On the first day of school, we made a special breakfast to celebrate. Lilly started kindergarten this year and so far she is loving it. She comes home so excited everyday and tells me it was a crazy awesome day. She even has homework already and she loves doing it. She is doing so well with reading. They send home easy reader books and she hardly needs my help figuring them out. She is going through a shy phase right now where she doesn't want to talk to the other kids one on one, but she is still okay talking in front of the class or answering questions. So I'm not too worried that she will be as deathly shy as I was. I was too afraid to raise my hand to go to the bathroom when I was her age. I didn't like people even looking at me (I still don't). But I think she is already warming up to her classmates. One day she came home and told me she made best friends with a new girl in class. And another day she was holding hands with another girl when school was let out. I really just think she got intimidated by the other kids because they play tag at recess and she doesn't know how. Nobody has ever played that with her, yet. I look forward to seeing her have so much fun this year and watching her learn and develope new skills.

We love these little rascals so much and had a fun day celebrating their birthday with them. We did a simple icecream theme with an icecream bar at a park. I love that their birthday is in the summer so we don't have to plan much for them to have fun. A park party is fun and easy. They loved playing with their friends and running around. These three years have been very full and busy, watching them learn and grow and chasing them around. Toddler years are really very crazy with two. But I love them both so much and wouldn't trade it for anything. They both bring so much energy and laughter and joy to our family. This past year, they have really gone their separate ways, into their gender rolls. Bella is all things girly and loves pink and dolls and princesses and dancing daintily and pretty things. Tristan plays rough and flips and climbs, loves guns and swords and pirates. But they have also learned to play together more and not just separately in the same room. They bring different things to their play. And they enjoy each other, when they aren't fighting over toys. My hope for the year ahead is that they learn to communicate better with one another and with me, without blowing up and throwing fits. But mostly, I wish that they enjoy childhood moments.

This summer we had a lot of fun. Before it got too hot, we went to lots of parks and played at the river. At our community center, there was a Bubble Fest which was so much fun. The kids and I had a blast. We tried to have a lot of fun outdoors, but it gets so hot here that we mostly spend our time indoors. But I think we made plenty of memories together.

With this pregnancy, we thought it would be fun to keep it a family secret for a while. We announced it just before we had our ultrasound. The ultrasound showed a healthy baby, which was all I really cared to see. But I can never wait to know what I'm having, so we found out. Some people say it is like peeking at your Christmas present early, but I have never had a present sitting under the tree for nine months. After our ultrasound, we invited family over to reveal the gender. We thought this would be a fun way to tell everyone at once. We are so happy to be adding another boy to our family. I have less than 8 weeks left until we meet our other little man and we are all so excited. Bella and Tristan ask me almost daily when he is going to get out. And then they ask me how he is going to get out. I simply tell them. the doctor will help him get out. They talk to my belly and squish it and tell me he is getting bigger and bigger and bigger. I love feeling him move around in me. He is my most active baby. Even with two at once, I don't remember them moving as much as him. He is really strong, too. Some movements and kicks are really hard and hurt. But if that mixed with some pelvic pain is the worst part of my pregnancy, then I will be a happy lady. My pelvec pain was way worse and sooner with twins, and all I had was some nausea and headaches in the first trimester. So this is surely my best pregnancy so far. I have been trying to be healthier this time, especially since I gained a lot of weight after I stopped nursing Bella and Tristan. By being healthier, I have only gained a few pounds so far, which my doctor thinks should help with delivery. And that is good, since I am hoping to try a VBAC as long as baby is head down. I'm feeling very blessed with this pregnancy. I'm looking forward to holding him in my arms and enjoying the newborn stage as much as possible, because I know all too well how fast they grown up. I am feeling like it has been a really long time since I've been at the coming stage and I'm starting to get nervous. Especially since I am in a whole new place, with a school age kid and two rambunctious three year olds. But my heart is ready to give more love and I'm sure I can handle anything if I stay positive and parent with that love.

Lilly finished preschool last week and we are so proud of her. She worked hard everyday at school and learned a lot. She can count to 100, knows the pledge of alegance and can read some sight words and sound some words out. This school year has flown by so fast, I can't believe she will soon be in kindergarted.

My brother got married in Hawaii and I helped plan their open house here in Utah. It was fun to help plan a special day for them.