I have to say that we had a fun weekend! The Chili Cook-off was great. Sunny and Angie and the rest of the neighbors that put it together went all out. You would have thought it was sponsored by some company w/ all the get up. It was a great time, but man, was it COLD! This was probably the first cold weekend since spring. You know winter is coming! Clint made Chile Colorado - It was spicy and good! It won Spicest Chili...but it was close to being in the Worst category too...nobody here would appreciate a damn good red chile con carne. It was fun to see them sweat though! We had a great time there despite the cold weather.

On Sunday we headed over to Rachel's house for waffles. It was a great time too. Everything was delicious and it was great seeing everyone and meeting Tara's boyfreind. He just got home a couple fo weeks ago from hiking the pacific crest...I think that is the name. Anyway, it was great to meet him and chat with him about his feet growing a size and half...i compared it to pregnancy! Slade made the comment that it was almost as if John was evolving. I thought that was cool coming from a ten year old.

Crispin has a well visit tomorrow. I could care less about going for a well visit, but I am so curious as to how much he weighs. It's almost the first question ever asks and it's so fun to see their face when I tell them that he's close to 20 pounds. So tomorrow we will find out exactly. I can't wait to attach photos of the little man. I should probably put the energy into our webpage, so that everyone can see what he looks like. He's too cute and fun. The boys go bananas for him. It's so cute to watch them love on him like that. It makes my heart leap! Clint was asking Crispin if he would ever be a big brother and I said that the older boys would vote against it. They can't imagine loving another little one as much as they love this one. I feel the same way sometimes too, but I know that your heart grows big enough to fit another one in there.

Well, i guess i should go. I'm working on a scarf that I would like to get done sometime this year. I wish I could post pictures of my hats I knitted. You all would be so proud of me and my first knitting projects. Slade loves the hat and has worn it everyday since I made it. Makes me feel good that it's getting some wear.

Besitos!

FRIDAY!!!!

I don't have to be at Emily's till later and Crispin is asleep still. I am taking this time to write in this thing just because I always think of writing but never do. I think I get to consumed with grammatical errors and this ominous sense that some professer is going to critique me. I keep telling myself that NO ONE CARES! I rarely read other blogs unless it has cool pictures of knitting projects.

I'm also having to use the laptop and how I hate typing on this thing! I can't even add photos because they are all on our pc. I got some cute ones of you...guessed it...Crispin.

This weekend is going to be crazy fun. We haven't had a full weekend in some time now. I begged Clint (thanks sweetie) to make Chile Colorado to take to Angies neighborhood Chili Cook off on Saturday. I can't wait to see those people jump with glee after having had a taste of that yummy stuff. I don't think we have too hot of chile so they won't squirm with discontent. Slade will be in Lansing participating in the Angell Academic Games. They have montly tournaments and if they qualify they will have a state tournament in March. It should be exciting. I need to get more work done on the quilt. Clint needs to study. On Sunday, we get up and go to the 9:30 service (www.annarborvineyard.org) now since there is nothing for Slade on Saturday night. After church we pick up Jack's friend and head to Rachel's for Waffles! YUM! It was very nice of her to invite us over. We have enjoyed her presence at the garden. Sometime soon we need to clean up our garden beds! That is scheduled for this weekend, but we can't make it on Saturday.

I can't believe Crispin is still asleep. He woke up when the boys were heading out the door and i WENT up there and nursed him after he gave me big smiles and he fell back asleep. I showered and he hasn't woken up. I guess I should go and make breakfast before he does wake up and I can't enjoy it. I'm still on my mushroom omelet w/ toast topped w/ yummy preserves that grandma J made.

Nursmaid's Elbow???

Our Little little is finally all fixed. At about 10 pm last night he started using his arm again. As I was laying there nursing him and my arm was getting tired I wondered why the heck he would get "nursemaid's elbow" and not I, since I am the one in positions that would cause more than your elbow to give out. Oh well, I'm glad he's all fixed. I am now uber sensitive to not pulling or moving him too quickly.

