Ohh Baby!

Hiking at Thunderbird Park a couple Saturdays ago... our new favorite Saturday morning adventure:)

Ohh Baby is right! I know I have lots of catching up to do from the holidays... I will get to that:) Someday. BUT today I had to take a minute to reflect on this new little baby that will be born in 6 WEEKS. 6 weeks?! Yes, 6 weeks. Yikes.
     With each of our little ones, Ben and I have known when the time was right to have them and the same is especially true this time. Already, our family seems to be waiting for this new addition like he or she is someone we have been missing all along. The little boys talk to my babybelli like a long lost friend in the most loving, affectionate ways. "Hi you sweet little baby! How are you doing today? Are you kicking your mama? Did you have a good sleep? Did you like your dinner, little baby?" -Ike
"Hi seet little baby! Djyou like that I just did, baby? Djyou want me do it again? I kiss your sweet little baby, mama!"- Zachary

Needless to say, there is a lot of love being given to this sweet little baby and his or her crazy mama. The two little boys and their daddy are taking good care of me. The boys have decided to compliment absolutely everything I wear and hug and kiss me on the baby whenever they possibly can (I have lots of dirty shirts at the end of the week to prove it- all with lip stains from barbeque sauce to popsicle! And Ben has taken to making dinner on Sunday nights and picking up all the heavy things for me. True. LOVE.
The bottom line is this... Although we don't know the sex of this baby, we are thrilled. Mommy is nervous beyond belief and nesting like crazy. The boys are ecstatic:) Stay tuned!

What can I say?

This is really sad... You know how when you get so far BEHIND in a project that you just don't know where to start? That is my blog story! We have had a wonderful fall filled with lots of good adventures, but in the process of running here and there and everywhere, I have forgotten to sit down and document anything:) We did have a great Thanksgiving in Idaho and Wyoming and are welcoming some family to Arizona before we take off for TWO sibling weddings after Christmas!
So, yes, we are still alive. Pregnancy is going well; so well, in fact, that most of the time I forget I am pregnant until I get an off the wall comment like today at church... "Hey, you know you could get in trouble for stealing basketballs." WHAT?! I didn't get it and had to have the gentleman explain that he was referring to my baby belli (I prefer to call it a sz. 4 soccer ball but whatever)!
Dental School is also going well. Ben cleaned my teeth the other day! I must really love him:) He did a great job, in spite:)
Ike is enjoying preschool this year and has decided his two most favorite things are learning about countries/states/flags and the human body. His interests are so much like his daddy's it's scary. He is constantly dragging Zachary off on interesting adventures to France or South Korea or Brazil... whichever place he has most recently talked about with me. I love it. I love to see his enthusiasm and am grateful for his little talents. What a treasure!
Zachary is a little ball of spunk. He greets me in the morning with "Good morning momma polar bear!" or some other animal and is constantly asking my baby belli if it likes his new joke, or funny face, or strange thing he has just made up... sounds like this "Djew like dat little baby?!" Zach may have had walking troubles in the beginning, but this fall he has certainly overcome all of them and is now running/jumping/climbing better than most. He is also learning to ride his little bike. Whatever brother does, you can bet Zach will do it. AND then he'll push the envelope to make it "funnier."
Yep, that's life everyday for us right now. We are so enjoying Arizona/time of life/little boys/weather. It is a wild ride, but there is far too much fun along the way!

We Are The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything!

 This is our collection of hand-me-downs, something borrowed, thrift store, and momma's homemade touch! We had several halloween events over the course of two weeks, and are glad to not be putting any more eyeliner on daddy! (He was whiny, particular, and needed too much help getting it off:) It was a blast and the boys were so proud of our little pirate brood!

Zach's first year in the bounce house- "I big boy now!"

We love the AzDA event b/c our kids are the only ones and they take full advantage of that!

Sweet brothers- notice flip flops- it was 90* for Halloween this year! (not complaining)

One Fish Two Fish... (you're gonna wanna read this one:)

One Fish....

Two Fish...

Red Fish...

New Fish... 14 Weeks:)
Due March 13th! All is well and we're all so excited!
(P.S. A special THANK YOU to Kalee Lopez for the idea:) 

Ike's First Day of his Last Year of Preschool:)

Preschool started this week... Such a bittersweet feeling, isn't it?! I'm not sure who loved Ike's preschool more... Ike or Zach:) We have decided to do a Co-op this year with five other families and so far so good. One funny thing... Zach is really  really "in" to saying "potty words." Ugghh. Boys. Anyway, we had a discussion Tuesday morning before preschool...

Me: "Ike, make sure you use kind words at school and remember to only use potty words in the bathroom... You know, no saying potty, poop, or penis."
Ike: "Ok mama"
Zach: "Yeah, THATS DANGEROUS!" *laughter*
See what I'm up against?!

Here's to a great "Potty word free" preschool year! I'd say we're off to a good start:)

Sunday

Perhaps a "welcome back" is in order?! This summer has been super fun and chaotic and wonderful and now we're back:) There is so much to blog about and I still can't decide where to start, so I'm going to pretend like I don't have a gillion pics waiting to be shared! Instead, I'm going to share with you our FAVORITE day of the week... Sunday. Our kids look forward to it all week. They love eating yummy breakfast and lazy morning and going to church. They love love love their teachers and wearing their suits. In fact, they beg for their suits:) I wish I loved dress clothes that much! So, I just thought I'd share. WE. LOVE. SUNDAY:)

Zach sings!