Is it May yet??

Spoiled would probably have to be an understatement. I have found the times that I most feel the need to write are when I am feeling very grateful!

To start with, the cat is officially out of the bag. I have not said it to really anyone in these words, but school knows, church knows (thanks to Jared being unable to lie to the Bishop... not sure what that is all about!) and it's only a matter of time before I can't get any baggier of shirts. So we are having a baby, and we could not be more excited. I am a ball of nerves, as always, wondering how to afford this, or schedule that, or even better, how to get out of bed or off the couch! Work seems to get longer and longer, which is weird cause the time hasn't changed, and food seems to look nastier and nastier, as the nausea has worsened as opposed to everyones predicted "it get's better" plan. The gratitude comes in when I know for a fact that I am married to a saint.

I generally get done teaching to head back to my permanent butt imprint cushion on the couch, with the dog dying to get out and no dinner made. Jared just stepped in, and all of the sudden instead of grilled cheese and macaroni I am eating peppered steak and green beans! I even caught him on a recipe website called "healthy dinners" and with an official "shopping list" which I am embarrassed to say I have yet to master. So we have once again pulled out the tv dinner trays, and I pick at my food (exept for the steak of course which I pounded) while Jared inhales his dinner over the sink so he can get to dishes, laundry, and whatever else he can think to do! Like I said, a saint.

Then there are the few rare moments where I feel great for at least an hour (usually a Saturday when I haven't been up all night with work nightmares!), and my hubby does things like patch the hole in my bike tire so we can go for a ride, and find a tee time so we can golf with my old boss and his wife. No worries, just a Executive Course, where I learned I am not supposed to feel guilty for falling asleep at 8:00 long before the chores are done because it is good practice for Jared. Not sure if I can buy into that one though!

Truly, I am grateful for all he has done for me. I feel like a wuss, but work honestly has been really difficult, and the fact that the end of school is near has not been much comfort as every day seems to get harder and there are plenty left. I don't know how there are women who do this without complaint (Brittani!). You all amaze me!

Thanks to all for prayers and thoughts, and Happy Birthday to Lydia. SO sad we missed it!!

Oh, and here are some pictures for Grandma Knudsen... thanks for saving his favorite toy... aka, his "cigar"!!

and even better....

Where to even start...

Sorry, no pictures again. I need Lindsey to move in and document my life as I am a horrible picture taker! Well, the last few weeks have been... interesting... and the next promise to be the same!

Spring break was AMAZING for starters, although I think I spent an entire two days laying on the couch recovering from what Jared lovingly called a "sleep deficit". I was a little (and by a little of course I mean a lot) sad that I was not at home in Utah enjoying the snow, but the 65 and sunny wasn't too bad. Jared got a free lift ticket to snowboard Brianhead, which he quickly and gladly accepted, and after reassuring me that next time I could come, off he went. He managed to come back with only one injury, for which I was grateful. However, I was not so grateful when I felt really really icky that night, and he couldn't walk! I must say, risking sounding spoiled and a bit bratty, I felt really REALLY grateful to have a husband that normally is amazing when I am sick!!! But his ankle is recovering pretty quick, and the dog is loving the dog park until he is walked again.

Other good news seems to be the best news ever. Just got back from the third ultrasound, and the Dr. sounded really positive for the first time! We may actually make it out of the woods with this baby! And.. the tech had a great guess for what sex it is... but I am not telling. I do have pictures though!! I'll have them this weekend, and we'll see what the fam thinks! Both Jared and I were laughing our heads off afterwards in the car when we both had the initial comment of, "Oh man, this is real!" to be followed with "That's unreal they can see all that at 13 weeks!" Baby weighed in at 2 ounces, and tomorrow we go back to my doctor for all my 1st timer questions. We are so so so excited, and a little bit more scared, but mostly grateful that everything is looking good finally.

