three months and counting...

But who's counting, right? I've been over run by guilt at how much I have missed out on posting about, mostly because my pregnant brain can't seem to remember what happened 3 minutes ago, let alone three months ago. And I have taken so few pictures lately, due in large part to my absent mindedness because I always forget to grab the camera when we go out. So, again this will be a major wrap up of what I can remember since the new year began and we'll press on from there...

January: Anson started pool therapy again which everyone loves because everyone likes to go swimming. Except Bo. Well, he likes it for about 15 minutes and then he's done. So strange to me because the other two are not satisfied unless they have been in for at least an hour and are turning wrinkly. Both Eden and Bo got goggles or "gobbles" as Eden likes to call them for Christmas which definately helps with the chlorine in the eyes issues. I really hope to get her into some swim lessons this summer! Barrett began another class to further himself along in his master's program so he's out of commision on Tuesday nights now-blah, but oh well. We had a really good time at a baby shower for "aunt katie" which took place at the Angie Munson home. Great food and great family! Yeah for Katie and new baby to come. Here is the one picture I have from the shower. Yikes, I'm as big as Katie and Michelle who both had less than a month at that point and I still had 3. Stacie just looks cute...
There was also a fun shower for Michelle the following weekend at her parents home which was pretty funny and fun! unfortunately, no pics. Eden attended both parties with me and had a good time, but was worn out after both. It's fun to be able to take her to things like this-sometimes she can be such an emotional girly-girl! I'm sure we did some other really fun stuff, but no pictures = few memories for me. Oh wait, we did go snow shoeing with Travis and Stacie on MLK day up near Idaho City. It was nice to get out of the inversion and into some clean air for a few hours. The kids had fun sledding and eating a picnic lunch, though of course there was some drama...one of the biggest fits I've ever witnessed by our very own Bo Bishop, and then he fell asleep immediately as I was holding him, trying desperately to console him. I was beginning to wonder if he had an ear infection or something, but I'm convinced he was overly exhausted. Luckily we laid him on a sled and were able to enjoy the rest of our lunch. Too bad I even had my camera on this outing, but only got it out once or twice. Thanks anyway to Travis and Stacie for puting up with us! Anson enjoying the sled, Eden eating the snow, Bo (possibly in the beginning stages of his fit) and finally plum worn out...




I now remember why there isn't much to post about for this month. I got sick, really sick for me...and it lasted almost 3 weeks. Yuck-I'm glad that is over with. I must've really tried hard to put that out of my brain. Oh, and one more positive thing to note was a visit over to see the newest Bishop cousin, Mallory Jane Bishop, daughter of Brett and Lori. She was actually born at the end of December, but it was the beginning of January before we got out to see her. Beautiful girl. No picture. Okay, I just remembered one more great thing that happened. Anson recieved an award at the school award ceremony for Superb Mathematical Intelligence! Let it be known he did not get the good math genes from me. Surprise. Way to go, sunshine!




February: Again, not a lot written on the calendar, but I know we stayed busy doing something... Baby Sage Solosabal was born during the Superbowl. She sure is cute and it was nice to visit with Gma andGpa Munson! At the beginning of the month I put together invites for a couples valentines party. There really aren't that many younger couples in the ward, but since I'm in primary I don't feel like I know them as well as I'd like. I keep saying we're gonna have a get together, but it never happens. Well, this month I vowed to make it happen and we had a great time! twelve couples invited, eight attended. not too bad. We did a progressive dinner. Two appetizer houses with breadsticks and veggie trays, two dinner houses with pizza and salad and one dessert house with a couple of fondue fountains and lots of chocolate dipped stuff...delicious! I tried to mix and match the couples so that they were with different people at different parts of the dinner, then everyone together for dessert. I like to think that all who attended had a good time, I know I did. Thanks to couples who offered their homes and to friends who helped create this date! Too bad there are no pictures, we'll have to do it again soon...
The weather has been crazy here, 50 degrees one day, snow all over the next. The kids have really enjoyed being outside on the days when it's nice to go for a walk, and in Eden's case, pick the neighbors crocuses-aaggghhh! What am I going to do with that girl? The third week of the month baby Arli Botkin was born. She, too, is adorable and reminds me lots of her brother. My kids, especially Eden and Bo, seem to really be liking these new little babes-hope this doesn't wear off before ours is born...The following weekend I had planned (weeks in advance) for one last family hurrah before things get crazy in March but at the last minute Barrett had a huge military brigade war fighter thing come up (seemingly from out of no where)and he was not able to join us in our little getaway to McCall. I couldn't even give this trip away (it was two days notice). I guess everyone has real jobs or planned out lives or something to that effect, crazy. I finally persuaded my dad to drive up with me and just stay overnight, then Travis and Stacie got the place Saturday night. The kids really had a great time with Gpa Botkin and it was much easier and more enjoyable than doing it by myself. We watched movies, went swimming, even went to the local library, cute little thing-all activities that we can do here in Boise, just different. And that's what we needed was something different. I even packed all our snow gear so we could enjoy all the bounteous snow up there, but somehow managed to forget the sleds. And the camera. Go figure. All I know is that we missed Barrett lots, but had a good time with grandpa, away from the everyday routine, even if it was for just one night/day... Barrett was basically non existant in our lives for the last 8 days of the month, running back and forth between all three jobs getting very minimal sleep, like two hours every night. I sort of joked at the beginning of the week that when it was all said and done he would either be sick or his mouth would be covered in cold sores. Not funny, but true on both accounts, especially the cold sores. Wow! The last weekend of Feb/first weekend of March was the time for both Sage and Arli to be blessed so there was lots of family in town. Saturday I enjoyed a little girls getaway to lunch at Chili's and a little shopping at the mall with the Munson aunts, cousins and Gma. Thanks to Gpa Wood for watching the kiddos. Lots of fun, especially because I found a great new dress for Eden for her birthday the following Monday. That night we went out to Mark and Janelle's and devoured pizza and desserts-delicious!! One of these days Gma Wood came and got Eden and took her to pick out her own bunch of flowers (she picked purple tulips) and they went and had lunch with Gpa Wood! She loved it!!! And that about sums up February...

