Nana's Brag Book

Things have been pretty quiet around this ol' blog for awhile. There's a good reason for that...wait, no not really. I've been working on projects like crazy, planning new ones (my first a quilt perhaps?!) and getting school wrapped up. Oh, and work. I just haven't been on here to talk about it all. 

But to start off the projects I've been working on, I have a fun mini scrapbook album I made for my mom for her birthday, which was yesterday. She loved it and so now that she's seen it, I can talk about it! Whooo! You know you are excited! Right? Right!

So I thought it would be fun for Mom to have a mini album of her grandkids. I tried to get Erin to send me an ultrasound of her little girl to include, but that didn't happen. So Erin--it's your fault she's not included. :)

So there's the album! I thought it turned out pretty cute--but it helped I started with really adorable subjects. 

Coming soon...more projects I've worked on! Including one that has been super top secret that no one knows about--except all the people I told about it. ha.

Rachel's 2013 ABC's Book

I had Caitlin and her family for Christmas (we're poor so we do name exchanges). Yay! That means presents for the bay-bays!

Funds were a bit scarce this year (ya know, with the unexpected surprise trip to Chicago! Ahh! So fun! :) ) and so I had to get a bit creative with what to give my sister and her family. Rachel probably won't remember this Christmas, so I knew it didn't have to be very fancy and I know that Caitlin is working with Rachel to help her learn (the kid already knows her body parts--including ones that no one taught her!) and since Rachel is turning 2, I thought I would make her a little ABC book to re-count her 2nd year of life. Almost like a scrapbook mini-album.

I found the perfect sized board book at a thrift store for $1.49--along with two others of same type, which I also got her. The books are "I Spy" books (which I love!) and I just took the one that I liked the least and recovered the pictures. There were exactly enough pages to do an ABC book.

So using a photoediting program, I edited pictures of Rachel and her family and put words on them for each letter. Then I measured the book so I knew what size to print the pictures, sized the pictures, printed, and then adhered them to the book using my trusty ATG tape gun. And because Rachel is 2 and has a drooly little brother (he's teething), I covered the pages with clear contact paper. And it was finished.

Here are the pictures I used.

(Note: when I put the collages together, the edges got cut off. They aren't in the actual book. And yes...I did stretch a couple of the letters. There are not that many words--as in none--in a 2-year old's world that start with X, okay?)

And here is a picture of the final book.

I thought it turned out really cute. Very easy, and pretty quick. Deciding on pictures and words to go with the letters was definitely the hardest part.

Merry Christmas to Rachel!

I'm an Auntie Again! Yay!

Caitlin had her baby last Thursday, the 13th.

Meet Thomas! aka: baby Hugo. :)

Isn't he so precious!? The correct answer is "Yes! Of course!"

Caitlin texted me a picture a few hours after the c-section and I showed it to Rachel. She immediately grabbed my phone and squeeled, "Baby!" I got her attention and told her that was her baby brother Hugo, er, Thomas. She then squeeled, "MY baby!" It was so precious.

She kept staring at the picture and saying, "my baby, my baby" over and over again. Seriously, it was so cute! She already knew who her brother was and they haven't even met! And when the picture disappeared, she cried and wanted her baby back.

A few hours later, Rachel (and the rest of us) got to meet her little brother.

Rachel holding Thomas for the first time. She was very gentle...till she poked him the eye. Kid took it like a champ. :)

 

Mom's BFF, Shauna, came by to visit and got to meet Rachel and Thomas for the first time. She was so excited to meet more of "her grandkids"! :)



Uncle Steve and Thomas. Presh!

Look at that face! She was so excited!



Going back to Cait's room. Rachel loved all the attention she was getting.



Walking down to the NICU to visit Thomas.

After a bit of a rough start and a few days in the NICU, Caitlin and Thomas went home yesterday and are doing really well! And Rachel couldn't be happier. :)

16 months of Joy

My niece Rachel is so hilarious, and adorable, and sweet, and goofy. And I love her.

Yep, this post is chock full of adorable goodness. :)

 

She is getting so smart. She knows sign language and can sign: Food, More, Please, Thank you, and Water (drink). She knows where her ears, nose, teeth, bellybutton, and toes are. She even says bellybutton, but it comes out more like "bellybutt."

If you ask her if she's stinky or poopy, she pats her bottom and says "stinky." But she does say that even if she isn't. So that's a work in progress.

