The Many Faces of Emma

Thanks for your comment, Christine! It made me realize that I haven't posted anything about Emma in a long time! It's been Jentri, Jentri, Jentri---so here is a post dedicated to my sweet Emma. She's SUCH a good baby! She'll be 8 months old next week and I can't believe it! I keep telling Jake that I don't remember Jen growing up this fast. Anyway, she's had a cold this last week, which resulted in conjuctivitis (eye infection) and an ear infection. Still she's so happy smiling, and wanting to play.

She already wants to do everything her big sister is doing, and is the most happy when she's got a hold of someone's fingers and is able to "walk" about the room. No one can make her laugh like Jen, that's for sure! And Jen loves the "job" of making Emma happy. She's getting better at rocking back and forth on her knees, and is so determined to get moving! I'm in for it with this little wiggle worm! She's so fun and animated--we love having her here!

Her "Look, Mom! I've got my Daddy!" Face

Her "Daddy, Mommy's making me Eat Yucky Stuff!" Face
Her "Another picture? Are you serious?" FaceHer "Oh how I Love to Swim" Face

Her "Party Animal" Face

Speaking of Emma, she just woke up. :) To Be Continued.....

They've Created a MONSTER!

I'm pretty sure when Brandee and Ronda taught me how to make flower clips for my girls, they had NO idea that they would create a monster! I can't get enough of these! They're so fun to make and super easy, too! Jake thinks I should sell 'em, but I think it's just because he wants to get some of the money back that I've spent on getting the flowers, clips, ribbon, etc. :) So I've bought a few flowers....c'mon Jake. It's for a good cause! Er...somethin... :) Ok, so it's just another excuse to buy craft supplies and storage containers. I'll admit I have a fettish. :) Anyway, here's what I made today!

Jentri-isms

I'm sure countless people have suggested to "write it down or you'll never remember!" Well, in my case, the writing down part isn't so hard as remembering where I put the paper I wrote it down on. I have a slight problem with setting things down and forgetting all about them. It's especially frustrating when some of your best material is on this said sheet of paper and you have no idea where it went! Argh!

Well, on that note I'm going to try and remember some of the things on a long list of Jentri-isms that I wrote down so I could remember. :) Some of them are a little more beginning-of-the- summer-ish, so if you've heard them please bear with me.

**Before we put Jen down for her nap one day, we were singing, "Teach Me to Walk in the Light." Halfway through the second verse Jen looks up at the light on the ceiling and says, "I don't wanna walk in dair (there), I faw-o(fall) and get huwhat (hurt)!" I'm pretty sure the song doesn't say, "teach me to walk in the light on the ceiling." Hmm, we'll have to work on that one.

**Giving options for Jen's Halloween costume:

Mommy: "You could be a witch, do you wanna be a witch?"

Jen (rolling her eyes as she brings her hand down the side of her face): "But I'd be a scaywe (scary) witch if I did dat!"

Well, I suppose that could be true...since all witches are bound to be scary. :)

**We were in the front room looking out the window, and Jen asks, "Mommy, is Daddy coming yet?" I replied with something like, "No, not for a while." Jen scared me as she gasped and plopped herself down on the couch. She explained, "I gotta sweep (sleep) so he comed!" So Jake works late sometimes, what can we say? :)

**We were eating a hanngummer (hamburger) and fwies at Wendy's a while back and I was explaining to Jen as many mothers do, "You need to eat all your lunch so you can grow big and strong..." and turned to get something out of the diaper bag for Emma. I turned back and Jen was standing up in her high chair. As I'm telling her to sit down, she, with hangummer in hand, flexes and exclaims for all to hear, "Wook Mommy, now I big and stwong!" Remind me to thank Wendy's for having broken straps on their high chairs. :) And remind me to thank Jake for teaching her about the "gun show." If nothing else it made me (and the rest of the restaurant) smile. ;)

**We went into JoAnn's to get something crafty, I can't remember what. Anyway, I got the girls in the cart and proceeded to shop. Jen got a stern look on her face and said, "Mommy, don't touch, just look." Wow, do I really sound like that?! Awesome!

**She was trying to reach the doorknob and matter of factly said, "I need a gwoh bigger so I can weach stuff." I just laughed, but all the while I was thinking, "you and me both, kiddo."

**My all time favorite story happened yet again at bedtime when Jen had picked "Itsy bitsy Spider" for her song. We were on our way to her room and I sang, "Itsy bitsy Jentri, it's time to go to bed." Without missing a beat she sings back, "Itsy bitsy Mommy, it's time to cween up da house." Not sure how I should take that, but I was laughing too hard to be offended. Man, she cracks me up. Where does she come up with this stuff?

Like I said, it was a long list! More to come I'm sure!!

Short story long...

