Merry Christmas

Almost every person we had guess, guessed a girl (including Ben and I). Even the Chinese calendar claimed it was a girl (which is supposed to be accurate). But...it's not. We're having a boy! At least the Dr is 80-90% sure. This actually came as a huge shock to me. I was completely convinced we were having a girl because of two very real dreams I had before I knew I was pregnant. I even had the name picked out and engraven on a picture frame: Eleanor Ruby Mack. But now I have to start from scratch. I don't know why I was so convinced it was a girl since I have always known I would have boys. But what do you name a boy?? Ben thinks we're going to name our kids Bible names like Nephi and Zedekiah (this argument could end our marriage). We'll see...

Here are some pictures of our amazing trip to Hawaii for Thanksgiving with my family. We had so much fun just sitting by the pool sipping pina coladas.

Yes on Prop 8

Although I do not currently live in California, I am still a registered resident of the state, and believe that sometime soon I will move back there. However, it worries me to move back to a place that is trying to change the legalized definition of marriage, that is between a man and a woman. It is not that I do not think homosexual couples should be given the same rights as married couples (which they currently do), but I disagree with the implications that will follow if Prop 8 is denied.

By allowing the term "marriage" to encompass homosexual as well as heterosexual partnerships, public schools will be required to teach that same-sex relationships are normal and right. While many may feel that this is okay, my rights as a parent and as a religious identity are being taken away. I have the right to raise my children as I see fit, with the values I choose to instill within them. It is my right to teach my children about relationships in the manner that I agree with. However, if Prop 8 is denied, the teaching of same-sex relationships will be required in the school curriculum, for children as young as kindergartners, without a parent consent.

Attached is an article written by a liberal democrat stating why he agrees with Prop 8, in regards to children's rights:
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-blankenhorn19-2008sep19,0,2093869.story

Vote YES on Prop 8!

I finally have something worth writing about...

I have great news!
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I'M PREGNANT!

I would post the picture of my ultrasound, but I have no idea how to transfer it onto the computer.

I know this may be shocking for most (and probably even more shocking for us) since we have never hinted at having kids anytime soon, but we (by "we" I mean "I") are so excited! I actually think this is putting Ben through an early midlife crisis. He seems to have a heightened level of stress, and keeps claiming that this baby is HIS and not MINE (never mind how I seem to be the one choking down several servings of broccoli each day and being denied even one sip of my lifeline: diet coke, from my anal retentive husband who keeps repeating that HIS baby is going to be healthy). Nevertheless, I am still excited and feel that this could not have worked out any better considering that the baby is due only a few weeks after I graduate. According to the doctor, I am eight weeks four days pregnant and my baby is due on May 31st!

And I'd like to add that I am completely convinced that this baby is a girl, as is Ben, but for completely different reasons. I had several dreams before I even knew that I was pregnant about having a baby girl, so I think it's a sign. However, Ben thinks it's a girl according to the ever-so-accurate Chinese calender. More than likely we'll both be wrong, but it's fun to speculate.

And just so that I can add these pictures...I was lucky enough to tag along with Ben while he did a homeshow in San Diego. I got to hang out with these rugrats again, who I can't seem to get enough of (oh, and my dear sweet family!).

Update

Just so that everyone can validate my excuse for not posting, my computer crashed about a month ago. I know that there are other computers that I can post from (including my decrepit old computer that Ben has inherited), but posting is painful enough without dealing with an incompetent computer. However, Ben was the best husband ever and ordered me a new computer, so I'm all geared up and ready. And since my last post there has been a lot going on:

1. My sister, Carissa, had her little baby boy a month early on September 1st! His name is Tyler and he is the cutest thing. Tyler has been diagnosed with down syndrome, which I feel like is the greatest blessing ever, and I am so excited to be a part of his life.








2. My best friend from high school was married, and I was able to spend the evening with all my high school friends (which never happens).




3. Ben and I went to Lake Powell in August with the Kennedy family and had an amazing time (thanks again for letting us tag along). I have yet to post the recipe that I promised so long ago (same excuse...computer crashed...sorry).


Spicy Chicken Casserole:
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can chili
1 can corn
7 oz. salsa
1 cup rice uncooked (cook before adding to casserole)
2 cups chopped, cooked chicken (I usually put my chicken in the crockpot and shred it)
1 cup shredded mozerella cheese
1 cup shredded chedder cheese

Mix everything together and cook at 350 for twenty to thirty minutes. You can serve it be itself or in tortillas. You can also add sour cream, lettuce, ranch dressing, or whatever you like to the burritos.


4. I started my second and final year of grad school, which is absolutely horrible and I can't wait to be done. I am doing an internship at HOPE Counseling where I get to work with families in their homes doing psychosocial rehabilitation and therapy.


5. Gus is still our favorite son...



6. Ben's parents were nice enough to invite us to the Cayman Islands for a week in September. Although it seems we get enough vacations, this was a much needed break. Thanks you Cyndie and Matthew! We had a great time!







7. My dad took my sister and I to Washington in August to visit our Grandma Belnap and to see the famous Forks!! Yes, we're major Twilight gurus and we even got Twilight sweatshirts!






8. We're still living in Las Vegas...and pretending that we're moving to San Diego soon.


AND...

There's more but you'll have to wait a few more months until I have the energy to post again.

HELP! I need someone to help me change my text color and I can't figure it out!

Hav-a-poopi

After a strenuous and back-breaking weekend of hiking at Havasupi, I was feeling pretty good about myself. Although I failed to have the brute strength to hike out of Havasupi (for those uneducated in the outdoor "hard-core" arena, Havasupi is hiking in and out of the Grand Canyon carrying everything on your back and camping), I had made the hike in and even hiked to and from the village several times (strictly in search of Diet Coke). My hiking odometer clocked about twenty miles in three days, including gnarly bruises on my heels and shoulder, which officially categorized me as "hard-core" regardless of my helicopter ride out of the Grand Canyon.

However, I was brutally awakened to the pathetic and embarrassing state of my athletic ability the next weekend when two of my old roommates informed me they had hiked in AND out of Havasupi with packs on just the week before me! I wish I could claim the temperature was much more brutal when I was there, or that my pack was larger, but I finally had to come to grips with the truth...I am not HARD-CORE.





Ben decided to demonstrate one of his many talents of catching squirrels. After a few hours of bating them with peanuts while we all video-taped, Ben finally snagged a big one. Him and my dad proceeded to try and drown the squirrel (they claimed they wanted to see him swim) in the nearby river. It was no surprise to the rest of us when the squirrels starting trying to steal our playing cards and Gatorade as revenge.




The beautiful falls:



After our strenuous......helicopter ride....



And a few pictures of my trip to San Diego for Brooke's wedding:

The last month...

Okay, I have to admit that posting is not my favorite thing to do. It's not that I have nothing to say (I talk talk about nothing for quite some time), it's that I feel like it's a task, something to add to my to-do list. If I only had to type than it would be much easier. But the best part about blogs are the pictures...and that takes a lot of my effort. I have to go find the cord, hook it to the camera, hook the camera to the computer, decide what pictures I don't look absolutely disgusting in, and wait for them to download. Too much work! I'm fully aware that I sound incredibly lazy, but that doesn't convince me to do it any more often.

So, quick update: We have been extremely busy, Ben working, and me...traveling (I do go to school and work too, plus scrapbooking, doing puzzles, and other really important things). Here are a few pictures of our incredibly exciting and thrilling lives in the past month:

Ben's family comes to visit:



Our Church history trip to Missouri:



Boating with friends:





The Del Mar Fair:




4th of July in Park City: