IT'S A ????????????

WE DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA! I know this is a shocker for most of you because I hate surprises, and I can't keep a good secret! Most of you even doubted that I would have the willpower to not be told what the baby is. BUT WE DID IT!

Now Suey on the other hand is a totally different story. She tagged along to the ultrasound (just kidding I wanted her to go with me). But after it was all over she looked at me and said "I have to go out to the bathroom." As I leave the room a few minutes later (after talking to the doctor) What do I find? Suey chatting with the ultra-sound tech. So basically she knows what the baby is and Neil and I don't. She of course thinks this is extremely funny. As I was getting out of her car she yelled " Your having .... long drawn out pause..... a baby! Followed by her famous cackle. Don't go trying to get it out of her though. I will be furious if I have this baby and I am the only one in the fam that doesn't know its sex.

Anyway, everything looked really good. I am excited to find out what it is in FOUR months!

{A little update}

I have been terrible at blogging lately. This is mostly because I have been spending everyday at the house trying to get it ready for the big move. Here is what we have done so far. The dining room and kitchen are now brown, the living room is blue, my room is a horrendous color of green and brown (which is getting repainted today), and Avery's room is pink striped. We have replaced the chandelier in the dining room, all of the cupboard hardware, and the doorknobs. Carpet was supposed to be lay ed today until my little brother-in-law texted a picture of snow to my carpet layer, and he was out of there to go snowmachinig with him. (don't worry I will make Robbie pay for it when it comes time to build furniture, he is my new little handyman) Neil is ripping out all of the old paneling in the upstairs and installing bead board, and I am painting all of the upstairs cupboards. It has been a lot of work! It is starting to look really good though, and is feeling more like our house instead of my mom's. Thank you so much to all of you that have helped me paint. I will post pictures as soon as we are in. Hopefully next weekend!

{Sometimes you just need your nails painted}

She looks a little rough. She had been crying for an hour.


The other night Mason spent the night at Grandma Kim's and Avery came home. She was so distraught. When we got home she ran upstairs, and was crying to Neil. I was down cooking dinner, and I heard her yelling down the stairs. She came running down screaming "Neil painted my nails and drew polka dots on them." I guess sometimes you just need your nails painted to cheer you up.

{Tags and Tags Galore}

That heading is totally for you Che.:) I have been seeing my names on a lot of tags lately and have been just to lazy to do them so here it goes. There is a lot so don't feel like you have to read them, but I thought in twenty years my kids might be interested in them. So here it goes.

TAGGED

10 years ago I...

1- I was 14 yrs old!

2- I was a Freshman in high school and my favorite thing was a fleece vest from Old Navy with a button up shirt under it (they were popular that year you know)

3- I was totally boy crazy just to name a few, for those of you that lived those years with me, Kegans cousing Jeremy, Travis Quayle, Chase Brown and Dahl Bauer (that was a busy year)

4- I couldn't wait to drive, loved hanging with my friends, and swimming in the canals.

5 things on today's "to do" list...

1- Take my car to get fixed (it has some serious issues so Mason thinks we should buy a minivan)

2- Pick up Mason from Grandma Kim's

3- Do laundry

4- Help my mom pack

5 snacks I enjoy...

1- Lisa's tapioca pudding

2- Diet anything Coke, Pepsi, Mt. Dew

3- Fruit

4- Jolly Ranchers

5- Maplenut icecream or a creamie

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire...

1- Travel

2- Put lots of money away so I could retire really well, and help the kids. (Although, I do want them to struggle a little bit through college, it was the best thing for me)

3- Buy a nice house and decorate it all with pottery barn and anthropoligie

4- Buy a boat and hang out in Lake Powell for the summer.

5- Give money to the church.

5 places I have lived...

1- St. Anthony

2- Ashton

3- Houston

4- Salt lake City

5- Ogden

5 jobs that I have had...

