This week's fun

Well the count down is on. I've only got about two weeks to go before I'll have the baby and boy am I ready! I've found that I feel like I'm back into my first trimester again. I just feel tired, and yucky. I went into the doctor this week, he said that baby looks good, and he's growing like a weed. The ultra sound reads that he's already in the low 8's for weight. I think he's going to be a big one. I guess it's good if he's going to be able to keep up with Kirk. I'm not sure how Kirk is going to react to the the baby being born. He seems to think that the baby will stay in my tummy forever. I took the kids with me into the doctors appointment, and Kirk just incessantly repeated, "don't get the baby out mom, don't get the baby out, the baby doesn't come out." Yesterday I tried to explain to him that in a couple of weeks the baby will be here (kids don't understand time so I didn't get far). He was pretty upset and insisted that the baby stay inside my tummy. I'm sure once the baby's here and he has sometime to adjust, he'll love it. Dan just started on the garden today. We are really gun ho on it this year. Last year we never got it in, and I dearly missed the fresh produce in the fall. It's a little early to do everything, but he got it tilled up, and were starting peas, carrots, onions, and lettuce. In the past the lettuce hasn't turned out that great (okay really it made my tongue sting, it was terrible), but were giving it another shot. Yesterday was Kirk's official Birthday, although we celebrated it last week. I got a coupon in my e-mail for free tokens at chuck E Cheese's. We took the kids last night and they had a ball. That place is perfect for this age group. The games were very kid friendly. It was fun. The weather is warming up, and I just can't wait for spring! The kids have been able to play out on the swing set, and ride their scooters around. Kirk got a new cars scooter for his Birthday from his grandma Mower. He has picked up on it really well. He zoomed down our driveway and didn't even get scared. In fact Kate was in the lead, and their were a few times Kirk was bumping into the back of her, he was definitely tailing her. Well tonight it's off to Stake Conference. It's at 9:00 tomorrow, that will be a nice break for Dan, I'm really looking forward to sitting by him. So hopefully the next time I blog it will be from the hospital letting you know that I'm finally through with my pregnancy, and the baby is healthy and strong.

Kate and Kirk on their scooters. Thank heaven it's starting to warm up, the kids love playing outside. One snowy cold day a few weeks ago Kate wanted to go to the park. I told her we couldn't go until the snow melted some more. She then dramatcally responded "the snow is never going to melt, it will be winter forever"! At times that's precicely the way I felt about the snow to. But I'm glad to see that this wasn't the case, and though it felt long spring is on it's way.

Kirk and Kate playing at Chuck E. Cheese's. They had a blast there. They also got a hundred and fifty tickets. That was enough to buy two tiny suckers, a little ring, and a tiny lizzard. So affter buying fourty tokens the loot's worth maybe totaled 0.75, I'd say that chuck e. cheese's is doing okay.

Weddings, Parties, so much fun packed into a weekend

Well, I'm exhausted. But it's definitely a good kind of exhaustion. The kind that means I've had a busy, but fabulous weekend. It was crammed with family, friends, and alot of fun. We started the week off with my sister Karyn flying in from Hawaii. She flew all night long with her 18 month old little girl Annika. Then my other sister Kristen was able to drive with her husband, and three kids from California. They unfortunately ran into some bad weather in the mountains. This prolonged their trip by a few hours. It was so much fun to be all together with my sisters. Then I had Kirk's birthday party on Friday. We actually celebrated it a week early so that my sister's little boy could attend. Kirk is going through this huge Star Wars phase. He is especially obsessed with Darth Vader. Naturally I couldn't resist throwing a huge Star Wars party. I really worked hard to get ready for this. I made light sabers, and Jedi robes for the kids to wear. At first they didn't really want to wear them, but after Dan said that they had to in order to get the light saber, they all complied. We played a few games, and ate some pizza, and cake. Then they ran around playing with their light sabers until we had a special guest arrive. Dan's brother Shaun is a huge Star Wars fan. He has an awesome costume. He came at the end. I tried to get Kirk to stand by him for a picture, but Kirk wanted to keep some distance from this villain. He wasn't afraid however to fight him. The kids all ganged up on him and were hitting him with their light sabers. I think he made it out okay, the costume had a lot of protection in it. I think Kirk enjoyed it. He is quite young to be doing the birthday party thing already, but I love just love birthdays. This Star Wars theme had so many fun options that I couldn't help myself.

Kirk and the other party kids learning to become Jedi Knights. Dan did a good job and teaching them how to handle their weapons. Fortunately there were no major casualties. Giving a bunch of three and four year olds wrapping paper tubes, covered in duct tape is just asking for it! I'm sure many of you are thinking that I'm totally crazy! What lengths will a go too, to please her kids.

Kirk with his much anticipated Darth Vader Birthday cake. He had been talking about this for weeks. I found the idea online, I made the huge mistake of showing it to him a month ago. Every time I'd be on the Internet He'd say "I want to see my Darth Vader Cake", then I'd have to pull up the cake web site to show him.

Darth Vader, and all of the little Jedi knights. They had a blast attacking him with their homemade light sabers.



Kyle and Sarah just after the sealing, they had just gotten out of the Logan Temple. It was freezing, but I don't think she felt it, they were just on cloud nine.

Then Saturday March 7, my little brother made the big jump. He was married in the Logan temple and 2:15. The Sealing was wonderful. I could feel the spirit so strongly. They are an adorable couple. The day was wonderful, I love weddings. I love how everyone gets dressed up, and seeing old friends and family. It was strange to see my little brother getting married. I still think of him as the cute little red headed boy of our childhood. I can still remember building forts with him in our basement. As we got older he was the only one of my siblings to attend Jr. high and High school with me. When I was in ninth grade he was a seventh grader. I remember how shy he was. I'd purposefully say hi to him really loudly in the halls just to embarrass him. I also remember putting little treats and soda pops in his locker just to surprise him. Then after I got my license (I was a pretty scary driver as a teen), I'd drive us both to high school. My favorite memory of Kyle was one particularly rainy day, "Lisa your going plenty fast for the conditions". Kyle always was the more responsible child. My mom would always leave him with the most important chores when they'd leave town, because she knew she could depend on him to do them. I was so flighty in high school, I'd always leave mine undone until last minute. But yesterday really was a perfect day, I love my little brother. It's so wonderful to see him so happy.

Kirk and Dan at the wedding reception.

Sarah and Kyle at the wedding luncheon

Kate, Caroline, and Alexandra. The three girl cousins.

My Dad and Kyle in front of the temple.

Mom and Caroline Allred posing in their pretty wedding attire.

Annika eating a cinnamon roll at the wedding breakfast. She gets those gorgeous brown eyes from her mother.

Kids helping me make a cake

No Kirk didn't grow a beard, this is cake batter. I always let the kids lick the beaters when I'm through mixing.

Well, I can't believe it's already March. February just flew. The countdown is on for the baby's arrival. I'm only about a month away from my due date. Today has become a surprisingly laid back morning. I got up and did my daily routine, and was about to get Kate dressed for dance, but I couldn't find her leotard anywhere. This is the third one we've lost. It's so frustrating. She likes to wear them around the house, but then takes them off, and I have no idea where they end up. I swear there's a black hole in our home because I don't know were so many things go to! Since I couldn't find her leotard, and we were going to be late anyways, I just decided to bag dance, we stayed home made Kirk a birthday cake. I'll just freeze it until Friday. As you can see from the picture the kids really enjoyed this activity!