It's a

Oh yeah, I'm pregnant! It's a BOY!!! It has been very hard to keep this news a secret, some of you found out by default. We are expecting baby #4 and the ultrasound today clearly showed another boy is on the way. I am almost 18 weeks pregnant and due February 5th. This pregnancy has been the same as the other three, so I was totally expecting it to be a boy. I absolutely hate being pregnant, but as Mike would say, "You asked for this." I have been bugging Mike to have another child for over a year and it finally happened. This boy was meant to be in our family and we are so excited.

I have been extremely sick throwing up at least once a day if not more. I am totally not bragging, but as of today I have gained a whopping three pounds. I would easily take more weight gain if it meant not feeling like crap the entire pregnancy. My poor kids kept wondering what the heck was wrong with me. Gage continually told me that I needed to go see a doctor. Oh, we didn't tell the kids until today either. We told them a few days ago that we had a surprise for them and they drove Mike and I nuts waiting for today. We showed them the ultrasounds I have previously gotten and they couldn't tell what it was. I finally told them that I have been so sick because we are having a baby and then I shook my tummy. Gage and Landen started jumping up and down. When we asked Tanner if he wanted a new baby he immediately said, "No." His whole world will be turned upside down when this baby comes.

When I was pregnant with Landen, we were able to keep it a secret until I found out what I was having. It was really fun to be able to say, "I'm pregnant and we know it's a boy." We were planning on doing the same thing with Tanner, but I messed up my knee and Mike in all his wisdom said to his mom, "Stacey needs surgery, but she can't since she is pregnant." So with this pregnancy he was determined to wait until we knew the sex. Well, I have nosy sisters who noticed I was running to the bathroom quite frequently on the 4th of July so they obviously guessed what was going on. And then there was the embarrassing incident at my Aunt Kathy's house where long story short I threw up in her sink, clogged it, and broke the faucet. She had to be told because Mike had to replace the faucet. A few other people were told because believe it or not Mike couldn't hide his excitement. Go figure.

I apologize to anyone who feels like I haven't been myself lately. I feel like I have avoided a lot of people too since I am cranky. I have been hiding out in my house because I feel so crappy, but hopefully things will turn around soon.

Is That Paint?

Tanner came down the stairs looking like this:

It took me a minute to figure out what was all over his face. I wish I could say that his face was covered in marker or red paint. Unfortunately, Tanner got a little finger happy with his nose. Gross!

Gage Starts 2nd Grade

Gage started the 2nd grade today! I can't believe I have a 2nd grader.

Best buds!

By the time we got to Gage's classroom door, he was pretty embarrassed. I am lucky to have gotten this picture and it will probably be the last time I get one of him at school. I would have taken one of him sitting at his desk if he would have let me.

I am a little nervous about Gage's teacher. I haven't really heard much about her. Since Landen is in the Chinese program, Gage gets placed with whatever teacher is on the Chinese track. I hope things go well this year. Gage is such a hard worker. I know he will be great!

Landen Starts Kindergarten

Today, Landen started Kindergarten! I can't believe it. I had to get the usual first day of school pictures by my door.

Best buddies. Gage is excited to have Landen joining him at his school and hopes he will see him around.

I am such an embarrassing mom and have to get pictures of them standing everywhere. Landen didn't mind. He was pretty excited to be starting Kindergarten.

This first day was a mini orientation. The parents learned about the Kindergarten routine while the kids were able to do some crafts and get used to the teachers and classroom.

Since Landen is in Chinese Immersion, he has two teachers. Mr. Lan will only speak in Chinese. Here Mr. Lan is teaching the kids Head, shoulders, knees and toes in Chinese. It was amazing how quickly the kids caught on. Landen is in the front.

Mrs. Larsen will be Landen's other teacher and will teach in English. I didn't know until today that Mrs. Larsen was actually a friend of mine I have known all of my life. We grew up playing soccer together. Small world!

Landen had to make a treasure map. I love how he sticks his tongue out when he is trying to concentrate.

The finished product.

I am so nervous and excited for Landen to be starting kindergarten. He will be there for an extended day because of the Chinese and will even eat lunch there. I hope he can open his milk carton! We love you Landen. We know you will do great!

Boating at Pineview

Once a year, my brother Todd agrees to take the family to Pineview to play on his boat. Todd only has the patience to take us once. He is single with no kids and isn't used to mine and my sister's kids all over his boat. Todd has gotten better and we have a great time as a family. Thanks Todd!

Tanner really wanted nothing to do with the boat. He had too much fun playing in the sand and water.

Doesn't my Dad look good?

Oh how sandy Tanner got.

Oh how muddy Tanner got.

Seriously, how messy can one kid get?

Mike loves riding the tube.

Surprisingly, Gage loved riding the tube. He was able to hang on for quite some time.

Eventually, Todd was able to flip Gage and Mike off.

Mike kept trying to get Landen to jump in the water.

Finally, he did. Or maybe Mike just ended up throwing him in.

All the kids were worn out from the day of fun in the sun.

Gage looks comfy.

My whole family has so much fun boating with Todd. We can't wait until next year. I bet Todd can!

Roy Aquatic Center

While Gage was having fun in New Mexico, we thought we would have some fun of our own. Mike took the day off and we took Landen and Tanner to the Roy Aquatic Center.

Tanner loved this slide and went on it over and over again.

Happy 4th of July

We celebrated the 4th of July at my parent's house. Gage is our child that absolutely loves fireworks and he was in New Mexico. We weren't sure how much our other kids would enjoy fireworks.

