Boy or Girl?

As of today I am 15 1/2 weeks.  In about three weeks were headed in for an ultrasound. Will it get to adorn the nursery with every color of pink and add bows and ribbons to our army men collection or will we just add more army men?

Take our poll!!!

NINE years ago today

fell on a Sunday. And on that particular Sunday, I was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I've pondered on the last decade of my life recently and watched the Lord's hand guide it ever so precisely. It's amazing to look back and see how my life was altered in a couple brief moments of time and where I am now today, because of some those moments.

I've been fortunate most of my life to have been protected and guided by Spirit as much as I was, not always realizing what "it" was that was leading me. When I think back to the teeny, tiny testimony of my youth and my very vague knowledge of the Holy Ghost, I am amazed that my mind listened as often as it did and that protection was always close by.

The way of the Lord is incredible and I stand ALL AMAZED everyday how the Lord works the way he does. So many unexplainable blessings, miracles, answered prayers, simple nudges, LARGE nudges and quiet whispers.

I am so thankful for an incredible family who brought me into their lives, their home and their hearts. I am forever grateful to them for the guidance and love.

God lives! He plays a great role in my life everyday. I feel so blessed to know that I have the Holy Spirit abiding with me as I am worthy of its presences. Jesus is the Christ! He has atoned for our sins and has made it possible for us to return to live with Him again. The sacrifice that Christ has made for me and for you has been completed, I know that it is up to me to take advantage of it and partake in the blessings of repentance. The Holy Spirit is real! The gentle warmth that overwhelms me, the promptings to look one more time, the sudden thought of a friend in my head, the urgency to fall to my knees and pray are many of the ways the spirit has touched my life. I can’t go without saying how my life has been guided so carefully by the gentle nudges of the Spirit. I feel so blessed to have been placed in on this earth at this time. It’s true when the Prophet states we are a chosen generation to come forth at this time to prepare our people for the coming of the Savior. I bear witness of this! We are so blessed to be here at this particular time – I strive daily to be as molding clay in the Master’s hand. I love my Father in Heaven and Savior very much. I put complete faith in them in all that I do. The temple of the Lord is our piece of Heaven here on earth. Within the sacred walls we make covenants that are eternal. Within the walls, we are sealed as families forever. The temple is peace, the temple is joy, and the temple is our retreat to be as close to our Father in Heaven as possible while here on earth. I testify that Joseph Smith has restored this gospel to the earth for the last days. The Book of Mormon is truly another testament of Jesus Christ. The priesthood in its entirety has been restored to the fullest. We have not been left alone to wander throughout our lives. President Monson is a prophet; he is the mouth piece of the Lord. When we follow his counsel we will be blessed. I testify that when we serve the Lord, whether it is in missionary work, our callings or in our families, we have the power of revelation. It is through fasting, prayer and meditation that inspiration is received. It is also through our service that our talents are developed, strengthened and magnified. As I have served in my callings my testimony has grown and my faith has increased. I am especially grateful for this time of year we have to celebrate the birth of our Savior. What tremendous blessings we all have to be thankful for!

December thus far...

December has been CRAZY! I've been so busy getting all my Christmas card orders designed and ordered and the family pictures to go along with them. Finally, they are done, the Christmas cards that is. I've had several phone calls in the last couple of days for last minute pictures and wondering if they can get printed before CHRISTMAS!!!! It's nice to be busy but a little less would be great! This Saturday is PACKED!!! And unfortunately not with family stuff, lots of family pictures, ward dinner (which I somehow became in charge of the program..again) youth dance pictures and widow/widower dinner.

Justin has been busy with his first of many tithing settlement appointments. Our December this year is a lot different than years past. He's gone a lot as usual but it's harder when we would like to have some family time and others in the ward need something, late night meetings, etc. By the time we adjust and it becomes the new "tradition" he'll be getting released. Okay, enough complaining.

The boys are enjoying life. They love this time of year. There is always candy around. Santa is ALWAYS watching. Jack Frost has visited many times. Gymnastics is a great place to burn off some energy. There are always Christmas songs playing whether in the house or in the car. It's a GRAND thing when we see Christmas lights on a house. Lots of family time and cousins. Always treats at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Fun things to do and color at school. Singing stuffed animals, decorations and a TREE that are just for boys to touch and play with ALL DAY LONG!

