Here she is!!

Ok, for all you mothers out there who want to know the details of Brielle's birth, read on; Aug. 31st was a typical day. For dinner we had cheese ravioli with spinich sauce and a salad. We did homework. Then, by 8pm the Braxton hicks I had been feeling all month were replaced with stronger more consistant pains. Mark took Skyler driving (that's all Skyer wants to do these days) and the twins went with them. They got back around 8:30 and we had our scripture study time. By 9:00 i was timing these contractions which were 5-7 minutes apart and mentioned to Mark we should get the boys to bed on time. 10:00 and everyone is in bed except Mark. I told him not to bother getting ready for bed because I need to call the hospital to see if I should go in. I called Labor & Delivery and said, "I think I am in labor". The nurse said, just come in and well check you. Good thing the hospital is only 8 minutes away. Once we got to the hospital they checked me into a birthing room and called my Dr. I was at a 4 and 75% effaced. They said it was good I came in. My Dr. arrived shortly after 11pm and broke my water. I had the epidural put in around 12 and was finally getting relief from the aweful conrtations that were right on top of each other. The Dr. would come in and check on me every 30 minutes and by 2am said, "we should see this little girl in about half an hour." Sure enough, 30 minutes later, I had given birth to our sweet little girl, Brielle. (My apologies to Andrew and Toshia, who so kindly called me only 7 minutes after Reagan was born, I didn't think anyone wanted us to call at 2:30 am!!)
Brielle weighed 6 lbs. 12 oz and barely cried at all. They said she was still spitting up a lot of fluid, but should be fine. Mark went home around 4am to get a couple hours of sleep then told the boys, when they woke up to get ready for school at 6:30am, that they were going to the hospital to meet their new baby sister. Mark said he had never seen Kevin and Caleb jump out of bed so fast in their lives! Caleb didn't even want to eat breakfast. The boys got to the hospital around 7am. They put on hopital gowns and took turns holding her. Then Mark took them to school.
She is now 11 days old and the boys are still taking turns holding her. I am waiting for that day in a few months from now, when I hear; "she stinks, it's your turn to hold her." Or.. "Mom, she is crying again". But for now, I'll enjoy the moments when I can get a few things done while the boys pass her around.

First day of school

I will be the first to admit that I am not a crafty person. However, about 6 years ago I saw this idea for edible crayons and made them for the boys first day of school. Now they are a tradition. They are so easy and fun to make. Just take the 3" thick twisty pretzel sticks, (I find mine at walmart) and buy a bag of white chocolate chips or candy melts. Divide up the white chocolate into separate containers, melt for 30 sec in the microwave until desired consistancy and add food coloring. I like to stay with 5 or 6 colors. But use as many as you want. Dip each end of the pretzel into the colored chocolate and put on a wax paper lined cookie sheet. Then put all the Crayons in the fridge over night. I think they set up better. Then I use colored construction paper to make the wrappers. Just tape the wrappers around the crayons with clear tape and you're done. I am usually able to make about 80 crayons with one bag of white chips. I can send enough to school for the boys to share with some friends.

Normally, I would take the boys to school on their first day, but I didn't today because#1) After a month of hot summer weather, it was actually cold and raining this morning and #2) I am due any day, so I didn't want to get out for pictures. I can take them on another day and have a better picture experience. I don't think my teenage boys want me embarrasing them anyway!

Ta Da!!

Here it is, the picture you've all been waiting for! I know lavendar seems like a bold color, but it is a fun change. We put a chair rail up and painted the bottom half white, but with all the furniture you can't even see it. Now we just need to stock up on diapers and wait for the big day.

Last weekend we had the priveledge of attending the Bradley family reunion. Mom and Dad organized it this year and centered the reunion around our family history! It was great as we walked around the town of Moroni looking at places that Mark's great-great-great grandfather, George Washington Bradley either lived or farmed. Mom even organized a penny candy stop at a local store. She gave everyone 10 pennies and had them go into a an old store where they could pick from a variety of candies. This was a favorite place to go for the kids. We also went to an old ice cream store that is no longer in business, that Dad and Mark's brother's helped serve ice cream. This was a great historical adventure that will always be remembered.

Just in time!

Grandma's Quilt
Before
During
After
SLC Temple
Baby Quilt from Becky
Go carts
Bumper Boats
Tool set

The first of the 3 projects worked on this past month was Grandma's quilt. It's finished and I am so happy with it! The baby's room is also done, but I thought I'd wait to take a picture once the crib is up. And finally, a week ago yesterday we had the electrian install the final piece to our new kitchen, the oven! To make sure it worked, Mark bought a Papa Murphy's pizza. It has been 2 months since we sank our teeth into our favorite pie, and it did not disappoint. The oven worked beautifully! Just in time for my cousin, Becky who arrived the very next morning! We had a great week as we explored temple square in SLC, shopping in Ogden, lunch with Aunt Candy in Logan, and a memorable day in Brigham City as we watched the groundbreaking of the new Brigham City Temple! Thank you for the baby gift, Becky! A handmade baby blanket is priceless!

Last week was also Kevin and Caleb's 13th birthday! We celebrated by going to Boondocks, a family fun center that just opened in Kaysville.(a 40 minute drive) Becky and I played miniture golf with the boys and then watched them race around the speedway in go carts and splash each other in bumper boats. It was a good way to spend a birthday. Because of the resent work in the kicthen, the boys have been interested in tools more than ever. So we gave them each a tool box full of the basic tools. They also recieved new watches and Skyler gave them a girt card for Walmart. Skyler was at camp during their birthday, but Mark picked him up Friday night so he could be with us for the groundbreaking.

