Apple Picking and Conference in Chicago

September was a good month.  Sam started first grade and is adjusting well to the new school.  We are all adjusting to his longer school day (8:50 to 3:50).  Thomas is enjoying preschool.  Below he is showing me some of his art work from preschool.  As you can see, he is an artistic genius. :)  The boys have also been doing swim lessons once a week for the last couple of months.  The teachers at Goldfish Swim School have been fabulous and they are both a lot more comfortable in water than they were before they started.

I just thought these pictures were fun  Hannah and Grandma T.

I'm pretty sure  Thomas got up to turn the light on and fell back asleep like this before he was laying down all the way.  

A couple of weeks ago we went apple picking at an orchard nearby.  It was fun!  There were a lot of bees, but I think everyone had fun anyway.  The apple donuts were scrumptious.  

The number one reason I am anxious to buy a house:  The spiders in this townhouse.  I can hardly handle going down in the unfinished basement.  At least this one in the fork drawer was already dead.

For Conference weekend we drove to Chicago to watch Conference with Jeff and Lizzi.  We had a grand time.  We arrived at around 10pm Michigan time and the boys were exhausted.

I think Emma was quite happy to be the big girl.  She really loved Hannah and especially liked for Lizzi to hold Hannah.  And of course, she liked to hold Hannah too. :)

And now just a couple of random videos.

Berkeley To Birmingham

Well, we did it.  We moved.   I'm going to try to summarize without giving too much detail (which is hard for me).

Dave graduated.  What a relief!  Then he had from May 18th (graduation day) to July 16th (1st day of work) with no real obligations besides being a husband and father.  It was really fabulous.  I think he was bored at times, but most of the time I don't think he was.

Sam turned six.  We had a pirate birthday party.  He is a planner!  He made a list of who to invite and what he wanted to do and receive for his birthday.  He even invited his kindergarten teacher, Miss Hannah, who made an appearance in true pirate fashion (pictured below).

Thomas turned four.  He did not have a theme party (I took advantage of his lack of expectations, but he has already told me he wants a pinata next year like Sam had this year.).  He had a balloon-filled tent and friends and donuts at the village park.  That was after Hannah was born, but I don't think I posted about it.  He re-broke his arm 3 days after we got to Michigan.  Between Hannah and Thomas, we've had 5 ER trips since Hannah's birth. (More on that below.)  I honestly don't know how his arm could have broken either time he did it.  This time he was just at about the second from the bottom stair and somehow fell and broke it.

Hannah has helped us reach our out of pocket maximum for health insurance this year.  In her first three months of life she went to the ER three times.  The first time at 5 weeks old, and then almost exactly one month later (in Utah, on our way to Michigan), and then again about 1 month after that (not long after arriving in Michigan).  Hannah, we have learned, has two ureters (tube from kidney to bladder) on her left side.  This causes her to get UTIs and accompanying high fevers.  We will finally meet with a pediatric urologist this week to get more details of what the plan for her will be, but our pediatrician believes she will need to have surgery before too long (as in the next few months).  I'm leaving out lots of details here, but for now she is on antibiotics and will hopefully stay UTI free.  When she is feeling good, she is a real sweetheart, and adored by all the members of our family.  Usually she sleeps pretty well these days (relatively speaking), but occasionally in the night she is just happy as can be to be awake and jabbering to me.  She's awfully cute, but I sure wish she'd save that for the day-time hours.  But she's the first child we've had that does that, so I guess I ought not complain.

I (Patti) have mostly just survived, which has been made easier with the help of my parents, Dave, Dave's parents, our sweet kids, and my Aunt Dede and Uncle Chan.  Also the support and prayers of our families have helped.  I will say that the doctors and nurses have been great (for the most part).  Funnily, at the hospital here there was a resident pediatrician working with us, Dr. Edwards, as well as a pediatric urology resident who stopped in a couple times also named Dr. Edwards.  And of course, we are the Edwards.  So, all the Edwards converged.

As for Michigan and new job, we are really loving it here so far.  Dave's enjoying the non-stressful beginnings of his job.  I'm enjoying that fact that his job is not causing him stress.  The people here are so friendly.  It just feels more like home than Berkeley ever did to me.  (Sorry Berkeley, and this is not a diss on the people there, just the environment.)

