Giant Men - Snowmen that is

We had visitors again!!  So the week before the weekend was filled with lots of cleaning.  It was so pretty.  I guess my weekend actually started Thursday evening when we drove 1.5 hours to a friends reception in Lindon.  It was a high school friend, and since I couldn't make the sealing I really wanted to go.  I did check to make sure at least one more friend would be there.  That way we wouldn't be lonely at this reception.  It was fun to see them.  Thankfully it was a shorter travel back...only 1 hour.  Salt Lake City traffic just stinks sometimes.

Then on Friday in the evening Chris & Katy Clarke, along with a friend named Ryan stayed the weekend with us.  Friday night was just eating and talking.  Saturday morning though we woke up to a good few inches of snow.  Kyle was super estatic because everytime it has snowed enough and stuck was either on a Sunday or work day.  Meaning a nonplay in day.  So all of us bundled up in semi snow playing clothes and went outside.  There were snowballs flung around.  But the best thing we achieved was giant snowmen collection.

Katy playing in the snow

It took a lot of thinking to figure out how to get the large middle piece on

We did it.  And one of our neighbors decided to come help us out.

Since it surpassed chair height, trash can was then used.

The decorator and sculptor was Ryan

The neighbor kid was sick so he wasn't allowed to come play outside.  Instead he just stared at us.

Enjoying time with the friends

In awe of the 11 foot 3 inch tall snowperson

It wasn't enough though, so now we start a wife and dog

We finished!

Such a cute family.

All the hard workers.

So after this great undertaking, which took a few hours and used up most the snow from the lawns, we warmed up with hot cocoa.  Then our visitors headed to SLC to do a temple session.  We then also headed down (we got to take the train) to Temple Square to look at the lights.

It was very packed.  That's what you get for the Saturday before Christmas.  Glad we rode the train so we didn't have to find a parking spot in that craziness.  I did take a few shots, but I loved to just look around.

Katy with her nephew, sister and Mom.

Had to get a shot of us while there.  I learned I have a really bright flash.

The Clarke family

Ryan and Chris

We got back later that night starving and a bit tired.  So we quickly made a good pasta meal, had Caryn and Sam come over where we just chilled and talked again.  By Sunday though, I was quite exhausted and happy to have a house back to ourselves.

Hot and then Cold

It's been a busy past few days.  First off I am in the middle of cleaning my house.  Part of it comes from guests coming over this coming weekend and a large part of this came from the need to rearrange the living room again.  The layout wasn't working the greatest, and if you know me I love to rearrange furniture a lot.  This isn't a "nesting" thing...it's a the computer chair always taking so much room when used, and the recliner not being able to be reclined or even rocked in needs to change.  As part of it though, things had to find new places, and those new places which had things there needed to find new places.  Follow that?  Well just say it was at least 2 days of reorganizing and rearranging.  Last night Kyle was so nice to help me rearrange the whole living room which includes: 2 heavy and loaded bookshelves, a computer desk that falls apart anytime its lifted, and a large couch.  I tried to help, but can't do too much of the heavy liftin' nowadays.  Final result, I like it and Kyle says I have to keep it for at least 6 months.

This weekend I also finally found time to take our Christmas pictures.  It was a warm and sunny day.  The weekend got up to 55 which is becoming warm to me.  It was a very bright day, but we only had a small time spot to take pictures so it had to do.  That's why there's a lot of squinting.  Well here they are:

Then to get some bump pics, and just ones of me Kyle took over the camera.

This is at 22 weeks...5.5 months equivalent.

Now for Kyle's turn:

So that was the nice warm weather right.  Well this is what we woke up to this morning:

Such a change.

Oh so the pictures got used on a Christmas card being sent out to family.  Here's the pic I chose:

Sweet Snowflake Holiday

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Good thing I put Happy Holidays though cause I might have ordered them a tad too late to get them out before Christmas.  

Down to 3 jeans

The title comes from my realization this morning that I now only have 3 comfortable fitting jeans.  I do have other jeans that fit, but somehow they all have at least one problem with them to where I probably won't wear them again until after this kid is born.  Many of them dig in when I sit, or after I eat the high waist one is now a bit too tight.  But I do know eventually I'll have to move up to being the stretchy waisted kind.  Just don't want to get there yet.

Other kid news...I have officially felt the baby kick!  It was Sunday, I was hungry and laying down when suddenly.  BAM!  This weird feeling happened.  Then I noticed it again.  It was not my stomach growling or rumbling.  Now though I notice the little one kicking, movin' and groovin' all the time.  All the time, it feels like he's tumbling and somersaulting constantly in there.  Kyle has been trying to feel it ever since.  Only last night was he successful.  He only felt a small kick, but I still think he was happy to finally feel it.  We still haven't found out the gender yet, but that will be happening at our next appointment.  I'm currently 21 weeks 2 days.

The size of the kid can be compared to:
Or around 10.5" if you like direct numbers.

