A Birthday and a Day at the Beach

Lincoln turned 4 last week! I can't believe I have a 4-year-old. We didn't do too much because all his little friends were out of town. But we took him bowling and he got this fabulous Transformers cake. He's all into it. He got the DVD of the old Transformers from like the 80s and he totally thinks it is the coolest thing ever.

So Blane had to work like every night on 4th of July weekend, but we drove over to Naples, which is on the west side of Florida on the Gulf Coast, with our friends the Haughts. We stayed for the day and went to the beach and the pool of her condo and dinner. It was fun. A little crazy with all the kids, but they loved the beach.
Preston with Heather's twins Hallie and Hudson. Yes, we are a little crazy.

Our little family. 

New York, New York

As most everyone knows, Blane has been working for the airlines, but the schedule has recently changed to 3 nights a week, which is really hard for him with school. Sadly, we are going to have to quit at the end of the summer, but we are trying to fit in as many fun things as we can before we quit. So on Thursday, my friend Katie and I planned this crazy trip to New York and we hopped on a plane on Friday morning. Our husbands took the kids all weekend (aren't they great!) and we had such a great time.  And thanks to my awesome parents, we got to stay in the Sheraton Manhattan, which is right in Times Square. We rode the subway everywhere, which I have to say was slightly frightening and we totally saw a rat. Yes, a rat walking down the tracks. And there was some great shopping. Someday I am coming back with my mom and sisters when I have lots of money to spend.  Anyway, here are some of the highlights.

We got last minute tickets for Phantom of the Opera, which was fabulous, for only $40!!!!

Self-photo (got to love those) in Times Square

Statue of Liberty, and yes, it was windy and totally rained on us later that day. We sported these awesome blue ponchos.

Me and Katie. I had so much fun. Thanks for going with me Katie.

Oh, by the way, after being delayed 5 hours at JFK, we rode 1st class on the way home. It was totally like it is in movies . . . hot towel, dinner, drinks in actual glasses . . . it was awesome.

Some fun in AZ

Well, I am finally home in Florida and it does feel good to be home. I know Blane missed us and we missed all of our friends. We are sad to be far from my family again. It seemed like we were there for so long.  Anyway, I wanted to post some pictures of the fun times we had while we were in Arizona on our "extended vacation."

Preston's 1st Birthday


With cousins Barrett, Luke, Abby, Lincoln, and Talmage

Big brother helps out with the presents

A day at the park. The handprint tiles are being used as art in the renovated park

Preschool graduation. How cute is that cap and gown. My brother Stephen also graduated high school while I was home, but is was pouring rain and only Therena took pictures, so I don't have any to post, but I have to say congrats Stephen!!!

Camping in the white mountains. It looks more fun than it actually was. My mom and I both got really sick - I'm still convinced it was swine flu.

Lincoln and Talmage, our knights in shining armor. They sure make the cutest best friends. I know Lincoln is sad to not have his buddy anymore. We miss you Talmage.

So I have taken a complete hiatus from blogging, but for good reasons. This has been an especially rough few months for me. I found out that I was pregnant the first of April. Surprise! No, we were not trying, and Blane swears it had to be immaculate conception. But I get so sick that after a week of toughing it out in Florida, crashing on my neighbor Heather's couch, I caught a flight home to Arizona. My mom took care of me and my kids for 6 weeks while I layed on the couch puking and having to go get IV's. My cute dad even drove all the way down to Mexico to get me medicine. We had to pull Lincoln out of his preschool, but we found a teacher here that would take him, which worked out pretty well. I just have to add that I have the best mom in the entire world. I don't know how I would survive without her. Anyway, I started feeling good at about twelve weeks and I have been better for the past two weeks, but I stayed in Arizona because my youngest brother just graduated high school and Blane is studying to take his dental boards the beginning of June. But this past Thursday, at the fourteen week mark, I started to bleed. My sister Therena went with me to the doctor where they did an ultrasound that confirmed the miscarriage. I knew before the doctor told me because the baby did not move. I went in for a D&C surgery the next morning because I was so far along. It has been rough because I finally got through being sick and then lost the baby. Lincoln was so cute when I told him, he asked where the baby went and I told him it went back to heaven and he gave me his little pouty face and said Ohhh. It has also been hard because we have only seen Blane one weekend this entire time and he isn't coming for another two weeks. It would have been nice to have him hold my hand and hug me to let me know that it would be ok. Luckily, I have the best family and I am working through it. We probably can't try to get pregnant again until January, after my brother leaves on his mission, so that my mom can come to Florida next time to take care of us. So two days ago my mom and I started a diet, because of course I was already totally huge and my belly is still huge. Just in time for summer.

Who's Ready for MONSTER JAM???

We took Lincoln to Monster Jam on Saturday night and he had so much fun. For those of you who don't know, we are like obsessed with monster jam. I know we may not seem like the monster jam type, but we are huge fans. Lincoln, at only three years old mind you, can name all the trucks and most of their drivers. He is so cute. Anyway, these are some fun pics.
We go crazy for El Toro Loco!

We went with some of our friends. Matt and Lincoln's friend Trey are in this picture. Matt got us the tickets. Thanks Matt! We all got to take a ride in the back of this Blue Thunder truck.

At the pit party, Lincoln got a picture with Blue Thunder driver Linsy Weenk. He also signed his shirt. (I made the adorable shirt and jeans!)

Ok, so there was no holding back, we were cheering for Blue Thunder. 

And at the end of a long night, amidst the noise and cold air, Lincoln falls asleep in the stands.

Oh no, the Big 3-0

Happy 30th Birthday Blane! I'm so glad that you are my husband and I am so proud of all the things that you are doing in school. You are a great dad and I look forward to spending this life with you. You are the best! I love you.

Cowboy Christmas

Well, we spent Christmas in Texas this year with Blane's family and we had so much fun. Blane's youngest brother Brett got home from his mission in October and it was so great to have everyone together again. And I love that Lincoln loves Christmas so much. Christmas really does live in the hearts of children. It was so fun for him to be with his cousins on Christmas morning getting to see what Santa brought for everyone. We love our families so much and can't thank them enough for making our Christmas so special.                                                                                      

Ride em cowboy.  This picture is actually in Arizona. My grandma made him this stick horse that he loves to pieces.

Preston's 1st Christmas

I'm now Batman and the Hulk!

With cousins getting ready for Santa.

Mimi helped the kids make gingerbread houses. We love you Mimi. 

Virginia

So I know most of you have given up on me ever getting my blog together, but with the help of my sister (again), I think I have gotten it all figured out. So we got three weeks off for Christmas this year and we decided to take a trip. Blane works for Delta one night a week and so our family gets free flights which has been such a blessing to our family. So anyway, we got to go to a little ski town in Virginia and we had so much fun. The condo was fabulous and Blane's brother Randy and his family got to come out for a few days. Here are some fun pics!                                                   

 Cousins Hailey, Breanna, Little Randy, and Lincoln

                                   

 Lincoln was my little snowboarder and he did awesome! Right on dude!

     This is Loray Caverns in Virginia. They were gorgeous. Too bad Lincoln's bladder is the size of a small pea.

                                             

 Snow tubing near the condo. Even mom got in on the action.
 

We flew into Washington D.C. and drove to Virginia. We got to spend a few hours in downtown. It was really cold and my kids got cranky, but we got to see a few things.