Sam

I gave Sam a haircut today, because I think all little boys need a buzz in the summer. It's UnAmerican isn't it? He gets so hot and sweaty and his hair just drips totally gross. After his haircut, he picked out this outfit, and was in a silly mood (surprise). So here is my All-American boy today!

Baby Update

Last night was a pretty active night in the baby factory. I was having contractions every 6-8 minutes for about 2 hours. They were uncomfortable, but not really hurting. So at about 2:00 am, and at the end of our movie, we decided to just try going to bed and see what happened, and of course nothing happened! I'm so glad we didn't go to the hospital, they would have sent us home. It did make me realize this baby is coming sooner than later, and I need to get a little bit more prepared. I'm going to go pack a few things for everybody just in case.

Tuesday night we are going to try the "Italian Village" trick. Heidi started this crazy tradition 11 grandchildren ago. When she was pregnant with her oldest, they went to Italian Village, ate pizza benders and a salad, went home, and six hours later she woke up in the middle of the night, and her water broke. She claims it was the Pizza benders. She then told a few of her friends about it, and for a few, it worked too. So from there, every pregnancy my sisters and I have had, we have gone to Italian Village to try to induce labor. It hasn't ever worked for me, but believe it or not, it worked for my youngest sister Jess. With Jess, we had finished eating the yummy pizza benders, and were getting ready to leave. Heidi said, "OK Jess in 6 hours if it's going to work, you'll be in labor. 6 hours and about 15 minutes, we get a phone call (it was something like 1:00 am). I remember flying out of bed and saying "oh, she is such a brat for calling us to play a joke!" But her water had really broke and a few hours later she had her baby! So were going to try it out, because I really don't want to wait until next Monday. I'm desperate and will try anything, except camphor oil! We're going to keep our fingers crossed and keep you posted! If not, I'm going to get a pedicure on Thursday. The last time I went, the guy who did the pedicure claims he had a foot massage to induce labor! I'm going to try that out...if nothing else, I'll have cute nails to look at on Monday! Stay tuned!

Storm Mountain

I have been wanting to go camping so bad, but the timing of several different things, have made it pretty much impossible for us to go this year. Then, I went to the Dr.'s and he told me I shouldn't go camping....big bummer. So last week, we had to get out of the valley. We went up to Storm Mountain for a picnic and a little break from the heat.

We had great dinner of fried chicken and lots of yummy salads.

We found the amphitheater and Maddie and Katie put on a show for us. Richard and Sam climbed to the top of the mountain, and I think just about gave Sam a heart attack. He said it was scary, but fun, and he thought it was cool to see the freeway from up so high. Next time, I'll remind Richard he's only 6 before they decided to shimmy up the mountain. It was such a nice night. Here are some pictures of it.

Hopefully in a few weeks we'll finally get to go camping. But until then, these excursions will have to do!

Maddie

Get ready or not, I'm going to try to get caught up on my blogging, so Richard can take over for a little while (laughing). Maybe it is the 21st century nesting, but I've been feeling like I needed to get caught up on my computer stuff before this baby gets here.

I haven't posted anything exclusively about Maddie for along time and she had a crazy last few weeks of school. Here's what's been happening in her life....At her dance recital, she received an award for passing off her splits (both sides and center). As anyone who was around Maddie throughout the year knows, she practiced just about every waking minute on her splits. Passing them off was a piece of cake for her. For doing this, she got a gift certificate to Coldstone, my kind of reward. Maddie showed us last week that she has mastered the ability to do the splits up the stairs. She's got talent, what can I say.

Maddie had a fun soccer season this year, and she even scored a few goals. She is getting pretty good on the defensive side (I think that is what they tell me.) I've only been watching Richard play soccer for 17 years now, and I still don't get the stinkin' game. My ADD kicks in big time during the game. I thought it would be better watching kids, but it really isn't. At least I'm there though....RIGHT?

