Nesting??? So Soon???

Is it alright to blame this terrible need on the pregnancy?

I can't stand it anymore...

and until it's finished I may lose my mind!

My basement!!!

It's been partially finished,

almost finished,

close to being finished.

But it's never actually BEEN finished.

And I can't stand it anymore!

The bedrooms had started looking like a bunch of pack rats

live here.

Oh wait...

aren't those my children?

How does it get so out of control?

We needed new floors too.

So we decided to do laminate flooring.

Even in the bedrooms.

Is it bad to say that throw rugs are better than carpet

when there are almost a dozen kids living down there?

Well... it's true!

I said we live in the hicks!

Sweeping and mopping is so much better than ruined carpet!

And painting!

I have a love/hate relationship with our wood stove.

It saves us thousands every winter.

Did I mention it saves us THOUSANDS of dollars every winter.

But the ick from it almost makes me want to use propane next year!

Tonight I have 2 bedrooms organized...

gutted out... ew, I feel like a hoarder!

No, I take that back, I feel like I gave birth to hoarders!

But no more!!!

They are now organized,

cleaned,

new bedding,

a real floor...

only thing left is painting the trim,

closet doors and tv's on the wall.

Yes, a tv!

Not with cable...

but it so cuts down on the bickering when they all can turn on a movie

or play their Wii's or X box or whatever other gaming system

happens to be in this house!

The tv's are going on their walls.

We are cleaning out the closet under the stairs so Hayden and Hyrum

have their very own little place for all of their stuff they have built

that nobody is allowed to touch but them!

The 2 girls' rooms are next.

It's rough...

Kailee took 6 or so bags of clothes out for storage and several more to donate.

They will not like me before I am done.

But it will be organized, cleaned and have a spot for everything.

It will feel SO good!

Did I mention that the best thing for curing OCD is a dozen plus kids?

Only sometimes it doesn't work.

Sometimes I lose my mind and everything has to be done the way "I" want it done!

I blame it on nesting.

I can blame it on hormones and the kids are much more understanding!

If I went crazy like this and I wasn't pregnant they would think I was just crazy!

Now they even feel bad for me and make me sit down

and they offer to help move things.

Shhhhh...

Don't tell them I am really just a freak.

They don't need to know that yet.

They will figure it out soon enough!

Girls Weekend...

