Photoshoot

I don't know why I wanted to forever document just how ginormous my belly gets but I might regret it if I don't. Besides, I wanted this for so long.  I told myself early on that I was going to be as positive as I could about this pregnancy because of how grateful I am to even be expecting. I know many others who would give anything to feel a baby kick inside them, to wear those stretch marks with pride and puke with a smile on their face ( who am I kidding, I don't think anyone can do that). I am so grateful to even be pregnant, and this far along.  It took many years of trying, numerous procedures, medications, and eventually another surgery. After the long roller coaster ride, we decided it was time to move on. One miraculous day, a few months later, we couldn't believe the positive test. So I took another, it was negative, as well as one more negative after that.  We had been through this so many other times over the last five+ years.  I just felt different though, and waited a few more days.  Then it was clear as day.  I didn't get too excited, in fact Andy and I didn't dare tell anyone until we saw for ourselves. I was about eleven weeks when we got to see that this little jelly bean did indeed have a heart beat, and exist!  The nerves continued, because this all seemed so unreal.  We had been through a lot of disappointment, and heartache.  I honestly wasn't going to be relieved until I held him in my arms.

A lot of people made comments when we found out it was boy number 3.  Thinking I was sad not to get a girl.  Honestly, I would love to dress a girl in pink and purple, ruffles and sparkles.  She'd be the best dressed baby girl ever, but the worldly stuff aside, I was just grateful to have another baby.  I love my boys!  They are sweet.  They are handsome. They are mamma's boys through and through and they melt my heart everyday.  Even when I step on their Legos and they burp at the table :) Deep down I knew long before the ultrasound that I was getting another little buddy, and that made my heart happy.

This is me at about 35 weeks. As difficult as pregnancy is, I have been so blessed to carry this boy every single day! I STILL can't believe I get to be a mom again! Fertility issues are something else, you don't appreciate and understand the miracle of life on this level, until you have experienced that amount of heartache and hopelessness. I am forever changed. Feeling grateful, anxious and huge  :)

 These boys were less than thrilled to take pictures, but we tried anyway.

 So anxious to meet him.  I just hope he gets here healthy!

Gavin took this one ;)

*Now to get through finals and have this boy!  

Halloween

I love Halloween!  My parents have gone all out for Halloween every year. I grew up that way, and I'm pretty sure the same excitement is instilled in my boys.  They could care less about the actual trick-or-treating and candy, it's all about the costumes and school parties.  I have even found my non-sewing self hand-sewing costumes almost every year.  Maybe one day I'll actually invest in a sewing machine and some lessons... Anyway, this year my very pregnant self was in the middle of midterms for school and still managed to make Max's mummy dreams come true without resorting to good ole' toilet paper.  I even turned Gavin into a pretty awesome skeleton. 

Yep, hand sewed all those strips to make a mummy, that wouldn't unravel at school, and could stand the rigorous night of trick-or-treating.  I'm pretty sure I enjoyed painting their faces the most!  Can you tell this pregnant mama was feeling super crafty for her own costume? Just kidding.

Anyway, I did learn that it is A LOT to ask little boys to stop sifting through their loot to take a picture with mom before she crashed for the night.

We also have a fun yearly Halloween party with our friends.  It was super hero themed, so I decided "Black Widow" was practical. I mean, how many pregnant fictional super heroes are there to choose from? Even if there were, what would one do with such a costume after the party? I ran out of time to get fancy with Andy so we whipped him into Captain America with a T-shirt and Max's toy shield. 

Good times!  I made mini chocolate caramel mouse cake trifles that were a pregnant late night concoction and a major hit.

Heber Train Ride

My parents car club had a trip to Heber this Summer.  We decided to join the party.  I mean, I have boys and they love trains!

 Cheese!

 My brother is extremely cooperative for pictures, can you tell? :)

I finally got Max to sit down for a split second ha ha!

We always eat at the Dairy Keen when in Heber, why?  Because they have a train driving around on the ceiling of course!

Catch up.

I thought having both boys in school would give me time to stay caught up with everything in life...ha ha!  Wishful thinking.  I also thought I should enjoy getting caught up before life gets turned around and I get to remember what having a newborn is like.  I mean, this miracle boy has us practically starting over! 

Then for whatever reason, I decided to still stick to my plan and go back to school anyway.  Maybe I love being stared at as the huge pregnant girl on campus.  I don't know.  What I do know is that life is good.  Life is crazy.  Life is busy.  Life is sometimes just plain out of control.  But life is life, and I am blessed.  I have some pretty incredible people in my life.  My boys, husband included, are just awesome.  They bring so much joy, adventure, and crazy into my life and make it extra worthwhile. So

 here are some pictures to recap some of our adventures over the last several months.

Back in May Gavin finally lost a top tooth.  We are still waiting for others to get wiggly.

I love that they were both numb from the dentist, I had to get a picture of the crooked smiles.  I cannot tell you how nice it is to have a dentist that my kids love and are not afraid of!

Introducing baby mac #3!!!!!!!

Then we ventured to my ultrasound just before girls camp to find out who would be joining our family.  Surprise, another boy!  Well, we honestly weren't too surprised ha ha!  We have handsome sweet boys and are very anxious to have another!  He is a complete and total miracle!  Now we need a name...

 Gavin enjoyed his first scout day camp this year.  Man, do they get dirty!  I mean head to toe dirty.  But they had a great time.  Three showers and he's good as new.  Gavin loves scouts!

