Pregnancy Photo Shoot

Since this is probably going to be my last baby and its a special little girl, I had some pregnancy photos taken and wanted to share them with you.

Kaden and Colton are so excited to have Grandma Barbara here...Kade keeps saying, "I wonder how her hair is?" He heard me telling my mom she needed a new hairstyle and they never miss a thing do they?

Only a short time before she will be here and we are so looking forward to having this special little spirit in our home.

Winter Break

We are a little out of order here but at least I am posting right? Christmas was delightful this year...the boys loved each and every second of it. The tree was huge but gorgeous, we went out into the forest and cut it ourselves. A few days before Christmas the sunset was so beautiful I rushed to find the camera as they go behind the mountains so fast...I am grateful I was able to capture it.

The little boys, Steve and I went to St. George over New Years and went hiking the Red Cliffs National Park...The boys were in heaven, we saw Indian ruins, someone gave us some arrowhead shards, they loved those. Colton was especially interested in the Indians and how they lived and such. He keep saying Dad be quiet, Mom lets talk about the indians.....so we came home and research the Anasazi Indians on the internet, he was particularly intrigued with them talking about them the entire rest of the weekend.

Some funny quotes the boys said to me this week...

Colton saw his play but real (no service) cell phone not the charger the other day and he grabs it from the drawer and says ugh its so irritating when my cell phone is not charged.

Kaden was making mac and cheese for lunch today and I tried to put in the milk and he says....don't mom that is not cool.

Austin's Swim Meet

As you most know Austin is on the high school swim team, his coach called me during winter break and asked me why Austin wasn't coming to practice anymore? I said he was getting very burnt out and tired of it...They practice 2 hours in the morning and again after school for 2-3 hours. Then he comes home falls asleep and doesn't have time for homework or chores. So he was failing in his AP Geography class and needed to make up a bunch of assignments is why he wasn't going to practice plus he had to do some volunteer work on the Polar Express Train in town that last week. Well the coach told me that was too bad because Austin was one of the top 5-6 swimmers on the team and he was only a freshman. He said Austin has natural talent that he can't even teach some of his other swimmers to do and Austin does it without having to be taught. He said it will be a shame if he doesn't at least finish the season and then not come back next year would be a sad story. I talked to Austin about it and he agreed to finish the season as they have a chance on going to state finals in the next few weeks depending on how they finish in the next couple meets.
Well, Austin had his last swim meet at the home High School this week and I went for the very first time. Wow it was HOT up in those bleachers and all those bodies around. I survived though, it was my first swim meet I was ever at in my life, strange but true. I was SO proud of him and his accomplishments I decided to brag a bit about him and show off some pics. He raced a relay with a team of four, all of which were older than him...He is 14 and his team mates were 16 and two that were 17...he was swimming the 4 by 200 relay..he was also the anchor (the last swimmer)....meaning he is the fastest of them all. They were behind the whole time and Austin dove in and swam so stinking fast I couldn't believe it...that would have taken me 10 minutes to complete and he did it in about 25 seconds..phew I was floored hence, the reason the team came in second place.
Then we waited for another almost 2 hours for his next heat that is what they call them and boy was it appropriate that day cuz I was HOTTER than I cared to be and with being pregnant I was feeling it! So this heat he was swimming the 100 yard freestyle and he came in 3rd again he was the youngest swimmer at 14, with the others being all 16 and 17 years old. I was such a proud mom.

Happy New Year 2009!

Well everyone has asked me to send them a pic of me pregnant, so here it is. I am pretty much all belly with a bit of arm flab and back sag. I feel great and everyone tells me how good I look but as you know (those who have experience pregnancy) you always feel so big. I have gained over 40 lbs. so far and still have 2 months to go. I go see a new Dr. in a week and a half and I will know more of what is going on as far as delivering, then a week later we go see the cardiologist again and tour the hospital so we know what to expect when Avery arrives. We will keep you posted on what we learn in the next few weeks.

Christmas was awesome this year, my husband spoiled me and got everything I asked for....the boys got a slimmer Christmas and it was just as delightful as they weren't overwhelmed with loads of stuff, I think that is the way to go. I am going to keep that up for the years to come. We really enjoyed the white christmas that we were blessed with as well, haven't seen one of them in years. Austin is getting so big I can't believe it..truly he is growing like a weed thank goodness the style is to wear your pants half way down your but so his pants look longer than they are or else I would be buying new shoes and pants monthly. He is now 5'7 1/2" and size 13 shoes were the last pair I had to exchange for size 12 from Christmas. He is very into his body these days...some older high school girls were working with him on the Polar Express this year and one of them must have grabbed his arms and told the other one feel his muscles! That made his day as now he is constantly posing around the house with no shirt on lately saying in a mature, deep voice...."hey mom, how you doin?" Teenagehood is a strange time of kids lives.....I know its survivable as I made it through but wow its so weird.

We are in St. George for the New Year, its so warm, yesterday at 5:30pm it was 59 and I was so happy....I love to see the snow in December then I am ok if it leaves us. I am going to go for a walk and enjoy it while I can this week.

We hope you all have a wonderful new year!