Quilts from Grandma

Grandma Finley has made each of our kids these beautiful quilts. We received Charis's and thought we shuld get pictures of everyone and their quilts we all love them. Thanks Grandma!
















- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Working on my online recipe collection

In preparation for the iPad that will be arriving soon (which I'm planning to use in the kitchen as a 'recipe book'), I am starting this blog to collect the recipes I use most.  Most of them come from other blogs and websites, so I'll cite sources as accurately as possible.  I'm hoping to get rid of the binder/paper stash on top of the microwave (my current mode of recipe collection).  I even figured out how to make tabs and use labels to sort the recipes!  So, if you're interested in following that, go here. 



ps- I'll try to start posting here again too.  :)

Presenting Charis Susan Olson

....these are only 4 months late!  I am still trying to figure out the best way to store photos and use them on the blog with our iMac.  Here's Charis's newborn photo shoot... at least that's what I'm going to try to post.  Here's another quick post on her arrival, I should probably just put all these posts in the right place to begin with.

 ...Alright, I think I was somewhat successful using google+ photos (replacement for picasa web-albums?).  Any advice from Mac users on how to store/use pics on the iMac?  iPhoto or Picasa?  I've got a whole bunch on an external hard drive.  Do you use iCloud?

She's here!

Charis Susan Olson, born January 6, 2012

I was induced 6 days before my official due date because my blood pressure kept creeping up, eventually into the hypertension range.  I still don't know why that happened, especially since I exercised more during this pregnancy.  (If they took it while I was laying down, it was fine.)  I had already decided that I would either go completely 'natural' or have either a spinal/intrathecal or epidural.  I was hoping to get to about 7cm, then ask for an intrathecal.  But, with the pitocin, I needed something and I was still at a 4!  So, I asked for an epidural instead.  I have never been so numb in my life!  I was sure I wouldn't be able to push because of how little feeling I had, but she was out after just  a couple pushes (she definitely holds the record for quickest delivery)!  And, it turns out I probably could have gone with the intrathecal because I was fully dilated less than an hour later.  And still numb on my left side 3 hours after delivery.  They put me in a wheel chair to move to the recovery room.  So, lesson learned, maybe (each labor/delivery has been so different):  If I do this again, I will ask for the intrathecal even if I haven't progressed very far.  Anyway, here are some pictures to document Charis's arrival.

Merry Christmas!

One reason these

have not made it to the mailbox, even though they have been sitting in my house since before Thanksgiving, is these

I ran out of fabric to make a cuff for mine, and some kind of personalization is on  my wishlist  for next year,  but I let the kids choose the back and inside fabrics, so we can still tell them apart.

They took a lot longer than I thought when I started out on this project.  (It's a long story, at least 2 years in the making.  I used this tutorial and this one- I took a shortcut on my lining though, so the insides are quite as nice.)  We have also had a nasty head cold/flu type of thing making its way through the family, but I'm not going to post pictures of that.

I had such great intentions, my shopping was DONE the first of December (mostly online).  I had carefully planned some fun and some meaningful activities for our advent calendar.  This week before Christmas was supposed to be fun and relaxing, not full of coughing, sniffling, and "Mom, I need a tissue!"  And, I was going to make some major progress on having the baby's room ready (even though she won't sleep in there for at least a few months).  But, it just was not to be, and I am [trying to be] OK with that.  So, you'll just have to wait a few more days to find our smiling faces in your mailbox.

Getting our "To Do" lists "Done" isn't what's most important.  At this time of year, we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.  We enjoy time with friends and family and are filled with that magical Christmas spirit.  We hope your Christmas is one with love, joy and peace, and we hope all the best for you in the new year.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Scott, Lani, Eden, Andrew, and Jacob

Family Photos, round 2

We went out with my photographer friend again on Tuesday afternoon, with a blizzard forecasted to move in that night.  It was a little chilly (you can tell in a few of the pictures), but we had a great time.  Even the kids seemed to have a mostly fun time.  (I need to remember to prepare them a little next year.)  Now with so many more great choices, what will I do? 

This is one of my favorites.  My favorite from the first round is not color either.  But, do I want the Big Family Portrait on the Wall to be black and white?  It's always been color before. Hmmmm.......

Family Photos 2011

This year I decided not to do school pictures anymore.  Instead, we'll do family and individual shots once a year with someone who can give us the pictures on a CD to make whatever prints, etc. that we want.  That way we're guaranteed to get a 'frame-worthy' shot of everyone at least once a year.  Luckily, one of my friends here is a photographer who does just that.  (I think I'll also do some newborn shots with her early next year, which is probably kind of backward to start that with baby #4, but after realizing I had almost ZERO frame-worthy shots of my other babies, it's what I want to do.)  The individuals of the kids turned out great.  Considering the antics we had going on during the family shots, she got some pretty good photos, but I think we could do better.  So, thanks to my friend's generosity, we are probably going to try one more time.  Here's some of what we've got so far.  She also made black & white versions of most of them. 

Which one do you like best?  I want to try printing one of these pretty big to canvas at Costco, probably 16" x 20" size.

Right now, this is my favorite.

Individuals/Couple:

I've only had the CD since yesterday afternoon, and I am already liking the pictures better and better every time I look at them.  But, since we're going out again anyway, feel free to make suggestions on what to do different next time.  (We're already trying to prepare the kids for a better experience- bribery may or not be involved- something we didn't do last time. And I'm considering some slight wardrobe changes.)

(By the way, I think this totally counts as a 'more current post' for my November goal!)