1- CNA at Ashton memoiral

2- Rexburg Vision Center

3- Spud truck driver for Big Judd

4- Clogging teacher

5- MOM

Tag #2 Fourth Picture from Fourth File

This is a pic of my Grandpa Crapo standing on top of his pickup to show how tall the snow banks are.

Tag #3 Sixth Picture from Sixth File

Mason's fourth Birthday

Tag #4
Eight Favorite T.V. shows
1. The Office
2.Grey's Anatomy
3. Ugly Betty
4. Private Practice
5. Project Runway
6. Little People Big World
7. American Idol
8. America's Next top model

8 things that happened yesterday
1. Drove the preschool carpool
2. Went grocery shopping in Idaho Falls
3. Picked up parts for Nei
4. Went to a primary presidency meeting
5. Took the parts up to Robbie in Ashton and let the kids play at the farm for a minute
6. Took the kids to the cemtary to see thier pumpkin (they had painted Nic a pumpkin and Mikiele put it on the headstone earlier. So they needed to see it, and place it where they wanted it. )
7. Went to Kim's, and dropped off Mason for a sleepover.
8. Came home, made homemade pizza, and fell asleep with Avery in our bed.

8 favorite places to eat
1. Mill hollow
2. Plum Loco
3. Cafe Rio
4. Wing Wah's (it was a little chinese place in Ogden)
5. Olive Garden
6. The Macaroni Grill
7. Wendy's ( I have been craving Wendy's this entire pregnancy)
8. Texas Roadhouse

8 things I am looking forward to
1. Moving
2. Decorating my first house ( I just hope it doesn't always feel like my moms)
3. The Neil Diamond Concert
4. Seeing this baby for the first time
5. The Holidays and hanging out with all of our families
6. Seeing Teresa over Christmas
7. Hopefully going on a little vacation before the baby is born
8. Our Office Parties every Thursday Night!

8 things on my wish list
1. A trip to Hawaii (after I can get back into a swimsuit of course)
2. New furniture for the house, and decorations for the house
3. To travel all over Europe.
4. A new car that will fit all of my kids.
5. I would love it if my kids would act like human beings while out in public
6. To have all of our kids have testimonies in the gospel, serve missions, marry in the temple, and have us all lives our lives so that we can all be reunited again. I just want my whole family together again.
7. Serve a mission someday
8. A new wardrobe. ( I am getting really sick of mine, maybe it is because I can't really fit in any of it.)

Tag #4

Tell 7 quirks about yourself.

1. I am a stress case. I can not make a decision, because I will sit and stress about it for day. I once ordered a shirt from layers, and then layed awake in bed all night wondering if I had ordered the right color. I also worry about offending people. I will lay in bed at night, and think "oh crap I shouldn't have said that." When usually it was nothing. So if I call you and appologize for something stupid. Just endulge me!

2. I hate hair. The only time I ever threw up when I was pregnant with Avy was when I saw hair on the floor. I HATE it!

3. I love movies! I have a pretty good collection of them. I love to watch them, quote them, and act them out. Unfortunatly, the more stupid the movie the happier I am.

4. I am a huge procrastinator. For example right now. I should be feeding and bathing my kids, folding laundry, and getting ready. Instead I am sitting on the couch watching the view and blogging. HORRIBLE

5. I love to make people laugh, and to laugh at myself.

6. I am having the hardest time here thinking of number six! Hmmm I love to read in the tub. I will take a bath morning and night. I love to play playdough with my kids, and I hate mopping my floor. Like Mandi my mom never used a mop (because it did not get it clean enough) so thanks to my mom, I have to do it on my hands and knees.

7. I love to make things. (that hardly ever turn out) Nic and I were always going into craft stores together to get new ideas. I miss my craft partner. If I see something cute, I always think "Oh i could make that." Unfortunatly, most of the time it would have been better to just buy it. But, I sure have fun in the process.

