March 15-28, Edyn

I took the girls shopping the other day. Ali's shoes are completely worn out and she needed some new ones. So, she bought new shoes and Edyn finally spent her Christmas money on a pretend iron and ironing board. She is SO cute. That night she brought down all her baby clothes and ironed them all and folded them. Then this last week I have been sewing bags again and so the ironing board is out. Several times she has looked up from what she is doing and said, "Mooom, you are ironing! I am going to go get my ironing" Then she gets her board and iron and sets up right next to me (maybe even a little too close) and starts ironing away. Then she decided she could iron craisins and they taste SO goodwarm and flat! (don't worry it's just pretend. Her iron makes noises but does not get hot). It is so funny. Her names for the baby include, painty, charlotte, sparkly, and ferb. She is very excited to be a big sister. True to Edyn's nature she was making us breakfast with play dough (us being the primary presidency during our meeting) then she comes in pointing her finger at us and in her most authoritative voice announces that we were talking too much and would not be getting any breakfast, while she pointed her finger at each of us in turn. She is truly a delight. She NEVER stops talking and lives a world that I wish I could actually see. Such as dipping her real food in pretend sauces. They must taste amazing to her, and though I tried really hard to taste them too, I just don't think it is the same to me as it is to her. How much better would the world be if we could only see through the imagination of a very imaginative 4 year old. Everything would be "Spectacular".

March 8-15th

This week at the Astle Residence:
Mindy caught a cold spent a couple of days not feeling well, then passed it onto the other kids.
Went to the temple on Friday. They asked us when we got there if we wanted to do sealings, so of course we did. It was really special, and I realized I am so thankful for prayer and for the knowledge and blessings that families can be together forever. We also got to go to dinner, Zupas, with our friends the Bucad's, Gardner's and Morris'. It was very fun to chat with everyone and "catch up". Too bad we don't all still live in the same neighborhood and ward, we have so much fun together. We also picked up our Trailer. The kids are so excited to use it.
Zach one his Basketball game again this week and that put them into the finals. He is excited to play and hopes to win the championship. Zach was also very perplexed this week when we brought the trailer home. It is a pop-up and all folded in on itself. He thought we were getting one like the Morris'. A hard side. We told him we all would just open the little door crouch down and try to all fit inside. He was very distraught and not sure what to think about this. Apparently he has never seen a pop-up before and was trying to figure out how it worked. It was very funny.
Ali got to play with a couple of friends and go to a Birthday Party that she really enjoyed. Ali also sat up to the piano on her own this week, "just for fun". Her mother is so happy she could cry.
Dallin continues to make us laugh and delight our lives. He has been so good this week to get his jobs done and mark them off so he can play on the wii or computer.
Edyn loves to watch Micky Mouse Club house, everyday! Her mother thinks she needs to arrange more play dates for her. She also did good during sharing time this week. Usually she comes up to the front to ask me "questions" about every five minutes. I have had enough of this and begged her to stay in her seat. Well, she did stay with her class but paced up and down the aisle. I thought for sure she would wear a hole in the carpet. She is so funny, but I guess it is a step in the right directions. She was also very good at preschool this week.
Bob was able to feel the baby move this week. He/She moves around a whole lot in there.
We are all so glad for the couple of warm days and the kids enjoyed a moment or two on the trampoline and swing set. Can't wait for actual March weather when we can fly kites.

Just a thought!

As I sit here at 11am still in my pajamas and wondering if it is ok to pick your child up from preschool in your PJ's I just thought I needed to write a little thank you to my husband. Last night was well, let's say horrible night. My stomach hurt, my nose is plugged, and I couldn't sleep. Thank you pregnancy!! Needless to say it took me until sometime after 3:30 to fall asleep only to be awakened shortly thereafter to Bob's pager. He had to get up and left for work to solve a problem at 4:30, who said he would call me when it was time to get the kids up to practice and do their homework (a job he thankfully takes care of every morning). Then I dosed off again to be awakened by the alarm clock at 5:30 (when bob should have gotten up). I turned that off only to find that I had a bloody nose, and finally dosed off again sometime after 6:00, though at this point I was really thinking, "Just get up and get something done". The next thing I heard was around 7am. I could hear the clinking of dishes and the soft sound of my husbands voice. The sweet man had come home to get the kids up and going and make them breakfast allowing me to sleep in until after 8. What an awesome Man I married!! Thank you Bob, my eyes are filling with tears as I think about you this morning!

