I'm A Very Fine Turkey

Here is one of the songs from Adelle's Thanksgiving program today :)

Bad Kitty!

Cosette was a very naughty kitty last night!! Wes and I were hanging out on the couch when we heard a startling sound from Violet's new room. Wes recently painted in there and set up the crib complete with it's new bedding and the new white rabitt I made. I went into the bedroom to see my cat just staring at me from inside the crib! We are pretty sure that she was attacking the white bunny. He appears unharmed, but what a silly animal. She ran off pretty quickly, but I brought her back to the scene of the crime and sprayed her a few times with the water bottle to train and remind her that she is absolutely not allowed in Violet's bed! I am hoping it never happens again. Of course the bunny won't be in the crib when Violet is for safety reasons. It makes me wonder though...was the bunny really all that interesting?

Family Date Night

This last Friday Wes and I decided we would splurge and take the girls out for a family date night. I sadly forgot my camera though :( Drat! We figured that we are running out of opportunities to go out and be together as a family. Pretty soon Violet will be here and going out with a baby isn't nearly as easy as it is for our family to venture out now. We went to McGrath's Fish House for dinner, which actually ended up being less expensive than we had remembered. Perhaps they are trying to bring in customers. Dinner tasted great for everyone! Adelle's cheeseburger off the kids menu actually ended up being the biggest dinner at the table, oddly enough. You should have seen her try to get her mouth open enough to eat that thing!

We all had a really fun time chatting and sharing stories. The girls especially loved stories of the stupid things that Wes and I had done when we were growing up. The stories ranged from Wes and his friends throwing gummy bears out his van at street signs when they were teenagers, and from me trying to run away by hiding under the stairs when I was about Lydia's age. Lydia decided to share some stories too, like when she used to stay up late on school nights by hanging out in the play room. Adelle confessed to sneaking food on occasion when she wanted a particular snack. It was pretty funny!

From there we walked over the the Hansen Planetarium and bought tickets to see a movie about Saturn in the dome theater. Adelle was quite impressed that the screen was on the ceiling. We all learned something new about the ringed planet and Wes had us share 3 things that we had learned on the way home. I think he shared about 15. It was a pretty cool movie!

After the movie we walked around the planetarium looking at all the different exhibits. The girls really had a wonderful time and were so excited about everything. Adelle loved the Moon and Mars exhibits that you can walk on, and she really loved watching the giant pendulum.

Lydia loved trying to lift the rock that is as heavy as a metal meteor, looking at how telescopes work, and how the seasons effect our position to the sun. Both girls absolutely loved the ball contraption that wound its way around the room.

Before heading home we stopped at Artic Circle for shakes and ice-cream cones. It really was a fun evening and honestly we haven't done anything like that in ages! If only I had gotten pictures!

Awards of Merit

So within the past couple of weeks or so both girls have brought home prizes from the Reflections contest. They both won awards of merit and were both very excited. They both got fun prizes ranging from watercolor paper, stickers, markers, crayons, coupons for free ice-cream cones and a show at the planetarium. I am especially proud of my girls for having the guts to even enter a contest and I'm glad that they were recognized. I think Lydia was the only one who even entered something in the 3D category, but that wasn't the only reason she got a prize :)

It is probably the first time Adelle has won anything of the sort and she could hardly contain herself when she found out that she had won. I love my girls and I'm super proud of them.

Making New Friends

So after my renewed outlook of not stressing about Violet's arrival, I decided that I would like to make something special for my little girl. I know that the cross stitch I have been working on unfortunately isn't going to be done for YEARS! I just have to face that fact. Wes had made all sorts of wonderful things for Violet's room. Bumper pads, sheets, a crib skirt, a quilt, and he is going to hopefully put together the Tea Pot Lamp. I wanted to have at least one thing that I have made in her room. After looking on Etsy for a white rabbit doll, I decided to make my very own. I didn't use a pattern. I just came up with my own. Yes, one leg is longer than the other and I did run into a few problems putting him together, but in the end I think he turned out pretty well. I hand embroidered his face.

Instead of putting on a tail I embroidered a little pink one on.

I used felt and lace to make him a little tunic. I hand sewed all the hearts on with my embroidery thread since I didn't have any red thread for the sewing machine. I didn't have to buy any materials. I just used stuff from around the house.

The tunic looks the same in the back as well. So there you go. It was really fun to work on and I really enjoyed it. He is "special" in his own homemade way. Hopefully he will be a fun addition to Violet's Alice in Wonderland, themed room. I wonder if I'll be tempted to make any more characters.

