That's Good, That's Bad

We got a phone call from the Judge in Florida that will be doing the adoption finalization for Hope.  The finalization is set for December 22 nd.  Hopefully all of our post placement meetings happen and all paper work goes through on time so it does happen on the 22nd.  That's Good!

Parker came down with the flu Monday night and has missed 3 days of school.  Ethan came down with it on Early Wednesday morning and it hit me Wednesday afternoon.  Awesome Loren came home from work early to save me.  Loren worked from home on Thursday and is working from home today.  Do we really need flu season?  I don't think so, how about you?   That's Bad!

All of us seem to be doing a lot better today, thankgoodness.

Got Snow?

The news said that we would get snow....but man, not this much.  We have about 3 inches already and it is only 2:00p.m.. What's up with that?  I had to fight Ethan to wear his heavy coat to school, today.  I also made him put long pants on, silly kid.  He told me that it wasn't that cold outside.  I wonder what he thinks now.

Teddy loves the snow but it sticks to him!

Last night for Family home evening we carved pumpkins. We had fun but it was messy.

We let Ethan carve his own by himself this year-scary.  He did well and didn't get cut.

Parker had a fever and wasn't feeling well so he just watched while Loren carved his.

Braden not happy that I actually got a picture of his face.

Oh, pumpkin guts.

Paige drew her design cleaned out the guts and let Dad carve it.

This is soooo coool!

SMILE...Paige caught it on camera.  Hope just had wiggle play time while we did pumpkins.  But she has gotten so she loves to be intertained so someone had to be in the room with her at all times.  She actually slept for 4 1/2 hours last night-YES!  Maybe she will do better tonight.  I started giving her gripe water ( water that has natural herbs in it to help reduce colic, tummy aches, and spit up... also helps to sleep better in Hope's case) at her night time feedings and it seems to help. 

Loren proped here in a chair-she didn't like it.

Ethan decided that he wanted to learn how to play the piano.  So I sat him down and showed him where middle C is and the names of the other notes.  Pulled out some beginner music and explained it to him.  He sat down and played quit well.  He perfers his right hand though.  He told me he would practice with it first and then try his left. Silly boy.

Zachary had his first flute lesson with our great neighbor up the street(Bro. Hill).  He came home all excited because he can make sound come out of it now. 

Neighborhood Chili cook off

Friday night the neighborhood (ward) had a chili and soup cook off in one of the culd-a-sacs. It was fun eating lots of delicious foods, visiting with friends and neighbors and just getting out of the house. There was a fun hay ride for the kids and a few games. Thanks to the Hansens, Reich's and anyone else that help plan this fun party.

I forgot to take my camera, sorry no pic's.








Hope had a rough night last night and was up a lot. And to top it off, Parker keep having bad dreams and kept coming to my room. He finally ended up sleeping on the floor in Hope's room because that's where I was the last time he came to find me. Loren was great and let me sleep in real late. Thank goodness it is Saturday and I could.







Hope is asleep with holding a handful of her own hair...

Talking and smiling at Paige...of course I didn't get the smile on camera.  As soon as I turn off the camera she would smile again.

Neighborhood chili cook off

The neighborhood

Going Private

I'm going private. Email me if you want an invite to keep following my blog!
Tracirerickson@hotmail.com

I'll tell you the truth about my dog

My so scary 9 lb dog likes to bark at people especially the nieghbors down the street because they throw things at her.  She doesn't get out often and when she does one of us is chasing her down the street to get her.  Paige was chasing her the day that the neighbor girl fell down.  Skip wasn't even close to her and the girl took off running down the street.  She was on her driveway, why not go inside?  We put up an electric fence to keep Skip in our yard but someone stole her electric collar that goes to it when we were gone one day.  I don't have $110.00 to replace it.  We also try very hard to keep her in the house but she does get out when friends come or go.  Honestly we DON'T just let her run!   She doesn't even bite!!  She does bark a lot to scare you though.  So again SORRY neighbors and anyone afraid of my dog.

Fall Break,What?

Usually fall break is during UEA and I'm all for that.  But this year teacher's missed UEA during the day because of State testing.  So fall break was on the first day of the deer hunt.  What's up with that?  Run Bambi run.  To keep the kids entertained, we made spudnuts (like donuts but fluffier).  They didn't raise like they are supposed to.  I don't know if I did something wrong or if my yeast is just getting old.  Hmm I need moms recipe I think. 

Oh well, they were still yummy.  And they were gone the second day.

Some yucky stomach bug is going around.  Braden had it last weekend and Zach got it yesterday.  It doesn't last long which is nice.

