Making Grandma Carmel Proud!

In an attempt to carry on the family tradition of Homemade Raviolis for Christmas dinner, my mom, my sisters and I spent a day making Raviolis from scratch!!

We tried to do everything grandma would have done...like starting with a well...bowls are for sissys!

We kneaded the dough by hand....

Nikki chopped the parsley and made the filling

We rolled them by hand and then used this nifty machine to cut them!
All in all we had a great time and they turned out FANTASTIC!

4 months old!

The Jack Attack!!!

I have been so behind on posting and my little Jack is already 3 months old!! He is getting so big,so cute, and so fun!!! And he is sleeping through the night now, so that makes my life so much easier! We all love Jack, he is such a great addition to our family!! Many have requested some new photos so here they are!!

At the Pumpkin Patch

Ready for church!

Flashing a Smile!

Chillin with Dad after church...Nora was napping!

Jacks Hallowen Jammies

28 and 7!

28 and 7 those are my numbers this month! October is usually a fun month for me. First because I love Fall, and it is so fun to take the kids to the pumpkin patch and enjoy the mild weather. It is also my Birthday month and the month I celebrate my Anniversary with my Sweetheart! This year has been a little bittersweet because Art has been working out of town all month. That means we went to the pumpkin patch without him, I spent my birthday without him and now today is our 7 year Anniversary and I am without him. He does however, return home late tonight and things should return to normal...whatever that means!
While Art has been gone I have had lots of time to remember all the things I love about him! So it is in honor of our special day today, and in honor of my 28th birthday 5 days ago I make this List
28 things I love about My husband!(in no particular order...

1. His since of humor... Art has a unique way of making everyone laugh, and it has brought a lot of joy into our marriage. One night early in our marriage we were on a date with another couple and Art was joking around as usual and my friend said "he is so funny I bet you laugh constantly" I rolled my eyes, thinking it does get old after awhile. But I can think of many situations where his humor has saved us from an otherwise stressful situation!
2.He is a very hard worker
3. He has a very strong Testimony of the Gospel!
4. He is a Great Dad
5. He is an amazing cook...I love that Art enjoys cooking, he almost always cooks on the weekends and I love the break...his specialty is stir frys, I have never tasted one i didn't like!
6. His Handsome and Sincere face
7. His Big Strong Arms and calloused hands...they remind me every day how hard he works for our family!
8. He has great patience
9. His love of the Scriptures
10. His knowledge of the Scriptures
11. His love of football and all Ohio sports...Even though I am usually complaining about how much time he spends watching games!
12. His fiercely competitive nature.
13. His genuine love of all people
14. His Generosity...He would seriously give away just about anything we owned to someone who needed it...I love that about him...although I have to stop him sometimes ...Art we are not leaving that person a $20 tip, I don't care how nice they were!
15. His sometimes shyness
16. His spontaneity...he always goes along with my crazy ideas like lets go to Disney in 2 weeks.
17. His good judgement...No, Amy we can't go to Disney again, we just went last month...If he would allow we would take trips every month!
18. He always lets me choose the movie, and waits for his movies to come on video...probably because if I go to movies he likes I always fall asleep
19. I love when he speaks Hmong, and I love that because of it my kids tell their friends that they speak Hmong.
20. I love that he changes light bulbs and opens tight jars for me!
21. I love that he will feed our children in the middle of the night so I can rest!
22. I love that our kids call for daddy in the middle of the night because they know that in the wee hours of the night daddy is more patient then mommy.
23. I love that his job usually does not take him out of town
24.I love that he is very thoughtful and always surprises me with nice gifts.
25. He is very supportive of me "getting out" in the evenings when I need a break!
26. I love that he can rarely beat me at Catans.
27. I love that he calls me on his way home from work every day.
28. And most of all I love that He Loves Me...Unconditionally!

For DAD!

Today Maddie said "Mom, can I see Dad's blog?" I said this is mom and dads blog. she said well then why is it pink?? Funny girl! I thought since we were posting for dad this week we would pick something less girly! Thanks Maddie for pointing that out!

Long Over Do...Avas first day!

I told you I was behind on posting!! Ava is doing so well at preschool. She loves it. She was one of the only kids in her class that didn't have any tears. Her teacher always tells me how well she is doing and she is always comes home singing songs that she learned in school! Ava is a bright and happy girl!!! We are glad you are a part of our family and hope you enjoy your first year at preschool!!

Going into the class...Have a fun Day Ava!

Sitting with her class!

getting her teddy bear!

Ava and her princess backpack!

Not Much Exciting Happened Today!

