Is summer really finally over?

I don't know why, but in my ripe old age of 24 I just can't seem to handle the heat- at all. I feel bad for my poor deprived children who would have spent the entire summer outside if only I had been willing to let them. Oh well, the summer is over and thank goodness!
Welcome fall!
Welcome rain!
Welcome sweater and jeans weather!
One thing I am not looking forward to is all the leaves that will be falling! We have three GIGANTIC cottonwood trees in our little backyard, plus two other smaller trees back there, a huge maple in the side yard, and some other tree that I don't know its' name but it has a lot of leaves in the front yard. Last year it snowed before we got all the leaves off the ground and so we were still raking up the mess in April! Another thing that I'm not looking forward to is the snow that inevitably ruins the winter here in Utah. As a Northern California girl I am honest in saying that I like the way snow looks, I like it in the mountains so people can ski, it's ok a few times (meaning once or twice- like maybe Christmas Eve just so long as the sun comes out and melts it all away on Christmas Day!) But I would prefer to watch the rain come down and know that a slick road is easier to drive on then a frozen one. I would rather mow the lawn once a week for the rest of my life then have to shovel the snow. And inevitably (as proven by the day I was born- the great blizzard of '83 started that day) if Alyssa has to leave the house any time between the months of November and March- there will be snow! Don't watch the weather, just find out what my plans are- it's frighteningly accurate!
Anyways- there's my rant for the month! Next stop- October (the month even closer to snow)!

Introducing my Super Talented Cousin

http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vczI4MS5waG90b2J1Y2tldC5jb20vYWxidW1zL2trMjIyL0NJU0hFTExBLz9hY3Rpb249dmlldyZjdXJyZW50PWxfMzYwNmRjMzNhZDc2NjdhMzNiMDg5NmE5MDAxOWNiYmMxLmpwZw==

Nostalgic* How about you?

I've seen this done and it was pretty fun - I hope you will play along.

Here are the directions:

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses!

Thanks ~ Alyssa

Summer fun

Life has been SOOO crazy in the Cole household. Adam has been travelling for work like every week, I've been trying to hold down the fort, and the kids are going crazy wanting to get out of the house EVERYDAY! We've tried to curb their incessant need to be entertained by turning their brains to mush with excessive television watching and long afternoon naps, but it doesn't seem to be working. We bought a little wading pool for them to play in and they go crazy for it! The first time I went out to put it away after dinner they all stood by the window and cried. They like the little oscillating sprinkler just as much as the pool. It's so funny when one of them picks it up and chases the other kids with it!
This last week we had the pleasure of a visit from my brother Erik (or as Preston would say, "Not Erik... UNCLE Erik!" We tried to keep busy and entertain this handsome single 26 year old (if anyone knows of any good single ladies send them his way!) the best we could, but I fear he may have at times been a little bored by the life of a soccer mom! We thoroughly enjoyed his company though!
This Friday we have two big events coming our way... my parents fly in for a 10 day visit with their grand-babies and I start teaching Bradley classes.... that is if I can find anyone out there to take them! One teacher in the SLC valley has a full class, and I, a mere provisional teacher in training can't get a single student to help me get certified. Your pity (and referrals) are appreciated!
Last but not least this Sunday is Adam's 27th birthday and I think we are going to go golfing to celebrate... the only problem is I've never been! If anyone has any advise (other than not to do it!) feel free to send it my way.
For now, XOXOXO
The Coles

Another month in 2008

Wow... is it really June? I have been so busy with my Bradley certification stuff (which, fingers crossed, will be done by next Monday) that I haven't noticed half the year slip by. We have been so wrapped up in our kids, our work, and our church callings that we apologize if we have neglected any of our friends or family. I just want to let everyone know that we are doing really well. Seems repetitious, but Preston is doing great, and so are Landen and Jordan. They all seem to grow up a little more everyday! Last week we had the twins 15 month check-up and the doctor was really impressed at their ability to communicate and the extent of their vocabulary, he said they sounded more like 20 month olds! I know it doesn't seem like much, but when you are living day by day like we've been, every little compliment counts! Preston is starting to tell jokes. His favorite is when you ask him if someone is a girl or a boy and he purposely tells you wrong just to see the reaction, and then he laughs his head off!
Adam has been super-dad lately and will continue to fill that role while I'm gone for four days this week for my certification course. I'll be home for most meal times but other than that he'll be Mr. Mom! Let's hope he survives! We just hope that once I'm certified we can get a chance to enjoy the summer. We look forward to visits from my parents next month and then Sarah and Ed are coming to get their Kitties in August. If anyone else wants to grace us with their presence this summer I'll be sending around a sign-up sheet! (j/k)
We love you and miss you all!

Again

So again I find myself needing to rant about the absurdity of our great nations standard of care when it comes to giving birth... But more importantly I am concerned for all the pregnant, or soon to be, who 1. will spend less time choosing a birth attendant (ob, midwife, etc) than they did choosing what to where this morning and 2. Are having their options for creating the birth experience they want dwindle with every day that passes, every woman who is guilted into evasive medical procedures for "the sake of the baby", and every woman who adopts the idea that they are "too posh to push"! I mean come on! What is it going to take for women to educate themselves! Stop sitting around the table listening to everyone tell you how great their epidural was because they didn't feel a thing, or how grateful they were for their Cesarean because the doctor saved the day (forgetting to mention that the need for the C-section was a direct result of all of those interventions that are supposed to make labor and delivery safer)! Wait though, most the women who have had these emergency c-sections don't even know that it was the hospital or medical staff or OB's fault that this happened to them! And sadly, too many don't care! They are being robbed of the most empowering experience of their lives! If you can give birth naturally, you can do anything!!
Just the other day I was given a tour of the new hospital here in the Salt Lake Valley's maternity ward. They did a really nice job of pointing out how sterile things are, and yet the warm decor is supposed to make you feel at home. Oh, and speaking of home, if you have children under the age of 12, that's where they have to stay while you're in labor because they may "contaminate" something in the L/D room. How much more at home can we get, none of your own things, you aren't allowed to see your other children, you have to have a needle at least capped off in your arm "just in case", (I don't know about you, but I don't sit around at my house going, "Gee, if only I had a needle in my arm, then I'd really be comfortable") All of the just in case scenarios do not justify the all encompassing procedures inflicted upon you as soon as you walk through the hospital doors. If 90% of women can have a normal vaginal birth, why are we forcing pitocin into women, and then saving the day with the epidural, and then scaring the mother because she can't feel anything, but the Fetal Monitor says that the baby's heart rate is dropping with every induced contraction. Could it be because Pitocin causes the uterus to contract for longer periods in a full seizure instead of a steady wave like natural contractions that are usually less severe and do not cut of oxygen supply for long periods? Could it be because the baby is receiving adult doses of narcotics that are causing the mom to feel drowsy and nauseated?
I don't know, I just don't understand a woman's lack of interest in the method to which her baby is coming into the world. I'm not an extremist, I'm not a 'hippy' and I'm not granola, but a home birth is sounding better and better to me, especially after my tour of the hospital. I know that if I go in there I will not have any control, but at least the nurses and the Doctors will be smiling and I'll be surrounded by sterile home-like decor!

Some recent pics of the family