Well....

Baby just wouldn't cooperate! As you can see, all we saw was a big X. No peeks today! We did find out that the baby is growing fine, just the right size, healthy, and right on schedule. Brent thinks it a shy little girl, and I'm still holding out for a boy. Dr. Tsang...says there is a 50% chance it is a girl or a boy. Thanks doc.

Nine years and counting...

Well, we made it to big number 9. Brent says it feels like F-O-R-E-V-E-R. Ha Ha! Here is a little recap of our nine + years together. We have been married 9 years, but together for almost 14. We knew from a young age that we were definitely meant to be together!

Engaged in Dec 1999
(Isn't he sooo cute! I still miss the hair sometimes...)

Happy New Millennium!

On our honeymoon May 2000

First Camping Trip!

Tahoe October 2000

Free trip to ProBowl! February 2002

Christmas 2004, our growing family.

Williamsburg, Virginia October 2006

Easter 2008

As you can see, since we have had children we don't take a lot of photos of just us. We'll start though. We are both grateful to have each other and our growing family. Our life isn't perfection, but it is pretty close.

Field Trip!

My special girl Faith doesn't get to get out much. She can't go on the school field trips, or attend many school functions. In order to get her out a little more, I arranged to take the her and the kids to the Exploratorium in San Francisco. This place is every kids dream because nothing is off limits. You can go and play with all of the different experiments and learn about cool science stuff. I'm so glad Brent went with me to explain all of the really cool science stuff (and chase Ben around!). The kids all had a blast and were really well behaved. Next year we hope to do more field trips with Faith!

Faith and Kids inside Exploritorium

DeeDee (Grandma), Linda (Mom), and Faith

Feeding the ducks

Some weird room

Brent checking out how different colored lights can change his mood....

Memorial Day 2009

This year Brent and his dad took the kids to the Delta and looked for Crawdads. They found some, but they also caught a fish! Brent was able to get some fishing wire, hook, and worm from a bait shop and caught this little thing. Of course he felt like the great white hunter himself! The kids loved it and hope that it will survive Tortia the turtle who lives in Grandpa's pond.

Cuties

Baby Claire

Saturday we went up to Sacramento for Uncle Craig's graduation party. He was getting his bachelor's of science degree from Sacramento State. We didn't think we could make it through the whole ceremony, but we ran up to attend the party. It was at Rachel's mom and dad's house. We had a nice lunch and got to visit for a few hours. But the star of the show was of course Baby Claire! Claire was born the Wednesday before, so was only a few days old. None of us had been able to see her yet, so she was passed around from adult to adult.

We even let the girls have a chance, with some help.

Fire Department

Hannah's preschool went on a field trip to the fire station and Ben and I went along. The kids loved it! Hannah got to see many of her friends that are in the morning class from our new and old wards. I was so glad that she had a good time. I can't believe that she will be off to kindergarten already next year. Ben will be starting preschool, I just hope the teachers are ready for him!

Surprise!

This week my uncle Ron was down working in Stockton. He brought his big truck and took the kids all for a ride. My pictures stink because I wasn't too ready, but the kids had fun. They each got to go and he gave them candy after.

Here is Ben trying to pass the time while Danielle is having a turn.

Danielle coming down from the "big truck."

Hannah and Uncle Ron.

Ben getting strapped in! Have fun buddy!

Growing up

Our Hannah is growing up and graduating from preschool. I remember my preschool graduation if you can believe it. There was a little ceremony and everything. We thought these of Hannah were too cute. We didn't purchase them all, but we did get a few. I was able to help out on picture day, so was given some for free. (It was totally worth the 1 hour of service!) We love you Hannah! You will make an excellent kindergartner!

Blessing or Curse

Today we found out that I have for sure lost my job share position at Tracy Unified. I have talked to many friends and family about the positives and negatives to keeping my job, so today is bitter sweet.

• Yes I have lost my job, but I was only getting insurance from them which will cover me until Sept 30th. Since the baby is coming at the end of September, our insurance will cover the C-section and stay. Yay!
• I also won't have to be on my feet the last few months at all.
• I still have my job at Jefferson Unified teaching Faith, which will still bring in the money that I was making this year. Although some months I don't get paid, money is still money and the flexibility of this job makes it worth it.
• I won't have to ask grandma's to babysit anymore. They can watch the kids if they want to of course, but if they want to go on vacation or just have something come up they can do it without worrying about me and the kids. I've been blessed to have help, but it will be nice to just have grandma's be grandma's again.
• Teaching all day makes me tired and cranky (hence why I don't work full time anymore), so working just two half days will be great.
• I can do all drop offs and pickups for the kids and school, allowing Brent to just worry about the store.
• Because of our currant living situation, we will be ok financially. It will take longer to pay things down and get into a house, but it is still possible.
• I can hang out with my friends during the day more!

So there are plenty of positives for losing my job. I'm going to focus on those and worry about everything else later. I'm excited to enjoy the summer with my kids. I'm excited that Danielle got into Primary Charter school and that Hannah will start kindergarten. I'm excited for the baby that will come (not soon enough!). I'm hopeful that Brent will work miracles at the store, that it will do well, and that hopefully it will help us purchase a home in the nearer future. They say that being positive is half the battle and I hope to keep hoping for the best as a new chapter in our life begins.

Softball 2009

This year I was Dani's softball coach. We were the Beetle Bugs and I think I had some of the cutest girls ever! Danielle had a really good time and improved a lot. I did an good job considering the pregnancy and problems that I've been having. They weren't turning double plays, but we did get 7 outs our last game in two innings (you have to remember, everyone gets to bat). We had a great time and I'm just glad that 14 of my 15 girls want to come back next year.