Merry Christmas!

Christmas 2009
Dear Family and Friends,

Merry Christmas! The Petty Family has had another great year! We’re really excited for the newest adventure yet to arrive, a baby boy due in the next couple of weeks! Our little family is growing!

Nathan turned 3 years old this November! We celebrated with a “Pirate Party” and invited the kids to wear their Halloween costumes. Nathan has had a stellar swimming season, and continues to amaze Shane and me with his quick thinking, humor and cognitive grasp of EVERYTHING!! He loves to talk on the phone, and will go around the house with it at his ear having great conversations with who ever will take time to talk to him. He likes to paint, color, dance – Like Michael Jackson, sing about whatever is important (don’t bite me, Dinosaur, don’t bite me) and will never been seen without a truck or car on his person somewhere, usually tucked into the safety of his backpack. Pizza or grilled cheese sandwich is his favorite food.

Shane FINALLY received a new church calling in about September. He is a primary teacher to the 11-12 year olds. (This means I do too) He LOVES the kids in his class. He was also THRILLED with the early snow we had this season taking advantage of riding his “Dragon” powder sled. The outdoors man takes part in shooting sports, 4-wheeling, and dirt biking, fishing, hiking... Autoplex is under its 5th year with Shane as the steward over it. He’s made some great contacts within the business and banking world and enjoys those relations. He’s also now a VERY ACTIVE Kiwanis member! He does lots of volunteering with that organization, and I’m very proud of him. Shane has lots of favorite foods, among them: crab and lobster.

I’ve continued into my Ward Activities and Activity Day Girl callings with vigor, and was released from the girls in November. I will miss them. We found out we were pregnant in April! I was thrilled and hoped the pregnancy would be as easy as the first one. It was NOT. This, I felt, meant we were having a girl, it did NOT! We are thrilled NQ will be having a brother! I started nesting early and was ready for Christmas in October, wanting a tree, music, presents and the whole ordeal up and going! I did NOT. Nonetheless, I DID have much accomplished! I’ve done a few cakes and pictures and projects this year, and that’s how I like it. My favorite food is ever changing with my food tolerance; however I’ll almost never turn down quality chocolate!

We’ve been pleased to be party to an engagement this year. Congratulations to Brooke and Wes! We’ve also been very happy to have the Travis, Amy and Olivia Barney family move to Lander! It’s been so fun to have them so close!

Thank you for being a part of our lives!

Love,
Cami, Shane, Nathan and
Soon-to-be baby boy Petty

Snow Boys

Shane and Nathan felt the urge to snowmobile around the yard/fairgounds on Tuesday. We bundled NQ to the max, because the sun was setting soon. He loved it. He loves the snow, he loves his snow gear, he loves the snowmobiles and he loves his Daddy. Best 20 minutes of the whole day, no doubt.

Shower, cousins and Clouds

Baby Update: For now my scheduled C-section date is January 7th. Unless I go into labor before then, the 7th will be baby Petty's Birthday.

The Shower on the 10th was lovely. Of course I forgot my Camera. Wendy took a couple of photos which I will have to get from her. But I did take a couple of pictures of the diaper cake that Camille and Korahle made. Isn't this awesome?! I unrolled it a few days later and can't believe HOW MANY diapers they had to roll, and then secure with tiny little baby hair bands! Very cool. And I'm Sure, Time consuming. One of the games we played was "mold the cutest baby" out of Play-doh. I then selected the cutest of the babies. This was fun to watch, all the ladies and their Play-doh making tiny little people. Did you know they make black Play-Doh? I didn't, until then ;o) It was a fun shower, and I received wonderful gifts. And I appreciated anyone who made an effort to come in the ZERO degree weather. Sure, that seemed warmer than a few days before, but it was still ZERO outside. SO THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE!



After Church on 13th, our little Kidlets looked so cute in their Christmas outfits we took some photos for all posterity. Arranging TWO children is much harder than arranging one. This will be good to remember.

