Christmas Fun at the Pool

This last weekend we took a last minute trip up to the Dells. We got a really good rate on a condo, took up food for dinner and breakfast and spent Friday and Saturday swimming away. Here are some pictures.

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Finally Snow

It's been unseasonably warm in Wisconsin. In fact, November was one of those record warm Novembers. We did have a little snow just before Thanksgiving, but it was gone awful fast. The kids put out a bowl to catch snow for snow cream, but we didn't get enough. Well last week we got our first real snow fall... okay a snow fall enough for snow cream and for Ben to get paid to shovel our walk. However, on Monday Ben was complaining about how little snow there was 'cause he wanted to play in it.
Fast forward to today. More snow when we woke up. Snow cream again. But it's supposed to really wail on us this afternoon and all day tomorrow. The kids can't wait for the snow plow to plow the dead end street. It usually packs it up into a huge hill and the kids have a snow fort in it all winter long. Until then they've been sledding down our sloped lawn.
Rachel bundled up Moroni and took him out to play. He really likes and tolerates being out in the cold. Most two year olds I have will go out for about 5 minutes and then want back in.
I was helping Sam into snow pants and snowboots and a coat. Then I steered him back to the garage to go get some gloves. He said, "Do I really need all this stuff?" Yeah, Sam, ya do!

A Cell You Can Eat

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Originally uploaded by mom4k12

Today I made a cell that you would be able to eat. Though I advise you not to because it was made out of all kinds of grows things put together. Though I like bread, Jello, grapes, bananas, and carrots. I don't like them together. The first thing I did was I went down to the storage room and got lemon jello. We mixed it up and then I put one bag in a plastic cup. The plastic cup stood for the cell wall. That one was the plant cell. I filled it with half of the jello and then I took my other bag and put it in a bowl (so it didn't spill) and I poured the rest of the jello into it. That one was the animal cell. The bags stood for the cell membrane and the jello would stand for the cytoplasm. Then I took the dried prunes out and we cut them open. The prunes would be the nucleus. I took some carrot shreds and stuffed the dried prunes with it. the shredded carrots stood for the chromosomes. Then I put one stuffed dried prune into each bag. Then I took one piece of bread and rolled it till it was really thin (like a tortilla). I folded it up a bunch. Then I cut it to squares. That was the ER. Then I took dried prunes and cut them up like raisins. Then I stuck them in between the bread. Those were the Ribosomes. Then I put one of each in the bags. Then I took some thin slices on banana, stacked them on top of each other and put some in each bag. The banana slices stood for the Golgi body. Then I put in some mandarin oranges. The mandarin oranges stood for the mitochondria. Then I got some grapes and put them in the plant cell bag. They stood for the chloroplasts. Then I tied them up and put them in the fridge to freeze a little. When I pulled them out they were my own edible cells. :D ~ Rachel

The Unit Box

When any of the kids (school age) complete a unit, they can pick a prize out of the unit box (or a can of soda or an ice cream). Sam completed a unit in Math today and we went out to the freezer to see what kinds of ice creams there were. Upon choosing a popsicle I let Ruth have one with him.

Sam said, "Ruth when you get older you have to complete a unit to get one... you can't just ask. That's what I used to do when I was a child, but now I have to complete a unit."

Special Delivery

Delivering Adam was SO exciting! Doctor Cardwell, who reminds me of Bruce Willis and my Brother-in-law Jim Butts - because he's tall, bald, and amazingly calm under pressure, asked me if I wanted to do the delivery. So as the baby started to crown, I kept wondering when I was supposed to jump in. But once the head was ready to emerge, the doctor stepped back and let me ease the head out of the baby chute. Then I had to turn the head to the left and press down so that the shoulder could emerge. Once the shoulder was through, Adam just slid right out. I pulled him out the rest of the way and he laid there on the bed while the doctor suctioned his mouth to clear out the baby juice. Then I handed him to the nurse and we went over to the warmer to clean all vernix off him. He occasionally cried, but calmed down right away and just laid there.

It was an amazing experience - if any of you have a doctor who is willing to let you do the delivery - you should definitely do it! The doctor stays right there to assist (so that you don't mess up). I was rather nervous about doing it, but Doctor Cardwell was so calm and helpful that I was able to just enjoy the experience without any worries.

Adam sleeps a lot right now and doesn't really cry much - he's a very contented baby and seems rather snuggly. The kids are SO excited. Ruth refused an opportunity to go jump on the trampoline this morning so that she could protect Wanda and the baby 'from lightning'. The whole family is thrilled to have Baby Adam finally join us.

