Brigham Turns Four

I can't believe it has already been four years. Four years ago our little B came along and we have loved life with him since. He has such a fun personality and keeps us laughing every day. I took the day off work and so we could spend the day together. We went to Gringos and ate lunch, they sang to him which was imbarassing for him but he handled it well. Then we went to Wal Mart and picked out the toys to put in his party bags for his sisters and cousins who would come to his Birthday party that night. Brigham was hard this year and every time we would ask him what he wanted for his bday he would say nothing. We took him to Toys R Us to inspire him with some ideas and still he really didn't care about anything kept saying he didn't want anything...even at Toys R US. What!?! Scott and I were on our own and decided to get him the new Fisher Price version of Legos, a tool kit and bendaroos. At the last minute he decided on a birthday theme of Transformers so we got Transformer birthday products to decorate with. Getting ready to blow out his candles. He got this fun new UNO game from Grandma and Grandpa McGarry. It is pretty cute and I would recommend it to anyone with preschool age kids. He picked out this balloon at Broulims. The lady helping us was really fun and even got on the microphone and announced to all the Broulims shoppers that it was Brigham's fourth birthday. He thought that was pretty cool. He had lots of helpers when it came time to open gifts. Haylee and Brock opened the legos and color book that Brock, Aunt Michelle and Uncle J gave him. He did't seem to mind as he was busy opening his other gifts. I didn't find time to make him a cake so we picked one up at Broulims. I bought some fondant and put the Transformers logo on it so we could tie the cake in with the theme. He was happy with it. Happy Birthday B, we love you!

The Latest

The kids are out for Spud Harvest and we had great plans to head to Utah on 10-7 and stay for five whole days. My nephew Wacy is entering the MTC today and my other nephew Ben is getting baptized on Saturday so it was a perfect reason to go spend some time with family. Our plans changed when Ashtyn and Brigham woke up with 103 degree fevers on Tuesday. We are all really bummed that we are still here but we are making the most of it. I made home made play dough,got a new movie and each of them their own Sprite. We only cry when we realize that we should really be in Utah right now. Bummer. They are feeling better so maybe by Friday we can still make it down. For now, here are a few pics from the last week or so: My little helpers. They all love helping with Macy and I must say I appreciate the help and actually trust them to hold her. The Ricks' family has six people with birthday in October alone so we just throw one big birthday bash to celebrate. We had it at our house this year. This doesn't look like much of a party, but it was fun. We got out the chocolate fountain, had homemade pumpkin pie, turkey, potatoes etc. We didn't even eat the cake because we were all too full! It also snowed this week. Here is Macy and her first snow. Here are the girls playing in the snow. Brigham threw a big fit over his winter boots so he choose not to play outside. Maybe next snow (and now that he has new boots) Macy is officially 4 weeks old. Here she is with Haylee, she is getting big way too fast! Also notice that Haylee lost one of her two front teeth on 10-3. She was so excited.

My Babies

I have an awesome neighbor, Brianne Serrano, who took pictures of the kids when Macy was 11 days old. Here is her website for anyone interested in getting pictures done or to just view some other cute photos http://myperfectportraits.blogspot.com/. I had a really hard time picking favorites so here are a bunch of the photos she took. So sweet, can you see why I have a hard time putting her down every day? Ashtyn and Haylee insisted that we make her where this tutu. I am very glad we did because it turned out adorable. She is the cutest ballerina ever. Wide awake when she should be sleeping. Gotta love those eyes though! Love this one because you can see her head of hair I wish you could see just how small these boxes and baskets are. It amazes me that they fit in them. This one I was just holding her trying to get her to fall asleep (of course she was wide awake when we wanted her to sleep) and Brianne captured the moment. Love it! All of my babies together. I can't believe I have four of them now! I am so excited to get these photos framed and displayed in my home. I love, love, love feet. This picture is so much fun. Thanks Brianne for the great pics. I am thrilled to have captured so many great moments.

