We're Having A.....

BEAUTIFUL BABY GIRL! And we cant be happier!

I think we're still in a bit of shock! Even though we thought/ knew we were having a girl, it was still surprising to have it verified! We went to a local ultrasound clinic that you pay a ridiculous amount for, but you get to find out as early as 16 weeks! Darren said if it would have been a boy, it would have been a waste of money, but that since it was a girl, the money was worth it! lol. After we found out I went on a mini shopping spree, or 3, for clothes and fabric!

3D picture! Her wrists are over her ears! So sweet!

Her beautiful profile!

Exciting!

She is one happy girl! Always moving and dancing about in mommy's tummy!

There is still so much to get used to though! I went to the mall to find clothes for Kaiden, and usually when I go into a store I bee line to the boys side and sneak peeks over at the girls side! This time it was like, duh, I can shop over there now! And just like that, shopping got 10x more fun!

Kaiden is so excited for his baby sister! There is an old wives tale that says if you already have a boy and are expecting a girl, that the boys will be more affectionate with their mothers. Well I completely agree! He is constantly loving on my belly! He tells everyone about his baby sister! When I show him  what I've bought for her, he wants to kiss and hug every thing! In the car I told Darren, "I love ya honey!" and Kaiden pipes in the back "I love my SISTER!" lol. The other day I asked Kaiden  if he loved me and he said "No, I love my baby sister!" He also constantly asks when she is coming out. lol. As if waiting 5 more months wasn't going to be hard enough!

I'm having so much fun decorating both a boys Monster room and a baby girl's Sweet Shop room! I can't wait until they are finished and I can post pictures!!! Here is a sneak peek of what I painted for the Boy's room!

Baby, Ready or Not!

This summer we got a little surprise present from, our dear friend, the Stork! I actually found out Father's Day/ our 4 year Anniversary weekend and told Darren over dinner on our date! It was so sweet! While I was still in shock, he was excited the minute I told him! lol. I won't lie, I've had the worst morning sickness and I absolutley HATED being sick during the most fun months of the year. However, it was super nice to have Darren home ALL summer to help out during my first trimester! It really couldn't have been planned better! We are super excited to meet our dear, sweet Baby Cakes this February! Once this one is born we will have  Winter, Spring, and Fall babies! Maybe next time we'll get a Summer baby and complete the Seasonal Set! lol. Kaiden likes to hug my belly and listen to the baby's heartbeat. Jaxton just likes to give my belly raspnberries! lol. We are beyond excited for this baby and we get to find out pink or blue next week! (Although we having a feeling it may be pink!) But dont quote us because we would be over the moon excited for a boy. Really, we dont mind as long as the baby is healthy! Everyone has been telling us it's a girl, like I'd be upset with another boy, but I love my boys and would happily have all boys! I just hate the not knowing part! I just want to get to work nesting and decorating already!!!!!! =D And if it is a girl, I've got some SERIOUS shopping to do! lol. And although this baby has been a little turkey what with the Kidney Infection (usually caused by pregnancy) and the awful morning sickness, he/she has been quite fun! I felt the baby move at 11 weeks (super early since I felt Kaiden at 13 and Jaxton at 14!) and Darren has been able to feel the kicks since 13 weeks! Holy Ninja Baby Batman! All of this, leads me to believe it's a girl. I always said if we have a girl she will be the death of us, lol. She would be spoiled rotten and wild and constantly keeping us on our toes! I've been correct at guessing Kaiden and Jaxton's personalities and based on how I feel this one's personality is, my guess is girl. But I wouldn't mind being proved wrong. =D We shall see! Did I  mention I hate waiting!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

What happened to July and August!?

