Give away, give away, give away!

Amy, my awesome, over-achieving friend had this posted on her site and even though I have extreme anxiety about making things for you people I thought it was too cute and I wanted to participate. So...1. Read rules 2. decide if this is for you and 3. comment to join in the fun.

Lucky you!

The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!

2. What I create will be just for you.

3. It’ll be done this year. (I won't take the whole year...don't worry)

4. You have no clue what it’s going to be. It may be a story. It may be poetry or maybe even some creation I haven’t even invented yet. I may draw or paint something. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that’s for sure!

5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me!

* * *Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!

*** New rule from Emily: 1. If my mom comments after 5 people she can still get a gift, she needs more incentive to read my blog-her grandchildren aren't enough.

Dance, Dance Baby

Well my life long vicarious dream is coming true!!! Yesterday I signed Samantha up for dance class. I've tried twice before and was waitlisted both times. This time the new class available (for the people on the wait list) worked out for me so I signed her up and went to the first day all in one day. Samantha was asleep when I worked it all out so I had to wake her up (I signed up at 7:30 and had to get there by 9:00)

And let me tell you what-it is HARD to get my kids out the door by 9:00. However, when I told Samantha when I woke her up, she jumped up, so excited and did EVERYTHING I asked her to in order to help me get out the door. She was a motivated little girl.

I am excited, she is beyond excited, and the recital is in June. Anyone out there want a ticket ;)?

Oh yeah, this is Tommy who thinks that if Samantha gets her picture taken then he needs to as well.

"I like to look for Rainbows, whenever there is rain..."

We spent last weekend in New Mexico with Tom's sister and family for our niece, Rachel's, baptism. She's the oldest cousin and we were excited for her special day. It was a very, very fun trip. We had good food, and even better company. I especially liked the board/card games we played every night after the kiddo's went to bed. The kids could not have had more fun playing with cousins. That actual day of the baptism went well. Poor little Rachel was sick with a fever though. She made it through the baptism just great but couldn't enjoy going out to dinner afterwards. Poor thing. Here's a couple pictures from the trip.

I like to....

So my friend had this fun tag/game on her blog and I think I might have heard of it before, but maybe not. Anyway, you type your name into google and then "likes to" like "Emily likes to" and then blog about what comes up-first 10 things/first page). I did it for my whole family:

Emily:
1. Likes to wander the streets without much planning (In VA, yes, because the streets were gorgeous and I could get lost-in a good way-in my own neighborhood. I haven't done that here, too hot)
2. Likes to win! (Well, yes, most people do right?)
3. Likes to dance in front of WOW (I don't like to dance in front of anyone but my kids)
4. Likes Fall Out Boy's Q&A profile (I don't even know what that band sings, let alone what they want to Q&A)
5. Likes Knitting (um...no)
6. Likes being bad (probably, yes, when it's not dangerous, immoral or illegal)
7. Likes the TV (unfortunately, that's a big yes, but I've cut down lots!)
8. Likes this tag (seriously, it says that, it's true)
9. Likes to screa (I have no idea what that means, I hope it's not bad).

Tom:
** About half of his were inappropriate (no-don't go check) so we're going with fewer
1. Tom likes to visit the zoo (I wouldn't know, he's never gone with us)
2. Tom likes to boogie
3. Tom likes to move it, move it (apparently he really likes to dance)
4. Tom likes to role play (he especially enjoys that for FHE)
5. Tom likes Qik (if this is some sort of computer thing-it's probably true)

Samantha:
1. Likes to get wild (yes, yes she does)
2. Sam likes to publish (perhaps not)
3. Likes to work out (sometimes she does like to do my videos with me, and she likes Wii Fit balance games)
4. Likes to help me debug Firefox on Flickr (oh yes, all the time, just like her dad that one)
5. Likes to help me work on Flickr (again with the Flickr-I think it's a photosharing website or something)
6. Sam likes to giggle (definitely)
7. Sam like to play (all the time)
8. Samantha likes to catch mice (less than likely)
9. Samantha likes to eat (only about 3 things)
10. Sam likes to shoot thing (more than likely, she certainly likes to hit things)

