Molly Babcock

She's here!  Molly Babcock was born today at 1:18 pm and weighed 6 lbs. and 8 oz. and is 18 inches long.  She's just so perfect.
Here is my final pregnant shot.  It still amazes me that an entire baby fits inside!

I sewed floral gowns this time around.  I think they are pretty. 

Austin slept a couple hours and ate breakfast.  As he drifted off to sleep he proclaimed, "It's hard work having a baby."

 Here we are just moments after.

All the children came to hold our little dolly, Molly.  

Aunt Emily and Grandma Kim were serious bonuses. 

 My view from the bed.

Their view into the bed.

Aren't we so blessed?  Four boys and four girls is a pretty fantastic family.  How grateful I am for Austin, our protector and provider and dishes DJ.  How grateful I am for my mother who came and took away all my responsibilites.  How grateful I am to a merciful Father in Heaven who gave me eight of the greatest gifts.
 (I still need a family photo from Mother's phone.  I best call her now.)

Fall Break

Our annual Fall Break is ususally spent in Mexico. However, I am due in four days, and we couldn't go.  Ergo, we stayed home and spent the week together.

Andy went camping with the scouts.  We stayed home and watched "Anne of Green Gables."  Austin watched the BYU football game.

We spent eight hours at Castle and Coasters in Phoenix.  

On the way home he passed our exit and we headed to the casino for the dinner buffet.  The soft serve ice cream is always the favorite.  Always.

 We rotted in front of evening TV.  Somehow we were really happy and really relaxed.

We finally got around to lighting the sparklers from over three months ago.

Austin took the kids to a farm for a corn maze, tractor riding, pumpkin picking and petting zoo.  Ryan and I stayed home and went visiting teaching and grocery shopping.

Austin and I spent a day in Phoenix at the temple and fabric shopping.  

Maisie gave the FHE lesson about the tree of life, and she set up an interactive version of the vision.

 Austin took the middles biking and treated them to ice cream.

He took the five oldest to Sedona to hike Steam Boat Springs.  The little boys and I stayed home to read books and nap.

 My girls helped me make a chocolate house.  Two days later Ryan has eaten all the loose candy.  Surprisingly, the house is still standing.

 Eddie found these two heart stickers and wanted both me and our baby to have one.  He placed mine right over my protruding belly button.  (That is not blood, it is beet juice.)

My goal this week was to spend time together.  We accomplished that.  The 5:30 alarm clock will be early tomorrow, but what a lovely week we shared.  I live my dream, thanks to Austin and my Heavenly Father.

End of Term

The first term of this school year is over!  We had a week filled with races and projects that proves that.

Andy ran in his final cross country race.  He placed 12th in all of the county.

Nick's Arizona project was due.  We used pantry supplies.

 Maddie's landform project was due.  Austin was impressed that she wrote all the facts.

 (Grandpa B. was here to help supervise the painting.)

 Maisie's country report was due.  I was thrilled that she chose a country family members had traveled to -- that always makes the oral report easier.

We also spent a morning at Austin's office, no carries here!

And after church while anxiously awaiting Austin to come home for testimony meeting, we documented Andy's truth: I am a hippo.

Finally, Eddie scribed my shopping list while on the way to Walmart.  I called out the letters and he wrote the list.  I might have forgotten a few things, but mostly we remembered everything.

186th General Conference

I finally received a sabbath day full of rest!  These past two days of watching and learning from our church leaders allowed for true peace of both body and spirit.  My little darlings were mostly reverent, and Maddie wins the award for the best note taker.

 In between sessions we ate outside both afternoons.  Today Austin made us the most delicious BBQ feast.

 Ryan fell off the back of the couch and landed on his head.  Austin is helping him keep a frozen bag of brussell sprouts on his noggin.

 I sat still and listened very carefully.  My little journal of ten years worth of note taking is now full.  I reviewed a few of the notes and messages from past years, and the messages are the same as are my goals -- to raise my children knowing that they are beloved sons and daughers of God, and that Jesus Christ is their advocate.  When I obey and live gospel principles, I experince joy, even when life's circumstances are really hard.

P.S.  We played outside as a family all afternoon.  Austin threw football running patterns to all seven children.  Andy certainly caught the most.  Nick was not far behind.  We then walked up our hills and I barely made it down again.  This baby inside of me is BIG!