Cruisin'

Its been awhile....a LONG while since Adam and I took a REAL trip by ourselves. Yes, we had overnight type get aways sprinkled over the last 4 years but that was it. When we went to Chicago I swore to vacation with my hubby more often but such has not been the case. Having and taking care of babies keeps one verrrry busy and I hate to leave my kids before they are two. SO, Megan turned two and we were outty!

(I was also 20 weeks prego and therefore needed to squeeze a trip in 

before this little girl rocked our world!)

We got up at about 3:30 in the morning to get ready to catch our 6:30 flight to Long Beach airport. Too, too early but at least our flight was cheaper...

This was mine and Adam's first cruise and we were super excited. I was really anxious about leaving our kids and embarking on this new adventure but when I saw new home away from home docked at Long Beach harbor, I was very excited. This trip was about 8 month in the making. We were invited by Jason and Kim Bailey and we are so glad they did. I don't think we would have done it on our own. We'd joked with some other friends that for 10 year anniversaries we would go on a cruise but never really got anything planned. This was perfect since yes, we are celebrating on 10th THIS year.

Pulling away from the dock to start our 7 day/night trip to Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

We only had 3 days on land (2 ports) during our cruise so we and our friends did our best to get involved in the ship activities during our "fun days at sea". Adam really got into it by wearing blue eye shadow for a picture scavenger hunt. Unfortunately, it was all for not. We still (unfairly) lost the game. :(

Adam also auditioned for a part in a show on the ship. We were up until midnight. This was late for this 20 week prego mama! In fact, I'm not sure why I look so perky in the pic above.

Some of our friends and Adam participated in a game show. Mike and Megan won a coveted golden "ship on a stick" but alas, Adam lost. 

Karaoke was popular especially with my attention loving man. Here he is singing and grooving to Elvis's Jail House Rock getting the attention he craves from a very appreciative crowd. He got stopped on the ship a few times by people who recognized him from karaoke.

Us girls sang Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. As you can see from our stiff posture, we are having SO much fun....

Day one in Cabo

We mostly just hung out on the beach and enjoyed the scenery. The guys rented wave runners but I wasn't about to put my pregnant body on one. The water was really choppy and cold. So I got myself a big umbrella and sat myself down in the shade with my friends.

Day 2 in Cabo

I fell in love...

I love tigers so when I was told I could go catch a glimpse of a BABY tiger I just followed. Turns out, Megan is a big fan herself. Of course when we got there all they would allow us to do was look. No touchy. No pictures. Just LOOK. After seeing these precious babies I needed more. So for a small fee (of course!!) of $25 we both got to hold the sweet little baby girl tiger. It was a neat experience and I'm glad I got to have it.

Lover's Beach

I regret not taking an excursion to spend some time there. It was beautiful especially in real life.

We took a snorkeling excursion out to a little cove. We only got to snorkle for about 20 mintues and then we had lunch on board. I was sad not to snorkel longer even if it took major courage on my part to jump in because the water was really cold. Have I mentioned that the water was cold?

The girls.

Puerto Vallarta

This was our favorite day because we got to do a lot more exploring.

We started our day off with 13 ziplines through a lush river valley. They don't allow pregnant women on the tour but I was feeling rebellious and just dared someone to question my pooch. (Side note: On our friends excursion, this actually DID happen and the woman wasn't even pregnant!)

Lunch at the end of our tour. It was some of the best food we had in Mexico.

There was a house for sale that was wide open for all to walk through. Including small rodents, bugs, whatever. It was very bizarre but interesting to see. Very different from the American real estate market.

After our zip line tour we met up with our friends and went on a city tour and hunting for churros. Yes, I said hunting because they aren't as easy to find in Mexico as you would think. But when we found them it was worth the hunt. They were so good if not ADDICTING!

On the busy, busy boardwalk.

One of many dinners with our friends.

This is only half the group since we had to divide between two tables.

A few of the many towel animals we were presented with every night. A few of them had us stumped and even made us blush. (see botton pic)

Adam and Cody. Not sure what is happening here...

I was pleased to find out that our room had a nice big window and not a porthole like I had originally thought. I was big enough for my big guy to stretch out in. And get a good look at the sunrise as well.

We had a really good time on our cruise and went with some really fun people but when it was over we were more than ready to get back to our babies.

SiX WeEkS to go!!

With only 6 weeks left of this pregnancy I've been doing a lot of daydreaming about what this little Shiflett girl is going to look like.  When I was pregnant with Noah, all I could picture was another Kyle but they merely look like brothers and nothing more.  Of course with this little girl I can only picture another Meggie and if that's what I got I would be thrilled.

Really though, I don't think any of my babies look much alike especially when they are first born.

Can you tell who's who?

Raaaiiinnnn...

After weeks of very hot and extremely dry temps, wild fires for the history books and absolutely no rain we are pleased and proud to welcome this change...

Kyle, Noah and Megan are loving the snail hunts, cooler temps and splashing that come along with a good downpour.

Noah is {FIVE}!

 Noah and his donut birthday "cake".  I'm not a big fan of just plain, old cake so when Noah said he wanted donuts for his birthday I was thrilled.  These are Dunford donuts. Only the best for my Bones.

 Noah picked out sprinkled donuts especially for his brother and sister.

 Legos. Legos. Legos. This is all Noah could think about for his birthday and pretty much all he got.  All the grandparents got him Legos. WE got him Legos.  His number one toy was the Lego Robin. He wanted it more than anything. So of course we had to oblige.  He loves disguising Robin with all the other Lego guy gear. He loves Lego's so much he even got one stuck up his nose.

