Halloween Fun

We are headed to Fall Festival at the kids school tonight.

Dallin is going as a soccer player since he is coming straight from his game.

Where it all began...

We are actully headed back to Utah.

We never thought this day would come but we are moving to Price, temporarily. 

Ben is going to finish up a few credits at the Utah State Price Campus and  then its off to law school. 

Price is where Ben and I met and where our fist son was born and now almost ten years later our second son will be born there. Life is never predictable (especially for us), but here we are going back to the town we fell in love in and starting a new adventure with law school.

We both are really excited about it though, we know it is the right path for our family and although it will be a crazy few years it will be worth it in the end.

What I will miss in Texas: My friends. I love the people we have met here, we have a wonderful ward family and it is really sad to leave. The Texas pride that seems to run through the veins of anyone who lives here. I love how much people love Texas here. The beach. We have had so much fun at the beach, and learned many new things. The weather is so perfect right now, I hate to trade that for the frozen tundra up north. I will miss all the green and how brilliant it is in the spring. The sunsets are gorgeous. I will miss bbq's on our patio with good friends. I am sad I won't be having a little Texan baby. My skin and sinuses will miss the humidity. Living in Ron Paul's district. Living in a place with so few members of the church. I know it has been a great experience for the kids to see how blessed they are to have the gospel. They are 2 of maybe 5 kids at their school who are members. This has given them a greater perspective on how there are so many of Heavenly Father's children who still need to hear the gospel message. I think they have had many little opportunities to be missionaries just by their example. This opportunity and the insight they (and I) have gained is priceless.

What makes me excited to move to Utah: Family is of course at the top of this list, and Ben's parents live in Price so we are very excited about that. The mountains. Taking my 2 oldest to General Conference. The lights at Temple Square. I won't feel like my house is being invaded by bugs. No need for mosquito abatement planes and trucks! I probably won't have to worry about poisonous snakes in my yard or alligators in large bodies of water. Visiting all the beautiful national and state parks with the kids. Playing more volleyball. Finding LDS books at the library. Don't get me wrong I hate the cold but there is something quite nice about snuggling up with my man in front of a fire while the snow is falling outside. Not having to drive or fly 2400 miles for the holidays. It is the right thing for our family at this time.

Our time in Price will be short and then we will be off to law school, and who knows where that will take us.

I am hoping all the moving we have done, and will continue to do, will enrich our lives and give us the experiences we need to grow. I think the kids are learning how to adapt to new situations, have confidence that they can do hard things, and are not afraid of change. The moves we have made have brought our family even closer and most importantly we have all had to rely more on the Lord and grow closer to Him. In case you can't tell this is me trying to have a really positive attitude, because of course it can all go in the opposite direction.

Results are in...

It's a BOY!!!

We are all so excited but I think Dallin may be the most excited, he has been waiting a long time for this!

Our little guy is due Feb. 20.

Boy or Girl?

What's your guess?

I'll give you the scoop on Monday.

Details

Alright, so here's the skinny-

Baby #5 is estimated to arrive the end of Feb. We will find out in about two weeks if the score is going be a little more balanced with a little brother or if the girls are going to take an even more commanding lead of 5-2 with another little sister! Dallin has been hoping for a boy all along, and the girls were both hoping for a girl, but have since changed their minds and think a little brother might be fun. I think one thing is certain we will all be so overjoyed with which ever we are blessed with.

The kids had all been asking me when we were going to have another baby before we told them we were expecting. In fact, Grace asked me point blank if there was a baby in my tummy when I was eight weeks along. This has been a long awaited addition for all of us and this little one is already loved to pieces. Everyday Grace rubs and kisses my baby bump. Families truly are the greatest gift, and I love mine more than there are even words to express. How wonderful it is to be welcoming another little angel into our family circle.

The big guy had a birthday!

I'm so grateful to have Ben in my life, and there are a million reasons why but I will give you just a few.

He is a wonderful dad.

He initiates family scripture and prayer every night.

He's happy to be home with the kiddos in the evenings while I go to YW's, Zumba, volleyball, or just GNO

He honors his priesthood.

He is a kid at heart.

He is a dreamer, and he dreams big.

He gives me back massages anytime I ask for one.

He loves the Lord more than he loves me.

He is honest.

He is just as excited as I am to have a baby on the way.

He is a really great home teacher.

He is a handyman and can do almost anything.

He eats whatever I make.

He can cook and does it often.

He has amazing eyes.

He is extremely patient with me and very forgiving.

Ben is my best friend and there is no else I would rather grow old with!

So happy birthday babe, here's to another year.

You just keep getting better with age.

Love you!

Little Fish

Right now I'm pretty much hating blogger. I could not get this video to upload the way I wanted, so you'll have to be redirected to another site .Our little daredevil decided to go on the slide and swim to Ben without telling anyone, luckily we noticed and I got most of it on video. Click HERE!

*UPDATE- I worked with this a little more after I had some time to cool off -haha. It doesn't seem to fit quite right, but, whatever.

We gave the kids a present to unwrap last night and this was their surprise...

Into the lion's den

Sad but true...school has started again. I have mixed emotions about it. I'm distgusted with what has happened to the public school system in our country over the past 40 years. I've been studying a lot of history over the last year and am astounded at the significant things that have been deleted from the textbooks or totally distorted. I know I will have to teach my kids history at home, we've already begun that. And I'm convinced that there will be other holes in their education that I will have to fill. Can you believe it costs TX $11,084 per child per year to educate them- that is just insane.

