Prego Update

So this little baby is due 3 weeks from today. I am getting pretty uncomfortable, but I really am hoping that the baby waits until the week of the due date to arrive. Lots to do...you know that nesting instinct :-)

*Car Seat Ready - Check
*Newborn Clothes Washed - Check
*Pedicure - Check
*Haircut - Check
*Frozen Meals - Check
*Husband Very Ready for Nesting Instinct to be Done - Check
*Deep Cleaning of Every Single Room - Crazy Goal, Not Even Going to Get Close
*Potty Training Stevie - Desparately Trying to Check This Off
And the list could go on and on.

And check out this picture.

This is classic pregnant brain at work. I'm all excited because I actually got a birthday card in the mail on time for my nephew Drew. We get back from Bear Lake and the card is back in my mailbox with this note.

Anyway...we are taking guesses on the sex of this little one, the weight, and when he/she will arrive. Leave a comment if you want to join in on the fun.

Bear Lake

We were sooooo looking forward to our long weekend at Bear Lake. I have such great memories from going up there as a kid with family and friends. It was just as great this time, except for better because I got to watch my kids & hubby enjoy it too. All of the Draper clan had a great time together and we amazingly escaped major injuries and problems.

Some Memories:
* Tippy stealing 1/2 the pork meat off the counter the morning we left before we could share it with the family.
* The smiles from the little ones while playing in the shallow water. The first night Stevie laid down in the water and said "I'm swimming" with a big smile.
* Blank stares from everyone at the end of the 1st day. Very tired and most everyone was a little sunburned. Oops...did I forget to apply sunblock to all of Jake's face?
* Sick Steve. He is convinced that the mud bath the kids gave me made him sick the next day because that dirty water somehow got into his body.
* Taylor loves to drink lake water.
* Entertainer Dave. Despite a broken tail bone the first night...he bounced back and we enjoyed a great clogging rendition from him and Tracie. I think they almost put me into labor I laughed so hard.
* Colin's Somersault. Shy little Colin jumped up in front and everyone and did a trick and then held his legs over his face. So cute.
* Duff's bad luck with the water cop. No joke...between the wave runners and the boat, they were pulled over three times. The first time with a $100+ plus ticket. Must be the flashy new boat.
* The laughs and banter between Steve Staheli and Dave. Nikki & Tracie are probably happy they aren't together all of the time.
* Mom & Natalie getting dumped from the banana. Glad it wasn't me. I missed all the little ones getting dumped, but I'm just glad Jake got back on.
* Carrie fitting 50+ grapes in her mouth at the talent show.
* All of the help we always get from the couples without crazy children yet. Thanks guys.
* Kace and Drake's Raspberry Shake (a dance move).

Playgroup & Girls Night

It has been fun to start up playgroup again with the "Heber" crowd. We've also been able to fit in some girls time to catch up and swap Mom stories & memories. Can't wait to do more.

I haven't been very good about taking pictures, but I do have a few to share of a night at the park with the Bergs.

Taylor's Swimming Pool

It finally worked out where we could go to the pool in Tracie & Dave's neighborhood. We had been looking forward to the visit for sure and I have always been envious of the fact that her neighborhood has a pool. Amy, Kassidy, Natalie, Sara, Isaac, Colin, Tracie, and Taylor were all there with us.

I loved how the pools were set up and it was just very kid-friendly. The kids had a ball. Side note...I couldn't believe how fast my nephew Taylor is growing up. He kept up with the rest of the kiddos for sure. You could tell that he was on his own turf and was showing them all "his pool." So cute...

Sugar

I was looking through the pictures that I had taken recently of the kids. There were three sets of pictures that had to do with sugar - smores, cotton candy, and ice cream. Don't you remember as a kid how much fun it was and how exciting it could be to get a special treat? I can see that look on my kids faces in some of these pictures. Pure joy!

Jake and I went shopping one day and I rewarded him with an ice cream cone for being such a good buddy throughout the day. A few days later Caren and I took the kids to the Zions Bank birthday party. They were out of all food except for cake, cotton candy, and popcorn. A dream for all four of the kids :-) This last weekend Steve and I built a short-lived fire for the kids in the backyard so we could make smores.

My favorite quote of the week came from around the campfire. I told Jake that I would cook the marshmallows and make the smores for everyone. We talked about fire being dangerous and hot and that when he got older he could learn how to cook marshmallows. He said back to us, "But Mom, when I was a marshmallow, I liked to go in the fire all the time." Really?

One Strand of Hair

My girlfriend Crystal cuts and colors my hair. She has been messing with my thick head of hair for about 10 years now. Anyway...I was sitting in her chair in Heber on Saturday and she stopped the blow dryer and put it down so fast that I thought something was wrong. She grabbed a strand of my hair and pulled it out. "Gray!" I was proud and sad at the same moment.

Jake's Swimming Lessons

Jake just finished his first set of solo swimming lessons. We did the Parent/Tot class two years ago, but this was the first time on his own. He absolutely loved it and Stevie and I loved it too because it got us to the pool. I didn't have high expectations going in about the learning curve...I just wanted him to enjoy the water and have fun. But I was impressed! He learned to float and now loves to dive his head under and swim underwater for a few feet. He passed and can now go on to the next class. Good job buddy!

Two small mishaps to report...Stevie jumped into the hot tub and had to be rescued by me...luckily I had my bathing suit on. Jake jumped into the deep end after lessons and had forgotten that he didn't have his water wings on. I didn't have swimming attire on during this lesson and luckily after a few seconds, the lifeguards rescued him. I was ready to jump in, but happy I didn't have to. That would have been a sight :-)

The pool where Jake took lessons has a slide and kid area. It was fun to stay after lessons and play. Wow...I know I feel the best in the water...weightless :-) And with all of this extra weight right now...I love the pool. I do feel bad for those who have to look at me in a bathing suit...but it's all about comfort at this point.

Steve's Birthday

The kids and I surprised Steve at his work on Tuesday with gifts and balloons. It got even better because my parents along with Kace, Kassidy, Drake, Sierra, and Sara all came too to sing a great rendition of Happy Birthday. Steve was excited. We celebrated at night by going to dinner at Good Thymes. It was a good time together and as you can see from Steve's pic...the kids were a little loud. Luckily we were seated outside with only one other family in earshot.

Happy Birthday to Steve and Aunt Krissy!

Congratulations Kassidy!

Kassidy was baptized yesterday. Congratulations Kassidy...you looked so beautiful..and I am so happy you are my niece! Amy & Duff organized a party after...no pics to show...but it was great time.

Fourth of July

All of us enjoyed a weekend full of family and friends. Friday morning we went to Heber and had a BBQ with the Draper clan. Nikki and the kids were visiting and it was so good to see them. Jake and Stevie love to be with all of their cousins.

While they all went to see Miley Cyrus at Stadium of Fire, we came home and had a neighborhood BBQ. I could not get any pics of Jake...he was just having too much fun to hold still.

We were thinking about taking the kids to see the fireworks show in Park City or Heber, but we changed our mind after they had a blast watching neighborhood fireworks. It was so fun to watch them sit with just each other in the backyard and get so worked up. They would see some fireworks, then stand up and do a scream/dance combo for about 30 seconds. Such joy in simple things. We lit some sparklers for them and a few fountains. Jake loved this, but Stevie was a little frightened. She preferred to see them up in the sky for sure.

Then we all slept well...

Water Fun in the Backyard

While Chase & Gracie were over this past week, we filled up the swimming pool for some water fun. The kids had an absolute blast moving water from the pool to the trampoline. I think they drained the whole pool with many many trips back and forth. So many belly laughs...