The Results are in....

I'm 3 for 3! (In guessing)

We're having a girl. Whitney was very excited! Travis just thought it was cool to see the baby swimming in my tummy. :) I couldn't be happier that she's healthy and everything looks good. Half way there.

Fall Fun

Last week we did some fun activities outside since the weather was so great. On Tuesday we headed to the zoo. I'm never going to the zoo on a Saturday again - it was awesome - hardly anyone was there!! The kids walked in with big eyes as if this was part of Disneyland.

Whitney in the lions mouth. Our first stop was the elephants - they loved the baby animals the best.

I love the expression of Whit's face. They were pretty focused on every animal.

So nice - after our picnic we walked right onto the carousel and then the train. The playground was the only place packed. We avoided that area.

This elephant sneezes and sprays water out. I had Whitney stand in front and it took her by surprise pretty good. We got a good laugh out of it.

I just had to take a glance at the "This is the place" park, and since the zoo was so pleasant with no people we gave it a whirl. We just looked at statues and the view and took off. Here's the kids with Brigham and Joseph.

And then the pioneers. The view was pretty sweet. I can only imagine what it looked like back then. Even if it was desert for a view/and lake, the mountains were amazing behind us.

Then on Friday we headed for our yearly trip to Hee Haws. I got a kick out of Travis saying we going to Hee Haws all day. Just funny to hear a kid say that I guess.

They loved the hay trampoline. Loved the air shots.

We had fun going down the massive slide, riding the bumpy train, the corn maze. But for some reason this year the kicker was this blow up haunted house. They were freaked the first time they went through the maze, but then loved it and did it over, and over, and over.....

I love this time of year. Things are so gorgeous and life slows down enough to take a breath and appreciate it.

Bliss

Have you ever had those moments in life that you feel are almost surreal? That if you added music it would almost be a movie? Last night I felt this way. We took a Sunday evening stroll on our bikes (and me on the ripstick of course). The weather was perfect, the color of fall all around us was amazing, and everyone was in a good mood. As I watched Whitney cruise past Aaron and Travis on their bike it looked picture perfect. With the river, the leaves and the things that matter most right in between, I had to remind myself to focus on where I was going so I didn't bif it. Talk about natural highs of life.

I don't think raising a family is easy. I don't think pregnancy is easy. I don't think having a calling or callings in the church is always easy either. But I do know that when we pay our do's, doing the things we know we should, we get moments like I had, where I truly was filled with joy - not happiness - but joy.

My husband is so great. Saturday night he surprised me with a babysitter and took me to dinner and a movie. I know that sounds boring to some, and it would've been to us years ago (we like adventure). But when you don't get out much, dinner and a movie just with my husband was fabulous. Plus, lets be honest, after how much I ate at dinner I don't know what else a chubby pregnant woman could do. Even bowling would've been a stretch. (Dinner was to good to stop!)

Anyways, that's my ramblings. Life is too good right now. The sickness has eased up enough sometimes for me to catch glimpses of normalness. The stage my kids are at is perfect. I love watching them play together. Saturday morning they were stoked to go with dad to help with a service project. I wondered how much 'help' they were actually being, so about twenty minutes after they left I walked across the street to peek on two little midgets weeding a yard - working pretty hard. I didn't bother them, just walked home with a big grin on my face. My smile got even bigger and my heart melted as I watched out my kitchen window them taking a 'short-cut' with their bikes through the neighbors yard. Which ended up with Whitney pushing a bike across the lawn and Travis walking by her side for moral support. It was too cute. I'm done rambling now.

Truly, I am

Most of you probably know or figured, but for those that didn't, I'm pregnant. I'm about 15 weeks now and counting down hopefully the last five weeks of sickness. With Whitney and Travis I was sick every night, but for some reason this time it's all day. Every part of me seems a lot weaker and slower . . . including my brain.

I don't know if this has happened to any of you while pregnant but I have seriously lost my mind. Not that I was a genius to begin with, but it's almost like my brain is living in a cloud. I'd get checked for a brain tumor or Alzheimer's if I wasn't pregnant and thinking that was the cause. Some examples.....so many to choose from.