Last week of February and first of March

We have had a great couple of weeks. I don't know what it is about the last week of the month but it is always so busy. So this month we are going to try and get our visiting teaching done and temple attendance THIS week. It is not good to procrastinate until the end.
The kids in Zach's school had a great time finishing up our chocolate class. I have never seen kids have so much fun licking chocolate off of, well everything, faces, plates fingers, etc. It was very fun. We have a couple of weeks off now then we get to teach another class. Fun stuff.
I had a great birthday. Probably the best in a long time. I have come to expect very little for my birthday. It seems that every year, someone is sick or we have company or any number of other little odd things. But this year was great. I admit if I had planned the day I would have prefered to sleep in until noon. (I know pretty lazy). But Zach thought that a great way to spend my birthday would be to go on a field trip with him (one day maybe he will go on a field trip without his mom. . .then again I hope not! :) I really enjoyed it!! It was fun to spend the time with him and his friends. We got to take a tour of the Salt Lake City Library (which Zach can't wait to return, it is pretty awesome) then we went to the symphony! I love the symphony. They played american tunes (fifth grade is american history afterall) we heard Copeland, and Joplin and Bernstein. Then we tried to stay warm while eating lunch in the park, and the boys watched funny You Tube clips on my phone. I had a great time. Bob surprised me when I got home from the Symphony with flowers and balloons on the table. It was awesome. Then Bob left work early, we went and looked at a pop-up trailer (that we are going to buy and getting really excited to go camping this summer). I wasn't really feeling that well by this time so we picked up chinese for Bob and I, and pizza for the kids and watched a movie with take-out. I loved it. It was a great day. Also lots of friends brought something by which brightened my day as well, Even Melissa in Ohio surprised me with a little gift (her mom who lives here brought it over). Bob gave me an Anti-gravity lounger (I have really wanted one for a couple of summers now) I can't wait to sit in the sun and listen to a book!! If only it would warm up a bit. The Sunday before my birthday we celebrated at my parent's for Kristie and my big Day. It was great. Thank heaven for mothers who still make things special. I am so lucky to have mine.
A Couple of weeks ago we had an ultrasound at the Dr. office. We hoped to find out what our baby is, but she/he kept crossing its legs. Gretchen did find one spot that was between the legs and we couldn't see anything, so for now it looks like it is a girl. But it is not for positive and the boys are still holding out for a boy. We will find out on the 26th of this month, that is if the cute little thing will cooperate this time:)
I am feeling better and wanting to get working on some house projects. If I could get Bob on board maybe we could get something done. For him I guess that is the bad part about me feeling better, I put him to work. I tried to clean the house Saturday but got sidetracked on KSL. We found Ali a little desk. She has been wanting one in her room, so she can sew. She spent her Christmas money from her Grandparents and we drove to Sandy and picked up the cutest little desk. Then we went by Lowes and got some stripper and paint and she and I have a project ahead of us. It will be really cute when it is done. And thanks to KSL the kids now have ceiling fans in their rooms. Now we just need to get new screens for the windows and it will be much cooler up there come this summer.
I really wanted to go to Rena's last night for the Academy Award party she puts on every year. It is so much fun. But Bob didn't wan't to go because he doesn't get home from church now until around 6pm and by the time we got up to Heber it would be too late for the kids. So we watched the Princess and the Frog instead. That was a really cute movie that we all enjoyed. Now I really want the piano music if for it. The score was really catchy, and you know I love Jazz.
Edyn got a fungus on her scalp. Yes we have been freaking out about it, but we caught it really early (since the horrible trauma of Dallin's infection a couple of summer's ago) and it has been a breeze. Her hair isn't even falling out and it is almost gone. Pretty good for 2 weeks since it took 3 months to get rid of Dallin's. She had been a really good girl lately and is always the first to have her jammies on and brush and floss her teeth. She is really funny and we love watching and listening to what she does and says next. Yesterday was Fast sunday but since I'm pregnant I couldn't really fast, so I was having a few fishy crackers (much to Ali's dismay). A little bit later Edyn comes in my room and asks me if the baby is full. I told her it was not and she then fed me some more crackers until I told her the baby was full. It was really very cute.
Dallin continues to amaze us and make us smile with the way his little brain works. The fan in the boys room is a baseball theme and has a home plate that attaches to the ceiling. Ali was asking what that was for and Dallin told her that it was home plate, "cause it is shaped like a home". We sure do enjoy all these kids at our house.

Feb. 15-22

Ok, not much going on this week, as I sit here I can't even think what we even did this last week. Sometimes my mind is such a blank. We have been looking for a tent trailer, but finding it hard to find what we want for a price we can afford. We sold my little white Honda this week. I believe we sold it in about 5 hours after listing it on KSL. Great. Yeah it wasn't worth much but it is nice to have it gone (I can't keep paying insurance on a car we don't drive :) A little sad (not too though), since that was the first car I ever bought. Yes, we have had that car now for 15 years. I know we are loser's. It's just that it kept driving to the sum of 250+K miles. I never thought when I was younger that I would drive a car forever, but it is cheaper that way even if it isn't that stylish.:) Well, we are just about in week 17 of this pregnancy thing. I am starting to feel better just the mornings are hard now, which is great because I have been nauseous all day now for months, and the sun is also shining today which is making me feel better too. (If anyone know how to get to Aruba for a week for about $100 bucks I would love to go, more sun please)If I could just find some energy. I am going to get back into the exercising thing this week it has been a several month break and I can feel it. Also the belly really popped out this week, though not the good kind (the you can tell I'm pregnant kind) just the hmm, she looks like she has put on a few pounds kind. Yeah great for me!! The best part though is that I occasionally feel the baby moving which is awesome! I love that part of being pregnant!

Feb. 8th-15th

We had a really fun week last week. Kinda crazy but enjoyable. It was Zach's Birthday on Thursday. He turned 11. I can't believe it. We celebrated by having dinner and cake and ice cream at home, then took him and a couple of his friends to see the new Percy Jackson movie. It was really good and the kids had a great time. It was funny though, when we were waiting to go in to the movie there was about 30 little 10-11 year old boys waiting in line with a parent or two here and there. It was fun. Grandma Astle came to visit on Wednesday afternoon. As always it was fun to have her here. Zach thought it was fun that she was here for his birthday. She was able to stay until Friday morning, so a short but fun time with her. Friday we did another chocolate class, on decorating with chocolate. We made chocolate curls and painted muffin cups to make chocolate cups. It was fun, and grandma got to help with the "trial" run on Wednesday night. We also got to celebrate Aidyn's (nephew) 1st birthday. Unfortunately we were late. I thought that it didn't start until 7pm but actually it was over by 7pm. So we missed most of the important stuff, but it was still fun to see them, and him. So cute. Sunday Bob and I had to talk in church (on showing proper respect for women and children). Saturday I wasn't feeling too good so in addition to preparing my talk, I also read the 4th Percy Jackson. I can't wait until I can read the 5th book. Valentines day was fun. We love Valentines day at our house. It is my mother's fault. She always made things fun, and we pass that on to our kids. So for breakfast we had pink heart pancakes with strawberry syrup and whipped cream. After church we gave the kids their valentines at dinner with our valentine dinner complete with heart jello jigglers. Then of course we "kicked" valentines. (pink sugar cookies) to a bunch of our neighbors. The kids had a ball. The love sneaking up, ringing the doorbell and running away. It is always the talk for a couple of days as to weather or not they "got caught". So funny. I remember that as a kid too. We loved it as well. Monday the kids and bob were home for president's day. We didn't really do anything but I do love when they are all home.