{Carrian, Cade, and Peyton}

Last week one of my best friends from college (Carrian) came to visit. It was so good to see her. After Nic and I got married we went on a double date with her and one of Nic's friends, and unfortunately their relationship didn't last, but mine and Carrian's sure did! I don't get to see her very often now so it was so fun to catch up, and she got to meet Neil for the first time. The kids had a lot of fun playing together also. No surprise they were all dressed up in costumes before the end of the night. Thanks for coming guys it was so good to see you!



Me and Carrian


Avery, Peyton, and Mason


Mason and Peyton dressed as dinosaurs

{Little Farmers}

Because of the snow, and the kids having to go back to school. My kids and I found ourselves in a truck a few days last week. The kids loved it (for about a couple hours, then they were ready to go to Sueys). Mason was cracking me up. He was dressed just like my dad, and he would follow him everywhere.

They started calling them Big J and Little J.

{Charles G. Clark}

Today is the one year anniversary of my Uncle Charlie passing away. I just wanted to write a little post so we could all remember the funny little quirks that made him our favorite Uncle Charlie. Just a little background on him for all of you that did not know him, Charlie never had any children. So all of us grand kids became his. He had a special little place for all of us, and we him. He and I were always very close, and I was able to go spend my last semester of high school with him in Boise working in the legislature. It was one of the funnest things I have ever done. So with that here are some of my favorite memories of Charlie.

*Charlie always had lots of puppies. Since he never had children he had dogs. His latest is this little dog rags who went everywhere, and always ate better than we did.

*Charlie loved to eat and was a frequent visitor of the Famous Horse Shoe for a 26 oz steak.

* Charlie was listed among the 50 most influential men in Idaho, but to us was just an old cramuntion ( I have no idea how to spell that, but it is what he always called himself)

* He was the president of the good grade club, and would get super offended if you didn't send him your report card.

* He loved old music, and would blast it as loud as he could.

* He claimed to be the 5Th best fly fisherman in Idaho. He tried to teach us grand kids to fish, but ended that soon because we scarred them all away by being loud. I think Colby and Lisa were the only ones who were allowed to go.

*Whenever asked how he was doing he would say, "For my age, weight, and shape, not bad."

* He rubbed shoulders with all of Idaho, and the nations politicians. It was not an odd event to see the governor up fishing at charlie's little fishing retreat.

* He gave everyone a nickname. Related to him or not. A few examples Nort (me) CarlieArlie (Carlie) the BMOC (Colby) Che'lynny poo (Che'lyn) Da (linda) Nat (natassia) Fanny (Ashlyn) Jimmy (Carter) Roslyn (Ryen) honey bunny (Kathy)

* He was always taking photos.

* He loved his Harley, and referred to it as his Scooter.

* He had an old Lincoln that he loved to take us girls in. It had leather seats and we would slide across the back in our silky panties (we were wearing dresses). Thus it earned its name as the slidey car. When I was a Paige in Boise we would take it for Sunday outings. I never knew where we would end up.

* We all have manners because of him. If we ever rode in a car with him he would put in an etiquette tape. Then he would treat us to a very nice dinner to practice.

* He needed lots of nappies

* He played a great Santa Clause

* When we were little he would always ask us if the golden plates were dishwasher safe (we were always stumped)

*He loved Coffee as black as his mother's heart (which never made sense to me because she is the sweetest lady ever)

* If he really liked you he would refer to you as a Great American. When Nic passed away he wrote me a letter informing me that Nic had been a Great American. It is the highest honor from him.

* He was an influential Republican. I wish I could get his opinions on this race.

* He was always so concerned about us kids. When I was having problems during my pregnancy with Avery he would call weekly for reports. He would always end the conversation with "If those quacks don't know what they are doing remember that I have a minor in biology." As if he could just take care of the situation.

* He was a huge supporter of education, and was so proud when we all graduated. I don't think he missed one high school or college graduation.

* He loved trestle

* He expected thank you cards. Which we were not always so good at getting out.

Charlie was an amazing man, and always had time for us. We all miss and love him very much. So as charlie would say "TA TA FOR NOW."

