Surprise, a baby! (encompassing April through June 2024)

So I was admittedly not feeling great over Ivy's birthday weekend, and my period was late, but I tried to ignore it. But after a week of my period not coming, I decided I should probably take a pregnancy test. 

Ivy was very excited to hold the boxes for me.

She was even kind enough to open the box and play with its contents while I was driving.

So I woke up early the next day and took the tests. I really couldn't believe it! I even started to pass out and had to elevate my feet for about 30 minutes before I could help with the kids that morning.

8 week ultrasound.

Close-up of 8 week ultrasound.

Belly already a bit bloated at 9 weeks along. I was panicking that everyone would be able to tell I was pregnant, haha! We were waiting a while to tell anyone. We found out about this time (through bloodwork) that the baby is a GIRL!

12 week ultrasound

Telling the kids. I thought for sure Axel had figured it out, or at least had an inkling (I was so tired and napping all the time and feeling sick), but he was clue-less!

13 week ultrasound, to check for neural tube defects. The baby looks great!

Anyway, the moral of the story is that apparently I CAN get pregnant without medical intervention. Jeff and I had both had feelings separately that there was another baby for us, but had not voiced those out loud. I couldn't figure out how it would happen because we have no more frozen embryos and I was not willing to do fertility treatments again, so I hadn't brought it up to him. Jeff, on his own, had been praying to God that if He wanted us to have another baby, now is the time because we are getting old! I guess Heavenly Father really wanted this baby to be born!

Middle of June 2024

Cute family picture Felix drew for Kindergarten.

The yearbook asked the 5th graders to include a quote. Please enjoy Axel's Darth Vader quote (his was the ONLY silly one).

5th Grade Talent Show. I'm so proud of Axel for organizing with his band friends and having the guts to play in front of the school!

Last day of Kindergarten and 5th Grade.

Cheering for the 5th Graders as they leave on their last day.

Frozen yogurt treat for a job well done this year.

More cherry picking, on pretty much the last day of the season.

2- headed 6-legged monster!

This summer Jeff was gone all day every day, so I had to take all 3 kids with me for all errands. Axel was a really big helper.

Cousins! We spent a lot of time with them this summer as they stayed with Gramma and Grampa while their mommy and daddy prepared to move into their new house.

Renee and Ivy play so well together.

Giving Daddy his presents on Father's Day.

We had my side of the family over for Father's Day/Felix's birthday.

I couldn't keep the candles lit in the wind, so Felix didn't get to blow them out! He was still a happy dude though.

I found this cryptic "contract" after the cousins left. Axel told me it had to do with Pokemon cards.

Kaden and Emma wedding (Beginning of June 2024)

 

We had a whirlwind wedding weekend, since the kids were still in school and Jeff needed to be at work at 9am Monday morning to welcome the new interns (he was in charge of the Story Interns all summer). So we took the kids out of school for Friday and drove straight to Logan, UT.

We made it just in time to eat dinner at the park with both sides of the family. We loved finally meeting baby Caroline!

Saturday was the wedding at the Logan Temple. It was gorgeous and mostly stayed overcast for pictures. It even sprinkled rain for a couple minutes.

Ivy got to be a flower girl with Emma's nieces.

Felix giving Emma a big hug when they came out of the Temple.

Kaden's side of the family.

Brothers and sisters-in-law

Great Grandmas and Great Grandpa

Ivy with Nana and Papa.

Before the reception started, we took family photos at the reception venue.

Emma changed into the same dress as Olivia and I (we were bridesmaids!) so we would match for the pictures.

Proud grandparents.

Pictures from the reception.

Ivy was pretty done by the end, haha. The kids were all really good, especially for such a long day.

Felix really enjoyed throwing rose petals at the bride and groom.

Then we drove back the next day! Ivy screamed for the first 2 hours of the drive, so we stopped at the Salt Flats rest area and let the kids run (where are they going to go? Its nothing but flat salty land). They were so good after that.

Felix all alone.

Until Ivy decided to join him.