The big weigh in.....

No I don't mean mine or Jeff's - who really wants to know those numbers anyway!? Abbey had her 4 month checkup (yes I know she's 5 1/2 months, but we're behind because of summer vacations).

Stats:
Height 26" - 50-75%
Weight 14 lbs 1/2 oz - 25%
Head circumference: 17" - 75% This is actually a concern as she started in the 5% range and has jumped over 5 1/2 months to the 75% range. Our doctor is having us go get an ultrasound of her head - the concern being there may be extra fluid. She would rather catch it early by ultrasound than later and have to use a ct-scan with radiation exposure. I'm sure Abbey is fine, but a little nervewracking to think there could be something wrong that I can't see. Not sure what they would do if there was extra fluid - we'll see how it goes.

She's growing well and a happy baby. She wakes up in the morning and will lay there for a long time hitting her feet on the mattress and coo-ing until someone comes to pay attention to her.

Abbey and Jeff

Who's Who among babies......

Can you tell the who's who? Post your guesses......

Kindergarten

Lea started Kindergarten this year and it's been quite an experience. She attends Vista del Sur Traditional school. They start at 9 am and finish at 4 pm. They teach using the Spalding method and are very structured in their teaching. She loves school and her teacher Mrs. Gardner is fantastic! Lea loves to read, write and color all day long. She has made lots of friends at school and enjoys seeing lots of her church friends there as well. She rides the bus home after school and we pick her up at the school in our neighborhood. I was a little nervous about sending my kindergartener on the bus. She's only 5! But there are at least 6 other families from our ward that ride the bus. So I know she's okay and the bus driver is great.

First day of school. :)

Best buds!

Hugh Findlay and Lea.
We went to school for Lucas to play with Lea at lunch recess and Hugh came over to say hi.

Lucas misses Lea - for the first month or so (she started Aug 4th), Lucas would pile all of his toy cars in his backpack and walk around the house as if he were going to school. He has really opened up since she's been at school and he now has to fend for himself. He plays with Abbey, does his "homework" and enjoys going to the stores in the morning with me because of the free samples at the deli and bakery counters. :)

This is his homework. :) He even tries to practice phonograms with Lea.

Lea received an award for making the Principal's list for 1st quarter - receiving a 3.8 gpa or higher. She's very proud of her medal and certificate. :) Her teacher is great and had nothing but nice things to say about Lea. Proud parent moment for both Jeff and I at our parent/teacher conference. We just might be doing something right....... :)

10 years.....

It's been a long time -10 years in fact that my dad has been Stake President. I was a sophomore in college when he was called to this position. I mention this not to be prideful, but because yesterday he was released. I didn't think I would be sad not to be there, but I wish I was there. My 4 oldest sisters and brothers and families were there at Stake Conference and the after party with the visiting Authorities and new Stake Presidency and families. I think my sister counted about 52 people!
It's been so long that my dad has served in Bishoprics, Stake Presidencies, etc., that I never remember him sitting with us in church or going to church with us at the same time because he had already been at church for several hours. When he was a counselor in the Stake Presidency, I never saw him at church and only knew he was at our ward when the bishopric announced he was sitting on the stand - what? He is? where? Oh - nice to have dad at church today. :) That has only prepared me for my life today: Some of you have heard me say this about my own husband - he's here? where? Oh that's nice - had no idea he was going to be here today. I don't even believe the kids when they say "there's daddy" - couldn't be, he's never at the church at the same time as us. :)
I am truly grateful for my parents - I can agree with Nephi - I have been blessed with goodly parents. I look to them often for advice before I was married and especially more now that my decisions effect more than just me. I know they have served many people and I have learned a lot from them as my dad has served as Stake President. He has a kind way of disciplining and treats everyone with respect. I've never heard my mom complain about the time my dad spends at the church or serving others outside church meetings. I've tried to follow their examples and not complain when Jeff is busy with work and church - we just try to make it work. I appreciate President Monson and his wife because she has never complained in over 45 years of his church service. These are the women I strive to be like - supportive yet firm in making our family a top priority.
Even though my dad was busy with those things - he always made time for us kids. He helped coach our softball, baseball and soccer teams. He helped us practice batting, fielding and running the bases in our backyard. He would take us to the river on Saturday mornings to ski and was so patient while we learned to ski and even patient with friends and other youth he helped to ski. But when there was church service to be provided, he would come home get cleaned up, change into his church clothes and out the door to help. I remember seeing my dad up early reading the paper at the table, or in the computer room preparing for a talk with his scriptures in hand or kneeling by his bedside pouring out his concerns to the Lord. In every family prayer he mentions each child by name.
My friends ask me "how do you manage without Jeff around all the time?" Well, now you know. This is how I was raised. My dad traveled a lot for work and was gone for church, so a lot of the times, it was me and my mom. We managed and she taught me how to gracefully manage on my own. But I also ask a lot of questions as new challenges come up. I know I am not the only one who sits alone with my kids at church or has a husband that is working til late at night or going to school and working full time. So I watch you. :) I watch other women that are in similar situations and see what they do. More than anything, I expect my kids to be obedient and respectful in church and at home. The same way my parents expected us to be - no matter if it was regular church, Stake Conference or General Conference. My parents taught me early on the gospel is more important than anything else. I missed a lot of Sunday games because I went to church instead. The one time I chose to play - my coach didn't let me play. From that day on, I knew it was more important to live the gospel than it was to play sports on Sunday. I even missed a Saturday game to attend General Conference when a new prophet was being sustained. I still remember that day as President Hinckley was sustained a prophet of God.
While I probably never show my parents enough appreciation - I do love them and am grateful for their examples. We are a very close family and it's great! They've created a wonderful loving family and I can only hope to do the same with my own kids. Thank you and we love you! :)

Newsflash.....

