High School Tag

How fun Bridi! Thanks for tagging me on this one, it brought back a lot of memories! :)

1. DID YOU DATE SOMEONE FROM YOUR SCHOOL? Yes
2.WHAT KIND OF CAR DID YOU DRIVE? 1986 Honda Civic
3. DID YOU PASS YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE TEST YOUR FIRST TRY? Yes
4. WERE YOU A PARTY ANIMAL? I wasn't wild and crazy, but I was always out with friends
5. WERE YOU CONSIDERED A FLIRT? Probably
6. WERE YOU IN BAND, ORCHESTRA, OR CHOIR? Band until Sophomore year, and I made it into the audition choir, but then didn't have space in my schedule to do it.
7. WERE YOU A NERD? No
8. WERE YOU ON ANY VARSITY TEAMS? No
9. DID YOU EVER GET SUSPENDED/EXPELLED? No
10. CAN YOU STILL SING THE FIGHT SONG? Yes. How embarrassing.
11. WHO WERE YOUR FAVORITE TEACHERS? Coach Whit & "Major" Mr. Mitchell
12. WHERE DID YOU SIT FOR LUNCH? Most of the time I used my lunch period to do student council business, but when I did eat, I sat with my friends at the center round table in the commons.
13. WHAT IS YOUR SCHOOL'S FULL NAME?Rigby High School
14. WHAT IS YOUR SCHOOL'S MASCOT AND COLORS? Trojans, Maroon and Gold
15. WHO WAS HOMECOMING ROYALTY? I was Homecoming Queen, Ty Shippin King, court was Jill Collette and Kelly Burnside...and I can't remember the rest.
16. IF YOU COULD GO BACK AND DO IT AGAIN WOULD YOU? I had a blast in High School, and it would be fun to relive a few of those days just for the carefree nature of them...but no, I wouldn't ever go back to do it all over again.
17.WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT GRADUATION? Just all of the excitement, and a little sadness...and then the all night party!
18. WHERE DID YOU GO SENIOR SKIP DAY? We went to Lagoon for our Senior trip...I remember being threatened by "Lefty" (asst. principal) to have Sr. trip day cancelled if more than a certain number of our class skipped school on "senior skip" so I don't remember sluffing. . . on that day anyway. (giggling) I skipped a lot of afternoons, but my parents read this blog so that's enough info.
19. WERE YOU IN ANY CLUBS? Yes. Quite a few.
20. HAVE YOU GAINED SOME WEIGHT SINCE THEN? What a question! ahh...Yes. About 30 pounds.
21. WHO WAS YOUR PROM DATE? Matt Williams
22. ARE YOU PLANNING ON GOING TO YOUR HIGH SCHOOL REUNION? I hope to make it to the next one, I've missed the first two already! (Yes, I'm old...1995 grad)
23. DID YOU HAVE A JOB IN HIGH SCHOOL? yes. I worked summers at a department store called Lamonts.
24. WERE YOU AN HONOR STUDENT? yes
25. DID YOU TAKE SEMINARY? yes
26. WHAT WOULD YOU CONSIDER YOUR MOST FUN TIME? I can't choose just one. I loved being with my friends, whether that was rock climbing, snow mobiling, movies, dances, toilet papering, and I LOVED student council. I loved everything that we did, and being so involved in my school.
27. WERE YOU CONSIDERED SHY OR OUTGOING? Both at times.
28. ANY LAST MEMORIES YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? One of my funniest memories was from the "Kiss the Pig" assembly we did. We had 3 donation cans out in the main hallway for a week and the can with the most money had to kiss the pig. Our principal was one can, Mr. Schell (Chemistry)...and I can't remember the 3rd can...Lefty? Anyway, Mr. Schell and Dr. Wilcox (principal) tied. I was doing the announcing at this assembly, and we brought in this huge pig, the student body was roaring...anyway, I called out Dr. Wilcox and he was a good sport and kissed this gross pig on the snout, but Mr. Schell wouldn't come out. Well, I called for him over the microphone several times, thinking that maybe he didn't hear me or something, and then I made an excuse for him to help him save face. After the assembly, me and a couple of other student council members were cleaning up and putting sound equipment away, and we were headed toward the main hallway, it was lunch time, the halls were crowded...and then my memory goes into slow motion. The crowds part and this angry little man (who limps because he had polio as a kid) comes run-limping as fast as he can towards me, throws his arm out, points at me and yells "YOU!!!" Randall Raymond, Andrew South, and I have sound equipment in our arms, but it was tempting to drop it and run for my life. Anyway, Mr. Schell cussed me out in front of laughing students for "humiliating him" in front of the entire school. I was in shock and actually just stared at him open-mouthed. It was awesome. I'm actually laughing about it right now. That was an awesome day. I got so many high fives from everyone. The funny thing is, is that Mr. Schell was one of my favorite teachers, and I was actually one of his favorite students...so I must have just caught him on a bad day.

