Dallas Zoo-Thanksgiving 2014

This past Thanksgiving was a little different. We had so many offers to spend Thanksgiving with members of our ward family. But Randy has some classmates without family close so we decided to spend it with them. One of them had to work the day of so we celebrated Thanksgiving on the day after....but it's all the same. We had yummy food and great company! So we decided to go to the zoo on Thanksgiving. This is the Dallas Zoo. One of Randy's classmates works at the zoo or something and gave us free tickets! Can't pass up free! There was hardly anyone there, the weather was great and we saw lots and lots of animals! By the end, Ryker was done and fell asleep as soon as he hit his carseat. It was so fun to see him run around and look at the animals. He would play peekaboo and climb everywhere to get a better peek. Kids are fun--They make everything more exciting.

A (boring) Year in Review 2012

Well another year has come and gone! So crazy!

January-April: started a new semester and it was rough! I had to draw.... I don't draw. But I got through it and actually did pretty well for having no drawing talent. I also took a photography class and learned a ton! (This whole year I've actually grown a ton in my photography and it's so great to see!)

http://searleshenanigans.blogspot.com/2012/04/drawing-and-2d-design.html

http://searleshenanigans.blogspot.com/2012/04/over.html

Randy was of course just busy with preparing for the Athletic Training Program. He's such a good student and really works hard.

May-August: SUMMERTIME! Boy do I love summertime. But this year, Randy and I both did first block classes so our summer didn't really start until Mid June. I had my first film photography class and loved it. Film is really so fun and a process that is just awesome for creating. You are in control of EVERYTHING. It's so different than digital for sure. 

This semester was a bit rough because May was the month we would have been due if I had not miscarried the October before. It was hard when everyone had their babies and I wasn't. BUUUUUUUT----The semester was more difficult because I was so sick----from being pregnant!! I remember the day I found out. So Randy and I were technically waiting to start trying again for insurance purposes, but I was really struggling with being told when I could or could not start my family. I felt like we needed to be trying. We finally talked about it and Randy said, "Let's leave it up to the Lord." It was nice not having and pressure to get pregnant but just let it happen. And WHAMBAM! We got pregnant like the first try. I had a feeling I was. While at school, I was getting these weird twingy cramps and I was just thinking, "I'm pregnant". So it was on my mind all day and finally at 9PM, I made Randy take me to Walgreens to get a test and it was positive! It was surreal and we are so excited! 

http://searleshenanigans.blogspot.com/2012/06/life.html

In June, we went with Randy's immediate family to the Oregon Coast. That was rough being pregnant, throwing up, not eating, and driving for hours on winding roads. But I eventually got some medicine that helped with the nausea a bit and the trip was much more enjoyable. The fresh coastal air was amazing! We went to a couple beaches, including the one from The Goonies! I also watched that movie for the first time on that trip and hated it. I just thought it was dumb :(  But I also got to watch all of the Back to the Future movies and those I loved! We flew kites on the beach, went to an aquarium, saw beautiful lighthouses, went to the Portland temple, took pictures of beautiful waterfalls (Multnomah and Shoshone) and the men went tuna fishing on rough sea waters. Let's just say they were sick for a bit but Randy says it was well worth it! Thank you Amy for a well-planned trip and for all the fun we had!

I also officially started my Photography business: registering the business (yay for taxes...), created a website and got the ball rolling. It feels a lot better actually being a legit business and not just a girl with a camera ;) I did lots of weddings, engagements, family and other sessions.

We spent the 4th of July in Island Park. I love that place. Nature rocks. We also did a Yellowstone/Island Park trip with Randy's co-workers. I love Yellowstone and I love the Playmill. We had lots of fun. 

In August we started another semester and Randy started his clinicals for Athletic Training at UVU for the Track/Field teams and Cross Country. It was nice having him nearby...and for his employee parking ;)

September-December: We found out we were having a boy, I grew and got stretchmarks, and we both went to school :) Exciting huh??

http://searleshenanigans.blogspot.com/2012/11/thanksgiving.html

http://searleshenanigans.blogspot.com/2012/12/christmas-2012.html

We have had a wonderful year with so many blessings and opportunities! We can't wait for 2013 and see what it has in store!

