LAZY SUNDAY EVENING continued...

 I wish I was smiling in this picture.

I love my little baby bump.

I guess it wasn't proper to show off your baby bumps in the 50's and 60's.

My grandma informed me of this when I stopped by.

She said in her day she wore a tent dress and no one knew she was pregnant till she brought the baby to church.

I am certain that was possible for her, she is such a petite little thing.

I saw a picture of her tent dress, it wasn't a muumuu, which is what I originally envisioned.

Look up tent dress from the 1960's, they are very classy.

I may just have to make myself one.

ROOT BEER FLOAT on a lazy SUNDAY EVENING

GRANDPA CRAVEN's PASSING PART II

 The kids got along so well this trip.

We hardly even noticed them. It was a huge a blessing.

They collected rain water together and then started extracting it from the gutters.

They were so happy and so proud.

This day was shortly after grandpa passed. I got to say goodbye. I was glad.

I went over to my Grandma's house and got to sit with her and talk to her.

She said, "I am going to be one lonely old lady." It broke my heart in two.

I wished I lived closer so we could visit more, but I know my sisters and my parents will take good care of her.

I was holding her hand and talking to my Uncle Curtis, who I haven't seen since we were in dental school. My Aunt Diana came over and said, "Mom, you look tired would you like to go and get ready for bed." She got emotional and said, "No, the nights are so long."

I thought of how much grandma and grandpa loved eachother and how hard it would be to sleep next to the same person every night for 60 plus years and then have to go to bed alone.

It broke my heart. Mostly, because I know of the deep affection they had for eachother.

They had a true love and deep friendship few couples obtain in this life.

Grandma said, "I wish I had of cared for him more."

I weep with shame when I think of her words. She doted on him and treated him so well.

She became a housewife in the 1950's and she never lost the class and grace from that era.

She ironed his shirts, cleaned his home, and served his meals and loved every minute of it.

GRANDPA CRAVEN's PASSING PART I

 I got a phone call from my parents on Monday, July 9, 2012 saying if you want to say goodbye to your grandpa you need to come home now.

I can say it was one of my top worst phone calls.

Although, my grandparents are getting older and they certainly had lived a full life. I honestly thought this day would never come. I thought they would live forever.

This was my second experience with death but my first experience with some related to me that I knew dying. (I had a cousin die of SID's when I was young but I never got to meet him.)

(Grandpa was such a special part of my life. We grew up one street up from him. Every guy I was serious about, had to pass the grandpa test. If he didn't get grandpa's thumbs up then I would break up with him.

He had a quick wit and a humor that everyone loved and could giggle at.

He was an amazing example and the only person I have known that I could say was truly perfectly Christlike.

I have so many great memories of him but the thing that sticks out the most was knowing how much he loved me. He would never let me enter his home or leave without a big hug.

I will miss getting my hug, but because I know families are eternal, I know I will have more hugs from him!)

My girls were so excited for another trip to grandma's house.

(I was sad to make the trip alone again but because of all the changes in our life Nate couldn't pull away although he loved grandpa dearly too.)

The girls love there cousins and had a blast.

Madison played with these dice for hours.

When too many cousins joined their fun they collected the dice and snuck upstairs and hide in one of the rooms to play alone with their dice.

They created all sorts of mischief with their cousin Kate.

They emptied out the entire linen closet one day.

On the day of the funneral, wearing their beautiful dresses, they snuck into grandma's bathroom and emptied all her essential oils into cup, added her lotions, and soap and then stirred with with her nail file. They also powdered the flower with her eye shadow.

Although it was naughty, it was funny.

A NEW ADVENTURE

Nate decided to open his own practice about six months ago.

The day finally arrived.

He opened his doors two and a half weeks ago.

He has been working part time at Colorado Community Dental and part time at his new practice Yes! Dental.

He will be full time at his new practice at the end of next week.

Yeah, for change.

It is a little bit unsettling taking a riskier path but I am proud of him for having the courage to do it.

Go Dr. McKnight! I am proud of you!

Doesn't he look so happy?

He has been so happy since making this decision! 

OUR BABY

I went into my ultra sound today and was so excited to see my little baby.

I have been through this two other times, but I was still really nervous.

I was so happy to see my little baby up on the screen.

I got a little emotional.

I think I could have watched that screen all day.

They said I was measuring exactly 12 weeks and 3 days so I was spot on with my due date of January 14th.

They said the baby looked well.

It was bouncing around and moving its little hand and leg.

I was so happy.

August 30th is my ultra sound to find out the gender of the baby. Mark your calendar.

I am beating on another girl, I think Nate is too.

The girls both say it is a boy and Madison asks how baby brother is every day.

I say, "Maybe its a baby sister."

She shrugs her shoulders.



BETTER THAN DISNEYLAND?

Madison and Sierra have a lot of fun in their pool.

It is small, and there isn't much room to swim, but there is a ton of giggling and play that goes on this little pool.

They will swim until they are too cold and then they will run to the bathtub and fill it with hot water and sit till they are too hot.

Then they will run back to the pool.

I think they have been in and out a couple of times today.

They stopped playing to have lunch at 3:00pm. Yes, you heard me right.

They were having so much fun they didn't even think about being hungry.

The excercise looks amazing. I think I need to join them.

Click here for a little video.

HIGHLINE LAKE AGAIN

BED SKIRT

I am getting closer. I have a lot more ideas and a lot more projects, but it is painted. The bed skirt is made. I am a little in love. Just had to share.

P.S. The bed skirt didn't cost me a dime, just a lot of time.

