What's in a name...

I am now within a month of when I will have the baby. Are we ready? Absolutely not. Grant is just about done with putting the floor in our room, so then I will be able to set up her crib. I can't get to her clothes right now to wash them, but hopefully by the end of this weekend I will at least be able to get to them. I can't believe how much progress we have made on the house this week. Somehow (through miracles), we are so close to being done. After tonight we will probably be to just the hallway that needs to be done and then the boys' room (but that has to wait for a contractor who will come in a few weeks--so that means we get a break for a bit!). That's it. Yea!

Once again, I can't believe we will be having another baby. I'm pretty sure that I felt this same way last time. However, I think this time I am more nervous than I have ever been. I know what's coming. Labor is painful. Recovery stinks. Nursing hurts. Sleepless nights are tiring. BUT...it also means no more nausea (and I cannot tell you how excited I am for this), walking normally, no more maternity clothes, no leg pains, AND a sweet baby who smells so good, a baby to hold, a baby to kiss, a baby who will add so much to our family, who will make us smile and happy. I am also anxious to see who she will look like. Will she keep with our brown hair then blonde hair pattern, or will she start a new pattern and have blonde hair? Will she be as active and rambunctious as she is inside my tummy? Time will tell...

She still has no name. I think I pretty much picked our other kids names, so I gave the "honor" to Grant this time. I'm thinking she probably won't have a name until she is born. But not to worry, we at least have it narrowed down to a couple. If we were to take the kids suggestions her name would be one of the following: Sally (from Ben), Tootsie (from Trev), or Rainbow (from Karmin). Pretty sure those didn't make our final cut.

The Love

Karmin and I were talking in the car the other day because it was just her and me. She said that when she is older she really wishes that she could marry Grant. I told her that was sweet. I then told her that when she is older she will find another guy that she will think is the coolest guy ever. She replied, "Dad is the coolest guy ever." Then she had a great idea. She said that when she grew up I could be friends with dad and she could be friends with dad. And then we could both be friends with dad together. I thought it was so sweet. She adores her dad.

...And so do I. Yesterday at church we had a lesson in Relief Society about Eternal Marriages. So many people were talking about how a fairy tale marriage isn't possible and how hard marriage is. But I disagree (well I kind of disagree--because I know it isn't this way for everyone....so I guess I disagree for myself). We do have a fairy tale marriage. I am so thankful that marriage is so easy. I could say that we are still in the honeymoon stage, and maybe it will wear off, but I'm thinking after 11 years we just have it good. We will always be in our honeymoon stage, I guess. So yes, I am still smitten, still starry-eyed, still head over heals in love with this man. And I hope and pray that my kids can find spouses like I did.

Distractions

When Trevor was little, we had a whole section of our front flower beds where we had strawberries planted. We use to get so many sweet strawberries from all of those plants. And we never had to worry (within reason) of Trevor going over by the street when he was out front. He wouldn't get too far. He would sit himself down next to those strawberries and start to feast. White, green, or red--the color and ripeness of the berry didn't matter to him (sorry about the picture of a picture).

Lydia is the same way, although her distraction comes in the form of shoes. She spends hours in the garage finding and trying on different shoes. There is a lot of area for her to wander off to, but I'm usually safe in assuming that she is in the garage with all the shoes. This girl LOVES shoes.

My Excuse

I'm catching up on my blog...so for my adoring fans, sorry you will have to back track. I've been MIA because we have been up to a lot of remodeling. See all of those boxes that still need to be put throughout the house?

Grant and his nephew MaKade have been diligently putting in new floors throughout our house. This remodeling was getting to be a bit much for me. I think my nesting desires in a house where things were anywhere they would fit was getting to be a weeee bit hard for me. But, Grant and MaKade have made so much progress the last few weeks, I think I might survive. The living room is halfway done, our bedroom is halfway done, and the carpet in the hallway is already up and ready to go. The girls' room will be next. I think that I will be okay as long as our room and the living room are done by the time the baby comes, but I am thinking that it might get done by this weekend. It is so nice to see all the progress. I am so thankful for these 2 and all the work they have done.

