Cousin Sara visits

Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family.

Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one. ~Jane Howard

My cousin Sara is so good-hearted. And I benefited from that heart of hers. She traveled from her home with her 2 year old daughter, observant Ava, to go help a friend in need and then made sure to drive onward to visit me. We caught up 10 years worth. Almost. She helped bounce the baby, tolerated the selfish tendencies of my kids, and let me talk her ear off til past midnight. She'll have to come back again (I'll have cafine-free, diet mtn dew Sara), or maybe I will have to go see her when her new baby girl comes in December.

(holding Jackson with her cute baby bump & note how Ava is always "watching" in the next pictures- so cute. I hope she did not pick up any bad habits.)





ps- It's a small world. I went to visit Sara in Provo during the college years and stayed in her roomate's room- who was out of town. That roommate and my Ryan dated. Sara knew him before I did. Let's just say she has some dirt on him.

Thanks and Gripes

Thank you Stephanie- oh-gift-giver-of-great-taste. I love the "W" everytime I look at it and think of you. Come on over here girl!

Also, I *think* Jackson got his happy back. Call it Gripe Water. Call it qwack medicine. Call it working. And Ryan said to keep it up every 4. Life is getting better.

Who loves me?

I had two monumenetal items happen today. First, I recieved this Anthropologie treasure in the mail today- in a "W" of course. I could not find a single name attached to the item. I know it's not from the Tooth Fairy. Thank you gift-giver of great taste! I felt loved.




But I did not feel the love when my Friday helper-girl-that-made-me-so-happy, had to quit. She decided to go to school instead. Great choice for certain, not so great for me. I had a 2 week tease of kidless errand running. Anyone interested in a job? You will be certainly loved by me and at least 2 little darlings. I promise.

Pouch Baby

Schools back in for Tanner who started 2nd grade, Emma starts preschool 3 days a week, I have a helper-girl on Fridays (bless HER!)to watch whose at home so I can run errands. Jackson cries, cries, cries- Ryan says it's just plain old colic. He just wants to be in the pouch- anyone feel like taking a turn? I've even seen Landon trying to put the getup on- which made me smile. And brings back the memories.

Emma at 3 months old. And yes, I know I look tired.

And yes, she was a crier too.

Landon also at 3 months old. Crier too.
And I look even more tired here- I will not share that picture.

And now for Jacks. He was a magic baby until 6 weeks. What the heck happened?If I'm lucky I can slide him off my shoulder and lay him down without waking him while he stays in the pouch.

One of these kids better haul me around in my old state. They will have owed my crippled back.

Ryan tried to hang Jackson in the pouch from a doorknob in the late hours of the night. I completely refused and insisted he give him to me. He was saved- let's just hope I stay sane through the colic phase on round 4. Also, I might add:

1. I do let him cry.2. Yes, I swaddle. 3. Yes, I am calmer. 4. Yes, I breastfeed. 5. Yes, colic is a true condition in my book. Come over if you don't believe me.

Kentucky and Corn Hole

Yes, "Corn Hole" sounds vulgar. At least to me. But, it's a game or sport or some sort of fanatical thing that causes my neighbors to raise a serious ruckus through the wee night hours. And when I look back on our Kentucky days, Corn Hole will definitely be something regionally linked to those memories. It's as simple as pin the tail on the donkey, all you have to do is get the bag of corn feed in the hole. It's addictive.




My neighbor, Joe as we call him. He's handy. And he's making sets of regulation size and kid sizes for a great price. Ryan has an order in for one of each set. And they will be hauled all over the country I'm certain through our future moves. And people will probably think Ryan's a redneck or something when he invites them over to play. (You can borrow our set, or just get your own from Joe. I can get you his 411.)

Sisters and babies

Ryan's sister had her baby on May 21st. Tate Donald. I love his name- the middle name is for my father-in-law. It's their 3rd and I have heard only the sweetest things about him and his siblings. Tate's probably going to have all sorts of baseball skills. I know his daddy is hoping so.

My oldest sister, Summer Ann, had her baby not a day too soon (and not soon enough certainly). August 5th he arrived weighing just shy of 9lbs. He is also her 3rd and from what I hear bears a strong resemblance to his father. I wish I was there to love on this sweet baby- Gavin Scott. He and Jacks are exactly 7 weeks apart.

Jacks Blessing

Although we had no family near to help bless him, I knew I could not wait for the time when we did. We have many good friends here that helped- and many more that have been so good to us in the past few weeks since his arrival. Ryan blessed him to "be strong and weather the storms of life." My heart was happy.

(I had Jackson at the doctor the day before. He weighed in at 12.6 and the 90th percentile. I wish he would stay small forever- just 7 short weeks ago he was at 6.6 in the hospital.)

I've said this before,

but my one friend told me a long while ago about this girl named "Heather Bailey" and her crazy craftiness. I saw fabric in a store and liked it and realized that "Heather Bailey" was the creator too. I started reading her blog. Anyhow- my really cute sister-in-law, Jill, starts telling me about this little girl she's watching and I hear about her off and on and that the mom has a "really cute" craftroom. Put two and two together weeks later and she's watching Heather Bailey's little girl. (My SIL didn't realize the awareness status of Heather- is it celebrity status?). Jill was even her visiting teacher. And now Jill is her new apron model:




(too many links here I know- gotta run, Jackson's blessing day.)