March: Comes in like a lion, right? We kicked off the month with the baby blessings on Sunday. Unfortunately we didn't make it out to Sage's, but I heard it was beautiful. Congratulations again to Katie and Jim! Tucker did a very nice job blessing Arli. It's always fun to go and visit that ward which is full of dear friends we made when we lived with Mom and Mike. Then Eden's 4th birthday on Monday the 2nd. Our sweet friend, Carol, who went with us on our trip to Disneyland called to see if she could come and get Eden for lunch which worked out wonderfully as I had some last minute things to pick up for her b-day. Carol has a grandson down in Arizona who shares the same exact birthday, turning the same age and everything. Not only did they get lunch, they went to the zoo (she has a pass and said it was free) and then went to to dollar store and got some fun sticker earings and some bracelets. She said she would've done the same thing with her grandson if he were here. Lucky Eden. Bo and I hit Zurcher's and Toys R Us, came home and decorated and started the princess/barbie cake. That evening we had most of the local family over for dessert and Eden opened some wonderful, fantastic gifts! Thank you to everybody for coming to celebrate our sweet Eden! I'm pretty sure she had her best birthday to date! I managed to get a couple of pictures and know that Gpa Wood got some good ones I just can't get them onto our computer right now for some reason.





At my previous Dr appt I was informed that our baby is breech and might need to be manually turned if it doesn't turn itself-ugh! This gets me a little worked up because a) it just doesn't sound fun, the whole external turning process, not to mention it could induce labor/c-section, etc... b) Barrett will be gone the 13th through the 21 for a mini AT-annual training = not around our home at all. c) Bo's b-day the 22nd and d) our anniversary the 23rd. All I'm trying to say is that I am not ready to have a baby, yet. Due April 5th, love to have it then...we'll see, I guess. Since Eden's birthday Eden, Bo and I had a lovely lunch at Lori Bishop's with Becky Ann and Calli and their kids. Barrett was able to squeeze in a trip up to Bogus to ski/snowboard with his scouts. I attended our ward enrichment relief society b-day celebration which was lots of fun! Barrett and I went to a birthday party for a couple from our old ward who both turned 30 and threw their own party with pizza, human foosball, a pinata, and yummy ice cream dessert. This all took place at the church and was loads of fun. I didn't participate in the game, but took pictures and video and laughed hysterically! It was a super fun group, people that we don't see often enough. And no kids, thank you gma and gpa botkin for babysitting. Monday the 9th Travis and Stacie, Tuck and Michelle and Barrett and I were able to use our gift certificates to the flatbread pizza place and go glow-in-the-dark minature golfing. This was tons of fun, mainly because I beat Tucker!?Ha! I think I can safely say it was a fun date for all of us, besides Stacie's minor ankle twisting episode-poor girl. Thank you to Mom and Mike for this very fun christmas present and for babysitting! Oh yes, Travis and Stacie found out they're having a girl, due end of July. If we don't have a girl our little boy is gonna be way outnumbered in the immediate and extended family on both sides...And I did go to the Dr again and the baby did indeed turn on it's own (big sigh of relief from me), but there is apparently lots of amniotic fluid in my belly (I just knew it couldn't possibly all be girl scout cookies)so the baby can keep turning around and around since it's still so high. I'm down to weekly appointments so we will just keep checking on it...And I do believe that brings us up to current...Thank you to Elder and Sister Bishop for the reminders to update. But I just have to say that I'm rather excited for you two to get home this summer and be a part of all of this craziness!

Countdown to Christmas...part 2

Christmas Eve we went out to Barrett's brother Brett's house for lite finger foods and traditional Nativity. Slightly exagerating about the "lite" finger foods-we had so much good stuff, we hardly put a dent in any of it, except the chocolate fondue. There was a little bit of everything and it was delectable! Of course, I could not tear myself away from my plate to get a picture, but it was beautiful! Then we had a short piano concert from Joslyn and Sabrina and then the Nativity. This is just about half of the Bishop family grandkids...Here is one of the very handsome shepherd's (this costume lasted all of about 49 seconds and then he was done!)

