I Must Confess...

So yesterday, thinking I would be a good mom and have a snack for my kids for after school, I made rice krispie treats and sprinkled chocolate chips on the top. Sounds good right? Well apparently my kids are from another planet and don't really like them anymore. I mean aren't Rice Krispies a staple of every kids' life? Which leads me to my confession.......tonight there is only a half pan left....and I wonder why my butt is getting so dang big!

Pick Your Battles

So here we are on day I think 8 (at least) and Sophie is wearing yet again her "princess swimsuit" A gift from Grandma Christensen has never been put to such good use. I'm not sure what happened but she now thinks she needs to wear it everyday. And I have decided this is not a battle to be fought. The fit throwing and loud crying are not worth it. So here she is as cute as can be...wearing a swimsuit...you will see me with her at the grocery store, picking the kids up from school, anywhere around town..all in her pink glory (i did draw the line at going to church). At least it's something cute! Hopefully this phase will pass before it gets too cold. Guess we'll see.

10 weeks to go..

So I am now officially 30 weeks prego and have 10 more to go. The time has really gone by pretty fast for me...I credit that to having three kids to run after, cleaning, laundry and I am now the Primary President. So I don't get much time time to remember that I am having another baby. And I feel lucky..I am a pretty good pregnant girl..no heartburn, no throwing up, no weird cravings (unless you count ice), so I feel really good. There are even times I forget I'm having a baby..that is until I try to bend over, clip my toenails, or shave my "bikini" area ( I can't even see it now..I'll have to get Nate to help me out there). Those are the reminders that there is a little girl growing and stretching my belly. I know the most uncomfortable part is to come. Oh well I am excited to welcome this new little spirit into our home. Now if Nate and I could only agree on a name????

More Wedding pics

So here are a few more belated wedding pics...I have been in one heck of a mess here at my house re-arranging (details to come) so I have had no time or Internet. One thing at a time so the details of my "nesting" will come later. The wedding was beautiful and Nate even admitted to me that he'd marry me again...pretty good to hear that as a hormonal, overweight pregnant lady! I love weddings and brother number 2 is coming up in a few weeks.


Uncle Rob and Sophie..everyone wants a picture with this cute girl
Clay and Lauren and their beautiful cake...although they were to kind to each other with the cake

Hailee and Sophie ..my soon to be sis-in-law

This was the reception at my parents house...it turned out great. Dad and Mom, all of your hard work paid off.

Don't they look adorable. Sophie is impossible to catch a pic of smiles..Ellie on the other hand has turned into quite the cheeser.

Wedding Bliss

The happy couple....just married!
Sophie getting her dad's ears...she loves only his
Landon and Sophie

So after 10 years, my family finally had another wedding. My brother Clay married Lauren Leavitt from Cedar who we love. She is a little small for our family but we'll keep her. It was a busy couple of days but perfect. Congrats to the couple..I'll post more pics later...my girls looked adorable in their dresses.

Amidst the Craziness...

So my life right now is I would say just slightly crazy and i mean that with the up most sarcasm...it's just seems like there has been one thing after another. My brother gets married tomorrow, my brother-in-law just gave us some sad news, UPS is stressing me out and Nate's not working much again, I got a new calling in church..kind of a biggie..can't tell you yet, I am prego and starting to "nest"..need to move the kids and switch bedrooms, want to deep clean my entire house....and yet amid all this I am moved and touched by how our Heavenly Father has blessed me. I have so many blessing to be grateful for and it's all because of the gospel. How blessed I am to know of the surety of eternal families. As crazy as this wedding planning has been, my brother is starting his own eternal family and i get to witness that. As for my brother-in-law, I think we just have to have faith and know that everything will work out somehow, even if we don't see how it will. My new calling in church has humbled me and scared me. How can I do it with a new baby? Again with faith. And as for my house and this baby, things will slow down sometime and I am so excited for this new little addition we have coming. Sometimes..well a lot of the time, I let life get so crazy that I take everything for granted...especially the most important things like my amazing kids and hubby. What more do I even need than them and forever? So I am going to try and be better at taking a deep breath and taking things one at a time with faith and more faith.