February 1-7th

Not much this week going on in the Astle home. In fact I haven't felt all that hot this week and have therefore accomplished about nothing, which is of course good for morale. However, on a good note, Edyn and I have enjoyed a lot of time playing together which is great, so who cares if the laundry did not get put away right. We found out this week that my friend Becky's cancer is in stage 3. That was quite a shock. But what I know and love about her is that she will fight hard and go on to inspire many, many people through her own trial. She is amazing, and her outlook on life is one you rarely find. A true treasure. You should read her blog and then you will know what an incredible person she is. (beckyandjustinanderson.blogspot.com)
We had lunch with Zach for "lunch with someone grand" on Thursday. Bob and I surprised him. He was hinting that morning that he wanted us to come, and of course me being the "incredible" mom that I am told him that I did not feel good and really didn't want to do that today. Yeah, I know, rotten. But then I had a moment to come to my senses and called Bob and said that we should meet at the school and surprise him. It was very fun, and I felt better on my Mom skills after that. Friday morning was our second class of Chocolates at Zach's school. It was fun. We made chocolate from cacao beans. If you want to know how to do this let me know. It was great to see, and interesting that you had chili powder. It tastes not like any chocolate you have had before, but good. The kids even enjoyed it's rich flavor. Which is kind of amazing (if you remember last week) since they really didn't like the dark chocolate flavor.
Saturday was our stake Baptism and we had a young girl in our ward being baptized. As always is was awesome to feel that sweet tender spirit that accompanies such blessed events. Sunday we traveled early to Hyrum (we had to be there by 9am) to witness the beautiful blessing of our sweet niece, Paisley. It was a great day. Zach and Jaxon even bore their testimonies. I love to hear my kids bear their testimonies. It is amazing how much they grow. Zach is growing into such a fine young man, and bore a beautiful testimony of simple truths that has me choked up just writing about it now. We enjoyed a delicious meal as the Tims' beautiful home and all the family. Well, except for my older sister, who is learning her own life lessons (and us along with her). She called me and was lost and a little panicky about 3 state Troopers being behind her. Of course me being who I am, thought "so what". But shortly thereafter she was pulled over for speeding, and with 5 outstanding warrants out for her and 5 for her husband, they had no choice but to haul them to jail, where I hope things will be worked out for them today. Here is the biggest lesson to be learned. . .pay your debts, don't procrastinate (especially speeding tickets), and obey the law because it WILL catch up to you at the most unfortunate and inopportune time causing you to miss out on life's simple sweetness. I hope all works out for them.
Then we watched the SuperBowl at Kristies house where we "fondued". I love finger foods dipped in yummy sauces and chocolate. It was a great time and we were happy the Tims' family could be there too. I knew when they had left because suddenly Ali was by my side wondering what to do. Roger and Diana have 3 daughters, which is very fun for Ali to play with since she tends to be surrounded by boys when we are with the family. We also were able to sing Happy Birthday to Zach and Mar'cus who celebrate their Birthday's this month. Zach's birthday is on Thursday this coming week. If you are wondering what to get an 11 year old for his Birthday, Bopit is a good idea. Grandpa and Grandma and Millie gave him this and he has moved himself to expert level since last night. (in other words, a lot of playing time). He also got 2 new books, which is great because he loves to read. And great for me because now I can read book 3 in the Percy Jackson series. A fun Olympus series that Zach got me reading because he loved them so much, and now a movie is coming out he really wants me on board so I will let him go to the movie. Well, it worked. I am sold. He sure knows how to get what he wants.
Friday we also took Ali out on a date for getting SO many reading counts points. We went to dinner at the Burger stop (coupon for $.50 hamburgers and sodas), then we went to the Kaysville Theater and saw The Fantastic Mr. Fox. A weird and mildly humorous movie. We had fun though. Then Bob took Zach to the Stikers all nighter and watched him play soccer for 4 hours and have pizza and sodas, Bob was wore out, but Zach had a great time. Zach got to go snowboarding with his friend Mitch all day Saturday after his Basketball game, to Powder Mt. He loved it!! 5th grade passes are the best.
One last thing. Sunday during church, Edyn and I were sitting out in the foyer(something we have not had to do for a really long time, but with cousins and everyone there she was really amped up). A man bore testimony that he was the son of God, and Edyn blurts out "No you aren't". It was very funny and the girl sitting out there was laughing. But of course we had a little talk about how we are all sons and daughters of God. What a girl!