HALLOWEEN

Our Halloween already happened. Our ward party was on the 18th and that's all we do for halloween (sorry Shannon). We had a fun time dressing up. McKay was Curious George or as he used to say it "Givian George" and Quinn was The Man with the Yellow Hat or as McKay calls him "Da yellow man wif da yellow hat" That idea I'm happy to say was inspired by Shannon. That is what Jason and Gavin are going to be and I thought it was a great idea so I used it since we live in different states. I was going to have Gensie be a chicken and Avonlea her egg but I wanted to make the costumes and it turns out it cost too much for the supplies. So instead Avonlea was Curious George's banana and Gensie was an indian. I have always loved dressing my kids up as indians. McKay was a Little Brave for his second Halloween so I thought Gensie should be an indian  too especially after I found this costume. I'm sad to say I didn't dress up. McKay kept saying I was going to be "Sister man in da yellow hat" but I don't know what she looks like and by the time you get all these costumes ready for everyone else you're kinda out of ideas and energy. So I went as boring old mom. I found all 3 kids costumes at Once Upon A Child and Quinn's costume we put together our selves. Our neighbor gave us her husbands old white shirt. It was a little big but hey, it didn't cost us anything. We couldn't find bright yellow pants at Goodwill (go figure) so we looked for white. We couldn't find any mens white pants so we went with womans. We had a white tie and then when we went to dye the clothes we read on the dye that the tie fabric wouldn't take it.  It was late the night before the party so what did we do?  We dyed the clothes and made a tie out of bright yellow poster board that I already had. The pants turned out great but because the shirt and pants are different fabrics they didn't take the dye equally.  So the pants turned out A LOT brighter than the shirt. Oh well. It so happened that the pants were exactly the same color as the poster board I had so we changed our minds about the hat. I was going to dye fabric yellow then cover a witches hat in yellow fabric but instead we made a brim out of cardboard then I shapped the tall part of the hat out of poster board. Then I attatched them to each other with hot glue and tape. I put a top on the hat then covered the brim top and bottom in the same yellow poster board. It really turned out great. I think when we first showed up and were getting out of the car Quinn felt a little like a nerd but as soon as we walked into the gym he got about 5 compliments in 2 min and people were saying "That's awesome" and wanting to have their picture taken with him. As the night went on Quinn received more and more compliments and people kept telling me how much they liked it too. McKay wouldn't hardly were his costume because he was too hot in it. But people LOVED Gensie's. When it came time for the best costume awards I thought this will be interesting so see if any of them win. Well, Gensie won first place for the cutest costume and Quinn and McKay won first place for the best couple's costume. After the party was over we had a young couple in the ward that have just one little boy Gensie's age come up and tell us that was the best costume they've ever seen and wanted to know every detail of how we made it. After we answered all their questions as we were leaving I said to Quinn "Well, we know what they're going  to be for Halloween next year". It was very flattering to have them like it so much. We had a great time and really enjoyed all the laughs we gave people when they saw Quinn's costume.

We call her Sister Sue. Now she really is a Sioux Indian.

This was her little papoose. Like I said I like indians so a year or so ago I found this doll at Salvation Army and have been saving it to give to one of my girls. A minute before we walked out the door running late for the party I grabbed the doll took brown yard and strapped her to Gensie's back. People loved it. It really was a great little addition to her costume.

Curious George eating his banana.

Da yellow man wif da yellow hat and Givian George.

By the way you're probably thinking the man with the yellow hat doesn't have a polka dotted tie and he has black trim instead of brown. Well, I thought the same thing and that is the case with the modern movies. But in the old original books he has Brown boots, brown belt and Brown polka dotted tie.

McKay thought Quinn's costume was pretty neat. He really liked his hat.

