and one on the way . . .

Most of you who read this blog already know that Lisa is expecting again! Lisa's last two pregnancies unfortunately ended in miscarriages so we are praying that this baby will make it all the way to our home this time. Until we have an ultrasound in September we don't know an exact due date but we think sometime around the end of April! We are crossing our fingers for a girl but another boy for Adam and Richard to pal around with wouldn't be bad either:) Lisa is such an amazing mom and person. Congratulations Lisa!!!

July 4th 2008

Happy Fourth of July, (on the fourth of August)!  We had a really fun fourth this year.  We went to the Provo Freedom Parade and weren't disappointed.  The boys did really well for the most part and loved watching all the floats go by.  Glenn Beck was in the parade, we are fans of his and it was fun to see him again in person.  (We went to one of his Christmas shows a few years ago).  I had to give an extra cheer for the marching bands just a little shout out for Kelli, Elizabeth, Lindsey and soon to be Victoria.  It was great to see all the Veterans and soldiers.  I always get a bit emotional when I see men in uniform.  They really do and have given us our freedom and I am so thankful for them and for the families who let them go for the rest of us.  

Adam and Dan (what is up with this tongue thing?)

Richie

Lisa and Richie

The Daddy lounger perfect for parade watching

After the parade we relaxed at home until we went up to SLC to a great dinner at Dan's Dad's house.  We went over to our continuing tradition of watching fireworks at the Holladay Elementary.  It was great to visit with family and friends as we waited, and waited and waited for the fireworks to start.

And as always we weren't disappointed.  Richie did not like them anymore this year than last and fell asleep yet again during the show.

I would love to say that this was just a perfect day, but alas, I was struck down late that night with the stomach virus that had plagued Dan and Adam earlier that week. Unfortunately I have been unable to eat BBQ since.  So sad for this Georgia girl.  

A LONG road home

We left my parents home in Ringgold, GA at 4:00pm on Sunday and arrived at our home at 1:30pm on Monday!  We were en route for 21.5 hours!!  A flight from ATL to SLC is 3.5 hours and when we drove out to Utah, it took us 28 hours.  Thankfully we were traveling at night and the boys were really good considering the prolonged travel time.  We were also helped along by friendly people.  At two different airports a man told me "You're doing great!" It was exactly what I needed to hear. Going through this ordeal was yet another reason why I love being with Daniel.  He is always calms me down and takes care of us and doesn't complain about all that is going wrong.  We ended up "sleeping" in the Las Vegas airport for five hours.  Needless to say I was SOO glad to be home in bed on Monday night!  There were some bright spots along the way, the boys were really good on all the flights, no one got sick, I had packed just enough diapers for Richie, ALL of our luggage arrived in SLC with our flight and Dan's dad was there for our long awaited ride from the airport.  

Pizza Hut and canned OJ for breakfast, yum!

Adam at the Phoenix Airport catching some Zzz on the go

(I am SO glad we brought two strollers!!)

Dan

Our last day

Here are some shots from our last day there.

Kayla

Rebecca in her bird nest

Victoria, my cherry lifesaver :)

Baby James

Shannon, who wanted me to be sure and get her pretty dress in the picture

I loved going to Georgia and I really miss everyone there.  Hey, Mom has that plan going, you know, moving Georgia and Utah together!  Someday.  

D D D Dollywood! P P P Pigeon Forge!

The Crew 

(minus Christopher, on a mission in Chile, Eric, on a mission for  wife at BYU-ID and the Mitchell Family, Paul, Sarah and Mary, Interviewing for a law firm in ATL, which he got, congrats, Paul!  We missed everyone who wasn't there, and had a great time with everyone who was there!)

D, D, D Dollywood was great this year!  We haven't been there since Adam was eight months old.  The boys LOVED it, well most of it.  Adam rode some "big boy" rides.  He was pretty brave, but didn't really like the "super, fast ride in the dark" aka Fire in the Hole.  The very same ride I was scared of when I was 12!  It was really fun for me to watch the boys play and have fun in a place where I have such good memories. A BIG thanks to Gene and Mom for making the trip possible for us!!  Dollywood really is a great place for families and I would recommend it to anyone traveling to the south.

Adam driving the 50's cars

The two pictures above are on the Dollywood Express train.

The boys on the "Duckie Ride"

Flying High with Uncle Harrison

Richie couldn't get enough of these big legos

Richie in his happy place, even now six weeks later, when we ask him what his favorite part of the day was, he says, "The Duck Ride"

This is more Richie's Speed when it comes to rides.

Dan and Adam up in the trees on the ferris wheel

Driving Miss Mama

We shared a condo with the McPheters and the cousins had a great time together.  This is about the only way we could be a group shot. 

Dan relaxing

My Boys with My Man

Dan and Adam on the kiddie roller coaster

Dolly's version of the teacups, The Lemon Twist

Ridin' the midnight train to Georgia

Harrison Shannon Adam & Richie 

Our trip to Georgia was a lot of fun this year.  I am going to break it up into a couple of different posts, so it isn't too long.  We were there for a week in June and usually that means a HOT and humid in the south, but the weather was really nice this time. My hair didn't agree with the humidity though, well that's the excuse I will go with!  When we got in after a pretty smooth flight we stopped to see my dad and step mom in Atlanta.  It was great to see them and tour Josh's house and catch up with Mandy and Joe and meet cute little Sierra.  We admired my dad's HUGE garden and the kids had fun playing with all the old-school toys.  I was given a parting gift of no less than 22 Mosquito bites on my legs!  Adam got bitten too.  Thank you to my sister Kelli for driving down and picking us up.  The next two days were spent around the house catching up with the fam.  

Steph and Troy (the soon to be new parents!)

Adam with Aunt Shannon

Elizabeth and 

Kinsley

Big boy Jaxon!

Dan with Shannon and Travis playing Mario Kart