NQ faking a sneeze, because I sneezed to make Olivia smile.

Neither one really paying attention, but at least they're holding still

Olivia loved hugging, but ALWAYS with her face away from the camera.

(but aren't they so cute anyhow?)

Cutest little cousins.

I looked out our window the other day and saw waves in the sky. Just over the hills North of Lander these little curly peaks formed. I took some photos because I thought they were unique.

Christmas Love Giveaway via Jennifer.

You all know how I love these things! Jennifer makes the CUTEST stuff to giveaway.

(Plus she has a hilarious blog)

Check out the latest cuteness at:

http://sjandcc.blogspot.com/2009/12/giveaway-christmas-love.html

Then sign yourself up!

Nathan thoughts

The biggest thing we're doing now is playing Dinosaurs. Only we have three: a Baby, a Momma and a Daddy Dinosaur. And with them, essentially play 'house.' The Dino's go grocery shopping, go to the movie, play tag, take naps, eat popcorn, sell cars and dirt bikes, ride in Jeeps, snowmobiling, do dishes, find volcano's, etc. Seriously, Nathan brings me a dinosaur, where ever I am...even NOW as I type, to play dinosaurs. Right this second they are playing Hop Scotch.

A few things that have made me beam this last week:
Nathan likes it when Shane pulls the 'tree break' (E-break) on the car to make it slide in the snow. He also calls the computer the 'cuter;' "Are you working on the Cuter?" and last week I asked Shane to get me the fungal cream for a rash on Nathan and Nathan said "Why do I need Jungle Cream?"

Baby Thoughts

Here are some baby thoughts I'm having:

I would really prefer to have this little boy in January for a few reasons:

1. I think that if he was born between now and Christmas, that I would feel like he would get lost in the shuffle of Christmas every year. I would really like him to be born after Christmas...even more if he were born in January.

2. I KNOW this is just silly, but I like the January Garnet Birthstone better than the light Blue Topaz December Birthstone. It goes better (in my mind) with NQ's November Topaz (orangey) stone.

I have a name I think that we'll use. I love the name. I love that I came up with it, and that Shane likes it and thought it was good too. I'm not revealing it yet, because if he's born and the name just doesn't fit...at least people won't be asking me about the change of mind.

I've got the baby laundry clean, now I just have to figure out where I'm going to put it. NQ is still happy in his crib, in the nursery and I'm not about to move him this close to the 'event.' I have plans for rearranging the upstairs. We'll have to get to that sooner or later....likely later. For now I plan on staying in the guestroom and moving the cradle in there. (Especially since it was 40, yes 40 degrees in MY bedroom this morning.) The guest room is also the only room in the house with a steady way to control the heat (electric baseboards.) NQ's room has a infrared heater to keep it warm.

I'm appreciative for the baby shower tomorrow evening being held in my honor. VERY sweet of Wendy and Jillyn putting it together for me and for Camille to act as email notifier! I'll get photos and details on that.

Really I'm excited to meet this little person. Tomorrow I'll be 36 weeks. Then on Monday, I'll finally be meeting my possible C-section surgeon. I imagine we'll set a date. So by Monday afternoon, we should know a little more about what to expect. So whether Dec or Jan, I know he's coming and I know it'll be less than four weeks. It's really counting down now, and I'm glad. Today I hit the big Wal-Mart and purchased all of those last minute kinds of things that you know you won't be getting at the baby shower...mostly things to stock the bathroom with...pads of all sorts, another nursing bra, and a gown for the hospital...I'm not too thrilled with the ones they have, and I know I'll be spending a few days hanging out there.

Getting a little nervous, my last birth experience wasn't so fun. But holding on the faith that this one HAS to be better! It will certainly be quicker! And hopefully a quicker recovery to go with it.

Well, more to come! Stay tuned.

Dishwasher, stolen 4-wheeler and more waxing poetic.

