Swimming

At the end of July Atreyu is going with the Browers to Lake Powell while I watch baby Adelyn for them. He's not a very good swimmer yet and I told him that he needed to get more practice if he was going to be able to go to Lake Powell. Yesterday we bought a family pass to the pool at Super 8 and Atreyu was able to practice. He was wearing his life jacket and I kept trying to let go of him to show him that the life jacket would help him float. He freaked out for about ten minutes and then he realized that he could swim with his life jacket. For the next hour he went back and forth across the pool on his own. He was so proud of himself and he is so excited to go back today and show Daddy.

We also talked about getting him some goggles and we showed him Jesse and my snorkel gear and he wanted to try it all on. He looked pretty silly!

All the swimming and the 90° weather we've had lately wore little Cambria out and she fell asleep on the couch under the fan.

Playing With Our Kids

Jesse has been so busy with work and helping his dad cut hay that he hasn't been around much lately. When the kids and I got back from running errands one day Jesse was playing a game with some friends on the computer. The kids both wanted to see him and they sat on his lap and "helped" him play for a bit. Cambria lost interest quickly but Atreyu decided to dress up like a "monster" from Jesse's game and to get the Leap Frog computer and play with Jesse. It was so funny and he had a blast hanging out with Dad. When the game ended the boys came and attacked me and Cambria. They love to gang up on me and tickle me but Atreyu knows that I'm super ticklish and that I don't enjoy being tickled so he only does it for a few seconds and then stops. He's so considerate.

Last week the kids helped me set up the trampoline. Jesse worked a night shift Sunday night so the kids and I decided to have a sleep over on the trampoline. It was a fun idea but the execution wasn't that wonderful. The moon was incredibly bright so Cambria could see everything and she wouldn't go to sleep. The kitties kept jumping up on us and Atreyu complained that the breeze was making him cold. We stayed outside until 11 and then we all thought it was a better idea to sleep inside. Maybe when they're older we'll try again.

Beach Day

Last week I loaded the kids in the car while Jesse was at work and we headed to the lake. The kids like the water and Atreyu was more interested in swimming this year than he has been in the past but they really love playing in the sand and building sand castles. We made "Big Bubble City" (from Bubble Guppies) at the edge of the water. It's not as cool or fancy as Jesse's sand castles but the kids loved that all of us worked together to build it. We went on a Tuesday so the beach wasn't too crowded and we quickly found a place.

When we were done playing we stopped at the Bear Cave for ice cream. They had a beautiful tree that we sat under at these awesome log tables.

We then explored the shops that are right next to the Bear Cave. One of the shops had Canadian candy! I was so excited! I hadn't had Canadian candy for a very long time. It was a fun day and the kids wanted to go back again almost as soon as we had left.

Father's Day Photo Shoot

Since Jesse went to Vegas earlier we decided that going down there and having a wonderful time playing Magic would be his birthday and Father's Day gifts. I still wanted to give him something for Father's Day and I thought it would be fun to do something with superheroes since the kids are obsessed with them and want Jesse to play "Hulk" game any free minute he has. I got the kids dressed up and we went outside and took some pictures. They loved climbing the tree, haystack, tractor, and the grain bin dressed as superheroes.

I printed off some of my favorites and made this gift for Jesse. 

It's nothing fancy but I thought it was cute. We hung it up in our bedroom. I'm pretty sure I like it more than Jesse does but it's the thought that counts :)

A Day at the Park

A few weeks ago the kids and I needed to get out of the house so Jesse could sleep. We ran a few errands and then grabbed some Lunch-ables and went to the park. The kids love the park in Montpelier with the "horsie" swings, slides, and monkey bars. They also love me to push them on the tire swing.

It was a fun way to get out of the house and enjoy the summer weather.

We also got our third kitty earlier in June. Jesse and Atreyu like to call him Shere-Khan but Cambria likes Puss in Boots. According to Cambria his official name is Shere-Khan Puss in Boots. He isn't as mellow as the other two kitties and Jesse and I joke that he must have ADD. He can't sit still for long. He used to always have his claws out but he's getting a bit more relaxed now. Atreyu says that Shere-Khan is his favorite kitty and the kids carry him all over the place.

It's been fun for me to watch the kids with some new pets. They love them and Cambria blesses all her kitties in every prayer she says.

Loss

For over a year Jesse and I have been trying to get pregnant not necessarily because I wanted to but because I felt like that's what we were supposed to do. I experienced a chemical pregnancy early on and then nothing happened for over a year. A few weeks ago I found out I was pregnant and I was a lot more excited about it than I thought I would be. I texted Jesse this picture to tell him the news.

We had been planning on going on another cruise this fall but I was going to be one week too far along to go. That was disappointing but I was so happy that I was finally pregnant that it didn't matter.

This past Sunday, June 7, I told my mom and Jesse's parents about the pregnancy and then when I went to the bathroom I was spotting. It was just brown blood so I didn't think much of it. The next two days I was still spotting so on Tuesday I had an ultrasound done to see if everything was alright. We were able to see a little peanut and we heard a heartbeat so I figured I was pretty much in the clear.

