September 1st

is the big day. So probably the end of August.

No, I will not be enjoying the hot summer like the rest of you, instead I will be hiding out in the basement trying to keep cool. But this is when we wanted it. Not sure why, since it falls right during interview time for Nate, but I really really really wanted to enjoy the summer with just 2 kids, not 3.

But seriously, is there ever a perfect time to have a baby? Nope...not for us anyway.

Baby blanket

I made this baby blanket last week for a friend that just had a baby:

I thought it turned out pretty cute considering I have never made a rag quilt before. I have been given a couple for each of my babies and love them. I was sure glad to get this finished though, especially after all the cutting at the end. I need sharper scissors!

Zip'n Steam

Have you ever tried these things?

I am now converted. They are amazing! (And a little pricey, but I am trying to reuse them)

Funny stick men

These are pretty funny, thought you would enjoy!
(sorry they are not very clear)

Today I am thankful for...

1. The sunshine! It is still cold outside, but at least the sun is shining!
   
   
2. For my kids health. They have not been sick once this winter. It has been a blessing.
   
   
3. No more night shifts (for a while)! Nate choose to do a month of night shifts so that he wouldn't have so many random night shifts through out the year. February was the lucky month for us and since he is taking a week of vacation starting tomorrow, he is all finished his nights! It has been really hard to keep the kids quiet every day so that Nate can sleep and I know we are all very happy to have this month behind us. YAHOO!

Fun in the snow

We took the kids outside last week and enjoyed some family time in the snow. Nate built the kids a fort and Dylan had fun helping. Cassie even lasted longer then I thought she would, considering the cold wind that was blowing. I guess she is used to the cold by now.

Cassie raking the snow.



We don't have many hills near by, so I pull them around on the sled and they love it.



Dylan in the fort before it collapsed.



Dylan looking at the fort after the collapse. Nate cleared out all the snow after the mishap and now Dylan calls it his sidewalk.



Dylan making a snow angel. I told him that the slide was in the way but he didn't seem to care.



Cassie lounging on the swing.


The kids had fun chasing a mouse around outside too. We have so many mice and rabbit tracks around our house since we live next to a field. Just as long as they stay OUTSIDE!

Church was cancelled again on Sunday. It was raining so hard outside and with all the snow, it turned into a big slushy mess, which later turned into a big icy mess. I have been a little surprised at how often things are cancelled here due to weather. I mean, it is Michigan, they should be used to it right? I guess not.

About my Valentine...

How long have you been married? 5 1/2 years

How long did you date? 6 months? (we were really good friends for a couple of years)

How long were you engaged? 4 weeks. I know, we pulled a quick one.

How old is he? 30

Who eats more? We used to eat the same, but now he eats more.

Who said I love you first? He did.

Who's family sees you more? When we lived in Utah we definatley saw his family more, but now that we live far away we see my family more.

Who is taller? He is.

Who sings better? He has a better voice, but I can pick out all the notes (carry a tune?) better then he can.

Who is smarter? I think he is more book smart while I have more common sense. He may not agree to this, but it is true!

Who does the laundry? All me!

Who does the dishes? Again, all me.

Who pays the bills? He keeps track of our online bill pay while I tend to the budget and spending.

Who mows the lawn? He does, only because our lawn mower is a piece of garbage and he knows how to get it started the "special" way when it keeps quitting.

Who cooks dinner? Me.

Who drives when you are together? He drives when we are around town and I drive when we are going long distances. This way he can get some studying in. (And besides, I would way rather drive then tend the kids!)

Who is more stubborn? Both of us are bad. He will say I am more stubborn though.

Who kissed who first? Hehehe, I kissed him first. He was recovering from a concussion from a ski accident, so I guess I took advantage of the situation. I thought it was a mutual kiss, but later found out I was wrong! (It was on Valentine's day too...so romantic)

Who asked who out? He did.

Who proposed? He did...only after he asked me if I thought it was a good idea.

Who is more sensitive? Um, I think we both are in different ways. He would probably say me.

Who has more friends? I do, only because I need them more then he does.

Who has more siblings? He has 8 kids in his family while I have 6.

Who wears the pants in the family? I think we share them equally...each have a leg in.

Now that the blogging world knows a little more about us...

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY NATE!!!

I love this book!

It is so good and I highly recommend it.

Read it, and tell me if I am wrong!

Snow...and more snow...and more snow

Okay, I don't have any pictures to post because it is too cold outside to take one, but there is so much snow here! (I guess I could take one out the window...na...too lazy). But anyway, it is very cold here and just keeps getting colder, and more snow keeps coming, and the wind keeps coming, and then more snow, and then more wind, and then a very cold wind chill of -19F. Anyways, you get the picture. It is cold and snowy and windy here. This is the coldest winter I have had in years. Yes, it gets cold in Canada, but at least it would warm up for a couple of days in between the cold. Here, it just stays cold. I think everywhere (except the few people that live in the desert in Vegas) have all experienced a cooler then normal winter this year. Wierd. But the truth of it is...I actually love it.

• I love being inside and staying all warm and cozy while it is blizzarding like crazy outside.



