34 weeks & counting...

The Countdown is on....

27 days to go!

(I get to cheat 2 weeks early)

~Yesterday I had another doctor's appointment marking me at 34 weeks. I gained another 8 pounds just this month!... & I know that I'm only getting bigger from here. Everything looks good but now is the time I have to be watched closely for 2 reasons; Signs of Preeclampsia & then of course Labor. Both things are pretty dangerous for me at this stage of the game. 

~Last week I really OVER-DID it and  Thursday & Friday had lots of scary contractions. I figured they would go away eventually so I didn't stress. I went to the Temple on Thursday & didn't have ANY contractions the whole hour or so I was there. Of course right when we walked out, they started up again. I finally called the Dr.'s office Friday so I could get checked, but it was too late because all doctors were in surgery the rest of the day. So I was told on the phone to go to labor & delivery...uh.. Not doing that. So I just made myself lay down, put my feet up & made Tim help out. (hard for me to do) 

All is fine now. I'm just trying to get rest whenever I can & learn how to walk with this little BOY so 

                                                       L

                                                            O

      Yes...I waddle.                                 W!                                                                                  

Kaylea loses her 1st Tooth ...finally.

~Kaylea thought the day would NEVER come. For the last year "EVERY one she knew" had lost a tooth...well except maybe Jett she said. Even 5 year olds were losing teeth & she was at the ripe age of 6 1/2. What could possibly be worse?!

~So she did everything she could to make a tooth loose; You know eat apples, carrots & other crunchy stuff, drink milk, brush & floss really good. Ok maybe Mom had a little influence on some of those.. but anyhow she tried them all. 

~Well one day last week before afternoon Kindergarten she begged me to pull it because it was practically hanging there & she didn't want to lose it on the playground. I knew we had to do it right then even though we would be running late for school. Tim stepped in & popped the thing right out...literally. It FLEW out and we were on our knees looking for it until my palm happened upon it as I crawled around. She was stoked but didn't expect so much blood!

~That night Kaylea put her tooth under her pillow and then came into my room to say: 

"Ok Mom, just in case you are the Tooth Fairy...Don't Forget okay!"

"I (want) to be a Dentist"

(Everything is about teeth these days, 

thus inspiring the career move.)

Sigh......

"Terrible 3" Moments still goin strong!

Do I need to explain this picture or is it self explanatory?

.....Someone didn't want Ramen noodles for lunch.

Ready, Set, (Don't) GO!

Come Back Soon!

It's a Girl Thing

So how cute is this? Kaylea & her school friends bring little notes back & forth from school for each other. This is the latest one that she just made for her friend Hailey. (I blurred out the "fone numbr")

Easter Weekend

Our Easter Surprise was this:

My Sister & her family came last minute to AZ and surprised us for Easter Weekend. My kids were SO excited to see cousins Ethan & baby Carson walking! This was the first time my family has ALL been together since November of 2006. 

1st Order of Business: 

 *Coloring Eggs*

Spence quickly painted all of his green so he could focus on more important things like Sun Chips 

~On Saturday we had our traditional Family BBQ at my parents. My Parents & Little Bros & Sis' set up an Egg Hunt for the grandkids. It was a beautiful day-first cold, rainy & windy in the morning but then was sunny & beautiful during the BBQ & egg hunt.~

Daylan starting off the Egg Hunt

Cousin Ethan scored!

Uncle Phylip helping Kaylea reach her Golden Egg.

Each child found their own special golden egg which had directions inside where they could find an Easter present from Grandma & Grandpa.

Then on Sunday.....

The Kids & their Easter Baskets Easter Morning

Headed to Church

Quick Picture before we went inside...of course we were running late & Tim was not too happy about me trying to get pics. Don't you love how the sun is totally blinding my poor children!

*After Church we went to my Parents for a Yummy Ham Easter Dinner. Then we headed to the Temple Grounds to get a Family Picture with the WHOLE gang. Britt's friend Jacque met us there to get some family photos because it had been 3 years since the last one that we took ALL together. 

The Younger Handsome Boys

&

The Older Handsome Boys

Ladies...the 3 in the middle are still single :)

.....*More Family Pictures coming soon*....