On the morning of the 12th week I woke up feeling GREAT!!! I stopped taking my nausea medicine, energy had returned, kind of, and I didn’t have to eat every 30 minutes to feel okay. Well, yesterday that all changed. I didn't keep much down for the day. Until Monday I hadn't actually thrown up but like normal, at least with the boys, this is when I've been really sick, my second trimester. As of today, I'm feeling okay but still nausea lingers.

Christmas cards are headed out in the next couple of days but I thought I would post our as well. I designed ours last this year and wasn't very happy with my last minute "throw-together" so a couple of days later I designed another one, which I like TONS better. (As I was sitting in the DRs office I saw an article that was written in a similar form from which my design came from.) However, because of time restraints I had to have them printed at Sam's Club which I was very unhappy with. The background color is an off-white rather than white and the coloring is completely off. So when yours arrives, it will look different...ENJOY the real one!

What did you....

SAY??? Yep, we're having another baby! We just found out that I am 8 and half weeks along. Due date is June 22, 2010! I've been feeling AWEFULLY sick in the evenings for the past several weeks and then Halloween mid-morning I felt the worse I'd felt yet so I took another test and it finally said YES! Each test I've taken over the past couple of months have said no...I thought I was losing my mind. I couldn't figure out why I was so tired when 8pm came around and why I was feeling yucky, but then finally some validation to my sickness!!! It's been the norm for me to feel sick around 10 -13 weeks and lasting to about 20 weeks but this time it has seemed to come on a lot sooner...perhaps that's a sign of a different gender?!?!?! We'll have to wait and see. For now I'm taking it day by day. Some days are okay and some I can't even move I'm so nauseous. My OB prescribed me some prescription nausea medicine that has seemed to help over the last day...I hope it continues to easy the queasiness and let me take care of my family. Justin's been great in it all. He comes home with dinner almost every night and then tries and get as much done around the house as he can before he heads for the church. He's doing the best he can but it's impossible to squeeze in what I do in a day in an hour or two a night. I know he'll be happy when the sickness comes to an end!

Benson now is telling everyone at school that I have a BUG in my stomach and it makes me throw up every time I eat (which by the way, is not true...I have yet to actually throw up.) To the contrary...I feel better when I'm eating which, in its self, presents a potentially HUGE problem.

Tolman Baby #3

And if you see a second mass in there..your eyes don't lie.  We had another "blighted twin/vanishing twin", just like with Max.  This one only was about 3 weeks old before it stopped developing.  I had asked Dr. Ainsworth that the problem might be since this is twice now and he said that I'm just very fertile and somewhere in the transfer of the chromosomes there is an error and that nothing can be done to prevent it.  CRAZY!

Happy Halloween!

the TOLMAN SUPER HEROs!  We had a blast this year dressing up.  The boys picked our theme and it went from there.  A huge THANK YOU to aunt Sue for helping me put my skirt and boot covers together!!! 

To the church for TRUNK or TREAT

Jaxon - Karsyn - Blake - Chase - Benson - Tyler - Brenden - Brady - Tanner - Max

Max eating as much candy as possible while we're not paying attention

Cheese-ball SpiderMan!

After TRUNK or TREAT we headed to the Nielson's for a Halloween party.  The kids loved running around and playing all the fun games.  Charla made her famous homemade Donuts and the Sannars with their YUMMY hand-dipped corndogs.

Pumpkin Carving/Harvest time

It's that time of year again, Walnut Harvest!  Last year the boys really enjoyed going out into grandma and grandpa Tolman's with Jordan and picking up walnuts during the day and I can't believe that was a year ago.  Here we are again, time to harvest the nuts.  On Monday the sweeper came and swept all the nuts to the center and then they were picked up by another piece of equipment (don't ask me, I'm not a farmer).  Left behind are tons of nuts, both in the cracks and still left on the trees.  We'd been out during the week picking up buckets of nuts and on Saturday spend several hours out getting more. 

Benson and Max taking turns with the walnut picker-upper

Later Saturday night was our ANNUAL Pumpkin Carving Contest - where EVERYONE Wins!  Ann always gets cute little treats for the kids and they LOVE it!

Like mother like sons, my boys don't like getting their hands yucky in pumpkin guts! YUCK!

The boys taking turns with a HUGE scraper. 

Benson tried his hand at tracing/poking the lines of his design. He did pretty well.

