Unflatteringly Swollen

From 33 Weeks

Dear Bob,

Thanks for surprising us with donuts for breakfast this morning. The kids and I were excited to eat a delicious maple bar with a cold glass of milk, in place of the usual cereal. However, next time, maybe just pick up a dozen. You know I have no willpower. You see, I just finished my 5th donut, and now I'm feeling a bit sick.

Love you,

Big Mama ( 33 weeks)

P.S. The pics. just aren't doin' em' justice. My feet and ankles....unflatteringly (if that's even a word) swollen!

A tremedous time

Fourteen years ago this summer, Miss Heather and friends threw me a bridal shower. This past weekend, we were lucky enough to do the same for her. So we held it in Pocatello and my dear friend...really one of the best people I know....flew all the way from NC for us to celebrate her BIG LOVE! Because she is so amazing, I always knew she'd marry someone special. She truly found him, and we couldn't be happier for her.

After the shower we ladies snuck away to Lava for the night where we all stayed together in a little house on Main St., went for Thai food, soaked in the hot pools, and stayed up WAY too late, laughing and having a great time.

Heather gets married July 3rd in NC. Bob and I wouldn't miss it for the world. Just a few short weeks after baby boy is born, we'll make the trip, just the three of us. I know the timing isn't the greatest for me. I'll have a brand new baby, and will be real lucky if by then I can squeeze into my bride's maid dress. But Sunday afternoon, after the long drive home, I told Bob all about my amazing weekend with Heather, her family, and friends. I assured him, if it was just a glimpse of the festivities we have to look forward to at the wedding in NC in July.....no matter what OUR circumstances are....

We're going to have a tremendous time!

Around the Corner

From Good bye hair

The man has GREAT hair,

(I would know. I was cursed with the opposite.)

and although I beg him not to,

every* single* spring......

He Shaves It!

He'll keep it this way all summer long and late into the fall.

But this time, as the kids took turns buzzing it all away,

I was surprised that I was actually a little excited.

You see, I realized something.

For me

Bob.....shaving his head...

if nothing else,

serves as a pleasant reminder

SUMMER'S RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER!

Wishing Her Back

From Miss Nelly

Although I have a million pics. of the kids with Miss Nelly, these are the last three, taken Friday afternoon, our last day spent with her before we took her to a new family. It is now Sunday night, the kids are asleep in their beds, and I am still crying! I know Bob and I talked about finding her a new home, for a million different reasons, but I never thought we'd ACTUALLY do it. "You can't really do it." I would tell him. I mean, we had been through so much with her in the last year. Now she was part of the family. "Yes, I can." he would say. "She's just a dog." She was just a dog, and she did turn our world (and especially our house) upside down, but we LOVED her and she was OURS.

It all happened so fast. Bob found her a good home, and just like that.....she's gone. The kids and I are missing her something terrible. I had no idea how much Nelly being gone would affect us. Let's just say, the last few days have been ROUGH.

Bob is quite annoyed with me. I feel like he's being unsympathetic, and he thinks I am being over dramatic. I think we're probably both a little guilty of the two. But the fact of the matter is....she was pretty much, MY dog, well, and Avery's of course. But, it was me who took care of her. She was here with me all day, she followed me and laid at my feet wherever I went, she ran to me when I came home, rode with me in the car, and loved me unconditionally.

I remember Britt calling me last year so upset over the loss of their family cat. I sympathized with her, but really.....I didn't get it. I had one dog growing up. He was mean and ornery, and I couldn't stand the mutt. I never considered myself an animal or dog, for that matter, lover, but after having Nelly, I now understand. I understand how attached you can become to an animal. I understand how their unconditional love and always being there is something you count on. I understand how difficult and heart wrenching it is to lose them.

The kids have been stronger about her leaving than I thought. Of course, they've shed tears and said little things such as, "I can't believe she's not coming back", "I want her home so bad", "You've taken away my best friend", "I am so sad", and those little words have simply broken my heart. But, overall, I've been relieved with how resilient they've been.....lots better than their weak Mama, that's for sure.

The reality is.....Miss Nelly went to a great family who has two older dogs to keep her company and become her new friends. She was a surprise to a 10 year old girl who adores her. We received word tonight that she is adjusting well, happy, and has become the 10 year old girl's new shadow. So, I'll keep reminding myself that Nelly is O.K. and tell myself this is for the best. I know when our new baby comes soon...it will be.

But right now, that's a really hard thing to do

because I'm struggling a little

to muster up the courage

TO STOP.......