This weekend wasn't too exciting, but still busy.  We went Christmas shopping, and then had the ward Christmas party.  Saturday since I procrastinated, I was doing a ton of Relief Society stuff.  Reports, handouts, fliers, new printouts, newsletter...yeah my fault that I do nothing all week and then left it to Saturday.  That's it though folks.

Long Thanksgiving Weekend and more

Warning: Long post

So this will be a longer post than normal, mainly because I forgot to post last weekend and then Thanksgiving weekend just happened.  

Kyle played a few different volleyball games that weekend.  Playing for the Clearfield Stake Men's team who got 2nd place in the region.  Church ball we found out for our region is just different up here.

Also, we went to my cousin's house again and had a game night.  We had scheduled it so that hopefully more than just Kyle and I would be there.  But no one else ended up coming.  It was still a fun night, and glad we went.  

That Saturday and Sunday, it also decided to snow.  This time the snow actually stuck and Kyle taking me to church was interesting.  It was an icy slush on the road so every turn or go was sliding and slipping.  We eventually made it there in one piece, although I think my heart was beating way too fast.

This was the start of it on Saturday...it got quite a bit deeper by the end of Sunday.

Okay, now for our Thanksgiving weekend!  We had been waiting for this for many weeks.  I dreamt about all the bounteous good food and spending time with family.  This trip did not disappoint.  I went into it looking only fat, now I look pregnant.  I guess it also helps that I went from mango sized to canteloupe size.  A big jump, and I know it'll just keep exponentially growing.  

Our plan was to leave Tuesday mid day, however due to a "blizzard" coming Tuesday afternoon/evening we decided to pack up and leave a few hours earlier.  The roads were perfect and clear.  My sister hitched a ride with us from Provo.  Our car was packed (I don't know how we'll do it with the baby AHHHH!)We got to my parents' house and did nothing for the rest of the day.  I was just tired and didn't care to go places.

Wednesday I got to satisfy a 2 month old craving.  Macayo chips and smooth salsa.  For some reason this had popped into my head one day, and I just wanted them.  Now I'm not a crazy craving person.  I just figured if we had time this trip that I'd love to go.  It was amazing...I ate a lot of it and some of my actual meal.    After a great lunch at this place with Kyle, my mom and sister, Kyle and I went to his home.  Here we talked, played on the wii, and did other random stuff.

TURKEY DAY!!!  Oh man...I was so excited.  I helped my dad make my favorite part of the meal...stuffing!!!  His is just so good, and I learned some tricks to make mine better.  Now stuffing is wonderful, and can became beyond amazing with all the rest.  This is why Thanksgiving is so great.  My parents' meal was a small one.  Just them, my sister, Kyle & I, and my Grandma Thompson.  After stuffing ourselves, taking a short nap and walk...we then went on to our second feast of the day.  Kyle's family partied at his Aunt's house along with many other relatives.  There was the Hansen clan with significant others of Audrey and Jake, the McQueens, the Ingrams (whose house it was at), the Ingrams seniors, cousin Millers 1 and 2 families, plus a friend of Audrey's and the sibling's of Jake's girlfriend.  In total this was many many people.  Dinner was wonderful though.  After eating and talking, we went and played badminton.  After everyone was frozen or tired of that we went into the music room and listened to Audrey then Bilyana play.  Bilyana was Audrey's friend who is a masters student at piano.

The closest thing to a group shot...the one looking out into the hallway is supposed to represent the 6+ people out there

This trip we had decided to spend one day each with each family, instead of everyday being back and forth.  Friday because of the traditional golf playing became the Hansen's.

There are more photos that I took, but I put them on my photography blog instead.... whphotos.blogspot.com

Each group was against each other.   Joseph and Leah were part of Kyle and I's team.  Audrey, Mychal, Jake, and Kacey was the other young group.  With papa Hansen, Dale, and Wes in the last group.  They of course beat us in the score, but Joseph and Kyle were pretty close to some of their individual scores.

After the game of golf we decided to go to CiCi's pizza.  This is a cheap pizza buffet.  I actually liked the pizza for the first time.  Mainly because pizza is always good tasting and sounding to me.

After stuffing ourselves here it was back to the Hansen home where we just chilled.  Later in the evening after watching the Rebel game we played a round of Scrabble.  Kyle kicked our butts mainly from his 50 point beginning word.

Saturday was now my family's day.  I had convinced my dad to take us shooting.  To me it's kind of like a tradition.  Melynn brought a friend and even with that it was just our small group of 6.  This though makes it quicker and easier to shoot most of the guns.  My dad only brought a .22 handgun, .22 rifles, and a few shotguns.  This was a good selection for us though, and they are my favorite.

