time

I started this post last week and never got a chance to finish it. Last week we had a lot of rainy days. I love a good rainstorm. I opened the windows in the house to let the nice breeze in. The two older kids were at school and Lucy was coloring at the table so I plopped my laptop next to her and next to the open window & started thinking about TIME.

It seems like yesterday that these two little girls were actually little. They were so cute the other day doing "craft time" together. I can never really wrap my head around the fact that time is going by so fast. One year after another. Those of you who know me well, know that I am a worry wart. I worry about all sorts of things, but mainly things I have no control over. Sometimes I just wish time would slow down....I guess I should just accept the fact that it won't & just take each day as it comes and make the most of it.

Speaking of time..I can hardly believe I am in my last 4 weeks of pregnancy. This pregnancy has flown by, probably my fastest. I have really enjoyed this time. I know it sounds corny, but I feel like it is such a tender time, and such a miracle to be able to have the opportunity to carry a baby. Last week I had an ultrasound just to check the size of the baby. I have been measuring a little behind, but the baby seems to be ok, just a little small. The woman doing the ultrasound decided to take a 3D pic of the baby. Although 3D pics usually look pretty creepy, I think it helped that I was 34 weeks and the baby is pretty developed already. The baby's little face was so cute! He/she looked a lot like Rex. Lucy was with me and was asking a billion questions. She wanted to know where the baby's pants were or if the baby had a blanket on. It was really cute.

A few weeks ago, March 20th, marked 12 years since my sister Debbie passed away. That day doesn't mark the first day of Spring here obviously because the seasons are opposite, but I always think about that day and what it was like for me. 12 years is a long time but at the same time it doesn't seem that long ago. Deb had been having a hard time that morning. I remember lying in bed with her and my mom talking with her and she kept telling us that everything was going to be ok. I had to leave for school then to work. While I was at work I got a phone call from my dad telling me I needed to come home right away because Deb wasn't doing well. My parents and her husband Dave were there with her at the hospital. I guess I always thought the doctors would be able to do something to help her like they always did and that she would be ok. I stayed at home with my nieces and nephew waiting and waiting to hear something. I called the hospital an hour later and the nurse told me that she had passed away. I have never had a moment in my life quite like that. It is hard to put into words what it felt like. I couldn't even speak and I felt like I couldn't breath. I got off the phone and called my sister Jo who was living back East and told her and we both sobbed. My heart broken parents and brother in-law soon came home. Although that day was one of the hardest days I have experienced, it was also one of the most powerful experiences of my life. It is always going to be hard and I won't ever forget those feelings. Lessons were learned and experiences took place that have made me understand and realize different things in my life. I know she has been involved in my life and probably got to know each of my kids before they were born. You know what though, she was right...everything is going to be ok.

Lyle Lovett

Last night was full of firsts for me. We had tickets to a concert in the city last night so I drove into Sydney and met Jared at his office. He also had a work dinner to go to and since I was meeting him, I got to tag along (dang it) ;). So for my first first...I had my very first ride in a TAXI. Yep, it is true. I have never had a ride in a taxi car. We rode from North Sydney over the Harbour Bridge to Circular Quay...total of 6 minutes. When we got out, Jared asked me.."So, what did you think...how was it?" It felt like riding in a car with a lot more buttons and gadgets. haha, but now I can say I have been in a taxi. woohoo! :)

The fancy pants restaurant that we went to with his work was called Doyle's and it was right on the ocean over looking the Opera house and Harbour Bridge. Although we have lived here for over a year, the sight of those two landmarks still takes my breath away. So the pic above is taken at the restaurant. It was pretty spectacular. So some more firsts, I hadn't eaten at a fancy restaurant in circular quay and I also tried a snapper fish dish (I think that is what it was called). It was SO good!! Jared & i determined that I am a seafood lover, just not that kind of seafood that you have to pick apart with your hands. I like fish, not prawns and lobster types of seafood. Jared loves it all!

