Happy half Bday Jeni!

My little sister spoils me. She buys me maternity clothes all the time refusing to tell me the price so I can't pay her back. On Christmas and my Birthday she steps in almost like a Mother surprising me with things I don't even think to ask for but deep down I wanted. She is one of the most generous people I know. So! For her Birthday, I do my best to compete with the showing of the love- but its hard to compare. Her last Birthday- December 17th- Iwas on my honeymoon and did nothing for her. This coming birthday I will have just had a baby and won't be coming to Arizona to celebrate with her.

So, I decided to celebrate her HALF birthday!

I got some of my family to join in. In my last blog you saw my nephews and brother making her a fabulous birthday sign and helped make a cake.

Still working on my cake making/decorating skills- don't look too closely Jessica ;)

Rachel and the boys made her breakfast in bed. We surprised her with a shopping trip and a surprise visit from all her friends (she has a lot of friends!) at AppleBees. I love you Jeni!

My tummy seems to be getting bigger everyday and I'm finding it more uncomfortable

to bend down, breathe, and stand for longer than 10 minutes. 17 1/2 weeks today! I got some great books at the library about pregnancy. 2 1/2 more weeks to find out the gender!

I've been pretty sick this week- unrelated to pregnancy. Sore throat, achy, headache, cold...etc. I spent Tuesday in bed- boring! And forbidden to kiss my husband and hold my nephew, I'm

pumping my garlic and Vitamin C trying to shake this. Unfortunately, I'm still having a hard time keeping food down.

I attempted to make bread today. I feel like I have big expectations around me- as not only every sister, mom, sister-in-law, mother-in-law and HUSBAND make prize winning bread!

Steven is still doing well selling. He had a couple of rough areas this week but is back on track.

Stay tuned for next week because tonight we're going to the circus with some other EcoFirst guys/wives and my little brother and sister and we're going to Southern Cali next week with my family. We're going to the beach and Disneyland!

It's the bug guy!

So Steven gets some pretty outrageous experiences on the doors as he's knocking.
Last week a kid looked through their front window to see who was at the door and with an astounded look said, "IT'S THE BUG GUY!!" shouting back to his mom. Then he yelled toward Steven "WE NEED YOU!!!"
This week Steven was just parking near a park ready to start knocking in the morning when a kid at the park said to his Dad, "Hey, that's the guy you yelled at yesterday!" The Dad replied, "I don't know him".

15 weeks pregnant and growing

My brother Paul with one of the Lab puppies. Paul is so fun!

We won't be seeing this guy too much longer. My brother Dallin leaves on his mission to Santiago, Chile- West in 1 1/2 weeks. 

I had these boys over for a sleepover this week. Matthew, Karl, and Isaac are my nephews and Jacob (in the grey) is my little brother. We had fun playing Settlers, swimming, watching a movie on our projector, and making my little sister a B-day sign and cake. They are so much fun. 

They are very proud of their art work decorating Jeni's 1/2 B-day sign.

Isn't this the cutest baby  you've ever seen?! Little O.- Rachel and Matt's youngest boy weighs 15 pounds and is only 2 months old! He has rolls everywhere! AH! He is SO cute!!

Matt is coaching 2 basketball teams- Jacob and Matthews' and Karl's. These boys play hard and they have a very vocal aunt/sister that cheers for them at lots of games. Matthew scored 4 points in this game, Jacob 2 and Karl 1.

The new Gunson van. The red Mazda finally retired after 8 years and they bought a 2004 Toyota Sienna. Abe woke Rachel up a few days ago saying in distress, "The van is locked! I can't get in!" He loves to just sit in the hot car because he's so excited about them having a new van.

A new baby, a new place, a new job, a new life...

A new baby...
At the end of March we found out that we are going to have a baby! We're very excited and November 30th seems very far away. My night-sickness (no, I don't have morning-sickness, it comes at night) has been a real struggle over the last few months and continues to damper my evenings even though I'm almost at 16 weeks into my pregnancy. In just a few weeks we'll be finding out the gender!

A new place...
Steven and I are in Arizona for the summer! I love it because our apartment is even in the same stake I grew up in. I get to see my family everyday and now that I have more time, I'm able to visit with old friends from my home ward and high school friends.

A new job...
Steven came down to Arizona May 2nd for his summer job selling pest control. I still had the school year to finish teaching my wonderful 2nd graders in Utah. We spent 5 weeks apart and are enjoying every second we have back together again.

A new life...
Steven is very successful selling pest control door to door in 105+ degree weather. I hold down the fort making meals, taking naps, reading books, visiting family, and swimming. It's definitely a change of pace for me as since we've been married I've been balancing directing a play, moving, callings, and my teaching that would take sometimes 12+ hours of my day.