Memorial Day Weekend

Of course, we're gonna go camping- long weekend, good weather, access to the perfect campsite (Giles' north field). We got there, and Jared and the kids set up the tent. I sat in my new camping recliner, taking pictures, and keeping my feet up. It was fairly windy, so Jared needed lots of help holding down the tarp, and the tent, and fastening straps.
We built 2 fires- one in the fire pit for cooking in the dutch oven, and one regular fire for roasting marshmallows and keeping warm. I'm always a bit surprised when I can light a fire and keep it going! Jared took the kids for a walk along the Provo River, which is running high due to runoff from melting snow. While they were gone, I started the stew for dinner. The food always seems to taste better when we're outside. Even W, who is currently on a "I don't like meat" kick, managed to finish a bowl of it.
That night was warm, but terribly windy. I was sure, several times, that the tent was going to take off like a giant kite! It didn't seem to bother the kids at all, but I couldn't go to sleep. There was a cold front coming in, so we got the tent and sleeping bags packed up right after breakfast, then stopped by my grandparents' house for a quick visit. They seem to be doing okay- still tired, but in good spirits.


Sunday was cold and windy. Nasty weather for a holiday weekend! Monday was supposed to be the same, but we just couldn't waste a day off inside, watching movies, so we packed up a lunch and headed up Big Cottonwood Canyon to find a hiking trail to explore. As you can see, we all had long pants and jackets, and it was a bit chilly, but we had a great hike. The runoff from melting snow added a bit of adventure- twice we had to cross streams of water that ran across the trail. They weren't too deep- maybe a foot at most- and there were plenty of large rocks to use as a footpath. We ended the hike when the trail became two logs set over a deep ravine with no other way around. Almost as soon as we started down, it began to snow. Just a little, and it was too warm to stick to anything, but it was nice to be heading back to a warm car. And that evening our neighbors invited us over for a BBQ- the kids played tag, and jumped on the trampoline. Of course, now that the holiday is over, and kids are in school 'till the end of this week, the weather has warmed right up!

<3 j

Nuisances

Well, at (almost) 21 weeks, I am remembering some of the little things that bug me about being pregnant.

• ankles and feet that swell up if I stand too long.
• a sciatic nerve that weakens my right leg- certain positions put too much pressure on it and it buckles. But I'm more aware of it now, as it recurs every pregnancy.
• heartburn.
• being too big for normal jeans, and too small for the maternity ones.
• remembering to take my prenatal pills.
• no more laying on my tummy, which happens to be my favorite lounging position.
• my changing center of balance.
• the pregnant waddle.
• eating more often, because there is less room in my stomach.
• shortness of breath, again because there is less room in my stomach.
• watching for blood clots- not that it's happened yet, but it is genetically probable, so I'm taking precautions.

But I also remember the heart-stopping feeling of little kicks and flutters, and realizing that there is a little person growing inside of me. I'm so glad this is the last time, and so grateful for the ones I already have, and feeling a bit anxious to see what this next one turns out like! And no, I don't want twins, Allison!

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Scrapbooking

So I'm up to Christmas 2004 chronologically. I was also scrapping 2005, sometimes, as I got the pics developed. First LO has journaling about moving the tree, and the sprinkling of snow we got just in time for Christmas.











Second LO has journaling all over the first page, and under the "bad" tag on the second page. Basically goes through getting the kids up, opening stockings and presents, and the little saga of W's present from Melissa- he opened it early, because he said he didn't like the wrapping paper. Yeah, right. So Melissa took the present, but left a little box with the note and the 'You've been BAD' tag on it. The note was from Mrs. Claus and told W if he was good all day, he could open the box at dinnertime. Then, inside the box was another note telling him to look under the Christmas tree, and there was the present from Melissa!

There's also a note about the tags- Melissa worked for the Publications and Graphics Dept at a university, and every year they'd do something cool for the holidays. One year everybody got a bunch of different Christmas tags, like the 'You've been BAD' tag and others. LOL, the creativity amazes me! So I had to include that, just because it was cool! Oh, and both these LOs were made from page kits I got back in Iowa- thank you whoever made them!!! But that officially finishes up 2004. Hooray!

Anyway, I have a few LOs to do for the beginning of 2005- didn't take many pics, though, because I was too busy with the kids and trying to find a house and stuff. The middle of the year is mostly done- M's gymnastics, Easter, soccer, all the kids' birthdays, family reunions. The next big project will be all the weddings- Nate's, Melissa's, and Angela's. Then there's Thanksgiving, and Christmas, and a few other small things in there. And that will take me through 2005! Although, if I feel like scrapping stuff from this year, I probably will LOL.