Photo credit: flickr.com
Here's a little bit of journaling / catch up that i wanted to document before it all slipped my mind, might not be too interesting...then again...I'm feeling rhymey.

Twas the week of Thanksgiving when all through the house, a horrible grinding disturbed the dead mouse(s). The dishwasher had died, a most long miserable death, the husband removed it with only two days left! In the big hole we found mice, long passed their due. Skeletons in nests of a yellowish hue. ON BLEACH! ON SOAP! ON HOT HOT HOT WATER! I must Clean out the kitchen from this horrible Fodder! Twas now Wednesday that the new model came. More than 6 hours installation, faulty directions to blame. Thank goodness for the Internet with the correct way to do it. A Thanksgiving miracle! That's how I view it.

This Week:

Rawlins Trip: Tuesday Morning Shane calls and says: Do you want to go to Rawlins with me to get a car? I say Sure! Rawlins doesn't seem to be too Far...So long as I sleep on the way there! And I did, making a wreck of my hair. We checked the weather before we left, Dry roads were predicted and sunshine too....but when we started home it would show that a snowy blizzard blew. All the way from Muddy Gap did we stare, at the road with the lines that were barely there. Scary by the time we got back to Lander, several inches had fallen where before there had been sun-a-pander. (okay, that's a stretch.) The next day to compensate from my prolonged house absence, I did too much bending, twisting, lifting and suffered pain and contractions!

Thursday: By now I have put myself on Bed Rest. Little did I know that Shane was having Autoplex Cop Fest! It would seem that at 1 in the morning on Tuesday, someone thought that they would pick a new 4-wheeler and head Riverton-way. Shane hadn't noticed until someone came to buy, to the camera's he went, looking to spy. Spy for the the criminal who had picked it up. We saw many instances of a person walking the lot and his 4x4 pickup truck. Anyway, Shane and the cops are now on the look-out. When found, at this snake will Shane want to Shout! At work until 8, and up and back again this morning, we hope to see him sometime soon, life with out Daddy is boring.

Nathan has gotten into the Christmas spirit, this morning he brought me candy, with Christmas Salutations did he Cheer it! "Here's some Candy Momma! Merry Christmas to You!" He's been singing jingle bells about the home, mostly he hums, but he does know the tune. Yesterday he saw that during his nap that presents had been placed under the tree, he said "look at those presents!" to himself, and he didn't notify me.

Okay that's enough rhyme. Also cute today, Nathan wanted some popcorn with his breakfast, after the eggs and muffin were gone, I obliged, since I had some on the counter. Then I got him singing "my pop-pop-pop-pop- my pop-popcorn face." It was pretty adorable.

Thanksgiving 2009

Here it is, the Crown Jewel Of Thanksgiving. The BEAUTIFUL Turkey! 23 pounds of it. We used the Martha Stewart Method; basting with 3 sticks of butter and one whole bottle of dry white wine, with the turkey shrouded in a cheesecloth. (My first purchase in a liquor store! I know, shocking isn't it?)

My Table: Brown on Brown. I loved it!

The Menu:
Shrimp Cocktail (Lori), Corn Chowder (Brooke), Pomegranate Jello (me), Turkey (group effort), mashed potatoes (peeled a la Wes & Brooke), gravy (by Lori), Cranberry Sauce (me), Stuffing with pine nuts, sausage and water chestnuts (Brooke), Sweet potatoes (me), corn (parents garden), Rolls (Me, Brooke and Wes), Squash - which didn't really make an appearance (Dad), Welches Sparkling Grape Juice, Spiced Cidar(Me), Water, pumpkin cheese cake (Brooke and Wes), Apple and Pecan Pie (Lori) and whipped cream. We had a very abundant feast and days and days and days of wonderful left-overs.

Shane, doing the pre-dinner clean up. Nothing worse than doing hours and hours and hours of dishes after the meal when you can save yourself tons of time by cleaning up in between cooking duties.

