Anniversary

Mike,

Happy anniversary! I can't believe it's only been two years! These have definitely been the fastest and funnest years of my life! We have gone through so much together, good and bad, and I am so happy that we have had each other to support each other through it all.

I am so happy that I am your wife and best friend. I feel so honored to be the mother of your children and to be called your wife, even more so your eternal companion. I am so proud of you and all your hard work and dedication to your family. You play a very vital role in our family and we would not be complete without you.

You are the best husband a girl could have, I thank God everyday for you. I am so thankful for all that you do for me and the kids. I know I am always asking more from you and am a very big nag but it is because I cannot run our home without you. You do so much more than any other husband, father or man I know.

I am so thankful for your testimony in the church and that you are a priesthood holder and take advantage of the blessings that brings us. You bring such a sweet spirit into our home, I miss it when you are away. I am very thankful for the spiritual growth we have made together.

You impress me everyday. You are my role model and I look up to you and lean on you for strength in my weakest times. You are a great example to our children especially to Perry.

I love you more than any words can express. I will never stop loving you and will hold your hand as we travel down this short road of life and never let go. I look forward to all the years to come, all the anniversaries, birthdays, holidays and just raising our family on a day to day basis. I can only try to be as perfect to you, as you are to me and pray it is good enough.

I love you so much!

Your Joebin

Perry's First Soccer Game

Is he not the cutest thing you've ever seen!?! This is finally Perry's year! He gets to go to school 3 days a week instead of 2 and he gets to play soccer. His shorts were waaaaay to big and kept falling off, a few times they ended up around his ankles, it's a good thing he wore underwear (he usually doesn't). I love watching him grow up!

Stella's Cradle

Stella's cradle is finally here and all put together. I absolutely loves it and wish that I could have one in my size! I think it is the poshest little cradle and a perfect fit for my little princess to rest her weary little head. Now she can be born whenever she is ready. Sooner is better than later though.

Miley Cyrus Concert

Last night I took Makayla on a mommy daughter date and we went to her very first concert. We went to see Miley Cyrus, Makayla is her biggest fan EVER! The concert started at 7:00 so we left a 5:30. That clearly was not enough time! It took us 1.5 hours to get there with all the traffic and parking was a nightmare! It's a good thing Mak is such good company! We sang Miley Cyrus the wholeway there at the top of our lungs!

Once we got there, we grab some dinner and found our seats. We sat right by all the disney actresses! Mak was in heaven. She even got her picture taken with Debby Ryan (Bailey) from The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, before security started turning fans away. Mak was so excited once Miley finally came on. We didn't do much sitting we danced and sang to every song, yes thats right, I know the words to every song. And my 9 month pregnant self was shaking it!

The concert got out at 9:30 and we booked it up the stairs to get in line for a t-shirt. The most expensive t-shirt I have ever bought in my life ($40 for a cotton screen printed t-shirt)! We made it through the line in about 10 minutes but the back of the line was wrapped around the corner by the time we were leaving. Glad we missed that line!

I loved getting lots of hugs and cuddles through the concert from Makayla. She was so excited and watching her excitement and smiles was so worth the traffic, long lines, and massive crowd of screaming little girls. I am so happy that I have such a great friendship with my daughter and that we can go on fun trips and see concerts together. Hopefully it will stay this way for a long time. I am absolutely dreading the day when I am embarrassing and she no longer wants to hang out with me.

False Alarm!

Today I thought I was in labor. I have been induced with all 3 kids but I want to go into labor with Stella so I can have that experience. I feel like it's my first baby, and I feel very unsure of what's to come since I've never done this before. I am so excited and nervous and anxious and a big ball of crazy hormonal emotions.

So, today I thought I was in labor. I have braxton hicks contractions practically all day long but these ones were all about 10 minutes apart. Are contractions supposed to be like 10 minutes apart to the second or are they about 10 minutes? I don't know. I started to panic after my fourth contraction that was about 10 minutes apart so I called Mike. He didn't answer, so I texted him. He didn't respond after a few minutes so I really started to panic. I ran to the bathroom (so not to scare my kids) and started crying. I was a mess. I kept calling him and he didn't answer.

Finally he responded to my text, "I'm in a meeting."

ARE YOU SERIOUS!!!! I could've been having a baby on the bathroom floor and he's "in a meeting!?!"

"How far apart are your contractions?" he texts.

"About 10 minutes." I respond.

"Okay, we don't need to go to the hospital until they are 5 minutes apart, text me when you have the next one."

