The Raisor Family

we are so good looking

2011-06-23T19:27:00.001-05:00

thanks, mindy!!!

Trick or Treat? My babies say... YES, PLEASE!

2010-10-24T21:42:00.005-05:00

I haven't posted in forever, but that's because I was having an affair with Facebook and we decided to take it to the next level. I like that it is more private in that I can make things "friends only" without people having to log in ONLY to see my page like it can be with blogger. Now that that's over with...

There are a few words around this house that will get a surefire response. "Bath" is one. It creates smiling, stripping children hightailing it to our new claw-footed tub (which Mommy loves even if it does lack showering capabilities). "Caillou" and "Kipper" share a similar response, which is the kids scrambling to find their lost sippy cups so Mommy can make them some sweetmilk* and appo juice.

There is one word which has a response that is absolutely consistent and overwhelming, and that word is

TREAT.

Imagine Maine running towards you, screeching with an ear-to-ear grin with his arms in the air like he's on hill one of The Scream Machine. That's my pleasure every time I have occasion to utter that magical word. Jones, on the other hand, struggles through the rush of adreneline with staying pragmatic: "MOMWHATISIT?!?!"

The best part about it is that in my kids' eyes (as probably is the case with most toddlers), a sippy cup of hot chocolate is a treat. Reading a book in Mommy's bed? HEAVEN. Playing with the hose? So good it must be a sin. Their all-time ultimate best-ever favorite pastime, getting spun by the arms? I'm pretty sure they would choose that over candy.

We went to the first of two trunk-or-treating nights last night at my MIL's ward building. Jones had it down after two cars, saying "Trick or Treat" softly but firmly, and repeated until the candy hit the bag, then yelling "Thank you!" over his shoulder as he ran to the next car. Maine did his Maine meandering, flirting with every lady in sight by waving his long eyelashes with his head tilted (who's been showing this kid romantic black and white movies, anyway?), and getting a few pieces of candy along the way. It may have helped that the candy was free to the taking inside the building, and that for some reason we decided that frozen yogurt was a good way to end a candy-fest (because it's delicious!), but the kids were perfectly happy with their couple of Tootsie Roll Pops and a sippy cup.

My point is, trick or treating was fun and candy is yum, but there is nothing like knowing what your kid likes and being able to give it to warm a Mommy's heart.

*sweetmilk is something that I created which incidentally (and accidentally) created a monster in my house. My husband has a fondness for Nesquick powder which is shared by my older son. One night we were out of the chocolate stuff, and so I decided I might be able to put a little agave or maple syrup in Jones's milk and it'd suffice. He's probably only had 2 glasses of "white milk" since, but considering I only add one turn of maple syrup to a 10 oz sippy cup (vs the heaping tablespoons of Nesquick powder required to make the milk "CHOKWIT" enough aka brown enough to as to be seen through the dark blue plastic of a cup), I'm alright with that.

EDIT: I have actually started just adding a packet of stevia to the milk instead. Jones still loves it and no extra sugar!

2010-01-26T16:58:00.003-05:00

So i know im really terrible about updating this but thats just how its gonna be. heres some pictures from my camera that has been out of commission for the last 6 months. enjoy.

lds.org is my faaaaaavorite. these are all on overcoming doubt

2009-08-12T16:00:00.002-05:00

Faith and fear cannot coexist. One gives way to the other. The simple fact is we all need to constantly build faith and overcome sources of destructive disbelief. The Savior’s teaching comparing faith to a grain of mustard seed recognizes this reality (see Matthew 13:31–32). Consider it this way: our net usable faith is what we have left to exercise after we subtract our sources of doubt and disbelief. You might ask yourself this question: “Is my own net faith positive or negative?” If your faith exceeds your doubt and disbelief, the answer is likely positive. If you allow doubt and disbelief to control you, the answer might be negative.

