California Vacation

Tyler and I went to California to escape the heat, visit friends and family for a week and a half.  It was a blast, and nice to be able to get away.  We started in Orange County visiting the Steller family, and Tyler went back to his old school so we could see the teachers, and he could watch his last 5th grade class graduate 8th grade.  He always has a blast going back, and seeing his friends.  We don't get to see them very often, so it's nice to get away for a few days.

Uncle Jon and Aunt Nicole after an amazing dinner!

While we were in Orange County we were also able to have lunch with Dustin, who was in our wedding party.  It was nice to be able to spend some time with him, even though Julie and Connor were out of town.  We are really hoping that they will come visit this fall!

We also went to Disneyland one more time, to use our season passes on the day that they expired!!  I can't go on a bunch of rides, but we were able to go on Buzz and Pirates.  I really wanted to go on Toy Story, but I didn't want to wait in line for an hour.  We just walked around, and enjoyed being at Disneyland for a couple of hours.

Our last picture in front of the castle before Brandon comes!

After our two days in Orange County we drove up to my parent's house, so that way the five of us could head to Lake Tahoe!!  My family has been vacationing in Lake Tahoe for as long as a I can remember, and it is always a blast to go back.  No two trips are ever the same.

While we were in Tahoe we didn't end up doing much.  My mom and I worked hard on my pregnancy scrapbook, and we actually finished a majority of it.  We have everything scrapped up until the trip, so that was nice.  We played a lot of Catan, and a lot of Shanghai.  We also ate a lot of course. We went to dinner at the Sage Room, which is always an amazing meal!!  We had planned on going to the beach one day, so we thought we would go to the pool the day before to get a little color before we all went to the beach and fried.  Well, needless to say, we didn't end up going to the beach because my dad and I both fried at the pool and we were there for less than an hour!!  My mom and Tyler came out much better than us!!  We went to see Bobby Slayton while we were up there too.  My mom apologized before we went for anything that he might say that offended me.  I didn't think he was too bad, but I could tell he would offend some people.  I was just glad he hadn't made it down the line to pick on us, because he was picking on people in the audience!!  Our week ended way too quickly in Lake Tahoe, but it always seems to.

Out on the beach!

Packing up on our last day!

It was nice to just be able to relax, and do whatever we wanted while we were on vacation.  We didn't have to rush to get things done, or make sure that we were in certain places at a certain time.  Tyler and I love days like those.  :)

When we got back to my parent's house we were able to go to dinner with Bree and Kevin before we had to head back home.  We went to our usual spot, and it was nice to just be able to spend some time with them, and catch up.  We're praying for them right now, as Kevin is trying to get a job with a fire department.  No one is hiring, but he is taking lots of tests, and has an interview next month.  He is also thinking of applying for a job here, which we would love!!  :)  So please, keep them in your prayers!

Uncle Kevin and Aunt Bree after our yummy dinner!

Saying goodbye was hard of course, but it always is.  My mom is coming to visit next month, to bring her first truck load of stuff, but we won't see my dad again until the end of August.  Hopefully they'll be here before Brandon is so we can spend some time together, but if not, then this trip was my last trip as just the four of us.  It's crazy how you prepare for this, and know it is going to come, but then hits you all at once.

27 weeks

What another crazy week it has been.  So much has happened in the past week and a half.  Tyler finished school last Tuesday, and we were both blessed by his parents and students.   We were showered with gift cards, gifts, and the amazing sweet words in cute little cards!  Tyler finished up meetings on Thursday, and was ready for summer by Friday mid afternoon.

On Thursday my class threw me a surprise baby shower!  It was adorable!  My room mom, and some other handy moms had decorated the room for me, including a clothes line with clothes hanging!  The kids all had these adorable hats to wear, that they just loved!  We played some shower games, ate amazing food, and of course I had the cutest basket full of books and gifts ever!

Walking into my room!

The amazing parents who were there the day of (minus Eileen)

Friday was the last day of school, and even more parents came up to shower us with gifts and love.  I hope Brandon realizes how many people out here already love him and can't wait to meet him.  All of the parents at Shepherd and Christ have been amazing throughout this whole process!!  Friday was also a hard day because one of our families is moving to Minnesota.  It was really hard to watch them say goodbye to everyone, and to say goodbye to Angela.  She has been my aide for the past two years, and I loved knowing she would be there every Tuesday and Friday afternoon for a chat.  Plus I have had one of her boys every year since I came to Shepherd.  This would have been my first year without one of the boys in my room, but it's going to be hard not to see their smiling faces come running down the hall.