Tommy: **Most were replica's of Tom, only the new ones
1. Tommy likes to flash his cash (oh yes, all 3 cents of it)
2. Tommy likes his blue-green hands on Flickr (I'm sure he would)

Eliza: ** Not much on her, not a popular enough name I guess
1.Eliza likes Mad Men (Not the movie, not the literal sense)
2. Eliza likes to think she has style even in the depths of poverty (and she does to)
3. Eliza likes the rural....(I don't know)
4. Eliza likes "Are you Bands" quiz (As if)

Well, this is ridiculous, but I had fun.

My (Guitar) Hero

Whenever we do anything on the Wii, Samantha begs to be allowed to do it too (She's getting quite good at the Wii Fit balance games). Here's our little guitar hero in training. And for those who can't tell-no she can't actually play-she just likes the feeling of being a rock star.

The Circle of Life

So guess what we got to do?!? Tom and I saw the Lion King last night! We went with his uncle and aunt and family, and his Grandma. I saw it as a Senior in High School but this was Tom's first opportunity to see it. It was incredible! The puppetry was just amazing. I liked a lot of the special effects and the different cool things they did with costumes, props, etc. It was a wonderful thing to be able to go to.

My only regret is that Samantha wasn't there! But...I really liked going with just Tom though, does that make sense?

Samantha and Tommy were watched by a nice girl in our ward. I was so nervous about Eliza so thank you to my WONDERFUL neighbor and friend, Katie for watching her. Samantha and Tommy had a great time but Samantha had woken up at 5:45 so she told the babysitter at 7:20 that "she was SO tired so could they please just go to bed" and the babysitter, being a completely sane member of the human race happily obliged. She was there from 4:15 until 11:30! I feel so bad, she doesn't have seminary but she does have to go to school (she did know, however, that I was going to be that late)! Thankfully Eliza slept in until 8:00. I was lucky.

It was amazing. I'm glad I got to go. The pictures are really bad because we didn't have our camera (bad me) so Tom's uncle took the pictures with his cell phone.

My Baby Story

A different sort of tag that I thought was good because I've never written down these kind of things.


1. Where were you when you first found out you were pregnant?
1st: At home in my bathroom in Utah
2nd: At home in my bathroom in Virginia
3rd: At home in my bathroom in Virginia


2. Who was with you?
1st: I was with Tom. My sister Erin was visiting so I came out and told her right away.
2nd: By myself and then ran out to tell Tom.
3rd: Totally by myself because Tom refused to believe that I was being serious. So I came out laughing and said something like "I told you so" and we told Samantha (and Tommy who didn't understand) too.

3. What was your first reaction?
1st: Totally thrilled
2nd: Excited and kind of "whatever" too because I pretty much expected it.
3rd: Shell-shocked and kind of giddy/crazy acting.

4.What was your husband's reaction?
1st: Excited!
2nd: WAY excited!
3rd: Dubious that I was playing a trick on him and kind of shell-shocked himself. More immediately excited.

5. Who was the first person you told?
1st: My sister Erin
2nd: Our real estate agent (seriously-but that was kind of an accident). Um...our parents.
3rd: Our kids, then my mom I guess.

6. Were the pregnancies planned?
1st: Totally
2nd:Absolutely
3rd: Yes! Maybe for later-but definitely planned!

7. Was everyone happy for you?
1st: Yes!
2nd: Yes!
3rd: Everyone was thrilled for me and they understood how I could be overwhelmed at the same time. I have the best friends and family.

8. What was the sex?
1st: Girl
2nd: Boy
3rd: Didn't find out through ultrasound but a sweet little girl.

9. What was the nursery theme/colors?
1st: A blank cinder block wall in the dorms. You can't put nails in cinderblock and we didn't have the money for a crib set. She had pink sheets and that was about it.
2nd: That popular Jungle Malawi. Totally pretty color of green in his bedroom taken right from the bed set.
3rd: A gorgeous pink and green floral set from my mom.

10. Did anyone throw a shower for you?
1st: Yes, my mother-in-law and sister-in-laws at Tom's Aunt's house
2nd: Yes! Glady, Amy, Megan, and Krista in Virginia.
3rd: Nope-I moved and didn't know hardly anyone. I had everything I needed plus my mom and mother-in-law were beyond generous.

11. Did you get any outfits you wouldn't use?
1st: Some things for Samantha I pulled the tags off for Eliza because they were in completely different seasons.
2nd: A ton because I received so many wonderful hand-me-downs. I almost literally couldn't use them all.
3rd: I put everything she was given on her immediately.

12. How much weight did you gain?
1st: 25 lbs.
2nd: 27 lbs.
3rd:30-35 lbs. I stopped paying attention, I was upset.

13. Did you get stretch marks?
1st: Um YES!!
2nd: Not too many more over the old ones-they just restretched.
3rd: I couldn't see below my belly to be able to tell.

14. Did you crave anything crazy?
1st: Pringles!! I made Tom go out and get me some immediately upon seeing an ad for them, ate the entire can and then...well you can guess the outcome.
2nd: I don't remember....maybe orange juice.
3rd: I just wanted peanut butter toast and hot chocolate all the time (comfort foods), macaroni and cheese-and I hate that normally.

15. Who or what got on your nerves the most?
1st: Residents who bothered me
2nd: Samantha
3rd: Anyone who spoke to me or looked at me funny.

16. Where were you when you went into labor?
1st: Hard to say since I was in labor for days (seriously) but at my house. I went to lunch with Tom, took a test for my statistics class, went to my sister's Women's chorus concert and then headed into the hospital at about 3:00 AM
2nd: In the hospital for a planned induction
3rd: Ditto!

17. Did you have any complications?
1st: Not a one, they were very surprised by Samantha's size.
2nd: The medical community might not consider it a complication but I certainly did-my epidural wouldn't work and I felt every single contraction badly. The doctor finally came and wiggled it and it flooded into my system right before I had to push (so that was lucky!)
3rd: Nothing too serious thankfully but they kept losing Eliza's heart rate and had to keep putting the oxygen mask on me.

18. Did your water break?
All three they broke for me.

19. Who drove you to the hospital?
1st: Tom
2nd: Tom
3rd:Myself-in Arizona they start you on gels at night before, then the pitocin in the morning so I was there overnight by myself. I couldn't sleep and basically it was the worst night ever.

20. Did you go early or late?
1st: 3 days late
2nd: 3 days early (induction)
3rd: 10 days early (induction)

21. Who was in the room?
1st: Tom and my MIL for a while.
2nd: Tom and my MIL and FIL for a while.
3rd: Tom and my mom was shopping so she got there like 10 minutes before the baby was born. I was sitting there knowing the baby was coming and not telling anyone so that she would be there when it happened.

22. Did you video tape it?
Yes for all three. I only allowed Samantha to be taped afterward but as long as Tom was "modest" about it I allowed him whatever for the next two.

23. Did you have any pain medication?
1st: Best epidural ever.
2nd: Stupid stadol that makes you crazy and then a lousy epidural.
3rd: An epidural from a very funny doctor.

24. Did you have a c-section or natural?
Natural

25. What was your reaction to the birth?
Everything as you'd expect-loving, happy, weepy, thrilled. I was always more sick and shaky then I expected/remembered.

26. How big was the baby?
1st: 9 lbs 14 oz.
2nd: 9 lbs 5 oz.
3rd: 9 lbs 1 oz.

27. What was the baby's full name?
1st: Samantha Anne
2nd: Thomas Daniel
3rd: Eliza Delee

28. Did your husband cry?
Yes, for the girls-but I guess he was teaching Tommy to be manly or something because I didn't see him-I think he did mention getting teared up.

29. When is the next one coming?
I just take them one at a time, not too soon I think.

30. If you could, would you do it all over again?
Oh yes, it's the best thing in the world. I have easy labors so I always kind of enjoy them. (that's crazy I know, but it's the truth). And to have my kids-I would have hard labor too!

Samantha

Tommy

Eliza