Since we had parked our car at the office, we took a nice stroll through circular quay to the train station to catch a quick ride to town hall for the concert. We stopped and got a double scooper on the way....and like a true pregnant lady I dripped it all over my belly. It was actually really funny & classic!

We turbo walked to the concert hall (I made Jared snail pace it a few times because my stomach started contracting and I wasn't up for having this baby delivered by Dr. Jared Finch with a pocket knife...hahaha) So a friend from Jared's work had tickets to see Lyle Lovett but last minute he was unable to go so he gave the tickets to Jared. I will admit I wasn't familiar with most of his music, but I did know he sang the "You've got a Friend in Me" song from Toy Story & awhile back he was married to Julia Roberts...ok..I didn't really know all that...Jared told me ;).

It was held in a beautiful concert hall. I took this pic and then got busted 5 seconds later...apparently there is no photography...oops!

It was a good concert. He did a few blue grass numbers which I love. We had a great seats and I only had to march up the stairs to use the ladies room twice during it. Apparently this little baby loves music because it was doing a jig on my bladder. One more month until we get to hold him/her. Very exciting!! To wrap it up, we had a great time together..hopped back on the train, fetched our car and drove home again home again jiggity jig, walked in and kissed all of our babies in their beds. :)

I almost wet my pants!

We have a great church ward here. We have heaps of fun activities and get togethers. Last Friday night was the ward "So you think you got talent" night. It was a lot of fun and full of all sorts of talent & goodies. A group of us ladies put on a jazzy number, lip sinking to a plethora of songs. We had Susan Boyle, Brittany Spears, Spice Girls, Cindy Lauper, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner and Abba.

This is Helen as Tina Turner.....SHE WAS HILARIOUS!!!!!

Abba...workin' it in our awesome outfits we found at the local Salvation Army. I had to find a good stretchy # to cover my 8 month pregnant bump.

Half of the ladies.

Amanda & I were quite the duo...so we were told! hahaha!! Our dance moves were pretty dang awesome!! ;)

You can't see very well, but there were actually 6 boys up there dancing, all from the same fam. The Fuaitimau fam has 7 boys and one baby girl who was born a few months ago.

The Young Women did a great dancing number..

Lucy loves Julia & Brogan!

Jared busted out his female high Ariel voice and sang a Book of Mormon song he and a companion made up on his mission to the Little Mermaid song.

And here is where the title of my post comes into play. I almost wet my pants watching the Bishopric perform a hysterical piece. You can't see it, but the ship says TITANIC on the side. While Bishop was sailing, the Titanic music was playing.

Then came the synchronized swimming! Everyone was cracking up. Bishop & Bro. Ili had shower caps on and Jared had a swim cap. They looked so funny!

Yep, everyone is still roaring with laughter in the audience..

And to finish it off, they all busted out their best dance moves for our entertainment.

Work it Jared!!

It was a great night...it still makes me laugh thinking about it! :)

Perfect Fall day at Clontarf Beach

We had a beautiful, hot, autumn day here in Sydney so we met up with some friends at the beach. This beach was probably one of my favorites. It is located in Manly and it is on the harbour. There is a great park right on the beach with all sorts of cool equipment and fun things for the kids.
It also has a gated off area for kids to play in. I quickly realized that it wasn't so much to keep the kids in as it was to keep other things out. Don & Jared decided to give me a mini heart attack and swim out to a few of the boats(they touched the butt...hahaha..finding nemo) out in the harbour. You better believe I had my eagle eye on them just in case they went under...I know, I know, I need to relax about the sharks...I just can't help it. Oh well, the men had a fun time & they came back to shore in one piece. :)
It felt nice to get back to the beach. Life has been so busy lately that we feel like we haven't been to the beach for ages.
Lucy always gets right to business with the digging and playing. :)
The kids found some itty bitty sea stars and jellies. We actually touched one of the jellies we caught and guess what...it felt like jelly. ;) I know, hard to believe!
Jared & Rexbo jumped off the side of the fenced area into the water. I was pretty proud of Rex because the fence was pretty high and the water was pretty deep.
I missed them jumping off but caught Rex's head bobbing to the surface. He loved it.
This beach also has lots of BBQs around so we grilled up some hot dogs. The American skinless kind. If you have been here, you know what I mean. They must be skinless...haha.
This is the Bennion family. They lived in Denmark for 2.5 years then moved here and have been here for almost 8 months. They move back to the US in May. We actually have mutual friends back home in Utah. Small world. It was fun to get together with them.

