Weekend Getaway

We were planning to go camping over the 4th of July weekend but at the last minute plans changed and we spent the weekend with Robert's family at a hotel in Park City instead. Fun times! We headed up Friday after Robert got off work, checked in, and then headed to Main Street for dinner and shopping. It was fun.

Unfortunately Robert still had to work on Saturday as well so he had to leave at 6:30am, which meant we all got to wake up at 6:00am. This led to not the greatest start to the day. Our kids were super onery. Oh well. I was on my own for the day with the kids. Which is really nothing new but when they're grouchy, its 95 degrees outside, you're 8 months pregnant, and you're not at home it's a little different. We spent the day with Robert's brother and his family. We went to the alpine slide place and the olympic park. We ended up leaving them there and heading back to the hotel. My kids were just too tired and it was TOO DANG HOT. (Have I mentioned how much I HATE summer? I do.) Here's Emily at the Olympic Park. Pretty happy right?

We stopped to get nuggets and they were content with some cartoons. And then some serious napping.

We went to dinner and then Robert was back. Boy was I glad to see him! :) The adult girls went to the outlets for a bit and the men watched the kids. I don't think it went too well with all the calls and texts we got. :)

While we were on Main Street we picked up a booklet with things to do in Park City and I found an ad for an indoor play place called Monkey Mountain. It was just across the street from our hotel so we thought we would check it out. It was really nice. It was clean! I usually never let my kids play on things like that because they are disgusting! So that was nice. Plus we were the only ones there so we had the place to ourselves. And it was inside! They have a place for the parents to hang out with couches and tvs. We spent a good 3-4 hours there.





They had this 3 story play structure that you can climb up and play in. There was a huge slide that went from the top to the bottom. I never went on it because I wouldn't fit (!) but apparently you get a lot of speed because everyone would come flying out! It was hilarious!









And of course we spent some time swimming.



It was a fun weekend and soooo nice to get away and do something different. And spending time with family is always a good thing. :)

Independence Day

Hope everyone had a great Fourth of July weekend! I know we did! (More on that later.)

I'm very grateful to live in America. Man, we got some problems but I can definitely say I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. I'm beyond grateful for those that sacrifice to serve and protect our nation.

5 of the 9 members of my immediate family have been or are currently in the military. My step-dad finished a one year deployment about 10 months ago, my baby brother graduates from basic training next week, my oldest brother is leaving freakishly soon for his third deployment, and that's just the beginning of what we've been through. Sometimes I wish I didn't have a military family. We joke about how all we ever talk about is helicopters and guns and how everyone speaks in accronyms but I am so proud of my family! I have so much respect and admiration for the families of those in the military, especially the wives. Holy cow. I can't even imagine. So I guess I just want to say THANK YOU to all the service members and their families for your sacrifice on behalf of all of us!!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Princess Festival 2011

We went to the Princess Festival again this year! (You can read about last years adventures here.) This year they did it a little different and I think it worked out pretty well. Last year, you stayed with your group and went on an adventure thing all together. Considering Emily was only 2 this really didn't interest her. This year they changed it so they had about 6 different "shows" at specific times throughout the day. You could go to whichever ones you wanted and you could go at your own pace. It was also at Thanksgiving Point this year which I wasn't sure about at first but it ended up being great! Have you been to the Children's Discovery Garden there? I think Chase would be in absolute heaven. Pretty cool place. Anyway, onto the pictures!

First stop: Princess Hair


And we're off!

She was so excited when I told her there was a cave but then once we got there she was a little unsure. Inside were the 12 dancing princesses.

Dancing with the princesses

Belle and the Beast. Emily was FREAKED out by the Beast. Can't really say I blame her!

Alice. They had the Alice in Wonderland characters in this hedge maze. Chase would have gone to town in there! It was a pretty cool little maze.

Mad Hatter's Tea Party

Lost in the maze!

Queen of Hearts

Sleeping Beauty. I kinda think they have had some copyright issues or something because none of the main princesses were wearing their traditional "Disney" dresses like they were last year. Emily didn't care but I just thought it was interesting. :)

Next stop: Face painting!

Seventh Heaven! (and maybe a little spoiled by grandma!)

Rapunzel

My little princess and her prince!

Watching the Snow White show

Snow White

Cinderella


Can't leave without a picture in the carriage.