Brooke, also doing pre-dinner clean up.

Cooking began at 6:30 A.M. with Sausage cooking, and celery, onion, and water chestnut chopping. You've got to get that Turkey stuffed before it can go in the oven!

Sam and Nathan, awaiting the feast.

Lori making WONDERFUL gravy with our Turkey,butter, wine juices.

Dad and Wes having conversation



8:00 P.M. Totally Conked out watching the game on TV.

33 Weeks & Ultra Sound Photos - finally

I went in for my 33 week appointment today. ALL IS WELL! Heart rate: GOOD. Blood Pressure: GOOD. Weight Gain: GOOD. Everything Else: GOOD! I'm measuring at 33 weeks, which means we've caught up to when I was measuring 5 weeks too big, and this is also: GOOD! I even got to feel his head, which is down in my pelvic area...just where he should be! I had to take Ruth's word for it, I couldn't really tell what I was feeling, but she assured me it was his head.

Here are some of my 2nd Ultra sound Photos from a few months ago.

The tech was surprise at how long these baby feet were :o)

Pretty sure he's smiling in this one.

I love this photo, because he's waving at us.

Nathan has been helping me with my 'fetal kick count.' (You want 10 kicks within an hour, we're usually about 7 minutes or so) He comes and talks to the baby, and lays his head on my belly, and often exclaims: "He Kicked Me!!" Nathan talks about his baby brother and asks me if 'the baby' is sleeping, or asks if he is playing. It's very sweet that he has an awareness of what is happening inside my tummy. He's excited to be a 'big brother.' When ever Shane or I tell Nathan what a big boy his is, he says "yeah, like a big brother." I have big hopes for these boys to be great friends. I'm sure they will be.

Tip of the Day: tennis ball in the dryer

(Photo credit: Flickr)

We had an activity for the Activity Day Girls a week or so a go. And I learned that if you put a clean tennis ball (I think you need just one) in your dryer with your towels or down coats and such, that it will fluff the heck out of them!! Wow, something so simple, yet so effective! I'm gonna put "tennis balls" on my shopping list for this week!

Bride's Maids

Brooke Surprised us girls (Amy and I) with adorable personalized wedding dress cookies, inviting us to be part of her special day! What a very clever and special way to deliver the message. Of course I said yes, and not long after the photo's were taken, the Petty family devoured my cookie. It was delicious.

Mine says "Will You Be My Matron of Honor"


Amy's Says "Will You Be My Bride's Maid"



Brooke and Olivia

Happy third Birthday Nathan

One week after Halloween, we celebrated Nathan's third birthday with a Pirate Party! I decided to heck with the germs floating about Fremont County.

Amy and Travis went to a lot of work to make a "Pirate Ship" for the occasion, and the kids loved it!

The Shipmates, enjoying the ship

For a Pirate Birthday Party, one needs a Pirate Birthday Cake. This was actually one of the easiest cakes I've ever made. It's true, sometimes less is more!

How I decided to do the candles, which were trick candles, I hadn't realized until the copious amounts of smoke and flickering began.

Birthday boy blowing his candles.


More fun aboard the sea worthy boat

NQ checking out the port holes

NQ and Olivia Checking out the port holes

Aunt Brooke joined us from Sheridan for the festive event.

Nathan loving on his Aunt Brooke.

For the party we played:

1. Walk the plank

2. Duck, Duck, Pirate

3. Mark the "X" on the map

then we watched a pirate Backyardagains episode

Followed by Lunch of "Golden (chicken) Nuggets", veggie tray and fruit tray

The adults had quiche

Then Cake and Ice cream followed by presents for all!

We had a treasure hunt slated as well, but the kids were winding down and didn't need the extra activity.

Thanks to Brooke, Amy, Travis and Shane for all your help!

Halloween 2009

Here's what the Petty Family Looked like for Halloween this Year!

