Easter Sunday

Getting six kids to pose can be a little trick, I actually think it's mainly the two youngest :)
Paxton was wanting to run with the other kids and not be in this picture!

Family group shot, Tucker's mom and dad were also able to make it down from Utah.

Technically, Easter Sunday fell on the same Sunday as General Conference this year, so the kids got to wear their Easter outfits the following Sunday, which also happened to be Jordyn's baptism. We were lucky enough to have Carly and Alyson here, so we had an extra fun couple of days. Chuck E. Cheese, swimming, cousin pictures and lots of playing were a few things on the agenda.

Like always, my mom did such a good job at putting their outfits together. Paxton is always, quite literally, the odd man out, and it gives grandma an extra job to find a boy outfit to coordinate the girls! I had bought a polka dot dress to match the girls, but decided that in my pregnant state, it was not very flattering :)

Jordyn's baptism was so special. Jamie did an excellent job putting it all together. I think I'll just have her replicate the same thing for my kids :) Paxton was beyond fascinated with the whole concept. He's not shy about expressing his emotions and doesn't mind using his football field voice in a quiet setting. Thank goodness for the safety glass in front of the font, or he probably would've been tempted to jump in and join her.

Sleeping on daddy

Getting ready to leave!

April 19, 2010

We had to be to Valley Children's at 8:00am for Lyric's procedure. She was so brave and did such a good job. That hospital is so awesome with kids. They make sure that all questions are answered and that the children feel as comfortable as possible.

Her tonsils and adenoids were removed, and she got her second set of tubes. The procedure ended up only taking 30 minutes. I was very surprised. They brought her to us in the recovery. She was still pretty out of it. The doctor said she had lots of fluid behind her ears, the reason why her ears always felt "cloudy!"

She slept on Mike for a while until she felt a little more alert. I was expecting to be in for a really long day in the recovery, but by 12:30 they were wheeling her out! I wasn't sure what to expect the next few weeks, but kind of expected the worst.

I was quite shocked at how smooth everything went. She had no complications, and as long as I kept the pain medicine in her, she hardly complained. It was ten times easier then I could have ever imagined! The doctor did a really good job, and I am so glad we got it taken care of before kindergarten starts.

Easter 2010

The Easter Bunny came!
They wasted no time digging into their baskets

Dying all of the fun eggs

Cute cousins during the egg cracking competition

Packy showing off his egg

This year we had a nice little Easter. The Easter Bunny came on Saturday night, and the kids wasted no time getting to their baskets nice and early Sunday morning! Easter fell on the same weekend as General Conference, so we were able to lounge and enjoy conference and Easter baskets.

Later in the afternoon, we headed over to Jamie and Tucker's do enjoy the rest of the day. The kids had fun dying some eggs and then we enjoyed a yummy meal. After that, we had an Easter Egg Cracking Competition. It originated with Tucker's family, but have since done it a few times with ours. Tucker was the ultimate champion this year. Then, we did an egg hunt for the kids. We had to do it inside because it ended up raining, but the kids still thought it was lots of fun! Lyric found the golden egg this year and was able to share a prize with each of her cousins and brother.

Zoo Trip

Back on April 2, during spring break, we took a trip to the zoo. We went with my friend, Kim, and her two boys, Quin and Connor. The weather was perfect and the kids had lots of fun. We hadn't been in two years, so it was kind of like a new experience for them. I think their favorite part was petting the sting rays. They were hesitant at first, but really warmed up to it. The sting rays must've really liked Lyric because they kept swimming right over to her! She thought that was pretty cool. They also really like brushing all of the goats in the petting area. Paxton enjoyed following them all around the pen.

Kim and I probably looked like quite the site pushing our four kids around and both having big pregnant bellies!

Sports

Paxton has sports running through his blood. Of course his daddy helps with that, but the boy was born with it in his system. He doesn't care what kind of ball is involved, he wants to play it. After repeatedly stealing his sister's pink helmet, my mom was nice enough to get him one of his own. The minute he got the helmet, the thing rarely left his head! If I would've allowed, he would've slept with it on. I was so happy to see such a gift bring him so much joy and pleasure!

A Wild Hair

Woah, today this boy woke up with something under his skin that made him unlike himself all day! He's always full of lots of energy and loud, but today he was just defiant! I'm actually really hoping it was just today, and not a new faze. I knew it was a really off day when the nursery leader at church brought him to Mike because he wasn't cooperating! That is so not like him. It made me feel a little sad that he got "in trouble" at church.

I'm hoping he sleeps it off and returns to his rambunctious little self in the morning :)

33 Weeks 3 Days

33w 3days

Today, I made myself get pictures taken of my belly. It always sounds inconvenient and annoying, but I know I'll regret it if I don't do it! This week I'll hit 34 weeks. In my mind I have it set that I'll be induced at 39 weeks, so I'm telling myself that I have just about five weeks left.

In the scheme of life, five weeks is nothing, but in pregnancy life, that can feel like eternity. I keep saying that I feel ready to not be pregnant, but I don't quite feel ready for the baby. Since I can't have both, I just need to endure and get ready for this next phase of life!