And now, for the pictures!

Sam and Harris in Harris's tree house.

Boys will be boys.

Lucy, Owen, Sam, Miss Hanna, Sammy, Emily, Grace, Melissa

Some of the pirate partiers

Lucy and the pinata.

So glad I got a picture with Grace and Emily-two of my favorite little girls.

Last day of kindergarten!

This is Hannah in her blessing dress (thanks Christy).  I really tried to remember to get a picture of her on her blessing day, but it was also graduation day, and with the hurry to get to graduation after church, I forgot.  So this was taken when she was about 2 months old.

Oh yeah!  Dave and I (and Hannah) went to Santa Cruz.  The boys went to Utah with Grandma T while before the movers came.  I think Hannah must have not been feeling well already when we moved because we couldn't set her down on the day of moving and cleaning.  That really slowed us down.  But then we went to Santa Cruz for a couple of days.  I think we'll have to go back sometime with the boys.  These pictures are just the mini-golf place.  I should have taken more pictures, but that's no surprise.

Fuzzy picture of Dave mini-golfing.  He had the luckiest shot ever.  He hit his ball too hard, sending it out of the designated green, it bounced off of my golf club, ricocheted back into the green, and ended up quite close to the hole.  In the end I think we tied.

Utah now.  Playing with cousins at the Michaelis's.  Sam, Alyssa, Jason.

 Sam, Thomas, Emma.

Davey and Thomas.  They look alike and act alike.

Naked Davey hug.  Those chairs are actually quite comfortable for nursing.

The Girls!  Jen, Tanya, Christy, Ava, Heidi, Patti, Hannah

This year Christy, Me, Peter, Tanya, and Jen will have babies.  That's 5 out of 6.

Great Grandma B.

Sam doesn't look very interested based on this picture, but he was really interested in some pictures Aunt Val had from her Alaska years.

I hope you don't recognize this. :)  Primary Children's in Utah.  Hannah's 2nd Hospital stay.

Also Primary Children's

Trying (and failing) to get a good picture of Hannah Mae and Emma Mae.

The Renaissance Center-GM Headquarters in Detroit

More Ren-Cen

Ren Cen from the outside

GM gave our boys a car to secure their loyalty.  They seem ready.

Hannah's 3month old hospital stay

GM picnic

Playgrounding

Hannah and Sam.  That one was taken today 8/10.  Not the best picture...I'll try to do better next time.

Pre-Delivery Thoughts

I forgot to post these videos of the boys.  I took these just before we went to the hospital.

And here's one that Sam took:

Thomas's Big Break

Hannah Mae was born Saturday afternoon.  We came home from the hospital Sunday night.  Monday morning around 8:30 I was in my room feeding Hannah Mae and I heard Thomas make a strange sound I hadn't heard him make before-like a yelp.  A moment later he began to cry.  A minute later Dave brought Thomas into our room and said, "I think Thomas broke his arm."  His arm was sagging in the middle-definitely broken.  We decided Dave and Teresa would go with Thomas to the ER.  Sam and I would go take Hannah to the doctor for her bilirubin test which was supposed to be done by 11 that morning.  Fortunately we hadn't sold the Prius yet, so we still had 2 cars and could go two different places at once.  Unfortunately, both sets of keys went with Dave and Teresa to the ER.  Teresa came back and drove us to the doctor, which I was grateful for because I was feeling a little light headed earlier in the morning.

After the bilirubin check and lunch I went and took lunch to Dave in the ER and saw Thomas too.  They were there until 5 pm.  I was feeling really tired, so I didn't stay long.  Plus I was nervous about having Hannah Mae there in the room that Thomas was sharing with a man was in because he had been projectile-vomiting blood.  Thomas was a champ.  He was calm through it all, after the initial crying when he broke it. The doctors and nurses (according to Dave) were really surprised by how calm he was.  Both the radius and ulna were broken all the way through.

