my baby loves

Mackenzie wanted to help me cook dinner the other night. :-)

She even wanted her own apron so I just used some long scrap fabric and a dishtowel to tie around her. She is such a sweetheart.

Ryan worked somewhere around 80 hours this last week. He got off early on Friday and wanted to have lunch with tucker at school. He came and picked up Cole to go with him and they ate in the little courtyard there. I love my boys! 

I am in love with my little family. My heart is so full!

what we are up to & 38 weeks!

Tucker's soccer practice... He is sitting on the red ball.

Mackenzie and my nephew (Chase) riding Buck at my in-laws house.

Going on a walk while tucker was at school... I may or may not be trying to get this baby out. :-) 

I love her face!

Life lately:

Ryan is working hard (like usual) at his job with the family company, as well as his calling at church with the young men. He has been going to play church basketball over the last few Tuesdays, and I think he is enjoying the break/exercise/fun with friends. He is such a hard worker and we love and appreciate him more than he will ever know! He is dying to go deer hunting now that the weather is cooling off. Hopefully, he will get that chance this weekend!

Tucker is doing awesome in first grade. He is loving math and writing right now. Writing stories is one of his favorite things to do. He is doing pretty good for his grade for reading, but he can use some improvements. So we are working more with him on that. He just would rather do math problems all day long, so it is hard to get him to want to practice reading. He is on a fall rec soccer team. His soccer skills are getting much better! It is fun to see him play, not only because he does well, but also because he is laughing 70% of the time. He is a goober. : ) He loves building things with legos, and pretty much anything outside. He is always making "machines" or "forts" with sticks and rocks and random toys from the shed. He loves climbing things like our fence and trees, which makes me a little nervous. I don't think I can handle seeing a broken bone! He is interested in baseball again, which makes my heart happy! : ) He wants to play again next summer after taking this past summer off. He is wanting to learn how to play the guitar, so we might be seeing some lessons in the near future?

Cole just turned 4!!! His birthday was October 9th. We had a bunch of Ryan's family in town that week, so we had an all boys birthday party for him. It was a Diego party. I'll do a birthday post with a birthday interview (hopefully) sometime soon. He loves working in his preschool workbook. I actually have to convince him there are other fun things to do as well. : ) He is doing awesome at sharing lately, which is a nice change. He is also on a fall soccer team, and his cousin Brylee is on the same team. He is doing SOO much better compared to when he played in the spring. He technically didn't even play in the spring. Ryan was the coach and Cole just wanted Ryan to hold him the entire time. He might have kicked a ball one time. : ) But now, he is running and dribbling and shooting like crazy and it is so stinkin cute. He is doing really well with coloring and staying in the lines! He is definately not a morning person at this point. And I can't blame him, I am not either. But it takes a good couple of hours for him to be his happy self, which can be hard on both of us. He loves building things for me with his building blocks. : ) He will build something and run and tell me to come see what he made me. 

Mackenzie, our crazy, sweet Mackenzie. She is trying to talk in sentences, and it is adorable. She will just say sounds and some words that are recognizable, but just talk and talk and talk! She is so goofy. She loves to tease people. She loves to play in the bath and "swim." She loves getting her hair wet, she thinks it is so funny. She is so brave. She will touch any creature... dead or alive. I said she was brave, but not always cautious! It makes me a little nervous that she doesn't really get too scared of animals/creatures. She finally is DONE WITH HER BINKY!!! Over this last week I was able to get her to take naps and go to sleep at night without it. Thank goodness! She loves to color and use stickers. She loves dressing up and is way more into playing pretend then my boys were/are. She is "interested" in potty training, but she honestly doesn't get it yet. She is still obsessed with shoes. : ) Mackenzie loves to read and to be read to. I love listening to her "read." She is finally getting into playing with her baby doll that Santa brought her last year.

