Maybe it's time for an update?

Yikes! Two months since my last post. A LOT has happened in the meantime. I tried to post a while ago but my stupid computer shut down in the middle and I was too ticked to start all over again. I HATE the windows automatic update!!! I never know it's even there until suddenly everything shuts down on me to restart... ugg.

So we went to fabulous LAS VEGAS!! Just Adam and I for four days the weeek of our anniversary. It was beautiful to be in that heat! (For me anyway - Adam thought he was going to die.) We did a lot of walking the first day, which I enjoyed immensely until some time that evening when I was having a TON of pain in my left foot. It felt like my ankle and leg were grinding together. We stopped at some crazy little Hawaiian shop in the mall at Planet Hollywood so I could buy some padded flip flops in hopes that it would help. They did help, a little. I spent the rest of the trip icing and popping ibuprofen. (Went to the doctor a week later and it turns out I managed to injure some ligament that wraps around the ankle - by walking. How stupid is that??) We walked through most of the casinos. Hated Circus Circus. LOVED the Mandalay Bay. That is totally my kind of place. We went to the Shark Reef there. It was a little spendy, as were all things on the strip($3 Mountain Dew!!) but pretty cool. I think Sea World or the Oregon Coast Aquarium is cooler and probably a bigger bang for your buck but it was still worth seeing. The fine art gallery at the Bellagio is totally a waste of money. WE HATED IT! There were some beautiful Renoir's on display but there was also a pair of pants made out of window screen and a plastic globe hanging from the ceiling on which they were projecting a human eyeball - all in a room the size of my stupid rental house living room. The absolute highlight for me was the last night we were there when we went to see Cirque du Soleil's KA. I had been told it was incredible and it totally delivered. It was beautiful and artistic and captivating. An hour and a half show with no spoken words and yet you're still mesmerized! The stage is a prop for the entire show. It is on hydraulics and can be raised, lowered, horizontal, vertical and more. They also project images on it for a lot of the scenes. It was just magical. I can't do it justice. Search it on YouTube - you'll see! =o)

Miss Paige started school August 25th. Yes, I cried. It has been a bit of an adjustment to not have her here all the time but honestly, it's pretty peaceful without her and now that I'm a couple months into I'm really glad for the time I get to spend with Porter one on one when Sarah is asleep in the afternoon. Most days he wants me to come snuggle him while we watch a movie and it's pretty sweet. Paige is absolutely loving school, which I knew she would. She is just academically minded. She is already spelling some simple words like the, one and two. She loves to just put random letters together and try to sound them out. It's very cute. I'm sure she'll be reading before we know it. Her favorite thing is to come home from school and do 'homework', which means coloring in a coloring book. =o) It's fun to see her learn, grow, and make new friends.

Our progress on our house is moving along. I think we have bids in for everything but the propane, as I realized last night as I was falling asleep. We still feel like we are going to be close to our estimates, which is really nice. We are learning a few things - like concrete and wells are REALLY expensive. I feel like an expert on septic systems after doing our DEQ submittal, in fact the Teton County Sanitarian told me I should become a consultant for other people doing their own. I can think of more fun things to do with my time but Adam says it'd be worth it for $1000-1500. Maybe. Our paperwork for our subdivision approval is in the DEQ in Helena. We drove down and hande-delivered it last Tuesday which means the clock is ticking and we will have back in 60 days or less from then. We are hoping and praying for more like the end of October though. We'll see. And if you want to add us to your prayers, we'd be grateful.

I finally got a calling at church - 2nd counselor in the Young Women's Presidency. It is a super busy job. I love the girls. They are sweet and good and trying their best. I love that. Adam's calling is Elder's Quorum secretary. It's totally Adam's speed and very low-key. I think he really likes it.

Lots of people have been asking when baby #4 is going to come. Let's just say that we're not even thinking about trying to add another one until the house is built and we're moved in so talk to us in a year. Right now I am really enjoying having an almost 2 year old and no baby. We've never done this before and I am a much better mama this way. I am a miserable pregnant woman and I don't do well without sleep so the newborn stage is a mixed bag. Sarah is a pretty lucky girl to still have me all to herself. She is the sweetest little girl. She has a ginormous smile almost all the time, even when she first wakes up. (She does NOT get that from me...) She is very maternal and adores her brother and sister and daddy. She waits all day for Paige and Adam to come home. She can't wait to see her grandma and uncles and aunts and always wants to know where her cousins are - which is actually a funny thing because for the longest time she was calling Jerob "annie" (auntie) and it was making him furious. She started calling him Jer-by on Sunday. We'll see if he likes that any better. I guess it's probably better than being called Wade like Porter did. =o) All cousins are "Kaylie" to Sarah. Also funny because she has a TON of cousins whose names end with an 'ee' sound (Haleigh, Kamrey, Kinley, Kaylie, Rylee, Cydnee, Madi...) Guess it was too confusing so now they're all just "Kaylie" but when she sees them she screams "Kaylie!!!!" and has to run to give them a hug, even in the hallway of the school each morning when we drop Paige off. It kinda tugs at my heart. I just love that sweet little girl.

We have all been sick here the last two weeks. Some kind of weird sore throat-coughy-runny nosey thing. I finally went to the doctor today and got on antibiotics because I have been sick for almost 10 days. I have fluid in my inner ear and swollen tonsils but no sinusy weirdness. It's very strange. Poor Porter kept saying "Mom, my throat is up in my mouth!" The only one who hasn't been severely affected is Paige. She is just the carrier who brought it home from school apparently. Super fun.

I got to teach a lesson recapping General Conference this last Sunday. It has been an interesting experience because I listened to all of Sunday and took notes. I loved Elder Packer's talk. Interestingly enough, there has been an uproar about that very talk by the homosexual community. I have witnessed some of this backlash on Facebook and it really has been a little difficult for me. I don't know how to lovingly respond to someone who I think is wrong in their opinion. I was really grateful for the statement released by the church in response to the 800 page petition that was delivered to church headquarters today by a large homosexual group. It said things better than I ever could have. I do feel that it's a sin to engage in such activity. My heart grieves for any person who has large struggles in their life. I don't think they're any less of a person or think they should be discriminated against. I have my own personal demons that I deal with all the time. It's painful to have someone say or imply that you are somehow unworthy of love because of who you are or how you are. I don't have all the answers but I do pray for more understanding on all sides. I think we have to agree to disagree and be friends anyway. Practice more kindness and compassion. Actively live the Golden Rule. Love one another.