail. Thanks!

So Inga and her family came our way on the 14th and stayed till the 21st. So much fun to see them!! Shemp is a little stud!! Annie of course is a knock out. It was so fun to see the whole family, we've missed them so much! Christmas was fun! I made dinner for just us on Christmas Eve, nothing too extravagant, and then Christmas dinner was at Greta's. She made fabulous ribs! I'm so getting that recipe.

Stephen did take a call that night, after dinner, but only because they said they'd pay him a big gratuity, so I agreed to let him go. Franklin has had so much fun with his cousins, and with the White's cousins too! Lisette has been great with all these visitors, as long as she's fed, rested, and gas free. She's way more picky about that than Franklin was. She's better at eating though. She at least doesn't spread food all over her face.

We had a great Christmas, went to see Astro Boy the day after. Stephen and I have agreed to a new, well, agreement. The past 2 Christmas' have been tight for us, and we're good with that. The kids have had a great time, and that's all that matters to us. So we don't really want Franklin to learn to talk about his presents, and what we got. Afterall, Christmas is truly about giving! We're going to do a new tradition starting this next year since things will be better for us, and those will be the things we will want to share. I hope you all had a Merry Christmas, and have a wonderful New Years, ringing in 2010!!

2009-12-10T13:41:00.002-07:00

Just a few little things while I'm thinking about them. Sheesh, I never thought I'd struggle to have to remember, and make the time (not like I'm busy all the time anyway) to do blogging.

Lisette is a sleep talker. It was cute at first, and maybe even a little endearing, but now its not so. She'll have her outburst, wake us up, and then after she gets one of us out of bed she's quiet again. I have to confess, its usually Stephen who gets up. Most of the time she doesn't bring me out of consciousness enough to get me up before he's on the move. Poor Stephen!

Franklin doesn't like Wal-mart. Once he sees where the car is pulling up to he begins to get mad, and sometimes throws a fit. What can I say, he's such a drama king! Its odd though because he's happy to be there when we're inside. I guess he just hates how it looks from the outside. Maybe I should tell Wal-mart so in the future they can make them more appealing and inviting for when you arrive. But if its only Franklin who cares, then I suppose there's no rush.

He loves to sing and does it more often everyday. Whether its the TV, the radio, or one of us, he just might randomly sing along. After he sings he always wants a high five. Usually its not just one; so its more like a high 50. He also plays it up when there are others around. He gets really silly, and constantly laughing at himself. What a funny kid!

Of course the sillier (is that a word) he gets the more memorized Lisette is. She wants to do more with him. She's finally got the rolling over thing down, not perfectly, but she does it more often. Now that she's accomplished that she wants to get moving. Having an older sibling sure rushes things along, sometimes. No, she's not crawling but last night, after rolling over, she kept pushing her self up, and wiggling her head as if she was trying to figure it out. She determined to play with Franklin. At least that seems to be her goal; to get to play more with Franklin.

She does love to be thrown around. We're not overly doing it, or anywhere like we do with Franklin; she's only 6 1/2 months old for crying out loud! When she's laid on a bed, or the couch she wants to be bounced, and tossed (lightly) onto pillows. She seems to have developed that fearless trait that must have skipped over Franklin. Don't worry, he's getting more brave, and I'm sure when Lisette starts showing him up, he'll do more.

Oh, and another thing about Franklin. So I believe I already shared, and if not here it is, that he says "Wha deer dur?" which stands for "What are you doing?". Now he calls the cats "cow" or "kitty cow" sometimes. He still calls them kitties, or says kitty kitty, but sometimes he throws in cow. I think its because of Fatty. Just kidding. He still recognizes a cow, but somehow he says it to the cats. Oh, and "Bobby" is cake. How weird is that? I guess he's making it easier for me to learn Franklinese, but won't give in to learning english 100% just yet. You should hear us sometimes.
F(ranklin): Bobby!
M(ommy): cake
F: yeah! bobby
M: no, cake
F: yeah, yeah, bobby
M: C-a-ke
F: Bobby!!!
M: Ugh! CAKE
F: yeah, yeah!!
...and so on.

Yep, that's how it is with the Cat/Cow thing too. All birds are "guck" (ducks) except for the seagulls, they are "burr". I'm wondering if I can get him to do the whole "Look, pájaro", "no, da bird" with me, just for a laugh. I know most of you are wondering the significance of that. Well, I grew up in Panama from 9 months to 4 years old. We had a maid, who was also like a nanny to me, and she tried to get me to learn spanish. So now you should see how the conversation fell into place and why I still don't know Spanish. Of course I just had an epiphany as to why Franklin won't speak more english.

So now I wrote an entry far longer than I anticipated, but that's ok. This was fast and easy to do. Lisette is still asleep and I have to try for a second time to get Franklin in bed. Have a great one everybody!!

A little for now

2009-12-01T12:30:00.002-07:00

Franklin is currently entertaining himself with Sesame Street, and Lisette is asleep, so this is my chance to write something. Not that they keep from it, but somehow I forget, and have been forgetting for a few weeks. We are doing well, just sad that its now December and no snow. Stephen has been kind of busy, but not the way we'd like. Franklin has been duking it out with his natural self, and his inner 2-year old thats been trying to take over. In short, a lot of unnecessary drama. Lisette adds a little to that too.

Franklin sings along with Elmo, and some of his other favorite shows. Sometimes he sings with me, or tells me not to. He tries to play with Lisette, so I'll be glad when the two of them can. Lisette is mad more often about not sitting up on her own. She has a problem though. She's fat, she's chunky, she's got multiple rolls on her legs, and though its really cute, and makes people smile, I think it hinders her being able to sit up on her own. She'll do it for a few seconds, but she's only 6 months so we're not worried. I'll have to post a picture of her chub, she's too cute for words.

We've been trying to get her to eat baby food, but that tongue of hers sure can launch things. I usually give up, after she and I both have cereal, peas, or sweet potatoes all over us. I'm trying to conquer with the spoon before I add in the sweet stuff that all babies love, however, I'm starting to rethink my strategy. She shows a lot of enthusiasm but its not fast enough for her. Franklin has been on an all grains diet. We've been tired of the fits and drama that we've decided to let him have cereal, breads and crackers for all of his meals. I try to add other things to it, or changing the flavors. But I decided when it 9 at night, and he's not falling asleep because he's still hungry, I no longer care how his stomach gets full as long as its full. I gave up about a week ago, and he's been sleeping better, and happier much more often, and less drama.

Ok, the past few weeks over view. My birthday was calm, and relaxing; what all moms need/want. Stephen met the kids demands, and let me relax a little at home. That evening we went to Greta's for dinner, games, and cake. It was so much fun! I really enjoyed it. On Tuesday night we dropped off the kids at Gretas, and we went on a date. Dinner ended up being very short, even though we had originally given ourselves 2 hours before the movie began.

Less than a mile from our place in Thanksgiving Point, and there is a MegaPlex movie theater. No lines, ever! You purchase your tickets in advance, and reserve your seats, so there's no need to wait in line forever to get tickets to something that could sell out, nor fighting to find good seats. Stephen bought our tickets to New Moon nearly a week in advance. New Moon was done so much better than Twilight. Apparently not all agree, so that's all I'm going to say. The audience was 85% girls, and 15% guys. There was one point where the guys (along with me) laughed first, then the girls. It was funny.

Well, there's all of a sudden a lot of drama, so I better end there. I'll do a review of Thanksgiving later.

So far behind

2009-11-22T22:20:00.002-07:00

I realize its been quite a while since I made a family post. I promise I will get one soon. However, 10:30 at night, and on my birthday, isn't the best time to do it. Thank you all for your birthday wishes, on fb, emails, and phone calls. Thank you so much, and without any cheese, I honestly do feel very lucky to be loved, and remembered! It has been a very good Sunday, and a very Happy Birthday! Thank you

This could be the start of Something Big

2009-11-09T18:30:00.000-07:00

Not really, but getting there. However, I was referring to a song Buena Show Band played back in my high school days. It was one of our starter songs for most of our gigs. One of my fellow tenor players and I would have a conversation that was strictly song titles (a lot like "Who's Line is it Anyway"). It was a fun game. In show band we could cheat because all of our songs were in plastic holders in a 3 ring binder. It was either rediculous, mushy, or even mean; but always funny.

PaciFashions are actually starting to pick up. Getting requests for my ties, and lots of compliments. From Stephen's work place there are a few ladies who purchase them for friends, and ward members who are having babies. The store is also growing with Sheila's culotte's added to the line. Visit QLuvItDesigns.Etsy.com to see the culotte's, and if you're just curious as to what they are. I remember I had something like it when I was a little girl.

We all got a cold in our home, except for Stephen, but we believe he brought it to us. He has a stronger immune system than the rest of us; poor kids got that from me. No one has really been horribly sick, but on Sunday we got substitutes for Nursery anyway. Don't want to risk the kids picking up something else, apart from them giving it to another kid. Sunday was interesting because we actually spoke in church; first time in over 2 years. We were looking forward to it, and I was determined to make myself known in this ward since we never got that chance in Springville. So we spoke, and then went home. The front was empty, since we sat in the front row of the congregation. Our names also weren't on the program, so it was almost as if the odds were against us. Good thing we went home afterward; both kids crashed hard when we got back after sacrament meeting.

Lisette and Franklin just adore each other, and it is so adorable! Franklin is the greatest big brother, and Lisette couldn't be luckier. That goes for us too. We couldn't be luckier to have these two kids. Lisette is just a doll, seriously, she looks like one. Her spikey hair is funny, and, like my sister Inga once called a little persian kitten once upon a time, I call her Spikah sometimes. Long story short, Inga named the kitten Spike, turned out it was a female, so it turned into Spikah. However, I call her babydoll most often. She has the prettiest, deep blue eyes. Like the deep ocean, its captivating. She's a looker! How could she not be with her daddy's good looks. Sure, she has a few of my traits, but she looks more like her daddy, and I couldn't be happier. Afterall, Franklin looks more like me, so now we're even.

Franklin has a deep interest in English; FINALLY!! He shoves his puzzle pieces, and books in my face till I tell him, again, and again, the english word. When I say in my face, I mean he sometimes hits me in the face with it if I'm not paying attention. He still speaks fluent Franklinese, but some english is getting in there more and more. We couldn't be more relieved. Body language can only get you so far, before someone can get frustrated, and I still don't speak Franklinese. He also rides his bike all the time, just not with the pedals so much. He loves to play with Lisette's toys, afterall they were all his once. He's also officially out of the high chair, and into the booster, so we can use the hair chair for Lisette. I asked him yesterday if he remembered being that small, and eating cereal, and he said "(very enthusiastically) Yeah!".

I LOVE Skype. I'm addicted, and people aren't on it enough to satisfy me. We purchased a webcam recently. We discovered, kind of by accident, that we have a rewards program with our bank. So we turned them in for cash and purchased a Logitech C3000 HD. Sweet!! Franklin has been able to chat with Grandma and Grandpa Reed, and Heidi and her family. Reyn is adorable, and is so sophistocated when he talks, I'm so impressed! Tanyth is adorable of course, she and Lisette are only 6 weeks apart in age. I've chatted with Inga, and her 2 kids. I can't believe how handsome little Shemp is. Last time I saw him, his hair was so long he reminded me of Elvis in his later years. Franklin has yet to chat with them since his sleeping schedule has been a little off from being sick. As for the rest of you, get a Skype account, and give us a call!!

I will need to start making more PaciFashions soon. I need to make more ties, and Holiday ones. Tanyth is going to be featured in some (thank you Heidi) to show off another baby, and another type of pacifier; the soothie, and how PaciFashions work with it. I've started a PaciFashions blog, simply addressed PaciFashions.Blogspot.com and soon I hope to have an instruction video to show people that they can work with any pacifier out there. Heidi will be my beautiful hand model. If you've never seen her hands and seens how beautiful they are, just wait till we've got the video. She really does have beautiful hands!

Well, thanks for sticking around and reading all of my run-off. I've left the store window up below my blog posts. I promise I will have new videos and picturse soon!

October in Pictures

2009-11-01T22:11:00.002-07:00

Enjoy!!! We have a lot of fun here!

Whoa, another week disappeared

2009-10-20T14:00:00.000-06:00

I realized on Monday that a week has gone by, and Sunday came and went without me writing another blog. Last week went by so fast starting up my business. I've actually had a few orders, and updated my store with some new ones. The kids have been very patient and easy going while I've been working. Stephen's been working hard making the store look good (I created the banner though) and listing everything I make.

We've had some very warm, a little on the hot side for me, days last week. It was good weather, perfect for being out side, and playing, too bad I spent most of it inside working. Franklin still had lots of fun! He's been learning a lot about cause and effect. We've been working on the whole if you make a mess, clean it up. And we are both so impressed by how polite he is. Completely on his own (learning by example from us and not from us telling him to) he says please and thank you, a LOT!! Its more like "peas" and "dank you". At night when we say our prayers and tuck him in bed he says, "kiss" and then after the kiss goodnight he tells me "bye" and his own version of I love you. I absolutely love it!! He's such a sweetheart.

Last Friday he leaned in and gave Lisette a kiss on the cheek, all on his own. I didn't ask him, and it was just too cute. He hasn't repeated that act without me asking him, but still, its too cute. He loves to go outside, torture his kitties, give Lisette things, climb on the back of the couch, play with his musical toys, and scatter things around the house. He loves dancing, laughing (even if its just at himself) and tries to sing along to many songs.

Lisette makes the cutest random noises. She can stare and stare at you until you smile, and then give you a huge smile. She loves being tickled, and squeals. She's officially a blue-eyed beauty. We're still a little unsure what color her hair is. Still couldn't describe what color Franklin's hair is either, but her tends to have a hint of, well, a color that we don't want to say out loud to make anyone excited just in case it won't be that color. She has got the grabbiest hands. I've lost some hair to her grip, so has Stephen, if he holds her without a shirt, or if she gets some arm hair. She has been such a good model for us to show off some PaciFashions. She doesn't always cooperate, but still, we're having fun playing dress up. Stephen loves it.

Stephen is still busy, but last week, with the warmer weather, was better than the 2 previous weeks. He had been home before dinner every night, and able to spend time with the kids. That's another reason last week disappeared on me; we had more fun at home, and less frustration. Time flies when things are fun.

If you haven't checked out my store yet, I have a link posted on the side to my store, or my last post has another link.