*I'm sure many of you have by now seen Elder Holland's Conference Talk be put to Video on YouTube. LDS Living reported that it literally became the #1 video on YouTube (in the nonprofit category) over Easter weekend. How COOL is that? See?.. The power of good is still so STRONG and it just takes more effort on our part for it to become so. 

Symbolism of the Season

*This morning at our house we had a resurrection of sorts. Being the morning after Easter made it all the more meaningful as we saw our new little Butterfly friend appear. For days he was a small little black caterpillar...But he soon grew and grew and then stayed quite lifeless in his cocoon for days. 

*Tim kept suggesting he was dead and I reiterated the fact that you have to be patient and this was part of the normal process. And then it happened ...this small little miracle of life. The butterfly emerged & it is beautiful. A resurrection of his old body into his new one. My kids were amazed and frankly so was I. Nothing unusual but just another ordinary miracle. 

*It made me think of Spring. 

The once dead looking grass to a vibrant living green.

Hundreds and thousands of flowers now in bloom.

The caterpillar to the butterfly.

And the eggs that we all dye with the kids- Representing those baby chicks emerging from their "tomb" leaving it empty as did our Savior. 

*The symbolism of this season is all around us and I don't think by chance. Jesus Christ who created this very world is so much apart of it. And I say thank you to him & our Father In Heaven for these little reminders surrounding us this Easter season.

*Read cjane's "Little Resurrections" post for more symbolism as she speaks of her sweet sister.*

You Raise Me Up ~Easter~

I originally made this video for Christmas-thus the ending, but I thought it was just as meaningful for this Easter weekend. Enjoy.

My Easter Gift to You:

"For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

  ~John 3:16~

Their Point of View

~I saw this on a friend's blog and I was interested to see what my kids would say... and a little scared of the truth too! Some great journaling though. :)

1. What is something mom always says to you? 
S- "Boom shackalacka lackalacka Boom!"

K- "Come & eat breakfast"

D- You tell me to be nice

2. What makes mom happy? 

S- when I'm ready for school on time

K- when I give you cards

D- when I say nice things

3. What makes mom sad? 
S- if something bad happens to our family

K- when I break the piano

D- I say naughty words to you

4. How does your mom make you laugh? 
S-  when you laugh then it makes me laugh

K-  when you sing "I like to move it, move it...."

D-  when you sing a weird song

5. What was your mom like as a child? 
S-  you had to practice the piano a lot

K-  you always liked to help Grandma make pie   (?)

D-  you be nice

6. How old is your mom? 

S-  29

K-  29

D-  infinity!

7. How tall is your mom? 
S-  80 something inches?

K-  25 inches & 10 pounds

D-  infinity pounds!

8. What is Mom's favorite thing to do? 

S-  be on the computer

K-  you like to see me laugh

D-  play puzzles

9. What does your mom do when you're not around? 

S-  how am I supposed to know?..I'm not there  (smart aleck)

K-  you go to Grandma's house & work over there

D-  Um...I dunno what do you do mom? ...work on your computer?

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? 
S-  you'll be the world's 1st lady that had a baby with super powers

K-  You'll be a Rock Star

D-  (walking away pouting says... "I don't want to do this")

11. What is your mom really good at? 
S-  Singing    (bless his little heart)

K-  Giving smoochy kisses to Dad

D-  Making presents

12. What is your mom not very good at? 

S-  nothing...... I can't think of anything   (bless his little heart again)

K-  Baseball   (true)

D-  Making Dinner... (Uh oops that's not good.)

13. What does your mom do for a job? 
S-  Watching over us

K-  You help us obey

D-  Drive the car good

14. What is your mom's favorite food? 
S-  hmmm...tricky. I'd say it's Mexican food.

K-  I think spaghetti

D-  spaghetti

15. What makes you proud of your mom? 

S-  I'm proud that you're pregnant

K- You always make dinner

D- Betuz I love you betuz you take me to the movie

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? 