WISHING HER BACK.

I So Wanted This

These pics. crack me up. Look at me, I was so excited to be showing.

Oh, ya, there's a baby in there and I am sooooooo pregnant.
I mean really, I am getting big, and you can totally tell I'm pregnant, right?!


What in the world was I thinking? Seriously....If you could see me NOW...WOW!

It's on!

The last few months.

Mama's getting big.

Mama's waddling.

Mama's unbalanced.

Mama's cheeks are fat and feet are swollen.

Mama's back is aching.

Mama's getting stares in the grocery store.

Really, every one's eyes...right to the big belly.

Bob says I can't really blame em'.

Mama's getting laughed at by people who see my big self out running (VERY SLOWLY, I might add).

I am not kidding. I see them looking and laughing.

It's a site, I know.

Kim and I were stopped at a busy intersection. Two men in a truck were looking and laughing.

I looked down at myself.

I am too cheap to buy pregnancy running gear.

Hell, I'm too cheap to buy regular, proper running gear.

So, my pants are too tight and my belly is busting out of my sweatshirt.

My hands were warm so I stuffed my gloves in my front pockets, which happen to be straight out in front, not on the side, where they would lay properly.....if the sweatshirt fit!

Kim stops and takes a good look at me.

"What is that?" she questions, pointing to the silly looking gloves.

"My gloves." I reply. "I know, it looks like I have elephantitis. I look like a freak."

The fact that I roll out of bed not tending to my hair, which is in complete disaray, or my face, which has smeared, last night's mascara running down my cheeks...is NO help.

A circus freak on the side of the road.

We both realize this is the TRUTH. We start to laugh. We start to laugh HARD.

The light changes and it's our turn to cross the street.

I make a dash for it. Kim stays. Hunched over, laughing hysterically, she can't move.

I take off without her and laughing hard too, darn well nearly wet myself right there in the middle of the busy intersection.

Bob and I hit the streets for a mile or two the other day.

"Do I look weird?" I ask.

"Yes, yes, you do. You look weird."

"But, it's alright."

Oh, good then. That makes me feel so much better. Thanks babe.

Men, they know how to say all the right things, don't they?!

I'll get brave soon and post a pic. of me now.....

chunky, awkward, and sporting some real, ugly clothes.

The previous line.....yup, it pretty accurately sums up exaxtly how I feel right now.

However, I will TRY HARD not to complain....at least not too much...

because as dimented as this sounds.....

The truth of the entire matter is....

I am HAPPY to be pregnant.

I wanted this.

I SO WANTED THIS!

Spring Break 2010

Holy snow and freezing cold weather............

It doesn't look much like spring break does it?

Uh, ya it does...when you live in IDAHO!

Thanks Tyler and Mal for getting my car ready for the LONG drive home.....just a little picture proof that you spoiled us our entire stay.

From Rexburg to Boise we traveled home Friday, the last day of spring break. Ironically enough, the sun was shining and the roads were clear until about 30 min. outside of Boise. Then the storm hit. It was a white out. Tight fisted and white knuckled, Big Mama tried to calm her nerves by giving the restless kids a task.
"What were your 5 favorite things of the trip?" I asked.
They each named a bundle, they really did have a fabulous time, but the one thing they all said in common was....
Eating at Perkins with grandma and grandpa.

Hmmm.....after celebrating Owen's birthday, taking them swimming, riding horses, four wheelers, riding in a Sheriff truck, the bouncy house, dying eggs, performing a talent show, staying up late watching movies, playing with cousins, eating and playing at Ross Park, seeing our family and dear friends......
Who knew they could be so easily pleased?
Apparently.......Not ME!

From 4-wheelers

Thanks everyone for housing us, feeding us, entertaining us, and most of all

PUTTING UP WITH US!

We love you MUCH and miss ya already!

From Winders

From Andrea and Bridger

From Owen's birthday

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/bke5t1z2PSa4ji4wAYqO3zIhaflPT6kGd261rcUNNoE?feat=directlink

From Family

Beat Coach Pete!

Every year Coach Pete sponsors a scholarship run. He'll donate $5 for every person who beats him in a 5 K race. All the proceeds go to scholarships at BSU.

So we woke early this morning, decked ourselves in our ORANGE and BLUE, and took the whole fam damily downtown to beat Coach Pete.

Bob and Pay were DETERMINED to beat him.