Q-Luv-It, Designs by Squeezle on Etsy, qluvitdesigns

2009-10-15T14:55:00.001-06:00

QLuv_It Designs by qluvitdesigns on Etsy

Shared via AddThis

Visit my store, all handmade by me. Products updated and added daily so come back as often as you like. My items make great gifts as well!

Good Morning October

2009-10-12T11:32:00.004-06:00

So here's my brief excuse as to why I haven't blogged in nearly a month. . .

The first Sunday after I wrote the last blog, I started a new one. Once I was done, spent quite a lot of time on it, I had Stephen read it over. He lost the whole thing, and I was so frustrated I stayed away from the computer. Then he start to rewrite one to copy what he read, but didn't get very far. After that I got really busy with my at-home business that I'm creating. Now on with the update.

Several Sundays ago, after our Stake Conference we decided to go for a drive. We stopped in Canyon Glen Park for lunch. Played a little with Franklin then moved on toward Park City. We saw that in the down town, historical district there was a Sunday Market/Farmer's Market. After searching forever for a parking spot we decided to cruise main. Franklin was tired, but it was exciting to see all the dogs. Lots of people brought their dogs, some sort of dog event was going on. Then tucked away to the side was a childrens corner. Free facepainting and balloons. We decided to get Franklin's face painted. Did great, waiting in line, watching all the other kids. The wind picked up and it was a little chilly. Then when his turn came, he wasn't happy. He was just fine for the face cleaning, but he didn't want the brush touching him. The woman was great, and patient. She painted a really cool looking cartoon car on his arm, and he watched. When we got home we let him have some ice cream. HUGE mess but it was a very fun day for him.

I began work on my product. Months ago we bought a BinkiGrip from Babiesrus. They only had 2 colors, and the one for little girls was a bold pink. Most of you know how I feel about pink (I am lightening up about it, just won't wear it myself much, but you kind of have no choice when it comes to infants) and that pink didn't match with much to begin with. I decided to make my own that I could interchange with just having the one clip but several ribbon styles. Now Stephen is helping me when he can, and I have dozens completed and some posted for sale on Etsy.com and pretty excited about it. Plus I like being able to change up the one daily accessory she wears to match or accent her outfit. Yes, I've been sucked into the whole dressing up little girls. I think Stephen likes it more than I do. That man has been sucked in that little girls' grasp. When she's older she'll know to by pass mom if she really wants something and go straigh to dad. I'm going to have to do my best to train that man now to always come to me first if he feels he'll obey her every whim.

The following Sunday we had lots of visitors and tons of new comers. We have 4 nurseries in our ward. Our nursery is typically 8-11 kids. We ended up with 15 that day. All the other nurseries kept turning them away. We were promised that wouldn't happen again, but it proved to me that its too hard with an infant. Lisette is demanding and highly dramatic at times. We can't put her down, she hates it, or its too dangerous with all the toodlers. She doesn't get her nap, so her dramatics is blown out of proportion at times. Plus it ends up one of us, mainly me, holds her, and takes care of her the whole time while the other, mainly Stephen, takes care of the kids. Not so easy, especially with 15 kids.

That Sunday though, Stephen recognized someone from his graduating high school class. Julie Dorr (maiden name Hooper. Her brother is an optometrist in Sierra Vista) had just moved into our ward from Anthem, AZ. Danny is her husband and they have two adorable little girls, Brooklynn and Sadie. It was super exciting especially since Stephen and I have been trying to make good on our new goal of making friends since we didn't the 20 months in our last ward.

We're trying to have other things we make too. We're commissioning Spencer and Julie, at least giving them a little business from us to help our business, to make different things in home decor. Its a mixture of windows with sayings, plaques, boards, and what not. We finally have 2 of those finished, we have to frame most of the rest of them, and a 3rd is nearly complete. Just a lot of fun making these things, when I don't mess up on the sewing machine and get temporary frustration, and some of my PaciFashion (my official name) just might find its way to some of your homes. I need more advertising.

Stephen has been working insanely. I know there are warnings out there about what a person should post on-line because many people have access to read it. I don't care right now. I've been very upset with his company. He was on-call the week before conference. At first it started slow, Monday wasn't much of anything, and then Tuesday the first cold front hit, and hit hard. In the morning there wasn't work for him, so we were going to work on some of these project we have. Not a chance. It was very windy and raining. He worked for two weeks straight, coming home most often after 8 pm. There were a few days he came home after 9 pm. I had to keep Franklin way up past bed time just to see his dad! Now I'm going make sure my voice gets heard by his boss if this schedule keeps up. We really need Stephen to spend time with his family, as well as Stephen is overly tired, not getting enough sleep and his body is worn out. He's been so over worked.

I need to do a brief entry about the kids. Franklin is the greatest brother. He loves his sister, he helps when he can either with her, or with me, cleaning, cooking, etc. He's such a sweetie! He's patient and willing, not always but most of the time. Lisette loves her brother. She watches him non-stop, smiling. Its so easy to get her to giggle, squeal, and laugh. She's adorable! We're starting her eating cereal. Slow going, but she seems to like it, just taking time to learn to eat it. She's also been going to bed later, and waking up in the early morning. So I'm hoping once she gets this eating figured out, she'll be full more to help her sleep longer again. We all need more sleep.

I suppose I ought to end there and with a few pictures of what I've been up to. Thanks for reading. I try not to make them so long just so I can keep your full attention since I know most of you don't have much time to be on the computer.

I'm leaving his hair just a little longer lately to be able to style it as well as he won't look so bald.

It was too cute to watch him when he realized all the ice cream was gone

The face painting that ended up being the arm painting.

A random moment that ended up looking like a pose.

One of my PaciFashions.

Family slide show

2009-09-17T14:45:00.001-06:00

Just in case you don't go to the bottom of my blog to watch all the videos, here's just one of them.

New Moon

2009-09-16T11:12:00.004-06:00

Ok, so I've admitted it, I'm a Twilighter, along with some sisters, and sisters-in-law. This new preview just makes me more excited, heck, even Stephen wants to go see it. I have an awesome husband, and not just because he'll go to all the same movies I want to (its super easy to do that when you have the same tastes and interests).

Make your own Countdown Clocks

Of course if you add 48 more hours then it'll be my birthday. Can you guess what I want to do for my birthday this year?

Yes, the slide show will be my next post, I promise. I've just been doing lots of things on the computer lately that leaves me a little burnt out to be on it more than nessicary. I'll post another video of the kids; Lisette has a lot to say, its adorable. And I've been reading through The Host again when its nice and quiet around here. So does that make me a Hoster too?

Fall is in the air

2009-09-09T14:00:00.001-06:00

Not quite, but its close. Yesterday we had the windows open with the fan blowing, and it was GREAT, apart from the allergy problems some of us were having. Up here it seems every store, and half the homes, start getting ready for Halloween at the end of August. So I told Stephen, as much as I love fall, I won't put up squat till the first official day of Fall; Sept. 22nd. Its tempting though with the cooler weather at night, and all the stores filled with things for the season.

Its time for another update. I had hoped to do pictures at the same time, but I'm feeling just a little overwhelmed at the moment. I promise pictures will come, and lots of them. We had a photo shoot with a dear friend from EAC on Monday; Kyle Lauritzen. He's an amazing photographer, and is trying to build up his portfolio, so we volunteered (or took advantage if you want to put it that way). Check out his work at Kyle's Blog. Franklin was taking his sweet time deciding things his way, and definitely not always cooperating. So no matter how sweet you may think he looks, trust me, he was being devious. However, all the shots with him and Lisette he listened well, and did most of what we asked.

Which brings me to why I've been a little over whelmed. Franklin is cutting his 2-year molars, and its not fun. At first I thought he was waking in the middle of the night due to bad dreams. His disobedience and tantrums due to the lack of sleep. Now its very clear to me why they are called the terrible twos. This process of cutting these teeth seem to be far worse than any other teeth he's cut. He's a very bright, smart little boy. He's finally saying the english names of things more often, and can tell us more of what he wants, likes, and sees. He's also been saying "yeah!!" (with much enthusiasm) as much as he says no.

He usually is very obedient, and follows direction well, for the most part. However, all of that is a rare occurance now. He's also been suffering from some allergies, which I really hope he'll grow out of. I've been able to give him some allergy meds before bed, and so far it seems to help to keep him in bed through the night again. We've also had to put the child doorknob safe things on a few doors here. I've also had to instate the rule of "no whining or you go to your room". I was shocked that he's been observing that one from the very first time I told him. His whining was wearing us all out and the headaches insued. Now we can hear the phone, the tv and our own thoughts again.

Lisette smiles, and giggles often. She still has her moments, all babies do. Franklin still gets a little concerned when she's crying; such a sweet, caring big brother. He's better at helping, giving her things she may need. Yesterday I was feeding her, and half-way had to stop to burp her. She has the worst trouble with burping, but we've found something to help a little. The bottle ended up being out of my reach, and sweet Franklin got it on his own, and put it in her mouth. He also helps by putting her pacifier in her mouth as well. Its funny when she pushes it out of her mouth, and then he puts it right back in. This cycle goes on till I can see its frustrating one of them, so I make it stop. Lisette has also given us the greatest gift: sleep. She's been sleeping anywhere between 6 - 8 hours at night, and we couldn't be more happy. Now that we've got both sleeping in the night again we are bound to all be a rested, happy family.

Stephen's work has seriously been slowing. Not cold enough for people to use their heater, and who needs the a/c when you can open the windows and get a wonderful breeze. He's been trying to get more side jobs going, so we'll see how that goes. That also means I won't be going to AZ this month with the kids. I wanted to attend the Haban Family Benefit Concert at EAC on the 26th, but the wiser decision for us right now is the kids and I stay home. However, this does mean that when things pick up I will try to make that trip possible.

I've also postponed the Reed Reunion till a later date, and a different event. The James P. Reed Reunion will occur instead and some Reed relatives that are planning to be in Safford will get a visit from the SV gang during Christmas. And I also read another book for myself, and love it more than the Twilight Series, and the Harry Potter books. I'm glad this is going to be a series as well, I can't have enough of it. Its another book by Stephanie Meyer, The Host.

A little late night excitement, but seriously. . .

2009-08-30T23:30:00.000-06:00

Well, Sunday has been a very dramatic day in our home due to lack of sleep. Its not what you may think; Lisette was cooperative, and Franklin went to bed at a very good time. Franklin is absolutely wonderful when we put him to bed. No worries, no crying, no fuss, he stays quietly in his room till he's out. Lisette has been amazing lately with being able to sleep from about 11:00 p.m. till 5:30 or 6:00 am.m. We've also been called into one of the nurseries here, and Franklin is very happy about that.

No, Saturday night was a very different night for us, all of us. At about 10:00 p.m. last night we had a little rendezvous with our entire building. We all just sat out and talked on the lawn for a little while. Our little late night outing, at least out of our house, lasted from about 10 till 12:30 Saturday night.

Why? you ask. After I finished baking some cookies, doing some late night laundry as we begin a movie, we hear this really irritating beeping. Finally I look out the window and see our nextdoor neighbors out on the grass, the whole family and the dog. Stephen looks through our peep hole and sees dark smoke coming out of our neighbors apartment. Yes, there is a fire. Don't worry, everyone is fine. They were also doing some late night laundry, and their dryer quit, sparked, and the rest is yesterday's news. The fire was contained very quickly, we just had to wait till the CO levels were down in their apartment to make sure all the apartments were safe. Honestly, don't worry, nothing happened to our place, just a little smoke came in through the temporarily open door as we went in and out. Our cats had a party in our bathroom while we waited, and Franklin got his second wind, and was entertaining some of the neighbors. Lisette, like I said, was very cooperative. She got her way; we never put her down.

Now the rest of my blog is going to be more about me; Lisl. I'm going to be selfish for just a little bit, after all, its my blog, and aside from one entry from Stephen, I'm the only contributor.

One thing that is almost never talked about is the subject of depression. More commercials are trying to raise awareness. After all, the first step to getting better is recognizing it, then getting help is easier. I won't say that being open about it is easy. I've been there. I've been prone to depression for many years. Its come and gone. I've had times that I've been too proud to admit to myself that I was having a problem with depression and that's when it would get worse. Before I was pregnant with Franklin was one of the worst struggles with depression I had ever had, and I stupidly remained too proud to ask for help. I won't go into to details about that struggle, but I will say that it can be very dangerous to refuse help.

Luckily for me I have an easy in to get help; my dad. Years ago it was too difficult to talk to him, even my mom for that matter, about my problems. After all these years its been easier for me to talk to him and others about my experiences. My most recent has been, actually right now. Since Lisette was born I've been struggling with some issues that I was just blaiming on being just a little emotional with the change in hormones from having a baby. Wrong.

Before she was born I was determined to give breastfeeding a more forcefull try with her. Franklin failed pretty much from the start, so I never noticed any signs of issues with that. I kept coming up with excusses why I didn't want to nurse her once I got her home. Then I slowly started not wanting to hold her. That's a huge problem for her since she's pretty spoiled. I was also battling fatigue that was only getting worse. I had some medication from while I was pregnant that my dad prescribed to me, so just a few days after she was born I started taking it again, so I thought it was just a phase. However I started to realize that the subject of breastfeeding was very delicate, and I would get easily offended.

That was just rediculous to be offended over nothing; nursing is a personal choice, and my decision with Franklin when he was 3 months old was; If you're stressed too much as a mother, then find the things you can change. After all a stressed mom makes being a mother difficult, and stresses the child. A mom who feels good about herself, and is able to make time for herself makes being a mom easier, and the child is happier too.

As my medication was getting close to a refill I started to ponder if it was doing me any good. I'm sure it was to a degree, but with the fatigue, not wanting to hold my child as often, getting shorter on my patience, and not feeling like I was any good at being a good mom (that was the worst part) I knew that I needed something more. Some women have worse, or less, but its all the same thing; post-partum depression. I knew that I didn't want to go down that dangerous road. I knew I was a good mother because Franklin is a very good child, but I didn't feel that way. I knew that the sleep I was getting should be enough, but I was struggling to wake up in the mornings. I knew I didn't have to feel this way. I got in touch with my dad and let him know all that I was feeling and thinking.

On Monday, Aug. 24th, I received my new medication and I feel great as mother. I've been getting enough sleep, and able to play with Franklin. I do hold Lisette more, but obviously I can't all the time, at least not as much as she wants. Franklin has been happier (apart from Sunday with the lack of sleep from the fire next door) daily, and the overall mood at home has been a thousand times better. I'm wanting to cook again, and Stephen loves my cooking so he's thrilled. I'm making better attempts at keeping the house clean. Being myself again has made all the difference.