http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=162a230bac7f0210VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=4ab1a27ac5eeb010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=024644f8f206c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=b02242629f5fb010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=024644f8f206c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

here we is

2009-06-23T15:01:00.003-05:00

we are just having so much fun in thatcher! we have made some good friends already and that is what it is all about for me! we have actually been in chandler since friday staying with mindy while scott studies for his big tests... i miss my hubby but i am glad he is so close to being DONE! jones is loving seeing his little cousin jace, too.

i have been eating up a storm out of mindy's backyard - i made minestrone using her regular and cherry tomatoes, carrots, green onions, basil, oregano, parsley, red and green peppers, and some added black beans and pasta. i was originally making tomato sauce but it was too good to save!

i have eaten about 40 figs since friday... their tree is making them like crazy. i think it knows i am here!

today i roasted some tomatoes and added basil, oregano, and parsley and served to the babies with egg noodles. i don't think they like fresh tomato sauce nearly as much as i do, but jones likes to try whatever mommy is eating and jace pretty much eats anything! i also made some fried green tomatoes and they were pretty good but i forgot to put salt in the cornmeal! next time... jones loved them anyway - he's my true southern boy!

i have a pot FULL of carrots in the fridge and i am trying to decide what to do with them... i was gonna roast them and make nelly some frozen baby food but now im thinking about carrot cake... what do you think?!

Almost settled

2009-05-31T23:21:00.005-05:00

We've been living in Thatcher for about two weeks now, but we spent one week in St. George so we're just getting used to our new place. We are in a TINY apartment for now, but we'll be building a house soon right by where the temple will be. I love it here but Scott is still getting used to it.

And now, unrelated but way overdue, pictures of us and our chilerns. From October.
I know. Worst Blogger Ever.

sorry!

2009-02-18T00:52:00.002-05:00

2 babies keep you busy! why didnt anyone warn me! :P

i will post baby pics soon, but i wanted to remind you all that we will be moving to arizona in TWO WEEKS!!! i can't wait to see everyone again!

yikes. need to get packing!

More Baby Pics

2008-10-15T15:16:00.000-05:00

We are parents of children now.. crazy

2008-10-01T21:04:00.002-05:00

We came home today. We went in Monday morning at 12am and left Wednesday at 12pm. Penny is doing great and walking around. Maine is sleeping and eating and pooping. Jones is getting used to having a brother.

Maine is here

2008-09-29T22:14:00.004-05:00

Maine Mackey Raisor was born at 627am weighing 7lbs 12oz and 20.5 inches long. We are so glad to have another man to perpetuate the good Raisor name.

Maine has arrived

2008-09-29T22:02:00.002-05:00

Sunday night Penny started having contractions at 5pm. We went to the hospital at 12am and we had a C-section at 6.

2008-09-25T12:53:00.001-05:00

my c-section is on tuesday for those of you who do not know yet. nothing else worth reporting. ready to have baby.

i would totally buy this if it wasn't 95 dollars

2008-08-29T20:01:00.004-05:00

tori spelling wore one on her reality show when she had her second baby. cutest hospital gowns ever from B.Y.O.G.

i'm one!!!

2008-07-13T16:37:00.004-05:00

oh i love this gramma!
first birthday cake
mmm frosting
i'm messy
better than cake!
please don't make me eat any more of that stuff!
i love reading
gramma thanks for helping me get my balloon!

almost one...

2008-07-13T16:10:00.003-05:00

baby chocoholic
we have no idea how this got in our house!
hiding place
reading the scripures
big smiles!
i love the swing!
streaking!
i love naps with dada
i want up!
baths are my favorite!

2008-05-17T09:14:00.002-05:00

birthday yay!

2008-03-31T21:22:00.002-05:00

so scott got me an aveda institute gift card for my birthday and i cant decide what to do with it. they do cuts, color, nails, and facials, and i can also use the card for products. hmmmmmmmmm

i was thinking i wanted highlights, but i dont know what color would look good with black hair. i could get that, nails, and a facial for the card i have, or 2 facials, or one facial and the products from it. i do love facials, and my skin does hate being pregnant, but i am feeling overwhelmed with choice lol.

what would "y'all" do?

oh baby

2008-03-27T18:14:00.002-05:00

i adjusted the ticker becauuuse

i will be in my second trimester in a week and a half.

