Pink

So I am finally having another girl. What other color could I paint the nursery?

We have a home that was built in the 1920's and therefore, has a lot of character...and also some oddities. This little room upstairs is, of course, the nursery. It's a small room with built ins and a slanted ceiling. It works perfectly for a nursery. I have been so excited to do this room for the new princess and I finally started it...and almost finished it. It's painted (thanks for the help Jennifer), and most of the decorative things are roughly in place. I did move the crib and changing table in there as well after I took these pictures. All that's left is making the bedding for the crib (right now there is simply a blue sheet and an adorable little boy still sleeping in it...in the pink room. I don't think he will be scarred too badly). There you have it folks, the beginnings of the last nursery I will ever do. I will post pics of the finished product.

MT and UT

At the beginning of the month we went to MT for my brother in laws wedding, then we headed down to UT to spend some time with Grandma and Grandpa Love. We left at 9pm one night and drove for about 16 or 17 hours (and by "we drove" I mean John drove). The temple is in Billings so that was the first stop for the sealing and what not. It was so amazing to be able to be there to celebrate Scott and Laura. They are such wonderful people and make a beautiful couple. We also had the opportunity to stay with some friends from the good 'ole days in El Paso. The Tilleys were so wonderful, letting John and I and the kids take over their basement, feeding us and even offering to watch the kids for us. We stayed with these exceptional people for a couple days and then drove to Bozeman for the reception that night. First, we moved the happy couple's things into their new place then we changed and headed to the reception. The kids had a great time eating all the ice cream in the place and coloring on everything in sight. John and I didn't actually stay very long...we were headed for Rexburg, ID to stay with Aunt Jessie and Uncle Travis for the night before heading to UT.

So we left. Drove some more (a drive that would be beautiful to take during the day) and landed in Rexburg. The next morning we just had to try one of the great food places they have there. They actually opened early just for us! I am pretty sure it was worth their while because we wanted to try everything on the menu. Then I just HAD to go to Porters. I LOVE that place! Then we had to get out of town.

We drove another 3 hours and finally made it to Grandma and Grandpa's. That same afternoon was the baby shower my mom was throwing for my sisters and I. It was SO MUCH FUN!! Almost all of my extended family lives in UT so it was kind of a family shower. I got to see cousins, aunts, and uncles that I don't get to see nearly often enough. It was fun, good food, and I did get some cute pink things!! Thanks again everyone.

The next day was John's nephews baby blessing. We went down for their sacrament meeting and enjoyed the wonderful blessing and spending time with some more family. Given that it was also Mother's Day, we again didn't stay very long...we headed back to Ogden. My beautiful daughter made me some wonderful gifts for Mother's Day and my little sis and her husband made a delicious dinner for my mom.

I didn't take very many pictures at all. Especially, in MT. The rest of our stay in the Beehive State will be reserved for another post, this is getting long already...

Gifts for a baby boy

While I am super excited to be expecting a girl, I was really psyched to make baby boy stuff for my sister in law. We spent a few weeks out of town, part in MT and part in UT (I will post about that soon) and while we were there my wonderful mother threw a baby shower for my sister, sister in law and myself. It was such a blast!!! For my sister in law, who we know is having a boy, I made a few cute things for her...

As for my sis, I decided to wait until she knows the gender to make or get her anything. Her ultrasound is on Monday and we are all really excited to hear some good news!

The shower really was such a great time. It was wonderful to spend time with so many family members that we don't get the chance to see very often. Thank you everyone for coming, thank you Aunt Linda for the use of your beautiful home and thank you Mom for putting it on!!

Easter

Easter this year started the weekend before at the Easter Activity at church. There was a wonderful program, good food and the kids got to put together a nice Easter FHE activity. We did that scripture activity for FHE on Monday. The "festivities" were pretty low key. On the 23rd, we stayed home all day except for a nice egg hunt with the neighbors. We also dyed eggs that night...

(E was pretty upset that he wasn't allowed to 'help' after he dumped an entire bowl of dye all over himself and the table)

Sunday morning the kids got up and got to find their baskets. That was a new thing at our house and they thought it was a pretty fun time.

My Mom's package also came on Saturday. Just in the nick of time for the kids to look adorable on Easter Sunday...

We hung out at the house and enjoyed a quick visit from Grandma Kathi, Aunt Jordan, Uncle Blake and Rori. Then we had our first Easter dinner at home.

(I made ham, au gratin potatoes and kid's choice of vegetable...corn on the cob. Not very fancy but it was yummy and nice to have our own holiday dinner)

After dinner, we made resurrection rolls. The kids really enjoyed making them and seeing the "trick" at the end. I think that we will do them again. Then the Easter scripture chase again and kids in bed.

