Vacation at the Hospital?

Wow! Reading my last post I can tell I'm 8 1/2 months pregnant! What a grouch I am! You've gotta feel badly for my poor husband and kids that have to put up with me daily! I know and remember how miserable that last month of pregnancy is, afterall, I've already done this 3 other times. Is it too much to ask to be able to see my ankle bones again? To be able to bend my ankles? They've been swollen for 3 months now. Is it too much to ask to want to sleep on my stomach or even my back would be nice? And, what does it say that I'm looking forward to going to the hospital because at this point it sounds like a vacation? I don't have to cook, clean, watch kids, or change diapers. The nurses are there to take care of the baby, bring me food ON a tray IN bed, and I can nap WHENEVER I want! If I were expecting my 1st or 2nd baby I'd probably be anxious about having a baby and all that comes with it. Maybe I should be more nervous because I know so much can go wrong. But right now, I can't wait to not be pregnant anymore and be waited on hand and foot. It sounds heavenly! Sad, huh?

Am I A Bad Mother?

We enrolled Jacob in his first season of baseball this year. Maybe I shouldn't admit this, but it's SO BORING!!! Am I a bad mother for thinking that? I find myself sending Daddy to the games alone to support Jacob because I just end up chasing Sarah and Jonah around the fields because they're bored too. Plus, let's face it, for the whole hour the game lasts Jacob is only up to bat 2 sometimes 3 times (depending on how many innings they play). And each time he's up to bat only lasts 1 to 2 minutes! The rest of the time he's playing around with his teammates in the "dug-out" or swatting at imaginary flies in the outfield, picking dandelions, or even rolling around in the grass. Last night a ball landed right in front of his feet. But he wasn't prepared to pick it up and throw it to first base because he was too busy pulling his gum out into a long piece of string! He had to wind his gum back up, put it in his mouth, THEN throw the ball to 1st base! Soccer and basketball were much more fast-paced and entertaining to watch. I don't know, but this could be his last and only season of baseball just out of sheer sanity on my part. I'm going to have 3 boys! That's a LOT of games over the years to sit through. What kinds of unsupportive, selfish mom am I? Sorry kids, but if Mom isn't happy, nobody's happy!

Sarah's Preschool Graduation

Sarah has had a wonderful preschool year with the Young's. We just love the Young's! Now that we've moved I don't know if I'll drive kids across town for preschool once it's Jonah's turn, and that makes me so sad. We'll have to see if there are any options closer that compare to the Young's (I doubt it). They had 1 giant graduation this year with all 5 of the their classes. The weather barely held for their darling little performance. Each child got golden Mickey Mouse ears for graduation. Sarah's been waiting and talking about those little hats for weeks! She loves it and takes such good care of it.

Here is Sarah (in the light blue shirt) singing in her program with some of her friends. The highlight was when she announced into the microphone (who put her by that microphone anyway?) for all to hear that she needed to go potty. Does it matter that she went RIGHT before we left home? Nope!

And here's Sarah with her beloved teachers! They have an amazing capacity to love, especially children. I really do look up to these good people. The next day Sarah cried because she didn't want to go to Kindergarten with new teachers and friends. I was ready to cry too, because it's going to be a long summer. Do you think the Young's would like to teach summer preschool?

Postponed Easter Egg Hung

Every year Nanny and Papa put on a fabulous Easter Egg Hunt in their yard for all the grandchildren. But this year there seemed to be lots of conflicts with several of the families. So they postponed it and we got to all enjoy it a little later together.

Here are all the grandchildren getting ready to hunt for candy! (Poor Naomi got woken up from her nap a little too early.)

There are always some money eggs and Jacob always seems to find the big winner (this year a $10 egg!), much to the dismay of his cousins. Enjoy it this year, Jacob, because next year it's somebody else's turn!

Nanny and Papa get each child a small toy. Jonah got a ball this year. Don't think that's gonna fit in your basket, Buddy!

Sarah so badly wanted a princess umbrella! And Jacob got an art project kit he'd been wanting! Thanks, Nanny and Papa, for another fun year!

Just Like Daddy

It's so endearing to watch my boys try so hard to be like their dad. After all, why not? He's one of the best role models of a man that I know of. Five years ago I took this picture of 2-year old Jacob following his dad with his little mower wanting so badly to do it like Daddy does. He would watch so carefully and when Daddy turned around, Jacob would turn around too. He'd follow his dad back and forth, back and forth all over the lawn.


And here we are 5 years later with Jonah, also as a 2-year old, mowing again with Daddy. Back and forth, back and forth he follows Daddy trying so hard to be just like him. It's amazing the innate qualities that the boys possess to be just like Daddy. I truly hope they continue to follow in his footsteps and turn out to be men just like Daddy!

Happy Anniversary, Honey!

Today is our 8th anniversary! And to celebrate that great occasion we bought each other this house! Whew! I don't think we'll ever top this one! Yes, we decided to move very unexpectedly in March. We were in the middle of remodeling our front room when we happened upon this dream home that had everything we had ever hoped for in a home. Can I just say that pregnant women are too emotional to have to make these HUGE, life-changing decisions? It was a whirlwind process that felt so right we couldn't deny it. After practically killing ourselves (and Brandon's family) off to finish a month's worth of work on our remodel in a week, we put our beautiful home up for sale. And thanks to good timing and our fabulous realtor, we sold our home in 2 1/2 weeks! A month later we moved into our new home. I can't believe how blessed we were with help from family and friends! It was truly amazing (and an answer to many prayers) to see the levels of service rendered in our behalf (which also prevented me from going into pre-term labor). They left us in fabulous shape after just one day of moving. I will be forever grateful for all of their unselfish sacrifice of time, help and compassion.

And I'm so grateful that no matter what the journey for us is, I know that I have Brandon by my side. He will always be there. I can always rely on him. We are in this together, and it's so nice to know sometimes that you're not alone. I love staying up late at night talking and dreaming with him about our new home, our children and our ideas for the future. He is more than I ever could have hoped for in a husband. The Lord has truly blessed me. So thanks, Honey, for the house. I love it. I hope you love it too.

Happy Mother's Day

I always look forward to the new videos posted on the LDS Church's website. They never fail to inspire me! I was already aware of the story of Stephanie Nielsen, her blog, and her plane accident before the Church posted this video, but her story is so beautifully portrayed here (sorry to copy you, Emily). It's a wonderful reminder on this week of Mother's Day of how blessed I am to be a mother and to be surrounded by so many amazing mothers. I know I complain plenty about being pregnant, and yet I'm so grateful to have a body strong enough and able to carry a pregnancy . . . to bring these spirit children of our Heavenly Father to this earth. I'm so grateful for my beautiful children, their examples, and how they teach and refine me daily. I'm so grateful for the mothers in my life that encourage me and provide beautiful examples of motherhood. You may not know it, but I'm always watching you, taking mental notes on how I can be more like you. Thank you, and Happy Mother's Day!