MIA

I know I have been absent from the blogging world. I've had a lot going on and so much to catch up on....
29thBirthday - Arizona Trip - Swimming - Birthday Parties - Children's Museum - Gardening - Scraped Knees and Bumped Heads - Father's Day - Job Applications - Summer Sickness -

I need to recap some of these events just for my own journal entries. So, first my birthday... Heath said he wanted to meet me at Pinkberry the Monday before my birthday and I thought, ok, kind of weird just because he's not a huge fan of this place. But I agreed. I get there and all my girlfriends are there! SURPRISE! It was such a great surprise and hello...pinkberry...couldn't get a better treat! It was kind of chilly outside so we all decided to pile into our van (yes, we have a van now) and talk for a while. It was really fun and to be honest, I didn't need anything else for my birthday. All I really want is a fun night out with my friends and something special from my hubby. I got just that. On my actual birthday, we decided to leave for AZ early just to get out of town. Heath had to work the nursery that morning but when he got home he gave me a "NothingBundtCakes" mini birthday cake. So sweet! Thought it was going to be a great day. Well.....it was just another day of dealing with life and kids and everything that comes with it. Driving across the state on my  birthday wouldn't have been bad except...Jace threw up every hour till we got to New Mexico. Guess he was sick but he was fine when we got there and the rest of the night (Phew!) None of us got anything either. Who knows?

Arizona was BEYOND HOT! Maybe it was the extra 10 degrees of heat from the pregnancy but I was so hot and I was such a wimp. How did I live here for 4 years!! I am so used to the mild beautiful weather and sometimes freezing temperatures of Colorado. The cool nights here are amazing in the summer and the afternoon thunderstorms are still my favorite. And yet, this was only a stop on our journey. I've seemed to forget that. On the job hunt and who knows where it will take us. So, AZ was fun though! We pretty much lived in the pool and I got to see some good friends! We of course ate Mangos mexican food and IN n Out among other places. I took Jace with his cousins to see Toy Story 3, which turned out to be pretty cute. (Jace still talks about the scary monkey with the camera:)  I love watching Jace with his cousins and It's really something he misses as well. I didn't really grow up with my cousins but I can see how it would be really fun having family so close. We had a great time but it all went too fast. Back to life and back to the reality of jobs, kids, responsibilities...

Anyways...good for now. I'm sick with strep and bronchitis but on meds so should be getting better. things are getting kinda foggy so I'm gonna go lay down. I'll update more later.

Happy Birthday Jace

Can't believe Jace turned 5 years old! I planned a safari adventure party! Jace had fun but the weather didn't cooperate as well as I would've liked so the outdoor activities were rushed. Note to self: plan Jace's next party the weekend after his birthday not the weekend before. This is the second time weather wasn't the best for his party. I planned a safari scavenger hunt where the kids first got binoculars for the adventure! They had to find animals I had put throughout the playground, read the clue, then do the activity or game to get the next clue. It was so fun to see them get excited for the next clue. Unfortunately, it started to sprinkle so the games were cut short. At the end they each got their own brown bag backpack with animal crackers, mini safari cameras, grow your own animal, stickers. The snacks were animal cookies, fruit kabobs, chocolate covered raisins, gummy worms, lemonade and then LION CUPCAKES!! I had so much fun making these but it was a lot more work then I thought cutting up all the licorice. They did taste delicious and I love making the cake for his birthday. It's my once a year treat! Plus, I really enjoy doing the Hello Cupcake creations. I borrowed my friend's book :) The rest of the party was just laid back...the kids played chase, rolling down the hill, kickball, freeze tag. Jace got WAY too many presents. It's crazy. His friends, Brooklyn and Taylor gave him a GIANT firetruck and Brooklyn finished it off with a big KISS! Look at his face...it's priceless. He did start laughing after that and it was a funny moment. I had a nice time visiting with the parents that came and man, next year, I think I'll do more low key. It was a lot of work to be over so fast.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day this year was so different than past years but it turned out GREAT! Heath has had to work Sunday's this month and that's been an adjustment but really not too bad. However, on Mother's day, I was hoping it wouldn't be the case...it was. So, I had a while to prepare for no expectations and I was fine. The morning went okay, sac. meeting was fine with it's occasional hiccups, but it was a good day at church. The RS in our ward always has a little treat for the ladies after the lesson...fruit, cakes, muffins, etc. So church went great! Heath surprised me with gorgeous flowers the day before so he was already on my good side. But then.... he made those certificates and Jace got me a necklace. It was so cute and thoughtful. Jace gave me the necklace like he was proposing to me...it was hilarious. Don't know where he gets it sometimes. THANK YOU boys for a wonderful mother's day I'll never forget. I love you three so much.

Fire Museum

Trying to fit a fireman's shoes can be a hard task

The happiest place on earth for Jace

Look who's at the wheel!!

They had jackets, hats, gloves, masks for the kids to put on. But, of course, Jace brought his own! Here he is shooting the fire. He got to see firemen too because they were all coming to pick up their yearbooks that day.

Aren't these fire hydrants so cute?

Grandma and the boys at the Denver Firefighter's Museum

A couple weeks ago, Grandma came to play with the boys and help me out while Heath was finishing up finals! Whew it was SO helpful because Heath was gone so much and even with my mom there, I was exhausted. We were pretty much home bound bc of the one car situation, Heath's school and job. But, it worked out for us to drop off Daddy downtown and take advantage of the 1st Tuesday of the month FREE DAY at the Denver Firefighter's Museum. One of our only outings in the week. We had a blast and the only thing missing was a gate at the top of the stairs, otherwise I could have let the boys run around and not have a care in the world!I highly recommend YOU to try it out next month and let us know and we'll come along! Just have to pay for parking across the street if the meters are taken.

Baby #3

Here's a glamorous picture of my belly! I don't know why people want to see it...but they do. :) This baby #3 is a...... GIRL!!! Can't believe it myself! I'm so excited but also wondering how this new addition will work with our family of rambunctious boys! Perhaps she'll be an angel like I was...right mom? :) I don't know how to post the ultrasound pics without a scanner so sorry. I won't be posting more pics of me for a while.....

Just love this face

Camden is getting oh so cute but who am I kidding, he's always been cute! He's also become quite the determined, stubborn stinker and active little guy. I can hardly keep him from chasing Jace around the house making growling sounds, tackling and sitting on me, daddy, Jace, friends...etc., throwing his food across the room, thinking that everything he does is funny even when it's not, dumping water outside the tub, let's see...falling over and getting a goose egg nearly every week. These days that's just a given! This kid is going to have more bumps, bruises, broken bones..I'm sure of it. Jace had his first accident only last year. Camden, on the other hand, loves to run into walls. Not to mention, a couple weeks ago, he got into the trash can, pulled out an aluminum can and sliced his finger. just lovely. they glued it back together and was quite the trooper.

He also gives the BEST hugs and kisses imaginable! Can dribble a basketball. Can drop kick a soccer ball. LOVES being outside any chance he can get. Laughs when he sees squirrels and rabbits. Squeals when daddy comes home! Said Elephant the other day! Can blab and talk forever! Just love this little boy! Thanks for being such a joy in my life.

Believe it or Not

March flew by this year and I can hardly believe it's April. Another thing I can hardly believe is how round my tummy is getting. Being pregnant is not really tangible until you see your body change or feel the baby. Well, both have happened and I'm not sure how I feel about being all big and round again but can't wait for this sweet baby to join the family. Also, i can't wait to find out if it's a boy or girl. Can't believe this was the last spring break for Heath. Also can't believe it's snowing today.

Well, we had our last round of visits last week and we're anxiously awaiting more visitors. At the end of January, my mom came. two weeks later, ali and ryan came and then last week Heath's parents came! We LOVE having people come to Colorado so if you're looking for a trip, consider it! Unfortunately, we have yet to have a comfortable bed for our guests to sleep in so most opt for the hotel route. I'm happy with where I am at right now in my life. It's crazy and unpredictable but it makes me smile. Today, the kids and I stayed in the car and danced and sang our hearts out to a Backstreet Boys song. I love those moments. I took Jace to get his haircut because I just didn't have the time to sit and do it for an hour. I really enjoying cutting his hair but he moves so much it takes forever! I'm not a pro. :) Today is picture day!

So, what happened in March? a lot. Let's see if I can recap. Went to the museum with Jace's class to check out the dinosaurs, watched Camden get even more teeth...he's done now., enjoying Jace's learning moments--he wrote the word CAT for the first time and without my help. He sounded the whole thing out himself. More snow days. Heath and I went and saw Michael Buble! As gay as that might sound, HE and I really enjoyed it! It wasn't obviously a rock out concert but he is such a great entertainer. It was both of our first concerts! Our next one will be Muse. Our seats were high but close to the stage so we got to see all of Buble funny antics and silly dance moves. He really has a great sense of humor too. It was a much needed date night (THANK YOU Brenda and Terry for coming and watching the kiddos so we could be at ease :) Heath's parents came and we had a blast! They took Jace to see How to Train a Dragon, we ate and ate, played games, stayed indoors from the cold weather, went on an easter egg hunt, planted veggies for the garden and well just loved having them here.

Easter this year was special. I made a Jerusalem dinner with lamb, barley, salad, deviled eggs, grape juice, pita bread, asparagus, fruit desert. Everyone seemed to enjoy it! We did an easter program with the kids that morning and watched General Conference of course! Jace sat through and listened to two talks!!! I know...I was shocked too. He would sit there and pick out words, like Jesus, faith, family. It warms my heart to see him grow in the gospel. I felt like every talk this year was for me. I needed that extra push as a mother and a parent to be more loving, patient, enduring, organized, focused. etc.

That's it for now. I'm going to go and be a mom now.