Here's another good one. To any of you reading this who remember David Browning. :) He was a legend. My Junior year I was on the newspaper staff and we were working after school in the Mac lab...anyway, David, and Jordan, and a few of us changed the "beep" settings on the macs...you know, when you make a mistake and it goes "beep"? Well, we used the external microphone and programmed in a few colorful words and weird noises. Then we got back to work on the newspaper. When we left that evening, we forgot to change the settings back to normal. Well, our newspaper advisor, Mr. Beck, used the Mac lab to teach Journalistic English (a soph. level class) and that afternoon they had a big surprise when they went to use the computers. Mr. Beck was teaching them some new layout techniques, so they were all making A LOT of mistakes. We got in big trouble for that one...but just thinking about it has me laughing all over again!

I tag Kyla, Tacie, Ammie, Katie F., and Mohna!!!

Lainah's 2nd Week in the World...

Lainey's 2nd week has been filled with lots of nap time, and lots of snuggle time with mom and with brothers and sisters. We did have to make one trip in to the preschool this week, and even though mom was careful to cover her completely, it didn't take long for teachers and friends to pull the blanket off "just for a peek." Brooklynn was so proud of her baby sister and wanted to show her off to everyone. Mommy was glad to make it back out to the van with relatively little contact! I know, paranoid...but it's cold and flu season!

Some things we've noticed about Lainey already...

She loves to be talked to, and if she could smile, she would! She gets this happy look on her face where her entire face just lights up and her dimples show...it's so cute.

Her sneezes are the best. She puts her hands up by the sides of her face and does the complete "ahhhh....choo!!!" It's hilarious to hear that coming out of a tiny little baby.

She's starting to turn her head towards mommy when she hears mommy's voice. This morning, I was holding her while helping to get Brooklynn ready for church, and when I looked down she had picked her head up and was looking up at me. I was so impressed at how steady she held her head and how she was just watching me and listening to me. Ahh....moments like those melt mommy's heart.

Lainey likes mommy's electric blanket as much as Mommy. When I get her undressed to rub lotion on her, change her, brush her hair, etc...I put her on a blanket on top of my electric blanket set to medium. It keeps her nice and cozy while she's undressed and she loves it. She stays so nice and relaxed.

Lainey loves to be snuggled up into tight places, like her carseat...or someone's arms, or...the changing table part of her bassinet. Yep, that's right...the changing table. She actually hasn't ever slept in the real bassinet yet, it just seems too huge for her. She sleeps all nice and cuddled up in the changing station cradle...it fits her just right.

She doesn't mind sleeping while Matthew "watches" her and Taylor watches Matthew.

Week two has been fun! She is a little sweetheart!

Some Reasons Why I Love Our Little Matthew

Matthew is such a fun little guy. He is constantly making me laugh. He is always watching what Andy and I do, and tries to imitate us. He works on house projects, and is also working to perfect the culinary arts. I love how he'll let Andy bundle him up in a towel after a bath and rub lotion all over him. I think he's hilarious how he likes to run around in basketball underwear...even if the underwear is over his diaper. He likes being a big boy. I've noticed that before I went to the hospital, he never made any messes. Now...all he does is make messes. I don't think that he has changed, but that mom has become more stationary more often allowing for ample "mess-making time." I love how when Andy gives him a time out, he calls "Mommy? Mommy! Help!" until I come and talk to him about what he did wrong. And I love how when he gets caught doing something wrong he gets a little grin on his face and looks at me sideways. He's such a tease.