The spotting continued the next two days and at this point there was some pink blood. I asked the doctor about it at Atreyu's appointment and he said he didn't feel that it was a cause for concern unless the bleeding got heavier and I started cramping.

Naturally, I was starting to worry more and I was a bit upset over the whole thing. Jesse tried comforting me and reassuring me that what was happening was normal in pregnancy and that I shouldn't worry unless it got worse. We were planning on going to Provo on Thursday for Enoch's birthday and ordination to the priesthood but I felt really uneasy at the idea of leaving. Eddie and Bernie agreed to take the kids and Jesse and I stayed home. There was a bit of red blood on Thursday evening but it was very light. Friday morning, Jesse's birthday, the bleeding was about the same so I scheduled an appointment for an ultrasound that afternoon.

Unfortunately, at about 1:00 I went to the bathroom and a large clot came out. I started bleeding more and I knew what was happening. I laid down with Jesse and just cried. I felt so cheated that we had waited so long only to have it taken away from us. I asked Jesse for a blessing and after I felt a great peace. I knew my Heavenly Father was there and that he loved me. I feel that maybe this was the baby we were supposed to have; that maybe there was a sweet spirit up there that just needed a body.

I started cramping horribly after that and Jesse made me a hot pad since we don't have one and he ran to town and got me a prescription for some pain meds. After most of the pain had subsided I told Jesse that he should go to Logan and play Magic so that he could do something fun for his birthday. He was really hesitant about leaving me and if I had asked him to stay he would have. I told him there wasn't anything else he could do for me and that I wanted him to have a little fun. He left around 5:30.

A couple hours later there was a knock on the door and my dear, sweet friend Annie was there. She knew what I was experiencing and she wanted to be with me. It was the best surprise and I felt so much love and gratitude for her. She is truly my best friend and I am so grateful I have her in my life.

The miscarriage happened yesterday. Today I haven't had any cramping and I continue to feel at peace over the whole thing. I don't know at this point if I want to try to have another or not. I know that this is not the time to decide. I'm just nervous at the idea of having to try for another year before I get pregnant. That was incredibly stressful and I don't think I can go through that again. As I have said many times before, I am happy with my two kids. I don't feel that I have to have another but if we are blessed with another in the future I will love that baby as much as I love my others.

During this trial I am so glad I have the gospel in my life. It buoys me up. I know that Heavenly Father has a reason for everything and I am so thankful for my testimony. This trial would have been a lot more difficult to bear without it and I know I would still be struggling.

I am so thankful for Jesse. I am thankful that he was here to comfort me, rub my back, get me medicine, and mostly that he holds and honors the priesthood and was able to give me a blessing that I so needed. I love Jesse so much and I know I wouldn't have been able to get through this without him by my side.

A Mini Vacation

For Jesse's birthday and Father's Day this year he wanted his gift to be going to Vegas for a Magic tournament. So while he was down there having the time of his life we, again, went to visit the Browers. I have so enjoyed them living so close and I will be very sad if they ever move far away. Annie, Kim, and I were able to play some D&D with Cody and it was so fun having an all girl adventure! For my birthday Jesse also ordered me a few pairs of "nerd" earrings for when we play so we all put them on and had a blast.

Since Jesse wasn't there I just shared the bed with Cambria and one night I went down and found her like this. She tosses A LOT!!

On Saturday we took the kids to the reservoir and they played in the sand and the cold water. It was a really warm day and I was wishing I had worn my swim suit until I stepped in the water and I realized I was just fine staying out of it. There's a floating dock that Atreyu and Gage were able to walk out to. They climbed up the ladder and Gage would jump off but Atreyu isn't as comfortable in the water. Gage had to help him down the ladder a few times. What a good friend!

That day Annie talked Atreyu into cutting his hair. He really wanted it to be blue and spiky like Gil's from "Bubble Guppies". She did an awesome job on his hair and he loves it. He says he's "cool" with spiky hair.

Asher and Cambria thought they needed a picture during the hair cut. They are so darling!

Here are Gage and Atreyu posing with their spiky hair. It's very difficult to get five year olds to hold still.

The next day Cody tried dyeing Atreyu's hair blue with Kool-Aid but it didn't work at all. Patially because he complained of it itching almost instantly and we washed it out after about 10 minutes but mostly that his hair was too dark. We tried lightening it with hydrogen peroxide with no luck.

Cody also tried dyeing Asher's hair red. Asher is a total blondie and all the Kool-Aid did was dye is scalp. 

On Monday Annie and I took the kids to Pocatello to get some groceries at Costco. We stopped at Carl's Jr. and let them play their little hearts out. On the way home Cambria fell asleep and I thought she looked so funny.

When the little kids were napping that afternoon Annie did a D&D adventure for Atreyu and Gage. Atreyu thinks that he needs to play every time we're up there. I'm glad he enjoys it as much as Jesse and I do.

It was a great weekend and we all had such a good time. It's great having such wonderful friends.