I think my family deserves an award for putting up with my emotional, illogical, grumpiness that they've been putting up with. I try so hard, but my emotions seem to win the battle :) I've never experienced what enduring something meant quite like I have these last months. In my heart I feel grateful to be able to experience pregnancy, but that doesn't make it feel any easier.

I often find myself apologizing to Mike because I don't have a lot of positive things to say. I know this is temporary and I know in the long, long run, I will have nothing but fond memories of being pregnant :)

Angels Among Us

This morning I had one of those moments where time stood still. I was getting Lyric ready for pre-school when my phone rang. It was my mom. I really didn't think much of it. But on the other end all I remember hearing was, "Lindy, Mike's been in a serious accident." What, who, when, where, how? I wasn't even connecting who she was talking about at first.

Mike leaves for work at about 5:40 each morning. It's still dark, so it can often feel like the middle of the night still, unless Lyric has one of her mornings where she thinks it's normal to be awake at that hour. So, my mind was trying to gain composure. Obviously it had happened on his way to work, but we didn't know much beyond that. They had tried contacting me, but our house phone is messed up right now, so thank goodness they were able to get ahold of my parents.

My parents came over right away and my mom stayed with the kids while my dad drove me to the hospital. We knew that he had been ambulenced there. The nurse updated me when we got there, and then we were able to go back to him. At that point, he was waiting for results from the cat scan.

To make a long story short, he ended up with a concussion, five stitches and eight staples wound on his head, and I'm sure what'll be an extremely sore body tomorrow. Four hours after being taken in, he was being wheeled out! Nothing short of a miracle. The nurses and doctors kept telling him how lucky he was to even be alive.

We still don't know the full story because he's had some short term memory loss and only knows bits and pieces. The main road he drives each morning is a country road. That means that there are typically semis and lots of tractors on it. He was driving and all of the sudden saw a tractor in front of him. They are usually going at about the speed of a snail, and he realized he didn't have time to brake fast enough. He swerved to the left so that he would miss the tractor and that's when he clipped something hanging off of the tractor and spun. A suburban was in the oncoming lane and plowed into him.

At this point, Mike is pretty sure that he doesn't remember seeing lights on the tractor. He said it's almost as though it was all of the sudden dropped in front of him. Since it was still dark, it made it even more impossible to see. We're not sure of much beyond that at this point. We are waiting from the report from the CHP. They told him that they almost had to use the jaws of life to get him out. He was knocked unconscious quickly after swerving to miss the tractor.

The country roads are so scary and the tractors make it even scarier! They often have such huge pieces of equipment that hang far into the next lane, and if there wasn't appropriate lighting on the tractor, that's a death trap!

My dad came with me and we went to the place where his car was towed. It was another surreal feeling as we pulled up and saw the car. It was hardly recognizable. It was like one of those cars that you see on a tow truck and just know the person inside didn't make it out alive. I could not believe my eyes. There was no doubt in my mind that Mike literally had angels holding him as the accident happened. His seat and door are the only ones not mangled to death. Had the suburban hit two to three feet to the left, and it would have been a different story.

It was such a strong example to me of Heavenly Father's love and watch he has over each of us. This accident happened, yet he knew that he was going to preserve Mike and keep him safe. It's just one of those times that really make you realize how delicate life is. It can slip away in seconds. I feel lucky beyond words to have him home and doing relatively well. I have never had such a powerful witness of someone being protected and preserved like I witnessed today. And I feel so grateful for my mom, dad, and Jamie who were either with me or my kids all day helping! What a blessing and a relief that was for my mind.

It's Almost.....

Spring is right around the corner...tomorrow! This week has felt very spring-like. I've enjoyed the sun and have been trying to enjoy the weather. Although, I admit, certain days I have almost felt hot! I should not even say that, especially beings that this will feel quite mild compared to the 30 degree warm up that will soon happen! I am a wimp in the heat, and being pregnant makes it ten times worse.

Today the kids decided it felt good enough outside to put on their swimsuits and play in the water. They each had a hose and had lots of fun, except when Lyric thought Paxton would enjoy being squirted on the belly with the hose. The water still feels chilly, so he was not thrilled! I need to buy a huge hammock that I can just lay my huge belly in and watch the kids and absorb some rays!

Hair

Sometimes I get a kick of seeing how big Paxton's hair can get. This was taken before his most recent hair cut and before his sister played beauty parlor with him.

I am constantly amazed at the comments I get about his hair. The other day at Costco, this lady asked if his hair was real! That gave me a good laugh. His hair is such a part of who he is, I can't picture it any other way.

Obedience

Earlier this week, Jamie made me this adorable obedience chart. I've been wanting to try this concept out for a while, and had no reason not to when she brought it to my house! Lyric was so excited and Paxton gets the concept as much as he can for a two year old.
Once she reaches thirty, Chuck E. Cheese will be the "prize." Some days I wonder if we will ever make it that far! She gets so excited to move forward spaces, but sometimes her attitude gets the best of her :) Just proves to me time and time again, that she is a full blown girl!
At dance class, they are learning their routine for the recital in June. It's a spunky little song that goes pretty fast. The teacher is always telling them that they need to be "sassy" for the routine. I often have to remind her that the sassiness gets left at dance and is not allowed to come home! It comes a little too natural for her. It scares me sometimes when I think of her getting older!

