Learning

When Jason and I were trying to decide if we should send Kyler to the Charter School, one of the deciding factors was the hands on learning. I feel like our public schools are so focused on passing the "TESTS" that a lot of learning opportunities are passed by. 

This past trimester Kyler's class has studied in depth the importance of trees/family trees. 

Back in September they spent a day at his teacher's cabin up Logan Canyon. The learned everything there is to know about Aspen trees. Kyler's favorite being the use of sunscreen from the bark and the whistles made from leaves. 

Later that month they went on a walking field trip to a local peach orchard. The cute farmer taught them all about growing peaches, but by far the favorite part was getting to pick and eat them. 

During the month of October they spent a day at the Family Search Museum at Temple Square. 

I think it's pretty neat that a 7 year old is learning about his ancestors and being exposed to family history. 

Such a fun and interactive museum!!! 

That same day they went to Liberty Park in Salt Lake for lunch and did some more activities with trees. 

We finished the trimester by attending student lead conferences where Kyler taught us all that he has learned the past couple of months. 

Weekend Words...Thanksgiving Edition

Thanksgiving weekend is one of my favorite 

weekends of the entire year!!!

I'm not sure if it's because of what we celebrate or the fact that there is little pressure and low expectations. It might be the fact that it falls at the end of the craziest month for Jason's work and it's a nice break from having him gone from sun up to sun down. 

Whatever it is I always look forward to it and I'm always a little  sad when it's over:( 

Thanksgiving morning was a little different than normal. 

Jason usually hits up the slopes for opening day, but with the lack of snow that didn't happen.

I usually hit up a 90 minute Zumba Turkey Burn, but because of my lack of energy that didn't happen either:(( 

This year it was our turn to celebrate with the Cook's.

We enjoyed a wonderful meal and spent the afternoon visiting and letting the cousins play. 

The Friday after Thanksgiving we typically go and pick out our real Christmas tree, but because we will be moving the middle of December we decided to forgo it this year.

However, we did go out and pick up some little rosemary trees and admired the beautiful poinsettia's. 

That night it was the annual Grover Thanksgiving which is catered at Bert's. We only get together a couple of times a year with this side of the family, but when we do it sure is a blast!!! 

Following dinner we took the kids bowling. 

Saturday morning Jason and I spent some time in the temple which was a welcomed break. I'm not sure if it's because we had been running so much during the month of November, but it was so relaxing and peaceful. Just what we needed!!! 

That evening we spent some time with just our own little family and enjoyed watching the light parade and fireworks in Ogden. 

  I can't believe the Christmas season is officially here!!!

With everything happening in our live's right now, I'm trying to simplify and savor every moment of what can sometimes be a hectic and stressful season. 

First Trimester

I figured for my own journaling purposes I would document each trimester of my pregnancy. 

(Awkward picture of me at 16 weeks.)

I can't believe how quickly the first trimester went and I'm feeling a little worried if the next two go by that fast as well!!!

Here's a look back at the journey so far. 

The last week in August is when my cycle should have started, but that just so happens to be the week of the fair and since we pretty much live out there, having a missed period was the last thing on my mind. Then came the first week of September and the start of a new preschool year. September is probably the busiest and most exhausting month for me. Starting a new preschool year and trying to train 24, 4 year olds how to function in a school setting is no easy task. On top of that I had less than a week to plan and get ready for Kyler's Birthday and to adjust to life with a puppy. 

Towards the middle of September things finally started to settle down a bit. 

It had never once crossed my find that I might be pregnant since I hadn't started my period for the month. On September 14th I decided I probably should pick up a pregnancy test, even though it was a total waste of money for something that was unlikely never going to happen. I went home and took the test and got the surprise of a lifetime. Of course I had bought a cheap dollar store test so I wasn't sure if it was accurate or not. After 12 years of only seeing the negative sign it was pretty hard to believe that it could actually be positive. I decided it was probably a good idea to get a better brand that said the words just to make sure. So I stopped by Smith's and picked up another test, this time one that said the words instead of the positive or negative sign. I went home and sure enough it was the same result. You would have thought after wanting this so badly for so many years that I would have been beyond happy. To be honest, I was completely overwhelmed with every emotion possible. I didn't tell Jason right away because I wanted to surprise him in some fun way. He noticed right away that something was bothering me and that I was extra irritable and I just kept brushing it aside saying nothing was wrong. Well to make a long story short I didn't come up with a fun way to announce to him and it actually ended up in an argument with him asking me what my problem was and me throwing the tests on the counter at him. 

On Friday, September 16th at 7 weeks I went in for my first doctor's appointment. 

