We're back

I stopped blogging some months ago, made this private in hopes that I'd someday transfer it to a file offline. Never did that. So now I've decided to give it another go. We'll see how I do.

Here are a few highlights from the couple of months:

1. I'm pregnant. Due in 1 week. Ready to have the baby...sort of. Scared to have the baby, both the actual having of it and the taking care of it afterward. I just can't imagine waking up multiple times a night again. My body has taken this pregnancy harder than the last, maybe that's why I feel so tired. But, last night after waking up a bazillion times because of my aching hips I figure, guess I could just be up feeding a baby instead! Oh, and it's another boy.

2. Andrew started Kindergarten this week. It's all-day Kindergarten so I was worried the long hours would be hard on him. I underestimated the little guy, though. He's doing great and seems very happy. Below is a picture of Andrew and Eric on his first day -- it was rainy and almost cold. What a nice change!

3. In preparation for the baby's coming, Andrew and Eric are now sharing a room. So far it's gone okay. We painted the room, painted Brian's old dresser and bed, got new mattresses, and put up some things on the wall. Mom made the quilt from her scraps -- love it. The room is not finished, still a lot of bare walls -- but it's better than before. Andrew has asked more than once, "Why did you put so many (3) pictures on the wall, Mom?"

Before:

After:

4. We also took a great vacation to Idaho -- my sister took care of the boys for a couple of days while Brian and I went to my parent's cabin. It was a very quiet, happy couple of days. We went into Yellowstone Park and just enjoyed the time together. We walked down to the lower falls -I think I scared a few people -- this big pregnant person walking down the mountain. I got a few comments..."You're crazy" was one of them. but I made it back up the mountain just fine -- even if I did have to stop 4 times.

Then, my parents brought the boys up and we spent time with them and the boys. Dad took the boys fishing. I was tired and stayed home, but Brian and my mom went. Of course the "little hike" ended up being quite the trek. Dad's such an optimistic outdoorsman. So when they finally got to the stream, Dad got a bite right away. A small fish -- "Let's go a little farther down, maybe we'll get a bigger one." After a while of moving downstream to look for bigger fish, Brian finally said "I think the boys are good here." (hint, hint.) The boys caught some fish and we had them for breakfast the next morning. The boys were troopers and Brian was the hero as he helped the boys and Mom climb over logs, carry lunch, etc. We'll have to see what they think about going fishing next time. (:

And of course we had to spend a day in my Rexburg. We went to the Splash Park with the boys and one of their cousins. They had a great time.

5. Lastly, a lesson I learned this summer is that there are a lot of really nice people out there. Andrew begged this summer to do a lemonade stand. I was too shy as a kid for this activity, and I'm afraid I still am. But Brian came to the rescue and kindly sat at the lemonade stand with Andrew. Seriously, it brought tears to my eyes looking at the boys and Brian sit under the tree in the sweltering heat. Andrew stood out there waving his arms "Lemonade for Sale!" I just hoped they would get at least one sale.

Well, our neighbors came through! The lemonade probably lasted an hour or so -- several people stopped, often paying more than the 10 cents they were asking. And it wasn't even very good lemonade. They would talk to Andrew and ask what he was saving his money for. (Wish we had some great response....I think he probably said candy.) Several of the customers were strangers just driving by, others were neighbors down the street we'd never met, and of course there were a few neighbors we did know. So I just wanted to let you know that there are a lot of nice people out there. Sometimes I forget that, I think.

So that's a long post, we'll see if I ever post again! (: Hopefully we'll at least manage a post about the baby.

I know it's harder to follow blogs when they're private, so I'm just going to put it out there again.