Baby's Birthday Vote!

Hi! The kids wanted me to post and ask you like I did with Makenna when you think the baby will be born. The doctor has given me the due date of October 28 but I have always thought early November.
So I vote November 5 because we don't have any births on the 5th yet.
Spencer votes November 2
Alexis--November 3
Madalyn--November 4
Kylie--November 2

Nathan just got home and we're off to the temple. Can't wait to hear your guesses! (If anyone reads this besides the one person who I know reads it. :))

The Best Two Weeks

Alexis and I just got to go on the best vacation! Truthfully, we've had lots of great vacations, so maybe this one wasn't the best, but it was right up there. It was definitely the best two weeks I've had in a long time. With Nathan home to take care of the kids I decided to take Alexis to California to see her cousin get baptized and then to Utah to see General Conference. In the past I've always travelled either with all of the kids or a combination of older kids plus the baby/toddler. This was the first time I travelled with just one child. One easy, fun child. It was so relaxing for me and I enjoyed every minute.

 Here we are in the Raleigh airport, excited for Alexis's first airplane ride besides when she was a baby.

 Alexis certainly wasn't bored during the 5 hour flight to Phoenix. The steward was very generous in giving her lots of snacks and she played with them for hours, chattering all the while.

 

 Alexis with her cousin after the baptism. They are 2 months apart.

 

Lexi and I after the baptism. Sept 29.

Just four weeks left!!

 

 My mom and I about to leave for a long 2 hour walk. Walking or hiking was something I really wanted to do on this trip and I was so happy to get plenty of chances. This day was a highlight for me as I had a great time with my mom, walking the hills and reminiscing my childhood.

 Another day we hiked at an Indian reservation and picnicked, which was also lots of fun. I loved the woods we hiked through and the wonderful cedar aroma. 

Here is Alexis and my dad.

 These are the holes in the rocks where the Indians used to grind their food.

 

 

Me and Alexis at the conference center. It was so thrilling to be there and feeling the Spirit so strong.

 Monday after General Conference we went on a hike up Spanish Fork Canyon. It was beyond beautiful as the leaves were turning and the weather was perfect. I'm so glad my parents and sister-in-law were willing to go even though we could have been doing other things. I just couldn't get enough hiking. Although I was 37 weeks pregnant, I didn't feel like it. I was just so happy I didn't have to pack a baby on my back or drag lots of kids up the trail. It was so fun only having one and being able to enjoy the beauty.

 

 My parents dipping their feet in the hot springs.

 The hot springs

 

 Some llamas we saw on our way back down.

 

I wish I could take better pictures because it was way prettier than this.

 

 The two girls sleeping at my brother's house. They had a blast together the entire trip and I'm glad they got to spend so much time together. They live across the country from each other and only met last summer when we drove out. Now they are penpals and good friends.

 

Alexis and her loose tooth in the Denver airport. It was a stubborn tooth, but she was determined to have it out to surprise her siblings when we got home. I ended up pulling it out on the airplane the last half hour before landing back in Raleigh.

Again, it was an awesome trip and I'm so grateful for Nathan and the kids taking care of things at home and having a good time without us (aka not bemoaning the fact that they couldn't go), and my family for helping me do all the things I wanted to do. Besides hiking, other highlights were going to the Reno and Salt Lake temples, which I've never been to before. I also loved seeing my brothers and sisters, hanging out with them, eating out with them, going to conference, and just relaxing.

 

Recent Happenins

Hello! It's about time I post some pictures from August and September to let you know what we've been up to. Life has been pleasant and good. Nathan quit his job on July 31. To put it more accurately, he had a 3 year contract at the physician's practice where he worked and he chose not to renew. He was miserable there and it was starting to affect our home life so that I was becoming miserable too. Life has done a complete switch and I LOVE having this time with him while he looks for a new job. We're praying it won't take long, but for now he's happy, I'm happy, and the kids are happy as we all enjoy time together and look forward to our new little one joining us soon (due in 10 days) as well as the upcoming holidays.

 

Makenna playing in a hole in the deck railing.

 



 Each week we study a poet and the kids memorize a poem to be recited on Friday during our poetry recital. Alexis has asked for cooking lessons for the past year or two so this school year I finally wove it into her schedule. Every Friday she makes a new recipe for snack, which we eat after our poetry recital. One Friday (above) she made cheddar puff pull apart bread. Another Friday (below) she made French bread with a yummy cheese dip, a yogurt dip to be served with fruit, and the best chocolate fondue ever.

 The kids have had a fettish with the Piano Guys recently. One afternoon Nathan and Thomas made this cello out of Tinker Toys and were so proud of it.

What's new with Spencer? On September 16 he got braces! I'm excited for his teeth to straighten out because they're horrendous.

 

 What happened on September 17? Kylie became a teenager!! I can't believe it. My little girl. She is still as sweet as can be, loves to baby-sit, helps around the house without being asked, loves to play with her little sisters, and continues to bake and crochet like crazy. She is a huge blessing to our family and I don't know what I'd do without her.

 

 Makenna and Kaitlyn raking the first fallen leaves of the season.

 

 School is going great, especially with Nathan to help with math and science most days. Here the kids do art, which has always been a favorite subject at our house.

 

 Meanwhile, Kaitlyn and Makenna put pretzels and Life into containers and shape sorter toys. I love watching them interact because they remind me so much of Kylie and Madalyn. Those were good times! As they are still best friends, I hope Kaitlyn and Makenna will always be close too.

 

 One of Kylie's new experiment treats. These were awesome! The only problem was that they gave me terrible heartburn so I refrained from having more than one. However, Kylie promised she would bring some to me in the hospital when my heartburn will be gone and I can have as many as I want. :)

 In the middle of school one day we got an awesome storm so we ditched our books and ran out to play in it. Even Nathan ran out in his clothes and we had a great time. It's so fun having him home and involved like this when we used to see him so little.

 The ditches filled up super fast, which was fun to watch.

 

 Daddy and Kaitlyn playing chess. Again, it's wonderful to have him home and spending time with us. Before he quit his job, most nights he worked till midnight at his office just trying to stay up on his patients.

 Makenna and Thomas coloring.

 

 Kait the Great.

Doing a dance on the table??

She is a happy, fun, talkative, and sweet little girl. She keeps us all laughing and from the things she says, makes us feel good about ourselves. (i.e. she's always complimenting or thanking us for something.)

 

 Kait and Tom taking their dolls on a trip.

 

 Playing the sock stealing game where everyone tries to get someone else's sock without losing their own. It's wonderful to have Nathan home for FHE and actively participating instead of zoning out.

 

 Kaitlyn taking a turn with the powerwasher, one of Nathan's many projects when he first stopped working.

 

 FHE game again: playing the candy bar game where, when you roll doubles, you put on hat, scarf, coat, and gloves and then cut into candy before the next person rolls doubles. Nathan was hilarious and we all enjoyed seeing this new, relaxing side of him that we've never seen before. I had no idea he was so fun!

 

 Blue and white day at church. :)

 

August 18

 30 weeks pregnant