Happy Birthday to Noah. We love you SO much.

The Shiflett's....

...according to Adam.

{Adam drew this in sacrament meeting for Noah. I think its pretty cute.  The likeness is pretty good too with exception to our bird like baby. :) }

Update: When Adam saw this picture, he said "I didn't draw the baby". Well who did?  It was Kyle who added it later after noticing somebody was missing. Love that.

Uppity Date

...Kyle finally lost one of his teeth on the bottom (LL2) and he couldn't have been more excited. It was driving him nuts just hanging by a thread. Finally Sunday evening (last night) he told me he wanted to try the floss and door knob trick. I was surprised because I would have thought that would scare him too much.  I convinced him to just let Daddy do it.  Adam just bent the tooth forward and it popped right out.  Not even any pulling involved.  Kyle was ecstatic to have it out.  Quoting one his friends from church he said "Benny's right. It does feel like paradise." LOL

...We got to hang out with out of town cousins a few weekends ago.  Not only did BOTH Will, Taylor and Samuel get to come to Kyle's birthday party but we also went downtown to celebrate Taylor's bday.  We went to Chick-Fil-A at the City Creek Mall and then we went to the Church museum and hung out at the children's display.

Megan (and Daddy) LOVES to dance. Wearing a dress is definitely a bonus!

...Adam did Wasatch Back Ragnar again this past month but this time Von joined him.  They had a great ime. He also ran one of the hardest legs of the race up Gaurdsman Pass.  Proud of my man.

...We saw the first fireworks of the season on Saturday.  We watched the WestFest fireworks from Hunter Park. (No crowds!)  Noah has been talking about fireworks for a few weeks now so we jumped at this easy opportunity.  Megan ended up loving them as well. They were a distance away so the noise wasn't bad at all.  She was full of exclamations but some favorites are "Oh booful!" and "I yove it!" I wonder how she'll react when the fireworks are just above her...

...Pregnancy is going well.  So far the 100 degree weather isn't getting to me much. Yay for AC.
 I think this little girl is going to be big. I just feel it.  I've been measuring right on until my appointment last week. I'm now measuring a week big.  Having said that though, I think I measured right on the entire time with my 10 pounder, Meggie.  Two more months to see if I'm right!

...Adam and I celebrated our 10th engagement anniversary this past Thursday {June21st}.  Adam even took the whole day off.  It was fabulous and so needed particularly by me.  We tried a new restaurant at the City Creek mall called "The Blue Lemon", did a little shopping- maternity clothes and Apple TV- and just absorbed each others company.  We don't get out as much these days since Adam is busy with school at night. Thank you, Adam for planning this. I'm so glad I said yes "20,000 times, yes." :)

Baby Update

Lets start with the most important thing.  Baby girl is doing very well.  She is moving around constantly, getting hiccups regularly and using my bladder as trampoline daily.  She still has no name to call her own. :(  And I don't see this being remedied in the near future. Problem is, she will be making her entrance into this world in the near future.
I on the other hand have been feeling exhausted, tired, aaaaaand exhausted.  I have been tired with all my pregnancies but this one has been rougher. I did find out that I am anemic but it isn't anything severe.  I think its just that I'm getting old, have 3.5 children and yes, anemia to add on top of it all.  I do have good days and they do seem to be better especially since I've upped my iron. I get waves of dizziness too. My heart burn is worse and I'm getting ugly veins on my legs. One of them is even painful at times.
I shall not bore you with any more of my details for journaling's sake (but I do want to journal so my kids know that pain and suffering their mother went through! ;)

28 weeks

Chill. Its just cream soda.

I am 31 weeks now and I feel like I have forever left to go.  I have never been so anxious to see my due date arrive as I have been with this one. We have a TON to do before Baby Girl comes though (finish basement?, buy carseat, decorate new nursery, get Meggie a new big girl bed and transferred into it, new clothes for baby...)

"I 

already

want to

take a nap

tomorrow..."

Uppidy Date

...Kyle has 4 loose teeth and they are taking forever to come out.
...Kyle will be in the advanced learning class next year based on his test scores. I'm proud of him and grateful that he has this opportunity.
...I got to go with Kyle to the zoo for his 1st grade field trip. It was great to hang out with him and see him interact with his friends. He is a friendly, out going boy. I'm glad he doesn't have my shyness.

Kyle and his cool teacher, Miss Farley

...I had a nice Mothers Day with my husband and kids presenting me with this sweet gift. (Kyle's idea :) Adam took care of the grandmother gifts too and lunch with his Mom and the salad for my Mom's dinner. I have wonderful children and husband. Too bad a was so darn hormonal that day! :) Oh and I also got to lead the primary kids in "Mother, I Love You" during sacrament. I love my calling.

...We celebrates Adi's first birthday with her this week. She did a great job decorating herself with chocolate frosting.

...I had my monthly appointment with my OB, Dr. Froerer. Everything is looking beautiful. Baby girl is active and growing well. Now if we could just settle on a name...

Dawn Dawn Got Married

The happy couple!

I made these for her reception. Kinda cute!

Dawn and Robert met online and have been joined at the hip ever since.  Dawn is happy and that makes me happy.  Keep it up, Robert!!


P.S. This was the best part of the night. Noah somehow found out that people kiss at weddings and told me on a few occasions that he didn't want to see Dawn Dawn and Robert kiss. Well, the picture below is his reaction to the big, much worried about event.  What a funny kid he is.