Happy Birthday Carlos

My younger brother turned 26 today! Happy Birthday Carlos! Charley had so much fun helping/eating the cake we made for him. She mostly tried to eat the pudding, frosting and cake....Everything takes so much longer when she helps, but it is also so much more fun, and challenging!

Happy Birthday Carlos!

Easter 2009

The Count Down!

Ben graduates from Law school in 16 days! Ben may not be as excited about it as Charley and I are, but we are ready for him to be done! My dad told me that when he was in law school, my mom made a count down chain for his graduation. And we were talking to Ben's parents the other day and they had suggested it as well. So today Charley and I made our own little count down chain! We marked the date on each chain and also wrote on the links the days that grandparents were coming.

Spaghetti & Meatballs

Yummy....

So if you couldn't tell by looking at the pictures we have cupcakes covered in noodles (or frosting), with meatballs (chocolate Easter Eggs with Fudge in the middle ... no one had balls b/c of Easter.) and Sauce (Cherry pie filling that we put in the food processor). Charley and I spent a few hours in the kitchen making this yummy meal for dinner! We set it on the table for dinner, got a few looks when we took it out of the fridge (that was our first mistake), but ended up taking our real dinner out of the oven. And we had spaghetti and meatball cupcakes for dessert!

That was the best Charley and I could do for April Fools! We made a plate for us, and Charley wanted to make a plate for Abi and her family too.

LL Alumni Reception

It is Heritage Week at BYU....which means super busy around here. We had the Barristers Ball last night (which isn't part of Heritage week, but it kinda landed in the middle of it), Living Legends Concert/reception tonight, and Friday and Saturay Pow Wow. There is also a Luau and Fiesta, but I have only been a few times. And my hoop kids...the class that I teach every Saturday...are dancing at Pow Wow this year...along with Charley in Tiny Tots. I am debating if I should dance. I kinda want to, but don't know if I really want to...I am being lazy!

Tonight was so much fun. I wish I could have seen more of you there...but it was nice to see the old group back together, of those that could make it. We had people flying in from Vegas, Virginia, Florida and New York to come tonight and this weekend. I didn't get to take pictures of everyone, but here are a few shots of the ones I did take.

There are a lot of fun things to take pictures of this week...so expect a lot of posts!

Triplets...

So we have been trying to explain to Charley that a new baby is coming. We tried explaining to her a few months ago. But every time we talked about a baby, she thought we were talking about her baby, and would run and get it and give it to me.

Ben and I tried sitting her down a few weeks ago and told her that we were going to have a new baby coming home, and it was in mommy's tummy...and we pat my tummy. Then, Charley pats her tummy and says "Baby in Charley's tummy!", then pats Ben's tummy and says "Baby in Daddy's tummy!" So now she thinks we all have a baby in our tummy. Even when we try and tell her that it is just my tummy, she says "No, Charley's baby!" and pats her tummy.

hopefully she will get it eventually...

Baby Bump...23-ish weeks along

I got my baby bump this last week...however, I think I look pregnant, and people who know I am pregnant think I look pregnant, but to those who don't know me...I just look a little large in the mid section! I still get the "oh, you're pregnant? congratulations, how far along?" response when telling people for the first time. It is a little frustrating. I would like to be small for as long as possible...getting big too fast can only mean more pain. But I am glad to be moving on to the next stage of where I don't have to explain why I have gained weight!

This picture was taken right after coming home from the Barristers Ball. I'll post more on that when I get some pictures from my sister. I meant to bring a camera, but forgot.

I love to see the Temple!

Last weekend we went to the Draper Open house! From the second we told Charley we were going to go to the temple she had to tell everyone she saw! She was so cute, and so excited. She had so much fun. She pointed out every picture of Jesus, which was about every 2 seconds! We went at a perfect time, when there was no lines, and we were able to get through quickly. It was a great family activity!

This picture isn't of the Draper temple, but of the Provo Temple on one of our many walks there. (I love her cheezy smile...my mom said she looks like me in the picture when I was younger) I am so glad she loves the temple so much. Ever since we've gone to the open house, she makes us sing "I love to see the Temple" before she goes to bed. She'll even try to mumble the words with us.