Shirking My Responsibilities

2008-03-17T22:26:00.000-05:00

I feel like I have been procrastinating regarding so many things that I may never catch up. Some of the things I keep *meaning* and *planning* to do actually have deadlines that I missed/continue missing. I find it very difficult to get motivated when I have such good excuses to laze around (i.e. pregnancy coinciding with new babyness).

Here are some examples of the things I have been needing to do or habitually putting off, which is nice for me to look at and get even more depressed (especially at the fact that this list is not at all comprehensive, but just what is at the front of my mind and also blog appropriate):

-do my visiting teaching
-add all the people who have responded on here and post on their blogs in turn
-empty the diaper genie
-catch up on the laundry
-quit skipping workout days
-take my vitamins every day
-drink more water
-get to the dentist

Now that I feel good and hopeless, I'm gonna go sleep for 10 hours. Goodnight!

Spring break

2008-03-08T20:00:00.011-05:00

these are not in order, and one is not from spring break, but in them you see jones doing some of his favorite things-

standing on daddy's hand
driving cars
riding on boats
playing in grass
hanging off the side of a train

we didn't 'party' (lol), but vacations are a lot more fun with a little baby!

Oh Mama

2008-02-25T14:46:00.004-05:00

Jones is getting cuter and cuter. He's almost standing on his own, and instead of crawling he walks on his hands and feet. He stands using the walls, baby gate, couches, Mommy, other children, or whatever else is close by. He loves being spun in circles and standing on Daddy's hand (even though that freaks everyone out who he shows it to). Oh my baby.

I have morning sickness already. I am at least as far along as the ticker above says, but it could easily be longer. I can't wait to find out what this baby is! I would love it either way, but it will be a lot cheaper if it is a boy lol. Jones has more clothes than Mommy and Daddy combined.

BIG BROTHER TIME!
YAY FOOD FOOD FOOD!!!
mmm smells like mewk
i have an idea!
I LOVE MY TOYS!
cutie
mmm feets
so many babies!
gramma massage
oh dat feels good

2008-01-10T21:16:00.000-05:00

with auntie

little smiler

about to crawl!

so happy

cutie pie

i love fingers

drooly

with gramma and grampa (scott says "IT IS SPELLED GRANDMA!")

mmm those fingers

watching some basketball

yum! wrapping paper!

i'm silly

relaxin'

my crunchy best friend

i love boobies

come visit us!

2008-01-10T17:13:00.000-05:00

airtran is having a sale, phoenix to atlanta $223 round trip! you miss us...

yay!

2007-12-02T13:55:00.000-05:00

i talk good

Get a Cash Advance

Best thing since sliced bread is...

2007-11-20T19:05:00.000-05:00

sliced bread.

I had Jones on the counter while I was cooking dinner, and he could NOT STOP looking at/grabbing/knocking over and engaging in all kinds of carrying on with the bread. I guess it was the combination of squishy, crinkley, stinky (Mommy hates bread), and colorful that got him, but regardless, it was the cuteness of the night.

and finally, Jones at his first meal

:P

2007-11-20T18:46:00.000-05:00

Alright, grammas. You are both in trouble for reading this blog and never posting responses!

POLL:

2007-11-18T19:42:00.000-05:00

When do you think I should start trying to get pregnant again?

Jones is 4 months old now. I was thinking like January/February. The midwife lady said at least 9 months after Jones was born, or starting in April, but I am already feelin' the baby hunger again haha... I can't decide because we want our kids close in age and I don't want no Christmas baby!!! (bad grammar used for emphasis)

I took Jones for his 4 month checkup and the doctor who previously said to wait until 6 months to feed Jones rice cereal said Jones was ready to eat and to start now "not for any nutritional reason, but to get him used to eating". Will post picture and/or video soon.

P.S. He LOVES eating with a spoon. He lunges at it.

P.P.S. Scott thinks it would be hilarious if we had another baby and didn't tell anyone until after it was born. His sense of humor is astounding(ly weird).