Thanksgiving

Well this week has been fun...and out of the blue :) Randy and I had planned not to come to Idaho for Thanksgiving because we had just been up for a wedding the weekend before and had to go home (Provo) for two days of class before Thanksgiving break. My family was going to come down and spend it in Utah with us. But last minute, Randy and I decided it was just smarter for us to go up to Idaho and spend Thanksgiving with my extended family. So we did! So after our two days of class, we headed up to Idaho. We got there early Wednesday morning and I went to the chiropractor and got my hair cut. It was so nice on my little (BIG) pregnant body to get adjusted and my hair is MUCH better and easier to do. Thursday, we spent Thanksgiving out at the Bitter's house and had LOTS of people there actually. I don't believe that it will ever be the same--like it used to be with ALL of us there. But it's still nice to get together as family and catch up on life. Then that night, we went to the movies and decided of all movies to go see Breaking Dawn: Part 2. :) It's nice to have seen it to have "closure" as it's now over, but to be honest, I wasn't impressed. I was just happy and grateful my dad would even take the whole family to the movies. Just to be together :) Friday, we cleaned house. Keegan get's home on Wednesday so we were cleaning rooms and bathrooms and de-cluttering, just getting ready. And I was loving it. This nesting phenomenon is quite enjoyable. I just wish I had more time to do it at my own house without having school and such because when school is out, I'm afraid I'll be too big to do anything!! I also did some photoshoots with Karissa and her friend which was great. My whole family was all just messing around with the studio lights and taking goofy pictures, including me....I should go delete those :)

The pregnancy is still great! My weight gain is right on track-but the doctor said I was measuring a little big. LET'S HOPE THIS ISN'T A 9 lb BABY!! :) I was 8 lbs. 10 oz. I don't know what Randy was. But I'm really starting to feel the tiredness and exhaustion. It's just harder for me to do the little things. I cannot wait to meet this little guy! It's going to fly by I know it! We have the holidays and I have two weddings left to shoot....ya....He'll be here before we know it!

How far along? 28 weeks 3 days
Total weight gain/loss: 20 lbs gained
Maternity clothes? Yes
Stretch marks? Yes...super downside...It's all good though. Worth it!
Sleep: It's on and off.
Best moment this week: Hearing the baby's heartbeat
Have you told family and friends: Yes. I'm sure the whole world knows now :)
Miss Anything? Energy. I'm always tired.
Movement: Yes! I love it.
Food cravings: Candy...sweets...you know--the healthy stuff ;) Or just food in general...just want to eat all the time!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope. Still can't do mexican food though....authentic mexican.
Have you started to show yet: You betcha! 

We will be coming BACK to Idaho on the weekend of the 9th to hear Keegan report his mission. I'm sad that I wont be able to see him at the airport, but I have school that I have to be to. Finals is the week after that so it's crunch time! It will be good to catch up with him and see him! Come listen to him Dec. 9th at 1 pm!

Well, Thanksgiving has been great. I love the holiday and being able to reflect on what I'm grateful for. But I'm sad that Thanksgiving is also associated with gifts and getting more stuff. I told Randy I really didn't need or want anything for Christmas. I'm just so blessed already and grateful for what I have. I have an amazing, patient, long-suffering ;), handsome, hardworking husband and I'm still so shocked that I got so lucky to marry the man I dreamed of marrying! He's been SO amazing this whole pregnancy and I can only imagine the amazing father he will be. He can't wait to shnuggle with our little dude. I have this little bundle of joy inside of me that kicks and moves and I love him so much already--I can't imagine the love I will feel when I hold him in my arms and get to snuggle him too! I have a beautiful, warm, safe home that we are so lucky to have. I have amazing neighbors, family and classmates. I'm so blessed to have been born into the Gospel of Jesus Christ and know that my Savior lives and loves.

I hope your holidays are great and that you take time to reflect on what's most important.

Our Boring, Busy Lives.

Hello world...have you missed me?? :)

Well updates.

School is good. Almost over..and I can tell because my attention span is declining hardcore. 

That flu bug that's been going around....ya...we had it. 

We started our own business with ACN and we offer you the services you already use like dishTV, comcast, verizon, sprint, etc. TV, Internet, cell phones, home phones. So if you need a new subscription, come to us and support us and our business instead of corporate america! ;)

Thanksgiving was grand. We went to Idaho and saw my family and spent Thanksgiving with Randy's family in Island Park. He loved the sledding!!

We had our own little Thanksgiving with my family on sunday...

Wanna hear the sucky part...

I couldn't dig in like past years and eat like it was my last meal on this earth.

Why you ask?

I was just feeling really sick and stuff...because I'm pregnant again!

WHOOHOO!

Can I just let you in on a secret (that's probably not a secret and so obvious to the world?)-I'm so terrified of the possibility of miscarrying again. This one feels a little different though so we'll see. 

But I was thinking about how I didn't tell anyone the last time because I was afraid of miscarrying. And I think it's silly. 

I wish those around me knew I was pregnant and then miscarried. I think it would have made things a little easier. But I was ASHAMED. Miscarriage is nothing to be ashamed of. YOU did nothing. YOU are not an unfit mother. It just happened-probably for the benefit of all. And talking about it afterwards actually really helped me. It may not help others, but it helped me and helped to have the sympathy of others.

So I'm telling the world. And if it happens again, I'll have my friends and family behind me. 

I thank God everyday for the blessing and pray for the best...will you???

Peace and Blessins'