Autumn, make haste!

So, as of last Thursday, things are going well with baby #3. Sometimes I feel like calling the baby "He-man", mostly because after all my worry (and lots of spotting), the baby is still alive, even after I've convinced myself that I'd miscarry again. So nothing to worry about, right? I guess most of my worries have been laid to rest and I'm just going to roll with the punches. I have been spot free for over a week now (yipee!), and so I think its true that I have stopped worrying. The Doctor did tell me it was OK to play tennis, because gravity isn't an issue with the baby, and because he thinks tennis isn't a strenuous sport. I think he's never seen a tennis match in person, or for that matter, played tennis himself. I am considering playing tennis, but I know me. I run down all the balls, lobes and drop balls. It's just in my nature. Then the worry would start again. I want everything to be A-OK and know that me doing anything physical wouldn't hurt all the funky stuff that's going on in my uterus. Too bad I had signed up for the season before I knew any of the funky stuff was going on. Oh well. Maybe I will get a green light and all will be fine. And deep down, that is my gut feeling, whether or not I will get to play tennis, I know it will all work out and we will have a healthy baby come spring 2010.

On to other happenings, Bryanna starts preschool tomorrow. I am looking forward to her being in school and having that social outlet. She thrives on friendships, and having something to do other than hanging out with dear old mom all day, everyday.

I know you will all think me crazy, but I am praying for autumn to come. It has been so stinkin hot, I can't take it anymore. I just want it to cool down to the 70's and I'd be happy as a camper. This 110 degrees is really getting on my nerves and I want it to stop. Since I'm pregnant I feel I can demand for such a request. So I've put out fall decor already, along with some Halloween stuff. This is why you think I'm crazy. Mark thinks so, but secretly, its my way of kicking summer out and welcoming the cool air. I'm dreaming of pumpkin patches, carmel apples, corn mazes, ghosts and goblins and hot apple cider, among all the yummy treats that I love to make for fall.

Oh, baby!

So, most of you may know by now, and for those of you who don't, well, I'm pregnant! 8 weeks along, and feeling mostly OK, but I have my nausea moments (which last longer than I wish them to be). I'm due April 3rd, 2010! That will make for all three of my babies, SPRING babies. I have to say the timing was chance this time around, but pleased nonetheless! Spring is the best time to have a baby, even mother nature would have to agree with me on that one!

It's a high-risk pregnancy, which isn't for the faint of heart. I have a "huge" blood clot (as the doctor and nurse like to call it) behind/near the placenta. Therefore, I have been having unusual and sporadic spotting, so much so, that its made me think I'd have miscarried by now. But everything is still going strong with the baby, heartbeat looks good. The Doc keeps telling me things will be fine and that the baby will most likely make it. I hope he's right. The only hard thing (really, really hard) is that I'm on pelvic rest. Pelvic rest=no lifting, no exercising, nothing strenuous physically, and no bedroom fun with my man. True and Sad, but necessary.

I've received a few priesthood blessings and they have given me so much comfort. Thanks to the wonderful pregnancy hormones, I have been upset and sad, it was hard from feeling like I'd be miscarrying, AGAIN, and that was hard to take in. But the blessings I've gotten have helped me so much that I feel like its in the Lord's hands, and there's a reason we got pregnant soon after my miscarriage in June, there is a spirit waiting to join our family, and I feel that purpose very strongly now. And to add to it, in the blessing, my dad called the baby a "he"!! I asked Mark about it afterwards, and he said as he was participating in the blessing that he felt it was a boy as well. It may be too early to tell (and I'm not sure I'll believe it til I see the sex-reveal ultrasound), but that's what happened.

I'll keep updates posted as things change. As for now, I see the Doctor for an ultrasound every week to keep tabs on the "huge" blood clot. Wish me luck!

almost brand new

a couple of weeks ago, we FINALLY got around to painting the cabinets. After we did the floor,we just HAD to do something about the awful oak cabinets. I was nervous at first about the color black, but very glad in the end...it tied the granite and appliances in perfectly!

Engaged & Graduated

My sister, Camille, got engaged a few weeks ago, and today she graduated from Nursing School. It was such an overwhelming feeling seeing her walk across the stage receiving her diploma. I was thrilled for her, she has worked very hard and I'm so glad she's done, I bet she's even more happy she's done!

Camille and Josh are getting married in October, one of the most beautiful times of year in Las Vegas! I am so happy she's found the man of her dreams, they make a cute couple!

austin

Mark and I headed off to Austin, TX to visit his dad. It was a short, but sweet trip. We packed in a TON of fun things just in the two days we were there. My parents were awesome and kept our kids with them while we were away. They took the kids to Chuck E Cheese on Saturday. On Sunday, they had two sacrament meetings to attend because of their calling in the mission presidency, and so the 4 yr. old and the 2 yr. old sat through both of the meetings and did fabulous, I was so pleased to hear they did fine. Some Sundays don't always go as smooth for us!

San Antonio Temple

Dan, Mae Bell, Mark, Stacy

Angel Moroni.

The San Antonio Temple is one of the smaller temples. It is beautiful and magnificent, just as any other temple in our church. As I walked inside, I just so happened to run into a family that I grew up with in my home ward. It was so crazy to see all the kids again (well, they aren't kids anymore...they are my age!) One of the brothers was getting sealed that day and the whole family was there...what a crazy coincidence!

Between the temple and dinner, we stopped off at a place called Charming Charlie's...it was the cutest store and I can't wait for one to come to Las Vegas!! I did some serious shopping there.

