Grace

My Grace is 6 years old. Her birthday was on the 1st of December. As her birthday approached I was reflecting on her birth and feel so lucky to have her as a part of our family. For posterity I thought I'd write a bit about her birth. Grace was actually due right around thanksgiving but she went over a few days. Two weeks before her due date I started having contraction that would go all night and then stop. (this didn't happen with any of the other pregnancies). I remember feeling very worried one night because I hadn't felt her move for a while and I called the doctor who wanted me to track for the next few hours to see if I felt anything, shortly after I felt some slight movement and thought, "I'm just being paranoid". I tend to do that. Then on December 1st I awoke around 5am and my water broke and off to the hospital we went. We dropped Ivan and Ammon of with Kevin and Leah on the way and were able to get to the hospital in Paradise. After they got me all hooked up and I was in the hospital room I was feeling good the labor didn't seem to be so painful in my back the way the boys had been, so I was thinking, this will be better this time. I was also listening to the monitor which was tracking Graces heart rate and I started getting worried because it seemed to slow way down during contractions. I told Ian I thought something was wrong and he just said, "stop worrying," no sooner had he said that when in rushed some nurses and said they had talked to the doctor and the heart rate of the baby was going dangerously low and we needed to take her by Cesarean. They quickly got me ready and in I went. A little while later we had a little baby girl. The cord had been around her neck twice. She still has broken blood vessels on the back of her neck from it. Needless to say we are so thankful for our Grace and to have her here on earth to enjoy. She really is my sunshine,(a song I sing to her often) She has such a caring heart and enjoys the beauty in the world around her. She is dramatic and eccentric and everything a little girl should be. I love it when I find her in her room just singing to herself. Love you Grace. Here are some of her birthday pics.

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Photos are all follows...
1 and 2 Apples, apples apples. the kids picked up literally thousands of apples in October. Apples are my favorite but truthfully I am all appled out. I made lots of applesauce and sad to say we have not even had any yet. Guess we better get a fattened pigs for some pork chops, heaven forbid I should just go buy some at the store, right anyway we need something to go with all this applesauce.
3 Abby's one and only bottle, I managed to go 7 months only using 1 bottle and finally the tip ripped so instead of going and getting a new one we just stopped using the bottle, it was time anyway.
4 just had to throw this one in there. Grace sure loves her brother and I know he loves her but you couldn't tell from his expression but I know he's loving it;)

Anyway here is some more from the calm before the storm post, to bad they don't post in the order I want but I have more important things to worry about.

the calm before the storm....

December is a bit hectic for us with birthdays galor and Christmas. I'm actually really trying to simplify things so I can enjoy this magical time of year. I truly love Christmas and all the joy it brings into our home. But this post isn't about all that it is about some of the things that have been going on that I haven't posted about. A bit random so just remember I'm a mom of five kiddos and right now the two at home are wrestling around making quite a commotion. 1st photo is of a old shed that we knocked down here I liked it but it was only about 20 feet from the house so a bit of an eye sore. 2nd picture is Ammon in his cross country race he is smack in the middle of the pack and this is after he ran Graces' whole race with her encouraging her the whole way, what a good big brother. 3rd photo, Graces' race. 4th, Utah, at BYU, thank you to the passer byer. 5th, found Bradford in the tub like this one day, funny kid, never a dull moment, and this is the calm before the storm.

Grace lost her first tooth......

My children have issues with teeth. They just don't come out very easy. We are so happy Grace lost her tooth, of course the other one was already growing in behind it, but we were glad we didn't have to pay to get it pulled. Ian did the old dental floss to the door trick and it worked like a charm. Here is her big cheeky grin. The thing I will remember the most is how she kept saying, "I can't wait to tell Jenna." (her #1 buddy at school)

Halloween 2009

Halloween was a lot of fun this year. We just made our costumes or went with stuff we had which I really liked even though it made a bit more work it turned out fun. Ivan was Jack from Jack in the Box, Ammon was Wolverine for the church party but decided to be a Ninja on Halloween, Grace was a beautiful Pumpkin Fairy, Bradford was Mickey Mouse at the church party but a Blue Power Ranger on Halloween(I liked the Mickey Mouse costume better) and Abby was Raggedy Ann. We actually didn't get that much candy which is really nice. In fact I think most of it is gone. I'm not the kind of mom who just gives them one a day, I figure I'd rather get it over with so for a couple of days they go nuts and we try to make sure we brush teeth and then it's over. We also did something this year that I'm sure will become a tradition. We made caramel apples. I volunteered to do it for the boys classes, I have never made them before with making my own caramel, but how hard could it be right? Let's just say I ruined two batches and ended up making over 120 apples which by the way I hand picked from the apple tree here the night before. I was up until 3am which was nuts but I think I can make a pretty decent caramel apple now. I don't think I will volunteer to do it for the kids classes again, probably just some family and friends for Halloween. Growing up our neighbors (the Parades) were bakers and we loved that he gave out doughnuts on halloween night. Sometimes they were still warm and the morning after we always got any leftovers. It is my favorite halloween memory, so I think caramel apples will hopefully become my kids.