Another handsome shepherd (Andrew), baby Jesus-played by a baby doll, Sabrina portrayed the part of Mary, Eden was a very beautiful Angel, and James was a donkey!


Erin was the Shining Star!

here's a couple more; Joslyn was a wise "woman"! and Anson as another handsome shepherd.

And here is a picture of parts of everyone but Blake, who was a very cute drummer boy, plus Becky Ann and Boyd herding the mass. Thanks guys! One big happy Nativity if I ever saw one...

We also had an opportunity to call G&G Bishop, or should I say Elder and Sister Bishop, in Kenya to wish them a Merry Christmas. Just about everyone got a chance to say hello and good wishes, though the call got cut off a few times. We can't wait till next year when they will be home to partake of this crazy, beautiful madness we call Christmas Eve!

Two days before Christmas we were over at Gma Woods house watching the BSU bowl game, which we won't be discussing, and Barrett went in to check on the kids who were watching a movie and Anson just handed him his tooth. No blood, no crying or complaining, nothing. We had discovered that it was quite loose several days before when he was eating some popcorn and he wiggled it a lot that day, but I had not noticed or heard him mention it since. Then, tadaaa, here it is. He was not keen on having the camera up close and personal to his mouth, obviously, so you can just kinda see a shadow where the tooth used to be-bottom, middle, left, whichever one that is. Gpa Wood may have gotten a better picture, not sure. Needless to say he mentioned the Tooth Fairy and everything so G&G put a dollar in change under his pillow that night and he was very content! My little sunshine, all growing up!


Just like most children, Bo enjoys trying to trudge around in mom's (or dad's) boots. They are so huge on him, it's just hilarious watching him. I'm afraid that he'd already fallen down a time or two by the time I tried to snap this picture so he wasn't very pleased to pose...


This was our families first snowman of the season, courtesy of Barrett and Anson who had moved on to other things by the time I got outside, so Eden posed for me. When I asked her what we should name it, of course she said frosty, every snowman real, stuffed, on paper, ornament, etc..is called frosty. End of story. And just so you know we did build our own right next to this little cutie, just didn't get any pics.

Eden chowing down on an icicle from somewhere. Underneath the tire swing, I think. Yum!


Unfortunately this is about the only still picture I have of Anson waiting with his SLC class for their school program to start. I'm just pretending like he's scrating his face, but more than likely he is picking his nose. Think what you will..Anyway, his class has a boy who sits up on stage and each member of their class takes some piece of clothing up to him to dress him up as Santa, while the members of the choir sing "Must be Santa". Anson got to give him a beard that's white-he did a great job!Then they load Santa into a wagon and the other kids put on reigndeer headbands and pull him away. Anson also took the opportunity as he was walking past one of the mics on stage to sing, "Ho,Ho,Ho", not scripted, but kind of cute in a little bit of an embarassing sort of way...Of course, this is all on video on the camera, I just don't know how to post it. So you get the one still shot and can just imagine the rest in your head-it's cute, I promise!

This is the morning that we started decorating the tree, and I use the word started because the kids have never really finished, and it's really nearly a week after Christmas. They are constantly rearranging ornaments and decorations-next year, they will have their own tree...It really was a good time though, that first morning. It started snowing for the first time in December and the kids had a blast!Unfortunately Anson's bus came to pick him up just as we were getting started. But like I said, the decorating never ceased, so he's had a chance or two.

Countdown to Christmas...part 1

So we made the trek up to our secret place past Idaho City to locate our lucky christmas tree. We met up with uncle Travis and aunt Stacie and had a real memorable experience searching for our tree, thanks mostly to Eden and her toileting techniques. Anyway, we didn't give ourselves a whole lot of time so we had to look fast and furious...luckily "our spot" did not disapoint and Travis and Barrett picked out a couple of real winners. Big, beautiful trees for $10-how can you pass that up...unfortunately I didn't get a pic of the trees before they got loaded up, just some of the kids, searching and/or eating snow! Good times...Eden and Bo both got in a good nap on the way up, but Anson stayed awake and sang lots of christmas songs with Barrett and I.





Our friends, Blake and Emmalee Anderson came to play one day so we whipped up some cookies and frosting. There was lots of eating and a little decorating-what a great tradition!





A little brother/sister love...


Aunt Bethany, Eden and James riding the zip line in neighbor Travis' backyard!

Thanksgiving Day

We had such a fantastic day with two of Barrett's sisters and their families! Becky Ann, Boyd, James and Andrew hosted and Bethany, Matthew, Evan and Dallin came over from Portland. And they brought Rock Band, which always makes for a great time with the Bishop families!!! The food was delish, and the company was fantastic! What a blessing this family is! Thanks to aunt Bethany for letting me borrow all her pictures, even though I somehow managed to lessen their quality. Not quite sure how, but I did. Hopefully, you'll still get the idea...

What we're thankful for...

Thankful, but COMPLETELY SHOCKED!

Due Date: April 5, 2009 (or approx a week later because that's just how our babies are)!