Blue Eye Shadow

I just found this picture on my phone, and it is totally blog worthy. Back in June I got a text from my ex-husband with the following picture.  He took Lilli to get her ears pierced.  I just started laughing so I had to show Amber the picture.  She started busting up laughing too.

Why you ask?  Well, Amber just had a conversation with Lilli about wearing blue eye shadow, and how it's not a good thing.  Then, not a week later, we get this picture with Lilli wearing blue eye shadow.  Funny stuff.

I have been very hesitant about letting Lilli get her ears pierced because I knew it wouldn't be a good thing, so if it was going to be done, her dad was going to be the one to take her.  And boy was I right about my hesitations.  She is just too excited to have them pierced that she doesn't want to take care of them, or wait the time frame before she can change them.  So, they keep getting infected.  I may have to start holding her down and putting the alcohol on for her.  She's so funny.

3rd Medallion

I finished my Personal Progress a few months ago, but just got my Young Womanhood Recognition today.  

Here is my complete set.  The first four are from when I was in High School and earned it the very first time.  The one in the purple box is from when I finished the program as a leader in 2007, and the last one is my new one.

It was wonderful doing the program this time around.  The bishop presented it to me during the 3rd hour on the 5th Sunday, so that all the youth would be together.  He asked me to speak a little bit on why the program is so important.  One thing that I kind of wanted to tell them hit me yesterday when I was in the temple, Spiritual Self-Reliance.

Anyway, since there was more boys in the room than girls, I gave an example of a young man from Vale who was a HUGE example to me, even as a grown woman.  My bishop grew up in Vale, just a few years above me, I was actually really good friends with one of his younger sister's in high school, so he knew exactly what I was talking about during my story.

In Vale, football is BIG.  During the season all the players grow out their hair and as they make it to the state playoffs, they start dying and cutting designs in their hair as they advance through the ranks (Mohawks, checkerboards, words, etc), ultimately ending up with a bald head.  About 3-4 years ago, not too long before we moved to Ontario, there was one boy in our Ward, who also happened to be a captain of the football team, that never participated in the hair fun.  One day I asked him why, especially since he would get backlash from the other players since he was captain and all about why he wasn't being a leader.  His answer really stuck with me, and has been a major learning experience for me as a mother.  He told me that there was something more important in life than participating in the football traditions.  Blessing the Sacrament.  He wouldn't be able to bless the sacrament on Sundays with crazy hair, and to him, that priesthood responsibility was way more important than any football tradition.

As I was relating this story to the youth, one of the boys had kind of a different look on his face.  It hit me after I left the room as to why.  That boy had actually just cut his hair from having had a mullet, from his own football tradition at Ontario High School.  I think the story may have hit home a little for him.

Everything is changing for the youth.  We expect more out of them compared to when I was in school.  The Personal Progress and Duty to God (the program for boys) programs have changed, the Sunday curriculum has changed, and the missionary age has changed.  But it all makes sense, the adversity is all starting at such a younger age that we need to be more Spiritually self-reliant at a younger age as well.

Nesting

I think I must be in the nesting stage of pregnancy because I've been working on lots of different projects to make life a little easier after the baby comes.

First up, I started on making some freezer meals.  My neighbor and visiting teaching companion is also pregnant with a little boy, so as I was making these, I figured I would just double everything and then give her some meals as a surprise.

Day 1 - 7 meals for each family.

 As I was labeling the bags, the marker kept rubbing off, so I ended up making labels with my cameo, I think they turned out super cute!

 Day 2 - 8 meals for each family.

 Day 3 - 5 meals for each family.

 Day 4 - only 1 meal for each family, but I did attend the temple that morning, fed the missionaries that night and made homemade snickerdoodles for my dad after his surgery, which we delivered the next day.

Day 5 - I made 4 meals for each family this day, but ended up giving them away to two other families.  Sexy Farmer's cousin, Lacy, had her baby boy so we took her 4 meals, and then our Home Teacher's wife was in a car accident, so we took the other 4 meals to their family.

