It's a girl!!!!

Since I finally told my family when I saw them this past week, I figured I might as well officially announce that we are expecting baby #5 right before Christmas. We found out what we were having right before our big trip (I will post pictures later of our travels), but thought I would let you all know! I am now just over halfway, and have been less sick this pregnancy than any of the others! (Thankfully!) Now when I post pictures of our trip, you won't have to wonder about my belly.

Andrea's 1st perm

I am not sure how she got it in her head, but Andrea begged me for a perm. So my sister-in-law and niece did the job for me, and Andrea is one happy girl. It turned out great, and she absolutely loves it! But I am still getting used to it--when did she grow up?

Recent pictures of my kids

Tyler on his birthday--Spiderman bike and pajamas--it doesn't get better than that for a 4 year old boy!

Lots of pool pictures, or course, it has been over 110 all week!

Ashley loves the waterfall.

My three independent swimmers. They all still think it is fair that they race each other! But they have a lot of fun.

Dad swimming with the kids.

Right before we watched fireworks. We went up to Pinedale an camped for the weekend with Jason's dad and brother's family, then went to a rodeo Saturday night (and ran into some old friends from dental school John and Michelle Bigler), and then sat on the grass and enjoyed the show. Well, Tyler was more interested in the root beer at first.

Our little Ashley

Recent pictures of the many faces of Ashley. She is growing up so much and learning new words and sentences every day. My favorite words to hear her say are "Sure", "Papa" (grandpa), and "Love you". She is so fun! (Most of the time.)

She has learned the words "princess" (the shoes) and "spiderman" (the goggles).

Tyler's aunts gave him some presents for the pool. She claimed them as her own almost immediately.

This was in the middle of a fit. There were a few other pictures with this one, but she looked so funny here to me.

This was when we celebrated Kara's birthday. This was before it was nap time when she was still happy and having fun.

Swine Flu

This past week we have been battling all the symptoms of swine flu, and it has wiped us out. Jason, Tyler, and I got hit the hardest, though all the kids got something. We had every single symptom of the swine flu (and there are quite a lot of symptoms). It has been a miserable week and a half, but we are finally recovering. I seem to be the last one to be able to get over it, but it hit me last. This picture is of Tyler. He had to go to the urgent care with Jason when Jason's virus spread to a bacterial infection and Tyler had labored breathing. We purchased a nebulizer so that he didn't have to go to the hospital. Today was his first day not having to use it, so he is one happy boy! I am just glad we are finally feeling better.

Kara always makes us laugh.

So Andrea asked Jason what year he was born. Jason answered and Kara asked him, "Was Jesus alive back then?"

Here are just a few photos of the Kara we love!

It's been a while...

I know it has been a while since I was on the blog. I could blame so many things--driving to Mesa a lot (an hour away) to see Jason's family, being called as YW president again, Jason being home four days a week (so I don't get much done), but I think it is really that we swim every single day. Now that it has been over 100 degrees for several weeks, I am tired of the heat, but loving the pool, as are my kids. They did lose it one day and we don't swim Sundays, but other than that, they get home from school and we get in. I now have three independent swimmers and one more that thinks she is independent (yes, that is a little scary). Ashley has grown up a lot! So here are a few random pictures of life the past few months, since I haven't posted anything.

Kara's stitches in her chin--she face planted on the sidewalk while on her scooter on her way home from school.

Sleepover!!

This is at the Phoenix zoo.

Movie party in the upstairs hallway (on mini DVD player).