Flash back picture

I can't even remember her looking like this. Jenn sent this to me this morning so I thought I would post it.

Some pictures to enjoy

We have been so busy that even taking pictures has been hard. We went to the bridge lighting in Sumner last night. We got there right as the fireworks started going off and hurried up and got out of the car. unfortunatley 2 exteremly large trains choose to passby at the same time blocking our view and making it impossible to cross the tracks. Honestly that is the closest i have ever been to a speeding train. If we would have walked 25 feet the train would have hit us. After that the party moved down the street to Windmill Garden and they had Santa come from the bridge in a parade and then light up the gardens, it was fun and the kids loved it. Alexis was a little nervous about Santa, but she still let me take her picture with him. I think I am going to put them on as a slide though so enjoy.

Some of the pictures were taken by Alexis! She has a little photography thing going on right now.

p.s. if the slide show freezes click on the bottom corner and click the album and you can view all the pictures!

Operation in Britt's future

If you want an up date on our on going struggle with having a baby here it is, if you don't want to know just skip this post! In September I went to the doctor and we started with my fertility work up and Britt was told to go see the Urologist. He did that on Wednesday, it took forever to get in since the doctor was out until the beginning of November and then Britt had to change his appointment because he went hunting. So finally he got in and Dr. McClure confirmed our thoughts, Varicocele. Britt has been having pain and discomfort in that region and doctor says the only thing that can stop that is surgery. It is a minor procedure and he should only need a day or two to recover. So on Monday Britt will be scheduling that. It probably won't be until January though due to the doctors schedule. Then after a few months, I think Britt said 5, they will do another sample and see if the surgery has helped. There are no guarantees that this will increase his numbers, but it should take away the pain. In the end that is the important part. I am a bit annoyed though. 3 years ago we went to a doctor, while at group health, seeking the same diagnoses and the doctor said that it wasn't that serious and that he didn't feel surgery was necessary. Whatever, I guess at least this way it is a medical procedure due to the pain and discomfort and not as much fertility. I will be making sure that the doctor puts this surgery in to the insurance as medically necessary. Anyway that is our update....just so everyone knows this does set things back until spring at the earliest. In one small way it does bring some relief for me. I won't be stressing at the end of every month hoping that I am preggers! I think I will still think about it but with the numbers Britt pulled(4 million) at the test it isn't as likely. All though we aren't sure about those numbers since we had spent a lot of time in the hot tub 2 weeks ago, I guess that impacts it more then I thought. The Doctor said that10 million is needed to due any procedure so we have to get his numbers up. It does take the ball out of my court though! Doctor said Britt has had this varicocele since birth though, and I wonder if it is connected to the extra passage ways that he had in his face that had to be removed. We will be praying that this is the fix we need and that maybe things will progress in a more natural way.

I am grateful we live now though. 50 years ago nothing would have been able to fix this problem and we may have never had that hope of getting pregnant. Even 20 years ago it wouldn't have happened. I am happy that technology is on our side now and so relieved that it isn't unexplained infertility...that diagnosed scared me the most. So we all will just have to wait until spring to find out how well things have gone.

Turkey anyone?

We had a good Thanksgiving at Britt's brother's house. Lots of family, plenty of food and Rock band. What? Rock band, yes Britt took it apart and set it back up so that everyone could rock out. Boy did they ever, the only thing we had to tell the kids was to take turns and to please let the adults have a turn. Everybody had so much fun. Alexis loved playing with Bryson, poor Caymon wasn't feeling good. Great day, except bridge traffic. The Narrows toll made traffic terrible...well not for us. Shirley left before we did at 9:45 and it took her 30 minutes to go 10 miles so we stayed for a bit longer....ok 2 more hours. I really couldn't separate Britt and his brothers they just kept talking. I will admit they don't talk like they used to because there are always a million kids running around and so much noise that conversation is hard to keep up. A very good day. I am so thankful for my husband, he is so awesome. I am thankful for my little girl, she is brilliant and beautiful. I am thankful for my home and the my husband has a good job that provides for us so that I can stay home. I am thankful that it wasn't raining this morning when I left at 4am for Walmart madness. I am thankful for our families that live close(and far away) so that we can do things together and watch our kids play and become amazing people. I am so thankful for the gospel and a temple that is close by. I could go on and on but honestly I have only had 2.5 hours sleep and I am not typing very well. Thank you friends and family we love you so much.

