Shopping with Mom

On Tuesday, Mom and I went shopping looking for ideas for crib bedding. We ended up making a stop at Pumpkin Patch first, which of course took longer than expected. I got a few clearanced items for the boys and Mom bought a few things for Chereese. Chereese had a company offer her new free hearing aids and was going down to receive them on Thursday. My mom wanted something cute for her to wear for the event. After that we ate lunch and then headed to Burlington Coat Factory to look at crib bedding. I found something I really like, but didn't buy it. Mom may end up helping me sew something similar for the cribs. Maybe we will go to the fabric store soon to see what we can find. Right now I am thinking of doing a "Little Builder" theme with tools and dump trucks.

Baby Stuff

Here are some pictures of a few items I have accumulated for the boys. I was considering attending a twins club meeting and got put on a list to receive their newsletter. The newsletter came and there was a section of classified ads. One family was selling their double jogging stroller and regular double stroller (which can fit 2 carseats in it.) Brooks and I went to take a look and they both were in great shape. They were a good price for us so we got both. While we were there, they mentioned they were selling 2 cribs that convert into toddler beds. After checking them out and liking the asking price, we decided to go for it. We got two cribs and two crib mattresses from them. The color is not exactly what I wanted, but I am still very excited about it. They are in great shape and look very nice. I think we pretty much cleared them out of all the old twin stuff they were getting rid of. I have also gone a little overboard on boy clothes. I haven't bought too many matching things, but I have bought quite a few seperate items. There will be 2 of them so I figure I'll need a lot of stuff:)

Dallin is a Little Too Big for Emery's Toy

Dallin came over last week on the day Preston and Kelley were moving out. He saw Emery's walker hanging out and decided to give it a try. He doesn't realize he is a bit too big. I hid it in the other room and then found him a few minutes later dragging it out of there. I guess he really liked it. Thanks for sharing Emery! I'm pretty sure he didn't break it:)

Still Boys

We had our next doctor's appointment this afternoon and everything looks great! They are both growing the way they should and they looked good. I think we figured out that there is something wrong with the tape we have been trying to record on. Last time it didn't work and this time we were unlucky again:( We did get a few pictures, but it stinks that there is no video. I think I will invest in a new tape. Maybe at the next appointment it will actually work. Today one of the boys was laying sideways at the top of my uterus and the other had his head by his brothers' bum with his feet pointing down.

Pic #1 - The first picture is clearly showing that we are having a boy. He has no shame! Baby #2 has his head in the picture.

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Pic #2 - On the right hand side of the picture, one of the boys is looking right at the camera. His skull is a little dark in the picture, but you can see his nose and mouth pretty well. Dr. Beck called it a "peek-a-boo" shot.

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Pic #3 - Two heads...I think we have a few pictures like this already, but I still like it.

First Kick

Last night Brooks and I were watching TV. I felt the babies start to move around a lot and could actually feel some type of kick or punch from the outside. Brooks put his hand on my stomach and got a nice little kick 20 seconds later. It was the first time he had felt them move! Usually I can feel them moving around on the inside, but not like this. We were both very excited! I am sure there will be lots more kicks to follow.

Waiting...

Brooks recently sent in applications to 8 different law schools and now we just wait. He applied to schools in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado. We both didn't want to go too far away from home and the west sounded appealing to both of us as well. Hopefully we will find out sometime in March where we have been accepted. (Hopefully someone takes us.) This has been a dream of his since high school and he finally decided to do it. We will have a lot of big changes in the next year, but we are excited for the future. Hopefully family and friends will be able to visit us wherever we go. Even though I know there will be nothing there, I still get a little anxious every time I check the mail. We will leave the pest control business behind and let Preston run things here. It will be a big transition, but we are trying to prepare for that now. Getting the law school applications in was quite a process. There are letters of recommendation to get, transcripts to request and personal statements to write. I spent lots of time proofreading and trying to help out where I could. I am glad we are done with that! Now we just wait.

Big news for the day: Preston and Kelley got the keys to their new house today. They are very excited! Now all their stuff is leaving the back rooms and all the baby stuff I have accumulated will take its place:)

Girls Night with Heidi

Heidi saw a preview of the movie 27 Dresses and decided immediately she wanted to see it. She asked me probably a month ago if I would go see it with her when it came out. I am always up for a good chic flick! On Saturday, we went to dinner which always includes yummy dessert when Heidi and I are together. This time we stuck with a pizookie, one of my faves. We were having a hard time deciding on which dessert, so we got one at the restaurant and then ordered another dessert "to go" when the movie was over. We both really like our sweets! The movie was very cute as well. Definitely predictable, but good. I especially liked her trying on all 27 dresses. Very funny!

Trip to Joe and Shelli's

Brooks and I drove up to Pocatello on Tuesday, Jan 8. We left around 5:00 am and had to make at least a few stops for the pregnant lady (me) to go to the bathroom. The drive went really well until we got through Ogden. It started to snow and it was starting to get dark. The roads started to get bad as it got later. The trip from Salt Lake to Pocatello is usually only around 2 and 1/2 hours, but it took about 3 and 1/2 because of the driving conditions. The whole day had been great and the roads were great except for the last little stretch. We stayed behind a semi for quite a while and followed his tracks. There were a few impatient people who passed us in a lane that was not being used much, but most everyone else was pretty patient with the snow and roads. We were going about 45 mph instead of 75 mph for quite a while. One crazy guy in a little truck lost control when he was passing a big semi and I thought he was about to get creamed by the guy. Luckily he regained control and no accidents. It was a little nerve racking to be driving in that weather, but we were patient and made it to Joe & Shelli's safely. The picture below is of the roads that evening. The next day, Shelli, the kids and I ran a few errands and picked up some groceries while Brooks put his snowboard on and had Joe pull him around on the quad. There is a hill on Joe's dad's property right next to their house. They built a little jump on the hill and rigged a pulling rope to look a lot like a water skiing pull rope. When Shelli and I got back, Brooks took me out there to show me his snowboarding run. Very fun.

On Thursday, Shelli and I went to get massages in the afternoon. Shelli had gotten a gift card for Christmas and so I tagged along and got a half hour massage myself. Afterwards, we went to Shelli's mom's store, The Holiday House. We go every time I come and I always want to buy half the store. It it full of fun things to decorate with like tables, mirrors, wall hangings, holiday decorations and more. Last winter when I was here, I had bought some great stockings and a tree skirt for Christmas. I wanted to get a couple more stockings for the boys for next year since our family will be bigger by two members. Lucky for me, all the Christmas stuff was half off which made it even better.

Friday morning the boys, including Denton, drove to Salt Lake to pick up Leann (Joe's mom) from the airport. They stopped on the way home for breakfast and they were gone all morning. Shelli, Myah and I went to the mall while they were gone. I needed a few things from the LDS distribution center (yes, the distribution center is in the mall) and then we just walked around looking at other stuff. That afternoon, Brooks, Joe and I went back out to the hill with the quad and snowboard. After a little bit of a problem with the jump needed to be reshaped, Brooks started doing tricks. I was the picture taker while Brooks did cool jumps. Later that evening, we went out to eat with Joe and Shelli at the new Texas Roadhouse and then watched a movie at their place.

Brooks being pulled around by Joe on the quad

Brooks was finally able to go snowboarding for real on Saturday evening. There is a ski resort called Pebble Creek about 30 minutes from Joe and Shelli's house. Joe and Brooks decided to do the night skiing/boarding from 4:00-9:00 which is only $12. Only a part of the mountain is lit up, but they still had fun. Brooks said he found some good jumps. I thought it would be freezing at night, but neither of them seemed too bothered by it.

On Monday, Brooks and I drove up to Rexburg to see the temple for the open house. It is right by BYU Idaho. The inside of the temple is very neat. There is a chapel by the baptistry with a big window that looks over the font. If you are in the chapel, you can watch the baptisms that are occurring. The painting on the wall of the creation room was incredible. I was disappointed when we had to leave that room. It was full of deep green colors and had the local mountains, the Tetons, in the background. The temple was only just over an hour or so from Joe and Shelli's. I really enjoyed seeing it.

