First Day of Joy School

I am doing Joy School with a couple of friends in our ward this year. Our three kids will rotate which house they go to and we will teach little lessons. I am really excited! It is an actual program that my neighbor bought, so we don't even have to come up with the lessons by ourselves! Samantha was so excited for her first day. She even got to take her minion hat for show and tell!

June, Samantha, and Scout

Brigham City Temple and Samantha the Ballerina

It took three very long, very hot hours, but we made it into the Brigham City Temple on Monday. While we were in line, Michael made a very good point; our wait to see the temple was symbolic of the real journey to get to the temple. There are trials along the way. At times it would be easier to say never-mind or I'll try again later. It was hot and discouraging at times, but when we got inside, it was worth it! The kids did great. Samantha love the "sparkly light" in the celestial room.I'm so glad I was able to share that experience with my family. I'm also glad that Grandma, Grandpa, and Aunt Eliza were there to help wrangle the kids!

 Samantha had her first ballet class on Tuesday! Since it was the first class, her teacher, Mrs. Swan, let William and I stay and watch (Zach played at a neighbor's house). She was all smiles for most of the class. She did get her feelings hurt once because she wasn't picked several times to have a turn, but her teacher made sure she got a chance. I'm really glad that she is learning lessons like that, and I'm more glad that I don't have to watch every time. I breaks my heart to see my kid picked last, but that is how life goes sometimes. Other than that one short moment, I don't think I have ever seen my girl smile so much!

 TOP: Learning to plie. BOTTOM: Learning to releve. She is going to make a cute ballerina!!!

William Ernest Robbins

It has been a crazy month and a half since my last post. Michael had a birthday, we went to Idaho again where Michael ran a 5K with a bunch of family (and he was the first from our group to cross the finish line - Go Michael!!!), I had a booth at the Tooele County Fair, I started making Angry Bird hats and have sold several (I'm a little tired of making them, but they sell so well I can't complain too much), I started having more and more doctor appointments, got refered to a specialist (a perinatologist) because the doctor was worried William wasn't growing like he should, did lots of non-stress tests, and then finally the doctor decided I needed to be induced last Sunday night.

We got to the hospital around 8 pm. I was then put on pitocin at midnight (a low dose) and then it was upped at 5 pm. It was a very long morning, but finally at 1:57 pm the nurse (that's right, not the doctor) helped me deliver William Ernest Robbins. The doctor walked in right after William made is debut. I think Dr. Vered was a bit surprised, but it was just fine. Luckily I had heard many stories growing up of my Grandma Leslie delivering babies when the doctor was late (she was a labor and delivery nurse), so I wasn't worried at all. I just wanted to finally have that kid out of me! He didn't want to wait either. I didn't even push once. I laughed at one point and the nurse said, "Don't even laugh or you'll laugh him out!" while she was trying to hurry and get everything ready.

William weighed in at 6 lbs 7 oz and was 19.5 inches long. For being about 2 weeks early, I don't think he was as small as the doctor thought he might be. Thanks goodness!!!

When Samantha came to the hospital that night with my parents and sister, she was pretty scared of the bed and everything around me. The next day when I was showered and in my regular pajamas, she was much better. She did, however, want to sit and hold William for a very long time on both visits. She wasn't very happy to leave me at the hospital, but I was very thankful that she had my mom watching her. When Zach came to visit the first night I don't think he even noticed much. He wanted to drink some juice, crawl all over me, then explore the room with his cousin Edward (Lawrence and Melissa came to visit too).

For the first time ever, I stayed in the hospital two nights! I have to admit that it was really nice to spend an entire day there with room service, reading, and doing whatever I wanted. I think that is why I feel so good now. William spent the second night with the nurses and did great.

I feel so blessed to have my three wonderful children. I'm so thankful that they are healthy and happy. I love that the two older kids love their new baby brother. Samantha wants to hold him all the time. Zach wants to tickle his toes and point out his eyes, ears, mouth, etc... all the time. And Michael is such a great dad. It was a long stressful month, but he's here and he's healthy and that's all we could ask for!

 This is a picture of Samantha at Home Depot. She got to ride in the car cart and spin cookies with Grandpa! She loved all the time she got to spend with my parents!

10 Days in Idaho

This was a much needed break and a lot of fun! We spent 10 days playing with cousins, visiting grandparents, eating yummy food, and making some great memories!

Day 1: Baby shower for my good friend, then dinner with a bunch of old high school friends.
Day 2: Swimming at Rexburg Rapids to celebrate Robby and Paige's birthdays! I think my kids enjoyed the cheese puffs more than the swimming!

Day 3: Church and visiting with my Grandma and Granddad Burt
Day 4: All the Robbins at the Stone house! Boating, flooding the lawn, slides, swings, food, and fun!

Day 5: Dutch oven in the mountain, 4-wheeling, and guns (which were a little louder than my kids would have liked).

Day 6: 4th of July!!! Parade, BBQ at Suzie's, and fireworks. Most of my pictures were taken at the parade with my Mom's camera, so we only have one picture.

Day 7-8: Back to my parents house for some singing, playing, more Grandparents, golf cart rides, and riding on the merry-go-round! Zach was fascinated with Grandpa's guitar. Samantha sang "Give Said the Little Stream" while Grandpa played. I had to pry Zach's hands open to get him off the merry-go-round.

Day 9: Robby's baptism, brunch at the park, family pictures (we are getting big!), then off to the temple to do baptisms for Grandma and Grandpa Davis and a bunch of other family!

 Day 10: Church and dinner with the Hymas family in their new house (it is very pretty), then back home to Utah!