Well, I am just pregnant. My to-do list keeps me busy as we are in the final days before baby girl's arrival. Last week (37 weeks prego) was my last week of teaching bootcamp for a while. I just needed the mental and physical break before D-day. Still teaching nursery at church on Sundays and planning our Relief Society activities. I am finishing up plans for Tucker's class Harvest Party. I have to make sure I have everything lined up and ready to go just in case I cannot be there. I am definately nesting, so my to-do list keeps getting longer and longer. I am thankful for naps lately. : )

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38 weeks with girl #2

DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS: Still doing weekly appoinments. Last week at 37 weeks, my health stats were: blood pressure- 100/46, 3-4 cm dilated, 70% effaced, doc didn't tell me what my uterus was measuring and I forgot to ask. Baby's heart rate was 154. No protein or sugar in my urine. Test results came back positive for Group B Strep, so I will need to get antibiotics in my IV when I go to the hospital for delivery. I spoke with the doc about my lower abdomen being tender. She said what I thought she would say- that it was because my pelvic bones are loosening up, and the baby is in position (head down), so the pressure of her head is pushing even more against my loose hips. Other than that, everything seemed great!  

This week at 38 weeks: my blood pressure was 120/52, 4 cm dilated, no protein/sugar in urine, measuring 38cm for fundal height, didn't tell me how effaced I was. Baby's heart rate was 160. My doctor said she wants an ultrasound next week to see how big baby is. I have never had an ultrasound late in pregnancy, so it made me nervous at first that she wanted me to schedule it. I thought something was possibly wrong. But she is a new doctor for me, and she explained that she likes to do ultrasounds at the end to see how big baby is getting. I'm down with that. : ) I kind of got the vibe that she thought the baby might be big, so I am excited to see at the ultrasound.

CRAVINGS/AVERSIONS: Food just doesn't sound good at this point! I get hungry but I don't want to cook and I don't want to eat. But obviously, I still do haha.

SICKNESS/PAINS: Oh, my achy, breaky back. I have the worst posture right now, and I know that it is causing my back ache. My varicose veins in my legs are starting to buldge more, but they actually aren't hurting too bad. Just gross looking. Last week I thought for sure I was going into labor! After my 37 week appt., I had really bad contractions for several hours. We live about 25 minutes from the hospital, so I just kept a record and just really listened to my body. I don't want to go into labor and delivery at the hospital unless it is the real deal. They eventually, and thankfully lightened up. I still get contractions here and there, but nothing too intense. Just uncomfortable. And have I mentioned that I get charlie horses in my inner thigh now? It happened randomly a couple of weeks ago, but now it is an every day occurence. I will be in the middle of walking and my left thigh will just go nuts. I am sure I look like a freak mid-horse attack. I get out of breath randomly now, but I just focus on my breathing and then I am fine. Not really a physical pain, other than a pain in my butt- but I am to the point I just have to leave my tennis shoes tied. I can't hardly reach my feet!

EMOTIONS: I am nervous, excited, nervous, EXCITED! The end of this uncomfortable pregnancy is near and the start of life with our new baby girl is about to begin! I am a little nervous because I still have things I want to get done before she comes, but honestly, she can come any time and I know everything will be fine.

WEIGHT GAIN: 24 lbs at 37 weeks, 25 lbs at 38 weeks.

EXERCISE: Last week was my last week of teaching bootcamp, so I am planning on keeping active these last few weeks, but a little bit less intense. My exercise over the 2 weeks has been : walking (treadmill and on the road), biking (stationary), elliptical, bootcamp, free weights, weight machines, and mowing the yard.

*My little sister Nikki is due the same day as me, but she is scheduled for a c-section next wednesday! So excited for them! I can't wait to see her sweet lil girl (in pics) !! I am sad I won't be able to see her in person till Christmas though. : (

the good ol' days

Ryan and I went on a date last night. It was such a simple but fun date!!! And boy, did it bring back great memories. We had dinner at home with the kids beforehand. I made these yummy, creamy enchiladas. Mel's kitchen cafe could never do me wrong, just so you know. Tucker and Mackenzie had two servings, they loved it so much!! Cole on the other hand wouldn't eat his because there were beans in them. He did eat all of his carrots and corn though! Ya win some and ya lose some. :-) 

We dropped the kids off at my sister and brother in law's house then headed to the game! We went to see the Missouri state university field hockey team play at one of their only home games.

