General Conference Weekend

Last weekend one of my very favorite people came to visit. My cousin Holly flew out and stayed Thursday-Sunday with us. Holly and I are super close and are very much alike. Chad likes to refer to us as "the twins". So lucky Chad got to hang out with the twins all weekend long. He was such a good sport to let us do whatever we wanted. On Thursday I picked her up at the Omaha airport and then we went straight to the Winter Quarters temple. I gave her the quick tour of the visitor center.-I basically have been there so many times that I have it memorized. On Friday we went down to the Haymarket and walked around for a while. We stopped in at the Licorice International store and sampled a few tasty bites of licorice. Unfortunately, it wasn't as cool as we thought it would be. It was windy and kind of chilly that day so we didn't stay at the Haymarket too long. We a yummy lunch at the Olive Garden and Carson ate half our meals. He was going to town on the fettuccine alfredo. He loved it! We hit up the mall, took naps, watched movies, made Jean's treats (trust me they're the best!), talked, and laughed a lot. All around it was so much fun! Since it was General Conference weekend we also watched Conference. Which was wonderful as usual and gave me just the pick me up I needed. So thanks Holly girl for coming out to visit us! We loved having you here!

Carson watching General Conference. He wasn't quite sure what to think of the vibrating chair at first as you can tell.

We came home to find Chad surprising me with heart-shaped cookies. How sweet is that!

Us enjoying the heart cookies.

Carson is obsessed with puppies right now. He loves this onsie that has puppies on it and carries it around all over the house. Chad loves to tie it around his neck like a cape. I think it's so funny!

Holly and I showing off our pregnant bellies. It's so fun that we are pregnant at the same time! Holly looks skinny and I just am still in the fat awkward stage.

Spring Break Part 2

After being in Kansas city for a couple days we headed down to Chad's parent's house to spend some time with them. We made a quick visit to the eye doctor. No, this time it was not for me, but for Chad. Law school has done a number on Chad's poor eyes from so much reading and now he needs glasses. It's funny to hear him comment on how clearly he can see things with his glasses. It's like a whole new world has appeared.

We relaxed at their house and shopped that next day and then on Thursday we drove to Branson. I'd never been to Branson before and for some reason I pictured it as this tiny little town that had a few shows and shops there. I was shocked when we arrived as I realized how big Branson really is. There are tons and tons of shows and things to see. It's quite the hoppin' place. We were able to stay at one of Teri and Steve's time shares and they were really nice. I wish I would've taken a few more pictures of the whole place because it really was bigger than our own apartment! The best part was the huge jacuzzi tub! Mark and Chad even put on their swim suits and hot tubbed in it one night. Anyway, on Friday we went to a show called Six. They were very entertaining and they managed to keep Carson's interest for the entire first half.-Which is amazing! The rest of the trip we spent swimming, playing mini-golf, shopping, and just relaxing. We loved it! Thanks Burgin family for having us!

We visited Mark at his work at the radio station one day.

Hard at work

Carson playing in his favorite cupboard at Grandma's house.

He looked so cute that day, but for the life of me I couldn't get him to smile at the camera.

Playing mini golf. Which by the way I somehow managed to get 2 hole in ones and that never happens to me.

Carson having the time of his life on the swings.

The jacuzzi tub was just too big to bathe Carson in so we opted for the sink instead. He absolutely loves bath time.

Carson sitting at the fish hatchery in Branson eating snacks while everyone else was outside in the cold checking out all the fish.

Part of one of the condos we stayed in.

Spring Break

We realized that this year would be our last time having a spring break since Chad will be graduating next month, so we decided to make the most of it. We began the week with a fun road trip with the Johnsons, Gregorys, and the Allens down to Missouri. Our first stop was to Far West, Missouri. Carson was thrilled to get out of the car and be able to run around will all of his little friends.

Carson trying to escape through the fence.

Carson, Avery, and Akoy exploring.

Lydia, Carson, Akoy, and Avery. We tried to get a picture of them actually all looking, but it's pretty much impossible to get all four at the same time.

After Far West we followed the Johnson's to Liberty Jail. Their GPS told them to take all these back roads winding through the country. We even had to stop for a random cow crossing the road at one point. So funny!

This was the only nap Carson got the first day. He was beat. 40 minutes just isn't enough. But surprisingly all of the kiddos did pretty well despite being so sleep deprived.

Our next stop was Liberty Jail. It was really neat to hear about Joseph Smith's experience while in Liberty Jail and the amazing amount of faith that he despite all that he was going through. There was a part in the tour where they turn out all the lights and then you hear God's voice speaking to Joseph Smith. When they did this Carson started crying as God's voice came on. So much for a spiritual experience. Hopefully we didn't ruin it for everyone else there.

Looking through the jail windows you could see a picture of Christ.

Next we stopped at the Kansas City temple. I had no idea that it was this far along and that it was going to be so big. The next day they put up the Angel Moroni, which would've been cool to be able to be there for that.

