Visiting Flagstaff

This weekend I got to visit with one of my friends from my Soda Springs days. She and her family have been living in Flagstaff (which is only 2 hours North) while her husband goes to NAU for Physical Therapy. We have lived here for 2 years and this is the first we have visited! The sad thing is they are moving back up to Idaho this week so we won't get another chance to visit. We had a great time catching up this weekend though. 

Flagstaff was so much cooler and instead of tons of cactus there were TONS of trees. It was pretty up there. Ashley and her husband are in the same stage of schooling we are. They have a year left but it is all internships. They will be finished with school next May like us so it was fun to talk to them about their plans and such. It was also nice for me to see how unstressed they seemed about the next year. I think about having baby number 2 and doing internships and finding a job and a new place to live and get a little worried about it all. It was nice to talk to them and remember that it doesn't need to be stressful. Things will turn out. :) 

Ashley is pregnant, too. And due it July like me! And having a boy like me too! She is due 3 weeks earlier than I am though. We made sure to take a few pictures so we could make Cassanda jealous. Eat your heart out Cassanda! We were thinking of you! :) 

We met at a park and had a picnic lunch. We chatted and played with the kids. Then we went for ice cream which Susie thoroughly enjoyed. Only 50 cents for an ice cream cone at Little America! Score! It was a fun little day trip. It's always good to visit with goods friends. 

Pregnancy Update

This pregnancy has been different from my first. I was sick in the beginning but thankfully that has come to an end. I have been pretty lucky overall. The worst of it is that I'm uncomfortable often. I think I carry my babies a little weird. It seems like anywhere I move, he is jabbing at something inside. Now that he is getting a little bigger when he gets active it feels pretty crazy. I have to readjust how I'm sitting or how I'm laying all the time. "Getting comfortable" is always the goal but rarely happens (until my alarm clock goes off and then I'm sudden so comfy!) 

I haven't had specific cravings. I get tired a lot but if I make sure to get plenty of rest, it's not a problem. I have been able to keep running which is great. I try to run 10 miles a week, one 4 mile run, and one 6 mile run. Then I do strength training 2 other days a week with just 5 lb weights. I have gained 7 lbs so far. I wish I could remember how much I had gained by this point last time! We are pretty excited for July to come. 

Here are some awkward pregnancy photos :) 

21 weeks 

22 weeks 

24 weeks 

Birthday Fun

I am now 26. I had a great birthday. Lots of people made me feel special. We did several things to celebrate. Celebrations started the Saturday before my birthday. Paul took us out on a family road trip to see some Arizona sights. We have been wanting to check out Sedona. We've heard that it is beautiful and it was! On the way we stopped at a national monument called Montezuma's Castle. It was pretty cool. 

Sedona really was beautiful. I'm not sure I've ever seen rock that red before. It is a very touristy town. We walked around and looked at all the fun shops, got some ice cream, and enjoyed the scenry. We walked a lot and Susie got tired. She decided to ride in the stroller basket. We thought it was pretty funny. 

Monday, (April Fools) Susie and I went to the Phoenix zoo with some good friends. It was a great day to be at the zoo. The kids did really well and we all had tons of fun. We even paid to go in and visit the sting rays. I thought Susie would be all over that-- she loves to get wet. But she was a little scared. She loved watching me touch them but she didn't want to do it herself. I got her to put her hands in the water a few times but if she saw a sting ray coming close, she quickly retreated. 

On the day of my birthday I woke up to a house full of birthday banners and streamers. I was quite surprised. It looked great! Paul must have been up late. After preschool Sam's mom took us all out to lunch which was a lot of fun. Except for when the whole restaurant sang and clapped Happy Birthday. That was humiliating (thanks Michele). When Paul got home from school we picked up some Sprouts sandwiches and went to the park. We went home for cheesecake and presents. What a great birthday! I had several friends call or come over with a treat and it really made me feel loved. I'm so grateful for the good friends I have. What a blessing! 

 

Take a look at these zoo photos, taken by my favorite exhibit, the orangutans. The first picture is of Susie, almost a year ago exactly when we took Logan to the zoo on Spring Break. Look how much she has grown in just one year! What a cutie. 

Easter at the West House!

I loved celebrating Easter together. What a wonderful and happy holiday to remember that all is well because of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Because of Him, I have every reason to be happy. 

Susie is getting older so she enjoys the holiday festivities more (especially when it involves candy!) We all had fun dying eggs. Paul reminisced about the beautiful eggs his sisters would color when he was growing up. I tried a few new things in an effort to impress him. 

That pink polka dotted one? Not bad-eh!? 

She loved finding her Easter basket and searching for eggs. Paul also has fond memories of Easter egg hunts growing up. I don't think we did too many in my family. So Paul headed that up and Susie had a blast with it. 

Susie looked like a little angel on Easter Sunday. She wore a dress Grandma Suzy bought her for her birthday. 

                                                 

                                                   

I hope you all had a fun holiday! Just a few of our Easter decorations: