Our Fourth of July

I love the Fourth of July in Provo.  There are so many fun celebrations going on.  On the Saturday before the 4th we went to watch the Stadium of Fire fireworks by the Marriott Center. We used to always go the Stadium of Fire growing up but now that we all have kids we’ve opted out and gone for the alternative.  On the 4th we woke up early and went to the Provo parade which is the best around.  It was nice having my parents save us an awesome spot so we just had to show up and there was a place waiting for us!  After the parade we got together with my family for a picnic in the canyon, then we went home and took naps then we all got back together for more fireworks at my aunt and uncle’s house.

I debated whether I should put this picture up of me because I hate all pictures of my 9-month pregnant body but I figured I’d put it up for posterity’s sake.  Here’s part of our parade group before my sisters and their families got there.  Carly loves her great-aunt Ann, and wouldn’t leave her side. 

I couldn’t get a picture of Carly’s face during the parade because she was too mesmerized!

Carly adores her cousins.  She is always asking to play with them.  This is at the park where we had a picnic and I almost died of heat.  I can’t handle being outside in 98 degree weather, especially when I’m already hot all the time anyway!

Carly was a little scared of the ground fireworks we did at my aunt’s and uncle’s house, but Casey loved getting some cuddles out of her.

Chicago & Milwaukee

Savage Services, Casey’s company that he has been interning with, had an annual conference in Chicago this year.  We were lucky because we got invited even though Casey is just an intern.  It was an all-expense paid vacation for Casey and me.   Ann graciously offered to watch Carly for us while we were at the conference so we brought Carly along and Ann drove down from Milwaukee to pick her up at the airport.  After our 3 days in Chicago we went to Milwaukee to visit friends and pick up Carly. 

The first night we were in Chicago Casey and I went to a Cubs game.  Casey’s company reserved out 3639 Wrigley Rooftop.  So we got to sit on some covered bleachers (it was rainy) and watch the game.  At Wrigley Rooftop there are 6 different floors where you can watch the game.  On each floor there were different food items.  Let’s just say Casey and I tried out everything on all those floors. 

On Thursday morning all Savage employees had meetings so Savage gave all the spouses money to go shopping.  That afternoon we went to The University of Chicago to do a service project.  We put together bikes and tricycles for kids.  Casey competed in a bike race but got pushed over at the beginning by a violent competitor.  That night we went to Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry, which is the 2nd most visited place in Chicago (we were repeatedly told that).  Savage reserved out the entire museum for the company so we got to see a lot, and eat a lot. 

On our last day in Chicago  I went to some meetings with Casey in the morning and then we got to go to a private showing of the Blue Man Group.  Casey and I got pulled aside before the show and they asked us if we wanted to be in the show.  Of course we said yes, but I was afraid of what they were going to do with us because they wouldn’t tell us.  They ended up pretending like we were late and shined lights and laughed at us.  It was pretty funny.   That night we had an awards banquet and ate some more really good food.  And got to be apart of Savage’s “ring ceremony.”

On Saturday morning we took the Amtrak to Milwaukee, rented a car and then went to the Farrenkopfs to pick up Carly.  I was missing Carly a lot, but I knew she was having the time of her life being spoiled by Ann.  It was so fun seeing Carly so excited to see me.  She wouldn’t let go of me for a while and kept saying, “I missed my mommy.”  That afternoon the Callisters had a little party for us with some Kohl’s friends.  That evening we had another party with more friends hosted by the Farrenkopfs.  It was so fun to be back in Milwaukee.  Not much had changed in the year we’d been gone and it’s so fun still knowing where everything is.  It was especially fun seeing all our friends.  We have missed them so much. 

On Sunday we went to church and then flew home.  Here are some pics from the trip, I forgot my camera so my sweet friend Stephanie took a lot of pictures of us, but I haven’t gotten them from her yet.  Most of these pictures are from my phone so they’re a little blurry.

Carly did awesome on the flights.  She was so excited to fly on an airplane. 

At the Cubs game.

View from out hotel room.  We stayed in the theater district at the Renaissance.

While Casey and I were in Chicago Ann took Carly to the Zoo.  Karen went with them and brought Summer.  Carly had so much fun playing with Summer again!  (thanks Karen for the picture)

Casey in the bike race.  I was proud that he volunteered to do it in front of his entire company, and of course he didn’t care one bit.

We did a cool project where we were divided into groups, given a part of a picture, drew the picture on a poster board and then all the pictures were put together.  It was pretty awesome.

Our group’s part of the collage was the bottom right. There were four collages total of different pictures from the company. Casey actually drew most of our part of the collage.  Most people don’t know what a great artist Casey is (I’m totally serious)!

Casey’s favorite part of the Museum of Science and Industry:

Us with a Blue man,  he smelled kind of funky.

