Labor Day

I have a blogger friend who says people who blog only put the perfect pieces of their lives on their blogs.  Well this ones for you Megan.

On Labor day we went to the Stake Picnic.  It was awful.  I don't want to say anything too negative about the people who put it on so I'll leave it at that. And the buffet table was set up wrong (sorry I couldn't help it.  That is one of my biggest pet peeves).  But isn't Autumn's white romper so cute?

Lions, and Tigers and PISTONS Oh MY

Is it me or does the fact that Detroit does not have a sports team called the "Bears" not bother anyone?  I mean we have Detroit Lions, Detroit Tigers we need the BEARS sorry the Red Wings and Pistons just don't cut it!

Any how, Evan and I went to a preseason Lions game last week.  I got tickets from Scorebig.com where you name your price for tickets, like some of the travel sites out there.  I would recommend to a friend. Two days after I bought the tickets I got a FedEX parcel with the tickets.  They were only $14 each.  Which I think is a great price considering we paid $15 to park.  Good thing we got there early enough to see some of the big name players before the 3rd string guys were put in.  We left after the third quarter because Evan wanted to watch the BYU game, so I'm not sure who won, but it was a very high scoring game.  Some friends from Arizona (who also had nosebleed tickets) happened to be at the game it was fun to sit and chat with them.

I've still got it!

I get asked frequently "do you still coupon?"  I think what people are really asking is "do you have 43 boxes of cereal under your bed?"  Yes I still shop with coupons, no I do not have 43 boxes of cereal under my bed (I would if I found a good enough deal though;).  Since we have had to move a few times in the last couple years and we will have to move a couple more times in the next few years I have let me stock pile get much smaller.  Also the last few months before this last cross-country move I stopped shopping all together to try and use up my stuff so we wouldn't have to move it.  Last week was like Christmas though.  I was babysitting for a friend.  Their baby was asleep so I was watching  listening to some Hulu and looking at Pinterest when I heard the words "Denim Sale this weekend at Macys."  Oh how I love the Denim Sale.  Basically you buy something denim and they give you a 10$ coupon to buy a sale or clearance item.  So I buy a denim item then use the coupon to buy another piece of denim and a clearance baby clothes item AND get another coupon.  Thursday I went to the Novi mall and did 17 transactions.  

I bought:

-1 pair of jeans for me

-1 pair of shorts for me

-11 pairs of jean shorts for my nieces/to give to other poor residents kids in our ward

-one baby boy outfit (hopefully at least ONE of my pregnant friends will have a boy because though plaid shorts are too cute)

-one birthday present for my niece

-Jeans for Autumn

-4 pairs of jean shorts for Autumn

-15 outfits/dresses/rompers for Autumn in various sizes 

TOTAL: $23.13 (plus one $10 coupon left)

 My credit card did get rejected once because of multiple "suspicious" $1.01 transactions.  Good thing I have more than one credit card.  The next day I went to Detroit/Southfield mall.  I only did about 8 transactions.  It is funny to see the different merchandise the different stores carry.  Instead of Ralph Lauren stuff they had Baby Phat.  Then Saturday the whole family went to another Macys and I did another 7 transactions.

So yes I still "coupon"

Toledo Zoo

Thanks to Autumn and my recent trip to the Toledo Zoo I have now been to 27 US states and Autumn has been to 15.  Evan was so jealous because he hasn't been to Ohio, but it is ok since he is still ahead by 2 states (for now).  Yes, we are a little competitive.  Autumn enjoyed the animals, but really liked hanging out with the "big kids" we went with.  From the fancy parking lot to the gift shops spread out sporadically throughout the park to the oh so friendly large staff, the zoo felt a little Disneyland-ish.  My med school wife friend Kristin (who lives near me) and I met up with another med school wife friend Nicole (who has passes to the zoo) and we had ourselves a fun day.

At the entrance

I think these tiger statues were Autumn's favorite thing to see at the park.

My AZ buddies, Kristin and Nicole

This is what it looks like to carry an 8 month old in a Baby Bjorn (Ok not really.  I move the camera down to Autumn's eye level.)

No I do not have bangs.  My post pregnancy fuzzies are just taking over!

After we had a picnic lunch the kids played in a play area (see what I mean by Disneyland-ish) where the kids could pan for rocks and built a dam like a beaver.

Don't worry Heather this is after the second application of sunscreen.  I think her hand will be ok.

Evan told me I could go splurge and spend the $14 to take Autumn to the Zoo if I would "take a bunch of pictures,"  Hence the dorky pictures of me/Autumn 2 headed monster.  