Sweet Dreams

So my poor family has had to put up with me being less then civil recently. I haven't been monstrous, but I really have really been stressing. Perhaps it has been because of the sickness and the extra to do around the house, but I was getting wound so tight. Lists were circulating in my head of things that need to be done before Violet's arrival. Rooms that need arranging, cleaning, painting, furniture that needs to be moved. There are purchases that need to be made, baby clothes that need to be washed and put into drawers. The lists were piling up bigger and bigger, looming and towering over my head, and I was left with either no time or energy to even begin tackling everything. It was making me so frustrated. I just have to admit with my lack of energy, working full time, and the braxton hicks which are coming more frequently that I am not going to be superwomen and somehow make everything come together in a big, triumphant "TA DA" moment.

I like feeling in control. I like to organize and get things done. I like the thought of a natural labor because then I am still in some sort of control. When I was induced and had an epidural I felt entirely helpless to do anything for myself because I couldn't even move the lower half of my body or feel a thing. "You want me to push? I can't feel a thing or even sit up!" It's not that I want to be some amazing women, part of it really is that I don't want the control taken away from me. I guess you could call me a control freak. I'm really trying to work on it. Honestly being organized and getting things done can be a positive thing at times, but of course in everything there is an opposite side. Like when I'm grumping at my family to get things done because darn it it has to be done and I can't do it.

Anyway, I was reflecting last night on what is going on with me and why I have been so frustrated, upset, and less than patient. I asked Wes if I've been bossy recently and I got the quickest "Yes". I had already known it, but hearing it from his own lips just really cemented it for me. I was less than happy looking at this pattern that I have fallen into and honestly I was discouraged.

I decided to pray to Heavenly Father. It probably wasn't the best prayer. It was more a plea for help. To help me be better. To stop worrying and stressing so much. I didn't feel better after my prayer and honestly I hadn't probably given my prayer the time and energy that it deserved. I laid down in bed, my head still filling with lists, worries and concerns.

The most wonderful thing happened. I dreamed about my baby girl. She was born early, without a lot of fuss, in fact I think it was in a public place. She was beautiful and sweet. In my dream though Wes and I didn't have a thing prepared for her. We didn't have clothes, diapers, a car seat, na da, nothing. It just didn't even matter. Someone gave us a diaper and a onesie for her to wear and when she needed a new diaper somehow we had one there for us. The funny thing is she kept going through them like crazy, but it was okay. She was happy, sweet and we adored her. I was so happy and didn't have a care in the world because I had my beautiful girl.

Isn't it wonderful what God will give us sometimes. He gently takes us by the hand and reminds us what really matters. He wraps us in his arms and says "My darling daughter, why are you worrying about all these things that really don't matter. It is going to be okay". I am so grateful for my dream. It has really given me an inner peace again and I am so much happier. I am sure my family is grateful to see me happy this morning. It also reminds me of the birth of our Savior. He was born in the most humble circumstances, in a stable, and yet it was one of most glorious things that ever took place in human history. God will watch over and protect my family and I need to trust in him. Sure I can still prepare for Violet's birth, but if something doesn't get done, so what. It's okay. She'll still come and we will still love and adore her.

Trick or Treat!

Our Halloween started by taking Wes to an urgent care to get checked out. Poor Guy. Since he was down for the count, and since Lydia was out of town, Adelle and I had to celebrate on our own. Adelle dressed up as Belle this year. She actually let me curl her hair out a bit, which was great. She hardly ever lets me curl her hair. She was complimented all night on how pretty she looked and she just LOVED that.

I wasn't planning on dressing up, but as the time drew closer I just had to be something. It has been a tradition for so many years, I just couldn't stand the thought of not dressing up. I quickly threw together this silly costume and went as the Fertility Fairy. Cheesy, I know. It did get quite a few laughs and one husband even told me to keep away from his wife.

We visited relatives first early on in the evening, had dinner and then Adelle and I went out to trick or treat about 5:45. It was still pretty bright and warm, but I figured that way we could take our time.

We ended up staying out for about two hours. Adelle got a TON of candy!!! She had the best time too. She didn't complain at all and was really fun to hang out with. It was also fun to visit neighbors while trick or treating. I was so sore and tired by the time we got home, but I had a great time with my girl. It wasn't the same without Lydia, but we still enjoyed ourselves!

Lydia got home last night pretty tired from her weekend. She said she had to trick or treat in snow. BRRRRR! She also has a pretty large temporary tattoo still hanging out on her neck. I am looking forward to seeing pictures of her biker girl costume. She also brought home a TON of candy! It will be a challenge to not eat too much of it!

It was definitely a different Halloween, but next year will be even different. Little Violet will be joining us!