{Girls Day}

(Candice, Holly, Kate, Jenny, Cindy, Me, Heidi)

Monday I went to lunch with all of my good friends from The Rexburg Vision Center. We usually try to get together once a month, but it is rare that we are all there. This lunch was extra special because Cindy is getting married on Saturday. So we turned it into a little shower with some amazing Lingerie (good job Candice). I love these girls and am so glad that we have all stayed so close. It is kind of funny when Mason was born five of us were pregnant at the same time, and now we are on round two. Five of us are pregnant again! Are due dates are from January to May. It makes for a great lunch when we all bring our kids. There are five of the same age running around! AAAGGGHHH! (Thanks Jenny for the photo)

{Fall Days}

Today has been a blustery cold day. If allowed my kids will watch T.V. all day (they are definitely my children). So instead we came up with a little craft project. Nothing much, I just sent them out to pick up the leaves off the lawn, and then they glued them to paper. They also made paper pumpkins. It was just a little activity but they had fun, and it was cute to watch them running around putting leaves in their sandwich bags. After we hung them up in the window for everyone to see.

{Happy Birthday Avery and Grandma Kim}

Tuesday was Avery's third birthday. She has a really special birthday because she shares the day with her Grandma Kim. This year she wanted to go bowling. Unfortunately, her birthday falls right in the middle of spud harvest so hardly any of the family can come. So we had a princess party with her grandma's and my little cousin Hailie (and of course Neil and Mason). It was so fun. All of her grandmas were there except for the two that were helping in the harvest. Avery acted like a diva all day. I was so glad when her birthday ended. It got so bad that she told Mason he couldn't get out of the car first because it was her birthday. She made sure she was treated like the queen all day long!


Avery and grandma Kim


Sue Dawg showing off her skills


The two grandma Donna's (Grandma Steinmann and Grandma Daniels)





Hmmmm a power ranger costume and a princess crown?






The whole group of princesses plus the princes





Our princess cake from Broulims. It kind of slid off at the middle. Oh well.


Mason was a little jealous that Avery got a new costume. So he put one on to. Thank goodness he is usually dressed as a superhero, or I might be a little nervous.

{Old house, New house?}

Well after a year of searching for a house we have finally found one. As most of you know our search has been nothing but annoying. Neil and I could not make up our minds. We had a few criteria that had to be met first, we had to have land for our horses, and second, we had to have a shop or enough land to build a shop. (Neil needs one to work in and store all of his machinery in the winter) Anyway, we have searched from Rexburg to Newdale to Ashton ,and all over the Teton valley. We have put offers on two houses, which didn't work out. We had house plans drawn up to build a house (wich I just didn't want to do right now wierd huh) We have fought a lot, and I have shed a lot of tears. But the decision has finally been made! We are buying my parents house! After all of our searching it was the nicest house that met all of our criteria. Also, someone put an offer on it, and when it came down to it I just couldn't stand the thought of HOME being sold. After the shock of moving back home wore off I am really excited. We are going to change a few things to make it our own, and the kids are so excited. Mason has already called Colby's room and Avery wants Aunt Che's. Hopefully the big move will take place after the holidays, and before the baby. First though we have to get all of Sue Dawgs stuff out. It is definitely going to be a chore. Oh, and they are going to finally build their dream house on the farm.

{HAPPY BIRTHDAY}

Today would have been Nic's 28th birthday. I can't believe he would be that old. I used to tease him at 26 that he was on the downhill to thirty:) (not that it really is old.) It was a really nice day. His family came over after church to spend the day with us, and we had his favorite foods for dinner. (homemade chicken noodle soup with mashed potatoes) We then went and walked around the temple. It was so nice. Of course my camera died just as some nice boy was going to take our picture. Oh Well. Mason is so funny he was having the hardest time processing how Heavenly Father has two houses both the temple and the church. I guess we will wait a while to tell him that there are lots of temples and lots of churches not jut 2. That would really set his mind whirling. Anyway, it was a very nice day, and I am so grateful for the Steinmanns. We love them very much.

