LUKE GOT HIS WOLF!

I got my pin :).  Still not sure why I get it and not his den mother.  She does more than I do.  But I still love it :)

So I didn't even say much about the Blue and Gold.  They had the cutest little balloon scouts as centerpieces.  Luke was awarded his Wolf and 3 more beads.  Bradley got a couple of pins too.  It's fun to see them and their excitement for it all.  They had some fun games for us to play and yummy food.  It was a lot of fun.  I enjoyed the chit chat at the end the most :).

Things to Remember 4-5-14

EASTER SUNDAY
Sunday didn't feel as much like Easter as I would have liked, but it was a nice day.  We watched conference again, with our reverent little kids.  This time Erika really wanted to do Bingo so we did and they were so good with it!  Normally it's more noise than it's worth, but it wasn't this time.  We just make sure to do the prizes in between talks.  I loved it.  I really loved Conference this year.  It felt like there was so much said just for me.  I feel like my life has been so easy lately.  There isn't a big trial weighing on my mind anymore and other than feeling like crap- all is well, so it was nice to feel like there were things I could work on and that I actually have the ability to do so.  I like it when I feel like I can move forward rather than just not going backwards.  We made our little nests with the eggs in them (chocolate covered pretzel sticks in the shape of nests with Cadbury mini eggs) for our dessert.  Nate left during halftime.  That was a bummer.  Then we hunkered down for the last session.  This one is always the one that puts everyone to sleep for some reason.  Everyone except Charity, Kelly and Luke this year.  It's all good.  Jack looked adorable, I'll have to post the picture I took of him with his hands clasped together, fingers interlocking, it was so adorable.  We hurried off to Grandma Hatch's house for dinner.  We had a nice time with Heidi and John and my MOm and Simon, eating dinner, facetiming with Sarah and her kids, then playing basketball and frisbee out in the yard.  We even got to pet and feed some of their neighbor's horses.  The kids LOVED that!  Grandma sent us all home with a bunch of stuff and we were off- SCHOOL NIGHT!!!  When we got home Kelly lead us through the Easter story with her eggs from last year.  The kids were surprisingly very interested and participated really well.  I was glad since I felt kind of bad we'd put it off til then.  They know it very well.  I think they had a refresher in Primary last week, but that's great that they listened!  I feel so grateful for the Atonement these days.  I feel like I understand it so much better this year.  I just want to be good and show Heavenly Father and my Savior my gratitude for His investment in me.  I don't want to let Him down.

4-5-15

FIRST DAY BACK TO SCHOOL
This Spring Break felt kind of long by the time Monday morning came.  In a good way.  It felt like Summer already.  It was such a disappointment to have to send everyone back to school.  The house was so quiet all day.  Erika was so bored and didn't know what to do all over again.  It was so weird.  I did get a surprising amount of housework done though- that was a bonus.  I missed my kiddos though.  It's never fun to send them back.  No matter how out of ideas/energy I am.  Mrs. Beckstead and I had a little talk with Luke about his chest pain, trying to convince him that he could stay at school today.  Talking about the rollercoaster and how it always comes back down.  I think it helped Luke.  I hope we can come up with some really good coping mechanisms with him.  I'm so grateful for Mrs. Beckstead and her experience in this area.  She's been such a blessing.  I was feeling so overwhelmed this morning at the thought of Luke still dealing with this, cried a lot, prayed a lot, and then there was my answer- in Mrs. Beckstead.  She's amazing.  I think everyone felt pretty good about the first day back though :).  4-6-15

FHE
Luke (and I) gave the lesson tonight.  We talked about challenges/trials and how we can let them make us stronger.  We used an egg and potato in boiling water to demonstrate that the same trial (boiling water) can do one of two things to us (potato or egg).  We can either be made strong, or weak.  I loved this analogy and I think Luke was grateful for the help.  He did a great job when I wasn't taking over :).  We drove up to Krispy Kreme with our report cards to get our free donuts :).  We had so many we had to deliver a few boxes to neighbors.  The kids loved watching the donuts being made.  That's so fun :).  4-6-15

MAYOR BRADLEY
Bradley ran for mayor again and finally won!  So exciting :)  4-8-15