 Gavin and Andy had another scout workshop.   Max knew they'd be gone all day.  I woke up to this note by my pillow...

 SO obviously we went to the park and enjoyed a gorgeous day.  Followed with some slurpees :)

Happy ELEVEN years to us!  We didn't go to Italy this year, but we still had fun celebrating.  We went to dinner at the Copper Onion and then Gelato hopped to some places downtown.  It wasn't Italian Gelato but it was fun.  I am so grateful for a hardworking, playful, adventurous, positive, man and father for my kids.  He is the best!

We also ventured into hiving bees this year.  Andy was really excited to try it, and it paid off.  It is pretty pricey to get started.  He took the classes, got his bees, and suit.  Then the bees kind of did the rest ;)  Gavin even did his 2nd grade Great Brain report on honeybees.  It has been a neat experience for the whole family.  Our bees did exceptionally well for a first year hive and we extracted 47 pounds of sweet golden honey.

It is delicious!  

 Gavin's first Pinewood Derby.  He asked Papa Craig to help him make a car.  He requested a red car that would be as fast as Lightning McQueen... Well Papa Craig is Papa Craig, so he and Gavin made an actual McQueen.  Gavin was thrilled.  His car took first place every round and he won!  The sweetest part was that Gavin didn't care about winning.  It didn't even phase him that he had won until about twenty minutes after the races were over and we were cleaning up.  I came up to me and said " mom, I winned!" " Yes, Gavin, you won!!!" It was so cute.  I love how noncompetitive and sweet this boy truly is.  He is one of a kind and I'm proud to be his mom!

We made our traditional birthday ritual at the cemetery for Eric's birthday.  Of course we ate ribs at Goodwood too! The boys sure love the Pixystix part.  It has been a hard road these past six and a half years of not seeing Eric smile.  Not hearing him say "hey".  Not being able to hug him, or tease him. Or just be able to see that he is doing well.  I miss him like crazy, and always will.  It hasn't become any easier.  But this particular birthday I felt a lot of love and peace.  I know Eric is playing with his little buddy in heaven, and has been watching over him for a while.  A part of me thinks that it took 6 years to get him because Eric needed him.  Or maybe he needed Eric :)  Either way, I know he is in the best care right now and I am so anxious to meet him.  I am so grateful that I will see my baby brother again someday.  I am thankful for the gospel and for my Savior.  Like I said, life is crazy, life is unpredictable, but life is LIFE...and it is good.  We couldn't enjoy the good if we didn't endure the bad.

Car show fun with the cousins

We took a trip to Coalville, Utah for their car show.  My parents recently bought a trailer and took the boys up camping while I enjoyed a few quiet days at home.  So we met up with them for the festivities.  Brad was in town, so the boys were thrilled that their cousins could come along and check out these antique cars.  There were booths for face painting,balloon animals, a bounce house and yummy lemonade. It was hot!  But the kids had a great time. 

Look at the line of cousins!  So cute!

 

They bounced and slid most of the day.

 Pretty hat, Brad!

 Face painting, or arm painting, is serious business!

Tired but happy :)

 A mouse...random?  

Baptism!

*It's time to catch up again.  I've spent the past couple months puking and sleeping and growing a long awaited, miracle baby.  I won't complain about the woes of pregnancy because I'm over the moon excited! Most anyone that reads this already knew, but just in case, we are due around Christmas!!!

The BIG day!  Gavin was so excited to be baptized.  It was a beautiful day.  Grandpa Craig gave a great talk on Baptism.  Grandma Marilyn gave the opening prayer.  Gavin chose "Choose The Right" for the opening song. Andy did the honors of baptizing and confirming Gavin, I know this was a special day for both of them.  Of course I cried, happy tears but tears nonetheless.  The spirit was so strong.

 It has been a long journey with this incredible boy and he has overcome many obstacles. It was especially sweet to know he understood what he was doing and that he wanted to do it. 

Gavin was baptized with his friend Hunter from our neighborhood.  I forgot to get a picture of them together, whoops!

I am so amazed at just how much my baby has grown up.  He is such a sweetheart, and always so happy.  He might be eight but he still loves to hang out with mom. I just love him! Way to go little buddy!  We are so blessed to be surrounded by loving friends and family! It was especially neat to have Great Grandma and Grandpa come from California. We also enjoyed yummy food and family fun afterward but I didn't get pictures.  Let's just say I'm so great at taking mental pictures I forget to get digital ones...

Birthday Party Overload

Combined parties make sense around here with only ten days in-between their birthdays; throw Mother's day in the middle of that, a lot of mutual friends, and the end of a school year.  So we had a blast, minus the rain that seems to fall every year no matter when I plan their "outdoor party".  Someday all of my outdoor games and ideas will be put to good use right?

"I'm Gonna Wreck It!!!"

 My Sugar Rush candy themed cake....yes the fluffy cotton candy trees shriveled up before I got a picture.  It's the thought that counts :)

 Pizza, Cherry Fizz Sodas and Movie time

 Such a fun group of friends.  My kids are really lucky to live in such an awesome area!

Gavin was distracted and Max was too anxious to wait to blow out the candles.

 Time For Presents

 Spoiled little boys :)

 Grandpa Won this Brave cake at an auction and decided to share with the cute little girlfriends at the party.

 We decorated candy cars and played some relay races and of course jumped on the new trampoline when the rain stopped.  With this many kids we failed to get more pictures...oh well!  They had so much fun!

I survived the party and one of the busiest weeks ever!  Now it's onto the Big Baptism day.  So Exciting!!!