Kids are back in school

Well the kids are back in school and are liking this school much better than the one the went to the last few weeks of the year last year. In the beginning we had some annoying problems with the bus. Now its just a lot of bad kids on the bus. I have the kids now sitting back together and I hope that will take some anxiety away from both of them. It is hard to decide what to do because Adam is sitting beside a good kid and that boy will be alone and surrounded by boys that pick on others, or protect Adam. Protect Adam wins hands down. I just feel for the loan boy. Hopefully he will be ok.
Joe just had his bday and spent the whole weekend writing an eight page paper. We later went to a ward activity and swam in the pool. A break for a little bit. What a way to spend your 40th. I made a nice lunch and apple pie. The gifts didnt get here. They came this week oh well he will like them.
I am going to go visit my family in Utah for Cory's farewell. I am not going to take anyone with me. I know the kids really miss family and Whitney has never seen Tyler. I know my limits and taking even Tyler as a lap child, while pregnant or not getting in at out 200 am would be stupid. I think all of us need time away from each other. Daddy needs alone time with them too. I am really excited to see everyone. Adam said he misses Whitney the most and wants to see her. I reminded him that we live close to her and we will see them some other time. The family stuff, like baptisms, performances, activities, I really miss sharing with family. We never really did except with Hyrum and Kristi when we both lived in the same town in Wyoming. I know we chose to move far away and that is one of the draw backs of living far. It is just hard when you are reminded by little kids wishing to be close to family.
I got new sheets for the kids and they love them the t shirt kind. Johnny told me I couldnt sleep on his bed to take naps with him anymore because I would mess up his soft sheets. I definitely couldnt sleep on his pillow. I had to tickle the serious kid. He also said they looked like his cousin Makenzis bed and I needed to keep it perfectly made like her bed. Tyler loves Sams sheets they have butterflies and he looks at them and said pree and hugs the pretty sheets.
We are going to start Sam in violin lessons. They have a program at school. She has always loved the sound and has asked for years. She knows she cant give up and has to commit for a long time. We picked up the Violin today. She told me that she can play Grandma a song for Christmas. I smiled and told her she will have to practice everyday and she might get really frustrated and that she shouldnt be hard on herself if she hasnt mastered the violin by Christmas. (my impatient with self and perfectionist child):)She will do great.

Tennesee and North Carolina Picts

Tyler needed a break, so happy to be out of the van.
The kids on a rest stop in the Smokies
A pict of the rainy campsite
The Biltmore in NC

Thought you all would like to see the growing belly

catching up on some pictures

Adam had blisters on his hands so it was slow going

Adam in center of picture
Sam in pink shirt
Sam having a little rest

Johnny testing out the gear

Des Moines

The fam went with Joe to Des Mines Iowa. I do not like the hotel the company chose. The beds are so uncomfortable and really not friendly, but for the buisness traveler. No place to sit and eat or chairs to sit on and talk. Maryann lives there and we spent the day with her. I saw her back in Febuary I think. It sure was nice to see her again. Before that, I saw her when I just had Adam when we lived in Cali. Of course she was one of my bridesmaids and I was able to see her when she went to BYU. It was nice to see her and her family. I know its silly and people said it to me when my parents friends saw us when we grew up, boy... has changed so much. I knew you when you were born, I remember when you were this tall, etc. I did that when I saw Maryann's brother John. He of course is a man, and I just haven't seen him for 8 years. He is 4yrs younger? I don't know. Anyway I love seing people I haven't for so long. It is so fun to catch up. Any one reading and would like to have me see their blog, let me know.
Back to Maryann, We had such a fun time. We went to the pool and over to her house. She sure has a great place. She brought us lunch. That was such a nice thing not to have to eat out. The company was great. Brian I have only met twice and I am so glad they got together they really click. He is so nice. I had tons of fun knowing Maryann in Cali growing up. we had so many times together. of course times are so split with friends, the friendship grew and has lasted through the years despite where we have lived. I try to call once a year and now with blogging I can feel I get to know her better. I really missed Maryann and am glad I can see her when Joe has work over there.
For an example I looked up a friend Katie, and I am so glad to get a taste into what she is up to. I was so busy as a teen to really get to know people I think. I also spent most of my senior year away form campus, and then moved that Jan So I really missed out on really getting to know the people around me at that time. What a bummer. Katie is so talented. And all of the other people I have come back in contact with really makes me happy.
Oh I also got attacked by chiggers. I think it happened when I went to Nancys Mom's house in the fields there. I thought I got attacked by mosquitoes, and maybe the poision ivy reacted and I was having symptoms. The spots have spread and from my ankles to my inner thighs are covered with a horable rash. It is very itchy. Only thing to do is to put nail polish on the sores to kill the bugs! yuck! I knew all of you would love to hear that!

