Bear and Babies

This is how the conversation went:
Dad:"Its time to wake-up buddy."
Bear: sitting up in his bed "Dad, Where is the baby?"
Dad: "Uh, in Mommies tummy"
Bear: Running out into the kitchen where Mom is "Mommy where is your baby?"
Mom: "Still in my tummy"
Bear: disappointed and confused "oh"
I think he must have had a dream that we had the baby. Very cute! If only I had a picture of his face. LOL!

Hmmmmm.....

I have just about finished part two of the Darkest Black short story I started in October, but I am not really sure if I want to post it. Does anyone really care to read it? Let me know....

Sushi Rolls

Have you ever had that feeling, the one where you are craving something so badly that it becomes your every thought? Well maybe everyone doesn't go through this, but for the last 7 months it has been my life. I have been craving sushi rolls, desperately! I dream about them, long for them, and yet I have managed to refrain. Some of you may be wondering why, well, when pregnant there are certain food items that you are really supposed to stay away from. Some of those being deli meats, soft cheeses, certain types of fish, and any type of raw meat. The reason being, well basically there are food born illnesses involved that can cause a lot of problems with ones pregnancy. Now, this isn't to say that if one eats these things they are guaranteed to have problems with their baby, but it is a risk and one that I am just not willing to take. There is far to much worry and guilt accompanying it so I keep away no matter how great the craving.
This brings me back now to the reason for this post, somewhere I got the idea that I could make my own sushi rolls at home without the use of raw fish and risk of contamination. So I did research to find out just how to make them and it turned out to be pretty easy, so long as you have the right tools. I ordered what I needed online and then took a couple of trips to the grocery store for different ingredients and then, well have a look....

the seaweed

the inside ingredients

rolling it up

I actually did it! Oh yeah, rice on the outside, thank you very much :)


cutting the pieces


The finished products


This is a terrible picture of me, I know, but look I am finally eating sushi rolls!

Lyon ate them!


Bear loved them! He ate almost as much as I did! This is my little picky four year old too!

Phil loved them too, he took the pictures so I don't have one of him enjoying them.
They really turned out awesome! I will definatley make these again!

Sledding

We woke-up to the snow on Thursday, very unhappily I might add. I had an appointment with my OB, so of course it had to snow the day I would be driving. This has happened almost every single appointment I've had including ultra sounds! Well Bear looked at it with a better attitude, he had gotten a spider-man sledding tube for his B-day, he'd been waiting for just such an occasion to try it out. So after my appointment, which went just fine, we were in and out of the office in 15 minutes then only another 5 minutes to go to the lab and have some blood drawn! How is that for speed! Anyway we took Phil to work then headed home. Bear not forgetting his sled and me feeling to bad to say no decided to take the boys sledding. We had to go home and get their snowsuits on first then we piled back into the car to go to the sledding hill. By the time we got there poor little Lyon had fallen fast asleep, but not Bear he was very ready for action. So I sent him on his way while I watched by the side of the car. I wasn't about to wake-up a sleeping Lyon, but I also didn't want to leave him alone in the car. So I rolled the windows down and stood ready to get him should he wake and also so I had a perfect view of Bear. It was fun for me to watch Bear, He had a method, He would set his sled just so at the top of the hill then back up so he could get a running start and then jump on full speed using the inertia to make it down the hill. He did this for maybe a half hour before he decided to call it a day. He was soaking wet well his snowsuit and jacket were, so he said how about if I lay in the sun. Lol! He laid on the sidewalk for about a minute before deciding he wouldn't dry off that way! He had so much fun though, and it was probably better that Lyon fell asleep so I didn't have to worry about them sharing the sled.



Running Start

Super fast

Sleeping baby

Mama standing guard


This kid is awesome!

Drying off

Kites

So Bear got some kites for his Birthday we've been waiting for a windy day to try them out. We were finally rewarded with a nice windy day :)

I love to see the Temple

We went and saw the Draper Temple, it was Beautiful! We took both Bear and Lyon, Bear was so excited that he got to go.



On the way home we stopped and got the boys some lollipops :D


Since it was Bears B-day we let him decide what we should have for dinner. He told us he wanted to have spagetti and meat balls. Ok I have never made that before but with Phil's help and an awesome recipe I decided to attempt it, for Bear.

The picture does not do it justice. Dinner turned out great, very yummy!

After dinner Phils parents came over with some presents for Bear he was so excited! His favorite thing that he got was a little Book of Mormon. Lol!


After presents, or maybe it was before, we had cake and ice cream. A football cake of course.