Well there was really nothing notable that happened today! We had a rather blah day! But as I promised you Art here is a little funny for the day! I found Nora trying to pawn her glasses off on Jack and tried to get a couple of pictures! We miss you!

A fun week in the blogging world!

For all you who are really bored with my blog...stay tuned for a busy week of posting!!! Art is out of town for his last and final week...hopefully! and i promised him a blog a day this week so when he is bored at night after work he can have something fun to look forward to!!! I have lots to catch up on!!!

A new look for Nora!

Nora got her glasses yesterday! She has a condition called accomadative Astropia. It was causing her eyes to cross when she focused on something close! The glasses should eventually correct the problem and by the time she is a teenager she may not have to wear them. She looks so cute in them though, when she leaves them on! I tried to get a couple of pictures. They are not the best because she was trying to watch Diego while I was taking them!

Who's the Baby??

Ava and Nora seem to make their way into the baby swing more often then Jack does! I usually holler at them and chase them out of it,telling them that it is for babies and they are no longer babies! But sometimes it is just too cute not to take a picture and wish that they weren't growing up so fast!

Maddie's First Day of PreSchool!

Maddie was very excited for preschool to start this year! It was a little easier for me this year to drop her off since we had done this last year! I am really excited about her new teachers and her new adventures! I am also extremely excited to have one more year to enjoy her mostly to myself before she starts kindergarten! She is such a beautiful, bright and happy girl...it is fun for me to watch her make friends and to grow! I got a few pictures of her and the other kids before we headed off. Ava starts school tomorrow and she is equally as excited!! It's a beautiful thing, yet extremely difficult to watch your babies grow up!

I got a PedEgg!

I suppose this post is mainly for the amusement of my sisters ...but you all will be happy to know that I am now the proud owner of a PedEgg! Its this great device that shaves the calluses off your feet, perhaps you've seen them on TV? My husband was thoughtful enough to buy one for me the other day! I think after I scratched him with my callused heels the other night, he decided I needed help! I used my sister Nikki's once and I found it to be fantastic! So while I could have been offended with this gift...I was pleased...very pleased!

Why I never have Time to Blog!

This afternoon I was on the phone(which I should never do while the kids are up) with my mom. I hollered up to the girls to get out of the bathroom. To which they responded...we are cleaning it for you mom! Oh great I thought.(sarcastically) I finished up on the phone and went to see what they were up to! They were washing up the tub with their body wash. they said look mom we cleaned the whole tub...we used toothbrushes to help us! Discusting! Thats what happens when i don't pay attenetion for 5 mins!

Already!!!

I knew this would happen sooner or later!!!
I walk into the room and there is Jack swinging with a necklace around his neck!!
I am sure this little boy will have his share of moments like this with his 3 sisters!

The Birth of Baby Jack

My sister April got to be with Art and I at the birth of baby Jack! It was a great experience and we were very grateful to have her support! Here is the very cute and very sweet video documenting the birth. She is amazing...Thank You!

The Sweetest feeling in the World!

Jack William Cartwright
8-2-08
7lbs 15oz
20 1/2 in.

the most annoying feeling in the world!

The most annoying feeling in the world is sitting here knowing that i am 5 cm dialated, and not in active labor yet! C'mon BABY!!! Good news is that this will make for a fast labor when he does decide to arrive!!! I guess I will go clean to bring on some contractions!

Special K Breakfast!

Maddie and I were eating cereal this morning for breakfast! Here is our conversation:

Maddie: mom is this that new Special K Breakfast?
Me: yeah I think so
Maddie: I love it...what does special K do for your body?
Me: uh i don't know, its just healthy for you
Maddie: i think it helps you to lose weight.
Me: oh yeah I think your right
Maddie: good thing you had some this morning mom!
Me: thanks maddie
Maddie: well maybe it will help the baby come out today and you can lose weight!

My Maddie girl is so funny she never misses anything that you say or do...including comercials she see on tv! thats obviously how she knew about Special K helping you to lose weight! And lately as we have anxiously awaiting our new baby I have been talking a lot about wanting to lose weight and get my body back!!! I love our funny conversations!

Time for Something New!

Here are some recent photos of what we've been up to the last couple of weeks!
Ava is 3!!!
Nora is 2!!!

Diego cupcakes I made for Ava and Noras Birthday!
Ava sporting her new bike helmet she got to go with her new bike for her 3rd Birthday!
Ava and her Best Friend Xandra waiting for the fireworks!
Nora loved the Sparklers on the 4th of July and kept saying "more fire"

Spoiled Rotten Kids!!!

