Surprise Date!

Ladd surprised me on Friday. He got a babysitter without my knowledge and took me to Downtown Kansas City, the city of fountains and to an HUGE Arts Fair. How fun!

One thing I have really missed is our Grandma Sue. She was so much apart of our lives and truly was one of the kids Grandmas (even though not by blood). The kids had their own room at her house with all of their toys and a bed. She watched them every Friday night and even kept them overnight sometimes.....which was SOOOOOOO nice to be able to sleep in once in a while.

Anyways, We hadnt been on a date for 4 weeks now and I was really missing one on one time with Ladd.

Thanks Ladd for the fun and relaxing night.

My favorite part was sitting by a huge fountain with lights on it and cool statues, talking and reconnecting!

Did you know Kansas City ranks second in the world in number of fountains erected in the city. Only Rome, Italy, has more.

My kids are the best!

Since I have been feeling better, I have been able to pay more attention to my "deprived from their mom" kids!

They are simply amazing!

I love love love love them!

When I stop with the busy work and be in the moment, I realize how all the little stuff doesnt matter and they are what is important.

I was able to lay on the couch and snuggle with Isabelle today and sing songs together, nothing is better for the soul than to lay on the couch with a 2 year old and be in the moment and listen to them breath, smile, laugh and sing to you! It was the best!

Miles is so my little man! I have given up arguing with him because he has an answer for anything. Saying "no" is just not an option for him, he will have a way or idea to make it work, whatever it is! And just so you know, he has no doubt he can do what the gymnasts he saw on the Olympics doing! "I can do that, no problem" he said! I love his "can do, nothing is impossible" attitude! I need more of it!

Lauren is as always the sweet girl she has been! She is just a joy to have around. Still is obsessed with reading. She is even more than obsessed with Hannah Montana and I am kind of glad we dont have cable yet so she can take a chill pill and break from her for a while.

Life is good!

Here is a pic of Miles and Isabelle today waiting for lunch...they are little buddies!

16 is the magic number!

Look what I ate today!

Avacado, tomoato, spinach and onion sandwich!

Woo hoo! Time to party! I am 16 weeks tomorrow and what do you know, I didnt wake up feeling like I was going to throw up...I was craving some healthy food finally! I have been living on death food just to get by and not throw up. Poor kid!

But look at this yummy sandwich I made today for lunch! Still gradually going back to wheat, but this was delicious and the little one inside me was a happy camper (I can only assume!)

Meat still sounds disgusting and I am thinking of a veggie lifestyle again...we did it when Ladd was in school and we thrived on it, as more kids came I slacked off....we will see! (I even made our own almond milk and refried beans in school)

Attacked by Chiggers

I am learning some things about Kansas the hard way. So they have these little bugs that the human eye cant even see and they live in the grass. I guess they get on the very ends of the grass and get on you when you walk in the grass and bite into you and eat your skin cells. And you dont even know because the stinkin things are so small. I woke up the other day thinking that I had a mean spider in my house eating at my ankles at night...I was wrong... they are the chiggers that you dont notice until after they have bitten you.

Me with the indian in me and being a true Washingtonian has a bad habit of walking outside barefoot! And I learned my lesson....I woke up with bites all over me and they itch 10x more than mosquitoes.

I need to go find me some bug spray!

Playing in the Rain

The kids played out in the rain yesterday and were in heaven having the times of their lives....

I think we brought the rain with us when we moved here, it has been pouring pretty much the whole time we have been here....

What happens when a 2 year old gets a hold of her brothers red ink stamp......

The Pretty School

Isabelle came to me today with Miles backpack on and told me that she was ready to go to school.

Mom: What school are you going to go to?

Isabelle: Um, I am going to go to the "Pretty School" (preschool)

Mom: Really? Have fun!

Isabelle: yes, because I am sooo pretty!

She sure is pretty!

I just love this child!

Updates....

I havent been taking any pictures lately because I havent felt up to it..so sad :( But look forward to feeling like doing it again.

As for us.... the kids are enjoying school. They are getting to know other kids in the neighborhood and are enjoying having sidewalks to ride their bikes on and a yard to play in. Lauren even had 2 boys come searching for her because they knew she lived in the neighborhood.

Miles just loves to ride his bike all day long or his scooter. He has made friends with another LDS family down the road and tries to go over to their house whenever he can.

Isabelle is just as cute as ever and continues to amaze us everyday with her brightness and happiness and joy. She is talking galore and repeats everything we say. I feel like she is already 4 because she understands and says so much. She is a little spitfire and knows how to hold her own when needed!

Ladd said yesterday that this job is his dream job and better than he expected. He said he has to pinch himself during the day because what he is learning is so amazing. I am so happy for him that he goes to a job he loves everyday.

As for me, I am still struggling with morning sickness and some days wonder if it is getting worse instead of better. I am 15 weeks and normally I am starting to feel great....who knows.

