It snowed a little over here Sunday night, so on Monday, which was a Martin Luther King Day, we decided to take Evelyn sledding.  Unfortunately, all the snow had melted by then, so we had to take a little drive to go looking for it.  We ended up at this little parking lot on the way to White Pass.  It is funny to think that was only a few days ago, since we now have over a foot here and the snow has been bad enough that Steve had to miss school yesterday and we even had to put off getting our new apartment because the roads were too dangerous to risk the drive.

The parking area was fairly rocky, so the ride wasn’t too smooth until Steve found this clear patch.  They did lots of circles once there.

Evelyn loved it.  She slid all over the place in her slippery snow suit.

That is why Grandma is holding her in the sled by her hood in this picture. She was also trying to keep her head covered.  She didn’t want her hat on at this point.  Grandpa and Daddy made several trips up this hill to ride down with her.

She liked having company in the sled.  Her excitement shows much better in the videos I have than these pictures, though.

Everyone took turns cuddling with her in her fun suit (except me, but I got lots of hugs. I’ll be so happy when I can just hold her again).  It was plenty cold out, even with the lack of snow.  Evelyn never seems to mind it, though- unless I’m trying to change her diaper in the morning and she doesn’t want me to take her jammies off.  But I can understand that.

Happy Snow Day from the Flynns!!  Stay warm!

During the night they got worse.  A lot worse.  I felt like I was going to vomit with each one, I couldn’t move, and they were happening every couple of minutes.  I woke up Steve, he said a prayer with me, I decided they were the world’s most horrible gas pains, and I did my best not to move the rest of the night.  It was the first time I’ve ever thought to myself “If someone asks me where I am on the 1-10 pain scale, this is definitely a 9.”  They got better, I got a few minutes sleep, and as the day progressed I started to feel a little better.

I had an OB appointment Thursday morning, so I talked to my doctor about it and he examined me.  It seems likely now that I was experiencing a strangulated, or incarcerated hernia that somehow managed to relieve itself.  The part about it “relieving itself” is fairly unlikely, however, in the course of history.  That doesn’t happen.  A strangulated hernia requires emergency life-saving surgery, which would have been even scarier since I’m 28 weeks pregnant.  But I’m okay, and my baby is okay, and I know that it was through the power of prayer.

I have a strong testimony of prayer.  I know that my Heavenly Father loves me, that I am one of His daughters, and that he is aware of my needs.  I know that He loves to answer sincere prayers, and that His blessings are available to everyone.  I also recognize that the answers don’t always come the way we expect or want them to, and that sometimes He has to answer with a “no.”  But my perspective is so tiny, and His covers each person and all time.

So now my weight limit has changed from “no lifting anything 20 lbs or more” to “no lifting” and I’m told to spend as much time as possible laying down.  Poor Evelyn is so unhappy with me.  Bed rest may be likely in my future.  For now, however, I’m counting my blessings and I’m so grateful for what I have been given.

Evelyn is practicing rocking a baby this morning. Don’t you love her hair?

She is going to be a great big sister. In preparation for her little brother coming in 3 months, we have decided to teach this girl some independence. Well, actually independence is being thrust upon her. We found out a week ago that I have developed an inguinal hernia, which means I won’t be able to lift or carry her for the next 3 months, until the baby is born. I’m so grateful for the help of my husband, family, and friends.

Evelyn also decided this week that now is the time to start potty training! She loves sitting on the potty, and usually goes when we set her there. We are still working on having her tell us when she needs to go, but we aren’t in any hurry. She is only 16 months old and is just starting to wear clothes in the 9-12 month sizes. I don’t think I could buy panties that small!

We’re so happy to be together for 2012!!

Steve made it safely home from Russia on the 18th and we had a lovely Christmas together.  I’ve never been more grateful for anything in my life than I am that he is here with me.

Speaking of gratitude, along with our New Year’s Goals this year, Steve and I decided to take the Gratitude Challenge issued in the December 2010 Ensign.  In the days leading up to the New Year, we wrote down 10 things in 10 categories to help us “Count our Blessings.” I thought I’d share mine with you.

10 Physical Abilities I’m Grateful For:

1. Pregnancy
2. Sight
3. Temperature Regulation
4. Walking without pain
5. I can breathe on my own
6. Listening to music
7. Touch, especially the ability to feel another person
8. Taste
9. Distinguishing sounds/voices
10. Rational thought

10 Material Possession I’m Grateful For:

1. My smart phone
2. My KitchenAid mixer
3. My embroidery machine
4. My car
5. My computer
6. My wedding ring
7. My Christmas ornaments
8. My clothes
9. My mattress topper
10. My fabric

10 Living People I’m Grateful For:

1. Steve
2. My children
3. My parents
4. Steve’s parents
5. My siblings
6. Leslie
7. President Thomas S. Monson
8. My Activity Days girls
9. My aunt Alice
10. Mandi Garrett

10 Deceased People I’m Grateful For:

1. Jesus Christ (in this category rather than the other because He died, although I know He lives again)
2. Joseph Smith
3. Grandpa Tolson
4. Gordon B. Hinckley
5. Thomas Edison
6. The founding fathers
7. William Tyndale & Martin Luther (I feel like including them in the same category because it makes sense in my head)
8. Mormon
9. Lehi
10. Granny Han

10 Things About Nature that I am Grateful For:

1. The sound of a river
2. Tranquility of the mountains
3. Stars on a clear night
4. Wildflowers
5. Camping
6. Beauty of snow-capped mountains
7. The beach
8. Thunderstorms, from a safe distance
9. The sound and smell of rain
10. Summer fruit-picking

