Props For Poison Control

There is nothing like having to call Poison Control to make you feel like a bad mom.

Long story short, Ava got into some "outgro" medicine. I had to call poison control. She only got a few drops. She's fine. But I think it's time to child proof the house. (I know I know, I should have done that a while ago!)

BUT, props to Poison Control. They we were really great. They were kind, knowledgeable, and most importantly CALM. I never felt the need to panic. And not only were they great during the call, but a couple of hours later they called back to make sure Ava was still doing okay.

Though I can dream, I know it won't be the last time I have to make that call.

For Grandparents & Keith

It's been a while since I've put updated pictures of Ava up. She is getting so big and grown up. She's been really sick the last week and I'm sorry to admit that I kind of enjoyed it because for the first time in a LONG time my baby girl snuggled with me and let me just hold her and rock her. She's on the mend now and I'm glad she's feeling better. Here are a few fun pictures from the last month or so.

Ava in a cute onsie from Modern Myrtle making a face at mom.

I'm a little behind, so this picture is actually from Thanksgiving at Uncle Keith & Aunt Natalie's house. Ava loved chewing on the corn.
I've told Chris he better be careful becaues Ava already has an obsession with shoes. She knows where we keep the shoes and always goes over to them wanting to put them on. It's pretty funny.

I think this picture was taken just a few days ago so it's the most recent one I have of her.

Ava LOVES to ride her hippo. She used to push it around all the time and it helped her walk, but then daddy decide to show her how to ride on top of it and now she loves to do that instead. Ufortunately that means mom or dad has to push her around!

Ava has grown up so fast. I'm starting to feel sad knowing that in just six short months, Ava won't be my baby anymore. She'll be the big sister. Crazy.

Morning Sickness Blues

LIFE ISN'T FAIR!

Baby Pacifier Clip #1

Baby Pacifier Clip #2

It's A Miracle

Seriously! It's a miracle!... ... And a total surprise!

If you know what we went through to get Ava, you understand how big of a deal this is for us. No doctors, no fertility drugs.


HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Men In Tights

Man, actually. Just one man in tights.

Today at church, just before the meeting started, Chris says to me "boy, these are the highest socks I've ever seen!" (Now, you should know that Chris's brother got married a few months ago and wore those fancy schmancy thin mens dress socks, and somehow we ended up with them.) So I look over at Chris and he is showing me his socks. I reach over to lift his pant leg higher so I can see how high they are, totally assuming that they are his brother's wedding socks. Imagine my surpise when Chris's socks go all the way up to his knee cap AND I realize in a hurry that they are not his brother's socks, but in fact my knee high tights! Haha! I started laughing SO hard. It's a darn good thing church hadn't started or I would have had to leave. I was crying from laughing so hard. And I laughed about it random through out the rest of the day. So funny!

Chris has a phobia of ballet and anything to do with men wearing tights, so I will forever be able to use this against him.

*Chris has requested that I make it known that they were the only socks in his drawer and as I am the one who puts away the laundry, it's my fault for putting my tights in his drawer. (whatever helps you sleep better, sweetheart!)

Tis The Season

I know I'm a little premature with the whole christmas thing but I can't help myself. I LOVE Christmas! The music, the lights, the colors, the decorations, the joy in giving. It makes me happy.

Sneak Peak

I've been trying to think of something fun and useful I could donate to my sister's silent auction (see my post below for details) and I finally came up with something I'm really excited about. A got the idea from my friend Stephanie, who was also kind enough to show me how to make them. For a sneak peak, check out my newly created blog http://notsocraftycrafts.blogspot.com/.

Speaking of my new blog, it's just something I put together to benefit myself. I'm really not that crafty (hence the blog name) but I enjoy doing it nonetheless. This is a fun way for me to get excited about being crafty. I've also thought of making this blog a joint blog, allowing several users to add their fun crafts and ideas. If you are interested, let me know. I think it would be a really fun way to share ideas.

We Need Help

Many of you have heard of Stephenie Nielson and the tragedy that she and her husband, and their family have gone through. There has been an outpouring of love and support. She was well known and her blog was ready by many.

But there are other Stephenie's out there. And they need help too. My sister sally is putting together and garage sale and silent online auction benefit for her good friend Becky. Becky's husband has been fighting cancer for some time now. This morning Becky's superman passed away leaving behind Becky and her seven children.

Please, please, please go here to get information on the auction and see how you can help. Pass this information along to as many as you can. All proceeds will go directly to Becky and her family.

Please keep Becky and her family in your prayers!

All Good Things Must Come To An End

The good weather lasted longer this year than normal. We almost always get our first snow of the season in October. This year it actually held off until November. So Ava and I were able to spend one last day outside enjoying the sun before the snow hit. Ava is a big time climber. She wants to climb all over everything and anything. So when she found our gate it entertained her for quite a bit.
Isn't her vest adorable! $8 at Children's Place!!

