Landon's blessing

It was another blessing in the Gray family! Cute little Landon Kristopher Jeppsen joined our family just a couple months ago. Catherine is already looking great and getting herself into amazing shape. We are all so happy and proud of this new family. I am so excited for our little one on the way and his blessing that I have been to a couple shops to look at little white outfits for his big day! I know, a little early... oh well!

This is all of us siblings!

Cath, Kris, and Landon

Claire was loving the bunny ears

The cute girls all hangin out together!

New Yellow Scooter!!

My cousin bought a cute yellow scooter a couple months ago and we got to ride it! These pictures are from the start of summer but I haven't gotten around to posting them until now. Enjoy!Hee hee... this is Rick and I going for a ride. Of course I won rock, paper, scissors so I got to drive first!
My cousin, Jessie. I did some more photo editing work. Just playing around.

My cousin, Cami, and her husband, Derrick

Rick's first daddy lesson

So yesterday I was tickling Rick and totally dominating! I had him pinned down and everything. All of the sudden Rick started calling out to my tummy saying, "BABY! who's side are you on? Kick mom in the kidneys! Help me out here!"
I started cracking up I was almost crying.

IT'S A.......????

BOY!!!

Oh jeepers!!! I am so excited! We are having a little priesthood-holding, soccer-playing, wall-bouncing, momma-loving BOY!! Names, you ask? Well we have been playing with a few, but I will be sure to let you know when we decide.

We went to the doctor yesterday morning to find out the gender and the doctor said he was 98% sure it was a boy. Our little guy was moving around and flexing his muscles already! Just like his daddy!

At work my co-worker put up little signs on my desk and everyone stopped to look at the ultrasounds. What a fun day it was. I can't wait for him to get into my arms so I can love him and squeeze him and teach him everything I know! Which will take 5 minutes, the rest is up to Rick! ha ha. Just kidding.

Bee? Wasp? Hornet?

Last Thursday night I went walking with a friend in my ward. As we were walking along, minding our own business, the worst burning pain started on the inside of my right ankle. I felt like I was being pinched by a hot pair of tweezers. I, of course, started screaming and kicking my leg around. As I looked down there was a bee, or wasp, or something with its rear end stuck in my skin! It finally flew away and I continued on my walk attempting to be tough and trying not to think about the burning pain.
That's not the end of it though. The next day after I went walking with my friend at work during lunch I looked down and my ankle was the size of a softball! It was burning more and more and itched like CRAZY! I was so nervous it was an allergic reaction to the sting. So I went to the nurses’ station to find out what I could do for my ankle. She just gave me topical ointment and an ice pack to help with the swelling. So there I sat. At my desk with an ice pack strapped to my leg with an ace bandage. It actually helped relieve the burning. I went home and wondered when this would go away. All that night and the next day I was continuing to deal with my kankel! If you don’t know what that is, it is where your calf and your ankle seem to blend in together because they are so FAT! Ha ha. I like to spell it with Ks because it seems more natural.
Anyway, Saturday night I was so fed up with my kankel that I was whining to Rick and he sat down with a pin and tweezers and dug in there to make sure the stinger was out! Stinger? I never saw a stinger in the first place! It was just a little red dot after the initial sting. But sure enough, he pulled out pieces of a stinger. What a saint! He saved my life!
I woke up the next morning to bruising on my ankle from all the drama but alas, no more swelling! Yeah! Glad that is over! Thanks to everyone who were very supportive through this trial of mine. I would like to thank Amanda, SueAnn, Deborah, Mitzi, and most of all…. My husband; without whom I would still have a kankel!

Oil Change!

Monday Rick decided to make sure our overdue oil changes got done. Not only did he do our two cars, but his parents car and truck as well!! He was all excited to show off his manhood! ha ha.

He started with mine, then his, then his parents. It was a rough time. Not only was it hot outside and my car was filthy with bugs from our road trip over the weekend, but he couldn't get my bolt off. He was working on it forever. He FINALLY got it though and we were excited that we were getting close to getting done.

Debbie, Rick's mom, cheered when the bolt came loose.

At one point, Debbie and I went and got manicures while they worked on the cars. That was nice to get away, just us two girls! Anyway, I was proud of Rick. He worked hard and had a lot of tough spots to work through with bolts and the heat, but finally he was done and we were all happy to have well oiled cars to drive!

Peaches, peaches, peaches!!

I remember growing up and watching my mom peel and bottle peaches. She always complained about it being hot, but loved doing all the work and it would take days sometimes. I loved opening a bottle of peaches and eating them in the middle of December with cottage cheese! Yummy.

Well this year I decided it was time for me to learn so that I can continue the tradition with my own family. Plus, Rick is such a peach lover that he would worship me for the rest of our lives if I could give him yummy peaches year round! So my sisters bought a TON of peaches and we each took some and split up the pricing. Then I was off to my mothers to learn how to bottle.

It was super easy. With someone interesting to talk to and laugh with the time flew and we got a lot done. I loved bottling! I brought home my 11 bottles of peaches and when Rick saw them I think he shed a single tear of joy! Ha ha…. Just kidding. He was so proud of me for trying to be more domestic!

My sister Deborah even came by and gave her stamp of approval on my bottling skills. I called her my "Martha Approval"... she will give Martha Stewart a run for her money one of these days with her skills in the kitchen and with crafts and more!


Yeah! They were done. I just had to wait for them to seal. Yummy!!