Almost Time...

Well, this pregnancy has been a journey to say the least. I took my first two "textbook" pregnancies for granted. As we are facing yet another obstacle- a breech baby- we are looking at most likely being induced in a week from tomorrow after my Dr. performs a "version" to hopefully get this little guy into the right position. A big "THANK YOU" to Erin who was kind enough to take some pictures of my belly to document this, mostly likely, my last pregnancy. I am at peace with how things will turn out and just looking forward to meeting this baby in person. I am thankful for the opportunity to be a mother and our family cannot wait to welcome this tiny person into our lives.

Renae & Marinn come to visit.

Last weekend we were lucky enough to have our sweet friends, Renae and Marinn, come back to Sunnyside for a visit. Ever since they moved away last fall, we have missed them terribly. Kent went to LA for a continuing education course so we didn't have to worry about getting in his way with all the girlie stuff we had planned. Ella and Marinn had a great time wearing their pajamas and sleeping masks.

The next morning, while Ethan was at school, we had a pink pancake breakfast. The girls helped set the table and stir the pancakes. They wore their little tutus and headbands and looked fabulous.


A dear friend hosted a beautiful dinner for the ladies so we could all catch up with Renae and have some beautiful fun at the same time. The table was set up perfectly, with not a detail overlooked.


After dinner we played a white elephant game of gag gifts and laughed until our sides hurt. This is the gift I ended up with. Talk about fabulous!! (Could I look any bigger?)

Renae, thank you for spending some time with us. I feel honored that you would drive all the way to Sunnyide to spend some time with your friends that miss you so much. I am thankful for your friendship and wish nothing but the best for you. We miss you already!

Tanner turns 2

So I have a friend named Erin. Erin is one of those people that you look at in amazement. She threw her son, Tanner, a birthday party to remember. Tanner loves Handy Manny so Erin thought of every detail to make you feel as though you had entered "Sheetrock Hills" (where Handy Manny lives) the moment you walked through the front door. She had a storefront, complete with awning and sign, for each store in Sheetrock hills. The cake shop, the candy store, the hardware store and Handy Manny's shop. Don't believe me? Take a look at some of these pictures!

Can you believe this cake? Erin made it herself! She is so darn talented!


Each of the kids got their very own tool belts.

They also watched episodes of Handy Manny during the party.

Can you tell how much Tanner loves Handy Manny?

Then they took turns hitting the pinata until out spilled money.

Yes- bills and coins (pretend bills and coins)!

With their pinata money they were able to buy tools and toys at the hardware shop.

With the candy from the candy shop, each guest built their own "structure".

This girl will never look at the camera!

Hot dogs, french fries and chocolate shakes were served up at "Fast Eddie's".

Tanner got a tractor for his birthday, that face says it all!
The party guests had fun playing "chicken" while Tanner tried to run them over.

Thanks, Erin, for a wonderful party. We all had a great time!

The JAZZ game

If any of you know Kent, then you know what a sports FANATIC he is. The fact that Ethan wants to watch and play sports more than Kent will tell you a little bit about how much Ethan loves sports too. Since Ethan got a basketball hoop for Christmas (Brent and Erin know what he likes) he literally is dribbling and shooting the ball all day long. Ethan and Kent have a great time watching the Utah Jazz play. When the team had a game to play again Portland, Kent decided to take Ethan to see them play in person. We checked Ethan out of school early, all of us piled in the car and drove to Portland. In Portland, Kent and Ethan met up with Kathy and Jory to go to the game. After the game Ethan was so excited telling me how tall the players were, who won (the JAZZ), what the score was, where they were sitting, etc. I loved it when he said, "They were as tall as Dad and me put together!" I could tell he had the greatest time with his dad that he won't forget very soon. Ethan even got some high-fives from the team on their way to the locker room. While they were at the game, Ella and I decided to hit the mall and get a manicure and then did some serious shopping. While we were at the mall, we ate dinner at a restaurant that was showing the Jazz game. Kent, Ethan, Kathy and Jory were sitting right behind the Jazz, so we were able to see them on TV. It was so fun.

The next day we had breakfast with Kathy and Jory before they drove home. Then Kent played with the kids in the hotel pool for awhile. After spending some time in Portland and then drove back home. It was a great family vacation.

When we got home, Ethan would NOT stop doing slam dunks.

Riley Chet Copeland

A HUGE congratulations goes out to Kent's little brother, Craigy, and his wife, Cassie. Nine days after the due date, and an exhausting delivery, this patient couple welcomed baby Riley into the world. Isn't he adorable? I want one!!

A Girl's Weekend

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I know I go to Vegas a lot (very cheap tickets from here) but last weekend was an extra special treat for me. Kent stayed home with Ethan and Ella so I could meet up with my mom, my sister, and my sister-in-law, in Vegas, to celebrate my mom's birthday. We had so much fun eating out, seeing shows, getting manicures and pedicures, going to the temple (the highlight), ordering room service, watching cheesy chick-flicks and playing scrabble in bed. I am so thankful for the relationship I have with my mom and sisters. It was a much needed rejuvenation being able to talk, connect, and lift each other. BIG THANK YOU to Kent for being so supportive by taking work off and playing with the kids all weekend. This was the first time he'd been alone with them overnight but he didn't complain one time and the kids loved their special time with Daddy. When I got home last night the entire house was spotless. I love my family and I am thankful for them in my life.

This is a picture I found on the computer when I got home. Looks like Ella and Daddy had lots of fun together.

Suncadia

For New Year's Eve we went with the Martin's to a little resort in the mountains called Suncadia. We went there last summer with Kathy and Jory and had a great time so we thought we'd see how fun it was when you add some snow. We were not disappointed. Since it was a holiday weekend, the resort had lots of activities to participate in such as ice skating, a tubing hill, the swimming pool and a kid's club. We were as busy as we wanted and only made it to the pool! The kids were great and we all had a good time getting out-of-town together. This first picture is of all of us bundled up to go.... swimming!
This is the gorgeous outdoor hot-tub. The snow was falling lightly and it felt to beautiful to be real.


The indoor pool had 2 big water slides


They had an indoor hot tub too

We decided this place was to beautiful to not snap some family pictures. Aren't they a cute little family? I cannot wait to see what their little girl looks like!

My Florida boy was pretty cold by the end of the weekend, but we all had a wonderful time. (The best part about us posing "as a family" by this snowman is that we didn't even build it! We just saw this snowman in the meadow and loved it. We are 2nd rate snow people. Sorry).

Love this expression... it is so "Ella"