Trip

It is 9:42 p.m. and while I usually would be reading a book or getting this prego body ready for bed at this time, I really wanted to get at least one post done for my blog today, so here it is. A couple of weeks ago I was invited to a retirement party for my high school basketball coaches. They have coached girls basketball for 25 years and were ready to be done. This presented me with an awesome opportunity to visit my family as well!

Natalie and I flew to Ontario on Tuesday morning and stayed through Saturday afternoon. During that time we were able to see all 18 cousins, one of my best friends, spend an evening at my parent's wards Relief Society Activity, and visit with my grandma and great aunt and uncle. The highlights for Natalie were cousins, Tux my parents black lab, Josie the kitty, Aunt Mary, and Grandma and Papa Corn.

 

These two are 6 weeks apart. Mr. Trey is quite the tease, but he and Natalie played fairly well together. Natalie is enjoying a "chalk-it". My Dad buys little heart shaped chocolate boxes for all of the children and grandchildren on Valentines Day. He has been doing this for several years and is a fun little tradition we all look forward to.

She was such a good girl on the flights both ways and did really well with visiting everyone. It is too bad we don't live closer to her cousins, because they are a fun group of kids. It was especially sweet to watch her love on my younger sister's baby girl. We were driving home from lunch in town and Natalie held baby Henley's hand for about 5 minutes.

The retirement party was nice. There was a special presentation before the start of the Varsity Girl's Basketball game. Then the game and a reception afterwards for conversing with our coaches. I wrote them each a personal letter and there was a basketball, picture frame and scrapbook to sign for each of them.

It was also fun to see teammates I had not seen in 9 years. We caught up on all the life happenings. I missed seeing the many who were unable to make it. It will be fun to attend my 10 year reunion next year.

Going back to my old high school was sort of surreal. I have been in there since I graduated, but there are many things that have changed from how I remembered "Ontario" High School being. The demographics of the community have greatly changed over the last 5-10 years and have thus created major change in the school. I know the school faces great challenges that are a little disheartening to me when I think about my Alma Mater. Other than that, the school looks mostly the same.

The trip was fun, the right length of time and very rejuvenating for me. I am grateful for my parents always being such gracious hosts. Hopefully we make it back for Memorial Day.

Justin was happy to have us home. He picked us up at the airport at 5:30 and we came home to Papa Murphy's pizza, balloons, chocolates and flowers for Valentines day. Natalie especially loves her Frozen balloon Justin selected for her. It was a bummer that we missed him this week. The two weeks prior he had been out of town. He was able to be in Portland for this week of work, but it is so hard to plan with his job and we never know. I am grateful he was so understanding. 

Justin and Ruth Blazzard

Family of Four

Here is a better announcement than my last one. We are very excited for a July baby.

This pregnancy has been a lot different from the last one. I have been sick, but not as sick as I was with Natalie, however I think I have thrown up more.

The foods that have tasted the best to me are Mexican, especially burritos, cheese and vegetables.

Water was hard for me to drink the first trimester. Gatorade and Soda tasted a lot better to me. 

Crazy, because normally I never drink Soda.

 

It was such a tender mercy in December that Justin was able to be home nearly every night after work. He also had a lot of time off because of all the hours he had worked the rest of the year.

I felt the worst that month, but still had a lot I had to do for Primary. 

He was able to take care of Natalie, help with cooking, and rub my feet when I was feeling so nauseous at night. 

I have felt the baby move here and there over the last week and we will find out the gender in March. 

I have been able to see the baby twice on ultrasound so far and everything looks great.

I am so grateful that I am able to experience pregnancy. It is hard, but such a blessing from God.

Justin and Ruth Blazzard

Dada

Every girl needs a Daddy. I am so grateful my daughter has such a good one. 

Justin travels a lot for work, so we really treasure our time with him on the weekends.

Justin and Ruth Blazzard

Weekend Getaway

Justin had a free one night stay at a Best Western that needed to be used before the end of January. We quickly planned an over- nighter to Lincoln City. We had not been to the coast since Natalie was two months old. It was so nice to get out of our house and go do something just as our family. We were so lucky that the sun was out that weekend and it reached 60*. Natalie LOVED watching the water and said over and over, "Osen." We also ate at a few yummy restaurants and went swimming at our hotel. It is hard to live so far away from our families, but there are some major perks to living over here as well.

Justin and Ruth Blazzard

Almost 2

She loves to ride her rocking horse as often as possible. Especially while she watches Maximus the Horse on Tangled.

Guess who insisted on wearing her pink tutu to story time last week? 

This girl.

The librarian told me exactly one week before that it will be interesting to see what types of clothes Natalie will choose to wear in the near future. Up to this point, she has never had a preference. Well randomly she found this in her bottom drawer the next week and asked me to help her put it on.

Then refused to take it off. 

Having a two year old is going to be interesting.

Justin and Ruth Blazzard

Reading

 

This girl loves books. Most kids have security blankets, she has security books. She always has one in her hand when walking up stairs, getting in the car, going to sleep at night, and it is the first thing she wants when she wakes up. It is a great habit, so I won't complain.

 

Justin and Ruth Blazzard

Good things that happened today:

1. We made it to story time early!
2. Strawberries were on sale at Winco. These are Natalie and I's favorite fruit. We were both pleased.
3. Natalie and I took a nap.
4. I was able to find the house I wasn't able to find before, that I needed to go do a Primary Visit at.
5. Natalie got a giant bag of pretzel's from the house listed above and she ate the whole thing. She was happy about it.
6. Justin will be home tonight! 
7. We made it half way through January.

 

 Great things that have happened the last two weeks:

1. The sun has been out more than it hasn't meaning we were able to go on walks and play at the park frequently. A rare occurence on the West Side in January.

2. Justin and I were able to go listen to Elder M. Russell Ballard who is a Twelve Apostle for our church speak last Friday in a fireside for our stake.

3. I saw baby #2 on ultrasound again last Monday. So far I have not had the energy to come up with a better announcement. So here you go, We are expecting Baby Blazzard #2 on July 16th or there about and are really excited!

4. Morning/All Day sickness is improving most days.

5.  Lots of time for reading these days.

Justin and Ruth Blazzard