Another Fun Anniversary

We are trying to have the tradition of getting away on our anniversary, but it's only worked every other year, mainly because it isn't cool to leave a nursing baby with the grandparents for a whole weekend.

This year, we decided to go back to the honeymoon spot again, visit some favorite places, and lounge around.

 Oh yeah, and I forgot to mention that I chopped my hair (and got it colored) in December.  So there ya go.

 Here we are, kid-free and ready to go.  Stopping in Gilroy at the outlets was also very nice.  Didn't go too crazy, but got a few things.

 JD had to skate "The Taco."  I wonder if the locals call it something.  That's the name we've given to this obstacle in the skate park.

 Our favorite place to visit is the Antiques Mall.  We could spend all day there looking in each section at the different displays.  (I always kick myself for not taking more pictures in there, it is amazing.  Even if you don't love old stuff.  But who doesn't love old stuff really?).  There is something for everyone in this place.  Sports fans, movie buffs, homemakers, craftsmen, book lovers...seriously, everyone.  This was one of my favorite sections full of old kitchen items.  I practiced a lot of self-control that day.  a. lot.  (I spent all of $3 on a pictures frame).

 And here's JD admiring some old tools. 

Stuff was built to last back then.  This place is so much fun.  Really, if you ever go to Monterey, you have to go here (without children, because children in an antique store, really?  Would that be fun?)

Ahh, and the Star Wars section, complete with life size Darth Maul.  Every action figure you can possibly imagine.

Are adventure was also filled with eating and watching tv, since we don't have many channels at home.  Food Network was lots of fun.  How many people do you know go on a vacation and watch the Food Network?  Well, we do.

I am grateful to be married to such a fun and wonderful husband.

Dear Friends,

In case you haven't noticed, I have neglected the blog.  It's happened a time or two (or three) before.  Life kind of gets away from me and the day to day stuff bogs me down.  Really, what can I post about but the mundane stuff that everyone else experiences.  But, at the same time, I am completely alright with that. 

I forgot to post about Christmas.  This probably has something to due with the fact that I was barely coming out of the morning sickness fog.  It was pretty intense folks.  I am so glad to be over that part of the pregnancy.  In fact, I get to have my ultrasound next week.  Yes, THE ultrasound...the one when you find out what you're having, except we don't do that part.  HA!  I know it drives a lot of people nuts that we don't find out the sex of the baby, but that's just how we are.  There's no particular reason, and then it is a big surprise when the baby arrives, and we're already pretty excited and emotional, so we don't care what we're having.

Oh yeah, back to Christmas.  Here are a few fun pictures to summarize our Christmas experience.  Only slightly a month later, but I am going to try to be better about updating.  JD gave me a new camera for Christmas (our old one was kind of dying), and unfortunately, I can't find the cord to the old camera, which has some Christmas Eve, and pre-Christmas pictures.  Urgh.

 Silas broke his clavicle 2 days before Christmas, which is why he's in a sling.  He was running in the driveway, kicking a soccer ball, and did some crazy acrobatic fall, landing right on his shoulder.  The sling only slowed him down for a few days, and he only hurt every so often.  Reminds me of when he broke his arm when he was a baby.  He never slows down.

 One of Silas' gifts was a Lightning McQueen potty chair.  Yes, we are getting serious about potty training now.  The seat has a little shifter on the side that makes a vroom sound when you push it.  He is finally excited about this next step in his life, and so are we. 

 Asher and Silas got some cool Star Wars guns from Tutu and Boppa Jeff, to remain at their house when they visit.  I don't know why this picture is so funny to me, but his expression is priceless.

 Sweet Baby Jude is becoming quite the little ham.  Notice that mark on his forehead, yeah that happened after JD and I got home from my birthday date.  Jude threw a fit when I was putting some food away, and launched himself into the door frame in our kitchen.  This wouldn't be such a big deal if it weren't for the ancient door hinges right there (there's no door, I don't know why the landlord left behind the door hinges).  When I picked him up, he was bleeding a lot, and had a pretty good gash.  Since we already knew what would happen if we took him to the ER, we decided to just take care of it at home.  Cleaned it really well, and glued him back together.

 This is what Christmas Day looks like.  Lots of laughing, snacking, and hanging out.  I love it.

 The day after Christmas, we met up with some of JD's cousins, and we all took our kids to the park.  It was tons of fun for the little cousins to get to play with each other.  We are the only ones who don't live close by, so these kids see each other all the time (and they actually live next door to each other).

Look for more Chilton updates to come soon....one of these days I will catch up.

Anniversary

It's a good thing we have pictures of our wedding day.  I was probably a bit too giddy to really remember everything and everyone that day.  Sometimes JD and I think back on the "single days," hanging out with friends till all hours of the night, going bowling, dancing, eating out, doing whatever with all of our friends, and having lots of fun.  Sometimes we miss it.  Sometimes.

But, we traded it all in.  The fun, the freedom, all of it.  And we don't regret it at all.  I am grateful for the promises that we have made to each other, and I know that we have a family that can be together forever because of the blessings we receive in the Temple.  We are not perfect, we have flaws, and life brings us trials, but I know the God's promises are real.

Happy Anniversary!

photo by Draper Photography

October wrap up

So it is now the end of November.  I don't know where the month went.  I've been laying on my couch a lot, and my mom taking care of us.  Morning sickness is kicking my butt this time around.  Seriously, it's no joke.  I am at about 9 1/2 weeks right now.  Somewhere in between 12-14 is when I (hope) should feel "normal" again.  This is why we don't talk about future pregnancies while I am in the first trimester.  It is so not fair.  At all.  I used to want 6 kids, but while I am pregnant, I just focus on the one growing inside of me.  It's a tough job, folks.  Motherhood is not for sissies.

