Christmas Time

This year for Christmas, Paul and I spent Christmas at home in Arizona because of me being 38 weeks pregnant and all. We did have my mom come out and spend Christmas with us and that is a lot of fun. Here are some things we did before Christmas.

Getting ready to decorate a gingerbread house.

Every year we always decorate cookies. This year was funny because my mom was trying something different with the frosting, but it didn't really work out. She would decorate a cookie and it didn't turn out right, so she would scrape the frosting off the cookie and start all over again. She probably did this to at least 10 cookies. It was funny to watch her.Everyone needs to go to the Mesa, Arizona Temple lights during Christmas. These light were amazing. We went on Christmas Eve and I have never seen so many people at the temple before. So if you are ever in Arizona during Christmas, you need to go see the Mesa Temple Lights. Here are some pictures, but the pictures don't show just how amazing it was.

Thanksgiving

This year for Thanksgiving, was the first Thanksgiving that Paul and I didn't spend it with family. We would have gone to Southern Cali to see Paul's family, but I didn't want to drive 5 hours being 34 weeks pregnant. So we decided to have our first Thanksgiving by ourselves and the first Thanksgiving that I actually cooked everything. I made my first pies ever which were pumpkin and apple which were pretty good. I also made homemade rolls. i had the pies and the rolls done a couple of days before Thanksgiving which made things very nice. On Wednesday afternoon, I got I phone call from my mom saying that she was coming up to Arizona to spend Thanksgiving with us. Her plans changed for Thanksgiving and she realized she wanted to spend Thanksgiving with at least one of her kids, so she drove all the way up here. I was happy to see her and she got to help me with thanksgiving dinner which was very nice. So I guess we didn't have Thanksgiving by ourselves and I guess I had some help with the cooking, but at least now I feel confident that I could cook Thanksgiving if I had to.

Paul and I got up early and did the after day Thanksgiving shopping. We got up at 3 in the morning to go to babies r us because we wanted a rocker that was 50% off. We didn't know how crazy it was going to be because I have never done a baby store before. I have done target and that is crazy. We realized that we did not have to get there until at least 4:30, but we were the first ones in the store and we got our rocker and other things. Then we picked up my mom and did some other stores. Even though we were very tired, it was still a lot of fun.This year, we did my family tradition. We got our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. Ever since I can remember my family has gone and cut down a tree the day after Thanksgiving and I told Paul that I want to continue that tradition. We didn't cut down a tree this year because it is expensive to do, but at least we got our tree after Thanksgiving and it was also our first real Christmas tree.

I had a great Thanksgiving this year. I loved having my mom come up and spend time with us. Thank you mom for all the cooking, cleaning, and helping you did. Thank you Paul for getting up so early with me and waiting outside of babies r us for about 2 hours while I sat in the car. And next Thanksgiving we will have our little boy with us. I can't wait!

Trip to Danville

I just got back from probably my last trip before the baby is born. I was able to spend almost 2 weeks in Danville visiting family and friends and enjoying the weather and how pretty it was. I loved the trees changing clorors and I loved how green it was. I don't get that it Arizona and I didn't realize how much I missed it until I was there. It was a great trip even though Paul was back in Arizona working while I was playing. He is such a great husband. Anyways, here is a list of things that I got to do while I was there.

1. Got to see my new newphew who is so cute and looks just like his dad

2. Go trick or treat with my neice who would not share any of her candy with me

3. Stood in the rain holding signs for prop 8 even though I couldn't vote in california

4. went shopping

5. celebrated my b-day with a wonderful cake, but my mom put too much frosting on it, but it was still very good.

6. Drove to see my cousin and her little baby. He is so cute and she looks amazing

7. Went shopping again, but this time for maternity clothes. Thanks Martha!
8. Started working on my little boy's stocking even though I have a year to make it

9. Hung out with my dad and grandma

10. Spent time with my sister, Kim who flew down from Seattle

11. Had a wonderful baby shower

12. Got to catch up with some of the best ladies that I have ever known

13. Spent time with my mom which was a lot of fun

14. And of course, I got sick! I think it was from all the amazing food that I ate.

Hailley got so much candy, but she wanted it all to herself

Yes, that is his daughter in that blanket
Hailey is upside down. Ben kept throwing her in a circle and she loved it. She kept saying, "Again Daddy! Again!"

