And the results are...

Whew! The pressure is officially off. Any boy advice will be most appreciated, as this is completely new territory! We are overjoyed with the thought of having a son, as are our girls. Malia knew it was a brother all along, we should have just listened to her. And my sister-in-law Christy did a chinese horoscope thing last night that said it was a boy. Why we even bothered going to the ultrasound is beyond me. Seriously.

Spring Break Arizona Style

Apologies right from the start for the picture happy post. I do consider this a backup if my computer should ever crash (I know, I should really do something more reliable which would involve all of my pictures, but, you know...I'll get to it eventually, just like cleaning off this desk I sit at. Wow, just beginning a post and I digress). So, we had a fantastic time in AZ. Due to all the other areas being a bit too out of the way, we were able to visit just one area I served my mission in, Flagstaff. It was so much more exciting than I even thought it would be. To drive down almost every road and know my knuckles knocked on nearly each of those doors and my mouth testified of Christ, families, eternity, prophets, a restoration of truth, etc. to the people behind them. To have flashbacks of some of the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. I feel, like my former comp Crystal wrote about her recent visit, that it is sacred ground for me. It was so fun to tell Darrin little stories here and there. I'm sure it was even more fun for him to hear them. :) He's sure a good sport. Anyways, I really tried to put the pictures in order, but I can't figure out blogger sometimes. So, they're completely out of order, except the last picture, which was on the way home and just sealed the trip for me.

Nick (my little cousin) and Malia at the Mesa Easter Pageant...the temple is in the background. We stayed with Nick's family (My Uncle Dean and Aunt Jan) for two of the nights. They're soooo great for having us!!
Malia and Tessa walking down a path near my apartment in Flagstaff where Sister George and I would get up and jog most every morning. Flagstaff is oh so beautiful.

In Gilbert at Riparian Preserve Malia and Tessa got to uncover fossils. Just before that we saw some cute little turtles swimming in the lake nearby.

Christ among the people in the Mesa Easter Pageant. This was so wonderful... palm trees blowing gently in the breeze as the Easter story was portrayed beneath them. Thousands upon thousands of people pondering on the Savior. Beautiful.

Me trying to show off my belly at Freestone Park in Gilbert. Looking at the picture now, I don't look like I'm showing as much as I feel like I am. Weird. We find out what we're having on Monday. Any guesses?

Malia and Tessa were transfixed by this little scene. Aren't they cute???

Sedona.

This is a church built right into the rock there in Sedona. We walked up to it and it was a really beautiful view from the inside. Unfortunately Tessa tried to run up and blow out all of the millions of candles burning, so we couldn't stay too long inside.

Trying to get the scenery in, but mostly you just see our goofy faces.

Malia pricking her finger for the camera.

Uncle Dean and Nick treating us to a fine meal of steak and salmon fresh off the grill. YUM.

The Lotts thought we were crazy for wanting to swim in their pool. It felt so warm to us outside, but was still a bit too cool for them to think of venturing into the water. Actually, the water was pretty darn cold, but Darrin and the kids were deterimined to swim!

And, the finale of the trip. Cowboys roping in their cattle who had wandered off onto Interstate 89. And darnit if I wasn't singing "Where have all the cowboys go-o-o-ne???" the rest of the way home. Once again, poor Darrin. :)

Beautiful red rusted mountains

Engravings by the pioneers using the grease from their wheels' axles.

Deep thoughts.


"I am the king of this mountain."


"Aaaaahhh warmth."

We had such a fun time in St. George this weekend. Thanks to my parents for the room and fun company, and yes, the babysitting. :) We took the kids to the sand dunes earlier in the day but only had the video camera, so no pics of that...but Tessa loved the warm sand so much she was rolling in it and just laid in it and almost went to sleep. Malia dug for buried treasure with her patch on and all...arrrgghh.

Darrin and I went back to Snow Canyon later and climbed around on the rocks and went for a long walk along the goblin looking rocks.

It was good. It was restorative for us all. And I didn't throw up the entire time. Yay! I wish I could say it stayed that way, but darn it if cooking and cleaning my kitchen doesn't bring out the retching every time. Hello, baby, we're almost to 18 weeks. Did you not get the memo??? Let's stop making your mama sick and I promise to bathe you in kisses and warm milk when you make your entrance, deal?

Perspective

When I was little I loved to hang upside down from the couch or my bed and look at the ceiling, pretending that I lived up there. It was so clean and uncluttered. So white. Sometimes now as an adult I get that same desire to "live on the ceiling" so to speak. But, this goes deeper than having all the incessant toys and socks and clutter picked up. It's having a clear mind, a clear conscience. A mind that doesn't think about all that I am not doing, a mind that is clear and clean and able to focus. And, I think about times in my life when my life has felt the closest to this state. It always involves me on my knees sincerely pouring out my heart to my Maker. Why do I forget this? Why do my prayers become so repetitious? Note to self: Slow down, Alicen. Stay on your knees a little longer. Let the Lord clear your mind... "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." Have I made it obvious I need for it to be Sunday tomorrow? Time to reset my week. Goodnight.

When your sister is taking too long to get her jammies on

Just put some pants on your head and go to sleep. No, really, she's asleep under there.

And when mom tries to take them off your face...

Just roll over on those pants and go right back to sleep. This girl takes her beauty sleep seriously. And she was really sick, poor thing.

When it's cold out

and you you want an ice cream cone for your FHE treat why not sit by the fire?

Happy Valentine's Day!

Once again I have tear stained cheeks... (big surprise). My friend Julia sent me this Valentine on Facebook. Enjoy. Get a tissue if you're at all like me. And may all of your Valentine dreams come true. Okay, I may or may not have watched Napoleon this week. N-E-ways, I'm off to make heart shaped *cookies with my girls. Hope the butter is softened.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

*Picture of said cookies posted weeks later.