Priceless!

The Automatic Bouncer by InGenuity........$49.99

8-Pack of "C" batteries..................................$10.50

Ian not having to be held............................PRICELESS!!!


With so much family around lately, Ian has decided that he really likes being held...ALL the time. He despises the couch, cries on the boppy pillow, and pretty much hates the swing. My friend Amanda made me a sling, but we're still trying to figure it out. He's a great baby in arms, but I just can't hold him all of the time. In a pile of mail that we forgot to actually look at, we just found a heaven sent gift card to Target from Jason and Erica. Off I went to find a bouncer. It was worth a shot! I decided to go out on a limb and try a new one that doesn't vibrate, but actually bounces the baby. Accompanied by the sounds of the ocean, we have found great success! Okay, so this is the first time we've tried it, but here I sit typing - all by my lonesome.

Another worthy note - Ian let me sleep for 4 whole hours in a row last night. That was quite the accomplishment, given that I've been averaging 4-5 broken up hours of sleep a night - total.

Given these two new developments, I'm off to happily do some laundry!

Peace during Troubled Waters

Ashlyn has stopped sobbing, the boys are finally settled down, and the baby is asleep on the couch after insisting on me dropping all else to rock him. Eric's at work, my house still needs to be picked up, I haven't even started getting things ready for our 6am departure to Thatcher for my Uncle's funeral, and I'm exhausted. Yet, somehow, I'm okay. As I was rocking Ian, I was looking around the house at all the beautiful pictures of my family and felt an overwhelming sense of peace and gratitude. I have a feeling that life is going to be upside down for awhile. There is so much I want to do without the time to do it. Most of the time I struggle to get the necessities done. I've had a breakdown or two (or three or four), mostly due to my misalignment of priorities. I've been running on fumes for the past three weeks. I tell everyone that I'm doing great and all is well, but am deeply grateful for the insightful friends who bring dinner over anyway and invite my children to come and play. I'm forever indebted to a sister who dropped everything (and a brother-in-law who picked it all up) to come and take a baby shift through the night so I could get some much needed sleep and then worked all day to help me get ready for company. I love my guests who send me off to nap and give my kids some much needed attention. I'm thankful for a husband who takes the time to tell me that I'm doing great and that he thinks I'm amazing - even when I don't feel like I'm doing so hot.

I love my family. I'm crazy over the tiny little person who has thrown my life into a whirlwind and wouldn't trade him in for anything - not even sleep! :) My house may not be perfect (has it ever been?!?), I may not make it out of my pajamas before bedtime, and my kids may be a little out of control sometimes, but I have the best life! So many wonderful things have happened these last few weeks, and I hope to make the time to write about them so I can remember them forever, but it might not be as often as I'd like. Be patient with me - the baby just woke up and he's hungry....

Who would have thought?

Isaac turned 8 on January 19th and his first cub scout activity was on the 21st, when I was scheduled to be in the hospital having Ian. Of course, it had to be the Pinewood Derby! We got his car kit about a week before, but didn't have a chance to get to it until the night before. His car became a whole family affair. Between Isaac, Eric, my father-in-law, me and my dad, we finally got it finished for the big race. Of course, me knowing he was turning 8 and starting cub scouts, never thought in advance that he would need a scout uniform. So Dad and Cindy stopped at the scouting store on the way into town to pick up everything he'd need and Cindy very graciously sewed on all of the patches. The shirt's a little big, but it will last him!

I felt horrible about missing his first pinewood derby. I wanted someone to go with him, but felt bad asking because everyone had come to town for the baby (which we were still waiting for!). I had arranged for Isaac to go with a friend, but when I called my Dad to tell him the plans, he said "No, I need to be there for Isaac. We'll take him." I was SOOOO relieved and grateful. What wonderful parents I have!

When they got to the weigh-in, they discovered that Isaac's car was too light. Dad noticed another man breaking weights off of his son's car, so he asked if he could buy a few off of him. He gave them willingly for free, so Dad and Isaac taped the extra weights onto the car. Stylish! Good looking or not, it worked. I kept getting giddy phone calls from my Dad with the latest updates. "Isaac hasn't lost a race yet." "Isaac is 12 out of 12." "Isaac took first place in the Wolve's Den" "Isaac's car just beat the Bear's car." "Isaac is the grand champion!"

We had gone into it hoping that he would win a race or two so that he wouldn't be too disappointed. We have a lot to live up to now. I don't know if I can handle the pressure!

The car is now sitting on top of my refrigerator in it's box so that it remains in tip top condition. Isaac is anxiously awaiting the District Derby....and so is his Grandpa! Welcome to Cub Scouts!

Happy Birthday Isaac!

On January 19th, Isaac turned the big 8! It's a special birthday for him, but I was so not in the mood to throw a party. My sister, Cari, saved the day by coming the day before and bringing cousins to visit and he invited a few friends over for a birthday "get together." I refused to call it a party so that there were no expectations. I was fully prepared to cancel it and have a baby instead, but we all know that didn't happen. A backyard, pinata, hot dogs, and cupcakes are really all you need for a successful "get together." My nieces approached me at one point to ask when we were starting the games and I said, "What games? You know the rules...this is not a party!" They were pacified with red rover.

Isaac got the first big hit on the pinata. Luckily it lasted for everyone to go through twice.

Ashlyn would only go near it if Lisa guided her. Who doesn't want to whack a pinata?

All the kids were very impressive with their swings. I got a picture of each, but decided my kids were enough to show!

Cupcakes were only allowed on the way outside. Have I mentioned how much I love having a backyard?

Bunch of cute kids....

even if they are a little crazy!

The kids have decided that donuts are the official birthday breakfast of champions. Isaac wanted to light his own candles. See the burn hole in the paper towel? Good thing he's starting cub scouts!

Isaac's birthday was actually a really busy day. After school he went straight to piano and then we picked him up to head to Chuck E. Cheese. He left at 8:45 that morning and didn't get home until the same time that night. The best birthday present of all was having Nana and Papa show up at Chuck E. Cheese for a big surprise. They weren't supposed to arrive until the next night, but decided they needed to see their Isaac on his birthday.

When we got home, we finally had the chance to open the rest of his gifts. His first BB gun! Wahoo!

This gift bag came a few days earlier with Grandma and Grandpa's present in it. I used it the morning of his birthday so he could open one present before school, and then used it again that evening. He had a birthday party a few days later and I had Papa put the gift for the other boy in the same bag, but on the way Isaac said, "I'm really going to miss that bag", so Papa stopped and bought a new one for the other party. I wonder how many more presents that bag will hold in our family!

I can't believe my baby boy is growing up so fast. He's so excited to finally be in cub scouts and can't wait for his baptism in a couple of weeks. He always tries to be thoughtful and will do little extra things, just to make my day better. We sure do love you, Isaac!