Man, I miss playing so much. As much as I can't move too fast right now, I was so tempted to run down to the field, grab a stick, and go crazy! It is such a fun sport.

Sadly, I can tell I am getting old because 1. I couldn't remember all of the rules whenever Ryan asked about what was going on. 2. Both of our backs were aching after sitting in the bleachers for an hour. :-) 

It was Ryan's first game to watch and I actually think he liked it! It was so fun. I hope we can see another one soon!

After the game, we went to Braum's to get ice cream. :-). Ryan got a double scoop of cookies n'cream (his favorite) and I got a double scoop with mint chocolate chip and cookies n' cream. Nothing like Graeter's, but the best we have here in Missouri.

Maternity update: 36 weeks!!!

Four. More. Weeks!!! Give or take whatever. I was late with both of the boys and was induced, but I went a day early with Mackenzie. So who knows when this wee babe is planning on making her debut! Honestly, as much as I would like to have her born on the actual due date, or even a little before... I would love to keep her in till the beginning of November. Mainly because I am not going to miss trick or treating. ; )

My weekly e-mail update:

How your baby's growing:

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds and is more than 18 1/2 inches long (about the size of a head of romaine lettuce). She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.

http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-36-weeks_1125.bc?read_more=1&scid=mbtw_preg36&pe=MlU0a3hYc3wyMDEzMTAwMQ..

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35 weeks

(I am thinking that this workout tank top might need to retire. : )

 36 weeks

DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS: Last week is when I started having my weekly appointments. I had another one this morning. Everything is going great! My blood pressure was 100/60, no weight gain, no urine sample issues, and I am measuring 35 cm at 36 weeks. She said I was measuring a little small last week as well, so it isn't a big deal. I think that is crazy! I was just telling Ryan the other day I feel like this baby is going to be huge because I can't breathe, and my lower abdomen and back are always sore! Today was the first time she checked to see if I was dilating or effacing. Can I tell you how much I dislike those appointments! Find a happy place, find a happy place. The cloud pictures they have on the ceiling tend to help! Quite serene. She said I am dilated to about a fingertip, so not very much at this point. The baby was super active at the appointment, and the nurse got a kick out of seeing my stomach moving all over the place. Baby girl's heart rate was 160. 

CRAVINGS/AVERSIONS: Kind of craving sweets still, like brownies and doughnuts. Veggies are kinda gross at this point, so I have to force them down. But if someone else prepares them, it is like magic. I will go to town with them. I am having to eat smaller meals, just more often. I am super sensitive right now to spices, like cumin, chili powder, ginger, ect. They definately irritate my heartburn.

SICKNESS/PAINS: Heartburn/nausea, tender lower abdomen, sore back. I think my hips are starting to loosen up more because I feel like I am walking like I just rode a horse for 48 hours straight. I am not sleeping well lately. Either tossing and turning, or having to go to the bathroom. I have had to take some cat naps here and there, and that seems to help.

EMOTIONS: They are doing a little better! Thankfully! I cry a little easier again right now though, like for random commercials and when my kids get me upset haha. I am starting to feel like the end of this crazy (for me) pregnancy is in sight! I am getting more and more excited to meet this little spirit. I love her already.

WEIGHT GAIN: As of this morning's weigh-in, I haven't changed, and I am still up 23 lbs total. It is arranged different than last pregnancy though, my clothes are definately fitting different. Like think along the lines of Chris Farley...

EXERCISE: I am keeping running to a bare minimum now, it just hurts my lower abdomen too much at this point.  I miss it, but I know that I will be that much more excited to run when I am able! So over the last two weeks, I have been walking, the Firm dvd, stationary bike, bootcamp, mowing the lawn, free-weights, a little prenatal yoga, and I am including a bit more stretching than usual.

