Turkey in Utah

Don't you think its funny how one meal is such a big deal? You take work off, drive hundreds of miles to partake of a meal that usually makes you want to off yourself after eating because you ate so much! I know, I know, its not about the meal, its about the people. I do love this time of year. You are expected to pause and just be with your loved ones... and get fat.

We were lucky enough to be able to get home to Utah this Thanksgiving. Can I just say the drive from Arizona versus the drive from Missouri is joyous. When we arrived in the middle of the night after only 10 1/2 hours versus 16 I was like, "What? wait, we are here already!"

OK lots to cover.

First off, we went to Maddox's birthday party.

I had been harboring a baby in my tummy for about 17 weeks. We wanted to wait till we were in Utah to tell our family.

I was on the fence about stealing Maddie's thunder because it was his party after all, but Travis didn't feel guilty one bit and we spilt the beans.

I wanted to tell everyone in the cute traditional way where your little girls wear T-shirts that say, "big sister." Travis again had other ideas.

He gave Tracie, his sister our ultra sound picture and told her to pretend it was hers. Tracie just had her fourth baby, and has been very clear that she is done birthing children. Anyways, she played an academy award winning role to Kathryn and John (Trav's parents) about how Mike slipped one past and how she is 15 weeks pregnant, etc. Kathryn and John were shocked and just sat there in awe. I kind of think Kathryn was actually a little bit mad at Tracie for not telling her she was pregnant for that long.

I couldn't take it anymore because the charade kept going, and it kept getting more and more awkward because their reaction was not one of excitement for Tracie, but more of worry and shock.

Finally the cat got out of the bag and we told them it was really our ultra sound. You would not believe the night and day reaction they had. They both jumped up and cheered and came and gave us hugs. I think they were extra excited because of the relief they felt. Tracie, you really need to think about some permanent birth control, you are DONE having kids!

Telling my parents was a little anti-climatic. I think everyone just expects that we should be having a baby since Brooklyn is almost three. I did do the cute T-shirts for my girls. They came up one morning in shirts that said, "Big sister." It seriously took my mom and hour to realize what was going on after Avery finally gave her a huge nudge about the shirt.

Oh well, I'm just glad I can talk about being pregnant. It was really hard to not whine to my mom while I was sick!

The rest of the trip went by fast!

We...


Went digging at Thanksgiving point with my mom for Dino fossils and were very successful. "Don't take my land," is a famous quote from Brooklyn when any other paleontologist would come near.

We...

Went to City Creek mall

We...

 ate lots of yummy cereal at the Jones house with our cousins.

We... 

Bathed.

Well, some of us did. Cough cough.

We...

Hung out with our Nanny

We...

Ran into some Kansas City friend in Utah at Cafe Rio

It was bazaar! We miss the Storres.

We...

Ate a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with the Charles family

I'm still full. Thank you everybody (especially Mama Kath)

We...

Went to a couple movies

LOVED it! 

I have to admit, I saw this one twice while I was there

It was good, I don't even care if I'm a groupie, crowd follower.

We...

Just hung out a bunch

After 9 crazy days we headed back to Arizona

It was a good time

If I only had a boy...

I like Trav's attitude. Yeah, he would love to have a son one day, but until then he has to make do. I think he "do's" just fine with his sweet girl. Avery is always up to do anything; camping, hiking, painting nails, you name it. She is a good camping buddy and will never let your sweets go to waste. 

They went camping with John and Jude Taylor (Jude is Avery's future husband)

He is also really good about not wasting treats

They cooked a yummy dinner, sang by the camp fire and even shot guns. I'm pretty sure Travis's need for a boy is not the first thing on his bucket list. 

If you notice, there are no pictures of any mom's or little sisters. Well that is because we weren't invited.

So this is what we did instead

At first I was bummed because I love camping, but as I heard the rain storms a comin' I was suddenly OK with being home with this little one.

#3

If you haven't heard yet, we are expecting baby girl #3. 

