The Verdict is In!

Today we had our second sonogram. The baby was moving again this time, but held still enough for a good shot. The sonographer was so certain about his verdict that he said he would come repaint the room and take back all the clothes if he was wrong. What I don't think he realizes is I will hold him to it if need be :). Yippieee, I can start decorating!!

National Geographic in Our Yard

For some, it is a "hate-hate" type of opinion for scorpions and snakes. Michael and I...well, we definately prefer (non-venemous) snakes over scorpions any day. Especially when they are eating the scorpions. If you look close at this picture, a very small King Snake is winning the battle with a decent size scorpion. The screw is a 3 1/2 inch screw, so you know about the size of things. We thought this was neat, so we are sharing. The snake is coming out of a small hole in the ground where we are building the deck.

Camping

Michael and I haven't been camping for five years, Jason & Heather haven't been camping for at least 8 years, and the kids have never been camping. Mom, Dad, Lizard, Jason, Heather, Micah, Weston, Rylee, Michael, and I....and Shammy... all went camping at Ashurst. Other than the fact it was in a campground, it was fun. We had S'mores, slept in tents (yes I did, at 5 months pregnant...on an air matress). We cooked potatoes in the fire and chicken on the grill. We had eggs, bacon, and potatoes for breakfast. We fished, blew bubbles, and had a water balloon fight. It was fun and a good time with family (although we missed Anna, Jodi, and John)!

Water Balloon Games

Even the weather in Flagstaff was a little warm, and perfect for a water balloon fight! Everyone enjoyed themselves. Of course the balloons didn't last very long. The pictures speak for themselves, enjoy!

Fishing At Ashurst

This was the first time the Micah, Weston, and Rylee went fishing. Lizard has actually been fishing before, but I don't know if she remembers it. Unfortunately nothing was biting...bummer! They all seemed to have fun anyway. Rylee decided it would be more fun to get wet than fish after a short time. Micah gave Weston a hard time about the worms Michael brought, telling him "I don't know why you don't like them, they are just slimy".

My Own Breed of Sunflowers

For those who know me well, you know I love sunflowers and flowers of the like (like daisies, black-eyed susans, etc) Two years ago I planted Moulin Rouge Sunflowers (very deep burgundy color) and Mammoth Sunflowers (the dinner platter size that only grows/blooms one flower). Thanks to the plethora of the neighbor's bees pollinating the flowers over the last two years they have morphed into beautiful crosses of the two flowers (they were beautiful before, but they are unique and fun now). Now I get some that have a burgundy center and yellow tips on the petals, or a washed burgundy color, or a plant with several blooms from large to small. The color shades are different to some degree on almost all the flowers. They changed slightly from the morphed ones of last year, who knows what they will progress to next year. Anyone want seeds? Let me know, I collect several of them to give away and plant next year (although this years patch grew on its own from seeds that fell last year, and I was going to move flowers around to different beds this year, but didn't have the heart to pull sunflowers...is that even legal! :) j/k)

This is what they originally looked like, I personally love the change!:

Dad & Freddy

This is for Mom, Dad, Jodi, Jason, and Anna (no one else will know who he is, but you can still enjoy reading). Remember Freddy, who Dad drove truck with for 13 years. When Dad and Mom came to Cornville/Cottonwood last week to get a hitch put in his new truck, he finally got in touch with Freddy. Watching him talk on the phone with him, before he finally hung up to go see him in person, was like watching a teenager talk to someone. Anyhow, here is a picture Mom took of them when they were visiting at Freddy's in Cottonwood.

We are having a.....baby!

Well, we are having an active little bundle apparently. He or she was moving too much for the sonographer to get a good enough look to say with certainty what gender our baby is. Good thing is, everything looked ok. Full arms & legs appeared to be there and the heart was beating strong...and of course it was moving alot! I can only feel a little fluttering once in a while when it moves, but watching it on the video was amazing. Here is a profile of our little "monster" (as Anna said we are having, in a joking manner of course) :)