I love that instead of stuffed animals, he snuggles with his cars, trucks, or airplanes. I love that when I do the laundry, I often find little hotwheels in his pockets. I love that he is a good helper with baby Lainey. But most of all, I just love that he's my little guy and that I'm his Mommy.

Without Further Ado....

Introducing
Lainah Lorraine Thuernagle!

Born Monday, February 2nd, 2009 at 12:48 a.m.

Weighing in at 6 pounds, 15 ounces and 20.5 inches long...and did we mention that she is the cutest thing ever!?!

So, last Sunday evening at around 11:30 I was casually dropping things into the hospital bag in preparation for my appointment to be induced the next morning at 6:00 am. Andy comes up to the bedroom and starts reading a book. He asks me if I'd like to have a blessing tonight or in the morning before we leave. I tell him that I'd rather have it tonight so that we aren't rushed in the morning.

About 11:40ish...Andy gives me a blessing. I finish packing hospital bag and get into bed. Andy is still reading. I have a very painful contraction and have to breath through it...yes ladies, one of those. To the men...nevermind. Hmm...I've been having these all day but this one was just around 12 minutes from the last one. "Oh well..." I think. I try to go to sleep. Eight minutes later, I have another one, just as painful. I tell Andy. Andy tells me to just try to go to sleep...he tells me I need my rest. (I'm laughing right now.) Four minutes later, I'm having another one. I get up and look at my watch. This is ridiculous. In just about 6 hours, I have an appointment to be induced, I have babysitters already arranged for the morning...what am I doing going into labor right now?

About 11:55...I tell Andy that we need to go to the hospital. He looks at me and says..."I don't want to...just try to go to sleep, we're going to be there in a few hours." I get up and start getting dressed and tell him to call somebody, we're going to the hospital right now. He must have seen the frantic look in my face because something clicked and he was up and on the phone. We called some awesome friends of ours and waited for them out in the car. They pulled up, and we left.

About 12:07...we arrive at hospital. Nurse asks me to rate my pain. I just look at her and tell her that I'm going to have my baby in a few minutes and to get me to the delivery room. Again, she must have seen that look in my eyes, because she didn't question me further. There wasn't time to admit me, there wasn't time for any pain meds, no epidural...this baby girl had waited long enough and she was coming...ready or not.

12:48...I was holding Lainah in my arms.

Her whole birth story brings a new meaning to the phrase "what a rush." Seriously...I thought it only happened that way in the movies.

But she is here, and we all love her so much. This was my hardest pregnancy by far, and I've been so anxious to finally meet this little one. She was well worth every day of pain that started at week 21. She is so loved by her siblings, they love holding her, and even little Matthew has mastered the word "cute" and says it all the time. "Cute baby Lainey."

A little tidbit about her name. I was named after my great grandmother, Olive Lorraine (Cluff) Orme...my middle name is Lorraine. Growing up, I loved knowing that my middle name came from my great grandmother, and I loved reading about her in the family history binder that I received in high school. She was a great lady. I've kind of been waiting to pass the name on to one of our girls...and it just felt right that we give it to Lainah.

Sorry for the overload of pictures...but I think there are some anxious grandparents who want to see what their grand daughter looks like...so here she is!

First few moments with Mommy. I actually wouldn't let them take her for quite a while. The weighing and measuring could wait.

Sucking her thumb...Mommy thinks it's cute...Daddy says we need to get her on a binki.

And here is her cute little foot escaping from the blanket.

