Just another day in Carlsbad

Well, today we went to Carlsbad. I figured it would be a few degrees cooler there and Jay is still in Arizona, so might as well. We had a great time. Travis and Sara could not get enough of Grandma and Grandpa. Travis did not even want to go out to lunch or to Costco because he did not want to leave Grandpa. I love it!! The kids went swimming in the afternoon, and the two lifeguards ended up diving in too (my dad and I, but at least I had a swimming suit on). Travis dove into the pool and then was just playing around, but ended up panicking, then it was all over. My dad and I jumped in after him at the same exact time. I think it is the first time in 20 or more years that my dad has been in the pool. He stayed in for a while and played with Travis, Sara and Callie. Neither kid wanted to go home tonight. They wanted to stay with Grandma & Grandpa. I love it! It is fun having Clint, Becky and Callie there too.

Too Dang Hot

making a shelter in the back yard

Every time Jay is in Arizona, I get several text messages from him saying that he wants to live in Arizona...even in the summer. Today I did not get any of those. I read today that it has been over 110' in Phoenix for the past 29 days. New record. On hot days like this in Aliso Viejo, I think there is no way in the world I could ever live where it gets so hot. I don't even think that I could handle it 10 more miles inland. I think that we just get so spoiled here. All day long I was trying to think of fun things to do with the kids, but everything that I thought of was outdoors. I did not even want to go to the beach! When I finally thought of taking the kids to the movies (a nice cool place) it was too late and they would have never made it through one. Maybe tomorrow.

Another Pregnancy Scare...

30 week belly

yes...I know it is HUGE!

Well, yesterday I had an apt. with the doctor and he asked if there was anything unusual and I told him that for a few days last week I felt like an arm or leg was coming out-lots and lots of pressure (a feeling I never ever remember having with the other 2). After that stopped, the baby did not move much at all for a couple days. He got worried and thought I might be experiencing some symptoms of preterm labor. He did some test and then he checked me and thought that my cervix might already be thinning. He wanted to do an ultrasound and then I told him that an appointment today for one. He told me to prepare to go on bed rest later on that day or the next, depending on the results of the test and ultrasound. Well, the test results did not come in until this morning and I was actually quite a mess last night. How could anyone go on bed rest for 10 weeks with a 3 year old and a 2 year old? Again I though...thank goodness my parents are back from their mission! I just wondered what else could go wrong with this pregnancy. I was also wondering if it was just something else that went along with having a 2 vessel umbilical cord or if this problem was totally unrelated. I did know that with the 2 vessel cord there is a higher chance of having a premature baby among a million other things... Anyways, while I was waiting to go in for my ultrasound today, I got a call from the doctor and the test came up negative...no labor for the next 2 weeks!! So then I just had to wait to see what the ultrasound showed about my cervix...everything looked just fine! No bed rest for me! Thank goodness!!! You know, when you think of it, it is absolutely amazing that with so many things that can go wrong during a pregnancy, so many come out just fine. Technology is wonderful, but sometimes can just scare you to death.

Super Saturday in Carlsbad

On Saturday, the kids and I went to Carlsbad. My cousin had a bridal shower, so I left the kids with my dad. They were so excited to play with him. I love it. It is so wonderful having my parents back. It feels like they never even left. I guess that I was so worried that the kids wouldn't remember them, even though we went to visit them in Canada a couple of times and talked to them on the phone several times a week. Travis asked grandpa to take him to get ice cream where he used to take his mommy when she was a little girl. So, grandpa took the kids to Rite Aid where the kids got vanilla ice cream cones and lots of mints (their favorite treat from grandpa's car). Then they went to see the chickens and play at the "park" at JC and Brads house. The kids love playing over there. When I got back Travis had so much to tell me about all the fun things he did and how grandpa was magic (he would wiggle his fingers and the sprinklers would just turn off and the "waterfall" in the pool would turn on). Then the kids went swimming with cousin Callie. Travis is becoming a real swimmer. My parents pool is quite shallow in the shallow end and he just thinks that it is so great that he can reach. He practiced and practiced trying to touch the bottom with his hand. I found some rings and he started trying to get those. That night, JC and Brad had a ward luau in their backyard. I was not going to go because it was an adult only thing, but I decided to just take the kids anyways. There was a great turn out and yummy food. They had Polynesian dancers and singers too. The kids loved watching the dancing. When the guys did the slap dance, they got a little scared, but not as scared as when they were doing the fire dancing. Sara did not like it at all and that is all she could talk about after we left. She said it was "bad". We took our time coming home because Jay was having a boys night at our house watching UFC. I am just so glad to have my mom and dad back!

Best Buddies

swimming & eat ring pops

looking for worms

love matching!

I love that Travis and Sara are so close in age. They truly are best friends. They play so well together. Funny things I catch them doing:

• Travis puts on a "show" for Sara on a stage in the backyard (he usually performs a "Wiggles" song)
• play school
• chase
• try to match their clothes (especially pj's)
• dance & sing together (Wiggles songs)
• love to hold hands during warm-up at gymnastics (which really is the cutest thing!)
• always hug and kiss
• color together
• make forts
• play house (call each other honey...adorable)

I could go on and on. I love to see them playing so great together. Don't get me wrong, they have their moments all to often and Travis usually ends up with some kind of battle wound on his face, but for the most part these best friends just can't seem to get enough of each other.

