Friday, February 29, 2008

Well, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to have Leap Day on my blog! Who knows what I'll be into in 4 years...so, today we blog! For my household, today will go down in history as the day Winni finally pooped on the potty! woo hoo!! In honor of Winni and potty training, I am blogging about the things I've learned in the last 1 1/2 weeks about potty training.

+ Potty training is 20% child ready to learn and 80% mom sick of diapers.

+ Having to do laundry at least everyday due to accidents can be very therapeutic!

+ You can never have enough Dora panties!

+ Everybody HAS to know we are potty training....whether I tell them or "somebody else" tells them!

+ If you must take your shoes off to go potty, no matter how pretty they are, Trae will steal them and make them his own.

+ Girls need to work on aim, too!

and finally...

+ Even though Daddy would change your diapers last week, he certainly won't help you wipe now that you are using the potty. However, if you promise to always ask Mommy for help, he'll buy you anything you want!!

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

I so wish I could say I found this video on youtube, but I didn't! I did find it on someone else's blog! So, I helped myself to it. It is so funny! It totally reminds me of one of our foreign exchange students. However, he was a bit older, and we didn't allow him to stand on the couch to sing. I don't remember his name, but he was from Taiwan and had a very strong chinese accent, but when he started singing American songs you wouldn't guess it! He would sit down to our piano and start playing and singing. I don't remember the name of the song, I'm sure my dad does, but as soon as he finished singing this song he would turn to us and say, "I don't know what I say!" It was awesome!!



I knew my dad would come through for me. If you read my comments on this post, you will find out the "real" story about this student of ours.

Monday, February 25, 2008


Today I ventured out....all in the comfort of my own home! Since I "can't drive" and I needed groceries, I decided to get online Saturday night to see what my options were. For only $10, Albertsons.com will deliver your groceries to your kitchen table. So, I placed my order and this morning at 10:30 I saw the Albertsons truck pull up in front of my house! Of course, when I saw the truck I had to hurry and finish getting dressed so the delivery guy didn't think I was completely lazy! It was so awesome!! They even picked out good produce, which is more than I can say for myself sometimes! So, if any of you just don't feel like trekking it to the grocery store and chancing running into high school "friends" you would probably dodge anyway, order your groceries from home! No one will judge you for shopping in your pj's!

Sunday, February 24, 2008


I have a weakness, a flaw, a drawback....I love chocolate and sweets. OK, that's not so much the flaw. It's the combination of my love for all things sweet and the fact that there are sweet things in my house. I tend to buy or make a lot of sweet, sugary things, which is fine and dandy. However, I don't so much share these sweets. I give my kids a few and then they forget the cookies are there, while I continue to eat them. My biggest problem lies in my desire to get these things out of my house. I can't just throw them away, or give them away, or save them for another day. No!! In my head, they must be gone and the best way to get rid of them is for ME to eat them as soon as possible. My reasoning is that because tomorrow I'm going to eat healthier so A. I better get the junk in while I'm not eating healthy and B. I better get these out of my house. I'm sure I'd have a lot more help with my girl scout cookie stash or the chocolate donuts that the neighbor brought me yesterday, if only I didn't hide them from everyone, saving them for myself. I make my kids eat broccoli and finish their chicken before they get a treat, but I better finish my treat before I start on the broccoli and chicken. Is there hope for me?? Please help me!! The stash of thin mints in my nightstand is dwindling, but so is my ability to ever fit into my pre-pregnancy pants!! Has anybody else been cursed with this sweet tooth?? My name is Amber and I'm a closet candy eater!!

Friday, February 22, 2008

I've Been Tagged

Here's the ABC's of me. If your name is under T, it's your turn.

