Cutting Spree

Oh the 'terrible twos'! Bridger decided to have an adventure with a pair of scissors. First we noticed the shoe laces. He cut three different shoes, Trevin already replaced his laces. I was slightly amused. Then he cut the curtains which I had just washed and hemmed that week. Not really amused at all. Later while getting ready for bed, Trevin noticed the quilt had been slashed as well. Really Really NOT amused at all. Where was he getting these scissors? I cleaned the boys room and found not one but FOUR pairs of scissors! Patience. Patience. Patience.

Christmas Exchange

Hey everyone,

Christmas is right around the corner and some of you have requested that I figure out the exchange. This is the list to the best of my knowledge. The girls list is a little different because we have been taking Rebecca out while she is on her mission--So everyone send a Christmas wish her way. I tried to coordinate the cousins with who their parents had or who was going to see each other to help on shipping. It didn't work out perfectly because of how large some of our families are. If you have a question or want to trade just let me know. The dollar amount suggested is $20-$30 for siblings and $10-$15 for the cousins.

Rich-Trevin
Trevin-T.J.
T.J.-Mark
Mark-Stephen
Stephen-David
David-Skyler
Skyler-Eric
Eric-Rich

Bethany-Tracey
Kimberly-Desirae
Tracey-Rosalia
Desirae-Jana
Jana-Jessica
Jessica-Bethany
Rosalia-Kimberly

Hayden-Tanner
Maddison-Brinley
Max-Alyssa
Hunter-Drew
McKay-Cooper
Halli-Brooklyn

Tanner-Brandon
Brinley-Mason
Paige-Maddison
Bridger-McKay
Cooper-Halli

Brandon-Hayden
Mason-Max

Alyssa-Paige
Drew-Bridger

Brooklyn-Breyton

Breyton-Hunter

Here's Brinley with her friend Katie. She "forgot" her leotard she was supposed to wear under her fairy costume.

Branch Halloween Party

We had a lot of fun at the branch Halloween party/trunk or treat. There were several green monsters there. Bridger is the one on the left and Cooper is the frog in the middle. I made chili for the chili cook-off. It was a hodge-podge kind of a chili --whatever I could find in the freezer, fridge, and food storage. I had some frozen spaghetti sauce with Italian sauage in it along with some other Italian sausage I browned up. I added corn, chili beans, white beans, kidney beans, and tomato sauce. It still looked like it needed something so I noticed the shells and cheese the kids hadn't eaten so I tossed those in too. I think I learned that from you, Mom. I had Trevin taste test it and he said it was just fine. There were about 12 pots of chili there and everybody really liked mine, I won an award even. Someone even asked for the recipe! Sometimes you just get lucky.

Trevin's Utah Visit

Trevin went back to Utah to go deer hunting with his dad and brother, Jaren. He didn't actually hunt with a gun but with his video camera. He also got to participate in the Fowler Halloween party. He had a great time visiting his family and friends, but missed his wife and kids back in Indiana. He was grilled with the question, "when are you moving back?" We really don't know the answer to that one.

Brinley's Baptism

Brinley was baptized by her father in September. She wanted to be baptized at the church in the font instead of Lake Michigan like her brother Tanner. She said she felt all warm and cozy inside after her baptism. We are happy she wants to do her best to follow Jesus.

First Day of School

Tanner, Brinley and Paige on their first day of school, waiting to catch the bus.

Cooper meets his Family!

The kids were all so excited to meet Cooper. The girls had been hoping for another sister but decided Cooper was super cute and that it was O.K. to have another brother. Bridger can't say the 'C' in Cooper, so he calls his baby brother, Pooper. Everyone loves to hold Cooper.

Cooper Vance Arrives

June 28, 2007

Number five has arrived! Here's how it all happened. I started feeling consistent contractions that morning and thought, could this be the day? So, I cleaned my house, shaved my legs, packed my hospital bag, and waited for my husband to finish working. Our friends the Reyes took all our children to their house and we headed to Porter Memorial Hospital. We checked in around 5p.m. and the doctor came and broke my water at 8:30p.m. I was dialated to a '3' and thought this is going to take FOREVER, so in the pain of the moment I requested the epidural. The doctor came 15 minutes later and tried unsuccessfully to put the needle in my back. Poke, poke, poke, poke--not sure how many times he poked me, but the contractions were killing me, I was killing Trevin with my fingernails and it wasn't working! Finally, he found the right space and he put a small amount of medication in while he got the rest ready. I started to feel a lot of pressure, the Dr. checked me and said the baby is coming, too late for the epidural, roll in the baby cart and it was time to push the baby out. I only had to push for a few minutes and---- Cooper was born! We didn't know what we were having although I thought we were having a boy . . . and I was right. He was a small 5lb. 3oz. baby boy. Afterwards, we were both starving so Trevin went and got pizza and a mandarin chicken salad from Wendy's. I was so VERY happy to finally have little Cooper here and that the whole pregnancy/labor thing was over!