For real this time... (going private)

So, I really am going to go private. I know I said I would earlier, and never did, but now I really am going to! So, if you didn't before (here is the link from before--to check if you put your name in the comments...) http://dawlings.blogspot.com/2008/11/dang-it.html

Just leave me your email/name, etc. I probably won't do this til the end of October, though.

Although my children are gorgeous... and I want to show them off to the whole world--I would rather people not use my photos for their use. Understandably, you would all like to take the photos and print them and put them up all over your house, blog, etc, but if you have the inkling to do that, could you just ask me first...? Thanks.

More Reverence Cards

Hey, I am able to buy more of those "reverence cards" for a good price. I am only going to order the Jesus the Christ cards (Unless many of you want one other type of card)--I already have four going to other people, so I will have four available for those of you who are interested in ordering some. Here is the link to my previous post about them so you can view them.

http://dawlings.blogspot.com/2009/04/for-sale-reverence-cards.html


(I had them for sale for $6.50 each before because I was ordering so many--I just have to raise the price to $7.00 each because I am only ordering a few) Just let me know by October 18th. I'll order them then so we can have them in plenty of time for Christmas.

Life's update

Now that Weston is in school all day and Aidan has started preschool and tumbling, my life slows down, right? Not.

Though with the contractions, I really can't do much, so I guess life has slowed in a certain way. I have some girls that come help out with the house two times a week, and that really helps! Since I can't vacuum, etc, they can do that and at least keep the house semi decent. I have tried to get myself some "sitting" projects. I've started Christmas shopping--well, just looking online for good deals, etc. And I found my baby girl bedding (30% off!!!), so I am accomplishing things. I have a great friend, Jenny, who helps me shop sometimes and I got the greatest deal last week!! Two child stuffed armchairs--normally 80$, but for 40$!!! They go perfect with my little library. Speaking of library, I have been reading quite a bit, and I'd like to read the new Dan Brown. Has anyone read it, and is it any good?

I have also been doing lots of primary stuff. We had the program two weeks ago, and it went really well (thanks to an amazing president and 1st counselor and secretaries... I just sat and didn't do anything...) I did do sharing time last week and I'll do it again today. I am excited to do todays. All about modern day prophets and general conference. I really hope they remember it and learn from it--I am going to bring in a ladder and stand up high on it like a "watchman" on a tower... Don't you think that would make an impression?

Weston: W has been growing up way too fast. He is really into football right now--of course with the Utes playing, and dad encouraging him... He went to a Utes game last night and although bored most of the time, he said he loved it. His reading is coming along great and he is loving school. He has some really good friends, and I think now that the newness of the beginning of school has calmed down, so have the chasing of the girls during recess!!! I can't blame the girls--he is cute. But I just don't want it to be girls chasing him every time! He is a sweet wonderful boy. He is so excited for Elise and writes notes for her, too. He will be an excellent and sweet brother for her. He is PURE in every sense of the word. I love him!

Aidan: This little kid is amazing. He is really doing well with letters, etc and always wants to spell and sound out words. The other day he read on the cereal box: mark, set, go. He'll be reading before Kindergarten! Although tumbling is lots of work, he is getting stronger every time! He is proud of his accomplishments and loves showing off during our "nightly talent show" (he does his tumbling and W does his piano--brennan does a little of both....). He asks questions about EVERYTHING and is constantly doing "surprises" for me. He cleaned up the entire toy room for me! He stills sings all the time, too. He is constantly making me smile and I just love him!

Brennan: Crazy kid. I thought the playing with my kitchen stuff was a phase. If it is a phase, it is not yet over! He LOVES to get out my pots, pans, spatulas, hot pads, oven mitts, and pretend food--usually just blocks (unless he can get his hands on real food...). And because I can't bend down over and over to pick things up, we usually have pots on the kitchen floor all day long... He is saying more words--shoe, sock, hat (he is really into choosing his own clothes--usually always pajamas), hot (whenever he "cooks" something), poo poo.... He is a funny, funny boy who thinks he is as grown up as everyone else. He always does what the big kids do, and is very demanding about it all--he is at a rather selfish stage. But, I love him--especially when he is smiling!

Scott is busy doing everything I can't. Poor guy. He is such a trooper. He never takes a break. I am so grateful he has a job that allows him to be home early, etc. And that he is more interested in being with the family, than with being at work!

No pics today--but I am sure as Halloween approaches we'll have some up. Happy fall to you all!

Arrrgh!

I've started contractions ALREADY!!! Everything is okay, it just means that I am going to be "lazy" for the next TWENTY weeks!!! Arrgh!!!