Travis says he has very chivalrous sperms since we are having ANOTHER girl!

I for sure thought it was a boy, because so far, this pregnancy has been so different from the first two.

I was so sick in the beginning. All I wanted to do was lie down and sleep. I didn't want to eat anything! Especially sweets, which is so not like me! 

My immune system totally shut down. I had colds, flu's, you name it. My kids stopped trying with me and learned how to function on their own. I would gather some food for them here and there, but mostly, I was dead on the couch.

So when we were getting the ultra sound and the tech said, "yeah, I'm really trying to make it a boy for you all, but that is definitely a girl," we were shocked!

Travis was just kind of quiet and sat down and said, "why don't you have a pee pee."

Now that it has been a month or so, it has truly sunk in that we are having another girl, and I can't imagine it going any other way. We are so excited to have another frilly princess. 

See ya on April 30th little girl!

Halloween

It came. We ate lots of candy. It went. 

Brooklyn went as a kitty and was in full character for most of the night

 Avery was a half dead princess (her idea)

Arizona Halloweens are awesome. Everyone sits out on their driveway with a fire pit and hands out candy. It really cuts down on the having to walk to the doorstep and knock time. 

We went down to Gilbert and went trick or treating with the Jolley's

But first of all, this is my sisters house. She goes crazy with decorations, and this is just the outside!

And here was the gang

Bella was a half dead Snow white. They were awesome together!

Jack was a ninja

And Brayden was a wicked warlock, but he was too busy getting his make up done, so I didn't get a solo shot of him

And this is what a typical Phoenix Halloween looks like. Every so often there would be a haunted house. My brave girls are starting to not be so brave because they didn't dare to go inside!

Sometimes Avery felt the need to serenade the hander outer with a song because she would sing for them. Little did she know that all you have to do is say "trick or treat." She might be famous one day?

 I think we are used to the closeness of the Riverside town homes, because Avery and Brooklyn were spent after three streets! They were done!

Halloween is always a good time with little ones, but lots of hard work too! 

Oh and here is a picture from our trunk or treat. We weren't allowed to do scary make up, so Avery was just a pretty princess this time.

Five

She is huge! This girl lights up our world. She loves life. She is excited to do everything! When she was a baby, she NEVER slept. You know how most babies are in a coma for 2 months and just sleep? She never did that. When she was two weeks old, we tried doing the cute naked sleeping newborn pictures, and she would not fall asleep! Whenever we would enter a new room, she had to be facing out and she would just scan the room with her huge eyes for minutes. She is still like this, always trying to learn and experience new things.

She is so ready for Kindergarten. She has never been afraid of being away from me, but I will sure miss her. 

She knows how to read. She sounds out words and writes me the cutest little notes. She LOVES to draw. Its so fun seeing her imagination come out on paper. She can entertain herself all day long. She loves playing with her sister, for the most part. 

She loves when friends come over. She loves her cousins. She loves the park. She loves watching "shows" on TV. Her favorite is the 'Magic School Bus' and 'My Little Pony.' 

She is always hungry. I will feed her lunch and 1 hour later she will want a snack. She loves loves loves sugar! She is a good eater though, and she will try anything I give her a least once.

She still calls dessert "bessert" and did you know we are from "Bissouri?"

She is obsessed with singing and has a very strong alto voice. She sings Katy Perry's "Firework" song and "eye of the tiger" all day long. Most of the songs she sings, she doesn't really know the lyrics, so she makes them up. She is in a cute little singing choir.

She still loves to climb, and everyday I usually have to fetch her from the backyard tree because she is stuck in it. 

I can see her testimony of the Gospel starting to form. We read the Book of Mormon with her and she doesn't want us to stop. I have seen her stop and say prayers when she is in need. Its helping my testimony as well.

Sometimes she is a twerp and makes bad choices, but in the end, she will always make it right. She is a good person.

There is no one like Avery. We love her so much. We couldn't have picked a better girl to lead her younger siblings. 

Avery, please stop growing so fast! We love you so dang much!