DADicure Salon

Kaylee introduced Emily to nail polish last Saturday. After Emily's bath Sunday morning, she noticed some of the paint was chipping off. So, who did she go to fix it? Why, Dad of course!! He definitely has a careful touch! If he's too good he might end up doing all of our nails! Welcome to the Dadicure salon!

Post edit: Emily has had her nails done before by Kaylee and me. What I meant was Kaylee reintroduced Emily to nail polish for the season. She was so excited to join Kaylee in all the fun!

Pinewood Derby 2010

We had our pinewood derby a few weeks ago and Justin and Ethan both got to do a car. They were lucky because last year Randy was really busy during the pinewood derby and wasn't able to help. I am not very good at the whole thing. Justin's car last year was a basic blue and had coins glued all over it to make weight! It was terrible and he was sad. What do I know? I was pregnant and trying to keep 4 kids out of trouble with the race officials!

This year was different. Randy was able to help them a lot more and things went a whole lot better! Justin came in 2nd! Ethan did really well and almost placed. He wasn't happy because he didn't get a medal. We told him he has 2 years to get ready for his real derby so these are just practice runs!

Good job Team Garn Boys!!

I don't scrapbook

I don't scrapbook. I have never scrapbooked. Don't get me wrong, I think they are fantastic. I love looking at the works of art that people put together for their posterity. I don't like the pressure of it. I take plenty of pictures of my family so I'll remember things and the way we all looked. They aren't in cute books with awesome cut-outs and whatever else goes with those cute little books. I figure I have enough kids now that they can all make scrapbooks for young women and scout/young men projects. Besides, they are much more creative than I am and it comes to them with much less pressure!

So, why am I saying all this? I started this blog as a way to avoid scrapbooking while being able to jot down things that have happened in our little life. The problem is I don't find time to jot down things very often. My last post was way back in November and I don't even feel bad! I have enjoyed reading everyone elses blogs so much that I don't have time to work on my own. I started feeling the "pressure" of keeping up a blog and I avoided it even more. Then, I was on other peoples blogs and realized that I am not on there lists anymore and realized that maybe I should blog a little more so I don't get blacklisted by all my friends. Then this blog would really just be for cyber posterity because no one would follow anymore!

So, here I am. I am going to post a couple things (maybe) and then who knows when I'll be back! But just know it is your fault that I don't have time to post often. If all of your lives weren't so exciting, I could spend all my computer time typing about my life.

Nine is Fine

Nine reasons I love my Justin

9. He is a talker just like me. He can go on and on about things he loves. Even if he doesn't love a subject, he can keep up a steady conversation about it!

8. He works hard to get things right. Let me tell you that he might complain the ENTIRE time, but he eventually figures everything out. Talk about persistence!

7. He LOVES sports. It has been really fun lately because he is understanding the rules to sports. We are a family that loves baseball. We were very interested in the baseball playoffs and then the World Series (better luck next year, Rockies). He was our little commentator the whole time. Almost as much as Ethan!

6. He is becoming a great reader and in turn, a great student. Sure, he still hates homework, but he is always complimented by his teachers for his hard work and understanding of subjects. I love that he is enjoying reading more because it is one of my favorite things to do as well.

5. He is a very caring boy. He might fight with his siblings frequently, but he is always the first to stick up for them.

4. He gives amazing back rubs/scratches. While I was pregnant he would always stop to rub and scratch my back. Even if it was for a few seconds, he was always willing and I never had to ask for it first!

3. He can laugh! This kid can get himself into hysterics with not much effort! Most of the time he gets us into laughing fits as well.

2. He is innocent and trusting. I love this because the world is still rose colored for him. He does question a lot of things, but he always expects the best from every situation. He gets frustrated when things go sour because he doesn't feel anything should go wrong in life.

1. He is mine to enjoy here on Earth. We are a lot alike so we rub each other wrong sometimes, but once he gets what I am saying, it sticks forever. I love that I am worthy enough to see this boy grow into a man. I love that we get eternity to try to figure each other out!

These are a few of the reasons it's impossible not to love this kid!!

Happy birthday, Justin - you know we love you!!

Birds

The snowy weather brought some fine feathered visitors to our neighborhood yesterday. There were hundreds all over the houses! The birds were in our backyard and front yard at the same time. I love it when the birds take over the yards - it is so cool and creepy....like they are picking out just the right moment to take over the world!!

Pickin' Pumpkins

I took the kids to a local pumpkin patch for FHE this Monday. We went a little late in the season and there wasn't a lot of great pumpkins left, but the kids were THRILLED that they got to pick their own pumpkins. I was thrilled they could carry their own pumpkins back to the car...except Carter, we had to help him! Now comes the challenge of finding time to carve them before Halloween!

In love

It has happened. I have fallen in love with another man. He came into my life on September 18th and I know it is going to be a forever lasting relationship. Don't worry, Randy is just fine with this situation. To be honest, I think he has fallen in love too!

This little guy is named Carter Jackson Garn. He weighed 8lbs even and was 19". He was born at 3:50pm after almost 7 hours of labor. His heart rate kept the nurses on their toes because it kept dropping after every contraction. After many, many prayers, we were able to avoid a c-section and he was born without complication.

He has me wrapped completely around his little finger. I soak him in every second of the day. I don't want to miss anything about him. I have to admit that I have been sad thinking that he is the caboose. I love my family and I am grateful for all my experiences with them, but this is my favorite time of motherhood. Yes...the pregnancy and bleary-eyed newbORn STAGE IS MY FAVORITE. I never feel more confident in my abilities as a woman and mother than when I am caring for a new life in me and out.

So, please understand if my eyes look a little red the next time you see me. I've been spending all my time staring at my "sun".