For our first major holiday at home as a family, it was a success. Daddy didn't work so he was able to come to church and spend time with us. I am so grateful for my family and, of course, the opportunity to celebrate the resurrection of my Savior.

Boys...?

On certain Fridays I help my friend Katie with selling snacks for the PTO after school. I usually have the boys with me and A comes up front and meets us when her class lets out. Today was no different...J was being wild and crazy, Ike was being three and E just throws a fit for more fruit snacks the whole time. I am beginning to question what kind of "help" I actually am.

After we finished up, we let the kids play on the playground. The two little boys spent most of the time on the slide...fighting.

And we have a closer look...

When we first made it outside, all the boys immediately found the puddle of rain water at the bottom of the slides. Apparently, Ike's pants couldn't take the weight of the water. He really didn't mind though.

 E spent the other half of his time sitting in the mud or laying on the ground trying to lick up the water puddles. He was covered in mud and I have no idea what he is going to catch from all that puddle water, but he enjoyed himself. 

J made some new friends and they played Superheroes the entire time. He did actually "save E's life". J caught the baby boy right as he fell off the monkey bars...way to go Big Bro!

And A spent her time running around with her sweet friend...such a contrast from those crazy boys.

The kids had fun playing, and I love being able to sit and chat with a friend. Thanks Katie and Rachel for a nice afternoon at the playground! (and the post idea)!

What a Sight

I wore a white shirt today. A white shirt that is cute and still fits for the moment, but it's WHITE. I don't like white shirts. Scratch that, I do like white...nice, fresh, clean, and bleach works wonders. The problem arises when I have the shirt on for a total of five minutes and it's already dirty. I, apparently, am a slob. After 30 minutes, the original color of the shirt is a distant memory.

I looked in the mirror this evening and saw a shirt that I remember as being white when I put it on, but is no longer. I saw that I have mascara, juice, smeared muffin, boogers, chocolate, dirt, mac and cheese, ketchup, blood, something sticky, grease, marker, a sticker, some dinner, and drool that was some odd color on my shirt (my pants too). I stood in front of that mirror feeling a little embarrassed I went throughout the day like this and my dear husband has to come home to such a sight. I stood there wishing my face wasn't expanding along with my waistline, that my skin was clearer, that my hair would cooperate, that my tummy would start to look more pregnant instead of just fat at this point, that I really need a tan and some sleep, that I had bought more stain remover, and that I had known I looked such a wreck.

My hairdryer on the wall reminded me that my hair was done this morning, but I laid down with A for a nap.  Then I remembered that I have mascara on my shirt because I dropped the little wand mid-stroke as I heard a LOUD crash this morning, followed by screaming and crying. I have blood on my shirt from comforting my daughter as her brother had just climbed on, and ultimately pulled over on top of her, her tall desk. I have juice on me because, along with the aforementioned crisis, I was trying to bake bread, feed and clothe four children and myself in an hour so we could get where we needed to be this morning. Ketchup and mac-and-cheese because a lovey three year old has to give me kisses 379 times during lunch alone, marker and a sticker because my five year old just had to have my help while he made a picture, dinner mostly because cooking just gets a little messy with everything else going on and a belly that touches the stove (already!), and pink-ish orange drool because the happy and adorable E just adores starburst candy and cuddling on my shoulder. And the list could go on.

There is evidence on my shirt of what my day has played out to be...a day like any other around here. Evidence that I have one rambunctious five year old, a sweet toddler, a baby with a bit of a cold and teeth coming in, a daughter that will be upset with her brother for a while, and that I am in the process of growing another precious girl. Evidence that I am a mom. Someday I will be able to stand in front of the mirror at the end of the day with a shirt that is still white and I will wish that it wasn't.

A Glimpse

This week and last I have been watching my niece. It has been really interesting for me actually. I have been carting around and caring for 5 children the last two weeks (basically). Short of the fact that Aurora and E are almost the same age, that is what my life will be like in a few months. Of course, having a newborn is a lot different than a 15 month old, but our new one won't stay tiny forever and this life of 5 kids is fast approaching.

In other news... we found out today that John got a promotion at work. We are both very excited for this change and we are incredibly grateful for this blessing. This good news means a raise and, hopefully soon, not so many hours at work for John. He has been working so much in the last couple years that the kids, especially A in school, don't see him much at all and I am usually asleep when he finally gets home most nights. I am really hoping it won't be much longer before he can attend church with us again too. Sacrament meeting with 4, soon to be 5, little kids is really not that much fun. Again, we feel incredibly blessed by our Father in Heaven and we are so excited for the positive changes this should bring to our family.