After seeing the drastic change in myself within a week made me determined to speak openly about it. Having been through the hurt makes me want to let others who are hurting know that you don't have to. Its not normal, its not a phase. You can conquer it, you will over come it. I used to be embarrassed about my depression, ashamed. You don't have to feel that way. I know that speaking to others who have been there helps. I have a family member that has suffered post-partum depression and talking with her about it helped me recognize it. Being able to admit to yourself that what you are feeling isn't normal is the first step to getting yourself back. So if anyone wants an open ear (or eyes) you can write me privately if you want to know more about my struggles, or triumph as I am getting myself back. Now I'm not saying my struggle is over, but I am overcoming it. Write me at lisl_music@hotmail.com

Thanks for allowing me to be selfish. 2 days ago I got the feeling that I needed to share my story, but I didn't know to whom, or how. On Saturday I realized an easy way for me to tell it was through my blog. After all, a few friends have been asking me on tips about how to keep a regular blog, and my answer is, pretend its your journal (that everyone can read). If you write as if its a journal then its easier to figure out what to write about. So this is my journal entry for today.

Stats

2009-08-26T19:18:00.004-06:00

So I forgot to give the stats on the kids from their last appointment. The nurse must have been new because she didn't give me a card with their stats. Franklin is just under 3 feet tall, and weighing 29 lbs. He's just above average for height and weight; somewhere in the 55% - 60%. Sorry I can't remember exactly, but he has been above 80% for the last couple appointments, so I'm assuming he's due for a growth spurt very soon.

Lisette is 24" and 13 1/2 lbs. She's 77% for weight and 75% for height. I told the doctor that I'm so happy to know that my kids are above average and will be taller than mom and dad. He said the average adult male is 5'10" and Franklin should be at least that. Yay!

Franklin is also finally going down the slides all by himself. He's been so careful, and afraid to do things alone when he's at a playground. Now its such a relief because mom and dad don't have to go playing on the equipment with him anymore. Finally!!

Lisette is a very spoiled little girl. She wants to be held ALL the time and I just can't do it, for my own sanity! We're finally having to let her cry it out at times. At this point it can only help, and it'll prevent her from being too spoiled. Franklin's been just fine, and been a really good kid.

August in pictures

2009-08-21T11:29:00.003-06:00

We've had a busy month, and filled with lots of new memories. Just a little note to add about my previous blog. As I read Jami Haban's blog about her husbands' passing, I was crying intensely. Yes, I've known Kameron for 12 years, I've known Jami for 6 years, and they are both amazing people. As I was crying Franklin became very concerned, and wanted to help. After watching me cry for a while, and trying to divert my attention to him, he went into the kitchen, pulled out a wash cloth and brought it back to me to wipe my face. It was very touching and sweet.

Please check out all the new videos at the bottom of my blog, there are some great ones, and if you wanted to get to the photo album, click on the title of this post.

A Beautiful Life has gone before

2009-08-20T17:38:00.002-06:00

This is a very touching blog. A good friend has passed yesterday. His wife has written a beautiful blog telling of his passing. In memory of Kameron Haban click on this entry's title to read Jami Haban's blog. I love you Jami, you are a beautiful, amazing woman!

Lots of stuff in just a little time

2009-08-16T15:55:00.003-06:00

We absolutely loved having everyone here that was able to come. My parents came on July 31st in the morning, so I went with the kids to pick them up. Franklin was so thrilled to see them, and talked the whole way. Lisette stayed pleased as long as she was eating; I love bottle feeding. We stopped at Wal-mart before we went home, and while there Lisette got upset. My mom picked her up, and to our horror, she had overfilled her diaper. Took some time in the family bathroom to clean up the mess, but after it all, she was very happy.

Stephens’ parents arrived August 1st after my nephews’, Boston, baptism. That night we had a little birthday bash for Franklin. My little boy is 2! We had Grandma and Grandpa Quinn, Grandma and Grandpa Reed, and Heidi, Sam, Reyn and Tanith. Tanith is 6 ½ weeks older than Lisette, and Reyn is 7 months older than Franklin. Franklin really liked having his cousins around.

Its so amazing to know Boston is already 8 years old. I remember the day he was born. I was 18 and had just graduated from high school. It’s so hard to believe he is 8 years old, the first born Reed grandchild, and has been baptized. It was beautiful! And I have to give a little shout out to his younger brother, Miles. He turns 7 on the 24th, and he sang at his brother’s baptism. It was a beautiful number by Miles!

Sunday went beautifully. Lisette is a very beautiful little girl, and was gorgeous in her white dress. It was a beautiful blessing. We met at my sister, Greta’s for lunch afterward. Thanks to all that came, and making it memorable for all there. Franklin loves riding around on his new tricycle, and we have definitely found the resolution for Lisette. She is back on her original formula, but with purified water. Our kids are wonderful, and lovable. We are grateful for them both, and love them very much.

I got seriously behind on blogging because I got sick immediately following having company over. I get bronchitis every year so it must have been that time again. This time, however, I also got a sinus infection with it. It was fun for others to listen to my voice; it was very deep and sultry. I went to the doctors’ and Franklin came in the exam room with me. He kept getting into the cupboard, and though I had been whispering all day so that I wouldn’t have to use my deep voice I finally had to get after him to stop. Well, he stopped, turned around, looked at me and started laughing. He liked mommy’s voice, thought it was really funny.

I still have my cough, and unfortunately my kids did get a little bit of a runny nose, but at least that was all they got. Lisette has been an incredible eater, we’re trying to keep up with her appetite, and Franklin has been a great eater lately too. Not always, but he’ll eat almost everything on his plate. I am finally putting my foot down for when he won’t eat it all, or at all, then he doesn’t get anything else to eat. I refuse to let my kid be a junk food/snack eater and not eating his meals. So far so good, I’m winning.

Sheila (my mother-in-law) gave me a box of apples along with all her wonderful goodies, and things that she gets through her amazing coupon skills. We can’t keep up with Fruit in this house, before it goes bad (due to my food allergy, and Franklin’s picky eating) so I peeled a whole bunch to make into pies and crisps to give to some neighbors, and my sister. Franklin had one of those nights he decided not to eat his dinner, so I wasn’t going to give in. He did however pick up a peeled apple and ate the whole thing himself. I was so impressed! And he didn’t have to go to bed without dinner that night, and I was happy about that. I was sure I was going to give in before bed and let him have something, but he made it easier.

Lisette is having nights that she can sleep about 5 or 6 hours straight, its great!! She’s still picky about wanting to be held, but its getting better. She might grow up loving or hating the oboe. Right now it’s the only classical music we own on cd, so we play that in her room at night, and she sleeps to it every night. I don’t mind if she wants to play oboe when she’s older, that would make me very happy!

We’re getting to know a few more people in our ward. Last Sunday we got a new bishop, and this Sunday they split the ward boundaries. Apparently we had over 300 people in our ward. There is a new building that’s almost completely and is in our neighborhood, apart from the chapel we already meet in. We have 2 growing developments in the area. We’re also getting to know our neighbors a little more. Turns out the ones that live across the hall were from Tucson, so he knew about Thatcher and Sierra Vista. His dad owns most of the Peter Piper Pizza’s in Arizona.

I promise to get a slide show up soon of this month, events and visitors. Franklin is up from his nap, and that means Lisette will be soon too. Hope you are all doing well, and sorry this was a long blog. I didn’t feel like writing a whole bunch of blogs in sequence or some stuff might get missed. And to all you Reed’s out there, the reunion is on. I’ll write a blog on the family site really soon.

2 years of Franklin

2009-08-11T15:59:00.002-06:00

Before you realize that you’re not quite caught up with the time flying by, reality takes a check. Franklin turned 2 on Friday the 7th. Of course it was only 2 years ago he was born, but I remember it vividly. Franklin was born 11 days early and after 6 hours of being in the hospital, 2 of those hours spent on pushing alone, he was born at 4:58 p.m. 6 lbs. 10 oz. and 19 ¼” long. He has been the perfect child; easy to please, and highly entertaining all on his own.

Of course I now realize that birthday’s are more for mothers for the early birthdays than for the children. We had family here for Lisettes’ blessing so the night before we did a little birthday celebration. He loved being the center of attention with both sets of grandparents, and Heidi and her family there.

Franklin is a very intelligent boy, and extremely lovable. He has been stealing hearts left and right since the day he was born. It’s amazing how easy it is to love him, and he is addictive to be around. He understands so much that we tell/ask him, and he has very many words he knows. However, he still only wants to speak his language; it adds to his ability to steal your heart. He is so animated when he talks, and has great inflection to his voice and many expressions in his face.

We love our son, and are so grateful for the love and joy he brings to our life, and to everyone who knows him. Enjoy these photos of 2 years of Franklin!

One Crazy Month

2009-07-26T13:38:00.005-06:00

Sorry about the last post, the program I was using wasn't allowing me to correct pictures, or put captions, so I deleted it and went with Picasa. Yes, you may click on the title of this blog to access the album if you like to see the pictures better. Enjoy!

Adding up the math

2009-07-19T19:16:00.002-06:00

I have been taking some pictures but as I'm sitting here typing I know this blog will not be written at this time if I have to spend more time trying to upload pictures. I'm sorry, but my patience is thin, and time has been shorter than I ever could have imagine.

So Lisette, poor thing, has been having the worst time. If some of you are wondering, allow me to set the record straight; Lisette is formula fed, and I will openly admit that nursing has emotionally taken its toll on me, and it is most likely due to post-partum. Never had it before, but I suddenly feel the need to be very open about how things are for us in all ways. Since we moved here Lisette has been getting worse. All babies tend to have gas/fussyness problems, at least as far as I knew, but this was unbarable for all in this home. We all were experiencing something that was making us all sluggish, and not feeling well; aside from lack of sleep. My brother's son, Ian, had many problems due to colic so Christian had lots of advice for me. I know I didn't need to plead to get his advice, but I did anyway. I suppose pleading is a form of letting others see your desperation.

We haven't tried everything he has suggested (just because you have to play the elimination game) and my sister-in-law, Jamie also recommended a different formula. I had recently been given a sample of a pre-made formula, so we decided to try that, along with one of my brother's suggestions; keeping her verticle for 30 minutes after feeding. Things aren't 100%, but compared to how they were, we are very happy with these results. The thing that I had been trying on my own, and I will keep giving it to her, is prune juice. Its not much, and I'm sure many of you are thinking she's too young, but unfortunately for Lisette, she has inherited her mothers digestive system, or so it seems. Poor thing is having way too much trouble, so 1 - 2 tsp. of Prune juice, daily is helping in just the smallest way so far. We can't miss a day or we have to start over.

We also bought a case of water, and since we all began drinking it, we have noticed a small change. Stephen's theory is that our water is abnormally hard. I think I'll have it tested at Sears (literally, that thought just occurred to me, and yes, its free, I used to do it for others when I worked there). We have an on-sink filter, but we don't think its working as well here as it did in Springville. We are thinking about getting those huge jugs that you take into walmart and fill it from one of those water stations.

Today we attended our own ward, and so far we love it. I had the craziest 3 hours of non-stop de ja vou. I honestly kept thinking I must of know someone from somewhere, then as Relief Society was ending I realized I had way too many people I thought I knew in one room, at the same time for it not to be de ja vou (I hope I'm spelling that right). Franklin has been having the craziest runny nose, without other cold symptoms, so apart from getting allergy medicine this morning, he spent church with Stephen. Obviously Lisette was with me. Afterward both kids were ready to crash, and I'm wishing so much that we did too. I don't believe a person can ever "catch up"on sleep but it sure never hurts to get more when you haven't had enough. That's how Stephen and I have been. Little sleep = loss of patience + loss of time.

I know this heat is taking its toll. Its been dancing around 100 degrees all week. We are roasting, and very grateful to have a/c in our new place. With my own hot flashes even the fans need to be running. For those of you who doubt that anything north of the desert can be just as hot as the desert, come visit us, right now! We actually saw a commercial about our local aquarium, and how its known as the aquarium in the desert. Though I fail to see the desert, I certainly feel its heat. Things are of course picking up for Stephen because of this heat. This next week he will be on-call, so I believe we won't see much of him thoughout.

Because I feared that walking away to take care of some parental duties would prevent me from finishing this blog, I am finding myself at its end so that I can get Franklin in a nice cool shower. I may put on my swimmie and join him. He finds that more fun anyway. This week I will upload the pictures and hopefully next weekend I will post them. Please have patience with me, and if you can, share some of it with me; I could use a little. I do promise you though, things are getting better.

Rearranging the Moon

2009-07-13T10:35:00.003-06:00

Our move is over, and the house is almost in order. I am 2 weeks behind on blogging, and I had thought to add pictures, but, as usual, they will have to come on a later post.

Things went smoothly, enough, for our move. Some women from our Springville ward assisted us by holding Lisette while we packed. Our home teacher helped us pack and load. At night, after all the cleaning was done, my brother-in-law, Adam, and two of his brothers whose families were visiting helped us unload. One of our neighbors assisted us until re-enforcements came. Jodi, one of the brothers, told me I needed to take a picture of when we are done putting things away, just to show that all our stuff fit. I'm almost done getting things where they need to be and its amazing how well if all fit, and how much room we still have.

We have met a few neighbors, and on Sunday we ended up attending the wrong ward. The complex is split, by buildings, into the 4different wards for this neighborhood. We did meet with someone from our wards' bishopric before we walked home to request our records. Of the few people we met that we know are in our ward we really like already. We are very happy here so far!

On July 4th we moved a little into the apartment, and brought the cats with us. They irritated us with their whining, and meowing for 3 days, but they are obsessed with being able to see out the windows at the world. Franklin has enjoyed living here very much. The complex playground is right outside our door, and Franklin is thrilled with that! We have been stunned every morning with how much light comes in, as our place faces east.

Lisette is having problems with constipation, and is also near impossible to burp after feedings. Franklin had these problems too when he was an infant, but no where near as bad. These problems have robbed us of sleep and sanity. That's where the title of my blog comes in. I've been so sleepy all the time that aparently I'm talking in my sleep. Sunday morning I told Stephen that I had been up all night rearranging the moon.

All the anti-gas meds only make it worse, we've tried them all! We are trying something else, and will let you know if its working. Lisette is also a very demanding, spoiled little girl. She wants to be held; ALL the time!! Last night, and the night before have been a little better, but I don't want to say more so I don't speak ahead of myself.

We love our new location, and it has been easier on Stephen with work, and traveling. I do miss Springville, a little, but the benefits of being here far out weigh the things I miss. There are tons of children Franklins age here, and many babies as well. Our stake is full of younger families, so we know we will finally make some friends.