So there is the update! School stinks, but there are only a few more weeks, and my co-teachers are being amazing about my lack of enthusiasm and overly-frequent potty breaks in the mornings. Other than that, hopefully no other parents know, at least for a few more weeks. Jared says he doesn't think I am showing, but I think he is just saying that so I don't freak out about being so fat!!

We are so happy and grateful for all that is happening, and we can't wait to see everyone! Hope all is well!!

Who is walking whom?

So I must share our latest adventure... probably the highlight of the neighborhood entertainment. Jared and I decided to walk the dog tonight together for family night, and as we realized it may not be the most fun activity we have ever done, we decided to make it interesting and try "long boarding the dog"! The best part was definitly when I almost fell off from being dizzy and off balance, and Jared almost crashed into a car! It is definitly a little tricky to stay on the board, while the dog is trying to figure out what is going on! However, just add it onto the list as one more way to exercise our animal, and potentially make complete idiots of ourselves! Yeah!

Today I am grateful I did not fall!

A Week to Remember

Well, I can honestly say I have never been so happy for a week to end. It was a great week, but a very exhausting week.

First, to Clint and Patrice, we keep you in our thoughts and prayers daily, and hope to come visit soon.

Second, to Justin and Lindsey, thanks so much for stopping by! It was so fun to see you two, and happy anniversary!

Third, this week has prompted me to be extra grateful for a lot of things... such as....

• Mondays where there is NOT a time change, as I have never felt it affect me more.
• Those rare days when I am NOT late to work, as I rolled in about 20 min late every day. Good thing I still beat the kids!
• NOT having to sit through what was described by Jared as the "world's most boring training meeting", as I was at home feeling SUPER nauseous instead.
• NOT teaching until 9:00 pm on Wednesdays anymore, as I finally caved and moved a few students to Monday.
• NOT coming home every Thursday, finally feeling good enough to clean for my poor husband, only to walk in to a wave of poop smell as puppy had a MAJOR "blowout" in his kennel, and on the wall behind the kennel, and the carpet in front of the kennel... you get the idea.
• Those times where I may not want to mop, but at least it doesn't make me cramp!!!
• Pizza nights on Fridays... no cooking or clean up!!
• Spring Break on the horizon... school is wearing me out.
• Loose fitting clothes as I was asked more than once this week by bold mothers, "Is there a bun in the oven?" or "Is this for reals? (while pointing to their own perfectly flat tummies)". Apparently, the cat is out of the bag WAY before I am ready to feel huge!
• And last but not least, a hubby who not only puts off work to spray down the dog and to spray off dog poop from kennels and towels, but a hubby who will NOT make me feel like an overdramatic sickly little prego who is a little emotional trying to figure all of this out(which I readily acknowledge I am, but it is quite different to be have someone else say it)!

I truly am grateful this week is over, and hope it has treated all of you a bit kinder! We miss you all and hope to see you soon!

Is it winter or spring?

Here in Vegas, rain is a bit foreign to us. We usually see it two, maybe three times a year. However, this year has been a bit of a mystery. These last few weeks we have had the same list of outside chores to do, and every Saturday, we get up to do it, and lo and behold, we have rain. So I guess we will once again not wash the cars, paint the front door, or weed the 10 weeds in our yard. The Man in Charge has spoken... we are not to do our chores. Yeah, I am heartbroken and all, but the couch is certainly getting some good use! So much for Spring Cleaning!

The last two weeks have been less than exciting, as they consisted mostly of work, sleep, and more work. Jared seems to be doing awesome, although a little disappointed about the loss today for BYU. I am for some reason super homesick, and am trying to plan a trip to Utah. WHEN is the hard part. I don't really have an excuse to go visit, but feel like I need to get up there soon. We will see... soon is so relative.

Puppy on the other hand has grown to be quite fond of our bed. He has figured out about what time we go to bed and manages to sneak into our room and hop on our bed with all hopes that we won't kick him off. It could be that he is currently without a soft pillow as he chewed through two already, and I refuse to buy another one until he finishes this phase. Anyhow, he has decided that our bed is the best hang out ever... there every chance he gets from morning to night. This is a habit I do not look forward to breaking!