At school she received her Golden Hawk Award, for completing certain requirements established by the teacher. Maddie met every requirement set! Way to go Madders! Also, with about 2 weeks left of school, and some serious "Whocaresitus" had set in, she brought home a stinkin' assignment for an Oral report on dinosaurs. With the report, she had to create a visual representation. It was due the last Wednesday of the school year. I was really thrilled about this! We almost boycotted, but decided that wouldn't be a very good example, so we did the report on an Ankylosaurus, and because I am the crafty queen of the world, haha, we decorated a cake. She did 95% of the work herself, and I must say she did a very cute job! The "Richard" side of her had a map all drawn out with very detailed labels of where she was going to put everything down to the dirt piles. As much as I complained, she had fun doing the assignment, and loves to ramble off fun facts about the Ankylosaurus. Quiz her next time you see her.

Maddie also finished up her Girl Scout year. They did some fun things, but her favorite activity was going to Build A Bear. Her troop had a year end party at Bouncin' Off the Walls, and we had a great time. She earned a ton of badges and a Gift Certificate to Boondocks.

It's hard for me to believe she is done with 2nd grade. Third grade seems so old to me. I remember so much from my 3rd grade year, that it seems like this is when you really start your memory. She's a great girl and such a big help around the house. I don't know what we'd do with out her. We're excited to start a new school and see what that brings. Way to go Mads---we're proud of you.

Hip Hip Hooray!!!

We're celebrating today because SCHOOL IS FINALLY OUT!!! We had a last day of school party with the Olsen's. The kids all voted on going to Up Chuck A Rama for lunch, and then we went back to Heidi's and they jumped and had a little water fun. We (I) didn't think this day would ever come! I've complained about it before, but driving back and forth from Riverton to West Jordan 3 times a day has gotten really old. I think I was more excited today than the kids were. I just don't know what I'm going to do with 2 extra hours of free time on my hands....oh yeah....have a new baby! I guess this is another reason to celebrate....
(Sam and Mrs. Ruoho)

(Maddie and Miss Gibby)

(Let the party begin)


I went to my Dr.'s appointment today and I officially have a scheduled induction date for July 14th. It is later than I was hoping for, and would be only 1 day early, but at least I won't be going over my due date. I was hoping for July 10th, but I guess you can't get everything you want in child birth right! My dad reminded me that the 14th is my Grandma's birthday, so that would be neat to have it on her birthday, and who knows, if we can't come up with anything better, Arlene might be a pretty cute name for this baby.


On that note, we don't have a name still. We're stuck on Lauren (Richard/Sam) or Ellie (Katie/Brinley/Maddie). But I'm not sure I want to do either one right at the moment, so I'm open to suggestions. My mom has come up with some winners, her latest is Johannah. I think she was offended when I laughed at her. Sorry mom!

Our Comedian

Brinley has been keeping us in stitches lately. She says the funniest things anymore. She makes up new words to songs, and busts us up. The other day she started singing Pat-a-cake Pat-a-cake bakers men, but instead of bakers men, she said "Pat-a-cake, Pat-a-cake, spank yours men."

Last night as I was putting her to bed she had a little crusty booger so I picked it off. She was so offended. She said, "Hey that's my booger, put it back." I told her that's gross and that I couldn't put it back. She took it off my finger and tried to snort it back up her nose, and then started laughing because it tickled, so of course the crusty boogie went flying out of her nose.

Constantly, I wonder what people do for laughs without kids.

Brinley's Favorite Spot

Our church time is from 1:00-4:00, which we enjoy our nice lazy mornings, but it is a killer on nap time. One nice benefit is Brin usually sleeps through sacrament meeting, and then wakes up happy and ready to go to nursery. Yesterday, this is how we spent the hour. By the time the meeting was over, I was melting and a little uncomfortable. I'm not sure if it's appropriate to take a picture during sacrament meeting, so watch out for the lightening!

And yes, this is about the only way I'll take a picture these days. That belly is gross!