Birthday Breakfast

When Mikayla woke up I asked her what she'd like for breakfast and told her I'd make anything she wanted. She chose name pancakes. It was funny to me because that's what she chose last year, of course with Mikayla and the number 4 and we upgraded to a 5 this year! Funny kid, anything you want for breakfast and this is what you choose?! :)

Happy Birthday Mikayla!

My baby turned 5 today! She came into my bed this morning and curled up next to me and said, "Mom, we need to go through my drawers and get rid of all my clothes, because I'm 5 now and they won't fit me anymore." As if she grew 5 inches overnight or something!

She came to me with an epiphany and said, "I don't have to hold my thumb down anymore when I show people how old I am!!" She was grinning ear to ear and so excited to have figured this out.

Later she said, "Mom, I bet your'e sad today. Because now that I'm 5 I'm getting too big to fit in your lap or have you hold me." No, my sweet girl. You will NEVER be too big for me to hold. I love you more everyday and that's a whole lot after 5 whole years.

She is starting kindergarten in a few weeks, started soccer today, learned how to ride a bike without training wheels this summer, go off a diving board all by herself and swim half the length of the pool. She plays well with her sister and friends and loves to hug and kiss my belly goodnight and tell the baby that she loves her. She can be headstrong and independent sometimes, and totally tender, sweet, loveable, and fun at others. I love my little Miss Mikayla Belle and am so glad she is a part of our family! Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!

Pioneer Trek 2009

We have been preparing for Trek for over 4 months. We were so excited to finally be able to go on our journey with our awesome "family." We pushed a handcart loaded with supplies, clothing, and sleeping bags all day long for 4 days covering over 25 miles. We grew closer to the kids in our family, to each other, and nearer to our Heavenly Father through the many wonderful, irreplaceable experiences we had. I had prepared myself physically for Trek by constantly working out at the gym and teaching my aerobics classes and had prepared myself spiritually as well. I knew I would grow physically stronger from the hike, but had NO IDEA how much stronger spiritually I would grow as we had testimony meetings, saw vignettes performed of true pioneer stories that made me cry every time and as we witnessed small miracles all along the trail that bolstered our faith and helped us go on.

Some wonder how I did it, being 7 months pregnant. I hiked all 6 1/2 miles the first day with no problem. The next day, after 8 miles I felt as if I had pushed myself to the limit and my joints and ligaments in my hips and groin were spreading and loosening and I could barely walk. I had to ask for a ride in a truck for that last mile of the day and it was hard for me to do. I cried and was so embarassed and ashamed that I couldn't do it on my own. As I reflected later, I realized it's okay to ask for help. It's okay that I can't do it on my own and my Heavenly Father wants me to come to Him in prayer and ask for the help to make up the difference. He is there to help lead, guide, and carry me to my destination time and time again until I arrive at the end and can hear Him say, "You've made it. THIS IS THIS PLACE." I learned so many small truths and lessons along this Trek and was able to recover enough that night to finish out the rest of the Trek walking with my family and for that I am grateful.
We arrived and loaded up our handcart with our 10 kids-5 girls and 5 boys- and our Auntie Jan.

They worked together to get down this steep hill and up the other side. I was so proud of the many accomplishments like this that they made along the way.

My good friend Kelsey and I, we teach together at the gym and have kids the same age, I'm so glad she was there to talk with and laugh with me.

Trent and I, or Ma and Pa Dudley as we were called. (The first day, note I still have my hair done and makeup on! There were no showers on Trek and I was crazy dirty--as in WAY dirtier than I could have even imagined!!)

Becca and I, the two Trek preggos. I'm 7 months and she's 8 months along. We were both Ma's and were both so excited that they still let us go "in our condition." We were forbidden from pushing or even touching the handcart, but climbing those hills and walking the 25+ miles was challenge enough!

Trent, Me, Captain Dave, and Auntie Jan. We LOVE the Smiths!! Oh my goodness, I don't know how we could've done it without them! Every two families had a captain assigned over them and we got the privilege of having Janalee as our "aunt" and her husband as our captain. We learned so much from watching them and talking with them and think they are amazing examples of parents(to 5 kids!) that we hope to be like someday.
At the homecoming! I was soooo excited to see the girls and my parents! We rolled the carts into the homecoming spot and I immediately had tears streaming down my face (for the 100th time that trip!) and was grateful to see my little girls.