Well, the month  of July sure flew by fast! I've been holding off on updating our blog because we lost our camera on one of our trips and I kept hoping against hope it would turn up somewhere... oh well. Darren bought us a new camera that I actually like more! It has the same fun functions as my old one, plus some. So hopefully our next posts will have pics and our camera wont get lost..... again! I really do have the WORST luck with cameras!
So Right after my birthday Darren and I flew to St. Louis for his 10 year high school reunion. It was actually just an excuse for a "lovers get away" and was so much fun! We rented a car for a way cheap price and they even upgraded us to an Electric Blue Mustang because they had an overstock! No extra charge! Awesome! Our first night there was terrifying for me since I had never been to St. Louis and we had a misshap with our GPS which lead us into the ghetto while we were looking for an Olive Garden! lol We laugh now, but not when the cops pulled us over in our flashy car to tell us that we were obviously lost and to carry weapons with us next time we were in the neighborhood, I was traumatized! Darren's goal the rest of the trip after that was to take me to the super trendy, nice parts of St Louis. lol Darren's reunion was great! It was so fun to meet all  his old friends and you could tell he had a really good time, even though lots of the friends he was hoping would be there, weren't. It was a really great, yet awfully short, weekend!
We had only been home a day when Darren suggested driving to Nauvoo that night! And of course I love the spur of the moment spontaneity so I was ALL for it, and away we went... with the kids this time! =D We really enjoyed walking around Nauvoo! It's soooo pretty and I just can't get over the temple there! On our second/ last night we had planned to go to the Nauvoo pagaent, but I wasnt feeling too well and I told Darren to go without me. The next morning I just knew something was wrong. Actually I just thought I was dehydrated after walking around in 100+ heat for 2 days and that I'd need an IV. So I'm feeling awful and I feel like I'm dying so we packed our things that morning to drive home. Well, our car had a flat tire, so we had to drive around looking for a place to fix it which took an hour and then we were on the road for 5 hours until we got home. We dropped the kids off at Grammy Dena's and headed to the closest hospital for an "IV." Well I check in and apparently I'd had a 104 temp so they immediatley checked me into the ER. Where I stayed for 4 days! Longest days of my life! I missed my kiddos so much! Thankfully they got the Kidney Infection treated and I got to go home to be with them! =D
3 weeks later was the Iowa State Fair! Darren and I have been every summer except 1 since we've been married so it was a MUST! We met up with my grandma Nonie and spent a good 3 hours there, which is great since we had our kiddos! We ate everything! And it was all soooooo yummy! And I got my first sno cone of the season! Yippee! Even though they only had 5 flavors to choose from, at that point I wasnt picky! I may just need to buy a sno cone maker and some caramel flavoring for next summer!
A few days after the fair was Darren's birthday! He's not as "into" birthdays as I am, but I think he was pretty happy to spend the time with his family! The lucky dog got himself an IPad and accessories! Although when it's home, it becomes "Kaiden's Ipad!" lol. The night before his birthday, Darren and I had a date night! We went to Famous Dave's, walked around Cabela's, grabbed dessert at a cafe, and saw the new Batman movie that was out in theatres!  I  just love spending time with that handsome man of mine! I'm one very lucky girl! ;D And on Darren's birthday, day, it was a sunday so we did a family dinner at Dena's house. It was all very nice and I believe Darren enjoyed every bit of his birthday weekend!
And finally, at the end of this month Darren started Law School! He's  on his second week and LOVING it! I know he'll make a great lawyer one day! I'm just happy that our family has started settling into a routine again! So nice after such a hectic summer! lol. In 1 week Kaiden will be starting Pre School for 2, half days a week! I'm so excited he gets that opportunity! And he is enrolled at the Pre School where all of the parents from our ward take their kids! So it will be almost like nursery! He is sooo excited to go! It's all he wants to talk about! What a cutie pie! He is getting so big, I just cant believe it!!!

WHEW what a summer!!!

My 24th Birthday!

 Wahoooooooo! The big 2-4!!!! As usual I had a fabulous Birthday Day!!! Darren took me shopping for a new Birthday shirt at my fave store, The Buckle, and I found this little cutie! I just love it! The picture seriously doesn't do it justice!

Darren and I combined our birthdays and our anniversary gift into our getaway this weekend! We leave friday for St. Louis!! BUT he still managed to get me a few gifts to have on my birthday!

I saw this adorable mirror on craigslist for literally a STEAL of a deal! I showed Darren and voila it's MINE! I have soooo many ideas of what to do with it. The hard part will be deciding what idea to use! If you cant tell, this mirror is HUGE!!!!

Darren and I havn't really had a cute bedroom since we've been married. Usually if we have decorating in the budget we choose to use it on the rooms that get used and seen often, so our room was always neglected. Well not this time! For my birthday I got extra decorating pillows and the Tiffany blue throw! Yay for a room I get excited to sleep in every night!!

Mom's are the BEST at picking out Birthday presents! My mom found this at an art show/ trade show and thought of me! It's one of a kind, hand painted and matches perfectly with my kitchen!!!!!! It's an appetizer plate and a small pitcher for sauces and gravies! I may stress about it constantly getting broken in a house full of wild boys, but definitley worth it! (And it matches my birthday shirt!!)

