4th grade field trip- This is the Place

In 4th grade, students study Utah history, so for their field trip they went to This is the Place park.  Johnathan got to drive Jayden & a few other kids up to it.  This was Johnathan's first time there, so he was glad he got to go.

Here are some of the things they saw there:

 Pioneer houses

 They went on a scenic train ride

 Pulling handcarts.  Jayden says it was EASY

 They learned a dance :)

 They also learned about the Deseret Alphabet, created to help immigrants learn to speak English easier

Annual Dutson Family get-together

Every year around Easter, the Dutson side tries to get together.  We do an Easter egg hunt and head out to the sand dunes.  When Easter is early, we always run into bad weather out at the sand dunes, so we decided to have it at the end of April.  The weather was perfect this year.  Not too hot and not too windy.

 The cousins (and a few Lynndyl-ites) waiting for the hunt to start.  It seems like we are getting fewer and fewer kids every year

 Kim always plans fun games/activities for the kids and they get to choose fun prizes

 

 The crew out at the sand dunes, after lunch

 Cousins playing :)

Jayden flying his kite

We love this yearly tradition!  Thanks Kim, for all your work putting it together every year.

Mothers Day

Mothers Day was such a good day for me!  I need to include the day before too.  I was feeling so good physically, mentally & emotionally that I got a lot done.  Probably the most I've done all year, honestly.  I had almost no nerve pain all day.  Can I just say how awesome that was?!?!  On Sunday, Johnathan rushed home from work (and I didn't hear him come in, which is unusual), and the kids and him made me breakfast in bed.  I was so surprised, which is also unusual.  I got some new maternity clothes, so now I have more than 4 shirts and yoga pants to wear!  My mom also gave me the most beautiful flowers.  I LOVE daisies!

After church we had a nap and then woke up and played games together.  John cooked a yummy dinner and wouldn't let me help clean up.  It was such a nice, relaxing day.

Everyone made me homemade cards (the BEST kind).  I really want to share what they say because they are so cute!

Jayden's card was a poem about me:

Just amazing
Appreciated
Nice
Awesome

Mom!
Optimistic
Totally
Heavenly
Elegant
Righteous
Satisfier

Dear
Awesome
Yellow liker
!

Ashlyn's card was a bunch of questions for her to answer:

I love you because- you always keep me safe and sound at home.
You love me because- I am just like you.
I love it when you- go on a date with dad.
My favorite thing to do with you is- ride bikes with you and dad.
While I am at school you like to- take naps after lunch.
You look beautiful when- you get dressed in the morning.
I know you are upset when- I don't listen to you.
I know you are happy when- I do listen to you.
My favorite thing you cook is- broccoli soup.  Mmmmmmmmm!  Yummy!
Your favorite thing to say is- "I love you sweetie!"

She also wrote me a letter:

Dear mom,

I love it when you cook me dinner every day.  you are a great example to everybody.  You are spectacular at your handwriting.  You are so special to me.  I love how you are so kind to other people.  You are a great mom because you always help me with my homework.  I love how you are so good at remembering stuff.  I love how you look when you curl your hair and when you put on your makeup on your face.  I love how you curl your eyelashes.  I love how you are sometimes fancy.  I like that you can face your fears.  I am glad that you are pregnant with a baby girl that is healthy.  I love that you hate chocolate cake.  You are a great mother.  You are awesome!  Happy mother's Day!

Love your daughter,
Ashlyn Allen



I am so thankful for each one of my kids.  They are just awesome!  I love each of their personalities and what they add to our family.  I'm one lucky momma!

24 Weeks, 16 more to go!

Another month down!  Everything is still looking good with baby.  This week, she is roughly 1 pound.  The doctor told us that next time we meet, she will be about 2  1/2 pounds, so she'll have doubled in size!  So far I have gained 10 pounds.  I feel like that's a good amount, meaning not too much, but I'm not for sure. 

Overall, I feel like my hips are doing a little better with staying in place.  I am trying to cut back going to the chiropractor to only once a week.  He told me that my hips are moving into place a little easier, and I feel like for the most part they are hurting less.  I still have problems with them, especially if I sit on a hard chair, but I'm learning what I have to avoid to have less pain.  As of right now, my biggest problem is pelvic nerve pain.  Most days are just painful.  It hurts to walk, to go up stairs, to bend over and step into pants, to carry heavy things, and to climb into bed.  I also wake up every night in pain.  I know it's going to get worse when the baby grows heavier too.  I'm just trying to brace myself...  And keep a positive attitude...  It's hard when all day is so painful though.

When I compare her activity with the other kids, I think she is pretty mellow.  I am trying to not get to excited about that thought, because you never know what her personality will be like.  When I was pregnant with Jacob, I knew he would be a more active child though.  It seemed like he never stopped moving and kicking.  We'll see!  Just a few days ago, all the kids were able to feel her moving.  Now they are always feeling my belly to see if they can feel her.  It's really fun, for me and them.

UPDATE:  Once again, I had this post mostly ready a week ago and failed to post it.  I am now 25 weeks :)