I can't help but be envious of my 2 SIL, Toshia and Danielle who have both given birth to their beautiful daughters this past week. Danielle's baby was born on the 21st and Toshia's on the 28th! I am so happy things went well for them and am looking forward to the many family get togethers with these girl cousins!

It has been 3 weeks since Skyler started his new job. For those who weren't aware, Skyler applied for and got a job working as a camp counselor at the Bear Lake Aquadic Base at Bear Lake ( a 2 hour drive). He is teaching scout troops the swimming merit badge, along with other responsibilites. He stays up at camp all week long. A bus brings kids (the staff) back down to Brigham city and SLC every Saturday around noon. Then we take Skyler back to the bus every Sunday at 5:30pm. It gives him just enough time to do his laundry, visit with friends and go to church. He says he has been having a great time and his goal is to start school "tan, buff and blond". That's a 15year old for you! As nice as it would be to have his help on the kitchen, I am glad he is enjoying his experince, not to mention making a little spending money. He is being paid $125/week plus all his meals are provided. Not bad for a summer job!

Last Saturday, the 3rd, Skyler came home and within the hour was dressed in his scout uniform and ready for another 2 hour drive to Provo! We had the oppertunity to go to the Stadium of Fire at the Lavell Edwards Stadium. Mark's bro-in-law was able to reserve tickets for family members. Mark's parents, all 3 sisters a brother and their families were able to go. Carrie Underwood was the performer, which we all enjoy her music. But even cooler than that, the Stadium of Fire was recognizing the 100th anniversary of scouting by putting on the worlds largest Eagle's nest. Any scout who had recieved his eagle during the months of Jan. 2010 and June 2010 were able to apply online to participate. Skyler qualified and was accepted. It was a really great experince for him. They also had everyone in the audience who had recieved their Eagle, to stand. (Mark and Skyler are on stage in the front row, bottom left hand side of picture.)

After getting home at 1am, Skyler went to church, packed his stuff and went back to camp. That is one busy kid. We went up to visit him and took picutes of him at camp.

Nesting gone too far????

Grandma's Quilt
Caleb & kevin helping tie Grandma's quilt
Baby's new room
Skyler's old wallpaper
Old kitchen
Having fun destroying kitchen
tearing down old kitchen


For any of you who have been expecting a new baby, you know what I mean when I say nesting. But I wonder, is there a limit to this pregnancy phenom, or is it a free for all frenzy that can be chalked up to the condition at hand? I mention this because these pictures I am about to post will give you an idea of what I have been delving onto my family. Granted, these were some projects we were considering before we found out we were even expecting a baby, but doing them all at once was not the plan.

This first project is actually 18 years in the making. When my Grandma Stott died in 1991, I was honored to inherit a quilt top she was in the process of working on. Thinking I would finish this quilt in a year or two was ambitious. Now here it is 18 years later and I am finally getting it done. I hope she is smiling in heaven. I think she'd be happy to know even her great-grandsons were happy to help tie the quilt.

Our 2nd project is a little more intense as we are decorating the baby's room. This room used to be Skyler's. He hasn't minded the dated pink and blue wall paper for the last 1 1/2 years, but we wanted to take it down. Now he is in Kevin's old room and the twins are together. This wallpaper was very fickle and hard to take off. Once it was down, we puttied the holes and primed and now the painting is done. (when I say we I actually mean my husband and 3 strong boys, because I shouldn't be around paint right now) We are putting up 3 feet of beadboard on the bottom half of this room, so we only painted the top. I am thrilled with this color. I have a crib set; blanket, bumper pads, diaper stacker and dust ruffle that have this lavendar color in it, so it will match nicely.

Our 3rd and largest project is the kitcen remodel. I am grateful for a working kitchen, however the house is 24 years old, hence it has origninal appiances and tile. We didn't realize what a pain the tiled countertops would be until we moved in. And with the drop ceiling and cupboards it was like walking into a cave. Mark and the boys have really busted their backs demolishing the tile and taking down cupboards. I feel bad I can't be of more help, but to see the boys having so much fun with a sledgehammer and crowbar, I get to ignore the guilty pangs! What a crew! They love to help and it is good for them to be involved. I am excited to have a new kitchen, but I worry about our timing. The boys are out of school which is nice not to deal with homework & bedtimes, but my cousin Becky is coming to visit at the end of July. I am really excited to see her and take her around our area, but I'm hoping our kitchen is done by then!

So I ask you, does nesting syndrome have a limit, because I can think of a few more things to add.

Court of Honor

Schuyler's Court Of Honor was last weekend. We are so proud of him earning his Eagle. Thanks to all those who came to support! The night was a big success. Since another boy in our ward was also earing his Eagle, I had help pulling this night together. The veterans came and presented flags to the boys. Kevin and Caleb's troop were able to participate as the color guard.
For Schuyler's birthday we had him invite 2 friends over. Mark took them to see Ironman 2 and then they stayed up all night playing games and listening to music. The next morning the boys all had their last soccer games at 9am! Schuyler is one of the youngest on his team because they throw all the high school aged kids together. It didn't prevent him from scoring an awesome goal, though. Kevin and Caleb were on a team that didn't do so well this year, in fact they didn't win a single game. But as Kevin puts it, "I just go to get the treat." The rest of the day we spent scraping off wallpaper from the baby's room. We moved Schuyler into Kevin's room and Kevin and Caleb are now in the same room. I will post before and after pictures of the room when we get it all finished. It will be nice to have it done.