So Jared leaves tomorrow for Wendover. Oh joy. He's gone until Thursday. And M doesn't have school this week, so she's bugging me at 8:30am to let her go to a friend's house. Ack! No, their moms would not appreciate that at ALL. Especially since one of them has a new baby, so she's lucky to get any sleep at all, and the other is an only child, and normally wakes up about 10am. Then there's M, who's up around 6:30am, bright and annoyingly cheerful to people who would prefer to sleep at that time LOL.

Sorry, bit of a pause- H was into the peanut butter. Luckily, it was just all over his hands and face, and not all over the kitchen as well. That boy is the sneakiest little kid I've had so far! Just helps himself- quietly- to whatever he thinks he should get! W and M will make noise when they're into things, and I can catch them because I hear them. But H is SO quiet, I never know what he's doing. LOL, I need a cow bell to put around his neck, then I'd hear him if he was in the house! Yesterday he got into my purse (in my room!), and had dumped out everything in the outside pockets, looking for gum. Luckily there wasn't any in there, because last time he found the gum, he ate it, and threw up later. And I had to clean it up, trying not to add anything to it, because Jared was in Moab, I think. SO not interested in repeating that, thank you!

Oh, and there's a nice cool breeze blowing today- not too sunny, and perfect for playing outside. We watch so much TV and so many movies during the winter, I feel like we need to take advantage of the great summer weather. And so I banish (wink) the kids to the backyard, and the mud holes and swingset, and their extensive imaginations.

Today is grocery day. W has a recipe he wants to try, and a whole list of ingredients I need to buy for it. I believe we'll stop and get lunch, and play at the park for a while.

I really do love summer!

<3 j

baptism

Wow, what handsome guys! This was taken yesterday, before W's baptism. Jared performed it, and all the family contributed something- music, or a talk, or praying. It was great to see W choose this, understanding what it means: making a promise to God to follow His commandments. The sun was out, but a cool breeze kept the day perfect for an outside picnic after. I was so grateful to have all the family there! My mom brought up a salad and her famous brownies, and my sister Melissa brought some delicious grapes and a vegetable tray. I made up a meat and cheese platter, Jared made rolls for sandwiches, and some chocolate chip cookies. I love being close to family, and having an excuse to invite them all over! LOL, we have 5 babies due this year in Jared's family, starting in August and going through December. So we had all sorts of lovely pregnant info to exchange!

And since all of Jared's brothers and sisters were there, we talked John into taking a Gailey family photo. Don't know when we'll all be together again; with six kids (5 w/spouses), and 5 grandchildren (10 by the end of 2006), it may be a year or two!

Today, everybody but me headed down to Nate and Caitlin's for church, and lunch afterwards. I had to stay and attend our church here- I was in charge of the women's meeting, and had nobody to pass it off to! But, that meant I visited w/family this morning before they left, then had a lovely, quiet afternoon by myself- which is the perfect Mother's Day present right now!

<3 j

big weekend

So this is from W's birthday party. Just us- I know, boring. Oh well! He wanted a velveteen rabbit (probably because he's recently read that story), and a few books; he also got a new lamp. And this weekend is his baptism- Saturday, May 13, at 11am.
Gearing up for that, and feeding everyone after, so I'm thinking I won't have much spare time this week. But things should go well, and I'm excited to be able to celebrate this with family.
M still tired and not feeling well. Hopefully everybody else is over this, and we won't have any sick kids on Saturday.
<3 j

good book

Read a book today- "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. It's written from the POV of an autistic boy. It sucked me in- like all good books do- and I was oblivious to everything outside of its pages.

Also, had a lovely visitor this weekend- Melinda, we miss you already! Melissa accused her of producing productivity wherever she went, and it certainly proved true here. I had a bunch of card kits to put together, and we managed to finish them all- 50 cards total! And that was just one afternoon of work. She babysat so Jared and I could go on a date (again, thank you!!), and went with me to see my sister's baby christened today. That was an especially nice treat, since it's a drill weekend (first of the month, you know!), which meant I was vastly outnumbered by my cute yet energetic offspring. Somehow, having another adult seems to dilute the impact of the chaos and clamor that surrounds my children. I know it has no impact on the level of agitation and noise, but it seems easier to cope.

And I found a lovely skirt to accomodate my growing belly: http://www.oldnavy.com/browse/product.do?cid=5868&pid=394292 . If I must be fat, (which somehow happens whenever I get pregnant LOL) at least I can do it in cute clothing!

Seeing my family is always good. Melissa's baby girl is adorable (of course!), and I love the name they gave her- Rachael Virginia. The service was a wonderful spiritual reminder of the incredible potential held within each precious baby born. And the words of her blessing were succinct and quite to the point. Had excellent food after, and visited with both families, and let the kids explore and run off some energy in the park. It was a beautiful day- a feast for the spirit and body. And I got a nap. Bliss!!

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