NQ the Pirate and Momma the Hippie supporting the theme of "Free Love" with a peace sign on her unborn child.

Daddy the greaser all slicked up and slicked back with a deck of cards rolled up in his sleeve along with his pirate son.

The fantastic little pirate


Another shot of Pirate and Greaser


We hit the main street trick or treating 1st for about an hour, then we attended the ward party for probably less than 30 minutes. The kids had a blast. We went with Olivia (princess Leia), Amy (scary witch) and Travis (World Champion Boxer.) I will have to steal pictures from them later! I love this age...just over an hour was enough for EVERYONE!!

Peach Crumb Cake Mix

(photo credit: flickr)

All I can say about this recipe is YUM!! In addition to my Choke Cherry Jelly Jars I have ready for the holidays, I also made a few Peach Crumb Cake Mix Jars. I recently baked one, just to test it out. You know, make sure it is a quality product. IT IS! So I'm sharing with you!

3/4 C. Sugar

3/4 C. Quick Oats

3/4 C. Brown Sugar

2 C. All-purpose flour

2 tsp. Baking powder

1/2 tsp. Salt

In a 1-quart container of your choice, layer the above ingredients in order given. Pack each layer into the container before adding the next ingredient.

FOR LABEL:

1 jar Peach Crumb Cake Mix

3/4 C. butter or margarine

1 (29 oz.) can peach pie filling

Preheat oven to 350. Empty the contents of jar into mixing bowl, stirring to combine (if brown sugar is hard, microwave for 10 seconds.) Melt butter and stir into dry ingredients to form a crumbly mixture. Press half of the crumbs into a greased 9 x 13" pan and top with peach pie filling. Sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture over filling. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes.

You WILL want Ice cream or PLENTY of milk to go with this dessert! It is RICH and DELICIOUS!

Swine Flu and Worse

As I've mentioned on my facebook account, there is a terrible swine flu epidemic going around Fremont county. They've shut down schools, put out public warnings, etc. We also had a child die of meningitis out on the reservation. It won't take that long to start wrecking havoc also. Well, since taking NQ to the Dr. Office (what five weeks ago?) he still has a nagging residual cough that won't go away! He's pretty susceptible to anything respiratory (STUPID INFANT RSV!!! CURSE YOU!!!) Anyhow...we've been staying out of the public. With NQ low on illness tolerance and with me being pregnant, we've been home from church, group activities, staying home from swimming lessons...etc. I'm not sure what to do about NQ's birthday party. I have it all planned out and materials purchased. We'll just have to see.

Shane is super careful to clean Autoplex daily, keeps sick people out of his main office, and is buying Lysol like it's a special on black Friday. Don't worry that we're being antisocial. We're just being SUPER CRAZY careful. I hope the county will be clear in the next 60 days or so!! Nathan and I DID get our regular flu shots, me at the clinic, NQ at Public health on Tuesday. Amy says that the H1N1 vaccine is NOT advisable. So the boys are skipping that one. The Women's clinic talked ME into getting it yesterday, however.

Because I Love Fall: A Jennifer Giveaway!

I love when Jennifer has Giveaways! She made these adorable little fabric pumpkins and will give one away to a lucky winner!

Click here:

http://sjandcc.blogspot.com/2009/10/giveaway-because-i-love-fall.html

Good Luck!

My Twins

Yes, I have twins, but not in the traditional sense. Really I have a Daddy and his clone. I'll tell you what, once Daddy is at home after work, the little clone could care less if Mommy exsisited! He's all about Daddy. If Daddy is outside, the clone is outside. If Daddy is working with tools, the clone is working with tools. If Daddy is on the floor, the clone is on the floor. If Daddy needs a juice, the clone needs a juice. You get the idea. These two are the bestest friends ever, the clone will tell you so! I'm glad to have them!

Here's a few photo's of the boys wearing their 'twin' outfits. Aren't they cutest thing ever?? Well, I think so, even if you don't...and that's all that matters! :o)