Ashton

Well, Ashton was born on Sept. 12th, 2009! She weighed 7lbs 7oz and was 19 inches long! I had been contracting since Wednesday and Britton asked me to call my physician Saturday morning to see if they just wanted to check me to make sure I hadn't dilated too much since he didn't want to be delivering our daughter in the back of our car. I called and they told me to go into the hospital and have a labor evaluation. So I took a nice long shower, packed some extra stuff into our hospital bags on the long-shot that we ended up staying, and then we all piled in the car and I drove us to the hospital (30 mins away). The nurse said I was dilated to 3cm (which is what I was on Wednesday) and so the physician and I discussed our options and I decided to stay and walk the halls until Alexis woke up from her nap on the hospital lounger, and then get checked again before leaving.

Not wanting to be bored, I called my mom and talked as I walked. After I got off the phone, I realized my contractions were 2-5 mins apart, and a little more intense than I'd remembered them. My physician got out of her other delivery and rechecked me. She said I was 5cm and in true labor! I was so convinced I was going to be going home, I asked her if it was a joke. She said she doesn't joke about things like that and started laughing.

We called the people who had volunteered to take Alexis when I went into labor, but no one answered, so we started calling other people we knew. My Dr. came in and broke my water at 5:30 and we still hadn't gotten ahold of anyone! We went through every single person in the ward that we knew and NO ONE picked up their phones! Lexi and Britton went down to grab some food from the cafeteria before it closed, and then Britton continued to call people. Still, no one picked up! In desperation, Britton called the church building (since there was an activity going on there) and finally got ahold of our friend Josh Price. Britton told him our dilemma and he said he'd work something out and call him back. 10 minutes later, he called and told us his wife Kelli was on the way and they would take Alexis for however long we needed. Kelli picked up Alexis around 7:10 and Britton got back to the room by 7:20. It was a good thing too because I started pushing at 7:55 and at 8:16 Ashton was born!

After all the cord cutting, weighing, and repairing, Britton left to pick Lexi up from the Price's house. He came back, and the two of them only had eyes for Ashton! Lexi was especially entranced! She just doted on her new little sister and kept wanting to hold and love on her! It was a great, though stressful night. I'm glad this delivery went a little slower than my first, otherwise Lexi would have been there for the traumatic part, and I can't express enough gratitude to the Price's who stepped in like family when we needed it and were such kind and helpful friends! We could not have made it through without them!

The Harkers are another family to whom we are forever indebted to for helping us manage the hard week between delivery and my mother arriving! Lexi spent every morning for the rest of the week at the Harker's with their twins who are about a year older than she, and she had so much fun that she hardly wanted to come home every day. We feel so blessed with such a wonderful ward who treated us like family; bringing us meals, watching Lexi, and driving 30 minutes away to pick her up! We also feel so grateful we were inspired to call the office that morning and ask for a labor evaluation....by the time I felt my contractions were "bad enough" to go into the hospital, I was at an 8 and if we had been at home when I felt they were "bad enough", Britton would have been delivering in the car! What an amazing experience, what a wonderful ward, what wonderful friends, and what a beautiful family we are blessed with!

Moving Trip

So, we took about 4 days to drive out to NY. We stopped by Nauvoo and Kirtland on the way, and went to Palmyra shortly after arriving here. It was a great experience. We had SO much wonderful help as we moved!!! Everyone was great! All of Britton's family came to help at different times as well as my family that was in the area. I have to say, although everyone played an important role in us getting out the door, I have to specifically mention a few who we could not have gotten out of our house without....

Hannah - She painted cabinets for the kitchen with Britton and I MANY times and then came back to help us pack up!

Aunt Ginny - She sanded cabinets, painted cabinets, brought over food, played with Lexi, helped us pack and clean the house!!!!

Jeremy - We used and abused his muscles to get all our heavy stuff out of the house and into the moving van... and he also tackled packing up our office which would not have gotten done without him!

Kjiera and Britty - came over and played with Alexis and helped me pack and paint and clean!

Mom and Bryan - Came and stayed with us during those final days when you just need someone else to tell you what to do next every once in a while... played with Lexi, helped to pack and clean and then drove out to Ithaca with us where they cleaned our new apartment and moved us in!!!!

Recipes

Some people have asked me for various recipes, so I thought I'd post them on here so anyone can get to them! Happy Cooking! :)

Monkey Bread

Dough:
2 3/4 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powqder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
5 Tbs butter, melted

Caramel:
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 stick butter

Cinnamon & Sugar:
1/2 cup sugar
2 Tbs cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350. Grease monkey bread pan (bunt or fluted work as well) with butter. Mix dry ingredients together in large bowl. mix buttermilk and butter together in small bowl, then add to dry ingredients. Mix till combined thoroughly. Separate dough in two equal parts and then into small balls about the size of a walnut. Cover balls in cinnamon and sugar. Cook caramel till softball stage. Pour 1/3 caramel into pan - place 1/2 monkey bread balls - pour 1/3 caramel over balls - place second 1/2 monkey bread balls - pour remaining caramel over balls. Bake for 35 mins - cool 10 mins & turn out on plate.