Our last stop on our first day was to the visitor center in Independence. Yes we did all that in one day and I have no clue how we managed it with all our kids. Anyway, we had a great little sister missionary that gave us the tour and she did a great job even though our kids were going crazy by that time. I couldn't get Carson to look at me for this picture of Chad on the tour.

On the second day we headed to the Community of Christ Temple in Independence. We thought our tour would only be about 30 minutes, but our old tour guide went on and on forever. We kept telling her we had to leave and she just didn't listen. Needless to say it ended up being a very long tour. Afterwards we all went to lunch at a BBQ Smokehouse. The food was yummy and our waitress was great! She loved all our kids and gave them each a quarter tip at the end of the meal.

Carson loves lemons. Every time we go out to eat he will just go to town on them. It's hilarious to see the faces he makes as he eats it.

This is a picture of the spiral top in the temple.

Don't Carson and Chad look so thrilled to be on the tour?

After lunch we put the kids down for naps and left them and our husbands while all us girls went shopping. We had a great time and even found some good deals. We loved being able to take a little vacation with such good friends and we know it's a trip we won't soon forget. Well that's it for part one of our spring break.

Law School Family Fun Day

Last Saturday they held a "Family Fun Day" at the Law School. We've never been before and so I was excited to go and see what it was all about. There were quite a few people there and had some fun little activities for the kiddos to do. They had a little duck pond game that Carson loved. Actually he just loved splashing in the water and was soaked by the time we left along with every other one year old there. We attempted to teach Carson how to mini-golf, but he was more excited about the golf ball than trying to hit the ball.

I just thought this was a cute picture of Chad and Carson together. See Carson eyeing the ball...he's obsessed and will say "ball" over and over.

But Carson's favorite part was the buckets and balls. I'm not even sure what the point of this game was cause Carson just loved stacking the buckets and playing with the balls. He did this for about 20 minutes straight.

Playing with his buddy Will.

Carson wasn't such a fan of the bounce house. He cried the second we set him in there. Maybe next time.

Come What May & Love It

I watched this Mormon Message today and just sat and cried. It may have been because I am pregnant and emotional or because it was exactly what I needed to hear. I'm thinking it was both. I've decided that "Come What May & Love it" is going to be my new motto. I know I have so much to be grateful for. I know that even when trials come and life seems hard that our Heavenly Father loves us and is mindful of us. I know he is there to guide us and always wants the best for us. So come what may and love it.

Missouri trip and other updates

Over President's Day weekend we headed down to Missouri to visit Chad's family for a few days. Chad's youngest brother, Kevin, was being baptized and we were excited that we could be there for his special day. Carson traveled really well on this trip and it gave me hope that this is the start of a new trend. While we were there it was gorgeous weather. In fact, the day we left it was 75 degrees and then by the time we got back home it was 44 degrees here. A bit depressing to keep seeing the temperature drop so much, but we enjoyed our few days down there in the sunshine. We spent one day shopping with Teri and going to lunch and then the next day we attended Kevin's baptism and celebrated his birthday before heading home. It was a short trip, but we had a great time!

Carson was thrilled that grandma let him play with so many fun things in his cupboards.

The birthday boy. He was so excited about the Lightning McQueen race car on his cake that all day he was just dying to be able to play with it. Teri made him a cute race car cake which was also in the shape of an 8. So cute!

We played out in the sunshine while Chad washed the cars. Chad always looks forward to washing up our car for free. :)

Checking things out with grandpa.

Kevin cruising around on his roller blades.

Back here at home we've been keeping busy. Chad has a two week class that goes to 9pm every night along with all his classes during the day. Only two more months left and we'll be done! Yay! Chad was kind enough to take the garbage out for me the other day when it was yucky weather. So he geared up by putting on his big honking boots. Carson tried to help too. I'm pretty sure he's trying to eat the garbage can in this picture. Gross!

Chad's such a goof sometimes, but I love it. The random things like this that he does always cracks me up. Love him.

I finally got brave and cut Carson's hair by myself. It's his third haircut, but first time I've ever done it. I think it turned out pretty good. I love it when it's done and it's all spiked on top!

Carson having a great time playing cars. The other day he decided to drag this big toy garage around the house. It's so funny to see the things that he comes up with everyday.

He also loves dragging around this toy. It sings and talks none stop. Drives me crazy, but he loves it.

In other news, I've started to get a baby bump this past week. I am 17 weeks now and feeling pretty good. I've started up running again and I'm hoping to be able to keep it up the rest of the pregnancy like I did with Carson. I forget when I go to run how much more challenging it is for me when I'm pregnant and I always expect myself to be able to just kick out 5 miles or so and then I'm bummed out when I'm beat after only running 3 miles. Well such is life right now and I guess 3 is better than none at this point right, so I guess I'll take it.