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This past week I got to go on a week long work trip with Jared to Kansas City, Missouri, without ANY kids!! Jared's mom came up and watched the kids and did a great job- even though I'm sure she was super tired at the end of all of it :)
So for a week I got to do whatever I wanted, which consisted of walking around town window shopping, projects galore, a 6 mile round trip walk to the Crown Center, Union Station, and the Hallmark Museum, and much more freetime at night to spend with Jared. Walking around and visiting all of those places was pretty cool and my legs were SO tired at the end of all of it!! I also got to go out to eat every night with Jared thanks to the governments large-for-our-cheapness daily allowance for food spending. I don't think we even spent more than they allowed for one person! Nice.
We also got to stay in a nice hotel on the 8th floor and had a great view looking out into the city- the picture isn't that great that I took, but it was an awesome view.
One night we got to see Jared's friend Kurt Hanson and his wife Alice and their new baby. That was fun seeing an old friend and hearing the guys talk about good old JPI basketball :) We were also able to go to the Nelson-Atkins Art museum, which was interesting and great if you are into art. Jared and I had a great week together. It was nice and refreshing and a much needed break.
By the end of the week I was definitely ready to come home though. I missed being a mommy, and I actually felt like cleaning the house (even though my mother in law did a great job keeping up with the house and taking care of the girls--- now she needs a break :)) I love spending time with Jared and with my girls and I'm so happy to be a mom!!!
Thanks again Grandma Pratt for coming and watching the girls!! You did a great job and we REALLY appreciated all you did for them and for us!! We love you!
I didn't have anyone to take pictures of me, so instead I just took self-portraits of the things I wanted pictures of :)

The baby is A....

?????????????????
Confused?

So are we! Our baby has a sense of humor and decided to cross his/her legs. So instead of telling you what it is, because I really don't know... I'm humoring you with a picture of me- 18 1/2 weeks along. The good news is that the baby looks healthy and is growing properly and that's all we really care about. The Dr. did said he'd try again at our next appointment though, so until then we're still anxiously waiting to find out what we're having. Better luck next time :)

Family Baby Boom 2008

The last 15 months has been a family baby boom for our families. All seven married couples had babies. Here are the photos from other blogs. There are going to be tons of cousins at reunions.


Rachel Mae July 23, 2007 6 lbs 3 oz


Brayden James Jan. 11, 2008 5 lbs 14 oz


Hallie Sage February 12, 2008 8 lbs 7 oz


Emily Sophia March 6, 2008 8 lbs 7 oz


Avalon Kaye March 11, 2008 7 lbs 3 oz


Ashlyn McKell May 11, 2008 7 lbs 12 oz


Carson Kyle October 1, 2008 7 lbs 0 oz

MOPisms

I always forget to write down the funny things Madeline says, but today I actually remembered and thought I'd share them with you, they still have me laughing :) I love my little girl.

Mommy: "Oh dang it" (I was working on the computer and don't even remember why I said dang it)
Madeline (in her sweet little voice): "oh dang it, did Daddy forget to leave a comment?"

Later in the day...

Madeline: "My teeth are getting bigger, and then I'll be a wolf"

I think we've been reading a little bit too much of Little Red Riding Hood...

Columbus Day Adventures

Since Jared works for the Government he gets every holiday off... even Columbus Day! How nice! I taught aerobics in the morning and didn't have to take the kids- yay! Then we decided to go to Swan Falls and explore the nature a little bit. There are tons of huge rocks there so of course Jared wanted to climb :) Actually, it was really a lot of fun. All of us climbed rocks and had a great time, much better than staying at home!! Jared caught a couple lizards and the girls even held one of them!

Then we went off to our next adventure- the Linder Farm






















One of my favorite things to do in the fall is going to Linder Farms. They have a great pumpkin patch, a little kid maze and this year they added a petting zoo all for free! I've never seen a Zebra so close so I had to get a picture of it. The girls loved the petting zoo and even tried to feed some of them :)

We didn't buy a pumpkin this year because we grew our own little pumpkin patch, whether we actually get any orange pumpkins or not is the big question, (they're all still green and we just had a really cold weekend) but I figured we could just paint them if they don't change colors :)

I just love going on the hayride, watching the sun set, and seeing a beautiful red barn with corn fields surrounding me, and being with my family on a beautiful fall evening. It was a great Columbus Day and I'm happy we were able to "explore" our area:)

P.S. We find out on Monday what we're having, so don't forget to leave a comment on what your prediction is for the gender!!

Family Sports Bar

What do you do when BYU and Boise State play at the same time on different channels? Easy, get two televisions. I have a slicer and after about an hour of figetting, I figured out how to get both TV's get different games. Next time, I hope to to get three TV's working at the same time. We should start our own family sports bar.

Also, I must thank Cable One because I only pay for digital cable, and they provide me digital plus basic. I called and told them of the error in my favor, but they haven't done anything about it yet. I told them I wasn't complaining and I enjoy it, but just letting them know. So anytime soon, we will probably lose the part we aren't paying for.

Also, I chose Cable One over DirectTV and DISH because it was the cheapest way for us to get the MTN to watch BYU football. I got the Digital Lifeline which has the MTN, ESPNU, ESPNews, three Fox sports channels, and BYUTV for 38 bucks a month after taxes. And now because of the error, I get all the normal cable channels as well.

Since there is much sleeze on cable, we really like our TIVO. It blocks all programs over PG for us and records shows for us so that we can watch them later without commercials. At first, Jen was against TIVO, but now she is an advocate.

Conversations with the Children

(after I got home from work)
Me: Did it snow today, or just rain?
Madeline: Just rain, but I have snow boots. They're just mine, and I don't have to share with Morgan. [her cousin]

(after Aliza said a prayer)
Madeline: That was a small prayer.
Me: But it had big faith.
Madeline: Yah, big prayers have small faith.

(as we are watching t.v. and Aliza is coloring with crayons)
Aliza as she shows a yellow crayon: Yellow, Mommy, yellow?
Mommy: Yep.
Aliza as she shows a RED crayon: Yellow, Mommy, yellow?
Mommy: No, that's red.
Aliza: Oh, red.
Aliza as she shows a Green crayon: Yellow, Daddy, yellow?
Me: No, that's green.
Aliza: Oh, green.
(repeat 20 times).

(we ran out of honey one day at lunch)
Jen: Madeline, remind me at the store to get honey.
(one week later as Jen is at the checkout line).
Madeline: Mommy, we need to get honey!

Me: Rachel, do you want a cracker?
Rachel: (nod yes)
Me: Rachel, do you want to go to bed?
Rachel: (nod no)