Conference Weekend

For conference weekend, we decided travel down to my grandparent's house in Wayne County. We've gone on this same trip a few times in the past and have really enjoyed it. The kids love going because the get to see Poppa Mont and Grandma Elaine and get to have all sorts of fun playing in the dirt, going on 4-wheeler rides, and playing on grandpa's pool table. I love going because I get to go to down to Bicknell and enjoy some pristine landscape away from the city as well as take in conference with family. Conference was great, as usual. In particular, I enjoyed President Uchtdorf's Preisthood session talk (http://lds.org/general-conference/watch/2011/04?lang=eng&vid=880211641001&cid=7).

It's raining, it's pouring

The last few weeks, have been busy for us and honestly not very high on my "lets do this again" list.  We've been sick with everything from colds and coughs, fevers, ear infections, pneumonia, throwing up flu, my tummy hurts, my head hurts, you get the idea.  Even the cat has been on the mend from shots and a spay visit to the vet.  And I will say that I'm not a huge fan of the cat being just as needy as sick kids who don't feel well and let the cranky monster appear. 

In the middle of all this my grandfather, who has been sick for some time, took a turn for the worse and passed away on Valentine's day.  While it was a blessing for him to go, he was in pain near the end, it was still sad to lose someone.  Between his passing on Monday and his funeral on Friday we had the flu at our house.  We were well enough to attend the funeral and then travel to Idaho on Sunday to attend his burial on Monday morning.  After a fun evening swimming at the hotel and a quick dinner I somehow stepped funny and dislocated my kneecap.  After a slightly scary call to 911 and a ambulance trip to the ER I had an awesome brace to sport and quite the gimpy limp.  If I thought putting pants on while 7 months pregnant wasn't hard enough, it's even harder trying to do it with one leg completely straight in a brace.  A follow up visit to the doctor earned me 3 more weeks of wearing this brace followed by another type of brace and physical therapy.  When I haven't been lamenting all of the things that have suddenly become very hard to do, I've tried to look on the bright side.  Here are a few of the things that I have come up with.

We are all finally healthy so at least I don't have sick people to take care of right now. 
Kevin was around when I hurt my knee and I didn't have to deal with the event by myself. 
The baby was not harmed at all, I could have definitely hurt my abdomen or head but didn't as I fell between a dresser and desk.  The paramedics were really nice.  We discovered family staying at the same hotel only minutes before everything happened and when the paramedics asked if we had someone to take our children we could answer yes and I could feel completely comfortable about leaving them.  I have had so many offers for help and random kindness that I wasn't prepared for.  People have watched my children, transported them to and from school, brought us dinner, done my dishes, helped with laundry, brought me cookies, taken over classes I was supposed to teach and been understanding when I had to flake on plans we'd already made. 

All of these things have been really wonderful that I sometimes feel bad for wallowing in a bit of self pity for the things that I feel like I've lost because of this.  I can't carry my littlest much at all and she really hates to go down stairs herself and it makes me sad to have her wait at the top for a mom who usually would just scoop her up but instead has to hobble up the stairs and then slowly coax her down.  I get a little sad that I had to stop teaching my weekly yoga class and struggle with the uncertainty of when and if I will be able to return to teaching.  I had looked forward to the time I had with my kids off track just before the baby came and I had all sorts of plans for us to go, go go before a new baby changed our pace.  And mostly I dislike the feeling of not being able to take care of my kids and family the way I am used to doing.

I think though that I am realizing a change in perspective every once in awhile is good, even if it is inconvenient and slightly unwelcome.  It helps me to better appreciate what normally I take for granted.  And I guess that isn't so bad after all. 

Happy Birthday Zoe, Kevin, and Keira!

We finished up the birthday run a few weeks ago at our house. It's non stop party at our house starting at Halloween, followed closely by Zoe's Birthday and then we are on to Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and ending with Kevin's Birthday, and Keira's Birthday.  Keira and Zoe were both born on the 13th of the month which I think is really fun! Zoe turned 4, Keira turned 6 and Kevin celebrated the big 3-0.  



 A little fuzzy as everyone was preparing to help blow out the candles!





We made homemade donuts for breakfast



I'm not sure who was more excited for Kevin's birthday, him or the girls!

Keira, 6 years old!

Zoe, 4 years old!

New Additions at our house

VAN - We finally gave in  and bought a van.  Ok, so really I was the holdout.  After much searching, and I mean much, we finally found a great Honda Odyssey and I admit it's not as bad as I thought it was going to be driving around a van. 

PIANO - Kevin surprised me Christmas morning with a piano in the living room (no small feat especially with me around, I tend to unknowingly ruin surprises).  I am so excited to have a piano!

BABY #4 - is on the way! Our ultrasound was today and GIRL number 4 is headed to our house.

Blitz Fall Update

Visit from great grandma

Playing outside after it rained

At a preschool field trip to Wheeler Farm

Grinning ear to ear at the circus

At the Circus with our cousins

Facepainting from a birthday party

I love her crooked fishy face!

Silly face

Yummy treats from baby shower we had at our house

The Ranch

We headed down to Bicknell, UT for the weekend to visit a place we call The Ranch, which is where Kevin's grandfather lives.  It always has plenty of good food and fun to offer.  We had another family come with us so the kids had double the fun as they shared all the activities with friends.  We rode 4wheelers, went shooting, took a hike, swam rather than sat in the hot tub, played pool, sat out on the deck and stargazed (the nearest neighbor lives the next hill over so no lights at all to block out the stars), drove through Capital Reef and stopped to look at the petroglyph's, spent time playing in the red dirt, pushed kids on the swings, and ate lots of Gramps yummy cooking.  They are always great hosts and we love going down there!