I don't remember...

Call me crazy, but I don't recall ever showing SO soon.

...and I surely don't remember getting such LARGE "hindquarters" this early in the game...

and I don't remember having so many specific CRAVINGS!

I am ONLY 8 weeks along!! I guess that is what baby #4 will do to a body! Fingers crossed that I can get back to my normal self after this go-round.

Palm Sunday

Since Easter Sunday falls on General Conference weekend, we busted out the Easter clothes this Sunday. You can't really see the girls cream dresses against my white cabinets and I wish I got a picture of Garrett in his lime green shirt and Easter egg tie. Happy Easter!

{Surprise}

We woke up to a new member of our family! Turns out our miniature pony, Cinnamae, was pregnant! We had NO idea. My kids are SO excited. They wanted to call everyone in town, to tell them the BIG news.

Honored

This week Tori was chosen out of everyone in her first grade class to read her letter to the Presidente Municipal (Mayor) in person. In the letter she asked the Presidente to equip the local park with swings and playground equipment if, in return, the school would put up signs to remind everyone to throw  away their trash. It would be a joint effort to beautify our park. She did all of this in SPANISH!

I need to vent...

I am so tired of cooking! I think I use my oven at least 3 times a day...NOT kidding! Anytime I crave anything  I usually have to make it...myself...from scratch! Our nearest "fast food" is over 20 minutes away, and that is if you consider Tortas (pork sandwiches) and burritos FAST FOOD. I need a little more variety than that! Other than that, our nearest McDonald's is 3 hours away and I NEED a fish fillet!
My kitchen is always over 100 degrees and my counters are always cluttered with my crock pot, juicer, blender and kitchen aid, all going 100 miles an hour. Yes, I might be SLIGHTLY exaggerating but you get my point, right?! I am SICK of COOKING! I would love an in-house-chef. Yes, that would solve all my problems.

I think the bottom line is that I am just one cranky, tired, pregnant lady who is craving something that she cannot get her hands on!

Favorite Food Blogs

Being pregnant I want to try different things. Things that I normally don't crave. These two blogs have introduced me to BRAND NEW ideas of cooking and eating. Our Best Bites and Coleens Recipes are fun to read and easy to follow. Everything that I have tried has been FANTASTIC from both blogs. Enjoy!

A trip to the Mountains

We LOVE having family come to visit. No visit is complete without a trip to the mountains. 4-wheeling.picnics.pictures.orchards.exploring.cattle.and...

atleast ONE break-down.

Pregnancy this week...

Week 5! 

I am to the point where I am gorging myself of all things before I have ABSOLUTELY no desire to eat anything. Might as well enjoy it while I can. Who knows...maybe I will never ever want to eat Banana Split Cake ever again, so I can completely justify eating the WHOLE pan by myself! :) I know morning sickness is just around the corner....so, forks up!

Spanking

A very controversial subject. Here are some thoughts:

As my mother-in-law says...The Good Lord gave our children bottoms, where there are no vital organs, (just fatty tissue), so we could teach them lessons they don't seem to comprehend by explanation (like running out into the parking lot, or biting another child until they bleed, etc.).

If they don't get it the first time, you have to send it from the bottom up...sometimes!

This bum is too cute to spank!

I am in the market for...

My camera died in the middle of a basketball game where a LOT of firsts were taking place. My dance team was performing, the WHOLE town was there, the stands were completely full, the band was playing and JSA school spirit was bursting through the roof. I could 't capture ANY of it.

So...I am in the market for a new camera. I want a simple Point and Shoot type of camera. Any suggestions??? I want something good, reliable and that can fit in my purse.

Recap of 2009

This year has brought many trials, trips, milestones, and memories. Living in Mexico  has been very emotional this year. We have had two kidnappings (of members of our ward), plenty of extortion and lots of crime. We went through a time where my kids would look both ways, out the front door, before running out to the truck. There were plenty of sleepless nights and we considered moving a number of times. The bottom line is that, through prayer and fasting, we feel  we are to stay and raise and provide for our family in this community. At the time we couldn't understand why but, given time, it has been made clear. Apostolic blessings, great advice from our local church leaders and area authorities have helped us along the way and brought us many blessings and peace. The Mexican goverment is finally taking a stand and making a change in our city. We are beginning to see results. We are still keeping the faith.

Our year in a nutshell...

Garrett (my hubby): finally a bountiful crop. assistant coach of jr. high football team. head jv coach of our church owned high school. many weekend trips. mountain orchards almost in production. bright future ahead.

B.J. (BarbieJo): still teaching dance. finished my ballet studio behind our home. a few trips to Utah and Idaho. got my first piano. busy blogger. show chior choreographer. classroom mom. art teacher. seller and designer of pettiskirts. helped put on a food festival where we taught women throughout the city how to cook and utilize rare ingredients. ready for another baby.

Victoria (Tori, 6): graduated kindergarten. top of her 1st grade class.  fluent in spanish. lost her first tooth. started piano lessons. loves to sled and ice-skate. tennis prodigy.

Alexandria (Alex, 4): got a pony. started pre-kinder. learned her letters and numbers. will talk to anyone for hours. entered sunbeams. still sucking her fingers.

Benton (the "chosen one", 1): learned how to walk. run. broke his leg. split open his wrist. 6 stiches. hernia. loves to "shoot it". lover of any kind of ball. talking. kissing. wants a baby. hated nursery and would scream the entire time. now loves going to nursery thanks to loving leaders. hoping no more injuries for 2010. he is getting his wish...for a baby.

Eagle Scout

Garrett was honored at a Court of Honor where they celebrated 100 years of scouting. Here is a picture of my Eagle Scout (age 13). Good Job Babe! I am proud to be married to an Eagle Scout...even if it was during the "ugly duckling" stage of life. HA.

rollerskating

We went rollerskating to celebrate a birthday this weekend. None of my family had roller-skated before. I used to do it all the time as a child as I thought it would be great fun. Garrett was a little wobbly his first few laps but got the general idea. Tori threw on those roller-blades and I held her hand for one lap then she took off. I didn't' see her again until we left. She LOVED it. Alex needed a little more assistance but eventually she could do it on her own. Benton even put on a tiny pair of skates and went around the rink several times with me. He cried when we took off his roller-skates. I think it is a great family activity and we will definitely be doing that again.