SURPRISE...

Number 5 is on the way!

 

We just found out we are NOT done having babies....another adorable baby coming our way end of May 2012.

We told the kids on Halloween and asked them if they would like a trick or a treat for Halloween; they said, "both!"  So, we first tricked them by saying we were packing up right then and going to Disneyland instead of trick-or-treating...they, of course, did not believe us.  Then we showed them the ultrasound picture and said, "here's the treat!"  McKenna knew right away what it was, Harrison soon caught on, Tyler didn't care, and Addison sat and giggled for whatever reason.

McKenna would like this baby to be another girl, Harrison immediately said he hoped it was a boy, and Tyler said, "I want it to be a boy so we can name it something cool like Optimus Prime or Very Hungry Bunny or Bumblebee..."  ha ha!

I asked the kids a couple days after we had told them if they still wanted the same gender and they both said yes.  Then I told them if it's a girl, she can share a room with Addison, but if it's a boy most likely the older kids will have to move downstairs....Harrison has now quickly changed his mind to wanting another girl!  We should find out what the gender is around Christmas time!

WE'RE ROLLING...IN STYLE!

Adam and I have been wanting to rent segways for awhile now. We had tried to rent some for our anniversary date, but they were all rented out. When my dad's birthday came around I thought it would be a lot of fun for him (and everyone else) to try...I am really into "experience" birthday present for our parents now - they have EVERYTHING! I think he had a great time cruising around the cul-de-sac!

I think everyone had a great time riding around on the segways and we only had one injury....my sister Steph had to bail on a fast moving machine before she crashed into a curb - she mangled her toes pretty good....so almost a spotless record! We took them over to my parents house for the evening!

Dallie and Tyler didn't ride the segways that night...but they always have a great time together!

The next day we took a few more spins around our neighorhood on them and even let a few neighbors try them out!

The segways made another road trip up to Adam's parents home for a few more test runs...we just had to share the fun with everyone!

Both McKenna and Harrison are now asking for a segway for Christmas...I really hope Santa doesn't get too crazy and grant that wish....

ENGAGEMENT PRESENT

Adam's brother, Jake, just got engaged to a cute girl named Rachel. We are really excited for them and some what knew this was going to happen. However, as soon as we received the text that Jake had "popped the question" and Rachel had accepted, Harrison ran down stairs and came back up with a stack of papers and markers in hand!



Harrison decided he wanted to make them an engagement book - it was so cute to see him take his time on this project and do such a great job! He was so disappointed when he had to wait a whole week before giving it to them. The book included:

- 2 pencils and 2 suckers
- illustrations of both wedding rings (atleast what he thought they should look like)
- a great B&W picture of Addison
-a picture of flowers for Rachel and Mickey Mouse for Jake
- illustration of a wedding cake

Harrison is such a cute kid...and so thoughtful! We wish Jake and Rachel the best! Maybe they will call on Harrison as their personal Wedding planner?!?

3 SISTERS

Three sisters - pregnant at the same time and due within 4 weeks of each other:

All three babies arrived happy and healthy!!

MEGA FROSTY

Once there was a snowman, snowman, snowman....once there was a snowman - tall, tall, tall!!

Adams brother, Jed, along with a few friends and family built this 15 ft snowman!! (complete with all the accessories) This puts EVERY snowman I've ever made or seen to shame!

WELCOME HOME!

A few weeks ago, Adam's brother, Jake, returned home from his mission to the Caribbean Islands (lucky!) Adam's family went to pick him up and have a 2 weeks vacation before he came back to Idaho! We were at the house to greet him when he did arrive:

The kids (i.e. all his nieces and nephews) had been anxiously awaiting his arrival!! All our kids just love their aunts and uncles!!

Welcome home, Jake!!

BEAR LAKE - AUGUST 2009

We always have a great time going to Bear Lake with Adam's family, and we go atleast twice a summer! The kids love playing with their cousins! So, here's a quick recap of our August week at Bear Lake:

For the last 10+ years, the lake front cabin has not been "lake front", we have to be a little creative how to get everything and everyone to and from the dock....here's how Zsahnae and Monique toted their kids to and from -

you're half way there -

just a little bit farther, work those leg muscles!!