Our pioneer family!

Mikayla with Daddy. It was a wonderful experience and I would gladly go again if given the opportunity. We made it through the sun, rain, wind, and even two hailstorms (I know! In August, in California?!?!) but it was such an amazingly enriching opportunity and one I feel very blessed to have been asked to participate.

The Preggo Belly

Here's me at 26 and 27 weeks. Am I really as big as people keep telling me I am? A few have asked when I'm due and when I say the end of October they say, "Oh wow, that's a ways away. You're big for still having a few months left." Yeah, well, what can I say?

I feel great, I'm still teaching several classes a week at the gym and going to a weight/strength training class and am leaving tomorrow for a 4 day, 28-mile handcart trek with 275 other people from our church. So if I don't make it back you'll have these to remember me by. lol :) But no, baby's growing well and kicking like crazy and my belly button's stretching out and all that fun stuff. Just thought I'd give an update!

Yea!!! Thank You Josh and Chloe!!!

For getting a puppy so we don't have to now!! Haha! Just kidding. The other day Uncle Josh and Aunt Chloe, who live next door, got a 9 wk. old puppy and named her Shasta. The girls love going over to play with Shasta each day and have brought her over to our yard a few times to "babysit" her.

Mikayla loves holding Shasta like a little baby and carrying her around. She is just such a cute puppy and the girls are so good with her, it's been a lot of fun!

Oh the things they say...

I love it that Mikayla's new catch phrase for things is, "My bad..." and "oh snap." It totally makes me laugh!

Yesterday I was reading stories to Megan on the couch when she jumped off quickly and looked back at the couch quizzically. "Pee pee??" She said looking and sounding very confused. I looked and sure enough she had peed a little bit on the couch so I sent her into the potty to go finish up. On her way there Trent asked, "Megan, did you just go pee on the couch?!" Accidents are VERY rare for her so this was a surprise. She looked at him and sighed and said, "Oh Man!" She stuck out her bottom lip, hung her head down, hunched her shoulders forward, and walked to the potty saying "Oh man" and "oh no" over and over. It was so funny! We were way more surprised than upset, but she was sure upset with herself!

Bodega Bay and the Redwoods

We took a fun kinda spur of the moment weekend trip to Bodega Bay and to the Redwoods. Here's our family in a tree!

The girls did great hiking through the woods.

We found a fun fallen tree that we turned into a slide for the girls.

My little rock climber! That's Mikayla way up there! Uncle Josh harnessed her in and she scaled that wall as high as Mom would let her! When it was time to come down she leaned back and bounced her feet off the wall in true rapelling fashion--made her uncle proud. I was amazed she wasn't at all scared and wanted to do it several times.

Here she is all harnessed up!

The girls roasting marshmallows at night.

Megs flying a kite with Daddy on the beach.

Mikayla getting brave enough to touch the sea "enemies." Anenome was a little tough to pronounce!
Dusty with the massive crab we pried out of his hiding spot near the rocks.

Megan holding a starfish.

Chloe and Megan tended to like to walk along the beach rather than pick up slimy creatures!

Uncle Dusty with Megs in the forest.

We LOVED the tidepools! Megan was a little unsure of the sea creatures, but finally touched a starfish Papa was holding.

Mikayla and I with another starfish we found. They were everywhere! We found tons of anenomes, starfish, crabs, and other fun finds.

The whole gang: Dusty, Magaw, Papa, Josh, Chloe, Me, Mikayla, Megan, Trent. The coast was beautiful and we loved watching the waves crash into the rocks. I was quite surprised how cold it was for the middle of July though!

Mikayla flying a kite while laying on her back taking a rest.

Uncle Dusty being a good sport while the girls do his hair! We stayed in a lofthouse in Bodega and really had such a fun trip. It was nice to get away and do something different and fun and new for the weekend. The girls had never been to tidepools or the redwoods and it was fun to experience it with them.

