Take It Easy

OK this one is for Angie and Beki. I know you've been begging for baby bump pictures but......... I'm just not very good at this blogging thing :)

Mostly it's been because there hasn't been a bump to show. I had a coworker ask me if I was growing a chipmunk the other day lol. But today at our all-day training it seemed like everybody could see it (and everybody who saw it commented) so I guess it's time to post a picture. This is all I've got and I'll try to post more as I get bigger. It helps that we'll be finishing school in....count 'em, 8 days!

In terms of updates, I don't know the gender yet. We did decide to find out though and we'll find out in two weeks. I can't wait! I'll try to be better about sending out the update for that one. The morning sickness is waning, so I'm starting to enjoy pregnancy a little more but it really hasn't hit me yet. I've felt little fluttery kicks, which is exciting but I think I'm still in school mode so it's hard to focus on anything else. Just 8 days and I can take it easy :)

What else??? I dunno..... I'll just have to be better about keeping you all posted. Thanks for your patience, love, and support.

Waiting

Alright it's out. I've entered the Waiting Place of my life. Waiting to tell people we were trying.... waiting until I can take the test..... waiting to see if the test is positive..... waiting for the perfect time to tell my parents...... waiting until I can tell friends and family...... waiting for the first appointment.... waiting to see the ultrasound...... waiting until the morning sickness subsides....... waiting to find out if it's a boy or a girl -- or to decide whether I'll find out or wait to find out (I don't know yet)....... waiting to start showing........ waiting until the due date...... you get the idea. That's pretty much all that's going on right now but I thought you all would probably like find out now instead of when you get an invite :) I know it's hard to see but it basically looks like a little lizard. If you want to see it close up, I guess you'll just have to pay a visit to Lehi sometime!

Chicago is SO Two Years Ago

OK, so more like two months ago but hey, at least I beat Bree to blogging about it. Seriously me? Beating anybody at blogging? Sorry Bree but that's pretty bad. When was the last time I posted? Two years ago? Well, it seems like it. At least Kerstin hasn't given up on me yet :)

So here you go, an update. We just got back from Nauvoo.......two months ago. Actually for me I'd say that's pretty good. I still haven't posted Lake Powell pictures from last September (and I'm thinking those are just going to have to lay where they lie until this year's trip because I have no idea where the pics are).

So for my dad's parents' 50th wedding anniversary he decided to take them and his children and spouses (minus Will on the mission) to Nauvoo to see the sites. It was quite an adventure:

So we started the trip out with a relaxing day at

the ball park. Good old Wrigley Field, home of the Cubbies...... Well it was kind of relaxing except someone was in our seats....which was actually because there were a whole bunch of school kids in their seats.....who took up a whole lot of seats that weren't theirs to begin with. Oh well, I guess I can't complain. I wouldn't want to be responsible for twenty-something kids in a huge city like Chicago.

But hey, at least Michael J. Fox was there to lead us in the singing of 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the seventh inning stretch.

And we got some super good eatin' Chi-cago style. We were starving! Even after the Chicago dog minus the Chicago toppings (for me anyway, but Mark loved the onions).

And I got to go to the game with my little-big sister Bree and her husband Mike.

Five hours later we had a run-in with the local KFC and a trucker who was looking for chicken. You'll have to talk to Mike and Mark about the details but basically we peeled away with about $200 worth of chicken but we only had to pay for two buckets (it pays to go at closing time).

My poor dad, who was funding the operation since there were no open restaurants in Nauvoo after 7:30, about had a heart attack when we walked in. He probably thought we'd break the bank on the first night there.

And now the chronological order goes out the window -- mostly because I'm not about to put 300+ photos on here. Don't worry, this isn't a later engagement picture (I'm not that bad at blogging am I?)

It was just some random bridge we found. Actually I think it had some historical significance but I was probably hungry for more chicken so I can't remember (if no one laughs at that joke I know at least Bree will. I guess you had to be there).

A great thing to do there is to take the wagon tours of Old Nauvoo. Be sure to take a jacket though because Nauvoo is not warm in April.

Thankfully they do let you borrow some nice quilts. Apparently Mark was on his own for this tour though because it doesn't look like I was ready to share.... Hmmm......

Oh come on Babe, we only went on two wagon rides! Just kidding. I'm not sure why he's making this face actually. Probably because I was taking too many pictures (I do that sometimes).

Another fun thing to do is check out the Family Living Center. You can do all sorts of things like watch this guy weave a rug....

Learn about how to make parent-friendly candles. This one is called a courting candle where you move the candle up for more time or down when it's time for your teenager's boyfriend to go home. As you can see, Mark is in good standing with my mom right now......

You can also make a rope.

And cut the rope when you're done --- but only if you follow the directions.

But they all know why you really decided to go to the Family Living Center when they told you about it on the Wagon Tour......

It's to eat the homemade bread. Who could pass up an invitation to "Sample homemade baked goods at the local bakery"?

Mark conducted a meeting at Joseph's Smith Red Brick Store.

But apparently my talk wasn't nearly as motivating.

But at least I can rock this old-school golf hat. OK I know that's not really what it's called but you get the idea.

The travel party - minus Grandma and Grandpa...... I'm not sure where they went?

And on to one of the many spiritual highlights. The temple is beautiful inside and out.