I was on my way to the church for a craft making afternoon. I looked over my right shoulder (like I always do) as I backed out of the garage. All of the sudden I heard a screeching/crunching sound. I thought, "Crap! What did I hit?" I looked over my left shoulder and apparently either Jason (Jaron's brother) or Rick (an employee) had parked a work pick up right across both bays of our garage (What the heck??!!). I just scraped the left back bumper of my car, no dent, luckily. So I pulled forward and got out to go move that dumb pick up. It was a stick shift and I guess it's been a while since I've drove one. I got in, put my foot on the brake and started the engine. I forgot to push in the clutch. The pick up started driving forward. For the life of me, I could not get it to stop!!! I was in a dead panic. Before I could do anything, it crashed right into the side of Jaron's Duramax pick up!!!! Both the driver's side door and back door are both probably going to need replaced now. Sucks to be me.

Anybody else out there a love and logic fan? I need a little parent comforting because we had what I feel is a big lesson" these past two days. According to the book, parents should not nag their children to get ready in the mornings. Children should be responsible to get themselves ready with a little guidance. I usually follow Savannah around all morning reminding and prodding to get out the door on time. I have tried this experiment suggested in the book and I reallly think it will work, but it is soooooo hard!!

I showed her the time on the clock when we had to leave and laid out her clothes, put breakfast on the table and left her alone (actually I cheated, because I still did give a few reminders to look at the clock). Yesterday she didn't leave enough time for me to get her hair done so she went to school with long, ratty hair. She was really sad in the car. I said to her, "This is so sad :(. I know that tomorrow you get ready faster so your hair doesn't look like a ragamuffin..." As we walked the halls, I complimented some of her friends on how cute their hair looked.

This morning she made a special attempt to make sure I got her hair done and we did. It looked adorable, but she didn't move fast enough to get dressed!!! Ahhhh! So, yes, I sent my little kindergartner to school in her pajamas! I put her clothes in her backpack and said if she chose to, she could get dressed at recess. I poured on the empathy and love, just like the book says to, so it's not mean, but I still felt horrible! I'm interested to see if she comes home in clothes or pjs.

I'm a big fan of Love and Logic, and I really believe it teaches children to be responsible for their choices, but boy is it hard! I'm sure that's how Heavenly Father feels about us here on Earth.

The book says that employers today are having a harder time getting employees to take care of tasks without being asked five and six times. We need to teach our children to take care of responsibilities the first time they are asked and to manage their time effectively. I really want this for my children, so I'm praying she learns.

Tomorrow is supposed to snow :( So I thought I'd try to capture the beauty in the days we've been having. Here's my little adorable trio.

We are stretching summer as long as we can!! My brother, William and I took the kids to play at the St. Anthony sand bar on Friday. We were the only ones there and they had so much fun! See Avynlee smile!

Hudson wanted a super hero birthday cake for his 3rd birthday. I do not claim baking as one of my talents...my frosting was far too runny and my cake fell into peices when it came out of the pan. I started to cry because it was an hour before our family was coming for the birthday dinner. Hudson walked in and I turned my back. I didn't want him to know I was crying. All the sudden I hear, "Mama!! I love this cake! This is my favorite!!" Everything was suddenly better and you know, it didn't tasted too bad!

I asked Hudson if he was sad or not sad that Savannah was at school. He said, "Not sad..." Then he paused for a minute and asked, "Are you sad?" So cute. I said "Yes, a little bit sad."

Today is Savannah's first day of kindergarten. I have such mixed emotions. I am so excited and proud of her, but yet so sad at how quickly time passes by. Isn't she a beauty?

ANNOUNCING:

Avynlee Jean Miller

August 2, 2009

6:20 am

7 lbs 11 oz

19 " long

Baby # 3 is here! She is such a doll. My birthing time went really well. I went all natural using "Hypnobabies" this time. Hypnobabies is a self-hypnosis program designed to teach women to have an easy and comfortable all natural birthing. I loved it!! It really worked. I can't say that I had a "pain-free" birth, but the intensity of my pain was soooo much less than it was with Hudson (who I also birthed naturally, but I thought I was going to die from the pain...literally).

I was working in the garden all day Saturday, August 1st when my pressure waves (hypno term for contractions) began at about 4 pm. I worked out there for another hour or two before I was afraid I wouldn't be able to make it back into the house. Jaron was gone dirt biking for the day, but he got home just as I thought I couldn't handle Savannah and Hudson any longer. He put them to bed and I laid down to go into hypnosis. At 12:30 we called the doula (my hypnosis birthing coach, Kelly Mckamie) and she met us at the hospital at about 1 am. She was awesome at helping me keep my hypnosis deep and keeping me comfortable. She would guide Jaron in things he could say and do to be helpful to me. I walked around, relaxed in the jacuzzi, bounced on the birthing ball, the time passed very quickly for me. At a little before 6 am, my midwife broke my water and I laid on the bed in deep hypnosis waiting for the pushing feeling. As soon as I was ready to push, I rolled on my side and pushed my baby out. I caught her with my own two hands and brought her up on to my chest. It was the coolest experience ever!! I would recommend hypno-birthing for anyone!! We named her Avynlee, inspired by the books "Anne of Green Gables" (but we changed the spelling). Jean is after Jaron's grandma and mother. We blessed her quickly at two weeks old because my parents were here and wouldn't be back for a while. That pregnancy flew by so quickly! It's exciting and very scary as we add on to our little family. We know we are so blessed and we thank our Heavenly Father for the experiences that bring such joy to this Earth life.

Jaron just got back from the scouting high adventure trip to Moab, UT.  They took these jeeps off roading one day, hiked in Arches National Park, golfed and swam at the condo pool.  I would say I was jealous he had such a fun trip, but 105 degree weather at 8 months pregnant doesn't even sound the least bit fun.  Besides, I must say some of the rocks and steep paths they climbed in those jeeps look more scary than fun-Jaron says I would like it, I don't know about that...

This 4th of July we stayed in Parker.  A family in our ward invited us to a barbecue party.  The Congers have the most beautiful yard.  There was so much to do.  The kids played on the big waterslide and swing set.  There was a big pond in the back for fishing (Savannah caught a fish with the help of a 7 year old friend, Chad Roderick).  We ate delicious food and of course enjoyed fireworks at the end of the day!

4 more weeks to go.  We know it's a little girl but we haven't decided on a name. This pregnancy has gone by so fast.  Besides being sick in the beginning (over Christmas-no fun!), I have felt great!

In March we went to visit my parents in Portland and we decided to make a fun little overnight trip to the Oregon Coast.  We stayed in Newport, OR and swam in the pool at the hotel.  We were close enough to walk and eat at a local seafood house (yummy!).  The next day we visited the Oregon Coast Aquarium.  The kids loved it and we adults had a lot of fun, too.  Then we got Taco Bell and sat and the beach and ate.  We were very lucky to have decent weather.  It was overcast, but no rain  or wind-perfect.

This was our family Christmas picture taken by our friend Millie Hull in her home.  It's crazy to think back that I was pregnant and didn't even really know.

This past fall a few moms got together to start a preschool.  We each took turns teaching.  It was a really fun, cheap way to have our kids doing something educational.  The other pictures are of the Thanksgiving Turkey bowl at the Roderick's house.  We loved drinking the hot chocolate on this cold morning.

This is Halloween 2008.  Savannah wanted to be Wall*e and Hudson wanted to be a blue wall*e.  It was fun putting those costumes together.  Jaron and I went to our adult party dressed as pirates.