end of school

Preslie's 2nd grade program was absolutely darling. It was called "Care for One Another" and I cried on almost every song. She nailed her 2 speaking parts and sang her heart out.

Hunter's kindergarten field day was held at the park near our house so Mack and I walked over to see him play. He doesn't love his picture taken but his mad face is still cute.


Mack loves the swing! He could go on it all day.


In between pushing Mack on the swing, Hunter and I built some tunnels in the sand. It wasn't long before little boys gathered from all around to see and help with our awesome creation.

life's perks

My husband complains that his job doesn't pay him enough, but he definitely gets a few sweet perks to ease his poor man's pain...

He was issued this brand new four-wheeler this week and Dax Mack couldn't be happier!

As for me, the major perk in my life is being married to Dax. I have been feeling so crappy this week and Dax has been so loving and sweet to me. I can't imagine how hard I am to live with when my attitude is in the toilet but Dax came home from work yesterday and gave the message for family night which was he told each person in our family why he loved them. It was so sweet and the lovey vibes definitely perked me up a bit.

Another of life's perks just happens to be the Push Pop. That little miracle helped our family get through the full two hours of Stake Conference on Sunday; it took Mack 45 minutes to eat it. A moment of silence for the inventor of the sucker please...



And these gems for sure make up for the hole Mack put in the wall yesterday...

We decided to go to St. George for Memorial Weekend and on the way to the grocery store Mack says out of no where, "I just tan't wait to doe to Danny's!" [I just can't wait to go to Granny's!]

Me: What kind of sandwich do you want, turkey or peanut butter and honey?
Mack: Do we have any ice cream sandwiches? Those are yummy.

And then the other morning the boys got in bed to snuggle with us and they were hugging and kissing me extra lots. Dax leans over and joins the hug and says, "Who do we love?" to which Mack replied, "grasshoppers!"

[insert clever title here]

This pregnancy has created the hugest writer's block of my life. I feel like when I conceived, someone opened my cranium and dumped mud in there. Thinking straight would feel so good! I can't wait to do it again...

Here I am at 28 weeks.

I feel so much bigger than I look. Probably because of the huge-o burrito I had for dinner. The hubster and I had us a little date tonight. I got 10 new stretch marks from the burrito alone.

And here is my new haircut. It is amazing the new energy I feel. It seems like a load has been lifted off my shoulders, figuratively and of course literally. Great to have a change.





Wow Mack is cute. He has recently loved to clean his room and vacuum it. He is pretty good at cleaning, but the vacuuming is just a way to keep him occupied. He is so short that the front of the vacuum doesn't touch the floor when he pushes it. (this is Preslie's room, ps. As IF my boys would have pink curtains.)

My Hunter boy is so adorable, too. I hardly take any pics of him cause he is always just chillin' out, never demanding the spotlight. He gets home from school, we eat lunch and many days I fall asleep with Mack and he just plays by himself quietly and contently. It is so wonderful, but so SAD! I feel like the crappiest Mom for not giving him more attention/stimulation. I don't mean to ignore him or neglect him...sometimes I just really can't keep my eyes open! When the kids get out of school (in 1 week! yeah!), Preslie will be here to play with him. Oh, I love my kids. They really are so good and sweet. I don't tell myself that enough.

fathers and sons/ girls' night

This past weekend was the Fathers and Sons campout and the boys had a great time! Wow, I didn't realize how different (awesome) it was was going to be that Mack was able to go this year. Preslie and I have been stuck with him for the past couple years and while he is cute, it is hard to have any really serious girl bonding time while dealing with his shenanigans.

Preslie was so sad at first that she was being left out of the boys' fun, but soon forgot about camping once we got down to girl business. We scrapbooked and drank pink lemonade, watched Justin Bieber videos, and had a sleepover in my bed. It was really nice to be able to concentrate and listen to her without interruption. It has been too long since I've done that; I am always doing something else while she is talking to me. I think she liked the one-on-one, too. We got up Saturday morning and ate a quick bite then headed out to yard sales before cleaning up our dishes. Super fun.

