30 weeks with baby girl

I am 30 weeks along and counting down. We can't wait to meet this baby girl of ours. We are still working on a name but love her already. 

Bear Lake 2016

The whole gang at the castle, Dad Mom and Susan mostly built it. I cheered them on from my chair since I'm no help pregnant and with my veins. Joe is missing cause he was in the Dominican Republic doing dental humanitarian stuff so Susan brought her sister.

Here are more pictures, I was not great at getting pics this year. The kids had fun together as cousins. 

Mutton Bustin

Dayton and Rachel both rode a sheep in the Preston rodeo. Neither of them rode very long but they were sure good sports and brave, especially Rach with her cast. Plus they were the cutest kids there! Carter is too little to ride but he makes a cut little cowboy and he sure loved all the horsies. He also loved sitting with grandpa Chandler and clapping a lot. He would take my hands and clap them together for me. We were happy grandpa Chandler and grandma sue came to watch the kids. What a fun night! 

From the mouths of babes

Tonight I decided to lay by Dayton. I don't do it very often and he likes physical touch so I jumped at the chance. I am glad I took the opportunity. While laying with him he said,  "Mom I don't ever want to grow up and leave my family. I want to be little forever and be with you and Daddy. You are the best mommy. Not too nice and not mean, really not mean." My heart was filled. I am not a perfect mother, I do my best. I pray for my kids daily. One thing I hope my kids always know is I love them, always. Also, I am glad I'm not mean but not too nice either. Apparently I am just right, ha ha.

Bear lake just us!

Since the 24th fell on a Sunday Adam got Monday the 25th off and we headed to bear lake. The kids love the lake! They are so happy there and it's just $5 for all day fun, plus gas. They played so well and we got plenty of sun. It was nice to get away just us for a day for fun. 

24th of July Celebration in Mendon

We love celebrating pioneer day in Mendon. They do so many fun things all day long for everyone in the family. We started the day with kid races in the baseball diamond. Rachel got second place for her age group. She is a good little runner! Daytons age group was much larger and he came in sixth or seventh place after passing lots of other kids. He is very determined and competitive and very fast too.

After the races we went over to an empty pasture for animal chases. The kids had a good time. Dayton did not catch anything, and he tried hard to be a good sport about it although he was clearly disappointed. Rachel did not catch a bunny but was lucky enough to catch a rooster during the chicken chase. I was proud of her for trying because she was attacked by a rooster in our coop a couple months ago and it's scared her. He pecked her legs a lot!  So hats off to her for being a good sport and doing her best. Carter caught a bunny with a little help from daddy. He was sure happy about it. The kids got a food booth buck for catching an animal. When they did the round for keeping the animals none of our kids caught one. Which, mama is happy about! We already have lots of animals at our house.

We came home to eat lunch. Then Adam took the kids to the parade and they just sat at the corner of our street. It was nice because it wasn't busy since they were at the end of the route.  Mom stayed home and layer down to rest my belly and legs.

Every year there is something called the great race. It is done by wards and each team is made up of 50 people. Each person does a different task. Things like dancing the Virginia rail, eating watermelon, riding a tricycle, and pulling kids in handcarts. It's a big deal to all the "traditional" people who have lived here forever. I will admit I think it's a bit much, 20-30 participants should be plenty, but it's fun to watch. Anyway, Rachel and Carter got pulled in a handcart by Teena and Jason Young. Teena is my good friend who tended Carter all last year for me during preschool. She is like my kids second mom. They used our kids since they are light and easier to pull than their own kids who are older and therefore bigger. 

After the great race the kids used their "food booth buck" for a treat then got wet from the firemens hose down. Carter wasn't interested in getting wet but the other two were. Adam and I even got wet a little. 

We headed home around 2:30pm for some much needed naps and went back for the night to enjoy the softball games and food and fireworks. Dayton did play in the bubble ball and giggled and giggled. That was so fun to watch, totally worth $2. I also played bingo with D and Rach. 

It was a good fun day! 

Summer parks

This summer once a week I have tried to take the kids to the park. Sometimes it's a new one, like today, the rocket ship park in river heights. And sometimes it's just the Mendon park down the street. Either way they love it! Here they are at the rocket ship park today. They all especially love the water mister, which is why Dayton is so wet. They worked hard and all earned 5 stickers on their job chart this morning to go to the park and free school lunch with dad as their reward. They are big helps! 

A good big brother!

Today it melted my heart how Dayton helped and loved Carter this afternoon. He shared his jeep that drives on his own. He took him down the road and walked by him the whole way helping  and guiding him which way to turn. He stood by him the whole ride to the neighbors long road and back home. He was patience and kind and even pushed him up our driveway hill which is too steep for that little jeep to go on its own. Then he nicely talked him through how to plug in the jeep to charge and told him time to go inside to get a drink. Dayton is a good help and a little love. I'm blessed!

28 weeks

Yup, I know it's early, but I am officially on the count down. July is almost over and October is in sight. My due date is October 11th, one week early is October 4th. If she isn't here by then my doc will start me, they can do that 1 week early. Which means..... It's getting closer!

Here I am at 28 weeks. This pregnancy is a huge sacrifice for me. For my body it's been overly hard, near impossible. I am in bed a lot. I still get up each day and take care of the kids and since its summer we do little outings but it's all done while in great pain. I am praying for miraculous healing of my veins after she is born. I think I've earned that miracle by having such faith to have this sweet baby. Of course my pride on the matter probably doesn't help bless me with healing. I'm grateful for this baby, I can't wait til she is out. 

This guy!

Adam has been working hard for the past 2-3 months. When he had a check up with Dr. Foley a couple months ago he was weighing about 192 pounds. He has since started running daily, yes every morning at 6:30am, and counting calories. He now weighs 160 pounds! Wow babe! I am so proud of him. He has made big improvements. Lost inches, weight, worked up his endurance to running 4-5 miles and sticking with it even with his NMO. That is a huge feat! Pretty much since his diagnosis, a year ago, he hasn't been able to exercise at all. Hats off to you Adam! 

Dayton boy

This guy has been a blast to have at home. He is getting more and more helpful everyday. He is a good big brother and always tries to include his siblings, even though they may be too little for the certain game or task. He has grown taller and boy has he gotten good at reading. We are working on the school summer reading program, we go to the library weekly for new books and treasures, and in August if the kids fill their chart up they earn a water slide party. Dayton is over half way finished so I am sure he will meet his goal. I can't believe in a month he will be gone all day, every day. I would be lying if I didn't admit I was kind of nervous for him but I'm mostly excited. 

Just look at his cute cupcake he decorated all by himself today too. What a love!

Follow up appointments with both kids

Carter got his stitches out today. He cried as soon as he laid on the table I'm sure just from memory of last time getting stitched. But, he did well and it was quick and he got a sucker. He is a big boy! Now hopefully we don't have another incident for awhile.

Rachel had her follow up with a hand specialist. She was actually excited to see the doctor. He was very nice and changed her dressing. She even got to pick a fun color to wrap it with this time. No surprise she picked pink! She was happy it matched her nightgown at bedtime. We go back in one week to remove the stitches. It will need to be splinted for 3 more weeks, then followed up with an X-ray to make sure it's healed up. So kind of a bummer for summer but it's ok. We will continue with the antibiotic and pain killers. Her fingers are still really swollen and bruised.