Look at my new shoes Grandpa!! John Deere!

You can't really see it, but in Ava's lap there is a stick. This dog, Cash, is obsessed with playing fetch so he is always dropping sticks at your feet. I guess he hoped Ava would play with him.

Our New President

This election was such an historic event. No one can deny such a thing. Although I did not vote for Barack Obama, I commend him for the history he is making.
As I said, I did not vote for Obama. My views and beliefs differ from his in many way. That having been said, I still believe that as citizens of the United States of America, the greatest country in the world, it is our responsibility to be just that: United. As a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, it is my belief that we should honor and sustain our leaders, no matter the differences in opinion. And I will do just that.
But I also believe that we cannot stop fighting for what we believe in. The world is becoming a more evil place each and every day. Those of us who still hold our values high and strong need to keep fighting. We need to make our voice heard.

Country First!

A Few New Pictures

Just for fun. Mostly for grandparents. Here are a few fun pictures: Ava LOVES apples. Or I should say Ava loves to eat apples by herself!

Ava and mommy.
Ava meeting her new cousin Roman. She wasn't really sure about him. And she definately didn't want mommy to hold him.

This was just a cute pictures of Ava. (For thse of you who know her: I think she looks like coco in this picture).

Please Take Just One

I find it rather sweet how naive some people can be. Putting a sign on your Halloween bowl that says "Please Take Just One" is not going to stop obnoxious 13-year-olds from swiping all the candy in the bowl.

Get a clue people!

Our Halloween

Ava isn't old enough to go trick or treating yet, but we still managed to have some fun this week. We carved pumpkins and dressed up for trunk or treating at church. Here are a few fun pictures:

Ava's Halloween outfit, courtesy of my good friend Miri.

Grandma Shideler made "dinner in a pumpkin". It actually was really good. Ava liked the cooked pumpkin a lot...it kind of tasted like sweet potatoes.

Chris was in charge of our pumpkin. I had hurt my right shoulder so I couldn't really do much to help.

My sister-in-law Phoebe and her son Bennet carving their pumpkin.

From left to right: Chris's pumpkin, Phoebe's pumpkin, Grandpa Shideler's pumkin.
Phoebe let me borrow this pig costume for Ava to wear to the trunk or treat.

She looked so dang cute!

My friend Steph with her daughter (and Ava's soon to be friend) Rylee, and Ava and I.

Any Ideas?

Ava has recently learned how to climb the stairs....and she loves it! Though Ava can crawl she prefers to walk but she can only walk with help, so that means I'm with her all the time. Eventually when she learns to walk on her own, I have a feeling she'll go for the stairs.

How do you solve this problem? Well of course you put up a gate. Unfortunately you have to brace a gate against something, and as you can see below in the picture, I don't have anything to brace a gate against. Any suggestions on how to block off the stairs would be extremely helpful.

Wall on the left side, but the right side has nothing. In fact they are quite dangerous because their is no railing all the way up the stairs. The brown railing shown is about the same height as the stairs all the way to the top. Please Help!

Growing Up Fast

Today Ava is 10 months old. I can hardly believe it. I remember when she was just a newborn I wanted SO badly for her to be older and to get past the newborn stage (I struggled a lot with the whole not getting any sleep thing!). Now that she's past it, I'd like to go back and enjoy it just a little longer. I know most mothers experience being sad that their baby is growing up but I just didn't realize I would experience it so soon. These two pictures make me especially sad because they make her look older. More like a toddler than a baby.

I'd like to take Ava to Never Never Land!

If (#2)

If your "guest house" used to be a pig pen, and your "guest bathroom" is an outhouse........

You might be a redneck!

Yes, this really is my backyard. I've never gotten close enough to the outhouse to see what the inside looks like. I'm a little terrified. But the "guest house" or bunk house as we like to call it out here on the Ranch, is actually quite nice. It really did used to be a pig pen but my mother in law did an excellent job of cleaning it and putting up new walls and a new floor, etc. It now has a bed, a mini fridge, a microwave, and all of my scrapbooking stuff. It's quite cozy really, as Keith and Natalie (hopefully) can attest to.

Scrap Class

My friend Steph is the Young Women's president in our ward and asked me if I would be in charge of their scrapbooking activity. I am not a scrapbooking expert by any means, but I definately love to do it so I couldn't have been more excited. I brought SO much stuff, I think I overwhelmed them but they all had a great time. I think the biggest hit was my cricut machine.

It was kind of a crazy mess on the tables. Like I said, I brought a ton of stuff.

Here are a couple of the girls pages.

This night was such a hit, all of the girls want to do it again. Some even said they wanted to make it into a hobby. It was honestly way more fun for me though.