OMG!!!! I wanted to kill him! Was he not thinking about traffic from our house to the hospital? PCH? The canyon? Thats only one lane! What if there was an accident and it's all backed up!

I am now terrified to go into labor! I am not so sure I have full confidence in my husband to get me to the hospital in time and I already know that I will be an absolute mess and not able to drive myself!

Pray for me!

1st Day of Preschool

He survived! He was so excited to go to school today and cried when I picked him up because he wanted to stay and play. I am so happy that he loves school and his teacher, Mrs. Stihl. I am however very sad that he doesn't want to come home. He is such a big boy, I swear he could survive in elementary school already.

Bentley was a little upset that she didn't get to stay at school. Well, to say she was a little upset is an understatement. She was devastated, and screamed for Perry the whole time I carried her to the car and then I had to wrestle her into her car seat! My kids hate me.

I Love Saturdays

The kids love having Mike home on Saturday and so do I. This morning we made a big breakfast and then got ready to go to Mak's first soccer game.

Her team this year is the Mighty Marshmellows! She did so well. She didn't chase any butterflies or braid her hair during the game. She still prances like that dainty ballerina that she is but we've made some improvement! She even stopped to balls from going into the goal! They won 8-0!

After the game we all came home and took some much needed naps. Then we went to the Tall Ships Festival in Dana Point with the Kimballs. We had to park and take a shuttle to the harbor, which happened to be a school bus. Bentley was so silly and The Wheels on the Bus the whole way there. We had a funnel cake, kettle corn, and fresh squezzed lemonade. Perry was absolutley in love with all the pirates walking around! He is "ready to learn how to sail like pirates. "

Bentley's Prayer

Hedenly Fadr,

Tant tu, iddy biddy bider.

Tant tu, iddy biddy bider.

Amen!

A Pregnant Girls Dinner

I have been eating horribly lately! For dinner I had a giant bowl of chocolate ice cream, half a bag of pita chips with sea salt, and then a waffle sandwich with whipped cream in the middle, which I actually didn't eat. I will hate myself later when I am trying to lose all of this baby weight but for now I guess I'll try to enjoy it since it's the last time I'll be pregnant and have a valid excuse. I think I'll go eat a cinnamon roll right now.

Back to School

It's official, we have a second grader! This year has been much different than any other of Makayla's first days at school. There was absolutely no fear, or tears! The whole family piled into the car to take her to her first day of school. I walked her to her class and she was so giddy the whole time. She was so excited to meet her teacher and see all of her friends. I am so glad that she loves her school and loves her new teacher, Mrs. Goodman, too.

Some how I still manage to be a wreck and cry when I leave her on the first day of school.

Swimming in the Ocean

Over the summer Mak has become quite the swimmer. Last week I went to the beach with the kids and some friends, the waves were really calm so slowly but surely I got that girl out past the waves. I couldn't believe that my cautious Makayla was swimming in the ocean. We were diving through waves together and floating on our backs. We even had two waves crash on us while we were going out and not once did she say she wanted to get out or go back in.

We went to the beach again on labor day with Dad and some friends and as soon as we got there all Makayla wanted to do was go swimming in the ocean. We had the whole family out there at one point, even Bentley.

Bentley squealed and laughed the whole time. She is definitely the little fish in the family. She was under the water and every time a big wave would come, she would point and say " a big one!" while giggling and kicking her legs.

We had to drag Perry out who screamed the whole time! Poor little guy, we are so mean to him! Later he told me that he wanted to learn how to swim so that he could go snorkeling like dad.

We could not get Makayla out of the water the whole day! She would just swith off with adults so she could stay in the water. Mike, Mia, Tony, Sherrie and I all took her and Abi in the ocean. Dan and Mia took her kayaking too, she had an absolute blast. She rode with Dan and they even rolled the kayak in a wave coming back in and she handled it like a trooper. She didn't have one tear and was all smiles as soon as she stood up. She even said that she wants to go kayaking next weekend. I absolutely love that she is conquering some fears and building confidence. I am also excited that we are starting to share the same love of the ocean. She is very excited to do junior guards next summer, and so far thats been about all she can talk about.

POOP!

CAUTION: This post is graphic and may not be suitable for all viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.

I know this is random and gross but let me remind you that you are reading MY journal, and I write about EVERY milestone.

Bentley pooped in the potty! I am so proud of her! I can't believe that she isn't even 18 months yet and is starting to potty train. This little girls just so badly wants to be like Mak and Perry in every way, it's a good thing that they are such great examples to her! There is nothing that they can do that she can't. She is definiately the busiest Allen in this house. We love her so much and are so very proud of her.