SNOW!!!

Since last year we have been promising the boys we would go to the snow for the day so a few weeks ago we finally made good on that promise. We drove to Flagstaff early one Saturday morning and found the snow-play area by Snowbowl (the ski area). It was perfect! Tarell has played in the snow before but Brayden and Landon hadn't so it was a whole new experience for them. I'm not really sure what Brayden was expecting but he was a little shocked.

When we first got out of the car we got all geared up and Brayden made a mad dash to the top of the small hill we had claimed. He immediately sank to his thighs in the snow but he continued on his trek. Once at the top of the hill the cold hit him and he ran back down yelling about how he hated the snow because it was too cold. As soon as he got to the bottom he sat down, in the snow, and proceeded to take his shoes and his socks off because he had snow in them. (Brayden HATES having things in his shoes!) It took a few minutes to talk him into putting his shoes back on and just dealing with the cold so he could have fun. He finally did! It took everything in me to not laugh out loud at him (I know, meanest mom ever!!) but it was so funny! After a few minutes he joined in the fun and had a blast. While he was trying to decide if he really did want to play or sit in the car Tarell and Landon had taken the sleds to the top of the hill and were already having so much fun. In the end we all had a great time and can't wait for next year. Next year I can sled too!!

Baby update

I just got back from my doctor appointment and thought I would update. So far everything is still looking great. My blood pressure is holding steady, still high, but not so concerning as a few weeks ago. Because I've been deemed "high risk" (because of the blood pressure) I have had a ton of appointments and careful monitoring. I now see the doc twice weekly for testing, which includes an ultrasound to check fluid levels and a non-stress test for the baby, as well as monthly ultrasounds. Even though I feel like I am ALWAYS at the doctor it's been nice to be able to see this kiddo more often. The difficult part has been that I see a different doctor each week - this practice is set up differently than others so I don't see the same provider, instead I see whoever is there that day. Unfortunately that means that I sometimes get different answers to questions and dates and such. But, at least they all agree that this baby is looking great so far.

Today we found out that he is approximately 4 lbs and 11 oz and right on target and he has been doing somersaults and is now head up (first time ever!!)! It looks like he will be a little bigger than Brayden but I also think the doc will let this guy stay in-utero a little longer than Brayden did. We got some cute pics (unfortunately our scanner isn't working though!) that showed him sucking his thumb. We also saw that he has huge pinchable cheeks and a ton of hair! He has a very similar profile to Brayden so we are pretty sure they will look alike, but we will see. We just can't wait to see and hold this little guy.

I asked the nurse practitioner today when she thought we might expect to be induced, assuming I would be based on the other doctors thoughts. She didn't seem to think that I will need inducing early at all, which is kind of disappointing for me - this bedrest is getting old!! One doctor told me that she wanted to induce me around 34 weeks, another said around 35 or 36 weeks, another said keep cooking until 39 weeks, and then today not at all. Oh well, I just want him to be healthy. I would like to be induced though - the thought of just going into labor kind of scares me. With Brayden I was induced at 35 weeks and once my water broke I pushed twice and he was out within 20 minutes. If that happens with this one we are in trouble because we are about 30 minutes from the hospital. Oh well, I'm sure there is a U-Tube video we could watch to figure out how to deliver this baby in the car if necessary, right??

We can't wait for this little guy to make his appearance, no matter when or how, which could be anytime betweek 1-6 weeks. He is so loved already and will definitely need to be ready for lots of attention

"Best Christmas EVER!!!"

That is what the boys kept saying on Christmas Day, and each day for a week after. I know we slightly spoiled them, or rather Santa slightly spoiled them, but it was fun.

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Where does the time go??

The past few months have gone by so fast and I am so obviously far behind with updates. So, here we go with an update....Halloween was fun! We had a Storm Trooper, a ninja, and a garden gnome. We had 3 days of Halloween - a trick-or-treat night at Brayden's school, the ward trunk-or-treat, and then a festival at the park. Good times!