First place awards

Date Night

Tonight is date night. We didn't have a baby sitter so we went out to eat and took with us all THREE of our kids. We have taken just Mook and Gens with us before or just Lele but not all three. It actually went just great. We went to Home Town Buffet. While we were at the counter paying when we first arrived the lady told Mook that he is a very hansom boy. On our way to be seated some people that were sitting close to the front had been watching us and when we passed them they said "If you look up the word cute in the dictionary you'll find her picture" and they pointed at Gensie. We were flattered and thanked them. Just after we had been seated, Quinn went to get the kids some food. I was sitting at the table with Lele in her car seat. A woman walked passed looking at Lele said to me "You have a BEAUTIFUL baby." So the night started off well with all three of our kids receiving such nice compliments. Dinner was great, kids minded their manners and a older couple sitting in the table next to us kept watching us. I think they were noticing us because Gensie kept singing during dinner. After a while the woman started chatting with us. We ended up talking to her a lot. She had many questions for us and we had a good time visiting with her. She was kinda weird. Ya know the kind of woman that has a lot of kids, gave birth at home, and home schooled her kids.  You know the type, right? (wink wink).  She told McKay that he is a BEAUTIFUL boy. He kinda furrowed his eyebrows at her and nicely said "No sir, I'm handsome." He knows girls are beautiful. Then our waitress came to clear off some dishes from our table and said "You guys are so clean; this table is hardly messy." Right before we left Quinn took Mook to the bathroom. Gensie was sitting in her high chair and I was nursing Lele. The waitress came to clear our table the rest of the way and said to me "Your kids are so well behaved. I mean it. They are really impressive." Then she told me I looked so calm and peaceful. I thanked her and a minute later a man walked by that I could see was eying Gensie. I knew he was going to say something about her pig tails because people always do. As he walked  passed he said "That one came with handles." I cracked up. That was not what I was expecting him so say. I haven't heard that one before. Quinn and I didn't get any conversation in but it was very nice to have an evening out of the house and so nice that we are blessed with such great kids that we can take with us when we don't get a baby sitter.

Now I hope that no one takes this as bragging.  That's really not the goal here.  Don't get me wrong, I am SO pleased that I have the children I do; we have been blessed with great kids.  I simply wanted to share a fun night that we had, and it helps me realize how grateful I should be.

We love our kids!!

Just another morning in the Eastin home

No need for an explanation here.  I think the video speaks for itself.  Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Sunday: Day of Rest...?

This is Quinn.  Just thought I would clarify that.

I always look forward to Sunday.  It is a wonderful day that we can check out from the world and focus on the things that bring true and lasting joy.  Sunday truly is a day of rest. 

That term 'day of rest' has taken on a different meaning over the years, however.  It is no longer the day of rest it was when I was a teenager.  Gone are the long hours of naps (and by hours, I mean HOURS).  No more are the drawn out board games (Axis and Allies or Risk anyone?  Or maybe Monopoly or The Farming Game?).  Hours to sit and read a good book is a thing of the past.  

In fact, Sunday is more busy than the rest of the days of my week, in nearly every aspect.  I get to work between 6 and 7 in the morning and am home for the day between 3 and 4 typically.  A typical Sunday for me begins about the same time, 6 or 7 in the morning.  Bishopric Meeting, PEC/Ward Council, Missionary Correlation Meeting take me to between 10 and 11.  Then I try to get home so I can eat a late/second breakfast and help get the kids ready for church while Tasha gets herself ready.  Many Sundays I head back to the church early with McKay for some pre-sacrament meeting appointments/interviews, and then Sacrament meeting starts at 1.  The conclusion of the 3 hour block brings members who need set apart for callings, additional appointments/interviews, counting tithing/donations, sometimes an additional meeting, and the occasional ward choir.  I am usually back home between 5 and 7.


My Sunday's are busy, but Tasha's Sunday is no less busy.  It simply comes with different ingredients.  She is alone with 3 kids who are 3 years old and younger.  Need I say more?  For the sake of humor I'm going to say more.  In addition to waking up with the kids, getting them fed, and getting herself ready (and everything that goes along with that) she gets to take care of an infant, a 1 year old, and a 3 year old alone while I sit on the stand.  She does usually have someone from the ward, our favorite babysitter, sit with her and help.  Last week, however, was the first week she was alone with all 3 kids.  Megan (our favorite babysitter) was out of town and no one else sat with her to help.  So here is what happened last week, Oct 13th in sacrament meeting.  Try to picture this is your mind and I go.

