Thriller

Wednesday we went to Tuacahn with some friends to see Thriller. It was the first time our friends had seen it and it's been a few years for us, so I was excited to see it again. Once again, it was amazing!

Hope you guys had fun!

(Don't mind the pregnant face. Hopefully it will be gone SOON.)

Trunk - or - Treat

Our ward had a Trunk-or-Treat on Tuesday. I know...Halloween isn't even until Sunday, but I guess they just wanted to make me stress out about getting costumes done. I sewed Xander's prince costume that whole day and, unfortunately, didn't have time for Aliyahs. Luckily, my friend loaned us her daughters Belle dress just in case I didn't get it done. I'm so glad she did, because Aliyah ended up wearing it. THANKS JULIE!

(Yes, Xander's pants are floods. And I'm still upset about it.)

The Trunk-or-Treat was held at a park by our house. It was perfect for all those kids running around. They were supposed to have food, but by the time we got to the front of the line everything was gone. :( We did get a couple rolls though.

The YW/YM put on a carnival for the kiddos. My kids weren't interested. They saw the tractor pulling all the carts and we had to get in line for that.


Xander was mad and didn't want his picture taken.

While we were waiting for the actual trick-or-treating to start we all got in the car to warm up. It was SO cold and I win the mother of the year award for not bringing Aliyah a coat, but she wouldn't wear the one that our neighbor let us borrow because she had to show off her Belle dress. Princesses...honestly. :)

But, I do remember when I was little I hated that Halloween was so cold because your coat always covered up your costume. That was such a bummer.

So, the kids played with their cauldrons until it was time to beg for candy. :)

I let Jace take the kids around this year and I stayed in the car, with the heater on, passing out candy. It got complicated a couple times with the little kids because they wouldn't hold their bags up high enough so I'd have to bend over to put the candy in and then I'd get stopped by the giant belly and then I'd grunt because, let's face it...that's just what happens, and then the parent would laugh at me.... Ahh good times.

Anyway, we ended up running out of candy because our ward has a bagillion kids in it. But Xander and Aliyah were back by that time and sweet Xander started passing out his candy. It was the cutest thing. I tried to get Aliyah to share, but that girl and her sweets could never part ways.

Halloween Party

We went to a neighborhood Halloween Party last night. It was super fun. Everyone dressed up, there was YUMMY food and a fun Road Rally (thanks to my sis!).

Overall, I think everyone had a good time. I know I did!

We had some awesome people show up, such as:

Edward and Bella

Some referees...and the football :)

Some "Mormons" (haha)

Our 80's aerobic instructors

Popeye and Olive Oyl

The Big Bad Wolf and Little Red Riding Hood

Jack Sparrow and his Pirate...lady....

Of course Mario and Luigi were there

And a sorcerer and Brett Michaels

Here's the whole group because I didn't get a couple shot of everyone.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!!!

baby update

36 1/2 weeks in and baby girl is settled in quite nicely. That makes me sad.

I'm not sleeping. Well, technically I'll fall asleep until about 4 and then I can't go back to sleep. There are a couple reasons for this.

* I'm huge and therefore can't get comfortable

* Baby lodges her foot right in my bottom rib and will NOT move it for anything

* Baby won't stop moving...or gets the hiccups (really annoying at 4 in the morning)

* Did I mention I'm huge?

* I'm hot...then cold...then hot

As you can tell, night time is hard. :(

I actually got up at 5 this morning (but I'd been awake since 4...which is the time Jace left for work btw...) because I was thinking of everything that I could be doing and so I finally decided just to get up and do it.

I only managed to get my floor swept and the toy room clean.

Anyway, this has turned into more of a rant than a baby update, so let me inform you...

Had an appointment today and my Doc said I'm a 2...but my body wants to dilate more. (insert me super happy about that.) So, since he is going out of town on Halloween and won't be back for a week (great timing, right) he wants me to come back on Wednesday and he'll strip my membranes and we'll see if anything happens. I hope it does, because I actually really want this little one to be born on the 28th because both Xander's and Aliyah's birthdays are on the 28th. Obviously, we'll see what will happen, but I really like the plan that me and my doc came up with. :)

And I just have to add this because this is just so Jace...

He told me last week that he's going to New York on the 1st of November. I just stared at him with a look of distaste until he realized that I could potentially have a baby that day. Then he preceded to tell me to "hold it in."

Really? ... Hold it in? Sure...I'll just keep my legs crossed.

Who does he think he is? It's not like I can just say, "Baby, you're dad won't be here til tomorrow, so do you think you could just stay in there for another day or 2?"

