Call me crazy!

But... I just can't get enough of these!

I had to post more.

I don't see my siblings very much and so when I see new pictures of them, I go back and look at them a million times! I love this shot! Such a good Daddy!and obviously these girls come from a gorgeous mommy!

These girls are definitely Keller's (my maiden name).

They have the big blue eyes and Sophia's got our freckles!

All I can say about this is WOW!

I just love this sweet girl!

Rachel (Time Held Photography on the side bar), You are so talented!!!

Belly Bands??

NO, this is not me...

Has anyone worn these?

I am just so determined not to pull out all my maternity clothes yet. I have also been toying with the idea of just buying regular jeans in a bigger size. (I find maternity jeans aren't that cute)

I bought three on etsy today (White, Black and Brown). I hope this helps.

Super Cute!!!

FYI; If Barry isn't happy, I am blaming you Lahni for tempting me!!!

I just bought this hat for Kyla on Etsy. I have always wanted one for her and with all the different flowers, it just seems perfect! Now it's just a matter of keeping it on her head!

You wanna know??

Who do you think is making the most money off of all us pregnant mommies?

From about 16 weeks - 30 weeks.
When you don't fit into you drawers anymore but you just can't bring yourself to pull out those maternity jeans.

If I didn't have lulu in my life right now... I think I would stay inside all the time!
19 week today. I took these this morning.

As you can see, when pregnant, I stock some junk in the back!

Hence, the reason why I can't even where my low rise jeans!!!

I believe that is why Heavenly Father made babies breath smell so good and their skin so soft and gave them bunny soft hair.

To make this all worth it!!

BTW; I love those little kicks I feel from time to time!!! This pregnancy is so much different than the other two! I am so excited, but content to wait.

18 weeks and a good laugh!!

Here are my 18 weeks ultrasound pics. Didn't find out what I'm having.

That one's a little freaky!!!

Just have to say that after having my day ruined yesterday, there is NOTHING like a girls night, with good food, lame dessert :) and a gut wrenching, pee your pants kind of laugh-that goes for hours!

I have decided that my favorite time to be around my friends is after 10 pm. We were all so tired that everything became funny!! Best night I have had in a long time!!! Yippy :)

Oh, thank heaven!

For 5 min meals!!!

I love these things! On those days when I just don't have the time or the energy. Here are two of my favorites. The second one thanks to my dearest friend Christy!

Beef Dips
(served this to the missionaries the other night, they LOVED it! It's my go to recipe when I didn't plan dinner!)

Lots of precut deli roast beef presliced (I buy the pillars brand from Costco, and throw both packs in)
Submarine buns (we like whole wheat)
Beef bouillon
water
seasonings of choice (I put some Montreal steak seasoning in)

Cut up the meat a bit with scissors, into strips. Put the meat in the crock pot with water, bouillon and seasoning a few hours before dinner. Turn to high. Then go play with your kids!
At dinner time, top buns with lots of meat and indulge. Put some of the broth on the side for dippin'!

*I sometimes serve this with homemade roasted potato's and homemade fry sauce (aka ketchup and mayo!) or just chips, fruit or cold veggies and dip if your really short on time!

6 can soup
(This is also great as a food storage recipe for your three month supply, and it will make everyone smile!)

2 can chicken broth
1 can chicken breast ( I sometimes put two)
1 can corn
1 can kidney beans
1 Lg. can diced tomato's (I like the one with Mexican spices)

Just throw it all in a pot on the stove or a crock pot early in the day. The only can I drain is the bean one. Put the juice from all the other cans in. Then add whatever else you fancy, but it doesn't need anything else. Not even salt or pepper. I served this last night with whole wheat tortilla chips for dippin'.

What are your 5 min go to recipes?

Kyla

Yikes... two posts in one day, thats big!

Been messing with photoshop today. These are all photos I took.

I have decided that a good part of photography and editing is confidence.

I'm working on it!

My Brother...

Many of you have heard me say how good looking i think my brother is...

in a sisterly kind of way :)

Well, a few months ago a girl I grew up with had a giveaway for a free photo session.

I told my family members in Utah to enter.

Well, my sister in law and brother won,

I was so excited because they cant really afford that kind of thing right now with this economy.

This is a sneek peek at their pictures. `

They make me teary!

I love my brother.

His family is so precious and his older girl sophia just loves me... which is always a great thing! Check them out.

http://timeheldphotography.com/blog/2009/09/utah-ccounty-family-photographer/comment-page-1/#comment-58

This photographer is so talented!

Check out more of her photos.

She has a son with autism and started a project in his name.

Project gavin, I believe she gives free photo sessions to families with autistic kids.