We really love how beautiful the weather is here. It is pretty gorgeous most of the time.

green

So I learned this year that the Aussies don't get into St. Patrick's Day like we do in the US. The kids had their green pancakes & milk before heading off to school & we all had our green on. (the kids had a "mufti day" as they call it here where they don't have to wear their uniform that day.) Jared said he was the only one at work with a green tie. Liv's class put on a little play that morning & we stayed to watch. My little fam was the only one decked out in green shirts, ribbons and clips. haha, oh well, I enjoy celebrating the holidays. I could have gone on a major pinching spree... :)

one year older...& hopefully wiser too..

This past weekend I celebrated #31. I am always amazed how fast another year sneaks up on me. 31...really?! I still feel like it was yesterday that I was 21. I guess time just keeps marching on.... I had a great weekend. Since my bday fell on a Sunday this year, Jared took me out on Saturday night. Have I mentioned lately how much I love going out with Jared?! I do!! We went to a new Mexican joint that just opened up. We are always on the hunt for good Mexican food...it is pretty rare here in OZ.

We thought about going to a movie but we ended up just spending a good chunk of time eating, laughing and talking. My shredded pork burrito was pretty tasty, no Cafe Rio, but still scrumptious. We rented a movie and got some dessert to go.

And this is for all of you who have been requesting some more baby bump pics.....here you have it...my bump at approximately 30 weeks & 5 days or in other words or simpler terms...7 months. 8 more weeks baby!! :)

On Sunday Jared had meetings in the morning so he and the kids made an awesome dinner and cake. Here are the kidlets making the delicious and delectable chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting...ummm...yum!!

Of course I was spoiled with love and gifts...oh, and I can't forget the 2 naps i was able to take. Some of my absolute favs are the letters, songs, poems and cards the kids made. Alivia wrote and performed a song she wrote for me....yeah, my heart was a meltin'. Rex knows I love BYU sports so he made me a BYU card...tender. Lucy made her own creations which made me want to cuddle her to death.

nice job on the cake guys!

ok, so this was beyond tender...Jared took the kids to this store here called The Reject Shop. I love it. It is just a cheap store and you can find tons of things. He let them loose to find little gifts for me. I loved seeing what they came up with. I hit the jackpot...it was so cute! They were so excited to give me my presents, they were by my bed at 7am ready to burst. Part of Rex's gift was a candy necklace that went all the way down to my belly. He really wanted me to wear it to church but I convinced him that it was too special and that all the Primary kids might want to eat it. :) Gifts & time with the fam...doesn't get much better.

Canada vs. USA

We loved watching the Olympics. We cheered when the Americans did well and we also got excited and cheered when the Aussies did well.

Since our good friends here are from Canada we decided to cheer for the Canadians too...alright, not just because they are our friends...we really do like Canada too. Everyone we have met from Canada has been great! But I gotta say...when it comes to Canada playing the US in sports...umm yeah we will most definitely be rooting for the US. So we got together with our Canadian friends to watch the hockey game. Our kids were sporting their USA face paint and the Canadians were sporting their Canada sweatshirts.

We had fun cheering and watching intently as the score became tied and eventually went into overtime...

And we all know the results..................Canada for the gold!!! We were very excited for them...what a way to end the Olympics for Canada.

We learned that our families can still dwell in love and peace...and be friends! :)

Lucy saying...Go USA!!!