NAME GAME: Still undecided : )

Fit n' Firm: Bootcamp workout #4

On Monday mornings, bootcamp is a body-weight day. We only do exercises with our body weight- no free weights, kettlebells, resistance bands, ect. Last Monday, we did this 50/10 workout:

Set your timers for 50 seconds of work with 10 seconds of rest in between. After you go through all 12 exercises, then take a rest/water break. Obviously, you know your body, and if you need to take a break sooner than that, then by all means, do it! It makes a total of 12 minutes per round.

WARM UP FOR 5-10 MINUTES (including jogging, walking, and other exercises, as well as some light stretching)


1. High knees
2. Superman pushups*
3. Rolling burpee*
4. Mountain climbers
5. Wall sit (optional, add leg lifts)
6. Plank with leg lifts
7. Sprint
8. Walking lunges
9. Inchworm*
10. Squat into core twist*
11. Tricep dips
12. Pulse squats


After you have performed two rounds, reverse the order of the exercises and start with #12 (pulse squats). Work your way up the reverse order till you get to #1 (high knees). Do two more rounds, making 4 rounds total.

COOL DOWN FOR 5-10 MINUTES (light walking and then a more thorough bout of stretching.)



*Further explanation:
-Superman pushup- start in pushup position, lower your body down all the way to the ground, perform the superman (see image below), lower arms and legs back down to the ground, then push body back up to complete the pushup. That is one rep.



-Rolling Burpee-*look here for an example; but, we added a jump at the end: http://www.youtube.com/watch/?v=_q7JUuOVKS4

-Inchworm- Stand with your feet hip-width apart, bend over, and touch the floor in front of your feet with both hands. Keeping your legs straight and core tight, walk your hands forward as far as you can without letting your hips drop. Pause, then slowly walk your hands back to your feet and stand (for a stationary inchworm). Or, you can slowly walk your feet to up to your your hands and continue the "inching" movement.

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/sexy-arms-for-summer

-Squat into core twist-

http://www.shape.com/fitness/workouts/bikini-belly-bootcamp/slide/4

Table etiquette and manners- A mother/daughter Relief Society Activity

First off, this dude is a life saver. Seriously. Gotta give him a shout out. When things weren't running as smoothly as I would have liked, aka the church printer jammed an hour before the activity, this man I call my husband came to my rescue. I need to do better at expecting things to go wrong; and plan for the worst, but I guess I am just too optimistic. : )

The activity was a mother/daughter activity focused on dining etiquette/manners. So, all women were invited, as well as any daughters/grandaughters, ect. ages 8 and older.

First, we had three quick classes that were on: table decorating (*note all of the cute themed centerpieces our speaker brought for examples), how to set a formal table properly, and table etiquette.

Next, we had a relay race. We divided everyone up into two groups. We had three stations set up on both sides of the gym. The girls were the main competitors, while the moms were there to help their daughters in any way possible.

The first station was just 'cause we are girls and usually get dolled up before we have a nice dinner. : ) The daughters had to quickly put on the items on the table. 

I brought a pair of shoes, a skirt, and the sister I work with brought some jewelry. They had to keep all of the attire on until they completed all of the other stations.

The second station was table setting. They had to properly set a formal dining table setting, napkin folding and all. : )

The next and final station was to match dining do's and don'ts.

Once the third station was completed, the mom and daughter team had to hurry back to the beginning and take off the dress-up clothes and leave them on the table for the next mother/daughter team.


We also had two "crafts" for the ladies to participate in if they wanted.

One craft was making a paper origami recipe book (aimed at the younger girls). Some simple kid-friendly recipes were printed off and available to be placed in the recipe book.

The second was really not even a craft. We asked the women to bring an empty picture frame that they would like to use in their kitchen for a dry-erase menu board. We then provided the menu inserts for the frames. Annnnd that was it for that one. : ) You could have them decorate their frames or the menu inserts if you have time. I got the idea off of pinterest, duh! This is the main example I used for our menu boards. Check out my relief society page for more of the ideas I used for this activity...