Hope is 6 weeks old today.  Is she sleeping any better? NO

Amanda this part is for you...Saturday night Hope was up at 3:30 and was up for the rest of the night.  First she had bubbles in her stomach, we got those out, then she thought it was just time to be awake for a while.  She was tired however and would dose off for about 15 minutes, enough time for me to almost get back to sleep and then she would wake up again and want to be held or talked to or just anything but sleep.  We made it to church very tired.  I took a nap when we got home.  Oh babies.  Hope is grabing things with those little hands more and more each day.  She hangs on to anything that she can get her hands around...shirts, sleeves, her own clothes, burp clothes, hair and the latest her own ear.  She hangs on and pulls and then cries and looks at you like you hurt her.  One day she will figure it out.  She rolled all of the way over the other day.  She usually only makes it to her side.  But this time she went all the way over and was stuck.  She didn't like it and cried.

wiggle time

Ethan, trying to get her attention

her hair is long enough to go over her collar

just relaxing with Dad

see my cute barrete

reaching for toys...too far away

Happy things

Braden was in a choir performance last night at the high school.  His group dressed all in black or brown to be chimney sweeps.  They sang songs from Mary Poppins with an English accent.  Paige needed a concert report for her choir class, so she went to Braden's performance.  Zachary has been hiding out in his room the last few days, reading.  He just finished the book "The Hunger Games".  He said it was so good, that is why he had to just go to his room and read.
Hope only woke up twice last night.  Hooray, we are getting there.
Loren went to Build-a-bear on break yesterday, to make the cutest bear ever.  And he did! 

Hope's new bear,  From Ryley.

Suday best.....

she doesn't like shoes!

Please, no more pictures.

Thinking face

My Daddy loves me outfit!

A phone call

I recieved a phone call last night from Brother Foy,  asking for both Loren and I to meet with him before church.  Hmmm A new calling for Loren? Or a calling for me?  It was a calling for me.  I am now one of the Activity Day leaders.  How fun!  I always wanted a calling that had to do with girls.  But with 4 boys, I have been in scouts many times.  Now I get to do fun girly things with girls.

Looking for children

No I am not looking for my own children.  I am doing Childcare in my home and looking for a few children.  If you or anyone that you know is in need of a steady , fun,babysitter, please contact me.  THANKS

Hope 4 weeks, and catch up

Grandma and Grandpa E. came to visit for a few days.  And so the blog got put to the side.  Now it is catch up time.  Hope has been a horrible sleeper lately.  She sleeps better in her car seat than her crib.  However, I don't dare let her sleep in it much.  She had to pass a car seat test at the hospital before they would release her.  They make all preemies and baby's under 6 pounds do this test.  It is to check their oxgen levels and their heart rate to be sure there aren't any ill effects on the baby.  They told us to limit her time in the car seat.  So we have.  My mother in law had the wonderful idea of purchasing a boucey seat for her to sleep in.  She even took me to the store and bought one for her.  Hope did sleep a little better last night.  I hope that it gets better with each night.

I can't believe how big Hope is getting.  She is at least 2 inches longer and is getting chubby.  Her one month Dr. appointment is one friday.  So we will know how much she has grown then.  We also have our first post placement visit with the adoption agency on Friday.  We don't know what to expect with this meeting, since this is our first adoption. 




Grandparents E's.

Hope 4 weeks                                                                                      doing her exercises

Ethan came home very excited today.  The table that he sits on at school got the most table points.  The reward for this was a NO HOMEWORK pass.  He likes the idea of no home work for the day.  The third graders also had an egg drop at school on Friday.  His egg survived.  Yeah.  On the other hand, Parker came home very upset.  Somebody stole his scooter from school.  Hopefully they return it.  People today.  My little dogs got out the front door today when grandparents left and chased the neighbors son on his scooter.  I went and got the dogs and apologized.  But I still feel bad.  Dumb dogs.

Paige hasn't babysat as much lately, she would rather take care of her new sister.  However she did accept a job for tonight.    Braden and Zach say nothing exciting has happened to write about.

Cold weather already?

I can't believe how cold it got last night, already.  What happened to fall?  I had my kids pick tomatoes so they didn't freeze and go bad (however I don't think it got that cold).  So, with all of the tomatoes Braden and I made more spaghetti sauce.  Thanks to the other helpers that keep Hope intertained, it went fast.

I put a onsie on Hope today, along with a cute sweat outfit to keep her warm.  We did turn the furnace on last night.  But with the kids coming and going all of the time it can get a little cold.  And we had to drive Parker to school.

Parker wanted to see Hope in her big crib, so I put her in it this morning.  She just looked around and was content so I jumped in the shower.  When I got out I could hear Parker singing songs to her about shapes.  He learned the songs at school and loves to sing them.  Hope was still happy, so I let her stay there for about 15 minutes, while Parker sang fun songs to her.  It was so cute.

We got a gift in the mail from Baby Butterflies adoption refferal agency.  They helped us find baby Hope.  Terri, the lady that owns the company adopted Hopes half sister (Riley) eight years ago.  The sent us the normal gift they send ...a cute T-shirt with the compay logo on it. 

However, they also sent us an outfit, shoes, socks and a blanket.  Riley, spent her own money and got a certificate to build a bear so Hope can have her own teddy bear.  We are keeping in touch with Terri's family so that the two girls can get to know each other and maybe meet when they are older.

Thanks you  Terri and Riley

Paige thinks that this outfit is the BEST.  It was a gift from our sweet neighbors, the Meiners.