8 months

Autumn is 8 months old.  She FINALLY has a tooth poking through and another one in the works.  Autumn is very active.  She now crawls all over the place but, she prefers to stand (and even stand a couple seconds unassisted).  She can pull herself up to things like the ottoman, couch, bathtub, and computer.  I put her toys on the ottoman and she is a happy little clam.  Autumn can also sit herself up when she wants a break from crawling.  She has taught me to be more observant.  We pay attention to things like the above door hinges, mirrors at back corners of stores to prevent shop lifting and Mylar balloons at drug stores.  Evan went to pick her up from a nap a couple days ago and she was standing in her crib.  She makes more noises, lots of times it sounds like she is saying "mom" or "dad," which gets me all excited even though I know she is not referring to her parents.  Autumn is a very happy little girl and likes to smile at strangers and makes friends wherever we go.  She doesn't even mind the car anymore.  In fact she will just fall asleep if she gets bored!  She has a new fascination with dogs (gross).  I still squeeze her into 3-6 month onesies, but she really should be wearing 9 month stuff (she has some really cute 3-6 month things ok?)  She is in the 75% for height (27.5 in) and weights 17 pounds.  She got 2 shots at the doctors this week.  She cried for a few seconds and then calmed right down.  Oh how I love her!!

At the Farmington Hills Library on Evan's day off

 

At the Plymouth Library after we went to "music in the park"

Just hanging out playing with blocks

Work

Evan is working in the ICU this month.  He has worked 12+ hours 6 days a week, which means I work that much, plus the night shifts last week when Autumn was sick.  BUT it hasn't been that bad.  Evan likes the nurses he works with (I asked, they are married-expect for the x-ray tech who asked if Evan was married.  That is another story.)  He gets along with the attendings. This week since he is working nights he gets to drive my car to work, which can go over 45 miles per hour, unlike our other car. (Is that a run-on sentence Grammar Police?  I couldn't figure out where to put a period.)  This month would have been a lot worse if Evan complained, but he didn't.  He still helps put Autumn to bed and watches a show and eats frozen yogurt with me before bed (what a great guy huh!).  I'm glad he only has this schedule for 4 weeks.  I do not envy people that work this much all the time.  But we have almost survived!  Less than 4 shifts left!  I visited Evan last week for a bit while he ate dinner.  It happened to be employee appreciation day so we both got snow-cones and Evan gave me his free shirt.  I've really like the hospital and program thus far.  I think they treat him really well.

I took this picture (one of the times) I drove over to the hospital to give Evan his pager when he had forgotten it. 

This is one the St. Mary's website.  Pretty cool huh?  The guy next to him was a professional soccer player. (not for the US somewhere I can't remember)

I was going to make this post all about Evan but....

Autumn rocking her Vans. Below Autumn and Evan at the slash pad last month sometime.  She liked it.

Autumn doesn't like to sit IN her stroller she likes to ride on top like the Pope or Pharaoh.  We call her princess Nadalia.

This is why they are recalling the Bumbo seats.  Whatever I still use it.  I like it because it DOESN'T have straps SO THERE!

Just pictures

Our life right now through photos.

Autumn likes shiny things

She puts everything in her mouth.

Evan works in the ICU this month and has to work Sundays.  I try to find an activity for us to do together on Saturdays when he is off.  We went to the Farmington farmers market this week. 

Autumn now pulls her self up on things to stand up.  Look at our gifted 2004 MAC.  

One handed.  She is trying to reach the key board and mouse.  She likes the light/laser thing from the mouse.

I try to foster her love of adventure and exploration.  She is now only entertained with her "toys" for about 15 minutes before she ventures to something expensive/shiny.

She loves to eat.  She loves to steal dad's glass at dinner time and listen to the sound her voice makes in the glass cup.

We play in the bathroom a lot.  She likes to play with water, the shiny faucet, my toothbrush (even when the electric one is on). and look at mom's reflection when she makes funny faces.

Each city/township has there own library.  Autumn and I have been to 6 libraries here.  The Farmington Hills one is my favorite. Lots to do and see.  Autumn likes the puppets.

In the play area with the puzzles.

Autumn sporting a clip since her bangs are getting long.

In non picture news.  I gave a talk in church this week on sacrifice.  I showed up to church late.  Right before I was to speech Autumn banged her mouth on the pew.  She started crying really hard.  Evan was gone so a young woman played with her while I spoke.  I ended up with 25 minutes to speak.  That same day Evan helped say a guys life.  They did ACLS (like CPR) on a man for 13 minutes.  The nurses/other doctors told Evan he had good rhythm.