Fall Break: Tuesday Park

Today's Park was Falcon Hill-another family favorite, and probably my favorite park, just because its a beautiful area, the mountain is fun to climb, and I like the play structures in general.

As I was taking this picture, I couldn't help but think, I need Jackson here, and I would stick him in his carseat right in the middle and under the 3 older kids.....

 SO interested in climbing things, but he is not careful enough yet to do it on his own...

 JD on the other hand climbed every possible structure that he could, and tried climbing to the roof of the ramada (to his credit, there was some sort of toy stuck on there and he wanted to get it down).

 Sara is very proud of herself that she can climb this curved ladder thing.

 James spent about 20 minutes on this thing, which has three animals you can ride or bounce on...he just kept climbing on one after the other.  When he was ready to switch, he'd call out to no one in particular "All done!" and climb down to go to the next one.

 Jordan also climbing every climbable structure.  James and Sara also loved this kid friendly thing-Sara called it her house and insisted it was broken in multiple spots and she had to keep fixing it.

 Karianna spent most of her time making herself want to throw up on this tire swing, silly girl! The sunset was beautiful-I tried to get some of it in the background through the trees.

Question #8: Jared

What are 5 passions you have?

Rachel

My children

Learning the truth,

Speaking the truth even if it goes against the status quo.

Dreaming big and believing my dreams will come true.

Halloween Pumpkins!

For Family Home Evening tonite, we decorated our pumpkins-peg style, which has been tradition for us for several years now!  I love pumpkin pegs-it preserves the pumpkins so well and is just fun and creative for the kids.  We will carve a bigger pumpkin this year when it gets closer to Halloween-that was the kids' request!

BEFORE: 

 DURING:

 AFTER:

 Open your eyes JD!  Let's try again....

Fall Break: Monday Park

Today's Park Day happened at Ensenada Park, which is one of our standard parks anyway.  

 My boys are monkeys.

 James tried SO hard to balance on this scooter!

Question #7: Jared

What is your dream job, and why?

I don’t know. I am still trying to figure that out. I do, however, know what is not my dream job, so I guess that helps me cross certain occupations off my list. Getting closer!

Question #6: Jared

What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?

-I am going through it right now. Someday I will be prepared to share that story because it’s a story worth sharing. I remember as a young man (maybe 12 or 13) being taught that to truly be tested one must have their heartstrings pulled apart. I am going through that trial right now and I do not say that lightly. I know that I will be victorious in the end but it does not make the journey any easier. 

Fall Break: Saturday the First

Before all the park pictures pop up:  I told the kids for Fall Break this year, we would hit a different park every day.  I know I am somewhat low-energy right now, but I still want them to get out of the house and have fun.  So we have resolved to hit a different park every day and break out the scooters, invite the cousins, and maybe get wet while we are at it.  

Saturday the First Park:  Alta Mesa Park

Question #5: Jared

What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?

-My wife! (without exception) She is the main source of happiness in my life and the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning and the last thing I think about when I go to bed at night. She is the very air that I breathe and that is just a fact!

-My children! They are my greatest accomplishment and my greatest opportunity. I love them with all of my heart, and every single one of them makes my heart sing.

-The next three are all appendages of the first two. Need I say more?

Last Swim of the Season!

 To celebrate the start of Fall Break and the end of the first quarter, I let the older kids go swimming for the final time.  The days are still pretty warm in the high 90's, but the nights are cooling down to the 60's and 70's, and so is the pool.  Too cold for me at this point, but the kids were all for swimming today!  I sat by and took a bunch of pics of their final jumps, dives, and spins.  Why does the water always have to look SO inviting when swimming season has ended?  Enjoy the swim reel!

Question #4: Jared

List something you would tell your 16-year-old self, if you could.

I would tell myself that even though you think you have gone through difficult times and even though you have overcome them all in a powerful way, there are many challenges you will still face. These challenges will be very different than what you will expect them to be and will cause you to have to understand who you truly are before you will be able to become who you want to be.

Funny of the Day

This is what happens when you are open with your children about pregnancy:

Me:  Sara, guess what!!!!
Sara:  What?
Me:  The baby hiccuped again!
Sara: [mouth drops open, pause....] Can I feel?
Me:  No you can't.  Do you know why?  It's a silly reason.....
Sara:  Why?
Me:  Because.....the baby is hiccuping into my bottom.
Sara:  [mouth drops open again, eyes wide in horror]

And then comes the punchline....

JD:  OOH, can I feel?????

I busted up laughing, and then wondered-should I be concerned about my son????

Question #3: Jared

Describe your relationship with your parents.

