So, my big announcement is that I am pregnant...AND I have been useless for about 5 months now.  I am finally starting to feel better and just wanted to let everyone know if you hadn't already heard.  And don't feel bad if you haven't...my first doctor's appt. wasn't until a couple weeks ago...it has been a little crazy!  Here are some things that have been going on over the past few months.  Just wanted to say hello and wish you a Happy Halloween!

Shortly after I found out I was pregnant, Brian took off to Nepal for 3 weeks for a humanitarian mission.  I was not happy about the timing but I think he probably thought it was rather fortunate:)  He went with a medical team through the Air Force.

They treated the people for about a week and every morning hundreds of people would show up...they could only see so many patients in a day and had to tell the others to come back and try again the next day.

Not sure if this poor kid was better off before or after he came??  He had really bad eyesight and they only carried his prescription in adult glasses...funny but cute.

One of Brian's favorite foods is curry.  Fortunately for him they served basically the same dishes of curry for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  By the end of his trip everyone was sick of the food but Brian.

The picture doesn't do it justice but this is one of the tallest peaks in the world.  Brian said the mountains were pretty unreal.   

Cole turned 5 and got some money in the mail for his birthday.  Funny...this is same face I make when receiving this exact gift.

He wanted to have his birthday party at Pump it Up again...12 crazy sweaty boys running around like wild animals, I wasn't going to argue for a birthday at home.

His preschool party...his teacher gave him a slinky and a football...what more can you ask for?

The pumpkin patch.  It is always a magical moment when they find the perfect pumpkin for Halloween.

Since I am pregnant I can't go on any rides so Brian had to take my place on the Tilt a Whirl.  He came off green and was not right for the rest of the night.  In the meantime, I ate 2 navaho tacos and felt fantastic...I love fair food.  

Shortly after this picture, this mean horse bit Ella right on the belly.  It was traumatizing and for the next week and a half she told anyone who would listen.  Poor Ella.

Ella performed for a city parade and at the State Fair...she still loves to dance.

Cole's first season playing t-ball.  I don't know who was more bored...me or Cole.  I think we are going to try out soccer next.

Fourth of July

So what do you do when it is 120 degrees outside and you can't go to the pool??  We have all been sick with something that refuses to go away.  It has taken everything that is in me to find projects and activities to keep us sane and if you know me that is a stretch.

The Fourth of July wreaths we made...this one is Ella's.  She took multiple breaks every few minutes before finishing hers but it was worth all her hard work.

Also can be used as a festive Fourth of July hat.

Our neighborhood bike parade.  We decorated the bikes late the night before. ..they both put a lot of thought into the things they wanted to decorate with.  At one point Cole picked up a decoration and said, "What about this little beauty?"

The Driving Range at the Raven...this is the golf course in our neighborhood.  This is Brian almost at his happiest.  

Another activity to keep us busy.  I don't ever paint my own nails and I know it doesn't look like it but it took all my effort and focus to produce this Fourth of July masterpiece on Ella.

After this week I think I might be a little more accepted in the crafting world.

Jumpstreet

So we discovered this place called Jumpstreet and we could have stayed all day.  They have rows of trampolines, a foam pit, inflatable obstacle courses, a bull ride, and my favorite...a trampoline dodgeball court (I was surprised I only had to sign one waiver).  


So Cole and Ella really wanted to go and play dodgeball but they couldn't play unless an adult was with them...I just want you all to know that I entered the dodgeball courts fully aware that it was not the best idea.  Before the game started I was quickly trying to explain to my kids the object of the game is not to get hit, and right when the ref's whistle blew some seasoned 7 year old hits me like a bullseye...I was first to leave the court.  So embarrassing...Cole however was one of the last standing...haha, judging by the look on his face I think he was scared for his life.

So I have decided to be a better blogger...don't die of shock. I still don't believe in facebook:)but I love to see everyone and their families and so this is my way of making an effort to keep in touch with everyone I love...feel loved.

Our favorite time of year...Recital time.  Brian, sadly, has yet another recital to add to his resume, haha, it is good for him.  This was our first recital with the new studio I am teaching at...Ella did a really good job, she loves to dance and I swear I am not whispering that into her ear when she sleeps at night.

This was Cole's last day at school...he picked out his outfit.  He loves to get ready all by himself, hair and all and when he is done he wakes me up by blowing his minty fresh breath in my face.

Brian will never be able to escape Disneyland...poor guy.  We went with my parents and my niece this May and it was magical!!!!!

The Grand Canyon Railway...don't ever take this.  It was the longest train ride of my life...the train went 1 mile an hour.  I could have jogged faster to the Grand Canyon.  I thought the kids would be totally entertained riding in a train so I didn't pack anything...we were sadly mistaken.  My kids asked when we would get there 10 minutes in...it took 2.5 hours

I almost 100% positive that this was one of Brian's most stressful days of his life.  I was going to kill him...right before going to the Grand Canyon he decided it would be a good idea to read, "Over the Edge."  It is a book about all the people who have fallen to their death at the Grand Canyon in descriptive detail.  I am pretty sure he lost years off his life that day.  This is me manhandling the kids...they were not happy.  Not the most relaxing vacation I have ever took.

So we finally broke down and got a pool.

The Phoenix Zoo where the only animals to survive the summer are camels.