When did THAT happen?

(Still playing catch-up around here.) A couple of weeks ago, Gage had Kindergarten Orientation. What?!?!? When did THAT happen? I can't believe that I have a 5 year old going to Elementary School. It blows my mind. Neal came home early so Gage and I could have a "date" together and go over to the school sans Boe. I love, love, love his school and feel like it is going to be a great experience for him. We went to the program and then while the principal talked to the parents, Gage and the other Kindergarteners got to go on a tour of the school that ended in the cafeteria with a special treat. Gage came back and was so excited. He told me all about the school but his two favorite parts of the school are the computer lab and the library. After orientation, he and I went to Roberts and bought some fun beads and craft supplies and went out for ice-cream. It was great to spend time with just Gage. He is such a sweetheart and while I think I may DIE on the first day of Kindegarten, I am happy and excited for him!

Catching up and Prayers for Austin...

Whew!!! It's been forever. I am getting bad at updating my blog. We are FINALLY getting over lots of sickness that we have been sharing between us! Luckily, it's been such nice weather that I have been spending a lot of time outside with the kiddos and working on our yard. The people we bought our house from a year and a half ago let the back yard go pretty bad and it has taken us all of last year and into this year to get it looking better. We are doing some major cement work and it's going to look awesome, IF it ever gets done! Neal has been working really hard on the inside and outside and come May 6th, we will have all of our current inside projects wrapped up!!! Then we get started on the continuing list that seems to keep on growing and never seems to get smaller! Such is the life of home ownership I suppose.

On a sad note, our little nephew Austin was recently diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy. He is seven years old and has had a rough go at it since he was little. His parents have been trying to get a firm diagnosis for him for the last little while and were finally able to pinpoint what the problem was. MD is a terminal, genetic disease passed on from mother to son. The similarities of it to the disease my little brother passed away from are eerily alike. It definitely wasn't the news we wanted to hear, but we believe in the prayers and strength of many and I would ask each of you to keep him and his family in your prayers over the next few weeks as he undergoes lots of scary tests and procedures.

I'm Rollin'...Rollin'...Rollin'...

Just got back from a doctor's appointment. Let's see...the good news? The baby is doing great, heartbeat is good, measuring at exactly 26 weeks so that's awesome. My doctor said I am "Hyper Irritable" which is supposedly normal and hence why I have been so mean and crazy lately. Let me apologize to any of you who have been on the receiving end of said irritability. I think I am safe with most of my blogger hood, Neal and my kids are probably the sole recipients of said irrationality and craziness. There is something better for severe heartburn other than TUMS so I am going to get my bum over to the pharmacy right now and pick me up some relief, and, at my next appointment, I will be TEN weeks away from delivery! Hip Hip Hooray!!! That is all of the GOOD news from today's appointment.
So, what is the bad news you ask? Well, I gained SIX pounds in 4 weeks! SIX POUNDS, FOUR WEEKS. That is a pound and a half a week my friends. When I saw the numbers on the scale, I had to take a double then a triple look and then I almost fainted. Really. Well, the good news is I have all of you fitness experts out there who can help me shed my baby weight and in just 14 short weeks, we are going to have a round, cuddly baby to hold and love. Lucky for Neal, he'll have a few extra handles and such to hold onto and love as well!

What Happens In Mexico...

This sign greeted us at the Cabo San Lucas Airport...Welcome to Me-hico...

Beautiful view of the Sunset from the beach right down from our hotel...

Beautiful Cabo San Lucas Sunset on Lover's Beach.
This little island is home to hundreds of sea lions. There were a bunch of babies-it was so awesome!
This is called the window to the Pacific because you are on the Sea of Cortez side looking into the Pacific Ocean-BEAUTIFUL!
This guy was seriously HI-LARIOUS. He was for sure high on crack but we got a kick out of him. Here he is getting ready and...
Hi-Ho-Silver-Mexican Style-he offered to take us horseback riding for $10-yeah, no thanks sir! But thank you for the entertainment.

This was the view from our room-so beautiful. I didn't think to get a picture of our room, but it was way nice-the tile work was AMAZING!
Neal and I in front of Lover's Beach. Our tour guide told us that it is called "Lover's Beach" because each year during hurricane season, the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean "come together" and merge. He did some various hand motions to make sure we understood...Si senor, we got it!

After 5 days in beautiful Cabo San Lucas and a week home to recover, I am finally getting around to posting about our trip. It was so much fun. We stayed in the Riu Sante Fe all inclusive resort and it was beautiful. I spent the majority of my time by the pool with a book and was able to read 3 books in the time we were there! Neal on the other hand is much more adventurous than me and managed to go para-sailing, golfing and snorkeling. I felt bad because I couldn't participate with him in most of his activities (well, let's be honest I COULD have but the pregnancy card is so nice to play sometimes :) Anyways, we did enjoy some great time together stuffing our faces and going on a sunset boat ride out to Lover's Beach and seeing all of the beautiful landmarks and sights of the Baja Peninsula. We also enjoyed a little shopping, Mexicana style, which is always a great form of entertainment, and although I had SO much fun and loved relaxing and being lazy, I was really excited and ready to come home and see my sweet kids. That lasted about 12 hours until they woke up Monday morning and regular life resumed and I wished I was back on the beach, but what do ya do?

Playing Catch-Up...

Wow!!! It has been a while. I feel as though I have been walking around in the clouds or something. I have never felt more overwhelmed, busy, irritable, tired, grumpy and unorganized as I have the last few weeks. But, after a great, relaxing vacation, I am back, I think ;) So, to get back into things, I first need to post about our Easter Holiday.

We at the Gatherum house recently purchased a new camper trailer. We are so excited and can't wait to put it to good use. Because of the aforementioned business that has been our lives lately, we haven't had the chance to put it to use so we had a sleepover on our R.V. pad the Friday before Easter which was fun, sort-of! On Easter Saturday we went to the Riverton City Easter Egg hunt which lasted all of 30 seconds and then that evening we dyed Easter Eggs and decorated Sugar Cookies with our good friends the Gee family.

The Easter Bunny visited us that night and left 101 Dalmatians and all of the necessary supplies for two little boys who are starting to play baseball and t-ball! The kids were really excited and that in turn made Neal and I feel better about how much money we have had to invest in this sport thus far! We then went to church and had Easter Dinner at my Dad and Kim's house.

It was a great weekend and holiday, one whose true meaning is often overshadowed by the commercial side of Easter, though I have to admit I do enjoy that aspect of the holiday as well. However, as the years progress and I acquire more wisdom and experience in my life, I am so thankful for the birth, death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Though it should hit home for each of us, I personally cling to the fact and the hope that we will be reunited with those we have lost and that all things can be made right and whole. Hope your Easter Holiday was wonderful!

Ashlee K...

I missed my little sis Ashlee's Birthday-just wanted to give a big shout-out to her and tell her I hope she had the BEST 25th Birthday EVER! Here are my 10 favorite things about Ashlee K:

1. She is creative-this is an understatement.
2. She is talented. Check her out here.
3. She is beautiful-obviously on the outside, but also on the inside.
4. She is kind. I don't think she has a mean bone in her body. That's a good way to be.
5. She is sensitive.
6. She is the only person in our family who looks like our dad.
7. She has a nose ring and even though I sometimes make fun of her, I secretly envy it!
8. She reminds me of my Grandma Fillmore.
9. She has olive skin and gets the most amazing tans.
10. She is one of 4 other women I admire most in this world.

Hope you had a great day sissy!

...And We Are Off...

Off to Cabo in the morning! Can't wait to catch up with all my bloggin' buddies when I get back!