Baby boy

I went to the doc and the ultra sound said the baby is a boy. I feel so blest. Sammi definitely will feel protected. The measurements said another week so the due date could be pushed back to Dec. 10. I don't like that! Tyler measured small too and they didn't move the due date. The doc said he will induce because of Joe's schedule.

My Dad came to visit

My Dad came to Indiana. He came with his girlfriend and her daughter. They are very nice. The kids and I met then here and went to the park so the kids could ride their bikes. Sam fell a lot and sried a lot. We just got home from St Louis and ate some lunch. 6 hrs in a car is tiering. We went to a chinese rest. for dinner and came home and showed GP Sam's baptism video. Then they left. We went the next day to go visit them and Nancy's Moms property is sure beautiful. Someday... We went to the fair and the kids went on rides. Sam went on some rides I thought she would never go on and most I didn't want her to go on. My heart was beating probably just as fast as hers on some of them. I was fine, she was with people I trusted and they fely comfortable with the responsibility. I just don't trust carni rides. The had tons of fun on the bumper cars and John drove his. He loved it and could have stayed there all day. Adam loved seing Grandpa almost hurl on the one ride I made him go on with the kids. I really think they could all have. Johnny wanted to go on one last ride and we were too late he was so sad.
We went back and fished at the lake for a while it rained while we fished. we didn't catch anything but we all had tons of fun and loved getting cooled off by all the rain.
The next day Joe joined us and we went back out to Nancy's Mom's house for a lovely bbq and met some of her family. They are really nice. Her mom crochets blankets they are amazing. I am glad Joe got to see my dad and and glad he got to meet Nancy. It is nice to have him meet her. It is very nice to have people meet face to face. I thing that is also why my dad came out. I really enjoyed seeing my dad and I know the kids enjoyed it too. I didn't talk to him as much as I'd like to but life has so many distractions, mine seem to be all under age 8.

St. Louis

St. Louis was fun we decided to go to a trade show of tree stuff. It wasnt exactly a trade show. It was a international competition for tree climbers. It was very fun to watch. Those competing would have certian spots to go to in the tree and it would be timed. Sam and Adam were able to go in the trees and climb over two days they went three times. Adam got blisters on his hands. He never gave up even when he had to advance the rope, he did it with two fingers.
The weather was very hot and humid and we decided to stand under the fire engine and get cool from the water it sprayed. That really took the edge off.
The competion was in an amazing park. People say everything is free. We went to the zoo two times. the first time only for an hour and a half and the next day for all day. The admission is free, unless you wanted to see something special, like the the sea lions, the train, childrens zoo etc. We decided to see the sea lions. Everyone liked it. I had a friend go with me to the zoo the second day named Debbie. She sure helped keep track of them with me. I met her through Joe's work. Wife of another tree guy. We get along and spent all the dinners and stuff together.
I am glad we went and had fun. I would love to have a park like that in my town. I just didn't love the city. You really need to know your way around to not get lost and end up in a bad part of town. Really hard to do. We were there at night with our get gas light coming on. :)
we really did have fun and we bought a kids harness and helmet and will continue the climbing when we get home. Johnny really wants to get up there too.