We are still on for Lisette's blessing on August 2nd. We are looking forward to seeing all who will be able to make it, and excited for you to meet our daughter.

5 years and counting

2009-06-24T13:34:00.003-06:00

Along with these pictures (you can click on the blog title to go to the album) don't forget to check out the new videos at the bottom of our page. Franklin has been having a lot of fun lately.

For our anniversary we decided to do some family activites. The night before Greta baby sat for us so we could have our own private dinner. I had a doctors appointment in the morning, and thankfully all my tests came back negative; no more infections. After Franklin's nap we headed up to Salt Lake and wen to the Hogle Zoo. It was very warm with some cloud cover, and a few sprinkles occassionally. Franklin completely enjoyed himself. We bought him a hat first thing since we didn't think about it before we left. He loved his hat (never took it off, a first) and kept changing his mind between riding on the stroller and walking.

The monkeys were his absolute favorite. He would have stayed there all day, every day if we let him. He was interested in the giraffe's; they had a really cool way for you to get up close to them with this tall building/corral. I should have took a picture, but I was mesmorised by one of them. We stayed at the zoo till they were hearding everyone out.

After we left we headed to The Gateway (super cool mall) for dinner. There's this fountain in the plaza of the mall, so after dinner at Thaifoon, aisan cuisine that was very good, we let Franklin have his fun. Just make sure you watch the video, Franklin had a crowd going!

Lisette is definitely rounding out, and she is so adorable. She's been getting better with sleeping longer, just need to make it happen at night instead of the evening when we want to be awake because Franklin is in bed. Franklin is still very facinated with her, and wants to help. He also gets very animated when she cries, wanting to help even more.

Just a reminder, we are going to have a joint blessing Lisette/birthday bash for Franklin on the very first weekend of August. We'd like to have a head count of who will come, mostly cause we've been thinking of having it catered; less for me to do, especially with a new born. Email me at lisl_music@hotmail.com or just comment on the blog.

A Family of Four

2009-06-14T18:09:00.002-06:00

So we are still grasping the reality that we are parents of 2 kids; two wonderful children. I will say that Franklin has been putting on the dramatics very heavily lately (terrible two's), and Lisette has proven to be a very easy, wonderful baby (just as Franklin was). Franklin’s episodes have everything to do with him not getting everything his way. He sure was spoiled with Grandma Reed here!

We loved having my mom here, especially Franklin. He wanted to do everything she did, be where she was, sleep next to her, eat what she ate; I think you’re getting the idea. He has been adding more words to his vocabulary, and has been utterly fascinated with his sister. He’s been very good with her, and wants to help, even if it’s not needed. We’re very happy that there haven’t been any accidents, and so far no one has been hurt (I should say no one has been hurt with the new addition, I’ll explain my injury later).

Lisette was kept in the Special Care Nursery for 48 hours. Luckily my insurance allowed me to stay that long as well so I could stay in the hospital with her. I was blown away by how great the whole experience was. When we arrived at the hospital, at 1:30 a.m. May 27th, we were nervous we were going to be sent back home. Luckily the staff was very busy that time, so by the time they were going to discharge me, they did one more check, and discovered I had dilated more. When the anesthesiologist came in I jokingly asked if he was going to be my best friend, and he was. After my experience with this epidural I realize that my epidural with Franklin was nothing, a joke! It might as well have been natural child birth.

Back to my story . . . A few hours later they gave me pitosin to speed it up a little (had the same thing with Franklin). Then at 11:20 I could start pushing, and she was here at 11:23 a.m. With Franklin I had to push for 2 hours. I couldn’t believe how easy it was with Lisette! It was amazing! The nurses were great, and my doctor was wonderful; that surprised me as well.

My mom arrived the night we got to take Lisette home. We had intended for her to be able to sleep in Franklin’s room. There were a few nights, and mornings, that Franklin would get out of his bed and crawl into bed with my mom. With her help we were able to sleep more at night, and I was able to take naps during the day; huge help!! Last Sunday I woke up feeling very weak, and feverish. We took me over to the ER and I was diagnosed with a Uterine Infection. Not cool, and I still don’t understand how I keep getting infections!

All last week we had Art City Days; or you could say Springville’s founders’ days/week. We didn’t participate in everything we had originally planned, but we did watch the Hot Air Balloon fest, and went to the carnival Saturday afternoon. Franklin’s first ride was cut very short; he started bawling when it began, only because he was on the ride by himself. Then he got on the carousel with Stephen, but was still too nervous from his previous experience to fully enjoy himself. Stephen and I used the rest of the tickets (didn’t get too many because the rain was threatening to fall) to ride The Zipper. It was fun until we were getting off, and I hit my elbow on the latch. Looked down after we had walked away and noticed I split my skin open in a nice, deep gash. Yeah, still hurts, can’t bend my elbow all the way, and very happy for the invention of liquid bandaides.

Now my mom is back in Arizona, and we are sad she has gone, but very grateful for her help, and the time she spent with us. Don’t forget to look at the new slide show in my previous post for what we’ve been up to over the last 17 days. Yes, Lisette is 17 days old today, June 14th, and has already gained a pound since she was born, and an inch. She’s the size of the average new born, and my original due date is still a week and a half away. And just as a side note, this Thursday Stephen and I will have been married for 5 years!

A Family of Four: slide show

2009-06-14T17:02:00.003-06:00

Lisette Alicia Quinn

2009-05-28T10:38:00.005-06:00

Born May 27th, 2009 at 11:23 a.m. Weight is 6 lbs. 13 oz. and she is 19 inches long. She was born 27 days early and is doing well. They have kept her in Special Care Nursery over night, just to make sure she's not contracting an infection or having any breathing problems. Soon we will know if she can come home today, or if they want to keep her one more night. If that's the case then I'll be allowed to stay tonight with her too. Franklin has been staying with Aunt Greta and her family and doing lots of fun things since school is coming to a close, and summer is upon us. Greta and Adam have loved having him, and enjoying his chatter, dancing and laughter. Stephen and I have been missing him like crazy and can't wait till the whole family is together at home.

We didn't take pictures right away because we were stuck in surreal mode since delivery was very fast, and since pregnancy wasn't easy we couldn't believe she was here. I only pushed 3 1/2 times till my doctor told me to stop.

She's already won over many hearts; nurses, family, and even some strangers. We were told last night that another couple was visiting their infant who slept next to Lisette. As they were holding their little girl they were asking the nurse about Lisette, how she was doing, if there was anything wrong, and that she looks so sweet and wonderful. Obviously she couldn't disclose any information to them about her. I hope you enjoy these pictures, and we'll get more soon!

May in pictures

2009-05-26T21:07:00.002-06:00

Fun things do happen here

2009-05-24T12:21:00.003-06:00

On Tuesday I saw my doctor. It was the first time the pains happened during a check up, and he definitely saw the pain in my body language. What a change! This whole time I haven't been happy with my doctor, but this one visit he was compassionate, and listened to us. He also said that if I go into labor at any point now, they won't stop me (even though I'm not yet 36 week). Overall the pains have been letting up, but because I'm in the clear, so to speak, I'm not staying on strict bed rest anymore, and therefore aggravating the pains. I no longer feel the need to remain helpless, and have done some cleaning, cooking and I actually went to my sisters and visited for a little bit. Also, Stephen and I took some adventures this week. Now for the fun stuff.

We've been contemplating on getting a more family friendly vehicle for a very long time. We've discussed our options over and over for months. Every time we found something that excited us, we got the feeling to hold off and wait. We thought of ways that maybe we could get out of our truck loan to take away the hesitation. But we love our truck. Its just the back seat isn't comfortable and two car seats don't really work. Now with baby #2 almost here, we've been trying to make up our minds. So these last 2 weeks Stephen has really stepped up the car search. I started to humor him by looking online. There was something I liked, and he agreed to go look at it for me. When he went to that dealership, that exact car was on a truck to be hauled to another location, so he went to the dealership across the street and instantly found something he loved.

He agreed to look at other places too, but we weren't happy with our search results. I agreed with Stephen to travel up to Sandy to look at this car he loved so much (taking the chance to really get out of the house). The dealer had this car at a tent sale, hoping for one last effort to sell it before they resorted to auction. Stephen said I would love it, and I did. We made them a deal for well under its value. We drove home in two separate vehicles that night, getting home at 11:00 p.m. Poor Franklin, but Stephen said that he was singing most of the way home.

He loved getting in and out of other cars, and was a great sport the whole time. He really enjoys our new-to-us car. Its a 2006 Mercury Mariner Premium 4WD V6. It has low miles, and whole lot of luxury features. Franklin enjoys climbing in (with a tiny bit of help) and gets in his car seat all by himself; HUGE help for mommy!! And we still have our truck!! We'll post some pictures soon.

We've also been doing a lot of research on car seats. We got rid of Franklin's old one because we ended up hating it. It was very frustrating to use, and he out grew it fast. We've been trying to be very choosy, and thought we found something we liked. I didn't even bother reading reviews till we were about to purchase. There are so many problems other people had that we decided we needed to look up what had the highest praise. We also want to make sure it wasn't gender biased (we don't want to have to get a new car seat for every infant). It made it even better when I found a code online to take to the store and get 15% off. Stephen's very enthusiastic about this seat too, and now our little girl can come any time now. We are definitely ready for her. With the excitement in the air I couldn't resist asking Stephen to let me get a "Welcome Home" dress.

And to top it off, all 4 of Franklin's canines are definitely cut through! He has gone back to sleeping in his own room all the time, and sleeping through the night, and taking naps that are long enough. He's also showing signs of tanning, more than me, and has one freckle on his right arm. And I have to add that the weather is great, and Franklin can't get enough. I think he's really catching on that something big is about to happen. Oh, and he's completely obsessed with the Muppet's. We finally ordered 2 other movies because I'm so sick of watching Muppet's from Space all the time, but he is so fun to watch when he gets into it. I think its all the soul music they play on it that he likes so much.

Just so that a date is out there, we are hoping that on August 2nd we can have our little girl blessed, as well as have a little birthday party for Franklin. He'll be 2 this August, my how time flies! We are inviting friends and family to join in the fun. Let us know if you'd like to be counted in!!

The last stretch

2009-05-13T12:59:00.002-06:00

This past weekend was very long, very dramatic, and very exhausting. Franklin has always been a late teether. His first 2 teeth caused a lot of trouble with playing peek a boo and teasing us. His canines, all 4 of them at once, are giving him (and us for that matter) more trouble than the rest of his teeth. He ran fevers all weekend. He'd been waking up in the middle of the night since last Wednesday. Finally, Friday night, poor Stephen is at his wits end. My pains had picked up with a vengeance Thursday night so between Franklin and myself, Stephen is worn out. I told him that the first time Franklin wakes up, just bring him in bed with us.

Friday night was still very long. Franklin would get upset when I had to get up to visit Mrs. Murphy (my Grandma Reed's name for the toilet, always would make me laugh, she has hilarious names for all sorts of things). Saturday wasn't much better. He was burning very hot. Because he had no other flu symptoms I didn't take his temperature. Sunday was hard for both of us. My pains have been making me writhe in pain that the only thing stopping me from going to the hospital was the fact that Franklin hasn't been sleeping well, and he was already in bed. So Monday I spoke with my sister about my dilemma. Franklin slept better with us on Monday night, and he had fewer fevers at that point. We're still struggling to get him to eat solids, but most of you know how hefty he is so we're not too concerned.

So yesterday Stephen and I headed over to our hospital in the afternoon with Franklin in tow. We had packed a bag for him, and a bag for me, just in case and Greta was on stand by to come get him in case we were going to be there a while. It was so wonderful to be listened to, and be taken seriously. They did some tests, and an exam. I am at 34 weeks, and dilated to 3 cm (don't worry, it doesn't mean I'm going to have this baby anytime soon) and I have a bladder infection. Other than the pain from the infection there isn't anything they can do about the rest of my pains, obviously.

Last night was better; less pain, and even though Franklin woke up 3 times, he would put himself back to sleep within minutes. He stayed in his own bed all night, that made us both happy. We are determined to make it at least 2 more weeks for me, and then I'm ending my bed rest. I see my doctor next week for my regular check up, and we'll keep you posted on any changes for me. Franklin hasn't had a fever yet today, and Stephen is able to catch up on sleep again as well.

The update, finally

2009-05-03T17:02:00.004-06:00

Taking the bed rest seriously has been helping. However I will admit that its not been easy to sit aside and not do anything. Everytime that I try to do something I definitely pay for it later. I've been spending a lot of time reading books, and being entertained by Franklin and the cats. Stephen continues to be amazing and incredibly patient.

Franklin has been cutting his canines for several weeks now, and finally some of them are actually visable. He continues his own chatter, and has a lot to say all the time. He climbs all over everything, and the only time he gets in trouble is when he crawls on me. He is definitely his mothers' son. He tries to roll, sit on, and jump on Rizzo, and his mommy. He also loves to poke at my belly. He'll move my clothes so he can see my tummy, and very softly rubs, pats, or pokes my belly. I try not to react when he rubs over my scar (I have no feeling over it, so it is a weird sensation, and sometimes gives me the willies).

Stephen has been working long days with the weather getting better. Last week we actually had some snow. Thankfully it didn't stick due to all the rain we were getting. Now the sun is heating things up nicely here. It won't be long till it's as hot as Sierra Vista, AZ here. Yes, it gets very hot here; our elevation is the same as where my parents live in Arizona, so close to Mexico. Stephen is very much looking forward to the heat; it means better pay, so why wouldn't he be excited!

We recently decided that we can't move till after the baby is born. We haven't been too thrilled about that decision, but have no choice because I can't help pack, or clean the place when we are moved out. I'm not about to make Stephen do all that work himself, its just not fair. However, some good news came our way yesterday. Our landlady told us that her roommates (the very noisey tenants that live above us) have moved out, and this week they will officially be gone. Stephen thought it was the best birthday news ever! We can also tell that our landlady is very relieved, and happy about that news herself. Things have been far more stressful for everyone under this roof. And yes, Stephen's birthday is tomorrow, the 4th. Its amazing how fast the time goes! This is his 5th birthday the two of us have spent together!! Happy Birthday to the most amazing man I know!!

From Stephen's perspective

2009-04-13T21:56:00.005-06:00

So its time to let you all in on how things are going with us on a more serious note. Lisl has been having Braxton Hicks (false labor/contractions) for the last two months. When they began it didn't happen often, and was never an actual problem. On the drive back from Arizona is when things started to get worse. Even more recently, on Friday, she began to have pains that have made simple things impossible. She has been on bed rest, and we hope these contractions and pains will ease up, so she can make it at least as long as she did with Franklin, 38 weeks. Lisl is only 30 weeks pregnant (10 weeks to go till full term).

Now, as a result of Lisl having to take it easy, I the fantastic and absolutely wonderful husband that I am have taken over the household responsabilities. In the past few weeks I have taken over cooking, cleaning, laundry, and anything that involves lifting. I haven't minded it of course but I have to say to all of you wives including my own; You are amazing! This has given me quite the insight into what it takes to keep up a household and I applaud your ability to keep up with everything. I will have to let Lisl keep you informed as to whether I am doing a comparable job or not.

Outside of that though we had a good easter weekend. Franklin enjoyed hunting for eggs. He decided that daddy had to hold the basket though. Which worked out well because I was able to keep removing eggs from his basket and re-depositing them for him to find. This helped increase the time it took for him to find them all. In the evening we enjoyed an Easter dinner with two of our friends (Mitch and Megan). They ended up being fully entertained by our quirky cat Rizzo. He was lunging off tables and just generally being a nut, so it made the evening pretty eventful.

Lisl had asked me if I wanted to give blogging a try, so thanks for tuning in, and reading what I had to say. We'll have some photos and videos of our Easter in an upcoming blog. Hope you all had a good Easter!

(Lisl's shout out to Stephen: He is amazing, and has been the best father and husband. I'm very greatful to be married to such a wonderful, and caring man!)

Springtime for Franklin

2009-04-07T14:40:00.004-06:00

So lots has been going on, and yet sometimes it feels like nothing new happens to us. For over a week now Franklin has been sleeping in a toddler bed, and loving it. We're not sure who's happier, Franklin or us. Since he started sleeping in his bed (no longer the converted crib, an actual toddler bed and we didn't ease him into either, we just took away the crib all at once) he's been sleeping a full 12 hours through the night, and 3 hours for his nap. Its been a real miracle for us since we haven't had those numbers since the disturbance moved in upstairs. That's since October. For any of you with toddlers still in cribs don't listen to statistics; Franklin LOVES his toddler bed and was more than ready to just switch.

We canceled our house phone, and even though it hardly rang, the silence has been great. 90% of all incoming calls have been telemarketers. There's been one company that I loath!! They would call sometimes 3 times a day, and I finally lost it with them. 2 calls in a row was the same operator, and when I asked for a manager, he first told me there are none, then later that he was the manager. By the end of our conversation he was laughing at me. Stephen wasn't home, so I called him up and said that this particular operator was in some serious trouble with me, and if I hear his voice again, I'm going to let him have it. Our resolve was just get rid of an expence we don't need, and then there won't be a way for that awful company to contact me anymore. Franklin's been happy to play with the disconnected phones.

The weather seriously can't make up its mind on what it wants to do. Right now its perfect, no sweater needed, nice and warm, but we're supposed to get a thunder storm tomorrow. We've also had a few days its snowed, and been super windy (have I ever mentioned there is no weather I hate more than wind?). We've been trying to figure out things that we can do indoors, and near by. We wanted to go to Gardener Village one weekend, but it was windy, and had just snowed. So instead we stopped at the mall in Draper. They had a play ground meant exactly for Franklin's age group, and we couldn't be happier.

Stephen's also been home a lot because even though its been cold the majority of people will just simply wait till next winter to get furnace work done, and no one has needed their a/c running. So on April Fool's day we went to Gardener Village anyway, with snow; but no more wind. I'm super happy, we found the exact baby quilt we've been looking for the upcoming nursery. When I have more of it together so you can get idea of what I'm trying to create, then I'll let you in on it, for now I'll say its yellow, black and white.

So when we got back from Arizona Stephen and I agreed that I needed to just take it easy and rest as much as possible. The drive home was harder on me than I will discuss and we thought just a few days would help. I've been in to see my doctor, and had some good and not so nice news. This whole pregnancy I've been right on track for the amount of weight I'm supposed to gain, not a pound more. I was super worried because my stomach rounded out very quickly even though the scale didn't budge a whole lot. However I'm still on bed rest and this time ordered by the professional, and not myself.

Its helped big time to have Stephen home a little more often, and he's been doing more housework. He's a great sport, and support. Franklin has loved having his daddy home as well. Make sure you check out the new video below to see just how much fun its been for Franklin. Stephen and I do feel better when there is work for Stephen, especially since things have been so slow. It also helps that Franklin is very helpful and obedient. He helps pick up his toys, and sometimes helps me in the kitchen. He isn't very helpful when its time to do laundry, unless I want it all over the floor, which I never do. He has a lot more personality, and has been a lot of fun.

Arizona Slideshow

2009-03-29T17:53:00.003-06:00

A little bit about some pictures:
We had a little snow a few days before we left, so we took Franklin "sledding" and he hated it once he realized his hands were freezing (his fault he won't wear his gloves).
Since Franklin and I flew down I tried to pack an overnight bag. I forgot pj's for Franklin. We borrowed pink pj's from his cousin Annie. Doesn't he look great?!
On Sundays we go for a drive or walk, depending on the weather, and this time everyone wanted to join. We put on Franklin's harness but he wanted on daddy's shoulders most of the time. Annie couldn't make up her mind if she wanted to walk, or ride with her brother, Davy, or as we all call him, Shemp. Reyn couldn't make it easy with what he wanted, so they made the walk a little shorter for him.
Franklin and Shemp got along great, they are almost exactly one year apart in age. You've got to love his hair!! And he is one super smiley baby!!
Stephen got a lot of work done in the remodeling of the garage at my parents; they're turning it into another room and a bathroom.
Our second to last stop before returning home was to Thatcher to visit Stephen's parents. We realized after we got home that our whole trip we really didn't take very many pictures, so there are a lot of people we saw that we didn't get pictures of; sorry Christian and Ian.

We're Home

2009-03-23T19:26:00.002-06:00

Our vacation was great, and not long enough, as all vacations are. I'll download pictures later, and do an actual blog, but here's a rough draft:

Saturday morning was earlier than I want to discuss. Stephen drove Franklin and I to the airport, and the two of us flew to Tucson while Stephen met up with his mom in Kanab, Ut and drove to Thatcher, AZ. I got to visit with my family one day in Sierra Vista, AZ till Stephen joined us on Sunday afternoon.

It was great just hanging out with family (and attempting to catch up on some sleep lost due to early rising, and messed up naps). Stephen got a lot of work done, especially thanks to brothers-in-law and my dad, thank you. Thanks to Sam, Davy, and Christian; Stephen super appreciated having your help, especially since we know all of you gave up vacation time for him. I did get to see some old friends, unfortunately it wasn't a very long visit. I did miss the chance to see some of them earlier in the week.

We hated saying good bye to all. It was so much fun, and a little stressful at times, I won't lie, to have all the little cousins together. Unfortunately Franklin did learn a new word that he says often, "No", which actually sounds a little more like "Do'h". Maybe we should try to get him to say it like Homer. We headed to Thatcher for a short, but wonderful visit and spent a little time with Stephen's parents. The following afternoon we headed for Flagstaff with a truck load, thanks to Sheila's hardwork with coupons; I'm still so amazed at how she does it.

In Flagstaff we stayed with my aunt Amber, my mom's twin sister. It was a super short visit, but super great. Stephen didn't really know Amber that well, or had ever met Greg. Plus they got to meet Franklin who continues to steal hearts. Of course the drive home was very long, longer than it would normally have felt. Franklin wasn't happy to be so confined in his seat, and myself being 6 months pregnant it definitely wasn't a good experience. I at least tried my best not to complain, can't say that much for Franklin.

Taking away time

2009-03-12T08:51:00.003-06:00

I'm overdue for an update, and I have to apologize, I've been so tired. Daylight Savings Time occured on Sunday, and I've been falling short of sleep since. The time change isnt' the only thing preventing me from sleeping, but Stephen and I are trying to be as polite about our situation as possible. Franklin has also become of victim of sleep loss as well, but adjusted to the time change better than we have.

Last Friday we finally went on another date, and had my sister babysit Franklin. We enjoyed a movie, ate too much popcorn to have room for dinner, so ordered something light, and split it between us. We still took home leftovers. When we got to Greta's Franklin was nestled between Miles and Boston, watching a movie, and was happy to see us. We were told that most of the night was spent sitting with Adam. We can tell Greta and Adam both love that Franklin wants to be with Adam all the time, and we aren't sure why he has to be with Adam. His cousins play all around him, and do other things, yet Franklin wants to just sit, and chill with Uncle Adam.

They told us at one point Franklin had the remote in hand (all kids do it, and none of them should have it, even Franklin gets in trouble for it) so Adam made a noise, like he does with his kids, but Franklin reacted differently. When he knows he's in trouble he curls up on the floor, puts his face in his hands, and you have approxamately 2-3 seconds, once he's in possition, before he starts to cry. Greta and Adam completely melted into his hands, so obviously he never really cried, and was immidiately no longer in trouble. Greta said it was the saddest, cutest thing. However, at home, when he really is in trouble, its not so cute; but I cannot convince anyone that there is even one thing he does that isn't cute. Sometimes I'm afraid it makes me look like the enemy.

Saturday I was determined to get some cleaning done. We still have many things in closets, and stored away in totes till we are in a bigger space; Spring Cleaning time!! We narrowed out at least 4 totes, and got rid of a lot of trash. Its such a good feeling. We gave a box of stuff away to D.I. and I still have one more part of the place to go through till I can say I'm done. Stephen has been a great help since I can't lift a whole lot. The other day when we attacked our main closet, we had all the totes in the living room. Franklin must have assumed we made a jungle gym for him because immediately he was climbing and crawling on top of it all. Because of all the dust giving me allergy problems, it made this task very difficult when Stephen finally had to go to work.

One reason why we've wanted to get this cleaning done is because we are about to take a vacation and love the thought of returning to a clean house. The second reason is because it minimizes the amount of clutter we have so its less to deal with in the next few months when we will move. Yes, we plan to be out of this apartment before the baby comes. Neither of us want to be here with our newborn little girl (no, we won't share what names we've been thinking of, just like we did with Franklin, so you can ask, but you won't get an answer). When we get back from our vacation we will go head on into the house search, and we'll keep you posted when we know anything.

Stephen and I cannot contain how excited we are to take a vacaton. We haven't had one since August. We will be spending a week with my family in Sierra Vista, AZ. I haven't seen my brother, Christian, since my sister Inga got married in April of 2006; nearly 3 years. Which means I have never met his son Ian. I haven't seen Inga since Christmas of 2006, which means I haven't met her daughter Annie, or their son Davy. It'll be like a mini family reunion, and I can't wait!!

I've had a friend comment that there needs to be a belly picture of me. I've been hesitant only because I'm carrying way far forward this time, probably has something to do with all the stretched out scar tissue that never shrank back after Franklin. I know, some of you may think, too much info, but that tissue gives me one advantage over all other pregnant women; my belly button will never stick out. Now are some of you a little envious? Just kidding!

The first one was to compare with a picture I have of me in the same outfit when I was pregnant with Franklin. In the second picture notice Franklin sticking out his belly, and has the other hand on my belly.

Another Picture Post

2009-03-01T20:56:00.004-07:00

These are the pictures I promised of Franklin's adventures; Fortress in the living room, and finger painting. (not pictures of the mattress bouncing just videos at the bottom of the blog) Some additional pictures are of Franklin chasing a cat through the cat tunnel, and getting stuck. Franklin recently got a hair cut, but we made a mohawk out of his hair one night. We also made cookies one night and Stephen introduced Franklin to the wonderful taste of cookie dough. We also took family pictures near Utah Lake.

Make sure you check out the videos at the bottom of our site. Franklin's been so much fun, we can't keep him to ourselves. (If this was emailed to you, make sure you click on the link to our blog site to see the videos at the bottom)

Spiders for a midnight snack

2009-02-25T20:35:00.004-07:00

I'll post this weekend all the pictures and videos we've taken this week. For now I'll just fill you in on whats been going on. Last week was refreshing and relaxing. There was a dramatic decline of noises due to an out-of-town trip that lasted 6 days, and 5 nights. I was able to regain my sanity, composure and reduce stress. Unfortunately Franklin and myself caught colds.

Stephen was great in being able to watch Franklin, who didn't seem to need the extra sleep from being sick, while I got in a nap or two. With Stephens help, especially over the weekend, I was able to more quickly get over this cold. There is still a little left over with Franklin, and some irritations of the throat with me, but overall, we are back to healthy. Friday I took Franklin in for his 18 month appointment, as well as had the doctor check on his cold. Franklin is 26 1/2 lbs. (54% for his age) and 34 inches (91% for his age). He did lose a little weight due to running around and not as interested in eating solids (due to teething and his cold) but I'm so excited to know he's definitely going to be taller than us!! He'll be able to keep up with Greta's and Heidi's kids!!

Franklin hasn't seemed to affected by his illness except for when naptime approaches he must be in bed. He has had high energy, and Stephen and I have been trying to come up with activities for him when it wasn't good for 2 sick people to be outside. Over the weekend Stephen was itching for a project since I made him stay home. So he got some scrap wood together and made a temporary eisle for Franklin. We taped some card stock to it, and let him go to town with his markers. He'd get so excited, he wanted to move on. Our only rule is that the markers stay with the eisle. He doesn't like that rule.

One evening we set up a fortress in the living room. The cats had a lot of fun with that too. Franklin was a little more sick that night, so when he got really worked up, he started coughing a lot. We had to call it quits before he wanted to. But he definitely had fun while it lasted.

The next night we did finger painting. He wasn't too sure about it, and in a way, still isn't. He wanted daddy to do more painting, and just copy him, rather than do it himself. Stephen painted his whole hand to do a hand print, and that upset him for a short while. I guess it was too much at the moment. We'll try finger painting again when we get some water colors. We did it with acrylic, and of course he had to taste it. Obviously he didn't like the taste, and sure made a funny face.

Stephen blew up an air mattress but not all the way full. We were able to bounce, and toss Franklin on it. He had the most fun with this activity. We even tried to bounce Rizzo, but he was just too light. However he did stay on it while we bounced Franklin. I tell you, that cat is most definitely one of a kind! He had to be in on every activity we do, and every room we are in. Since the air mattress was such a success, but Stephen didn't want to get it out again, I convinced him to bring in the twim mattress from the nursery. Franklin expected it to have the same effect, but even though he didn't bounce as high, he still had fun. And Rizzo was right there too.

