Pet Smart

Chad is so excited because he just took a job with Pet Smart. He has ALWAYS wanted to work for them but in the past the scheduling wasn't conducive. However, after working for some pretty nasty managers lately, the opportunity once again presented itself and he gladly accepted. He begins on Wednesday and he is very, very, excited to work as a Pet Specialist with the lizards, birds, snakes, fish, hamsters, and other critters. Maybe now he won't keep asking me for a pet! I am not a big animal lover...

Gentle Healer

I want this picture SO bad and today I just stared at it forever in the church bookstore... I want to buy it in the near future (I hoped to by now, but things have come up), so I thought I would post it so I can still dream about it whenever I check the blog.

Eye Opening

I have to take just a minute to post about two of the many books that left an impression on me this past term. These two specific books happened to be from my Social Change class which focussed on the lack of finite energy resources we have left. If you've never heard of peak oil, and it is reality that we have long passed our peak, you should read one of these eye opening books. Reading them has definately made me more concious regarding energy conservation and the future of our world.

Broccoli Salad

This picture doesn't do justice in its attempt to express the flavor in this salad. I made it for Easter and it is one of my favorites (my mom turned me onto it), and of course it's Paula Deen! Everyone has enjoyed it, so I thought I would post the recipe on the blog. I think it is a sure hit and it is so colorful!

Ingredients:

3 or 4 heads of broccoli

6 to 8 slices cooked bacon, crumbled (optional- I usually omit)

1/2 cup chopped red onion

1/2 cup craisins (optional)

8 ounces sharp Cheddar, cut into very small chunks

1/2 cup chopped halved cherry tomatoes

Dressing:

1 cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoons white vinegar

1/4 cup sugar

salt

freshly ground black pepper

eBay

I am so excited because I just posted my first eBay item up for sell. I thought while I am home over the next couple months I would make it a goal to learn to sell on eBay... Every year we get rid of tons of Maisey's old clothes but I have still hung onto many! It's kind of hard to part with them because her clothes (in my opinion), will never go out of style. Anyway, we are going to try to cash in so we can support our second child... We will see how it goes. If you know anyone looking for clothes, send them my way.

Easter

Just a couple spare pictures... Her hair finally fit into two little braids today!

Easter Treasures

Maisey was so thrilled that the Easter Bunny (partially my grandma), had sent her more than two pieces of candy this year. We try to avoid sugar but she got more than usual thanks to some outside contributions.... Her favorite was a chick that lays eggs that are really gum!

Easter

This year we celebrated Easter close to home at Adam and Carey's house. We had a delicious meal and the kids enjoyed hunting for eggs as usual (although indoors because of the yucky rain outside). Carey (my sister in-law) uses a wonderful color coded system with the eggs which works out great for the children. Each child is assigned a different color of egg to search for so that everyone gets an equal chance to hunt despite the possible age differences between the cousins.

After the hunt

Carey's 6 foot festive tree which she decorates for every holiday, including the kids birthday's and back to school... Something they will always remember.

The cute kids table

Annual Dye Time

Every year since Maisey has been born we have dyed Easter eggs in Hood River at Oma's and Opa's. However, this year we did not... Jill, Tod, and Ruby were out of town, Ryley is ready to arrive at any time, we don't live in Hood River, and Carey and Adam have been working a ton, so we dyed eggs with a smaller group (Adam, Carey, Peyton, and Colby) at our place. Chad was in charge of pictures and consequently, we didn't get too many (especially not good ones!), but that doesn't really matter because everyone had a great time tye dyeing, sponge painting, and decorating the many, many, many eggs.
Maisey and Aunt Carey


The beginning stages...

Shower Time

Last Thursday my visiting teachers threw me a baby shower and the turn out was excellent. With spring break, Easter, and it being on a weeknight because of my finals in the days leading up to it, I wasn't sure who would be able to make it... However, lots of people showed up to celebrate in Ryley's honor and have a good time. JoAnne and Cheryl (my visiting teachers) set everything up so nice and I really appreciate them taking time out of their busy schedules to do such a generous thing. I was really lucky to have them assigned to me when we moved in to the ward and they are great "mother-like" role models who balance work and family perfectly, while serving and living the gospel as we are asked to.