Andy brought the kids in Monday night to visit and have our traditional ice cream party at the hospital. Matthew found some chips that Daddy had stashed in the suitcase, plopped down in the chair and started chomping. Brooklynn was so excited to hold her new baby sister. Rachel's turn...they all kept saying how cute she was. And Taylor doesn't seem to mind holding the baby...even if she is a girl instead of a boy. :) Dad, you'll like that he is wearing his compass around his neck. See the string? I thought it was so funny that he wore his compass to the hospital. Here are the kids looking at her tiny fingers.

I think that part of the nurses' training is how to swaddle babies. I can never get them swaddled like this!

Monday morning the sun came out...so we took advantage of the rare winter sun.Tuesday morning we were able to come home...so here she is...a little upset that Mommy took her warm blankets off in order to put her in her going home clothes.

And the going home clothes were way too big...as always. :)

She is just so beautiful. She has dark, nearly black hair...same color as Mommy's (we'll see if it stays that way) and cute little dimples.

And here she is bundled up in her carseat. Funny to think that in just a few short months she'll be too big for this carseat that she's presently drowning in.

Grandma Ruth sent Lainey and Mommy and Daddy some flowers...they are beautiful!

And I'm thinking that Lainah will be the most spoiled of all...her two sisters would hold her all day if they could. There is a rule that the kids have to scrub their hands before holding her...we're going to run out of hand soap soon. I don't think I've ever seen my kids wash their hands so often!

Here's Rachey "watching" Lainah for me. I think she'd been home from school maybe 5 minutes? I just think it's so sweet how much they all love her. I hear stories of kids being jealous, and all the nurses were giving me free advice about buying presents for the older kids. Hmm...my kiddos just love her. Matthew I have to be careful with, because he tends to love a little to hard right now...but the older three are just so good with her!

I just don't think there's anything more beautiful or more sweet than a sleeping babe.

And I just have to say a big "Thank You" to all of our awesome friends out here in Cleveland who came over in the middle of the night, who watched kids during the day, who picked them up from school, dropped them off to school, made meals, took the kids on an outing, etc, etc. I love you all, and just couldn't have done this without you.

And a big "Thank You" to our family members and friends who live far away and sent cards and gifts in the mail, called, and said prayers in our behalf. We love you all and are thankful for each one of you!

Baby, Please Wait!

I know! Two posts in one day!

So our baby girl is due on Feb 4th, but she is getting very, very impatient to come and we are taking it one day at a time. I've never made it this close to my due date before so it's really a miracle that she's still in my tummy!

BUT...tomorrow Andy has prophy day (he has to be in the clinic all day helping with cleanings), Sunday I have my first ward conference of the year, and starting Monday morning at 6 am, Andy is on hospital duty all week and on-call throughout the nights. Next Friday brings mock boards, which will keep him busy at the clinic at least until 5:00 that evening and then my doctor isn't at the hospital until Monday morning the 2nd.

SO.

Baby girl...please, please wait just one more week and two more days??? Please? For mommy? Prayers from our many friends and family would be appreciated!!!

The Big 25

Okay...fine, so I'm not really 25...but a few years ago Andy and I decided that we would be 25 forever. So, on the 18th I celebrated my 7th, 25th birthday. You do the math...and then you'll know how old I really am!

Andy and the kids made it a fun day for me. It was a Sunday, which made it even better because we didn't have school schedules to deal with. It was just a nice relaxing day. Brooklynn started out the day by writing down in her princess journal what my birthday dinner menu should be. It consisted of bacon, jello, and rice. Yummy. Andy fixed some crockpot pork chops and potatoes...with a salad. Brooklynn told him that next year she would give him more notice on the menu so that he could do a better job at following it. (Seriously...she's only 4 years old! What are we going to do with her?)

And they also made me a yummy cake...yellow, and then I made my famous chocolate fudge frosting. Y-u-m-m-y. You see, I had the flu the week previous and lost 5 pounds and the nurses were giving me a bad time about it. I was just trying to do my part in gaining those pounds back. Ha ha! Lots of cake and ice cream.

About 6 years ago, Andy bought me an electric blanket for my birthday because I'm always freezing at night. That electric blanket has been used so much that it only heats up on one side and not very well...so one of my presents was a new electric blanket! The kids think we're kind of weird, but I love it. Thanks Andy!

