2.28.2011

Evening Activities.

Almost every single night our home becomes a sports arena. We are either playing basketball, baseball, Football, Hockey, or soccer. Lately baseball is the favorite. Eric can pitch to Marcus 10 ft. away and Marcus can hit the ball right back at him. I usually find somewhere to hide because there have been too many times that Marcus has nailed me in the head and I am not quick enough to move.
Marcus loves spending evening playing with his dad. Emma loves to join in as well although most of the time she names herself as the scorekeeper/cheerleader.



ps...he nailed that ball in this picture...haha.


Love, Tamber

False Alarm.

It all started at church yesterday. At the end of Sunday School I told Eric I was really uncomfortable and I kept moving positions trying to find a comfy way to sit. When Sunday School was over I went into the relief society room and felt a little better just from getting up and walking around a little. Within 5 minutes of sititng down I realized that I was getting uncomfortable again. When I started actually listening to my body I realized that I was having contractions. The sister sitting next to me kept asking if I was okay...I guess she could tell I was uncomfortable. After 30 minutes of contractions every 5-10 minutes I decided to get up and walk around to see if that would stop them. I walked outside and then came back inside to get a drink. I found my seat neighbor searching the halls to make sure I was okay. I told her I was fine...just trying to get my contrations to stop. I followed her back in to the relief society room to sit back down for the last 15 min of class...the walking didn't help. They continued.

After class I felt like I had to stop walking every time I had a contraction so that the pain wouldn't shoot down my legs. Eric was walking so fast to the car I finally yelled...' Eric, come here.' I told him that we needed to go to the hospital (my doctor told me that since I was still too early that if I had more than 4 in an hour that I needed to go get checked to make sure everything was okay). So we got the Hall's to watch the kids until Eric's dad could drive down from Salt Lake. We made the quick trip to the hospital.

Once arriving the Labor and Delivery receptionist made me call down to the front desk and get pre-registered. I was annoyed....to say the least. I felt nausea and didn't want to talk to anyone. When I met my nurse I had to explain myself. I said...I know I am early and probably not in full labor, but I didn't want to get to the point where there was no turning back. The nurse told me she was glad that I came in and that it was the smart thing to do. (what a relief to not feel like I was over reacting).

Throughout the hours that we were there the contractions continued to get stronger and closer together. To make the long story short, they gave me some pain medication ot relax my uterus contractions and help me to sleep good at night. Thanks goodness.

So for now...I am trying to take it easy so that the contractions don't start up again soon. I am only 35 weeks 2 days along. The doctor said that the baby would be fine if I did have her today, but each day that we can extend the pregnancy brings higher chances that she will be a good breast feeder and that she will be able to breath on her own from the beginning. So that is our goal...keep her in there for another week and a half at least.

Love, Tamber

2.27.2011

Girls Day.

All thanks to the best Valentine ever, Emma and I spent the morning yesterday at the spa. We were treated to Manicure, pedicure, facial and hair style.

Emma thoroughly enjoyed her first papering day. She has been looking forward to this day for the last couple of weeks. I believe it lived up to her expectations.

Getting her hair done...



Getting her facial...
I thought she wouldn't hold still or close her eyes for this, but she loved it. She said it was her favorite part.

Emma had to take a picture of me...of coarse (ignore the swollen pregnancy face.)

Getting her nails done...

Waiting to start the day at the spa...


Love, Tamber

2.17.2011

The SAM Project.


A couple of years ago a friend in our ward lost her 18 month old little boy due to complications from Mitochondrial Disease. In order to honor little Samual she started a service project that runs this time of year. Each year they ask for donations and collect blankets for the Patients at Primary Children's Medical Center and deliver them on or around March 26th (the day of his passing).

I know that many of you are ex-ward members of this sweet family and always ask about helping with the project, so I figured that I would post all of the information here so that you anyone could participate if they wanted to. This is something that we did for Family Home Evening Last year and my kids love helping.

The ironic thing was that a couple of weeks after giving our friend the blankets that we made, Marcus unexpectedly was admitted to Primary Children's for a few days. I can attest that these blankets really do make a difference in the lives of these little children (Marcus still calls his 'his doctor blanky' and carries it around where he goes).

When: All Blankets should be done and turned in to Laura McCluskey by March 20th. (If any of you want to email me when you are done and mail them to me, I would love to get them to her by this date).

