This little lover....

growing inside of me is healthy and 18 or 19 weeks along, depending on who you ask. :) My ultrasound a month ago put me a week further than my original due date and my doc said he'll see how the next ultrasound measures on whether he'll change the date or not. I choose one week closer. So I say 19 weeks. I'm probably wrong and the babe will come when the babe comes anyway. By the way, I think there's some sort of trick lens on my camera that makes me look smaller than I really am. I feel like I look really pregnant and I tried to get the most unforgiving angle...but the belly looked littler than I think it is in each picture. I feel him/her all the time now. LOVE THAT. What a miracle! We are so excited! Our ultrasound appt. is for September 8th and hopefully we'll be able to find out what this little bun is. Can't wait!

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who loves to wear a million different pairs of shoes everyday, whose smile melts my heart, who likes to wear her brother's football uniform with pink crocs and copy everything he does, who is talking SO much, who sings her way through life, who is growing up way too fast...started nursery at Church yesterday! Even though I felt ready for it about 6 months ago, I was emotional about this transition all morning *much to the bewilderment of the husband who was nothing but excited*. She loved it, did great, and stayed put. We told Max to make sure she was okay, although I think she doesn't really need him to do that. Man, she's getting so big!

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is my helper, makes me laugh everyday, loves crazy dance moves and long stories (books as well as made-up), is enamored with his dad, loves making his little sister laugh, can't wait to be a big brother to another babe, is a great friend to all. I love his face, his laugh, his amazing memory and super fun imagination.

Maxisms for your enjoyment:

• The other day we got a new Friend magazine in the mail *a Church publication for children*...Ty said, "Oh, look Max, we got a new Friend in the mail!" Max excitedly asked, "Oh, what's his name?!" :)
• Oh, the excitement when Ty picked us up at the airport after not seeing him for two weeks! It was SO loud and SO cute and I will never forget it. Lots of squealing and kissing and "I missed you"'s. I thought as I stood there with tears in my eyes, 'I bet we are brightening some weary traveler's day today.' As we were walking to the car Max couldn't stop talking, one subject to the next. "Oh, Dad, I have a new favorite color! It's not red anymore, it's blue!" Ty: "Just like me, Max! My favorite color is blue." *something Max knew already* "Yeah, Dad, we have the same favorite color because we're MANS! We're MANS, Dad (with a triumphant arm in the air)!" I had to remind Max several times to use a quieter voice because we were still inside, but the excitement in his little body just could not be contained. Then, as we got to the car Max said, "Your face looks different, Dad. You look different." As though Ty had grown up over the past couple of weeks. :)
  
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  Oh, what would my life be like without all these loves in it?! I am so grateful.
  *Look below for our month-long trip recap!*

Where to start?

How do you recap a month-long, three-state, three family reunion, college friend weekend, tons of family and cousin fun visit in one little post?! You put up a ton of pictures with a little commentary for your own posterity and if people care enough to look through it all, good for them! :)

It all started at 2:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 23rd. We drove 12 hours to Utah where...

My Granny Mann got to meet Kelly for the first time. This was my last visit to her home...she's now moved in with one of her daughters. Granny is one incredible woman.

Then it was on to Pleasant View where our overnight stay with my grandparents was PERFECT. I love them so much and loved this visit! The kids LOVED being there and can't wait to see Grandma and Grandpa Great again...Max has talked about our visit with them many times.

The next morning we got on our way about 8:00 for an 11-hour day in the car...

A stop at BYU - Ty's Alma mater

Final Destination for this leg of the trip:

Foster Fam Reunion (combined with the two-day Boice Reunion)- Iron Springs, AZ - Rock Climbing - Ping Pong - Treats from the General Store - "Adventures" - GOOD food - Ladies Day Out - Golf for the Guys - Crazy Card Games - Baseball Competition - Fun Cousins!

Six days later, back in the car for an hour and a half.

Destination:

Mann Fam Reunion - Williams, AZ - Slide Rock..which I didn't get a single picture of...what?! - Dutch Oven Cookoff - Dad Competition - Candy Fairy - S'mores - Cool Bikes...again, picture-lacking - wonderful cousin time...

...and the Grand Canyon!

Three days later, a four hour drive takes us to Vegas where we eat dinner, put Ty (tearfully) in the car to make the long drive back to Washington alone while we stay and play for two whole weeks! Here are some of the things we did:

Lieds Discovery Museum with my dear friend, Janet, and her boys

*sadly, not pictured..sorry, Janet!*

Taking my kids (with Adri and her little ones) to see the Las Vegas Temple was such a highlight!

"Oh, it's so cute and pretty and adorable!" says Max as we're driving up

Girl's Night Out...Cheesecake Factory followed by Julie & Julia

Bellagio Water Show

I loved holding all of the babes...made me even more excited about the one I've got cookin'

Max's favorites from the trip:

Swimming Lessons by Grammy the Great...swimming in general

Cousins! We are the only ones on my side of the fam who live outside of Vegas. There are 14 kids ages 6 and under (with two on the way) on my side. It was beyond great for him to have so much cousin time.

At the Foster reunion we missed a few of the families, but Max had a fabulous time with Joy, Grant and Justin. Joy and Grant are older, but were so fun and patient with the Maxster. He felt like one of the big kids.

Kelly's favorites this trip:

Seats! Kelly is a seat lover. She says "seat" in her very cute little voice. I had to put these two booster seats on the ground and move them wherever she instructed many, many times this trip. Only when she said "please", of course. Luckily we have one here at home that has taken its place in the family room. Here she is with her cousin Delaney who is just 7 months older.

Oh, and she found this nice little "seat" (aka drawer) on the train table. Just right.

Wearing shoes that are too big. Generally, it was a pair of my mom's pumps but here it's her brother's church shoes with a swimsuit. Nice style choices, Bo Belly.

Loving on the new babes - 3 in all this trip. At the Foster reunion was Jane and my family has Lacy and Kahle...all born within 3 weeks of each other. Oh, how Kelly loved these little people! And, luckily, they were very patient with all the lovin' she was dishing out.

Grandparent time! The kids got Grammy and Papa Dan to themselves while I went to Brianhead with some girlfriends from college for a few days. The kids and grandparents loved it! *Love, love, love the picture to the right*

Such a great trip! Too long to be away from my hubby, but we did have a really fabulous time and had some major familial withdrawals upon our return. We're anxious to see everyone again!