CHORALIERS
Charity's Choralier tryout was on Wednesday.  She has been practicing for WEEKS!  She worked on Phatom of the Opera's Think of Me- pretty brave song choice!  And she totally nailed it!  She had to learn a hymn that Mrs. Woodfield chose and sing it with all the other parts being played and sung but not her part!  I was so impressed!  She did great!  She sounds amazing!!  It was so fun for me to be there with her as she auditioned.  I was so proud of her.  I really am just so amazed at her talent and her courage.  She did amazing!  I think the choraliers will be missing something this next year.  Lacking.  Unfortunately she didn't make it this year, but there is always next year!  4-8-15

JACK
Jack is all of a sudden very talkative!  Trying new words and even new sounds.  It's so fun!  I feel like it's so much easier to communicate with him now!  I love his cute little voice too.  Such a sweet little boy.  4-8-15

FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY
Charity and I raced down to Salt Lake for our Mutual activity.  We got there way late, but still caught the tail end of the "lab" and a little bit of tour.  I wish we hadn't been late, but what we saw was great.  I'm really loving the focus on Family History.  I loved hearing one of the tour guides talking about how important indexing is and how valuable it is.  Makes me feel like I"m contributing.  I thought a lot about Grandpa Mottishaw while we were there.  Made me feel like he was there with us.  He spent a LOT of time in that place.  Even took me with him a few times.  It was fun to think about how much work he put into his family.  I bet he's Mr. Popular in Heaven with them all :).  4-8-15

WE HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT!

Took Nate and I a lot of thought, but we finally came up with a fun way to tell the kids about their new sibling.  So Thursday, I got up a little early to make our puzzle.  I drew a little stick figure family picture with me with a little stick baby in my tummy :).  It reminded me of the picture I drew of Nate and I during Stake Conference the day after we got engaged :).  I even laminated it :).  I was really excited!  So we made the kids all gather around for breakfast, which doesn't usually happen, they usually all just kind of come and go once it's on the table.  So this was different.  I had to drag Erika out of bed- I had to tell her I had a surprise for her- so that she wasn't unhappy about it.  Then we had them put the puzzle together.  It was cute to watch the wheels turning in Charity's head.  She figured it out way ahead.  The rest of them didn't seem to catch on.  It was super cute though when they all got it.  Lots of "OH!!!"'s.   And smiles and stuff.  I think they were mostly happy about it.  We of course went right into the questions about who will babysit when I'm at the hospital having the baby.  And where will the baby sleep.  It's cute how they are all planners.  Gathering informations.  Funny kids. My favorite part was when Noah looked at me confused and said, "You don't look pregnant though?" Aww shucks, Noah, you're my new faovirite :).  I also loved it when Erika made the realization that, "If this baby is a girl, then I will have a little sister!"  It was very thrilling.  I was relieved :).  I've watched too much Saturday's Warrior to think that can happen.  My kids are just awesome though.  I am so grateful for them.  Then it was back to life and off to school!  4-9-15

IT'S OUT
I ended up telling a LOT of people on Thursday.  It was the big announcing day.  There were a lot of people that I was worried would hear it from someone else and be bugged that I didn't tell them myself, so I sent out a bunch of texts with the picture of the puzzle.  That was fun.  Nobody seemed too shocked by the news, so that was good.  Then Grandpa met up with us at the pool during Erika's lesson and surprised us with the news of his new job, so we decided to try to one up him and shared our news too.  His reaction: "Another one?"  I totally forgot to use my "It's been on the blog for months!" excuse when he got mad about how long it took me to tell him.  Oh well.  I don't think it really matters.  I had fun texting with Steve and Sarah about it all day.  They were both very fun.  We came home from swimming and I went out to lunch with my friend Kenni.  She let me talk about the whole announcing fun.  That was nice of her.  I told a few more people that night at my book club.  That was fun too, we all just sat around talking about babies and having them.  I like to do that sometimes :).  4-9-15