Blanket Specifications (Primary Children's Rules):

Fleece Blankets: 72" x 60" (2 yards)

Quilts: 72" x 90" , 54" x 80" and 45" x 60" ( no all red flannel)

Quilted or tied quilts are both okay.

Receiving Blankets 36" x 36"

These are only specifications/recommendations, but don't have to be exactly followed.

If you want to know more about The Sam Project you can visit their website.


Love, Tamber

2.15.2011

Hockey Madness.

With a husband that once played and is still obsessed with hockey, it tends to be something
that is on the TV a lot in our house.

Marcus and Emma have both caught the hockey bug as well.

Friday night we went to the BYU Hockey game. The kids loved giving the players hi fives, shaking the noise makers and waiting for the players to smash into the boards in front of them.







The highlight of the night was Emma getting the game puck from one of the players...she is now sold for life.

Love,
Tamber

2.14.2011

Valentines Day in our House.

I hope you can pin someone down and tell them that you love them...
even if they resist.

Valentines day tends to be a fairly normal day around here.

Emma woke up from Eric starting the shower and ran to the bathroom door yelling, 'Happy Valentines Day Dad!' through the crack. She is always so thoughtful and the first to remember holiday's in the morning.

Once the kids ate breakfast they quickly opened their candy and started in. Luckily it is a warm day here today and I will be sending the kids out around lunch time to get some of the sugar jitters worked out.

Happy Valentines Day to all I Love!


Love, Tamber

2.03.2011

Ice Skating

Emma has been begging us (literally) for a couple of weeks to take her ice skating. Eric, being a high school hockey player, was excited to take the kids. I wish that I could have gone, but with how unstable I am, it wasn't a risk I was going to take being 7 months pregnant.

So I took the role of photographer and cheerleader. Both kids could have skated without the walkers, but I think they liked the novelty of them.



Marcus was funny cause he would go as fast as he could, and it was basically like he was running. He kept trying to 'hockey check' Eric into the boards. I don't think the smile left his face the whole night.


Emma loved it too and has asked everyday since Saturday if she can go back yet.

Love,
Tamber

2.02.2011

Chores.

I know that goal setting is a continual process for me. I try each Saturday night to set goals for the week. The same thing happens on the parenting front. I know that I have made Chore Charts before and some have worked, some haven't but as my kids get older they require a re-evaluation on what is expected of them.

This week we instituted allowance in our household. Before now, it has never been a regular thing that I gave them money for doing chores.

Eric and I decided that our kids should have to do certain chores in order to help as part of our family. After they have done their regular required chores, then they can earn money for extra chores that they do.

Believe it or not, our kids love to help. I believe that working hard with your family brings you closer together and we have already experienced that from our short time with older children.

So, this is how we set it up. We have the following information posted on our fridge as well as the charts so that we can keep track each day of what our children accomplish. Plus...they love to put an 'x' up when they have finished their chores.


Earning Allowance

You must do all of your Required Chores each day or you will not earn money for the extra chores that you do. After you do all your required chores then you can earn $.25 for each additional chore that you finish during the week.

Required Chores:

Make Bed

Keep Bedroom Clean

Put Your Laundry away into your drawers/closet

Each week help with Laundry or Dishes (alternate)

Allowance Chores:

Clean Toilet

Clean Bathroom Floor

Empty Garbage

Clean all Mirrors

Clean Walls or Baseboards

Help Clean Hardwood Floors (with mom's help)

Vacuum

Sweep Leaves Outside

Clean out car (Garbage and Toys)

Wipe Table and Counters

Anything else mom or dad approves

Emma’s Chores Accomplished (Week 1&3=Laundry, 2&4=Dishes)

Days

Monday

Tuesday

Wed

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Chores

R

A

R

A

R

A

R

A

R

A

R

A

R

A

Week 1


Week 2

Week 3

Week 4



















Marcus’ Chores Accomplished (Week 1&3=Dishes, 2&4=Laundry)

Days

Monday

Tuesday

Wed

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Chores

R

A

R

A

R

A

R

A

R

A

R

A

R

A

Week 1


Week 2

Week 3

Week 4



















R= Required chores (x) A= Allowance Chores (Mark Numerical Amount)


Love, Tamber