What a week.....

This week started with Sunday Stitches for Grace. About a month ago we, okay mostly I, decided that we should stay in our Sunday church clothes all day to help us keep the sabbath day holy. It has been pretty good. I have had some major mud splatters to get out of white shirts but for the most part I thought it was helping. But this Sunday as the kids were outside I all of a sudden heard all kinds of yelling and screaming, which really isn't that unusual but as I went outside there was Grace with blood all over face going down onto her dress. The boys decided to play baseball and Grace walked right into Ammon swinging the bat. So that was our Sunday Stitched, which I'm sure led to a week of everyone having the Flu. All 5 kids got it but are doing much better now. I feel like I'm a week behind and with Halloween coming I have to get really busy. FULL SPEED AHEAD!!!

One day at a time....

I need to catch up on this so I am just going to take it one day at a time, one step in front of the other. This is a picture of Bradford feeding the baby calf that lost it's mother. The kids have named him Yoshi, (from the Dragonball Z movie). They really love going to feed the calf and I must admit it is one of my favorite chores too.

As per request....

I was telling Grandma Pietz about Abby and her love affair with Dixie. Whenever Abby is out side and walking around Dixie is right with her and will lie down to let Abby climb on her back. Dixie just follows Abby around and vice versa. Abby is even saying "Dede" whenever we are out. I have never trusted any animals but Dixie is really a good dog. So, as per request here is a picture of Abby on Dixie for grandma.

"I'm doing it mommy"

I heard, "I'm doing it mommy" probably 30 times the other day when Grace started riding her 2 wheeler bike. She is so proud and wants to show everyone. I know bad mom, she isn't wearing a helmet, I didn't even notice until I went to post these pictures. Good thing there are no cops around here to give tickets for that.

Hair....

This is Bradford just after he cut his own hair. so of course I had to shave it off. This picture of him all dirty is seriously a daily event. There is definitly no skipping baths around here. He looks like such a little red neck with his shorts and boots. I'm also posting a picture of Abby. Her hair amazes me almost daily at how curly it is and red. I love it!

Country Living

So we have been up here in the country at Ian's parents home while they are on a mission for over a week now. We have had a few mishaps, flooding the laundry room, broken sprinklers, wasp stings, fence down and cows getting into the neighbors but we are surviving and actually loving it. The kids have way more room to roam and play and it is nice to not have to worry about traffic. They love to feed the dogs and get the chicken eggs everyday and picking fruit from the trees. Except for the red dirt, which gets everywhere, it is wonderful. I think I can get used to this country living.

Molly....

Molly, Grandma and Grandpa Pietz Saint Bernard is in heat and ready to be bred. So we have been talking about it a bit because we will be taking care of her and the ranch while she has the puppies and they are on their mission. We had a funny conversation last night, it went something like this....
Ian to me,"So are you really okay with breeding Molly"
me,"yeah, that's fine"
Ammon whines," I want to breed Molly, I'll breed her."
Ian, "we are, mom is okay with breeding her"
Ammon,"mom is okay with breeding her? I want to breed her!"
Ian "do you know what breeding is?"
Ammon," Yes, you give her mouth to mouth, mom is okay with doing that?"
It was pretty funny! We then had to explain what breeding an animal is as vaguely as possible. Just one of those things I want to remember!!

catch up!!

We all have those times when we just need to catch up. Here are a few of the things we have been doing lately.

Swim team, it is so much fun and the kids are completely loving it. I have not had to coerce them into the water at all. They are very intense at their meets and are doing surprisingly well for it being their first year doing it. We have gotten lots and lots of ribbons and most of all it's a lot of fun.

Ballet, grace had her first recital and was so pretty up there, but I have to say the funnest part was the wrestling match that went on between two girls and when one girls dress got ripped the look on Graces face was priceless, such a look of shock and disgust, seriously could have been on America's Funniest Home Videos. Fun stuff.