ULTRASOUND
We went in for our UNofficial ultrasound, just in-office.  Dr. Thackeray always offers this so that we can bring kids to see the ultrasound and stuff.  Just kind of a fun thing.  We ended up deciding to just make it a date and enjoy the experience with just the two (well, three really :) ) of us.  I was glad we chose to do that.  I don't think anyone would have wanted to be checked out of school anyway.  He looked around a lot and we never seemed to catch a very good bumb shot.  I consider myself a seasoned ultrasound-ee and can recognize most of the things that we see on there, but for some reason this time, I'm not sure if it was the angle or what, but it seemed difficult to distinguish what everything was myself.  We got a decent bumb shot after much searching and it looked mostly like a girl.  We could see the umbilical cord pulsating between the legs, so unless it was wrapped around and coming from behind or something, we know there was nothing blocking the cord.  Which means.... SHE"S (probably) A GIRL!!  Wahoo!  I wasn't really sure I was buying it though, still not, I am going to need to see it again in a month to really feel secure in the diagnosis :).  But for now- we're very anxious to have a baby girl.  We were really excited to tell Erika, but she wanted us to "Surprise her", so we spent most of the afternoon trying to think of a fun way to surprise the kids with the latest news.  They were bugged.  We had Noah's baseball practice and then my book club before we finally came up with something.  4-9-15

PINK OR BLUE!
I had all the kids sit in a close little circle, almost a clump, and I held the paper bag over their heads.  They all screamed, "Is it a girl or a boy?" and I popped the bag and all the pink confetti came raining down on them.  I thought it was so fun :).  I am not sure how they felt.  The looks on the boys' faces were somewhat anticlimactic.  I'm not sure why because most of them informed me that they were okay with either since they "already have  __  little brothers.  So, not sure what that was all about :).  But whatever.  Erika couldn't have been happier.  Charity and Kelly too.  That was fun to see :).  Erika is already planning what kind of blanket she is going to make for her little sister, since her big sisters made one for her.  She is planning a necklace too. She's going to be fun to get all anxious with.  She keeps saying, "I wish she could just come out now."  When I told her how little her sister is right now, she let out a cute little, "Awwwww!"  It is kind of fun to think about a 5 in long, 5 oz little girl :).  Too bad we have 21 more months left!  That will give us time to save up for our third bench in the back of our car, get the bedroom situation all figured out, and well... just get really excited and impatient :).  4-9-15

BIKE RIDE
Nate, Erika, Jack and I went on our usual bike ride to 7-11 and then Gailey park for our picnic.  It was so much fun.  There was a lot of talk about our baby girl.  It was fun to be with Erika.  She is already feeling the big sister role.  It's cute to see her as a "big sister".  I think she's going to be great.  I only wish they were going to be closer in age.  Erika is an amazing little biker. She is so tough!  Even when her legs are tired, she just keeps going.  She's a tough little girly.  I was proud of her.  Jack slept the entire time and it was a good thing- he needed it!  We got to the school in time to ride home with the kids.  Good times.  4-10-15

BASEBALL
So baseball season has begun!  I think I'm the most excited :).  Noah and Bradley are playing their first season.  Luke is our veteran.  Luke and Bradley are on the same team which I think will be kind of cool for them.  I'm bummed because all of the games, are overlapping, so Nate and I will not get to watch the games and stuff together.  We are having to divide and conquer.  Not my favorite.  But it is still fun for me.  I love watching baseball.  I hope they end up having fun with it.  This first practice left Brad looking kind of depressed, so I"m not sure what that was all about, but hopefully it's not because he hated it.  I can't wait for games to start!  4-10-15

DAN AND ADELE
We got to go to Dan and Adele's sealing on Saturday.  When we got to the temple I realized I had forgotten my temple recommend.  How annoying.  I knew it was possible to get in, but I hated the thought that I didn't have one in my possession.  I hated standing there in the lobby of the temple waiting.  Not able to go in.  Made me realize how important a valid temple recommend is to me.  And how much I don't ever want to not be worthy to go to the temple.  It was not a good feeling to be stuck there.  And even though I know I have a recommend and they knew I had one, I felt a little weird going in without having shown mine.  Kind of weird.  But anyway- this was really a really special sealing.  I could totally feel Jen in the room. I know I've said this before, but I just know that Jen is going to love Adele.  I can already see them laughing and getting along together.  It's awesome.  I am so happy for Dan and Adele, they look so happy and seems like such a great thing for them and their families.  Congratulations, Dan and Adele.  We went to Ruby River afterwards with some of Nate's sibs.  That was a lot of fun too.  I enjoy adult time! 4-11-15

19 WEEKS
So the thing that is bugging me right now is the pain from scar tissue.  I am not sure how it works, but Dr. Thackeray said that the pain I'm feeling is most likely from scar tissue.  I blame my appendectomy for that.  It feels like something is tight, stretched across my abdomen, and if I straighten all the way out, or roll over funny, or even just standing up sometimes, it feels like something is going to snap in half.  It's crazy.  Hurts.  I feel better knowing it's not something horrible and while I have had it in the past, it seems worse this time. Another thing that bugs me is my fat belly.  I don't get a cute "Baby bump" I get a big blob of belly on top of a smaller (looking, since the top is so bloated) area where the baby is.  It's really hideous.  I know people are just trying to make me feel better, saying it's not noticeable, but it's hideous.  I'm looking forward to my baby growing a little to even out the lower half.  This is the epitome of a muffin top right now.  I hate how I look!  I know it's all worth it though, I'll live... just bugs.  4-11-15

Divine Signatures

I screwed up (again) on my produce order.  This time I figured 24 baskets for how many were paying, rather than the 23 it actually was (24 minus my free one).  When I ordered Kent almost talked me into mini watermelons and it would have only put me over about $27 which would be fine considering the balance in the account.  So I did.  Then after I hung up, I felt like it was the wrong choice (thank good ness!), called back and changed it to romaine lettuce instead.  Putting me only $7 over.  Well, in case you can't do the math yourself, When I figured out that I'd screwed up on the amount available, it hit me that if I'd kept the watermelons I would have been about $47 over!!  LUCKILY I changed it!  So I was still $27 over, but at least it was just that.  Felt like a little bit of a relief even though I was slightly bummed.  I believe this was a blessing.  Thank you Heavenly Father!  1-27-15

We had FIVE girls at basketball!  Felt like a huge blessing.  I totally smiled.  2-5-15

Heavenly Father had already been working on the Stake President and his counselors before I could even go visit with him :).  Bishop received the news that we were to have Girls Camp every year at his training meeting on Sunday, just 7 hours before I was scheduled to meet with the Stake President :).  How cool is that!  The Lord is in this work and He loves me :)  3-1-15

Ran into the Stake President so I got to hear about the whole Girls Camp thing directly from him.  Made me happy.  Sure didn't feel like a coincidence.  And how cool that he knows who I am and remembered that I was the one who cancelled their appointment that day.  He is so cool.  3-1-15

Heavenly Father made the Brad Wilcox Youtube video download within minutes of my prayer to have it work.  He loves me. 3-12-15

I had to leave play group early to go help Kelly register and since I had almost forgotten about it (good thing Kelly called or I would have) I had to rush off in a hurry.  Luckily Emily was okay watching Erika and Jack.  On the way there I got all green lights.  Then there was a perfect parking spot front and center.  It was interesting because it was a day where I didn't feel like I was going to die if I was late.  I wasn't feeling completely overwhelmed by life (yet- haha), and things were going pretty good.  But when it happened, I realized that Heavenly Father helps me out and gives me these little divine signatures at all times of my life.  I think I'm more prone to notice the things when I feel like I desperately need them, but this one helped me to see that He is ALWAYS there.  Not just when I'm dying :).  And with the way the rest of the day went, maybe he was just trying to help ease the slope down.  He knows me too well.  3-18-15

Things to Remember 3-29-15

FAMILY HISTORY
Sunday we had a 5th Sunday combined meeting about Family History.  Nate and I were asked to talk a little about what we do with our young kids to get them involved in family history.  We took a few minutes and said what we do, journaling, stories, indexing, temple work... not a big deal.  But I can't help but feel like we sounded like know-it-alls or something.  I hope not, but whatever.  I enjoyed the motivation to get going on my own family history.  I spent a good three hours updating some of my grandparents' memories :).  That was fun.  I really do love family history.  3-29-15

SPRING BREAK DAY 1
This Spring break was well anticipated.  Not just by the kids.  I have been so anxious for it!  I had tried to get some big plans going, but I just kept coming back to the fact that the kids enjoy being at home and playing with their friends in the neighborhood and that this could be more of a break if we just stay home.  It was fun to think of different fun things to do to keep us looking forward to the next day together.  Our big thing on Monday was the park.  I took them down to Heritage park and when we pulled up we realized that we needed to have our basketballs.  So we turned around and grabbed them.  The kids played for a long time.  Kenni came and played with us about halfway through which was nice because I was about to die of heat/boredom/tiredness.  She really was a pleasant surprise.  We were at the park for 3 hours.  Lots of fun.  3-30-15

