EIGHT YEARS and counting

WOW. Thanks hun for eight years filled with new experiences, happiness, growth, challenges, joy, bliss, travel, boys, and so much more. I am grateful for all the memories we have and for our love and friendship. I will never be able to express how much I love you! Happy Anniversary August 30, 2008.

Bloggin' Blues

I miss blogging. My eyes have been giving me fits whenever I look at my computer or watch television. It is a real bummer. I feel so out of the loop. I miss reading about everybody’s adventures. I hope all is well.

I need to do a few updates so I am typing this in word and I will try and post it tomorrow. I guess little baby steps just to post these days.

First, I have learned to eat my words the past few months. You never know what will happen in life, what turns you may take, and what things soon become practical instead ridiculous. I passed over to the other side last month. I swore I would never be caught dead in a minivan. Even when everyone said, “Once you do it, you will love it”, I just rolled my eyes and said “I will never drive and especially never love a minivan”. Guess what, I LOVE MY MINVAN! Did I just type that?

I found the perfect one and tried not to buy it but it was too perfect. I thought I would drive home in it thinking this is so stupid but whatever. However, the good ol’ Odyssey proved me wrong. I was so happy about it and I wanted to show it off. I know, weird!!!!!!

It is so FUNCTIONAL and I feel proud to be where I am at in my life. Who wouldn’t want two beautiful boys and another sweet spirit on the way? If that means driving the car I swore I never would, it is well worth it. Thanks to Alan for being supportive even though the thought of driving it makes him sick. (No offense, but he thinks he will look like a Cougar). So that is that. I hope I have not offended anybody out there but we just never thought we fit with the minivan. We are more SUV kind of people. Alan may still be, but I have a feeling that will change soon. I am SOLD. For all those people out there thinking I am insane and you will never drive a minivan, be careful what you say! I wasn’t.

It was a CRAZY July. It always is. We went to Bear Lake for 5 days with the Pohlman family. We spent a lot of time on the beach and playing with the fam. Thanks to Alan’s parents for always planning this tradition and to the And
rews for letting us use their cabin.

Next, Alan headed up for his annual Wind rivers trip with the bros and he said it ranked up there as one of the top two trips. What a great year for them. I headed up to Eden with my family with the boys. I love vacations but my sweet Carden has a difficult time with change. He is such a scheduled little man. He likes things to be the same. Max just loves to be with people and could care less where he sleeps or for how long. He still a happy guy.

Alan was leaving for scout camp last Friday and thought he would like to take Carden for his first camping trip. I know, I know! His first camping trip with the camping, hunting, fishing, king his father is! I thought it was a great idea. I was exhausted from having the food poisoning the day before and a little cold for a few days before that. Not to mention two weeks of non stop going.

I sent the boys off for the camping trip and Carden was more than excited. About an hour later, Alan called. He asked me to meet him in Kamas because my sweet little Carden had thrown up all over the Demings’ car…..SORRY Matt and Trish! So much for food poisoning! It was the flu! Alan was able to get him changed into some clothes and bought him some 7-up by the time I got there. Carden looked much better. He did not smell so great for the drive home but at least he did not throw up again. I got Carden home, tubbied, clothes washed, car seat steamed, etc. He was fine! Not another symptom!

I am so thankful for the joys of motherhood. This is what it is about, right? I am also thankful for family and friends. Alan’s mom took the boys during lunch time when I was so sick and my sister took them after naps. Sara and Trisha took Max while I went to get Carden on Friday. They also got take-out for me. I love living by family and by wonderful friends!

True Blue Through and Through!

I can't believe it! THREE boys. I always thought it was a boy but it was confirmed today. When the Dr. said "It is defiantly a boy." Carden replied, "Eh Eh. I win, Carden was right. It's a boy." I must say, three boys seems crazy. I need some back up here! It is even more crazy to think of possible missions! All the boys are 23 months apart. That could mean we could have a missionary out for 6 straight years. That is, if we can keep three boys in line for the next 19 years. Yikes. I keep thinking about the stories Alan tells about the Koch boys,the Hopkin boys, and the Strong boys. We are in for it! I must say, I am excited to start thinking of names and maybe get some tribunks. Just kidding. This will defiantly keep me in line as far as money goes. No need to buy a thing. We are covered.

We are so blessed! What a responsibility to raise three beautiful boys. We thank the Lord for his trust and pray we can be wonderful parents to three energy filled little boys.

Girlfriend Getaway!

That's what friends are for. Talking until 1:30 in the morning, playing four square and ping pong, going on walks, eating a lot of delicious food, sharing ideas and opinions, laughing, crying, supporting, and so much more. What a wonderful weekend.

