Swimming in the Rain

I can't recall a rainier spring season ever in the area where I live. We've had so much rain that it has led to some flooding in surrounding areas. I haven't complained too much since the rain has kept the hot weather at bay a little longer. It's been a huge bummer to have the pools open though and not be able to swim! One Wednesday in May, I promised Carter that we would go swimming that day when it wasn't raining. The issue though is that it would clear up one minute only to rain 15 minutes later. I told him it wasn't a good day for swimming, but he was insistent. Finally I packed up the umbrella, and we headed to the pool. We were the only ones there. 5 minutes after we arrived, it started raining (no thunder/lightning). While I stood under the umbrella, the boys went for a swim. They didn't care!

Mother's Day 2015

Matt and the boys treated me well for Mother's Day. I was able to sleep in until 7:30, then woke up with a start realizing that I was playing the organ at church that day! I had completely forgotten! I quickly looked up my songs, ran over to church to play through them, and came home to a warm omelet and this lovely card from my boys. This is my kind of card!

Later we got together with Ariane's family and my parents to celebrate our mom with dinner and dessert.

Pregnancy Update

I'm just over 23 weeks now and thought I'd post about my pregnancy this 4th time around since I'm about halfway. My due date is Sept. 2nd--the cut off for schools here is Sept. 1st, so it will be interesting to see when I actually deliver. The pregnancy is going well so far. The first trimester I felt nauseous almost every night at 10pm, so I would usually head to bed and sleep that off. Once the second trimester began, the nausea went away. I had a scare about being exposed to fifths disease but found out I was immune to it.

We found out on April 21st that we're having our 4th boy! I completely expected it. With baby #3, I was positive it was a girl and then felt disappointed to learn it was a boy. Maybe because I didn't want to feel that disappointment again, I have felt this was a boy from the beginning. I even had a dream that I delivered a boy a week before the gender ultrasound appointment. The only one that was really disappointed about the gender was Carter who thought it just made sense that we should have a girl since we have enough boys. Carter and Bryson are obsessed with babies and have been for the last year, so it will be fun to have another baby in the house again.

One thing I don't like to give up even though I'm pregnant is my running. I'm still running 16 miles a week--3 miles 3 times a week and 7 miles on Saturday. It helps keep my weight-gain in check; I also think it helps with my pregnancy, labor, and delivery. I've received comments each pregnancy about how I carry small or people are surprised I'm as far along as I am. I think my running has something to do with this as well. My times have gone from 8 - 8:15 pace miles on my long runs to a 9:30 pace. It's frustrating to lose all I've gained in my speed and then to start from square one after I deliver. Obviously a new little baby is worth it!

The hardest part about pregnancies for me is the weight gain. Some women can pull off pregnancy still looking stylish and cute--I don't feel like I fit into that category, and I hate the way I feel about myself as I put on weight. So I doubt I'll take more pictures after this one! :) My current weight gain is 14 pounds--my goal is to gain 25 pounds, which I'm not on track to do. I enjoy eating too much!

22 weeks

Rockets Game

Family night at a Rockets game!

By the end of the night it was clear that I should have stayed home with Bryson. It was just too long of a night for him!

Dancing

Bryson's sweet dance moves. And a little singing in the background by Caleb and Matt.

Bryson begs for this song, "Sugar" and "Let it Go" all the time.

Birthday Week!

Carter and I had a birthday on March 30th. We celebrated with my family the weekend before. Carter and I were discussing what kind of cake to make him this year. He wanted a Spider Man cake. I suggested that maybe we should come up with a cake together since it was both of our birthdays. We compromised with this:

 A cheesecake with a spider web on top. Okay, so it favored my preferences, but Carter was still happy. And the no-bake cheesecake was delish! (Whipping cream and cream cheese--you can't go wrong)

Blowing out his 5 candles

On Monday, Carter's day started out by opening one present in the morning so he could use it on the way to drop Caleb off at school. He was so excited about his new helmet!

 I also made his breakfast-of-choice of waffles and his favorite lunch, a BLT.

We let Carter choose between a birthday party and Chuck E. Cheese. He picked the latter, and we went that night. My parents joined us.

Bryson had a fun time on all the rides.

Caleb was all about earning the most tickets.

Carter's focus was enjoying the experience.

Opening presents:

A book and movie from my mom

Besides the helmet, we gave him a new soccer ball (starting soccer league), bullets for his nerf gun, and some candy.

Enjoying cake (leftover from my dad's retirement party*--I didn't make another one)

I took a picture of both of us the day after our birthday when I wasn't wearing any make-up. Should have done it the day before.

I had many phone calls, texts and Facebook messages on my birthday, which made me feel special. My Visiting Teacher brought over some beautiful tulips and my favorite candy bar (Symphony toffee and almonds). She had no idea it was my favorite. The focus was on Carter though. I'm excited about my birthday present from my parents--Matt and I will go see the broadway musical Cinderella. Matt bought me a new ipod as there were several issues with my old one--I use it almost daily when I run, and so it was so annoying that it hadn't worked as well for the last 6 months.

Matt's birthday was on April 2nd. He took the day off work so that he could do one of my birthday presents I asked for--go to the dentist! His orthodontia work was on hold because he had a cavity that needed to be filled. This is Matt's first cavity (33 years old), and it wasn't completely his fault (orthodontist didn't put a bracket on tight enough which led to the cavity). All I asked for my birthday was for him to get the dentist visit done so he could continue with his orthodontia work, which will in turn lead to him getting his braces off! He sacrificed and did it on his birthday--not the most exciting thing to get a cavity on your birthday!

I made one of his favorite cookies (snickerdoodles) and one of his favorite dinners (beef stroganoff). He wanted a nice Nerf gun for his birthday, so he picked out which one he wanted. He wants to host a Nerf gun war at our house and invite people over. He is still a kid!

Another year older, and wiser too!

*My dad retired! Now my parents are looking forward to leaving on a mission at the end of this year.

Easter 2015

After Saturday's morning session of General Conference, we dyed eggs as a family.

Sunday evening we got together with Ariane and Zane's family for Easter dinner and a hunt.

Bryson and Lili

We hid a few eggs with dollar bills this year, and Carter found both of them!