Honestly.

dirt monsters

Our backyard is FINALLY getting done. (YAY!) We still don't have grass, (even though they were supposed to do it last week...) but the kids don't seem to mind. I think they're just glad there is soft dirt out there to play in.

See for yourself:

Their clothes are completely brown, and they were totally covered in head to toe with dirt. BUT it kept them outside and totally happy. So I'm good with that. :)

refreshing

So, Wednesday Jace took Xander up north with him to watch Jaxon's football game and also hang out with a friend who was in town for a few days. Jace left at 5 AM so Xander was still asleep. I got a call from him about 8 because Xander was upset. He said, "Mama...Dad forgot you and Eeya." So concerned...it was cute.

Anyway...It was SO REFRESHING to only have 1 child. I never really got to know what that was like, and I gotta say, it was AWESOME!

Aliyah and I took advantage of having the boys gone with a girl's day on Wednesday. It started out with manicures and pedicures

Then we went to dinner and bought "Beauty and the Beast". We made a bed of blankets and pillows on the floor in the living room and vegged out in front of the TV. I had a lot of fun with her and I hope she had fun with me too.

Thursday she had pre-school in the morning, so I ran some errands with...NO KIDS!!! Holy cow! The things I accomplished...it was crazy! :)

Later we went and bought some pumpkins at the store and decorated them with glitter. :) I asked Aliyah to come sit by the pumpkins so I could take a picture and just like that a Diva appeared and started with all these poses...





Funny girl. (She decorated the one on the left...if you couldn't tell.)

Last night we got a call from Xander and Jace. Xander was so distraught because he missed Aliyah. He was crying and it broke my heart, but at the same time it was so cute. After we hung up Aliyah started crying too. So I guess deep down they really do care about each other.

The boys got home this morning and Xander was all smiles as he gave me a huge hug.

I guess absence really does make the heart grow fonder.

what a stud

My mom got this suit for Xander while ago and just gave it to him when we saw her last week. It's still a little big, but Jace was all too excited to put him in it for church yesterday.








I must admit he was a handsome little guy. :)

funerals, marathons, and doctor appointments

Last week was my Grams funeral. We went up on Wednesday night for the viewing. Surprisingly, I made it through the entire thing without any tears. Even when the casket was opened and I saw her for the first time I was good. I was filled with the peace of knowing there is something more than this life.

That night my mom gave me and Natalie some things for the kids that Grams had bought for Halloween/Christmas just days before. She bought about 5 outfits for my new baby and she got some costumes for my kids and Halloween jammies and things. Here are the kids sportin' the new attire while watching a movie before bed.

The next day was harder. It was the funeral. Jace and Ryan were probably the only ones who made it out with dry eyes, but let's face it...they're robots.

The funeral was very nice. There were lots of memories brought up and good times remembered. My grandma was such a special person and I am SO glad to have had her for my 26 years. I am also SO grateful my kids could know their G.G. for the short time they had her. I know she loved them...she spoiled them like crazy. But like she said, "that's what grandma's are for."

Taking Grams to her final resting place







Me and my sisters with the 2 girl great-grandkids

Mom and pops

This is the headstone. Some of my younger cousins were giving flowers to my Gramps.

My uncle and cousin with my Grams brother, Val.

Baby Taffa could hardly contain her excitement to go get some food. That's quite the smile.

Aliyah loved all the flowers and picked as many as she could. Then she got into this pose for a photo.

Xander got some flowers too.

Goodbye Grams. We love you! and know you are in a better place with your sweetheart.

____________________________________

We headed home on Friday because Saturday was the St. George Marathon and I was running. JUST KIDDING. I'm not a runner even if I wasn't 7 1/2 months pregnant. My brother-in-law was running. He did awesome!

Why, here's the little runner now...yards away from the finish line and really looking hurt...but he's got a smile on his face. Don't know how.




So the marathon was over...for us. It was a HOT day. I was hot just watching, I can't imagine how the runners were feeling. We had to get some photos of the support crowd...all in yellow so he could easily spot us. :)









Way to go Ry! I think you're crazy, but good job.

________________________________

So I went in for my 34 week check up today...the results...50% effaced, a fingertip dilated (might be too much...but it is what it is...) and, good news, her head is down. So, pretty much, it means my body is starting to think about getting this child out of me, but nothing yet. Which is bitter sweet for me. Bitter because my body wants to be my body again. But sweet because I love to feel her move around and frankly, it's still a little early for her to be born. So, for now...still pregnant.