Beware. The following pictures show kids in very large jackets. We forgot jackets and my worisome mother wouldn't have the kids going outside without something on. So they are wearing her jackets.

I think Tanner was enjoying the sparklers.

Landen isn't scared yet.

Tanner is enjoying the show from a front row seat.

Landen and Ava soon became scared and watched from the window.

Ady was not liking the fireworks.

Eventually all of the kids ended up in the house with Grandma. Not sure if we will spend too much money on fireworks again next year.

Hooligans Still on the Run

For the second year, Mike and I participated in the Ragnar Relay or also known as the Wasatch Back. Last year our name was Hooligans on the Run. This year we were called Hooligans Still on the Run. I don't know why we said yes again. It is really fun to hang out with our friends, but I haven't really experienced the joy of running yet. I am waiting for it to get fun.

A few months ago, I felt like I was in pretty good shape for this relay. I picked the same easy leg 7 as last year because who am I kidding I wasn't in that great of running shape. I just can't do long distances. Anyway back in May Tanner and I were playing and he landed on my knee wrong. I played soccer on it and the swelling began. I went to physical therapy which helped get the swelling down, but I needed to rest it. Thus going into this relay, I hadn't been training at all recently.

Mike and I were in Van 2 again this year. Shad and Natalie were with us last year and Bryan and MaryAnne joined us. Amy was our van driver.

The first van headed to Logan on Friday and started at noon. We arrived in Eden around 4pm to complete some safety training and be ready for Van 1 to arrive.

Runner 6 from Van 1 is almost here so I am ready to go! Not sure why Mike has his shirt off, but it was really hot!

It's around 6pm and I am waiting in the runner's shoot for my team member to arrive.

My first leg was labeled 4 miles easy. I think I averaged around a 9:30 minute mile. My knee hurt a little, but I did a lot better than I thought I would. In this picture I am about to hand off to MaryAnne who is our runner 8.

Mike chose to be runner 11 this year. His first leg was a very hard 3.7 miles that took him up and then down the old Snowbasin Road. The sun was setting so everyone had to wear their night gear.

Mike is looking good.

The girl Mike is holding is a young thing in high school wearing a skirt. For the last mile or so she and Mike battled it out. They kept passing each other. Mike totally denies he was trying to beat her. The last half mile was a steep downhill and Mike eventually let her pass because they were both flying so fast he didn't want one of them to trip. At the end the girl just about did and this is a picture of Mike catching her.

Each team has to provide 3 volunteers for the race. Cami was nice enough to be one of ours. I picked when and where she would be and it worked out perfectly because she was able to see us as Mike came through her station.

There's me starting my 2nd run at 1 am. Oh, that's not me. That's Amy our van driver! I knew I wouldn't be able to complete all three of my legs. So, we recruited Amy to drive our van and run my 2nd leg. This leg was 3.8 miles and labeled moderate. I remembered it from last year with hill after hill and I had no problem giving this run to Amy.

This is the finish line and the volunteers did awesome. They had music playing and the shoot was lit up like a runway. Amy did great.

Honey Buckets were everywhere and I hated using them! Disgusting.

Mike is stretching for his 2nd leg which was a moderate 5.4 miles in the early morning.

Mike thought it would be cool to put my leg socks on his arms.

Shad was runner 10 and is just handing off to Mike.

Mike said this leg turned out to be pretty hard because it was really windy.

Being in Van 2 sucks because you run in the middle of the night and pretty much get no sleep. I am stretching and looking very tired for my last leg which is labeled a 4.2 mile easy.

Amy is dressed ready to go just in case I can't finish my leg.

Dana was runner 6 from Van 1 and just handed off to me. This route was a little different than last year. It started off by running through a lot of neighborhoods which was kinda boring and I kept thinking I was getting lost.

Shad and I were partners which meant during my legs he would provide me with water and anything I needed and vice versa. It was sooo hot!

I just passed off to MaryAnne. This leg was really hard for me. It was windy which made it difficult for me to get my breathing down. And who am I kidding, I was really out of shape and my knee really hurt. There were a lot of moments I thought I was going to have Amy finish it, but I hung in there.

Natalie ran the first part of the infamous Ragnar leg and Shad finished it. Mike is starting his leg labeled 5.4 Very Hard miles. It was hot!

This leg was so crowded. Mike was quite a bit a head of us before we were able to catch up to him.

Earlier something happened on the course that Mike was running and they had to add some distance and reroute it. We were following Mike on the road and then all of a sudden he was directed to go into the woods. His last half was a trail run which Mike absolutely loves.

Here's Mike's dad Greg. Mike's brother Matt was on another team and Greg volunteered for his team. He happened to be volunteering right as Mike finished his final leg.

Mike was on his own for half of his run. No water or other van support, but he did great. I know he loved being on the trails. He said he wish he would have known so he could have brought his trail shoes.

The finish line was at the Canyon's Resort this year. Here we are riding on the tram while our last team member Bryan finishes up his leg.

Best buddies. Cute huh?

Our Van 1 team members were waiting for us close to the finish and we all ran in together once we saw Bryan coming.

The Hooligan men.

The Hooligan women

Total time to finish the 2010 Ragnar Relay was 29:53:53. And we signed up to participate for a 3rd time which I am thinking will be our final Ragnar Relay.

Update: I was 7 weeks pregnant as I ran this which might also explain how exhausted I was.