Classic Potato Gratin (from finecooking.com)

2lbs potatoes, peeled
3 cups heavy whipping cream
1 tsp kosher salt
1/8 tsp ground black pepper
1 generous pinch nutmeg
2 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
3/4 cup finely shredded Gruyere, Emmental or Comte cheese

Preheat oven to 400. Cut potatoes into 1/8 inch thick slices. Put potatoes in a large saucepan with all ingredients but the cheese. Cook over med-high heat until the cream is boiling. Remove garlic as you pour contents into a baking dish - shake to settle, then sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 400 for approximately 40 or until the cheese is brown and the potatoes are tender. Cool at least 15 mins then serve.


Moist Spiced Pumpkin Cakes

2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp nutmeg

6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs

1 cup sour cream
1 cup canned pumpkin

Peheat oven to 350. Combine dry ingredients in a bowl and set to the side. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Then add eggs one at a time. Add 1/3 dry ingredients to the buter/sugar/eggs. Then add sour cream, then 1/2 remaining dry ingredients, then cannned pumpkin, then remaining dry ingredients - blending after each addition. Divide batter evenly between 6 greased mini bundts, or cook in greased 9x13 pan for 25-35 mins. Watch closely and remove when toothpick comes out clean. Frost with a cream cheese frosting.



Pumpkin Cookies (Meg & Mandi Bucy)

Cream together:
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar

Then add:
1 egg
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp allspice
1 tsp nutmeg

Mix well, then add:
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder

Mix thoroughly, then add 1 bag mini chocolate chips.

Place large dollops on cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 12-15 mins. Makes approximately 24 large cookies.


Flakey Pie Pastry (from finecooking.com)

2 1/3 cups flour
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup chilled unsalted butter cut into cubes
1/2 cup chilled shortening cut into cubes
3-6 tablespoons ice water

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. Add butter and shortening a few cubes at a time and cut into dry ingredients with pastry blender. Mix till ingredients ball up. Drizzle ice water 1 tablespoon at a time and mix into the center of the bowl with a fork. Keep adding water until dough holds together well when pinched together. Pres dough toward side of bowl to make a ball, the roll out with rolling pin.



Classic Apple Pie (from finecooking.com)

8 cortland apples or 6 golden delicious apples and 2 granny smith apples
2 teaspoons lemon juice
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar & 1 tablespoon sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 large egg white
1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Preheat oven to 400. Peel apples and slice thinly - toss with lemon juice. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, sugar (1/4c), cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Add ingredients to the apples an mix. In a small dish, whisk together the egg white and 1 teaspoon water - brush over pie crust. Put apple mixture into the pie crust. Cut 1 tablespoon of butter into pieces and place on top of the apples, then cover with 2nd pie crust. Brush top with egg whites and sprinkle with sugar. Wrap foil around outer 1 inch edge of crust and bake for 60-70 mins, removing foil for the last 10 mins. Let cool 1-2 hours then serve.

Bloody Nose

We just thought this was a silly picture. Lexi got a bloody nose, and it was hot in our house so it wasnt stopping very easily... so I put a cool wash cloth on her forehead and a tissue up her nose and told her to sit in the chair while I packed. She leaned her head back, which wasn't comfortable, so I got her a neck pillow and she was sitting like that when Britton got home from work. he started laughing and took some pictures. :)

Birthday!

We had a fairly large birthday party for Lexi this year since we're leaving in a few weeks. We got together at Nielsen's Grove Park and played in the fountain/wading pool. Then we had cake and presents, and then we went home and had an extended family dinner and party. It was a nice excuse to get everyone together one more time before we left. We will miss all our friends and family we are leaving in Utah.

Family Pictures

I just loved these pictures that the Quists so graciously treated us all to, and I thought they deserve to be seen. The gal who took our pictures was so meticulous, and so good with working with everyone! And the proof is in the pudding as they say! I love these pictures, I think they turned out amazing! As soon as I ask Lisa who took them, I'll post it since I think everyone should be her patron for family photos! I just wish we would still be in Utah in a few months so we could take some new ones with Ashton in them when she comes!

The photographer's website is:

www.prettylittlepictures.com

Dancing

Lexi was involved with Utah Academy of Ballet this past year. She did their summer camp last year and took part in their pioneer legacy performance (which was awesome). This year, the company did the ballet Cinderella for their recital and Lexi was a bluebird. It turned out great, and Lexi had such a great time!