I thought the kids needed some entertainment for the summer, because I was feeling guilty that I am losing my energy by the day! I didn't want them to be bored and sit in front of the TV all summer. So I talked Art into letting me buy this bouncer for the kids. They love it, and it can even be set up indoors for those rainy days!!!

I'm Annoyed!

I have a whole CD of pictures I had wanted to post from our Vegas trip but CD Rom is not working. Art is also bummed because I got him a book on Cd for Fathers Day which he wanted to put on his IPod but as I said CD Rom is having issues! I think maybe it just needs cleaned....Can you do that? Anyone know how??

The Cutest Kids in the World!

My new sister in law took this cute picture of the kids when she was in town a few weeks ago!!! The Girls, First, Third, and Fifth from the left are mine! The other 4 belong to my sister Nikki!!!I love how all their personalities show through in this picture!! Coming Soon pictures from Brent and Stephanie's wedding in Fabulous Las Vegas!

Sunday Saga!!

I could write a book about all the crazy things that happen during Sacrament Meeting on Sunday. This Sunday was no exception.
We were running late and arrived to church just as it was starting. I walked in and of course, no where to sit, and the overflow was not yet open. Noelle motioned that there was room beside them on a long row but it was right in the middle with Noelle and her family on one side and another couple on the other side. We sat down and I said a little prayer in my head...please let the kids behave so I do not have to make a scene getting them out of the meeting! The sacrament was almost finished and I thought ok I think we can survive this, when all the sudden I feel something warm and wet running down my legs. My first thought was Oh no, my water broke...it's not time for me to have the baby... this is not good. And then I realized that Ava who was sitting on my lap came to church in underware instead of a diaper, and I just got peed on! Needless to say I was humiliated, and as quietly as possible I made my way out of the chapel and into the car with Ava where we headed home to change!!
I keep telling myself that someday I will miss all this craziness!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

I am thinking today about all of my favorite Moms!!!!
First on the List is...My own Mother, I am thankful to her in many more ways then I can count or possibly list!! I love you mom...hope you have a great Day!

My Sister Nikki, who has 4 beautiful children and is an example to me everyday, and because she is a mother, my kids have cousins to play with whom they love and adore!

My Sister April, who does not yet have children of her own but my children adore her and they look forward to her visits when she gets a chance to "mother" them a bit. And in between those visits they squeal in delight at the sight of her picture! She will be a great mom someday!!

My sisters Becca and Abbie, who are not yet mothers but spend a great deal of time showing love for and entertaining my own children. They adore you and I am thankful for the time you spend with them and for the relationship they have with you!

I would also like to give a shout out to some of my very best friends...Alisha, Noelle, Heidi, Tristana all very wonderful mothers who are teaching me things every day!! And helped me out by taking some time to mother my children as well during all of my doctors appts. Thank you to all of you, Hope you have a wonderful mothers day as well!!

And last but not least I am thinking of mothers who I wish I got to see more frequently, mel, deb, rachel, stephanie, niki,leisel, collee, kim, nellie and I am sure many many more who are great mothers!! And I wish I could be near all of you spending time with you as well!!!

This day is for all of us to celebrate!! Today I am celebrating my greatest blessings...My three beautiful daughters, and son on the way!! And also celebrating all the wonderful mothers I have in my life!!!

Noras Abc's and 123's

Sorry my voice is so loud...Nora was kinda far away from the camera! I thought this was cute!

Nora Kate

This is a great video my sister April took when she was in town I had completely forgotten about! She was pretending to sleep and it was so funny.If you listen closely you can hear her trying to snore! Enjoy!

IT'S A BOY!!!

For those of you whom I have Not talked to yet! I wanted to make the announcement that we ARE INDEED HAVING A BABY BOY!!! I am so excited, and now tearing through name books to decide what to name the little guy!!! I am looking at blue clothes and getting the nursery ready to paint!!! We sure love our little girls...but it's very fun to be seeing blue this time around!

Easter Weekend!

Easter Basket Excitement!
Maddie dipped her hand in the green dye and I thought she looked like Elphaba from Wicked!!!
Coloring Eggs!!
Easter Egg Hunt at Jim and Sue's.
Gorgeous Girls on Easter morning!
We had a really fun Easter weekend. We did everything from coloring eggs, to multiple Egg hunts, to having Family Home Evening lessons about what really happened on Easter! The kids learned a lot and had a lot of fun!!! We spent Easter Sunday at my sister Nikki's the kids enjoyed spending the time with their cousins. Here are a few photos from our fun weekend!!