Teaching!

I've been teaching BodyPump at the gym for about a month now, but I've never actually taught the entire class (besides my filming) by myself with no other instructors present.  It was a little scary at first to think I was in charge!  But, I wasn't too nervous and it went well.  Except for my lunge track which I totally messed up the choreography on...oh well, I kept them moving, just not to the right beats :)

There's my name right there under Wednesday BodyPump!  Can't wait to teach more!!  For now I'm just a sub, hopefully soon there will be an open class I can take!

Carving Pumpkins

It seems like every night we wanted to carve pumpkins, something happened and we couldn't.  Our neighbor came to the door the other night and asked if the kids would like one of his pumpkins he grew.  Of course we took him up on that offer!  The pumpkin was HUGE!  Tj had to go help the kids carry it.  We just carved the one pumpkin this year.  We did it after our ward party so we could have it done for Halloween.  The kids did a great job of cleaning out the insides.

 And we roasted those babies!

 He looks so mean!

Trunk-or-Treat

Tonight was our ward's Halloween Trunk-or-Treat.  We had planned on dressing up as a Star Wars theme this year, but that didn't happen.  So, we pulled out whatever we had.  Tj and I won the costume contest.  It was a beautiful night - much nicer than last year!  It was snowing last year!  We had to end up inside the church last year because of the weather. 

Tyler was a football player and Brena was Cleopatra

 Tj and I

 Bristol was going to be out little Ewok for our Star Wars theme, so she wore the same outfit.  It is however, a dog costume.

 Getting ready to trunk-or-treat!

 We covered up her hands and it was so funny to watch her try and use her hands.  She kept trying to grab everything and couldn't - she was getting really frustrated.  It was so funny!

 And all 5 of us!

New Dress

I LOVE smocked dresses and saw this cute pumpkin one online and just had to have it for Bristol.  I would have bought one for Brenalee too if they made them in her size.  She's too big.

 Look at those blue eyes!

8 Months Old

Well, even though I don't want it to happen, Bristol is growing up.  8 months today!

She STILL isn't crawling.  Well, she does this backwards scoot thing, but she is always going backwards.  Then she gets stuck against something and screams her head off.  She is so spoiled!  She ADORES her brother and sister and gets so excited when they come home from school.  She loves to give big kisses.  She loves her bath time.  She hates peas, she likes all the other foods we've given her, but not peas.  She still loves to nurse.  LOVE her to pieces!!!

Flash Back Friday

Brenalee went on a field trip to the pumpkin patch today.  In the past years I have gone on all the kids' field trips.  Well, now I have Bristol and they won't let me go!  How sad is that?!  I can't wait to hear Brena's stories when she gets home about her trip.  She is so animated and excited about everything.  I have multiple pictures today because I couldn't pick just one.  This first one is Tyler when he was almost 7 months old, October 22, 2003.  Tj was in Rhode Island going to school for two months.  We had gone to the pumpkin patch with some friends and he wasn't too happy about it!  He was my best baby - hardly ever cried - so for him to be this upset, something was really wrong!  I never did figure it out though.  Poor boy!  He was happy at some point though because I have proof!

 The second is from a pumpkin patch right after Brena was born.  She was about 2 months old, Tyler was 2 1/2.  She was a good baby too.  I'm lucky I had good babies!

 We haven't been to a pumpkin patch in a long time.  I think it's time we go again!

Friends

Sunday afternoon Beth drove me to the Hurdsman's house.  My flight was early Monday morning and Theresa wouldn't be able to get me there.  I knew Dave & Jenn could help me.  We've known Dave & Jenn for a long time.  They moved into our ward in La Mesa a long time ago.  They are good friends and I'm so grateful to have such wonderful people to call on when I need help.  I know they will always be able to lend a hand!  Jenn fixed a super yummy dinner and we had a great time talking and catching up.  The kids are so big!  Monday morning came too early.  The alarm went off at 4:45am and were were out the door by 5:30am.  The airport was crazy!  The security line was so long!  I was glad I had plenty of time.  Then we were off, we flew to Austin, TX, first, then to Dallas, TX, then on to Raleigh.  I landed about 8pm and found the car and drove the 3 1/2 hours home.  Got home about 11:30pm and I was EXHAUSTED!  I'm grateful Bristol did well on the trip.  It was good to get home.

Babies

Bristol would not cooperate for pictures!  She kept wanting to attack Hunter.  Poor boy!  He is such a good baby and happy too.

Anthony was being funny.

Always a good time with kids around!  I wish I could have taken Tyler and Brenalee too.

San Diego

Saturday afternoon it was off to Cuatro Milpas - I can't go to San Diego and not eat there.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE that place, I miss it so much!  They have the best food ever, hands down.

