On the Road Again . . . Can't Wait to Get on the Road Again.

January 12-18, 2015

Sunday afternoon we left Utah to head home about 3:45 pm. Our time in Utah flew by and although we got to see lots of family, we didn't see any (non-family) friends. We were there for a long time though and we were ready to come home. Caleb woke up around 5 on Saturday morning and was just crying, asking when we could go back to our home.

During our drive I frequently climbed from the front seat to the back of the van and from the back to the front. If the DVD screen was down, I usually managed to bump into it. Caleb ever so kindly reminded me, "Don't bump it again with your big bum." We had snow, ice and wind during my stretch from 7 pm-midnight but pretty clear roads other than that. I also got the fun stretch of two-lane highway from 5 am-9 am.

We got home Monday around 4:30 pm; it took just under 24 hours. Cathryn Parker had put beef stew in our crockpot, so we came home to a delicious dinner. Leila was looking for Grammy the minute we walked in our door. Our kids excitedly played with all of their toys and just ran around from toy to toy while we unloaded the van. After getting them to bed (they were also so excited to be sleeping in their own beds!) Allen and I watched the Football National Championship game while taking down our Christmas tree and decorations. Had I just sat on the couch, I would have fallen asleep within minutes.

Leila helping put away Christmas ornaments

Tuesday Allen took the day off to recover from our drive (and vacation). Caleb slept in until 6:30 and Leila until 7:30! He chose to come visiting teaching with me while Leila napped. We put up our new gallery wall, watched How to Train Your Dragon 2, napped and went to Costco. When Allen was chasing Leila, she would get going too fast and fall on her face. Once she managed to get her head to bounce off the couch and off the ottoman and hit the couch again, only to jump up and say, "Otay!" Whenever she coughs, sneezes or falls (if she isn't hurt), she immediately says, "Otay," to let us know that she's okay. I usually ask her if she's okay when she coughs or falls so now she just tells me before I ask.

It was hard to wake up from naps on Tuesday.

Wednesday the kids and I played Planes Fire and Rescue for at least two hours. I worked on unpacking and cleaning while the kids enjoyed playing with their toys that they had missed on vacation. We needed to get out of the house, so even though it was cold and sprinkling, we rode bikes outside for a while before naps. Leila was running to try to keep up with Caleb but she keeps tipping over like she's top-heavy and I thought she was going to face plant multiple times. She managed to catch herself before her face hit the cement but it hurt her hands more than usual since they were cold.

That night Allen and I moved the desk from the study down to our bedroom, in preparation to turn the study into Caleb's bedroom before the new baby comes.

Thursday morning Caleb wanted to help Leila with breakfast prayer. It was pretty cute to watch him try to get her to repeat after him! The kids came with me to my OB appointment. It was a pretty typical appointment for me: quick urine sample, weight check, blood pressure check. Wait for the doctor for a few minutes. He comes in, listens for the heartbeat and says, "Everything seems great, see you in four weeks. Any questions?" And then we leave. I'm grateful to have healthy pregnancies.

When we got back from the doctor, the weather was nice so we played outside. Caleb found a hill to be the North Mountain and Leila found some dirt to play in. Leila got promoted from Olaf to Anna because she started chasing him up the North Mountain while I was talking with our neighbor, Tracy.

Friday we went to Walmart to pick up some things for a baby shower I was hosting the next day. The kids love sitting in the back of the cart together and helping me choose produce and putting the items on the conveyer belt thing when we're checking out. It was gorgeous outside so we played on the North Mountain for a while and then met some friends at the park. That night I attended a Favorite Things party. It was fun!

Pretending to talk to Grammy on the phone

Playing with the arcade toys at Walmart - no one better tell them that you're supposed to put money in.

Saturday I hosted our new neighbor's baby shower. We spent the morning cleaning and were still working on it when friends showed up to start decorating. It went well although I may have gone a little overboard on the games... we did minute to win it and it may have been a little much for a baby shower. ;) The food was delicious though!

Getting ready for the relay

A few of the decorations and woman/baby of honor

Saturday afternoon we played outside and helped Dad take down Christmas lights and cut down tree limbs.

Dad's helper

While Allen was still taking down lights and cutting branches, we wandered down the street and drove our friend's car.

Leila's pouty face after dropping the last of her popsicle on the ground

Wanting Caleb's

Sunday we showed up for church at 9, only to remember our ward now meets at 11. We went home for some Ramen Noodles (per Leila's request), Leila napped and Caleb and I did an activity from The Friend.

I hated to wake her up for church!

When I asked Caleb how he could help Jesus, he said, "I help my sister not be sad."

When we returned to church at the right time, Allen played the organ in Sacrament meeting and was Scripture Man in primary. He wears a cape and sunglasses and has super powers that come from memorizing scriptures. He went in last week to help the kids memorize a scripture and Caleb thought it was awesome that Dad came in. My friend did the singing time in nursery, she said when the leaders told the kids it was time for singing time, Leila excitedly said, "Daddy!" She's isn't used to him not doing music anymore.

Caleb did great at his first week in sunbeams! He was the only one in his class to sit in his chair the whole time and he sang along too. We told Caleb that on Sundays he needs to call Ada's mom Sister Cheney since she's his sunbeam teacher. He then informed us that on Sundays we can call him Bono. Haha!!!

Other things of note:
Caleb realized that he can now hop on one foot (while holding onto the counter).
Leila likes to sit on the arm of the couch and fell off this week.
Leila loves to make people laugh.
She also loves to talk on the phone. She cried any time I talked on the phone this week and wouldn't let her hold it. When she did hold the phone, she would repeat everything I said into it.