A Better Run at the Pinewood Derby

O.K.  Last year was Ben's first year at the Pinewood Derby.  Maybe some of you remember this little beauty. 

LODED DIPER really stunk...I mean really.  It took last in nearly every race, though, it was a sweet little themed car. 

This year we had better luck.  It you can't pick Ben's car out of this line up then you probably don't know Ben very well. 

Mario was our good luck charm.  Ben managed to take first in a few races, second in a lot of others, and I don't think he came in last even once.  Yahoo!  During elimination he only made it to the second round but he still made it to the second round.  Thank goodness.  And, seriously, that little mario cart was just cute.  I think Ben's favorite part is the banana hood ornament. Ben had fun ideas and he and Nate got everything all set for that little Mario. 

Overall, a better experience then last year.  I was talking to one of the other mom's and she was saying how much she hated Pinewood Derby because her boys (of which she has 5) are so competitive.  It is hard on the boys to lose.  Last year we experienced enough of that.  Thanks to Mario for making this year more exciting. 

Two and Totally Terrific!

Sarah's birthday has come and gone.  She turned two.  I really can't believe how quickly the last two years went.  Seeing as I am 39 weeks pregnant..her birthday was a little lame.  However, she is two and won't remember it anyway.  Sunday we did have dinner with my family and celebrated birthday with Conner who is the day after Sarah.  Monday, Sarah's birthday, we had a very simple cake and ice cream party with presents and just our family. 

Nate and I were actually dead tired because the night before Ben had a bad toothache and didn't sleep very much.  Consequently, Nate and I didn't get much sleep either.  But, the presents we bought Sarah seemed just right.  She loved all of them.  

I know I have commented on what a complete joy Sarah has been in our house.  She really did add so much to our family and has given the older kids many opportunities to serve and love.  She is two now...so believe me when I say that angelic face is not always so angelic.  Sometimes it becomes quite terrifying.  But, she is still our baby. 

So, Happy Happy Birthday to a sweet little girl who has taught us all more about love and service and happiness.  We are so glad you came to our home. 

Love that Morning Look!

Too cute for words.  Sarah, messy hair, and her favorite Dino!

Loving Sister Abuse

A true sign of a loving older sister is when she will let her baby sister use her as a TV holder and trampoline.  Emily is so patient and loving with Sarah all the time.  Sarah is a lucky, lucky girl to have such a fabulous older sister.  Very soon they will be sharing a bedroom and hopefully the patience keeps up as Emily has to take over cleaning up after Sarah...something Rachel has done for Emily for a long time. HAHA.  I will really, really miss Emily next school year.  She is my mini nanny every morning as I try to juggle work and Sarah.  She is my life saver. 

Basements and Babies

So, here we are on another Sunday.  Only  this week we are hanging out at my mom's for the afternoon doing our laundry.  Why?  Well, Nate is working on the basement and our laundry is not currently hooked up.  I have to say, I am pretty impressed by the progress Nate has made.  It started with building some storage in the garage so we could move anything we were storing in the basement out to the garage (or the D.I).  Then he had to do demolition in the basement of some really nice shelves the previous owners had built.  It was a bit sad to rip them apart.  They were made so well.  But, Nate went at them with a crow bar and sledge hammer.  Soon they were in piles of wood.  Some of which he used to finish up the shelves in the garage.  At least it got repurposed.

 Yes, the garage is a huge mess...but eventually it will be all organized.  Right now we have a lot of stuff to haul to the dump sitting in there and stuff for the build.  So, it is a little croweded.

From there came re-plumbing for our new laundry/half bath.  The laundry was originally on the east side of the basement...but that is where we are building another bedroom.  So, consequently, we are putting the laundry where the tub would have been in the bathroom and then just having a toilet and small pedestal sink.  It was a lot of work for Nate to run all the new plumbing.  Especially because he had to rip down the existing stuff that was running outside of the tresses making it hard to hang a ceiling.  However, that part is done now too.

He has also finished a little more than half of the framing work down there.  Brother Jonathan came and helped him last week and this week Brother in law Karl came to help.  It's looking good and soon I will be able to envision the end product better.  We are definitely making use of the space.  No corner will go unused. 

And, what is the reason for all of the fuss over finishing the basement as soon as possible.  The baby needs a home.  Right now we really have no where good to put the baby.  I certainly don't want him to be with Sarah.  The last thing I need is two babies up in the middle of the night.  Ben says that he doesn't really want the baby in his room either....I don't get it.  Sadly, I am not like many women who want to sleep with their little bundle of joy right next to them.  I would rather get up and feed the baby, returning to my personal quiet space afterward.  I am just too light of a sleeper.   So, Nate will keep going.  I am guessing the basement will be finished up in April sometime.  We will have to make due until then.  However, when it is done it will be a huge accomplishment and something we can check off our to-do list for the house.  It's a nice investment for when we sell in a few years as well.  Hopefully in will increase the value of our home a bit.  :) I am so grateful to have such a handy husband.

Update:  Another week down.  Karl came again to help with framing.  They are getting further and it is looking more and more like it has a future down there.  We just worked up what has to be finished and the costs so it looks like we will be into late April before we finish.  But we are well on our way. 

So Goofy!

 What can be said about these pictures.  Winter gets really long sometimes and you have to find entertainment where ever it may be.  Sarah loved that box.  I thought it was so funny she wanted to put it over her head.  That was before the hole for the face was cut out.  So, dad added the hole and walah...next years Halloween costume.  Right?  Anyway, Rachel thought it looked fun too so she tried it out.  No, I did not try on the box...or the goggles.  I am not as willing to go down in history with these goofs.   :)

This week we had the chance to attend a very special opera.  It is new and certain to become world famous.  " The Pride of the Gods" written and performed by Miss Udy's 4th grade class.  Oh my.  It was wonderful.  Only a group of 4th graders could come up with a story line that mixed good gods, bad gods, lollipop kids, sea monsters and mermaids all together.  They received some help from a woman at the Utah Opera in putting their lines to music and true to opera, it was all sung.  It was definitely the highlight of our week.  :)Ben played a good God...of course.  Because he is such a great kid.  The Opera was also named by Ben.  Everyone submitted names and they were voted on in class.   The name Ben submitted won and so the name became "Pride of the Gods".  :)

In other news...the count down is on for baby David.  I set up an inducement on March 27th.  It is the first day of spring break for me.  It means that I will get an extra week off of work to get used to that bundle of joy before I go back and finish off the school year.  So, provided that it will be safe for the baby that is when it will happen.  Really, I am excited to get him here.  It just feels like completion of our family.  It is less overwhelming when I think about the fact that I have 3 big kid helpers on my side.  They have been absolutely amazing with Sarah and I know that they are so excited to have David arrive.   It is a beautiful thing to watch older siblings love, care for and protect their baby siblings.  I love it.  Can't wait.