And the infamous Salt Lick in Driftwood, TX

We waited for an hour to get into the best BBQ in TX, and that's the darn truth!

They let you come back behind the counter and take a picture next to the "pit".

It was so great to see Dan & Mae Bell and be with them if only for a weekend!

The place is ALWAYS packed. The last time we came was three years ago, and it was even better than I remembered. They actually built a Salt Lick in the Red Rock Hotel & Casino here in Las Vegas, it opened about three years ago, and let me tell ya, it isn't nearly as good as the REAL thang!

My father-in-law has a small car, as I like to call it! The smart car was teeny tiny and drove like a manual shift transmission, even though it was an automatic.

can you say SMALL?

For some reason, both my back and mark's back was a little outta wack, maybe from driving in such small cars or the airplane ride or something, but Mae Bell kept telling us we needed to get on the inversion table...and so in the minutes before we left for the airport, we hopped on the table and went for a ride. I have to admit, it felt good!

pet dragon

Watching the Barbie version of "Rapunzel" while driving home last night, this was a portion of our conversation.

Bryanna: If our car stops working mom, we can fly around on a dragon's back.
Me: Oh really?
Bryanna: Ya. And it could be our pet, and we'll feed it all the time, and play with it. It could take me to the park and to the pool.
Me: Sounds like fun!

I swear she wishes life were more imaginary and that cool things like flying dragons and magic existed. Then again, so do I! If you've seen this DVD, then you know exactly what our pet dragon would look like.

Cookies 'n Cream

The Perfect Summer Recipe:

Homemade Cookies 'n Cream Ice Cream

{Photo from Target.com} I have a Rival Ice Cream Maker, and I LOVE IT!

Recipe for 4 Quart Container:

**Hint: For lower fat content, substitute 1 % milk for whole milk, whole milk for half and half; and evaporated skim milk for whipping cream. Higher fat dairy products, like whipping cream, create a smooth, rich and creamy texture. Lower fat dairy products create a lighter dessert with a slightly different texture. For this recipe I used all the fat!

• 2 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/4 c. plus 2 tablespoons flour
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 5 cups whole milk
• 4 eggs beaten
• 4 cups whipping cream
• 2 tbsp. vanilla extract **make sure to use real vanilla extract, flavor is everything!
• 25 crushed Oreo/chocolate cookies

Combine sugar, flour, and salt in saucepan. Stir in milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, for about 15 minutes, until thickened.

Then stir in 1 cup of the hot mixture into the beaten eggs. Add egg mixture to remaining hot mixture, constantly stirring. Cook about 1 minute, then remove from heat. Refrigerate about 2 hours.

Combine whipping cream and vanilla extract in large bowl; add chilled mixture, stirring with whisk til smooth.

Place ice cream mixture into metal canister, put dasher in place and cover tightly. Then place canister into the bucket, and bucket into kitchen sink. Layer ice and rock salt every 2 inches til the top. Place the motor on, when ready, plug in. Ice cream should churn for 20-40 minutes. Should ice cream maker stop before churning is complete, check for large ice chunks that might be jammed against the rotating ice cream canister.

Clear ice and salt away from top of ice cream can, wiping carefully before you open. Lift out dasher and scrape off ice cream.

Add the crushed chocolate cookies when the ice cream is completely done churning, mixing well.

This is a photo of our ice cream, already half eaten. But it hardened nicely and we have been enjoying it for a few days now.

After the cookies and ice cream are well incorporated, leave in canister and put into freezer to harden, about 3-5 hours. It might help to fold a towel around the canister or wrap with newspaper for hardening process.

Any questions for how to, consult your Rival Electric Ice Cream Maker Owner's Guide, it is easy to understand and very basic. I always say; If you can read, you can make anything!

The kids and hubby LOVE, love, LoVe this recipe!

I think you will please the toughest ice cream critic, and do wOnDeRs for a get together!

Pie 'N Ear Party

Since being called (in May) to the Activities Chair in my ward, I have the privilege of planning all the activities with the committee! {It was a bit of a shock since it was right after our ward performed the Easter cantata, and I was really loving and enjoying being the choir director, but I am having lots of fun with the activities...the joys of serving in the church} In Utah, they celebrate Pioneer Day on July 24th, but seeing as how we don't live in Utah, we had "other" festivities...

...like a pie eating contest!
grown men stuffing their faces...always hilarious! They were a little too clean for a pie eating contest...no one really wanted to get down and dirty!

the winner receiving some candy!

and the kids stuffing their faces...

I think they enjoyed scarfing down the sweet pie, as much as we enjoyed watching it!

This little guy on the left was the winner in the kids competition...just look at those cheeks!

Corn eating contest (part of the Ear, in Pioneer!)

It was so entertaining watching the kids eat corn as fast as their jaws could possibly go. The daintiest of girls were some of the quickest corn eaters, seriously!

Any respectable ward party wouldn't be complete without a water balloon fight...

He looks harmless, so you think.

He actually soaked me twice in the behind.

It took at least a few hours filling all the balloons...

...and they were gone in minutes!

Thanks to those who brought all the yummy ice cream & pie, esp the homemade stuff. I made cookies 'n cream ice cream, recipe to follow the next post. It was an awesome turn out!

Next year, let's do it again!

Owatta...

....means finished in Japanese!!

I finally have my kitchen, family room, downstairs bathroom, dining room and living room back. I really missed them, but it was worth it all!! I love the finished product, I just keep asking myself, "Why didn't we do this sooner?"