Going Wingless

"Watch me dive"

"I'm diving"

"Watch me swim"

"Still swimming..."

"I did it!!"

The last few times we have been swimming with other people, Travis has been wanting to swim without his wings, but I would not let him. Sometimes when I swim with him, we do "swim lessons" and we take off his wings and let him swim around the jacuzzi and jump off the side and swim to me. Honestly, I did not think he was ready to just swim around without me next to him. He can swim underwater fine, but he has a hard time taking a breath. Anyways, today I let him take off his wings and jump off the diving board to me. He did it and then would swim to the side with no problem, taking a breath and all. After a couple of jumps to me, he wanted to try it by himself, so I let him. From that time on, he swam for an hour more without wings. I was just amazed!! He just swam all around the pool. He was trying out tricks and trying to swim to the bottom. I think his favorite thing was to "dive" off the diving board. My little boy is growing up!

November 7th?

This ultrasound was done July 25. It was really fun because it was 4D. I was shocked to see the baby. To me it looks a lot like Sara. We are not finding out what it is this time, but I think it is a boy. It actually has never occurred to me that it even could be a girl until I saw this ultrasound. We have a few more ultrasounds to go, and I am kind of nervous that I will somehow find out what it is. I hear that it is fun being surprised though, so hopefully I will not look up at the screen at the wrong time!

Unfortunately, Dr. Clayton moved my due date back a couple of weeks and looks like I am scheduled to have the baby November 7. This came as a complete shock! Since the beginning, I thought I would be having it October 25. I was told that there was a big discrepancy between my first and second ultrasound. In the first one, I measured significantly smaller, and on my last one, it measured a couple weeks bigger. My doctor is being ultra-conservative. I guess that is good in a way, but I really am a little bit worried that I am going to just go into labor before Nov. 7 (which may happen...don't think that I could be off 2 weeks!!). Why go into labor when you don't have to...isn't that really the beauty of a c-section? Oh well, I guess that it just makes it all a little more exciting (or stressful). This pregnancy has been full of surprises and who knows, maybe at my next ultrasound next week, he will change the date again.

Happy 88th Birthday GG!

Today we celebrated GG's (Grandma or Great-Grandma's) 88th birthday. 88 years old...WOW! The kids swam for hours and we had a yummy BBQ. The kids sang to her and several people told of a memory they had of her. It is always so fun to get together. We are so lucky to have GG. I feel especially grateful for her. I never really got to know any of my grandparents very well. She has always made me feel like I am one of her grand-daughters and I am so thankful for that!! I love having a grandma! Thanks so much, GG, for being so wonderful. I love you!

Sunday Fun

Sometimes, Sundays are the longest days. The kids seem to get so bored. I decided to make cookies with them. I do not think that I have ever done that before. They had a great time measuring all the ingredients and pouring it in the bowl. They were more excited to eat the dough than the cookies. It is kind of funny how doing something like that with the kids makes me feel like a good mom. I guess that it really is the small thing that matter.

Like Christmas...but better!

Welcome home Elder & Sister Wilson! Finally, my mom & dad are back from their mission to Toronto, Canada. I think that it was the longest eighteen months of my life, and I know that it was the longest eighteen months of my mom's life. I think that my dad could have been out another eighteen months. It was so wonderful to see them. I really have missed them so much! Joe, Abi and the kids came over and we had dinner and hung out. Travis told Grandpa that now he can see him everyday. Thanks, mom and dad, for being such a great example to me and my family. I know that it was not when or where or what you were wanting to do for a mission, but you did what you were asked to do. Not only were the people in Canada blessed, but we were too. Thanks mom & dad. So glad to have you back!!!

Just Dreaming

I know that just a month ago Jay and I were in Hawaii, but I after this last week, I think that I need another vacation! Jay travels for a few days every couple of weeks. I have gotten used to it, but last week he was gone with the Young Men at the lake (which he had a great time!) and then left on Monday for a business trip (it was a disaster...being bumped off his flight, spending all day in 2 different airports, his baggage was lost, and he was not feeling well...need I say more?). Anyways, last week not only were the kids sick, but I was too. Between Travis and Sara waking up in the night, and me waking up, I don't think that I slept more than 2 hours straight any night. I know that is the job of a mom and I do love being a mom (except I could do without the waking up in the middle of the night!). I was just looking at pictures from Hawaii and was wishing that I was back there with Jay. It was so wonderful being on vacation with just him! We were on the the Big Island and did not do much, but I sure would love to be back, sitting at the pool reading a book and working on my tan. Yesterday, my mother in law offered to watch the kids for a few hours while I went and got a massage, which was wonderful! Thanks Sandee! I guess that will have to be my substitute for going on vacation (and not a bad one!).

Happy Birthday Sara

Happy 2nd birthday, Sweet Sara!
I can not believe that she is already 2. She is growing up so fast. Her favorite thing to do these days is to go swimming at Mimi & Papa's house. She asks me everyday if she can go there to go swimming. We are so blessed to have this sweet little girl in our family!!