Yes, I was going to get to the title of my blog. We have relished in the fact that we don't have many insects up here; no scorpions, and you never see a cockroach, and the mosquitos, though the locals complain how many there are, its nothing like the population in AZ. The one thing we have plenty of is spiders. There is one kind that we have down here all the time. In the first few months the cats liked to chase, capture, and kill, till they both were bit back. Now they pounce, and play, but not always eat them.

Monday morning I woke up with a slightly puffy lip, and 2 unusual red spots; one next to my nose, and the other next to my mouth. Originally thought it was acne, except for what was on my lip, till the next day. My lip was more puffy that you could actually notice it, and it started to sting. The red spot next to my mouth was bigger, and also started to hurt. Just blamed it on messing with it at first. Then the 3rd day I noticed that each red spot had two little marks and began researching the web about insect bites. I realized I had been bitten in 3 different spots; the trail leading to my mouth. In my sleep I must have sought my revenge because the last bite is on the inside of my lip. Yes, gross!! Now I seek revenge on every spider I see before it has the chance to get fresh with me. (no, my revenge doesn't involve eating them, it was just the one, and I was asleep)

Picture Post

2009-02-19T11:13:00.005-07:00

Don't forget to check at the bottom of the blog for 2 new videos. The Description of them is just to the side.

We went to cold stone, and yes it was cold outside too. Franklin wanted to eat it at his own pace, and not ours.

We set up his crib with a bed rail so that it was more like a toddler bed. My back can't handle picking him up and over, so I needed to make the switch. He LOVES it, his bed is his new favorite place in the house. Rizzo likes it too!

Stephen got off work early one day, and decided he needed to clean out and organize his truck. His regular vehicle was having problems, so they made him switch and had to move his stuff in a hurry. Franklin was more than happy to help, there is a tool in his hand, and wouldn't let go of it at all. It was total dispare when we took it from him.

He was on edge for the next little bit, so I gave in, and let him have a cupcake. He didn't waste time shoving it in his mouth, frosting first.

Stephen was installing a whole-house humidifier (Life Saver, I have to say, Franklin and I have both been sleeping so much better since it was put in). Rizzo was having fun in the box, he always does, but this box happened to be big enough for Franklin to enjoy too. One of the videos below is of this box adventure. He had so much fun!!

What he does best

2009-02-16T13:06:00.003-07:00

Franklin is a pro at stealing hearts. I'm not entirely sure how to descibe what he's doing other than it is super cute. He chatters and talks his own language constantly, as if you know what he's saying, however he doesn't talk as if he's being serious and that you should understand him like I've seen a lot of toddlers do. The whole mouth, tongue, and eyebrows get into it too. He gives the whole personality all at once; that is if he isn't pretending to be shy at first.

He also believes he is very clever, especially when playing "Where's Franklin?" He'll use his blanket, or his hands and cover his eyes. When you "find" him he laughs as if he is the most clever boy in the world. He has smooth moves too, if you ask for a kiss he'll lean his head forward and let you kiss him on the head (he doesn't give as many slobbery, on the mouth kisses, but he does them every so often), and he loves to copy silly faces, especially if it has anything to do with the lips.

Nursery is great, and he's learning where it is, and what it means when he goes. He can't wait to get to nursery now! Our primary kids miss him, but it feels like we actually have full lessons now in class. We're still trying to find out what happened to naps since the time change. Its like he knows, and now its not just Sundays, its every day.

My sister, Greta, babysat Franklin for us on the Saturday before last so Stephen and I could attend the Temple. It's been ages since we've gone, mostly because I wasn't ready for a babysitter. It was a relief to have her watch him, and he enjoys his cousins. Greta's been urging us to go on more dates, and leave him with her more. He sure won them over, and now they can't get enough. Its the whole personality at work, I tell ya!

This last Saturday was very nice. Stephen says I've created a new V-day breakfast tradition: Crepes with strawberries, mmm, mmm, good. Franklin took his morning nap, as we watched a movie that we've had forever (and needed to go back to the store). We ate lunch, and immediately after I got sleepy. Stephen was great, he let me sleep, even though there were things we wanted to get out and do and Franklin woke up right after I went to sleep. When I did get up, we headed out because we wanted to see Bolt at the dollar theater. It was insane out on the roads anywhere near theaters, mall, and major stores. We bought our tickets, thought we'd take care of an errand, then thought better of it and turned back.

Franklin LOVED the movie. It was the best he sat through ever!! We really enjoyed it too, it was more commical than we expected. Toward the start of the movie Franklin though he wanted our soda, versus having his own drink. It was too heavy, and we weren't paying much attention till we both felt our legs getting wet. At least it was at the start of the movie so it had time to dry before we got out in the cold.

Just a little side information: Sunday before last we were told by our landlady that her roommates would be moving out by the following weekend. We were very surprised, and excited. I've lost lots of sleep on account of the noises from upstairs, and as a result my stress has been out of control, and I started getting migrains. I've never had them before, and I started to get really sick because of them. My doctor has given me something to help me sleep, but it seemed once we had that news my stress was back in check, and my pains were going away. On Thursday I heard a discussion from the mother and daughter upstairs, and decided to take Franklin out of the house so they could talk as loudly as they liked. Stephen and I agreed that the result of this conversation would be that they would not be moving out. The weekend came and went, and we have had some communication that now proves we were right. Ironnically my stress has gone up a little since, but now we know what my struggle is we are trying to keep it under control so that my pains won't return.

Sorry there are no pictures. Its not that we aren't taking them, I just don't always download them, so please be patient with me.

First born survey

2009-02-10T10:52:00.002-07:00

1. Was your first pregnancy planned? Sort of, we had been trying for 21 months, but stopped because of the heartache, and decided to let the doctors find out why we weren't getting pregnant.

2. Were you married at the time? Yes

3. What were your reactions? In denial. Don't get me wrong, I was thrilled, but not concinced I actually was pregnant

4. how old were you? 24

5. How did you find out you were pregnant? A specialist was going to start me on treatments, so they did a blood test to make sure I wasn't pregnant. Got a call the next day at work.

6. Who did you tell first? Stephen. Then my doctor. We waited a few weeks to tell family

7. Did you want to find out the gender? Even before I could wholly accept that I was pregnant I knew it was Franklin. Stephen was the one who needed convincing we were having a boy.

8. Due Date? August 18th, 2007

9. Did you have morning sickness? Did I ever!! I actually found out a few months ago there is a name for the sickness I had, hyperemisis. I lost 18 lbs. in the first 5 months

10. What did you crave? Nothing, I was thrilled if water stayed down. After the sickness was over I was happy to enjoy all food (still couldn't eat certian meats for months after he was born)

11. Who/What irritated you the most? The shaking from when I was so absolutely weak, and when I was ordered on bed rest for the last 7 weeks, which I didn't completely obey.

12. What was your first child's gender? Boy

13. Did you wish you had the opposite gender? Absolutely not, I knew it was Franklin specifically.

14. How many pounds did you gain? I gained back the 18, and then a few more.

15. Did you have a baby shower? Yes

16. Was it a surprise or did you know? I knew

17. Did you have any complications during your pregnancy? I had pre-term labor on our 3rd anniversary, and was ordered on bed rest till he came, 7 weeks later.

18. Where did you give birth? Sierra Vista Regional

19. How many hours were you in labor? If you count early labor, which most women don't, 17 hours. I was at the hospital for only 5 hours from when I got there till when he was born.

20. Who drove you to the hospital? Stephen

21. Who watched you give birth? Stephen, my doctor, delivery nurse (who had actually been my school nurse back in middle school, so I knew her and she's friends with my mom) and about 5 others. Honestly, I don't know where 4 of those nurses came from; they just appeared right in the last 15 minutes before he was born.

22. Was it natural or c-section? natural

23. Did you take medicine to ease the pain? an epidural, but for most of the labor my catheter was pinched by my BP cuff cord. Then when Stephen located the problem they lowered my dose to almost nothing; said they wanted me to really experience it. Thanks a lot!!

24. How much did your child weigh? 6 pounds, 10 ounces

25. When was your child actually born? August 7th

26. What did you name your child? Franklin LaVor Quinn

27. How did the father react tot he new baby? Stephen was thrilled to finally hold his son in his arms.

28. Did you experience any post-partum depression or baby blues? not at all

29. Breast or bottle? Bottle, with pumped milk for 3 months. When Franklin finally figured out how to latch I got engorgement, then mastitis. He never latched after that, and I felt so guilty, and that it was my fault. Stephen helped me get over that. Hooray for formula!!

30. How old is your first-born today? He is 18 months, but sometimes is convinced he's already 2 (if you get what I mean)

What a big boy!

2009-02-02T09:01:00.004-07:00

Yesterday was Franklin's first day in nursery! I was a little sad to think that he's grown up so much, so fast. However he had a great time in there and didn't miss us one bit. Maybe church will end up being more fun for him once he's caught on that he gets to go to nursery everytime. Of course it helped that they seperated the nursery into two; senior and junior. That means he's less likely to get pushed, or hit. The teachers told us that they just loved him. Franklin has that affect on everyone.

He's just growing up so fast, I guess he's ready to be a wonderful big brother to a little sister. That's right, we're having a girl! I can already tell that the two of them are going to just adore each other. However she is already extremely active, and highly emotional (meaning she's making mommy's emotions go everywhere). Her due date is still June 23rd, but we are convinced she will come sooner. We had our ultrasound on Friday and she looked very long, and is either getting ready to be an acrobat, or dancer. She's has definitely made her presence known, even though I think its too soon for her to be keeping me awake, and causing pain. I'm only 20 weeks, and I didn't feel this much from Franklin till the 3rd trimester.

Franklin and Rizzo are fast friends. They play together all the time, and have a great time! The other picture is of Franklin pushing the world. I'll have a video posted soon. If you didn't watch the 4 new videos I posted last week, make sure you get a chance. The caption at the top of my blog tells what is happening in each video. Inga, I hoped you listened well to the laughing one; I've told you many times he laughs like you!

Playground not always safe

2009-01-28T09:03:00.004-07:00

With all the cold, and new fallen snow the only playground that Franklin can play at is at the University Mall playtree. There's a huge tree that has a deck and one slide. Off to the side are foam dinosaur bones children can climb all over, and run through. Franklin particularly likes the T-Rex head.

Last week I was able to take him there, not many kids on a weekday before 5. Most of the snow had melted so I thought soon he'd be able to play in the neighborhood playground again. Nope, we got lots of snow Sunday night, first snow fall since January 5th. So Stephen and I thought we could meet up at the mall after his last appointment and Franklin could play. Immediately when we got there he went for the T-Rex.

Unfortunately there was a 3 year old who thought he ruled that part of the playground, and as he was trying to block Franklin from getting in he was climbing on top of it, and pushed Franklin down with his feet. He kicked Franklin making him fall right onto the teeth. I told the boy its not nice to push, or kick, and he told me he didn't. There weren't very many parents around, but there were none near him so I didn't know who his parents were. So the rest of the time I had to do everything I could to convince Franklin not to play there. He did get interested in this huge stone that's made into a globe, and rotates in water. More like he was interested in the water, and wanted to drink it. Naturally I had to take him away, which he was upset over.

Our things were next to the T-Rex head, and as I'm cleaning his hands, and getting him some of his juice to drink that same little boy is seriously pushing over other kids. I stepped in when he completely knocked over a boy smaller than Franklin. Right then that smaller boys mother came over because other kids went to tell her. She thought the bully was mine, but after asking the boy where his mother was I went over to her to let her know what her child was doing. She seemed mad that I was bugging her. She told me she was watching him; which wasn't true because she either had a stroller blocking her view, or her mother who was holding a new born (I know this because I was sitting right next to this head, and I couldn't even see there was a woman sitting on the other side of that stroller).

She didn't call her boy over, didn't talk to him, nothing. The other mom came to me and said that she should have gone with me to talk about this boy being a bully, but I told her that it wouldn't have made a difference if she had, so don't worry. She then took her kids out of the playground. Sad that we couldn't just let our kids play. The mom of the bully finally acknowledged her son when he got mad at an older girl who was climbing on top of the head and he completely pushed her feet out from under her. Good thing she was bigger, and had a good grip or it could have been a disaster. He sat on the bench next to his mom the rest of the time.

These pictures are of the snow fall we had on Monday. Franklin finally got to play out in the snow. We'll take him sledding this weekend.

There are some new videos, so check them out below.

We're back on line

2009-01-21T21:17:00.002-07:00

We've talked for years about up gradingour computer, and for the last year I've complained aboutour desktop. I hated that thing, and finally, it hated me back. On Sunday (or perhaps sometime over Saturday night) our computer decided to rebel and not allow us to load up, well, anything and everything. It refused to stop rebooting itself before it even got the chance to load up.

We had a crisis on our hands. We do everything on the internet, and since we've chosen to go paperless on a lot of things we knew we couldn't remain without a computer for very long. We had once talked about getting a laptop before we'd replace the desktop, and for our budget, it was more agreable. We did lots of research, on foot, and on the phone and obviously found ourselves a wonderful solution.

It feels great to have a computer again, and to be back online. Thank you Christian for your help, and research. I haven't done much playing with this thing yet because Franklin was demanding attention, and I'd rather let Stephen mess with it. I guess its a little insurance for me; if anything goes wrong I know that I didn't do it!

2009-01-14T12:13:00.002-07:00

Rizzo loves to jump up on the book shelf, he's the skinnier, more able cat. When Osgood got himself up there I had to have proof that he did it; keep in mind he's the 16 1/2 lbs. cat. If you look closely you can see some of his flab hanging off the back of the shelf.

Franklin nestled himself into the couch and was happily playing with daddy's phone.
Janiel was on her laptop, and Franklin squeezed right in. He wanted to be with her all the time. And he had to do what she was doing. If she was ever on the floor, he would be right next to her, or on her.
This is another view and you can see he wanted to get his hands on the computer. He loves all electronics. Franklin and Janiel were boyfriend and girlfriend the whole time and here is the proof.

Hooray 2009

2009-01-12T11:32:00.002-07:00

We had a fun New Year. The night before Franklin didn't allow me to get much sleep so by the time I went to SLC airport to pick up Janiel, I had to have Stephen talk to me on the phone so I wouldn't get too sleepy. It was so exciting to see Janiel again, and have her stay with us for a few days!!

