The count down is on...

Well, I have a ton of pics I want to put on from last summer to this summer so that I can make one of those blog books, but right now I've been trying to get ready for "Carson's" entrance to the world. It's hard to get everything ready when you are so out there. Later I'll have to add a pic of how big I am. It's kinda freaky how far out my stomach can truly go. I had an appointment on Tuesday and I'm dialated to a 3 1/2. With Gavin I was already between a 4 and 5 at this point. My due date is June 30th. Cade was 7 days early, Jack 3 weeks early, and Gavin was 11 days early...so the countdown is on. Tomarrow would be 11 days early and that is Dylan's birthday. So we could have two kids with the same birthday. I'm having contractions. That really started last night and is off and on. I had a hard time sleeping last night because of them. They're not really strong yet, but strong enough to be annoying and irritating. This happened with Gavin for 3 days and each day it got worse and worse and then I had him. So I can't help but think I won't make it past this weekend. It would be kinda cool if he was born on my birthday next week because it is also my mother in laws birthday too. We would have 3 generations born on June 26. I'm not thinking I'll make it that long, but you never know. I also wouldn't mind having a July birthday since we will have 7 family birthdays in June and Father's Day. How cool would it be to have a birthday on the Fourth. I know I'm taking crazy because that would kill me to go that far over. This is definately an exciting time waiting for this sweet baby to join our family. I know there are some that think I'm crazy for wanting such a big family, but I just love it. I couldn't imagine my life without them. Life is definately never boring with 4 soon to be 5 boys around. It is soo much fun!! Life can get crazy at times, but it's a good crazy. I just remember back to General Conference when we were told we would miss the handprints on the wall and the piles of laundry and I think that is so true. Even when they cry and have tantrums I try to remember that I will miss this someday. My mom told me when I was little I always said I was going to have 6 kids, but she thought I would be more career orientated from watching me. I don't remember that, but that is pretty funny. I'll keep everyone informed over the next couple of days...weeks?? The count down is on.

Mother's Day 2009 (May 11)

My first gift of the day was that Chad didn't have to be at the church at 6 a.m. this morning for meetings. I could actually take my time getting ready while he got the kids breakfast and clothes on. We actually got to sit up close that morning since we were 10 minutes early. Something that doesn't happen often. My 2nd gift of the day was that Jackson gave his first talk as a sunbeam. He did it on Baptism. I was afraid he wouldn't say a word when he got up in front of everyone since he wouldn't even go to the front in sacrament meeting to sing with all the other children. Chad brought him to Bishop's office to get a candy and put it in his pocket. Told him he was going to say the words in his ear and if he spoke into the microphone nice and loud he could have the candy when he was done. Bribery...works every time! :-)

He would lean over to Chad to hear what he was going to say and then started to say it before he got to the mic....so we heard most of his talk. He did a good job though and we are proud of him.

I love all the gifts the boys made for me. Dylan made a guy with his pic in it. Cade made me a flower pen and a clip for recipes. They all made me pictures and cards. Notice Dylan's gift bag to me? "I love you pregnant." I got a good laugh from that. Jackson is still giving me gifts. He must of hid them and forgot about them. Two days ago he brought me a necklace that he made of noodles and yesterday he brought me a mother's day poem on a sunflower he made. So their gifts are still coming. They get so excited to give them and I love receiving them.

Father Son Campout - April 24, 2009

The boys always enjoy the father son campout. They get so excited as it approaches. Jack asked me about 10 times a day for 5 days when they get to go camping with Dad. Then he would say, "You and Gavers no come...Gavers too small." He couldn't understand why I wasn't coming so I just told him it was because Gavin was too small. He seemed satisfied with that answer but still couldn't help but repeat it all the time. Chad hates camping. He would much rather stay in a cabin but he does it for his boys because he knows how much they love it. I always feel bad for him the next day because he is sooo tired from lack of sleep on the ground in a tent. It doesn't phase the boys though. Chad took the first pic that night that they got there. I told him I wish he would have taken that same pic the next day in the daylight.