Then we headed out to Eastlake to do some shopping, I don't remember the last time I saw a mall that big, and Theresa said it wasn't even that big!

We also went to Little Italy and got some fresh pastas and sauces to take home for dinner.  Beth wanted to go get some cakes from Nothing Bundt Cakes, so we went and got some of that too.  We sure did eat too much this weekend!!

Sunday we walked around Coronado a little bit.  It was SO gorgeous! This is at the Hotel Del Coronado:

 

 

I miss these Jacksonville neighbors SO much.  I have never lived in a neighborhood like I did with these girls! 

First plane ride!

Bristol and I flew out to San Diego.  This was her first plane ride!  She did ok.  She was so excited about everything going on around her, she was super tired but wouldn't let herself miss out on anything by falling asleep!  She was crying, rubbing her eyes and even closing them, but still crying at the same time!  Silly baby.  Finally she gave up and fell asleep.  I swear it seemed like hours she was crying, but it was probably only about 20-25 minutes.  I don't think people hated us...

We left Blacksburg about 1:30pm on Thursday and drove down to Raleigh.  We went to my friend Christy's house and followed her to her gym where I took her BodyAttack class.  It was fun!  Then we headed over to the Carr's house and spent the night there.  It was a late night.  I woke up early and headed out to the airport.  It was quite the drive!  And the traffic was horrendous!  But, we made it just in time.  We flew from Raleigh to Denver and had a quick layover there.  Then it was off to San Diego.  The airlines lost the car seat, so we had to get a loaner.  Beth picked us up and we headed out to Coronado to stay with Theresa.  It was so good to see her.  She is doing so good.  It was fun to play with Anthony and hold baby Hunter too.  San Diego was as gorgeous as ever!  It was such a beautiful weekend. 

Comparing

We got Bristol dressed for church today and remembered when Brena had worn the same outfit.  Hmmm, do they look alike?? 

Flash Back Friday

Today's flash back is fitting because it's Kayleigh's 8th birthday today!  She will be baptized tonight.  I wish we could be in Wyoming with the Lionberger's to celebrate.  Brenalee and Kayleigh are just 2 months apart in age.  It was so fun to have a baby girl at the same time as my sister!  I drove to CO by myself from CA when Brenalee was just 2 months old and Tyler was 2.  Kim drove down from WY after Kayleigh was just born!  I think she was about a week old.  I don't know how Kim did that - I couldn't get my life together after Bristol was born until she was about 6 months old!  I could never have driven anywhere for that long by myself with a week old baby!

This is Brenalee and Kayleigh, October 2005:

Here are our pretty girls now, August 2013:

Wedding!

Tammy got married this past weekend.  They live in Georgetown, KY - about a 5 hour drive from us.  Friday after Tj got off work we loaded up and headed out.  Bristol screamed more in this 5 hour drive than she did in the 30+hour drive to CO!  She's been so rotten lately!!!  We got to KY late Friday night, so we just went straight to our hotel.  Saturday morning we went and met Carol, Tammy and Anthony at a mall.  The wedding was Saturday afternoon.  It was small, but nice.  After the wedding we went to dinner and had some yummy sushi.  We headed over to Tammy & Willie's house to watch some college football after dinner.  Then it was time to head back to the hotel and try to get some sleep since SOMEONE (we won't name any names here) won't sleep anymore.  Sunday morning we woke up and went to breakfast with Carol, Tammy & Anthony.  Then it was time to head home.  I am really bummed we missed conference this weekend.  But, I guess that's why they have it on the internet, so we can watch it if we miss it.  Tammy asked Tj to walk her down the aisle:

 Bristol loves her big brother.

 Bristol was very loud during the ceremony - good thing no one cared she was making so much noise!

Grumpy

Bristol has been SO grumpy lately.  She is so fussy and won't sleep!  She normally is such a good sleeper.  About 2-3 naps a day, loooong naps that I quite enjoy because I get a lot done.  She hasn't been sleeping for more than about 20-30 minutes in the last week.  And let's not get started on how she's not letting me sleep through the night anymore!  I knew her teeth were bothering her and she was really uncomfortable.  I could feel how swollen her upper gums were.  I felt her mouth when she woke up this morning and I FINALLY felt those two little sharp teeth!  They have finally popped through!  And, she took her two long naps today for the first time in over a week - HALLELUJAH! 

 Brena's friend brought these balloons over today and Bristol LOVED them.  It was so funny watching her play with them.  I'm SO glad she's my happy baby again!  She is not a happy teether!  I don't think Tyler ever really had any problems getting his teeth, but this baby is totally different.

Sad Day!

I don't know how we go from this (last day of swimming 2013):

to this:

I'm sad because a) I'm cold already and b) I don't want to see this:

Goodbye summer!  I will really miss your warmth and sunshine!