I went with some of my girlfriends from high school up to my parents' place in Eden last weekend and had a blast. Trisha Deming, Sara Rogers, Jen Lund, Ashley Kelly, Amy Rossi, Jill Steele, Stacie Stevens, Katy Carter, and I all went for a weekend without kiddos and hubbies. It was so much fun. I am so grateful for such wonderful friends that help me to realize what is really important in life. Thanks ladies for a great time. Here are some pictures from the weekend.

Lounging on the couch.

Jill, making pretend fried ice cream! SUPER YUMMY!

Ping Pong tournament.

Harley and Bucks for dinner.

Family Pictures

We had our pictures taken a few days after I found out I was pregnant. I figured we needed a few shots of us together. We also gave them to our Moms' for Mother's Day. I love my boys and each day is filled with new, exciting, and sometimes frightening experiences. I am now off for a weekend getaway with 9 of my high school girlfriends. I will miss the boys but I am looking forward to a relaxing few days in sunshine. Thanks Honey for holding down the fort while I am away! I love you. Carden (3 years 2 months)
Maxwell (15 months)

I do not know what to call this post

I must apologize for the post my Honey put on here. He has officially been banned from my password and is in serious trouble. I think his point was to show me how insane this blogging thing is and he did a great job. Within 15 minutes of posting that our phone started ringing. So, that was the male version of our little surprise. Here is the female version.

Remember the post about Lasik? Especially the last few sentences. “Thanks to my honey for letting me do this! It is something I have wanted to do for a very long time. Do not worry people! Everyone keeps asking if we are done having kids. No we are not. You can get Lasik and still get pregnant. Just not for at least 6 months. Sorry honey!”

Hummmmm,Well, the waiting six months part did not really work out. Are you kidding me? In fact, I was most likely pregnant when I had Lasik. This is more than a shock!!!!! We are still not sure how it was possible. Just so everyone knows, certain forms of birth control do not work.

It tall started about a month ago when Alan was out of town. I woke really sick on a Monday morning and I thought I had the flu. I toughed it out and kept going through the day without saying anything to anyone. In the back of my mind I kept thinking I am a little late but there is NO WAY I am pregnant.

I felt better that night but woke the next morning feeling the same. I was baffled. I also had really bad heartburn. I started thinking I was making myself feel sick thinking I was pregnant but how could that even be possible. I decided I did not care and I would pay six bucks for a pregnancy test. Off we went to the store. It was a disaster!

There was a live radio broadcast there and a lot of people were by the pregnancy tests. Max just happened to throw a Vitamin Water out of the cart, the lid popped off, and it spilled all over. Carden yelled “What the world Max,” and took of running. Everybody looked at us and the DJ’s say on air, “Can someone help this poor lady get this mess cleaned up.” I wanted to dive into a whole. I am sure they were looking at me thinking, this lady can’t even handle her two kids and she is holding a pregnancy test?

I left the store telling myself two things. One, I was insane for thinking I was pregnant and two, if for some miracle I was, I was in for it.

I am 10 weeks a long and the baby is due December 9th, 2008. We will have a three year old, a one year old, and a new born. I know people do this! I do not do this. I was thinking about maybe getting pregnant in another year or two. This is insane. I am such a planner!!!!! I just finished lecturing Alan’s brother about how you do not get pregnant in March! That is a December baby.

I used to laugh and roll my eyes when people would say they did not plan the pregnancy. Get real! You use birth control correctly….you do not get pregnant. NOT TRUE!

It has only taken us a few weeks to cope with the fact that this was obviously meant to be. We apologize for not telling people but we have really needed some time to understand ourselves. We are getting more excited every day. (Especially now that I can actually make it through the day without leaning over the toilet.)

Needless to say, Alan is happy as can be. I waited for him to get back in town to tell him. It killed me keeping it from him for 48 hours. I have it video tapped. He was sooooo confused. Yet really PROUD and excited!

We went to the Dr. a few weeks ago and he just laughed when he saw us. He gave Alan a high five and said he was impressed. We heard the heart beat and saw the little bean growing. I am still in shock. I know we are blessed. I am in NO way complaining. We can do this and will do this. I am slowly learning I can not plan EVERYTHING in my life. The Lord has plans for us also. So now we will follow his plan for us and have faith that this is what is best for our, not so little anymore, family.

Happy Mother's Day

Slipped One Past the Goalie!

What better way to celebrate Mother's Day than by sharing the joys and happiness of slipping one past the goalie with our family and friends. We will soon be out of man-to-man, and into zone defense.

Happy Mother's Day Honey, I love you!!

Alan