A Hodge Podge of Stuff

I realize that it has been awhile since I have posted and I am really going to try to do better this year. I am going to spare you all the happenings from August-December 2009 and just start fresh this year. I believe that I posted pictures on facebook of Reagan's 3rd Birthday. We did a Build-A-Bear theme and it was really fun.

Payson is now 6 months old, well almost 7 months old. When we took him to his 6 month appointment he weighed 18 lbs (70%) was 26 1/2 inches (50%) and his head was 44 cm (55%). These stats could all be different now. He is a big baby but very cute!!

For New Years Day we had our Black Eyed Peas for good luck throughout the year. I have eaten these every year for as long as I can remember. I don't really care for them but this year they were pretty good. I found a recipe online for Confetti Black Eyed Pea Salad and decided to try it out. Here is the recipe:

1/3 C. Olive Oil

2 1/2 T. Cider Vinegar

1 T. Spicy Brown Mustard

2 t. Honey

2 t. finely grated Yellow Onion

1/2 t. each Salt and Ground Pepper

2 cans (15 ounce) black eyed peas drained and rinsed

1 Yellow bell Pepper, finely diced

1 large tomato, seeded, diced

4 Ribs celery, thinly sliced

2 carrots, peeled, finely diced

2 T. chopped parsley

Whisk oil, vinegar, mustard, onion, salt, pepper, and honey in a bowl. Add peas, bell pepper, tomato, celery, carrots, and parsley. Stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours before serving. Here is my finished product:

I really needed a place to put my necklaces. They were in a shoebox which was working ok, but they kept getting tangled up with each other. Just not working the greatest. Dave saw a picture in a magazine of a way I could organize my necklaces and showed it to me. I loved it and it was fairly cheep. We just bought a rake, took off the handle and spray painted it black. Now it hangs in my closet and I have a cool necklace holder for all my necklaces and they don't get tangled up anymore. I really wanted to do the picture a day thing this year, but I haven't been able to buy the kit and I haven't taken pictures every day either, but here are a couple. For Christmas Jake and Carla gave Payson these cute red Converse sneakers. They don't fit him yet, but I can't wait until they do. Two of Mindy's girls had Emma and Reagan for Christmas and she sewed them these cute skirts. I found the shirts at Target. Well that is about it for now, but I will try to be better. I am also going to be posting on my other blog http://www.inkedwithlove.blogspot.com/ so check it out also!

Neigh's Extreme Makeover

You may recall that a few months ago I did a post about Landon's beloved stuffed animal Neigh. About a month or so ago Neigh went through an Extreme Makeover. Here are the before and after pictures.

Before

After

Landon's Birthday and Pirate Party

Landon's birthday was on August 7th. Since his birthday party wasn't until the next day as a family we had a little celebration for him. We went to Wendy's and got dinner and also rented "The Tale of Desperoux from the Redbox. We came home and set out a blanket in the living room and watched the movie and ate dinner. It was fun and low key. Landon also opened his presents from us. We gave him a V-tech Digital Camera and a "Phineas and Ferb" DVD.

The next day we had his birthday party. He chose a Pirate theme this year and I ordered 2 party kits from Stampin' Up! They came with invitations, banner, food toppers, pirate eye patches and treasure chests. It made party prep really easy. We started out the party by letting the kids swim for a little bit. Then we ate dinner. We had Submarine sandwiches, potato salad, chips, and fruit. After dinner we had a craft. The kids all made Pirate hats and eye patches. The eye patches came from the party kit and the Pirate hats came from a pattern that my mom has at her school. The kids all had fun making them.

After the craft Landon opened his presents. We of course set out the tape line that the other kids couldn't cross. I can't say that it works perfectly, but it is a lot better than it used to be! Landon got some really good gifts. Like all boys he doesn't care much for the clothes that he open, but he did get some cowboy boots and he loves those!!

After he opened presents we went on a treasure hunt. I had made up some clues and we hid them in the backyard at different places. The clues were typed up on paper, the edges were burned to look like pirate maps and rolled up and tied with string. The kids had fun listening to the clues and then running to the correct place to find the next clues. These are the clues I had:

1. I can roast hot dogs and marshmellows here (firepit)
2. I'm the shape of a rainbow but a little more bumpy (arch Jamie made)
3. I go here to look through the looking glass (telescope on the playset)
4. I'm pretty and I bloom in the Summer and Spring (Flower Bed)
5. When I am thirsty I can get a drink here (drinking fountain)
6. Landon's grandpa grows tomatoes here (garden)
7. You walk through me to get from the front yard to the back yard (gate)
8. I'm round and shaped like a ball--but don't try to bounce me! (fountain by the fire pit)
9. Here you can send or receive mail if you are playing house (play house)
10. Here I can build castles in the sand and X marks the spot where I can dig (sand box)

At the sandbox the kids had to dig to find the treasure. They each got their own individual treasure box that was filled with chocolate coins. The party ended with cupcakes. I think that everyone had a fun time!!

Finally.....An Update!!

I was told by a friend of mine that I needed to update my blog and she is right. I know that I need to, but things have been really busy lately. Now life is slowing down a little and I can finally update. I spent a lot of time the last 2 weeks making Payson's birth announcements and I finally finished them earlier this week. What an accomlishment. But I think I am getting ahead of myself.

Payson David Lund was born on June 23rd. He is the 4th and last. That in itself has made life more hectic. I am so glad that he has joined our family. He is such a sweet and good baby! I went into the hospital at 8:30 and it was probably around 10:00 or so that I recieved the epidural. I had to get it twice because the first time the doctor hit a blood vessell. That was the biggest shock of my life! Payson was born at 3:21 p.m. and was 8 lbs. 9 oz. and 20 inches long. During labor I also had low blood pressure and they had to get it back up before increasing the pitocin. It was making me sick and nauseous. They also had to use the vaccuum to get him out because his head kept turning sideways. He is such a joy to have around
The Sunday before he was born we were at my mom and dad's house. Reagan was climbing up on the piano bench and slipped and hit her chin on the edge. It started to bleed. Dave was at his parent's visiting his mom so I called and told him that Reagan might need stitches. We took Reagan to the InstaCare and she ended up getting 2 stitches in her chin. She was so brave the whole time. She didn't even cry but she did whimper a little bit. She is usually pretty talkative, but she wouldn't answer any questions the doctor asked. As soon as we left thought she was talking lots!The last thing that has happened is that Emma has started Kindergarten. I now have 2 kids in school even if one of them is only in school for 1/2 day. Her teacher is Mrs. Black and Emma really seems to like her. It has gotten awfully quiet here in the mornings with 2 kids off at school. On Emma's first day of school I took her and they had a little activity that they did with a parent the first 20 minutes. Emma took the bus home and I think she really enjoys riding the bus. She is really enjoying Kindergarten also!

My New Wheels

Due to the fact that we are 4 weeks away from having child #4, it became a necessity to get another vehicle. If we didn't get another vehicle as Dave put it he would be riding in the trunk of the car and Landon would be driving. Since that wasn't really a possibility we went with the better option and got a new car. Actually it is a 2006 Mazda 5, but it is nice!! It is nice to have 2 cars in our family again. The last time we had 2 cars was when Emma was born. We sold our Saturn the day after I brought her home from the hospital. That was 5 years ago. The only time we have had a 2ND car since then or I have had a car during the day is when Dave had a work truck or when he was working out of town. The freedom of knowing I have transportation if I need it is very nice!! Anyway, without further Ado, here is the new car!!

Neigh

Many people have an item that is very special to them. It may be a blanket they have had since they were little or a special toy. For Landon it is a stuffed animal horse named Neigh. Landon recieved this horse on they day he was born from his Aunt Mindy and it has become a very cherised and well loved possession. As you can tell he is very well loved. Compare this to the other stuffed animal he recieved also from Aunt Mindy on the day he was born. This one is a frog.

Neigh and Landon have been through a lot together. When we lived in our old ward he always took Neigh with him to nursery. The nursery workers felt very priviledged when Landon would let them hold Neigh. Neigh has also been lost a few times, once for about 2 weeks and he always manages to find his way back to Landon. He was found in my parent's couch cushion. I think that this stuffed horse has way more than 9 lives!!

Recently while Dave and I were helping Landon clean his bedroom Dave told Landon he could choose 3 stuffed animals to keep on his bed and the rest had to go in Emma and Reagan's Closet. If we let Landon he would be sleeping with 10-15 stuffed animals every night. I left for a little bit and Dave later showed me that Neigh was one of the stuffed animals that ended up in Emma and Reagan's closet. I was shocked!! I thought that maybe Landon was outgrowing Neigh. However, Neigh has once again resurfaced and made his way back to Landon. Landon is once again sleeping with Neigh. Maybe someday Landon will outgrow it, but I am not holding my breath!

Mother's Day

First of all I want to say Happy Mother's Day to all of the mother's out there! Today my mom and dad spoke in there ward so we went to hear them speak. On the back of the program was a list and I thought it was cute and so I have to share it with you.

What Mom's REALLY want for Mother's Day...

• To be able to eat a whole candy bar by herself, and drink a glass of Diet Coke without any "floaties."
• To have my 14-year-old answer a question without rolling her eyes in that "Why is this person my mother?" way
• Five pounds of chocolate that won't add twenty.
• A shower, without a child peeking through the curtain with a "Hi'ya, Mom" just as I put razor to my ankle.
• A full-time cleaning person, who looks like Brad Pitt.
• For my teenager to announce, "Hey, Mom! I got a full time scholarship and a job all in the same day!"
• A grocery store that doesn't have candy, gum, or cheap toys displayed at the checkout line.
• To have a family meal without a discussion about bodily secretions.
• Four words: Fisher Price Play Prison!!!

Hope all the mom's out there have a fantastic Mother's day. I know I will!!