I quit taking pictures after day 4, but this is what my freezer ended up looking like (minus the 8 meals we took to the other two families) when I was done.  I ended up making 70 meals total.  The top two shelves are what I'm going to give to my friend, Amanda.  Sexy Farmer says it's too much and they'll get mad at me, so I guess we'll see.

I'm still going to the temple every week and I took this picture one day on my way.  My sister, DJ, has been so helpful with my temple attendance.  I only get to do one session each time I attend now instead of 4 like I used to, but it's still so nice to be there.  DJ, lets me use her house to drop my kids off while I attend, and I am so grateful for her help.  Maybe temple attendance isn't considered "nesting" but I still want to get as much work done as I can before the baby comes, since it will be harder to go once the new little man arrives.

 It's so funny because people there are starting to recognize me as a regular.  They are now telling me how surprised they are that I keep going when I'm THIS pregnant.  I even got this text one day from Sexy Farmer's sister.

I guess she's surprised too.

Other than making freezer meals and going to the temple, I've been busy getting the crib together.  We moved Duke to a twin bed a few weeks ago, so we moved the crib back up to our bedroom.  I washed all the crib bedding and put all the infant pads and stuff that Duke had outgrown back on.  Which, after I was done, Hoss & Duke thought they needed to toss in a pillow and test it out.

I also got out and washed all the baby clothes, car seat and bouncer and have started getting my milking station ready (moving the rocker back upstairs, etc.)  I'm now working on finishing some curtains for my bedroom, and maybe shampooing the carpets in the living room.  We'll see if I get to that one.

I finished up the annual harvest books for the dairyman in Vale that I help with.  He pays me so well, I can't tell him no.  I'm working on my father-in-law's books right now.

Duke has been having tons of fun going wild and crazy while I have been getting all this done.  Some days, I am just so in the groove that I don't want to take the time to put him down for his nap.  But, it's also been those missed nap days that he sleeps so much better at night, so maybe he's to the point where he doesn't need a nap anymore.  I guess we'll see how he does when the baby gets here, I may NEED him to take naps again!

Harvest Season

Hoss has been asking and asking to go with Blue Grandpa in the chopper for quit awhile now.  So, we've taken him over twice now, I think.  Yesterday, while I was dropping him off on my way to my parent's house to deliver cookies to my dad,  I figured I better take a picture or two.

I noticed traffic only going about  25 miles an hour, so I figured we must be behind a caravan of trucks.  Sure enough, it was another corn chopper with his trucks following him, changing fields.  There were actually 6 harvest trucks and I was right in the middle of them all.  Most people get frustrated having to wait for things like this, but I actually enjoy it.

A few miles down the road, there was another caravan of onion trucks changing fields.  Harvest is in full force here!

Hoss was a little bummed when I picked him up.  He told me I was too fast and that he didn't get enough time in the chopper.  He makes me laugh so much.  He really enjoys being with his grandpa and he said Grandpa even let him drive the chopper after lunch.

Spirit Week

I'm not really sure why I'm going to post about this, since I only got one picture taken, but I will anyway.  The week we returned from Megan's wedding was Spirit week at school.  But with Duke getting sick, I was a little pre-occupied and didn't get my camera out.

Monday there was no school since it was Labor Day, and Tuesday the kids skipped since we were traveling home from the wedding, so they missed out on "Super Hero Day".

Wednesday was "Formal Day"

Thursday was "Sports Day".  Lilli actually still has one of Aunt DJ's cheerleading outfits from last year (OOPSIE) so she wore that.  Hoss said he didn't want to dress up anymore, so he didn't.

Friday was "Red & White Day", and actually, neither one of them dressed up for that day either.  But, they did go to the Homecoming Parade down Weiser.

