Indoor Snowman

We had a great family night recently. We decided to make snowmen inside the house. It has been really cold lately, but not very much good snow to go out and play in. So, we made a snowman out of marshmellows. The kids loved it, especially since they LOVE marshmellows and sprinkles.

Ethan was very focused on his sprinkles. He chose to give his snowman sprinkle hair instead of a hat. Pretty creative!!

We hooked the marshmellows together with toothpicks and attached sprinkle eyes, nose, mouth, and buttons with frosting. It was a really fun night together!

Our 7 Year Anniversary!!!

Wow, we have been married 7 years!!!

I am so lucky to have married my best friend whom I love sooooo much!! I can't wait to be married for many, many more years and into the eternities. I love you, Tim!

Well, we take turns planning our anniversary every other year. This year was my year to plan. I had a challenge coming up with something fun and different that I could do in my painful condition being 8 1/2 months pregnant.

First, we went to a 3D Imax movie at the Clark Planetarium. It was called "Under the Sea." It was very good and we learned a lot too! We are looking hot in our 3D glasses!

Then, we went to the Santuary Day Spa and got a couples massage. Tim had never had a massage and was a little nervous about it, but I think he didn't mind it too badly and will be willing to go again sometime! I loved it!!

We ended the night by eating dinner at Tucahnos. The food was amazing and we left feeling very full!! It was a fun day to be able to spend together. I sure love my amazing husband!!

Beth's 30th Birthday

Well, I made the plunge into my 30's!!! I can't believe I am really 30 years old - all of a sudden I am a 'real' grown up - how did that happen?! I had a great birthday weekend!! On the 17th we celebrated with my side of the family; there were balloons and banners and stuff (thanks Mom) and they all chipped in and bought me a massage gift certificate at the Santuary Day Spa - I love that place!

Tim's family celebrated with me on Jan 18th. Tim got me a great ice cream cake that said "Happy Birthday Betit!"

What?! Who is Betit??? We thought it was hilarious! I guess the Dairy Queen people couldn't read Tim's writing. It gave us all a good laugh.

On Jan 20th - my actual birthday- we celebrated by going to the Gale Museum with the kids and Tim and me(Tim took the day off of work). The kids had a great time at the museum and it was fun to be together as a family. My mom also met us at the museum and we had a lot of fun. Later, my parents watched the kids and Tim took me to see Avatar on 3D Imax. It was a great show. It was kind of hard to sit for 3 hours, but I survived.

Lookin' good in our 3D glasses at the movie!!

Then we ate dinner at Bonsai Japanese Steak House. They cooked the food right in front of us and it tasted soooo good.



Tim catching a shrimp that was thrown to him - good job Honey!!

Having fun eating dinner - man, I do look pregnant!! :)

"Happy Birthday to me"

My cute boys giving me presents.

We love playing the game "Operation." Thanks kids!! It was such a great birthday!! Thanks to everyone for making it so special!!

Kids Say the Funniest Things!!!

I wanted to capture a few things that my boys have said in their prayers before I forget them. The other night, Eli was saying his bed time prayers and he said,

"Heavenly Father please bless mommy's tummy to feel better and not to throw up (yes, I was sick last week). And please help Harvey (our dog) to eat all of his food and dinner." I love hearing how his mind works.

Ethan also said something pretty cute in his prayers the other day.

"Heavenly Father please bless mommy's tummy so that she can be a normal mommy again!" I was a little shocked by this. After the prayer, Tim said "yeah, we like it when Mommy is normal, huh Ethan?!" Ethan said, "yes, when the baby comes out we can jump on Mommy again like we used to." Oh... so being able to jump on mommy is what makes me normal - okay then :). Again, I love hearing how their little minds think!!!

On the way home from church, Ethan and Tim had a cute conversation:

Ethan "Daddy what will our new baby sister look like?"
Tim "I don't know. What do you think she will look like?"
Ethan "I think she will be all covered in food!"
Tim "Oh, why?"
Ethan "Because she is in mommy's tummy where all of her food goes."
Tim " Actually, there is a separate spot for mommy's food and then next to it there is a spot just for the baby."

Ethan thought for a second and then said, "Wow, Daddy, you sure know a lot about Mommy's body!"

I sure love my kids and their cute little minds!!!!

Laundry Basket Fun

Well, since I can't leave the house much with this pregnancy, we have gotten a little creative in our activities. This was a fun idea the boys had. The played in the laundry baskets for the longest time. They made cages, boats and slid down the stairs in their laundry baskets.

They were having so much fun - I love how happy they look!!


Sliding down the stairs - amazingly enough, no one got hurt.

Fun video footage of them sliding down the stairs!!

Bed Rest

This pregnancy has gone pretty well until about the end of November. I was having a lot of pain in my ligaments and tendons near my groin and thought maybe it was just normal for my third pregnancy. I went to the doctor for a routine check up and explained my pain. He pushed on my pelvic bone and I almost cried and wanted to hit him :). He explained that I had a condition called Pelvic Symphisis. It occurs when your hormones soften the cartilage between your pelvic bones as a way of preparing for labor. Well, I was only 6 1/2 months pregnant, so why was my body preparing for labor?! Anyway, it did, so now my pelvic bones were mobile and causing a lot of pain to the surrounding tendons and ligaments. I needed "to stay off my feet or I would be put on total bed rest" said my doctor. Yeah right, how do you do that with two wild little boys?? The doctor also said the pelvic bones could overlap and get locked up that way and then I wouldn't be able to move at all - yikes - maybe I would try to stay off my feet :). It hurt to move or do anything and I was starting to have a lot of contractions at night. Sometimes they were very painful and would be about 4 minutes apart for a couple hours. This was motivation to get some help so I didn't deliver this baby at almost 7 months. My mom, sister-in-law, and close friends helped out and my Aunt Maureen as well. I was so grateful to them. Then the ward started to pitch in and so many people volunteered to help out. I was so amazed and touched at their kindness. Now I have someone scheduled to come and help with my kids and stuff on each day, Mon-Fri from 8:30-12:30pm. People are also bringing in meals. I have never experienced such Christ-like service and I truly feel so blessed. I couldn't get through this pregnancy without the help of so many amazing people!!! Now I am almost 34 weeks along and getting closer everyday to being able to deliver our baby girl safely. Thank you with all of my heart to the many kind friends and family who have been such a huge help to me and my family!!!

Ethan Learned to Read!!!

Ethan has always loved books and he has known his letters and the sounds they make for a long time. I knew it was just a matter of time before he started to read. His preschool teacher has also noticed this, so they started to send homework home with Ethan to help him excel and keep his interest. He has loved doing the math and reading homework. Today he brought home a beginning reading book and we looked at it over lunch. It just clicked for him. He sounded out the letters and put the words together. He read his first book!! I was so proud of him and he was so proud of himself. He is not even 4 1/2 years old yet! (I am sorry, I am a proud Mama!) He wanted to keep reading it and practicing so he could get better. He even said, "I have to keep working and practicing so when I get bigger I can teach my kids to read. Hey, I can even teach Eli and my new baby sister to read!" I love how his mind thinks! Then he said, "I need to get more of these books so I can read them at night when I go to bed." Good job on reading your first book, Ethan. I know your love of reading is just going to grow!