My Uncle Steve

Yesterday evening my uncle Steve died at his home from a sudden heart attack. He is my mom's older brother, had turned 50 last month and has 6 kids at home (the youngest being 6), he was healthy and it was completely unexpected. All his kids were at home when it happened. This has come as a complete shock accompanied with a lot of "why?" questions. I know there are no answers to "why", other than the plan of salvation and we just need to have faith in Him and His plans. I am grateful for my knowledge of the gospel, and although it is comforting to know about eternal families and the resurrection, my heart goes out to my aunt and cousins. We love you all so much and we are here for you. I love my uncle Steve and will miss him greatly.

I had 2 friends die in high school just a few weeks before the end of the school year. At year book signing both their year books were there for their friends to sign. Later that night we were all reading what people wrote. In Jara's year book a good friend of hers, Dave Lilenquist, wrote, "work hard." I thought it was such a great message to her, what a great attitude. Dave understood that Ali and Jara were not just up in heaven "flying around and playing their harps", but they would be actively engaged in spreading the gospel and preparing for Christ's coming. There is a lot of work to be done there and just as we all knew Jara and Ali would be a part of it, I know Steve will be working hard, just as he did down here, to build the kingdom and spread the gospel. Dave taught me a great lesson that day about our responsibility in the plan of salvation and our attitude towards death, I have tried to maintain the same attitude since then. So to you, Steve, work hard.

Michael Leaves

My cute Brother Michael left on his mission on Wednesday. It was quite the week. I remember always saying, "when Michael and Daniel leave on their mission...", like it was this thing a million years away and would never really happen, and now he is gone and I still feel like we are waiting for that day. In my mind they are still 4 and 6 playing every kind of sport you can imagine in our yard. I love my brothers so much and am so proud of both of them. They are growing into great young men, and am excited to see Michael's growth in the next 2 years.

So I just have to say that Brock reminds me of my brothers everyday - he is like a carbon-copy. He is just this tan little boy that loves to be outside and play EVERY single sport there is (there will be a future post regarding Brock's sports - just still collecting pictures). Brock got almost all of his DNA from Jason - so from me he seems to have gotten my blond hair - and apparently some of my brothers traits. Everyday he reminds me of growing up with them. All three of them (Michael, Daniel, and Brock) are quite the athletes!

Katie and I are due just 3 weeks apart. I am due September 21 and she is due October 7. But she is going to be induced on September 30. It will be fun to have our babies so close.
I am getting bigger - in this picture I am 36 weeks - almost exactly one month from my due date! When Mike gets back there will be at least 2 more nieces and/or nephews that he will have never met (and at the rate I am going - maybe more :)

Another day at the pool

My friend, Jessica, offered to go swimming with me and Brock. I don't think I could do it myself and she has a little boy, Preston, who just likes to sit and play in the water. So I watched Preston, while she watched Brock. Brock is SO FUN to take swimming. He is such a fish. He especially loves to be in the deep end. He kicks his legs and swings his arms - just like he was swimming. He also loves to jump from the side into my arms and put his face in the water and blow bubbles. It was such a great day. If anyone else is willing to come help me - I would love to go once or twice before the end of summer (the pool doesn't open until 3 now).

Duck Pond

We have a duck pond just down the street from us. Brock and I are there once or twice a week. Last Friday "the kids" (Brock, Mollie, and Maggie Kapfer) were all just "on one." They were fighting and crying and not playing nicely. So Ashley and I got fed up and took them to the duck pond hoping it would help. It totally worked - Ashley and I just sat on a bench in the shade and the kids explored, chased the ducks, and ate some snacks. It was a lot of fun.

It is amazing how by just having a structured activity it can so quickly change a child's behavior. I always find that Brock is more whinny and needy when he is bored - but when I plan an activity - his behavior is almost perfect. I think that will be a big goal of mine as a mom - even though it will be hard with multiple children - I believe it is totally worth it to go out and to an activity - it changes behavior almost instantly.

Farm Country - again

We went to farm country with the whole Bell family fora Family Home Evening last week. It was great because Jason was able to come and Brock seemed to enjoy it more than he ever had. He understood the concept of feeding the animals and had favorite animals he liked to look at (the goats and sheep). Here is some pics.

Swimming

Brock loves to go swimming at the Veterans Pool here in Provo. I really want to take him swimming a few more times this summer - but right now I really don't feel like I could do it by myself. If any of my friends out there (especially ward friends without kids) who have a free afternoon and want to come help me - I would really appreciate it - I'll pay. He is really good - he just likes to go in the deep end (2 feet deep!) and I have to carry him - and I still cannot carry him for more than a minute or so. We could go any afternoon - the pool does not open until 1 - I like to get there right when it opens (it is the least crowded at that time) and then we leave around 3 for Brock's afternoon nap. Give me a call if you are interested.

My decision

So I have been trying to decide how I wanted to successfully carry around 2 children and still go out and do fun activities. (double stroller, Snugly, sling, wrap, make Brock walk everywhere, etc). I really did not want to do a double stroller - they are so big, and I did not want to spend the money, and my friend Karli always just put her second child in a Snugly and that always seemed to work.

Well I made my decision this week. Thanks to my friend Sabrina's Blog - I got a Moby Wrap - I had some hesitations at first (too complicated, will the fabric stretch, is it practical) but the girl came to my house and showed me how to use it - and I LOVED IT! I am so excited to have this baby and carry him around in it. I have a lot of friends having babies right now and I would recommend looking into it. I obviously have not REALLY used it yet - and if it does not live up to my expectations I will let you know - but I did my research and talked to a lot of people who have used them and so far most people love it!

Here is the website I bought it through (she actually came to my house - so I did not have to pay shipping) http://bab-i-licious.blogspot.com/ or this is the "official" site: http://www.mobywrap.com/
I chose a light blue. YEA!

Don't you hate when that happens...

Remember how I decided to make peach cobbler because I was CRAVING it - and then I ate the whole thing myself. Don't you hate when that happens!

(This is not the cobbler I made - just one I found on the Internet to better prove my point)

Maggie's Birthday Party

A few weeks ago our neighbor, Maggie, had her birthday party - she turned 3. Her parents went all out and rented this huge blow up castle for the kids to play in. Brock and all of the other kids loved it!

There were other kids at the party - When I got my camera out Brock was the only one in the castle - the rest were swimming.