It's A ....

I had my ultrasound yesterday.  I can't really post a picture because none of them turned out very good but we were still able to see, very clearly, that we're going to have another little girl.  Everything looked really good and she was even measuring right to her due date, which never happens.  Usually the ultrasound guy tells me that my due date should actually be 5 - 7 days later based on the size of the baby.  And since none of my kids have ever really ended up too small I'm thinking this little girl is sizing up to be just like Eden, a big fat pink baby.  She also never sat still the entire time.  He was trying to blame it on some caffeinated drink he thought I had that morning. I told him it was actually called water.  So if water gets her all riled up it will be interesting to see what she's like when she can move outside of a confined space.  She may just give Austin a run for his money.

Today we're off to Park City to buy something pink, Eden's choice, of course.  She's been waiting to shop for this baby for the past 14 weeks.

Roughin' It

The first weekend in August Ryan took Dallin, Eden and Austin camping.  Dallin planned all the meals for one of his scouting requirements and helped prepare them.  They had tin foil dinners and eggs, pancakes and sausage for breakfast.

I think this kid likes camping.

Everything Hurts

I'm kind of getting tired of waking up everyday and hurting so bad I want to go right back to bed.  I'm only 20 weeks and already my hips ache so bad it's hard to get any sleep at all.  I woke up at 1:30 last night after rolling over so many times trying to find a position that would ease the pain.  I finally gave up and walked around for a while hoping the circulation would ease the ache.  When I finally got up this morning I realized the pain now radiates down my whole left leg and into my lower back.  It's crazy because I even sleep with a pregnancy body pillow designed to relieve aches and pains.  It worked for my last two pregnancies but is beginning to fail me with this one.  I guess I'm kind of worried that the next 20 weeks are just going to get more painful and I'm not really sure what to do.

Gilroy Family Reunion Day 4

Instead of heading straight home from Island Park we decided to go to Jackson Hole, Wyoming and up to the Grand Tetons.  It made for one really long day (12 hours in the car) but we saw some of the most beautiful countryside in the west.

We stopped at Jenny's lake for lunch and a canoe ride but it turned out Austin was too young.  On our way out of Wyoming we stopped along the Snake river to watch some of the river rafters floating by.  It turns out our neighbors had floated by just an hour before!  Sometimes this world is so small.  It felt even smaller when my best friend Kelly pulled up next to us on the freeway in Salt Lake.  They were on their way home from a day with the family in Ogden.  Unfortunately Ryan was more anxious to get home than she was so we waved farewell and sped off down the freeway excited to sleep in our own beds again.

Girloy Family Reunion Day 4

On our last day in Island Park we headed back to Yellowstone.  This time we were headed to Yellowstone Falls.

Upper Falls

View of Upper Falls on our hike down to Lower Falls. It was a 600 foot descent.  I figured that out after we got there.

Lower Falls, I felt a lot better when they moved away from the fence.

This totally freaks me out.  Picture a canoe...

Our next stop was called Grand View.  But before we could all go see it we had to wait for this deer to feed somewhere else.

I have to admit, it is a pretty grand view.  Those are the Lower Falls, where we were standing in the previous pictures.

After the falls we split off from the rest of the family and headed to Mud Volcano.  Cameron thinks its stinky. :)

We headed up from there along the trail to see some more geysers and hot springs and found this big guy along the trail.

We actually had to walk past him.  But he was too busy rolling around in the dirt to notice any of us.

I love this little guy.  Ryan thinks it's funny how he runs with his arms behind him instead of in front.

We drove around the west side of Yellowstone Lake on our way out of the park.  We saw this big guy...

and this big guy...

and this impressive guy...

and finally this one.  I couldn't believe the racks these guys had.  It was incredible.  Our kids thoroughly enjoyed their trip to Yellowstone.

Quote from Austin as we drive past the fly fishermen in the river, "those guys... are standing... in the water... in their PANTS!"  

Gilroy Family Reunion Day 3

Thursday was Erika's birthday.  In the morning we took her to the local day spa for a massage and pedicures.  Afterwards we enjoyed a fun family lunch and then headed to Herriman Park for horseback riding.

It looks like they're all enjoying a nice conversation together.  Wish I knew what they were talking about.

I was so proud of her.  Last year she rode with me but this year she was big enough for her own horse, without a lead rope!

While 29 of my family members were off enjoying a nice hour long ride Kimball, Lynne, Don, and I took the youngest kids, Austin, Alex, and Ian for a little walk by the lake.  Since it was pretty hot Lynne and Don soon ended up under a tree.  Kimball and I took the boys back to play with the ponies and the goats.  Then, it was their turn...

They were both so excited to get to ride the horses too!  I went with them, pregnant belly and all (actually if I was any bigger I would have opted out).  It was only a 20 minute ride which was just perfect for all of us.  Actually after seeing some of the others after their hour long ride I think they might have preferred the 20 minute one too.

Gilroy Family Reunion Day 2

In the morning on our second day we headed to Mesa Falls.  First we went to the Lower Falls.

This was the first time I noticed that Ryan and Austin were twins for the day.

Then we went to Upper Mesa Falls.  Super Cool!

Sometimes these kids are so silly.  Would you believe it started out as Austin's idea.  That kid has an original funny bone.

After lunch we went boating with my sister Erika and her kids.  My dad rented a pontoon boat for the day and we took turns riding around the reservoir.

Some of us don't change that much even after 30 years of trying to grow up.  I love their expressions as they watch the kids in the raft.

The older kids tried to do some tricks.  It wasn't too hard.  Pontoon boats don't go that fast.  But we had so much fun it did make me want to get our own boat.

I don't know whose idea this was but Eden sure did feel like big stuff.

Gilroy Family Reunion Day 1

This year for our family reunion we rented a grand cabin at Island Park, Idaho.  On our first full day there we went to Yellowstone (along with the rest of the western states).  :)  Be prepared for an epic blog post.

Since we were only driving about 5 miles an hour behind miles and miles of traffic coming into West Yellowstone we had plenty of time to get a picture of this Bald Eagle.

It became more obvious the further we got into the park that traffic was being held up by all the amazing wildlife.  There were Rangers trying to move people along but it was almost futile.  Everyone wanted to see what everyone else was looking at.  It made for a long trip but at least we didn't miss anything.

Like this handsome fellow.

When we finally made it to Old Faithful, and found a parking spot, we had just missed it.  Austin and I decided to get front row seats by waiting there for the next 90 minutes.  

It was almost time for the big event.  Despite sitting there for so long it felt like the last few minutes were the longest.  It felt like a thousand people were all holding their breath.

Finally it came.

And kept coming!  It was pretty impressive, for a geyser.

When I finally got Austin and Dallin to turn around for a picture it was almost too late.

What a beautiful day!

We headed off to see more hot springs and geysers.  I don't remember all the names.  Some were really hot to stand next to, some were stinky, some were colorful, and some were tiny.  The whole day my kids were full of questions and very excited.

Except for Austin who kept asking when we were going back to the cabin.  He would say things like, "I've got an idea, how 'bout next we go back to the cabin."  It made us all laugh.

It took a while, but we finally made it back to the cabin.  And since it was Austin's actual birthday we brought a pinata to celebrate.

We let Austin have the first swing at it... and all the candy came tumbling out.  He is pretty good with a bat but it turned out one of our coolers leaked and soaked the entire bottom of the pinata turning it into weak cardboard.  The other kids were pretty disappointed to not get a swing at it but I think Austin thought he was the man!

Finally the day ended with cupcakes for everyone.  Whew!  What a day!