Mother's Day

Such an amazing week! Mother's Day was awesome!

Saturday Jared planned to take me to breakfast at Kneaders because I had never had their FAMOUS french toast and it was free for the mothers. When we drove up we saw all of the cars and the people walking in.. It was a hike to get there and then a wait. They had tents set up so I pictured us sitting elbow to elbow with someone we didn't know.. So.. We went to Magelby's Fresh.. GOOD CALL!! It was soooo yummy!! They serve their french toast with strawberries, bananas, and white syrup!! YUM!!

We went on our favorite date after that. 

My sister Gina came over that afternoon and we were able to chat about the whole week. It was crazy not to be able to see her every day. We took a couple hours to catch up, but there is no one like your sister!! :)

We attended one of Jared's buddies wedding reception that night and it just made me realize how in love I am with my husband. I swear everything makes me realize how lucky I am to have him in my life. I'm so happy that he chose and stuck by me! I hope to make him the happiest man ever! :)

Sunday was the BEST day! Jared wanted to make sure that I didn't have a thing to do. We got up and got the everyone out the door to church. (After Sacrament Meeting the young boys in our ward gave the moms Caramellos!)

(FYI I'm seven months pregnant. I'm loving it. So you'll see my subject matter and excitement in the food I eat!!)

We got home from church and Jared fed the girls and put them to bed. I was able to slowly get out of my church clothes and come to the kitchen for lunch. When I got there Jared was making his famous Too Much Chocolate Cake..

Yum!! Then he sat with me for a while. It was perfect outside and we were just lounging around talking.

Baylee, my 12 year old little sister, came and called out to me to come upstairs. I came up and she had her foot bath/massage out and she had just given my mom a pedicure. She had me sit down in a recliner next to my mom and gave me a pedicure! It was sooo sweet and thoughtful! (Especially because I can't really reach my feet anymore.)

After that my Dad had prepared Artichokes for our appetizer. I LOVE ARTICHOKES!! SOO yummy and a family fave!! By this time Jared was making his Twice-Baked Potatoes, Gina, Justin, & Whitney came over, and Jayda was up from her nap. Jayda shared her artichoke with Baylee. Baylee said that Jay ate her artichoke like a she~man.. Jay loves artichokes too!! :)

Right after we were done with Aritchokes, Sjanna showed up from Las Vegas. Mom had all of her children there. (From oldest to youngest.. Sjanna, Gina, me, Justin, Aubrey, & Baylee) It was awesome having us all together! 

We had dinner together. (Barbecued Steak, Twice-Baked Potatoes, and spinach salad) Jared took care of our children's plates so that I could sit and chat with my family. Then Jared got up did his second load of dishes and made Angel Food cake with whipped cream and strawberries. He served choco cake and strawberry shortcake to everyone.

After that, the moms received gifts from their children. Some people stayed after in the living room to chat, some went for tramp time. Jared got our kids ready for bed and did the laundry (Because I have this obsession with having NO laundry in my basket) and waited for me to be done chatting for Scriptures and Prayer. It was an amazing day filled with family, relaxing, and Food!! I was still in a good mood from it all the way through Monday night!

I  MY FAMILY!!

~Updates~

~So much has been happening it's hard to figure out where to start..~

Maybe if I blogged a little bit more it wouldn't be so difficult!

I think that the biggest thing that has happened since our last post was our discovery that our little baby is a BOY!! 

Jared has called every pregnancy's sex correctly and I thought for sure he couldn't get them all right. I felt for SURE that we were having a girl! He's has incredible intuition! It was such a special day! I was floating for a couple weeks after.

So.. current pregnancy status.. I am 26 weeks along. I still have 14 weeks to go which feels like an eternity! For some reason I already look 9 months pregnant and ready to pop. Maybe it's the hypothyroidism.. :( Oh well! I can loose it later! With Brandon I gained 55 lbs.. HEAVEN HELP ME~ I was much younger and my body bounced back better. I can't imagine how this is going to play out, but I think I need to start working out.. I know that I get postpartum depression but I wonder now if it's possible to get depression during pregnancy.. It's been a rough couple of weeks. On to happier things!

