Better late than never, right?!?

Yeah I know...it's been like 3 months. Honestly I haven't been in the mood to blog lately. Maybe it's because of facebook I don't know. I think I've been a slacker because I feel like I have so much to blog about and it's just so overwhelming! So I think I'll just start with some pictures since I've had so many people say that they haven't seen Luke since he was born and he has changed so much! He's now almost 3 1/2 months old and we can't remember life without him. Avery is such a big helper and Hank simply adores him! I took these pictures of him in his blessing outfit just a few weeks after his blessing on December 28th. Hank wore this same outfit just two years earlier....so I thought I'd put some pictures of him on here too!

Luke

Hank

This is Avery at the same age...gosh my kids look alike!

Our Sweet Baby Luke!

As I sat at the Utah football game last Thursday night, I had a couple of contractions . I kept thinking how crazy it would be if I went into labor and we couldn't drive home fast enough to make it to the hospital. Well after three quarters of the game...I turned to Rich and said "I think we better go." I guess Rich took that as 'I better run to the car (which was 2 miles away!) and drive like a maniac cuz my wife's having a baby!' After going potty and warming up a bit in the car, I actually felt better and the contractions somewhat settled. As we were driving home we cheered so loud as the Utes won in the final minutes that I thought we were going to wreck! I was bummed that we couldn't see the end in person, but then again I was thankful to be close to home so that we could avoid the bumper to bumper traffic! :)

So an eventful Thursday night led into an eventful Friday morning.

I had never been induced before, so this was a first and I was a little nervous about it. I wanted to feel painful contractions so that I wouldn't be nervous about the epidural. If I was feeling 'fine' I didn't want any long needle going anywhere! Right? So we get to the hospital and I thought it was funny how the nurse didn't ask me any questions like..."how long are your contractions? how close are they to eachother? is this your first baby? were you dialated at your last drs appt?" All she did was greet us with a smile, asked me my name, showed us our room...told me to change clothes and to make myself comfortable. It was such a different feeling from having Avery and Hank! With both of them I waddled into the hospital, stopping every few steps to fight a contraction and try to answer the nurses questions (shown above!) Being induced was awesome! Well...after breaking my water, pitosin to get things started, the epidural (which is heaven sent), ephedrine for my low blood pressure, antibiotics for my fever, head monitor for the baby, waiting 4 hours to get from a 9+ to a 10, then finally pushing 6 times...we welcomed a darling baby boy into the world! It was such a joyful & surprising experience for all of us! Not only could I hardly wait to hold my baby, I was dying to find out if it was a boy or a girl. The suspense of it all was so fun! Luke was born at 4:22pm weighing 8 lbs 6 ounces and 20 inches long.

After two full days, Rich and I decided on the name Luke Stanley Vernon. Our little guy looks alot like Avery and Hank did when they were born...but with darker hair. He is such a joy to have in our home. Avery and Hank have been very soft and nice to Luke, so far! And we love to hear Hank say "ook" whenever you ask him "who's your little brother?"

Well I'm recovering well and still not feeling too sleep deprived, but I'm sure that will come weeks down the road. Rich took the week off and we've had a fun time together as a family. Now we're just trying to adjust to three...it's been kindof weird but I think we'll manage! If I don't blog again for a month, I think ya'll will know why! :)

Thanks to everyone for your phone calls, visits and meals! We are so lucky to have family close and great friends & neighbors who we love! Thanks again!

Halloween fun & Hank's birthday!

I know it's a little late, but I thought we'd share some fun pictures of Halloween and

our Heber Creeper trip for Hank's birthday!

We had a fun Halloween...with 3 parties too! I love this time of year and I especially loved the nice weather we had for 'trick or treating' well until it started to rain! Luckily it wasn't freezing. Aves and Hank actually liked wearing their costumes this year, so that a plus!

This one is a classic...Dog the bounty hunter and his wife with Sarah Palin! You can always leave it up to my family to come up with the craziest costumes at the annual Halloween party.
I painted my belly like a basketball and Rich went as his dad...but I thought I'd spare you with the pictures. Bare pregnant bellies should only be seen by family! :)

We had such a fun time last Saturday! Hank turned 2 and he can say just a few words...one of them being 'choo choo!' He is definitely a train lover. So for his birthday we went and rode the Heber Creeper. The weather was perfect and the kids didn't get bored at all, which I was surprised! I remember seeing the Heber Creeper as a kid and always wanting to ride it, so I was pretty excited too since it was my first time!

I was tagged!

I have been tagged several times...and I'm sad to say that I don't think I've ever completed one before. I guess this one caught my eye...I didn't have to think I just had to go to my pictures and look! Okay, here are the rules: Go to your pictures, go to your 6th folder, pull up your 6th picture and post it!

Thanks Kristi! Here's what I found:

Avery at Lake Powell back in 2004...she's so little here!

She was only 5 months old.

I think I'm supposed to 'tag' others...so I tag anyone who's birthday is on an even day of the month! (I couldn't decide exactly who to tag, can you tell?)

Loads of October Fun!

I'm apologizing in advance for the long post...I considered posting the stories individually but didn't!

We have had a fun month so far! A few weeks ago, my great-grandad turned 103 years old. Can you believe that? I heard that the oldest man in the world lives in Japan and he's 113...so Grandad is right behind him! :) He lives in Heber and looks amazing for his age. He has always loved to garden and watch Jazz basketball. He's their biggest fan! We went up to Heber to celebrate his birthday with him. We had a wonderful time at his party! Here are a few pictures:

Everyone was trying to get pictures of Grandad, so I had to hurry and snap this one of Avery eventhough Grandad isn't looking!

103 years old and still smilin'

The Frisby Family

Bill, Bruce, Bob (back row) - Grandad and Reve (my grandma) on chairs

Rich's family came down to Lehi to visit and we took an official Family Picture!
It was fun having all of the relatives over for dinner.

Aunt Laura, Hank, Grandpa Stacy, Luella, Grandma Taffy, Avery, Baby Eliza, Cyd

Uncle Dave, Aunt Linda, Uncle Mark and Rich (on floor)

We spent Conference weekend up in Jackson Hole with our friends the Hutcheon's & Frosts'. We had a great time and it was fun to go up there during this beautiful season to see the leaves changing. We usually go up to Jackson a couple of times during the summer, but this was our first time during the fall. I'm thinking it's a must every year! (Hope that's ok with Jesse & Ashly!) Enjoy the pictures of the beautiful scenery!

Of course we couldn't go up to Jackson and not get close to the river! Eventhough it was freezing!

For the past 6 weeks, Avery has been going to the Children's Theater class down at the Lehi Arts Center. It was "The Cheese Stands Alone" and she played the cheese part of "Brie." I have to admit that I had the whole thing memorized because the kids wanted to listen to the CD everytime I turned on the car and we probably listened to it 100 times. Avery was so excited to perform in the play this past weekend! She did such a good job...we are so proud of her!

Here she is saying her parts! Good job Aves!

Cute cousins! AnnaBelle & Avery!

Everyone wanted to wear the cheese hat...even Grandma Taffy!