Rex Lee Run!

This is my 3rd year running in the Rex Lee Run! I always have such a fun time running it. The course starts at the football stadium, goes through campus and ends on the outdoor track. The first year I ran it with Brooktynn, and we ran it in honor of our Aunt Denise. We sent her our picture in our shirts, and our race bibs. I am glad we were able to do that for her, even though it really wasn't anything big. She passed away later that summer. The next year I ran it, it was all of my siblings that were here in Provo and Ben and Charley! And this year the number was smaller with just Ben, Charley in the stroller, and Jordan. It was still fun though. Originally we were all going to walk it. Non of us have been really "training" for it. I've been going to the gym but haven't been pushing myself very hard....for obvious reasons. So we decided we would jog/walk the race and just have fun and help support cancer research, and the other members of our family with cancer. Back in Nebraska all 100+ members of our extended family walk/jog together in the cancer race back at home, and since we are so far away, this is our way of supporting our family.

Plus my dad founded the race back when he was SBA president at the law school....before it was taken over by the cancer society on campus. ...I have to give a shout to my cool dad and the law school...where it originated!

So back to the race...we started off running up university parkway (which is a long, big hill!) we felt good and continued through campus running. Once we got to the parking lot of the law school, we had to stop!....We had to stop because I had to go to the bathroom really bad! My bladder has gotten weaker and weaker as the pregnancy has gone on, and the baby bouncing on my bladder was not helping it. We walked until we came to the Benson Building and I ran inside and found a restroom! After that We continued running down the hill by the testing center, through the tennis courts and onto the track! We finished the race in a time of 37:00 minutes....and that is with a 5 minute bathroom break! I think that is a pretty good time for being prego!

The weather was a little chili when we started, but was perfect by the time we finished! It was a great morning!

So you think you can dance?...

...Future Julianne Hough...Charley!

Can't wait for SPRING!!

We have gotten some nice weather this week...so we've been able to take advantage of it. Charley got a bike and a scooter for Christmas, and this was the first time we've been able to take them out. Charley has been going crazy inside...and so I have I, so it has been nice to get out. Plus the last two days I've been running outside with my running stroller!...I love that thing! I will be sad when baby #2 comes and I wont have much use for it anymore.

Pregnancy Pains!

There are a lot of people that love being pregnant....I am not one of those people! I know this is an exciting time in our lives, but I just wish we could just skip the whole pregnant part! I can live through most of the pains, however, with both pregnancies I have had gall bladder problems.

Your gall bladder is what processes your fat. For some women, when they are pregnant, it decides that it doesn't want to process it. So when I eat fat I get these sharp pains under my chest. It feels like someone is sticking a knife in me. If I eat too much fat, and start building gall stones, they will have to remove my gall bladder after I give birth. The goal: no fat!....which SUCKS!....especially when you are pregnant and are very aware of food, and cravings. I am grateful for Ben being the Food Police, but I just want to eat and feel satisfied. I have been eating a lot of salad with either no dressing or fat free dressing, and yogurt, and veggies, and fruit. However, I can only eat so much of it before it doesn't even interest me anymore....I am only 18 weeks, and I still have a long way to go....this is going to be a long 22 weeks!

I have found a few recipes with chicken and rice that are low fat, but I am running out of ideas....If you have any good recipes that are pretty low in fat please send them my way....I am willing to try anything!!!!!!! PLEASE HELP!!!!

*most people who read this have my email...if it is easy to send them that way. If not just ask and I can give it to you.

Thanks Everyone!

World Hoop Dance Championships....it's a doozy!

