THE COMMENT SECTION-UGGHHH...

For the past two days I have been trying to figure out why our comment section wasn't working, but I think I finally got it. Yesterday Chris (thanks so much!) helped me for a while and then today when I checked it there was still a problem. I think it is finally fixed right! So if you feel like leaving a comment, give it a shot, it should work correctly.

THE BUMP! Pregnancy Update! 32 weeks and counting...

Here it is-the PREGNANCY picture! We are now at 32 weeks and counting. In approximately 8 weeks we will have a little girl! I have had a rather uneventful pregnancy. I didn't experience morning sickness and aside from a nasal drip that began a few months ago I have felt really good. My ankles (I refer to them as cankles right now) began swelling last week and resembled a can of bisquits bursting open, but after keeping them elevated, staying off of them, and getting plenty of rest, I was back to normal for this first day of school. The Dr. seems pleased with the progress and now that I'm going ever two weeks, it is becoming more and more real that she will be here soon. Tonight I went with one of my friend's to a yoga class for pregnant women. It was a lot of fun and quite relaxing. My friend is expecting twins! It seems like I've had a lot of friends that have had babies recently or are expecting in the near future. I guess the good news is we can provide support for one another.

We did decide on a name but I'm not going to post it just yet, because I'd love some feedback on the spelling. If you take Darrin and put a J on the beginning of it you would have the name of our daughter. We don't want to spell it Jarrin. So if you have any feedback on a more girly spelling, email us. We are hoping to find a way to spell it that will produce the least amount of mispronunciations throughout her life. Hmmm...I guess with a name like "Jura" you sort of get used to being called everything but the right thing. Last week I was "Hura," "Juna," "Jurah," and even "e-jooorah." Go figure!

Aug. 25, 2008 Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing...

Samantha starting Kindergarten!

Payton on her first day of Kindergarten!

Today summer came to an abrupt end with the start of school. Samantha and Payton began fourth grade. This is one of those years that bring back many memories for me. I'll never forget my first year teaching in Las Vegas in 1998. I worked at an "at risk" school and never will forget the fear and nervousness I felt as I walked out onto the playground to round up about 34 fourth graders. I had one rather large girl at the front of the line with her arms crossed across her chest and the minute I spoke she said, "you country ain't you?" Let's just say that was not only a year of learning for my students but also for this born and bred Kansas native.

The girls were very excited to get to school this morning and meet their friends from the previous years and embark on yet another school adventure. It is hard to believe how much they have grown up. Yesterday wasn't quite the ending we hoped for as far as summer was concerned. They got in big trouble for being mean to one another and cutting the hair on a doll. I'm sure if you know the girls very well you can only imagine who was cutting hair! HA HA! A hair stylist in the making. Darrin quickly let them know the ground rules for this upcoming school year, reminded them who was in charge, had a little "come to Jesus" conversation, and then the girls wrote essays about just exactly what their expectations are at home and school. Hopefully that will help get the school year off to a good start. I guess time will tell and we will see. The pictures below were taken this morning. The pictures above were Kindergarten pictures. Amazing how quickly they grow up. We were laughing this morning after we dropped them off b/c in five or six short years we'll be going to the first day of Kindergarten all over again with two in high school. Are we crazy or what?

The Buddster!

We absolutely love our dog, Buddy! He is such a great part of our family and always happy to see us. We get a big kick out of his favorite position! He loves to roll over on his back and stick his chest and belly in the air. It seems like everytime he does it, I can't get to the camera fast enough, but this time I just so happened to have my camera phone close by and could snap this classic Buddy picture. This afternoon we combed him and after combing and combing we decided to break out the vacuum and see if we could suck some of his hair off. He hates the vacuum cleaner to begin with, so with much bribing of his favorite treat,a Twizzler, we were able to get him to hold still for a few minutes while Darrin got busy. As soon as we were done he took his Twizzler and ran to the landing on the stairway as if to say, "I've had enough, now leave me alone." If dogs could just talk for one day...