Our final dinner.  They had the ballroom decorated really cool.  It was fun.

The awesome homemade ice cream spread out Kohls friends put together, and underneath all of our sweet Lake Michigan ward friends.

Thanks so much to our sweet friends The Callisters who let us invade their home and stay with them.  We love you guys!

And the Farrenkopfs, Carly had the time of her life staying with them!

I’m 25!

When I realized my birthday was on Sunday this year I was a little disappointed because usually I go shopping and out to eat on my birthday.  However, THIS year I had an entire weekend to celebrate!  Casey spoiled me rotten all weekend long.   I have the sweetest, most thoughtful hubby in the world!  On Friday night he took me out to dinner at Chilis. On Saturday  he made me breakfast, got me a Café Rio salad for lunch, and then took me to see The King’s Speech at night. 

Then on my actual birthday I woke up to a kitchen full of balloons, and a presents to open.  Casey gave me a present that I have been wanting for like 10 years… My very own COSTCO MEMBERSHIP!  I know I have a Sam’s membership but, let’s face it, Costco is nicer, and the stores have different stuff so you can’t have just one membership.  It will be the present that will keep giving.  He also gave me a certificate to get a pedicure. 

As I was talking on the phone to one of Casey’s sisters I slipped down some wet stairs outside and a nearby tree branch caught my fall and ate my arm up.  I am totally fine but my arm kills!  I always seem to injure myself pretty badly on or around my birthday (remember how I shut my arm in the oven door?)

On Sunday evening I had a dinner full of my favorite foods that Casey and my parents made for me: T-Bone steaks, Frog Eye Salad, grilled zucchini and crookneck squash, and baked potatoes.  Then 2/3 of my sisters and their families came over for Costco cake and homemade ice cream.  Casey even put together favors for everyone of some of my favorite things.  Then I opened some more presents. My parents got me an awesome food processor and cookie scoop (because when we eventually move out of parent’s house I won’t be able to live without both of those things).  My sisters got me a Target gift card and a cookbook.  And Casey’s parents gave me some money which I used to get a fancy new diaper bag. All my favorite things!

                 

   

   

Thank you everyone for making it an awesome birthday for me!

30 weeks!

Time has flown by this pregnancy!  This pregnancy has been almost identical to when I pregnant with Carly.  I have felt great and everything has gone smoothly.  The only thing that has been different this time around has been that I’ve needed extra Rhogam shots, which I don’t mind getting because I think Rhogam is a miracle!  Modern medicine is amazing. 

Before we know it we’ll have a new baby girl.  We are so excited!

Only 84 days to go...

I feel huge and I still have 12 weeks (hopefully less) and two hot Summer months ahead of me. I have been feeling great though. I love feeling our little girl kick, it's my absolute favorite thing about being pregnant!

We haven't decided on any names yet. It's been pretty hard this time around, I think Casey and I have too many hang ups about potential names. We have a couple that we at least agree on that could be names that we would consider.

We are so excited for this baby girl to come! Carly is very excited too even though she has no idea what is about to come her way!

Belly pics are coming soon!

Some pics

I was uploading pictures from my phone and found some gems!

My parents laughed when they walked downstairs on conference Sunday morning and saw all of us with our computers.  Notice how Carly’s is size appropriate? (it’s a DVD player)

Playing at McDonalds have been our bribe for Carly lately.   She is obsessed with Ronald McDonald for some reason.  I swear we never even told her his name, she just knew it.

Easter!

We had a wonderful Easter weekend.  We hit up the Provo City Egg Hunt, spent a lot of time with our friends the Farrenkopfs from Wisconsin, and ate lots of food and candy!  This Easter was a lot of fun because Carly has been so excited for the Easter bunny to come and she understood what was going on.   We’ve had lessons about the true meaning of Easter and she even understood that we celebrate Jesus on Easter.  I can’t believe how old my little girl is getting.  She is getting so smart and sweet.  She makes sure she kisses “baby sister” (my belly) multiple times a day.  She also makes sure to let me know that I’m her best friend.  She says, “mommy is my best friend!”  I really can’t believe how lucky I am that I get to hang out with my best friend everyday!  She is such a sweetheart. 

At the Provo City Easter Egg Hunt:  It was madness there, and not worth the 4 tootsie rolls we got!

Carly in her adorable Easter dress from Ann.  Carly had so much fun with Ann this past weekend!

Lately Carly has been obsessed with piggy banks and money.  So she got a piggy bank for Easter!

I got a huge Egg for Casey at Hobby Lobby.  It was so fun to see his face when he saw it!

Every year my mom hosts an egg hunt for the grandkids.  This is the first year we’ve been here to participate.  Carly LOVED it!  Doesn’t she look cute standing with her little girl cousins???

I thought this picture was funny.  All the guys are just talking about the yard.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter!