Playing catch up...

Seems I've been a slacker in the blogging business lately.

Think I'll blame it on the pregnancy.

Ehhh... actually I think I just haven't "felt" like blogging.

Anyway, here are a few fun events I thought I'd better get posted before I got too far behind.

ENJOY!

Fun at the Cabin!

A couple of weekends ago we took advantage of our family's amazing Stratford Cabin!

It is truly the perfect getaway.

We had a few friends come up with us. Ok actually there were...

8 adults and 16 kids.

A bit on the CRAZY side, but so incredibly FUN!

We ordered pizza Friday night and "thought" we'd get the kiddos to bed early so the adults could play some games. We started at 8:30p and the kids finally crashed around 12 midnight. I guess that is what happens when that many kids all get to sleep together in bunk beds.

We still got in a few games and we finally crashed around 1:30am.

Saturday morning we discovered...
...this beautiful scene.

Notice how much snow is on our vehicles?

(can you even see them?)

So... we took advantage of the gift and...

...threw a few snowballs.

But WHY do these "gentlemen" look so pleased?

Because they built an incredibly FANTASTIC sledding hill for the kiddos.

It started at the top of the stairs to the deck...

and curved all the way around so you could then slide down the driveway until you crashed into something.

They kids LOVED it.

But wait... just the kids? I don't think so...

Yup thats gotta be around 500 pounds of

MANLY LOVE...

Only to end in...

...wait... wasn't there THREE?

Oh yes... here he is.

Need a closer look?

Then it was on to warmer things.

Mmmmm.... HOT CHOCOLATE!

Doesn't get much cuter than this.

The rest of Saturday was full of games, movies, a good walk and talk with the ladies, and lots more yummy yummy food!

Sunday we cleaned up and went to the local ward Sacrament Meeting which ended a good 25 minutes early even after 3 speakers. I'm thinking Dan and I will move into that ward.

Thanks to wonderful friends and a great family cabin we made a few more good memories.

Hardware Ranch

Last month we headed to Hardware Ranch with my family.
We ate at Jeremiah's in Ogden for lunch.

And then headed out of the fog and saw few of these beauties.
This was the largest Elk at the ranch. There were about 100 head, mostly Cows.
The kids found a new pet in the lodge.
And an "awesome" body sledding hill.

Of course I forgot the camera... (stole these pics from my dad) but I wish I could have gotten a picture of Tate being a super hero.

While watching the kids go down the sledding hill, Tate would stand in the middle of the walk path where people were going to get in line for the tractor ride to see the elk. He would stand there in his BEST SUPER STANCE. Then when group of people would try to pass him he would say, "Word Up!" (from PBS 's Word Girl) and then charge them announcing his moves in advance. "PUNCH... PUSH... KICK..." He got a lot of laughs.

Thanks mom and dad for this fun family outing!

Just thinking....

I bought this shirt a while back. I thought it was hilarious and it was only $5. However I have been thinking a lot about what this shirt really means to me. A shirt? Really?... YES!

Mainly I have been pondering PERSONAL BODY IMAGE.

What is that? What is mine?

Well right now I am at what I find to be a very awkward stage of pregnancy.

I feel pregnant, but I don't look pregnant. To me... I just look "FAT"! Like I put on quite a few holiday pounds. I've noticed that I am critical of what I see in the mirror. I don't like it that my belly is at the squishy stage and there is no way I can suck it in. I don't like my pants starting to feel tight.

My body is changing... and I don't like.

But that is not what I really feel.

I am actually incredibly annoyed with my self for having any of those degrating thoughts.

Why is it so ingrained in our minds (men and women) that we are supposed to look a certain way. There are all sorts of different ways and levels to be healthy. It is different for everyone.

That is seriously one of my biggest pet peaves in this life.

Why do we compare ourselves to others. The Lord made our bodies just how they needed to be. Yes we should take care of them to the best we can. BUT that doesn't mean we will all look the same. That is the beauty of each of us. Our individuality.

Our UNIQUE-NESS!

This is a baby that we have been trying for over a year to get.

Anyone who has wanted a baby knows that the first moment you decide you want one, 9 months is too long to wait.

I really am so grateful that the Lord has given us this blessing. It is a miracle everytime a baby is concieved and even more of a miracle when that baby is born healthy and strong.

I have been blessed to experience that miracle 3 times.

So I should be delighted that my body is changing. That means my body is preparing an environment that will be safe and strong for this baby to be nourished and grow.

This is my 6th pregnancy so of course my body knows what it is supposed to be doing.

That is why I am showing so fast.

Everyone's body is different. Why would that not be the case for a pregnant body.

I gained 43 lbs with all 3 of my boys and each one I had different eating and excercise habits.

My body knows what to do and it is doing it.

So...

Does this baby make me look

FAT?

HEAVENS YES! And I LOVE IT!

And I vow from now on that I will NOT:

* compare what my body is doing to anyone else

or look at the changes dissapprovingly

I promise to:

*Trust my body

*Do my very best to keep this body healthy and strong

*Trust the Lord

*Be honored that HE has trusted me with this precious spirit

*Be Happy to "Look FAT"!

(I hope this post does not offend anyone. If so, I am sorry. Please come talk to me about it. I only wrote this to express my own thought processes and feelings.)

Here comes #4...

This is the poem Dan wrote to announce our Big News to our families.

(Think to the theme song for Beverly Hillbillies)

Got a little story 'bout a gal named Dee
was a little sick n tired of only having three
begged her husband Dan please to let her go for four
and it only took a year but now it looks like one's in store
(not more than one we hope)
Now it's not like the Jacob's weren't loud enough
keepin' tabs on rowdy boys is really rather rough
But I guess we have no choice but to give this one a whirl
But we're runnin' out of boy "T" names, so let's hope we have a girl!

Now just incase, your feeling pretty dim
I guess I'll have to be real blunt just to let it all set in
Deanne will soon be large with child, a bun's growin' yessiree
Will it be a boy or girl? Be sure to tell you all in three...
(Months that is)

Psst.... we're pretty excited!

I'm FAMOUS!!!

Well.... sort of...pretty much...by association maybe?...OK maybe not really famous....BUT...

I feel real honored to have been asked to do a guest post on my famous friend Mariel's blog.

Or So She Says...

So go ahead... click on that link...check it out!

Its a New Year...2010...

... and its time for new memories to be made.

I do love it when I find the boys happily engaged in creating.

One of my goals is to spend more time just hanging with my boys. Doing what THEY want to do. Whether it is playing cars, building cities out of Legos, coloring, running around the house playing follow the leader, wrestling, or just chatting about their day...the good and the bad.

It is also time for new commitments.
The boys set some goals this year:

Tracen: To let Tyler always be 1st in whatever they are doing.

Tyler: To be obedient (he's really trying hard on this one- love it)

Together: they decided they wanted start doing jobs again so they could earn money to do fun things together.

So.....

JOBS CHARTS were renewed.

I also began the new year with a good painting project.

The MASTER BATH...

(before)
(after)

Still trying to decide on the candle sconces. I think they are placed to close to the center "thing" and maybe they should not be at an equal level. Maybe one should be higher than the other. I also would like to get some coordinating towels, a rug, and paint the other walls a tan color. Suggestions? Ideas? What else does it need?

Anyway. I really do love painting. Paint can change the entire look of a room for relatively cheap. Love it. We have many more painting projects in the plans for this year. I am more than ready to get rid of every white wall in this house. So stay tuned.

I do hope all had a wonderful holiday season and wish the very best for all of us as we embark on a fabulous NEW YEAR!

MAY ALL OF OUR NEW YEAR DREAMS COME TRUE!