a new low

I did something on Saturday night that I would've never thought I'd ever do.  I have no pride left in my 34 week pregnant self.  (I guess by saying "I have no pride" I've totally negated that, but you get what I mean).

Let me explain.

Brad and I had just pulled into Morgan from our date night (dinner at Javiers in Ogden - celebratory birthday dinner) and decided to run into the grocery store to get a few things for Sunday dinner and the necessities: bread, milk, and eggs.  The kids were still doing fine at home after a quick phone call to confirm that the house hadn't burnt down and no one was bleeding profusely.  We hustled (technically, I do not hustle, mostly waddle these days.......there was even a Front Row Joe parking spot but Brad wouldn't take it, he wanted to get more "steps" on his pedometer....another story, another day).  Anyway, we went into the store.  We didn't get a cart because, after all, we were only there for a few things.  We gathered our "few things" and found other "necessities" along the way that we piled into our arms.  Brad wanted to quickly grab some salad for Sunday dinner and I told him I'd meet him at the checkout....after all, my arms were full.  So as I'm walking towards the checkstands I see that frozen grape juice is on sale.  I couldn't pass it up.  I open the freezer door, pile 3 cans of juice on top of my things, smile to myself because of the good deal I got, and shut the freezer door.  That's when one of the grape juice cans falls out of my arms and to the floor.  Hmmm, shoot.  What will I do?  I can't bend over to retrieve it for 2 obvious reasons:

#1. my arms are full

and

#2. I'm 34 weeks pregnant with my arms full of groceries - can we all say "ridiculous" together?

So I did what any "no-pride-left-in-herself" woman would do.....

I kicked the grape juice can down the aisle. 

Oh yes.  I am so cool.

I just about got to the checkout stand when I saw a girl from my daughter's soccer team.  I kindly asked her if she'd pick up my grape juice can and deposit it back into my arms.  Thanks so much.  Not many 11 year old girls would blink an eye at the fact that you've asked them to do something like that.....and this particular girl didn't either.  Tender mercies?!

So there you have it folks - I am officially awesome.

I thought I'd throw in a picture so you can visualize along with the story.  I don't think I've taken any pictures of this pregnancy....so its always good to document at least one, right?!

And just in case you're wondering.....I carry all my babies low.....but pregnancy #5 takes the cake. There is absolutely no muscle tone left in those regions after 4 previous babies.  He might just fall out any day.  Not really, but it looks that way! :)

34 1/2 weeks pregnant....and my little sidekick Ellie

silly

Ellie and Abbie (a friend) today:

Ellie: holding up her right foot..."Is this my right foot?"

Abbie: "Yes it is."

Ellie: holding up her left foot..."and this is my wrong foot."

:)

Christmas Village

Lindsay had a few dance performances during December and The Christmas Village in Ogden was one of them.  She did a fantastic job and it was fun to watch her shine!  The night of her performance was a bit chilly, but we bundled up and were able to walk through the village and enjoy the lights and displays. Brad was coaching a basketball game, so he wasn't there, but Aimee, Cami, and my mom met us there.  Thanks guys for braving the cold!

Bathroom Remodel

Hallelujah!  We have finished the bathroom remodel!  This has been a project that I've been wanting to do for years.....literally.  I bought the tile 5 years ago and its been waiting patiently under my bed!  I think when I'm pregnant, all my "get-things-accomplished" hormones go into overdrive and I start projects.  (In all honesty, the last 2 times I've painted anything in my house have been when I was pregnant).  Crazy, but it is what it is.  And I got a new bathroom in the process.  But it was like pulling teeth to get my husband on board.  Let's kindly say that he's not what you'd call a DIYer. He did an amazing job with the tile work - with the help of his brother, Michael.  (THANK YOU!)  But I made him repeat the phrase, "I can do hard things."  He will not be impressed that I just aired that bit of dirty laundry! :)  Love you Hon!  Anyway, here are the before, during and afters:

BEFORE

The oh-so-fashionable countertop was my pride and joy!! Ha.  And need I say more about the maroon and navy blue flower patterened linoleum?  And I should have gotten a better picture of the baseboards...on the far wall there are 3, yes, 3 separate pieces of trim.  The wall only measures about 5 feet in that spot!  Very custom-made.

