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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.