The Twilight Series!

Yes, I am another sucker! A few weeks ago while we were in St. George, UT looking around the book section of Walmart, Darrin mentioned this series to me. I had read a little about it in some magazine, but when I heard it involved "vampires" I was immediately turned off. Needless to say a few weeks later I am now reading. Although, I don't have much time to read, I try to get in at least a chapter every day or so. I'm just about to embark on Chapt. 16 and hopefully before the weekend I will be through the book so I can start on the next book while riding in the car to San Diego. Yes, I too am totally taken by Edward-oh he is so smooth!

Happy Birthday Poppa!

Grandma and Poppa came to visit for Poppa's 60th birthday weekend. They were able to enjoy a beautiful suite at the Monte Carlo hotel and we were all able to go to dinner at Louis's Fish Camp on Poppa's birthday. For his birthday, we sent him and Lyn to the Cirque de Soleil show, KA, at the MGM Grand hotel. They had a fabulous time and we were able to enjoy getting to see them and spend time together as a family.

Grandma Lyn with the girls!
Poppa with his two favorite girls, Samantha and Payton!
Darrin with his Mom and Dad on his Dad's bday, Aug. 9, 2008.

Kansas Trip July 30-August 4th

I decided that this will be the last time I get to go "home" to Kansas without a baby in tote. I had a couple weeks of vacation left and decided my cravings for homegrown garden vegetables had overcome me and I NEEDED to go home. I try to go home at least once a year and typically it is in the summer when I have more time off. Darrin had to stay in Las Vegas and work and the girls were with their mother, so I decided to make the trip solo. I flew on a regular jet to Denver then rode on a little 19 seat prop plane to Garden City. Needless to say by the time I arrived I was in tears and not quite sure if I was going to puke or not. It was the worst and most choppy flight I've ever taken. I don't know if it was a combination of being 7 months pregnant or just feeling like I was on a neverending roller coaster ride. It certainly isn't something I would choose to do on a regular basis.

It was so nice to see my family. My dad is 75 years young and amazes me each and everyday. He has the best memory and works circles around people half his age. He and my mom garden ever summer and on Saturdays he takes cleaned/bagged produce to the local Farmer's Market and sells it. I was so excited to get to each fresh homegrown tomatoes and cucumbers. I think I ate tomatoes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They were so delicious and absolutely hit the spot. My mom and I enjoyed taking a card making class together at the local scrapbooking store and learned a new dry embossing technique. I was able to visit with my sister, Jana and her husband Clifford and their girls, Mackenzie and Caylea. We enjoyed a nice Sunday dinner as a family and a game of BINGO. I was also able to go with my dad to visit some of their friends at the rest home and go to church with them on Sunday and see many old friends.

I enjoyed lunch at "El Zarape" mexican food place with my good friend Steph. We were able to catch up on our lives and old friends. It was great to see her and she looks so good! The fair was going on while I was home, but I didn't make it down this year. It was rather hot and humid and I seemed to keep myself very busy getting my mom and dad set up with their new computer and wireless network. On Sunday I was able to visit my good friend, Karen. We always seem to pick up right where we leave off and stayed up talking until 5 AM, but it was so nice to get to see her and her girls.

What a fun trip and many great memories. I enjoyed getting to spend so much time with my mom and dad. It was a taste of nostalgia being at home by myself. In just a couple months my life will dramatically change. As the due date approaches our anticipation and excitement grows. We are so ready to meet this new little life. I am so excited that my parents plan to be in Las Vegas for her arrival. Hopefully they will choose to stay for a while and help me adjust to being the mother of a newborn.

Me with my good friend Steph!
Mom and Dad with me before I left to go back to Las Vegas, NV on Aug. 4, 2008. Being 7 months pregnant and flying aren't necessarily the best combination!

Me and My dad when I arrived in Garden City at the airport on July 30, 2008
My dad standing next to the cucumber plants and under the HUGE sunflower that grows in the backyard garden.