November 09 Movie

[Originally entitled: Falling in Love] I'm not really a sappy wife. I mean, I like Sam and all, but I'm just not that gushy. I don't stare at him all the time and think about how amazingly handsome he is. I don't need to slow dance or have candlelight dinners every night. And I don't mind if we only hold hands once every other month. The thing is, after about the first year of marriage, those kinds of things didn't matter as much anymore. Most of the time I just want to talk to him. He's my best friend. And there is no one else in the world I'd rather be with. Even Girls Nights are hard, because I'd prefer to bring Sam along. I just want to be with him every moment, of every day. Because when I'm with him, it feels like home.

Then I see this clip of him with Enoch on his shoulders, and I can't help but think, "Woa. I did marry a handsome man." And I fall in love all over again.

Must-See TV

Watch this, then read below.





WOA. Yeah, Lacy is a friend of mine. We served in the same mission. The older I am, the smaller the world gets. The show airs tonight on TLC - 10pm/9c ... but 11 pm on our Comcast. I'll be calling my aunt to Tivo it for me. :)

the day he was born

November 7, 2006
We move into our new house in Spanish Fork! I am due on November 30th, so we rush to get the house unpacked and settled as quickly as possible. The goal: have it all done before my in-laws come for Thanksgiving and before the baby is born.

November 14, 2006
I am done with all the unpacking and organizing. The house is clean and the only thing left to do is vacuum the whole thing.

November 15, 2006
Sam has a paper due at 5:00 pm. He is pretty stressed from going to school full time (I think he had 15 credits, plus a 3 credit independent study class) and working full time (45+ hours a week) ... and then moving into a new home and having a super pregnant wife on top of all that. He is sleeping 3-4 hours a night. He announces to me that morning that it would be really convenient if I had the baby that day because there is no way he is going to get his paper done in time. I laugh. Not happening.

10:30 am
I am putting Seara down for a nap and I start getting contractions. I'm sure they're not real, so I take a long bath. Just cuz I'm bored. I call my mom and she asks how far apart the contractions are. I have no clue, I hadn't really paid attention. Hmmm ... three minutes. My mom very anxiously demands that I immediately head for the hospital. Instead, I paint my toe nails and get all beautiful. (I've had a baby before. These things take time. I was in no rush.) Finally I decide to announce to Sam that I think I'm in labor. He whoops in joy and calls his professor to tell him that there won't be a paper today.

2:30 pm
I get to the hospital and tell them I'm in labor. They practically roll their eyes. Until they check how dilated I am and announce that I am almost 7 cm. Woohoo, all that exercising during my pregnancy paid off! With Seara my body went into shock and started compulsively vomiting with every contraction - when I was barely at 3 cm. This is a billion times better. My midwife stays by my side the whole time, massaging my feet and preparing me for delivery. Love her.

3:30 pm
The midwife is having a hard time figuring out how dilated I am because every time she checks Elijah grabs her finger. Apparently he is coming out superman style - right arm first. My water hasn't broken and they're afraid that when it does his shoulder will get lodged. They prepare me for a c-section and refuse to give me an epidural because I might end up needing a spinal tap (for the c). I'm 9 cm and not happy.

4:30 pm
The attending obstetrician comes in. They give me an epidural (thank you, thank you, thank you!) and the obstetrician proceeds to poke a hole in my water sack, stick his arm inside, and push Elijah's arm back. Three nurses are pushing with all their might on my stomach to try to push Elijah's head in place. Uncomfortable doesn't even begin to describe how much I love that. But the good news is: it works! The obstetrician leaves and my midwife is back in control.

4:55 pm
Five minutes before Sam's paper is due my beautiful boy comes into the world. 6lbs, 15 oz. We name him Samuel Elijah Ricks. Two weeks later we decide to change it to Elijah Samuel Ricks and we bless him with that name at church. A month later I decided to go back to Samuel Elijah. Over the next three years I debate continually about which it should be. I think I've just now decided to stick with Samuel Elijah. But don't hold me to it. I reserve the right to change his name at any time.
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I started my blog a month after Elijah was born, so I never wrote about his birth story here. I can't believe it has been three years since then!! If you can't tell from the pictures, Elijah is only a tad bit excited about his birthday. ;) Thanks to my mom I had a wonderful realization: why am I the one decorating birthday cakes when I am married to an artist?! I've officially bowed out of that position for the rest of my life!


Happy 3rd Birthday sweet boy!

Thankless

Since we are living for free at my parent's house, I buy all the groceries and cook dinner Monday-Friday for my own little family, my parents, and my brother Liam. It's my rent payment, of sorts.

So I was just starting dinner tonight when my mom called: we needed to make dinner for a neighbor family whose mom just had surgery. I made extra, packed it away separately, and my parents got home early to deliver it. While they were gone I laid out the spread: ginger meatballs with sweet and sour sauce - made from scratch, rice, dinner rolls, pears with cottage cheese, and spinach salad with granny smith apples, strawberries, candied pecans, and Briannas Poppy Seed dressing.

But just before it was time to eat, Sam ended up having to leave for a new member discussion. Then my parents got home and Liam announced that, unbeknownst to him, there was a football awards banquet tonight. With hasty (but heartfelt) apologies the three of them rushed out the door to his event.

