Goodbye...

It was hard. Much harder than I expected.

We have just packed the last week full of fun and good memories.

All knowing today would come.

I have jokingly said "when you come home I will be thinner" and then it hit me last night. He will never see me pregnant again.

I didn't have the heart to wake up my kids early this morning to see him off.

I had him do it. It didn't make it any easier.

I miss him. Already. Terribly. I just hope that the next seven months go fast. Not just hope but am praying that they go fast.

So between now and then,

till I see you again I'll be loving you.

Love,

Me

I {heart} Autumn!

And I {heart} these kids

32 weeks

I love this baby.

I am loving feeling him move and kick and squirm inside me.

I can't wait to meet him.

I can't wait to see who he looks like.

At the same time I am okay with him staying in a while.

Because I know this will be my last baby.

And I am anxious about his birth.

I cry when I think about it.

I had my check up today.

It was the last appointment Matt will be able to go to.

That makes me cry.

Everything looks fine. Besides the contractions I am having, which by the way are not doing anything. I have gained a fraction of what I normally do. Yes, a fraction, as in about 1/3. He is moving like crazy but he is much calmer than some of my babes. Myles loves talking to my belly button and tells the baby all kinds of things. Like how to play football and chocolate milk is for big boys. Myles is sure (and tells the baby often) that I am not the baby's mother. We are working on that one. My doc is going to induce me in seven weeks if I haven't delivered just so it can be a controlled birth (controlled as in not in the middle of the night, by myself, on the side of the freeway).

16

It seems like only yesterday he looked like this...

And now he is 16.

He has a driving learner's permit. He can officially date. He goes to high school. He was ordained a priest. He has a job. He is the age I was when he was born. It has all happened so fast. I am so proud of the young man he has become. I wish I could take credit for how he has turned out but I swear he came this way. For his birthday he decided he wanted to hold a food drive. Amazing. Really amazing. He was able to raise over $500, which will provide 2,500 meals to hungry Arkansas residents, and over 100 pounds of canned food. So proud.

27 weeks...

Magen's Bay

St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

September 2009

St. Thomas, USVI

Several months ago Matt won a competition for Instructor of the Quarter. As a reward for winning this he got to go on a teaching trip to St. Thomas. I got to go along with him. He had to work a few days while we were there but it was such a wonderful trip. We spent time snorkeling, shopping, drinking virgin pina coladas and relaxing on the beach. The island was so beautiful. The water was incredible. Seriously a trip of a lifetime. We missed the kids but Grandma and Grandpa got to come and stay with them. Without them this wouldn't have been possible.

The view from our room. Incredible to wake up to this every morning.

These CrAzY wild iguanas were everywhere. This is about as close as I would get to them. They didn't look very pleasant. (thank goodness for a zoom lens)

Isn't he a looker?

This is the group that we were there with.

the boys @ Magen's Bay

the girls @ Magen's Bay

This picture just makes me laugh. I love him so much. I loved being able to spend some precious time together before he leaves.

Thank you Matt, for everything...
i love you

9.09.09

at 9:09 a.m.

this is what we were doing. A little chocolate milk, a blankie and Dora.

Part 2

FOOTBALL 2009

Football season has begun. What a different world high school football is. The crowds are amazing. The team is doing great.

James has been able to play both JV and Varsity.

We love watching him.

James getting 'put it' his first Varsity game. We won.


JV vs. Searcy
We won.
Go Panthers!

Just a side note. One of the best things about football season is that it is a sign fall is coming right?!? Not here. It is still a little too warm and the bugs are out of control. Myles LOVES football. Loves the game. Loves cheering for James. But there is no denying that he loves to kill the bugs. That's my boy.

September 2009 Part 1

On August 26th my dad had a heart attack. It was a really scary time. The hardest part was being so far away and just feeling helpless. After some juggling and figuring out the logistics of it all I was able to head up to Missouri with Jessie, Liam and Myles. Matt was in DC working and James had to stay home. Within a couple of days 17 of us had gathered. Matt flew into Kansas City to meet up with us. We were just missing a couple of people (and they were definitely missed). My dad came through his surgery wonderfully. We were able to spend some much needed time with family. I am so thankful for my family and all the miracles that happened that weekend. By the way, my dad is doing great. He looks amazing and was cracking jokes in no time at all. Next time how about we just PLAN a family reunion?

the siblings

Jesse, Megan, Gary, Susan, Richard and Erin

Uncle Richie took all the little kids down to the park.

He bought them all ice cream.

They had a blast.

Big Day!

Today is the first day of school. Big day around here. Not because this has been the LONGEST summer EVER! But today they are all starting a new chapter in their lives. This time has flown by way too fast.

James' first day of high school. What!?! How did this happen? Make good choices please James.

This is what indifference looks like.

I have asked him over 20 times this week if he was nervous. I mean I'm nervous shouldn't he be? And finally yesterday he told me he wasn't excited, he wasn't nervous, he was indifferent.

I am still nervous.

(he is pictured here alone because he had early morning seminary at 6:20)

I dropped these two hooligans off at school.

Junior high for Jessie. 8th grade. She is so excited to just be at her own school. No older brother (is this good or bad?). She was just so excited to see her friends.

Liam starts middle school today. He asked me to not cry until I was back on the main road where no one would see me. But that just made me want to cry. Middle school just seems so scary and he just seems so young.

(he was the only one who would turn around and look at me for a picture)

Well, it's you and me kid. After a quiet ride home we pulled into the driveway and he said to me "You all done crying mommy? Let's go to the park."

Yes. Lets...

Three years ago...

This little man came into our lives. I was instantly in love. I had an amazing feeling of "I have loved you forever and it is so nice to see you again."

I love everything about him. I love his giggles. I love his spirit. I love his sweetness. I love his imagination. I love how much he loves. I love him.

I can't believe he is three.

We partied.

There was pizza.

There was cake.

And friends.

He was happy.

The cutest little baby bug...

Pretty cute huh? I love the little button nose.

And it's a boy. For sure.

I am excited to meet this new little man.

Now if we could just pick a name.

20 weeks

Half way done cookin'

A couple more weeks till we find out if this little bun in the oven is a boy or a girl.

Anyone like to make a guess?

Happy Birthday Liam!

Happy Birthday Buddy! Double digits! Hope you have a great day

and that this year is the BEST year of your life ~

Love,

Mom & Dad

Fourth of July

We had a great fourth of July~ Southern Style. We started the morning off with a ward breakfast. My mom and dad were here and able to join us for breakfast before heading home with Jessie. We got home just in time (10 am) to take a long afternoon nap. Then a friend of ours was having a crawfish boil so we headed way out into the country to celebrate. The kids had a blast. I think James and Matt were the only ones that actually ate any crawfish. Thank goodness there was a ton of other food. After that was over we headed over to Brian and Vickie's and had our own personal fireworks display (which I didn't get any pictures of). It was incredible.

Liam and Jordan getting a lesson on boiling the little bad boys.

Turns out Myles is afraid of fireworks.

Hummm... who would have guessed that?

Brian pretending to eat a stick bug. I love Myles' face in this. While all the other kids were egging him on Myles just kept saying "Oh, that's disgusting. That's disgusting."

Hope everyone had a happy and safe holiday weekend