{domestic diva}

The kids and I are in Island Park for the week dog sitting for our friends. Well, yesterday I picked tons of beans that needed canning. My mom and I usually can together because she is always afraid that I will blow myself up with the pressure cooker. (I was the daughter that lit cotton balls on fire in my room so she always worries what I might do) Anyway, she had to go out of town this week so she left it up to me. I am proud to announce that I am a canning fool. I now have 72 pints of beans sitting down on the counter. I am pretty excited about it, and can't wait until Sue dawg gets home from Sun Valley so I can show her our bountiful harvest for winter. But if I have to snap another bean I think I will throw up!

{Bag Tagged}

I was bagged tagged by Che, and I was a little shocked at the contents in my purse (although no vest :). I swear it isn't usually this bad, but I went to summer fest tonight and picked up a few random items. Anyway, here we go. I have:

1. two checkbooks

2. a dried up tube of mascara

3. bottle of Tylenol

4. Mason's hospital bracelet from the dog bite

5. two old receipts

6. a hair bow for Avy and a hair clip for me

5. two old sucker sticks

6. an opened envelope

7. a tampon that my kids opened and dissected (bring back memories che, jen, and kim :)

8. a CD that I burned in high school and have no idea what is on it

9. car keys

10. a vote for Humprhies for sheriff car sticker

11. picture of little girl praying (my good friend gave it to me because the little girl looks just like Avy)

12. a scentsy book

13. earrings

14. wallet

15. appointment card for next baby visit

16. Mason's swim goggles

17. a wad of wrappers

18. extra links to my watch

19. a pen

Whoa that was a lot of stuff and my purse isn't even that big. After doing this I have realized that my purse has become my garbage can. Like Kim I guess I will clean it out now.

Now for other news. We had our first appt yesterday for the baby. The official due date is march 27. Neil was so excited when he saw the ultrasound. All he said at first is "Whoa, I just saw it move." All I said back was "Ya they do that" he was also excited to see its heart beat. It was fun to watch him. There is just nothing like the first baby. They are all special, but your first is so new and exciting. It will be fun to experience that with him. I have been feeling good a little tired, and a lot emotional but good. Neil is such a dork, he asked me why I am already acting funny because I wasn't even showing. I guess in his eyes you don't start feeling pregnant until you look pregnant. :) I had to explain to him that the first three months are some of the hardest. It doesn't matter that you aren't showing yet. I have to remember that I am on my third round, and he hasn't ever played this ball game before. Basically though, all is well, and we are excited for this new little baby to come. Neil has waited a long time for it.

Oh and I bag tag Teresa (I wanna see what's in that purse of yours), Becca, Megan Summers, Mandi, Melanie Reynolds, Sabra, and Daniele

{Avery}

I have taken lots of funny little pics of Avery lately, and have been horrible at posting them. So here they all are at once. Today I took her to the zoo with Neil's family. Mason didn't want to go. He just wanted to go to Suey's and ride his bike, so it was just me and her. She was like a completely different person without him. She was timid and hung onto my leg. That is so not like her, it was like she didn't quite know who she was without her little partner in crime. I have to admit it was quite nice. She is growing up so fast, and is such a fun little girl.


Cooper and Avery


Audrey, Avery, and Marley


She loved to brush the goats


Avery and Cooper


The other day I was cleaning the bathroom, and could hear Avery talking to someone. I peeked in her room, and this is what I found. Her reading a story to her baby. It was so cute. It makes me a little less nervous about the new baby. I think I will have great help. She will be a good big sister. It will be nice to have almost a four year gap instead of an eighteen month one this time.




Last week we had my cousins Mikeal and Jenna come for dinner. They had their kids and my Uncle Cade's kids. They all had so much fun. At one time they were all dressed as spider man, and Mason decided to hang on our hand rail and it came crashing down. I guess it is a good thing we rent. ( I hope the Jaegers don't see this. I promise it will be fixed good as new :)


My favorite picture. A couple of weeks ago we went to the BYU-I alumni night at a Chucker's Baseball game. We went with our good friends Bree and James. Both of the dad's had the girls on their backs. Avery just had no idea her whole backside was hanging out. It was so funny. (thanks Bree for the great photo)

{The Flowbee}

Years ago, my dad was watching t.v. (probably in the same bathrobe he is wearing in the pics) and came across an amazing Made for Television product the Flowbee. It is a haircutting device that you plug into your vacuum and it sucks your hair up and cuts it. I know you are thinking I am kidding, but I can't even make this up. He has not had his hair cut by a professional for 22 years and has been through 3 flowbees. He is so proud of his flowbee, and in his best redneck voice will tell you that he has only had to spend ten dollars a year, and that ain't bad! Anyway, Mason needed a hair cut the other night, and before I knew it Grandpa had him under the flowbee. Thankfully it turned out looking pretty good, and dad was pretty proud of himself. Thanks dad! Now thanks to you I will have to spend $0 on Mason's haircuts a year, sure kids may make fun of his haircuts, but that is a price I am willing to pay. :)


The flowbee


The amazing haircut


Two handsome haircuts. Mason and his barbar grandpa.

{Spiderman reveals his surprise}

{Girls Camp}

I went to girls camp for my home stake last night and it was so fun. I just wanted to write a little about it. It was Bishop's night so my mom and Melanie (the stake leaders) put together an amazing program. They acted as if the camp was the temple, and each girl had a name. The girls didn't know it but there was some of us there that were representing spirits that had already passed on, and we were waiting for our work to be done. We all told our stories. Some of the girls had our names, and some of the spirits names hadn't come up yet. There was one little family that one of the children's names had been lost, and all of the family's work was done except the child's. It was so touching the whole audience was in tears. It is so amazing to think about all of these families that are waiting to be together, and can't until we do the work. It is a huge responsibility. I felt the spirit so strong while we were performing. I especially got choked up during my part, because the lady I was representing had never heard of the gospel on the earth, and later when her family joined the LDS church she wanted to know what it was about and sought out the missionaries in the spirit world. It really touched my heart because my sweet Nic is one of those missionaries. I pray that he is successful in teaching those that have gone on so they can enjoy the blessing we have. I am sure he has already converted hundreds in this year and a half (or whatever their time is) because of his amazing personality. It was such a neat experience and I am so grateful I was able to be a part of it.

We then went to testimony meeting with my home ward. It was so fun to hear the youth's testimonies. They are all so strong. Then of course we followed up with a little karaoke. Mom was the lead singer and Melanie, Blythe, Me, and Mandi were the back up. We sang grease lightning and Melanie kept getting mad at us because we weren't doing the movements right. It was a fun night, and I am so glad I always get suckered into helping because it is so rewarding in the end.