There I sat, alone, at a table spread with hours of hard work, and with three picky kids who refused to eat anything but pears and strawberries.

Yup. A mother's job really is the most thankless job on earth.

Temple Square

Hey, lookie, lookie! I just hooked up my camera and I found these pics that I had completely forgotten about! It was 82 degrees on Sunday, October 18th. Ah, heaven. November and December, take note: we will all like you better if your high is 82 not 28.


So I have nothing to say about these pictures ... well, except, have you ever visited the Brigham Young Memorial Park in the north east corner of Temple Square? It's my new favorite spot. Note to self: picnic there come spring.


Okay, NOW I have nothing to say about the pictures. I just have a question. What do you think of my shirt? Sam and I went shopping for Elijah's birthday and found it on a sale rack for $6. We actually only pulled it out for me to try on because it was hilarious. I mean, PEACOCK feathers?? And that gigantic broach thing on the front???! It was so funny. Then I put it on ..... and Sam and I both stared in silence. It actually looked cute on me. So we bought it. I mean, who can pass up a six buck shirt? I'm trying to decide if it is too gaudy for every-day wear. So far I've only worn in with that skirt to church. Would it look weird with jeans or black slacks on a weekday?

It's gotta be in the water

trick-or-treating at the Zoo - I just found this picture

I was 8 months pregnant with Enoch when we moved to Maryland. One of the first things I noticed there was that the grocery store had 'Expecting Mother' parking spots right up front ... and they were always empty. In fact, outside of church, I think I only ever saw ONE pregnant woman.

Then we moved back to Utah. Suddenly it seemed like every third person I saw was pregnant. Every neighborhood had at least 10 women who were expecting. I joked that it must be in the water ... but until recently I didn't realize how right I was.

See, we got a family zoo pass for the kids a couple months ago. And, I swear, there is a "New Baby!" birth announcement at every third exhibit. So today I looked it up. In just six months this year the Hogle Zoo welcomed ...

1 Elephant,
3 Black-tailed Prairie Dogs,
1 Snow Leopard,
1 Siamese Crocodile,
1 Howler Monkey,
1 African Black-footed Cat,
6 Meerkats,
1 Giraffe,
2 Golden Lion Tamarins (twins),
1 Columbus Monkey, and
3 Amur Tigers.

That's twenty-one new babies. In six months.

Yup. It's gotta be the water.

Something Quiet

On Monday Seara and Elijah were getting pretty rowdy during preschool. I had been reading a book about creating a peaceful atmosphere in preschool and decided to try one of the techniques suggested. In a very slow, calm voice I whispered, "I want you to think of something quiet. Don't tell me what it is, just think about it in your head." The kids were instantly silent. I directed the kids to sit down. They sat down solemnly and waited. Then I whispered, "Seara, what are you thinking about?"

"Grandpa," she whispered back.

"Elijah, what are you thinking about?"

In the most quiet, serious voice he whispered, "Grizzly bears."

Prepare to be Disgusted

The main floor toilet has been plugged up for three days. I think every able-bodied adult has tried to plunge it numerous times, to no avail.

My mom announced tonight that she thinks it must be a toy the kids flushed down.

My dad replied that if it is a toy, it is probably stuck at the very first curve in the pipes. But, he said, his hands are too big to reach in the pipes. Someone with small hands has to do it. [sigh] Comparing with family members is so not fair. Even with my abnormally large hands, I still lost.

You can't help but wonder if they came up with this just to see you act the fool. It took a long, long time to convince me. And then, just when I was getting ready, Sam shows up with the camera. Awesome.

For the record, I got in above the elbow. I found nothing. That may, or may not, be a good thing.

I don't think I'm going to eat for at least a month.


ps. Don't take me too seriously. I wouldn't post this if I didn't think it was hilarious. In the most vile, vulgar, disgusting sort of way. :)

Story Time

Seara: Can I tell you a story?
Me: Sure.
Seara: Once upon a time there was a Prince Daddy and a Princess Mommy. They went to a faraway land. They saw a witch! Prince Daddy was locked in the castle. But Princess Mommy saved him!

Yeah, girl. That's exactly how fairy tales should be. :)

an 'Incredible' Halloween

This year was my first attempt at putting together Halloween costumes. Normally I either ...

1) pretend it's not Halloween,
2) admit that it's Halloween but do nothing about it, or
3) dress my kids in their cousins' old costumes because I feel guilty for being a lame mom.

Well, not this year. This year I went all out. First, we cracked my mom's costume box and dressed up in different outfits nearly every day. Well, except Enoch. We borrowed this Nemo costume from Sam's cousin and he wore it nearly every day, just because it was so cute!

guess who is mad at me ...

Then there were our Trick-or-Treating costumes. I spent hours and hours shopping. I bought half of every store, and then returned nearly all of it. I had numerous 'try this on' sessions with my kids. I sewed. (I hope you didn't faint at that revelation!) I went all out. And you know what I decided? I am NEVER doing that again!! From here on out, it's store bought monkey costumes for us!

Here is our inspiration:

my brother Liam as Syndrome --- Seara as Violet

Elijah as Dash --- Enoch as Jack-Jack

Me as Elastigirl --- Sam as Mr. Incredible

Incredible logo Jack-o-Lantern

the Incredible Family

Liam's friend Alicia as Mirage

Happy Halloween from the Incredible Crew!