Has this ever happened to you?

So, I was in the kitchen this morning, minding my own business (which is a mistake when you are a mother- you have to mind every one's business) eating my cereal, when Cambria says to me, "Mom, I think Kiera is playing with the toilet. So I got up as quickly as my big ol' belly would let me and waddled down to the bathroom. Kiera tells me with delight in her eyes " Look, Mom, I made it big!" Kiera has since lost what limited bathroom privileges she had.

9 weeks to go

There have been a few requests to see pictures of my preggo belly. I really am not a cute, skinny pregnant girl. As I have said before, my whole body likes to get in on my pregnancies: arms, cheeks, fingers (can't wear my wedding ring after the first trimester). So this is about as brave as I am willing to get as far as posting the big belly where multiple eyes can see. I have 9 weeks to go and why, oh, why does the last 2 months seem to take the longest. You can imagine how uncomfortable it might be to be packing this kind of load when the temps are reaching 115 degrees.

So we have a few more names to add to our list of choices. I hesitate to put them down because I really am having a hard time with names and I don't really want to be swayed (my mom and grandma never seem to like the names I choose, though I suppose they tend to grow on them)

Soooo, these are the names on our list:

Prince Derek:)

Simeon

Isaiah

Malachi

We wonder what he will look like since our girls are really not from the same cookie cutter. Will he be blonde, brunnette, black haired, or could he be a red head? With the gene pool that Kai and I have created the possibilities really are quite limitless.

Here's to girlfriends and cousins!

My girls have never had girlfriends before. It hasn't been a problem. We do have great boy-friends. But it is funny to think that ever since Cambria was born we have been sorrounded by little boys. These are their very first real girfriends. Emma and Avery Ellison (who actually knew my cousin Sunnie and her kids in Texas). They just moved into our ward and we have had such a great time together. Unfortunatley, they are moving (again) to Arizona. We will be sad to see them go because all though my girls love to be rowdy and wild with boys, not too many boys like to dress up like princesses and princes.

I couldn't decide what picture to post so I had to post them both. Aren't they sooooo cute!

This is my cousin Kellie's oldest boy, Boston. We got to see him and his family very briefly as they stopped by on their way home from Utah. Isn't he good lookin'! By the way, Kellie, if you read this he left his BYU cougar stuffed animal here. Help me remember to send it back to you.

This is Logan, Kellie's youngest son. He is so cute and so happy. I am so mad at that delay on digital cameras because I just kept missing his cute little smile. It was fun to have so much kid time packed into one weekend.

The 4th of July!

We had a great July 4th. It has always been one of my Favorite Holidays, If not my numero uno pick. I love America. I love what it stands for. I love that we the people have a voice that is able to be heard if we feel a change needs to be made. I love that our forefathers risked so much to gain our freedom and that they KNEW they were guided by the hand of God to do so. The book that I am reading righ tnow, Prelude to Glory is a series dedicated to that very era when when we were still the "Patriots" verses the "Brittish". In fact the chapter I just read was all about how the Declaration of Independence was written and how it inspired the Patriots, how it moved them to their very core to know and finally have it written that they had certain unalienable rights endowed to them by their Creator and that they deserved the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Many may not believe in God, or think that he has a plan, but reading this book, even though it is a historical fiction, is a good reminder that this country was made by the belief in God and if it weren't so, the Brittish may have succeeded and not the Patriots. They knew they were fighting for something bigger than themselves.

Even Spiderman came to our party!

Cambria was happy to give a double Shaka salute to the 4th of July! Below the girls stand next to Amanda (Brother Ben's girlfriend) and show off the American flag cake that she proudly made.

We spent the morning swimming at the Rec center. They have two amazing pools and they had all sorts of activities set up for the holiday. We came home, took naps and headed for Maama and Papa's house for more swimming and lots of eating. We came home (poor Kiera fell asleep on the ride) put Kiera in bed then headed to our backyard to do sparklers and wait for the firework show. As soon as it started we jumped into our pool (its still hot at night) and watched Mesquite's firework show. We actually have a very great view and are quite close to where they shoot the fireworks. Its is almost as good as the shows I remember growing up. The 4th of July was always a big extended family party for us. I have missed this tradition more than any other. Being with my own family though is pretty darn great. I feel so blessed to have them.

Surf's Up!

For any of you who have seen the new movie Surf's up, you know who Big Z and Lani are. Well this fourth of July morning I overheard my husband playing with my girls in their bedroom. Kai has been missing Hawaii more than usual lately and last night at a McDonald's play date Cambria and Kiera got Big Z and Lani in their Happy meals. Kai was playing "surf" with the girls, you know, going through the motions, catching waves, getting barrelled, hanging ten, etc. Of course he was teaching other vocabulary word such as "wipe out, bruddah!" and "go charge 'em." It started out with laughs and giggles and various immitations by the girls , but before you know it I start hearing: "Dad, can I try it with Lani now? Dad, I wanna turn, Dad, let me try!" I soon realized that Kai had been caught up in his own make believe surfing world and forgot that he needed to take turns with his toys. I think we might have to go back to McDonald's and see if we can buy Cody without the Happy meal. Then they can all play "surf" together and live happilly ever after. Here's to all of you who are missing the Islands!