DETOX
I went to visit my old friend Summer at LDS Hospital on Monday.  I couldn't believe her message on Sunday.  She sounded like she was dying.  I am glad she called me but it breaks my heart to think that I am her "best friend".  Just because I've been a horrible friend and if that's the best she's got.... Poor girl.  Even her family has kind of abandoned her.  I don't know how some people can end up with such a tough hand when I have been dealt so many blessings.  She sure is tough though, I think she is going to make it out of this alive.  She's been addicted to alcohol and several different kinds of prescription drugs for at least 20 years.  She's resorted to both over the years to cope with her stress and anxiety.  I can't imagine what that girl is keeping locked up inside of her.  I hope that they provide her some counseling at the place she is being transferred to.  She needs something.  I can't believe she was taking 21 days worth of pills in four days.  She really has gotten bad.  She was drinking Nyquil like it was juice and calling weird friends to bring her more alcohol when she was unable to take herself.  I guess her daughters saw her overdosing on her meds and someone called DCFS.  Her three girls have been taken away from her until she can get things under control.  I hope that happens.  She's such a sweet girl.  She's so good to everyone else and always tries to please others.  It's so sad.  So anyway.  Nate and I went to see her on Monday.  It was hard to watch her bounce from mood to mood, crying, laughing, then crying and then laughing some more.  I'm glad I was able to help her laugh I guess, but it's so hard to think about the road she has ahead.  I tried to let her know how much I love her and how much I will be there for her.  I tried to let her know that Heavenly Father loves her and will be there for her if she wants Him to be.  I don't really know how she feels about the church, she's given me several different explanations.  I wish people like her could feel comfortable at church and not feel the judgement that is hopefully not as prevalent as she makes it sound.  It stinks that it can't be more of a place of refuge for people like that.  Nate was able to give her a blessing which was really nice.  I hope she was able to receive it all.  It was beautiful.  I am praying for her and I'm going to try to check up on her regularly.  I hope she doesn't let me disappoint her as a best friend from here on out.  3-30-15

FHE
Noah had the lesson and taught us how to make little doors.  I'm not sure how to describe those, they were made out of paper, kind of like a box with a door on it.  His lesson was about how sometimes we need to just close the door to not let in the bad feelings and to not let out bad words.  It was so sweet!  I love that he thought of it all by himself.  3-30-15

SPRING BREAK DAY 3- APRIL FOOL'S DAY TOO!
Everyone woke up to each other's pranks and had fun pulling them all morning.  Nate put cups of water on people's doors, filled a yogurt container with sour cream, and I still don't know what he did with the donuts.  I think it was more stressful to eat them wondering what was wrong.  As far as I know- it was nothing.  Kelly went all out, cream cheese on toothbrushes and deoderant, taping up people's rooms and beds, doors, you name it.  I should ask her the rest.  They all enjoy being able to lie and then say "April Fools".  Luke put tinfoil in everyone's shoes.  That was funny watching everyone struggle to cram their feet into their shoes.  Noah painstakingly made brownies (practically by himself) and put clumps of them in people's beds to represent cat poo.  I love their creativity :).  I realized that I had so much fun watching ever one else's pranks playing out that I didn't need to play any of my own.  I was also having a really off day so the idea of doing anything just wasn't appealing to me.  I was too tired and weak and knew I was going to have to go on the bike ride.  I hate it when I don't get into April Fools.  I do have a really awesome prank to pull on Nate but the conditions have to be just so.  He worked the mid the night before so it didn't work this year.  Next year for sure!
Thanks to Bradley we were able to catch a little bit of Play Group on Wednesday.  I completely spaced what day it is.  And we needed to get back by noon for Grandpa Russ and Grandma Ruthie, so it was short, but the kids had fun.  Same park with the basketball hoops, so that was fun.  I meant to take pictures but never did.
After the park we hurried home for our bike ride with Grandma and Grandpa.  That ended up being a LOT of fun.  We hopped on the bike trail after surviving the Burton overpass.  I was so proud of our kids the whole time!  They are such troopers!  We ended up riding up to a Chevron up in Layton and having lunch there (there's a Subway and corn dogs :) ).  Since Kelly needed to get back for her friend's birthday party we turned around and came home.  The whole trip ended up being about 10 miles though!  Go us!  That really is great for us.  So far this year we've only done the four miles to slurpees and back :).  So that was cool.  I can't believe Erika especially made it.  She's our youngest rider.  She did great!  She sang and counted horsies the whole way.  I think she ended up at about 13 for the whole trip.  Noah did great too!  He struggles a lot with needing to be in the front, and he has issues with stopping suddenly ;) but he was a rockstar!  He did fall on the way back and Daddy towed him in the trailer for a bit.  Luke was our gold leader the entire trip.  He probably could have had that trip licked in about a third of the time if he didn't have to wait for everyone :).  Bradley too.  He was right up there with Luke most of the time.  We were glad his tire stayed full the whole time.  Kelly rocked it as well.  I enjoyed riding by her most of the way there, talking and having fun.  Then she and I ditched everyone in our effort to get her home in time and sped up to about double the speed we went on the way there.  We made it back in 26 minutes!  Pretty amazing if you ask me.  And I was dying.  Kelly was probably laughing inside- she "wasn't even tired" so that was good :).  She crashed into me when I had to stop suddenly for Noah.  That was a bummer.  Charity was on her roller blades again.  She really needs a new bike.  But she did great as well.  And so did Nate, towing her with the bike trailer.  I'm not sure how Nate did it!!  He's awesome.  Man of steel.  Jack was perfectly content the entire trip- love that boy.  He had a good time pointing out the popcorn trees and some of the trucks and cars on the highway.  He's adorable.  Grandpa and Grandma seemed to be having a good time.  They're so awesome to be so active.  I didn't know 10 was a lot for them too, but they don't usually go that far either :).  So we all wowed ourselves :).  I am glad we made time for this and arranged it with them.  Good memories!  I wish I'd taken a picture.  Good lesson to not be such a grump when we're starting out on these things- that would have been a great time.  We all crashed when we got home.