Not now...

Well, an update on the lottery outcome... The drawing for one particular nursing program I have been interested in was on Tuesday. However, my number(s) were not picked this year. I firmly believe that EVERYTHING happens for a reason and with the little guy on the way and less than a year left on this other degree, I am ok with that. After this year, I will decide which of the two programs I am interested in and decide which one(s) I want to pursue and I go from there. For the last several years when thinking of time I have naturally equated it with "terms", which after four equal a year, and I just don't want life to fly by as quickly as it does. Maisey is almost five and it feels like I had her maybe three years ago. I'm trying to slow down a little and do the simplest of things like keep better written records of found memories and funny quirks. Well, if that doesn't happen, and it isn't always easy, thank goodness for cameras, video cameras, and blogs!

I'M DONE!

No, not being pregnant (although that would be nice too), I am done with finals, which means I am done with one more term! And just in the nick of time... Since I got home from my weekend away I haven't been able to see my ankles. Despite these unsightly "kankles", I do realize that I am very blessed to have gone through this pregnancy without any hypertension, pre-eclampsia, or expensive weekly stress tests! Because of that I was able to "knock another term down" as I like to say and now I am so ready to meet this little, I mean big guy!

Mmmmm Baby!

This weekend while I was in Eugene my Aunt Michelle held an afternoon baby shower in my honor- I mean Ryley's. It was sweet and intimate with the ladies of the family (my side) and a couple of close family friends. Maisey enjoyed opening Ryley's gifts and she will really be excited when she realizes that he won't be able to open Birthday or Christmas gift for some time!

The cake was from my favorite bakery and had cherry filling (if you know of a good bakery in the area let me know because nobody comes close to this quality and flavor).

Thank You Aunt Michelle and Family!

Mr. Wolverine

This weekend Maisey finally got to debut as Wonder Woman when she accompanied my brother as his child escort in his high school's senior pageant. The pageant role was made up of 11 seniors and together, in less than 4 months they raised over $29,000 dollars for The Children's Miracle Network! These guys worked so hard on their skits and choreographed dances so that they could put on the best show- which they did.

In the picture below and to the right my brother is playing the guitar while the other guys join in for a song. He is a very talented musician and has had a band since he was in the 8th grade. For the last couple of years they have been playing gigs all around town at clubs and in bars (even though they are minors... but my parents are always there to cheer him on), and they have also recorded a CD. The name of his band is Trapped in a Mini-Van (you can look it up on Myspace). He sings, plays the electric guitar, drums, and pretty much does it all. Hey, he has so much musical talent maybe he got all of mine (I was born without any)!

On the left is a clip from the formal wear segment and he is escorting our mother.

Maisey looks up to her Uncle Chasey so much and her Aunt Erin too. She loves visiting Eugene and she loves all of the attention and treats that Grandma and Grandpa give her! She even commented while eating the "forbidden" chocolate cereal one morning, "Mom, I get to eat junk food here but not at home, huh?" Between a weekend of: rehearsal (and fruit snacks), performing (and treats that were awarded whether or not the child needed to be bribed or distracted), Chuck E Cheese (and a lolipop), Ryley's shower (and cake), a couple of nights at Grandma and Grandpa's (with gum and other hidden treats), and just all around fun, I think Maisey loves being the first grandchild!

He's a Whopper!

It has been too long since my last post but school has been wrapping up and my last final for the term is on Tuesday. Yeah!

Now, to the point...