2007-11-13T00:29:00.000-05:00

2007-11-13T00:05:00.000-05:00

New video

2007-11-12T23:29:00.000-05:00

Little Man is getting SO BIG!

2007-11-12T23:02:00.000-05:00

A video and pics for "y'all"

2007-10-11T16:51:00.000-05:00

Click this to see our little Laughing Buddha

October Pics

2007-10-01T20:02:00.000-05:00

jones's first baseball game, and BIG smiles!

2007-09-24T16:21:00.000-05:00

First: Another Jones

Okay okay people... hehe

2007-09-19T13:31:00.000-05:00

Here they are, FINALLY! More babies!!!

Our Sweet Baby Jones

2007-08-09T17:41:00.000-05:00

Elizabeth here it is... this is more of a girl thing though..

2007-08-01T19:31:00.000-05:00

Jobs I've held:
1. pilkington
2. Chandler Hospital
3. Kmart Pharmacy

Places to go for a weekend getaway:
1. Phoenix
2. LA
3. Florida Beach

Movies I Can Watch Over & Over:
1. ferris beuler's day off
2. better off dead
3. family guy

My Guilty Pleasures:
1. I do nothing I feel guilty about

Places I Have Lived:
1. Hawaii
2. Texas
3. Arizona
4. Pennylvania
5. Georgia

What were most likely the first things you thought of when you saw your significant other for the first time?
1. She is hot.. She'll come to me

Places I have Been on Vacation?
1. Hawaii, Washington, Utah, DC, Cali, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee,

Favorite Foods
1. all

If in a "jam" with your spouse, what tactics do you use to get out of the doghouse?
1. I get in the doghouse?

Websites I visit (almost daily)
1. email
2. school site (homework)
3. others..

Best 1st kisses landmarks.

1. church parking lot

Places I'd Rather Be right now
1. i dunno

From Afton

2007-07-31T21:05:00.001-05:00

Jobs I've held:
1. OfficeMax it's one word my friend ;) i was customer service
2. Nutritionist
3. Nanny

Places to go for a weekend getaway:
1. Florida panhandle
2. Gatlinburg, TN
3. North Georgia

Movies I Can Watch Over & Over:
1. Hairspray (the original)
2. Austin Powers (especially #2)
3. Dune
4. Anchorman

My Guilty Pleasures:
1. Computer
2. TV
3. Makeup
4. Drinking milk

Places I Have Lived:
1. Illinois
2. Georgia

What were most likely the first things you thought of when you saw your significant other for the first time?
1. "That guy is totally looking at me"
2. "He has cute glasses"
3. "Is he a bug boy (aka in GA for summer work)? I hope not."

Places I have Been on Vacation?
1. new york, philly, greece, florida, phoenix, sedona, chicago, tennessee, virginia

Favorite Foods
1. Mexican
2. Greek
3. Sushi
4. Mexican

If in a "jam" with your spouse, what tactics do you use to get out of the doghouse?
1. Leave room for a few minutes
2. Yell "I'm lonely" from said other room
3. Snuggle

Websites I visit (almost daily)
1. makeup place
2. gmail
3. aolmail
4. this blog

Best 1st kisses landmarks.

1. church parking lot lol

Places I'd Rather Be right now
1. Under the baby, him sleepin on my tummy
2. Mall
3. Target
4. Swimming

Now I get to pick 4 other blog buddies to do this!
1. Kate
2. Elizabeth
3. Mindy
4. Vanessa

to give 7 random facts about me.

1. i used to be able to turn my belly button inside out whenever i wanted (the baby stretched it out though)

2. i like puke green, light purple, and turquoise

3. i can speak greek (pretty much)

4. i have one brother who is in many bands

5. i hate shaving my legs

6. i would drink a gallon of milk a day, easily xoxo milk

7. i think my baby is the cutest baby i have ever seen!!!

Hilarious Dave Barry article about babies

2007-07-30T17:50:00.000-05:00

Newborn emits astonishing noises, smells
Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Feb 19, 2006 by Dave Barry
This classic Dave Barry column was originally published on May 7, 2000.