Lake Powell 2009- Lots of pics

We just spent a great week at lake Powell and had so much fun. Here is just some of what went down....

Rob and Connor surfing

An amazing accomplishment for my child who barely dared go down the slide. Connor got up on a wakeboard this year. I was so impressed that he would even try. He did awesome!

This was Sophies favorite game. Jumping off the back of the houseboat. She would do it for hours!

Crazy Rob

Now this is monumental...This was the first year that connor (now 9 years old) went down the slide with no bribery and of his own free will. I was shocked. Glad he has finally warmed up to the slide after all these Powell trips.

My dorky brothers..heading down the slide

Robbie's homemade slip 'n' slide...a little bumpy but a good idea. This is Hailee and Lauren my soon to be sister-in-laws

Cousin Tyler, Clay and Rob...show-offs!

My dad sporting his first "cut-off" that Robbie gave him for Fathers Day

A good game of horseshoes..I'm pretty sure my brothers lost

Nate got to come for a minute and took Sophie down the slide...these two could live in the water.

Sophie loved finding "sheshells" and is proudly showing hers off

This is what happens when you have Robbie as an Uncle. Two years old is not too young to learn to surf...

Or too young to wakeboard..Sophie was crying because she wanted to go by herself. We finally
got her her own handle and that seemed to do the trick. This girl has no fear of water and wanted to go again...and again...and again....if you know my other kids, (pansies:) this is unheard of.

Eyelash Curler Mishap

Monday morning as I was getting ready for the day, I was curling my eyelashes (yes I have to curl mine..was not blessed with ones that do) and as I was gripping the curler, I sneezed..hard! Needless to say, my right eye is almost eyelash free. I looked down at the curler in my hand, and there they all were...on the curler and not on my eyelid. I panicked...my first thought was "Really? This had to happen now...the fourth of July is this weekend..I'm chubby and prego and now I have no eyelashes on one eye?" Seriously! I know that's very vain and all, but you all know how important the 4th is and how everyone wants to look cute cause you see everyone. Well I will be much less cute this year and with minimal eyelashes. My second thought was "Do eyelashes grow back?" Does anyone know the answer to this? All in all, it's not too terrible (at least I am telling myself that) and I have added extra eyeliner but I am not throwing the idea of falsies out...so we'll see. The eyelash curler people should add this warning to their curlers "Beware!!! Do not curl and sneeze at the same time as most likely it will rip your eyelashes out and make you look funny and make your eye feel naked"

....And Resume Life

Whew! I feel like I can now push the un-pause button in my life and get back to reality a bit. Not that I have been doing nothing..I have been Miss Richfield-ing it for the past week and I am all pageant-ed out! I tell you these pageant deals are just not for me or for anyone who has young kids and a husband who is gone all day and most of the night. So the big event was Saturday and it went off without a hitch. Everything looked fabulous if I do say so myself. I got to sit back stage, wear a head set, open and close the curtain, and make sure the piano, mic and escorts were in the right place at the right time. I did feel sort of important :) So all in all, it is done. I will not be taking over next year or even helping. I am learning to say "NO" ..call and ask me to do something and let's see if I can really say it. It was a good experience and I learned a lot about "rainbow-ing" off the stage, the importance of going command-o or wearing spanx, mock interviews, judging points, pageant moms, and most importantly how much time and effort goes into pulling off a 2 1/2 hour performance. Holy Cow...Marie Peterson was the director and she is simply A-mazing. She thinks of all the little tiny stuff you have to do. Kudos goes out to her. So now I will be back to blogging and noticing that I have children and all of that good stuff.

It's A.....

Girl!

That's right folks we are thinking pink with our third chica on the way. I actually was shocked. I really thought it was a boy and I have been right with the other three so ultrasound lady said there was nothing between those legs, I was in serious doubt. But alas, she is educated to read those sonogram suckers and I am not so with further pictures, I became a believer. Not that I cared what we had but I'm not gonna lie, Connor was pretty mad! He told me he was moving out if we found out we were having another girl, so if any of you want a boy who is way to competitive for his own good (post for another time), let me know. Poor kid..he's just gonna have to deal with hormones, make-up, catti-ness and all of the other lovely girl stuff. But truly we are so excited to have a healthy little baby girl coming to our home..now that I know what it is, the planning and room rearranging can begin. We are definitely bursting out of our home.

Funny Comment

I probably shouldn't blog about this but it was too funny...last night, while Sophie was in the tub and her hand was down in her nether-regions, she says to me, "mom I found a hole in my Cha-chee" I was laughing forever. That's what we call it around here...Cha-Chee. Anyways hope you had a good laugh.

This one goes out to the one I love...

I really can't believe that it was ten years ago today that Nate and I were married. Ten Years! It has flown by. It's such a cliche saying but how does time really fly so fast? Ten years ago, we were in a fog of la la haze...ready to face the world...but totally, unrealistically unprepared. Sometimes I wonder how we have made it this far. We were so young and naive. I guess true love does prevail. And here we are 3 1/2 kids later, our own home, liven the middle class life and I can not complain. I won't complain. At least not today. I am truly blessed to have this man in my life and not only for today but forever. How amazing is that! So this one goes out to the one I love. I love you more today than I did ten years ago and I can not wait to see what the next 10 plus forever years bring for us. Thanks for choosing me. Happy Anniversary babe. I love you!

PS... Don't you all just love looking back at your wedding photos? Such classics. Hello! Were we 12 or what. No wonder my parents were freaking out a bit.

Dear Pregnant Body

Dear Pregnant Body,
I give up...you win ok. I am tired of staring into my closet forever trying to decide what might look half decent on you. I am trying to make you look flattering, but you are making it extremely difficult. So today was it! Because of what you are doing ( at an alarming rate) I chose to wear maternity pants today. That's right..only 16 weeks into this pregnancy and already I am having to pull out the fat clothes.
I don't want you to feel too bad and these pants are much more comfy but seriously, why is your butt so big when the baby is in your belly? And it's only about 5 inches long at that. Those huge belly rolls should not be that big. People are looking at you and wondering why you are so chubby. So I am just telling you to watch it. The bike riding, walking and chasing 3 other kids, just isn't doing enough. So I would really appreciate it if you could slow the weight gain down. You have 24 more weeks to go and that's a long time.
I hope this is not to harsh. I mean you are a good body. You are healthy and you help me do everything. And we get to carry another baby. ..that's so exciting. I am happy you can walk, and run, and breathe, and carry the kids around. But I just might lose my mind if I end up having to be rolled into the delivery room.
Thanks again for all you do.

Sincerely, Ashley

Sophie Grace

I woke up at 5:00 this morning because we were sleeping with the window open and I heard an airplane so loud, I just knew it was going to hit our home. We were all going to be burned to death. I just knew it. The noise was so loud and as it got nearer, I just layed there. Snug in my bed waiting to die. What kind of mom reflexes do i have? None apparently. Well after it did not hit my house and we were still alive and I figured it was probably just the mosquito plane guy..spraying for those pesky suckers, I could not go back to sleep. Oh I wanted to and I tried but instead my thoughts drifted to blogging. What should I blog about next? How lame am I? I wasted precious moments of sleep to think about blogging? Wow I'm special. So my thoughts turned towards my darling little Sophie. She is almost 2 1/2 and I love this age. She talks so much and is just my favorite little 2 1/2 girl. Here are my top 10 favorite sayings-

