TAGGED

I've been tagged AGAIN. I probably would ignore these tags for any readers sake (it's not like we're the most interesting family out there) - but I plan to use this blog as a family journal - and I think some of these questions could be interesting to our family in the future. So...

1. What were you doing ten years ago:
Ira was close to graduating from Chiropractic school, so we were enjoying our last couple of months in the beautiful state of Oregon, with our whole futures ahead of us, planning how we would spend all the money we would make when Ira actually had a job (that's pretty funny now that we look back on it - life happens, who has money?!). I can't believe that was TEN years ago - it seems like forever ago, so many things change in ten years.

2. Five things on your to do list today:
teach a lesson at church (this I can check off now for both Ira & I - woohoo!) , blog this tag, finish making dinner, spend time with my family - even Ira will be home this afternoon - that's quite rare!, eat strawberry pie (Yum, can't wait!)

3. Snacks I enjoy:
My faves are anything baked (cookies, donuts, cakes, brownies, desserts). However, you should see the snack tray Ira puts together when we are going to watch a movie as a family. He gets out the crackers, cheese & salami; pickles; vegies & dip; apples & popcorn. It is yummy too - but too healthy for my taste - for me, bring on the chocolate and sugar!

4. What would I do if suddenly I were a billionaire?
Oh the dreams this could fulfill! First and foremost, Ira would retire so he could spend more time with our family. Then we would invest a bunch so Ira could STAY retired. We would help family get out of debt. We would travel LOTS. And of course we would donate to as much as we could, especially various church programs

5. 3 bad habits:
We plead the fifth!

6. Five places I've lived:
Preston, ID; Logan, UT; Vancouver, WA; Portland, OR; Smithfield, UT

Five places Ira's lived:
Fairbanks, AK; Medford, OR; Rexburg, ID; Vancouver, WA; Smithfield, UT; etc. etc. etc.......

7. 5 jobs I've had:
Big J's, Del Monte (canning green beans), LDS Family Services, Accounting office, Mommy

5 jobs Ira's had:
landscaping, UW Freight Line, UPS, Chiropractor, Daddy

8. 5 things people don't know about me:

*I can't stand to start a project that I can't finish the same day. Something left un-done makes me CRAZY!
*Some of you already know this - but I have become a germ freak. We'll leave it at that, cuz I could go on for a very long time about all the germy things that give me major anxiety. (side note - I wish I weren't like this, and the older I get, the worse I get - SOMEBODY HELP ME GET OVER IT!)
*I really don't like to cook at all. Therefore, I try to encourage my kids to love it - with the hopes that they will want to take over that job for me (great thinking ey?). So far, it is one of Braydens favorite things to do.
*I love, love, love sitting in the warm sun, and feeling it on my face - especially when we are on vacation, and Utah is still covered in snow, or on a early summer morning when everyone is still sleeping, and the neighborhood is still quiet. I also love lightning storms (as long as I'm in a safe place). Our family will get blankets and sit bundled up together under the covered porch and watch the show.
*I was a sprinter and hurdler in track in junior high and high school, and broke several school records (that was as my kids would say "way back when I was a kid...")

5 things people don't know about Ira:

*He went to 22 different schools from Kindergarten to 12th grade (his parents didn't stay put for very long)
*He had applied to and been accepted to go to BYU in Jerusalem, but had the feeling he needed to go to Rexburg instead (we're sure glad he did, since that's where we met).
*He graduated Suma Cum Lauda from Chiropractic College (2nd highest grades, by like half a percent, in his graduating class).
*His family lived in a tent in Oregon for about 2 years when he was a kid (yes, it's true! - ask him about it someday)
*He loves being a "travel agent", and someday when he retires, he would like to be a travel guide to various church sites (come on billion dollars, so he can retire!!!)

That's it for this tag. I won't personally tag anyone, but if you want to answer these questions on your own post for the same reasons I did - then I will love reading about you!

Moab Memories!

Moser Men in Moab

This weekend, Ira and "the boys" from my side of the family went to Moab and played on the 4-wheelers. It looks like they had a blast. In fact, they are planning a trip for next year already. I was afraid of that - cuz you see, this Moab trip is usually MY trip. I am the 4-wheeling fanatic of the family, and this is a trip I have looked forward to every spring for a few years now. However, this year I gave up my machine and told Ira "take the big boys". Before you think I was just being really kind - I wasn't! I am just too far pregnant to go 4-wheeling in Moab for 3 days! So next year, I'm not sure I'll be so "kind"! "The boys" can go still, but I'm not staying home - so I hope they will be able to keep up with me next year after this years practice run!!!! (just kidding).


Ira has affectionatly been nicknamed "Agent Crawford" due to his love for, and ability of planning the family trips. (Agent meaning travel agent). He loves to look at maps and plan and coordinate every detail of the trips he goes on, and I think the family likes him to do it - they just have to show up and Agent Crawford has everything ready to go. This trip wasn't any different, and it sounds like it was smooth sailing.