For my birthday dinner I requested Chili's because I just love that place and their food sounded extremeley good! Dena and Farrell even came along to join us!!!! Our kids were crazy at dinner, but we knew they would be! lol. After dinner we headed back to our house for cake!

One of my special birthday requests was a cake made by a delicious bakery! Luckily I found one! Bliss Bakery, which is just down the street! They were featured on Cupcake Wars, a show on the Food Network! This cake was AMAZING! I literally can't even begin to describe how yummy it was!

Kaiden always jumps at the chance to blow out candles! lol.

The filling was a strawberry cream! If you've ever had one of those Lindor Truffles, the chocolate balls with the melt in your mouth centers, then you would know the amazing consistency of the strawberry cream filling! I couldn't believe how the taste and texture were just so perfect! Farrell REALLY liked this cake, he had  the biggest piece of all and even called to request we save him another! lol.

After cake, Dena presented me with her gift to me! A beautiful Cupcake Cookie Jar! How cute! I just love decorating my little kitchen!!!! I may need to bake some cookies to fill it up!!!!

Once we got the kiddos to bed, Darren and I snuggled up and watched a movie on the couch! It was seriously such an amazing day! And I'm thankful for everyone who made it so! I just can't wait for this weekend!!!!!!!!!!! We need a vacation so bad! lol. =D

Our 4th of July!

This year the 4th was on a Wednesday and it seemed like everyone was celebrating Independence WEEK! lol. Non stop fireworks every night! It was so great! Tuesday night we snuck in the back of our townhome complex and watched the fireworks over the Omaha Skyline! So pretty! The boys stayed up late to watch them and were so tired the next morning. Which kinda ruined our plans to go to the 4th of July parade. =( In fact, the boys were so off on their nap schedules on the 4th that they were both in bed at 6:30 pm! Earlier that day Kaiden and Darren had gone out and bought a TON of fireworks, so Darren was a little disappointed he would have to wait a whole day to enjoy them with his boys. The wait was worth it though! The boys loved the little firework show we had in our parking lot!

Grampa Mark in Omaha!

Let's be honest, since my dad is a pilot, he has been EVERYWHERE! And of course he's been to Omaha SEVERAL times throughout his pilot career, so I was determined to show him a side of Omaha he hasn't seen before!
Grampa Mark arrived late Saturday night, so sunday morning was super exciting for the boys! It was like waking up for Christmas, they just love their Grampa Mark! After church we had the kids play outside in the water, which they LOVE! They were so fun to watch!

After a hard afternoon's play, I made us all a quick snack and sent the boys OFF to the College World Series Baseball Game! It's only been one of my Dad's dreams to go!

 He is a HUGE Baseball fan and even got a scholarship to BYU for Baseball! Other than flying airplanes, baseball is his favorite! And Darren was more than happy to accompany him at the game! Apparently they scored amazing seats! (knowing my dad, he wouldn't have gotten anything but the best! lol) My dad says next year he wants to go to EVERY game! We'll see what happens! All I know is, they had a BLAST!

 Monday we spent ALL day at the zoo! Which my boys think is their second home now! lol.

 After the zoo, Grampa treated us all to some ice cream at Culver's which is my new favorite ice cream joint around here! YUMMMMMM! Jaxton has the BEST ice-cream face! lol.

And for dinner that night I had planned our very own Father's Day Dinner with the theme "Super Dad!" Because our dad's are so amazing they can be called Superheroes!

 I had so much fun planning out the meal, decorating and shopping for it! =D
Just look at that delicious menu!!!!

 Kaiden liked the kazoos the most! I think he tried to use it asw a vaccuum to eat his food! lol

 After the wonderful Superhero dinner, I had secretly planned for a babysitter to watch our kids so I could take the Super Dad's to a movie! Can you guess which one!? The Avengers of course!!! It was great and the best part was that my dad stayed awake the WHOLE time! haha! What a fun night!

 Tuesday morning we got up early and walked down to the Botanical Gardens! We've only been once before and although we spent an hour there, we had maybe only seeen half! So this time we made a point to see what everyone around here talks about, the trains!!!!!!!!!