Where were you?

I was pregnant with Tommy. I was in bed, but quickly woken by my father in law (at the time) and I thought the first plane was an accident. Then I watched on the news as the second plane hit the second tower. I still can't believe it happened. All those innocent people...

I am proud to be an American. I think everyone should be proud of where they come from.

I get teary when I see the flag and get so excited to sing the anthem at a hockey game.

I think a moment of silence is in order...

for the victims of the disaster in New York, flight 93 and at the Pentagon...

and for the heros of flight 93, the firefighters and others that assisted people to get out and of course for the amazing workers in the day care on the first floor for getting ever child out safely!

We will always remember!

Ground Zero today

a video of hope

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkWc_EKLs4E

Zoe

Here she is in all her glory! It was quite hard to get these shots... she either walks away from the camera or tries to lick it! Here are some things about Zoe.

-She is actually going to the bathroom outside now, probably because I keep her out there until she does. Sorry to my neighbors for the 7 am yipping she does.

-She LOVES wet puppy food, but I don't like what it does to her poop. She won't be getting much of that!

-Her favorite thing to do is cuddle with you on the couch. Maybe this is why Barry likes her so much :)

-Her and Kyla have a love/hate relationship. She lets Kyla kiss her on the nose as much as she wants, but is scared of Kyla accidentally hurting her too.

-She loves Tommy and Tommy is more than willing to do anything for her at this point. Cross my fingers that it stays that way!

-She goes to the Vet tomorrow... Just a check-up, but she does have an hiatal hernia she's had since birth and she needs to get spayed in a few weeks.

-She is happy here and already adjusted to our family. She really isn't that hard at all.

-She has been really good for me. My house is cleaner, I am more productive and I get outside more!

Okay, aside from this... I have to talk about the ensign study group. If you are not planning on coming, you are really missing out! Our first meeting was an intro and we talked about the apostles and the importants to know and following their teachings. I don't think you could read or hear one of their general conference talks too many times. You will always get something new out of it! Here are a few of the scriptures we covered in the intro class, the first one actually makes me cry when I think about it!!!

Helaman 5:12 "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."

Have you ever been given a better promise than that in your entire life???

Matt 16:18 "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

I learned that the name peter actually means, "stone or rock." I may have to consider that name for a future baby boy.

Eph 4:14 "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive"

If we know and follow the teachings of the apostles, there is no way we can be deceived.

You wont believe it... I can't believe it!

Yesterday Barry got home from work and said, lets go to Petland and see what kinds of puppies they have. Barry has always been adamant about not getting a pet. So I go along with this, knowing that in the end he would say, well...
it's just so much work
and it will scratch our floors
and make our house smell
and poop in the house
and cause our house to be messier
and and and and and...

Well, at about 8:20 after Petland was officially closed, we finished signing the papers for our new dog! and all the things that come with it! "She" is about 5 months old, is black and white and she is a Shih tzu. We think we are calling her Zoe. The kids really like her... Pictures to follow.

Any doggy tips will be very much appreciated, I have never had one and in a week I am going to have to start training her. What do I do to have a happy dog?

Photos

My niece just posted these pictures from when I went to her wedding down in Utah. I think they turned out really cute :) Though, that was a crazy day. Kyla wouldn't stop crying and wouldn't go to anyone but me. Tommy dropped his plate of food and became quite embarrassed, and Kyla decided that cake icing was supposed to go on her shirt. All over her shirt! We had been away from dad for about a week and a half at this point and we were all missing him and our regular routine. I am glad you can't see the pure exhaustion and chaos in these pictures, since they were taken just before we left. :)

What we've been gettin' into...

Since Tommy has been home, it's been quite busy around here. Here is some of what we've been doing...

Kyla has continued getting into everything that she shouldn't!

We headed out to our cabin with some friends, Tommy spent most of his time taking the paddle boat around to see his friends at their cabins. I am hoping to go to the cabin more than once next year :) It's my favorite place in the whole world!

Big news... Tommy and I got our Permanent Residence! Finally. It has been such a long process.

Then Tommy started school. Grade 2, and all my prayers for a good teacher have "I think" been answered! She is really nice and I think she will be great! Her name is Mrs. Young - hmmm, wonder if we are related somehow (my grandmas maiden name was young). Probably not!

So, we're chugging along now and I am hoping to volunteer more this year, go on more field trips, PTA meetings and maybe be the room mom.

I am 16 weeks today and still trying hard to keep the weight gain at bay. Not another appt for 2 weeks. I actually feel like this pregnancy is flying by compared to the other two. Maybe it is because I am more content to let nature run it's course this time! Wonder what it will be :)