We are going to be moving again soon(how I wish I just wouldn't have unpacked.) Ian's parents are going on their mission for our church and we will be living in their house for 2 years while they are gone and we are building our house. I'm excited to have room for the kids to roam and explore and for this new little adventure because everyday is an adventure around here. Anyway I'll try to not be so few and far between entries into this little Pietz Life Journal.

Happy Fathers Day!!!

This is a tribute to the fathers in my life.
1st Ian, the father of our 5 kids. He is such a great dad and hard worker to provide for us. I have noticed how much he sacrifices, especially lately, and he puts up with sooooo much crazy lady stuff from me and still sticks around. He keeps us safe and comfortable. I couldn't ask for more, well, I could but I don't want anything else.


2nd My Dad, He has always made me feel special and loved. I can't think of a time when I didn't know he loved me and would do anything for me. Even now he still bends over backwards to help our family. Abigail loves him.


3rd My father-in-law. He can fix anything and taught Ian so well how to take care of things and work hard. He has so much energy. They recently got called on their mission to Puerto Rico and he is going to be amazing, He is so generous and I have really grown to love him alot.


Besides all these men on earth I have a Heavenly Father, that I also love and of course he is so merciful to his little daughter who is always needing forgiveness. He is there for me always and I love him.
HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!!

My baby is 1 year old!!!

I am a couple of weeks late on this but better late than never is my motto, or at least it makes me feel better.
these are some of the things I love about Abigail.

1) of course her curly red hair, (I'm so glad it is sticking.)
2) how she smiles so easily.
3) she smells so good to me, she wasn't a spitter upper.
4) how she walks around like a drunken sailor.
5) she likes people but I'm her favorite.
6) the tone of her skin and how soft it is.
7) her big round eyes and that they are brown.
8) that she will eat almost anything.
9) when she gives her big open mouth kisses.
10) really I love everything about this little girl and my heart aches to think that a year has already gone by. At times I wish time could stand still and I could live in these moments with my babies forever. But each mile stone is exciting too. Anyway here are some pictures my sister Lindsay took of Abby and I absolutely love them.

Fish, Fish, Fish!!!

The Father/Son camp out was this past weekend and these were the results. We ate some for dinner last night and they were delicious. Bradford caught the biggest fish but was so tuckered out after the whole experience that he missed the photo opp.

Baseball

I just realized I never posted anything about the boys baseball experience that they have been having here in Gridley. It has been wonderful because for the first time Ian is not coaching and I get to actually watch some of the games instead of chasing kids around. There is a little fenced in play ground right by the field that is wonderful, the snack bar and bathrooms are right by the stands and Abigail has been really good most of the time staying in the play-pen. Did I say the boys baseball experience or mine, they have been loving it too! What can go wrong when they always get a free snowcone after every game, right? For the first time I am singing, Take me out to the ball game," and actually mean it.

Chicken Little

We had this little chick that hatched from an egg that Grandpa Pietz left in the chicken coupe. This is the day after we took it home and sadly to say it didn't make it,i.e., it died. I think too much love killed it if that is possible. Oh the drama and horror that occurred in our home when it passed away. The kids were so upset. We held a brief ceremony and burial to comfort the kids but Grace still woke up in the night and crawled into bed with us saying,"I miss the chick"

Ivans Mission

This was Ivan's 4th grade mission project. We got the idea to do a cake for the mission and I highly recommend it. 1) it is really fast and easy. 2)he was the hero of his class because they got to eat it after P.E. 3) there isn't some model sitting around the house that you feel guilty about throwing out.
Good job Ivan and thanks for the idea Terri.

Happy Birthday Bradford!!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Bradford is now 3 years old. Happy Birthday Buddy.
Here are some things I love about Bradford.
1) his gravely deep voice.
2)The way he starts breathing really loud when he is about to fall asleep
3) How he says I love you when I whisper, "Guess what?" in his ear.
4) he likes me to hold him
5) his contagious laugh
6) he will try any kind of food I put in front of him and often says,"I like it," after the first bite.
7) his big cheeks
8) his super soft ears
9) he was so easy to potty train
10) he is so tough
Happy Birthday Angel Boy!

Finally Ammon loses his first tooth

Ammon has had a loose tooth for over a month and finally he got it out, but only because I started freaking out that we were going to have to take him to the dentist because his other tooth started growing in behind it. He has two other loose teeth so hopefully they won't take as long. Here is his big smile. He started singing, "All I want for Christmas is my bottom tooth" after he got it out. So cute!!

Easter

Gotta love Sam's Club little girl dresses, they reminded me of neapolitan ice cream.

Bradfords Best Buddy!!

Getting ready to go on the egg hunt.