20 Weeks

20 weeks down, 20 weeks to go. Or maybe only 19 weeks to go considering the baby is measuring about 6 days ahead. God help me if this is another Carson.....9lbs 6oz and about 60 lbs gained. I lost 60+ pounds once I'm not certain I'd be granted that good fortune again. Either way the baby is healthy (and if gaining that weight means a healthy baby, I'm ok with that) and looking good, at least what we could see of it. Seems the peanut is facing down and looking towards my back so we couldn't see much of it's face. But we did get to see its little arms flailing about. So precious. Heartbeat was right at 154 (the boys were 155 the whole way through).

I've been blessed with the opportunity to participate in a study through the University of South Dakota so we will actually get to see the baby 2 more times before he or she makes her appearance. For now here are some of our pictures.

The spine is across the top on the left and its face is looking down on the right.

Best sound to a pregnant mommy....the Fetal Heart Rate and a picture of a healthy heart.

2 little (but they actually look kind of big) baby feet.

And a profile shot with its little fist sticking up in the air.

And me in all my glory at 20 weeks.

Exhausted but rejuvinated from a little vacation.

As parents we always seem to be exhausted. It varies from day to day just how exhausted we are but it's always there. It wasn't until after we arrived in Vegas that I realized just how exhausted we were. Once I stepped away from dirty diapers, potty breaks, cleaning up toys, making beds, making 3 meals a day plus 2 snacks, going to school and all the crying and whining that I realized how incredibly exhausted I was. I realized how much WE needed this vacation.

A vacation that almost didn't happen. We decided to use our government stimulus check for this vacation and as soon as it was deposited into the account we made our reservations. For the next 6 months we debated about whether or not this was the right thing to do with our money. That money could have gone to other things and at that time I thought they were more important things then treating ourselves to a vacation, without kids! Something that hasn't happened since we got married. So a few months back I looked into canceling the whole thing. Lucky for us the airline we booked with did not accept cancellations. We could only postpone our vacation and receive a voucher for later travel dates. I am so very thankful that we didn't cancel. This vacation was a much needed vacation for this very exhausted mommy and daddy.

We had a blast. I think we both had forgotten what it was like to be childless. How much fun you can have when your children aren't around. While we did miss them it was so nice to be without them for a few days. I was reminded why I married my husband, why I love him and why I love my life and most importantly...why we NEED vacations. Now if the government would just keep sending me stimulus checks I could do this every year!

Needless to say the vacation did wonders. I'm rejuvinated. I missed my babies and I'm glad to be home. I even spent the whole day at home yesterday playing with them.

Here are some pictures of our fun time.

We dressed up for 5 nights! Something that is very rare...especially for me. Sad thing is, we didn't get a single picture of that. Instead we have this one. Taken the day we got there when we couldn't get into our room to change our clothes. Did I mention it was almost 90 and I was wearing jeans?

The Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Towe drink or as I like to call it 60 oz of daiquiri goodness.

Indiana Jones
Going to the wax museum was a highlight of the trip. They looked so incredibly real and you could touch them and take pictures with them all you wanted.

Matthew Mcconaughey

Me and the Heff.

Brangelina

Me and the Gov

Trevor and the Gov

What's he saying to Cameron Diaz? I have no idea!

Clooney and I got hitched while we were in Vegas. Isn't my dress just gorgeous? Wearing a t-shirt underneath is the new trend!

Golfing with Tiger and Greg Norman (I think that's who that is?) I might be wrong though.

And this my friends is why my husband is NOT a basketball player.

Tim McGraw

He landed on the moon with Neil Armstrong! Must have been warm on the moon.

John Wayne

Master Chief

You can never get tired of the Strip at night.

On Tuesday we rented a car and drove out to Hoover Dam. They are in the process of building an enormous bridge over the Dam. I have no idea just how high it is in the air but this picture was taken from my car on the road that is there now. It was incredibly high. I can't imagine working on that.

The bridge from the damn.

This picture was taken on our tour and is from the inside of Hoover Dam.

A crazy tunnel inside hoover dam that we got to see.

Acting like goofy kids in the Dam Store.

They're me don't you think?

Las Vegas Motor Speedway. There was absolutely no security there. We were allowed to drive through the tunnel and onto the in field. Richard Petty's driving school was going on so we couldn't go on the track but we could get next to pit road which was neat.

We were also allowed to climb some stairs to get onto the roof of some buildings in the in field. It was pretty neat to see.

And a video of one of the neatest sites in Vegas...the fountains at the Bellagio

Sometimes they make you laugh so hard you cry or cry so hard you laugh

The chocolate chip cookies were a hit. At least according to Carson they were. And he got to be Leader for the day. Except for a moment when his friend tried to take his spot. I image there was some sort of preschool take down match between the two of them. OK, maybe not, but Carson was pretty clear that he got the Leader spot back.

It's barely after noon and the boys are already in bed. This may be due to the fact that BOTH of them woke up WAY to early (read 6AM) this morning. Seriously, nothing good can come of a day when they are up at that ungodly hour. No wonder I drink Coke. Its the only thing that gets me through days like this. Hopefully a long nap will clear up any crabbiness left in their wee little bodies.

I had my first night of Religious Education last night. Let's just summarize and say the kids were awful. 12 first graders, 9 boys and 3 girls. I'm not really sure what I am going to do, if I'll even continue teaching. I thought younger aged kids would be "easier" but if last night is a sign of anything, I was WAY wrong. It's frustrating because I was looking forward to doing this. But we'll see, I haven't given up hope just yet.

We've been weaning Declan off his plug for awhile now. He's done pretty well with it. He gets it only at nap time and bedtime and he knows that he can only have it when he is in his crib. I used to keep them on my tall dresser so he couldn't see them but I could easily get to them. Well the other day I started making him set them on his dresser after nap and after a few days I had 3 or 4 gathered there. I was cooking dinner on Monday night while Trevor was at work. When dinner was ready Carson came running in and sat at the table but there was no Declan and that's when I noticed it was pretty quite around here. S0 I went looking for him and found him in his room. He had pushed our big stool over to his dresser, climbed on top of the stool and was sucking on the plugs one at a time....completely enjoying himself. Stinker! Needless to say, they are back in my room now.

We have an area behind our chair that is open and when you are walking down our stairs you can reach that area through the banister. Makes a great place to store junk, just ask my husband! It is also a place where our kitties often curl up and sleep. When the boys are on the stairs they like to reach over and give them a pet. Yesterday I ran out to the car to get some cars for Carson that he left in there. As I was walking back through the garage I heard a loud thump and then screaming. When I opened the door I found Carson laying on the floor screaming and holding his head. I picked him and gave him some loves. When he calmed down I asked him what had happened. He said he fell down the stairs. I said well how did you fall. His reposnse between sobs was....
"I was coming down the stairs and I stopped to talk to Jenna (our kitty) and I tripped."
I wonder if Jenna talked back?

Usually when I tuck Carson into bed we review how our day has been. Today as I ducked into his bed to say goodnight (or is it goodnap?) he said to me (before I even started talking)...
"I wuv you all da time mommy and I wuv daddy all da time too."

Oh, it's moments like that that make this the BEST job in the world.

And lastly, a little video of the crazy boys in the tub the other night.

A Time to Remember

Today is a a sad day. Its a day of remembrance and in our house we are remembering one special person today.

Today would have been my sister's 38th Birthday.
Happy Birthday Cari!
We miss you and love you.

I don't think anyone will ever forget where they were 7 years ago today. I can remember the whole day as if it was yesterday. I remember calling my parents who were on vacation in Montana but decided to cut the trip short and just go home. I remember going to class but all of us trying to figure out what it was we saw on TV this morning. I remember going to work and writing God Bless America on the white board and talking to customers who just didn't know what to say or think. I remember watching hours and hours of tv not only that day but for the many days that followed.

Carson had school today. His biggest excitement from the day was bringing an apple to class so they could make applesauce. I'll note that he didn't actually eat any of it but he was pretty excited about the apple itself. Oh and I hear there was cupcakes too and some playing on the playground. All innocent activities that made his day.

Someday he'll go to school, both boys will, and they will begin to learn the history of this great country. And they will eventually learn the history of this world changing day. They will learn just how cruel some people can be. But that won't happen today or tomorrow and hopefully not for a few more years. I'd liked to think I can protect them from such cruel truths forever but I can't. So today I will hug them a little tighter, kiss them a little extra and tell them that I will always keep them safe.

May God Bless this great country, my sister, all those who lost family and friends 7 years ago and all the men and women who are so proudly serving this country. Because it IS a great country!

Staying Home

I love my job. I love being home with the boys every day. I know I am truly blessed to have the opportunity to be with them during such an important time in their life. We've made sacrifices, we've cut out any wants and we've made a conscious decision to do this no matter what. I know I am lucky, I know this.

Most days the boys are great. We have truly been blessed with two boys who are very well behaved. Most days they get along beautifully and I get lots of compliments on how well they get along, care for each other, etc. Most days I feel like the luckiest mom in the world.

Most days.

