The day We Found Out

This is the day that we found out and confirmed my hunch that we are having a Girl! Samantha is all smiles. She is excited that baby #4 is a baby sister. Samantha pats and kisses my tummy often. When I eat, Samantha reminds me that baby sister is eating the same thing. The boys like to say "tickle tickle, little baby" as they tickle my stomach. As for my stomach it is growing astronomically fast. I feel big. I have spelled out a timeline for the children so they realize it's going to be be while before baby makes her appearance. I tell them "after Halloween, Seth's birthday, Thanksgiving and Daddy's birthday" - she will arrive. My due date is Christmas day.

Samantha's Graduation

During the three months (March -May) that I lived without a digital camera, Samantha had her preschool graduation. Just yesterday I finally got around to developing the DISPOSABLE cameras I used during that time. I had to post the pictures because it makes me grin, laugh, smile and get teary-eyed thinking about the graduation. It was so cute. Dang cute!

Sorry about the low quality pictures.

Samantha all smiles collecting her diploma

The graduating class of 2009
Samantha saying her speaking part impressively well

The little graduate smiling at Daddy

We love you Samantha.

Buckaroo Rodeo in WY

Tom's sis, LeAnn, was coordinator of the Buckaroo Rodeo in Kemmerer, WY. We made our way over to those parts to enjoy the event. It was a hoot. Sheep riding to bull riding. The ribbon pull and stick horse barrel racing. Trey has rodeo in his blood. With help from uncle Clay, Trey circled the barrels on his stick horse. Cousins Nora, Reese, Leah and Julienne also participated.

Cousins

Cousins over for the weekend.

Julienne & Reese came to play

Happy Birthday Samantha

July 10th we celebrated Samantha's 5th birthday. We had such a fun time with so many friends and family members. Samantha and the boys filling up the pinata

Happy Birthday Samantha! You are such a STAR in our life!

Red Light Green Light

Let's Work Together

The 4th

Samantha lighting her first firework, a tank.

Trey with cousins Leah and Nora

Tom & Seth schooling the guys at horseshoes (I actually have no idea who won or what the score was)

Seth keeping a safe distance from the fire. It took a mere 30 minutes to roast the marshmellows

The water hole on uncle Cade and Aunt Jill's property.

Eating yummy peas from Jill's garden

Parade fun, in Hyrum, UT. Where were you Dan and Shalyse?

Some unexpected 4th of July visitors and two darling princesses.

Trey already impressing the ladies. (With cute cousin Nora Tess)

A Visit to the Fire Station

For playgroup we took a tour of the fire station. The firefighters were so good talking to the kids about fire safety. One of the firemen dressed up in firefighting gear, it freaked out the kids. Then we headed out to the garage to climb through an ambulance and sit in a fire truck. The children thoroughly enjoyed it.

Trey trying a helmet on for size.

That Wasn't So Bad

I have often said that Tom is the reason (in more ways than one) that I've been able to have 3 children in 3 years and stay somewhat sane. Tom is remarkable at helping out with the children the minute he gets home from work. So having Tom leave for a 4-day High Adventure camping trip with the young men in our ward was a bit of a concern for me. I really love Tom's 5:23 pm home arrival each day from work and I was really going to miss not having that for 4 days in a row. Fortunately it wasn't so bad. We survived. And it went fast!

We did things like Art in the Park with Holly, Everett and Scarlett. The kids made silly hats.

We went to Logan.

We went to Wheeler Farm with cousin Natalie from Seattle.

My sis, Shannon and her daughter Natalie flew in. Natalie stayed and Shannon flew home two days later.

Bummer note: I got a $240 speeding ticket for flying on Legacy Parkway. 80 mph in a 55, not good.

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Tom got home on Thursday! He had a blast in Yellowstone, rafting, touring the park, and eating like a king. He planned it that way. He got home and we promptly whisked him off to Cherry Hill water slide park for some family time.

Then today, Friday, the dreaded dentist appointment for Seth. Oh how I feel so bad for my little son, and feel quite lame for letting his teeth get so bad. Seth had alot of work that needed to be done, so much that the dentist office kept referring to it as surgery. Tom took him. I cried watching Seth leave and I cried when he got home. When they got home Seth was still a little out of it, his face swollen and his mouth had traces of blood. Tom assured me that I would not have been able to handled taking him. Watching Seth go out and everything. Now that it's been almost three hours he's doing better. He's eaten peaches and applesauce. I vow to brush my childrens' teeth better.