This is a first.

Since we've moved into the house we don't have TV or internet.  Not that we NEED them, but it's hard not having either one.  We have a lot of down time.  I've been re-reading The Hunger Games series and I actually got Landen to start it!  And he's been reading some everyday!  So I had to document it.  (Landen just said, "You make it look like I never read...I just don't read as much as you!"  True, he doesn't read as much as me...)

This deserves a post of it's own...

When I was home, my parents told me to take one last look at my old bedroom because next time I come home it will be changed...that's what they say every time I am home, so we'll see if it happens :)  As I was looking around my room I saw this spot on the wall and had to take a picture for memory's sake.  My sophomore year of high school, the night of the first day of school to be exact, our house caught on fire.  One of the scariest nights of my life.  These burn marks have been there ever since and always remind me of that night. 

 

Most of us were in bed except for Bryan and Jared and some of their friends.  I remember hearing a lot of stuff going on and people running around so I got up to see what was happening.  Mom yelled at me to get outside, NOW!  I ran outside, realizing the front of the house was on fire.  I like how nobody woke me up!!!  And the fire started on our front porch...right below MY bedroom!  Luckily I am a fairly light sleeper...  Anyway, I'm over it now. 

 

We witnessed a miracle that night.  Dad was able to get the hose pulled out and start getting water on the fire and pretty much had it out before the firetruck got there.  This was a miracle because that hose ALWAYS had knots and kinks in it and took forever to pull out all the way, but that night it unraveled perfectly.  We were really blessed that the damage was pretty minimal considering the situation.  And everyone was safe.  I remember sleeping on my parents' bedroom floor that night because I was so scared.  Apparently there was a bird nest in the porch light.  The light had been left on and the nest dried out enough and caught fire, the light burst and there was a wicker chair right underneath it that the flames landed on and WHOOSH!  Fire. Bryan heard the light burst and went out to see what was happening and saw the fire and was able to get everyone up and outside.  It was a crazy night!  But things worked out and now it is just a memory.

INDIANA SURPRISE!!!

I was able to go home to Indiana January 15-24th and it was awesome!  My Dad and I schemed and planned it as a surprise for Mom...and we actually pulled it off!  It was incredible!  We can never surprise her.  Seriously.  She always finds out.  But we got her good this time. 

We had to cover our tracks big time.  Every time Dad and I talked or texted he had to delete them from his phone!  The only time we almost got caught was when she saw the purchase for the plane ticket...but Dad thought on his feet and made up this whole story about how he bought a ticket for her for after I have the baby because it was a really good deal and he bought a thing for $25 so she could change the flight if needed.  He even told her that he just wanted to make sure she would be able to come out for the baby and he saw that plane tickets were going to be increasing by 20% so they would be way ahead on the price...he did a great job covering!  Don't know how he came up with all of that on the spot. 

The other thing we pulled off was planning a baby shower.  This made things a little sketchy by telling more people I was coming home, but I wanted to make sure we had one planned for when I was home.  I got ahold of my friend Kim who put it together.  She's so awesome.  We just made sure to tell everyone that it was a surprise and Mom didn't know I was coming home...and they all kept the secret!  It was perfect.  So glad we pulled it off with so many people knowing I was coming home. 

It was such a great trip!!!  We needed that family time so badly!  It had been over a year since I'd seen my parents...that is way too long.  We spent a lot of time just visiting and spending time together.  It was just what we all needed.  We did a lot of visiting family too.  It is always good to see my siblings and their families.  We made a trip up to South Bend and then up to Michigan to see my Grandma, Aunt Carol, Aunt Ellen and Uncle Dale.  We had so much fun!  The trip was way too short, but I loved every minute of it.  It was hard leaving to come back to Utah...it seems like it gets harder every time I have to leave.

I got to spend a lot of time with my cute little nephew Jonathan.  One of my ultimate favorite things about going home is the food! I LOVE Dad's home cooking. And I always have to hit Arni's and Steak'n'Shake!!!  Yum!

The Baby Shower!  Thanks to Kim, it was amazing!!!  I'm so glad we were able to have one so that Mom could share in my pregnancy a little.  I hate it that she is so far away!

28 Weeks and 4 Days...

Calvin's Birthday Party - #7

Calvin turned 7 years old yesterday!!!  He's getting so big!  They grow so fast.  Wayne and Nita threw him a family birthday party at Logan Lanes and it was a blast!  We all had so much fun hanging out, bowling and eating pizza and cake.  Only one kid's fingers got smashed between balls, so I call it a success.  It was pretty cool, the bowling alley gave Calvin a real bowling pin since we did his party there!  He was sooo excited.  Now Landen wants to do a party for himself there...we'll see... I love family time! 

Happy Birthday, Calvin!

Happy New Year!!! ~ 2013

Welcome 2013!  Can't believe you are already here...we have some big things coming this year with the baby and buying the house (hopefully soon)...it's gonna get CRAZY.  But we're excited for the new adventures that lie ahead.  Today we went to lunch and did some shopping with Adri, Nita and Wayne and it was fun to get out of the house and enjoy the day.  All the stores were having some good deals...but Dillard's clearance was an additional 50% off and we scored some awesome baby clothes!!!  I know, I don't need to be buying a lot of clothes right now because we'll probably get a lot in the next few months, but I just couldn't resist these gems...and they were so darn cheap :)  Happy New Year to you, Baby Girl!

Year in Review 2012!!!

I really liked my "Year in Review" in pictures that I did at the end of last year, so I am doing it again!  This year though I kept this post saved and added to it from time to time so it wouldn't be a big job at the end of the year!  I'm brilliant.  Here we go once again:

 

Now we'll take a look through the past year from Landen's phone pictures... (these are not in order of the year, I was too lazy to figure that out!)