We had an ultrasound on Wednesday and Ryley "weighed" in at 8 lbs. 4 oz.!!! I still have 3+ weeks to go and so he will probably end up being around 10.5 like the "Doc" predicted two or so months ago. My Doctor is also a Stake President and he is going to General Conference in Utah which happens to be right before my due date and he will be gone the last two weeks of my pregnancy. His first day back is Monday the 7th of April so I am scheduled for a c-section that afternoon (it will be a long day of fasting and of course an exciting night of bonding and adjusting). However, We will see if he chooses to come sooner or not!!! I really DID NOT want another c-section but when he was weighing in big at twenty-one weeks, I think that was when I really came to terms with the fact that a VBAC might not be possible. Hopefully Maisey (ok and I), will be able to handle the separation while I recover in the hospital for a few days.

We will keep you posted if he makes his debut any sooner!

Anxiousness

So I put up the crib and cradle a couple of months ago and now feel like I have nothing to do. Chad is tired of me going through Ryley's stuff again and again like I have OCD, but I am soooo excited for this month to progress! I have been so eager to "nest" and I don't have much to do because I usually do things the minute I think of them... School is coming to a close (I already finished one class, without consent 4 weeks was shaved off the term, but don't get me wrong, I am thankful). Now I have a little extra time and yesterday I managed to get in some exercise and I took Maisey for a good bike ride, cleaned out the car, set up some baby gear, swept and washed the patio, and cleaned the windows and tracks. I thought I should get my "Spring" cleaning done now so I don't have to worry about it when Spring actually arrives. Lately we have enjoyed the wonderful sun, its Vitamin D, and the extra energy that it is giving us as it takes us out of the house (not that we aren't gone enough)!

The Temple

Last Wednesday Chad and I took the afternoon and went to the Temple. Even though we only live 15 minutes away, it is still an afternoon outing with traffic. A couple in our ward here in Beaverton arranged a "switch" with us and now we have somebody to swap babysitting with so that we can at least go together. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful place to be.

A Night in the Hood

Saturday we headed to Hood River for a quick 24 hours with friends and family. We had to cancel some dinner plans with good friends a couple of weeks ago during the snowy winter, but we were all able to reschedule for Saturday night. Afterwards we went to "game night" with a group of friends from our old ward and we loved that the once a month gathering coincided with our little trip. Maisey got to spend her second night away (I won't keep counting), with Aunt Jill, Uncle Tod, and Cousin Ruby. She has been asking to stay again since the last time we visited (hopefully she doesn't expect to stay every time we take a trip up), and she was thrilled at the invite. We, or I actually slept this time (instead of worrying) and I only hope that Aunt Jill sleeps well tonight as we thank her for her willingness to wake from her sleep several times a night in order to give us some alone time... I think Maisey likes it more than us- it still feels weird when she's not in the middle. We spent Sunday with family and Oma even took the day off work:) We felt very special and we enjoyed spending the day with our old neighbors (family). Maisey has missed Ruby a ton and told her numerous times that she misses living in Hood River. But, on the way home she remembered her cousins Peyton, Colby, Miranda, and Michelle here in Beaverton and she said she was glad to live close to them. As long as we have family nearby (which we do- Eugene, Hood River, and Beaverton) we will always be happy.

Wonder Woman

Maisey is sporting her new Wonder Woman costume that she will be wearing as she escorts my brother (who is a high school senior) in a school fashion show/talent contest which will be held on St. Patty's Day. We are very excited to see him dance, act, and compete against the other twelve seniors at Willamette High School in Eugene as we are sure he will win!

Presidents Day at the Zoo

Today was a beautiful day and we decided to make a trip to the Zoo. Our pass hadn't been used since Zoo lights and the sunshine was calling our name. However, because of the holiday it was crazy busy. The actual zoo wasn't too bad, but as we exited the freeway we were asked to turn back around, head West, and find the park and ride shuttle which was a mile or so away. When we arrived after waiting in line to exit and re-exit the freeway, there were about 100 other patrons waiting for the school bus. At that time we decided to head for a transit center and Max it. The Max is very exciting to Maisey but as far as convenience goes, it usually isn't any easier than driving- or cheaper. As always, there are exceptions and we were grateful we didn't have to wait for the yellow bus for who knows how long!

By the time we arrived home Chad was up and ready to take on what was left of the afternoon. It is nice having him home (awake) everyday by 3pm!