Double Sickness

We got home from Megan's wedding on a Tuesday night, and Wednesday morning I noticed that Duke wasn't really moving much.  He just sat on the couch, not willing to eat or drink.  I watched him thinking maybe it was my imagination, but then I noticed more.  He wouldn't turn his head at all.  I tried to get him dressed and when I tried to change his shirt, he would squeal in pain when I turned his head.   I called Sexy Farmer and told him what was happening, we figured maybe his neck was just majorly kinked from the long car ride home from the wedding.  After about another hour, I felt it was much more, so I called the Dr., and they said bring him in NOW. So, I took him to our family clinic in Weiser and they found that he had strep throat!  Then after further examination, they found an ear infection as well.  Which, between the two, was the reason for him not moving his head at all.  The pain from his throat and ear going down the left side of his neck made it so painful for him to move.  We left with some medication, instructions for a liquid diet and an appointment to come back Friday for a follow-up.

The rest of Wednesday and Thursday were horrible.  Duke couldn't walk, stand, sit or eat.  He seemed sort of like a vegetable, just laying there helpless.  It was so sad.  When Friday rolled around for our follow-up, Sexy Farmer took some time off to go with me.  Which was really nice, since I was kind of a mess.  The medication was working for the ear infection, but not for the strep throat.  So, they sent us over to the Weiser Hospital for some blood tests.  They were worried that maybe it was mono, and not actually strep throat.

The results from the blood test were negative for mono, so they gave us some stronger medicine and another follow-up appointment.  

The results of the second medication were amazing!  By Sunday evening he was walking, eating, standing and everything again.  It was so nice to have my little Dukeman back!

When we returned for the follow-up visit at the doctor, she was so happy to see the real Duke.  We have no idea how he got strep throat.  We don't know if it was something he caught at nursery before we left for the wedding, or if he caught it from something/someone at the wedding. I know it doesn't matter, but sometimes it's nice to know, especially when the doctors are asking what he's been doing.  They figured it was just from the stress of traveling, making him more susceptible to diseases.

Megan's Wedding

Sexy Farmer's sister got married on Labor Day in Sunriver, Oregon.  It was so gorgeous and we are so happy for her and Johnny.  Since the wedding was a "destination wedding" they had a whole weekend of fun events scheduled that we could enjoy.  We actually didn't go to any of them since Sexy Farmer was right in the middle of harvest, but we did go up on Sunday after church and then enjoyed some of the local festivities at the resort Monday morning before the wedding.

For example, they had bounce houses for kids.  This was nice, it let me sit down and rest my feet for awhile after all the walking around.  We also got to catch up with Shane and Katie (Sexy Farmer's brother and wife), we don't get to talk to them much since they are busy with college.

Bumper cars for kids and adults kept Sexy Farmer busy.  Duke was too little for this, so him and I went on a train ride.  Here, there is Sexy Farmer, Lilli, Hoss and Karina & Eric (Sexy Farmer's sister and husband).  

and lots more that we didn't get pictures of.  (swimming pools, train rides, lots of shopping, etc.)

After the fun of the resort entertainment, we headed back to get ready for the wedding.  I was asked by my father-in-law to take pictures with his camera, and so I put Lilli is charge of pictures for us.  Well, we didn't get any so, I stole some from the photographer's website.

This is Johnny's sister's son, he was super cute!

Megan had both her Dad and Grandpa walk her down the isle.  If you look close, you can see me on the left side with a camera stuck to my face!  Johnny is HUGE into golfing so their wedding overlooked a golf course.

Their vows were so cute.  He mentioned some of the things he loves about her, including her "squishy tooshie".  Everyone got a good laugh.  But it was also pretty emotional too, as you can see by this picture.

After the wedding, they gathered family for pictures.  Megan's parents divorced before she was born so she doesn't have any full siblings.  She has 3 younger siblings on her mom's side, then 1 step-brother and 5 younger siblings on Sexy Farmer's side, her being the oldest of everyone (10).  What a wonderful day for her to have everyone (except 1 brother) at her wedding!  I'm sure she will treasure this picture since it is probably the only one she will ever get of everyone together.