How about when I asked my neighbor when they are going to drop their kids off for their trip (thinking they were going to Hawaii, which they had done a month before), and then being reminded that they were going to take their kids with them . . . since they are going to Disneyland. Man did I feel stupid, I knew that, we had only talked about the subject frequently for the last couple weeks. Oh goodness, my brain pooped.

Another - more recent. How about when I raved on and on about how great my nephew Logan is on my blog. You me Nolan? Yes I meant Nolan. I knew his name was Nolan. In my head I knew that, but what comes out? Logan. Logan/Nolan - oh wow. Lacy just know that I know your sons name is Nolan, I've always known it, I don't think I've ever said it wrong before. . . but then again, with my brain, I wouldn't put it past me. (thanks linds for informing me, or it would never have been fixed.)

Other symptoms = loosing my train of thought mid sentence and not reading due to ADD. I swear if I had to communicate on a higher than four year old level I'd be in trouble. Let's just hope that this only lasts a little while. So if you see me sometime in the next year and I don't seem 'all there' know that it could be due to pregnancy Alzheimer's or newborn lack of sleep syndrome.

Despite the attitude of this post I am really excited to be pregnant. What a blessing. The kids are excited to have a baby in the house. We are excited for our family to grow. We have really enjoyed the last couple years with Whitney and Travis, and look forward to adding another addition. Sometime around Halloween I'll let you know what the gender is. My guess - girl - since Aaron thinks it's a boy.

looking sharp

I love that Travis loves to dress up. He consideres it his prince dress ups since whitney always wears princess dresses. I bought him a new suit last week and he was just as excited as a new toy. For fun I combined the new suit that fit (top) with the old suit (he's got midget legs). There is something about a man in khakis, a blue shirt, and yellow tie that I love. It's my favorite combination. So, here is Travis melting my heart. Whitney of course wanted in on the show and made him dance with her once. He humored her for about 3 seconds.

visitors

The first couple weeks of September we were able to have some visitors come and play. Whitney still prays for her cousins to come and play again soon. They had a great time. We were able to spend some time with Matt, Lacy, Reagan, and Nolan during thier Utah visit. Oh, I love Nolans stage, he is now about 8 months and just so cute. I loved watching him sit and reach for everything around. Reagan seemed so grown up. It was fun to catch a glimpse of her cute and sweet personality. We had fun at chuck e. cheese, and playing around in the water outside. Travis and Whitney are always happy to have a playmate in the pool.

I saw poprocks on sale at Macey's and wondered if Reagan had ever tried them. The kids always enjoy that experience and it was fun to see Reagan's reaction.

Later that week Justin and Harley and Aaron's mom came down to play. My kids think the world of them and bring them up at least a couple times a day still. We hiked, played at the playground, and goofed off outside. My favorite was watching Jadie with no fear jump off the ledge onto the tramp. She is seriously fearless...the video doesn't to justice to real life. Here's some video of the kids showcasing their jumps. Jadies first, and Travis still doesn't dare :)

movies and memories

I know I should've payed more attention to the fact that ten years ago I graduated from High School. Perhaps I should've gone to my high school reunion. I loved High School. But what I really am really thinking about is -wow it's been ten years since I was a freshman in college.

The other night I watched Runaway Bride. This is definitely and without a doubt one of my favorite movies of all times. But without fail when I watch it, I have flashbacks to my freshman year of college. Honestly, I think my freshman year ranks up there with one of the most exciting and funny years of my life.

I can't listen to Dixie Chick music either without thinking about all the random fun memories I have with roommates from that year. Every day was honestly like a Seinfeld episode. I could go on and on about it. Suffice it to say that maybe one day my experience (our experience) will be a movie. Right roommates? Good times.

Just as a side note - go cougs!!! That was an awesome game on Saturday! I seriously feel the same way about BYU and it's campus/classes that Rudy did for Notre Dame. Love it! Here's to my freshman year, ten years ago. Wow, I feel old.