Growth

No, I'm not speaking of my growing belly...

There has been alot of growth around here though! Our cutie boy, for one. & the biggest growth of all... the garden!!! Totally stoked for the fruite of our (ok, mostly Seans ) labors!!
Sam loves to carry the little shovels around & pretend like he is gardening with Sean!

A beautiful bell- we planted red, yellow, & green this year.. yum!

beginnings of squash fever

real squash!

Sammy- I can just hear his triumphant... da dah!!

Yesterday I convinced Sean to pick a few of his precious carrots from the ridiculously enormous carrot patch he was letting grow. One was sooo huge! He twisted the guts out of it.. literally! He could barely get it out of the ground & it came in 2 pieces & the bottom was twisted to death.

however, the ones that did come out were total delish.. a little ranch! Have I ever mentioned how much I love fresh veggies & fruit?

ps- tomorrow morning we are headed to a little orchard to pick some peaches! Have I ever mentioned how much I love food?

Fancy Nancie :)

For those of you who don't know, I have a pretty amazing sister. Ok, I have 6 amazing sisters, but I'm speaking of the 4th born of the family, Nancie.
Last night she was awarded the Educator of the month for the Mesa Public Schools. Pretty amazing, huh? Yeah, she is.

Here she is with her award in hand-

I wanted to give a link to the actual meeting where she was recognized, so you can hear a few of the things she's done. Just click right HERE and skip to minute 44 of the meeting.

Her colleagues nominated her & she didn't know she was receiving the award- that is until every Lindblom living anywhere near showed up to the board meeting- not sure why, but I think it tipped her off. When they called her name the cheers were nice & loud :) We are so proud of our sister!! Way to go Nancie!!!!

tidbit

Today when I walked in the door I found this...

it brought a smile to my face. I can't tell you how many times this kid has fallen asleep while eating. Perhaps he dosn't hold food in high esteem like his mom does :)

Sean wanted to show my parents the ridiculous carrot takeover we are experiencing...

If you need or ever do need a carrot, you know where to find one !

Sean also planted some herbs for me this year in a pretty large pot. It is exploding!!! A few days ago I made some baked chicken w/olive oil & fresh chopped basil on it. Delish!!

Here is the herb garden getting its thirsty drink- water in action!

the reason it's doing so well is cause Sean wrigged this little sprinkler in the middle of it... awesome!

Dirty

please note the tshirt on the right. I bought it at Target on clearance for Sam ($2!) because I couldn't imagine any shirt matching this boy more.

He wore it yesterday for the first time & truly gave it its name. That boy has a way of getting dirty that I'll never understand. These pics aren't from yesterday, but you get the picture.

Arizona Beauty

Last Friday I got tricked into camping. Thats right, tricked.
Sean: Hey, you wanna cook out in the desert tonight?
Me: sure! Sounds like fun
Sean: Well, there's a place not too far away that we could maybe camp overnight, you wanna?
Me: ok, but I don't want to go very far!

3 hours later.. we're driving past Globe. Hmmm...I'm pretty sure it was his plan all along!
We camped just outside of Seneca Lake just before the Salt River Canyon starts its nice descent. It really has some pretty stunning views...
We actually tent camped cause we sold the fifth wheel a few months ago. But we took our high queen blow up mattress & all crashed on it together. The weather was amazingly nice & the night was just the right amount of chilly for camping.
Here are my two adventurers...

I always make a silent bet with myself when we go out into the wilderness, just how long it will take Sean to utter his famous line " I wonder where that road leads! " . Believe me, it was said more than once. We did take one of the roads & it led to a pretty awesome view of the Salt River. Here is Sean overlooking his great discovery.

thats one handsome man :)

We grilled hot dogs.. pretty much the easiest thing to possibly grill & Sam loved them. Sam actually pretty much loved everything. I know, hard to imagine! He loved playing in the dirt, running around, throwing rocks into the fire, pretending to drive the truck & playing with the dog. This kid is definitely his fathers son!!!!