Rockband 1

Last night we went to Phil and Josie Schaubs and played rockband for the first time ever. It was fun, I learned why no recording studios ever came knocking at my door. I actually already knew why, but it was great to be reminded. My singing was painful to all in the room, even Alexis tried to take the mic from me. She had fun singing during the free singing time thing. Britt has totally fallen in love with it. He is itching to buy it. He has been warned though if he buys it before Christmas day then he will get nothing under the tree. Every year he always buys what he wants right before Christmas leaving me scrambling to find something to wrap. Last year I wrapped up the air soft gun that he bought a few weeks before Christmas. He didn't think it was that cool, but well he spent $150.00 on it. So we will see if he is unwrapping an empty Rockband box this year, or if it will be NIB Christmas morning. I hope he waits it will just be that much more fun. I am almost done with Alexis for presents just a few more little things and the stocking stuff. I think I am going to go light on the stockings this year and just do the orange some candy and maybe something small. So far she is getting Sleeping Beauty, a computer link system, Dora memory, lace cards, a shake and go car and some puzzles. I really want to get her Don't Spill the Beans and Cooties games and Target has them for $4 this week. I need to get Chad, Kate and Mallori bought for and get that sent off and then our parents and then my side too. Fun can't wait to hit the stores Friday Morning!

My anniversary gift

I went and got my gift today from Britt. I had a coupon(lame I know since it was a gift) for 40% off a pedicure and since I didn't have Alexis I went. I got a mani and a pedi. I have never had the wax treatment before and I liked it. I also got the massage chair part so I think it was a pretty good gift. It only cost $25 too. Thanks hunny, I needed that time away...that is kind of joke since Thursday night I went to the movies leaving the house at 9:30 and not getting home until 2:30am, then Friday I went to the Twilight social for a few hours. So I have had some alone time lately.

Help me dress my girl!!!!

I need some opinions. I bought this skirt for her Christmas outfit and I got a killer deal, I had $10 gap bucks and so I paid nothing for it!!! Anyways my mom and I found a super cute button down shirt at Carter's and thought it would be great, it looks like she is going square dancing though. So I found this shirt at Target and I think it looks ok, the sweater is a no go though. Anyways I bought 2T in the skirt and the girl has gotten so skinny around the waste that it won't stay up. I put a safety pin in it but it put little marks in the material. I need to find a way to make it stay up or just go get the 18 to 24 month size.

So first do you think the skirt and shirt look ok together?

Second do you have any ideas on how to fix the waist without ruining the material?

I may just go get the smaller size but I am not going to the Supermall today and Southhill mall doesn't have a Gap anymore. If the skirt was about 1.5 inches smaller in the waist it would be fine. I don't know if the next size down would be too short though. I think the Christmas outfit is starting to stress me out. On a good shopping note I got this really cute reversible vest at Children's Place for $1.99 and a shirt and dress for the same plus a baseball hat for $.99.

* The shirt is sparkly and you have no idea how hard it was to convince her to leave the tags on during this fashion show. The socks are knee highs, I finally found some and had to get them, but now I wonder if I should have gotten white, what do you think white or cream?

9 Years and counting

I am honestly so surprised that it has been 9 years. It really doesn't feel like it, all day I have been thinking about how different things are today from how they were 9 years ago. We are so different, for the better too. Our family has grown by one, we wish there were a few more, and we live in our own home and have every single need being met. Britt is a hard worker and takes very good care of us. He is a good husband and father, he takes us to church and honors his priesthood. He is always ready to serve those in need which blesses all of us. We have struggled and succeed and done it all together. I am looking forward to the rest of our lives here on earth and beyond with Britt. I bought him new cologne Double Black, he has been wanting it for a year, and I also got him a pair of jeans. I realized as I was shopping for his cologne that he has old man pants and I really can't be walking around with a old man in old man pants! HAHAHA, I told him that I got him something that will make him cool! He told me he hadn't gotten me a gift yet, all I want is a pedicure without a child around. Sweetie offered to give me a pedicure, but then somehow I just don't think we will get around to that this time of year. So I will go get one done. I am cooking us Chicken Fajitas for dinner, yummy, and molten chocolate cake, double yummy. Happy Anniversary Britton, I love you!

Our Family Get Away

Great Wolf Lodge was so much fun! We played in the water for hours on the first day. We also bought a wand for the kiddos to share. They liked it for a little while but the water park definitely had more appeal. We went out to Pizza Hut since it would have been a lot for Steph's family($70 for one meal at the buffet and $40 for us, yikes). When we got back the kids where done swimming for the night and Grandma took them down to story time while Britt, Steph, Jon and I hit the water park for the last hour before closing. There was so few people in that we went down the big slides as fast as we could climb the steps, 92 to the top. I was dying after the 8th or 9th time so I went in the hot tub with Steph for a little while. Then we went and played in the arcade for a bit and then went and put the kids to bed. Alexis went to sleep so fast and Britt and I watched a show and ate popcorn. The next morning we played in the arcade and did the wand game for a bit and then played in the water park for the rest of the day. I put Alexis down the red slide and she fell back and bumped her head...and cried the whole way down spinning around and around. She was done after that, I felt really bad. So we showered and went out in the lobby and had ice cream and pizza and waited with Grandpa for everyone else to get done. It was so fun, but next year we will do things different. We will get a room with a fire place and spend the first day doing everything but the water park and then the second day will be non stop water fun! If you haven't gone yet you should go it is fun! I will post pictures tomorrow.

Silly pictures

Alexis before glasses and After(these are Britt's)

The girls playing on the car seats Yesterday....seriously this really entertained them, Ashlee even ate her goldfish in the baby one!

Notice where Alexis is...she is having serious "I want to be a baby issues!"

Late Halloween pics

These are the only pics I took of her in her costume and she just wanted to swing her bucket around, next year it will be a bag so she can't shake the candy.

She is helping me put laundry away, those are daddy's G's and yes she has the bottoms on too.

Painting and a toddler

I have been doing a lot of painting the last few days and poor little Lou Lou has been doing her own entertainment. I am painting the doors that cover my pantry and laundry, it looks so awesome and I wish I would have done it years ago. While painting them I decided to paint the back door and it looked so great I painted the front door. Tomorrow I will put the second and hopefully last coat on the folding doors and then get to work on the trim in the hall. I am also going to paint all the doors in the hall, since they are dark brown and I have painted the trim white. I am so excited...now if I could just pick out the color for the other wall and the tile for the back splash! Baby steps, but it will get done since we are going to stay in this house for at least another year. While painting Alexis got really quiet so I stood up to see what she was doing and this is what I found.

Later Ashlee and Jen came over and Ashlee was standing by it and Alexis told her no. So she does listen to me because I told her that it is only for babies. I guess that also means that Ashlee isn't a baby as far as Alexis is concerned.

She also must have decided that the bagel with cream cheese and the grilled cheese sandwich I made for her were yucky, so she got out some canned goods for me to make. She got cream of chicken soup, tomato paste and chicken noodle soup. I went to make the soup for her and she insisted I add the tomato paste; good thing all I have to do is say that is yucky and she will agree. I don't think she is feeling 100% yet. She is really having a funny time right now. She wants me to rock her, and put her in the baby glider, and is not wanting to go potty, not having accidents just not wanting to go at all. I am thinking it is because I held Ellis a lot yesterday and she is just wanting the same treatment. I am going to having to start calling her a big girl instead of a baby and do the whole you are big so we get to do fun stuff that babies can't do. Hopefully that will help.

Our Heros

Today has been a very emotional day. I am so proud of the men and women that have and still do serve our country. They are the bravest people and I respect them so much. We are in great debt to them as they have fought and died or been injured to keep us free.

Fremont J. Martin served in WWII, he is my Grandpa. He was stationed in the Philippines and was one of the last people to leave the island before the Japanese invaded. He and a few other soldiers were left with the task of destroying all paperwork and military equipment. As they were throwing things into the sea they found Purple Heart Medals. There was enough for each man to have one and they brought them home to their families to honor them for their sacrifice.

Leo Roy Bleazard served in the Korean War. He was very brave and once he got back to the USA he said that there was no reason for him to ever leave our wonderful country.

Gregory I Martin, my dad, was in the Army. He was only able to serve for a short time due to medical problems but he served the best he could.

Lim Horn is currently in the Army and serving in Iraq on his second tour of duty. I am very proud of him and glad he will be home soon.

Joshua Carter is my cousin and has just graduated as a Marine. He is brave and I am grateful that in these scary times in this world that he is joining the brave to protect us.

