Baseball Game in Chico

We took a trip to Chico last weekend and went to the river and did some rock jumping into freezing water, well, okay I watched... and then went to a baseball game that night. So much fun! All photography is by Mikayla (unless of course she's in the picture, then it would be pics by Mom). She did pretty good! I deleted the amazingly unflatteringly ones however....

Uncle Josh and Aunt Chloe

Kirstin, Uncle Dusty, Josh, and Chloe

Me and Trent sweatin it out in the high 90s weather

Me and my girl--I love her in yellow!

Cuddling with Dad
She LOVED the fireworks show at the end of the game! so fun! Magaw stayed home with Megan and played; Mikayla felt pretty special to be the only kid out with the rest of the adults.

Mikayla and Papa at the game--she did really well and loved all the songs and dancing and big sodas too! Such a fun night! It was kind of our last big hurrah with Dusty as he leaves this week for college and we won't see him til Christmas. Kinda sad, really crazy...my baby brother...

One Last Camping Trip!

Last weekend, we took a last minute camping trip up to Rucker Lake with my family.

The one-armed girl enjoyed canoeing,

and making her sister paddlr for her and do all the work!

Uncle Dusty learned how to fly while we were there

and we made Mikayla sleep outside, she chose a comfy tree for naptime.

Josh caught dinner for us

and Papa took the girls out for more canoeing.

Until they misbehaved and had to jump ship.

We had a great time, the water was warm, the weather was great, we made awesome s'mores with chocolate filled with caramel, caught a lot of fish, played games at night, and enjoyed hiking through the trees and climbing the big rocks. I also realized I did more camping this summer pregnant than any other summer I can remember. Am I crazy? Yes, yes I am.

You Know, If I Was A Mom To Boys....

I would never get the pleasure of leaving the house with children dressed like this!

I mean, seriously, hot pink shoes, purses, layers of necklaces, girly sunglasses, hot pink hair pretties, bracelets, and big smiles like this! Who wouldn't want to take these two out on the town?!

First Soccer Game!

Before-- Sweating in the afternoon heat with Erik

During-- That's her kicking the ball with the pigtail in the face

After-- Capri Sun's make everything better! Boy was she tired after that game!

Mikayla's First Day of Kindergarten!

Here is Mikayla early on this chilly morning looking tired as can be! She was so excited for school she had a hard time falling asleep last night and could barely even eat breakfast because she just wanted to get there!

She picked out this way cute outfit and her new Tinkerbell backpack on her own and I thought she looked so cute!

Trying out the monkey bars on the kindergarten playground.

Me with my baby girl. I can't believe she is 5 and is old enough for the "big kid school" now. I did really well just smiling and staying behind the camera, but have to admit I let a few tears leak out as she waved goodbye from the rug and blew me kiss and said, "See ya after school!" I knew she was perfectly fine and happy and we'll just blame the tears on pregnancy!

They gathered on the rug to talk about rules and she was a little unsure at this point about was quite going on. Mikayla and Daddy after a good day at school!

They had a Parent Breakfast in the morning at the cafeteria for all K parents. I think it was to get the parents to actually say goodbye to the little ones so they could start school more than anything, but nonetheless, we had breakfast and Megan was quite happy to run around and play with her buddy Brock.
After a great day at school, this is Mikayla and Erik "pose" for more pictures together!

Such funny little nuts. I love my big girl so much and hope she has a fabulous year of kindergarten. And I promise I won't cry tomorrow!

Pros and Cons...

Oh the difference 8 months makes.... This is me before teaching at the gym pre-preggo and this is me the other day before teaching at 30 weeks pregnant.

Pros/Cons of the belly:

Pro: I went all summer not having to suck in my belly once around the pool or having to care what I looked like in a swimsuit.

Con: Knowing how many months of HARD work it will take to fit back into any swimsuit.

Pro: Get to go on maternity leave from teaching at the gym to give my body a break.

Con: Having to stop/slow down exercising for a few months when I love it so much.

Pro: Getting to eat (just about) whatever I want for almost a year and not worrying much about a calorie or what's in the dessert.

Con: Working off the 30 lbs. of ice cream, pie, and cookies that I so enjoyed eating.

Pro: Getting to wear elastic band stretchy panel pants that are soooo comfortable.

Con: Packing up the size 4 jeans at 8 weeks pregnant for a year or more.... that was a sad day.

Pro: Feeling this sweet baby kick, twist, turn, and move about inside knowing I only get to feel her inside me for such a short span of our lives together.

Con: Not knowing if this is the last time to feel a baby kicking and sitting on my bladder and trying hard to remember the feeling for it will be gone much too soon.

I'm trying to stay positive while pregnant. I mean, really, I have it easy. I don't get sick, I don't get TOO uncomfortable, I don't have any complications or anything to worry about. I was having a hard time teaching aerobics this week with my balance being compromised and my stamina lessened and my body temperature raising much too quickly while teaching. I started being very wistful for the body I once had, which I of course was never completely happy with, and found myself planning out how quickly I can get back to the gym after birth to get back to where I want to be. But I made this list to hopefully help me realize that this is a short span of time in my life and to love and embrace the big belly--cuz when it's gone, it's gone... and I will truly miss it...

Mikayla's Hula Party

Mikayla had a hula party for her 5th birthday. Magaw made this hula girl the night before, cut her out of wood and painted her up, as is tradition!
Magaw taught the kids a fun hula dance to Beach Boys music and they used rthym sticks in the dance. So fun to watch!

Then they all did the Limbo!

Our family!

Mikayla and her friends.

The cake that I made, a Barbie hula girl. It was fun to make!

Blowin' out the candles! Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

Boating, Tubing, and Beachside Playing

We went to Lake Englebright with the Astle's and the girls had a blast playing on the beach in the sand and water.

Me and my girls on the boat, they wanted to sit up in the very front and everytime we switched riders or slowed down she looked at me said, "Wanna go fas!" She loved having the wind in her hair!

Mikayla and Daddy tubing together, I had to sit it out this year... :(

Mikayla got brave enough to go on her own! That's Daddy and Megan on the left, Gavin in the middle, and Mikayla on the right! I was so proud of her! She loved it until she caught a few bumps and swung out wide away from the others, then it was time to sit in the boat again for her.

Seth, Trent, and Garret having "guy time" on the tubes, they were smashing into each right and left and trying to tip each other over. So fun to watch!

This is the two-story houseboat they rented for the week. Trent had to climb up on the roof with the others and jump in--I don't think I'd be doing that even un-pregnant! No thank you!

Start of Soccer Season

Mikayla had her first 2 practices this week! It is so fun to watch these 5 year olds try to dribble a ball without using their hands to stop it and I can't help but laugh when they kick the ball and land on their bums! It'll be a fun season!