It's a boy!!

We had our ultrasound yesterday and everything looks great. Our due date is still May 16th and the Dr. said it was very obvious that we'll be adding a baby brother to our clan. Abby and I are a little bummed because we wanted to even things out around here, but we are mostly just relieved that everything looks perfect!

I tried to upload some ultrasound pics, but it's not working for some reason. I'll try on another computer later.

Jenni

I'm a What!?!

Anyone who has had any interaction with a two year old knows that sometimes they struggle with finding the right words to express themselves. Their vocabulary is limited so they use what they know. Recently, I bought a 6 lb bag of gummy bears at Costco. They are a special treat for the kids (and me and John). The other day when TJ got mad at me for some reason, he called me a "Dummy Bear". I know I should have said something about being nice to mommy and not saying mean words, but I was taken so by surprise that I couldn't. I know he loves gummy bears, so maybe that's his way of expressing that he loves me, but that I wasn't living up to his expectations at the moment. Kind of like a dud gummy bear, or a "Dummy Bear".

Happy Birthday TJ!!

It seems like all that I have posted about lately has been our
family celebrations. July and August are busy months for my family in the celebration department.

Last night we had TJs birthday party at my mom & dad's house. The theme of the party seemed to be water as he received several water guns and a pool. He had a fun time squirting everyone and getting squirted. Notice the picture where he is getting Grandma L pretty good.

We had cupcakes and ice cream. TJ did a good job blowing out the candles - blowing them out just as we finished singing "Happy Birthday".

I can't believe my baby is now a two year old boy. His new short haircut really makes him look like a big boy.

We had aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandmas & a grandpa there to celebrate with us.

TJ is a great kid to have around. TJ is short for Timothy John. He is a really tough kid, having had to put up with an older sister and brother knocking him around. He is the only one of my kids who sucks his thumb, and while I would like to break him of the habit, he has been the easiest to put to bed because of his ability to soothe himself. He is also the only one of my kids who has a security blanket that he carries with him. He loves hot dogs, pizza and his daily chocolate milk.

Like his big brother, he is really good at anything that has to do with balls. John spent some time with him kicking, and he thinks he'll be a really good soccer player. He likes going to his nursery class and is slowly starting to understand the concept of reverence in sacrament.

We're so glad TJ is a part of our family.

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad!!

Today is my mom & dad's 49th wedding anniversary. I'm sorry I didn't have any pictures of them together - I'll have to work on that.

My parents have been through so much in the 49 years they have been together. They have successfully raised 7 children and are enjoying being grandparents to 31 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

Their family started as a Brady Bunch - my dad brought my two oldest siblings with him and my mom brought two boys with her. Together, they had three children (of which I'm the last). Although this wasn't a typical family, no one would ever guess that the seven of us are not all full-blood relation. My parents never made the distinction of "his, mine and ours". I've never called any of my siblings half- this or that. We have always just been a family. In fact, I didn't even know about the unique circumstances under which our family was started until I was a teenager.

I'm so grateful for my parents and the example they have been to me. Theirs is not a perfect marriage, but I have learned from them how to get through the ups and downs of life - you do it together.

John's Fishing Trip

I spent my last Friday night setting up this blog because my husband was otherwise occupied with a fishing trip to Idaho. He was able to meet up with his brother, Rick, and they went to Rick's in-laws special fishing spot where John caught this beauty. He says that this picture doesn't do it justice: it was a lot fatter than it looks in the photo ;-).

I'm pretty good at maintaining a good food storage, but I'm glad my DH has some skills that would help us survive in a major disaster. Although I must say that I detest fish and I would need to be nearly starving before I would resort to eating anything that comes from any body of water.

Note that his shorts are wet: he had to wade in to land the fish. What a stud!

Happy Birthday, Jody!!!!

This is my big sister, Jody. She will hate that I put this picture on here, but it was the only one I had.

Jody is an awesome sister. Since she was 11 when I was born, she had the privilege (or curse, depending on your point of view) of caring for me and is a big reason I am who I am. There is a story she tells of when I was about 9 months old: she and her friend, Deidra, were working to teach me to walk. They found that if they let me hold some shoes in my hands, I would hold my hands above my head and feel secure enough to walk on my own. When they took the shoes out of my hands, I couldn't walk. So, Jody taught me how to walk and stand on my own two feet. She was also the first one to really explain about the birds and the bees. I can still remember the feelings of unbelief and ewww that accompanied that discussion. She was always interested in the experiences I was having through my dating years and I could always count on her for a listening ear and some great advice about dealing with matters of the heart.

I have learned a lot from Jody over the years, both from the successes and trials she has had in her life. She is a great mom and I hope I can do as good of a job raising my kids as she has done with hers. I am a better person because I have her as a sister. I love you, Jody!