Tasha started off by saying to herself, "This is going OK.  Avonlea is in the car seat very content.  Genesis is on my lap behaving herself.  McKay is playing quietly on the bench next to me.  I've got this.  Things are under control.  I can handle 3 kids in sacrament meeting by myself."  She then looked at the clock and had been in the meeting for 5 minutes.

Now don't get me wrong, we have been blessed with fantastic kids.  We have no room to complain, nor will I.  Having 3 kids under the age of 4 does make for some craziness, however, no matter who the kids are.  Anyway, back to the story.

About 15 minutes later, while Tasha was paying attention to Gensie and Avonlea, she hears McKay say, "Hey! Dad! Wake up!" in a loud whisper.  Then he repeats himself a few times.  Tasha immediately turns and quiets him down as she looks up the stand and spy's me snoozing.  McKay asks her, "Mom, what is Dad doing?".  Tasha reply's sheepishly, "He's sleeping".  McKay's response: "Why?"  With a shrug of her shoulders Tasha can only say, "Just because."  She then turns back to check on the girls and hears McKay start right back up, "Hey! Dad! Wake up!"  By then people around her are laughing and Tasha is trying to keep from laughing as she tries to keep McKay quiet.  (I can only hope the members of the ward don't judge me too harshly since we have an infant.)  :)

Not long after this little incident Avonlea decided she was hungry, so Tasha tried to prep McKay to stay in the meeting by either continuing to play with his toys or sitting with Carter, a youth who McKay loves.  She would just take Genesis with her to the mothers lounge.  Well, McKay wanted to come too and since we are in the middle of sacrament meeting Tasha decided not to push it.  So she holds Avonlea with one hand and herds McKay and Genesis down the isle and out the doors with the other.  With me looking on from my peaceful perch on the stand.  Yes, I was awake ;)  Apparently I only needed a min or so, but that's all it took for McKay to announce it!

While in the mothers lounge Tasha is constantly saying things like, "Please don't touch that.  Gensie get down from that stool, your going to fall.  Don't open the door.  I need you to stay here.  I need you to be quiet please.  McKay, stop chasing your sister.  Don't play with the diaper pail, it's dirty"  All while unable to really enforce.

Coming back into the meeting was another little adventure.  McKay was great and went right back in and to the bench, but Gensie was more interested in talking to some friends of ours than going back in.  So Tasha was holding a sleeping Avonlea in one arm (holding the door open with that same arm/shoulder) and trying to use the other to herd Gensie.  Gensie was excitedly saying, "Hi!" in a very cute yet non-sacrament meeting appropriate voice a few times to some of our friends.  Finally she is able to physically turn Gensie's head toward the door and herd her back to the bench.

Tasha is Wonder Woman.

Interesting fact

This card was given to Tasha and I in a care package for nursing mothers and we found it very interesting. This is what it says:

DID YOU KNOW...
   ALL pediatric health organizations in the world recommend breastfeeding .
   
   NO pediatric health organization in the world recommends circumcision.

   Infant circumcision significantly increases risk of breastfeeding complications.

   Infant Circumcision Increases Rates of:
   -Latching complications
   -Ineffective nursing (reducing milk supply)
   -Discomfort, pain and crying ('colic")
   -PTSD symptoms
   -Failure to thrive
   -Confusion/withdrawal
   -Agitation at the breast
   -Sleep troubles 
   -Night terrors
   -Insecure attachment

The early months of life are a crucial time for a newborn to develop secure attachment. Physical pain and trauma interfere with the bonding process between mom and baby.

Through the 1980's La Leche League International cautioned about the detrimental impact circumcision can have on breastfeeding.