1. I lu you much mom (I love you much mom)

2. I miss you much

3. I hungwee (I'm hungry-which always makes me so thankful that I have food to feed this child)

4. Conno in twuble? (Connor in trouble?)

5. I so pwoud you mom (I'm so proud of you mom...she says this because she now loves Nursery and will stay the whole time so I made a huge deal about how proud I was of her)

6. Ewee..time out? (Ellie, time out?) Shows you who the middle child is

7. Come ear, needjo hewp (Come here, I need your help)

8. I wan watch Dooa (I want to watch Dora)

9. Daddy Wookin? ( Daddy working?)

10. Go where? ( which means, where are we going?)

Hearing her cute, sweet voice makes it all the better. I love this crazy fun girl who keeps me on my toes and laughing every day

Good Things Utah

So my amazing friend Amber, invited me to a taping of Good Things Utah and so last night I got all the kids situated, left explicit instructions for Nate and headed up north. We went this morning and it ended up being a great day.

First off let me say how ghetto the whole stage is. I'm mean it's nice just super small and we get comfy bleachers to sit on. The ladies seem nice...p.s. they are like all size zeros. And I decided I could never do a show where I had to pretend to like all their Roberts crafty items made of glitter and beads, but they do a good job. So when it was over they had a couple of cakes that they had featured left and I got this one. Well actually the producer guy called on Amber but I told her the answer.. which was "what is the name of Utah's first lady?" Mary Kay Hunstman for all of you who didn't know. So I ate a piece a minute ago and it is super good. The place is call "Nothing Bundt Cake" catchy eh? So all in all, we had a fun time, sat by some crazy ladies who were like "Hey Regan...Over here Angie...cute shoes Necia..it's my birthday"..on and on. Goll you get around a semi famous-ish person and people are just plain weird, and had a great outing that was much needed by your truly. Thanks Amber for keeping me sort of fun.

PS...To Amber..you are amazingly clean and organized. Kudos to you. Seriously everyone this girl has baskets for everything...the remotes, blankets, Ryans junk, granola bars, everything. I want to be like you when I grow up. Love you!

Calling all creative Minds

So don't ask how I got roped into helping and when I say helping, I mean Co-Director with our annual, ever so lovely Miss Richfield Pageant. First of all I never was in a pagaent nor do i know the slightest thing about them. So here is why I need your help. I need to come up with a great theme and some music to go with it. Any ideas? Well put on your thinking caps and give me ideas..anything would be great. Please i am begging you.

Monday, Monday

So I have a love/hate relationship with Mondays. I like a new start to the week but it's also my cleaning day. Here is how a typical Monday goes for me.

Wake up and get Connor off to school by 8:00
Come home, eat breakfast, throw in a load of laundry, do any leftover dishes.
8:30 - wake up Ellie...get her fed and ready for dance
9:00 - take Ellie to dance
come home and jump in the shower, change laundry
9:30 get Nate a lunch and off to work
10:00 go pick up my niece, take her to dance and pick up Ellie
Come home and this is my cleaning list
* change all the sheets on the beds
* vacuum and mop
* clean both bathrooms
* dust (every other week..I hate dusting)
Do the rest of the laundry between all these things (Mondays are my big laundry day..doing about 7 loads or so and then usually 4 more sometime during the week)
12:00 take Ellie to school
come home fix lunch for Sophie and me and finish cleaning
3:00 pick up kids from school
After that the kids either want to play with friends, Connor has had baseball practice. Then it's Dinner and home night. Baths and finally bed. Whew!


It's the same every week and some days I can get it done in a few hours. Other times it might take me all day. It makes for a slightly hectic day but I always love the feel of nice, clean, vacuumed home. And my house isn't that big which makes it easier. Not many people can vacuum their whole house without unplugging the vacuum. I can...it's kind of nice.

Sometimes I can't believe how crazy busy our lives get and I know, but don't want to admit that it will probably always be this busy. And of course I could simplify and not wash and change my sheets every week but I'm sort of weird that way. Who doesn't love fresh, clean sheets? So when Mondays come around and if you happen to be in the neighborhood, you can stop by and see a clean house. Any other day of the week and it's any body's guess.

