WELCOME

*Just realized I never posted some rambling from way back in February 2014. I think I'll post it now, because in my sleep deprived new mommy phase, I just typed without fear of censure. Isn't that the best when honesty comes through in your writing?*

February 10, 2014
Well it's been six weeks since Keelie came into our lives, and I realized something the other day, as I was at the grocery store.

People treat pregnant ladies differently. Like preggos have a handicap or something. People are always holding doors for you or offering to carry your groceries. And the smiling... there are lots of smiles from strangers for the soon to be mom. It's like they see this belly sticking out and all of the sudden you are an invalid who needs assisting.

And then what happens? You have that baby and BAM! You are no longer a roly poly cute pregnant lady with The Glow, but a sleep deprived Quasimodo with a noisy thing who annoys people. All of the sudden, people who opened doors for you-when you had two hands free and could do it yourself- find it too difficult to help as you are rushing (after you've left your cart of food in the cereal isle) out the doors of the grocery store with a screaming baby in one arm, diaper bag and purse in the other and your grocery list hanging out of your mouth.

It's a strange phenomenon. What makes the pregnant woman more special than the mom who has 3 kids under the age of 5 and is trying to get her grocery shopping done with them hanging all over the cart and having a breakdown in the snack isle because they REALLY WANT GOLDFISH CRACKERS!
Is it because most big humans have a fear of little humans? The loud noises, the runny noses...the stinky bums? I don't know, but if that's the case, we need to get over it and realize that moms may not have The Glow pregnant ladies do, but it's because they have spent sleepless nights trying to calm the unconsolable child, or wiping noses and rubbing chests with vics, or cleaning up bedsheets when theres been an accident.
As a mom myself I know that there have been plenty of times where I (in my own weakness) have treated another mom with indifference, when I could've provided help. Us moms gotta stick together! Even when we get that miracle of a chance to actually go to the grocery store without our kids. Especially then actually.
We are all dealing with a thousand things and every mom has her set of challenges, so lets all be a little more kind to each other. And when you hold the door for that cute pregnant lady, think about the time when you'll be able to help her when she's a crazy mom just trying to keep her family from falling apart!

KEELIE JO

It's been 4 weeks since this little miracle came into our lives, and we've been trying to adjust to life with a new baby. Although, some of the days may be hard, we wouldn't change them for anything, and we feel so blessed that this beautiful girl belongs to us!

Bloomin' Belly!

Not that I like posting pics of myself -especially ones where I get bigger and bigger- but I figured I better document the growing belly.

I can't believe baby is almost here! Only 12 more days...if all goes according to the plan!

Hopefully I can still keep up on the blog. Meep! I've been doing so good.

Of course I should probably worry more about working out! ;)

Thanksgiving!

Well, better late then...um a year later, which is my norm!

This year I decided to tackle having Thanksgiving at my house...yes, amidst all the crazy basement finishing, house in shambles chaos. I have to say that it was SOOOO not as bad, or stressful as I anticipated. The trick...make stuff ahead of time, and DRY BRINE your turkey! I even made homemade cranberry sauce...and I've actually never eaten cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving (until this year).

I have to laugh because I was so caught up in the food I was making, and what the table was going to look like, that I didn't even take a picture of all the wonderful things that I am Thankful for...which of course is my AMAZING family! There were only eleven of us, but it was so fun and enjoyable and I kind of like having Thanksgiving at my house!

Finishing the basement!

Well, as I mentioned a few posts back we are finishing the basement. And it's CRAZY!

Our basement is the same square feet as our upstairs so we almost double the size of our house. For four of us (and one on the way) that is SO much house, but I'm excited to spread out a little and have a fun basement with room to hang out, watch movies and play! We are even adding a little kitchenette, see below.

Before and During of the space where the kitchenette will be.

(After photos to come later).

To answer the question you might be asking. NO, we are NOT doing it ourselves. We have hired out almost everything, and Brandon's dad even came out from Missouri and did all the electrical for us.

My hubby-although devilishly handsome-is not the handiest person out there, and I'm far too pregnant to do much, so it's been good for both of us to have professionals come in and bust it out.

One of my favorite things is a large game/storage closet at the back of our family room.

Below are pictures of that process, from bones, to structure, to guts. I'm so excited to have a place for some storage, since where we are putting the kitchenette used to be our storage room.

The process has been awesome, and at times and a little stressful, but I'm grateful that we are able to do it now. The kids will be moving down there so baby girl can have a room upstairs. We are feeling very blessed to be able to finish the basement AND have a new little munchkin to (one day) run around in it!

Party On...

Yes, We all know that I love Halloween! Who doesn't really? Except weird people.

(Ward Trunk or Treat- Saturday October 26th)

This year, Brandon and I were Wayne and Garth and it was pretty excellent!

Natalie wanted to be a disco diva with an afro, not sure where that came from but we went with it. I was even a little suzy homemaker-ish because the costume that we bought (see above) was a little short so Nat wanted to wear pants with it. Well, I took this scarf thing that came with the costume, cut it in two and inserted the pieces into small cut panels at the bottoms of her jeans to create some matching bell bottoms. You can't really see it from the pic above but it's pretty groovy.

Sam wanted to be Iron Man, but since our ward party AND the school wouldn't let the kids have masks, I had to improvise and paint his face to look like Iron Man. It wasn't too bad, except when he would touch it, like every two seconds. Grrr.

I was excited because the kids were able to wear their costumes to school this year, and Sam even got to have a Halloween Parade. Those are some of the funnest memories of my Elementary school days, especially because my mom ALWAYS came dressed up.
And I wonder why I love this holiday so much! ;)

(Visiting grandparents and making the rounds on Halloween!)

Well, hello again!

SO... my slight OCD has been what has kept me from keeping up on this blog. I know right? You would think it would be the other way around. But No. I realized something the other day. I was so worried about posting/blogging without pictures that I would wait until I had a cute little picture collage or whatever to post along side my babbling that the months got further and further behind and here we are, a year and a half later and lots of missed posts and thoughts and...journal keeping. Oh well, since I'm sure everyone who read my blog has given up hope of ever hearing from me again, I'll just write for me.
Over my absence from the blogging world there have been so many changes that have happened in our lives, and since May of 2012 we have had

Babies Born.

Brandon's Aunt Aline had a little boy Henry James in July of 2012 and his cousin Amy had a little boy, Trace born in July of 2013.

We have also celebrated marriages!

Brandon's uncle Patrick and his girlfriend Charla were married in October of 2012, and his cousin Daniel and girlfriend Britney were married in March of 2013! I LOVE WEDDINGS!

There has been lots of Soccer, more Farmington plays, and many Lagoon days!

After much deliberation, we gave Dash to Brandon's mom after she offered to take him off our hands.

It was a hard decision but best in the long run. And the kids still get to see him!!!

Sam broke his arm in December of 2012 (big shocker) and Natalie got braces in February of 2013.

Our biggest shock came in April 2013 when we found out we were going to have a baby.

After I had an ectopic pregnancy in July of 2012, we were pretty discouraged, and though that maybe it was not in the cards for us to have another one. But...