2 Heart Stopping Moments

I knew this day would come. I've been waiting. Hoping and Praying that it would came Later rather than Sooner. But I knew there was no putting it off forever.....

1st moment: I saw a mouse in my house. It was awful. Surprisingly, I didn't scream, but probably only because Ava was asleep and mommy instinct told me if I screamed she would wake up. It was a tiny little thing that raced from the bathroom into the TV room then dissappeared. I got Chris out of bed to come find it but he couldn't find it. So now all I can do is wait, and wait some more for it to show its ugly head again.

2nd moment: The end of fall is the time when deer and elk start coming down from the mountains and you start to see them all the time in the fields and sometimes on the roads. Chris told me it was inevitable. Someday I would hit a deer who jumped out in the road. He told me when the day comes, don't swerve. Just hit it. It's generally worse if you try to swerve out of the way. You end up going into a ditch, or worse, over the edge of a cliff. Yesterday a deer ran out in front of me. I didn't swerve. And I didn't hit the deer! I was going slow enough and it was fast enough that it got out of my way in time and I just kept going. Phew!

My Husband

I've been tagged. (FYI Sally: Amy tagged you too!)





1. Where did you meet? In Brother Smith's sociology class at BYU Idaho.

2. How long did you date? 7 months of dating until we were engaged.

3. How long have you been married? 5 years 4 months

4. What does he say that surprises you? Nothing really. We are one of those couples that say the same things at the same time....all the time. We can almost always predict what the other one will say.

5. What is your favorite feature of his? Geez, there are so many to choose from. I guess if I have to pick one, I'd go with lips. No eyes. No lips. Okay, both.

6. What is your favorite quality of his? Chris is such a hard worker. His employers always love him because he is such a hard worker and always goes the extra mile. Right now he is working with his dad and his dad just told me a few days ago what a joy it is for him to work with Chris. He has a good attitude and is always doing more than necessary. He doesn't just sit around a take a break whenver he can. If a project gets done early, Chris will go find something else to be do until the day is over. I love that about him.

7. Does he have a nickname for you? Jenny, which is funny because I used to hate being called that, but now I love it because it's a term of endearment coming from Chris. (It's starting to catch on with his family too.)

8. What is his favorite color? Blue and Orange (Go Broncos!)

9. What is his favorite food? Everything and Anything I make! Steak.

10. What is his favorite sport? Football!

11. When and where did you first kiss? I can't remember when exactly, but it was in his car when he dropped me off at my apartment.

12. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? Isn't that a little personal....? (I hope you read this Lorie because you are probably the only one who will think that was funny!)

13. Do you have any children? yes. Ava Morgan Shideler, 9 months old.

14. Does he have a hidden talent? Yes, he claims he can't cook or clean, but when he does it's always really good. (I think this is a hidden talent many men have.)

15. How old is he? 29! yikes.

16. Who said "I love you" first? Chris did. I remember we were hanging out at his apartment and he really wanted to take me to the river and I didn't want to go, but he made me. I found out later it was because he was planning on telling me he loved me. I said it back. :)

17. What is his favorite type of music? I can never keep track. I think right now it's country.

18. What do you most admire about him? The respectful and loving way he treats his mom. And me. It really is the sweetest thing I've ever seen.

19. Do you think he will read this? Yes! (he's reading it over my shoulder!)

I tag Lorie and Meghan Belt

A Visit

My brother Keith and his wife Natalie came to visit us for the three day weekend this past week. What three day weekend you ask? Yeah, me too. My brother works for the government and his wife works for a bank, so these slackers actually got Columbus Day off from work. Craziness! Anyway, it was really fun to see them. Keith I think especially had a good time. You'll see why below: Keith helped us haul cattle. In the process he learned how to "encourage" the cows. Notice the stick in his hand, and where it's pointed. Also notice the big smile on his face!
Here Keith is keeping the cows from going back down through the gate. He also at one point had to chase cows out of my yard. He's a regular Ranch Hand!
Ava and Uncle Keith brushing their teeth together. So cute!
It was just by luck that I happened to snap this picture during the 3 seconds that Ava was standing up on her own.
Ava and Aunt Natalie. Notice the box of lemon heads in her hand. Now look at the picture above. Cherry heads. She didn't actually eat them though. She just liked the noise they make, like a rattle. Cheap entertainment.

Thanks for coming to visit Uncle Keith and Aunt Natapee!

Funny, Or Just Conceited?

So a few months ago Chris came home from a trip with a shirt for Ava that says "My Mom Is Hot". I've been too embarrassed to put Ava in it. Then yesterday, Chris found it behind the couch (I wonder why/how it got there), and so I decided to put it on her today. I figured today is a good day to test it out since I'm not going anywhere. But I still can't decide if it's funny or just plain conceited.

Funny vs. Conceited?

Yup, just plain conceited.