Father & Son Campout

Last weekend was our Ward's Father & Sons camp out. We told Owen it was a time for just daddy and him to go away. He was going to sleep in a sleeping bag and tent, but boy would it be fun. Well, from the time we told him about it and everyday since then, he keeps talking about camping. How he slept in a tent, threw rocks in the water, ate s'mores, and had sooooo much fun. So much so, that he can hardly wait to go again. (I think Adam finally found his "true camping" buddy.) There were tons of kids and tons of dads there. Everyone had a good time.



Before Adam and Owen left on this adventure, we checked batteries in flashlights, lanterns, the comfiness of the sleeping pads, sleeping bags, tent, everything. Unfortunately, the only thing that worked down here that didn't up camping was Owen's lion flashlight. The flashlight would roar as it was suppose to come on, but the light never did. Adam said Owen had more fun playing with his flashlight and the lantern anyway. When they returned home safe and sound, Adam and I got the kids lunch. After lunch is when I noticed Owen's hands and how filthy they were. Adam laughed and said they were actually pretty darn clean. I guess what a mom doesn't know doesn't worry/hurt her.



As soon as Owen and Adam left, I was kind of upset and sad. With the exception of me staying in the hospital to have Caroline, I have never been away from my kiddos overnight. It's not that I didn't trust Adam, but I wasn't there and that was sad for me. Yes, Owen is only 3 years, 3 months and 2 weeks old, but that is approximately 1200 days (1198 minus 2 nights for me being in the hospital) that I have been with Owen. I quickly realized that as much as he drives me crazy teasing his sister and doing things he knows he should not do, I miss that little boy when I am not with him. So, despite the campfire smell, the dirty clothes, the filthy hands and the like, I am so glad Owen had a fabulous time and can hardly wait to go camping with his Daddy again.

First Things First

One of the joys of being pregnant is being able to feel the baby move around inside (yes, even at 3:30 in the morning!) and know that this child was sent to us by Heavenly Father. I'm feeling really good with 5 weeks to go in this pregnancy, despite how big I look and am (trust me I do have a mirror and am acutely aware of just how big I do look).

One thing that is not so great is the swelling of my feet and hands. I can no longer wear any rings and my watches must be taken off halfway through the day otherwise they cause my hands to swell even worse. I constantly have my hands falling asleep at random times and from doing random things. It's really weird and a first. Nothing like this happened with either Owen or Caroline. But, like everything during this pregnancy, it has been right down the middle. I was sicker - in the beginning - with this one than with Caroline, but better than Owen. This pregnancy the swelling is worse than Caroline's but better than Owen's. I've gained more weight than with Owen's pregnancy, but less than Caroline's.

Something that is similar to Owen's pregnancy is I have to put my shoes on first thing after getting showered and dressed otherwise my feet literally will not fit into my flip flops. By the end of the day, my feet barely fit into my slippers. They ache and hurt because of the swelling and puffiness, but truly that is they only thing that makes me uncomfortable - I'm lucky. So, to prove a point to my younger (and littler) sister, I took some pictures of my feet and sent them to her. She couldn't believe just how swollen they were/are. I told my mom I just might be wearing my slippers to the hospital on the day I deliver. Her response was "do what you have to do to get the ox out of the mire."





No, I'm not toxic nor is my blood pressure high. But, when I did ask my OB about it, his response was "as long as I can see space between your toes, I'm not worried about it." Great. Thanks a lot! Meanwhile and for the remainder of my pregnancy time, I will walk around with severe kankles (I can no longer see the ankle bones on either the inside or outside of my ankles, nor my Achilles tendon), and Vienna sausages for toes. I will continue to ask for, and sometimes beg, foot rubs from Adam (who doesn't necessarily like to do it, but loves me enough and takes pity on me to do it anyway) and I will continue to put my feet up wherever and whenever possible to help alleviate the swelling (if it's in a long enough duration) and/or the pain of the pressure on my feet.

So, if you see me out and about just know that truly I'm not really miserable with this pregnancy, it's just my feet are hurting and there's nothing I can do about it other than have the baby - in 5 more weeks - but who's counting, right?!!!!!

There's No Stopping Her

I took Caroline to the doctor today for her 2 year well-check. She is doing fabulously and I can't believe how tall she is. She measured 36 1/2" and weighed in at 27 and 8 oz. Her height was well off the charts for her age and her weight was in the 50-75th percentile. In other words, she's built just like her daddy. I couldn't be happier about that.

When I put my "order" for kids in with Heavenly Father, I begged him that if I was to raise a daughter to let her please be built like Adam and my boys could be built either way. So far, He has filled my "order" as I begged him to and I couldn't be more happy or more blessed. Now, if this child that I carry is another girl, I continue to beg that she will be built just like her sister/daddy.

It Does Pay...

...to use coupons at the grocery store that is. I went tonight after going 2 weeks without needing to go (except for the "necessities") and I was astounded at the total of my groceries. Before the shoppers card, sales, and coupons, my total was roughly $325. I snapped this picture of my cart with my phone so you could see just how full my cart was. So, although the quality of the picture isn't the greatest, you'll get the gist.