1 Week Old

I can't believe a week has already gone by. We are really enjoying Macy. She has been so good for us so far (knock on wood). So that I don't forget, here is her birth story: On Labor day (9-7-09) I was miserably sick with the flu. Scott took the kids to McDonalds at around 1 o'clock and when I was running to the bathroom to throw up I ended up passing out and landed right on my stomach. I couldn't get up so I lied there for a while until I could get enough strength to get myself up. Scott finally got home and called the doctor to see what we should do. She had us go to the hospital to make sure all was well. At the hospital they gave me two bags of fluid for dehydration and some Zofran for the nausea. I felt so much better after that and we were able to go home after a few hours. We left the kids at my sister-in-laws house for the night as we were scheduled to be induced the next morning anyway. At home I tried to get some rest but started experiencing contractions at 12:30 a.m. (I have never had contractions on my own without pitocin, my water usually breaks)we were totally out of our element as to what to do. I waited until the contractions were about 5 minutes apart and I couldn't take them anymore which was at around 3 a.m. When we arrived at the hospital I was at a seven so they admitted me and I had my epidural by around 4:30 a.m. and then just hung out and waited and got some rest. Around 9 they broke my water and said they would give it until 10 before they started pitocin. 10 o'clock came and went and I was put on pitocin by 11 and then finally started to progress. I started feeling contractions again and then before we knew it, it was time to start pushing. Unfortunately the pitocin wore off and I went through the last leg of it feeling everything. Ugh! I had to wait for my midwife Helene to come up from the office but Dr. Lovell stood by the room just in case. They made me wait to push which is almost impossible but I survived and Helene made it on time to deliver Macy at 12:17 p.m. on Tuesday. Welcome to the world Macy, we love you!

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{Introducing Miss Macy}

Macy L Ricks arrived Tuesday September 8th at 12:17 p.m. weighing in at 8 lbs 0 oz 19inches. She is a little sweetie and we are so grateful she is finally here! I will post more of her story later. For now here are some pics! Her first bath which she didn't enjoy except for getting her hair washed. I got my tubes tied so I was just wheeled in from surgery. Brigham was so concerned about me and stood at my bedside and rubbed my arm. Brigham, Daddy and Macy Mommy and Macy Ashtyn holding her for the first time Brigham taking her all in Haylee excited about her. Brigham, Mommy and Macy just before we were bringing her home. Ready to go home.

First Day of School

School has officially begun. Haylee has been asking for weeks when school would start and when I would tell her she would say "your killing me Mom" because it just wasn't soon enough for her. Here they are all ready to go. Miss Ashtyn headed off to Third grade today. Her teacher is Mr. LeFevre. She is wearing a special outfit that she got to pick out on her Grandma McGarry date this year. Little Haylee is in 1st grade, which may as well be her Senior year with her personality. She is in Miss Christensen's class which is fun because her teacher taught Scott in 1st grade and me in 3rd grade. The kids waiting at the bus stop. The neighborhood kids at the bus stop. Notice how Haylee and Tyson are holding hands, soo cute! I love that that kids get a long so well in our neighborhood. Finally the bus came, how exciting! Our neighborhood had a bus stop breakfast. Here is the big crew enjoying our last summer get together. Here are the girls getting off the bus. Haylee came running so excited to tell me about her day. Ashtyn walked right over to the neighbors house I gave her a few minutes and finally had to call her over so she would tell me about her day. All I got was "it was fine Mom". I guess that is the difference between a 1st and 3rd grader.

B-I- VEGIO

We planted a family garden at my parent's house this year. Every Monday for FHE we all come and weed and pick in the garden. Each week a different family is in charge of providing dinner. It has been a lot of fun to get together weekly and to see the garden produce all the veggies. Yesterday on our way out to the garden Brigham was singing in the car B-I-VEGIO, B-I-VEGIO. I tried to correct him to let him know it is really sung B-I-N-G-O but he argued that he had just seen it on tv and he was right. I guess since we were gardening it was the perfect song for the evening. Some of the onions Zucchini Carrotts, Peas and Beans Part of the garden. I am getting excited about the corn, I think it will be ready by next Monday. Yum Yum The other part of the garden where we have Zucchini, tomoatoes, onions etc. etc. I took today off of work to spend the last day of summer with the kids. (I CAN'T BELIEVE SCHOOL STARTS TOMORROW!) While the girls choose to spend time outside with friends, Briggy helped me in the kitchen make Zucchini bread and blanch the peas and beans for freezing. Briggy helping me prep Zucchini for the bread. He is a huge fan of Zuch. bread and ate half of the loaf himself. I just love my baking buddy!