Has it really been that long since I've posted?! Hmm. Well, it's definitely time. I'll post more about the 4th and all that a little later, but I wanted to share a little story I like to call,

"No More Jentri's Jumpin' on the Bed."

There once was a sweet girl named Jentri, who finally agreed that it was time to give her crib to her baby sister. However, what she didn't realize was that meant she had to sleep in her dreaded "big girl bed." Which I suppose IS rather intimidating, considering its size? I don't know. Anyway, the first night went great for Emma. She slept soundly in the crib and she's sleeping through the night, which is even more exciting.. Wahoo! Jen, however, ended up sleeping in Mommy and Daddy's bed, per Daddy's invitation (thanks, Daddy ;P) Nap time the next day went swimmingly in the Big Girl Bed, and Jen didn't get out of her bed at all, and even slept longer than usual--3 1/2 hours! Sweet! We were on our way!!

Well, that night was a different story. Daddy put an apprehensive girlie in her bed, who said she'd stay there as long as Daddy left the door open a "widdo bit." Not a big deal, we can handle that. At around midnight, while Mommy and Daddy were painting their bedroom (more on that later) they heard a big THUNK followed by crying. We dropped the paint rollers and rushed into the girls' room to find Jentri on the floor, her left arm underneath her. When asked what happened, she replied with tears in her eyes, "I stan up in my big goh bed." We picked her up and asked where it hurt, with no thought of anything being broken. She pointed to her left arm, and asked us to "kiss it better." Sure, no problem. Quick inspection? Nothing out of joint or jagged/sticking out where it shouldn't be, so we both kissed it better and Jen went back to sleep, no problems.

The next day (The 4th) we went about our business as usual and did all the fun stuff we had planned. Playing on the swingset and swimming at Grandma Price's, playing with cousins, BBQ at Grandma Snarr's, more playing with cousins, fireworks at Murray Park, the whole shebang. Jen mentioned in passing a couple of times that her arm hurt and to kiss it better, and even then to look at it there was just a little bruise. Sure, I'll kiss it better. Again...no problem. Throughout the day she seemed ultra sensitive to being told 'no, don't do that,' and things like that, but my first thought wasn't, "oh, her arm must be broken if she's being so ornery." I thought she was just tired for staying up so late and not having much of a nap, and maybe didn't feel well again. She had thrown up in the car a few days earlier...anyway, I'm still oblivious at this point in the story...

Finally at Sunday dinner a wise Daddy Jake thought to ask his ever so wise mother (who has five boys and a little experience with broken bones) if she thought we should have it looked at. Jen was complaining of it hurting still, but in our minds if she could still play like she did, and move it and it didn't look broken then we were fine. Jake's mom thought we should have it looked at because she could have a fracture and still be able to move it. We value her opinion so we decided to take her in. we took her to the first available doctor at the BYU Student Health Center, and looking at the X-rays he thought it might be a buckle fracture in her ulna I thought I heard him say (the arm bone that connects with your pinky), but he wasn't sure. ANYWAY, they made an appointment with an Orthopedic Surgeon who specializes in arm injuries, to put a cast on it this morning (Wed.). Come to find out BOTH bones in her forearm are fractured, and it wasn't a buckle fracture, it was a Greenstick Fracture in both. The radius (the one that connects with your thumb) more so than the ulna, as you can see in the pics we took of the X-rays.

I tell ya nothing makes you feel like a good parent like going an entire weekend without realizing your daughter has a fractured arm. NOT! I felt so bad for her and kept thinking, "how could I not know her arm was broken?!" I also kept getting frustrated with her moods and tantrums all weekend. I definitely learned my lesson, we should get things checked out--BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY! And I am definitely sorry this time, sweet Jen!!

To make a short story longer:), she was so brave while getting the cast on. Here's a "before" pic in the sling. I had to tie one end with a rubber band so she'd keep her arm in there. Her choices for cast color were blue or white. BYU-go figure. Once she figured out that the doctor wasn't going to hurt her (ie give her shots) she was super brave and sat relatively still the rest of the time.

In the process...

A finished product...

She seems to be adjusting well to life in a cast. Just in time for Uncle Zac's wedding on Saturday, so that's cool I guess. She likes it much better than that awful sling, I can tell ya that. Try and tell a two-year-old not to use her arm, or that she can't climb on anything or run because she might break it more...pretty much do nothing that a typical toddler LOVES to do. Doesn't work! That was sure fun. :) She's bruised her head even since she's had the cast on because she went to wipe her hair out of her face or to scratch an itch on her eye. Poor thing.

She'll only have to wear the hard cast for two weeks, three weeks at most, so that's not too bad. They didn't have to set it, either, which I was grateful for. I guess the don't usually have to do that with toddlers because their bones are still soft and don't usually break all the way. I've never broken any bones so I think I was more nervous than Jen in not knowing what to expect. But it all worked out in the end, as it usually does. She's such a trooper. Love you, Jen--My brave little chica!