When we were finished, our plates were still on the table. Lyon who was not finished yet stayed at the table and after finishing his cake and ice cream he moved over to Bears chair and finished what was left on his plate then he moved over to my plate and finished what was left of mine. Lol! What a silly boy :D


And just for fun,and because I finally have one, here is a belly pic of me. There is definatley a baby in there.


We had a really great day! I love to see the Temples and I am so glad my boy's do too! I also love to spend time with my family, and I am so happy that Bear had a good day on his Birthday! :)

Football Birthday Party

Over the weekend we had an awesome Birthday party for Bear. He turns 4 this week and I thought he was old enough to appreciate a party, and Phil and I were just crazy enough to take it on. We invited all the kids around that are his age (over thirty plus his cousins) and I was just hoping that someone would show up. I was really worried because I know that it can be hard to remember that there is a party and also a lot of kids have been sick. I figured if at least one kid showed up it would be ok. The day of the party arrived and we were all ready, it was two o'clock and...... Thank goodness we had 14 kids come :D HURRAY! The party turned out great, better than great! We had plenty of games and we decorated cupcakes, played out in the back yard and then had ice cream. It was so much fun to watch the kids have so much fun. I was seriously worried that they would be bored. Some of the parents ended up staying, which I expected, because there are some really shy kids. I planned ahead though and had a fruit tray ready for parents to snack on, and we got to visit with one another and we got know them better too! It was just such a relief to have it go so unbeleivabley well! I really want Bear to be able to socialize and have a good variety of friends to play with. I think that this is a good start. We know the kids better they know where we live and we know where they live and we've met their parents. Setting up play dates is so much easier when you know who each other are. It was just so much fun, I'll definatly do it again!

Birthday Bash

This is one of my favorite sites! Go check it out, tons of giveaways and all that good stuff :D

Art Project

Since we don't go outside much we do a lot of art projects. Luckily the boys love to color and paint. Here we took these huge pieces of paper and traced the boys while they were laying on the papers then the boys each drew in the rest of their features.


Bears is a bit more detailed than Lyons. I must admit I did help a little but only with the bones because Bear asked me to. He did his own face though, even all of his teeth :D


Lyon is just such a cutie. He was so proud of his work and wanted to help hang it on the wall. Yes, we hang their artwork all over the walls of my house. I love to look at it all and the boys love to see it hanging up as well :D

I love my family

For relief society we made cupcakes for our sweeties, these are the ones I made for Lyon and Bear. They loved them!



Bears cupcake is an angel with wings holding a heart (in case you couldn't tell)




I was terribly ill on Valentines day so we didn't get to do anything :( The boys went out and did the grocery shopping and surprised me with a bouquet of flowers. Phil said it was Bears idea. I thought this was so sweet, I love my boys!

I hate winter

Alright well its not really that I hate winter its a fine season and can be very beautiful. I particularly love to wake up in the morning and find a fresh blanket of snow on the ground, or watching the snow fall at night in the light on our street lamp.
However, enough is enough! I am so sick of being cold, I am 5 months pregnant, I should not be cold. Yet I am, and winter is to blame.
I once had a biology professor explain to my class, and I am really not sure why, why it is that we love the warm seasons. Something to the effect of our ancestors running around naked in the sunshine, and how our bodies weren't designed for cold weather. Well that is for sure, and right now if it were nice and hot I wouldn't mind running around outside naked. (As long as I were on a deserted island with a beach)
I get like this every year, desperately wanting to go to the beach. I love the sunshine, and I love to swim. I think I was supposed to be a beach bum, with a surf board, and my hair sun bleached and full of sand. Just the thought makes me feel so happy! Perhaps someday Phil and our family will move to the Canary Islands, with its San Diego like weather and beautiful beaches. I would learn Spanish especially if it meant living on the beach. Of course there is a downside to that, as there are those big huge scary dogs there on the islands. I guess that some how I would have to overcome my debilitating fear of dogs. Hey, anything is possible.
Oh well, sigh, for now I will simply have to wait patiently for the days when my boy's and soon girl and I, will be able to go out side play in the kiddie pool and walk to the park. Until then I will simply have to be content with my imagination and dreams of living in warm beach going weather all year round.



This is just a small piece of the Canary Islands. I think that this is really where I belong, but I was born where I was plainly and simply so I could meet Phil. Oh relax people, I know I also wouldn't have all the friends that I have now, so I am grateful to be where I am. ;)The backup plan was that Phil served his mission there so we would have met one way or another. I bet that my Mom and Dad once had a discussion on where they should move to, either Utah or Canary Islands, and Utah won. I can't be selfish if we hadn't come to Utah where would my Brothers and sisters be as far as their spouses and friends go?
Clearly I have thought this through just a little to thoroughly. Lol!