To match their halloween costumes Benson chose a SPIDER and Max a BAT

Brenden - Tyler - Jaxson - Max - Brady - Benson - Tanner - Addison - Alyssa

All the yummy treat throughout the night were great! Ann and Aunt Sue made these super cute witches hats that were chocolate cookies with hershey kisses and sprinkles and eyeball cupcakes. Alisha made these white chocolate covered donut holes that looked like eye balls. All the treats were a huge hit!

Halloween Festivities have begun

Benson has enjoyed going to the pumpkin patch with his cousins for their school trips and now he has been able to enjoy his own class's field trip for the second year.  For the second year in a row we've gone to the MIRACLE RANCH PUMPKIN PATCH in Biggs, right by Gma Tolman's house.  He and Max had so much fun!

This pig was so funny.  The kids got a kick out of him jumping out toward them to get the apple!

Max had fun picking out his pumpkin.  He picked each one up and then threw it down and whichever bounced the best that was the "pumpkin ball" he was going to get!

Benson went straight for the largest pumpkins they had!  Best use of his $5 he had for pumpkin pickin'!!!

Benson's class + Max

Hay Rides!

Train ride around the ranch

Notice Max flipping down the slide - he thought this was great!

Later that evening we had a Bonfire at the Miskin's home!  The boys had so much fun with their friends.  Max's friend, Matthew who's house we were at, had fallen asleep before the party even started to Max tagged along with Benson and Kennison all night!

Max - Benson - Kennison

We also had a mummy race which we didn't participate in but we sure did have fun mummifying dad!

Grandma Bagley

was taken from the earth on October 20 2009 to be happily reunited again with the love of her life. What a joyous day for them to see one another again! You will be missed, Grandma!

From the handful of years I've known Grandma Bagley I've learned so much. I've seen the efforts of her labors in the current lives of her children and grandchildren. She was so lovely, caring, humble and meek. A wonderful exemplar of the Lords vision of a mother. She was generous with her time and talents to those around her, never too busy to lend a hand. The stories that come from those in our family about Grandma always exude love and tenderness. What an amazing woman we had in our lives. May her example of a woman stay alive through the generations to come.  We love you, Grandma! 

Utah Wedding Weekend

This past weekend we took a quick trip, minus our boys, to Utah. We crashed in on the the Taylor family (Justin's Cousin) for the weekend. Justin's old roommate from college was getting married. It was a beautiful wedding ceremony. Our day was filled to the max, trying to squeeze everything in.

We left at around 1:30 Friday afternoon and arrived at the Taylor's house at 2am.

Mt. Timpanogos Temple

~Eric and Elise ~

Justin and Eric

After the ceremony and a couple pictures we walked around and then headed to visit with the Marshall's that had recently moved from California out to Highland. We gabbed a little long and then headed back toward Provo for the wedding luncheon. After eating way too much we headed over to campus and walked around, taking pictures for the boys and visiting the BYU Bookstore. It was fun to walk around and Justin reminisce about his years at BYU.

GO COUGARS!


Justin pretending to have his hand being eaten by the cougar.


We didn't have anyone take a picture of us at the reception so we took advantage of the glass ceiling and did it ourselves :)

We got back to the Taylor's at about 10:30pm and then up bright and early the next morning to head back to California.

After passing into the Pacific Time Zone several miles Justin's phone had changed but mine was still Mt. time.

I hadn't ever stopped at the salt flats before so I thought I'd document this event. Too bad I don't have anyone to ever take pictures of me.....hint, hint :)

The last time we were in Utah it was before we were married. Almost 6 years ago to the date. Hopefully we'll make it back sooner than later.

{Thanks again Taylor's for having us. It was great to see you, even if it was for a brief couple of moments!}

From the mouth of babes...or Benson

So today I was informed that Benson made an announcement at school that I was expecting. WHAT!?!?! We've talked about having another baby at some point but as of today, No! Benson and his friends had been discussing the newest addition of another family in his class when Benson began to tell everyone that we were having another baby and that it's in my tummy. Oh, what to do now.....

Bishop's Pumpkin Farm

This weekend was loaded with fun goodies! Tiffany drove down from Oregon after class on Friday to spend the weekend with us. The boys were so ecstatic to see her. She arrived at the exact time they were going to sleep....thanks Tif!