And don't get me started on the sex ed that is being proposed across the country. Condoms being made available to elementary kids without parents approval in Massachusetts.

The latest proposal from the Center For American Progress is to eleminate constitutional studies and economics from high school curriculums because they are just "niche classes". Progressives are so desperate to have a generation of completely ignorant people who know nothing about these things which are crucial components to our nations freedom.

Did you know it is almost impossible for a teacher to be fired...thanks to teachers unions. I read an article a while back about a male teacher who had made lude comments to girls at the jr high he was teaching at. He couldn't be fired because of his union contract, but was deemed unsuitable to be with students, so he now does nothing and gets paid over $100k for it. It is so disappointing was is going on with the schools.

On a more positive note the kids are really liking school and I think they have pretty good teachers. So for now this set up will work for our family, but someday we may be homeschooling.

Summer Trip:Part 6

Final Stop-Idaho Falls

We had a wonderful exhausting time in IF :)

It was the last stretch of our trip and we watched Matt and Lisa's (6) kids for a week.

The boys were a big help. They set and cleared the table, washed dishes, played with the younger kids, and changed diapers. It was great to spend time with their wonderful family.

And I got to look at this sweet face everyday!

Grace was constantly saying "Wilianna is willy tute, Mom"

We went on a few outings (but not with all 9 kids)!

The only place all eleven of us went together was church. The lady sitting behind me in sacrament meeting must have been visiting too, because she tapped me on the shoulder and asked me if these were all my kids! I said "These aren't even all of them, but no they aren't all mine"! Devon was sitting with the other young men to pass the sacrament and Zachary was sitting on a different row that was more wheel chair accessible.

Bumper boat wars!

A few of the crew

Hailey and her best friend Allie on Hailey's bday.

Summer Trip: Part 5

Star Valley, Wyoming

{Ok folks, just one more stop after this and the summer trip-a-thon will end...i promise}

I love this place. It is SO beautiful and peaceful. (Wearing a parka next to a bonfire on the Fourth of July, not so much). My grandparents have a family reunion every year on this weekend and it worked out perfectly for us that we could attend this year.

Me and my little love bug.
My grandparents, hand in hand

For some reason, I just really like this picture. I didn't know my mom took until I looked through her photos. If you notice-all 5 of us are in the picture but the kids are in the background and this photo is all about me and my boyfriend :) I think I love it so much because-life is hectic and busy, and the kids are still doing their own thing, but the two of us seem to be caught up in our own moment together.

The kids on a treasure hunt

Me and Miss Hailey

My dad, Grace, and Ben-getting ready for an adventure.

(little punkin fell asleep on said adventure)

The family

Me and loverboy

My parents "posing"

Grace with grandma

Summer Trip: Part 4

One of our favorite places to visit- Nanie and Poppy's house!!!

Cousins were there too, so it made it an extra special visit!

The "big" girls. We missed the babies-Isla and Hannah

Cousins!!!

Coen, Reagan, Poppy, and Hailey

S'mores!

Grace and Coen petting the "tat"

Funny Story: Grace was terrified of the miniature donkeys, she wouldn't get near them. One evening we were floating the canal in tubes and Grace, very nonchalantly, asked me if there were alligators in the water- like it didn't matter one way or the other. So she is afraid of little donkeys behind a gate, but not of being in the water with alligators. What a funny girl!

Notice where grace and I are standing, she wouldn't let me get any closer than this to the horse.

Summer Trip:Part 3

I don't think any trip to Utah would be complete without going to Lagoon. We had so much fun! My Mom, Aunt Susan, and Uncle Dick met us there.

The kids and my mom (what a babe).

After watching Grace go around, for the millionth time, on the little whales, we finally got in front of the camera.

Her. Most. Favorite. Ride.

Dick, Sue, Dallin, and Hailey standing in line.

I guess this is what a 3 year old feels like after a long day of getting their picture taken.

Handsome devil!

Much needed cool treat!

My most favorite ride! I LOVE to free-fall. My mom is the only one I can get to ride it with me!

Summer Trip: Part 2

After spending a couple days in SLC we headed to Logan for a family reunion. I was really bad about taking pictures while we were there, I was just too busy visiting with loved ones that we hadn't seen in quite a while. It is always so much fun when Ben's family gets together. There was probably 60-70 people in attendence and it was awesome. The cousins just have a blast playing together all day and well into the night. I don't think my kids were ever asleep before midnight while we were there. There was plenty to do at Sam and Vicki's, swimming pool, playground, trampoline, volleyball net, soccer field, and a blow up jump castle and water slide. We were so happy we could make it this year, it was so great to see everyone!

Our Summer Trip: Part 1

We had the best time ever visiting family and friends. Even though we were gone for more than three weeks and visited 3 states, it went by really fast!

Day 1: Leaving Houston, three super excited little kids!

After landing in SLC we went to Temple Square to see the beautiful grounds and the new model of the temple. Grace was not feeling 100% she slept on the plane (yay!) and fell asleep at Temple Square. Then at dinner she hardly touched her food (except the ice cream of course). I think she was just so excited and overwhelmed with all that was going on.

Yeah, this picture of us kind of stinks but, ya know, after a one hour drive and a three hour plane ride, this is probably all I could hope for!

After dinner at the oh so good Pagoda, we suprised the Troy Boy at his game! His team took first! Yay Troy!!!

Troy's biggest fans!

The crazies

Day 2: We spent the day at my SIL's dads house, which might I add, was spectacular! We had so much fun just playing in the pool and being together!

Dallin, Hailey, Grace with their Great Grandpa

Tired yet? Well, there is a lot more soon to come!