It's wedding time

Last weekend my sister Lisa got engaged to the most amazing guy ever (besides Bran, of course). His name is Brent Johnson and he is originally from Washington State, but his parents moved to Alpine while he was in his late teens. He is currently a student BYU majoring in Human Resource Management. Brent makes Lisa so happy and he fits so natually into the family. Hurrah for another boy in the family. We are all looking forward to their day-after-Christmas wedding. Yea!

Lisa has been amazing with the planning. In the week they've been engaged she's figured out the temple, decided on colors, coordinated her wedding cake, booked a photographer for the day of, purchased her wedding dress, found a photographer for bridals, and kept herself sane in the process. You go girl! You are going to be a beautiful bride.

We have reason to rejoice

1) We received our changing table/chest of drawers from JCPenny this week in the mail. Dad and Brandon put it together and it is beautiful! Thank you so much Mom and Dad for helping us! We got the cherry finish in this style.

2) I got my nursing undies in the mail this week. It's funny that I could get so excited about such a simple thing. But I was stressing out about it because I was having hardest time finding my size at the local stores and the baby is almost here.

3) Yesterdays 37 week appointment went well. My Dr. said everything is on schedule and it looks like I will go to 40 weeks.

4) Brandon and I laughed so hard last night when he had to literally pull me out of the car. Our baby is making me so big and round! I hope bigger baby = healthier baby, so I'm happy.

5) The weekend is finally here! Yeah, I need some seriously R&R from a busy, busy work week.

6) My little brother passed the physical training part of boot camp on the very last day possible. I've never prayed so hard for anything in my entire life. My parents are in South Carolina now supporting him and his accomplishment. I am so proud of him.

7) Brandon teaches Gospel Doctrine again this week. Hehehe, I can't wait.

A week in the life of Bran and Lar

On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday Brandon and I wrote a 1400 word paper about Tort Liability and Regulatory Risk for Brandon's Business Law MBA class. Yeah, sounds like fun huh. The saying "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" applies to this class. We both hope that we survive the next four weeks of it.


We were rewarded for our hard work though when we got our Graco Stoller/Car Seat combo in the mail. Bran and I worked on putting it together and getting it all installed in the car. I couldn't help but get a picture of Bran with the car seat. It's so amazing that we'll both be parents in just a few short weeks. Will we survive the experience? I guess it's a bit too late to wonder that. We are both looking forward to having our little guy come. Bran is especially looking forward to his two weeks of paid maternity leave (thank you UVU). I'm just looking forward to having my body back.


Every time Brandon and I go to a store we get asked if we've picked a name for our baby. Most of the time I sheepishly say "not yet". It's such a hard decision and I want to make sure we have the right one. We've now narrowed it down to the following names. Which one do you like best? Take the survey on the left.

1. Wesley Brandon Thomas
2. Skyler Brandon Thomas
3. Spencer Brandon Thomas
4. Justin Brandon Thomas
5. James Brandon Thomas
6. Derek Brandon Thomas
7. Eric Brandon Thomas
8. Dustin Brandon Thomas
9. Kevin Brandon Thomas
10. Peter Brandon Thomas
    

Baby Shower #2

Last Wednesday my awesome coworker, Marynika, hosted a work baby shower for me. Since it's just me and her, as far as women go, in our office, I invited a bunch of ladies from the main campus that I worked with 2 years ago. Thank goodness Brandon still works in that same department so they would remember me. It was especially sweet to have two ladies who don't work at the school anymore come. What awesome people I've worked with over the years.

Marynika put together some hilariously fun baby shower games. We got to change a diaper blindfolded (nope, didn't win that game - shoot), try to fill in the missing words for Nursery rhymes, and my very favorite - guess which candy bar is mushed in the baby's diaper. It was so much fun and I laughed and laughed and laughed with all the sweet ladies that came. They were so generous to me and the baby. Once again we got completely spoiled. I'll post pictures once I can convince Brandon to let me have a turn on the desktop (that's were all my pictures are stored).

It's finally done

This weekend Brandon and I put the finishing touches on the mobile I painted for our baby. It is such a relief that it is finally done. It's taken me months and months to do because I didn't inherit my mothers talent of being crafty. With a lot of persistence, some crying (because it isn't perfect), and a lot of help from Brandon, we finally got it hung in the baby's room. What do you think? I can't help but be proud and amazed that it looks so good. You all must come for a visit and see it in person!

As luck would have it

Since being released from Nursery, Brandon and I have both been worried about what our next church callings would be. Especially with the "big black hole" of parenthood looming closer and closer. I was lucky and got called to be the visiting teaching coordinator.

Brandon was also very lucky. He has been so incredibly worried that he would be called to Young Men or Scouting (blah, he distastes both with a passion). But, surprise, surprise - he was called to be a Gospel Doctrine teacher. Today was his first time teaching and it went so well. His dry sense of humor really made his lesson a blast! I feel bad that our baby is coming soon now because I will miss out on so many of his lessons. This picture shows you a bit of what Sunday School was like today (of course with a reverent tone to it).

Baby Shower #1

Last Saturday my sweet SIL's (Allison & Alicia) and MIL (Naomi) hosted a Baby Shower for me. It was so nice to have a chance to visit with friends and family that I rarely get to see. Our baby was totally spoiled rotten. Here are pictures of all the gifts that our baby got. Oh, I can't wait for his arrival so I can start using all of these things. Thank you to everyone who came and spoiled me and the baby!

Quirky Tag

Both Erica and Allison tagged me for this one so I feel doubly obligated to comply.

1. Shortly after I got married I started to get "mysterious" spots on my tummy and lower back. The dermatologist was baffled, the family doctor didn't have a clue, and my OB/GYN has never seen anything like them in her life. Since they don't itch or scratch and don't bother me in any way I just ignore them. Since becoming pregnant though they have turned to dark brown. I humor myself by saying that I'm turning into a giraffe.

2. I LOVE to floss my teeth. The worse day was when I got these springs on my teeth that made it impossible to floss the back teeth. I can't wait till I can fully floss everything again.

3. I enjoy writing in my journal. There is a marked difference in my stress level if I don't sit down and write a daily entry. This is my Stress Buster.

4. It's inevitable, I always set the table with something missing - even before I was pregnant. Brandon and I often joke about it because I always have to "pop" out of my seat right after the prayer on the food because I remembered what I had forgotten.

5. I don't know anybody else that would say "No" when asked the question "Did you enjoy attending BYU".

6. At the age of 21 I joined my Mom and brothers on a six week wagon train to California. I got sunburnt, lost lots of weight, and walked miles and miles and miles. Here is my favorite picture of the journey. For me it was the trip that refined my character and where I learned to rely on the Lord. There were so many miracles that happened on this trip and I'm just so grateful I was able to be a part of it.

Monday's FHE

I have been telling myself that we had to get up into the mountains and enjoy the fall colors before the snow came. So Brandon and I "snuck" out of work early on Monday and headed up American Fork canyon. We took a little picnic dinner and enjoyed a nice evening up there together. There isn't anything quite like singing Give Said the Little Stream and In the Leafy Treetops while your surrounded by colorful trees and a gurgling stream. It was so much fun!