Franklin was obviously cranky that day since he also didn't get a whole lot of sleep, and Janiel had been up most of the night herself; staying overnight at the Tucson airport, so she could check in at 4:30 a.m. (Thanks for the sacrifice, because I was sure glad to have you come visit!) After we got to our place we talked for a little bit, and Janiel wore out Rizzo. Rizzo played fetch with Janiel for a very long time, but after Franklin went down for his nap, we decided we all should get some sleep. Janiel got to lay down, and was later joined by Osgood (practically smothering her) and Franklin had other plans for me. I got some cleaning done, and got Franklin a meal. After Janiel was up we talked some more, and waiting till Stephen got off of work. Unfortunately he was on-call. He got home a little late, but picked up the pizza on his way home. After we ate, we headed over to Spanish Fork (5 minutes away) to their city Festival of Lights. It was actually really cool!!

We went home, and Stephen left for Salt Lake; called off to work. Franklin went to bed shortly before Stephen got back, which was between 9:30 and 10. We lit som fireworks on our street, which was covered in ice and snow. Janiel was running and sliding all over the place, occassionally Stephen joined in. We went inside, and I honestly don't remember what we watched while we waited to turn on "the count down". It was interesting that Time Square didn't really do much this year, they really cut down on their budget, so all the fun stuff was aired from Vegas. We counted down last year, and then 20 minutes later went to bed.

We were fortunate to have Stephen with us for the entire day! He didn't get New Year's off last year. On Saturday we went to Gardener Village, and even though it was cold, it at least wasn't windy. Franklin wasn't always willing to leave a shop when we were done, nor was he always allowed to walk around. He is cute, and well behaved, but just like all children, he had grabby little hands, and isn't gentle with everything. I won't give you a travel log at this point. However I was thrilled to have Janiel with us, it was so fun to have her here!! Franklin just ADORED Janiel. We called him her boyfriend the whole time. Janiel allowed us to go on a date Friday night, and called up just to say that he was cuddling with her, and just chilling out. They were still cuddling when we got back. It was so sweet!

Franklin wanted everything that Janiel had, he wanted to be where she was, and do what she was doing. Sometimes if he wouldn't eat what I was giving him I'd just give it to Janiel, and then he'd want it. He really doted on her, and it was very cute. On Sunday we all were feeling a little sick, Stephen had to go to Salt Lake again, and the rest of us ended up taking naps all day. I was glad that I wasn't really sick, just needed more sleep, and it sure helped the next day to have had some catch-up sleep. Monday when she had to go to the airport, it started snowing. Her flight was delays about 30 minutes, but it was enough to make her miss her connecting flight to Tucson. It could have been worse, because from the time she left, until Wednesday morning, it snowed, and Springville's report was we got 8 inches of snow. It was beautiful, but also dangerous. At least she made it home that night.

Janiel, thanks so much for coming to visit, I had so much fun!

I will post pictures, but my computer isn't cooperating.

Our Christmas

2009-01-02T08:39:00.002-07:00

Please click on the title to be able to visit our photo album. There were just too many pictures for us to post them on our blog. Plus I know my sisters want the link to get some of these pictures for themselves. And don't forget to watch the 4 new videos below.

We had so much fun, and did so many things with family. We loved having Heidi, Sam and Reyn up here to share Christmas with. Christmas Eve we had dinner with the Lewis' (Heidi's in-laws, and Stephen's boss). The food was great, and it was so nice to be with a large group of people, and have a lot of laughter. Franklin went to bed very late that night; I hope this isn't the beginning of him waiting for Santa. We had to make the cats sleep in our room that night so they wouldn't terrorize the gifts. Obviously we woke up earlier than we wanted due to their pleadings. Rightly so we shut them in with us because immediately Rizzo went for his stocking.

Franklin slept in till 8:30 but went down again for a nap at 10:00. Heidi and I had planned on seeing a movie, so this meant at 12:20 waking up Franklin quickly, and opened his presents. We saw "The Tale of Despereux" and Franklin chatted through the whole movie. Luckily there weren't very many people there, and he made Heidi laugh the whole time. Reyn slept through the whole movie. We all went to our place after the movie and we gave each other the gifts we had for one another; we had each other this year.

Christmas dinner was at the Whites' with Greta and her family. Reyn wanted to push around the toy strollers Greta's girls got for Christmas, and Paisey joined in as they went 'round and 'round the house. Franklin got to hang out with his favorite uncle; Adam. Every time we go to Greta's Franklin has to hang out, and sit with Adam. Its been an instant bond that we don't know when, and how it began. When Heidi was at our place Franklin wanted to hang out and sit with Sam. I guess he just really likes to hang out with the guys! Dinner was wonderful, and we all forgot to leave room for pie.

We headed home late, and Franklin instantly went to bed. We had dinner that next night at Greta's again with Heidi and family. On Saturday Stephen and I headed out to do a little shopping, and met up with Heidi and Reyn at the mall, while Sam was out skiing, hoping that we could let the boys play. Bad idea. They both wanted to play with the slide, but from the opposite end, and there were probably a good 35 - 50 other kids. We finally had to leave the play area because there was no hope in getting them to play and be safe.

Sunday was quiet, and relaxing; sort of. Franklin took a very long nap in the middle of the day, but for some reason I don't remember that day except for going to church. Hopefully that means I got a nap too.

Monday Heidi and Reyn came over in the morning and we had breakfast together. We got to hang out that day before I took them to the airport. Greta and her girls had caught the flu over night so we had to skip out on visiting them that day. I was excited that we got to see so much of the Lewis' while they were here, and we had a lot of fun with them.

Enjoy the pictures, and videos. The first video is from Greta's when Paisey and Reyn raced around the house with the toy stroller. The second video is Franklin drawing on his magnidoodle. He loves that thing so much it goes every where with us. He's fallen asleep in his car seat holding on to it. The third video is of Franklin and Rizzo. Rizzo makes a very funny meow when he sees birds outside. The Franklin started being silly. The last new video is Rizzo trying to get his stocking. He wouldn't quit!

Quinn Winter Wonderland

2008-12-22T10:39:00.006-07:00

About a year ago I posted a picture of these two, and Rizzo was greatly dwarfed by Osgood. Now its not so. Rizzo and Osgood are the best of pals, and Rizzo and Franklin are really great pals too. Lucky for us that Osgood tolerates Franklin for the most part.

I started having more allergy problems with our cats so we finally gave them baths. Rizzo was extremely upset, and didn't cooperate very well. He sure looks cool when he's wet though because you can see that his fur is actually white underneath. We've realized that if we ever shaved Rizzo he really would be an all white cat when it grew back. Some fur fell off his toes when he was declawed and it grew back completely white. Weird, huh?!

Osgood is a good sport when it comes to baths. Early on he's learned that if he just lets us wash him, its over with sooner. Because they are officially indoor cats they don't get baths very often. I'm just glad he's remembered to cooperate.

I have been so bad at getting pictures lately. It didn't help that I lost the charger for the camera, and its not powered by regular batteries. Thanks to Franklin it ended up behind the couch, and I just had this feeling to look there. We went out on Sunday to get some pictures. If you go back to older posts you'll see some pictures taken from this same area; I think its from May, and June.

I've also realized that I'm usually the one holding the camera so it was nice to have a turn on the others side of the shot.

Franklin is awed by the snow. He has picked it up, and we've been prepared for him to get upset by the cold, but he has yet to cry, or get mad.

Even as I write this we are getting a fresh blanket of snow. I know most of you who read this are used to the desert, and may even love the desert. I just have to say there is something so beautiful, peaceful, and pure about snow. It really makes it feel even more like Christmas to us. We truly love it here, and having the snow really seals the deal. We would love to have any/all of you come to visit us, and get to be a part of what we live in everyday.

Video's Below

2008-12-10T14:11:00.003-07:00

I finally got those videos to load. They are at the bottom of our blog. You might want to turn off the christmas music, especially if you want to hear Franklin's chatter on the drawing video.

1st video: We went to a friends apartment for dinner this last Sunday, and we didn't bring enough of his own toys to occupy him, so they brought out at pinwheel. He tried to blow on it to make it spin like daddy was doing.

2nd video: Rizzo (and Franklin for that matter, but he's not in this video) loves the tree, and the decorations. Rizzo even tries to eat the tree, after all he likes to eat plastic; he's definitely not the brightest cat, but at least he makes us laugh.

3rd video: This is the one of Franklin drawing. He LOVES to draw! He talks as he draws, so listen closely. I will warn you it is a long video.

If you haven't read our latest blog that I posted yesterday make sure you read it!
Merry Christmas!

Looking back

2008-12-09T17:07:00.002-07:00

Today is December 9th, 2008. For the past few weeks I've been remembering a lot of events, and occurances over the past few years that have taken place about this time of year. So here's a few thoughts from me.

A few months ago this BBQ Pit restraunt opened on the north side of town. When I drive by it reminds me of when my family lived in Martinez, Georgia while my dad was stationed at Ft. Gordon. Driving home from school everyday on the bus I smelled that same smell. As a child I always thought it was some one grilling, and never bothered to think "Why would a person grill every day?" So this smell took me back 20 years, and now I know why it smelled like that every day.

It's almost 8 years since I twisted my knee, and had to use crutches for a month, and drive using my left leg. I did get to use a handi-capped card for parking. Just to fill you in I was playing freeze tag with a bunch of guys (and only one other girl who they wouldn't tackle, just me, go figure) at the city park, and when I jumped off the merry-go-round I landed badly, and tore some cartilage in my right knee. I didn't hurt till the next morning.

5 years ago Stephen and I had just begun dating. I knew right away he was the one and instead of me being the one persuing him, who never had a girlfriend before, I let him take things at his own pace. On Christmas Night we kissed for the first time, and nearly two weeks later I was in the hospital with a kidney stone. (No, he didn't give me a kidney stone, the city water did) Stephen was being warned by many relatives that this is how things would be if he stayed with me (ironically they weren't too far from the truth).

4 years ago I fainted during a concert in Colonial Juarez, Mexico, and still don't know why that had been happening to me. I should have listened to my band director, who told me not to go on this tour, but I was afraid of being kicked out of choir and choraleers. Tom was right, and my health did get worse. A few months later it went away, and I never have had fainting problems again.

3 years ago we lost our dear Noxie, and in Generals grief we adopted Osgood. Its actually an interesting story on how we found him; we were driving around looking for a pet store. We started arguing because I couldn't stand how Stephen was driving and that we weren't anywhere near where I wanted to be. We pulled over so we could switch drivers and lo and behold there was a pet store we never knew about. At that point Osgood chose us by jumping into Stephen's arms and would NOT let go.

2 years ago we lost General. That was the worst thing that could happen at that time. I was in a very dangerous place even when he was there, and losing him was more devastating than any of you will ever know. General was nearly just as human as he was a cat. He was our little boy, and had a lot of child-like traits. Unless you knew him it isn't possible for me to explain what his loss meant to us. But in a matter of days (and almost to the day today) we found out we were pregnant.

Last year, after moving up here, we saw how lonely Osgood was. Back in Sierra Vista he still had playmates, but he was our only cat, so he moved up here alone. We were determined to get a female cat, and didn't even bother looking at any males. Luckily for Rizzo he was believed to be female, and his paper work said so. We didn't think we were quite ready to bring home another cat, but something made us decide this kitten was it. We brought home Daphne, and a month later renamed him Rizzo.

Now that the year is coming to a close it is definitely ending better than it began for us. For the many of you who don't know I am pregnant again. I am 12 weeks along, and due June 23rd. Today I listened to the heart beat, and Franklin was a little concerned about what he was hearing and became upset when they took the doppler off and we stopped hearing it.

We were also hoping we could announce that we were moving (staying in Utah County) but we've decided to wait a little while longer. I called our primary president and she was thrilled we weren't moving. She also confessed that she didn't know what to do about our class next year because they were the only class she couldn't find a teacher for. Our class has been very sad, and upset when we originally told them we were going to move. One of them was actually very mad and said he won't come to church anymore when we leave. Now that we are going to stay where we are we keep our class, and even move up to teaching just valiant 12, instead of 11 and 12. I think I'll bring them something nice on Sunday to tell them we're staying.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

2008-12-04T10:08:00.002-07:00

Minus the snow it's really looking like Christmas around here. We put up our tree earlier this week and Rizzo and Franklin are facinated. Don't forget, Rizzo likes to eat plastic, and we have a fake tree; are you getting the picture? Decorations on the tree are an added extra, especially for Franklin. I love fake trees, especially when they are pre-lit, like ours, but for years I've had trouble with them. After we put the tree up and fruffed it out I broke out in a rash on my arms soon followed by welts.

Thanksgiving was very calm and quiet. Greta allowed us to use her home with her large kitchen, and it made cooking very easy. Our turkey was done before I thought it would be so I had to quickly heat up the rest of the meal; good thing I put it all together, ready to be heated up. Afterward Stephen told me it was the best tasting feast yet. We had some leftovers, but it didn't take us long to finish it off. It still took a few days, but not all that's left is turkey legs. I did find an awesome recipe for apple pie; definitely the best I've found yet!

I had some videos of Franklin but I've been frustrated because they won't finish downloading to YouTube. One video is of Franklin drawing. He LOVES to draw. He had been walking around with a marker (yay for washable markers) and found some paper. I took the cap off so he could draw, and he went at it. He'd make a few marks, and then stop to talk about it, then draw some more. He did this for a very long time, and he stayed on the paper. Also at my birthday dinner we tried to get Franklin to nod his head because he always shakes his head. He ended up rocking his whole body and laughing. He was extremely cute!

Franklin is also cutting more teeth right now. About 4 or 5 at once, poor thing, but I'm excited for him to have more teeth, and be able to chew a lot more things. But because of his teething, not only has he been drooling a lot, he's lost his appetite. I'm trying to keep his belly full, so luckily he loves his milk, and occasionally will munch on something.

A Happy Birthday and some catching up

2008-11-24T14:24:00.002-07:00

I am now 26, and Stephen made sure it was a wonderful day for me. Franklin wasn't so helpful with not getting enough sleep at night, and not taking his nap the way he should. Some plans were changed, or adjusted due to Franklin's needs. We still enjoyed ourselves, and ended up having cake the day after. We were just too tired to have cake that night. Whitney so lovingly called us "old people" since we went to bed instead. Don't worry, I laughed, and I know I'm not old. So interesting how to an 8 year old that 20 is old. Now my definition of old has changed, and its not dictated by age.

Things have been crazy this month so far. Stephen has been on call every other week since before Halloween, and has worked every weekend (except last weekend, or I would have called his boss and complained) since mid-October. Unfortunately he is on-call this week, but we cross our fingers that he won't get called out on Thanksgiving. Stephen had also been working late into the day, sometimes evening, and since I haven't been feeling well I haven't had the desire to blog.

