My hearts desire

Anyone that knows me, knows I want another kid. I've wanted more since Chris was born. I would have been excited to be pregnant at any point after he was born. Mike was done. We talked about it a lot but neither of us really willing to change our minds. I prayed every day (maybe not every day, but very often) for another child, for Mike and I to agree. After a year of getting nowhere I thought maybe we weren't supposed to have more kids, maybe I needed to change instead. So I started praying that God would take away my desire to have more kids, that if we were not supposed to have more, that I wouldn't want anymore. My desire never went away. It only got stronger. A few months ago we decided to try to put aside our own feelings about more kids and really try to listen to God and hear what he thinks about us having more kids or not. 5 days later I found out I'm pregnant. I cried with joy and thankfulness when the test turned positive. Mike was definitely shocked and still trying to figure out how we are going to handle three kids. I am so excited to have a 3rd. 3 has been the number in my head for a long time, even before we had 1. 2011 will bring my hearts desire and I am so thankful for it! Our little bean is due the end of August.

Last week we got the kids in their jammies and got in the car to see Christmas lights. I made chocolate chip cookies and hot chocolate for the drive. Nolan calls lights sprinkles which made it even cuter.

pointing at the pretty sprinkles

This is what chocolate chip cookies look like after they've been eaten.

I think they had a good time!

6 small children and lots of sprinkles

A few weeks ago we had some friends over and let all the kids make and decorate cookies. We had blast!

The pictures are in reverse order because I uploaded them wrong and can't figure out how to fix it.

Just a few sprinkles

Baby with a knife

starting with frosting

every chance he got (and there where lots of chances) Chris would grab a bite of dough.

catch up

I've realized how much I have neglected this blog. I know I do this every few months.

We have done lots of fun things (like go to France) since I last posted. The thought of trying to catch up in any detail is too overwhelming, so I'm not gonna bother. Here are a few pictures from the last few months.

Carcassonne

Popi reading to Chris in my parents flat in Toulouse.

The beach we went to was very rocky, but the boys liked it that way. They spent hours throwing rocks in the water.

Our month their flew by and I was sad to leave! For more pictures (and better quality) check out Mike's Cameramonkey facebook page.

We came home and it was fall.

carving pumpkins for Halloween

a nice fall day

the boys helped make Thanksgiving dinner

and then it turned to winter

and the sledding has begun. Nolan loves it this year and we are so excited about it!

dirt and water

makes mud

mud and little boys

make afternoons fun

organized

I came down stairs to find Nolan had picked up all the letters (that he threw on the floor) and put them back on the fridge

I guess he likes things organized by color.

Summer time in pictures

ice cream cones are a must

Nolan turned 3

new scooter

and bike

summer is so fun!

"Date night"

Mike was working and I went along for the few hours he had between shots.

We also had a fantastic trip to California where I did not even touch my camera, however, Mike took almost 1000 pictures so I should be able to get a few from him to post.

I am having a hard time. It has been a hard week (or two) and I really want to run away. So I will make a list of all the things that have made me smile in the last week instead.

N going head first down the slide, into the pool

C gaining a pound

C head banging with me (or at me)

N staying dry last night

both boys riding their bikes together

taking a nap

playing soccer with my man

watching C and N play with Daddy

N asking his brother to come play with him

Hugs from N and C

you are almost 3

and as cute as ever!

boys and their bikes

both boys got new bikes a few days ago (thank you Grammy and Papi). All they want to do is ride them. As soon as they wake up, they are asking to go outside and ride bikes.

They ride a couple driveways down, turn around and come back.

I love watching them ride together.

The smiles and the riding last for hours.

camping in Big Cottonwood Canyon

We went camping a few weeks ago up Big Cottonwood Canyon (only 30 minutes from home).

Dude was so excited to "fish". Look what he caught!

Learning how to cast

reeling it in

not too bad for a 30 minute drive

about 20 minutes after we got there, this moose decided to snack on the bushes right by us. He hung around while we set up the tent and got the fire going. Dude wanted to know if he could ride him.

Buddy and I were there as well, we just aren't in any pictures. We also has some good friends join us for the second night. The kids had a blast hiking, fishing and playing together.

He is SO cute!

The American Dream

About 2 months ago we decided to sell our house so we could move to a better neighborhood and get a bigger, nicer house. Our home has been for sale for 1 month and only 1 person has wanted to see it. From the beginning I prayed it wouldn't sell if we aren't supposed to move. Last week I started feeling like we shouldn't be moving. We need to be happy with what we have. We need to stop wanting bigger and better and just be content with where we are and all the wonderful things we do have. After talking and thinking and praying, we decided not to sell. We are going to stay in this great house (even better now all the little projects got finished) and enjoy our really nice neighbors. The schools here are bad, just plain bad, so I will have to drive to kids to a different school when the time comes. But for now, we are going to enjoy doing fun things as a family and going on vacations instead of paying a bigger mortgage. I feel such a sense of peace about staying here and being thankful for everything we do have instead of wanting more.