Summer sun.

This is the time of year when the sun rises and sets on the North side of my house.  I LOVE IT!  I always know it is summer time when the sun shines into my kitchen and lights up the vase on my buffet.  

Memorial Day

I am so thankful today for all of the men and women who have bravely fought for my country and my freedom.  My Grandpas, Dave's Grandpas, my cousins, brother-in-law and my Father-in-law to name a few.  We visited "Papa's" (Dave's dad) grave today and left him some red flowers in honor of his love of the Utes.



After Sunday dinner.

This is how James relaxes on Sunday evening after dinner.

My sweetheart.

Tonight was the ward family campout up at Pineview.  We only went for the evening but we had so much fun... I even got a picture of me and Dave!  (A rare treat!)

Future scholar?

James put on my Dad's reading glasses tonight... it was super cute.

Picnic on a rock.

We Went to the park for a picnic. 

It was sunny and beautiful!

Reading.

Today I had "K" and we read books. 

It was lovely.

It was amazing!

This deserved a second post for today!

I know I didn't take this one but we got to see the baby today!  Strong heartbeat... and it even moved for us a few times.  SO AWESOME!!!



Sweets

I went on Ella's field trip today with her to the "Sweets" candy factory.  It was a really great field trip and we got treats too!  Ella had fun playing with her friend on bus... I had fun watching.

Just checking!

Took another test just to be sure.

Yup,

still pregnant!

Bountiful Basket

I got my first Bountiful Basket today and it was full of awesome and fresh goodies!

My delicious breakfast with mango and blackberries from my basket... YUM! 



Miracle

At the request of a new friend (I think anyone who has known me for a while would never have asked me to do this) I took a pregnancy test.  I have taken A LOT pregnancy test over the last 10 years and they have always been negative.  I've expect nothing more.  I was told by fertility specialists that in-vitro was our only hope for getting pregnant.  This friend gave me a test and said "Go home and take it!"  So later tonight, since it was in my pocket, I took it.

  

 2 LINES!!!  THERE WERE 2 LINES!!!

I Started screaming and crying for Dave to come (He thought I saw a spider... I'm arachniphobic.)  He raced into our bathroom in a panic.  I said, "I'm pregnant."  He said, "No you're not."  It took me a minute to convince him but when I did we both kinda just stood there stunned.  We of course went to the store and bought a bunch more tests just to be sure! 

We have wanted another child for years.  James goes to kindergarten this fall and I was really sad to have the gap between him and #3 get any bigger.  We have had our adoption papers in for over a year (no contacts at all) and we were getting ready to do in-vitro in the early fall.  This is such a miracle and we cannot believe that not only did it happen on it's own... it was FREE!!! (at least this part!)  Babies do not come easily to us so this is a completely new experience.   We will tell the kids in a few days which we are really excited to do.  We want to go to the Doctor first and make sure everything is ok. 

A. W. E. S. O. M. E.

I was still in a bit of shock and also emotionally exhausted so I look a little crazy!

My other 2 favorites.

So in case you have noticed lately that a lot of my pictures are of my favorite little boy and you think I might be neglecting my 2 other favorites... this is why:

They are protecting each other from my camera.  The are rebelling against me right now... and I find it hilarious!  James is happy to pose for me whenever so he gets more Daily Dash of Awesome face time. 

Happy boy.

He tried to pretend he didn't know I was taking his picture... but he just couldn't help smiling.

Rainy day.

It rained and rained today. 

Then the sun came out.

It was beautiful.

My big helper.

I mowed the lawn today and holy cow we have a big lawn!  It took me almost 3 hours.  I don't like Dave being out of town when the lawn needs mowing.  Ouch!  The best part of being in the yard today was that I had my little helper with me.  He picks up all the pine cones for me and throws them away and he follows me with his mower to make sure I don't miss any spots.  I am excited for him and Ella to be old enough to mow in a few years!
☻

How to train your fruit.

We ate our Dragon fruit and it was ok but definitely NOT worth the $6.99 a lb. that we paid for it.  I expected it to be sweeter since it is supposed to taste like a kiwi/melon but it was pretty bland.  I had to eat the whole thing because the kids didn't like it.  Next time I think we will try the star fruit or the tiny pineapples (something I know the kids will eat.) 

James would NOT call it dragon fruit, he kept calling it "How to train your fruit". 

Golfing and an artichoke.

Dave left for NYC this morning and the kids and I got so bored by the afternoon that we had to get out!  So we went miniature golfing.   It was so much fun.  Then we had an early dinner at the Cracker Barrel and went to the new grocery store that just opened near us to check it out.  It was really great and they had some exotic fare as well.  We decided to choose one exotic thing to try so we got a dragon fruit.  I will post about it tomorrow after we eat it.

My Mom got her first Bountiful Basket today and she brought me an artichoke from it (I LOVE ARTICHOKES!)  It was so beautiful that I had to snap a picture.  I am really excited because I am going to sign up for one next Saturday.

Popsicle race!

It was a BEAUTIFUL day!  Warm and sunny and perfect for playing in sprinklers and eating Popsicles... oh and racing!

My boys.

I love them.

Picnic.

James and I went on a picnic today.  It wasn't super warm but it was ok.  He kept making mustaches out of his curly fries and it cracked me up!

Little Ham!

I was just taking some test shots and James was my model. 

He totally cracks me up.

Birth families are awesome!

We got to have a quick visit with James Birthmom and Birthgrandma today.  We dropped off a couple of things for them for Mother's Day and they totally spoiled me with chocolates and flowers.  James was being a total ham and kept hiding behind their aquarium.  I wish Ella's Birthmom lived a little closer but we are just glad that the live close enough to see at least once or twice a year.  We are so lucky to have such great birth families! 

I Love being a Mom!

Ella filled out this questionnaire for me at school.  It is so sweet and totally made my day.  The kids were great today and Dave totally pampered me.  It was a good day.

P.S. Please notice that apparently I am 7 feet tall and my favorite food is "Trckie" (Turkey)

Kite!

Grandpa and Grandma brought a kite to the cabin.

It was so much fun!

Quiet drive.

This is a VERY rare occurrence these days...

but it always makes me smile when it happens.

Opera

Ella's class was selected to create an opera.  They were the only class in the school that got this opportunity and it was awesome!  The Utah Opera company came in and helped them.  The kids came up with the story and the lyrics and then they had help putting it to music.  It was only about 7 minutes long but it was was so CUTE!  Ella was a mermaid and she was adorable.  Then after the opera the kids sang some songs to the Mothers for Mother's day. 

Veggies and "Bun-bun"

I made an omelet this morning with fresh peppers and onions, it was delish! 

I always find James's "Bun-bun" in the weirdest spots... and I love it!

Frogs

My favorite spring salt and pepper shakers and Cookie jar. 

They are the kids favorites too.

GDO

Today I had a "Girls Day Out" with my mother in law.  We went to see "Fast Five" this afternoon.  My kids were at school/friends houses but it still totally felt like I was playing hooky.  It was an awesome movie... awesome company... awesome afternoon. 

P.S. I could fall asleep listening to Vin Diesel's baritone voice... it is so sexy.

Books

I love books. 

I love to read.

I love to read books.

I love to re-read books.

I like super cheesy LDS fiction.

(Don't judge me! You know you have guilty pleasures.)

I apparently may or may not have 2 copies of Twilight. 

(Seriously I didn't buy them both... I have no idea how that happened.)

I love books.