JANUARY
Well this year started out with a bang as you can see. Found out I was prego on January 3rd so most of this year I have been pregnant.
And look who got the quarter AGAIN! Cru was totally bummed.
We got another snow day here and we are slowly getting more snow supplies. The snow here in the south is awesome because EVERYTHING shuts down. It is a chance to be together as family and really enjoy the day before it melts.
Not too shabby. Enough for a snowman at least.
Cru played basketball this year for the first time and LOVED it. He was decent too and the highlight was when he crossed over. A really good experience for sure!
FEBRUARY
This is me angry at the "cold" that I have to teach in. This was about the point in my pregnancy that I was SOOOOOOOO tired especially in the afternoon (which is when I taught). It was a rough few weeks there.
Still running! Took the kids with me on the greenway for a nice spring run.
Both the kids are loosing their teeth! I'm not one to cry and fawn over my kids getting older. I actually love watching them grow and develop. BUT this is the one thing that kinda makes me sad. Mostly for the reason that now their adult teeth come in and they look gangly for the next seven plus years. And I'm out of more money...
MARCH
This was definitely one of those trips for the ages. AND Ashely came down from PA and carpooled with us to Charleston (her BF was getting married and had a bachelorette party in Charleston on the same weekend. SO RAD). You see I found out that my dear friend Christine was a huge Jimmy Eat World fan which was MIND BLOWING! She had never seen them live so I promised her if they came anywhere CLOSE to us that we would go. And wouldn't you know it-they came a beautiful 3 hour drive away. Eliza came with us of course because Charleston isn't Charleston without team Geechie. We even got an Air B&B on a sail boat in the harbor.
This was one of, if not the best show I have been to. This was the third time seeing Jimmy but I have NEVER seen them in a smaller venue and definitely never this close up. Every song they played was perfect and they played from every album from Static Prevails to their newest Integrity Blues. This was the Integrity Blues tour and holy crap it was amazing. To say I was 'into it' is an undertatement. I felt like I was 17 again listening to Jimmy for the first time. ALL THE FEELS!!
A highlight was at the end of the show Tom (the lead guitarist), threw out his pic. I am pretty sure he was aiming it at me because I was rocking my AZ shirt and knew pretty much all the lyrics to every song. It flew in at an angle and I snatched it out of the air and held it triumphantly up. He saw me catch it and raised both hands in the air like I scored a touchdown. Which in my world, I kinda did.
This was the next day on our walk around Charleston (which is SUCH an amazing city). I seriously love this picture. It is a palm tree growing right in the middle of a live oak. It's like two of my worlds intertwining (Arizona and North Carolina). I wish we could've stayed another day but we had to get back to kids and commitments. I will never forget this trip.
This big guy turned seven this year! He wanted to go miniature golfing with some of his friends. He is such a funny kid and makes parenting enjoyable for sure.
This is some of our Laurels and Priests at one of the funnest activities we've had. We played "mission impossible" which is one group getting from one part of town to another without getting seen by the other group. The kids had a blast and Eliza and I were the regulators in my truck. So much fun!
APRIL
Our young women had a weekend basketball tournament with the other wards in our stake. And would you look at that? We got first place! We have a couple ballers on our team and it was a right good time.
This picture epitomizes Zoey and our amazing neighbors. Every day after dropping Cru off at school (and if she didn't have school), Zoey would RUN over and 'sneak' on Charlie. Then they would stand there and chat about all the things. Barb and Charlie have been amazing neighbors and I wish I could take them with me wherever we go!
The kids and I took a trip to Virginia to see Heather and family. It was SO much fun! They bought an amazing place on 12 acres and have four wheelers to ride all around and be farm kids.
While in the VA, we took a trip to Virginia Beach and let the kids jump in the waves. Seriously had a blast with my Hep!
On the way home from VA, I straight up exploded a turkey on the interstate. It bolted out right in front of me and all that was left of it was that feather stuck in the hood of my car.
We ventured to Charlotte with some friends in our ward and let the kids play at the park and then got slurpee's at the eleven afterward.
The kids got "tanky tops" for Easter.