Today.......not one of them! Today is the day I've considered two things 1.) Applying for a full time job or 2.) Sell the boys....to the highest bidder. I wonder which would happen faster?

There has been more whining, crying and complaining in the last 6 hours since they got up then in the last 6 weeks.

Don't touch me, That's mine, No brother, my turn, mooommmmmyy, nnnnoooo, leave me alone, mmmmooommmmmyy brother is taking it, mommmmyyyyy, crying, loud screaming, more crying, get off of me, brothers touching me, mommmyyyyyy and on and on and on. You get the picture. How I made it to naptime without losing it is beyond me.

A few weeks ago we had a similiar day. I decided that we all needed to take a breath, say a little prayer and hopefully start over with a little (or maybe alot) less whining. So I made up a little prayer for Carson to say to help him slow down a little. Now its his favorite thing to say and usually request it be said before bed every night. So, I think it's my turn to say the prayer....

Dear God,
Please grant me patience and self control.
Amen

Wii'd Out

My entire upper body is sore. It hurts to laugh, cough and pretty much move. My right arm and side happen to be the worst. What may you ask was I doing? I'd love to say I was doing some great physical activity like hiking or swimming or running. But I wasn't.

I'm sore from playing Wii. Yes, you read that right, a video game system has left me pretty useless today. Oh, but it was fun and I'd do it again in a minute.

I'd like to thank Mother Nature for the extent of my injuries since it was raining and snowing all day Saturday. Yes, snowing on May 10th.

Mother's day was great. My present from Trevor and the boys is a trip to Your Secret Kitchen tomorrow night. I can't wait to go and try all the meals. I also got a new dress for our Vegas trip, some clothes and a gift certificate to get my hair cut. Yay!!

Here are some pictures of our weekend at Grandma and Grandpa Cameron's

Trying to teach a 3 yr old how to play Wii.

Checking out the golfers with grandpa.


I thought it was a great idea to try and snap a picture of me and the boys for Mother's Day. We had gone to the golf course for brunch so I thought the settings would be perfect. Even after many attempts of bribery the boys had other ideas then cooperating. So here are some outtakes of our picture attempts.

Declan was far more entertained by the waterfall behind us.

Grandma's attempt wasn't too bad.

Family picture try. Failed.

How about no kids in the picture. That seems to work MUCH better.

Growing as a Parent

When I was pregnant with Carson I figured I would love the baby stage. Then once he hit 1 or 2 and so on I wasn't sure what I would think about it. Honestly, I thought I would hate it. And hates a strong word but I was scared to have a "toddler" or a "preschooler." The baby stage seemed so much more fun and cuddly and oh that baby smell. I loved it.



Yesterday Carson and I spent a few hours outside while Declan was sleeping and I realized that this stage in his life has been my favorite so far. Even better then the baby stage if you can imagine such things. His personality is flourishing, he can carry on a pretty good conversation, he's asking questions about everything, he's so curious, he's entertained by the simplest things and he makes me laugh all day with the things that come out of his mouth.



I look forward to teaching him and his brother all about life, about God, about serving and helping others, about being good people, etc. We get to teach them all this stuff. Why is this hitting me now? How exciting and yet how nerve racking. I often wonder how am I going to teach them. The teacher in me tells me I need a lesson plan, I need to know when and how to teach them about these things. I know I don't have all the answers and some days I panic and feel I need to research so I have the right answers when the time comes. But when will that time come?

Well yesterday it came when he asked me a few simple questions about God and about Jesus. They were simple, who is Jesus, where is He, etc. Of course I knew the answers and I tried to explain it in 3 year old terms but what if he didn't get it? I'm a worrier by nature, but I think I've come to the realization that I just need to go with the flow and pray that God helps us answer all their questions about life.

One thing I know.....God has truly blessed us!

Now for some random pictures from our week.

The boys got a new table last week and so since its pretty much still winter out its been sitting in our kitchen. And so they want to eat at it every meal. It's pretty cute but the cracks in the table result in this....

LOTS of food on the floor.

Carson has decided that he NEEDS to go "shishing" (fishing). He carried this tackle box for HOURS yesterday waiting for daddy to come home and take him to the river.

We put up our bird feeder yesterday and Carson anxiously waited for birds to come have some food. We woke up this morning and found our first patron.

I finally got around to taking the wallpaper off the top of our cabinets last week. In my efforts I discovered that the previous owners had actually put up particle board and wallpapered that. SO, we tore down the particle board and I now have this nice look to my cabinets. It's beautiful, I know. Ha! Not really sure what I am going to do up there but I'm headed to Home Depot tonight to check out my options.