more tid bits

Going to put things down before I forget them:

Went for a prenatal check up today. Heart beat was 160. I'll go in for an ultrasound next month!

Nathan climbed the ladder, walked to the edge and jumped off the low board this week, ALL by himself!! His swim teacher was in the water to catch him. Awesome!

Nathan also got in trouble in swim this week because he keeps getting into the water and doing bobs instead of sitting on the edge of the pool waiting for his next turn in the next activity.

We've had SUPER cool, rainy weather. I've loved it. Had the electric blanket going again this week. Love the thunderstorms, love the smell of rain, love not watering my flowers. Think it's a little funny that my tomato plants may have gotten too cold.

We had such a violent storm one day that the lawn was washing away down the street (no kidding) in a torrent of mud. We're hoping our house has a 'firm foundation.' The pool got so full we had to siphon out the water with a hose. Shane struggled with it until I came up with the idea to have the hose filled with running water, then unhook it and let it keep sucking out. It finally worked....Shane gave me ingenuity credit...take it when I can. The windows and downstairs all flooded too, luckily we were here to catch it all in bowls, towels and buckets!! Still need to do that wet laundry....

Shane finished washing the windows by pulling out the scaffolding...this made me much happier. It was better to see him on something solid, rather than a little wimpy aluminum ladder. He is my HERO!

I have decided that it's okay for me to publicly announce that I don't like pioneer days. While our stake was going through the "Willy's Second Rescue" some 16 years ago, and doing work for the pioneers that died in Wyoming (See any LDS publication on this event) I was being surrounded by the actual trials and death of my wonderful mother. So for the years everyone was telling pioneers stories, at meetings, at conferences, at special gatherings, at youth parties, at trek organizational meetings and talking about all of the great things going on with the church and the discoveries, I was pretty much uninterested and/or effected by it. So now when I hear about the second rescue stuff, YEAR after YEAR, all it does it bring me back to the end of my childhood, then end of my family as I knew it (for now) and a whole bunch of loss and sadness. (Yes, Yes, I know I have tremendous blessings and all that good stuff...but it doesn't change how those stories make ME feel.) There...now you know why I don't frequent Rock Creek.

I have discovered that Potty Training is much harder than I anticipated.

I have thrown up only once this whole month!! (this is really good news.)

And over all I'm feeling good, ready to have all the 2nd trimester energy put to good use!

I can't get the lap top to work, or I'd have some pictures to put up! I'll try to put some of my energy into that.

Tid-Bits at the Petty's

Here are a few tid-bits about the goings on at Petty's Place:

Nathan (like all two-year olds) is very possessive about things. Shane was playing with him the other day with his trucks and said, "Well, I think it should go over here like this. That's my opinion." And Nathan, NOT to be outdone said "NO! It's MY opinion!" This cracked me up. We're so glad he has his opinion.

Yesterday, Shane went garage sailing. He found a Christmas tree. We set it up in the living room to see how it looked. It was the happiest thing that happened all week! I LOVE Christmas and was SO glad to have a tree set up in my living room to admire.

Nathan has starting to learn about similes. For the last two weeks, when he gets chilly, he gives a shiver and says "Momma, I'm cold like milk."

The family went to a whirlwind Utah trip last week. We accomplished little, and were a bit discouraged. Mostly for Autoplex. I did however, procure a few maternity tops...I need to go back and get some cuter ones from Motherhood Maternity (I'm 16 weeks along now, not showing too much yet) I only made it to Kohls. Came home and was really sick for a few days. The highlight was seeing Harry Potter at Thanksgiving Point. No offense Lander/Riverton but digital sound, Big Screen, stadium seating and a clean theatre do make a more enjoyable viewing experience. However, the water I bought was almost as much as my ticket.

I have photo's from Utah and some photo's from rodeo days in Sheridan that I need to get up, but haven't done so yet. They are pretty darn cute, and I'm excited to get them posted. Plus the accompanying stories.

Nathan starts swimming lessons again tomorrow, I'm looking forward to this diversion. And to see how NQ does in an hour swim lesson. Especially since we went to the lake last week and he jumped off the boat, I don't know, at LEAST 30 times. He loves swimming, and didn't even mind his new life jacket. We'll have to go again when Shane can come and help round him up and return him to the boat.

Ah yes, and returning from the lake was an adventure as the truck was filled with gas, instead of diesel at the Riverton Co-Op. Impressive we made it home.

Shane has courageously been cleaning the outside windows of our Northern View. This has terrified me. But they are looking much better! So long as I don't see him swaying around on the ladder, I do fine.

I NEED some new requests for good books to read. I'm not a fan of sad/crying/disturbing types. (Example: Did NOT like the Kite Runner)

Just thought I better get some updates posted! Thanks for waiting.

4th of July 2009

Here are the cute cousins enjoying the front row seat to the parade, just before it got going.

Olivia LOVES to give loves.


Dad and the Larsens enjoying the simple joys of the 4th.

Wes and Brooke, the hero to every child on the block.

Nathan enjoying the goods.

Olivia had two or three.

Some very authentic looking Indians

Nathan was an enthusiastic waver to the parade people.

Favorite parts of 4th of July week:

1. BBQ with Sarah, Bela, Annie, Dave and company in the most amazing electrical storm and rain downpour ever. Bela buying a balloon for Nathan. So CUTE!

2. Shane's 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. killing spree with Wyatt and Kelton.

3. N.Q. liking to be sprayed by the firetrucks at the parade.

4. Dutch oven BBQ down by the Tee Pees at Grandparents Barney's House

5. Swimming in Grandma's Awesome inflatable pool.

6. REALLY amazing fireworks and program at the Bill's House. WONDERFUL SHOW.

7. Watching the town blast into the 4th with an amazing array of colors and sparkles, the black out helped bring out the intensity of the blast show going on everywhere.

8. Having Wyatt, Lisa, Brynnlee, and Kelton come shoot off a few fireworks with us.

9. Brynnlee's Squeaky shoes and piggy tails

10. Olivia's Laugh when I tickled her. And her all consuming smile.

11. Time well spent with family

12. Four hour nap on Sunday because I woke up long enough to be tired to go back to sleep again.

13. Feeling a little less sick most of the time. (But not all...)

14. The cool weather was fantastic and I loved it! Even the rain was welcomed by me.