Saturday morning came very early and Tiffany and I were off to scourer the Uptown, Downtown, All Around Town annual yard sale. We ended up just driving around...it was a flop this year but fun to drive around and talk for an hour. At 9 we met the boys at the soccer field for Benson's game. He's doing so well! He headed toward the goal 4 times with the ball, but the goalie was pretty good and stopped each shot. He's getting more aggressive on the field which is nice to see. Still lots of smiles and jumping around but now trying to actually get the ball from the opponents.

After the game we headed for Bishop's Pumpkin Farm. The boys always look forward to the train ride and hay jump. As we got to our first activity at the farm I brought out my camera and started shooting....no MEMORY CARD! Ugh! I used my sister's phone and Alisha grabbed a couple shots for us too (I'll post those when they come).

Summer in Review

I've fallen behind and haven't gotten a chance to catch up on all the great fun we had this summer. So much has happened and changed that life has seemed to slip by. Here is our summer in review plus a little bit of fall that is just beginning...

May/June: Father and Sons and Girls Camp

Father and Son's

Justin took both boys up this year to celebrate the commemoration of the Aaronic Priesthood. Our ward combined with the 1st ward which John and Ann attend. Justin was in charge of the program which went well other than for the boys going nuts, according to Justin. During the night Justin had some challenges with Benson and his ears to they ended up coming home in the middle of the night. The next morning we headed back up to Zion's Camp to collect the tent and everything else that was abandoned during the night. Unexpectedly, we got to enjoy a day with the family up at Zion's.

A couple weeks later we found ourselves back up at Zions to set up my tent for girls camp. Friday night was our first in a tent as a family. It went better than Father and Son's camp out!

They loved sitting by the fire and watching the embers float into the air. Being our first time camping, we had to purchase the boys some camping chairs. They thought it was great to have their very own chair!

Enjoying one S'more after another.

This was their favorite - watching the popcorn expand into a ball of yummy treats!
The next morning they got to try out fishing for the first time. They loved that too!

Yay! We caught a fish!! I was perched against a tree with Max on my chest napping when the official catch took place. Justin seemed more excited than Benson! :)


July began as always, Happy 4th of July !!

Most of the nieces and nephews enjoying the Annual Biggs Downtown Parade!

{Tanner, Tyler, Brady, Jaxson, Brenden, Addison, Benson, Max}

-Missing the McLeans-

Justin showing off the mouth piece that the boys just had to have at the parade.

4th of July Party at the Carr's House.

Benson learned to swim this year. He was so excited to show he could jump off the diving board and swim all the way to the side without any assistance! Great job Benson! We're proud of you! Next year we're thinking of swim team...we'll see.

Annual 4th of July Photo.

The day before heading off to Oregon for some family reunions, I was hired to take pictures for the Bowling's Family Reunion in Gridley.

Then we were off to Oregon. Justin wasn't able to attend last minute - we missed daddy :( but we had fun.

We headed to Shady Cove Oregon, where the Tolman's lived for a short while. The Joseph H. Stewart Park was beautiful and we had a lot to do.

Tolman Family Photo

- Missing: Justin & Matt-

Swimming down at the river. A little murky by the shore but it wasn't as bad out away from the rocks and mud.

We went on a hike up the road a ways. There were amazing shoots of water all along one of the paths. The kids enjoyed playing in a little pool of water, which was absolutely FREEZING! Okay, maybe not freezing, but it was less than 50 degrees!
Each night we met as a family for dinner and a fireside. It was nice to reconnect with everyone after the day of activities and have time together.

The boys really enjoyed the fish hatchery too. They loved watching the entire pool of fish jump at the food.

After 3 days at the reunion we headed north about 4 more hours to my hometown. We enjoyed one day of rest there before we returned 2 hours south to shoot my cousin's wedding.

My cousin M'Liss' wedding. It was SO HOT! About 100 degrees and practically NO SHADE or NO AIR CONDITIONING! That's what you get for having it at Wildlife Safari. It was a nice ceremony, lasting only about 10 minutes. The chairs were nearly empty because all the people were crammed in the little areas around where the tiny trees were planted, trying to stay out of the direct sun.

After the ceremony we enjoyed a little more shade. My sister was a life-saver. She and my dad endured the boys throughout the day while I worked.

After a long day we headed north again to my mom's house. Now for the Locher Reunion. My mom's side of the family was gathering in Albany as we were away for the day in Roseburg. Donell and her kids came down to enjoy some time together as well. It was great to see them and spend the days together along with my family.

