Independence Week 2012

I think I figured out the secret to blogging.

The more you blog, the more you WANT to blog!

So, now I am going back and looking for more stuff to blog about.  Turns out I have TONS of stuff!

So, here is our 4th of July week.  I love this time of year.  It is the heart of the summer and I have so many awesome memories each year.  This one is no exception.

We started things off on Sunday the 1st- Cross Church was having their awesome annual display.  Longest fireworks display ever.  It was so fun.  A great part was that from getting out of the car to sitting in our spot on the grass was only 5 minutes.  We just walked right up to our spot.  And the view was amazing.

I look a little swollen.  Pregnancy. *sigh*



Noah identifies himself with a balloon.

He could maybe use some more boy friends.



We bought the kids bikes for the 4th.  Fantastic purchase.  They have ridden those bikes every day since!

Noah's first time on a bike.  He's a pro now.

On the 3rd of July, we went boating on Beaver Lake and watched the fireworks they put up over the lake.  It was amazing.  So fun! 

Suzy jumped right into the water.  Noah had to be coaxed a little.  But he did it!

Ahhh, my little Su-Su bug!

On the actual 4th, we got invited to the sweetest block party that included pony rides for the kids!

Is he mad, sad, happy?  Who knows!

Definitely happy here!

Noah and his cousin, Jack watching the fireworks.

Lame pic below, but I tried to capture Suz's reaction to all the fireworks.  She was interested, but very scared.

Weird to think that next year at this time, I will have a 9 MONTH OLD!

Spain!!!!

I should have posted these months ago---better late than never, I suppose.  It was actually fun to look back and relive the trip.  I am already itching to go back and I know Jared is too.  We just LOVE Spain!

See how happy we are here!  We rented a car to drive all over Andalucia.  I actually bawled my eyes out when we came out of the airport's parking garage in Malaga and I saw, or should I say felt Spain again.  It was so many emotions.  It was amazing!

Our first stop was to get a bocadilla de tortilla.  Delicious. 

On our second day in Spain, we went to our favorite place Cadiz.  We walked barefoot along the beach for a while.



Then we went to Casco Antiguo (sp) and visited all the old places we had been.  This is where Jared used to live.

Jared's street.  We had another tortilla sandwich from that store right there.

Cute Jared!  Bet he never thought he'd be walking the streets of his old area with Hna. Astle, his wife!!! ha ha

Ahh, we love each other.

Nepolitana and Biofruta on the beach in Cadiz.

Marias!!!

We stayed a couple nights with our good amigos, the Juncals, in Jerez!  That sure helped the Spanish to come back.

Eating crawdads.  I forget what they even call them in Spanish.  They are sick.  I didn't eat a single one.  Bleck!

Fran and Ruth are the coolest ever!

Later in the week, we met up with my mom, dad, and sister in Malaga.  Look where we stayed.  Beautiful.

We traveled to Sevilla with my family.  I love Sevilla.  I spent 3 months or so with Hna. Densley there and we had a great time!

 I think this is a way cool picture of my sister with me, my dad, and Jared in the background. 

Jared and I being in love

I wanna go back!

I left out the pics of us going to Morocco and Gibraltar because those need to be a separate post.  Here's Jared and I traveling by train from Malaga to Madrid.

When we got to Madrid, we hopped on the metro and went to the temple grounds.  Temple was closed, but we just walked around and loved it.

That night, we did some shopping in Sol and went to Plaza Mayor for some churros and chocolate.  And a sandwich for Jared.

This pic is out of order, but I love it.  It's actually the pic that comes up on my phone when Jared calls.  IT also cracks me up that part of my dad's head is in the background.  He was trying to get in the pic, but he missed it. ha ha

Jared and I in Madrid (Plaza Mayor)

Jared and I are already talking about when we can go back.  We had the best time! 

Pregnancy Pics

Hi!

So, I have just been thinking about how I haven't really documented this pregnancy and unless you are on instagram, I haven't posted any pictures really of myself pregnant this time around.

I am frighteningly (word?) huge.
Like I can't believe how big I am this time.  I swear to you all that after this baby I am getting a six pack because apparently I didn't strengthen my abs well enough after Suzy was born and so now I really just have no abs.  Dang.

Before I post new pics, click here to take a trip down memory lane.
I still have a long ways to go.  *deep breath*

Huge Courtney, 38 weeks preg with Suzy

Here's the 3 I have this time.  Taking preg pictures of myself isn't really my favorite thing to do, but it is fun to compare myself to earlier pregnancies.

 23 weeks

 26 weeks





28 weeks

I'm a day or so away from 29 weeks, so only 10 weeks to go.  My c-section is scheduled for October 10th.  I seriously CAN'T wait!

In the meantime, I am excited for our Gorden family reunion in August, piano to start at the end of the month, a ROUTINE again, Noah to start preschool, and some cooler weather (I'll take 80's, ok even low 90's). 

Check back soon because I am going to post about:

• our new house
• the rest of our European vacation from back in January! (oops!) Still gotta post about Spain!
• Noah's 4th Birthday
• My Kids!
• Music I'm way into at the moment (why not?)

Picture Post!

I have been enjoying this summer so much with my kidlets.  I took the summer off of teaching piano so we could have more time to play and it has been nice having so much free time.  Here are some of my favorite pics.  I've been working hard to take more pictures- even though they are all with my phone.  Jared and I made a deal that if I can take lots of pictures and blog about them &/or store them (basically do SOMETHING with them) then I can get a nice camera in a year!  So I have some proving to do that I can do it.  But I'm going to try.  For my family's sake.

Noah teaching Suzy words.  Suzy is starting to talk a lot.  It's awesome!  She's started putting two words together and always surprises us with what phrases she has picked up. Like "Go away." ha ha, I did not teach her that!

Kids both decided they wanted to wear hats.  In the 100 degree weather.

Ahh, what a beautiful picture that rarely happens.

***This is my favorite picture ever.  Drawn by little Noah!***

Road Trip!

Pit Stop!

Hotel in St. Louis

Cute Kids

Cute Daddy

Same Size, 2 years apart

Suzy's Cartoon Look Alike

I think Suzy found her new role model, besides the little orphan Annie.  I saw previews for the new Pixar movie, "Brave," and I am thrilled that the main character/heroine/princess looks (to me) like a grown up version of my daughter!  Yay for curly, crazy red hair, greenish eyes, and a cute round face!