Then that night Nate and I scrambled off to the Jazz game!!!  It was really cool because we thought we'd lost the vouchers that Nate got from my Dad for Christmas, but Bradley was really anxious for Nate and I to go (I secretly think that he was hoping I'd let him take my place if he found the vouchers :) ), he found them for us!  Just in the nick of time too, we had to leave minutes later in order to get there in time to redeem them.  It was a lot of fun!  I did get pictures on my phone :).  We totally killed the Nuggets.  FUn game.  Thanks to Charity for babysitting AND getting almost everyone in bed before we got home!!  Good times.  4-1-15

SPRING BREAK DAY 4
Thursday was our SWIMMING DAY!!!  The kids had been looking forward to this the most I believe.  We decided to try out the Clearfield Aquatic Center this time since seeing it a couple weeks ago when Bradley went to the birthday party there.  It was great because it was $2 cheaper per kid than the Bountiful Rec Center.  I think we found our new pool!  I liked it because everything is in the same room.  It's so much easier to keep track of everyone.  It's a teensy bit smaller, but I didn't care.  Some of them were bummed that it's missing a high dive too, but really, it was a better pool for us.  We had a great time!  Three hours is the longest I think we've gone swimming in a long time, so go us :).  We did have Kambree with us, so that was an interesting element to the day.  I felt like things went really well.  Nate was wrapped around Jack's little finger for the entire time.  He was so patient with him!  Jack actually got all the way in the water and even went on the big yellow slide three times!!  So cool!!  I never would have been able to get him on that!  He loved it.  He spent the last hour playing fetch with Nate with the rings.  Yes, Jack sat on the edge of the pool and threw the ring for Nate to retrieve it.  It was funny.  I played with Erika most of the time.  She and I went on the slide a few times as well.  She was so cute and brave on it!  We did just about everything!  She showed off her swimming skills and almost braved the diving board, but I'm kind of glad she didn't.  The paper work after a lifeguard has to help you get out is ridiculous.  She had a lot of fun though.  I stole a few minutes in the hot tub which was nice because I was having some weird pains.  Who knows what that was all about.  Makes me anxious for my ultrasound Thursday though.  Any movement sent pain shooting through my abdomen.  Not cool.  Charity and Kelly played together most of the time.  They seemed to be having fun.  Bradley and Luke were EVERYWHERE!  I never could keep my eyes on Luke long.  He was insane!  Kambree tagged along a lot with them. Noah too.  I realized that Noah has never had swim lessons.  He totally got skipped!  We'll have to fix that this summer.  He insists that he knows how though, so it's all good.  He's the only one that didn't want to try the slide.  He wasn't tall enough and didn't really want to ride with mom.  Poor kid.  But I think he had enough fun.  Everyone took turns with Bradley's awesome goggles.  Who doesn't love that.  I loved how good everyone was about leaving.  Made it quite painless.  Almost makes me want to go again.  I have so many horrible memories of dragging kids kicking and screaming out of the swimming pools that it just pains me to even think about it!  Good times though.
That night we had a few friends over and watched a movie for a late night.  4-2-15