The weekend was just what I thought, and hoped it would be. Girl's weekend. With Buffy and Checotah, Kailee, Kassi, Kinzee and me! It was the Young Women's broadcast and Buffy had the brilliant idea that we should go over Friday and spend the night. What more reason do we need for a road trip than, let's just go! Talk about an adventure! It's funny that whenever I get into a car to drive out of town, I say a prayer in my head and heart for safety. That the vehicle will run safely and... my dad always said this, "that the tires stick to the road." I like that. If the tires are on the road, it's a positive way to take the trip! So, we left for the 3 hour drive and that prayer ran through my mind. The trip went well, uneventful except one tiny blip, a clunk of sorts as we were heading into town from our houses. We slowed down and looked behind us wondering if we had hit something on the road. Nothing. There was a car directly behind us and they didn't swerve or look like anything had even happened, and nothing happened again so we chalked it up to the clay like red mud still stuck under their car from their trip to St George in the rain. No problem. We take a short stop in Wendover for a bathroom break. Still running great and no problems.... no more clunks. We finally get to the exit we needed to take for our hotel in Salt Lake, turn onto the road we needed and things are jumping, kind of crazy feeling like a flat tire, only not. We stopped, checked, the tires were all full. Weird, but figured it must be the road. Only it got worse. We literally went around the corner, yards away to park in the parking lot of one hotel... got out, looked at everything and I told Buffy to drive forward a little bit. Only inches and she had to stop... the wheel was moving, and we came to discover that the lug nuts were either missing (4 out of 6 on one, 2 others so loose they were ready to fall off when she moved the car, the other tire had only 2 missing but the other 4 were ready to fall off) or so loose that it wasn't like they were on anyway. I had the strangest, and strongest feeling that we had just witnessed a miracle. I knew if the rest of those lug nuts fallen off we would have lost a tire going down the freeway. And probably 2 tires. I can't imagine the devastation that would have caused. It's almost scary to think of it. Thankfully, Buffy just happened to have the phone number of the manager of Les Schwab in her phone because his daugther goes to the preschool Buffy owns. We finally are talking to the guy who is obviously upset and ready to do all he can to fix it. So, we watched the tow truck take the car away and we loaded up our much too much luggage to walk the block to the hotel we were staying at. It was cold outside! Why did winter decide to show up again on our wonderful girls trip??? It was fixed and delivered to us Saturday morning only a little worse for the wear! They will be replacing a new rim, tire and hub cap. Thankfully we are none the worse for wear because you know... there is no replacing the six of us! We laughed, we played, we laughed, we ate... laughing so hard is not an ideal situation when you are pregnant with your sixteenth. Ligaments pull and then you end up being in pain when you laugh, and breathe, and move. You can't sit down, you can't stand up, you are just stuck, laughing until you are crying and not able to move! That is what these girls do to me! We shopped, we played, we laughed, we ate some more. They put on quite the show at the Olive Garden, taking pictures while we waited in line and the waitress said she had told them she wanted us seated at her table because they looked so fun. They are that fun!!! It was an amazing weekend. Saturday we went to the Young Women's broadcast at the conference center. It seats around 21,000 people so to be there, seeing so many girls, women... wow! I love what is taught during these broadcasts. I love that our young women are told again and again how amazing they are, how much they important they are, how much they can do as just one person, and what strong women they are becoming. It's amazing and I can't wait to listen to the talks again and again! The General Young Women Meeting is something we listen to every 6 months but this time, to be in the conference center was just amazing! I am grateful to brush shoulders with these virtuous young women who find joy in bringing others joy and who find joy in simply living! The fun was so uplifting, the laughing was something that fills the cups and makes life look sweeter than ever before! Love you girls! All of you! It was so fun to go with Buffy and Checotah. I love Checotah like she is one of my own and Buffy is like a sister to me so the weekend was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!!! Their stomachs were much smaller than their eyes were, they insisted they could eat everything when they ordered... I should have taken the bet! :) They were only a tiny bit embarrassed that they didn't have their hair done or their make up on, but breakfast trumps beauty some mornings!

Kassi pauses to pose while she is working on Checotah's hair....

Kassi is saying, "Ummm, hmmm!"

Kailee hanging out ready to take off for the day...

Famous Footwear...there is nothing like this place!!!

Shopping... we are going to shop... we love to shop!!!

Silly girls... we love you all so much!

Buying new Pumas makes Kailee a very happy girl! In her words, "One can never have enough running shoes!"

Nikes aren't bad either! :)

Kailee is in heaven!

Of course, we didn't think we would NOT get a few of these pictures... or hundreds!

Kisses...

They tried all of the samples, and went back for seconds when the guy was cute... oh yeah, they are teen girls!

The entire purpose of the trip according to these girls!

OLIVE GARDEN... can you see the joy on their faces!

Buffy and Kinzee... Buffy... their second mom! It's always good to have extra 'moms' to take care of them!

If they are obnoxious enough maybe they will sit us faster???

Working on the theory....

Working....

Still working...

Now they have me in on the act...

Sweet 16 baby of ours...

Kinzee hearts him too!

OH the joy of loving this baby!

Making me pose...

And of course we have to have the feet picture... or many of them!

Kassi and Checotah showing off their new shoes!

It is only getting more out of control!

I blame this on lack of food... blood sugar drops and weird things happen!

Like this....

Give her food or she is going to off her sister.... (just joking!!!)

And we are left wondering what we were thinking bringing these 4 to the Olive Garden. We all had indigestion after we ate there because laughing hysterically and eating at the same time isn't really a positive thing to do! Then it was off to change into our dresses, in the bathroom...then racing to the conference center to the broadcast! One suggestion.... try to avoid running 9 blocks in high heels when you are pregnant with your 16th child...it makes for some uncomfortable moments...ligaments stretch and the deep bellly laughs had me aching but eventually sitting there, feeling of the sweet spirit of the meeting made up for it all!

The ride home was kind of crazy.The winter storm that had been pounding our families at home was making it's way to where we were and we knew that we would be driving into a mess. We spent an hour, or did it just feel that way, at the top of the mountain pass waiting for the police and the tow truck were able to get the jack knifed rig out of the road so we could get around. Some people are crazy... driving much too fast for conditions.... but we just went slow and steady and made it home through the storm! It was wonderful, amazing and so much fun to hang out with these amazing ladies. And then it was nice to be safely home with wonderful memories to hold onto!!! Thanks! I love every one of you!!!

Awww... the derby

The same night as Kassi's play just happened to be the pinewood derby too!

That's how it usually goes,

days without anything to do and then all on one night we have several things

going on.

So, these are the nights we divide and conquer!

Thankfully there are enough of us that even when we divide up

to show support for whatever activities are going on,

there are more of us than most people have of 'everyone'... ha!

SO, while the girls and I headed to the play after wishing the boys luck,

Thayne and the boys were there to cheer Hayden and Hyrum on.

I actually do not enjoy the pinewood derby.

I know, I am a horrible mom right?!

It's not the kids...

It is the dads!
We are horrible parents who have always let our kids do their own work.

You know... things like the invention convention in 5th grade.

We go in and see 'inventions' that the parents did...

all in the spirit of competition!

And then there are a few of us parents who actually let their kids

do their own work.

It may not match up to the grown ups,

but they take a lot of pride in their work experience!

The same goes with the derby car.

Yep, we let them do their own car....

which likely won't compete with the streamlined cars

built by some professional derby car builder! :)

But darn it all they have a blast!

They love doing it themselves.

Their favorite part is usually the very end when they just get to race for fun.

We aren't real competitive about it all...

and it isn't pretty when the dad's want to make sure their car...

um, I mean their child's car wins! haha

The boys also had a wheel malfunction with one of the cars...

but they showed up,

they proudly raced the car

and they are as happy as before

without the knowledge that they smoked up the track!

They are now playing with the cars at home,

so I guess they are getting some good play out of them anyway!

Good job boys...

but next time I send your brother the camera for pictures,

I will be more specific so I can actually see your cars race!

You are both # 1 in my heart anyway!!!

Hey Hayden...

Sweet Bummy, oh sorry... Hyrum! :)
The waiting is the worst right boys??

Another week gone by...

Another week down,

Another week closer.

I am loving the moment I am in.
Love feeling every movement of this little guy.
This is that time when you can't really feel him on the outside,

and it's my time,

that special time like you have a secret that only you know.

I smile everytime he kicks.

Nate got the doppler out today

telling me that he needs to hear his baby.

Somebody asked a question,

wondering if you ever forget hearing your baby's heartbeat

for the first time.

You don't!

But it is just as amazing when you hear the heartbeat

of your 16th

as it was hearing it for your first!

My heart feels like it will burst

with love

for this baby.

And while I don't want to rush the time we have...

I really can't wait to see his little face...

I can't wait to hold him,

in the middle of the night when every one else is sleeping.

Those moments are so amazing

and go by so quickly.

It's strange this time

that I feel nothing but peace.

Sometimes the fear of another c-section

scares me to the point of not being able to sleep at night.

But I have such a sense of peace and joy that I haven't felt any fear.

Another week down...

another week closer to meeting my newest son.

Another week closer to seeing the face of this miracle child.

My little drama queen...

Last night was the play that Kassi has been preparing for...for what seems like forever. But not really! It was for her drama class and it was called, "It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's... NERDMAN?!" A great spoof on Superman! And to prove my sweet daughter is a great actress she played Sabrina... hooked up with the gangster. I think she was, um, his personal nurse or something. She said her teacher told her that she didn't want to see the real Kassi tonight... that she was playing a, um, trampy type girl and to put her heart into it and forget who she really is! Oh MY, she did great! (She also played one of the victims) I told her to immediately REMEMBER who she really is as soon as the play was over! Even better was that Thayne played Giles Gusher, the gangster! Thayne is the son of our best friends. AND Kassi and Thayne used to have a crush on each other... you know, way back when... but it is fun to tease her that it would be just too cool for her to marry Thayne! Thayne has a very similar personality as Kassi so they were the perfect pair! It was very fun! Way to go kids, you were awesome!!! Nurse Sabrina...

Nerdman saved her from the thief....

How do you know where he was on Friday the 13th? I was with him... I'm with him everynight!

Nerdman took out the stalker...

Great job!!!!

Kassi and Thayne at the end of the play... take a bow guys!