Don't worry... when Sean started the fire, it flamed out pretty good & Sam felt it & exclaimed "HOT!" & didn't go near the fire after that, except to throw things in it from a distance.

It was nice to get some fresh air & appease my boys' need for nature, dirt & four wheeling.

Hallelujah!!

On April 15 Sam was officially 18 months old. For those of you who belong to the LDS church, you realize what an exciting stepping stone this is in a parents life. Yes, it is the time when your child gets to start attending the nursery during church, allowing you to once more gain your sanity & enjoy meetings. Today was the first day we left Sam all alone the whole time. He cried in the very beginning & I came in to hold him, but that ended quickly & he did well the rest of the time. I'm the music leader in the ward for primary & nursery, so I go into the nurseries & do a little singing time with them. He did pretty well when I came in & didn't cry when I snuck away after I was done. Hallelujah!!! Now only about 18 more weeks & we'll have another baby & the cycle starts all over.

Sean beat me to the nursery to pick him up & it was so cute! He was asking Sam.. how did you do? Did you like nursery? Sam colored this for us today...

he apparently really likes the color orange.

Popcorn popping...

Oh man.. last night we had some kettle corn made on the stove!!! It was sooo great!
Sam helped turn the handle so the kernels were moving around & he thought it was so great! I thought eating the popcorn was great! LOVE IT!

Speakinf of "popcorn" popping....

Sean planted some asylum flowers.. not sure if I got that right... in the front flower beds & they are popping out everywhere!!! He planted a few other colors, but it seems like the white ones are taking over!!! I kinda wish they were red! Then they would really pop!!! but I can't get over how great Sean is at growing things!!!

Speaking of growing things...

3 years ago Sean bought me this rose bush for Mother's Day so I could have flowers all the time :) I let it die one winter, but Sean brought it back to life & it brings me smiles alot more than one little boquet of flowers would have!! A new set of blooms are coming up! I counted 11 buds that I'm waiting on :)

Sean ate one of my sisters cupcakes a few weeks ago & apparently has been fantasizing about it ever since, so he offered to trade her landscaping for cupcakes.. not a bad trade ( I especially think since I just had a carrotcake cupcake w/cream cheese frosting) . If you've never had her cupcakes, your REALLY missing out!! You can check them out here.
I went to chat with her & Sam went to play in her fun backyard, so I took a few pics of my amazingly cutie boy :)

Good times!

Can you believe about 1/3 of this year is over???!!! We've started using all the fans in the house & that thermometer is really starting to climb! Not sure I'm ready for the summer heat! Especially with a prego belly!!!! Here we go!

All my troubles seem so far away!

Yesterday...
Even though some pretty amazing things happened yesterday, I still had a slight prenancy hormone breakdown. I'm lucky that I have a pretty amazing husband that deals with it, feeds the baby, feeds the dog & bird, & then tries to make me feel better.
Why is it that when you feel down, everything seems to come to mind that could make you feel more down? Well, its ok, that was yesterday, & today is looking beautiful. Sam kissed me & hugged me awake today & everything is ok. Today is my day to make my husband feel better than he could on his own.
Yesterday we had our ultrasound that told us we are having another baby boy. We layed awake talking about names that we like, or actually agree on, and right before we went to bed I watched the dvd of our newest little guy again. I noticed that at the end, the estimated due date from the averages of measuring body parts was August 26- just a tad different than the September 13th one my Dr. has in my chart. Hopefully she'll change it!
We'll see next week at my Dr. appointment. I guess I wasn't looking at the screen correctly when we were having the ultrasound. I knew this baby would come in August...at least I think he will. That is even further than I thought I was.. by about a week. I'm just glad he didn't measure later than I thought!
Right before we fell asleep last night baby boy was moving around like crazy ( a common occurance with this one) and I grabbed Sean's hand and put it near my bellybutton.. & he felt him ! First time :) Now we both get to enjoy this active guy!

It's a......