I guess I'd better first thank Ben...it was hard for him to arrange his schedule so he could come with me to Arizona, and then he drove the whole way there and back...plus sat at the competition all day and helped with Charley! He is amazing! I have the best Husband! And also Thank you Brooktynn and Ryan. We stayed at their house, it was perfect, they literally lived 2 minutes away from the competition site! And then they stayed all day with us, and helped with Charley....which she absolutely loved...she adores her aunt and uncle (mainly Ryan...it is quite funny her little obsession with him!). And also Terri Goedel. Terri is my good friend Erin's dad! Erin could come to compete this year, but her dad has come for the last 13 of the 19 years. He helped me with all my million questions and introduced me to all the right people.

I was at a meeting with all the judges at 8:00am on Saturday. Then Grand Entry was at 9:30am. Charley danced in Grand Entry with me. while we were waiting she saw everyone with their hoops and started trying to copy everything they were doing...it was so cute.



After Grand Entry they asked all the dancers to leave except the Tiny Tots. Then they introduced the judges, the MC, the Arena Director and the drum groups. At that point Charley was already done dancing and wanted to go play. So I spent most of her little dance chasing her back to the arena. She danced for a little bit, but got mad and threw a hoop, and it landed on the forehead of another little kid!...It wasn't good for them to take 15 minutes to introduce everyone before hand...



They started the competition with the Youth (6-12 year olds). They were amazing. I couldn't believe it....I was thinking maybe I could hang with these little kids! Then they went on to the Teen division (13-17 year olds). And they were so creative...kids were break dancing and doing cart wheels. I was really impressed. Then it was the Adult Division (18-40 years of age). There were only 3 girls in my group, and the rest guys. I tried not to watch, but it was too hard. Ben kept saying ..."did you see that!?" referring to all the cool things they were doing.

When I was on deck I went to the drum group that would be singing for me and told them I was 4 months pregnant and I needed a slower song. They laughed at me and told me I was crazy for dancing while pregnant!



My dance went fine. We were on a time limit, and decided that I wasn't going to do my whole routine. Most people weren't. I eased up and got less nervous after my first hoop, and things went great....I made all of my formations and didn't drop a hoop. I think I was pretty graceful dancing and then I almost fell!....not so graceful anymore!..heehee....I had placed all of my hoops on the ground and signaled the drum that I was done and continued to dance while they finished the song...and as the song was ending I was dancing right by my hoops and stepped on my hoops as I was stopping....and almost fell....when that happened you could hear everyone gasp! I just laughed and collected my things and went off!...I didn't fall, but it was really funny!...of course I got points taken off for that!

When my division was done dancing they had our scores posted within five minutes. (they had been tallying while everyone was dancing.) I was pretty pleased with my scores. Of the 5 categories my scores matched all of the top dancers...except the speed category. I knew me dancing slow would cost me some points, but I didn't realize that I would lose so many. I got 28 out of 50 points, and everyone else got in the 40's. I was 16 points from the top 10, and if I had just danced a little faster, and not tripped at the end, I would have made it to the finals. I ended up tied for 12th place, and 2nd of the females!

I wasn't upset or disappointed with the scores. I learned a lot from this trip. It has always been a goal to compete and I did it. I had people come up to me after I danced and told me how beautiful my dancing was, and even when I wasn't wearing my regalia I had people come tell me how great I was. It just made me fell good, and know that I don't suck and am actually pretty good. I am hoping to go next year, when I am not pregnant!

I'll post a video later!

Happy Birthday Karly

So I am leaving to Arizona tomorrow, and I have a million things to do...but I decided I wanted to make a cake!....It calms me in a way! I have gotten so weird in my older years...heehee. Anyway, Since it is Karly's birthday tomorrow, I decided I should make her a cake!

So Happy Birthday Karly!...Here is your yummy cake!

Thank You!

I just read up about the hoop competition...and it looks pretty hard!...They only take the top 10 dancers from each age division (which mine is the biggest division) to compete in the finals. There are so many dancers that go down there....This first time will have to be for fun! But I am glad Ben was able to work out his work and school schedule so he could come down with me. It will be a nice little get a way for us.

And thank you everyone for all your warm wishes and support!....I have the best family and friends! I'll update on the competition when I get back.

And thanks to everyone who made my Birthday special! It was a great day! 3 more years of the 20's before I hit the big 3-0!!!

Thanks again!