So, our due date started at August 10th and has moved to August 7th and then finished off at August 4th. So, We'll see!! Apparently this little boy isn't so little. He throws off all of the numbers every appointment we have! 

~SO EXCITED FOR OUR LITTLE BOY~

~My sweetheart finished his semester and his shift at work changed~ 

He went to school from 8-12:30pm and then to work from 2:30-10pm and now he goes to work at 8 and comes home at 5! It's great! I see him in the evenings for FHE, Brandon's baseball games, church activities, and the biggest part is that he is the best Dad ever and the kids get to kiss him goodnight every night! :)

Brandon has been very busy lately! It's been crazy! I never knew how rigorous baseball could be! He is practicing or having a game every day of the week excepting Sunday and Monday! He is very good! Last night he pitched for the first two innings of his game. He got this kid out and I screamed so loud I think people thought I was going into labor. :) I laughed so hard after that I was in tears. ("THAT'S MY BABY!!") Last night's game was also special because my brother, Justin, was able to help coach. Sjanna, Gina, Whitney, Mckayla, Baylee, and my girls were with Jared and I in the stands having too much fun cheering Brandon along! :)

Our little Jay has been super busy as well!! With play dates, birthdays, preschool, and shadowing mom she is the happiest helper I've ever seen! She has the most extensive imagination! I love to watch her play! She got her kindergarten shots a few weeks ago and did so remarkably well! She feels all grown up and ready to go to elementary school.. My baby's growing up!

Brookie is doing great! She has the strongest personality. Just like Jayda!! They butt heads sometimes but when they get along well it's pure bliss! I am so grateful that they are close in age! I hope it will be a blessing to them throughout their lives. BrookLynn has the sweetest spirit and has to hug and kiss everyone who leaves the room or anyone/anything she thinks is hurt. She is just precious! I can't believe she's starting preschool in the fall~

~Our lives are about to change yet again.. I think I have come to embrace change. If my life was too constant I think I'd get bored!~

I love my sweet family

I love my sweet family

Brandon is an incredible helper. I never have to ask him twice to help out. He's always right there no questions asked. He was able to go to a school camp out overnight. It was near the same week that he had his maturation program. When he came out of that week HE was pretty sure that he become a man. :)

Jayda is as sweet as ever. She watches her sister while I prepare meals and makes sure BrookLynn doesn't go crazy everywhere. Jay has just started hating naps. But she loves Bananas so we're good! She shied away from napping and ended up throwing her entire sleeping schedule. 3:30am and ready to go was not a fun day :)

BrookLynn, although she's been two for about 7 months, I think it just clicked. She is into everything and loving every minute of it. It's not a "I'm into everything and making a mess".. It's more like, "I know that mom doesn't want me to touch her mascara and I know that mom goes crazy when I put it on my face, so I'll just bring it to her to show her I can get to it, reach it, and tell my mom that it's a NO NO!!" I imagine that is what she thinks :) 

Baby-in-Belly is making momma large! I'm only 4 months and I feel like I look like 6 month pregnant woman! So far, the baby is happy and healthy and we see the doctor on Friday to make sure of it and maybe schedule the appointment for the ultrasound to determine the sex and make sure everything about the baby is alright! :)

We are trudging along on this new schedule! Jared isn't getting much sleep but he has good grades. I make sure there isn't anything he needs to take care of when he gets home. I try to make it so that when he gets home he gets right in his jammies and gets ready to study. He has 24 hours of required homework that he compacts into 6.. He is the most incredible man I have ever met. I just can't believe he picked me!

We are soo blessed. We are soo in love. 

February

So many things have happened since the last few posts. My grandparents came up from Las Vegas for the weekend to celebrate my niece, McKayla's, birthday. It was a very crazy weekend! 

The Super Bowl party was great! We had a ton of people there!

 It's just a sad thing that our team lost.. Can't wait till next season!!

It was a bonding experience.

On Friday the 10th  a bunch of girls got together for Chili's and a late night showing of The Vow. It was so nice getting out with the girls and having a night out!! I didn't really care for the movie all that much but it was a great night out!!