These are just a few men that have and still are serving our country and I want to say THANK YOU.

Food Issues

Alexis is on a strike. She won't eat any of the dinners I am making lately. She found a box of raisins and is eating that instead of Taco soup. She is begging me to open fruit snacks and when I ask her to eat her dinner she says I'm done. She will eat anything Britt has on his plate though, even if that means getting done and standing next to daddy and asking for a bite of the same thing. Grrrr, I am not fixing her something else.

Sunday of Rambling Thoughts

I just got done eating rice pudding, yummy. My parents like it with way to many raisins though. I think I will make it again for family home evening after we eat our taco soup and talk about emergency preparedness. The Emergency Preparedness fair Saturday had so much info that it is gonna take some time to sort through. They had a 72 make a kit station set up, it was a good kit. It is in a rubber maid with water, hand warmers and a blanket. I made one up for our car. I also have a back pack one(although that one is not as hearty as the car one I just made), I figure if we are stranded somewhere there is beef jerky and pudding for me since Alexis won't eat it.

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She says the most amazing prayers and it makes me so happy to hear her pray. She loves nursery, even if Porter and her get each other. Today was kind of girl power day in nursery. Porter attacked Ella and so Alexis attacked him...poor guy he picked the wrong day to pick on the girls. I often wonder if Alexis will ever really get along with kids her age. She adores any child who is about 1.5 years older and up. I was always the same way so I wonder if it is an oldest child thing. I start watch the Schaub kids this Wednesday and so I hope that she can learn to be a great friend to Evana(she does good most of the time) because with baby Ellis and 2 toddlers I really don't want the girls to have issues. It helps that Evana is walking and able to express herself better. I am going to be pulling out puzzles and making up games like crazy to keep the two entertained. I figure I can handle 1 to 2 days a week, if not I have no reason trying to have more kids. Could you imagine Alexis being an only child....horror....spoiled beyond brat and many other adjectives that mean really bad idea. She desperately needs someone to have to share mommy and daddy with. Although I am sure she would argue with that!

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The primary program was today. Our Sunbeams did so good, they wiggled of course and bounced up and down while singing, moved their chairs around, but when it was time to speak they did awesome. I was moved to tears often when the kids would sing and the spirit just filled me up to the top and when they spoke their parts I overflowed. Our bishop said a few words and talked about building the strongest and greatest generation ever and I realized how much more important our children are to the future of this world. Of course I always felt that the children I am close to a important to me, but they are so much more then that. I am grateful that I have the true gospel in my life and that I can take my daughter to church and have a whole community of amazing people help me raise her and teacher her. I am really grateful to her nursery leaders that love Alexis and teach her and are helping making her great. Sister Burnside today told me that Alexis is going to be a very strong and important person when she is older. I always have said that the reason it is taking us so long to have children is because our children are going to be very important to the church. I now know that it is true as it is true of all the kids that are being born. Growing up I was taught that we are a royal generation and I believe we are and that our children are born of that generation to be the most choice and most righteous that have ever come forward.

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This is a really long post sorry I have a lot to say, not uncommon for those who know me well! Alexis is the cutest helper ever. I was making dinner tonight and she was pulling herself up to look at what I was doing. I was worried that she would grab the cutting board and pull a very sharp knife and cut up onions on top of her head, so I told her to get the stool. She was stand there while I browned the meat and playing with the cans so I handed her a towel and asked her to wipe the tops off. Smart little cookie didn't even need me to show her how and she wiped them all down while telling daddy: "I helpin me." It was so cute and then she got to pour it all in the crock pot, except the hot meat. She then climbed up and sat on the bar stool and said "I want eat." Cute! I can't wait until she is even more of a help!

Optical Check up

We went and got our eyes checked tonight. I choose an eye doctor down in Sumner at Sumner Family Eye Care. The doctor was great. She told us so much about eyes and took the time to make sure we were really happy. I already knew I needed glasses, but I guess I didn't really need a new prescription, although my glasses are really scratch. So picked out a new pair, they have the sun glasses that clip on with a magnet! Britt has to wear glasses part time. He is far sighted and I am near sighted. Funny thing is she said Britt's eyes have been to the gym and then some. It has to do with how he has learned to focus his eyes when things weren't clear enough. He got to pick out his first pair of glasses, he looks good with them on. I got a fun new pair that have pink on them! I can't wait to get them.