18 WEEKS
I was reading on my "What to Expect" app that I should be having really bad back pain right now, so I have to say, I'm very grateful to NOT be having really bad back pain!!  What a blessing that is!  I've had some other weird little pains.  Pretty much constantly, but no bleeding, so I have to assume all is well.  I know my body is just different having been through this so many times.  I have to leave room for weird symptoms in my mind :).  That's where these weird pains go :).  I need bigger pants, but my "baby bump" is not where the baby is :).  Kind of annoying, but that's how I am.  I felt this little one move this week!!  WAHOO!!  Not as much as I'd like, and feels a lot lower than I expected, but I LOVE the reminder that there's a sweet little one in there :).  The lower position makes me think- boy.... hmmm.  We only have 3 more days til we find out the gender!!  I'm nervous!  I know I shouldn't say this out loud (that's why I only put it on my blog :) ), but I feel like we have a girl still waiting to come to our family.  Could be all of Erika's talk a couple years ago, about her "little sister". She used to save clothes for her, toys, you name it, in her drawer.  I think she and I even prayed for her little sister a few times.  So maybe that's why, and maybe it means nothing, but if I find out this is a boy, I might drive myself crazy wondering if there is still a little girl.  Please don't think I'm crazy.  I have felt like this could be our last baby though, a few times, during this pregnancy, but I also leave room for not.  So I guess we'll see :).  I'm excited to see my baby though!  Boy or girl, I know this baby is meant to come to our family right now.  I think it would be super cute for Jack to have a little brother.  SO anyway- I don't know why I even think about this stuff... it's nuts :).  We're almost to hump week!!!  4-4-15

Things to Remember 3-22-15

PUTTING THE LORD FIRST
I really liked the challenge given in the talk on Sunday.  To choose one thing in my life that I can improve on, by putting the Lord first in that area.  I decided to work on going to the temple.  I want to say once a week.  So hopefully I can pull that off.  It's nice to think about what that might do to my mood and my days to have that blessing in my week.  Motivating.  Even though it can be hard to go- I think this is a worthwhile goal.  And now that I have live in babysitters I really have no excuse.  3-22-15

CROSSING GUARDS
So I totally forgot I needed to pick up Kambree on Monday.  I was picking up Charity and got a text from Charise about picking her up.  She gets out at 3:15 and it was 3:13 when I looked at the clock.  I was feeling so bad!!  I had picked up Brad from school early that day with a sore throat and thought it okay to leave him home with Erika and Jack, just while I pick up Charity.  Well, I panicked and just left for Kambree's school after picking up Charity.  I knew Nate would be home soon, but still it was stressy in the back of my mind.  I raced up to her dumb school- I seriously hate that place.  And Syracuse too.  And in the process of hurrying almost ran out of gas, so I had to stop and get that before getting stranded.  That took more time.  I stopped for a cross walk, two crossing guards were letting kids cross and as soon as they were out of my way I raced through the crosswalk.  Well, apparently I raced through it too soon.  Seconds later there were flashing lights in my rear view.  I hate that!  So I hurried and texted Charise that it was now going to be even longer.  Up to that time I hadn't said anything to her.  The cop was pretty nice.  Took forever to get the paperwork done, but ended up just giving me a "written warning".  For that I was very grateful.  I was bummed though.  I hate getting pulled over.  Then I'm totally paranoid.  I finally picked up Kambree about a half hour late.  She was the only kid there.  Poor girl.  3-23-15

FOOD ALLERGIES
I took dinner to a good friend on Monday who has walking pneumonia among other problems.  Her family has a LOT of food allergies and things they can't eat, no peanuts, pine nuts, chicken, soy, corn or msg.  It was quite the challenge to figure out what to feed them!!  It made me more grateful for the fact that we do not have that challenge.  I don't know what I would do if I had restrictions like that along with the difficulty of choosing what to make every night.  Seems stressful.  I was glad to help, but seriously!  1-23-15

FHE
Erika showed the section in the little living scriptures videos on Gospel Library about  Joseph Smith and the first vision.  Then she bore her cute little testimony for everyone.  It was so cute and sweet!  I loved that Nate had coached her and helped her with that.  What a sweet Dad.  We played cards for Charity's activity.  And for my awesome treat we had cake in a mug :) with ice cream on top... so delicious!  I loved it.