Last bit of summer fun

Well, somehow we were able to squeeze in even more summer fun those last few weeks. Thanksgiving Point has 2$ Tuesdays in August, so the last Tuesday of August I trooped over with the three kids and actually had a great time. We just wandered around the gardens and then played a bit in the Children's garden. I am glad we were able to go on a cheap day, although it really is nice and worth paying to go at least once.


My brother-in-law is married to a gorgeous Japanese girl--Yukie. I have been begging her to come over to hang out and I finally got her to come! She helped me make (okay, she made it all...) Tempura. SO GOOD! It was really fun to just be with her and then her husband came over and we all just sat around and talked all evening.

We were going to go camping with Scott's family over Labor Day weekend, but decided against it cause the weather didn't look so good. So instead we all went to the zoo on Saturday. Here is our attempt at a photo of all the cousins:

Didn't work out so well.

You can't see Brennan very well, but he is giving a cheesy smile, and the Tiger is behind him (and his cousin Hallie...) Weston just hanging around...
And Aidan sitting on the rhino's nose!

Then we had a family dinner on Sunday at his parents house and I made the spaghetti sauce. I think most people loved it--and dad had at least three helpings! It is a recipe from my sister-in-law Val. Since we have gathered our tomatoes from the garden, I have made a huge amount to freeze. If you are at all interested in the recipe, just let me know.... It is DELICIOUS!

Then on Monday we went to Lagoon. No photos, though we did take lots of video. The kids LOVED it. I am not an amusement park fan. Meaning, I have NO desire to go on any rides (though I admit, rattlesnake tube ride thing was lots of fun), but I love to see my kids having a great time! Aidan wasn't afraid of any ride and Weston was so brave to try scary things! Brennan was on both sides. Sometimes he liked it, sometimes he didn't. We did way too much walking, and way too much eating of JUNK food, but had a marvelous time.

Now I am really ready to stop playing around. Back to work and back to life!

Aidan starts preschool

Aidan started pre-school today! He is going to a local pre-school with his friend Eli. He goes three days a week, for two hours each day. He loved his first day and was so excited to go! He has a Lightning McQueen backpack. He can recognize his teachers house because "if there is a fish on her door, that is her house."

My little boy is sure growing up fast! He is well on his way to reading (thanks to Weston learning how, Aidan has somehow picked up on quite a bit!). He likes to try and spell words--he wrote me a note the other day: "I lv u" Pretty good, eh? He loves to color and draw, and although he doesn't sit as much with me when I read with Weston, he likes to look at books by himself. He is a good older brother to Brennan and is a very good helper around the house. He and Weston (and Brennan...) cleaned up the kitchen as a suprise for me the other night!

He has also started a tumbling class. Two times a week, an hour each time (at a great price from a great teacher!). I really feel that this will help strengthen his little muscles and make him more athletic. He is very excited and will have so much fun!

It's a ...

baby!!! That is right folks, we are going to have a baby. Oh, you already knew that? What kind of baby you ask? Well, I can tell you now I know it isn't a monkey--although with Scott's looks and my personality, it very well could be a monkey!! It is a girl!!! (PS, my husband is really good looking, so a good looking monkey...)

Let me explain to some of you folks what this means to me, and my neighborhood. There is a circle behind me full of wonderful people. Somehow our family is "part" of the circle--we go to their circle parties, etc. We don't have many families with kids close by, and they are full of kids. In fact, of the six families there are FOURTEEN boys. And NO girls. Seriously. So if you add us, that is 17 boys and no girls. We have been waiting for someone to BREAK THE CURSE! And we've done it! My girl will be surrounded by boys, which will hopefully mean she is well protected from meanies.

Scott's parents have 11 grandchildren. Of those there are only 3 girls (and one of them is adopted). My parents have 13 grandchildren (one born yesterday! congrats Heidi), of those 4 are girls--one adopted and one married into the family. So not many "blood" girls in our family. I feel with the family, the neighborhood, and the fact that I already have three boys, that getting a girl is quite a nice gift!

I have already bought several clothes for girls--just kind of along the way. Each time I got pregnant, in hopes of it being a girl, I would buy a cute outfit. So, now I actually get to use them!!

And, now I can finally get rid of the boy nursery stuff and get girl stuff!!! I will being selling my stuff on KSL soon (let me know if you are interested in it--quilt, fitted sheet, bumper, valance, and diaper hanging thing). I also have a TON of boys clothes that I can finally get rid of!

Bring on the shopping!!!

I must say that I would have been fine if it was a boy. But I am excited that I will have a girl. And Scott is so excited! He will make a great father to a girl. The boys are very happy about all this also. Weston has been praying for her for a long time. The other boys aren't quite as into it all, but I think they will be happy once she comes.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell her name (it has been picked out for quite awhile):
ELISE MARIAH DAW


Welcome to our family, Elise!