A-Attached or Single: Single. Just gave birth and loving having my body all to myself.
B-Best Friend: Walter
C-Cake or Pie: either, as long as it's chocolate
D-Day of Choice: Saturday or Sunday, when my husband is home
E-Essential Item: wipes
F-Favorite TV Show: The Unit
G-Gummie Bears or Worms: Gummy worms
H-Hometown: Murray, UT
I-Indulgence: Kneaders Cheesecake
J-January or July: July because Walter is out of school, not that I saw him last July or will see him this July!
K-Kids: Winni, Trae, & Grady
L-Life is incomplete without: my kids & husband, chocolate, & DisneyWorld
M-Marriage Date: March 20, 2004
N-Number of Siblings: 3 older brothers and 3 older sisters
O-Oranges or Apples: apples, especially if there is caramel close by
P-Phobias or Fears: I used to be afraid of breaking a bone, but it wasn't so bad!
Q-Quote: "If I don't know it's time to grow"
R-Reason to Smile: butt chins, there are a lot of them running around my house!
T-Tag: Julie, Kamille, Marinda, and any "visitors" who remain unknown/unseen
U-Unknown fact about me: I'm obsessed with picking my kids noses. I even get a bobby pin and use the curved end to get the boogers I can't reach!! yuck!!
V-Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animal: mmmmm.....meat!
W-Worst Habit: just one?? I asked Walter, and after telling me I had no bad habits, he started to list them?!? I don't replace the empty toilet paper roll until I feel like it! I also am terrible at making my bed daily. In my defense, I hope to be back in it soon, so why would I make it??
X-X-rays or Ultrasounds: Ultrasounds, I seem to enjoy them on a regular basis
Y-Your Favorite Food: Anything Kamille cooks, she really is a great cook, and she makes you feel so loved when she cooks for you! My favorite from Kamille, chocolate fondue!
Z-Your Zodiac: Libra

And, of course, HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYANN!!

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Walter officially survived a weekend of motherhood! However, he was exhausted!! They got home safely on Tuesday night. I am so impressed with my husband! When they got home he went straight to bed, so my vacation is officially over. I missed them so much! Anyway, the reason for this post is not only to praise my husband, but to make a note of the bathing needs of my children. I put them in the tub Tuesday night after noticing they looked like they hadn't been bathed in days.....turns out I was right! The bath water was unusually murky! So, the next morning I asked Walter how many times he bathed the kids while they were gone for 5 days, he announced that he hadn't bathed them at all!! I was floored, ok not really, but a little bit! I mean, he showered everyday and all he did was watch them play in the dirt! I guess I'll now have to add to my "daddy vacation biggest fear list!" In addition to, "Nobody is going to do Winni's hair" we will add that "My children will not be bathed until they get back home to me!" Maybe I should change this list from fears to things I need to accept. One of the highlights of their trip was when Winni went potty in the toilet on the airplane. After such success she ran to the front of the plane to tell the flight attendant! She must have gotten the reaction she was looking for because we have now been wearing panties for 2 days and are well on our way to being potty trained! Woo hoo! I can't wait! To only have 2 in diapers, what a treat that will be!!

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

My Little Flower Girl

From what I hear, Winni did a great job as the flower girl! At the rehearsal the night before, she stuffed the flowers into her pockets! She is so funny. Walter said she walked down the aisle, then stood there and made faces. There aren't any pictures of her walking down the aisle, but I hear there is video, I just haven't seen it yet.



Getting ready for the "big walk"



And then they danced! Winni loves to dance! She also ran around taking pictures with the cameras they had on the table. She told me she took a picture of the cake, then she ate it and it was all over her face. After seeing the dress when they got home, I can see she had a lot of fun. Before I can send it to the cleaners I'll have to sew the dress back together. Hey, at least she had fun, and what can I expect putting a little 3 year old in all white! She was beautiful!






It's a busy month here...HAPPY BIRTHDAY GARRET!

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

I meant to put this picture on a while ago, ya know, around Winni's birthday. But I didn't! However, I still wanted to post Winni's birthday cake. I thought it was so cute! She wanted a princess cake. I was formulating my plan, but I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do. While on a date with "Mr. Right" at Wal-Mart we found these cute dinosaur sippy cups and decided to get them as party favors. Now I had to somehow put together a dinosaur princess cake. When I told people what her cake was going to be they were surprised. "Winni wants a dinosaur cake?" Honestly, NO! She doesn't mind a dinosaur cake and since this is probably the last year I get to decide, that's what I did. So, here is our dinosaur princess cake!

The bare dinosaur


Ta Da



And now she's a Princess!!

Monday, February 18, 2008

Some forwards are so funny! However, I hate sending them on, especially when they threaten to change my life if I don't send them. So, I have opted to share them with you here. I guess my blog has sort of become a junk e-mail box, but at least it's not in your email! :)

One morning, the husband returns the boat to their lake side cottage after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap on the sofa. Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors, puts her feet up, and begins to read her book. The peace and solitude are magnificent. Along comes a Fish and Game Warden in his boat.

He pulls up alongside the woman and says, "Good morning, Ma'am. What are you doing?"

"Reading a book," she replies, (thinking, "Isn't that obvious?")

"You're in a Restricted Fishing Area," he informs her.""I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading."

"Yes, but I see you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take youin and write you up."

"If you do that, I'll have to charge you with sexual assault," says the woman.

"But I haven't even touched you," says the Game Warden.

"That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment."

