Gabe--the Bear

We had our pack meeting and Gabe got his Wolf Badge and is now offically in the bear den! He should have gotten it in August, but that pack meeting fell on the first day of school so it was cancelled. So he got it at the September pack meeting. He earned his Wolf, one gold arrow point, 5 silver arrow points and the conservation award.

WAY TO GO GABE!

The boys played buddy games going along with the theme for the month. They have their middle hands tied together and they have to work together to wrap the box. It was pretty fun to watch.

Grandma's blanket = Happiness

Eric's Mom crochets blankets for each new grand baby...she started about the time Emma was born and Emma was an immediate fan. This is Emma at 1 year old and oh, how she loved her blanket.
She slept with her blanket every night and if it wasn't in her crib she was not a happy camper. It was a sad day when she would get sick and we would have to wash her beloved blanket. (For some reason I remember her being sick a lot.) There was more than one occasion that she would throw up in the night and we would have to clean up everything but the disgusting blanket. She would cry and cry and could not fall asleep with out her blanket...it was too much to have her be feeling miserable AND take her blanket away...so we would drape the more disgusting part outside of the crib and leave a little corner for her to grab onto inside the crib. And so began our family's love affair with "The Blanket". The years went by, When she was about 3 or so she refused to wear footed PJ's. I had some really cute ones and our house was cold. I couldn't figure out why she wouldn't wear the cute, warm pj's--until I realized that she had graduated from just poking her fingers through the crochet stitches, now she also poked her toes through. How could she do that in footed pj's?

Emma still sleeps with her blanket every night and is the one who packs it if we go on a trip.

Isaac, seeing how much joy a blanket could give, requested one from Grandma for his 5th birthday. He likes his blanket but doesn't have a serious attachment...I just think him requesting one shows how much Emma liked hers.

Elijah was the next to receive "The Blanket". It was love at first touch. As soon as he was old enough to grab on to it he never let go. He LOVES his Blanket, or as he calls it his 'buddy' Not that he thinks it is really a buddy that is just how he learned to say blanket. (I will be a little sad when he learns how to say blanket the right way) He sleeps with it every night and plays with it every day. We have a backup blanket for Elijah, Eric's mom gave Eric and I a nice Afghan that is blue and off white so in a pinch we can use that.
This is Elijah claiming his blanket and Isaac's blanket.
Awhile ago I decided that rocking Meg to sleep every night was a bad idea. So I put her in her crib and let her cry herself to sleep (thinking it might help her sleep better at night too). Well it worked. She cried herself to sleep--Just for the first night, and then slept for a little longer that first stretch of night. She did this for a week or two, but slowly she has been training me...yes she is that smart...she now requires a lot of checking and picking up etc. etc. So last night I thought, "What has happened. I already did this once!" So I let her cry herself to sleep again. She was a little more stubborn this time but eventually fell asleep. I went in to check on her and this is what I saw. Her head used to be on the left and the blanket was in a ball at her feet, but she somehow managed to squirm around and free her hands from the burrito wrap and find "The Blanket". Once she got a handful of it she was finally able to fall asleep. And so it begins...I can only hope that her blanket will give her as much happiness and joy it has given Emma and Elijah, I think we are off to a good start.

Meg at 4 months

We went to Meg's appointment today and the nurse weighed and measured her, and then we waited for the doctor. The nurse poked her head back in and was wondering if she could just double check her weight. She has dropped in her percentile for weight quite a bit. She is 4 months and weighs 10 lbs. 13 oz. That puts her in the 2nd percentile. She is cut out of the same mold as my little Isaac. The doctor wasn't too concerned especially after I mentioned her older brother's stats. But he did say I might want to start solids now, just to be sure she was getting enough food. She is in the 15th percentile for height and the 98th for head size. That sounds about right...we have big heads in this family.

Right now Meg loves to roll and roll and roll. (I mentioned to the Doctor that I thought she also might be thin because she is so active...just like Isaac was). She loves to grab things and put them in her mouth. She loves to look at her hands alot. I get the feeling she is pretty impressed with them.

Meg managed to get over to these cabinets and thought they looked interesting, so she decided to try and eat them...I thought it was pretty funny so I got the camera.

When she heard me take a picture she wanted to roll over and see what was going on then she got distracted by her amazing hands...I think they are pretty spectacular myself.
When I took a picture of that she remembered why she rolled over in the first place and wanted to say Hi!

One other little tidbit that I think is endearing. Meg crosses her legs, since the time she was born. When I would take her little diaper off to get her ready for the bath I would stand her up, she would lock her little legs and stand straight up with her feet crossed at the ankles every time. It is soo cute and I made Eric take a picture because I was afraid she would stop doing it. (this picture will have to remain unposted for obvious reasons) She still crosses her legs when she stands up, not as consistently as she did but often enough. Now she is getting big enough that her diaper doesn't even have to be off for her to cross her little ankles. Too cute, such a lady!

Here is Meg's goofy smile. Gotta love it!

A Day at the Races

Eric had this weekend marked on the Calendar for going to the speedway. It was the last time that there were going to be races there until next spring and he really wanted to go, even though we just got home from camping. (Notice how bedraggled Emma looks.) I stayed home and put the babies to bed and tried to get singing time all ready. I guess they have a round where anything goes and cars were swerving and running into each other...a kids paradise.

Ward Campout

We attended the annual ward campout this weekend. We went up to camp Z and were given a cabin to stay in because we had the babies. We had a pot luck dinner friday night and the ward provided a french toast breakfast. The babies slept relatively well and we had great time.

Saturday morning the ward had a few activities available. Shooting and Archery were very popular.

I love Isaac's facial expressions in these photos!

There were canoes available as well. Eric and Keith won their race!

Then he took the boys out...

Elijah was all about throwing dirt and rocks into the lake...the height of entertainment for a 19 month old!

Everyone had a good time!!

One year ago today...

One year ago today Eric opened for Business. It is fun to look back and think about how crazy life was back then. I am glad it is over! Our house was being built so we were living in a one bedroom apartment that Jill had available. Elijah was still not sleeping through the night. The kids had just started school and we were living about 15 min. away. We were tardy a lot. (It didn't help that there was construction on our road so commute time was really unpredictable). Eric was training staff and getting supplies etc., etc. to get ready for the big day. We didn't have Internet or a computer for me, or a tub for Elijah. And we just found out a week or two ago that I was pregnant.

THEN:

pictures of the office

Eric's first day of practice...he received a warm welcome from the dental community!

Our (very) humble abode:


Waiting for our house to be finished:

NOW:

Matching scrubs...fancy!

A little more decor added throughout the year...


We decided to celebrate our first year in practice so we took the girls out and gave them each a gift, thanking them for putting up with a new practice. They really are great! They even sent us flowers earlier today to congratulate/thank us.

Happy one year anniversary of employment babe!