10 Things About Today (12/30/11) that I am Grateful For:

1. Cuddling with Evelyn in the morning
2. Tetris on my phone
3. The curl in Evelyn’s hair
4. Steve’s eagerness to help me with everything
5. Cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents to help me keep Evelyn safe
6. Comfy pajamas
7. The opportunity to visit with family we don’t see often
8. Cold cereal
9. The feel of the baby moving in my belly
10. The cute things that Henry says

10 Places on Earth that I’m Grateful For:

1. Temples
2. Ellensburg
3. Rock Canyon in Provo, UT
4. Mom’s house
5. Sedro-Woolley, WA
6. The mountains
7. The beach
8. Orem, UT
9. Parks
10. Waterfalls

10 Modern Inventions I’m Grateful For:

1. Vaccines
2. Plumbing
3. Internet
4. Skype
5. Automobiles
6. Flight
7. Print
8. Phones
9. Medicine
10. Electricity

10 Foods I’m Grateful For:

1. Cheese
2. Cereal
3. Tomatoes
4. Cookies
5. Potatoes
6. Bread
7. Eggnog
8. Sugar
9. Eggs
10. Meat

10 Things About the Gospel I’m Grateful For:

1. The Atonement
2. The Restoration
3. Hope
4. Peace
5. Eternal Families
6. Guidance
7. Service opportunities
8. Knowledge
9. The Holy Ghost
10. Joy

There are so many other things I’m grateful for, but it was fun to make a list this way and to think about things categorically.  I hope you can also start this new year with gratitude in your heart.

Steve will be home with us in 2 weeks, but we still wanted to get a family photo together to wish everyone a very happy holiday season.  You gotta love Skype!

And for further smiles, here is our cute little girl with Santa:

And, just for comparison, here she is last year, wearing the same Christmas dress:

Evelyn must have inherited the frugality gene, she is staying small so she can get more use out of her clothes.  We really appreciate it!

Merry Christmas!

In an effort to increase my holiday sales and encourage myself to list some new items  by clearing out the old, I’ve dramatically reduced my prices in my Etsy shop for one week only in honor of Cyber Monday.

Go check it out and let me know if there is something you would like!

Because it is late, I’ll make this short and sweet, but I’ll still include some pictures.

Evelyn dressed up as a little garden gnome this year.  The rosy red cheeks didn’t exactly work out like we hoped, but she was still darling.  I made the hat and the apron, the dress was a gift.  I also made her little red shoes, but you can’t see them because she is wearing the exact same color of red tights.  I thought she had white ones but I couldn’t find them.

I found this tutorial on Martha Stewart.com and couldn’t resist going with it.  I wore this Beehive hairdo from Friday’s party until tonight.  Now my hair is totally greasy and I look a bit like Hagrid.  I won’t include a picture of that.  There are certain things you can get away with when your husband is far away, and showering less frequently is one of them.

Sunday night we had our annual “Spooky Dinner,” hosted by my aunt and uncle and lovingly prepared by my amazing, talented cousin, Heidi.  I was going to include all the fun pictures from that on this post, but they are on my phone and it isn’t cooperating at the moment.  I made some “Brain” jello, which you can check out on my Facebook wall, if you feel the need.

Tonight we enjoyed dinner at their house again, followed by some trick or treating, and doughnuts and cider at my grandparent’s house.  Ah, tradition… it tastes so good.

I hope you had a spook-tacular holiday like we did!

…My sewing projects used a lot more fabric and a lot less ruffles.

…I thought the difference between a good stroller and a bad one was solely based on appearance.

…I never used to say things like “Did you get all your poops out?”

…I updated my blog more than once per month.

…I never bought whole milk.

…Snaps were not a huge part of my daily routine.

…I took for granted the simple joy of being alone on the toilet.

…I used my vacuum much less frequently.

…Fingernail clipping was not my least favorite chore.

…I ate my own food and not someone else’s leftovers.

…I typed with 2 hands.

…I never had an open-mouthed kiss with a female.

…My stomach didn’t have zebra stripes.

…I never missed activities because 7:00 p.m. was too late.

…I never knew all I was missing.

It seems awfully silly to celebrate this year’s blogiversary, since I never post anymore, but it is as good a reason as any to say hello and share a random picture of Evelyn sitting in some corn.

Evelyn and I are in Utah right now, while Steve is in Moscow. We are getting lots of visiting in, as well as lots of reading and resting. We will be here for 2 more weeks.

Steve is doing well in Russia, although he would rather be here with us. He celebrated his 28th birthday last Saturday by talking to family on Skype, going to a restaurant with friends he has made, and a midnight visit to Red Square.  He is enjoying his classes, feeling more comfortable with the language, and suddenly being inundated with a lot of homework.

I just finished the first trimester of my pregnancy and finally feel pregnant. It seems like every bite I take makes my pants feel tighter.  I’m also hoping that my new trend of going to bed early, sleeping in, and taking long naps is one I can continue for awhile. We have an ultrasound scheduled for December 20, after Steve gets home, where we should be able to find out the baby’s gender.

There is the news for you. Thanks for reading and helping me celebrate 3 years of making my journal public.

It has been awhile since I shared a creation with you, so I thought I would show off the fun chenille blanket I made this summer for my friend Mandi’s baby boy, Tucker.

I love how all the layers of blues turned out. I backed it with some soft fuzzy fabric and it will be nice and cozy for him this winter. This was fun to make, albeit very time-consuming.  If I had my way this would be my new go-to baby gift, but I think I might need to stick to faster projects with the rate my friends reproduce!