It's commonly believed that the vast majority of male children are circumcised at birth.  I know I thought that.  However, a recent report from the CDC shows that the national average is only 58% of newborn males are circumcised, with the Western United States showing only 40% are circumcised (as of 2010).

I hope nobody takes offense or thinks I am preaching here.  I wanted to post this simply to share what I found as interesting information.  Reading the above quoted card piqued my interest, so that is why I looked into it more.
 

Gensie's pioneer dress

This adorable little dress was given to me by Stephanie. She found it at DI and thought it was so cute and so do I. We put it on Gensie and it fits her perfectly. Yellow is even my favorite color. I love dressing my little girls in yellow. Thanks Steph.

Two Tough Hombre's

   These pictures were taken back in April. BUT, I love them and have actually wanted to post them for a while but couldn't find them until now. We just got all our pictures organized. McKay wanted to play cowboy so HE dressed Gensie up to play with him. It took some work for him to get her to keep her hat and vest on. He kept telling me he wanted Gensie to be a "Cowboy Girl."

So long partner.

Gensie and her Peeps

   Don't you just love big families and lot and lots of cousins? I grew up with a lot of my cousins. They were my next door neighbors and the only kids on our street. They, and my brothers and sisters were my best friends growing up and still are. Quinn and I come from extremly different cousin experiences. Quinn has 11 first cousins counting both his mom and dad's sides of the family. I on the other hand (and feet cause you'll need them) have 109 first cousins counting both sides. Quinn hardly knows his cousins and I know all of mine except 3. Most of them I know quite well.
   We are so happy that our kids will have so may cousins and hopefully will be able to be great friends with them. Within 6 months from the time Gensie was born she had 2 cousins on the Eastin side and 2 cousins on the Pearce side that are her same age. Eastin cousins her age are Layla and Weston. Pearce cousins her age are Brindee and Jeremy (Jem). We really hope she will find life long friendships with these cousins.

Left to right: Layla, Gensie, and Brindee

McKay our little Mister

   McKay is just great. He has always been a sweet gentle little boy. Now he is a sweet gentle big brother. As we've mentioned many times before, he and Gensie are the best little friends. They do everything together and McKay even tolerates Gensie's "playing skills' well. What I mean is a 1 year old isn't exactly on the same playing level as a 3 year old. When he wants to set up his toys and pretend a certain way and Gensie just messes everything up because she doesn't understand, he is really quite patient with her especially when I say to him "McKay teach her how you want her to play."
   The other side of being a big brother. He LOVES LOVES LOVES babies. The other day he said "Mom, we have one baby and dat's all the babies what we have. We're gonna have 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,17,15,18,19 and 20 more babies ok mom, dat's how many babies we are gonna have at our house." I told him I wasn't so sure we would have 20 more babies.
   He gets right up in Avonlea's face to talk to her and has to hold her numerous times a day. He even picks her up and carries her places sometimes. We've asked him not to but he actually does a pretty good job. When she cries he tells her "Avonlea don't cry it will be ok, I'm right here." He even tries to nurse her sometimes. We've tried to explain only mommy feeds the baby but he still tries.
   I want to explain what McKay is like but he's old enough I think everyone knows him pretty well already. And since he is quite friendly it's not hard to get to know him. He loves to sing. He can sing many primary songs and even some hymns. It only takes once or twice of me singing them for him to start to pick up on them, then he comes and asks me what the rest of the words are.

Here are a few of the latest things he said.

McKay was crying because I had gotten him in trouble for something he had done.
McKay: "Mom I don't want to play dis game."
Me: "What game?"
McKay: "Where I get in trouble."

I asked McKay what he wanted to be when he grows up because I was curious to see what a 3yr old would say. He replied "When I get bigger I'n gonna be a Prophet yike President Monson and President Eyring AND President Uchtdorf."

When McKay gets in trouble and has to sit on his bed, after awhile he hollers "I'n ready to say SORRY." When he uses  the bathroom and needs his bum wiped he hollers "I'n all DONE." The other morning he had just woken up and was in using the bathroom. I was still a sleep and woke up to him saying "I'n ready to say sorry. I'n ready to say sorry, oh not sorry I'n all done. I'n all done."