I think what I loved the most was the huge pile of cards and pictures that the kids had colored for me. They wrapped each one of them...and Brooklynn made sure that each of hers was taped very well. She should get a job at the post office or something. Letters could then be guaranteed to be tightly sealed on arrival.

And...at the end of the night, we thought it would be fun to take some pictures of my baby tummy at 38 weeks. So...here it is. Last pregnancy, I had people asking me to post pictures about this point in the pregnancy too...why is it that nobody asks for pictures when I'm fit and in shape? Whatever!!!

It's Sunny!

Okay, I know that it was subzero temps out there this morning and that it's still "bitterly" cold. But...I just can't find it in myself to be bitter about it. I am thrilled that the sun is out! No, it's not partly cloudy, or mostly sun with a little bit of clouds...it's full-out SUNNY!!! It is a beautiful, gorgeous winter day. The snow is sparkly, not gray/brown and slushy...it crunches under my feet...and I have to admit that I'll take the crisp burn your nose and lungs air over the contaminated smoggy/somewhat humidified cloud-covered air anyday. Anyday. To make it even better...the district closed the schools today which means that we now have a four day weekend! Hooray! Life is good. It's amazing what a little sunshine can do.

Brooklynn's Santa Letter

Okay, this was way too cute and too funny not to post. This is one of those treasures that a parent holds onto forever. Brooklynn dictated her letter to me while we were waiting to pick up the kids from school. She made me write in crayon, because "then Santa will know it's really from me."

Enjoy.

Dear Santa,

For Christmas this year, I would like a pink car for me and Matthew to share. A disney tea set and a princess dress up. A princess book, and a mirror that is pink. And I would like my own fake money.
Thank you,
Love,
Brooklynn

Oh, I would also like a fake princess doll. I would like Aurora. Or maybe Ariel's sisters. A remote controlled dinosaur, and a fake candy cane. And a doll that is my mommy that has the name Sherrie.

I like your Rudolph's parents. Have you ever seen a snow monster? How do you get Rudolph's nose so shiny?

Christmas for Boys and Girls

I loved Christmas this year. I don't know why it felt different than other years, because aren't all Christmases great? Maybe it's because this year we didn't have the flu, we didn't have to share our time with anything but enjoying the day together, and that this year Santa seemed to be able to pinpoint exactly what each one of our kiddos really wanted.

Have you ever noticed that sometimes when kids get a whole bunch of presents they still usually only play with one or two and the rest go unnoticed? Have you ever noticed that sometimes kids ask for things in their Santa letters that aren't really the things that they'll like the best?

Hmm...this year, Mommy wrote Santa her own letter, sort of editing what each of the kids had written...just to give him some pointers as to what they'd really be interested in.

Some of the things matched up. But for example, Rachel had asked for a skateboard...Mommy sent Santa a letter saying that Rachel would probably enjoy a new dolly a lot better, especially since we won't see sidewalk in Cleveland until.....well, let's not talk about that.

Here's Rachey in her new Christmas dress holding her new doll "Jenny".

Brooklynn asked for fake money...and a fake candycane. No kidding. (laughing) Santa brought her a princess tea set and some clothes for her dolly.

Kids are hilarious!

Here are the boys playing with their gifts. Taylor and Daddy were putting together his remote controlled airplane while Matthew was busy giving his new fisher price school bus a complete overhaul.

And while the boys were busy with tools and such...the girls were busy in the living room playing with their dolls and having a tea party.

I absolutely LOVE how different boys and girls are! I had so much fun watching them throughout their Christmas vacation playing with their new toys.

And for those of you who have personally witnessed the sight of Andy on his "scooter"...you'll really enjoy this t-shirt. I couldn't pass it up. It says "Real Men Use Duct Tape". Well, I guess Andy is a REAL MAN!!!!! And thanks to all the duct tape he uses, I think the scooter will last until May 17th...then it's going on the tree lawn. (for those of you who are confused about "tree lawn"...I'll post later on Cleveland terminology for your reading enjoyment.)