Here are a few pictures from my baby shower. Thank you for all the people that helped, worked, planned, attended and cook for my baby shower. It was a great shower. I love you all!

Martha made my favorite cookies for my baby shower. These cookies are sooo good

Pregnant Pictures

So everyone has been bugging me to post some pictures of my pregant belly, so I am finally doing that. Just to give everyone an update, I am 27 weeks pregnant and everything looks good. I just had my doctors appointment on Monday and she says the baby sounds nice and healthy. I just had my last blood test, hopefully and I did not pass out this time, so I was very excited. They did have a hard time finding a vein in my arm because apparntly I have really small veins. Anyways, the baby is kicking everyday and some days he kicks more than others. I love sitting down and feeling and watching my stomach move. It is still crazy to think that I have a little boy growing in my belly, but I love every moment of it.

Today my little nephew was born. He was 9 days late, but he is very healthy and mom is very happy to have him out. Hopefully my little boy will not take after his cousin.

Visitors

This past weekend, Paul's parents came to Phoenix for a little visit. It was so good to see them and we had lots of fun. I don't think I have ever ate so much in my life and I even got sick one day. I don't think the baby was use to me eating that much. We went to this one restaurant and Paul's dad got the biggest hot dog that I have ever seen in my life. Paul and his mom got a huge plate of just meat. I have never seen so much food on such a little table.

This weekend was a lot of fun and I have to say thank you to Paul's parents. I am very lucky to have such great in-laws. I also have the best husband. Like I said before, I got sick this weekend because of all the food, but my wonderful husband took great care of me. I don't know what I would do without him.

Trip to Oral Valley

The end of August, Paul's brother and his wife and kids came up to Phoenix to visit us. I love when people come and visit us because then we get to do some fun things. They stayed with us for a night and we played around Phoenix for the day. Then for the weekend we drove down to Tucson to a place called Oral Valley. We were able to stay in a time share down there which was a lot of fun. It is always nice to get away once in a while. When we were there we did lots of swimming, saw amazing thunder and lightening storms and explore a cave which spelled like bat pee.

I loved this picture. Our friend Mark put some blocks on his eyes and Owen didn't know what to think of that.

The Beach and a Wedding all in one Trip!

This past weekend, Paul and I were able to once again drive down to Rancho Cucamonga for another little vacation. This trip was a little different because we were able to spend a little time in Laguna which was very nice. Every year in August Paul's family spends a week to two weeks at Laguna Beach and we were able to make it down for the last day. It was a lot of fun spending time with his family, friends, and getting some sun.


After spending all day Friday at the beach, on Saturday we had a wedding to attend. One of Paul's friends from is hometown was getting married in the Newport Temple and then having a reception in Lancaster. The wedding was amazing and the reception was a lot of fun. Then on Sunday we drove back to Phoenix which is a 5 hour drive. Even though this was a short trip, it was a lot of fun. I got to have my orange shake at the orange inn, went to the beach, hung out with friends and family, and got to attend a wedding.

I saw this on the way to the Newport Temple and I thought it was so pretty. I love sunflowers. I told Paul that this is what I want in our backyard when we get a house which will probably be in 20 years from now.

It's a Boy!!!

Paul and I found out that we are having a boy. We are very excited. After we found out, we spent the day at the mall buying lots of baby clothes. I didn't realize how much fun shopping would be for little boy's clothes. We had so much fun and there are so many cute clothes for boys. Paul is very excited to have his little boy. Basically everything that this boy owns is going to be something dealing with sports. Paul can't wait to watch sports with him and teach him how to play every sport. We are both very excited and can't wait until that day comes when we get to hold him for the very first time.

I finally decided to start a blog. Everyone has tried to get me to start one for I while now, so I finally gave in. I will give everyone a brief summary of some big things that have happened. In April, Paul and I both graduated from school and finally got to leave Utah. We both liked Utah but the winters are the worst

Now we are living in Phoenix, Arizona. We both love it here and we are getting use to the heat. We went up to Seattle to see my dad and it was Paul's first trip to Seattle. It was a lot of fun.