I'm off work for two weeks to help Wanda and then I'll be off every Monday and Friday to help ease her back into the normal schedule. Wanda is up and moving today (she just went to the store for blue balloons) and seems to be recovering quickly. She's sore from the after-contractions of course, but she doesn't complain. We're looking forward to her mother visiting in a few weeks.

Name Change

After much discussion, voting, debate his full name is:
Adam Jacob Husted.

Baby's Here!!!

Pictures are still to come, but thought I would send a quick announcement.

Jacob Husted arrived at 4:18 PM, today, September 15, 2009. Knowing he was coming early I asked Robert how much he thought the baby would weigh. He guessed 7lbs 10 ounces. Wouldn't you know, he was exactly right! Jacob is 19 inches long and so far is a really good sleeper (then again, so was Ruth her first night. hehe).

Exciting Part: Robert got to deliver him!!! How cool is that! We'll post pictures later with Robert's account of the delivery, but for now... all is well.

Eyes

Ruth: "Mom, I'm rolling my eyes. Look!" (She tilts her head to the side.)

Happy Birthday

Mary: Daddy, how old are you?
Daddy: 2 x 21
Sam: I know, I know! Is that somewhere in the hundreds?

Bugs

This morning I was watching Moroni on his tummy. Usually it's his favorite position for coloring, but he wasn't coloring. He stood up and I realized he was holding an earwig. Eeewwwww!

He was so cute. He held it between his little thumb and forefinger of his right hand and would place it into the palm of his left hand. Then the bug would scurry around to the back of his hand and start up his arm. He would pick it off with his right hand and place it back on the palm. The bug then proceeded on the same path it had before with Moroni removing it back to his palm again. It was so entertaining to watch this procedure about five or six times.

Then he put the bug back down on the floor, he'd touch it, pet it, pick it up, put it down. You get the picture. Mary, Robert and Rachel were soon watching this with me. It was the cutest thing (Rebekah was just grossed out and wanted us to kill it). I left to go help someone with something and left Rachel with instructions to squish it once Mo was done. I then went back and told her just to release it outside. I figured it deserved its life after the torture Moroni was putting it through.

If you look closely at the picture you can see the bug escaping to the back of his right knuckle.

Paint

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Originally uploaded by mom4k12

Moroni got into the paint today. Note the lovely orange and red hair, the inked-hands, and the oh-so-guilty look! Ruth had finger-painted the downstairs carpet, couch, boxes, and her brother!

I'll Be Back

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Originally uploaded by mom4k12

Mo just thinks he's one of the boys.

Where?

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Originally uploaded by mom4k12

I woke up and told Robert, "Wow! Mo stayed in his bed all night!" Robert said, "No he didn't. I got a picture of where he ended up."

Final Count

Our Saturday total at the Lemonade stand brought in $67.25. That brings our grand total for pediatric cancer research to $167.50.

We're quite excited to send the contributions in to the Original Lemonade Stand. Thank you Mount Horeb and Blue Mounds!!!

Lemonade... Again

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Originally uploaded by mom4k12

So this afternoon we camped out at Millers and Sons (in Mt Horeb) and raised $91.85!!! Much more than yesterday. Our grand total is now $100.25.

More Lemonade

The kids were excited that yesterday afternoon the lemonade stand made $8.40. Today (Friday) we'll be at Miller's and Sons from 2pm - 7pm. Tomorrow we'll be at Miller's from 8am - 5pm.

Lemonade Days

We will be hosting a lemonade stand this weekend to benefit Pediatric Cancer Research. If you would like to stop by and visit on Thursday, it will be in front of our home (pictures to come).

For Friday and Saturday... Stay posted. Robert is working on a more public venue for us!

If you would like to learn more about Alex Scott and the original lemonade stand you can visit her homepage. If you would like to donate online you can visit our virtual stand. If you would like to donate time (volunteer to help us) just contact me via email.

Baby's Movin'

I'm almost 18 weeks and can now feel the baby move! Those first flutters are soooo exciting. I know they get more powerful and even uncomfortable later... but feeling the baby move and grow is my favorite part of being pregnant.

Yeah!

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Originally uploaded by mom4k12

Can you believe it?!? Moroni went to sleep in his own bed (with the help of Joseph). This isn't 'he fell asleep on my bed and now we've moved him to his bed'... it's HE WENT TO SLEEP IN HIS OWN BED!!!

Where'd You Go?

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Originally uploaded by mom4k12

Okay, so my son who refuses to say more than five words (the only word he says on a regular basis is "mo" for "more), loves to play peek-a-boo. In the last couple of days when I throw the blanket over his head says, "Where'd you go?"