Feb. '18- Week 4-Bishops Wives Lunch, Sledding, Abby's Blessing, Ben 7 Year Check-up

Thursday after Anna had music, we went to Dan's work and had a family picnic lunch.  Anna had "dress like a pirate" day at preschool.  I read with McKenna and played Cover Your Assets with Ben.  Brooklyn Ulmer babysat that night while Dan and I went to dinner and Hunchback of Notre Dame at Hale Theater with Dan's parents. 

Friday I woke up feeling sick around 5:30 and Dan was nice enough to get up with me and watch some TV together.  I had a doctor's appointment that morning and was very late because I had to drive in a snow storm.  I never got above 40mph the whole way to St. Mark's.  I was still only 2cm and 70% effaced.  I wanted the Dr. Watt's to strip my membranes but he advised against it since he was going out of town for the weekend.  Dan was told again to work from home for the day due to the snow.  

I was lucky to be able to attend a Bishops wives luncheon that afternoon with the wives of the stake presidency.  The food, company, and conversations were so yummy and uplifting.  Dan was a bit of a shuttle driver since the snow storm was still going strong.  He loves his 4-wheel drive.  

We had Jordan and Lizzie over to play.  We went out to eat as a family that night when the snow finally stopped.  

Saturday the Alexanders were so nice to take the older three kids sledding at Lewis park! 

The kids then had lunch and played at the Alexander's while Charley came to sit with Bethany while she napped and I went to Bonnie Chatelain's funeral, which Dan conducted and spoke at, with Rachael.  That night we had pizza and watched Coco.  

Sunday we went to our own Sacrament meeting then we attended the baby blessing for Sam and Lara's baby Abby.  The kids loved being able to sit by Dan. :)  Dan's mom also got this historic picture.  Her Bishop is her son, Stake President is her husband, and the Prophet is her father!  :)  

We celebrated the Webster February BDs that evening at dinner.  That night we watched the last of the Winter Olympics.  

Monday Anna had gymnastics, I swept the garage, did laundry, and went through some baby clothes.  While Anna was at preschool, I took Ben for his 7 year check-up.  

Height: 46.8 in (25%) 2 in increase in a year

Weight: 47 lbs (25%) 5 lb increase in a year

We found out  Ben is healthy and growing but needed to get his eyes checked.  He was unable to read the eye chart, even the 5th line up from the bottom.  That night was the Nelson Family BD party at Mom and Dad's house.  

That night I nested big time and cleaned the kitchen sink, the stove, the master bathroom, and the car seat.  

Tuesday I did more cleaning then took the girls to Brynn's while I had my final doctor's appointment where he did strip my membranes.  

McKenna had a play date with Camille that afternoon.  McKenna worked on play practice and a book report that night while Dan had church meetings.  

Wednesday the girls played at Rachael's house while I relaxed a bit and worked on the blog.  We had a normal afternoon of homework and Ben and McKenna had art class.  I unfortunately felt grumpy and short with the kids all day.  Always grateful for "tomorrows" where I can do better.

Feb. '18- Week 3- Ben's Mexican Fiesta, Snow Day, No School All Week, Book Club,

Thursday I went with Anna to music, then I worked on clearing pictures off my phone and dropbox to get ready for the massive amounts of pictures we would take when our new baby arrived.  We had our usual busy evening with McKenna going to activity days and Ben to music.  Dan had late church meetings that night.  

Friday Dan took off of work to be with Anna and Bethany while I volunteered in Ben's class for their Mexican Fiesta Day.  They had a "photo booth," made maracas, played pin the tail on the donkey, spent their paper pesos at a "store," and had a pull string pinata.  

They also had tacos for lunch.  YUM!  I loved it being able to play with Ben a little at recess too.  :)

After school I stayed to help sell Beauty and the Beast tickets.  That night we had pizza, watched the Olympics, then went to Ugurt for a treat! 

Saturday was a "crack the whip" kind of morning.  We used it to clean up the family room, patio room, kitchen counters, basement, move the crib level up in the baby's room, do some laundry, and move car seats around.  

After lunch I went and got a haircut and picked up groceries.  To reward the kids for their morning's hard work, we took them to play at a park.  Unfortunately the first park we chose was way too windy and cold (Tunnel Springs Park).  So we went to Lewis Park instead (lower elevation).  We did showers and baths and after dinner we played games! 

Sunday was a nice chill day with just our family.  Our milk had my due date on it!  I took a selfie with Bethany where my belly looked really large! Ben built a nice block tower, and before bed the kids had a dance party to Greatest Showman songs.  We also watched Mulan 2, finished our scrabble game from the day before, and a snow storm rolled in later that afternoon.  

Monday was President's Day and the kids didn't have school and the snow was so bad, Dan's boss told everyone to work from home if they could.  The kids had fun playing in the snow and sledding in our yard!   

We had grilled cheese and hot chocolate when they came in. The kids still did some homework in the afternoon before we watched the Emoji movie as a family.  

 We received the sad news a lady in our ward, Bonnie Chatelain, passed away that afternoon.  Dan went and spent some time with their family.  After dinner McKenna and Ben planned a Family Home Evening about forgiveness which included a story from the Friend and a puppet show.  

 The kids didn't have school the rest of the week.  Apparently the parents at our school voted whether to have a longer Christmas break or a shorter Christmas break with a full week off in February.  Normally, we most likely would have used this "off season" break to go and do something fun!  But being 38 weeks pregnant, we were not about to go anywhere.  

Tuesday, Camille came over for a playdate and we played Cover Your Assets.  That evening was my turn to host our book club so I prepped the food all afternoon and McKenna helped make some cute signs/labels.  Even though the big kids didn't have school, Anna still had preschool and Ben had gymnastics that day.  Everyone came to book club except Shelly and we had a good discussion about "Siblings Without Rivalry."   I felt like I got a few new strategies to help me handle my kids arguments and fights.

Wednesday I didn't sleep well in the early morning due to a frenzied mind wondering if I over shared at book club or if we even had a good discussion.  Bethany had speech then I took the kids to the library and lunch at Keva Juice and Great Harvest.  That afternoon was spent reading with McKenna and Ben and helping McKenna with play practice.  I helped take dinner to the Pugsleys then went to a double baby shower for two Maxfield cousins.  Dan had the priests over for their activity that night.