5:1:18

My life is based on a constant series of numbers. This many years since I was born. This many weeks until a vacation. This many hours since I last ate. This many minutes until naptime. I like the tidiness and predictability of a good number but I think sometimes these numbers distract me from the present. It can be hard to focus on the present because there's no number to represent right now. Right now is always changing and that makes me nervous. I think looking back and looking forward are important. Sometimes, it's the only way we can get through the present. Today, 3 numbers are on my mind.

5: The number of years since Sam and I were married. When other people say they have the best husband, I laugh a little bit inside because I know they're wrong. I have the best one! However, I guess maybe anyone who is happily married has the best husband--the best husband for them. We've been through a lot in our five years but they have been the best five years. Anyone who knows Sam knows he is wonderful but only the people living in this house know how truly wonderful he is. He is such a blessing to our family and I would be totally lost without him.

1: The number of years Sam has left in dental school. I was going to make the number 525,600 (Did you sing the song in your head?) but graduation is actually a little bit over a year away so I didn't think it was an accurate representation. Plus, it's a lot more fun to look at that really small number than that really big number. Our time here has flown by and I know this next year will be over before we know it. I can't wait to see what the next chapter of our life will bring.

18: The number of weeks pregnant I am. Our third baby is due September 29. We are very excited! I'm sure there will be plenty of posts on this subject in the upcoming months.

A Few More...

I've been able to get some more cute picture of our trip to California from my MIL and SIL. Thank goodness I'm not the only one taking pictures or we would be quite deficient.

Here's a nice shot of Clara's shiner. It was looking better at this point. Poor girl has been getting a lot of bonks as she enters the age of exploration.

Abby doing a puzzle with grandpa.

Some more pictures from the beautiful temple.

I think this is right after my brother-in-law put his arm around me instead of his wife.

Clara took some of her first steps at the reunion. As you can tell, she was very proud.

This is the day we went to the tide pools. I went down by the water and got soaked up to my knees by an unexpected wave. The tide was supposed to be going out!

Clara doing puzzles with her cute cousin.

Abby working hard to fill the water launcher.

Sam and Dan heading down to boogie board. They had such a blast.

Clara giving some giggles to Uncle Roo.

Abby playing beauty shop with Anna. She loved playing with the big girls. When we got home, we had to make a paper purse just like Anna's.

We bought all of the boys shirts that said San Diego Muscle Club. It was pretty funny.

Discharged

Today was a big day for our Clara girl. She had her last visit with her physical therapist and was discharged from the Early Intervention program.

She has turned into quite the walking machine and has reached all of the developmental milestones for her age.

Now, when we go outside to play, I have to chase her all around, which is exciting, but exhasuting.

We are so proud of our little lady and love watching all of her fun new skills.

Easter Sunday

Before we left on vacation, we made sure we had some things to make Easter special, even though we knew we'd be exhausted from travelling.

Abby was excited to wake up and have an Easter egg hunt. She was bummed to find out she missed the one in the park with her friends, though.

Clara was a good spectator and enjoyed some of the treats.

We got Abby treats and the movie Tangled, which she was pretty excited about.

Clara got a new book and some treats.

The girls looked beautiful in their new dresses. Clara's was a birthday gift from Merrick but I thought it would make a pretty Easter dress.

We had a wonderful day thinking about our Savior, His atoning sacrifice and His resurrection.

Reunion in California

We met up with Sam's family at a beautiful beachhouse in Oceanside, CA. We had an amazing time playing with family, eating way too many treats and spending time on the beach.

On our first day, we drove to the San Diego temple to take family pictures. The grounds were closed but we still managed to find a pretty good view. One of my sisters-in-law took took the group shots with her fancy pants camera but I don't have them yet.

The next day, we went to some tide pools. I forgot my camera in the car. Boo.

We spent a day at Sea World which was a ton of fun.

I gave Clara her first pigtail. She looked very cute. Clara was a good girl all day. She loved watching the shows and would dance and clap along to the music. She took a nice nap in her stroller.

Abby loved going on the rides. Daddy manned up and took her on the spinny ride because I couldn't handle it.

We both took her for a spin on Elmo's Flying Fish.

Toward the end of the day, Clara was excited to get out of the stroller and wiggle around a bit.

We spent lots of time playing in the sand. Clara really like sitting and digging. She even had a taste.

Abby had a blast playing with all of her cousins. She loved playing on the beach. That day, most of the dad's and lots of the kids rented wet suits and went boogie boarding. Sam was excited to play with his brothers out in the water, even if he did freeze his face off.

We don't get to see our family enough so it is always a wonderful time when we do get together. The girls did really well travelling, especially since we had kind of crazy flight times. We already miss hanging out with everyone and look forward to the next reunion in 2014!

Lookin' Fine at 29

Sorry for the lame title. I thought of it and I just couldn't resist.

We celebrated Sam's birthday a little over a week ago. We kept things pretty low key because we were leaving for vacation the next day.

Abby helped open presents.

I am running low on wrapping paper so we got creative. Sam loved Abby's masterpiece, especially since most of the stickers were My Little Pony.

Sam couldn't figure out what I would have bought him that was so heavy. And yes, I did wrap it in a blanket.

He was excited for a new Dutch oven.

We had a couple of friends over for dinner and apple pie.

We love our daddy lots and had fun celebrating his birthday.