After doing a blood work, a urine sample, and both types of ultrasounds they confirmed that 

I WAS PREGNANT!!! 

For the next couple of weeks I still had a hard time believing that it was really happening. I went and had an ultrasound done on a weekly basis and I probably went to the bathroom a hundred times a day just to make sure I wasn't spotting. 

As October came around I started to feel some excitement, but I had guarded my heart for so many years it was hard to let that guard down. Jason and I decided that it was best to not announce to family and friends until I was further along and the chance of miscarriage had gone down. It was a hard month for me. I had very little interaction with my extended family and felt very distant and alone. Keeping a secret this big from the ones you love is not easy, and I'm sure they could tell something was wrong. Luckily for me I felt pretty good during the first trimester. I felt nauseous for a couple of days and threw up a couple of time, but I think it might have been the flu and not morning sickness. 

I struggled with having an appetite and had a hard time wanting to eat anything. 

I ate apples, toast, and noodles with tomato juice for about 3 weeks straight. 

I think the hardest adjustment for me was the lack of energy and not being able to do the things that I normally do. I was restricted from exercising which I used as my out and destressor from life. I taught preschool on Tuesday & Thursday's and then spent the days in between taking it easy.
On Sunday, October 23rd we told Kyler that he was going to have another little sister.
I wish I would have recorded his reaction, it was PRICELESS!!!
One of the first questions he asked was if we were going to sell the baby?
I guess our conversations on adoption and how expensive it is had him a little confused.
He wasn't too excited about having another sister to boss him around, but we reassured him that since it was another girl that he would probably be left alone since Khloe and the baby will be so close in age. That same day we announced to the Cook family at the annual pumpkin carving party. I was surprised at how long it took the family to notice our pumpkins. Once they realized what we were announcing they couldn't have been happier!!!

We decided to wait and announce to my side of the family until the weekend of Halloween, where we wore our Halloween costumes/shirts to the family party. Once again no one noticed right away. I think most people were confused and were too afraid to question or ask what it meant:) 

The realization and excitement has started to settle in and as each week passes by I feel more relieved and happy that everything is going smoothly!!!

Weekend Words

Started Decorating for Christmas.

I debated on just waiting until we move (December 15th) to decorate for Christmas, but it just wouldn't feel like the holidays without the tree up. So we decorated the upstairs and will enjoy it for the next 3 weeks until I have to take it all down and put it back up at the new house:)) 

Saw the Little Mermaid Play at the High School.

I was so amazed at the production that they put on. It was a fun break from all of the work that needs to be done in order to move. 

Yard Work at the New House.

Since the house we are moving to has no one living in it right now the realtor has allowed us to start working on it. The down fall is since no one has been in it for two months the yard needed some attention before winter. The kids enjoyed picking apples from the mini orchard while Jason and I worked on raking leaves and mowing the lawn. 

It was a busy and productive weekend that unfortunately wasn't too relaxing. I'm just thankful that it is a short week and hopefully we can enjoy the upcoming holiday weekend doing something that isn't related to house stuff/moving:)) 

November 8th

5:30 a.m. Alarm goes off.

6:30 a.m. Drop Khloe off at grandma's house.

8:00 a.m. Arrive at Shriner's Hospital.

8:30 a.m. Get registered and checked in.

9:00 a.m. Get settled into our room and visit with 10+ hospital workers. (No wonder health care is so expensive!!!!) 

10:00 a.m. Taking our minds off of surgery by playing Minecraft.

10:00-11:30 a.m. Wait, Wait, and Wait some more.

11:30 a.m. Take medicine that makes you REALLY happy.

12:00 p.m. Jason and I get some good laughs. 

12:30 p.m. Finally being taken to the holding room. 

.

12:45 p.m. Experienced some crazy mood swings from the medications. 

12:50 p.m. Practicing breathing in the rootbeer flavored medicine.

1:00 FINALLY being wheeled off to surgery.

Even though this was a very minor surgery, that moment when your child leaves you is the WORST feeling as a parent. You never like to think of the what if's, but it's hard not to. 

1:00 p.m. Eating away our worries.

2:00 p.m. Watched updates on the presidential elections. 

3:00 p.m. Kyler comes out of surgery. 

3:15 p.m. FINALLY being able to let Kyler eat something. 

(Worst part of surgery for kids.)

4:00 p.m. Getting the approval to leave. 

I'm not sure who is more excited to have this surgery behind us: Kyler, Grandpa, or us!!!

He is pretty excited to show his friends at school his souvenir from the hospital. He is doing much better than the first time around and should be able to be up and walking by the start of next week!!!!