When we got back, we took the kids out sledding and Brooks again got his snowboard on and had the quad pull him around. Denton went down the hill a few times by himself and even took Myah with him a time or two. They looked very cute all bundled up.
Short Video of Denton & Myah sledding

A last minute change of times led us to Boise on Tuesday where we met up with someone Brooks served with on his mission, Albert Conklin. Brooks, Albert, Alyssa (Albert's wife) and Albert's brother and sister in law all went snowboarding that evening. I usually like to get out there and have fun with everyone, but I am a little restricted right now, for good reason. While they were gone, I went shopping and found someone $2,$3, and $4 deals on kids clothes at Old Navy. I am really enjoying shopping for little boy clothes. That evening, we stayed the night at the Conklin's place. Albert made adobo (a Filipino food) when they got back at 10:30 or so that evening. I always enjoy hearing all the mission talk especially since I can picture the places since Brooks and I went back to the Philippines for our trip. The snowboarding didn't turn out that great because it was really cold and windy. Brooks said that most of the snow was blown off the runs leaving ice behind. Not great snowboarding conditions. We did enjoy staying and visiting with Albert and Alyssa though. Thanks to them for letting is stay there.

On Wednesday, we headed back to Pocatello (a good 4 hour drive) and stayed one more night with Joe and Shelli before heading home. Thanks to Joe and Shelli letting us stay there for so long and to Shelli especially for all the great food while we were there. Denton was a trooper letting us stay in his room while he slept on "the baby bed" in the play room. We always enjoy visiting Joe and Shelli. We are sad to have to go back to everyday life.

Back to Normal Life

After almost three weeks off for Christmas and New Year's, Brooks is back to work. It was nice to have all that time off, and it is hard to get back into the swing of work. The phone is starting to ring more with people wanting to schedule, and I am back to a more normal schedule as well. We had fun with Donelle while she was here. We played Settler's quite a few times including one round of Cities and Knights, which we have not played in a while. Donelle met up with Heidi and I one day at the mall, and we had fun looking at kid stuff and maternity clothes. I hope I didn't bore them too badly. I think my new favorite kids clothing store is Pumpkin Patch. Everything was way on sale which was great. We went to Mason's game on Friday evening and then spent time at the Crandell's afterwards.

Ian was blessed on Saturday, Jan. 5. He looked very handsome in his suit and was very good for the blessing. Brooks and I were one of the first to arrive, so I got to hold him for a little while without anyone else stealing him away.
On Jan. 6, Dallin turned 2 years old. He didn't really get the whole birthday thing, but he did enjoy opening all his gifts. Opening presents is quite a process when you are 2 years old. Each present is so cool that you don't really want to open the next one. It is way more fun to play with the present you just opened, than set it down to open something else. He was especially interested in opening and closing the drawer of his new cash register from my parents. Heidi had spent a great deal of time preparing a cake especially for Dallin with no dairy or soy. (He is allergic to both.) He enjoyed us singing to him and tried to blow out the candles, but he would not even try the cake. Pretty funny considering all the work Heidi put into it. What a little stinker! He is definitely a picky eater. We all still love him though. Brooks was sick on Dallin's birthday and missed out on the party.
My pregnancy is continuing to go well. People keep asking me if I feel the babies move, but I don't really know what it is supposed to feel like. I do feel them in the evenings usually when I lay down, but not usually during the day. I am still trying to figure this whole pregnancy thing out. I am getting pretty big for how far along I am, but I love it. It is so fun to finally be pregnant. I haven't really been sick at all and have no big pregnancy complaints. I could definitely do without the leg cramps in the middle of the night, but overall everything is great. I do have a great husband who even helps me out with the leg cramps when I accidently wake him up at 4:00 am. I ask Heidi or Kelley or Taryn or whoever lots of questions starting with, "When you were pregnant...?" Life is good. We are happy.

Family Pictures

While we were at the cabin, we got a few family pictures. They were supposed to be outside, but it started snowing that morning and it was really cold. I haven't actually seen many of the pictures yet, but here are a few from that day.
Brooks and I with Cole.

New Year's Eve

On New Year's Eve, Sterling, Taryn & Ian came over. Preston, Kelley and Emery were already here as well and Michael & Tyler stopped by for a while. We had a BBQ with them and the boys played Guitar Hero 3 (a new purchase of Michael's that day) and Rock Band.

Next door, Heidi and Mark had Mom and Dad and the McKinnons over. When Sterling & Taryn left we joined the party at Heidi and Mark's. They were doing karaoke over there. The fireworks came out a little later in the evening. Dallin stayed up the whole time we were there and absolutely loved the fireworks. He was not very thrilled about the sparkler, but liked everything else. He especially enjoyed the firework fountains. We had a few really cool fireworks that we got in New Mexico a few years back. Very big and colorful, almost like the real ones.

Amerae holding baby Steven.

Not so happy...

What a cute little boy!