Friday night we flew out to Northern California for my sister's graduation.  She graduated Saturday morning from Sanoma State.  It was awesome to be able to go and see her graduate, and to see family.  Everyone was able to make it up for her graduation, which was awesome!  We got to spend time with my grandma, see my aunt and uncle who live in San Diego, and of course everyone else.  I only wish we were able to spend more time with everyone, but that is the way it worked out.

Mom and Dad with Rachel

Our aunts and uncle

Sunday night we were able to go to dinner and a movie with the Piols!  I love my time with them, and am so excited we'll see them again in just a few short weeks.  I know our time of just hanging out with them is getting closer and closer to being over.  Once my parents sell their house we won't be making trips back to the Bay for visits, so we'll have to plan special trips just to see them!  That will be great, because we'll be there to see them, but it's going to be fewer and further between.

When we came back on Monday we had a Diamondbacks game to go to with the Fischers.  The game was a blast, and the Dbacks kept kitting home run after home run.  Plus, our seats were AMAZING!!  We were sitting about ten rows behind home plate!  I don't think I have ever sat in such great seats!  It was nice to be able to relax and hang out with the Fischers too!  CJ is getting so big already, we joke that he will be driving by the time Brandon is born!

He's such a cutie!!

He is a big smiler now

We're determined for them to be BFFs!

Our amazing seats!

Yesterday I had to go back to work for our end of the year meeting.  At the end of the meeting the staff surprised me, and had bought us our travel system already!!  I was so surprised, and we are so thankful that they did this for us!  They also gave us a Target gift card that of course will be put to good use!  Tyler didn't have to go to work yesterday, so he stayed home and put the crib together!!  The nursery is now starting to feel and look more and more like a nursery.  We bought the bookshelf we were going to build, but we bought the wrong color, so now we have to return it and wait.  We bought it from Bed, Bath and Beyond because it was cheaper than the one on our registry, but BBB doesn't sell the bookcase in cherry, which all of the other furniture in the nursery is.  Target does sell it though, so we'll just wait for it to go back on sale at Target.

The crib!

Today they had a going away party for the Koumontzis at the park.  It was great to be able to go and see the kids.  They looked like they were having a great time, and really enjoying the day.  It was nice and cool today, so it was a great day to have a park morning.  The moms who put it together did an awesome job!  No tears today though, because I get to have lunch with Angela next week!  :)  I'll miss the boys, and they will have a special place in my heart!  Right before we were getting ready to leave Demi came and popped a water balloon on me!  If I wasn't seven months pregnant, and there were more balloons, I would have gotten him back, but I'm sure his brothers will do that for me!

Now Tyler and I are in full summer mode.  I turned in all of my paper work, so technically I don't have to go back to work any more this summer.  I'm sure I'll be there a lot in June to try and get things together before I start to feel too tired, or worn out.  I came home, and after lunch today took a tour hour nap.  I know I am going to start getting more tired, so I just want to make sure I stay productive in the mornings.

25 weeks...almost 26

What a week!!  Between the craziness of Tyler and I trying to finish out our school years, Tyler's sister Megan got married this weekend!!  It was a blast to be in Omaha for the weekend, and to spend time relaxing with family and new friends!  We had such a blast, despite the weather!

We flew in Thursday afternoon, leaving our classes in the hands of trusted subs.  For those of you who know me, it's hard for me to leave my class.  Luckily I knew I was leaving them in good hands!  When we got into town Tyler's parents picked us up, and then we headed into Lincoln so the boys could pick up their tuxes and the girls could get their nails done.  It was nice to start the weekend off with some pampering.  After we headed to Dan's parent's house for some dinner.  

Despite the fact that we should have been ready to go, Tyler and I were tired, so we headed to our hotel early that evening.  The storm on the way to the hotel was HORRIBLE!!  I thought we were going to die a couple of times on the way there.  Tyler's aunt and uncle were following us, and Tyler's dad did everything he could to not lose them in the storm.  At one point Tyler's dad came up to this car that was going maybe 15 or 20 miles an hour on the highway.  Now, I know it was storming, and if I was driving, I may have been driving that slow as well, but it was almost scary how slow this person was going because they were going to cause an accident.  Right when we got to the hotel we heard this loud crack of lightning.  Later we came to find out, that the lightning had hit Tyler's uncle's car!!  They were almost to the hotel at least, but their car was fried!!  Friday morning they woke up, walked out to the street, and found parts of their antenna!