She also says: Hi, bye, baby, puppy, Uh-oh, Milk (but it comes out as "Gilk"),  Snacks, Momma, and Daddy. She LOVES to wave to people--anyone that walks past her while on her daily walks or at the store. It's amazing how grumpy looking people light up and smile and wave back when an adorable toddler says hi to them. :)

She loves to eat Avocados, tomatoes, broccoli, rice, peaches, fruit snacks, and hot dogs. She doesn't like cheese or meat. What a wierdy. ;)

When she goes to bed, or nap, and others are there--she HAS to say bye to you. If you don't acknowledge her leaving, she'll come up to your face and wave bye so you say goodbye to her. Then she'll give you a kiss, or blow you a kiss. It's soooo cute.

She knows where to throw away the garbage, put away her toys, and where to put her shoes away. If you ask her to put your shoes away, she throws them over the baby gate by the front door. If you don't ask her, she'll pull at your shoes until they are off so that she can put them away.

Her reflection is named Zoe and she loves to watch herself in the sliding glass door. And to wave at herself. It's pretty funny to watch her get so excited about it. If you ask her to wave at Zoe, she waves at the door.

Caitlin has been working with her on animal sounds. If you ask her what sound a piggy makes, Rachel tells you, "Bacon!" That is parenting done right.

Sometimes she chases herself around the coffee table. And she loves to play fetch with her big red ball. Cait's decided that it's not "fetch" though. It's a game teaching colors, shapes, and spacial awarness--depending on the object you roll for her to get.

And I'll be honest, I love it when she runs up to me with a big smile when I walk in the room. She didn't do that to someone else recently and they were pretty jealous. To be fair, I see her regularly and they don't. But still, I liked it. :D

"I'm just gunna chill with here Dolly and my raisins. Cuz I'm cool like that."

Rachel's first cell phone.   "Hi. I'd like to order a large Meat Lover's Pizza. With Bacon."

"I know I am so cuuute!"

If anyone else in the room starts to laugh (including a character in a movie) Rachel starts to laugh. It's a hilarious little giggle. So tiny and high.


"Hey, Can someone hand me the screwdriver? I need to tighten this up."

 

Rachel LOVES dancing. If there is music on, she will dance, even in the middle of a store. Carrie Underwood is her favorite--she is guarenteed to dance if it's Carrie Underwood.



Reading a scouting magazine while patiently waiting for her dinner.

While taking self portriats with my phone, I could just hear Rachel thinking, "Wow, Megan looks soo goofy. hahaha."

Rachel loves smelling plants. Nick taught her to smell flowers and now she wants to smell every plant.
It's pretty funny to take her on a walk--she stops a lot.

Rachel has mastered the art of planking.
She loves to rest her head on the couch and put her legs up on the coffee table--just like Mom & Dad.

Good Morning Beautiful! I love your crazy hair!

"I like to take Dad on walks. He needs the excersise."

 

How can you NOT love that little cheesy grin? Hahaha. So freakin' cute!

Thoughts From A Phone Call

Last night was an interesting study in opposites and how a little phone call can change life (in a good way!).

Yesterday afternoon and after work on my drive to school, I was tired. I didn't want to go to class. The music on the radio seemed depressing and I just was feeling a little beat up and a bit broken. It seemed that all I could think about was the losses in my life. And it was annoying.

I got to school and realized that I was caught up on my school work and decided to read a fun book that I had in my bag. That helped my mood a bit.

Then my brother called. Two days ago he turned 27. I feel old. Anyway, we chatted for a minute as I asked how his birthday was and if he did anything fun. He was very chipper and chatty...which was a bit odd, but hey, I'll take it.

He said, "Hey, I have some news." Then he asked if I was sitting down. I was. He asked if I was in a public place. I was. He then made me promise that I wouldn't scream, or cry, or do anything to embarrass myself. This really stressed me out, but I promised. And then to drag it out longer, he said that a mutual friend was over and said hi. I told him that I had to go to class, so just tell me already!

He did. And it was great news. And I can't share it yet. But it is sooooo awesome. He told me the story behind the news and I might have shed a tear or two. And I'm not a weepy person.

Anyway. This post is not about his news, but I how I felt afterward. All I could think of was how there have been soooooooo many people that have blessed my family, when we were little, teenagers, and even now.

As a kid that grew up under difficult circumstances, I always felt like an outsider, judged and pitied from afar for my family's deficiencies. No one could understand. No one could relate. No one cared. I felt abandoned and unloved by someone that wasn't supposed to act that way. All I could see was how my family was deficient when compared to others.