Just a few weeks later Brayden turned 6!! I can't believe he is 6 now! We celebrated with his favorite breakfast before school - waffles with whipped cream and a big "6" candle and hot chocolate. Then just 3 days later Landon turned the big 4!! (unfortunately I can't find the pictures of his big day!! Bad mommy!!) That weekend we had a party for the boys and rented a huge bouncer at the park. They had so much fun and still talk about it. I will forever rent a bouncer for birthday parties - it was so entertaining!

Tarell's football season ended! He did such a GREAT job and had a blast! We can't wait for the next season to come around. He has really gotten into football lately and it's been fun to see. He tries explaining the game to his brothers and it's so fun to listen to.

Thanksgiving was fabulous! My brother and his family were here from China and it was so fun getting to know their sweet family. They have 3 of the cutest little girls ever and our boys had so much fun playing with their new found cousins. We can't wait until they come back someday. I know we too pictures but can't find them. I don't think I should be in charge of the camera anymore!

Latest baby news - things are still moving along and this little guy is growing nicely. My last ultrasound last week showed him moving (which I feel ALL the time!!) and he weighs about 3 pounds now. Right about where he should be. My blood pressure is still really high so the doctor ordered me to stop working and get more rest! He figured this would bring down my stress level - little does he know that staying home with 2-3 kids everyday and worrying about money will only bring more stress. I guess I'll have to work on it. This last week I spent a few hours in the hospital getting fluids. I was super dehydrated after spending 15 hours not able to keep anything down at all. Then 2 days later Brayden got strep throat! So far there hasn't been much resting - maybe after Christmas. I see the doctor in a week and then after that I have to start going 2 times per week until the end, which will probably come about 35 weeks. The doctor's goal has been to keep this baby cooking until about 35 weeks (anything after that will be a bonus) and depending on how the baby is I could deliver. So, we could have this baby anytime after January 20th! I can't believe it's almost the end! We are praying every day for a healthy baby - keep us in your prayers too please! We will keep everyone updated.

Last - today is my darling husband's birthday! Of course, true to form, I took no pictures! Sorry honey!! We had all the local family over for dinner and cake and ice cream. It's always so great to have family over - we love you all! Mark is having a hard time believing he is the big 37 now! I love you sweetheart and hope you had a great birthday!!

Baby update

We had our ultrasound today and the baby looks great! We didn't get a good look at the full spine because this kiddo was a little stubborn (imagine that!!) :-) It was a very exciting hour as the tech tried to get a good look and give us the one piece of info we really wanted. FINALLY, we found out that we are having .......a........

BOY!!

Yep, another boy for the herd. We aren't disappointed at all, we are only super excited!! Now, only to decide on a name. Any suggestions??

School

Brayden started 1st grade at the end of July! 1st grade people!! We moved him from the Charter school he went to last year to the public school by our house. It was such a hard decision but the school by us seemed to be a much better choice. The first couple of weeks were a little rough on Brayden - he got several time-outs and was even in a fist fight the second day! I didn't realize that changing schools would be so traumatic for him but he seems to have settled down and is now liking school and has even made several friends. He is doing amazing too! He loves spelling and mathm and is such a great reader - he can even read the same books Tarell reads. Good job kiddo!


Tarell turned 10 August 1st and is definitely growing up. The following week he also started school and is really happy to be back. He enjoys playing with his friends and learning new things. He also loves math and we are so proud of him! Tarell decided this year that he would skip out on orchestra and try something new - he chose the trumpet. He is super excited to learn this new instrument and we can't wait to hear him play.


Landon started preschool at his daycare and LOVES it! This kid is almost always happy. He is so outgoing at school and also enjoys playing with his friends, which he has a ton of! Landon can make friends wherever he goes. He is working on letters and numbers and recognizing colors. He loves it!


I LOVE when the kids go back to school. I love homework time each day after school and I love hearing about their daily adventures. It's also so nice to know that someone else is entertaining these darling kiddos each day, especially since I have not been feeling so well the past few weeks. YAY for school - it really is the most wonderful time of the year!!

San Diego 2010

For our summer vacation we went to San Diego this year and had a blast!! There was so much to do. We:
Went to the beach
Spent a day at Sea World
Hit up Old Town
Played at the Mormon Battalion (a MUST!!)
Hung out at the beach again
CAN'T WAIT TO DO IT AGAIN!!

Here are some of the pics we took while there

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