Local Train Park

We decided to check out our local train park back in September before school started.  However we got there after the last train ride left.  So checked out the other stuff the park had to offer and discovered a fun playground.  My train loving son was in Heaven.  He are a few shots of our trip.

Always wanted to take a picture of the family on train tracks and here was a fun opportunity without having to worry about a train that might come by.

 

Playing in the caboose

 

  My son in his element as the Engineer.

 

Checking out the big trains.

 

 My daughter enjoyed the swings.  And don't you just love those socks.  I had a plan once to make leg warmers for her for dance but never got to it.  When she saw them she had to wear them everyday even if the temperature was in the 100s.  She loves to express her own fashion and she makes me smile.

County Fair 2012

 Just some pictures from our trip to the fair this year.

 

 

 

 The only ride our son enjoyed beside riding the pony ride.  He only wanted to do it once though.

 I know you think you see our son on the ride below and you are right.  He thought he wanted to ride this until they strapped him in and then he cried to be let off and so the ride attendant unlocked it for him and he sat with me and the baby while our oldest daughter and her daddy enjoyed this ride. :)

 Well bounce houses don't count as rides so he enjoyed the bounce house.

Tile in the bathroom

 This is something I did not realize we had pictures of.  I just wanted to show off the work that my husband and our home teacher did.  Our bathroom last year flooded a little due to a leak in the toilet.  Luckily we caught it in a decent amount of time.  The previous owners had laid vinyl tile squares on top on the vinyl you see in the first picture.  The toilet leak actually loosened the glue and caused some smelly mildew underneath that first layer of "tile".  So we ripped up the tile squares to clean the mess and revealed some flooring underneath that would have to do till we could tile.  It had holes and was pretty beat up but it worked for a temporary fix.  Then fast forward 9 months and our home teacher actually helped get my husband motivated to finish it.  Well that and I very pregnant forced him to the local Lowes and helped him get the supplies needed.  Lucky for him he finished right before our baby's due date.  Not so lucky for him I was a mess but he was used to it since the previous 9 months I had been a permanent mess.  Our home teacher spent long hours helping and we couldn't be more grateful.  They even got some help laying the tile from a sister in our ward who was kind enough to get some of the girls she works with to come finish any cleaning I didn't get to when the baby came due to my house being in disarray from the construction.  

 Our home teacher cutting and ripping up count it 1..2..3.. layers of floor.

 Isn't this flooring pretty?  We almost decided to stay with this except we had the tile and figure what the hey! 

 Tile cut, measured and in stuck in place.

 Tile grouted and ugly wall.

 Placing tile border on wall.  My husband cute the tile to make the border so it would match and spent time on making sure it looked just right.

The finished floor with border.  You notice the vent whole under the cabinets?  We actually were worried that would cover that up and have to move cabinets and such.  Luckily removing 3 levels of floor boards and vinyl fixed that problem.  It looks so nice.  Now trying to decide on a nice wall color for the bathroom.  Now that I had the baby I can help get that done once I decide.

Our Baby

 So I title this Our Baby because one we are sure we are done and two because she truly is not just my husband's and my baby but our other children claim her as their baby as well.  She was born on Aug. 1st at 5:24 pm at 7lbs 7oz and 20.5 inches long.  We induced and after finding a knot in her cord at birth were grateful to have made the decision to do so.  So many things can go wrong.  If you know my email and would like to see a picture of it I can send you one but felt it a little too graphic for a blog post. 

I went in at 7:30 am and my water was broken around 7:45 am and Petocin was started around 8 am.  After having our son come in 4 hours and me starting this induction already minus a mucus plug, 2 centimeters dilated and 80 percent effaced we all expected this to go fairly quick.  She chose to take her time still.  I was glad to have the company of my Sister, Sister in law and Mother in law while my husband took a nap and I was a little bored.  Something about forgetting to bring things to entertain myself while waiting.  Yes you read that right my husband took a nap up till it was time to push.  But it is ok since we all told him to take a nap since I would rather have him awake once she was born.  It gives him a chance to do all the things I can't do while being numb from an epidural like her first bath.  

About 9 1/2 hours later she finally came.  Instantly we fell in love with her.  She has been a miracle in her own way.  We are convinced that she is meant to be here.  Her spirit is so sweet and calm.

First couple hours after birth.

 

Her first words to describe her baby sister were "She is sooo adooreable!"

 

 He is and has been convinced that he had this baby and she belongs to him.  Don't believe me try to visit and hold her he will hover over you and her making sure that you know she belongs to him.

 Our first Family photo with her.

 1 day old

 

2 days old in her going home outfit.

In her car seat ready to go home.

 

July Fun

 So in July we celebrated the 4th by watching fireworks.  Pictured above is our kids getting sticky eating Cotton Candy.

Also during July we had a ward reunion with my childhood ward.  We met everyone at a park and my kids enjoyed playing with their cousins and making new friends. 

 Two cute kids.  I love how she lets him brush her hair.  I love watching them get along and be friends.

Swimming Lessons 2012

So this year both kids had swim lessons in July.  Our daughter also had lessons in June.  She is now officially in the Learn to Swim lessons and is soaking up as much info as she can.  She is swimming at least 5 feet in a semi front crawl position and can float on her stomach.  She struggles a little with floating on her back and keeping her bum up.  Our son wanted desperately to be like his sister and have swim lessons to so we let him do one 2 week session of the Beginning Preschool level that is all about being comfortable in the water.  We do need to work on his ability to listen and stay with his teacher.  Hopefully by next year he will be better able to do that.  

Here are pictures of his first day where he did fairly well.  After the first day he struggled. 

 

 Also a picture of our daughter getting ready to swim to her teacher.

 

June

 So June was a busy month one day we went to an indoor amusement park near by.  Our neighbors and us split the cost for 5 kid wristbands through a Groupon deal.  Which made it around 11 bucks each.  The fun thing about this place is that parents can ride free with their kids.  So a cheap family activity.  The kids had a lot of fun.

 

Also something else I worked on during the month of June was this quilt for our new baby.