The boys had a frosty night but their dad came prepared with coats and warm sleeping bags. They called us in the evening and I don't think I have ever heard a more excited 2-year-old. What cute boys. What a great Dad (husband).

3D Ultrasound

I just got back from a 3D ultrasound. It was my first one ever. Kinda fun to cheat and see that cute face a little early!

Here is our baby's face and her wrist up by her chin...

Another face shot with her mouth open...

Here is the back of her ankle, her heel and side of her foot...
Getting more excited! I am at 27.5 weeks. 12.5 short weeks to go. August 1 will come all too quickly. We have lots to do.

Like think of a name..

celebrate Motherhood

I love my babies. I work hard for and because of them. They bring me joy and frustrations. They light up my life. They have each left their mark on me physically, emotionally and spiritually. They are so adorable!

I am ever thankful for my Mom. I marvel when I stop and think of all she did to raise eight children. She taught us to work in the house and yard. She taught us to serve others. By her example she taught us to love and accept everyone because they are children of God. Four of my older siblings have worked in care centers with mentally handicapped people and I believe they developed those special abilities partly from watching my Mom love everyone unconditionally. My Mom instilled in me a strong faith and testimony of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. She taught us to work and save money for things we want or go without. She taught me to sew and create and scrapbook. She can make anything out of a milk jug. She truly gave/gives everything for her children. I know she is going to heaven.

I am thankful for my Grandmas. They always made me feel special and loved. They loved my parents and in turn, my parents love me.

I am thankful for my Mother-in-law. I know my husband's many good qualities came from her. She is generous, sympathetic, a good listener, compassionate, and a hard worker. She also loves adventure and having a good time. She is a wonderful Mother and a super Grandmother.

Mother's Day is so important. It gives us a chance to stop and think about what our Mom has done for us and remember all that we are we owe to her. I can't think of a more beautiful job than that of a Mother.

Hair-ray for friends!

I am grateful for all who have given me support and hair advice! It really lifted my spirits to have so many friends stop by and offer encouragement. It felt like I had all my girlfriends over for a chat. I have decided for now that I will not go super short in this stage of my life. Not only does my belly get large during pregnancy, my nose also gets especially round. And one talent of big hair is distraction from the pregnant nose. I will go shorter, but I will save extra short and sassy for when my size is closer to normal...like this winter when I need a pick-me-up.

I leave you now with some various pics...

Our neighbor's cat had kittens and Mack loved handling them.


That little kitten is just too cute; it makes me want to punch it in the face.

I don't know how it happened, but one evening my kids rubbed my feet for like a long time! wow. No one can understand how good that feels to me. (I just noticed Mack in the background of this pic looking at the bag of cotton balls, the wheels just turning in that 2-year-old head..)



Bro and Abbey are new homeowners! We love their house and can't wait to stay with them when it is all remodeled! Yay!


We visited my parents last weekend. Here are the kids eating their favorite thing at Grandma's...Bean Soup! (as in Campbell's Bean with Bacon) My Mom is in the background sewing and sewing for the wedding. Fun to see her on fire about this project.

She is a wonderful Grandma and my kids just love her. She is also a wonderful Mom. She is so willing and happy to take the kids while I run all my city errands. Dax and I haven't been to Salt Lake together for a long time and had fun shopping without the kiddos.

Dax promised Hunter a father and son's campout. It got cold and windy so we ended up cooking foil dinners at home in the oven, roasting marshmallows outside, and they slept in a tent in the basement.


Hunter class each sent a Flat Stanley to various locations to see all the places he would go. Hunter's Stanley went to my sister Trina in Oregon and she sent tons of fun info, pictures, and goodies to Hunter's Kindergarten class. She has just recently vacayed in Hawaii, so she also sent stuff about Hawaii for them, too. She is the queen of hooking people up.


And Dax has gotten really into smoking meat lately. It is one hobby I can support wholeheartedly!
Here are some ribs he did for Sunday dinner..

There is something so manly and sexy about a guy cooking. I love to watch my husband cook. I mostly love eating afterward.