Tubes???

Well after Audrey's reoccurring ear infections (4 episodes in 5 months), we decided to talk to the Ear, Nose, and Throat Pediatric Specialist about getting tubes in Audrey's ears, mainly because the nasty side effects that come with taking the antibiotic each time. After checking her ears, taking pictures of the inside of them, and having a hearing test, the doctor said that we have two options 1) Wait it out. -or- 2)Have tubes put in. I can't decide what to do, and am just wondering what experience you've had with your own kids. Leave a comment with your opinion, which will maybe help me make up my final decision.

From Father to Son

Yesterday my whole family went to my parents' sacrament meeting because my dad was being released as Bishop and my mom and dad would be speaking and sharing their testimonies. We went to support them and have dinner together afterwards. The Stake President got up and released my dad and then called the new Bishop along with his new counselors. They read my brother's name "Justin R. Wilkins as 1st Counselor". We all just looked at eachother in shock. My brother and his wife moved back from Arizona 9 months ago so that my brother could work on his PhD at the University of Utah. They moved into his wife's parents house while her parents went on an 18 month mission to Fiji, which is actually in my parent's ward as well. They plan to be there for another year and then my parents are going to Arizona for two years to build another temple and then they'll move in to their house while they're gone to finish the last little bit of Justin's school. So...one gets released and the other gets called. Out of myself and my three siblings, now 3 out of 4 men are 1st counselor in their Bishoprics. Kind of crazy! Congratulations Justin and good luck Amber!

Hot Grocery Deals at Albertsons

This is what I got on my shopping trip to Albertsons for a grand total of $49.68. The promotion at Albertsons is: When you spend $10 on mix 'n match participating products, you get an "instant" $4 off (no limit). Then you can use manufacturer coupons on top of that. What's great about this promotion is that you don't have to do multiple transactions, because the $4 comes off instantly. It's basically like getting 40% of your grocery bill not including your coupons. I just love a good bargain!

(1) Ritz Crackers
(2) Suddenly Salad Pasta Salad
(2) Betty Crocker Cookie Mix
(2) Supreme Brownie Mix
(2) Betty Crocker Potatoes
(2) Betty Crocker Muffin Mix
(2) Hamburger Helper
(1) Chicken Helper
(3) Betty Crocker Variety Fruit Snacks
(4) Pillsbury Grands Biscuits
(1) Jello No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake
(1) Taco Bell Taco Shells
(2) Fiber One Snack Bars
(8) Kraft Deluxe Macaroni & Cheese
(4) Betty Crocker Warm Delights
(1) Betty Crocker Warm Delights Minis
(2) Taco Bell Salsa
(2) Old El Paso Enchilada Sauce
(1) Imperial Margarine
(6) Betty Crocker Frosting (to go with all my cake mixes that I got on the last promotion)
(10) Yoplait Light Yogurt
(3) Ready to Eat Baby Carrots

Audrey = 9 months, 19 lbs. 4 oz., 29 in.

So we finally got in to her 9 month checkup and she is in the 50th percentile for weight and 90th percentile for height, crazy. She doesn't seem that tall to me but I guess she is compared to other babies at 9 months. She was also diagnosed with her 6th and 7th ear infection (4th episode) and so we're probably going to have tubes put in her ears. Anyway, she is not quite crawling yet, but very close, which I'm in no rush to see her move from her 3 foot radius, but she does roll a lot and is starting to sort of scoot. She's saying "mama" and "dada" and drooling a lot, but still no teeth. She is finally taking a bottle and sleeping through the night. Hallelujah for waking up in the morning and realizing that both the kids slept through the night and so did I. Audrey, we love you, keep on growing and smiling!

Easter Sunday

We had a fun Easter this year. We went to our early church @ 8:30 am. Madelyn actually let me curl her hair with the curling iron for the first time. Unfortunately it didn't hold all day. I guess I need to try sponge rollers the night before. After church we came home, took a little nap, and then we gave the girls their Easter baskets. Madelyn was so excited about everything. Especially the kid scissors, which she's been asking for, for several weeks now. I decided that since she will be going to preschool in the fall she needed to learn how to use them, we'll see how that goes. Hopefully she won't be cutting the whole house up. She also got a Cadbury DairyMilk chocolate bunny, which is what she asked for from the Easter bunny "Lots and lots of chocolate." Audrey got a new sippy cup, some new pacifiers, and some baby snacks. Then we headed up to my mom & dad's house for dinner. My mom always spoils us on holidays. She had done an Easter egg hunt and dyed eggs with the kids the Friday before. Then on the table was a treat bag for each person, which included lots of candy for the kids and a Cafe Rio card for the adults with some more treats. Then she gave each family a really neat Easter book about Christ. It was a great day!

Easter Eggstreme!!!

Today, Ty and I took the girls to Thanksgiving Point's Easter Eggstreme event. It was a lot of fun! We got there just before the 0-3 yr. old egg hunt was beginning and there was a 20 minute wait to buy your tickets and get in, so we missed the first hunt. Once we got in, we waited for a few minutes and decided to send Madelyn in with the 4-6 year old hunt. Even though they had said no parents, the parents stormed the field with their kids, so I followed along and videotaped and took pictures. She filled her basket with as many as she could before the eggs were all gone, which was in about 2 minutes. It was crazy! Of course she had to open a few right then and eat the candy inside.

We then walked around and did some of the activities that were there...bean bag toss, ring toss, the bunny hop sack race, and the inflatable relay race. She really wanted to ride the cow train and get her face painted, but the lines were really long. So we we convinced her to leave and go to Del Taco instead to play in the playland. It was just built down the street from us, and she keeps saying she wants to go there as we pass it. In fact about a week ago we drove through the drive thru and then when we brought our food home, she was all disappointed, and I said, "What's wrong?" and she said, "Mom, we're never gonna make it." I said, "We're never going to make it where?" She said, "We're never gonna make it to that playland." So today we thought that we'd better go. We ate lunch and played in the playland, then got a balloon from a clown that was there. Madelyn asked for a purple dinosaur, which was a little random. I guess she likes Barney??? Anyway, we headed back home and everyone crashed, so I ran errands by myself, which was heavenly except for being at WalMart on Saturday, I'm really starting to hate that place. For the most part it was a pretty good day. Here are a few photos.

Random Pics from the Week

My girls are starting to play more together. This is what Madelyn wanted to do one day last week...push Audrey in the doll stroller. Audrey actually thought it was pretty funny. I'm not sure why Madelyn is holding her head, she's probably trying to get her to look at the camera, funny though that she's not looking herself. This is what I found one day while putting Audrey down for a nap...Madelyn asleep in Audrey's carseat. She was obviously tired that day. Funny that she even tried to put the straps on her shoulders...just a little too tight. Audrey at the zoo. I love this age when they'll finally smile for the camera.

We went to the mall with the Finlinsons and they were giving out bunny ears. So here's some silly pics that Vall took of the girls wearing them.