"Have a nice day ma'am," and he left.

MORAL: Never argue with a woman who reads. It's likely she can also think.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Am I the luckiest woman in the world or what!?! Yesterday morning Walter, Winni, and Trae all headed for the airport. They went to Georgia for a wedding this weekend. We had plans initially of me going to, but with the broken foot and Grady not coming weeks early like I told him to....so, it's just me and the babe! I even told Hans, our student from Taiwan, that he needed to get lost for the weekend! woo hoo!! So far we have slept in till 10, both days, I went to a friends house for lunch yesterday, we watched TV, wrote Thank You cards, cuddled, changed some poopy diapers, thought about doing laundry but decided against it, watched Rush Hour 3, missed Winni and Trae and Walter, and now we are getting ready for another nap! I definitely miss the rest of my family, but it sure has been relaxing, and just what I needed. So, without further hesitation....I'm going back to bed! :)

oh yeah....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAXYNN!!

Thursday, February 14, 2008

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIMEON!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY MY HANDSOME STUD!!

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Well, it's "groundhog's day" at our house today. I'm sorry to report that my foot saw it's shadow! Which means, at least, 4 more weeks of "winter"!! I had my Dr.'s appt today and they did an x-ray of my foot. The x-ray tech made me take my boot off, walk across the room, climb 2 stairs, put weight on my foot while she took the x-ray, then go back down the stairs for 2 more x-rays, putting weight on my foot! Then, in comes the doctor who tells me my foot is still broken, i need to always wear my boot, except for when sleeping, i shouldn't put weight on it without my boot, and I can't drive!! Well, I guess I've been breaking all the rules! We are hoping it's only another 4 weeks. Any ideas on how to grow bone any faster??

Sunday, February 10, 2008

GRADY GILES GUNTER

Saturday, February 9, 2008

We are home!! I think I owe an explanation for my last blog.....it's Walter's fault! He got a little excited! So, to clear things up...

We went to the hospital on Tuesday morning for my induction. Since it was Super Tuesday, Walter wouldn't take me to the hospital until I went and voted. So, on the way to the hospital we stopped at the polls and I earned my sticker. Walter said everything had to be in order for his child's birth. So I "got my vote on!" We got to the hospital and they broke my water. I had a few contractions, but not much. So, we decided to start a little pitocin. The contractions started but were manageable. Walter and Lori, my neighbor and nurse I take with me when I have babies, decided to go to the cafeteria and get some lunch. They came back about 10 minutes later and I was so glad to see them. My contractions were now about 3 minutes apart and lasting for about 90 minutes. I asked Lori about epidurals and she let me know I could get one now (1:00) or in about 1 hour, so I took it NOW!! I didn't seem to be dilating much, so we turned up the pitocin and prepared to "blast that baby out!" as Lori put it. Julie and Becky, my sisters, showed up and my mom called on skype so she could watch and be with us. We hung out and talked and I watched them eat cookies. Don't tell Lori, but I had some cookie too, it was sooo worth it! As we were waiting for me to dilate further, Walter pulled up the baby naming website and started throwing out his ideas. He came up with Ulysses, Constantine, and some other historical names. That's why I love him. He knows when he has lost a battle, he brings nothing to the table! :) I started feeling a lot of pressure and when they check me we were almost to a 10. I was getting so excited and nervous. I was excited to have the baby and find out what he was, but nervous about taking home a 3rd kid! A little while into pushing we realized that the baby was posterior, so my midwife turned him. We thought it would go fast after that, but it didn't. Apparently he turned again and was back to posterior. As he was being born Walter got a little light-headed and had to sit down. He was the one that was supposed to tell me the baby's gender. After a minute of everybody knowing his gender and no one telling me Lori turned to me and said, "do you want to know what it is?" She then told me it was a BOY!! woo hoo! I held him for a little bit, then they took him to weigh him and stuff. While he was being weighed we found that I had a retained placenta. That's all I'm going to say about that. I'll leave all the yucky details to my journal! So, he's here. Weighing 9 lbs 4 oz, 21 1/2 inches long and a head the size of a watermelon, ok almost. His head was 35 cm. He's got dark brown hair and is cute as a button. Finally, a baby that looks like it came from me! He looks like a Peterson. More pictures to come, but for now we are just loving him and enjoying 3 kids in diapers! woo hoo!! Oh yeah, his name is Grady Giles Gunter. It was Grady Blaze Gunter for a few hours, but then I got my way. :)

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

GRADY GILES "BLAZE" IS HERE!!!!