I am still in search of a midwife. I only have about 2 choices and am really missing my midwife in Seattle right now...I just love her and she is amazing!

Insurance here does not cover homebirths in Kansas, which is so not cool! I might have to end up in the dreaded(for me) hospital this time. Not my idea of fun! Oh well. I know it will all work out, just need to figure out what to do.

I am slowly getting use to this area. However painfully miss Washington and my friends.

In the end, I am tremendously blessed and am focusing on that.

Cicadas....

Oh My Freaken Goodness....If you have never heard a Cicada, be greatful!!!! These bugs are so loud, maybe not by themselves, but their are millions here and it is deafening every night when they start their mating calls. The first night I was here, I thought something was being eletrocuted or something was wrong with the power lines. I was kind of scared!

Here is a link to what they sound like....http://www.naturesongs.com/cicada1.wav

Imagine a million of those little suckers all making their noise at the same time.

People say I will get use to it and wont even notice it eventually and it is usually only during the end of summer....I sure hope so!

Emotions....

Lately I have found myself to be an emotional basketcase. We went to a parade for the "Old Settlers Day" yesterday. I found myself crying when the different high school marching bands passed us by and when the police motorcycles came by with their sirens and the Soldiers passing behind them standing proud and carrying our American Flag! Holy moly, what is wrong with me! I keep telling myself that it is all the pregnancy hormones going crazy...but I never believed in those extra hormones that are suppose to make you cry one minute and laugh the next, but I guess I am eating my words.

I watched "P.S. I love you" last night while Ladd was at the office doing a presentation. I cried the when I saw it in the movie theatres, but man, I bawled uncontrollably last night. It made me ponder all the wonderful blessings I have in my life. For a husband that I am absolutely in love with, 10x more than on our wedding day. We all have our health and I feel the love of our Savior in our lives daily.

Last Thursday, the night we pulled into the driveway of our home, it was the day of our 10 year wedding anniversary. While we originally said that we would always do something "BIG" for our 10 year, we didnt. Instead we were traveling half way across the country with a HUGE moving truck and the most precious cargo with us. As I think back through the past 10 years, their have been days of extreme joy, extreme sadness and harship and we have grown tremendously together. I couldnt ask for anything more on my 10 year anniversary....an amazing marriage and to be madly in love with the man of my dreams and 3 amazing kids that are healthy and we are a happy family that gets along for the most part. We have our days and moments when we wonder what we are doing, but in the end, My 3 kids and amazing man are exactly what I want on my 10 year anniversary, I couldnt ask for anything more and a big ship with lots of good food and entertainment doesnt even begin to compare to celebrating with my family the past 10 years.

Ok...so I will get off my soap box, but want to say...Thanks Ladd for the journey of the last 10 years!!!

1 Year ago....

Sage

Tomorrow, September 7 will be the year mark for the passing of my sweet niece Sage. She was stillborn and my heart goes out to my sister, Cammie and her husband Kenny. Not a day goes by that I dont think about the pain they go through every day. I pray that they will be able to get through this hard year mark. I cant imagine the pain of losing a child and I pray that our Savior is with them at this time as they continue to mourn the loss of their sweet Sage!!!

I love both of you and hope that you can continue on the road of finding peace and happiness!!!

Whats a blog with out pictures?

My blogs have been long and without pics lately so I decided to play catch up with some pics.

Thursday before we moved my friends had a goodbye dinner for me at the Cheesecake Factory....Lots of laughs and good fun...I love all you guys and miss all of you sooooo much!

Other updates.....

The kids had a great day at school today...Both of them said it was better than expected and already made "tons" of friends! (My prayers were answered)

It is still raining here and at R.S. Enrichment tonight, one of the Ladies said "its one of Gods tender mercies for you to help you adjust more easily" That is so true!

I will post some more pics of the kids first day of school tomorrow!

Thanks for all the comments and encouragement on my last post! It means a lot and I am feelin the love!

We Made It!

Finally, I have internet....

40 hours of driving and 5 days later we pulled into the driveway of our home. I thought I was going to die when I got out of the car--the humidity is awful!. I am not sure I will ever get use to it. I am really missing my friends and Washington right now. I can only pray that I will get use to it here and make friends. It is cold and rainy this morning and I was in heaven when I walked the kids to school!

Speaking of school...Lauren and Miles started this morning. They were so brave and I hope that they have a good first day and the kids are friendly to them. They were suppose to start yesterday but we all got the stomach flu and then Lauren ended up at the dentist yesterday with an infection in her tooth. UGH!

I was planning on walking the kids to school everyday, But Miles, who is only in kindergarten is begging me not to. It is only a block away, but I am kind of sad that they dont want me too. That means they are growing up.

I am trying to focus on the positives right now.....We got here safely, We are in a great home with huge trees, big fenced back yard, a pool in the neighborhood, and some of the best schools in the nation.

I am really missing Washington but hopefully this will become my new home.