After all the sales, shopper's card, and coupons, I walked out of the store paying roughly $133.50 for my groceries! That's right people. I saved $191.50 on my grocery bill and this will last us approximately 2 weeks. Not too shabby if you ask me. I got 6 gallons of milk, but only had to pay for 4 of them; 5 fridge packs of Coke for $1.22 a piece; and the list goes on and on. This isn't the store brand of items either. With the exception of the dill relish I bought, everything in the cart was "name brand", on sale, and I had a coupon for it. (On things that don't really matter - like dill relish, I'll buy the generic brand. But when it comes to cereal and such, this family prefers the taste of name brand.) The checker guy couldn't believe the total I was paying after all was said and done. Typically, I don't ask for help out to my car - I can do it. But, it took the bagger 2 carts to get everything in and not squish it all together. Tonight, I asked for help.

When I go grocery shopping and gather up the coupons, sometimes I just don't want to do it. It does take time (about an hour) and effort to gather the coupons and organize them. But, on the other hand, when I save $191 in one trip, I think of it as getting paid $191 for the hour worth of work I did to get everything ready and organized. Now, if only I could find a "real job" that would pay me that kind of money wouldn't that be great.

Happy Birthday Caroline

Adam and I got double-whammied today. Not only is it Easter Sunday, but it also happens to be Caroline's birthday. She turned 2 today and, she is every bit a 2 year old. Each day brings a new challenge with this kid. She can be either the sweetest little girl or a Tasmanian Devil on wheels. Caroline will help Owen make his bed one minute and the very next she is running off with something of his just to make him upset. She kills me! She also knows just when to look at me and give me the sweetest smile or cheesiest grin that makes me forget why I got mad at her in the first place. Or, she'll say something really funny and I just start busting up and forget why I got made at her. I love my little girl. Even though she keeps me running from one thing to the next and some days tests my sanity and patience levels, I honestly don't know what I would do without her. She's the best! Happy Birthday Biggi! We love you, Mom & Dad.

Happy Easter

Easter. What a special time of year we have to reflect on the life and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He has played such a vital role in my life many times when things were difficult or all hope seemed to be lost. He will continue to play that role now more than ever, especially as I lean on Him and my Heavenly Father to help me raise these beautiful children I have been blessed with at this time. I am so grateful for their confidence in me and my abilities and am touched by their hands each and everyday of my life. I know that all I have is because of them. I know that I will return to live with my Heavenly Father because of Jesus Christ's sacrifice. I know I am not alone here in this life, regardless of how hopeless a situation may seem. I know, and am only beginning to understand, how much my Savior and my Heavenly Father love me.

Enjoy this video link and this special Easter season we have. Wishing you all a wonderful and very Happy Easter.

The Kite Runner

It is not windy here very often, but when it is, boy is it ever! A couple of weeks ago our ward had a "Spring Fling" and we were encouraged to bring balls, bikes, scooters, kites, etc. I had seen kites at Barf-Mart that were a buck a piece and decided to get the kids a kite. Well, there wasn't quite enough wind to keep the kites flying for these little tykes, but they had a good time anyway.

This week has been pretty darn windy around here, but especially today. Before we ate dinner, Adam and I took the kids over to the greenbelt common area and flew our kites. Owen had a good time flying his kites. Caroline was too cold and grumpy to do much of anything other than sit on my lap.

Surprisingly so, there was only 1 casualty to this kite flying adventure and that was the Lightning McQueen kite - of course the one kite Owen was really enjoying! Caroline let go of her "Kinko Bell," a.k.a. Tinkerbell, kite (because she was too cold and grumpy) and I made Adam run after it - like I can run these days. Owen saw Adam running after the kite, he started screaming for Daddy and then let go of his kite. It promptly took off into the nearest Palo Verde tree and proceeded to get stuck. Even with Adam's height, he couldn't get it down. (Good thing it was only a buck!) Besides, Caroline was too cold and grumpy.

Adam decided to bring his kite to the park, too. It is a stunt kite that he got on his mission oh so many years ago in Seaside/Astoria, Oregon. We didn't stay too long to fly the kites because it was too windy to fly the kites for the kids and Caroline was too cold and grumpy!

In the meantime and with Caroline on my lap, I snapped a few pictures of my kite runners:

Make a Smilebox slideshow

My 2 Sickies

It is not unusual for either or both of Owen & Caroline to come down with a cold about Tuesday or Wednesday after being in nursery class on Sunday. (I so wish people wouldn't take their sick kids into these classes.) But after spending one Saturday night and early Sunday morning awake with Caroline throwing up all night long (Adam was so great and got up with me every time I had to get up. Thanks so much my Love), and then in the ER with her to get rehydrated, I am a little tired of having this little girl sick. Both she and Adam came down with a cold, oh about Tuesday, and she has been grumpy, grumpy, grumpy every since. Yesterday after she woke up from her nap she had a fever and it hasn't quit since then. It gets a little better with the Tylenol (can't take Motrin, she's allergic to it), but never really goes away. Whenever Caroline does come down with a cold, her cheeks always get bright red and chapped. Can't quite figure out why this happens, but it certainly does.

Yesterday, after Adam got home from work and had dinner, Caroline wanted her Daddy - I was so glad she asked for him! Adam was lying down on the couch and she went right up to him and wanted to lie down with him too. It was really quite sweet that she turned to her Daddy for comfort and just wanted him to hold her.