Birthday Boy

On Sunday, Mike had his 29th birthday. Only one more year until he's thirty! Dang, he's getting old :) We had a yummy dinner with cake and ice cream at my mom and dad's to celebrate. According to Mike, life ends once you turn thirty, so he better live up this last year of life!

Softball

This was taken at their first game. So cute!

Up to bat at her game last Saturday

Waiting for a ball to come her way

Paxton spotted Mike at first base, so he darted right in the middle of the field during the game. Once again, pink helmet in tow. We got a good laugh out of it!

High-fiving the opposing team after the game

Striking a pose. He's so ready to be on his own team!

Back in January, we signed Lyric up for softball. It was the first year she was old enough to play. She was very excited. Mike practiced in the backyard with her for a few months.

They started official practices in February. She had her first game and opening ceremonies on March 6th. She was a little nervous, but loved it once it started. She is on a 6 and under team. Her team is called the Rugrats with pink shirts. She recognized a few of the girls on her team from this year and previous year's dance classes. Her cousins, Jordyn and Lexi, are also playing this year, except they are in the 8 and under group.

Each Saturday they will have two games through the end of April. Paxton absolutely loves going to her practices and her games. He brings his own little bat along to it all.

This past Saturday, her games were back to back. We were eating a quick lunch, and then crossing back over the field to where her next game was going to be. I thought Mike had taken Paxton with him across the field. When I realized he hadn't, I got a little panicky. I started scoping out the huge field with lots of other games going on! Soon enough, I spotted my little boy in his sister's bright pink helmet and bright pink glove. He had spotted pink shirts and thought it was Lyric's team. It ended up being older girls. Thank goodness, a nice lady was walking him back over.

I should probably just get the kid his own glove and helmet that aren't pink! He doesn't seem to mind though :)

Laundry Man

This boy is obsessed with helping out with the laundry. It all started at the beginning of my pregnancy when I was sick and he and Lyric would go to my parents'. He would help my dad do the laundry just about every time. He became known as "wash" because that's all that he'd talk about with my dad. It was a deep rooted passion! He still loves to help and cleans out their dryer lint every time we are there.

At home, he loves emptying the dryer when he hears the buzzer go off. This is good motivation for me to make sure the clothes aren't sitting in the dryer too long! He also discovered the fun of crawling into the dryer. A little scary if you ask me, so I don't encourage it much!

I sure won't mind if his interest in laundry carries on throughout the years!

Life

Lately, I've been following that saying, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." Therefore, I haven't been doing much blogging. I've got fun stuff and cute pictures to post, but am lacking what it takes to do it!

My memory could very well be failing me, but I don't remember the other two pregnancies feeling THIS challenging. I actually feel like someone took a hose and sucked every single thing out of me, and now all that's left is a shell. I "only" have three months left, and really, that's not too bad. I'm not in a hurry for her to get here. I know the reality of it. I'm excited to meet her, but this is also my third, so it's no longer a fairytale of wondering what life will be like with three kids. I've got plenty of things to keep me busy these next three months, softball, dance, Harmony, appointments, Lyric's little surgery, Mike's birthday, my birthday, Jordyn's baptism, starting swim team, the dance recital, and the list goes on. I'm grateful for these things that help me stay a little distracted from my brain.

I'm not to the point of feeling way uncomfortable yet, although I think I look ridiculously big. Everyday just feels so taxing to just exist! I feel like it takes everything in my power to make it through the day. I'm past the physical sickness, so I can't really complain about that. It's just now more mental and emotional, I guess. I would like to avoid human life at all costs for the next three months! I despise the phone, I struggle getting to church and doing my calling, I struggle going to the grocery store! I just want to be a hermit, yet that doesn't make me feel good either!

I think the most challenging part right now is being a good mom. Some days I feel like my kids are reverting a few years! Granted, Paxton is only 2 1/2. On Monday, Paxton got my laptop and decided to take about ten keys off of the keyboard, just for fun, not cause he's interested in how things work! Then he found my Weight Watchers calculator and thought it'd be fun to break it into about four pieces. Then, that evening they were getting ready for baths. He ran into Lyric's room and peed on the floor. When I asked him why he did that, he said, "Cause I wanted to." Alrighty, then!

Tuesday morning my FIVE year old found a pair of scissors and decided her and her brother needed a haircut. I almost lost it! She cut off enough hair to make a wig for a little kid! Thank goodness Paxton's isn't too noticeable, because of his curls. Unfortunately, Lyric's makes me want to cry! She cut the sides so it cannot go into a ponytail. All I can really do is put it half up. If I left it down, it'd look a little like a mullet on the sides! But hair grows, right!?!?!

I know all of those things feel twenty times bigger than they really are to me right now. I know I'm not the only human on this earth to feel this way while pregnant. I know all of these things logically, just somehow, right smack in the middle of it, it feels really hard to remember that! I feel like putting an "Out of Order" sign on my forehead for the next while! But, life goes on, this is a phase, and I will make it through the other side, hopefully :)