Friday we got up and headed to the hall to help Megan and Dan decorate.  We set everything up, and then headed off for some lunch.  It was a blast to hang out with Megs and Dan, and meet their friends.  Tyler quickly became friends with this guy named Harlan and they had a great time all weekend!  After lunch Tyler and I went back to the hotel for a quick nap.  It was so nice to be able to rest.  Brandon is starting to take over again, and my rest is not always the best.

Friday night we went to rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner.  The rehearsal dinner was a lot of fun, because they invited friends and family who had come in from out of town.  There I was able to meet some of my Hathaway family.  I was finally able to meet Uncle Mike, Aunt Debbie and cousin Brandie.  It was great to meet them!!

Saturday was a long day, but a blast!!  We headed out to the church around noon so that way the guys could get ready, and we could be there to help Megan get dressed, and take pictures.  Tyler and Megan's aunt took all of the pictures, and I can't wait to see the amazing job that she did!!  The wedding was beautiful, and the reception was a blast!!  Everyone had such a great time, and it was fun to meet more of the Hathaway family.  I was able to meet Uncle Paul, Aunt Sally, and cousins Shannon and Jason.

You may kiss the bride!! 

We have one from our wedding, where Megs has Tyler in a headlock! 

The wedding party! 

Most important men in Meg's life!

Aunt Luanne, Uncle Paul, Aunt Deb and Mom

Today we headed to Lincoln and had lunch with Megan, Dan, mom and dad.  It was nice to see Megan and Dan again before we left, since we weren't able to see everyone else before they left this morning.  After lunch we headed to the airport to come home.  Now we are home, and I am very much looking forward to sleeping in my own bed, with my big body pillow!

We miss them already!

24 weeks ... almost 25

Things are winding down at school.  Tyler only has 7 days left, and I have 10.  It is amazing how quickly this school year has come to an end, especially with everything else we've got going on here at home.

May 10

For Mother's Day Tyler made me cheesy potatoes for breakfast, and he also bought me a couple of CDs that I wanted.  We weren't going to celebrate Mother's Day and Father's Day this year, but it's nice to know he knew how special this day was in our lives now.  We then went over to his parent's house, and went to lunch with his mom and dad.  His dad got a job in Seattle, so we know now that we won't be able to see them whenever we want, but we'll have to see when dad is in town.  We'll get to spend a lot of time with them this next week though, as Tyler's sister is getting married on Saturday!

Tyler built the dresser Mother's Day morning!

Brandon has been very active this week.  I was reading on the couch Wednesday night, and Tyler saw him kick me!  It was crazy to see something stick out of my stomach like that!  He still hasn't felt him yet though.  We'll get there, as I'm sure there will be times when he doesn't stop after one or two kicks.  Thursday night as we were driving to bible study I think he was practicing his soccer or kick boxing because he was going at it.

This week was Teacher Appreciation at Tyler's school as well.  When Tyler got to school Monday morning his door was decorated with diapers, and baby stuff, and then his classroom had lots of diapers all over it.  He didn't take a picture for me, but our dining room table was full of stuff that they had left him.  We also got a package from the Votaw/Shaver women this week!!  We love all of you, and appreciate all of the support that you are giving us.  Especially all of the love and prayers that we already know Brandon has!

Teacher Appreciation Presents

From Tyler's "favorite" students.  This cookie was amazing!

Our box from the Votaw/Shaver women!

Friday night we celebrated our friend Liz's birthday!  It was a lot of fun.  First a couple of us went to get pedicures, which always feels amazing!!  Then we had everyone over for a little BBQ dinner at our house. After the girls got ready, we went out for a night down in Old Town.  It was funny to see people's reactions when I walked in, or when they asked if I wanted a drink.  I was wearing black, so it was hard to tell a lot of the time, but to me I feel like I look pregnant.

Girls Night Out!

Yesterday Chelsea and I had the girls over for our swim party.  It was a blast.  The girls that came are amazing, and I love them.  I love all of those fifth grade girls!  We had a blast playing Apples to Apples, swimming, watching Blind Side, eating some pizza and candy, and then we finished by walking down to the park and passing the volleyball around.  Chelsea and I are already planning next year's auction day.

It's going to be a busy two weeks, so I apologize now if you don't get an update until June.  We leave Thursday for Megan's wedding in Nebraska, and don't come back until Sunday evening.  Then we leave Friday evening to go to Nor Cal for Rachel's graduation.  It is an exciting time for our families right now!