For refreshments, we had an ice cream bar. The team that won the relay race was the first group to hit up the refreshment table. It was a big hit! I am so bummed I forgot to take a picture of it. I thought it looked pretty cute, if I do say so myself. : )

For the ice cream bar we had:

Vanilla ice cream

Ice cream cones

Chocolate syrup

Caramel syrup

Strawberries

Bananas

Sprinkles

Whipped Cream

Chopped up cookies

Whole cookies

Toffee bits

Chocolate chips

M & Ms

Maraschino cherries

It was a fun night of learning and play! And dessert always makes activities a little better! : )

Fit n' Firm Friday: Bootcamp workout #3

Oh sweet Susie. DOMS has set in. I know I am alive, that is for sure. I am having a hard time walking today, and I love it. Although, being 8 months pregnant (and waddling), makes it all the more awkward to move when you are incredibly sore. : ) This is the workout I had for the bootcamp ladies Wednesday night.

12 x 4 Tabata series:
*A tabata is a 4 minute long workout. It is performing an exercise for 20 seconds, as hard as you can, with 10 seconds of rest immediately after. Continue alternating between the 20 seconds of work and 10 seconds of rest until you have completed 8 rounds of work. It adds up to 4 minutes total.

*This workout has 12 exercises. Each exercise is performed for one tabata (4 minutes). Then, take about 30 seconds to a minute of rest after the 4 minutes are up. Move on to the next exercise and complete the new tabata. Continue until all 12 tabatas are completed. It is a total of 48 minutes of "tabata" time, with the additional rest periods in between tabatas.

*I did not use very many "cardio" exercises, but alternating between upper body and lower body exercises keeps your heart rate up to get the same effect.

1. Squats
2. Overhead tricep extension(5-8 lbs)
3. Deadlift(15-20 lbs)
4. Front row(5-10 lbs)
5. Forward lunge with calf raise
6. Shoulder press(5-10 lbs)
7. Glute bridges
8. Push-ups
9. Reverse lunges
10. Bicep curls(5-10 lbs)
11. Squat jumps
12. L raises(5 lbs)

Feel free to ask any questions on how to perform a certain exercise!

no cavities and lighters

I thought having a girl would ensure I have someone to hang out with when the boys start hunting with Ryan. I think I might be wrong... She loves bug hunting with that play gun. :-) I imagine she will want to go hunting with the guys in the future. And that is OK! I would love for her to at least try it out. I can see many quiet days in the future though!

I took the boys to the dentist on Monday. Last time I took them, Cole wouldn't let them do anything. On Monday though, he sat perfectly still. He had the cleaning, the exam, and xrays done! He is getting so big. :-) 

Neither of the boys had cavities! So for celebration, I took them to get brunch at the fancy golden arches. I have never taken them for breakfast there before. Well, maybe once on vacation? Anyway, by the time we would have gotten tuck to school, he would have missed lunch. I have lots of memories eating pancakes with my grandma at mcdonalds. She didn't have a lot of money, but she did like to take us there every once in a while. I miss that lady!

I thought it would be fun to do something out of the ordinary with the boys after their appointment. They were so excited when we pulled up. :-) I let them each pick what they wanted. 

We were all a little concerned with the "scrambled eggs" though. Tucker even said, "those are eggs?????" :-) 

Tucker got caught trying to use a lighter the other day with Cole and a neighbor boy. They were trying to start a fire in the backyard. Thankfully they didn't get it going! They found it somewhere in the camping stuff in the garage and thought it was the perfect time to try their fire-making skills. After he got caught in a lie trying to not get caught with the lighter (that's a mouthful), he came up with this note all by himself. He is a sweetie. A pyromaniac like his father, but a sweetie. :-) 

Maternity update: 34 weeks

6 WEEKS LEFT! What. in. the. world.

30 weeks

32 weeks

33 weeks

34 weeks

DOCTOR VISITS: I have had a few since I last updated. : ) So, baby's heart rate is perfect, at my appointment last week it was 156. My blood pressure is doing great, I had low iron so they put me on an iron supplement, and I tested negative to gestational diabetes-thank goodness! I wouldn't do too well with controlling my sugar intake. :-)  She has been measuring the fundal height of my uterus at my appointments, and last week at 33 weeks, I was measuring 33 cm. She hasn't really been telling me what I have been measuring, so I was glad when she finally told me the measurement that time. I really didn't get to talk to her much because the fire alarm went off in the building right when she came in. She was so funny, the alarm was going off, but she still wanted to quickly finish my appointment. She asked if I had any questions/concerns, and I told her about some wicked heartburn and nausea I have been having. She recommend pepcid for my bad heartburn.