Amber even got her vote on before going in to the hospital...What a trooper!!! My wife rocks....I mean, I rock (since I am writing this blog and not my husband) We are in the hospital waiting for the baby to come. They came in earlier and broke her water, how weird is that...and now, we are waiting..... and waiting...... YOU DID THIS TO ME!! she grits through her teeth while shooting daggers out of her eyes and into her husbands.... Here is our new baby boy. Ain't he cute!

Monday, February 4, 2008

So, I got this forward and thought it was hilarious, but since I don't forward stuff very often....enjoy!!

If you didn't see this on the Tonight show, I hope you're sitting down when you read it. This is probably the funniest date story ever, first date or not!!! We have all had bad dates but this takes the cake.

Jay Leno went into the audience to find the most embarrassing first date that a woman ever had. The winner described her worst first date experience. There was
absolutely no question as to why her tale took the prize! She said it wasmidwinter... Snowing and quite cold...and the guy had taken her skiing in the mountains outside Salt Lake City , Utah. It was a day trip (no overnight). They were strangers, after all, and truly had never met before. The outing was fun but relatively uneventful until they were headed home late that afternoon.

They were driving back down the mountain, when she gradually began to realize that she should not have had that extra latte. They were about an hour away from anywhere with a restroom and in the middle of nowhere! Her companion suggested she try to hold it, which she did for a while. Unfortunately, because of the heavy snow and slow going, there came a point where she told him that he had better stop and let her go beside the road, or it would be the front seat of his car. They stopped and she quickly crawled out beside the car, yanked her pants down and started. In the deep snow, she didn't have good footing, so she let her butt rest against the rear fender to steady herself. Her companion stood on the side of the car watching for traffic, and indeed was a real gentleman and refrained from peeking. All she could think
about was the relief she felt despite the rather embarrassing nature of the situation. Upon finishing, however, she soon became aware of another sensation.

As she bent to pull up her pants, the young lady discovered her buttocks were firmly glued against the car's fender. Thoughts of tongues frozen to poles immediately came to mind as she attempted to disengage her flesh from the icy metal. It was quickly apparent that she had a brand new problem due to the extreme cold. Horrified by her plight and yet aware of the humor of the moment, she answered her date's concerns about "what is taking so long" with a reply that indeed, she was "freezing her butt off" and in need of some assistance! He came around the car as she tried to cover herself with her sweater and then, as she looked imploringly into his eyes, he burst out laughing. She too, got the giggles and when they finally managed to compose themselves, they assessed her dilemma.

Obviously, as hysterical as the situation was, they also were faced with a real problem. Both agreed it would take something hot to free her chilly cheeks from the grip of the icy metal. Thinking about what had gotten her into the predicament in the first place, both quickly realized that there was only one way to get her free. So, as she looked the other way, her first-time date proceeded to unzip his pants and pee her butt off the fender. As the audience screamed in laughter, she took the Tonight Show prize hands down. Or perhaps that should be "pants down." And you thought your first date was embarrassing.

Jay Leno 's comment...

"This gives a whole new meaning to being pissed off." Oh, and how did the first date turn out? He became her husband and was sitting next to her on the Leno show.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

WOW! After just 8 short hours of contractions.......I'M STILL PREGNANT!! Not quite the outcome I had imagined, but apparently, the way it is supposed to be. My sister, Becky, rushed up from Manti to be with me, and she is now getting ready to go back home. Turns out castor oil doesn't work for me. It gave me some nice contractions, but here I sit. This actually has all turned out to be a blessing, since Walter called me a few minutes ago and let me know that we have no insurance!! oops!! So, I guess I will go get in bed and hope this baby doesn't come until Walter goes to work tomorrow and gets me some insurance. What a roller coaster pregnancy this has been! But no worries, I'm still happy and excited for this baby and all is well in Zion!

Friday, February 1, 2008

I have yet to post about the passing of our wonderful Prophet, Gordon B Hinckley. I wasn't sure what I wanted to put on my blog about him. I loved what other people have put on their blogs. I found this slideshow on Sally's blog and it definitely said it all for me. He was an amazing Man of God who pushed us all to do a little better. He was a true missionary, even at 97. He truly loved his wife and their love is an example to all of us. For those in my family who didn't know him, please understand that, as with Joseph Smith, we don't worship him. But we do love and adore him! We honor him for the man he is, the leader he was, and the legacy of love and faithfulness he has left behind. I know I am a better person, a more faithful Christian, and a more determined Latter-Day Saint because of him and the things he taught. Thank you for watching this slideshow, if not just to learn more about us, your family, but to better understand that our differences in religion are not that different.