My relationship with my parents would be impossible to describe in words and in any short paragraph. The best way to summarize my relationship with them is that it has been a journey that I have enjoyed overall and one that I am deeply grateful for. The role that both of them have played in my life has been so positive even when it was negative. Now that I am a parent of my own children, I am in awe of how wonderful my parents were and are, and I have eternal love and gratitude for them that only gets stronger with time. Truly when I look back at my life, I will be able to say the Lord has blessed me above all others because he gave me such great parents.

Question #2: Jared

Describe 3 legitimate fears you have.

I am afraid of sticky things.

I am afraid of not living up to my potential.

I am afraid of not blessing my family the way they deserve and need.

Jared: Question #1

1.           Born with crooked pinkies.
   2.  One of only two male Lautenschlager’s left to pass on the family name (on this side of the family tree).
   3.       Able to do the splits in all three directions (until just recently).
   4.       Was class president 6 times.
   5.       Was student body president 2 times.
   6.       Helped set Arizona’s all-time can food drive record by an Elementary school.
   7.       My first kiss was when I was 5.
   8.       My second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and many others were by the time I was 5
   9.       My only kiss that ever mattered was to a girl named Rachel.
   10.   I have performed in three musicals.
   11.   I was the husband of my cousin (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory).
   12.   I graduated a year early from High School.
   13.   I served a total of three months on a mission in Independence Missouri (two of which were in the field) and had 6 baptisms.
   14.   I came home early due to health issues and never got healthy until I had a home of my own (thanks Rachel I could not have done it without you).
   15.   I will have 6 kids shortly, and for that, I am blessed.
   16.   I have the best parents.
   17.   I have a great pioneer history (some loved the Prophet and some tried to kill him) but the Lord knew that eventually, my family line would come together so I would have this great gospel in my life.
   18.   I know what it’s like to live a life like the boy from the 6^th sense
   19.   I dunked a basketball one time on a 10 foot hoop. It was outside on a concrete court but it was incredibly windy that day and the extra wind gave me the extra lift I needed to dunk. It was awesome.
   20.   I have seen the most beautiful women in the world and I asked her to marry me and she said yes.

32 Week Ultrasound

I had my final ultrasound today, as well as a follow up appointment.  A few things of note:

1. Baby is head down-yea!  He flips so much, I was so glad to hear he is head down.  Hopefully he stays that way since he's running out of room!  He is facing towards my left hip currently, and it was cool to see his body position from head to toe on the ultrasound.  
2. My fluid levels are good, which is great news.
3. The ultrasound tech pointed out hair on the back of Jackson's head, which was the only part we could see.  I've never had a tech point out hair before!
4. Baby's measurements put him right in the average category for everything, so my due date is officially staying the same.
5. Baby's approximate weight right now is 4 lbs 6 oz, which puts him in the 56th percentile.
6. My BP looks great still, as does the lack of protein in my urine sample.
7. I gained 2 pounds in the last month, I'm sure that will increase in the next month as baby bulks up for delivery.
8. I'm measuring one week ahead, which is not a big deal; baby's heart rate was in the 120's.
9. I updated the doctor on the fact that I have contractions every day without fail, most days multiple contractions.  They are not real so I'm not worried, but that was the symptom I updated her with.
10. Though I realize this won't get scheduled until 36 weeks or so, I talked with my OB about induction, and she is still fine doing so at 39 weeks as long as my body is ripe for it, which is what we have always done in the past. I am super excited to know its 7 more weeks and that's it!

Those are the updates as of now!  With today being October 1st, I am going to pull out the Halloween decor and get that up over the week.  I probably won't do a ton outside this year, but we'll get all the inside stuff up as usual.  I washed out the carseat cover last night for Jackson, just need to rebuild it today.  I also started taking Maalox for this terrible heartburn I have had on a nightly basis, and while it did a great job neutralizing acid last night, it did not stop it from coming up my throat.  No burning, but still that odd sensation of throwing up and having to swallow it down all the time.  So I apparently need to take Zantac or Previcid daily whether I like it or not, and if the burning happens anyway, swallow some Maalox to neutralize.  So glad delivery is an instant cure for this stuff!

Just Because He's Cute

 I am normally all about consistency when it comes to transitions-such as crib to bed.  I am not seriously ready to switch James.  He figured out how to climb out of his pack and play a while ago, but stopped once I made it clear it was not a good choice.....who'da thought?  I can just imagine the havoc he would cause when he woke up in the morning and during nap....I'm not ready to deal with that.  Plus, I don't want to transition him this close to having a new baby-I'd prefer to do it when the baby is a few months old, after he turns 2.

With all that being said though, at least once or twice a week, I will go get a sleeping James at night and transfer him to the big boy bed that's in his room. He always stirs and looks around to see where he's at.  But he goes right back to sleep when I leave and will stay asleep until I put him back in his pack and play for the night.  It is just super SUPER cute, and I can't help myself!