When people ask me, "Dave, what's it like to have a newborn baby in the household?" I immediately answer: " . . . "
This is because I am sleeping. I spend a lot of my day in an unconscious state, because my 2-month-old daughter, Sophie, does not believe in sleeping at night. She feels that the nighttime hours are best used for making loud, inexplicable, Exorcist-style noises. At 3:30 a.m., her bassinet will suddenly start shaking like an unbalanced clothes dryer and erupt with a wide range of squeaks, gurgles, chirps, snorts, snuffles, grunts, etc. It does not sound like there's a lone baby in there. It sounds like the entire Barnyard of the Demons. (Which would be an excellent name for a band.)
Sophie routinely makes noises that cannot be explained by the known laws of physics. Recently, some friends came over to admire her, and we had her all dressed up in a cute little baby outfit featuring little bloomers with cherries on them, and while everybody was gathered around admiring how sweet and delicate and innocent she looked, Sophie -- who is, physically, no larger than a standard pumpkin -- cut loose with a series of massive, resonating, bloomer- inflating bodily blasts that you would think could be produced only by a 350-pound man who had just won a burrito-eating contest. If I had not been holding her firmly at the time, I believe she would have propelled herself, missile-style, through the ceiling.
"How . . . cute!" our friends said, as the aroma wafted around us, fog-like.
I'm not saying that all Sophie does is make noises. As a brand- new human being with an inquisitive mind, she is also exploring the mystery and magic of the world around her, by which I mean she is trying to get her hands completely into her mouth. This is her primary goal in life.
Her arms and legs constantly wave around in a random manner, and every now and then, when a hand happens to land on her mouth, she becomes excited and starts sucking on it like crazy. But then, without warning, the arm yanks the hand away, which makes Sophie VERY angry. If she ever finds out who is operating her arms, she is going to give that person a piece of her mind, if she ever figures out how to talk.
Yes, it's an exciting time in our household, a time of learning and growing and having plastic bags of frozen breast milk in the freezer next to the Tater Tots. In our family, we strongly believe in breast-feeding, which has many benefits, the main one being: Men cannot do it. Not that I don't contribute! I'm always giving my wife useful breast-feeding pointers, such as: "Time for you to breast- feed her!" And: "Time for you to breast-feed her again!" And: "I would gladly breast-feed her, but, tragically, I am a man."
(Actually, I suspect that men CAN breast-feed; it's just that, in the entire history of the human race, no man has ever actually tried.)
I do change diapers. A LOT. It is a known baby fact that babies put out far more material than they take in; physicists now believe that babies account for most of the matter in the universe. If you were to stack up all the diapers I have changed in just two months, one on top of the other, you would never be invited to a party again for the rest of your life.
Our house would smell like a malfunctioning sewage plant, except that we have a product called the Diaper Genie, which encloses diapers in a long, odor-proof plastic bag. As a parent, I believe this is the greatest of all humanity's inventions, including low- fat Cheez-Its. You take your diaper, you put it into your Diaper Genie, you twist the plastic bag, and, as the French say, Voila! (Literally, "You are not smelling any more the poop.")
When your Diaper Genie fills up, you open the bottom and remove an amazing, 15-foot-long, segmented, caterpillar-like Chain of Doodies. We've been throwing these away, but it seems to me we ought to be turning them over to the U.S. Air Force as a potentially devastating military weapon.
Another excellent item of modern baby technology is the battery- powered swing. When your baby is in a bad mood because she cannot get her hand inside her mouth, you put her in this swing and let it rock her gently into a blissful state of suspended baby animation lasting long enough that sometimes you can actually take a shower. This device works so well that I think we should make a larger version and use it to calm hyperactive adults.
If you're a psychiatric professional who would like to explore this idea, let's schedule a meeting. I want to sleep on your couch.