 They gave him something like laughing gas before they set the bone.  To see if it was working yet they asked him to sing the ABCs.  He couldn't. :)

Thomas below: one-handed egg dying.  He may be ambidextrous by the time that cast comes off.  They predict it will be ready to come off in about 3 weeks (5 weeks from the time of the break).

I guess he didn't want to be outdone by the arrival of a baby girl.

Introducing Hannah Mae Edwards

Hannah Mae Edwards (named for grandparents on both my and Dave's side of the family) was born on Saturday, April 12, 2014 at 2:49 pm.  She weighed in at 7 lbs. 5 oz. and 20 1/2 inches.  We are so excited to have a little girl!  Sam and Thomas both really wanted a little sister.  For some reason we've been waffling on what to call her.  The plan was to call her Mae, but Dave calls her Hannah Mae or Hannah, Sam calls her Hannah Mae, and Thomas calls her Plane-Plane (which was Thomas's plan all along for a girl baby).  I'm going back and forth between Mae, Hannah Mae, and Hannah.  We'll see which one wins out.

Around 6 AM Saturday morning I realized that the contractions I was feeling weren't completely painless this time.  I finally woke Dave, who had been asking anxiously for the last week if my contractions were painful, to tell him that I was having painful contractions.  His response was, "Oh good!  We can go to McDonalds for breakfast on the way to the hospital."  We didn't go to McDonalds though.  We (and when I say we I mean Dave) shampooed our car instead because we had to return the rented shampooing machine to Safeway before 5 that night.  (We don't regularly shampoo our car;  we're getting ready to sell it.)

Anyway, without further ado, here she is!

Edwards' Quotable Quotes of 2013

The following are some quotes we recorded in our family from last year.  (Some of you will have heard some of these already).

Sam (to Dave leaving for work):  We love you!  Have lots of money when you get home!
April 16, 2013

Anyone:  What's your name?
Thomas:  Thomas the train Edwards
April 2013

Thomas and Dave had been shooting each other with dart guns.  Dave had been teaching Thomas to say "Draw" when he pulls out his gun.  A few minutes later Thomas walks in, points his gun and says, "Color!"
June 2, 2013

Dave:  The question is, is Mommy growing the baby, or is the baby growing Mommy?
Nov. 30, 2013

Patti:  But are you ever going to be 2 again?
Sam:  When I'm an angel, silly!
April 11, 2013

Thomas:  What a heck!
Sept. 12, 2013

Sam:  You're always invited Mommy (to the bath), you just never come.
Mom:  That's because I don't like to get naked in front of you.
Sam:  It's ok.  We don't mind.  We like naked girls.
Feb. 2013

Dave:  Bye Thomas, I love you.
Thomas:  (In a very cheerful voice)  Thank you!
April 25, 2013

Mom:  Thomas, what's 1 orange + 1 orange?
Thomas:  Red.
June 23, 2013

Thomas:  IT'S CHRISTMAS!
Jan. 28, 2013

Sam:  I'm gonna make love in my room.  Come see all the love in my room. (Referring to heart-shaped valentine's decorations.)
Feb 2, 2013

Dave:  Thomas, are you ok?  (Thomas was sticking out his tongue as Dave walked into the bathroom while Thomas and Sam were bathing.)
Thomas:  Sam peed in my mouth.
Dave:  Sam!?!  Why did you do that?
Sam:  I was just trying to get his hair.
Dave:  If you pee on anyone again, time-out.

Patti:  If you are tired you can just close your eyes.
Sam:  Well, I'm not going to give up.
Feb. 4, 2013

Dave:  Where is him?
June 24, 2013

Sam:  Did you know penguins have beards?
Patti:  No, I didn't.
Sam:  I bet the scientists who made penguins know.
Sept. 5, 2013

Thomas (on a short run with Sam and Patti):  Why are we doing this Mommy?