{Ode to the Caddy}

Me and Brittney Blanchard


Molly Blanchard, Mandi Angell, Brittney Blanchard, and Me


When I was a senior in high school my mom bought "The Caddy". It was a Cadillac Devil that she bought for $700 dollars, and was so proud of. She put De Vil plates on it and we all cruised off to town. It was fabulous. My friends and I loved it. It had a horn like a train, and was big enough inside to fit half the football team. It was our travelin hotel. We would paint it for football games and come cruisin in honking the horn as much as we could. Then when homecoming came most Jr. Miss girls would chose a car of great value you know a corvette a convertible but not us. We painted up the caddy and cruised down main street as proud as could be. One spud harvest we painted red racing stripes down it and drove it everyday to the farm laying on the horn just to let Big Judd know that we had arrived. Nic and I loved to go on dates in it and loved driving it really fast up and down the hills through squirell and drummond it sailed like a yacht. It was a great car.

Then my little sister Che got her licence and the caddy continued. She would baha every where in the caddy. You always knew when Che was coming. It was rear wheel drive so she had to usually park way back away from cars in the winter because the car was so long it would slide for a long time if it hit ice. She ran it into a few things, but it never seemed to hurt it much. We just all loved our caddy. Colby even took it hunting once and threw his dead animal in the trunk. Unfortunately though over the years it has just sat. So Colby found a new use for the Caddy!

Here she is now!





He entered her into the big Fremont county derby and it was hilarious. His car by far had the best paint job, and he played the redneck part extremely well. (no surprise there:) We were all loving it. He did really well in the first round making it into the finals, and then got stuck in between two dead cars in the final, and couldn't move around them. It was a little disappointing we just knew he was going to win. It was so fun though. I am a huge derby fan. I was yelling as loud as I could. Nic used to enter them all of the time, and I count having my name plastered on the side of a car with spray paint one of my life accomplishments. :) I was a little disappointed because I have always wanted to be in one. Colby offered me the position of co pilot, but I couldn't this year because of the baby. Hopefully next year the position will still be open.


It wouldn't be appropriate if it didn't say Sue Dawg on the back.I had to laugh at her and dad, we of course were surrounded by a lot of just plain old rednecks and she kept looking over at my dad saying, "Do you feel like a fish out of water." They were cracking me up.

He got stuck on a log right here, but he got off and won this round.

{Our big events}

We had three big events last week. First, my Aunt Lisa got MARRIED!!! She got married on Sept 5th in the Salt Lake Temple. My mom and I went down for a quick trip the night before, stayed with Che and then got up early for the wedding. It was so nice, and fun to hang out with my most fav family members. Also, after the wedding we had an awesome dinner at the Lion House. Then, we headed home. It was a quick little trip, but I was so glad to be there for Lisa. I just love her, and I hope that her and Dave are very happy. I'm sure they will be he is quite the stud.


My mom and her sisters Linda and Mari Anne waiting for the happy couple to emerge.


Che, Jen, and me we all dressed the same (very unplanned) it was pretty funny.


The happy couple Dave and Lisa


Jen, Chris, and Me at dinner

The next day was Neil and I's first ANNIVERSARY! He took the kids to my mom and whisked me away to I.F. for a massage and a day of fun. We ate tons of food, went to the new Batman, and relaxed in the hotel. It was a lot of fun, and much needed alone time. Your first year is not quite the same with two little monkey's running around all the time. (but we love it) I am so grateful for Neil. This has been an interesting first year, but he has been so patient with the kids and I.

Last but not least Mason started his first day of Preschool. He was so excited to get his backpack on again and head out. I got to drive the first day of Preschool, and he acted as if he was 12 instead of 4. He kept introducing me to them, and telling them Avy was his little sister. It was cracking me up. He loved his teacher, and Avery and I loved the two hours of our alone time. It is a little sad though when your baby starts growing up.


Mason and Avery before we left for school.