We also saw Ariel, Captain Hook, Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, Jasmine, and Aladdin but didn't take any pictures for some reason. We had a great time! Emily already can't wait to go again!

Honey do's

I always have a million projects I want to do around the house. Mostly for Robert to do! Unfortunately he works a lot so none of them really get done. And then every once and awhile I'll make him spend his holidays doing them. Poor guy. Memorial Day we redid Emily's closet to make more room for the baby and add storage. I love it!

From this...
She just had one long shelf and one long bar across the top. Not very efficient for a 3 year old and a baby.

To this...

To this...


I'm so glad I have a handy husband. I only wish there were more holidays. :)

Advice and Ideas

Okay, I need some advice and ideas if anyone has any. Emily and the baby are going to be sharing a room. We are planning to keep the baby in our room for 3-4 weeks after she's born but then I want to move her into her crib which will be in Emily's room. Does anyone have any advice on room-sharing with a 3 year old and a baby? Emily is actually really excited about sharing her room so that's not really an issue. My concern is just how to deal with the night waking/crying/feeding that a newborn requires. I guess we'll just wing it and hope for the best but I thought I would see if anyone has any tips. :)

The second thing is I am beginning to stock up and prepare some meals to freeze so that we'll have easy meals for after the baby is born. Does anyone have any good recipes that can be made in large quantities and frozen for a few months? Or maybe a website with some good ideas?

Thanks!

Bambina Update

According to my little pregnancy countdown ticker I'm under the "100 days left" mark. It will actually be a little less than that because well, I just know it will be! I can't believe how fast it's going.

I am now over 26 weeks with this little girl. Let me tell you something. Don't have three kids in less than four years. It will kick your butt. At least it is kicking mine. Badly. Between a 3 year old, 20 month old, husband who is never home, laundry, cleaning, church callings, family functions, holidays, friends, etc, etc, etc I am pretty much pooped at all times. But I guess that is to be expected.

I was insanely sick up until about 23 weeks so that was awesome and then beginning at 20 weeks I started having Braxton-Hicks contractions like crazy. At this point my doctor isn't concerned since the baby is doing fine but I still have 3 months to go so I'm not looking forward to them getting even worse. Just in the last six weeks they've gotten a lot worse. Sometimes I have to stop and breathe through them. Good times. As much as I can't wait for her to be here, I would really like her to stay in until she's fully cooked if you know what I mean.

I think we have possibly decided on a name. And that's the only thing we've done to prepare for this baby. I'm a list maker so I naturally made a list of "things to do before the baby comes" and well, two things have been crossed off. And one of them only half way. We did finally get one of these bad boys though and I am in love!

I never in a million years thought I would have need for a double stroller. But we have officially become a Mormon cliche. :) Anyway, we have a TON to do and I'm starting to get a little stressed!

I think this baby is messing with my brain too. I can't remember a dang thing and apparently lack the ability to make logical decisions. I recently agreed to go camping in July. I HATE camping. And I mean HATE. Why I would agree to go at 8 months pregnant I have no idea.

I'm pretty much gigantic already but have luckily only gained a few pounds. People are honestly suprised I still have three months left. I look like I'm due tomorrow. No joke. Here's proof. Probably the one and only belly shot you'll ever see! This picture doesn't even due the belly justice because she was sideways when I took it. It sticks out a lot more when she's the right way. Sad. But I guess that means she's growing. :)

We're all excited to meet this baby girl. I'm really excited but completely terrified at the same time! Here's hoping the next three months go fast! And the weather stays cool!

Easter

I've decided that holidays are 10 times more fun when you have kids and about 100 times more exhausting. We had various Easter festivities non-stop for four days in a row. But we had a great time and the kids loved all of it.

Brady Family Easter Egg Hunt


Chase really didn't care about any egg hunts over the course of the weekend. All he wanted to do was play. He seriously went up and down this little mound for over 30 minutes and threw the worlds biggest tantrum when I finally had to drag him in.




Cottrell Family Easter Egg Hunt



The Easter Bunny came

This was pretty funny. We went to my dads on Easter morning. They always do baskets and have an egg hunt. Chase was helping himself to everyone's basket and then when we went out to find the eggs all but three of them were stolen by birds. It was crazy!



There was a lot more but that's all the pictures I took. So.....the end!