Blessings

Just got back from our 4th ultrasound today. I prayed and prayed on the way to the Dr. office that this baby would just SHOW US HER STOMACH already! The internet can be such a bad thing when you are starting down panic, unknown, and unclear roads. I already made the appointment with the high risk doctors for next month just in case the stomach was MIA again.

Luckily though, she came through. Her stomach was full of fluid today and easy to see. Prayers answered.

AND we got to see her darling little face:

How is it even possible that I am already so smitten and so incredibly in love with this tiny face? Can it just be summer already please so I can kiss those cheeks? I can hardly stand it!

No more ultrasounds for us. And I am A-OK with that!

We had a special weekend. My baby brother received his mission call! We face-timed in so we could watch him open the letter.

Dear Elder Rock,



You are hereby called to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Denver Colorado North Mission.


You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, July 25, 2012. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish language.


We are so excited for Jason and for this wonderful experience that he will embark on. He is a great brother, and example to our boys. We will sure miss him while he is gone but are excited for the learning and growth he will experience. He will also still be here to meet our Little Miss so I am really excited about that! ☺
 
I am also so grateful for my weekly lunch dates with this handsome guy:
 
 

Today's topics of conversation included:
 
"Mom, do you know how to play "poker face" (like the Lady Gaga song) on the recorder?"
 
and
 
"Mom, I think I am ready to retire from preschool. I think I am old enough to move on to big kid school now."

Random posts are the best.

Why are we having such a difficult time coming up with a name for this baby? You'd think after all of these boys we would have a huge list of girl names ready to go alas, nothing is really sticking. At this rate we may just have to go with Landon's suggestion......Crusher. That, or we'll just stick with "baby sis."

Everything is going great with baby except for the fact that we can't seem to visualize her stomach. We've had 2 ultrasounds now and we haven't been able to see the stomach bubble. Apparently in order to see the stomach there has to be some fluid inside. Baby isn't swallowing anything near the time we have had these ultrasounds done. We'll have another ultrasound in a week and if we can't see it again we have to go meet with the "high risk" doctors and find out what is going on. I'm trying hard not to freak out, since bad things happen in multiples and everything else looks perfect. Still, send a prayer our way for Monday. I need the peace of mind.

I managed to keep the glucose test drink down today. I haven't been able to do that with my past 3 pregnancies. That drink is so incredibly NASTY. So glad that is over!

I am so crazy in love with the weather lately. We played at the park today for hours, and came home and played outside some more. Days like this make me so homesick for the park that was across the street from our Boise house. I actually went and did a little house hunting today to make me feel better. Sometimes I can hardly wait to buy another house, sometimes it scares me to death after everything we have been through.

Nate's mom bought Dallin a soccer goal for Christmas and we just barely put it up a couple of weekends ago. The boys play soccer outside every day and have absolutely LOVED it. I love going in the backyard in the evening and watching Nate and the boys play together. Seriously, one of my FAVORITE things in the world.

I mowed the lawn today. 7 months pregnant. Nate is going to be mad when he gets home. My dad would be proud. ☺

Before and After

Before we left for a fun-tastic weekend in Salt Lake, Parker FINALLY agreed that it was time for a nice fresh hair cut. Morning after morning we have fought about his crazy bed head and how he didn't want it combed down or that it hurt too much to get the tangles out. Dad took him to Great Clips, and then out for some fro-yo to soften the blow of the cut. He looks so dang handsome though. I forgot how CUTE that face was was covered under all that hair!

And yes, I told him he could grow it out again this summer if he really wants to. ☺

I took exactly ZERO pictures of our Easter weekend. We went to Utah (yes, AGAIN!). I think my car knows how to get to Utah on auto pilot now. We went to my sweet nieces baptism and spent some time with the family. It was a very special day. We enjoyed a wonderful lunch afterwords with family and friends. Makayla looked so cute in her white dress. Nate enjoyed a nice bike ride with his dad and with Justin (the brother in law). They boys spent lots of time playing hard outside in the sun with their cousins. We played a seriously FUN new game called Reverse Charades as well. GOOD TIMES. We had a wonderful Easter as well. Sometimes you're just having too much fun making the memories that you forget to document them.

Spring Break: Part 2

The next day EE and I decided to be totally spontaneous and decided to pack up the boys and head to LAS VEGAS! We decided to go to Mandalay Bay and see the Shark Reef and wanted to see the M&M store.

After 4 floors at the M&M store we were ready to head back. Honestly, Vegas is NOT my favorite place in the world. Too many people, too much traffic, lots of crazies, way too hot in the summer. Makes me very grateful to live where I do. I realize that it is different if you actually LIVE in the city and I do know some very nice people including FAMILY who live there but I could never see myself living there.

We had a nice short visit but we were all happy to leave. ☺

When we got back we spent the rest of the afternoon at the pool.

 The "girls" hanging out poolside.

The last day in St. George we hiked along the bluffs overlooking the city:

 My back was hurting again as we climbed all around the cliffs. This baby girl is getting big!

It was all fun and games until Parks fell and scraped his whole knee up. Party over.

It felt great to get out of town and see some sun and soak up some vitamin D. We didn't want to come back home but we did miss our dad an awful lot.

Got a nail in my tire on the way home....another long story but we eventually made it home in one piece. It took 9 hours to get home instead of 3 from Salt Lake. ALWAYS something!

Spring Break: Part 1

Wow! Happy April 1st or April Fools day! I guess this year it won't be nearly as humorous to pull my usual prank and set out a positive pregnancy test for Nate to find. Crazy that it is already April. Time flies when you're driving all over the place and spending all of your money on GAS for Spring Break!

We've been gone for a week and we had such a great time. Nate couldn't come along (as usual) since he had a big trial but the boys and I would not be stopped. We picked up EE and headed down south to find some glorious sunshine!

On the way we stopped at the crazy little petting zoo in Scipio. The boys love that place. It was FREEZING and WINDY as all get out but we still checked it out.

Once we got to St. George it was 65 degrees which felt like heaven to us. We immediately went over to Hidden Springs Park. The boys could play there all day if I would let them.

Tuesday we packed a lunch and headed for Zion's. On the way we took a short detour over to Grafton Ghost town. First we stopped at the graveyard and then we went over to what was left of the small town.

Zion's was next. We picked such a perfect day to go. 73 degrees and clear skies. We made the hike up to Weeping Rock and we did the Emerald Pools. My sciatic nerve was hurting like crazy but we made it. Luckily Landon's legs were tired too so we all agreed that we'd had enough hiking for the day.

Here's Weeping Rock First:

Emerald Pool:

More to come!

All things SPRING!

Yesterday and today have been BEAUTIFUL! I know better than to say that spring is here because this IS eastern Idaho but we are enjoying these nice days nonetheless.

First off I taught preschool where we focused on SPRING! We colored flowers, painted, and planted some flowers.

Parker is a member of the "Outdoors Club" at school. Last night he stayed after school for two hours to make this beautiful birdhouse! I'm so proud of him.

And one of our favorite Aunts (Aunt Suzan) came to stay with us last night on her way to Utah. She brought the boys these SWEET magnets. Even though I hate bugs.....these are pretty cool. She always brings the coolest gifts.

I also caught this sweet moment last night before bed. Nothing like a good book and a sweet Aunt to curl up with at the end of the day.

One more day of school until SPRING BREAK officially begins! WooHoo!