Lately

{i have a lot to be thankful for!}

we are busy.  i am tired.  and the girls are as cute as ever.  that about sums things up.  but for the sake of posterity, a blog book, and family and friends that still occasionally check in on us, i'll elaborate a little more.

-we finished stocking up on water and feel better prepared having a solid two week supply for the four of us.   our three month supply of food is almost replenished (from moving last summer) and i just need to get organized with specific meals and rotating lists.  a huge thank you to dan's parents for contributing to our emergency preparedness supplies for christmas - we're finally putting it to good use!

-we got a new hot water heater for christmas, from my mom and mark, and finally listed our old one on craigslist and got rid of it. yay!

-we've spent hours and hours doing yard work in the back including raking up 26 huge garbage bags worth of leaves.  next fall we'll stay more on top of things and have much less to do in the spring!  we bought, put together, and filled raised garden beds with top soil and hope to have everything planted by this weekend.  i also have 90+ little vincas and marigolds to plant in various places around the yard.  being 38 weeks pregnant is hindering my excitement to bend over that many times. :)

-dan is still serving as the executive secretary while adjusting to the demands of being elders quorum president.  we're all hoping that sooner rather than later he'll be down to just one calling.

-madison finished her first year of preschool and loved every minute of it.  this spring she was evaluated by an early childhood educator and qualified to be a peer mentor for title 1 preschool next school year.  she scored 97% and 95% for her behavior/skills and will help kids with special needs.  i am so excited for her and think she will do awesome!

-on mother's day, madison sang with all the primary kids up on the stand. for her first time.  i don't think she even noticed there was a chorister because she looked at us the whole time, grinning, in between singing all the words.

-grace wants to do everything madison does.  she can't wait to be in primary and preschool.  last week she was invited to stay at school with madison and all the big kids and i don't know if i've ever seen her so happy (except for maybe here).

-grace is loving the nice weather and i often find her outside, barefoot in the grass with sadie.  we quickly learned that our side gates needed locks after she ventured into the front yard and let sadie out a few times.  she is our mischief maker and adventurer!  she comes inside sweaty, with rosy cheeks, telling me all about the things she saw and did and has quite a talent for finding lady bugs.

-we have really enjoyed spring with all the flowers and blossoms.  we were pleasantly when daffodils popped up in our back yard and tulips in the front.  our hibiscuses are getting bigger everyday and will hopefully bloom soon.  this last week i bought gerber daisies, and a dahlia to plant in pots and planters along with the vincas and marigolds.

-dan enjoys watching the show "shark tank" and recently saw a new product he was interested in called the citi kitty.  he purchased it and it should get here any day now.  i told him i get to tease about it as much as i want and then if he can successfully toilet train our two cats, i'll take it all back. 

-a pair of sparrows built a nest in our garage this winter and a couple weeks ago i heard a bit of commotion out there and found two little birds trying to learn how to fly.  i figured between our dog and two cats they'd have a hard time surviving the day so we spent hours scooping the babies up off the ground and putting them back up high on the shelf.  at the end of the day, one flew away with the parents and the other was left behind with a broken leg.  we nursed it for three days, feeding it with an eye dropper, before it finally died. madison and i cried.  grace said, "thanks for showing me the dead bird, mom." and rolled over to take a nap, unphased by it all.  madison was devastated when i threw it away (we didn't want to bury it and have our dog dig it up) and said, while sobbing, "can't we just put it back in the next and let its parents deal with it?"  we had a nice conversation about heaven and animals. :)   

-we hosted a bbq with most of the residents and their families at our house (20+ people).  i was nervous but everything turned out well and everyone loved the chicken dan grilled.  we played some golf toss, watched the kentucky derby, and enjoyed eating and visiting outside in the gorgeous weather.  they were sweet to spoil us with some cute baby clothes and accessories as well.

-our families have a lot going on as well: my sister hannah is currently spending 6 weeks in belize with a service organization, my brother, chris, has four weeks of boot camp for the air force coming up, my mom and mark have started building their new house out in new harmony, and dan's brother, brett, is returning home in june from his mission in brazil.  we also have kamber and shane's new baby boy joining the family in july and stephanie and robert are due with a little girl in oct.  a lot of exciting things happening! 

-as far as this pregnancy goes, we are at the tail end of things, thank goodness!  i'm officially 38 weeks and counting down.  we found out this week baby boy is breech and that was a huge bummer.  after a lot of talking, praying, and second opinions we decided to schedule an external version on may 25th (after giving me an epidural, they'll try to manipulate the baby so he'll turn head down).  immediately after i will either be induced or have a c-section, depending on whether or not the version is successful.  my doctor said our chances are 50/50.  we have our fingers crossed! 

this random list of things hardly covers everything we've been up to but it gives you an idea.  like i said, we're busy and i'm tired. but life is good and i wouldn't change anything (except this baby boy being flipped back the right way!!).  i'm trying to soak up the small and simple moments before life changes with a new baby next week.  but we're very excited for everything about to happen and can't wait till this little guy makes his big debut!