Our little ballerina

This year, Karmin's class were bunnies in their end of the year performance. So cute. They were just adorable. Karmin was so excited to be on stage. And she loved every minute of it. It reminded me of Ben when he played soccer--he had a permanent smile. She never stopped smiling! And she did so well too. She really knew her steps and was right on. They had a pause in their dance, and Karmin started waving to the crowd--it was adorable. I was so excited for her. She loved ALL of the flowers that she got when it was over. On this one, I could be living vicariously through my child!

She was in tears on the way home because it is not certain if she will be going back next year. I'm so torn on this subject. On one hand I understand how much fun activities like dancing or other sports can be, but on the other hand I wonder at what expense do you participate in these activities (thinking time not money). I want my kids home with me...I don't want to be out driving them around all the time and never having quality time with them because once we get home we are so rushed to get things done. But I want to support their talents and interests as well--and help them to learn and develop new talents. Does anyone out there have any wise advice on this?

Love this one

Grant took this picture of Lydia, and I just love it, so I have to share.

Advancement

Ben worked really hard and earned his Bear achievement in scouts this month. I found that it was a little harder to have him earn it while I have been his leader. I would think that it would be the other way around, but oh well. He also earned 2 arrows and 2 belt loops. They forgot to give him his Bear, so he was a little confused at first...wondering if he actually earned it, but I assured him that they just missed it and he will get it next time. I'm so proud of him and what he has done and accomplished this year.

Better Late Than Never

We had a little bit of Christmas in June this year. We love Christmas around here. Christmas music plays all year round. Once the Christmas stuff was put away for 2010, it took until, I think, January 10th or so before the kids were playing Christmas music again. This last Christmas was a hard one though. Being in my first trimester along with a HORRIBLE cold/sinus infection, did not make for this momma to be up to a lot of festivities. So the gingerbread house kit that we get every year sat on the shelf. Karmin finally put her foot down and wanted to make it when she was activity for Family Home Evening. We put on Christmas music and went at it. It was a lot of fun. The boys enjoyed taking gingerbread pieces in their lunches for a few days. I guess it is always fun to make holidays last longer than one day (:

First of the Season

Ben really wanted to have a hot dog roast (he gets this from his dad), so he went and set everything up outside and then came and asked us if we could have one. I felt I was being manipulated, but Grant said that it was good manipulation and to just think that I didn't have to cook dinner. It was a lot of fun. Neither hot dogs or smores are my favorite, but there is something very fun about sitting around a fire. I was also thankful for food storage so that we had everything all ready.

This won't be the last one this year, or this month for that matter. If they were all ambitious enough to have a hot dog roast with a foot of snow on the ground, I'm sure they will be on top of planning these regularly while the weather is good.

Our Hike for Scouts

If Ben planned a family hike and picnic he could pass off four things for scouts. He is so close to getting his Bear and this last weekend the weather was perfect so we had him in charge of our "family fun time" on Saturday. We went to a County Park near by and hiked up the trail and had a picnic at the first bridge we found (so we could enjoy the cold water). There are beavers around the trail that are quite busy. The kids found it fascinating to look at all of their dams and the trees that they had be gnawing.

Ben packed everything that we needed for our picnic. Trevor packed a chair so that he would have all the comforts of home when it came time to eat. Karmin enjoyed seeing the "biggest tree in the world" (see the picture). And Lydia dressed up for the occasion wearing a dress and at one time pearls paired with a sturdy pair of tennis shoes and the famous Wiggles hat that every child has loved wearing at some point. It was a fun family outing. Ben did a great job planning it. And soft serve ice cream cones at McDonalds was a great way to end it, I think.

I take no responsibility in this, but glad it worked out

In the process of cleaning, organizing, decluttering, remodeling, etc. Grant and I found this lovely piece of remembrance. And before it gets destroyed, I had to document how crazy I was.

I am a shy person, but when Grant and I met, I was even more so--like 500% more so. On our first date I knew that something big was going to happen with Grant. He was different. And I reasoned away that marriage was the "something big." Marriage--that was a CRAZY thought, so I figured that it must have meant something different. And as the days went on, I couldn't imagine what it could be, until I realized pretty quickly that I was head over heals in love and that he was the man I was going to marry. Now I had a little help from some friends during this time. One was my partner in crime, Maren. She was NOT shy and so she helped nudge me along out of my shell. And this is what she made me do after only knowing Grant for about 2 weeks:

(Dear "Mr. Goodbar" "Look" "U-No" I've had "Extra" "Mounds" of fun with you lately. Be"Twixt" you and me, you're a real "Dream" boat. My heart does "Flipz" of "Joy" when you're around. I don't want to sound like a "Goo-Goo," but you're such a "Big Hunk." In all honesty, I think you're a "100 Grand!" Love, Niki)

Looking back on it, I cannot believe I said such things. "My heart does flipz of joy when you are around"!!! What?? That is SO forward. And I was so ignorant at the time. In my mind I was just telling the truth, so who cared what he thought--or what implications it had.

