Retreat

Each year Derek's law firm takes us on a little weekend retreat at one of many nearby resorts. We have taken our kids along each time and it always turns out nice, even if I do end up missing out on some of the activities.

This year Derek signed up for a sailing regatta. He got to go on a sailboat and learn the ropes and then they had a race. No, his boat didn't win the race.

Here is Derek and the skipper.

I couldn't leave Millie for 8 hours, so instead I chose to attend the class where we made chocolate sculptures. It was pretty simple, but really neat at the same time. The thing that made it successful is that they have pressurized cans of liquid nitrogen or something that froze the chocolate instantly when you sprayed it on. I don't have a picture yet, but when I do, I'll post it. It was a lot of fun.

We spent the rest of the weekend swimming in the pool, eating a bunch of snacks in the Presidential Suite, and jumping on the beds. It went by too quickly. One of these times I'll have to leave my kids with someone so we can enjoy all of the activities offered.

Food Storage

Here's my first attempt at canning peaches. It turned out to be one of my favorite excuses to hang out with a good friend. Niki came over and taught me how to do it since I was completely clueless.

I ended up with 10 large jars and 15 small jars. Only 3 casualties - one broken jar and two that didn't seal. Overall, I'm SUPER happy and have caught the *canning bug*. I have lofty dreams of canning chunky applesauce, salsa, and chicken noodle soup. Food storage, here I come.

Tummy Time Doesn't Last Long

Well, we try "tummy time" with Millie, but she usually has a different agenda.

Shenandoah Costume GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Here's another costume I love. Heck, I'd put Katie in this one for church.
Shenandoah Costume GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Chubby Baby?

Okay, remember this shot of Emilee at 2 weeks?

Now here she is at 2 months (and 1 week).

Not a huge difference to me, but she's filling out a little better.
She has a 2 month check-up tomorrow. I expect her to be just over 11 lbs.

If I Only Knew How to Sew

For REAL - is this the cutest costume or what?

I SO wish I has some sewing skills like Heather Bailey.

Take a Hint

I prefer not to dwell on the subject, but I wanted to recount two amusing conversations I've had this week.

First was with a Jehovah's Witness who stopped me right after I dropped Ryan off at his preschool. I was just putting Millie back in her car seat and turned around to find the two women standing and waiting for me. I greeted them and the one lady asked, "Is that your baby?"
"Yes, she's seven weeks old."
"Oh, you just had a baby?"
"Yes, I sure did."
"You look like you just had a baby."
"Yep."
"Well, actually you look really good for just having a baby. My daughter had a big stomach for a long time afterwards."
"Thanks."
(Or no thanks)

Next was Ryan. (While rubbing my stomach.)
"Mom, when is your tummy going to be flat?"
"After I eat right and get some exercise."
"Well, it's still kinda big."
"I know, it got stretched out when Millie was growing inside. It will get smaller with time."

Now, I will ignore the comments from people that go something like, "Whatever Jen, you look fabulous!" Because quite frankly, I know that I don't look fabulous, but I also know that I don't look awful either. I don't need encouragement or sympathy or anything. My self-esteem is still intact and I realize that I still have a good 15 pounds to lose. I'll get there. I got back after my other pregnancies.

Those kind of comments (truthful kinds) don't hurt my feelings at all. Just keeping it real, right?

Emilee is 6 Weeks Old

Some baby highlights:

• I'm pretty sure she hasn't reached 10 pounds yet
• Still wears newborn sized clothes
  
• Smiles a few times a day
• Is very predictable during the night - eats at 10:00pm, 4:00am, 6:00am with few exceptions
  
• Gags on any type of pacifier
• Will very likely have blue eyes
• Still has baby acne and gets a heat rash instantaneously
• Has an awful breastfeeding latch - but nurses in 5 minutes flat without ever wanting both sides in a single meal
• Gets hiccups after every meal
• Sleeps like a rock in a carseat
  
• Has an "outie" bellybutton
• Is super alert when she's awake, but still sleeps around 20 hours every day.
• It's SUPER hard to get a flattering picture of this girl (Where's my mom when I need her?)
  

