Poll over there-------------->

Nate has known for about nineteen weeks if this baby is a boy or a girl.  He hasn't told anyone so far as I know-and if he has, don't let me know.  I will find out on my own soon enough.  Speaking of soon enough-really it could be any time from the moment I finish this post.  I am eliciting all sorts of sympathetic glances, comments, and advice from people I know, but more often people I don't.  Yesterday I had all the kids with me and we went to Barnes and Noble, and as we were leaving a random guy asked me if I was having the baby at home.  I'm don't happen to be planning that on purpose, but he thought I looked like someone who had babies at home-he and his wife do-so I am taking that as a compliment. Then he asked if I homeschool.  I don't but have no strong opinions about homeschooling or not homeschooling.  I had to ask why he thought all these things-he said my kids just seemed like kids that were born at home and were homeschooled-how perplexing.  I also checked both the kids out of school yesterday and receptionists at both schools asked if I needed a ride to the hospital.  Hmmm.  I do admit, I am waddling in a more than obvious way.  My ankles are gone-really, I can't recall what they looked like, so if they change, I may never know the difference. 

So, if you want some extra info to cast your vote in the poll-here goes.  I was swollen like this when I was pregnant with Jack.  I was swollen with Bella, but not this much, and the swelling with Sophie must have been negligible, because I don't really remember it.  I have heartburn in the night, have had with all four kids now.  I keep making Jello and Pudding for snacks.  I don't know if I am really craving those things or if I know no one else in the house likes those snacks, so no chance of them getting stolen.  Nate says I am carrying this baby differently than any of the others, don't quite know what to make of that, but he would be the best judge of that.  I have been pretty grumpy for months.  Anyway, hopefully we will all know if it's a boy or girl in the next week or so.  If not, watch out for the grumpy waddling woman. 

Hope of America

In Utah County, fifth graders can participate in Hope of America.  Hope of America kicks off the freedom festival, which I didn't know until I just googled it.  Anyway this was the year for Jack and we all got to go to the Marriot Center and watch hundreds of fifth graders perform.  It was a great show. The kids set in a giant flag shape with a few on the main floor.

Jack had to be there pretty early, so Nate the girls and I walked over to the creamery on ninth for dinner. I used to live in the dorm just behind the creamery, only it wasn't the creamery, it was Kent's Grocery store.  There is also tons of construction going on at BYU.  They tore down the Deseret Tower dorm building and are building something else.  I am convinced everything is in a constant state of remodeling in the state of Utah.  At least for the past sixteen years or so. 

Anyway, Jack was in one of the white stripes and surprisingly easy to find.

The Marriott Center is where graduation is also held and it felt much the same as it did eleven years ago when I graduated and was nine months pregnant sitting in those cramped seats.  Seriously, I am 5' 4" and my knees hit the seat in front of me!  The section we were in was not crowded, so there was a bit more room to spread out, and I am sure pregnancy contributes to the overall claustrophobic feelings in the seats, but a bit more room would probably be appreciated by all.

Sophie wanted Nate to hold her the whole time, so he was feeling the claustrophobia as well.  Bella liked the whole thing and can't wait to be in fifth grade herself now. Her favorite part was the dancing grandmas.

They got huge applause and were really fun to watch.  The program ended with the kids singing with flashlights, which you know they all loved.  Jack was super bummed when I reclaimed the flashlight from him at the end, don't worry, he has lots, mine always get snatched.

I can't believe in a few weeks fifth grade will be over for Jack and we will be enjoying summer.  He's growing up and his schedule is getting so busy!  He still has a few more events before the end of the year we are looking forward to, and baseball a few times a week.  But I think we will all be ready for some lazy summer days by mid-June.

Baseball Season

Jack is on the Twins this year, for which I am grateful, from a fashion point of view.  I have noticed many of the teams main color seems to be gray, The A's and the Angels seem to have variety, but everyone else is a shade of blue or gray.  I know-silly to care, but c'mon, make the Padres orange or black.  Put a little variety in the mix!

Anyway, Jack has played catcher, second base, and third base thus far.  He has fun playing baseball.  It doesn't seem to have the same intensity as football has for him-for which I am glad.  He just goes out there and does his best and has a good time.  I suppose baseball isn't usually as physically taxing as football, so maybe that is part of it.  I missed a lot of games last year because so many of them start at 8.  And I know this year will be similar, so I am really trying to enjoy the ones we all get to go to.  This year Nate isn't coaching, so he sits with me and wrangles the girls. Well, Sophie mostly.

I wish I could remember how well Jeff and I paid attention at A's games when we were young when my dad took us.  We were pretty little, but he would load us onto BART and we would ride out to the stadium.  Jeff was really little, because he once fell asleep and peed all over my dad.  I remember this as being hilarious.  It probably didn't occur to my dad to bring a diaper bag or change of clothes or not let Jeff drink tons and tons. But I am sure at the time my dad didn't think it was very funny.  I do have an appreciation of watching baseball live as a result.  It just isn't as fun on TV.  I like the atmosphere at games, especially small ones.  Nate and I have been to a few big league games since we've been married, but the minor league ones and the ones Jack play in are my favorites.  I just wish the seats were a bit more comfy!

Easter 2011

Easter was really quite close to Jack's birthday this year.  That hasn't happened since the year he was born.  I believe I came home from the hospital with him on the evening of Easter.  It doesn't fall on his birthday until he is 57 years old.  He made me look that up. 