I asked Mikayla how the vacation was and she said, "I had so much fun I think I might explode!" So, take that for what it's worth, all in all, a good time was had. :)

My Little Fish

These pictures bring pure JOY to my heart! It shows just how far Mikayla has come this summer with swimming. All the way from barely blowing bubbles for 2 seconds and needing to jump off the side of the pool into my arms to jumping off diving boards, going down a 10 ft. water slide, and jumping off a 6 ft. platform into a pool with NO HELP from ANYone!!

She has gotten brave and can get herself to the side by herself now too. The furthest she has gone is about half the length of the pool at the gym. It's not a real pretty swim, but she's getting stronger each day.

Megan even went off this slide several times too, they loved it!

Posing off the platform! We go swimming pretty much everyday and she just loves the water and is getting more confident in her abilities each week. I'm so proud of her!

Pizza Night!

We made our own pizzas for dinner. The girls love spreading out their own dough and adding toppings galore!

Please excuse the naked chefs!

Then for dessert we made sugar cookies and topped them with fruit for dessert pizzas! Mikayla had fun choosing all of the shapes for the cookies.

I added a little cream cheese frosting to the sugar cookie and loaded them with blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries.

De-Lish!

National Cheesecake Day

We went to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory last night and thought I'd share that they're celebrating National Cheesecake Day on July 30th, all day. You get any slice of cheesecake 50% off, dine-in only (but who says you can't just go and eat only cheesecake or order and then box it up to go?). We had an amazing slice of the 30th Anniversary Chocolate Something Something Cheesecake and I plan to try a new one next week! Hope you have a restaurant near you! Can't pass up 1/2 off cheesecake slices! :)

First Trip to the Dentist

First of all, I could kick myself for not bringing my camera!! I am sooo mad. We took the girls to the dentist today and it was Megan's first time. She wanted to be first and went right on in and climbed up in the big chair. The dental assistant said I might want to hold her in my arms in the chair and may need to help with opening her mouth. I know my Megan though. She is so good for all doctors and any appt. we've been to that I asked her and she said she wanted to sit there by herself. She started pointing to her ears and I laughed and said, "No, they're not going to check your ears!" She's so used to having her ears looked at and checked and her hearing tested that she just assumed that's what this was, but no, that appt. is tomorrow actually.

The dentist came in and asked her to open up wide and she did and sat there perfectly still while he counted them and looked for any decay or decalcification. She passed with flying colors and was quite happy to get her balloon at the end of it all.

Mikayla was excited for the dentist for some reason and climbed up into the chair and was a perfect model of a dental patient. I'm so glad they weren't nervous at all and enjoyed their visits. She also had no cavities, or decay or anything wrong. So far, they think the dentist is just a nice man who looks at and taps your teeth.... just wait till they get their first cavities! The world will come crashing down I am sure...

Pioneer Hoedown!

Here I am after our Stake Youth Pioneer Hoedown tonight.

In preparation for our church's Pioneer Trek we had a hoedown tonight to teach some pioneer-type dances to the youth and the adults. We wore our pioneer clothes and at one point Heather went on stage to say we'd be showing them the next dance. Well, everyone was in for quite a surprise! They expected some jig or reel, but instead... we gave them a show!

It really was a lot of fun and the kids were cheering and were totally surprised to see some of their leaders(awesomely cool ones I might add) up there dancing and having fun.

I'm the one in the purple. The large, plumpish-looking one (they really don't make maternity pioneer clothes!). And yes, thank you very much, I am dancing at 6 months pregnant and doing quite well. :) And that's after teaching 2 water aerobics classes today and dancing for an hour and a half tonight at the activity! This baby is gonna be shaken up and stirred around and better be ready to join our crazy little family!

A Long Summer...

The other day we made pancakes for a family breakfast, went for a stroller walk/bike ride in the neighborhood and over to the park to play...

Came home and finger painted....

A LOT!

Ate watermelon in the backyard and played in the sprinkler, and did all this before lunchtime!

This has been a long, fun summer but I think I am getting ready for school to start. It is tiring work trying to find fun things for the girls to do to keep them away from the t.v.! Which, if they had their choice, is what they would do all day!

It sure is nice that I work at the gym though, so we go there a lot to play while I work out or teach and then go swimming. The girls would swim every single day several times a day if they could. That is the nice thing about summer is how active we are, but still another six weeks of this?! :)