(Oh, and thanks to Dad, Ryan has taken to calling her "Millicent")

"Uh Oh"

Moments after being passed the bread during the Sacrament, Katie says in a distressed (but quiet) voice, " Uh oh, I swallowed a Polly Pocket shoe."

Apparently she'd been chewing on one before she ate the bread and it all went down together. It was one moment where I could easily say, "Oh well," and get on with life. I knew it wouldn't get stuck anywhere - those things are the smallest objects on the planet, and it didn't have any sharp edges. Heck, we didn't even have it's match in the first place. No stress, but an amusing sort of moment.

A Story From My Childhood

Tonight we had Family Home Evening in the Park.

This is a ward activity where we all meet for a potluck BBQ at a nearby park. Ryan had a little baby doll in the car and asked if he could take it with us to the park. I told him it was fine but that he might lose it. He insisted that he'd be very careful about it. "Okay, but don't be sad if you lose it," I warned.

We left around 8:00pm so it was dark. I reminded Ryan to remember the little doll so he ran off to get it. He came back and told me he couldn't find it because it was so dark.
"Is Dad's flashlight still in the car?" he asked.
"Wow," I said, "this reminds me of a story my Dad used to tell me all the time before bed. Do you want me to tell it to you?"

So, as we walked to the car and found a flashlight, I began the story.

"Once upon a time, there was a girl named Sally. She had a doll named Sandy that she took everywhere she went. She loved Sandy so much. Sandy was there when Sally was sleeping, eating, and playing. One day, they were playing at a park near Sally's house. They played on the swings, the slide, the sandbox, the monkey bars, the teeter-totter, and went on the merry-go-round. They were having such a fun time when a little boy showed up.

"Hi, my name is Ryan," the boy said. "I just moved here and don't know anyone yet. Do you want to play with me?" "Sure," Sally replied. She put Sandy down on a park bench. Sally and Ryan played on the swings, the slide, the sandbox, the monkey bars, the teeter-totter, and went on the merry-go-round. They were having such a fun time when Sally heard her mother calling her. "Saaally... time to come Hooome." "Oh, I've got to home Ryan, I hear my Mom calling," Sally said. "I'll see you another day."

This whole time we are walking the park with the flashlight trying to find the little doll. We are shinning it around on all the park equipment and the field. My kids are looking but are mesmerized by the story.

Sally hurried home because she always obeyed her mom. Her family ate dinner and Sally went upstairs to brush her teeth, but realized that she couldn't find Sandy. She went downstairs and asked her mom if she knew where Sandy was. Her mother said, "Maybe you left her at the park." Sally's dad got out his flashlight and walked her over to the park to see if they could find Sandy. They looked on the swings, the slide, the sandbox, the monkey bars, the teeter-totter, the merry-go-round, and even the park bench. Sandy wasn't anywhere. Sally's dad said, "Sorry Sally, we'll have to look again tomorrow when it is light outside."

Now, we have located the doll and we are walking back to the car, still telling the story.

They went home and Sally cried herself to sleep that night. She missed Sandy so much. In the morning, she slowly walked down the stairs and started eating the cereal that her mom had poured for her. Then she heard a knock at the door. And who do you think it was?? RYAN and SANDY! Ryan said, "Hi Sally, you left Sandy at the park last night and I didn't want her to get lonely so I took her home with me." Sally was SO happy and gave Sandy a big hug. "I love you Sandy," she said, "I'll never leave you anywhere ever again."

I asked Ryan, "Does that remind you of what happened tonight?" He said in a super excited voice, "Yes, and I'll always remember that story! When I'm a Dad I'm going to tell it to MY kids every night." I told him that it would make Grandpa really happy. ;) He asked me if I would tell it again when they went to bed. They have heard this story plenty of times before, but now he had a real life experience to relate it to and I think that made him pretty excited. Family rituals like that are pretty fun to pass along.