CRAVINGS/AVERSIONS: Oh crap. Remember how I haven't had much of a sweet tooth this pregnancy? Well, I must be teething. Like bad. Like maybe even a few of those "sweet teeth." : ) I have been wanting sweet things like crazy lately. Meat still is kind of yucky, as well as most veggies. If someone else prepares it, they are not so bad. But if I am cooking, I usually have a hard time eating the meal. Chocolate covered cinnamon bears from BYU have probably been the biggest craving so far. : )

SICKNESS: I have been trying to deal with my anemia, which explains my fatigue. My heartburn has gotten pretty bad lately. And then I will get sick to my stomach at random times (which makes me lose my appetite). Doc says it is related to the acid from the heartburn. Not very many headaches lately. Braxton hicks are the new normal. I have them pretty much all day long, just off an on. I had one the other night that was so intense it woke me up from a dead sleep! Speaking of sleep, I am very uncomfortable with sleeping... I am dyyyyinng to sleep on my belly. I have a hard time getting comfortable to sleep. This is the first pregnancy that I have actually had to use pillows to place around my body to help me get comfortable. My back has been hurting a lot more this pregnancy, and so it is a good thing ry is awesome at popping my back, as well as giving massages. :-) 

EMOTIONS: Yippee skippee! I hate talking about it, but I want to at the same time. It took me the longest time to fully accept I had depression and anxiety after I had Cole. I don't like the fact that I have had to ask for help. But, I think it helps when people know that they aren't alone with depression and anxiety. I have always had very happy, normal pregnancies. However, I think since my post-partum depression/anxiety wasn't completely resolved after Mackenzie, it kind of carried on into this pregnancy. It hasn't been too bad, but I definately feel the presence of the depression and anxiety off and on. Anxiety being the biggest issue. It honestly is such a pain. Most days are amazing and I just feel completely normal, and other days, well, they are just other days that I would love to forget. Thankfully, I have amazing family and friends.

I do think some of my emotional problems are just related to pregnancy hormones running wild though... a few random weepy moments. : )

I am getting slightly more nervous for a FOURTH child to be responsible for. I am curious to see what she is like. All three of my kids so far are almost completely different personality wise, so it will be fun to see who this lil gal is. : )

WEIGHT GAIN: at 34 weeks, my morning weigh-in was up 23 pounds total.

EXERCISE: Man, I am missing my running. I cannot run more than .25 miles at a time. And that is even pushing it. Even with my belly band on, I am extremely uncomfortable with the bouncing of the belly. It is crazy because I was able to run up until the day before I had Mackenzie. I just keep telling myself that every pregnancy is different and I can't expect my body to be able to do the same exact thing every time. Over the last several weeks, I have been walking, jogging (and I say that very loosely, aka 5.0 is about as fast as I can go, and it is only for a short amount of time.) intervals every once in a while, elliptical, indoor cycling, denise austin and the firm workout dvds, free weights, weight machines, yard work, and I am still teaching bootcamp two times a week at church. I am needing to modify a lot more at bootcamp, but I feel like I am in good company because my sister-in-law that comes is only a few weeks behind me. We modify together. : ) Overall, I am still moving, just much slower. :-) 

I try to get 4-5 workouts in a week. At the very least, I am alright with doing three days. My goal is to do a couple days of cardio and at a couple of resistance training.