MY BEAUTIFUL FAMILY

Love them more than anything else! Happy Sunday!

GIRL's TRIP MONTICELLO TEMPLE

I got to got to the Monticello temple for the first time yesterday.

I went with one of my best friends here in Fruita, Amanda.

She is doll and a riot to be around.

I am so glad she invited me.

She drove the whole way and we laughed and talked about everything.

I have been really blessed in my life to have amazing visiting teaching companions that have become dear friends. Amanda has been that for me here. (Thank you Joy for Pittsburgh!)

The temple was beautiful. There is always such a feeling of peace there.

The youth all came and did baptisms.

Amanda and I got to watch. It was special and took me back to when I use to do baptisms as a youth.

We all meet at the Pizza Hut in Moab.

There was more pizza than any of us could eat.

And cold water, which I was dying for, because despite how perfect the temple way it was really hot.

Then two of the young women drove back with us. They blared the stero system all the way back to Grand Junction.

Amanda and I joined in and sang with them on a few songs.

They had a blast and then during the last half-hour they both fell asleep.

 

 Our driving buddies!

POOL TIME

We had to pick up another little backyard pool. It was just getting way to hot.

Nate went and picked it out with Sierra and they set it up together.

He also bought them each their own noodle in there favorite color.

CAMPING on the MESA

 We went camping on the Mesa.

There are no pictures because I forgot my memory card, which makes me so sad because it is so beautiful up there. It reminds me of the High Uintas.

Nate's knee is still in a lot of pain.

I had to load the car.

Unload the car.

Set up camp

Make dinner.

All of which Nate normally does and after doing it this once, I really appreciate him.

Anyway, Nate was fishing on the lake in a raft and I and the girls went hiking.

He gave the girls a walkie-talkie, so they could talk to him.

The girls loved using the walkie-talkie and telling their dad all about their hike.

We got back to camp and I started the fire and began roasting hotdogs.

Sierra triped on the hike and really hurt her elbow.

She went in the tent to lay down.

I told her to come out and eat dinner.

She said, "My tummy hurts. No get that food away from me!"

Then she threw up. 

I wasn't prepared to care for a sick little girl at camp, so when Nate got off the lake I said, "I think we have to go home."

Neither of us were happy about it.

Sierra was sheet white sitting in the car moaning, "Don't let me see any food."

While I cleaned up dinner.

Took down camp.

And loaded the car.

Then helped Nate load his raft because he knee was acting up.

I kept thinking thank heaven I am not 20 weeks pregnant because then my belly would really be in the way.

Then I remembered, "Oh yeah, it doesn't matter if I am 20 weeks pregnant my belly is still in the way!" What?

The girls were covered in filth when we got home.

They both crashed in the car and I didn't want to wake them for a bath.

I knew I was hanging onto those old blankets, from when Nate was in college, for a reason.

I threw one on the bed and one over the girls.

I didn't hear a peep until morning.

When they woke up they went straight to the bath.

I think we will be day camping from now on.... at least until Nate's knee is healed.

9 1/2 Weeks

It is a little early to tell, but some of my very best friends in the world and my family look at this blog and not really anyone else.

People walking on down the street know and everyone in my ward, because it is so obvious.. so I think you should know too.

We are expecting #3.

We could not be more excited.

Everyone keeps saying you look cute pregnant and I think I do too.

Although, I think I came to the cute pregnant stage a little early and I am worried about what I will look like at 20 weeks, 30 weeks, and 40 weeks.

I haven't been sick at all this pregnancy, which leads me to think it may be a boy. I am crossing my fingers but I love my little girls and would love to have another one.

I have been craving cheese, and not good cheese, but cheap cheese like velvetta.

My favorite thing is better-with-cheddar brawts (basically brawts with velvetta squished in them) with cucumbers, tomatos, pickles and mustard and pepper on them.

I have also been craving crackers and dip.

That maybe why I cleared off an entire tray of them during book group a few weeks ago.

Sorry, Barbara. (Please come back soon. I miss you.)

The girls spent all afternoon yesterday putting lotion on my belly.

While Sierra was putting lotion on she said she felt the baby move. I thought I did too, but it is way too early. Right?

I brought the baby magazine home from the doctors.

The one they give you that shows the progression of a baby up to delivery.

Sierra has been asking me a lot lately about how baby's get in their mother's tummy and how they get out.

I always say I will tell her when she is eight.

She always whins, "But I want to know now."

She was thumbing through my magazine and I heard her slam it shut and she ran into the kitchen.

She said, "I turned that magazine to a page that shows how baby's come out and I slammed that thing shut really quick. I am not ready to know about that till I am eight!"

AFTER two YEARS finally!

I use to be the queen of whole wheat bread.

Then I moved to Colorado.

I haven't made a decent loaf of whole wheat bread in two years.

I couldn't figure it out. I asked everyone.

Today, I wanted to make bread again but my self-confidence was shot and I thought,

"It will be a waste of time."

But, my body was craving good whole wheat bread.

I thought, "Call Heather."

I did.

I followed her recipe here.

They don't look as amazing as her loaves but they are literally the best loaves of bread I have made in two years.

Thanks Heather for saving me.

Love you,

Lisa

HIGHLINE LAKE

 The girls playing at Highline Lake with some friends.

 The lake was cold really cold.

Sierra with her bestest friend Bailey and her big sister Jaya.

SUNDAY before CHURCH

 Supersluth Madison

Sierra playing barbies. It isn't common... but it makes me feel like I bought that barbie house for a reason. I am sure I did. Right?