Practically perfect in every way

Sigh. The last three days have been a bright burst of sunshine and happiness in my life.

Thursday afternoon my favorite little sister, Paige Christine-y, and my mamma-cita knocked on my door about six hours earlier than I was expecting them. And have camped out (along with my necessary-for-my-sanity-sister, Tasha) on my living room for the last two nights. They didn't even complain about having to share a bathroom with us (that you have to go through our bedroom to get too...).

I have loved every single second of it.

Oh the fun we have had! We kicked off the party with a trip to the newly opened City Creek Mall in downtown Salt Lake City. Very fun. (Minus the Disneystore trauma. I learned my lesson.). The next day we headed to Provo for some hanging out with Chad (my bro). I finally got my hands on a maternity bathing suit that fits (my life is complete. Swimming anyone?). Today we went to Farm Country at Thanksgiving Point. My mom treated my kids and I (and Jeremy when with us) to fun foods and events all three days.

It was a whirl wind of fun. I think Paige takes the cake for keeping calm despite the many toddler tantrums and requests for "tasty treats" that occurred. Chad wins for always being willing to hold one of my children wherever we were. And Tasha wins for being the cutest. (She was actually the reason for the trip... but not to hang out with us so much as to go to a Blog Conference at Thanksgiving Point. So we only really saw her in the mornings and at night). And my mom wins for being the best "mother dear" I have. She was so generous, fun, adventurous, and happy happy happy to be with!

And because other people were there to take pictures... I have proof that it was a wonderful three days (ok so this is all from today, but whatever):

The Pony Ride: Ginny loved every blessed second. Raymond (true to form--he's afraid of heights) was terrified and went between nervous smiles and attempts at getting Aunt Paige to save him by pulling him off.  

 Man do I love this girl. Love love love.

 Aunt Paige rocked it. (Isn't she adorable??) Raymond was so brave!

 It took all three days for Raymond to finally attempt to do "no hands" while on Uncle Chad's tall shoulders. He had to slouch and keep his elbows in. I laugh looking at this picture. This boy kills me. He was so scared!

Friday night the girls headed to the boutique at Tasha's conference... and among other valuable finds was this pink frufru skirt. Ginny walked around all morning saying "pretty baby." Yes, baby girl, you are one pretty baby! 

She was there! Both at my house (hurrah!) and at the SNAP! conference. And she looked so cute every single day. I love this lady. 

Sigh. It was a breath of fresh air. I LOVE MY FAMILY! Gracious me. They fill me up with sunshine. Happy, happy, happy. That's how I feel. 

See, I really am pregnant

Lest you were starting to not believe me (since it did take a while for me to even post about it on the blog, and since I haven't posted a single picture up to this point...)

25 weeks, 4 days

Yep, definitely pregnant.
(You know it's obvious too when random moms at the park ask your due date and grocery store clerks exclaim, "wow, you look like you are about to pop!")

But what you should also notice about this picture is 1. the fact that Ginny is adorable (pigtails! My baby finally has hair long enough for pig tails!) and 2. that on the wall behind me is an enormous dragon that Jeremy drew for Raymond. Both of my kids regularly pick up sticks, vacuum accessories, spatulas, and anything else long and hard in order to "fight dragons." Yay for an artist dad who makes those dragons real (even if Ginny is scared that it will "getchu dragon!")

Oh and since you can't really tell that Ginny is adorable in that picture or that there is a dragon behind me... here's more proof for you:

Hello there. Wasn't it a lovely weekend?

A big thanks for all your insights and help on the last post. We ended up buying an IKEA bed. It's perfect. (Except for the fact that Raymond won't stay in it all night long... But it's a work in progress).

So I really love General Conference. It always seems to come at just the right time. You know, when you are about to lose all sanity ever granted to you and you need a loud dose of (righteous) reality thrown in your face.

Conference never fails me.

This year I was determined to make the weekend meaningful for all of us (including the two-and-under crowd). We set up our tent (which has never been slept in outside... or anywhere for that matter) on Saturday morning. It was a hit. We loved pretending we were Nephites listening to King Benjamin. We also did "subject jars" with pictures of general subjects (family, prophets, temple etc) and candy inside. It was the ploy to get Raymond to try and listen for key words. (It worked pretty well. Until he was so sugared up he just starting to throw fits for more candy...).

I also put together a simple little coloring book of conference themed pictures for the kids to color on. Ginny loved this most (which I was surprised about). Oh and we set up the easel right by the computer (since we don't have TV that's where we watch conference) with the spreadsheet from a previous conference Ensign of all the General Authorities taped to it. Every time a new speaker came up we found their picture and colored over it. This kind of petered out at the end, but was great while it lasted. Raymond loved to hunt for the picture (which he was only once successful at finding on his own, but coloring over it always made up for getting help finding it!) Lots of fun (ahem, junk) foods readily available also worked as great ploys to distract the young, and keep awake the old.

I feel like conference was a success for the mere fact that Raymond can now recognize by face all the first presidency. And because Ginny can say their names (so cute) and would chant over and over "prophet time" and point to the screen. What can I say? I am wooed endlessly by the cuteness of my children.

And it was a success because it helped me to put my feet back under myself a little bit. So far (of course I need to go back and read/watch a few that I was too distracted during) my favorite talks were President Packer (never fails to unashamedly say it like it is. Rock on.), Elder Holland, and Elder Ballard.

Being in the midst of a(nother) pregnancy and sometimes feeling a little stressed about day-to-day living, and what lays ahead when this little fellow comes, it was comforting to hear so many messages about the family; so many reminders that choosing to have children (even when it seems extremely unpopular to do so, not to mention down right hard) is the right choice; so many uplifting words about the happiness and blessings that will come from adding another to our little flock.

Isn't it amazing how we always hear just what we need to hear? I'm sure some of you are wondering when there were even messages on the family since it wasn't what you needed to hear most. But they were loud and clear for me. And I feel buoyed up and grateful for the "lot in life" that is mine right now.

I hope that conference weekend was uplifting and "successful" at your house too.