With Jared working these intense schedules and me left to take care of everything.. I super failed today. I got in a car accident. :( The fault was 50/50.. I was turning into a lane and there was another man in the other lane turning into that same lane and we hit simultaneously. :( Our car doesn't even have plates yet. We bought it 3 weeks ago.. 

Jared is good with me about it but I am rippin myself apart about it.

It will all be good. It could've been much worse.. It can be fixed.. NO one got hurt.

I guess I needed a minute to vent frustrations. I am blessed that my car still runs! :)

BRIGHTER NOTE!!

Aubrey said that she would read The Hunger Games if I read Twilight.

Aubrey was done a few months ago and I finished last week! 

I hated the beginning of the book, but now I'm in love! Thank you to all of my friends that suggested I keep reading!! It's paying off!! 

Random Comment: I am so grateful for friends!

Looking Forward to:

March ~ Baby's gender 

and Hunger Games the Movie

January 2012

Hello~

Wow, it's been quite a while.. I am not good at blogging at ALL.. Well, having 3 kids, 1 on the way, and no husband every weekday might have something to do with it.. Priorities..  It also seems every time that me or my children get sick.. I type!

Life is soo good, although, yes.. very busy..

Jared got a new job at ACTR in production. He works Monday through Friday 2pm-10:30pm.
He is still in school for Mechanical Engineering at UVU in the mornings and works on homework when he get's home from work.

He's such a hard worker. 

I put off seeing an OB until I found the right one. My sweet doctor died in between the birth of Jayda and BrookLynn, and as many of you know, Brookie's labor, delivery, and recovery was a nightmare. SO.. We won't be seeing that unintelligent doc again.. 

One of the doctors that I saw regularly in my old doctor's practice, with whom I loved, moved out to Salt Lake and practiced there for a couple years. SHE CAME BACK!! Once I found out that fantastic news I scheduled an appointment right away!We were able to hear the babies heartbeat and see the little peanut on Friday. I am 12 1/2 weeks and loving life! 

Jared thought it was twins.. It's not.. JUST ONE! Jared thought it was a boy, so now we're thinking it's a girl! :) We'll find out in a few weeks!

Brandon, Jayda, BrookLynn, and I have been super sick. Starting with Jay about a week ago. Once we think it's over, Brookie and Jay start throwing up last night.. :( Although, I think it was just because they were coughing too hard.. Rough times.. 

They get medicine. I've opted to go commando (medicine wise) There is nothing attractive about a pregnant lady with a cold.. TERRIBLY GROSS..

This month is going to be a fun one. Last weekend my Aunt and cousin came up and saw us for a minute from Las Vegas and I was able to have lunch with a new friend and this weekend my Grandparents and GREAT Grandma come up to visit.. OF COURSE.. it's McKayla's birthday (girls lunch on Saturday) and SUPER BOWL SUNDAY

GO NEW ENGLAND!!!!

The END

I need to take more pictures!!

I have decided that we need to take more pictures. We ALWAYS have our camera but we have become lazy taking pictures.. Many things have happened the past few weeks and I have regretted that I haven't taken pics.. There may be some photos but not near enough and some were taken from my lovely sister-in-law, Bekkah.. 


THE RAULSTON FAMILY BARBECUE
October 8, 2011


Jared's parents wanted to get the whole family together and it was fun! it's amazing to see how much the family has grown! Jared has five other siblings.. Darin, Jamie, Jonny, Jodi, and Jaycee. Now they are grown, married, have children.. It has been fun to see this family grow.. What a fun night! We spray painted shirts & marshmallow guns and fed face!





THE PRIMARY PROGRAM
October 16, 2011


This was the last Primary Program for my sister, Baylee, and my niece, McKayla. They are turning 12 before the next program and will advance to Young Women. Brandon was asked to give a talk, Bay and McKayla were given a written line to recite, and Jay was in the front row singing all the songs perfectly! It was so nice to go to church bright and early and see my sister Gina there! We have been spending more time together lately which is the highlight of my life right now. (I was sooo sick this day and super weepy)


WEBELOS
October 18, 2011
{my new calling}


At the end of September I was called to be a Webelos leader! I was soo taken back! I have no idea how to be a Boy Scout leader and I have felt sooo helpless trying to help Brandon get his badges or support him in his progression as a Boy Scout. So it was definitely a blessing! I feel like I'm getting to know the things I need to know to get Brandon where he needs to be.
I love the woman I serve with. She is my leader in Relief Society and now Scouts.. (She is the Activities committee President for Relief Society and I am on her committee.) We took some pictures at the last Den Meeting we had. She had her Father-in-Law come teach the boys how to make a rope!! SOO MUCH FUN!! The boys loved it! 
I now have to figure out how to let Bran be a boy and not mother him soo much around his friends or at the meetings..