Jeff wouldn't post this himself so I'm posting this for him. :) He does great things and loves the outdoors as long as it's cloudy and cool...... - like hiking the Grand Canyon (22 miles) and running a triathlon sprint. We are very proud of him. :) Sorry no pictures because he left at 5:30 am and I decided not to wake up the kids - we went to t-ball instead.

THE FLASH

So if you haven’t already heard, I embarked on a new experience last weekend. I decided I was going to do a triathlon. The triathlon I did was a 400 meter swim, a 10.3 mile bike ride and a 3 mile run. I set up a great plan to train and prepare for the triathlon, and true to form I spent a lot of time eating out, drinking too much soda and not getting enough sleep. Needless to say, Saturday rolled around and I was far from competition form. Many people asked me if I was crazy or wondered if I knew what I was getting myself into, but only one person asked me to give up my spot for someone else.

I personally thought, hey I can run three miles (sort of) and I can bike 10 miles so this shouldn’t be a big deal. I didn’t put much stock into the whole swimming part, and had somehow convinced myself I could get through it. It all turned out okay, but I will admit training might have helped me out a bit.

I didn't die, which is a positive result, and I wasn’t super sore afterwards, but the ego took a nice shot to the arm. I started the day by putting myself near the end of the line to start the swim as I knew I would be slower than most… my prediction was right. 17 minutes and 55 seconds later, a short fat man (in spandex!!!… I know sorry, I should have warned you about that… cleanup on aisle nine) rolled out of the pool and today finds himself as the 429 fastest person out of 434 people. Now there is something to brag about.

Later on I was able to pick up some time as I improved my placing with the run and the swim. By improving my placing I do mean that I was 368 in the bike (55:36 - including transition times -I just had to add that as I'm not that slow) and 376 in the run (40:11 - I am that slow), to find myself at the end of the day as the 418 fastest person out of 434 (a grand total of 1:53:42). I was in the top 96 percentile of racers finishing the race. I’m pretty proud of that!

There were other moments not to be so proud of. The sixty something year chubby old woman passing me on the run, while giving me encouragement and ensuring me I was doing fine, made me want to crawl under a rock and die, but I powered on. Maybe powered is too strong of a word, rumble may be a better term for my movements. Ultimately I finished “strong” (i.e. the definition of strong is “crossing the finish line while not tripping and falling or throwing up in front of the whole crowd while having the fast skinny people cheer you on and yell words of encouragement such as “you are doing great”, “good job”, “way to go”… which all in fact translate to good job tubby way to not die today.”)

All in all it was a good time. I encourage each of you to try one. I’ll be doing it again next year and hope to run a few more in the meantime. It really was a lot of fun, and if I can do it, who couldn't. Besides I was faster than 16 people that day. I might just beat you too!

Halloween 2008

We went to a ward party on the 25th, decorated cookies with friends on the 28th and trick-or-treating Halloween night. Enjoy!

Spidey and Tinkerbell

A motorcycle went by on a nearby street. They were all set for a cute picture......

Lucas was cold. He actually said, "Brrrrr, cold" (I think it was around 90 degrees and it was 5:30 pm)


Lea's face painting from the ward party. She wanted to know how long it had to stay on.....FOREVER.

The after ward party dinner/dessert at Carl's Jr. Isn't it great our kids like to sit with us?! :) They usually attach themselves to anyone else but us. In this case it's Pete, Angie and Brynn Sorensen.

Cookies:

He grabbed a hand full of red hots - his cookie was mostly candy with a little bit of cookie. :)

He didn't really like the red hots. I saw him a few minutes later - his eyes were watering and he was trying to clean off his tongue with his fingers.....

Lea and Halle (a little flour shows what great chefs they are)

This is proof that my Jeff (there are several of us with hubby's named Jeff so we usually clarify with my or your Jeff) actually came to the party. Usually it's me and the kids because he's working, but this time Jeff was able to come.

Trick-or-treating: Pre-party
Ally and Abbey - sweet friends

This is a house at the end of our street - this picture does not do justice to the decorations and work he puts into decorating his house for Halloween. There are decorations EVERYWHERE. Both sides of the driveway, on the roof, everywhere. He goes all out for Halloween and Christmas. It's amazing! We drive by every day throughout the month of October (the HOA said he couldn't start any earlier than a month before the holiday) and December to watch the progress and see all the lights. The kids love it! :)