Well, this morning Sean & I went for the ultrasound that I've been waiting for. The baby is doing great! Everything looks really good.. & yes, I said baby.. one, not any more. Now we dan dispell any twin talk. Oh yeah, I guess we can dispell any girl talk to.. cause its a boy :) Please enjoy the skeletal views of our newest son...
Sean calls the next one the terminator view... I myself think it looks like one of the one eyed dolls from the Toy Story

skeletor

showin some leg :)

feetsies...

Next question asked by pretty much everyone... any names yet? Well, we found out just a few hours ago that it was a boy. & we have casually discussed names, nothing very definite yet. We probably will do the same thing that we did when we had Sam- we had a couple of names & when we saw him, we picked the one that fit him.

There it is folks!

Lazy Saturday

We spent the day today cleaning the house outside & in. Sean & his brother got the house looking spic & span outside while Sam followed them around all day outside, fogoing naps & eating, refusing to do anything but be with Dad.
Sean finally broke down & went to the doctor yesterday & has a pretty bad ear infection. I'm pretty sure we will never all be well here!
Here are the partners in crime hanging out together...
While Sean was doing yardwork today he left the water on over at the side of the house & it apparently made for a nice play area.. so I couldnt' help but take pictures of my cutie little boy!

This was followed by a bath & a nap that was much much needed. The nap? lasted about 45 minutes.. this kid is killing me! It's like he feels like he'll miss something if he isn't right in the middle of it all!!!

Monday morning is our ultrasound appointment.. so next time I post, we'll know what we are having!!!!

wierd

Have you ever had a pregnant day when you feel like you could eat the world, but there isn't much food in the house, & your tired from working & you come home to a poopy baby & the tv on too loud & your husband wanting you to tutor him in math & you feel like you could cry? & then you do? Yeah.. me neither.

stinky stinky stinky!

Well... our Easter started out pretty fun on Friday, but that night Sam started with a little fever. Saturday he seemed like he was doing ok, until I went over to my sisters to play games & have fun. But Sammy was burning up again & started getting fussy, so we headed home. He's been wheezy & feverish since then... stinky! So this morning I took Sam to urgent care & it turns out he has croup. That seriously sounds like something that kids got in the 1800's, but I know I hear people talking about their kids having it. Anyways- Sam was a psycho at the Dr. office!! He didn't' want to sit still so he was freaking out. I'm surprised they could tell anything about him! Anyways- they prescribed some meds for him & hopefully he'll be the same old Sam soon! It seems like someone is always sick here!!! Oh yeah, Sean pretty much has the same thing. Yesterday wasn't the best Easter we've ever had to say the least!!!

Easter time

This morning we headed over to the Ayala househould for an Easter egg hunt with all the Lindblom cousins. Good times :)
Sammy, of course, had to push the stroller around- what would we do without girl cousins?
Max, Garrison & Aunt Nancie.

The younger kids were playing ring around the rosie, waiting for the hunt.

Rock insisted on a picture with this pose... why, I'm not quite sure...

Here is everyone waiting to be let out the door. Sam was doing some great acrobatic tricks with his basket.

I'm actually surprised at how well Sam did. I walked next to him & held his basket & when he picked up the eggs I would have him place them in the basket & then tell him to look for more. If I left the basket with him, he would just play with the eggs he'd already found.

Sam was wearing the same shirt Sean used to wear when he was a little guy.

Ayala girls scouring the yard for eggs.

After about 4 minutes, Sam was done & decided that he'd rather play..

Griffin Sam throwing his eggs in the basket

Rock was intentely searching the contents of the eggs...

the older kids had money in their eggs & were very excited to count their findings...

Rock & Sam had candy in their eggs

one special egg had a dollar bill in it & Jolie was the lucky finder.

Sam moved from different parts of the yard playing while all the rest of the kids were looking for eggs

all the cousins being goofy

Lindblom sisters

Sammy is one lucky little boy to have so many cousins around him.. that are so tolerant & loving of him :) and aunts that are awesome cooks! Thanx for the hot cross buns Michelle & the yummy Easter cupcakes Jo!!!