Dave Barry is a columnist for the Miami Herald. He is continuing a leave of absence from writing his weekly humor column. Write to him c/o The Miami Herald, One Herald Plaza, Miami, FL 33132. Knight Ridder Newspapers
Copyright C 2006 Deseret News Publishing Co.Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.

he just keeps getting cuter!

2007-07-22T20:45:00.001-05:00

New Pictures

2007-07-18T22:54:00.000-05:00

here are some pictures of what jones has been up to the last few days!

1st bath time

2007-07-15T12:09:00.000-05:00

This had to be a fast experience. Jones was cold and did not want to have a bath at all, so he just screamed the whole time. He doesn't like to be cold at all!

Jones at Home

2007-07-15T11:53:00.000-05:00

Here are some pictures from when we got home. It has been great. It took Penny a minute to realize that he is not going to only want to sleep at night (I know that seems obvious, but she was running on zero sleep). Penny also realized that she needs to sleep whenever she can, like when Jones is sleeping (she only wants to breastfeed). It is a bit of an adjustment but it is amazing to see a brand new person. God has blessed us with a wonderful child. He has been so good for us.

Mom and Dad; before and after

2007-07-15T11:46:00.000-05:00

Our baby is born! You can watch his first bath here:

2007-07-14T23:11:00.000-05:00

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2930626152087494966

tummy at 29 weeks!

2007-05-15T08:34:00.001-05:00

Birth Plan

2007-05-14T10:28:00.000-05:00

I made my birth plan last night and read over it with Scott... He has NO idea why I want to deliver the baby naturally, but he is still being supportive :P silly Scotty

I am wondering if the doctors and CNM's at Kaiser will be supportive of what we want-I keep scheduling my OB visits when Scott is at work for some reason, I should probably get him in there w/ me haha

I can't wait to meet this big baby!!!

okay mommy

2007-05-11T14:40:00.001-05:00

according to the chart, i am above normal but below diabetes level, which puts you in prediabetes territory. penny needs to start walking!

sicky mommy?

2007-05-10T14:38:00.000-05:00

they think i have gestational diabetes. they poked my arms full of holes (4 just today!)

poor jones, poor mommy

new tummy! six months

2007-05-04T18:56:00.000-05:00

my baby is sooooo biiiiig

he is kicking hard enough now that you can see my tummy move. very exciting!!!

bad news: he has found my ribs :(

23 weeks tum

2007-04-01T21:08:00.000-05:00

more tums

2007-03-15T21:07:00.000-05:00

penny at 20 weeks

scott at 20 weeks

baby kicks!

2007-03-15T20:56:00.000-05:00

scott got to feel little jones! daddy suprised him and so jones kicked him right in the hand. scott was so happy! we love our little man.

tummy at 14 weeks, 12 weeks, 8 weeks

2007-02-17T19:46:00.000-05:00

penny baby tummy lady

2007-02-05T09:16:00.000-05:00

i keep feeling like my stomach is not growing that fast, but when i look back at pictures i realize it is blowing up. i weighed 131 when i got pregnant and i weigh 143 now at 15 weeks. yipes. i think a lot of that is bloating from the 18 lbs of food i ate yesterday.

update: it was just poopie

12 weeks

2007-01-17T20:17:00.000-05:00

I can feel the baby baby baby! You're not really supposed to be able to this early on your first one, but when I roll in a ball or bend over for a while I feel baby wiggles. What a little wiggler.

happy new year

2007-01-01T18:56:00.000-05:00

scotts been off playing golf for about 6 hours now... how long is it supposed to take maaan?

im starting to not feel sick all the time, and that is very pleasant.

come on people, say hi!

first baby pic ever

2006-12-21T22:17:00.000-05:00

i had gotten huge and i thought it was the baby, but it turns out it was the prenatals. the iron part, specifically. you can figure it out.

i had my first visit today oh boy oh boy

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us premaritally

2006-12-02T00:38:00.000-05:00

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Potty and Specky

2006-12-01T23:43:00.000-05:00

i dont see how it is that i have been pregnant less than 6 weeks yet i can no longer close any of my pants. who are these women who dont have to buy maternity clothes until month 8?