Apologize for the boringness, but hope all is well with everyone out there.

Today I am very grateful for couches and rain.

Running a Marathon... Almost!

So, I will hopefully be going back to a few posts to add pictures now that Jared found the cord that connects the camera to the computer! It's the little things in life that make the difference! Until then, you will have to tolerate just my ramblings.

So this weekend, we had my mom, Brett, Chris, Tonya, Nate, Deuce, and Champ down to visit. Booker has never been happier. They got here Friday, rolling into town just after lunch, and boy was it an adventure! We had so much fun! We started out at the park playing basketball (this is what happens when there are teenage boys around), then a quick run to Costco... always dangerous... finishing off with a rousing game of "What If...". I will have you know that Jared has had a few moments with my family that he will never live down. It started when he backed into Tonya and Nate's brand new PARKED car, moved on to when the bird pooped on his head in St. George, and ended somewhere around when he was the only boy who wasn't "man enough" to finish a 4X4 from In-n-Out. He tends to get the brunt of the jokes during our what if adventures. It was a long game for him.

Saturday we had a breakfast that would make any doctor proud supplying any cholesterol that we hadn't inhaled with dinner the night before consisting of bacon, eggs (I won't tell you how many), hash browns, and pancakes. You would think that we would not need more food for that day, but I remind you, we had two sixteen year olds with us. We then headed out for a hike at Red Rock, that where Books showed his true leadership, and we managed to get back in time for the "men" to golf.

Here's a thought for you... how many people go golfing, have a good time, and take a golf ball to the forehead while packing up the car?? Oh yeah, just Chris! Poor kid got drilled, splitting his head open, with a really nice goose egg. We were just happy there was no concussion, which was proved when after an hour break they headed back to the park for more basketball! What a story that will be later in life!

Saturday night was filled with a few rounds of Hand and Foot (a card game we love) and wrestling with the dog, and on Sunday it was back to the park, this time with a little tennis! Tonya and Deuce each received a great Valentine's gift of a brand new tennis racket, and commited to take some lessons in the summer! We will have to hold them to it! No worries, Tonya's racket is pink! When they all left Monday, we were sad, but I will not lie, exhausted. The house still has not been cleaned, but if all the doors are closed, it doesn't look that bad! Thanks to everyone for coming, we absolutely LOVED having you here, and I can honestly say ALL of us miss you! Especially Booker. Here's to another long week!!

Saving Money...

Well, I have a question to put out into the void...

Is it ever really worth it? "Saving money" that is!

Yesterday, finally having beat the flu, Jared and I took a good look at our list of projects around the house that needed doing. There was the usual endless cleaning, the front door badly needed to be painted, the cars are in a desperate need of a full and complete smell/bug removal, I had a baby shower to attend, and it was Stake Conference weekend which means many meetings for Jared scattered throughout the day. And then it happened. We realized that if we were ever planning to dig in our backyard (which we have landscaped in our heads about 1000 times) NOW would be the time to do it since we have had an unprecedented two weeks of rain! So, to Lowe's we went for shovels and a pick. And then we dug.

And dug...

And dug...

and then I left for the shower and Jared dug...

and dug...

no worries, the puppy helped to dig...

and they dug...

and 5 hours later, Jared gave in.

What did we have to show for it you ask?? Three holes big enough to put baby trees in that we don't have, and an outline dug with a pick of the yard we wish to someday have. I have to say, next time when faced with the choice to dig or to hiring a landscaper to just come and do it, I may choose the later. Even with Jared telling me how much he misses working outdoors, I don't think it's worth the whining that inevitably follows the next day. Not to mention that nothing else got done, and the dog will probably ruin any holes that were finished long before we get a tree to put in it! But yes, you could say there is a sense of achievement to be gained from such an experience if you were looking for a way to remind yourself how out of shape and "officy" you have become!

And the best part is, after buying the tools, counting time for labor, and investing in Ibuprofen, I guarantee that we will not save money after all!