• I love that I don't have to bundle my kids up and force myself outside while they play for 2 minutes, and then want back in. They take one look outside and don't think twice about asking.



• I love that I can get projects started...and completed.



• I love that I can stay in my pj's all day long (not everyday, but lately, more often than not).



• I love that I can spend more time making forts and playing with my kids.



• I love that I can be lazy on the couch (for a certain amount of time) while I read or watch the kids play.
  

What I don't love...

• That EVERYTHING keeps getting cancelled! I really do need to get out of this house at least once in a while. I was so looking forward to a really fun enrichment tonight and what do you know...it started blizzarding...again. So it was cancelled.



• The snow plows. Or lack thereof. Where are they?



• And when they do sneak by, I love that huge amounts of snow get pushed into our already filled driveway. Nate especially loves this when he works a 10pm shift and doesn't know there is a mound of snow he has to drive though, then proceeds to get stuck and ends up spending 1/2 an hour shoveling himself out. He loves that.


• We just can't seem to keep up with the shoveling. We really need a snow blower.

So that's all. Here are some pictures of Cassie and her outfit she chose to wear today. She is silly. Also, she wanted me to paint her cute little toes (for the first time) so there is a picture of that. Enjoy, and stay warm!

Dylan just looked at this and noticed there wasn't a picture of him. So here it is...... (can you see why I didn't put it up in the first place?).

Lots of things

We have been pretty busy enjoying time with family for the last week and a half. Candace and her kids flew out to see us for a couple of days and it was really nice to spend time with them. The kids got a long better then we expected, even though we were trapped inside for a few days. We had FREEZING rain and a LOT of snow outside every day they were here. So, we decided to make sugar cookies one day. That was an event for sure. Not as fun for me as I thought it would be. 8 little hands reaching and trying to cut cookie shapes, along with trying to eat all the dough and also adding a few sneezes on top of it all. Yuck. So, we skipped the icing part. I know, we are mean, but the kids didn't even care (except Katelyn). The cookies were still edible and pretty good.

Henry, Cassie, Katelyn and Dylan. I am not sure why these 2 pictures looks so yellow and unclear. I will have to work on that. Also, please ingore Cassie's hair below. She had JUST woken up from a nap, I promise!

Friday, Candace and I packed up the kids and drove to Tanya and Brian's house in Wisconson (right outside of Chicago. I always refer to them as living in "Chicago" and I get in trouble. Oops). Nate had to stay home and work. Sad. As soon as we got to Tanya's house, we dropped off all the kids for Brian to watch (Thanks again Brian) and headed back to Chicago and went to the Broadway play "Wicked". My mom was supposed to be there, but her plane was delayed so she didn't make it. So sad. And, some more sad news...I got another stupid migraine just as we pulled into downtown Chicago. AHHH, why???? It wasn't as bad as I have had before, but I couldn't enjoy the play as well as I would have liked too. My head felt better if I applied pressure to my temples, so I was litterally pressing my fingers as hard as I could against my head so that I could enjoy the play better. The next day, I had bruises on my temples. But anyway, the play was so good! The whole cast did such a wonderful job and I thought the singing was AMAZING! If you haven't seen this, you must go see it. It is coming to Michigan in July so I hope I can go see it again WITHOUT a migraine.

On Saturday, McKenzie (my niece) was baptized. It was a really neat experience. The Spirit was felt very strongly all weekend (except when Cassie was having one of her MANY melt downs). My sister's little family has been through a lot lately and I am happy that I can live close enough to visit them on these occassions.

Sunday, we had a big superbowl party with LOTS and LOTS of food. I love it when my family gets together because there is always a LOT of food. Oh, and GO GIANTS!!!!

It was fun to be with family, but I was ready to come home. My mirgraine lasted most of the weekend and Cassie was not being herself. She was so fussy and wouldn't nap! My parents were good help, but it still isn't the same as having your husband there to help.

Above: McKenzie's dolls, Jackson, McKenzie and Dylan.
Sorry I don't have more pictures. I wasn't in a picture taking mood I guess.

Monday, my parents came back with the kids and I to Michigan. It was nice to have company both ways, otherwise I probably wouldn't have gone. I would not enjoy driving through Chicago traffic alone.

Again, we were snowed in. I have never seen so much snow here in Michigan! (I think we have had about 12 feet this winter). We went out to dinner one night and when we came home, we got stuck in the drive way a few different times. It took us a while to finally get into the garage. We did a LOT of watching this:

And had a lot of discussion on him (and other people whose pictures won't be found on my blog):

And we also played a lot of this new game (as well as a few other games too):

My parents left yesterday, but it was sure nice to spend time with them. We have been blessed with the amount of time we have been able to spend with family, as we live so far away from them! We love having company, so if you are ever in Michigan (because there are a lot of reasons to come to Michigan), feel free to stay with us!

*(I can't get my spell checker to work on here, so if there is bad spelling, please know that I tried!)

Wicked

Can I just tell you HOW FABULOUS this play was?

WONDERFUL!!! I LOVED it!!! I can't wait to go again!

(I have been busy with family around, but I will post some more soon)