Trunk-Or-Treat

I've got plenty of catch-up to do as far as pictures are concerned, but I'll start with the most recent and work my way back. At the rate I'm going, maybe I will be done by Thanksgiving.
Tonight was our Ward Trunk-or-treat. I think our ward has the best Halloween party. It's more like a carnival than a Trunk-Or-Treat and there are only a few cars that pass out candy- you get some small prize at the games (that are manned by the YM and YW) and your kids don't come overloaded with a bunch of candy they don't need. There's always dinner too. It's so much fun and the kids love it. It's even better because in St George you can have it all outside without freezing to death. We actually had a hard time putting costumes on Callie and Leah because we were afraid they were going to be too hot. This is our girls and a few of their friends. Callie, Jaide, Jacie, Leah, Jocelyn and Alexa. Jaide, Jacie, and Jocelyn are sisters and are about the same age as our girls. Their mom and I are good friends and we love getting together to play. She is also expecting a baby, but before me by a few months. Our girls are all hoping for boys... And, being the total nerd that she is, Stacy and her husband choose not to find out what they are having. The suspense is KILLING the rest of us.

Alexa and her friend Rylee. If you can't tell, Alexa is Hannah Montana. We'll take better pictures on Friday.
Some of my Beehives. Aren't they cute? There were a few who didn't dress up who chose to remain out of the picture... I won't mention any names (but you KNOW who you are...).
Liz, Chrissy, Summer, Dani, Hannah and Brenna.

I've been in a bit of a blogging funk lately... as most of you can tell. So, what better way to return to the joyous world of blogging than to announce some family news. Yes, the rumor has been flying that I am expecting. I'd like to tell you that it is nothing more than a rumor, but that would be a lie. Here I am again, unexpectedly pregnant with another baby due the beginning of June... that's three out of four. I'd like to tell you that I was thrilled to find out the news, that I just can't wait for another baby to enter our home. That would also be a lie. I cried for three weeks after I found out and tried as best I could to avoid the reality of the changes that will come to our family far sooner than I had hoped. I spent many nights laying in bed thinking why in the world would this happen to me. I have several sisters and sisters-in-law who are all trying and are not pregnant. And here I am- the one person who doesn't want to be pregnant and I am. Life is not fair- it's not supposed to be. The Lord does what he knows is best, whether we know it or not. I love being a mom. I have spent the greater part of the last five and half years feeling overwhelmed and exhausted from this calling of motherhood. I frequently call my mom crying when I think I have had enough and think the Lord must have made some large mistake by allowing me to be a mother. However, I wouldn't trade my three beautiful girls for anything. And we will love this tiny baby that will enter our family in a few short months just as much as the rest. I can almost guarantee that this little spirit will complete our family. There's a silver lining to every cloud, right? How many people can say they are done having kids by the age of 30... maybe even before I'm 30 if I play my cards right.... So, today I am grateful. I am grateful the Lord trusts me enough to send another child to my home. And, I'm grateful my children are thrilled to have a new baby on the way... Alexa says it can stay even if it's another girl. And, I'm grateful for a husband who smiles and says that another baby will be just fine.
By the way, this obviously changes my plans to run the Marathon in Seattle in June. I still plan on being there- I'll just have a new baby along for the ride.

*My apologies to all those family members who I didn't call with the news. I really hadn't intended on telling anyone till Christmas, so I figure if you are reading this, you got lucky.

Happy Birthday to Honor!

Today is my sister Honor's birthday. She is about a year and half older than me, which basically means we hated each other growing up. We fought over everything- she hated me following her around, doing anything the same as her, and really wanted to have as little to do with me as possible. Do you blame her? :) It wasn't till she moved away after she graduated from High School that we began to tolerate each other. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, right? And now she is one of my very best friends. We talk on the phone to each other everyday- sometimes more than once a day if the need arises... She listens to me whine and complain about my kids, gives advice when I need it, has great book recommendations, and makes the best desserts of anyone I know. We have been pregnant together twice, which is great because we can talk and compare notes on what is going on. She has four little girls- between the two of us, we make up over half the girl grandchildren population for my parents. I love that she loves my little girls as her own and treats them as such. Honor frequently knows things about my life before anyone else (much to Andrew's irritation- but, when you need to talk and he's at work, what do you do??) Honor truly is the best sister anyone could have. I am so blessed to have her... even if it took us eighteen years to realize what we had.
This is Honor and her husband, Matt. Isn't she pretty?