Cruise Extravaganza: Part 3

Day 4: Roatan, Honduras

This was our favorite day of our cruise. We got off the ship first thing in the morning with Mike and Cassie and headed over to Sante Wellness Centre. It is a spa owned by a couple from San Francisco. It is also their personal home and it is located on a tiny island just off the coast of Roatan. The grounds are gorgeous, as is the home itself. Once we arrived we had the owner take us out to the reef that is just offshore and we snorkeled our way back to the beach. The reef was absolutely beautiful and we loved seeing its pristine condition. We then relaxed in their hottub and enjoyed the beautiful beach until it was time for our massages. Matt and I both received massages and we loved them. After our treatments, we came outside to see that the rain had poured down during our massages. No worries though because the home had a beautiful covered deck. We were then served fresh grilled shrimp, rice and salad.


Such a beautiful and relaxing day.

Day 5: Cozumel, Mexico

We tried out a National park called Chankanaab while we were in Cozumel. Our friends were able to swim with the dolphins there, but I couldn't participate due to my pregnant state. Oh well.

It is funny to look back on this picture because I thought I looked huge at the time and now I am so. much. bigger.

Day 6: At Sea

It was really windy the whole day and so our plan to lounge in the sun on deck was a bust. Brian cracked me up with his comment that he "didn't know we were on a cruise to Alaska."

Enjoying the minute of sunshine.

All dressed up for our fancy dinner at the Crown Grille. So delicious and definitely worth the cover charge.

Day 7: Princess Cays, Bahamas

This day was the perfect end to our relaxing cruise. The sun was out, there was a free BBQ on the beach provided by Princess, and the water was refreshing. Don't know how, but I don't have any pictures of Matt and I on this day. So, here's one with me and Anna instead. Love her.

Have I mentioned that I love cruising???

He Lives

I know through personal revelation that He does.

He loves me too.

This video only takes two minutes. I hope you enjoy it.

He Lives

Happy Easter Everyone!

All the Nursery Needs is the Baby

The crib is up in the nursery and Philip has been moved into Anne's old room. I love setting up cribs in preparation for a new baby. It makes it all seem so real to me. Also, it doesn't hurt when you LOVE your new bedding and painted striped room. :)









Soon these frames will be filled with new baby fingers and toes. I can't wait to meet our little (or big) guy.

We think we'll name him Bruiser

I had an ultrasound last week to check the size of our baby boy. Turns out I am not imagining things...this kid is huge. Well, at least his head is huge. He is currently measuring off of the charts for his gestational age. At 34 weeks, his head measured 35.84cm. My boys heads were only 35.5cm at birth...full term. If he continues on this growth pattern then his head will be around 39cm at birth.

Oh boy!!! What ever am I going to do???

My regular doctor has been out of town the past few weeks, but I will be able to see her next week at my appointment. Until then, the doctors have informed me that I will need to consider "other methods of delivery". This may make me selfish, but I do not want a C-Section for my very last baby, nor do I want to be torn apart down yonder.

Please pray for an early delivery.

Said head.
He was sucking on his arm (top left of the picture) during the ultrasound...soooo cute!

After Five and a Half Years

Matt and I designed and built our own home. This was a process that I loved and sometimes hated, but I learned a lot. One of the things I learned is that EVERYTHING costs more than you plan. By the time Matt and I were putting the finishing touches on our home we were plain ol' out of money.

No money, no funny.

So, we chose to live without the built-ins in the family room and knew that we could always add them at a later date. We never assumed that the later date would come soooo much later...five and a half years to be precise. But really, when do you ever want to lay down extra cash for built-ins when their are vacations to plan? :)

That being said, we received our tax refund this year and designated it to go to these beauties. I think that I appreciate them even more after all of our waiting. What do you think?

Changes the look of the whole room, huh?





Please ignore the finger prints on the fireplace. They are not the point of the picture, but they do come with the house. ;)

8 months and growing

At my last OB appointment, I was still measuring three weeks ahead of schedule and so I have my ultrasound tomorrow to see just how big this baby really is. Everyone keeps telling me that my belly looks so small, but the reality is, I have a freakishly long torso and so this little one has a lot of space inside my abdomen without pushing too far out.

Translation...he is up in my throat and down to my knees at the same time. :)

I will let you know what we learn.

13 Years Ago

I promised God that I would do my best to love him forever...

and I am so glad that I did.

Happy Anniversary!!!

Today, I do not want to be a mother...

I slept horribly last night.

In my house, an overly tired mommy equals a crazy mommy.

Unfortunately, when I tried to take a nap, all I heard from my older boys was fighting, and boy oh boy did I ever storm out of my room in an angry fit. I yelled (very loudly) at both of them and sent them to the garage for a time-out. I think perhaps that I was the one who needed a time-out. Anyway, Anne came to find me about 10 minutes later and she had written me a note on her small whiteboard.

It said, "I love you mommy. I know that you are having a bad day and that sometimes you just get angry. Love, Anne"

Oh man!!! How can I be their mother? They are so impressionable and so willing to please me (most of the time) and today I just want to be left alone. I don't want to be in charge of nurturing and disciplining and teaching their sweet minds. And I really don't want to be pregnant. Sorry baby boy, but today I am done with the aches, and the awkwardness, and the fat that has accumulated all over my body.

Tomorrow is a new day and I am sure I will feel much better about my willingness to mother, but for today? I just don't want to do it.

For Those of You Who are Overwhelmed by Coupons

***UPDATE***
I found another link for an additional Huggies Coupon. You can print this one twice as well and you don't have to scroll through any coupons to find it. So go save yourself some money!

I have a really easy one that you can do.

I promise.

Huggies Diapers currently has a coupon for $3.00 off a single package of any huggies diapers.

Even if you don't match it up with any type of sale, this is still a FABULOUS coupon. So, go here to print it. Go right now because it will go fast.

Also, you can print it twice. The first time you will have to find it amidst the other coupons...it was on page three for me. Then, after you have printed it, click your back button two or three times to get you back to the coupon page. The coupon will have then moved to the very last page. Click on it and print it again.

You can do this...I promise. So, what are you waiting for? Go save some money on diapers...my favorite kind of diapers, BTW. :)

Yesterday

I bought 36 boxes of Post Cereal, mostly Honey Bunches of Oats, and the manufacturer PAID ME 36 cents to do it! This even included the taxes.

Do I hear a woot woot???

How did I do this you ask?

Rather then give you the breakdown, I will just send you to one of my favorite couponing sites. Even if you don't have any coupons, you can still get yourself some cereal for 79 cents a box. Go here to see how.

Free groceries make me happy. :)