IT'S A BOY!!!!!

After working out harder than I have been in a long time and still gaining weight. I began to wonder if I was sick, if I had some kind of tumor. I had also been so busy trying to get us settled in to our new home and having fun decorating, organizing and getting rid of things we didn't need, when all of a sudden I just had no more energy. Well, duh!!!!! I went to bed one night thinking, what if I am pregnant. So just to make sure I WASN'T I took a test and then another test and SURPRISE!!!!! That tumor is our baby #5.

Here is my first ultrasound in April. I HAD to have it for proof that there really was a baby and that it was only one baby. I wasn't a believer then.

Here he is as of now, June 16, 2010. According to the technician, weighing in at 9oz. and 12 in. long. I am now a believer. Isn't he cute? The whole family was there for the ultrasound to see the baby and to find out if it was a boy or a girl. Even though everyone had their different votes, they were all excited to see their new baby brother. It was fun having them all there.

And proof that we really are having a BOY!

He is due November 10.

Once Steve and I were a little more adjusted to the idea of having another baby we told the kids. I was little nervous about what their reaction might be. We sat them all down and told them we had a surprise or a gift for them and gave them each a pair of baby booties wrapped up. They opened them up and it seriously took them at least 5 minutes to figure out what this was all about. And again to my SURPRISE, they were all excited and immediately started thinking of names and wondering where the baby was going to sleep.

We are excited for the joy this baby is going to bring into our home.

Visitors #7 SBAI

So these cute little guys came to visit us, oh yea and their parents came too. ;) We didn't get any fun pictures in the pool with them but we sure had a great time with ALL of them. Thanks Shawn & Brooke for making a stop in Bakersfield.

Ethan's Tenderfoot, 2nd Class & 1st Class

Ethan has been a hard worker. I love the excitement in him. Sometimes, however, I feel like it is all a race with him. But, hey, whatever works. He just earned his Tenderfoot, 2nd and 1st Class. Congratulations Ethan! He is so excited to head off to Boy Scout Camp and to turn 12.

Austin & Isaac Time in SP

We stayed Saturday night at G&G Spendlove's house and were able to also visit with SBA&I & Aunt Sarah. We all went to church together, as always had some yummy Tri Tip dinner together and some great conversations around the kitchen table.

This was also the visit that I discovered a Sleep Number pillow. Grandpa wasn't using his, so I borrowed it for the night and loved it so much I bought one. Lucky for me they were 40% off, but either way it is worth it.

Cousin Time-Okay, actually it was CARS time. The little twins love this movie. We were all so entertained just watching them watch this movie with all their noises and dances. So Cute!






And a visit to Grandma & Grandpa's is not complete without a few lizards. Ethan was a little busy this time.

Santa Monica Pier is all that!

Our day was just beginning as we left the temple. We first HAD to get lunch at Tommy Burgers. Steve hadn't been there in forever so this was it. I think we can wait a little while longer before we go back, nothing like a good ole greasy chili burger and fries.

Matthew with an extra long FF.

With our tummies full, we went to the Santa Monica Pier.

Need I say more.

I think these kids could have stayed here all day. You can see it in there faces and their stiff poses as I make them take this super cool picture with the fun pier we were about to go on in the background, that they were not happy to leave this part of the beach.

But look what we got see on the pier, pretty impressive stuff.

Thanks for posing boys!

Oh yeah! A fun picture!

We knew we were going to spend some money on this pier, but it was so hard to let our kids just throw it away on some carnival games and they really didn't want to ride any of the rides. We had some interesting conversations. They boys ended up wanting to buy some souvenirs and the girls did this....

(I'll post some video later.)

Walking back to our car taking the beach path.

Just a glimpse at what LA traffic is like-Our next stop: Santa Paula!

Long Beach Aquarium-Free

On our way to the temple we stopped in Long Beach (actually way out of our way) to pick up Dad. He was there for a business meeting and instead of driving all the way back, it worked out for us to pick him up and he also was able to pick us up some free tickets to the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific.

Good thing, because the ride there was a little less than desirable with all the traffic and not having enough space in our 8 passenger mini van for all 5 of us. What are these kids going to do when they really have to sit right next to each other and when the line drawn down the middle is not in the middle of the whole seat that is separating them?

We made it and the aquarium was wonderful. We did have to rush through it a little quickly because they closed an hour after we got there. But it was exciting!

So this is a life size whale. Can you say humongous? I hope I can spell it.

Lauren with her fish star.

Ethan swimming with the fish.

Live stingrays and sharks.

These were our favorite. This one reminded us of the shark in Nemo and the next one just had the goofiest smile. We were kind of making fun of him. Good thing we were on the other side of the wall.

As we left the aquarium, Matthew found a "child's ticket" on the ground and picked it up to show us all the "Chicklet" he had found. I thought it was so cute.

We ended our Long Beach stay with dinner at the famous Bubba Gumps Shrimp Co. The food was good but our favorite part was when the waiter questioned our knowledge of the movie Forest Gump. We/Steve did pretty good.
The night wasn't over yet. We headed back to Santa Monica to check into our Temple Apartment and then off to visit Aunt Sarah and to check out her nice little bungalo/apt nestled in the middle of downtown, just down the street from the temple. And thanks to her and her DVD collection, we checked out a few for the rest of our trip. Thanks Sarah!!!