In October, we did all sorts of fun things.  We went to another pumpkin patch, as a family, and 3 of JD's sisters came all the way here to go with us.  We had so much fun.

 I love this one of me with the boys on the top of the hay bale pyramid.





 We went to a few Halloween parties, as well as the Trunk-or-treat at our church.  I am pretty proud of myself because I made Asher's Batman costume (from a tutorial), and my Mother Nature costume.  I bought a sheet at the thrift store because I couldn't find exactly what I wanted, then I followed this tutorial (only made the dress long and added rouching to the sleeves), and had it done in the afternoon.  Ahhh, those ambitious last few weeks before I started feeling the way I do now.  I really can't believe that I accomplished that.  And my mom made Silas' Harry Potter robe (not pictured, but I will get a picture soon).  She did an amazing job.  And she threw together the Dobby costume for Silas (Dobby is a house elf from Harry Potter for those not in the know).  And JD just threw his costume together, which was perfect.


We also had fun with our homeschool group on Halloween and had a little party and parade at the park.  The kids got to do lots of crafts and play games.


Sadly, I don't have as many pictures of recent events.  The camera, and I, are a bit broken right now.  So so sad.  hopefully we'll be up and running soon.

What I have Learned The Past Few Weeks

While everyone is writing away on blogs and facebook about everything they are thankful for, I must say I am thankful for the things I am learning because it is covering a heck of a lot in my life right now.  My life is slightly busy and chaotic right now.

* The Savior of the World overcame life and death, and through Him, we can overcome our greatest trials.  Through Him, our weaknesses can be made into strengths.  I knew this already, or at least, I thought I did, but I am really knowing it now.

* No matter how old you are, you will always need your mother.  And boy do I need her.  My mom has been at my house a LOT lately helping, in every possible way.  She's pretty much at my house every day.

* Sometimes you need to just suck it up and allow other people to serve you.  I have been the beneficiary of a lot of service lately, and I cannot begin to express my gratitude for the sacrifices of others. 

* Coconut water is great if you are dehydrated.  Skip the gatorade.

and last but not least,

* There is a new life growing inside of me.  Yes, baby #4.  It is exciting, but I am taking things just one day at a time, and my excitement is shadowed by my morning sickness at the moment.  I have little desire to eat, which makes things worse.  I haven't experience morning sickness with such intensity before (hence all of the help I am currently receiving).  I pretty much lay on the couch all day so I don't aggravate my nausea.  And I am more than a little bit stressed out with future plans (saving money, buying a house, etc....preferably before this baby makes an appearance).

But I am grateful.  So very, very grateful. 

They Say Funny Things

Pretty much all the time, our kids are doing or saying something funny.  Though they are each talented in their own ways, somehow they all got the funny gene (and the genius gene, if you ask either of us). I am only putting a few of their funnies.  We could seriously write a book.

A few days before Halloween, JD asked Silas what he was going to be.  (important to note is that my mom was very busy making a special Harry Potter robe for him to wear as he loves Harry Potter).

JD: Silas, are you going to be Harry Potter for Halloween?
Silas: No.
JD: Then what are you going to be?
Silas: A giant punching glove.

Last night, Asher was being cuddly, and I told him I love him, which in some way is probably said about 100 times in our house every day. And in his sweetest voice, this is what he said back...

Asher: I'll love you forever, Mommy, because my love doesn't stop.  Except for sometimes.  Like when I go outside, my love goes out the door."
He didn't realize how funny that was until JD and I started laughing.

Halloween pictures coming soon.  There's a lot going on this week and I haven't had the chance to upload anything yet.

Pumpkin Patch

Ok, I will just say it.  I am a snob.  And I am saying this not so you can rub it in my face or make me feel like a terrible person.  I don't mean I am that kind of snob (though some might argue with me there).  I just have certain things that I am very picky about.  You know, for instance if we are going on a real date, I want to go to a restaurant without high-chairs.  It indicated classiness, well, at least sometimes.

Another thing I am picky about would be pumpkin patches. 

If I want to go to a carnival, I will go to a carnival.  When I go to a pumpkin patch, I want the pumpkin patch.  No flashing lights, no bounce houses, no rides.  Pumpkins, nature, fun.  Anyone else feel this way?  I am ok with Halloween-ish things, but I want the main attraction to be nature.  There is definitely something to be said with simplicity in my opinion.

So last week we went with one of our home school groups to a nearby farm, and we loved it.  for $7 each kid (adults were free), we got to go on a hayride around their corn maze, go to the "corn classroom" (a cut out spot in the corn field with hay benches where we learned about how things grow for about 15 minutes), play in the corn box, hay bale maze, see the animals, check out the spooky Halloween decor inside, and pick an ear of Indian corn and a medium sized pumpkin from the patch.  Not too shabby in my opinion because it would have been about that much for the pumpkin alone at a pumpkin patch.

 Really glad someone in the group took a picture of us because sometimes I wonder if my kids will remember that I was there with them.

 Fun in the maze tunnels and in the hay bale maze.  And Jude nabbing someone's wagon.

 clockwise from top left: checking out the spooky decorations, looking at farm animals, corn box, more hay bale maze.

 I bet someone was wondering what the corn box was.  Well, you've heard of a sand box, imagine that only full of corn kernels.  It was pretty awesome and we were there for about an hour.  Silas enjoyed jumping in (and there wasn't a sign that said "no jumping" so he had a blast).

Fun at the pumpkin patch and evidence that I should not take self portraits.  Unfortunately, no one was around when we snapped this, and I look like I am in a slight bit of pain.

It was a fabulous exertion, and I am grateful that there are still places that are entertaining without being super flashy.