Red Rock

 Who needs rest when family adventures are to be had?!!  We decided to take the kids hiking to Red Rock.  Here we are exploring the visitor's center.

 This was the start of our adventure....which just wouldn't be a family adventure without a melt-down of some kind, right?  Cue Chloe....."Mom, my legs hurt already.  I'm tired, let's just go home!"

 Mom's response, "Chloe, this is going to be fun.  Take a picture."  And yes there is a tiny baby in that pouch!

 "Just look out for snakes~they like to sleep under rocks!"

 Jet is pulling Jason up this incline.  Jason had the hardest job...keeping the dog in check and carrying the 2 year old.  But both held up!

 At the end of the hike there was only complaining about wanting to do more and never leave this place because it is so much fun!  But alas, Lincoln, Mommy, and Daddy were in desperate need of naps.  (We don't sleep very well these days...can't imagine why!

Happy Halloween!

 We decided to check out "The Farm" about a week before Halloween.  It was a cute little place with lots of chickens, birds, rabbits, fish, horses, pumpkins, a hay bail maze, a hayride, and apple butter.  You know, the things that are easy to come by back east~but rare in Nevada.

The kids had lots of fun but it was so strange to be picking out our pumpkins and sweating in our shorts and t-shirts.  It was just not the October weather that we are used to!

 The "coy pond".

 Lincoln's pumpkin

This pumpkin turned into Hello Kitty.

This pumpkin turned into a normal jack-o-lantern.

No final shots of these pumpkins because the photographer had to feed the baby.  The pumpkins went outside 2 days before Halloween and quickly turned all sorts of fun colors due to the heat.  They had to be thrown out before any trick-or-treating was to commence.  It's a good thing the process was fun!

Jonah's Hospital Pictures

Hospital photos have come a long way since my first child was born.  We got an entire family (impromptu) photo shoot.  (Not what I was expecting...or I would have made sure everyone had showered, brushed their hair, and put on cute outfits)!  I really thought she would only take the baby's photos....until everyone came in...and she just started snapping more pictures!

Chloe's Baptism

 Jason baptized Chloe yesterday!  She was soooooo excited!  I was surprised she chose to wear a jumpsuit because her friends were all wearing dresses.  She told me she wanted to match Daddy.  (And I told her that I wore a jumpsuit the day I was baptized).

 We were sad not to have any family here, but it was a beautiful event non-the-less.  Our stake has like 28 wards and therefore only have children's baptisms on the first Saturday of every month.  So we weren't able to arrange to have anyone travel across the country to be here.  However, Chloe was able to get baptised with three of her friends.  She didn't want to wait.  She was so excited to follow the example of her Savior Jesus Christ and be baptized.  I asked her how she felt when she came out of the water and her response was,  "Really happy"!

Chloe, Lily, and Lincoln with Kaylee and Kelsey

 Raelin, Chloe, Lizzie, and Celeste all got baptized today.  This was a very special day.  I teach three of these girls in Primary.  They are so much fun!

 Fun 8 year olds!

Afterwards we went to CiCi's Pizza.  Chloe brought her best friend Kelsey. Then they played for the rest of the day! 

Jonah Has Arrived!

Jonah James arrived at 37 weeks and 6 days...quite the record for me! He decided that he was comfortable in there after 10 weeks of bed rest and mommy having to take meds to keep the contractions away. I went into the hospital for what I thought might be a leak. As it turned out I was 4 cm dilated, not leaking, but having regular contractions. So, I was admitted at 5PM at night and had to walk the halls of the hospital every few hours. After more contractions, more dilation....things fizzled out. Nothing. What the heck? My water should have burst by now! But no. Nothing. So my membranes got stripped, Jason and I walked the halls....more contractions, more dilation, then nothing more. So, now they are going to break my water. Okay, now I want an epidural because anytime my cervix gets touched I want to hit someone. Cue the hubby. But alas, it can't be done. If he leaves it in there I will be "wet tapped" and apparently never forgive him for the excruciating headache I would have the following day. So, no epidural. Water is broken. Wow! I forgot how warm and uncomfortable it is to sit in your own water. Pitosin is now flowing into me...not much, but enough to kick start everything into high gear. Ok honey, I want something for this pain! He gives me an intrathecal injection of some drug that makes my legs feel like spaghetti and I get kinda itchy but am loving the fact that I have no pain and can take a 10 minute cat nap. (I have been awake all night long)!!! All of a sudden I am 10 cm dilated fully effaced and ready to push! Wait! Sharon is at the gate trying to get onto base. She's going to video tape my last child being born! I make a call to the neighbor to double check that the garage door is shut as she wasn't totally sure she remembered to shut it. Phew. It is! In comes Sharon and Jason...now the pushing can begin. Oh and now I feel a little bit of the pain. Jason gets to catch the baby, cut the chord, and put the baby on my chest. So much nicer than two years ago when he was across the country while I delivered Lincoln!
Jonah is healthy and strong....just jaundiced. He had to go under the lights twice and had come home with a billy blanket once.
There is never a shortage of arms to hold him, cuddle him, kiss him, or just smother him with love. Lincoln wanted to ignore him at first, but now loves to give him a pacifier, or tell me when baby Jonah is crying or making a funny face.






























He looks so much like his Daddy!














































































































Life must go on. Within Jonah's first week of life he attended Chloe's birthday party...a sleepover. We got home from the last round of light treatment to decorate the house and get some last minute things done. Thank goodness Sharon was here to make the cake and get everything else ready...including taking care of all my other children!




Decorating their treat bags.













Let there be freeze dance!



















Now the house is back to normal. Nanna has gone home and life will take on a new rhythm as mommy learns to juggle life with 4 kids. Wish me luck!