Brother Fackrell made a swing out of a chair and Brother Fisher helped push each of the boys. Mine loved it. You gotta love the AZ "Mountains". Looks a little more like a desert. :-)

Easter (April 12, 2009)

Easter was alot of fun for us this year. The kids make the holidays so much fun for me. I'll miss it when these years are over. It's a time of year where we can really contemplate the true meaning of Easter. The Atonement and the ressurection of Jesus Christ. Because He loves us so much he was willing to pay the price of our sins by dying a painful death. He bleed from every pore beacause of our transgressions so that we could live with Him and Heavenly Father again. He was ressurected on the third day so that we too can be ressurected and have our bodies reunited with our spirts once again. What a wonderful gift that is to each of us. Although I love all the fun things of Easter it's important not to forget the true meaning.

The boys woke up excited to see what the Easter Bunny brought them.

Needless to say they were not disapointed. I think the Easter Bunny goes overboard on the candy each year. You think she would get it right by now. Her eyes must be bigger than her appetite...or maybe, just maybe, she was thinking of Mom and Dad when she filled them. :-)

They loved going through their baskets.

Gavin didn't get as much candy as his brothers, but the Bunny compensated that with a puzzle and some extra litttle toys.

What's Easter without Peeps?

Or a Whoopie Cushion for that matter. The boys absoulutely loved these. I think they were the hit of their baskets. Hmmm...imagine that...little boys liking a toy like this.

From Mom and Dad they get some sort of clothing each year. Here is Jack getting his Tony Hawk shirt. He was happy! After the baskets we all got dressed in our Easter clothes and went to church. When we came home we had our Easter Egg Hunt.

Gavin found these in his Lightning McQueen bike all by himself.

This year we were surprised to find that there were even eggs hidden in the garage. Dylan's face is too funny. He found an egg in the stroller that he was having a hard time getting out.

Every year for Easter we put a leg of lamb in the rotisserie. It's one of our favorite meals. We stuff it with olive oil, garlic, Greek rub, fresh rosemary, lemon and feta cheese. The kids look forward to baskets and hunts and Mom and Dad look forward to dinner.

Jack fell asleep at the end of the day with his toothbrush, hat and notepad next to him. It was a long but good day.

The Night Before Easter (April 11, 2009)

The boys really loved these sport slip on's that we put on the eggs.

Lots of concentration in this picture.

It was getting late and I didn't have time to wait for the eggs to dry so the boys could put their stickers on so I had to blow dry them.

We didn't let Gavin paint but he did enjoy putting stickers on the eggs.

Dad read the Easter story in the New Testament and asked the boys questions about it while they painted their eggs.

The finished product.

We left their baskets out for the Easter Bunny to fill and the eggs out for the bunny to take and hide so they could have a hunt after church.

Easter Gifts from Nana/Papa Don (Apr 9), Aunt Stephanie (Apr 10), & Grandma/Grandpa (Mar 29)

The boys always look forward to holiday gifts that come in the mail from family far away. The excitement shown in jack's face and body language says it all.

Gavin loved Peter Cottontail. I was surprised that he wasn't afraid of him. He jumps up and down, moves his head and sings a song about Easter. Jack was in the background waiting for Gavin to give him up so he could play with him. The boys were singing the song for about a week. Thank you Nana and Papa Don.

Dylan is showing off the Easter card that came with Peter Cottontail.

The next day another package came in the mail from Aunt Stephanie. She made them a letter and sent some yummy chocolate that we all enjoyed. Thanks Steph.

Grandma and Grandpa gave the boys their Easter Package in Utah the end of March when we went for Uncle Bill's surprise birthday party. They gave them some toys, lot's of candy and the movies Bolt and Madagascar II for the long car ride. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for the peace it brought mom and dad on our 12 1/2 hour trek home.

Jackson's Pre-school Easter Party (April 9, 2009)

Gavin and I went to Jack's school for a hunt and party in the class afterwards. Gavin enjoyed it too. He wouldn't do the hunt though. I don't think he really understood it. He enjoyed the candy from inside an egg a student gave him. Jack had lot's of fun. He really loves going to school now. At the beginning he was so timid and unsure. Not anymore. He looks forward to the days he gets to go to "schoo" wear his backpack, and bring a snack. Just like Caden...it was pre-school that has helped him to go to Sunbeams (sunday school) without crying. The sunday right after his first week of school is all it took. That's exactly how it was with Cade.