The Belly Bump

Just because....

While sorting through my pictures on my computer I came across this one. I love this picture I am not really sure why. I don't remember ever seeing it before.....

My Mom e-mailed this to me and I wanted to share

The One Flaw In Women

By the time the Lord made woman,
He was into his sixth day of working overtime.
An angel appeared and said,
'Why are you spending so much time on this one?'
And the Lord answered, 'Have you seen my spec sheet on her?
She has to be completely washable, but not plastic,
have over 200 movable parts, all replaceable
and able to run on diet coke and leftovers,
have a lap that can hold four children at one time,
have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart
-and she will do everything
with only two hands.'

The angel was astounded at the requirements.
'Only two hands!? No way!
And that's just on the standard model?
That's too much work for one day.
Wait until tomorrow to finish.'

'But I won't, ' the Lord protested.
'I am so close to finishing this creation that is so close to my own heart.
She already heals herself when she is sick
AND can work 18 hour days.'

The angel moved closer and touched the woman.
'But you have made her so soft, Lord.'
'She is soft,' the Lord agreed,
'but I have also made her tough.
You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish.'

'Will she be able to think?', asked the angel.
The Lord replied,
'Not only will she be able to think,
she will be able to reason and negotiate.'

The angel then noticed something,
and reaching out, touched the woman's cheek.
'Oops, it looks like you have a leak in this model.
I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one.'

'That's not a leak,'
the Lord corrected,
'that's a tear!'
'What's the tear for?' the angel asked.

The Lord said, 'The tear is her way of expressing her joy,
her sorrow, her pain, her disappointment, her love,
her loneliness, her grief and her pride. '
The angel was impressed.
'You are a genius, Lord.
You thought of everything!
Woman is truly amazing.'

And she is!
Women have strengths that amaze men.
They bear hardships and they carry burdens,
but they hold happiness,
love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy
and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in.
They stand up to injustice.
They don't take 'no' for an answer
when they believe there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel
and cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about
a birth or a wedding.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member,
yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss
can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you
to show how much they care about you.
The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope and love.
They have compassion and ideals.
They give moral support to their family and friends.
Women have vital things to say and everything to give

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE TINY FLAW IN WOMEN,

IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

Family Pictures

Graves Family


Phil, Rose, Lyon, and Bear


Jason, Rebecca, and Little Taylor



Daniel and Kealy



Nathan, Ben, and Stephanie

Beauty Baby!

This is what makes all of my misery worthwhile! :)
Even as I post this I can feel my little angel squirming around inside and I absolutely love her to pieces! Yes, we are having a darling baby girl! I should probably tell you all that we have already chosen a name, but it is a secret that we will tell on her birthday :D

Complaining

It has been a very difficult month of January for me this year. I have been pregnant, which makes me unbearably moody, tired, and completly overwhelmed. Our computer broke. Which wasn't the end of the world or anything, its just a nice window to the outside world when stuck inside all day long. And I still haven't taken down all of my Christmas decorations, something that irritates me constantly.
I must admit I haven't taken these things lightly. I have been very, and I must stress VERY, ornery and whiny. You'd think I would know better, I am a grown woman afterall. How many times have I told my boys not to whine because it is soooooo annoying? If you have kids you know all about this. They start whining about something that you have no control over and expect you to fix it. Or its something that you are working on and you just need them to leave you alone long enough so you can, make them a snack, or get them a drink, or get the door open, or whatever it happens to be.
Knowing this as I do I have learned nothing. I have gone on and on to my own Mom about things that she has no control over and cannot fix for me. I have gone on and on to my husband who is working on it but needs me to leave him alone long enough so he can get whatever it is at the moment, done. I think I have whined to just about everyone who will listen to me.
How funny would it have been if my son had said to me: "Stop Whining, its so annoying!"
Maybe I would have snapped out of it sooner.
The point I am trying to make, to myself mostly, is that we all have troubles. Its okay to vent once in a while. However there is a time and a place. Its not okay to whine through every conversation one has. So I have decided that if I want people to continue talking to me I must change my attitude, NOW!
This is my new New Years Resolution! Having a good attitude makes me, and those around me, happier. I will remember that I have been greatly blessed and very well taken care of. I can do it!

And, I'll save the whining for my monthly visit to the doctors office, LOL!