We took it over to his house when we were done (again Maren made me). He was working out of town, so I knew he wouldn't be there. And that night I had one of my most embarrassing moments of my life. Granted, maybe it doesn't seem too embarrassing to others, but I was so shy--I just wanted to crawl into a hole.

Maren and I took the candygram to his house and his mom decided that it would be a grand time to call Grant and check on him. And how convenient, how about I talk to him as well. So Grant and I talked on the phone for a few minutes and then I gave the phone back to his mom. I went out of the little office that I was talking to him in, and went to the kitchen to "join" the conversation between Maren and Grant's dad. (I just sat and listened, not believing that I was doing what I was doing.) Grant's mom came out of the office after hanging up with Grant and she said, "He told me tell you that he loves you." Grant's dad set down whatever he had in his hand and got this twinkle in his eye and a smile that went from ear to ear--he knew that the opportunity was right. Grant's mom finally added, "Gary." And then he said to me something to the effect of "Phew. I was starting to wonder what you guys talked about in there. You only talked for a few minutes." And I was ready to leave. So in ONE night, I told the man that I knew I was going to marry (even though I wasn't sure he felt the same way in any shape or form) that I was head over heals for him, and his dad teased me about Grant saying that he loved me. Mortified. It was a miracle that I ever showed my face again to this family! On the way home, Maren proceeded to plan my whole wedding cake with flavors and such. She ended up making our wedding cake about 9 months later. What an amazing friend!!

And our story began. Almost 12 years ago I met the most perfect man and began to fall in love. And I fall more in love everyday. What an amazing life I have with him.

WWhaAAaattTT??

See these cute kids:
They have brought home a new game from school. Here is how it goes (a lot of parents might be very familiar with this):
Child: Mom?
Me: What?
Child: You've got the word! HA Ha Ha HA ha!!!!!!
I have learned to have the following dialogue going:
Child: Mom?
Me: Yeah?
Child: Mom?
Me: Yes?
Child: Mom?
Me (now looking at the child with a gleam in my eyes because I know I have won): Yeess?
Grant isn't always so lucky. He usually says "What". The poor guy.
Now if anybody gets The Word and tries to pass it off, usually people don't fall for it right after it has been got, so they have to go for an easy target:
Child: Lydia?
Lydia: What?
Child: HA Ha Ha HA ha!!!!!! Lydia's got the word!!
Lydia: HA Ha Ha HA ha!!!!!!
The other day I heard the following conversation between Karmin and Lydia:
K: Lydia?
L: What?
K (saying very nonchalantly): You've got the word and can you come here?
It has just become habit, if you here someone say "what" then you say "you've got the word."

The other half of this fun is the cheese touch. You can pass the cheese touch off to an unsuspecting person just by simply touching them and informing them by saying "Cheese touch." Now if fingers are crossed, that voids the cheese touch and the original person still has it. So if all else fails with not being able to give someone The Word then you can always sneak the cheese touch in there. What fun! I know we have the coolest house.
And all these games come from none other than "A Diary of a Wimpy Kid." A series of books that have been banned from our house until a person is home from their mission. Ben realizing how silly this was said that he might as well sell the books because he wasn't going to be 30, married, and reading "A Diary of a Wimpy Kid" because that is not cool. Whatever he chooses, the games can stay, the book content can't.

Destroy!

We have been in full force remodel stage lately. We are so close to being done, and are really hoping to get it done by next month. Currently we are working on turning the old kitchen into the boys new room. The kids have had a lot of fun taking down one of the walls. The boys really got into it. Lydia apparently took notes because later she found a hammer and started going at one of Grant's new walls that he just built.

It is so much fun to make progress! We had to move the ping pong table back into the living room. When Karmin saw it she said, "Ohhhh no. Not that again." My feelings are the same, but I think it will be there for only a few weeks. Trevor wants a round window in his room--Grant told him this was as close as it will get to being round.