Sam (In a whining voice):  I want to clean the walls!!!
Aug. 9, 2013

Thomas:  Mommy, now you lost one of your bums!
Dec. 14, 2013

Thomas:  It's brrrrrue!  (i.e. blue)
May 28, 2013

Thomas:  My baby is crying.
Sam:  Good.....he'll stop soon.
July 7, 2013

Patti:  Thomas, you have a booger.  Let me get a tissue.
Thomas (while Patti's back is turned, and in a sing-song voice):  The booger's in my tummy!
May 26, 2013

Thomas:  Are you bacon....for some bacon....you can be a big pig too!  Woo!
March 20, 2013

Thomas (trying to grab the bone on the side of his ankle):  There's a ball!  Get the ball out!
Mar. 2013

Sam:  Do you know what I want to marry?
Patti:  What?
Sam:  You!  But I'm not big enough.
July 20, 2013

Thomas:  I'm not going to take my tornado because it might get totally lost.
July 20, 2013

Thomas:  Mommy, I think you're my best friend.
Aug. 30, 2013

Thomas:  Sam, I want to kill!

Sam:  Don't forget you could try to get pretty Mommy.
Aug. 4, 2013

Thomas:  I stand here until the scariness goes away.
Patti:  How does it go away?
Thomas:  It starts in my belly and goes zzzzzhhhhhh (moving his hand from his belly to his mouth) and out my mouth.
November 2013

Sam and Thomas:  I'm going to put you in jail.
Patti:  I'm going to put Daddy in jail.
Sam:  Not Daddy!  He's our savior!
Jan. 15, 2013

Sam:  You missed the beginning of the Mormon-agle-tackle choir.
October 13, 2013

Thomas:  I bemember it!
Mar. 23, 2013

Dave:  What do you have there Thomas?
Thomas:  These!
Dave:  Those are called your nipples.
Thomas:  Yeah!  And they're not sharp!
October 22, 2013

Cami:  Have you been extra good while your Dad is gone?
Sam:  Mmmm, pretty muchly.
July 7, 2013

Dave:  What if we get a baby boy?
Sam:  That would be terrible.
Aug. 2013

Christmas (and a few others)

I started vacuuming to try to wake Thomas up from his nap.  Apparently he can plug his ears while he sleeps!

 The boys just love throwing rocks into the water.

 Sacramento Train Museum

 I can remember doing things like this with my sister, Tanya.  If you didn't notice, that's a single pair of pants.  They are each in one leg.

 For Thanksgiving a friend invited us to join them at her parents house, which is a boy's dreamland.  There's a trampoline, a friendly dog, and lots of land.  We had a great time and they were great hosts!

 I guess this is the only picture we got when Brad Hunter came, and he's not even in the picture!  This is at the top of the Berkeley clock tower.

 If you ask Sam if Santa came to the ward Christmas party, he'll tell you it was Teagan's dad.  A couple of months ago he saw something in the store he wanted and asked for it.  I told him we could get it for his stocking.  "Wait, YOU put stuff in our stockings?" he said.  Then on Christmas morning when he pulled it out of his stocking he said, "Oh great.  You're Santa."  He hadn't seen it for over a month; I thought maybe he'd forgotten, but he doesn't forget.  I've actually told him before that Santa is pretend (I know, I know, I'm a Scrooge) but he just wanted to believe I think.  I'm not sure what he thinks now because after we got back from Utah we got our mail and in it was a letter from Santa (thank you Post Office).  And then a day or two later he wrote a letter to Santa letting him know what he'd like next Christmas.

 Sam and Spencer, shortly before the Bairs moved.

 Utah!  Fun in the backyard.

 Christmas morning.  Emma was pretty interested in the toys Sam and Thomas got.  I think it was at 5 AM I heard Sam say to Thomas, "It's Christmas Day!"

 We went sledding with the Michaelis and Powell families.  There was a great little hill that was nice and slick.  The boys were lacking energy, unfortunately.

 After Christmas Dinner Party at the Michaelis' home.

 Alyssa and Davey.pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp (That's Thomas' contribution.)

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Brothers! 

 My Mom and Dad just got back from a mission to England.  They brought back these adorable soldier suits for the boys.  I think Garrett is missing...but this is the best picture I got.  Sorry Garrett!

 Adrienne and me.

 The "Ice Cave" at Duck Creek.  It wasn't quite as impressive as I'd expected, but it wasn't bad.

 More ice cave.

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 Midway Ice Castles with the Bairs.  Sam, Spencer, Isaac, Thomas.

 Gemma!

 Ashley and Me!