 All I can say is this train track is HUGE and has several different trains running all around! The kids loved it and it was so much fun to watch!!  Above is a replica of the Omaha skyline! I wasn't kidding when I said it was SMALL! lol There is the Woodmen Building, the Union Pacific Building and a bank building, the name of which I've forgotten already. =D

 CHOOOOOOO CHOOOOOOOOOO right above our heads!!!

 The whole track was made of wood! And all the buildings around it were also hand carved out of wood! So beautiful!

For lunch that day we went to the Amazing Piza Machine! Darren had still never been there so it was time! We all had a fun time! And the food isn't great but it's pretty decent for the type of place it is!

 I'm pretty sure we all had a great time, I mean we spent 3 and a half hours there that day! lol And Kaiden cried when we had to leave. He is our little adrenaline junkie!

 Grampa Mark and Kaiden raced Darren on the track! Kaiden really gets a kick out of this!

And EARLY wednesday my dad had to leave. It was so sad because Kaiden woke up looking for his Grampa and when he couldn't find him, he snuggled up to Darren and had a few tears roll down his sweet little cheeks! Poor kid REALLY gets attached to Grampa every time he comes! On a plus side, Grampa may be coming back in August to go to the Iowa State Fair with us!!!! YIPPEEEEEE!

Ashlea's Wedding, Our 4 Year Anniversary, Youth Conference and Pt 1 of Father's Day!

How about that title!!!?! Needless to say we've been pretty busy lately! Jaxton and I started off the month of June flying out to Salt Lake for my sister's wedding!

I wasn't sure how he would do on the plane, but he far and surpassed ANYTHING I could have hoped! He LOVED the plane! He would wave and throw smiles at anyone sitting around us. Then he would ask to be held, so my child was getting passed around the plane! lol. The flight home I was more nervous about because we were arriving home at 11 pm, but AGAIN he surpassed my expectations, by sleeping the WHOLE flight! What a champ!

Salt Lake was sooo much fun and was kinda a mini Michael Family Reunion! My grandparents rented out a mansion for everyone to stay at, but Jaxton and I stayed at Grammy Carries house!
 We all had so much fun catching up and being with family! I havnt seen most of these guys since last June!! There is just nothing like being around family! Ashlea's wedding was beautiful and I was so excited that I was able to make it and be there for her on her BIG day! I hope they have all the happiness they can ever imagine comes out of marriage, PLUS some! lol. =D

At the rehearsal luncheon! How cute! In less than 24 hrs they would be man and wife!

The glowing bride! Getting ready to walk down the isle in an hour!

The handsome groom hours before tieing the knot!

Just look at that beautifully fitted, Victorian style wedding dress! What a beautiful bride! I wonder whose silly baby that is with choclate all over his face! lol

Just 2 days after Jaxton and I got back from Salt Lake, Darren and I were signed up to be Youth Conference Parents for our stake! It was such a beautiful and spiritual experience! It's no secret I would love to one day be in Young Women's so I was beyond THRILLED to be out with the youth for the weekend! I don't think Darren and I could have ever imagined how attached we would get to our 5 "kids" in such a short time! The youth here are sooo amazing and are so spiritually strong, it is just amazing to have gotten to know these kids! Darren and I were pretty popular with a lot of kids that weren't even in our group so really it was no surprise to us that they asked us to be parents again next year for a Trek through Wyoming! Darren and I would love to go if things can work out again!!!

Youth Conference ended saturday afternoon, and saturday was acutally our 4 year anniversary!!! Wahooo!!!! I am seriously married to the hottest, smartest and all around the most WONDERFUL guy ever! Our personalities jsut compliment each other's soooo well! Of course I KNOW I'm the LUCKIEST girl in the world! And it's a plus we make adorable kids! We actullay celebrated our anniversary the night before we left for youth conference by going out to P.F. Changs! YUM! Also, Darren and I are planning a mini vacation/ get away next month! Darren has his 10 year high school reunion in Kansas City, so we are flying out, renting a car and staying in hotels! It's going to be soooo fun!!!! Hooray for a weekend ALL about US! =D


The reason we celebrated our anniversary early was because that sunday was Father's Day but because Darren's brother's family was in town we had to had the dinner a night before so they could get home. Dena made a wonderful dinner and it was an enjoyable evening for all of us!!! I had my own Fathers Day Dinner planned up my sleeve but I was going to wait a week because my Dad was coming into town the following week!!!! YAY! I'm devoting the whole next post to his visit! I am so lucky to have had such a great dad and such a great husband who is such a great dad to my very handsome boys!