At the hospital

Ok we are here just got settled down good. April is dilated to a 7 and she also just got an epidural so we things are just settling down a little bit. we are excited!

No other way to put it than... BUSY!

Well if these last two weeks haven't been crazy busy, I don't know what has!!

I have been putting the finishing touches on the "re-do" of the girls room. I don't really like this picture, it looks better in person. There are still a couple things to do. Example: The hardware for the dresser is not correct. Just "won" the real stuff I wanted on e-bay last night. It should be here in a week. And there are other little "nick-nacks" that I have planned, just haven't made it that far yet. The dresser was a craiglist find. $20. Sanded it, painted it white, and put a brown glaze over the top to give it that "aged" look.

Here is the BEAUTIFUL crib! Still needs a lacy skirt. But it will come in time... Hopefully :)

Here is a close up of the bedding. It took a long time to make so I have to show it off! The bumper was something new for me to try, as was the fitted sheet. The beautiful crochet(sp?) blanket is from Lydia's Great Grandma Kathy. I asked her to make it as a blessing blanket. She did a wonderful job. It is something Lydia and I will treasure always. Thank you Grandma Kathy.

This stencil wraps around the entire room. I wish there was a little more contrast so you could see it a little better. This took me about three days to do. I won't be doing it again... EVER, but I am glad that I stuck it out and finished it :)

Her is Maycee's little bed. The blanket here was the entire inspiration for the room. It is something her Grandma Kimmy made her before she was born and when I saw it I feel in love with it, the colors, the style, everything. I knew that I would eventually decorate the room around it. So here we are two years later and I finally did it.

If you want to hear a cool story, ask me how I got a hold of the coordinating fabric. It was a miracle!

My wonderful husband has been busting his rear around the house too!

He constructed this awesome vinyl holder for me. Just waiting on a little more dowel so I can put the rest of the vinyl up. It is so nice to have and helps keep the office clean. Thank you honey!!! I love you :)

And I had to put this in.... Beside the vinyl holder is this picture of Maycee! Boy this little girl has us all wrapped around her little fingers. When my sister was in town last time from NY she snapped this priceless picture of Maycee. We all fell in love with it. My mom decided to blow it up and give it to us.... it is POSTER size!!!

here is another house project that Blake has finished. Cabinets in the garage! To keep all of his things organized, and he has done a pretty good job with it :) lets check back in a month and see if its still organized :)

And another..... Shelves in the laundry room. Best idea ever!

And how could we forget the garden..... if anyone would like carrot's, beets, brocolli, cauliflower, cabbage, green onions, celery, or lettuce.... we have got plenty!

A few other things I should mention that have kept us busy.

Computer crashed a few days before Christmas. Got a new one. Its nice.

My wallet was stolen New Years Eve Day. Before we could cancel all my cards (which was less than 24 hours from when it was stollen) there had already been a couple thousand dollars spent. That was a big headache trying to get that taken care... gave me some real good contractions! Spent the next couple days at various banks signing all sorts of things... I felt like my life would never be normal again.

Two days latter my bishop called and asked me to speak in church the following Sunday.

Day after that at my Dr. appointment found out I was dilated to a 3 and that Lydia could be here any day. He said let me strip your membranes. I said no, my list of things to do was to long.

Started wondering about my talk and if I should even write it....

Did you know that when you lose a wallet or have it stolen you are not only supposed to let your credit card companies know but you should also file a police report. I found this out the hard way. With a "knock knock knock" on my door Friday night, just two days after the call from my bishop. Two police officers showed up and wanted to arrest me!!! Someone had tried to use my driver licence and cancelled bank card to cash a fraudulent check. The police didn't know that my wallet was stolen so they came to arrest me for the crime. After some explaining, and a police report they decided to let me go.

Saturday I decided to write my talk. Good thing too, no baby yet. But you figured she would have with all the contractions I had been having with all the "events"

Sunday, talk came and went with out a hitch. No cool story to tell about my water breaking at the pulpit..... bummer. I did finish my list of things "to do" that I wanted to finish before Lydia came.

Monday came with a primary presidency meeting and a new list of things "to do"...

and here it is Tuesday, another Dr. appointment in a few hours and this time I'm gonna let him strip my membranes!

Oh and did I mention TODAY is our 3 year wedding ANNIVERSARY!!! 3 wonderful year :)

I have been busy busy busy! I think that Lydia needs to come today so I can have a few days of sitting around.... what do you think?

Happy Holiday!

Christmas was fabulous this year! We spent most of it with the Brimhall side. Blake and I were lucky enough to be "in charge" of the Christmas eve plans. We decided we would do some caroling around the neighborhood with the family and then the grandchildren acted out the Christmas Nativity. It was wonderful! The kids really enjoyed and I think most of the adults did too. "Long story shorter" we ended up opening gifts at the Reidhead's home. Maycee wasn't excited about any of her gifts becasue she had got up to early.

Here we are as a family Christmas morning. Maycee had just opened her dolly.

After a yummy breakfast it was time to head back to the other Brimhalls (so Maycee could get a nap) so we could spend more time with the family before the men had to leave to work.

This is Blake all "packed" up to head out to the car.... Silly guy.

(notice the dolly and the stroller, that is what Blake and I gave her, and then two unopened gifts. We figured we better wait until she was a little happier to open the rest. Santa brought her a broom. And a friend, Jack, gave her a cute little tea set that sings.)

This was the day after Christmas. Just had to show you how cute she looked in the little apron that Grandma Kimmy and I had fashioned for her. And the little vacuum that Grandma and Grandpa Mickelson got her for Christmas.... which by the way she loves both.