23 weeks . . . or 25 weeks?!

I have always speculated about our due date.  Needless to say I have been looking into it a little bit more.  I have been following a site that tells you how things are going in your pregnancy, and what things you should be experiencing.  I have started to get really tired again, and at first I thought it was just due to the heat.  Then I read that once you enter your seventh month that the tiredness starts to kick in again.  I wasn't so excited for that, because I thought I would make it through May first, now it doesn't seem like that is so. I looked at our ultra sound pictures again too, and there is one picture that has all of the baby's measurements.  I didn't really pay attention the first time, because we were just so excited to see Brandon.  On the picture though, it shows that due to his development, they estimate his due date to be August 24!!  That is a whole week ahead of our estimated due date, and three days before my parents will be here!

No idea what the numbers mean, but up top you can see the differences in our due dates!

Other than thinking about our different due dates, things have been going really well.  Tyler has finished his grad work for now, so he is really excited to be done with that.  We have finished painting Brandon's room too!!  We now have one green wall, and three tan walls.  Next weekend we'll probably put the furniture together to start setting up his room even more!  Plus it will give us some room back in our office so we can start moving other things around.

We love the green!!

We have bought shelving for our garage so that way we can start moving everything out of these two bedrooms that we have expanded into over the last two years.  It's amazing the amount of stuff we have, even though I know Tyler will say it is all my stuff!!  I'm just excited for my mom to come, and bring even more scrapbooking stuff with her so that way we can buckle down and get to work!!  I really want to finish my pregnancy album before Brandon comes, because I know once we get here the next 18 years are going to be a whirlwind!!

Tyler only has 12 days of school left, and I have 15.  We are both excited to start our summer vacations. So far we don't have too much planned, a trip to Orange County and then Tahoe with my family, and a two night stay in Sedona.  We are excited to be able to watch Criminal Minds, and read a lot this summer!!  Thanks to my mom and dad we are the proud owners of the first five seasons of Criminal Minds, so that is how we plan on spending at least a week this summer!  Plus I want to read all of the Harry Potter books again to get ready for our big night out in late July!!  :)

We hope that you all have a great Mother's Day tomorrow, and we both love our moms and all of the moms in our lives so much!  Thank you to all of you who help support us, and pray for us!!  We love you all!

Crazy Coupons

So my friend Katie and I stayed home Friday night, while the boys went to the baseball game, and we watched TLC's new show Extreme Couponing.  We were both inspired, and now we want to be those crazy coupon women.  Granted we will never have stock piles of stuff, we just don't have room in our house, but we both love to get a good deal.  Needless to say, if you read this blog, and want to help us, please mail us your coupons!!  Please go through your coupons and take out what you want first, but if you have coupons left over, please send them our way.  We would love to get really good at this, and if we can, eventually get on the show.  We are not that crazy yet, but we would love to be!!  If you don't already have my address, send me your email and I will send it to you that way.  Hopefully I'll be able to report later what a great job we did!!  Thank you all for your help in this!!

22 Weeks

A lot has been going on, as we are nearing the end of our school years.  Tyler only has three weeks left of school from this Tuesday, and I have four weeks left of school from yesterday.  We are so excited to be finishing the years, as they have been fun but challenging years for the both of us.  A lot has happened this year, in the classroom, and out, and has affected each of us differently.  I love my kids, and wouldn't trade them for the world, but I can't wait for summer vacation!

This week is the first time I actually felt Brandon kick, and knew that he was kicking, or moving!  It is such a crazy experience.  I'll just be sitting here, and all of a sudden, BAM!!  :)  I love this little kid, but I wish he would find a comfortable position.  The kicking I don't mind so much, but I have this muscle below my ribs that I think has been stretched out, or has moved, and it isn't always too comfortable.

22 weeks

We have made a lot of progress in Brandon's room so far.  Last Monday we decided how we are going to lay out our loft, and looked at buying some shelving for the garage for the things we can't part with.  We also bought paint, and Tyler will be painting Brandon's room today!!  I would love to be able to help, but because of the fumes, I must stay away.  We have decided to do a green wall, with the other walls a cream/tan color.  We also already have the crib, and dresser, so once Tyler is done painting, he will be assembling!!  I can't wait to see what the nursery will look like in the beginning stages!!

We are using the top colors on both walls, as the other ones we are afraid would be too dark