California : Surf, Shingles and weird thumbs!

Cambria made lots of sand castles!

Kiera went boogie boarding for the first time!

Cambria took time out for a snack after she wiped out boogie boarding.

Kiera loves to swing on Grammie's tree swing! Everyone calls her little Jill.

We miss the beach!

Wow, I don't really know where to start. We have been home from California fro two weeks now, and I am still tired. Well, our trip started out great. Kai went surfing just about eveydayand saw varios forms of sea life, dolphins, manaray, squid and a baby shark. We also went to Chuck E. Cheese's, the La Habra children's museum, lots of parks, and we saw lots of family. It was difficult to fit everything in because I needed a two hour daily nap just as much as the girls did. We got to see Uncle Caca for the first time since he has been to college and we convinced uncle Ryan and Uncle Sean to go swimming with us once or twice. My sweet mama even through a last minute baby shower for me. All of my greatest high school buddies were there, Jenny Barnes Sneddon came too and lots of other dear family memebers. It was so special!

The difficulty came in the end of our trip (sorry Jake, this is why I didn't call). Kai began not feeling well. We just thought he was tired, but by the next day he had a fever of 102.2 degrees. He had developed all these red spots on his torso and they were so painful he could barely lift his arms. After a little nugde from the old mother-in-law, he went to see the urgent care doctor who diagnosed him with shingles. He was given a perscription and was sent to bed.

Then the night of my baby shower, we were convinced that Kiera had somehow broken her thumb. It was bent crooked and I couldn't starighten it out nd it made this gross clicking noise. Kai wanted to wait till we got home to see our own doctor to mend it. We ended up taking her to a hand specialist in St. George who told us that it wasn't broken or dislocated. He said it was in fact a congenital disorder called congenital trigger finger and that she would need surgery to correct it when she is three. Until then it will continue to be bent and crooked and make that gross clicking feeling. Ewwww! Somehow Cambria and I managed to stay well and I am very happy about that.

Now here we are, back in 'ol Mesquite where the temp has been hitting 113 degrees. We are well and hoping that we have a little less adventure for the rest of the summer. We are also hoping that baby brother doesn't decide to make an appearance to soon. He must be anxious though because I have already dropped and his head is in position. I still have 11 weeks to go and while I would love to give birth early, I surely don't want a baby who has to stay in the ICU. Life is never dull with kids!

Welcome Summer!

Now that I say "welcome summer" I am questioning my sanity. I should say, "welcome swimming", or "welcome pool time" because the desert heat is something I definitely do not want to welcome. So far the temps haven't gotten much hotter than 101 degree. Many a day last year our out door thermometer hit 122 degrees. Lets see, my favorite parts of summer, are BBQ's, swimming, playing at the beach, tan lines, family trips, the 4th of July, fire works and the over all feeling of relaxation. Summer still feels like one big, long school holiday.

Dr. Kiera Davis

Cambria was a little Camera shy when she came home from the hospital, but Kiera wanted to try out all her new stuff. Once she put on the blue hair net, she wanted to give us all a check up and called herself Dr. Kiera. Her pediatrician thinks she is very smart and says she must be a surgeon or it will be a waste of her talent:)

Good-Bye Tonsils!

After 18 cases of Strep Throat in the last three years, Cambria finally had her tonsil removed. The last three days have been very hard on her and she can't wait to eat real food and jump on the trampoline again. Kiera thinks that Cambria got to do something fun without her and so she continues to tell us that she wants her tonsils out too.

Oh BOY!

A major change is headed our way! We are used to pink and purple, princesses and barbies, long dresses and pig tails. Baby number three will change all that and Kai is beside himself with joy. So are the girls, in fact. They wanted a new baby brother and they want to call him Prince Derek. Kai would like to call him Simeon. I am hoping to come up with a third alternative, any ideas? This overwhelming joy has not been without its hardships. My body has decided that there will be no more babies in our future. I have been able to avoid bed rest by adhereing to strict rules, but I will have to have a hysterectomy after the baby is born. You never think things like this will happen to you, but we have been able to focus on the positive and find joy in the children that we have been blessed to have. Kai says we can always adopt if we find we still feel a void in our family.

The Aquarium

We took a trip with my mom and dad and brother to the Aquarium of the Pacific. We had a great time looking at sharks, fish and Sea Lions. Here we are in the giant bird cage, which Kiera wasn't fond of since a bird tried to make a nest in her hair.

Beautiful Girls!