NOT SO KUTE KOMMENTS & KIND KOMMENTS

The last month or so, I have really...what's the right word?...BLOSSOMED! With that being said, people have willingly shared their opinions about my pregnant belly.

Here are the ones I treasure the most:

"You look SO uncomfortable"

"How much longer do you have? OOOHHHH...you still have a l-o-n-g time, and you already look so miserable."

"Are you sure there's not twins in there?"

"You're gonna pop when you get closer to the end."

Who really says these things to a hormonal pregnant woman? (answer: other well-meaning women!)

The comments that have cheered me up:

"You look so great."

"You are beautiful, especially when your pregnant."

"You glow."

"You make pregnancy look GOOD!" (You could probably guess that my husband said this one).

Moral of the story: If you don't have anything nice to say...don't say anything at all! Also...Be careful what you say to me cuz it just might get blogged for all to see!

For fear of sounding like I'm really bugged about the whole thing (which I'm not), continue on with my story:

Once Upon A Time... As I was getting ready for church this morning, and I was feeling very self conscious about my size, (hmmm...wonder why?) :) Anyways, I remembered all those heart breaking, tear filled years when I would do anything to look this way - and here I am! I remember seeing other pregnant women, and I would have feelings of depression for the rest of the day, or days, because I wasn't pregnant, and didn't know if I ever would be. So instead of letting some comments make me mad, frustrated, depressed, discouraged etc...., I am chosing to embrase it. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to look this big - (if it means there is a baby that comes with the package deal). So...bring it on! ...

And we'll live happily Ever After

The End :)

*Notice...I talk tough, but I'm still not so confident in myself that I would post a great big picture of myself, but the smallest one I can! lol

Just FYI, I am 28 weeks, and still have 12 weeks to go.

WAY TO GO BRAYDEN!

Brayden is the center boy standing up
Brayden had his clogging competition this weekend, and his all-boys team took 1st place!

They clogged to the song, "Every Girls Crazy About A Sharp Dressed Man." The audience went wild when these handsome boys shook their hips and swung their ties.

Brayden has taken clogging for four years now, and loves to do it, especially when it comes to this time of year and it's more performances than just practice time.

FRIENDS, FAMILY & FOOD - it can't get any better than that!

Our family had the opportunity to spend the weekend with our good friends, the Bradleys, at their Uncles cabin at Bear Lake during general conference weekend.
It was such a relaxing weekend of enjoying great company, inspiring messages, and lots of food and fun. Brayden spent all the time he wanted playing his game boy without having a time limit on it. Emilie became the source of jealousy between two boys (Jarin & Jaxson), who adored her, (Jaxson was always keeping her close, and Jarin was always trying to tell him, "My Emilie.")
Jarin and his best buddy Jaxson played, and argued, and played some more. Both of them had moments where they had just had enough, and fell asleep where ever their cute little heads landed! Bradley's youngest son, Tyson just hung out being good natured, as usual.
Ira and I (with Larry & Amber) had moments of laughter, sleepiness, great conversations, more laughter, and pure exhaustion. Thank you Bradleys for sharing your weekend with us!

Some people come into our lives, and quietly go...
Others stay awhile, and leave footprints on our hearts...
And we are never the same...

Food...glorious food! Larry, Amber & Ira preparing gyoza- yummy!

Jarin enjoying the finished product

Brayden playing his game boy
Jaxson & Jarin collapsing into sleep wherever they landed.

Both boys, when seeing their friend asleep, asked, "Is he dead?" It was funny they would

both ask the same question, and we don't have any idea where either of them picked

that up from.

Tyson can sleep anywhere!

Emilie & Jarin
Jarin had a "Perma-Grin" the entire time of swimming
Jarin & Jaxson

Brayden

Take TIME To Smell The Flowers!

I am sitting here trying to record all of our old home movies from VHS to DVD, and what better place to start than with our wedding video? I watch us walking out of the temple looking really young, and really in love, and maybe a bit awkward. Since that day 14 1/2 years ago, we feel and look much older, we are much more comfortable as best friends, and we love each other more every day. I see my nieces and nephews surrounding us outside the temple, and many of them are married with children of their own now. Grandparents and others are no longer with us on earth.

It just got me to thinking that life flies by so fast! Sometimes I find myself wishing it would go just a little faster so I wouldn't have all the commotion of a house full of children, and all the struggles that go along with that. However, as I watch this video (now I'm at the point of Brayden as an infant), I realize just how precious every moment is. I hope that this will be a reminder for me to enjoy the commotion, because in the not so far off future, I'm sure it will seem TOO quiet, and I'll be wishing I could bring some of that commotion back!

The Verdicts In!

The answer to my last question of "Am I Crazy?" now has an answer.

YES!!!

Look at the change of facial expression from my last posting, things aren't going so great. Putting this off until after the baby is born is sounding better by the minute!