After shooting the day was just spent playing Bang! and Dominion with my family.  We went to bed pretty early because we were now going to leave pretty early for home.  There was a snowstorm on Sunday, so we wanted to get to the nastiest parts during the middle of the day so instead of being ice it'd be water or a slush. We managed to leave my parents house by 6 o'clock.  The snowstorm started only 20 miles outside of St. George and continued the whole way up.  There were some spots that everyone would go 30-40 miles per hour because of so much buildup on the road.  It was scary whenever Kyle had to switch lanes because the middle part was just icey slush.  I was happy at the few and far in between spots where it had just been plowed so there was only water on the road.  Once in the snowstorm we couldn't see very far ahead or see any mountains to the side.  Even some parts the fields directly next to us weren't visible.  We have now decided to never do that again.  Kyle hated driving in it, I was gripping and couldn't nap because of paranoia...my sister though didn't really seem to mind.  I took some pictures along the way.

I'll describe them from top left to right, then next row and so forth.
First: this is the gorge.  The snowstorm technically started here, but nothing was coming down on the road.  Just the tops of the mountains.  It was actually gorgeous.
Second: about to go into it, this was around Hurricane.
Third: one of the big hills right before Cedar City.
Fourth: I think I was trying to capture the snowflakes flying into the car.  Don't remember where it was at.
Fifth & Sixth: Worse visibility place.  The fields after the fence just blended straight into the cloud.  There was even a hill we had to climb then go down.  Only thanks to the signs, and knowing where we were at did we realize that.  We couldn't see the road too far ahead.
Seventh: start of the nasty road.
Eigth: between Cove Fort and Fillmore was the nastiest spot.  The road was just snow and slush, especially where tracks weren't.
Ninth: This is inner city Salt Lake City.  There were actual ice spots, but couldn't see any buildings off to the side.  It took us a long time even just from Provo to get home.

All in all....fun weekend!!! but not a fun drive home at all.

We got to ride the train!!!

Okay, so we were pretty stoked on Veteran's day to test out the Front Runner.  For anyone who doesn't know, the Front Runner is a commuter train that runs from Ogden all the way to the Salt Lake Central Station, with various stops in between.  Our house is in a great location because a stop is literally down the street.  We are excited for the day that it connects to my cousins house next year, and then to Provo in 4 years.  However, by the time it reaches Provo there probably won't be any people there really.

The FrontRunner

Anyways, the whole day our favorite phrase was: we're taking the train!  Now this comes from a clip from an awesome show, The Big Bang Theory.  Here's the clip:



The reason for the trip was because Kyle wanted to check out the University of Utah, or the U.  He's hoping to go there for grad school.  So the train and light rail to the university was like a test trip, and fun date day.  It took a little longer than driving would, about an hour and twenty minutes, but being able to read and not drive is the pay off.  Plus we found out that a student fee of 50 dollars is all that he'll have to pay all semester to use it.  SA-WEET!!!

We checked out the enormous LDS institute.  Put two chapels together, add on more rooms and you might come close to it.  Then we wandered to the student union, the engineering building, and the library.  Its a big campus, and very hilly.  This definitely tired me out, but we had fun and enjoyed the restful trip on the way back by reading.

Kyle in front of one of the engineering buildings

Then this weekend we also got invited over to Kyle's brother's house for a little birthday get together.  It was fun especially since we hadn't seen them in a while.  A majority of the time was the boys only wanting to play the wii...except to eat of course.  

Danielle's brother Garrett

The hostess - Mrs. Danielle Hansen

Everyone at the shindig...with the two Hansen boys playing Wii (I did play too)

There was more stuff this weekend, but this is already long enough so I'll stop.  Thanksgiving is next week sooooo excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Not enough excitement can be written down.

More than 4/9ths

So an update about the kid...I'm now at 17 weeks.  This is just over four months, which means there's only five months left.  It seems to be going by quickly.  I haven't gained weight, but I do look fatter.  Unless I tell people, they don't know I'm pregnant.  Well instead of describing, this is what I look like:

 

According to websites its the size of an onion or pomegranate.  In less than 3 weeks it'll be canteloupe size.  Probably sooner than that because Thanksgiving we get two different dinners and I plan on eating a lot.  This will probably lead to me getting pretty fat that weekend.

One side effect that I haven't been a fan of is my hiccups.  These come whenever they feel like it.  Loud or medium (never soft), burp at the end, pulls my whole intestines...these are all variations than just the normal hiccup.  I've given up apologizing when they happen because its too often and they're going to be going for 5 more months.  They haven't come at too awkward of times like in the temple or when giving my talk in front of everyone.  

There has been a most hilarious moment though, and it happened on Friday night.  Kyle and I went to go see Despicable Me.  At one point Gru is told he has to return the orphans.  After his line of, "I have to give up the girls!" It actually becomes silent for a second to dwell on this sad and turning point of the story.  At this silent point, immediately right after he gave the dramatic line I gave a really loud hiccup gasp sound.  It was such perfect timing.  Kyle and I were laughing so hard, but had to keep it quiet due to the intense non-funny scene.  We both were shaking for the next few minutes.

Oh also on Sunday I got called to a new calling.  It's more like a really big upgrade to what they had me doing already.  I was the Relief Society Newsletter person to help out the secretary....well now I am that secretary.  It's really scary....but I'm sure I'll figure it out.