Every time I get out my vacuum Maycee wants to get her's out too. In fact just the other day we did catch her making a mess just so she could get her vacuum out to clean it up. It was really funny. Cool thing is the vacuum really sucks!

Also the day after Christmas. This is Maycees cousin Randy. They were both enjoying Maycee's gift that came from Grandma Kimmy and Grandpa Keith.

We don't have much of a yard at the moment so we keep the car inside. She plays in this car everyday. She will take all of her most prized possessions and put them in the car. Then she squeezes herself in there and just plays, like its a little house.

And one of the cutest gifts that the little princess got where theses adorable boots that her two aunts, Ruth and Rachel, gave her. She sure is a loved and spoiled little girl! Just look how adorable they are on her!

Thank you to all the family for making our Christmas wonderful!

What were you for Halloween?

You already saw Maycee was a cute little butterfly... but what About Blake and I right?

Well I just assumed that Blake and I wouldn't dress up this year. For many reasons: Halloween was on a Sunday, we didn't really have any where to go, I have this big belly I didn't want to work around, and Blake's not huge into dressing up (church is about as far as he pushes the envelope).

Wednesday before Halloween my sister Ruth asked if I would trim her hair. (she has me do this from time to time, don't know why she trusts me to do it) She came over and we were taking about her costume. She asked what I was going to be and I gave her my excuses. She was just in awe that I wasn't dressing up, I always do. I love a good costume, whether it is spirit week, Halloween, a family reunion, or any other good excuse for dressing up, count me in!

I was feeling a little guilty about not living up to my... I don't know... normal self. So I asked her, "Well what can I be with this belly? Can't be anything normal, a costume wont fit it."

She said, "give me a minute...." We sat quite for a while then she said, "I got it, I totally know what you could be!"

I was excited..... "A TROLL," she said!

Remember these little guys that everyone collected...

They were cool for a while, remember?

I thought this was a great idea! They have big bellies.... I have a big belly.... Blake's belly hasn't been the smallest lately.... It would totally work out. So Ruth ran to Wal mart with me and we got what I thought we would need.

This was our rendition.....

I think we could have done more with the costume if the idea would have come to me sooner. Like it would have been fun to do some pointy ears, and a big nose. But all-in-all I think we got the important things the belly jewel and the hair.

We did end up having a party to attend too. Our good friends Matt and Kaylee Smith invited a good group of people over for some Halloween festivities. We had a fabulous time!

And yes the hair was not fun to take down. Blake's was easy just a couple washes, mine on the other hand..... Lets just say I wont be doing that again anything soon. Three complete washes and it seemed like an hour of brushing. Head was a bit tender the next day.

We did get around to carving pumpkins too! Blake and I both spent sometime thinking and looking online for good picture "helps" for our pumpkins.

Blake's was a skull, which kinda looks like a monkey.

Mine was a fetus, tried to make it an accurate size of Lydia. Kind of a weird idea, I know... But kinda cool too right?

Can't wait for the next Holiday, THANKSGIVING!!! Just what we need, more food....

Annual Halloween Carnival

Last night was my parents annual Halloween neighborhood Carnival that is put on by the church. I can always remember going to this event as a kid. It has always been the high light of Halloween for me. Everyone dresses up and they have lots of food and games for the kids. Its fun because all the friends that I grew up with all come back and I get to see a lot of old familiar faces and catch up with them. It is held in one of the cul-de-sacs in the ward.

Here we are at the party, just finished eating our pizza and nachos.
Surprisingly still clean :) (we were bums for not dressing up, next year we are gonna be something fabulous!)

Maycee stayed in her costume the entire time. This was the only time that she allowed us to put the head piece on her. So we quick got a picture. She was by far the cutest butterfly there!

I know this picture is funky but i had to put it in so you could see her cute little smile :)

This year they had a petting zoo. Maycee was funny about it. She waited in line so patiently and kept pointing to the animals jabbering about them. She wanted to see them sooooo bad. We got in and this is how she was.... very VERY hesitant to touch them.

Mostly she just wanted to point and squeal.

There was a pretty good variety of animals.... goats, a cute little big, rabbits that looked about 25 lbs., so weird breed of chickens, and this cute little pony which was incredibly soft! This is the only animal Maycee touched on her own, and really she didn't hesitate about this one. She takes after her mom, she likes the hoarse's the best :)

Maycee was so excited to see her other cousins there. She immediately gave Randy a hug. Doesn't he make a cute Thomas the train!
She even gave little Henry a kiss. Not just a "butterfly" kiss, it was right on the lips! Mom and daddy set a good example :)



Another friend that Maycee liked to be with was "Uncle Sam" we like to call him Uncle Dallin.

A little patriotic for Halloween you say?
Well its the only costume that works when your 10 FEET TALL!!!

Remember those Powerizers the kids got for Christmas. Well Dallin is pretty much a pro on these babies! He was showing off at the party. Bouncing really high, hoppin' on one foot, etc. He said he is still working on the front flip. He wants to wait until track season so he can go make good use of the high jump mats at Meas High, ya know, just in case the front flip doesn't work out like he is hoping.

Maycee with Aunt Rachel, she was a very cute black cat.

Aunt Ruthie I do apologize for not getting a picture of you and Maycee. However, you were a beautiful greek goddess if I may say :)

One of the games Blake has enjoyed over the few years that he has gone to this party is this one.

You get three attempts to throw the ball as fast as you can! Someone is behind a net recording the speed. (I'd hate that job) From what we remeber he has improved every year. Last night he topped out at 68mph! Great job honey! The guys always get real competitive with this game because they have a white board posted at the front of the line that is broken down into age brackets with who is throwing the fastest and what there speed is.

It was a fun evening! By 8:30 we were all ready to be done.

Maycee really did have a good time, we all did :)
Can't wait for next years....