Do you know what I think

Here's the thing...I'm not one to complain. I'm tough, I suck it up and usually deal with whatever. But here's the thing. Can my husband be pregnant for just one day??? One day, that's all I'm asking. Not even the whole 24 hours. I'd take a measly 8. Men! They just don't get it. And I'm not complaining about the pregnancy although I keep waiting to feel better. I've never been this sick for this long but I'm dealing. All I want is some understanding. I really don't even think Nate gets that I'm pregnant or maybe it's a man thing and he just doesn't know what to say or do. Hello..we've been married 10 years. I just need a "how you feeling today?" "let me put the laundry away" or "why don't you go rest" ...I'd take just about anything here.

Take for example, last night. Sophie wakes up in the middle of the night bawling cause she is "firsty" I ask Nate to go get her a drink. His response almost made me hit him. "Sophie go to sleep, I'm tired" Oh I was livid...she's crying and my excuse is that I'm prego and don't sleep that great. I give him another chance. He doesn't budge. So I am over dramatic (to make sure he gets how mad i am) ...throw the covers clear off and stomp downstairs. Come back, give Sophie her drink and proceed to loudly tell Nate that now he can get up early with Connor, fix him breakfast and a lunch and get him to school. Oh I was fuming. Then I just lay there so mad and he's off in la la land. Do I sound justified here or just crazy pregnant? Oh well I felt justified at the time.

I mean I really appreciate all of his hard work in providing for the family and I try to let him know that. He works really hard every day...but hey my job is no picnic either. I make sure I get his fav ice cream, do his laundry, make his lunches, reheat his dinner every night when he gets home at 10:00, and make sure we get some good lovin :) And all I really want is a kiss and a thanks. Maybe just a smidge of sympathy..that wouldn't hurt. Ahhh boys..the old cliche...can't live with 'em and I know I couldn't live without him. So I guess I'll keep him. And seeing as how I'm pretty darn close to perfect (LOL) I know he has no complaints about me. Isn't life grand!

And I just reread this lovely post and I'm pretty sure I'm close to crazy. Also you have to know how much I love this man. I mean we are in this forever. I don't mean to dis on him because he does help me a lot. Which I don't give him as much credit as he deserves..but wait where's my credit? Am I negating this entire post? Bottom line is, I am having a bad day, I love my husband most all of the time and I'm crazy, pregnant. The end.

"Producing like Bunnies"

That's right..the title of this post is "producing like bunnies" thanks to my brother Robbie who always has great, lame comments. So over this Easter weekend, we announced to our family that we are expecting a baby this October. That's right kids..it's number 4 for us. Anyways the comment from Robbie was that it was so fitting for us to announce it over Easter since we we were "producing like bunnies." Gotta love the single guy. So needless to say we are excited and I know things will just get more crazy but that's life right and I wouldn't have it any other way. These kids of mine bring me more purpose and love than I could ever imagine. So twelve weeks down and about a billion to go..not to mention all of the lovely weight gain. Ah the fun of it. So I guess now all I need is a floating baby countdown.

Frenu-WHAT

This morning bright and early, Nate and I headed to the hospital with Sophie for a Frenulectomy of the upper lip. Sounds so weird right? Your frenulum connects your upper lip to your gums and hers was attached to the very top of her front teeth. Some kids with a problematic one have a hard time eating or talking..not her so we never noticed it until a couple of weeks ago. So we made an appointment with the DR. and two weeks later, here we are. She was a trooper and did great. the whole procedure lasted a total of 15 minutes. So we are just chilling today but she is doing great and I think we'll make it to the volleyball Easter hunt. So a frenulectomy..kind of fun to say...we'll just chalk it up to another experience of parenthood and excitement in our lives. Wow we live on the edge...Sorry no pics this time..I know you all wanted to see it.