S-  SpongeBob

K-  Bob The Builder (.....laughing hysterically at herself)

D-  Winnie The Pooh 

17. What do you and your mom do together? 
S-  we always do my homework together

K-  we like to have fun...like when we go to Cold Stone Creamery

D-  play games like the ABC fishing game

18. How are you and your mom the same? 
S-  we both like to be on the computer

K-  we're both girls

D-  we both have blue eyes & same hair...wait mom do you have brown hair or blat? (black)

19. How are you and your mom different? 
S-  I'm a boy and you're a girl

K-  You have silver things on your teeth and I don't

D-  we don't have blonde hair... (double negatives too confusing for 3 yr. old:)

20. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? 

S-  on trips

K-  on a Cruise

D-  to a restaurant

21. How do you know your mom loves you? 

S-  you buy me clothes, food, toys..everything I need

K-  whenever I say "Mom" you answer me

D-  betuz you teach me piano lessons

22. What does your mom like most about your dad? 

S-  You like to watch movies together at night and smooch the whole time

K-  He writes you love letters and gives you chocolates

D-  when he bees nice

*This was so fun. You should try it too!*

(Pre) Sabbath Thought:

*Every 6 months the Church holds a Worldwide General Conference in Salt Lake that is broadcast ALL over the WORLD & in 71 Languages. Anyone can watch or listen via satellite, cable (BYU Channel), radio or internet. There are 2 sessions held Saturday & 2 on Sunday. The first weekend of April & October are 2 of my favorite weekends of the year. I love, love, love it. Even my kids enjoy it because we have games about the talks & treats. (Kaylea even just told me yesterday she remembered the talk that Pres. Uchtdorf gave last Conference & told me a story from it. I was shocked.)

*To Watch General Conference LIVE or the Archives Click Here*

Remember Today 9 am & 1 pm

Tomorrow 9 am & 1 pm

Here are a couple of my past conference posts: 

October 2008: "General Conference Traditions"

October 2008:  "Conference Talk Favorites"

April 2008:  "President Monson is Sustained"

October 2007:  "President Hinckley's Last Conference"

A Favorite General Conference Talk:

*Last October Elder Wirthlin (of the 12 Apostles) gave this whitty, thought provoking talk entitled "Come What May And Love It." I've tried to remember & apply this phrase to my life since then. (~Elder Wirthlin passed away peacefully in his sleep less than 2 months later.)

Meet our Little Fella...

~Here you can see his face to the right side of the picture.~

The other day Tim & I were able to see a 3D/4D ultrasound of our little guy. Our purpose in this was for our Doctor to see if we saw any signs of Goldenhar syndrome. (A syndrome Kaylea was pronounced with at birth.) Well he was not really cooperating and I guess was just too comfy against the placenta. 

~When I showed the kids the pic we laughed and said he must have thought it was his "silky" & didn't want to let go of it. We told the kids that it looks like he has Kaylea's eyes, Daylan's nose & Spencer's mouth....to make everyone happy. Then of course they argued about which feature was more important.   Kaylea: "Eyes are the best because you couldn't see without them....etc."

~31 Weeks~

Now that it's April, I can officially say that NEXT MONTH He Is Coming! So we are getting more and more excited as the time flies by. Other than some pelvic pain & pressure and being TIRED, Life is good. We're excited and are getting close to deciding on a name for this handsome guy.

*The tech showed that he weighed approximately 3 pounds 10 ounces.

Wanna Go On A Trip?

Hard Times right now? ....Try being a Home Builder! ;)

So you might have noticed this little addition to my sidebar recently:

❀ BargainFamilyCruises.Com ❀

(my shameless advertising)...CHECK IT OUT!

❀In February Tim decided to become a TRAVEL AGENT since planning & booking trips is something he has always been good at. So Wala..  Bargain❀Family❀Cruises was born. Tim is great at finding good QUALITY deals, getting them at even better prices and making sure the trips are of great value. He will make sure that they are affordable, but with quality & not just cheap. 

 

❀Because we've been on a number of cruises, he figured that this should be his area of traveling expertise and has decided to focus primarily on that aspect of it. As an agent he is able to find some fantastic deals...especially right now. Cruising is the popular route a lot of people are going right now being that you are typically getting the most for your money this way.

Help us spread the word! 

We all know someone who is bound to take a trip sooner or later.