Short visit with grandpa

My dad was able to visit with us for a few days after grandma's funeral.

He took Katie pink shopping- which is her very favorite thing to do right now (I know I'm in big trouble).

And read the kids a few stories.

 

 

 

 

And be here for bedtime. 

Grandma's Funeral

Dad came to visit and take care of things and get ready for the funeral.  Luckily we got to spend a few days with him too.  The kids were thrilled to see their grandpa. 
Since my dad's parents aren't members of our faith (though they were strongly devoted in their own church), the funeral wasn't LDS.  It was ok, but there is such a difference between LDS and non LDS funerals.  The eternal perspective is a major component of our beliefs. I feel so sad for grandpa.  He seems so lonely.  He clung to me today and wanted me nearby.  Even though grandma's daughters came, he isn't close with them.  And grandpa and I have always been so close.  Dad says that he's always been a sucker for me. 
It was hard to say good-bye to grandma, but mostly because I knew that grandpa would be next.  I almost can't stand thinking about it. 

Grandma Amelia

You know how you never really know when something bad is going to happen?  It seems like the worst things usually happen when you're not expecting it.
I was at the tire store today getting new tires put on.  I was in the middle of loading up the kids when my dad called.  I usually try to answer when he calls since he doesn't call that often.  But today he was calling to tell me that my grandma had passed away.  She fell 2 days ago at the nursing home and hurt her head and hip.  Then last night she fell again, but her body wasn't strong even to take another fall.  She passed away shortly after.
I had been expecting a call like that sometime.  I wasn't expecting it today.  But I knew when we had visited on Christmas Eve that that would be the last time I saw her.  I had a very strong feeling of it that day.  We had a nice visit.  I remember not wanting to say good-bye.
I went over this afternoon to be with grandpa.  When I got there he looked empty.  He said, "the love of my life is gone."  And although he didn't cry in front of me, in his eyes I could see his complete sadness.  He gave me a ring that he'd bought for grandma 30 years ago.  She worn the ring every day.  I never saw her without it.  He said she'd wanted me to have it.

Thing 5

So we decided it would be kind of fun to keep our little secret for a little while.  It was fun for a few days- just to be the only ones who knew.  But then we decided to let the kids in on the secret.  They were SO excited!!!!
And since we weren't doing anything with our extended families for a bit, we kept it a secret with just the kids for a bit.  It gave me enough time to order these little iron on prints and make up these cute t-shirts.  Then one Sunday night, Jared just sent his family an email with this photo attached.  No explanation.  It was hilarious as everyone started replying back :)

I was wondering how long it'd take for morning sickness to set it this time.  I didn't have to wait long to find out.  It hit HARD.   Maybe hardest of all the babies so far.  I could really only eat Ritz and Ginger Ale (and oddly brown sugar cinnamon Pop Tarts) there for a while.  Of course, I'd try to eat other things too, but that was all I could eat and not get sick.  Even watching food shows made me sick.  I was really pretty miserable for a while.  But Teresa reminded me that it's a good thing to have enough hormones growing that baby to make you sick.  So, here's to the joy of morning sickness!

Odd

You know how sometimes you wonder if a picture was posed or natural?  Well this picture was completely natural (I prefer pictures that way).  I found Hunter playing the DS this way in the living room this afternoon.  Can that really be comfortable??  He didn't know I was taking his picture until afterwards and then I told him how silly he was.  He just smiled and kept on playing. 

Pinkalicious!!!

Katelyn loves the Pinkalicious books.  So when I saw that the downtown library was having a Pinkalicious party, I knew I had to take her.  It was pretty fun.  They had several crafts, a story reading time, and some ballet dancing.  Of course it was all PINK.  Katie really had fun and the best part was that it was just me and her.  Yay for girl time!!

I is

To have another baby or not to have another baby??  I have wrestled with this question for months.  Jared has been adamantly against having another.  But I've been open with him as I've been trying to find out for myself what I thought we were supposed to do or what the Lord wanted us to do.  I've prayed and prayed and just can't find a firm YES or NO answer.  At times I've felt good about having another, even feeling like someone was still missing (like when I was recently making up lunch plates in a row like usual and accidentally added a fifth kids plate), but then at other times I've felt content with the 4 we have.  Anyway, the more I've talked about it, the more open to it Jared has become. 
So for the past few days, I've been trying to figure out how to take a test and have it go ok with Jared (since I was fairly sure it was going to come out positive).  I just kind of said, "well I guess it's time to take a test again".  (I do this whenever I'm not sure).  We were sitting on the bed and I was trying to gauge what Jared's response was going to be (him a little less aware of my certainty that it was going to be positive).  When the 3 minutes were up he said (thankfully with a smile),"well go check it, you either is or you isn't".  I went in and checked it and sure enough it said "pregnant" and I shrieked "oh Jared, I is!" 
Jared has always been excited when he's received this news and this time he was too.  I think he has his worries (mostly financial), but overall he's excited about another baby too.  And the Lord always provides for us.  So welcome baby 5!