PRODUCE
I hated produce this week.  That's all I'm going to say.  It really tested my patience and my ego.  Better luck next time.  I guess THAT'S all I'm going to say :).  3-24-15

WEEK 16
So I think it's been a while since I updated on the pregnancy.  I've been struggling a lot emotionally and didn't want to have to be all negative on here so I was waiting for it to subside.  Well, it's getting closer to subsiding I think.  My life, all these dumb little things in it, feels so overwhelming right now.  It's so weird.  I keep trying to look at it all through non-pregnant eyes, and I catch glimpses of reality and how simple things really are and how blown up I'm making them, but it's so hard to keep that vision.  I feel like all things need to happen right now, they all need my attention and I'm running so low on patience and energy that I'm just failing miserably.  This nausea is not letting up at all.  I was feeling like I could stay on top of it for a while there, but now... I think I'm just sick of being sick.  I'm losing my will-power.  And it feels like I can't stop thinking about the things I can't change.  The things people say to me and how I feel around other people is getting to be too much.  I almost want to just lock myself up and not be around other people for a while.  But then I think about how unhealthy that thought is.  So I keep trying to be social.  I go to playgroup and all the things that I can.  But like today, it was almost too much for me to handle emotionally.  I know I'm overly sensitive, so I won't go into details, but there were too many things said that I couldn't let go of.  It weighed me down all afternoon until I finally took a nap.  I do think that I haven't been getting good enoug hsleep and I know that that is playing a part in all this, but it was so hard today.  Luckily Nate let me vent a little (yes, again) and I am feeling a little better about things.  So anyway.  This pregnancy is not going to get the best of me.  I refuse to let myself sink into that hole again.  I want to stay stronga nd close to Heavenly Father.  I know H wants me to.  I'm doing pretty good about it and I will get out of this slump.  I did have a morning where I was just dying to feel the baby move and couldn't get enough of the info about he/she on my app on my phone, and it was a lot of fun just laying in bed thinking about and reading about this little one, growing inside of me.  They are 5 to 6 inches long now and able to suck their thumbs :).  Cute.  I get so anxious to meet this baby sometimes!!  Can't wait!  3-25-15

BEEHIVES
The beehives came over to sit around the campfire and talk and play around- it was a really fun activity.  3-25-15

MOVIE NIGHT WITH THE MAUGHANS
We invited the Maughans over for a movie night.  Big Hero Six is one of our favorite movies right now and so it was fun to share it with them.  A lot of their family hadn't seen it.  The adults sat around and chatted while the kids ran around and played for the first hour. I wasn't sure we were actually going to have time to watch the movie, but we didn't want to end their fun either.  Should have done dinner.  I wish I'd done more treat wise as well.  I'm such a slacker right now, I feel myself doing bare minimum and I hate that.  I hope I can start to feel better soon.  Anyway- we had such a good time with the Maughans.  I felt bad because Lisa came over to get Corbin in the middle of it and even though I know they had things that night and would not have been able to come, I felt bad we hadn't even thought to invite them.  But it's like Nate said, we don't really have room for more people!  I think we could cram everyone in one of these days, but I just need to think about it.  It's not the first thing on my mind.  3-28-15

RANDOM LITTLE THINGS
Nate and Bradley went on a huge bike ride in the morning and made it back almost in time for the Home Teachers.  I enjoyed talking with Bro. McColley about Pheochromocytosis.  We meant to go on a bike ride, but never made it out.  3-28-15

WOMEN'S CONFERENCE
My mom, Heidi and I finally made plans to hang out for Women's Conference.  It's been a while since we were able to do that.  We met up here and then went to Bajios, came back to get Charity and Kelly and watched the meeting at our Stake Center.  It was a really great meeting.  I wish I'd been able to focus better.  I blame it on the pregnancy, but I have a really difficult time focusing right now.  I did love Elder Eyring's talk.  Made me realize my life is pretty easy right now.  I need to stay close to my Heavenly Father so that I can be an instrument in blessing others' lives.  I wish I was better at that.  After the meeting we went to Dairy Queen then stopped at the store for some ice cream for the boys.   I was proud of Bradley- he had been babysitting and did a great job.  That was a long babysitting job for him.  3-28-15