Franklin is walking, and is extremely proud of it. He started walking 3 weeks ago, and wants to do it all the time. Because he's been months of walking across furniture, and reaching many things, some of which he shouldn't, we baby-proofed months ago. He's not getting into things that he shouldn't any more often than before. Overall its been easier for me since he began walking since he's over 26 lbs. At his last appointment he was measured at 32 1/4" and 26 lbs. 1 oz. (he's lost a little bit of weight since he's been walking so much) and that makes him 81% for height, and 76% for weight. I don't know if you can imagine our happiness at knowing he's going to be taller than us.

Franklin is extremely chatty. It's official, he calls Rizzo "Izz izz" and of course he says Da da, and when he's upset he calls for "mommom". He has his own version of bye bye, and hello, and he waves for both. He also puts the phone to his head (not always on his ear, but close) and talks. I just wish I could get him to do that with someone on the other side of the line. He loves to give kisses, most of which are very slobbery. He's almost always ready and willing to give a kiss to anyone that gestures for him, or asks. I love watching him understand, and learn about things. He doesn't always respond when I know he understands. He just loves to do things his way, at his pace.

If he hears water running for a bath or shower he absolutely has to have part in it. Its rare I take a shower alone, if I refuse to let him in he will shout, and cry till he gets his way. Don't get the wrong idea, we don't always let him get what he wants, we refuse to be ruled by him. He's also been a picky eater. Its not always hard to get him to eat certain things, especially if we're eating it too, but I can't always eat what he does, espcially since I have been sick. I'll try to do my best not to wait too long till I blog again. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! We wish so much to have family and friends over to eat with us, since this is our 3rd year in a row we'll be having the feast by ourselves. Hope you are all well!

Our Handsome Toddler

2008-11-07T13:37:00.002-07:00

I'm seriously overdue for a blog update. I usually wait till I have another picture to share, but this one will be without. Franklin is no longer a baby now that he's walking. He is the cutest thing to watch! He's also very proud of himself with all of his walking. He never falls unless something trips him (I don't mean to, it just happens). I wanted to get a video posted of him walking, but it'll have to wait. Franklin also loves to give kisses. More than likely you'll get slobbered when on the receiving end of his kisses but it's still very sweet.

He's also very proud of copying certain things that Stephen and I do. He loves our keys. Of course he'll put them in places that I have to hunt them down and end up being late for something, but he enjoys himself. What he loves to do with the keys is walk up to the front door with them, and hit the doorknob with them. He knows that keys go with door knobs, what a smart little guy!

I've been losing the battle of taking away the pacifier. For now I see no problem with his attachment since he doesn't always need it, but I am willing to give it to him when he's a little too fussy rather than let him be fussy. If he sees a pacifier on the floor and he already has one in his mouth, he'll put the one from his mouth on the floor next to the other, then pick that one up and put it in his mouth. He puts a lot of thought into what he wants to do.

On Thursday I was eating a granola mix I made, and realized that I should offer some to Franklin since he was watching me intently. I grabbed a small handful and put it on the coffee table. First Franklin did a little dance, then stared at the mix. Then he picked up the one chocolate chip that was in the little bunch and ate just that. He's got quite the sweet tooth already. Now I need to get him to eat more fresh fruit so he'll have less junk food to fulfill his sweet tooth. He does like banana's a lot, but we ran out, and I haven't been in the best mood to go grocery shopping.

I've already told Stephen he'll need to come with me on my next trip, and he's more than happy to. I'll be gald to have extra hands for when Franklin wants to be held, but I can't push the cart and hold him. What he's learned to do when that occurs is grab my shirt and pull me close in a position that only babies can get away with and I'm sure it makes other mom's smile because they've been there too. Also if he's on the floor and wants to be held and we don't pick him up he'll grab your legs and put his head, again, where only kids can get away with. He's just at the wrong height, but we're very used to it now. Besides it's not like he's the only child in the world to do that, nor will he be the only child in our family to do it to us.

Our Halloween

2008-11-03T19:00:00.004-07:00

Stephen was Dr. Frankenstien, I was Bride of Frankenstien, and Franklin was Frankenstiens' Monster, or Franklinstien. We didn't take him trick or treating, he was too crabby due to a nap cut short, but we still dressed up for pictures. p.s. I made that dress myself, it took just 4 hours (but I didn't finish hemming it)

Don't forget to check out the new video at the bottom of the blog!!

Much Ado about the Quinns

2008-10-22T16:18:00.002-06:00

This was what you saw from outside our house until Tuesday. The wind came and took most of the leaves off, and scattered them everywhere. Our house has a little tree, and doesn't produce many leaves, so the leaves on the front lawn are from these trees that are across the street. Currently Stephen and I are looking for another place to live. We have quite a few reasons on our list as to why, but the one I'll talk about for now is we are losing sleep. Our landlady has new roommates, and they are completely nocturnal. I believe one of them has a graveyard shift job. The floor announces every movement they make, it's just a noisy floor, and it's not their fault, they are not trying to be loud. Franklin woke up twice last night, so that was the final straw for me. I'm already losing sleep without those added problems. We've made a few inquiries at a few homes and we'll know next week for sure if we are going to move into one of them, if any of them.

"sed - ah. . . dirty word! He said-a-dirty word" ~Igor, Young Frankenstien. Franklin has a new sound he likes to make. He doesn't say very many words, pretty much just the basic, dadda, mom mom, and anything else he feels like imitating whether its from us, or the cats. This new sound wasn't made by us, at least what word it sounds like. Franklin has a little potty mouth, using the S H sound together which sometimes sounds a lot like a certain swear word that I won't repeat. We were in line to register to vote (shame on us waiting till the last second but at least we did it). It was a long line, in a very crowded hallway. It went quickly, but he started to make his little sh sound, and was proud of it. I'll just have to work with him and see if I can convince him to say share instead.

Not last Sunday, but the Sunday before, when Stephen was on-call, I had to teach our Primary class alone, and with Franklin. It was nearly disastrous, and I sure was glad to go home afterward. Last Sunday, even with Stephen able to come to church I was detirmined not to let it get anywhere that insane again. I brought ziploc bags, and oreos. I put an equal ammount of cookies for each student, and warned them that if I had to call their name to be reverent then I would remove a cookie. I only had to remove one cookie from one bag, and after that they were great. I was hoping I was going to have more tell today, but I guess it'll have to wait till later. Stephen and I have decided what we'll all be for halloween, but we won't tell till we have the pictures to tell it. On Friday we'll be heading down to Saint George to see Grandma Quinn, and we are really looking forward to that.

That's Franklin's World, not Elmo's

2008-10-15T12:57:00.005-06:00

While Franklin is sleeping, there are a great number of things I can accomplish. Now that he takes just one nap a day it isn't possible for me to complete them all. I was beginning my yoga when Stephen surprised me with a quick stop, and so I decided to have lunch with him (which means I have to wait a little while after I eat to do my workout). I began reading up on some blogs when I realized that I could clean instead, or write my blog for the week since I'm already late in doing so. I always feel guilty when I write my blog when Franklin is awake.

Franklin LOVES Sesame Street, and Play with me Sesame. I can accomplish a few things while he watches this show. I'm glad that its clean, educational, and full of short clips to keep his attention. He won't do anything else when his show is on. I'm trying to make him sit on his couch when he watches it so that he won't get so close to the TV.

So last week Stephen was on call. What a week!! It got colder very quickly, and on Saturday night, and Sunday morning we had a little snow. It didn't stick on the ground here in Springville. Stephen worked till 7 or 8:30 every night last week. On Saturday they had another technician working as well, and Stephen still worked a 13 hour day. On Sunday he worked a 10 hour day. Now that he's not the on-call tech for this week, it still isn't much different. He predicts he'll work this weekend again. But hey, it's good money, right?

Franklin is teething again. I feel like it'll never end (I know it won't for a long time, but he's just cutting a sixth tooth). He's also taken steps completely on his own a few times, his own choice, we didn't have to trick him. I'll be glad when he's actually walking across the room on his own. He continues to talk about everything, we just haven't learned his language yet.

He loves stairs, so every time we go out I open the door and let him crawl up. When we return I put him at the top of the steps and let him go down himself. He loves it! It helps me too, especially when there are things to bring inside. Last Saturday I let him crawl down the steps so I could get the groceries. I passed him twice on one of my trips down, and back up. On my second trip down he cried, only for a moment, and I saw a little bit of blood on his nose. He scratched his face on our door mat. Most of the scratches didn't show up for a few more minutes. He's a tough kid, he didn't cry much at all.

Last night I proclaimed Rizzo as the "Nocturnal Freak of Nature". We got a reminder why we don't allow the cats to sleep with us at night. Rizzo's 'on' switch malfunctions at night, and he becomes insane! Lately he's been over zealous with Osgood, so there's been a lot of hissing. Franklin thinks it's funny. I'm just relieved that they don't have their front claws. If I never had to be afraid of them getting outside sometime in the future (for some reason I picture Franklin, or other siblings letting them out) then I would remove their back claws too.

Franklin gets into everything. He is very smart, and figures things out more quickly. Notice my shoe. Imagine him walking with it just the way he's wearing it. When he was done playing with it he put it in his booster chair for him to come back and play with again a few minutes later.

I've also noticed that Franklin looks blonde in his pictures. His hair is deceiving because it still doesn't have a color. Its not blond, not brown, and most definitely isn't red. He's just too bald to tell. I feel sorry for any of his sisters if they remain as bald as he. I was bald, but at least my fuzz was orange.

(by the way, that's me. Franklin definitely looks like me, doesn't he!)

"This is the way we (fill in the blank)"

2008-10-08T14:32:00.004-06:00

This is when Franklin decided to help me wash his bottles. He drinks just milk now, but we don't have enough cups for him to use instead of the bottles, other wise they would already be retired for now. I'm so sick of cleaning his bottles. If you scroll down to the bottom with the videos, you'll see a video of him "helping", feel free to sing "This is the way we wash the bottles. . ."

During Sunday morning conference Franklin was really getting cranky and crabby, but it wasn't time for his nap even though Stephen believed that he needed to go to bed. So I came up with a great idea! I turned on the radio to conference, and had the tv playing his show, on low volume, and we were all happy. This picture happened because Stephen was trying to get Franklin to cheer up, and once I turned on his show, he froze right there to watch. You may now add the verse "This is the way we watch Conference . . ."

The first video loaded below is Stephen making Franklin laugh like crazy. It's a little long so when you've watched enough move to the next video which is the one of Franklin helping me with the dishes.

Franklin now has a really good idea that Stephen is Daddy/dadda. He'll ask at random times of the day for him. He is also really a chatter box. I was at the checkout in Sam's on Monday and the woman said "He's a chatter box and when he starts saying words he'll be unstoppable." We're still working on the words, but it's ok, he's only 14 months old. I weighed him yesterday on our scale: 26.4 lbs. He is too stinkin' heavy sometimes. On our walk yesterday it had to cut short because he decided to throw a fit, and when I tried to hold him it only slowed us down, and he complained anyway, so back in the stroller he went.

I'm so happy for myself in some new talents I'm discovering, as well as some old ones brought back to life. For the murder party the other week I sewed my own dress, and I have to point out that it was done without a pattern, and it was made in the likeness of a 1920's style dress. Mom I'll get a pic of it later. My new talent I cannot write about now because it's actually a gift for someone, and there are some of you who do know about it. I will say that it's awesome, and a few months from now I'll post a picture of it so that you all may see.

Rizzo is hilarious!! If you haven't had the experience of meeting him yet, you are really missing out. Even if they did create ritalin for cats I don't think I'd give it to him because I love his crazy/unusual behavior. He does get into to trouble still, but a lot less. I wonder if Fatty has taught him how to listen. Rizzo and Osgood both LOVE to play in the tub. Rizzo actually fell in on one of my showers last week. His tail got a little wet, but that's it. They love to lick up any water that's sitting in there. I almost wished they could go outside because they would be so much fun to watch.

Franklin's turn

2008-10-02T17:25:00.003-06:00

Franklin has his own language and little interactions that are comical and cute. His version of "Uh-oh" is more like a child immitating a monkey, very short and abrupt. I'll have to record him some time. His laugh is hystarical that you can't help but laugh as well. I love tickle fests and so does he.

He is even more interested in his tongue than he has ever been; licking all sorts of things. Of course I keep it in moderation, but I also know the day will come when he'll lick, or eat something that no human should, and I won't know about it as it happens. I figure I might as well get a laugh out of it before it turns gross. He licks our desk a lot, I'm not sure why. When he gives me a kiss it usually turns into a licking, so I make double sure that my lips are tight, afterall I'm not sure what's been in his mouth sometimes.

He's also addicted to things that he probably shouldn't have yet, but he's safe, and it doesn't hurt him; popcorn (as I have mentioned before) and soda. I love the burps he gets. There is always one down side to the soda; he loves it way too much, and will throw a fit if you take it away from him before he's done. Obviously I know that it's not exactly good for him so I don't let him have much. His protests don't last very long anyway.

He's very curious, smart and helpful. His curiousity has brought him to crawl and climb on all sorts of things. We have learned that his little couch cannot be next to the coffee table anymore. He LOVES being on that table, and has fallen off of it twice, hence the end of allowing any sort of climbing aide near it. You can watch him figure things out carefully. I have a basket that he loves to play with, putting things in it, taking them out, and even putting the lid on right. He likes to help put things "away" more like put them in places. Of course his helping turns into another sort of mess.

He pushed the step stool over to me while I was at the sink (he uses it like a walker) and climbed up. So I pulled him up closer, and he helped me "clean" the bottles. He kept throwing them from sink to sink, and sometimes on the floor. I'm glad that he's watching me enough to know that what I do sometimes has a purpose. I did record him helping me, but our camera battery is currently dead, so hopefully I'll have that video next week, remember to scroll to the bottom to see our videos.

He's been standing all alone more and more often lately. He's even taken a few steps unassisted, and without his invincable boots. I just hope that he keeps trying so that he'll be eager to walk on Halloween. Sometimes on walks I stop and let him take some steps, but only on my lesurely walks, because he'll get frustrated sometimes and I have to put him back in his stroller. I love going on walks up here. It's still a little too warm for my liking, but the mountains are red, orage and yellow. The trees across the street from us have turned, and have fallen leaves. I'll have to share the pictures that we take this weekend: we are planning on going into Hobble Creek Canyon and getting some family pictures.