I had to take Slade to get one brace put in his mouth. Yes, one brace to help open up a space to make sure his tooth that is coming in will have enough room and then he will have the most perfect teeth. That is until his molars fall out and his grown up ones come in! This whole orthodontics experience has gone on since the poor kid was in first grade. Will it end? I hope Jack will be just fine with his teeth and we won't have to do all this and spend a small fortune. We have a consult in a couple of weeks.

The weather is getting cooler and soon winter will be upon us. Oh joy! I can't wait to be chilled to the bone for the next 6 months. Since having a baby in a cold climate state, I am at a loss as to how to dress him. I mean it's not like I have much ambition in being outsider longer than it takes me to get to the car. I can't believe how much the older boys LOVE winter. Where they not born in AZ?

I better get going and get ready for our Marriage Course. The topic tonight has to do with our in-laws. Should be very boring, since I can't imagine needing to purge any more on this subject that hasn't been aired. Clint might surprise me and tell me how he really feels about my family. YIKES! better go little is getting frustrated hanging out in the walker!

Oh - What a day!

The day started out as normal as any other day. I had to be at Emily's as soon as the older boys got on the bus. I had put Crispin in the car seat and he sounded pretty upset and all I thought was that it was cold for him. We get to Emily's and I nurse him real quick and then I put him in the swing, since that is his favorite spot there. He pretty much slept the whole time I was there. When Emily got home, I picked him up to put him in the exersaucer and he fussed pretty good, but then he calmed down. When I put him in the car to go home he cried and cried. I knew something had to be wrong with him because he usually doesn't fuss at all. I got home and started to nurse him and while he was nursing away, I moved his right arm and he screamed! I was a little freaked out, so I tried to take off his shirt to see if I could see any protruding bones or open wounds or arrows quivering to show me where it hurt. NOthing. Hmm- I called the Dr. but it was busy and then I called Clint who asked questions and then tried to be funny by saying that if they accuse us of abuse, he wasn't home and at work the whole time. This thinking hadn't even crossed my mine YET and I didn't think it was funny. I called the dr. and didn't seem to get anyone who didn't sound like they had a million things they were trying to take care of. A nurse got on the phone and by then Crispin was wailing because I had moved his arm again so that I would know that it really did hurt him. She said to just go to urgent care because they were full today and it was better that he get checked out sooner rather than later. On the drive there I was starting to think about them accusing ME of abuse and how would I act so that I didn't seem like a mother that would be likely to hurt her children. I say prayers for Crispin and I and feel much better. We get to there and I thank God again for valet parking. I didn't have much cash on me to pay for parking and I didn't want to walk a mile either.

Everyone at ER was very nice and I was there a total of 3 hours. They found that he had 'nursemaid's elbow' and popped it back into place. He didnt' seem to want to use his arm at all even after that so they suggested he have X-rays. He was such a trooper! He's so good and had big smiles for everyone there. X-rays didn't show anything abnormal so we were free to go home. He is doing much better now and doesn't scream when you move his arm, he's not using it too much still but at least we know there isn't anything major going on, probably a little sore still. I have no idea how this could have happened, unless it is from rolling over back and forth? Who knows, but they did say that he will be prone to it happenening again. GREAT...Sheesh!

Anyway, I'm off to rest before the big boys get home.

Quilting time

Today was a pretty good day. We all made it to church...on time even! We even had to pick up the sonny at a friends. I have been wanting to start the little sonny on cereal but hadn't made it to the right store for the RIGHT kind of cereal. When we got home Charlotte was here ready to go to the fabric store and buy some better fabric for the picture quilt. We found some really nice greens that tied into one of the greens that she had already. So, now I really need to get on the ball and get that quilt done soon.

Our little little finally rolled over and ate cereal for the first time. Leaps and bounds leaps and bounds! He's so good. He is a dream child. I hope I remember this when I am feeling overwhelmed w/ his constant pulling of the books from the shelves or just getting into everything he puts his eyes on.