Anyway, we had a nice Easter dinner together at Tim and Vanella's new house.  They were gracious enough to host and I was really grateful!  We had a lot of food as usual.  The cousins all had a good time getting together and playing.  Sophie prays all the time to see all her cousins, she means everybody, she gets confused about aunts and uncles I think.  Tim and Vanella have a back yard with a rock retaining wall and some deep grass.  They haven't got their mower up and going yet, so it made great fun for the Easter egg hunt. 

 Nate and Cassie and Alice hid eggs.  We manage to find all but one of them.  They were candy filled eggs rather than hard boiled, so no one was too worried about it. Even the easy ones were a bit challenging and Jack and Bella had quite a hard time.  A good time was had by all and we still have Easter candy hanging around.

Happy Birthday Jack!

On the 22nd Jack turned 11 years old.  It was a busy week for him, so we opened presents and went to birthday dinner the night before. 

Jack got a lot of fun things, but the best thing in my opinion was a football card holder that Isabella made out of scrapbook paper.  She just wanted to make him something he would really like for his birthday and did it without any prompting or help.  I love the fact that they are great friends.  They have always gotten along so well together.  Jack also got a sleeping bag, some legos, new scout stuff, and some deodorant as a hint from me.  He thinks that's way funny.  He had a baseball game, then wanted to go to Chuck-a-Rama (why?!?) then we came home and opened presents.  So he didn't even get to play with anything he got that night. 

On Friday, his actual birthday, he got to go on his first camp out with the eleven-year old scouts.  I was fairly nervous, just because it being the first time and him being so new.  But he had a fabulous time and told us all sorts of crazy stories.  Hopefully he will keep giving us the details!  They are fun and crazy to hear at the same time. 

I made the whole group pose for pictures. They are all smiling because instead of saying cheese I had them say-whoa what a big belly you have.  Anyway, he can't wait for all the fun scouting stuff he gets to do this year and I am excited for him.  I think I will be less nervous next time now that I know what to expect.  And he will probably not take quite as much stuff, because I really don't want to wash all that stuff again!

We didn't even eat birthday cake together or blow out candles.  Jack seemed okay with all of that-which is what counts.  In the past it's usually Sophie's birthday that gets all changed around and the spring ones work out just fine.  But now we will have three kids with spring birthdays and I imagine they will just get more busy.  I have great hope that I won't be in the hospital on Bella's birthday this year, but there is a chance that I will, I am getting all organized so my mom and Nate can really make it fun for her if I don't make it. 

Spring Break 2011

The kids and I had a fairly low key spring break this year.  In the past I have really planned and had activities everyday.  This year we just did two major things then hung out and did stuff around the house for the rest of the days.  Jack was very happy to have a break from school and Bella was really anxious to get back.  Sophie was happy to have them home, but annoyed her routine changed at the same time.  I remember the first few weeks of summer are always hard because we have to get used to a new routine and all being together again. 

Anyway, we went to the Discovery Childrens Museum at the Gateway on Tuesday.  It wasn't too busy because it was only spring break in Utah County. 

It also happened to be free scoop day at Ben and Jerry's.  So after lunch we walked over and each got a free scoop.  Everyone managed to eat their ice cream with minimal mess and nobody dropped their cone.

After the ice cream we walked over to Dick's to see if I could find some new flip flops.  I bought a pair there six or seven years ago that I love and have never been able to find the same style again.  And now I am only wearing flip flops, so I really need a comfy pair.  They had those, along with some shoes for Jack-the kids goes through shoes like crazy.  And each girl bought a bouncy ball. We also picked up a batting helmet for baseball season.  It was an expensive stop.  After that we were all ready to get home and I was really ready to sit for a while.

On Friday we went to the zoo with the Worthington's. We also ran into the Strongo's from the neighborhood.  Six kids and two pregnant ladies were pretty funny navigating some of the hills.  All the kids managed to get on animals on the carousel that moved this time.  Last time Jack picked a stationary animal and didn't realize until it was too late.

The tigers were surprisingly active and we watched those for a long time.  The kids also really liked seeing the peacock spread it's plume. The giraffe's were also pretty entertaining.  One really wanted out and was craning to get outside.  As we were leaving we saw a sign that said they were purposefully being kept apart due to a bit of spring fever. 

It was nice after lunch to sit and let the kids play on the play ground.  The day ended up being really nice and we all had a great time.

So not an action packed week, but enough to wear me out and the kids had the rest of the days playing with friends and helping around the house.

Strange things in the mail

I have been doing most of my gift, baby, and even fabric shopping online as of late.  So lots of packages have arrived and sometimes I am a little surprised to see what is in them-which means I have either been doing too much online shopping or pregnancy has zapped my brain cells and I am losing my memory. Last week there was a big envelope in the mailbox I didn't recognize.  And no wonder! This is what it contained:

 

I know I never ordered a calendar with Nate and I on it.  But we did buy a new car about a month ago. The Malibu just became too high maintenance for us and Nate didn't want me driving it because he was sure I would get stranded somewhere.  Probably true, I was picking him up all sorts of places where he was stranded.  Anyway, after we did all the paperwork, and were ready to go, the salesmen took our picture in front of the car.  I am smiling because I am obedient and was told to.  Nate and his rebellious nature looks as if he just spent a few hours in a car dealership and just wants to go.  We both really like the car, but could have lived without being on a calendar.