Vote YES ON PROP. 8

Proposition 8 is a California proposition about marriage and the family. Sunday the church has asked that we fast for this to pass. It must be very important for everyone not just Californian. It is a wonderful time to take a stand and defend Heavenly Fathers most important organization. The Family. I don't believe it is a human rights issue. I have a compassion for people and their lifestyles, but it must not infringe on our way of life and our rights. There could be very serious consequences for churches and schools if prop. 8 does not pass. Having said that, I can't vote on it and I can't fast on Sunday. I hope my California friends can!

Bed rest!

I'm officially on bed-rest this week until this weekend when I will be induced on sunday at 3:30. At first bed-rest sounds like a big relief when your 9 months pregnant, but I've found it to be very frustrating because it feels close to impossible. I'm not sure how it is suppose to work with a 2 year old and 2 kids in school, but at least it's only a week. Keep you posted. Prepare for a flood of baby pictures! Can't wait to change the subject from pregnant to baby!
P.S. You have no idea how tortured I feel to post these pictures. I did it purely for posterity sake.

Winter

Some people have asked if I'm going to be able to handle a Utah winter after years of California winters. I did love the winters in California and never really missed the snow. But as the weather cools down i'm reminded about my roots and how i've spent the majority of my life during the winter. My Dad sent me these pictures of a winter in 1979 in Illinois. Winters in the midwest are very harsh and cold with lots of snow. My Mom had the theory that kids should play outside everyday no matter what the weather. It is the healthy thing to do. We would bundle up so just our eyes showed. I remember my eyes even feeling cold. But we had fun and had some of the best times in our snow forts made from just digging a hole straight into the drift. Let me tell you too that there are no hills in these pictures. This is just snow from plowing and blowing. Utah winters are very mild compared to the winters of my childhood. I'm going to try to remember this when i'm thinking of my warmer friends in California this year.

Pumpkin time!!!

Tonight for Family Home Evening we decided to carve our pumpkins. While Lindsay and I are carving our traditional triangles. Dane and Jacob look more like their pumpkin is on the operating table. Looking up and seeing this enormous drill somehow did not shock me too much. Very typical for how Dane would think of doing things. Jacob was very impressed and pleased with the drill method. Poor Lindsay was left to my elementary carving skills. But somehow everyone was very happy in the end especially when we lit them up with candles. I love the tradition of the pumpkin. Next year I want to grow our own so we can have an abundance of pumpkins until Thanksgiving. Does anyone know when to plant the seeds in Utah?

flashback!

This is me after my Mom gave birth to my sister Emily 25 years ago. I was seven years old, exactly Lindsay's age. I don't remember this hug, but I remember that day well. I remember staying home with my Grandma awaiting the call that my mom had the baby. When my dad called my Grandma yelled out "it's a girl". We were all so excited. I also remember that we didn't have to go to church that day because of the big event. I was excited to have a new baby sister. My sister Lisa and I were very close and I remember telling her that now that Emily was born she was no longer my favorite. Sorry Lisa! That was very mean. Lisa and I continued to be close then and now. I was very helpful to my mom in caring for Emily. I would hold her when she cried and dance with her around the living-room. Which I dropped her when she was 2 weeks old trying to comfort her. Luckily she was okay. I also remember changing her cloth diapers. I got very good at not poking her with the pins. I know Lindsay is going to be very helpful as well. She is so excited for our new baby to arrive. When my patience is running low with the help, I will try to remember how I felt when Emily was born.

First Snow

Well the kids have been anxiously awaiting the weatherman's predictions today. Lindsay woke up early and put on her winter gear awaiting the storm. I reminded her again that sometimes the weatherman can be wrong, and sometimes he's right. Well this time was a little of both. He predicted 2-4" of snow today, and we got a small wisp maybe 1/4". But enough to make the kids happy, and to make a snowball. It is very exciting for them since they have spent all the memorable winters of their life in California. Luke wasn't sure about the cold. He put his coat on, but didn't venture out. Next week we are back in the 70's for awhile. Just a sneak peak of what is to come!

sunshine after the rain.

Just a little note that I have a definite light at the end of this torture that i'm in. I get to meet my new baby on November 3rd or 4th. Walk into the hospital at 3:30 on the 3rd. I am being induced a week early due to the size of previous children at a week early and elevated blood sugar. Physically I'm ready but I still have to paint the nursury!

Lukey Love Heart! Happy Birthday!

Today was Luke's 2nd birthday. What a cute, fun, happy boy he is. I've decided I love little boys, and how their minds work. He notices everything around him. He finds joy in all the little things in life that we don't notice anymore. Like the leaves on the trees, big wheels on Daddy's truck, bubbles, kitties, and anything that has wheels at all, especially Thomas the train or LIghtning McQueen. He is so affectionate one minute and the next is looking for something hard to hit you with. He has learned that biting and scratching are effective too. But if you make a high pitched kitty noise he comes running to run his fingers through your hair and give you a hug. Mommy meow is his favorite. And I love when he calls me mommy kitty. His second favorite is Jacob meow. Sometimes Jacob isn't up to kitty loves and it really upsets Luke to be denied the pleasures of his kitty obsession. He has grown up so much in the last few months. I used to feel frustrated that he wouldn't play with toys, just follow me around wanting me to hold him. Now all he does is play with toys. I love it that his little imagination is starting to kick in. He is also saying so many new words now I can't keep track. But I have to say my current favorite word is "boof". He lets me know when he has gone pee or boof. It is a great word for it and it might stick around for generations. So tonight we had a lightning McQueen birthday celebration. It was very simple but a blast. We had pizza for dinner and of course cake and ice-cream. We had about 5 gifts for him to open. He loved everyone of them and played with them until he couldn't keep his head up anymore. He is sleeping tonight with his Mac truck and "Quee, Quee" car. Jacob went to bed in tears because he also wanted to play with all the new toys. Luke wouldn't even let him touch them. It is always hard for the sibling not having a birthday I've noticed. Luke we Love you so much and love having you in our family. You are a very specail and amazing little person in our lives.
I was mad tonight that 90% of the pictures I took turned out blurry. By the end of the night I figured out what the problem was but it was too late. So i might post some blurry pictures because it is better than nothing.

cozy weekend.

I thought this weekend was quite cozy with the cooler weather, rain, and conference. The rain forced Dane not to do any major outdoor projects that he has been obsessed with lately. We spent most of the weekend curled up under a blanket being spiritually uplifted by our spiritual leaders. Don't let me make it sound to calm. Of course the kids were jumping on us, playing loudly, fighting, and making me get up every 5 minutes for something. But usually settled down when the choir sang. We would make them sit and listen every-time the prophet spoke and be reverent. I don't know if you all are able to get your kids to sit reverently through all 8 hours but we haven't reached that level of achievement yet. I loved President Thomas Monson talk about finding joy in our lives of raising children. To our loved ones in our lives, and enjoy the moments with our small children. It was a good reminder made me look at my kids a little differently. There were many amazing talks, and I feel grateful to be able to have such an amazing spiritual boost. I'm grateful to be a member of the church. It brings our family so much purpose and peace during hard times. It strenthens our testimony of the Saviors sacrifice for us.
By Sunday night we were getting a little stir crazy so we decided to go on a drive. Dane was good and brought hot chocolate and the propane stove. We drove until we found a nice place for the kids to run around. It was a a bumpy drive. I was in a constant contraction by the time we arrived. Dane hiked with the kids while I heated up the chocolate. It was cold but nice to be out in the crisp fall air.