Shane, Trevor, Sexy Farmer, Justin, Johnny & Megan, Jordan, Alyson, Karesa, Karina (missing Steton)

 If you notice, Sexy Farmer is the odd ball out again.  For some reason, he is the one who never gets the memo's on what color he is supposed to wear to the weddings, but yet, he is the only one who goes to all the weddings!  He always gets lectured the day of the wedding on how he doesn't match, but yet nobody bothered to tell him he was supposed to wear a certain color either.  In fact, since this has happened twice before, he even called this time to find out, and was only told to wear a suit, no specific color.  Let's recap the last 3 weddings, shall we, so you can see what I'm talking about.

August 2012, Shane's wedding in Newport Beach, California.  Colors: Blue & Tan.

May 2013, Karina's wedding in Twin Falls, Idaho.  Colors:  Purple & Silver.

The photographer kept saying how his tie was throwing off her pictures, so he ended up borrowing one of the groomsmen's ties for the sibling picture.

Then September 2013, Megan's wedding in Sunriver, Oregon.  Colors:  Black &White.

After every wedding, I've told him not to feel bad because normally only the people in the wedding party are supposed to wear specific colors.  But now, after the third wedding, and none of his siblings ever being a part of the wedding party but still matching, he's glad this was the last one and that he won't be left out anymore.  I think it's funny.  But I understand how he feels, especially since he was told at this wedding that he does it on purpose to "stand out".

After pictures and before dinner, we sat down for a family picture.  I look great, right?!?!  BAHAHA, not funny, but since everyone else did, I'll post the picture.

Then it was time for dinner.  The reception hall was gorgeous.

They even had name plates for everyone to tell us where to sit.

We sat right by the table of kid food!  It was nice.

We left early to put our kids to bed during all of the toasts, so we missed out on the cake cutting and dancing.  But here is a picture of Megan and her dad during the dance.  It was such a special, special wedding and we are so happy that we were able to be a part of it.  After the wedding, they ran off to Italy for their honeymoon!  Lucky bums!

36 Weeks

I had my 36 week appointment today, and my 5th ultrasound to make sure the baby moved out of the transverse position, which he did.  This picture makes me laugh, he looks so chubby.

I've gained 50 lbs!!  YIKES  My iron is still extremely low, if I go down one more point, I'll have to receive infusions again.  3 hour treatments, once a week for 3 weeks, doesn't sound very exciting, but since I only have 4 weeks left, maybe I won't need it this time.   Other than that, everything else looks great.  The kids are getting excited coming up with names, Sexy Farmer and I have one picked out, but have only told 2 people (two of my sisters),  Sexy Farmer gets mad when I tell people the name, he says the name is the only surprise left to tell people.  They already know the due date and gender, so we should leave something a surprise, that and we always hear of people stealing a baby name and he doesn't want that to happen, so we are keeping quite.

All of our kids have a family name, so we will be keeping that a tradition with this baby also.
Lillian Kristine: Lillian was my paternal grandmother's middle name.
Hoss Laine:  Laine is Sexy Farmer's dad's middle name.
Duke Wayne:  Wayne is my maiden name.

The family name we have chosen this time around was found through all of the genealogy work that I finished.  Sexy Farmer and I both had inspiration as to how to find it too, which will be used as our baby's middle name.  One Sunday we were sitting at church and during Sacrament meeting Sexy Farmer was inspired by a talk given by the 1st Councilor in our Stake Presidency to look farther back in our family lines.  Then during my YW lesson, our topic was on temple ordinances and I shared a few stories about my ancestors that I had found in one of my dad's old family books, one of them being about my Great-Great-Great-Grandfather.  During the lesson, I felt that his middle name (his mother's maiden name) was the one.  When we got home from church that day, Sexy Farmer told me about his inspiration, and I told him about mine, and it clicked.   Once the baby is born, I'll share the life of my Great-Great-Great-Grandfather, it's an amazing, yet sad, story that shows how strong of a man he was.  Genealogy is amazing!