Me and Kenna on a little "boat ride"

We had plenty of laughs at... sleeping babies (notice the sandwich still in Christopher's hand)

and silly little girls (Ziah and Katie) ....

As always, we had our fair share of tubing, air chair, jet skiing. And a lot of the kids even tried knee boarding (including me!) Here's Adam teaching McKenna and Harrison -

And, a new tradition we've started at Bear Lake is having a Bear Lake Pizza meal that includes the massive 2ft wide Old Ephraim Pizza!! MMMM....

BEAR LAKE #2 - FAMILY REUNION

End of July we headed back to Bear Lake for my grandparents family reunion! Our family went up a day early and made a stop at Bloomington Lake...it was a short hike and a beautiful view!! My favorite is the top picture though (so cute!)

The next day, most everyone els joined us at the mountain cabin for some fun - we went 4 wheeling, played some great rock band, and fuseball!! It's always fun to let the kids get together and play. I remember being really excited to see my cousins growing up, and I hope they can always enjoy being with their cousins!

Next day it was off to the lake to meet up with all the relatives and play in the water! Every year, Adam brings the jetski to take all the kids (young and old) on tube rides...and all the kids look forward to that every year!!

GRANDPA'S 90TH

On July 13th my grandpa Pence turned 90 years old!! For his birthday, my mother put together a great little reception for him! It was cute to see how many people came over to wish my grandpa a Happy Birthday - he had a big smile on his face the whole time! I'm sure my gramps is very grateful to mom for putting it all together!

Grandpa, way back when...

My grandparents were married for 56 years before grandma passed away - they shared the same birthday...July 13th.

Grandpa(right), with his brother, Lorin, and sister, Thora in 2003

This was at Adam and my wedding...the photographer was having a hard time getting grandpa to smile, so he said, "Marion, I need a smile...come on, just think of your wedding night!" and my grandpa, replied, "I am!" and we all busted up laughing!!

My mom had a nice buffet for the guests to enjoy...I know this is going to be random, but as I was looking through the pictures, I saw this one of my brother, Aaron and instantly had the thought come to mind of him saying, "Are you telling me you want MORE BBQ!!" and I just started to laugh!! You can see it right?!? So, I had to share this picture (no offense Bud)

My grandpa was a bigtime fisherman back in the day, so my mom thought of a great saying for the cake!

Grandpa was also in the Forest Service and had a great time visiting with old forest service friends!

Grandpa and his brother, Lorin

our family...

...and as we were all cleaining up after it was over, the stage curtain opened up, and the great grandkids all belted out "Happy Birthday" to grandpa...it was great!

4th OF JULY FUN

Another year, another 4th of July... although we always do the same things, we still have just as much fun as the last year (kind of like the show "Survivor" - after 18 seasons of the same situation etc, I still love it)! We wake up early on the 4th to catch our Ward 4th of July breakfast. Next, we hurry on over to the parade to sit with my parents and siblings. I really enjoyed this years parade because we actually saw FLOATS and not just big trucks with a banner on the side advertising the local chiropractor or law firm! Take a look:

Saw the old alma mater' s float and had to yell out, "GO KNIGHTS!" hard to imagine I was ever that young...

Others reasons I love the parade -

time with grandpa

anxiously waiting for the next candy-throwing float (notice the PINK tie-dye shirts....grrrr!)

more time with grandpa and grandma

Next we are off to: Adam head to the annual volleyball tournament at the Petty's - Adam and his best friend, Josh, started this tradition more the a decade ago and it's still going strong!! Jennie and the kids head over for the BBQ at grandma/grandpa Beans house for swimming and food!!

We met up later in the afternoon to go to Adam's parents for an evening BBQ (after reading through this blog, I can see why I weigh what I do...I am a social eater?!?) The kids had a great time getting rides from grandpa on his newest contraption!

And lastly, we race down to the river for fireworks....and they are GREAT fireworks!!

Whew...