I've realized over the years that this was not the case at all. Our friends at church may not have been in similar circumstances, but that doesn't mean that we were not cared for or ignored. Sure, maybe they couldn't relate, but that doesn't mean that they didn't help us. Watch out for us kids. Love us kids. Adopt us into their families. Include us as their own.

I will forever be grateful for these families. I will love them forever for the priceless gifts and memories they have given me and my family.

I think how I didn't have the Priesthood in my home, and I used to feel that I missed out on so much. Sure, there were things that I did miss out on. But the big things were never missing. I may not have had a father at home, but I had at least 10 men (that I can think of the top of my head), and their families, in my ward that constantly, and consistently, watched over my family for years. Even now, all four of us kids are successful, functioning adults (two even being married), and yet these families are still watching out for us and supporting us and loving us.

I felt this way when I went through the temple. I was reminded how much a ward can (and should) be a family. And my family ward really was an extended family for us. It was hard to see it as a kid, but I certainly see it now. I love that ward and what it represents so much! I have felt so much love from them too. Heavenly Father put people in my family's lives so we could feel his love for us. These families have been angels to us.

After talking to my brother last night, I was reminded AGAIN how much my family has been watched over and loved by our friends and most importantly Heavenly Father my whole life. All I could think of last night driving home was all the blessings I have received because I didn't have a dad in my home. And the blessings FAR out-weigh any bad things that happened (or didn't happen). I kept thinking that without this Gospel, none of the positive things that have happened in my family would have been possible.

Last night I felt so loved driving home from work in the dreary rain. It was wonderful. And I haven't stopped smiling.

A Christmas Miracle

So Caitlin wins the prize for the best Christmas present giver...again.

Last year, she won by having Rachel.

This year she won by announcing that she is pregnant again! And she's having the little peanut around June 18th. YAY!!!! I'm soooooo excited!

It was pretty hilarious how she told us. We had our family christmas party early in the afternoon yesterday and in all the excitment and confusion of trying to get skype to work so we could chat with Erin, Jim, and Steven...She and Nick forgot to tell us. Ooops.

Later that evening, we ended back at Cait and Nick's and as soon as Mom and I walked in the house, Cait blurted it out.

"IforgottotallyouearlierwhenwewerealltogetherI'mpregnantandhavingitinJune."

Um. What?

So that was really fun. :) And surprising!

The rest of Christmas was fun too. Cait also got me a 72 hour kit starter kit. So that is awesome. We also exchanged the books we bought together a few weeks ago. We do that every year.

And then Rachel dicovered how to open presents. She was easily the highlight this year. She is soooo cute! :)

Rachel and Nana reading a book. It's still weird to think of my mom as "Nana."

Christmas Eve we spent having dinner with the Fluckigers, our new-ish tradition. I've done it the past three or four years and then after dinner and reading scriptures and other traditions, I stay and help Michelle and Rich wrap presents for the kids. This year we were done by 11:30--apparently a new record. Usually its later...much later. :)

Auntie Lys and Rachel

Alyssa, Rachel, Sean, and Rich.

Rachel opening her very first present--new Christmas Eve Pajamas!

Kevin and his new Abraham Lincoln bobblehead.

Christmas morning I spent cleaning my house and cooking treats for the afternoon and at noon, we got together with Mom's family to do a little luncheon...and Rachel was the Star of the Show. :) So adorable! :)

Rachel, Uncle Craig, & Caitlin

Chillin' in the chair that Great-Aunt Mardene made for the grandkids to sit on at Nana's (Gran-Nan) house. Rachel loved it once she realized it was for sitting.

"I'm so cute and I know that everyone knows it!"

"I want that Goldfish cracker!!!"

Gran-Nan and Rachel rocking the night away.

Rachel's first piano/organ lesson from Gran-Nan! :) Rachel loved it, played the organ and danced along to her own music. So cute! I think I see a budding musician!

Uncle Craig wore this hilarious, crazy outfit to Christmas lunch and Cait decided that she needed to wear it. She called the stick the "Stick of Justice" because she used it to keep Rachel from going downstairs.

Cait, Steven, and Erin--our "family christmas photo" this year. I just love technology.

Nick and Rachel opening presents. Rachel enjoyed ripping the paper. It's not something she's normally allowed to do.

Cait calling family with the good news about the newest addition and Rachel playing with her Christmas presents.

Christmas was fun and lovely. I spent the evening at Cait & Nick's playing with Rachel and watching our new movies that we got for Christmas--a family tradition. We ate too much, laughed a lot, and had fun together. It was perfect. :)