MAY
Took the kids to the lake for some fishing. We didn't catch anything again but had a really good time trying to figure out how exactly one is suppose to fish.
I just enjoy this picture of Zoey and Zac. She got a hand me down dress from Mylee and wouldn't take it off even during basketball matches.
This is one of the trails at the school I worked at. SO pretty.
Zac and I went on a date in Charlotte and had a city scavenger hunt from a groupon I bought. We rented some bikes and seriously had the best time. It was so much fun to be with my guy riding around Uptown.
JUNE
At the end of May and first of June, we went to Idaho to celebrate these two! My parents had their 50th wedding anniversary and we had quite the party time! It was so much fun to be with everyone and celebrate my parents.
Here we are in B-town!
I walked out to see this. Zoey (who shouldn't have been driving) swapped with Cru and could barely touch the break while driving the lawn mower. Sketch.
A party isn't a party without it being a pirate party. Even Jack Sparrow showed up.
We were in ID during memorial day and went to visit Emil's grave with the family. It was a good place to be on Memorial Day.
AND I got to hang with some of my boyfrens!! Kristie made the trek up from Utah just to visit me because I was in town. Chris (her husband) and Zac golfed a couple times too which is always a good thing. I really love these Chesters.
And here is our family picture that Kami took of us! I have a wee babe growing in my belly there.
We got home from Idaho and a week and a half later MOVED! This is our newest and FIRST home of our own! We aren't renters!! We by some miracle secured this house (only a few minutes from our other home) after beating out 11 other offers. We moved in and have been BUSY getting things in order before I was unable to move because of being too pregnant.
Getting settled and getting creepy.
Another year in the books for Cru and baseball! His highlight was catching a LINE fly. He surprised himself with the catch.
Stan and Jen and Sam came for a visit to Charlotte City! Jen had a conference in Atlanta and they rented a car and drove 3 hours to stay for a couple days with us. We had SO much fun together!!
This was one of the highlights. Our garbage can kept getting broken into so we set a trap and caught Carson the raccoon. Cru named it Carson because we weren't sure if it was a girl or boy. Don't worry, it just got relocated a little ways away and not turned into a hat.
We now have PERMANENT family in the CLT! Mack and Ashley moved to Charlotte and live in Uptown just about 30 minutes from us. On July 3rd we went to a Charlotte Knights baseball game and got SOAKED!! It was so much fun though and it is SO much fun to be by family!
I guess sparklers are loud?
Here is their cute house in a historic neighborhood. It was built in 1920 and hasn't really had too many upgrades since then. It is in a RAD part of town though and Mack rides his bike to work. We were playing spike ball for Ashley's birthday.
I also took an impromptu beach trip with my kids and Eliza and her kid. We went to Wilmington for a couple days and enjoyed some serious beach time.
THE perk of being pregnant
It really does look like I swallowed a basketball....or giant tennis ball.
These two got to go to golf camp for a week together. They both LOVED it and I am glad they are enjoying the game together.
Girls camp this year was only a couple days for me since I was 8 months pregnant. It was SO much fun for the time I did get to spend there. I made Eliza go with me in case I went into preterm labor and she needed to drive me home. Luckily I didn't go into preterm labor....until 5 days later.
Yep--this is me in the hospital on my birthday in pre term labor. They tried to stop my contractions but they just kept coming. I dilated all the way to 5 centimeters and then the contractions stopped!! I was a little relieved because I really didn't want to share my birthday. Or have a baby at 36 weeks.
I celebrated my birthday a day later and did my birthday thing which included donuts and pizza.
The BEST pizza in the area!
Zac also got the luck of the draw and got to go see a Major tournament. The US Open was in Charlotte this year and Zac scored tickets to see the event. This is Dustin Johnson walking the course in the background. He had a right good time and I am glad a newborn baby didn't prevent him from going!
This by far was one of the COOLEST and most amazing things I have ever witnessed in my life. We had a total solar eclipse pass over America and it went through South Carolina. I was having contractions and was a little scared to drive 2 hours away but I risked it and I am SO glad I risked it. That is something I honestly can never forget and I want to see again even though it was only two minutes of my life!
Big time! First day of 2nd grade. This kid excels at school and really loves it. I am so happy for that.
And my little girl is a Kindergartener and was SO ready! She LOVES school and is already learning a ton. She was so excited to go.
This is me at 38 weeks. One week before the chap was born.
Zoey finally decided it was time to figure out this no training wheel kind of life. She figured it out fast with dad's help and is now riding all over the place.
And then there were three!!
Our little Ace Danny was born at 11:29 in the evening with a pretty amazing delivery. I had such an amazing team around me from my midwife to the nurses to the anesthesiologist who administered my epidural (bless him). By far the best delivery experience I've had.
First family picture of us all together!
Eliza was my saving grace in all of this madness. She saved my bacon the first time I went into preterm labor and came over to our house in the late hours of night and then watched my kids all day the next day while I was in the hospital. THEN she did it again when I really went into labor! She also came into the hospital and took some "precious" hospital pictures of my babe. I really wanted some of him looking fresh and she did such a great job.
See?? I love this!
And can you believe it?? Christine and I have been pregnant together and I actually helped her with some shots (progesterone butt shots....) when her husband couldn't give them to her. So we have been sharing this journey together and even shared a few hours in the hospital at the same time!! Our boys are 3 days apart and we've already planned their futures together. They are going to be in a band.
I got home just in time for this cute one to turn six. SIX! She is coming into her own my little Zoey and is getting pretty goofy. She makes friends easily and is a determined girl.
The next pictures are those who came to my aid in the new baby adjustment period which is not my favorite. In fact, it's the worst. I already said how much Eliza did. And then she did more. She is a saint.
Mom and dad flew out about a week after Ace was born and stayed a week with me. I got home cooked meals, cookies and a freezer full of jam. They also BOTH cleaned my house which was oh so nice.
Baba came about a month after my parents and continued in the cooking, cleaning, and helping me with the older kids. It was a treat for sure.
AND Michelle came in the middle of all of it! She helped me get out of the funk I was in and adventured with me to a few places. Oh and she brought her camera and did her magic. These next pictures are some of hers I could post them all but these are just a few of my favorites.
She's good. And it was so much fun having her with me!
OCTOBER
OH the poop paci. I had just picked up the kids from school and Ace was crying so I told Cru to stick his paci in. He did but Ace kept crying and crying. Then Cru says to me "What's this on his pacifier?" I looked and to my dismay I saw poop on the said paci. Well Cru had been trying to shove it in Ace's mouth and he got poop ALL over his face and was right ticked! It was pretty funny.
And here is Ezra! This is Christine's boy who is three days younger than Ace. He is so sweet and everyone always comments on how amazing it is that they both have such good hair.
It was just a poop filled month. I've never had a baby projectile poop on me until now.
I LOVE this picture!!
I was nervous to go being so freshly postpardum, but Matt Pond PA was in town with his last show ever so Eliza convinced me to go. It was a really good show and I am so glad I decided to go for it.
The blessing!
I love this picture. Ace has his dad's hair and gives him the BIGGEST smiles.
This year Cru and Zoey were on the same soccer team. They played really well together and Cru was a big time defender. It was fun to watch them.
Matchy matchy.
This was at our ward's trunk or treat. Not planned!! I LOVE Harry Potter!
We went trick or treating with Kerri and her kids Sam and Adam. The kids really had a fun time and it was the first year they kinda could all handle themselves. This night felt like something from a movie--I love Halloween in the south!
NOVEMBER
This guy is smiling a ton lately and has a HUGE mouth.
He also is a big time spitter...
For our anniversary this year (number 13), I hid 13 Nicolas cage cutouts around the house with reasons why Kristen loves Zac....told by Nic Cage.
And check out this kid. He is seriously so cute. Probably my cutest baby but don't tell the others I said that. I think it's because of his luscious hair.
So we are midway through November and knowing myself, I probably won't post the happenings for the rest of November. We are planning on having Thanksgiving with Mack and Ashley so that should be fun! Life is good. Sometimes hard and sometimes confusing but all in all good. Obviously I post my highlights here because I don't want to remember the crap times. But having a baby is hard. Super hard and I feel like I am finally starting to adjust back to the new normal. And I love him so much so that helps! Word.
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