McKay is reading "da scrit-scrers" to Avonlea

Yup you got it. He fell asleep right in the middle of dinner. It was a Sunday right after church and because our church is so late the kids don't get naps. Quinn and I were having a conversation at dinner and I notice he hadn't moved for a minute. I looked over and he was out. Quinn carried him to his bed and he didn't wake up. He was out for the night.

Leaving for The Father and Son campout. This is McKay's 3rd time going to the father and sons but his first time spending the night. He loved it. Sleeping in a tent with dad is pretty neat.

Our two look-a-likes in matching shirts.

McKay loves trying on peoples shoes when they come to our house. He often where's Quinn's shoes around the house when Quinn leaves them out and now Gensie is learning to try on everyone's shoes too.

Watching a movie together.

Loving to wrestle with Grandpa Prearce and Unkey Andon.

He has to get right in Avonlea's face when he talks to her.

Adding to the family food storage

 We've been bottling and freezing and bottling and freezing and bottling and freezing! In June I froze about 20lb of strawberries. We froze a bunch of rhubarb from our own garden. In July and August we picked and froze 90lb of blueberries. In September we picked and bottled 23 quarts of tomatoes from our own garden and froze 120 cobs of corn not from our garden. I wish they were. In October we bought 125lb of peaches. We bottled 54 quarts and are freezing 35lb. With all the bottling we've done everyone of our jars sealed and they are second hand jars and even some of the lids were used 2nd and 3rd time around and everything sealed. It feels so good to be done and feels even better to have all that put away. One of my favorite things about living up here is that we can pick our own blueberries. We love them so so so much. By this time next year they will all be gone because our kids eat them for a snack every day.

Our kids

The latest on our Little Lou

This is our Little lady bug, Gensie Lou, Sister Sue, Lovey Girl, Sweet Heart, Baby Doll, Love Bug, Song Bird, Genesis Cate. She is soooooo much fun. She is happy all the time. When she's tired she gets really giggley.  She follows McKay everywhere and copies everything he does. She loves her little sister and is such a natural little mommy. She packs a doll or teddy bear around on her hip a lot of the day, feeds them a bottle and puts them over her shoulder to shush them and pat them. She does has a little-big opinion. She isn't afraid to stand up for her self and if McKay or Mom and Dad do something she doesn't care for she takes matters into her own hands by telling us "uh-oh" or even trying to spank us sometimes. It's not good when your 1 year old tries to spank her parents because she really shouldn't, but we can't help but laugh a little because she is being so sassy. Last weekend I was running some errands and I took Lou with me. I received so many compliments on her. People kept telling me how cute she is. That they think she is "just darling" and people REALLY love her piggy tails. We get a lot of compliments on her hair. She is also very very friendly. She says hi to almost every one she sees in the store and even tries to start up a conversation with them. She LOVES to sing! In sacrament meeting when it's time to sing a hymn look out because Gensie doesn't hold back at all. Have you ever heard the term 'Rear back open up and let her fly?' That is how Gensie sings in church. I can't wait till she is in a primary program. She kinda started to talk last week. She has been saying a lot of half words for a while now but last week she started saying little sentences and repeating things we say. You could watch her all day and never get bored. We love her so much and wouldn't trade her for the world. We are so grateful we were blessed with her.

Little kids fake laughs are so cute.

Picking strawberries. She sure knows what she's after.

Reading the children's friend.

Gensie with Baby Ruth on her hip.

Lele and Lou Lou

Nan, how do you like this little outfit? Hot pink cowgirl boots found second hand for less than $10 dollars.

I bought this skirt at a yard sale when I was in Rexburg. It really fits her personally because it's so fun. People love her pig tails because they're so full. I think they look like little pom-poms.

Every night when we call for family prayer Gensie comes running hits her knees and says "Mom mom peh. Dahyee peh. Fah-men." That being interpreted is "Mom and dad prayer. Heavenly Father Amen."