When the race started, they had no idea where Coach Pete was. They wound through the masses, jumping over bushes, up over curbs, trying desperately to get out in front. A mile and a half into the race they stopped to walk. It was then that they witnessed Coach Pete running right by em'. After that, it was on! They took off, passed him, and never looked back. They entered the stadium, crossed the finish line, and were congratulated and handed an "I Beat Pete" shirt. Just then they heard the roar of the crowd. They looked back, sure enough it was Pete, entering the stadium, finishing just 200 yards behind them.

They barely beat him, but they DID IT....and have the shirts to prove it!

Owen, Avery, and Big Mama.......almost dead last.
Needless to say, our shirts were a little different.

I sure did slow em' down.
But, hey, we had A LOT of fun in the process.

From Payton Pete Run

Boy was I proud of Miss Payton. At nine years of age she has more drive and determination that her Mama ever has. I feel bad I don't have any pics. of my girl running.

From Avery Pete Run

From Owen Pete Run

The Beat Coach Pete Scholarship Run.....totally worth it.

We love ya, Pete (pretty much worship ya around here, really.)

but next year....

YOU'RE GOING DOWN!

Over player

I'm an "over player". I hear a song I like and I can't get enough. It's overplayed in the house, on the stereo in the car, the computer, ipod, you name it. My kids are the same way. Last summer it was Miley Cyrus', Party In The USA, and Black Eyed Peas', I Got A Feeling. We blasted em' every chance we had.

Most people find this completely annoying, I know. I'm reminded quickly of the time my college roomies actually hid Sheryl Crow's cd from me because they just couldn't stomach hearing Strong Enough one more time. Man, did I love that song.

So, I heard Train's, Soul Sister weeks ago on Miss Angie B's blog....since then...HOOKED.

This song makes me want to...

* burst out singing (hurting the ear drums of all those around me with my TERRIBLE singing voice)

* dance crazy-happy with my kids

* reminisce about old times

* call a soul sister

* serenade Bob (because that man CAN cut a rug, and watching him is the ONLY drug I need!)

And it even seems, on days when I'm feeling it, to lift the weight of the world. Because sometimes it lands like a brick and rests heavily on my shoulder.

Da' Bunny

From Easter 2010

When Bob and I were first married we had to figure out how to spend the holidays. You know, do we celebrate and follow the traditions of my family or his? It was tricky at first. For example, Santa always wrapped the presents in his family, but never did in mine.

Then there was Easter. Bob's family celebrated the Saturday before. The bunny came, they had huge egg hunts, and celebrated Da' Bunny the entire day.

I thought this was strange, until I had kids.

Now I think it's GENIUS.

So, we celebrate Da' Bunny the Sat. before too.

We have the entire day to play.

We aren't rushed to get to church.

We don't rush home from Easter Sunday service to hunt for eggs or play with our Easter toys.

Easter Sunday is so much more enjoyable. We can focus on the Savior and Resurrection.

We have a nice dinner, relax, and enjoy the special day.

So, today Da' Bunny came. He left a trail of eggs for the kids starting from their little beds, leading down the stairs to their first Scavenger Hunt clue.

They ran inside and out, finding clues that eventually led to their Easter baskets.

We spent the windy day flying kites in the backyard. We soon learned, cheap kites, not that successful!

Later we took the kids to see How To Train Your Dragon in 3D.

Two thumbs up on that. Way up.

It was a great day.

Last year I made this post.

It amazes me still that my LOVE for these kids continues to grow. When I wrote that post, 12 months ago, I didn't think it could get any bigger.

I spent last week in Pocatello with the kids for spring break.

We had such a nice visit with friends and family.

I'll post about that later.

The kids were so good.

I mean, sure, they had their moments.

But it was like, they knew. It was just mom, taking care, packing and moving bags, traveling, all on her big mama own.

So, they cut me some slack. Gave me a break. They were enjoyable and fun.

They were GOOD.

We slept in three different places, over the duration of the week.

But at each house, all four of us slept together in the same room....

for 7, straight, nights in a row.

Even though I felt a little half empty...missing my Bob...

Every night I lay there listening to the little ones breathe, I was happy.

Happy to be their mom. Happy to have each of them in my life. Happy that they were mine.

As I watched general conference today, I learned a great deal. I was uplifted and reminded.

What I took most from the talks today was how important my role of a mother is.

And alongside being Bob's wife, I truly want to be successful in this role, as a mother, more than any other in life....

because these kids have brought me more happiness and joy than I thought possible, and they deserve someone TRYING HARD on their behalf.

So, thanks Pay, Ave, and Owe...for all the fun times we share, and especially for the memories made today, celebrating......

Da' Bunny!