And the mirror.
Oh the mirror.

And superb outlet placement too!

DURING

Thanks again Michael - you saved us!

Brad wasn't too happy right about now.  He wouldn't even look up for a picture.  BUT, he was still trying something that was NOT (and still isn't) in his comfort zone. :)

The OH-SO-AWFUL Mistake!

So I had this grand idea for a color scheme.  Crisp white, with hints of navy blue and apple green. Cute right.  Well, just don't paint your cabinets blue!  As you can see, it was horrible! 
Right as I started I thought, "Hmm, I don't know about this."  But I kept telling myself, "Just get one coat of paint on and let it dry, then decide." 
How I wished I would've stopped then.  It would have saved me a bunch of time resanding the dang cabinets to get that awful blue off. 
I did have a good laugh about it after though.  Seriously, what was I thinking here?!

AFTER

I am so pleased with everything!  I still need to get some decor on the wall, but that'll come.  I love, love, love my wall color.  And with so much white, the bathroom is fresh and "springy".

I added new hardware to the cabinets and love the look of them.  Simple and clean.

Once we moved the outlets down, we had more space for a bigger mirror.  And this mirror rocks my world!  It has made the biggest impact in the bathroom.  The bathroom feels SO much bigger!  And I can even see the back of my head when doing my hair.  It's a dream I tell ya!

I'm not usually a tools-type of girl, but I can handle a drill pretty good these days.  I added the toilet paper roll holder, hand towel holder, and all the hardware to the cabinets.  Yes, my 6 1/2 month pregnant body got down on my back to put in the drawer pulls on the two drawers that are fake (right beneath the sink).  ....yes, it was uncomfortable.  But I did it....."I can do hard things too!" :)

So there it is.  I think during every stage of this remodel, something didn't work or we had to do it another way than we thought, but we persevered.  (Sheesh, I make it sound like we climbed Everest or something!)  But, for us non-DIYers, I think we did a pretty bang-up job.

Thanksgiving 2011

This year we had Thanksgiving in Brigham City with my side of the family.  Once again, it was a delicious meal - one I look forward to more than any other meal during the year.  We have the traditional things like turkey and mashed potatoes with gravy but I absolutely love my mom's stuffing.  It is the best!  We also have shrimp salad.  It is definitely an acquired taste...and there are only a few takers, but it's tradition and I love it!  And you can't have a thanksgiving feast without sweet potatoes with butter, brown sugar, and marshmallows.  Yummy!

Suzanne brought a cute script for "The First Thanksgiving."  She has everything including adorable costumes for the kids.   They had so much fun acting it out.

Our version of the 1st Thanksgiving

The cutest pilgrims that I ever did see!

Tanner

Dallin (with his amazingly awesome coonskin hat) helping Ellie not be so shy

Narrators: Meag and Josh

Ellie

Thanksgiving Talent Show

Meagan

Josh

Lindsay

Suzanne and boys singing a hymn.....cant remember which one

Sweet, loveable Allie

Kaylee - loving the attention

Rian - looking for her parents approval (they were sitting on the landing)

Ah. Shy Tanner

I'm a little impressed with this pic - go Ellie!

Halloween 2011

Lindsay: 80's vampire *** Tanner: pirate *** Meagan: mummy *** Ellie: Snow White

Meagan's 11th Birthday

Happy Birthday Meagan: September 28th

My dad got a bunch of signatures of former USU bball players that have gone on to play in the NBA.  When my dad was in college he was the team manager for the men's bball team - the team was really, really good that year.  The team was honored this fall at Utah State's Homecoming.  It was pretty cool.

She FINALLY got her wish: a ripstick :)

I can't believe you're already 11 years old!!! We love you Meagan!