It Won't be Long Now

Having Allie here for the past week has been so much fun! It has made me all the more grateful for a wonderful family, and especially grateful that I have such wonderful sisters. Allie and I have always been close, and I have to say that our lasting friendship is due almost entirely to the fact that she was always so kind and inclusive towards me all growing up. She always let me tag along whenever she went out with her friends even though I was her little sister. She has always been a great example to me as well and I only wish that we all lived a little bit closer to one another.

On our way home after we dropped her off at the airport, I just broke down and started bawling like a baby! Ryan reminded me that it "won't be long now" and we will get to see them again---we are going to visit during Ryan's summer break. I was sad to see her leave but even more than sad I was just grateful for all the support and love that we have from family. We are so blessed. Twin cousins Fischer and Isaac at the Machine Shed Restaurant--home of some famous blue cheese dressing. Allie and I at the airport just before I started tearing up.

Speaking of blessings, last week brought a new addition to our family---our little neice Addie was born! To see pictures of her and the proud parents, click here. Congratulations Devin and Krystal!

A Visit from Allie and Fischer

Well I'm back in the blogosphere, but I've been gone for good reason--my sister, Allie, and her son Fischer have been in town and we have been having so much fun that blogging has fallen by the wayside. Luckily Allie has kept faithful to her blog, so I am just going to refer you to here and here if you want to see some cute pictures of the boys and what we have been up to for the past few days.

Yesterday we headed out to Nauvoo so that Allie and Fisch could see the sights out there. It was a lot of driving but we had a good time. We saw the Mississippi River, Carthage jail, and even looked up a couple of our ancestors at the geneological sight in Nauvoo (my dad was so proud). Despite some subpar food (if anyone were to open a decent restaurant in Nauvoo, they would make a killing because there pretty much aren't any as far as we know) and a couple of major and minor meltdowns by the boys, the trip to Illinois was a lot of fun. Ryan, Isaac, Allie, and Fischer in front of the Mighty Mississippi River Ryan and I across from the Nauvoo temple grounds Allie and I outside Carthage Jail

I'm already trying to convince Allie and Fischer to live with us. It has been so much fun having them here and the air mattress that she has been sleeping on is quite comfortable, so I see no reason why it wouldn't work!

My Favorite Treat

these days is pudding. I can't get enough of it. Ryan teases me but he partakes of it's goodness, too. I think my favorite is the cook and serve variety--it takes a little bit more prep but it is so delish--especially topped with Cool Whip! I went to the store the other day and totally stocked up. Have you noticed how there are tons of different flavors of pudding? The possibilities are endless. I probably spent 10 minutes in the pudding aisle just trying to narrow down my choices.

I blame my new craving on the baby--my doctor want to make sure I get enough calcium throughout this pregnancy--especially since I am having two kids so close together--he said it was a must. What can I do but follow the doctor's orders? It's much better than my cravings with Isaac--all I remember is wanting to eat pastrami all the time with him. With little bambina #2 it's been baked potatoes (particularly during trimester 1 when anything with any kind of flavor made me nauseous) and pudding--much better options if you ask me.

Omaha Zoo

The other day Isaac and I were invited to go with my friend, Lisa, and her kids to the Omaha Zoo. We were looking for a reason to celebrate (I just finished teaching a second class at UIU--remember, the school with the peacock mascot?). Since Ryan had a big test ahead of him and needed to put in a lot of study time, we took her up on the offer and get out of his hair and made the 2 hour drive to Nebraska. It was a lot of fun.

When we got to Omaha we stopped at the famous King Kong Burger for some gigantic hamburgers and delicious french fries. I was starving (as usual) and though I marveled at how big it was and how I would "never be able to eat the whole thing,"----I devoured it! Either it was sooooo good or I was sooooo hungry, or maybe both, but I think I would have put Ryan to shame had he been there.

The zoo was amazing---and gigantic. We were there most of the afternoon and we probably only saw 1/3 of it.

After a day at the zoo we stopped off for custard at Culver's (which is a lot like Neilson's for all you Utah folks), where I had the best cookie-dough shake of my life! So of course, like the burger, I snarfed the whole thing! It was all for the baby--a tough job but somebody has to do it. The dome behind us was Isaac's favorite part of the zoo. He just kept saying "baaa" (ball) over and over again when he saw it. I was wishing someone would push me around in a stroller--isn't that the life? The white-skinned alligator--pretty crazy-looking.

Perseverence

If at first you don't succeed... try, try again (preferably using your head--literally).