Hike to Silver Falls

Some of my amazing Aunts and my Mom
{Aunt Melissa, Mom, Aunt Jeanette, Aunt Tina}

It was quite the hike with the umbrella strollers and flip flops. On the way back up we had to stop several times and rest. We'd be pushing one and carrying another on our backs. Luckily, we had some family with us to help us along the way. {Max, Libby, Adelaide, Loralai, Donell, Atticus, Benson}

Enjoying the walk behind the South Fall
{Tiffany, Benson, Max, Mom}

{Mom, Max and Benson}

One day we headed for the Oregon Coast - Oh, how I miss the Coast. It was beautiful. This was the boys' first time at the Ocean. It was very cool and windy as the Oregon Coast usually is. We tried to fly a kite but our kite flying skills aren't the best and apparently I bought a "trick" kite that you can do cool things with...but all we could do was run it into the sand.

I got to shoot the Tesch's family photos too. Jared got to come down to Albany for a day to hang out just before he left for his scout camp.



The day we left we headed for the Albany Pond and rode the paddle boats for a while. Benson and Max loved being able to steer. We raced across which was a lot more tiring than I had imagined.

That evening we headed back home. It had been a long 2 weeks without dad!

The next day I was hired to attend the Biggs '87, '88, '89, '90 High School Reunions.

Amy and Travis' Class Photo

Afton's Class Photo

One afternoon the Laurels had a little boating trip. It was fun to hang out with the girls. They were so good at "tube jumping". I was chicken, so I stayed in the boat and took lots of fun pictures!

{Melissa, Trisha, Libby, Holly & Heidi}

The next day I had my 3rd wedding of the season...

Elise and Kyle

{Oakland Temple}

The following day we went to Sunsplash with the youth. That evening was the reception for the wedding....and then Sunday came and....

Justin was sustained as the new Bishop!

{Tom Tripp, Justin, Jim Brown}

The Butte County fair was fast approaching and each year the grandkids grow pumpkins, sunflowers and whatever else they choose at grandma and grandpa Tolman's house. For Family Home Evening one night the kids went out to pick their pumpkins to turn into the fair.

{A week later was the fair and each one of the kids got 1st place!!!}

The following weekend, another wedding...

Jenny and Grant

{The Palms, Chico California}

Then, the following week we headed for Oregon again. A good friend of mine was getting married. So we made a quick trip up and Justin got to go!!!

{Tiffany was holding Benson off to the side}

Kim and Jeff

{Inman Family Ranch, Elmira Oregon}

It was a beautiful wedding! We had a great night and enjoyed catching up with with old friends.

Saturday morning we woke up early and headed to Timerland Park to watch the hot air balloons take off.

Each year they have an Air and Art Festival and 15 - 30 hot air balloons take off and paint the sky. This particular morning it was very cool and foggy. Many of the balloons went up and then down and landed in the parking lot of a dealership and the fields surrounding the park. The boys loved watching the entire process. They even got to go up and touch the balloon as it was airing up.

Benson and Max loved playing with Grandma and Grandpa in Grandma Heidi's backyard. This is one of my favorite pictures!

Their favorite part of the yard...Swinging!

Grandma has an enormous garden. Benson and Max got to pick pumkins to take home...and it is only August!

Mom wanted a picture of us girls...

On our way home that evening we stopped at my Aunt Tina's house and took pictures of her grandkids, Nathan and Zoey.

September is here and that means the beginning of school, soccer, and fall photo shoot for my boys.

Max loves to pretend he's part of the team. He's always off playing on the side of the field during Benson's games. Coach Jorge is so nice... he lets Max practice with the team during the week. It's fun to watch Max at the end of the games. He runs up and does the cheer and then stands in line with the team to shake hands with the opponents.

Sharing suckers..they are funny to watch
{Brady and Max}

He's getting more aggressive which is good to see. The first couple of games he was all smiles and just happy to run along side the opponents with the ball. Now he's actually trying to get the ball from them.

What a cute soccer player!

First day of school. He was so excited to be back with his friends. This year he goes twice a week, and then next year it's off to kindergarten....he's growing so fast :(

Throughout the last couple of months I was also able to shoot some adorable babies. Here are a couple pictures of them.

{Alex}

{Karam}

All and all, it was a busy and eventful summer. We are happy that fall has come and the weather is finally beginning to cool down.