NAME GAME: Darn it, still no names I like. I have looked so much over the last couple of months, I got burned out. I finally started looking again, and I spent forever looking yesterday. Nothin. But Ryan still wants Audrey. He told me I can pick the middle name, so I might just have to take him up on that!

A new experience for muah...

I don't know what I was/am thinking... but I signed up to be Tucker's home room mom. And by golly, I got picked. I am a little nervous, but I am super excited to be more involved in his classroom this year! I went to a meeting last night that went over all of the expectations of a room mom and how the class parties are handled. A fall festival, winter festival, and valentine's party are the main events on my schedule. I might not be at the fall party, because it is around my due date... but I will try my darndest to be there! ; ) Pinterest, we will become even better best friends this year. : ) Let the preparations begin!!!

A surprise party!

Ryan turned 30!!!!

On September 1st!

It took a lot of effort and self-constraint, but I was able to pull off a surprise party for him! It was a Christmas miracle that I didn't spill the beans. : ) Not to mention, for the duration of the entire week before the party, I had to keep lying about everything to him. It was all just lie on top of lie, story upon story, just to make things workout. I am an honest person, so that was very difficult for me. I even had to lie to the kids about why I was buying all of the stuff and what we were doing that night! It was such a relief when we finally got to the party. : ) I felt as free as a bird!!!!

He kind of hates being the center of attention, so I knew I was taking a risk by throwing a party just for him, and a surprise one at that.

On a recent business trip to visit a plant (where he can't wear his wedding ring), he left his (second) ring in the rental car and turned it in. He didn't realize it till it was too late and they had already re-rented the car. Third time's a charm?

Anyway, so I used that to my advantage for a date night. We were "planning" on getting him a new ring that night, as well as hitting up one of his favorite places, Bass Pro.

We had borrowed an air mattress from his parents when my sister and her hubby came to visit a few weeks ago. We used this mattress for a reason to get over to his parent's house that night. His dad is the Bishop for the Young Single Adults ward in our stake, so I had his mom call to ask us to bring it back the night of his party for a "young single adult's parents who were in town." Yet another tale we had to tell! We had family and some friends show up 20 minutes early, and park at the nearby elementary school. A brother-in-law "shuttled" people over to the house so there wouldn't be a ton of cars at the house when we got there. I had two of my sisters-in-law take pictures to capture the surprise...

I love this picture, Ryan is SO confused!!!!! And I love his mom's face, the anticipation!!!

Even more confused!

After they yelled surprise and he realized it all was for him. He decided to hide behind the mattress. : )

He is so studly. : ) His dad is to the left, and our neighbor is the one standing by him. Ryan quickly befriended them once we moved in to our current house. They are often the recipients of ryan's cowboy cookies! : )

I LOOOVE his body language here. So embarrassed. : ) and that is totally the way Cole acts when he is embarrassed. : )

We had a night full of goodies that Ryan loves. We had a nacho bar with nacho cheese,  tortilla chips, sliced olives, sliced jalapenos, salsa, sour cream, green onions, and guacamole.

We also had a candy bar filled with mixed fun-sized candy bars, reese's pieces, skittles, and mike and ikes.

I didn't get a before picture, but we had a boat load of candy. Let's just say we are still eating candy from the party and it has been a week and a half. : )

Instead of cake and ice cream, we did root beer floats, one of his favorites. I just stuck the "30" candles in the ice cream tub. : )

I couldn't have gotten everything done without the help of my awesome mother and father-in-law, sister-in-laws, and really all of Ryan's family. They all helped so much!

Since I knew Ryan wouldn't be a super huge fan of a surprise party, I didn't want to make the party super busy. He is not super into games or activities. I just wanted to have the food and treats, read a few memories, and then just hang out.

For all of the people I invited, I asked them to send a favorite memory of Ryan, and one word used to describe him. I made a poster that displayed all of the words to describe him, and then I read out loud all of the memories people had sent to me. It was fun to celebrate this awesome man and his 30 years of existence! He is the best.

Maybe I will post some of those memories and words another time. : )

Happy Birthday babe!!!!!! We all love you like crazy!