FALL BREAK
October 20th - 24th, 2011


It was such a nice much needed break! My Grandma and Grandpa Scott and my Great Grandma Wines were able to come up from Las Vegas! It's always fun when they are here! 
Jared needed a break from school and we all enjoyed Saturday morning biscuits and gravy!! His homemade biscuits and gravy should win an award!!
My little sister, Aubrey, had her wisdom teeth pulled the Wednesday before the break so we lent her the Playstation so she could start Grey's Anatomy on Netflix. She was pretty much restricted to the couch. Tyler and Kendra came over to visit. She has the best friends!
Aubs and I went to Gina's and had some much needed sister chill time. Kendra stopped by half way through and hung out with us! Loved this day!
Saturday and Sunday we were able to have a nice family dinner. Justin & Whitney came and it was just a very pleasant time.


THE SICKIES


I have been sick since Saturday the 15th.. I've had ALL the symptoms.. Totally regret that I didn't get a flu shot!!
Gina told me that I needed to start the show The Vampire Diaries. So we decided that we would start it from the beginning. When I got sick it seemed like the perfect time to start! 
Jared was home more, Fall Break, so he also got involved. (I love that he is open to watching ALL shows!)
Unfortunately, I share.. Gina and Jared also got sick.. and Brookie.. and Jay.. and Bran...
Jared missed work and school yesterday and today.
We sit on the couch and watch Vampire Diaries ALL day with our Kleenex, medicines, food, in our jammies, covered in blankets. It is a sad scene.. :( Gave me time to update my blog though!! :)






So that is what has been going on the last few weeks.  I promise to update more frequently so next time I don't post a novel!!

Happy OCTOBER!!

I simply can not believe that it is October already! Time is flying by!

A little bit of an update..

JARED~ The busiest person I know. He is working hard at school full time, his full time job, Maintaining Fatherhood Perfection, & rockin his Church calling. I do not know how he does all that he does. He is an inspiration and such an example of charity. I love this man!! (I could talk about him forever.. So, I'll spare you)

BRANDON~ The sweetest boy I know. My sister is just a year older than Bran and they go to the same school. The other day, I looked out the window and saw Brandon carrying his backpack and my little sister's backpack. WHAT A STUD!! 

He is the best older brother that anyone could ask for. He is the best Son anyone could ever ask for.

He keeps busy with Friends, Scouts, & Family.. 

JAYDA~ Always the princess!! She is going to her second year of Pre-school at Learning Dynamics! She loves her class. She loves to come home and tell all of the stories that happened throughout the school day. (Although she saves the 'good' stories for Daddy and tells him when he gets home from work)

She is very excited to announce that she is going to be Cinderella for Halloween. One of her little girlie friends had a Birthday party where she was able to wear her costume and she was sooo excited!!

Another little Angel.. Although she has a spark at times.. Just like her Mommy!! 

BROOKLYNN~ She stays at home with me. She loves to help with Chores, Sing (especially Adele & "Moves Like Jagger"), Dress up, and scare the crap out of me climbing to the top of the jungle gym and slide down the slide. (a good 6 feet up) She is such a joy to our little family. 

Health Update: She sees a Pediatric Surgeon on the 6th of this month to check on her little liver. (When she was born she had to have an Umbilical IV. The catheter was pushed through to her liver. She contracted Staph infection in the center of her liver. She went septic and we almost lost her a couple times. But she's a fighter!! NOT a doctor there thought she was going to make it.. But she's still here!! (Climbing to the top of slides and scaring me half to death!!)

We are sooo excited for the Fall and HALLOWEEN! 

I promise to blog more! :)