For Clarification...

A few peeps have asked why Jake's in China, so I'll try to explain. ;) As part of his Masters Program at BYU, he's been able to take a China Megastructures class. I'm probably going to slaughter the explanation of what exactly he's doing for it, but I'll give it a shot. Their group will be/has been doing case studies and structural analysis on several skyscrapers, bridges, dams, etc. Of course they've been able to do some tourist-y things while there too, but anyway. He's having a blast, and says he's learned a lot.


Another question people have been asking--WHY CHINA? Well, as Jake tells me, there are quite a few engineering projects over there that haven't been accomplished anywhere else in the world. Mainly due to labor issues, or I guess lack thereof. People make about $150 a month to work for who knows how many hours a day, living in temporary housing on these construction sites. Jake said the conditions are just awful, but the people are happy because it's better than anything else they could find, and it's better than being homeless and/or jobless. Crazy!


Anyway, that's the gist of it, anyway. I'm excited to see his pictures, I'll make sure you get some of his side of the story when he gets back.

Give it up for the YOUTH!

I just want to give a HUGE shout out to the youth and leaders of our ward tonight! What an awesome surprise that for the combined YM/YW activity they all came over and pulled at least a million weeds, mowed my lawn, weed wacked, the whole nine yards! I am so thankful! They definitely had their work cut out for 'em. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

President Kimball said it best "...The Lord does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other. The righteous life is achieved as we magnify our view of life, and expand our view of others and of our own possibilities. Thus, the more we follow the teachings of the Master, the more enlarged our perspective becomes. We see many more possibilities for service than we would have seen without this magnification. There is great security in spirituality, and we cannot have spirituality without service!"

I'm so glad that Jake has had this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go to China, but I'll admit it's been stressful at times without him. I've realized how much I rely on him. I've been praying that I can have the energy to get things done while he's away, but I never dreamed that I would be blessed with an increase of not only my energy, but the energy of 30 some-odd youth! The yard has particularly been a source of stress, because that's one of the big things he usually takes care of. I know I wouldn't have been able to get nearly as much done in the yard on my own. I'm pretty sure I'd be out there for days...probably even weeks! I'm even a little embarrassed to say that I don't even know how to start the lawn mower! ;) I'm so glad I have such great people around me that are so willing to serve. It's hard sometimes to admit that you need help, so I'm grateful for people who are in tune with the spirit enough to know that I was in need. :)
I hope those kids and leaders feel the blessings that come from service, and know that they are GREATLY appreciated!!!

Happy Wednesday! :)
PS-I'll take some pics of the yard tomorrow when it's light outside. I should've done before and after, but we'll just do the after. :)

China Update (via Katie)

So Jake was planning on blogging during his trip to China, but apparently it's ridiculous trying to get online over there, so you're stuck with a second hand account. Sorry. :)

Things are going well for him, and he's having a blast. Most of the time as of yet has been spent traveling, with layover after layover it took him a good while to fly to Beijing. They had to fly into Seoul, Korea first and the breakfast options on the plane were octopus and rice, or an omlet. His opinion was that octopus was more of a lunch item, so he opted for the omlet. Mind you, this is coming from a guy who sent his mom a picture of him eating a tomato on his mission. But we won't go into how sensitive Jake's palate is. :) I told him I'd be interested to see what exotic foods he'll be willing to try while he's there. Duck is so far the most "out there" food he's tried while there, but that's pretty good for him.

Their group has gone to the market a couple of times, and the first time was a learning experience. The little ladies that barter with you are apparently anxious to give you back change. Well, Jake luckily had smaller bills and didn't need change, but a couple guys in their group didn't realize until they were back at their hotel that they were given Russian currency, which is worth less than Yen (is that how you spell it?). So they learned their lesson there.

And for those who know Jake well know that he likes to argue just for the sake of arguing sometimes, so he gets a kick out of bartering. He thought it entertaining that one of the little old ladies called him a cheapskate, and then proceeded to yell something at him in Chinese after he walked away from a good deal. He thought that was pretty funny.

Just a few of the places he's been already... (pictures courtesy of the internet:) )

The Forbidden City, which is kind of what my sheltered little "never left the country" mind thinks of when I think of China. He's also been to The Great Wall. You don't hear that every day. "Hey, I went to the Great Wall today." That's hard to top! It made my report of doing the dishes and getting some yard work done seem a little less than exciting. :) He said it's so much cooler than any picture he's seen. "It was just awesome." was all he could say. I'm wondering how much hiking he did that day! Wowsers!

When I talked to him this morning they were on their way to three gorges dam, which looks pretty amazing, especially to a civil engineer. I'll definitely post more about that when I talk to him next. Stay tuned for more!