Are You Pregnant?

No, are you?

There comes a time when child number one reaches an age around 16-20 month when people around you start their silent (or vocal) unabashed wondering. Wondering if you have been sick a lot lately. Wondering if you have any plans 9 months from now. If you get sick, suddenly it is not the bug that has been going around, but morning sickness. A simple yawn is proof that you are exhausted from the rigors of the first trimester. "You haven't written an article in a month," also leads to--She has to be pregnant.

A few months ago, I was hesitating when to buy tickets to visit my parents. I get an email from my mother, "...I am thinking you are pregnant again and aren't feeling up to traveling..." Was that a question or a statement? Or just a woman's intuition?

Remember when you were a teenager and people started looking at your face, then down to your chest, then (usually) back up to your face? Lately, I have noticed a few people greet me, look blatantly at my belly, and then back up at my face. If you wear baggy clothes, you may start rumors about being six months along. If you are wearing fitting clothes, be sure to suck in that extra five that is hanging around from the last pregnancy. (I should clarify that I was speaking about teenage women. Men - if you are lost at this point, just shake your head and keep reading. Actually you can just skip this entire article, compliment a woman on her beautiful eyes, and find a Sports Illustrated.)

All of this wondering is not uncalled for. Most children are not only children, and many children are born within 18 to 36 months of their sibling(s).

Acquaintances are a lot less sensitive when questioning about subsequent children. From "Does Penelope like babies?" to no fuss "Are you pregnant" and "Are you trying?"

Lucky for my readers, if and when the time comes, you will know all the details. I am not one to sit back and silently suffer nausea, heartburn, and general hugeness. I plan to go on and on about my aches and pains. I can share all the details one can stomach. Maybe more. Anyone that is still loyally reading will have nausea themselves. The only wondering that will be going on will be wondering, "Is that baby EVER going to be born?!"

End of June

Summer Reading

Cereal with Grandpa

An evening visiting

It's been quiet for far too long...

In Daddy's shirt

Sandbox, or as P calls it, her 'bath'

Bathrooms

Really? I'm supposed to change a diaper here? While straddling the toilet? Really?

Another day we saw this at a store. Is it a bathroom? Or keep out? Whatever it is, it's out of order apparently!

Planting Onions

 Penelope and Grammie helped me plant onions and potatoes.

'Babaw' and 'Bapaw' Douglas are here this week to visit. Penelope plays with Bawbaw and tells her the longest stories and laughs wildly. She keeps a little distance from Bapaw, but will occasionally come over and hold his hand, and maybe make kisses in the air to him.

Utah Friends

Jaxon & Rexi

We like these two! Jen & Craig

These little mothers spent lots of time with Jaxon & Penelope

Cousin Hugs

Cassens Family

 Last week we traveled to Mitchell, SD, to go to my Grandpa Cassens' funeral. It was really nice to be with all of dad's family again. It doesn't happen too often.

Check out mom's eyes. (Lee, Logan, Ian, Caleb, Mom, & P)

 Everyone gathered the night before at Ben & Helen's (my dad's sister) hunting lodge - where there was lots of room for everyone.

Check out dad - addicted to his iPhone! (Penelope, Bradley & Ian)

 We had a GREAT evening chatting and playing. The kids kept busy with each other and animals - both dead and alive, or maybe in between.

Angie, Ian, Bradley, Aleah, P

A dead pheasant was found. (Ian, Rachel, Logan, Wayne, Lee, Laura, Danny, P)

The pheasant was buried....(Danny, Lee, Bradley, Dad, Ian, Logan)

Then we found frogs!

 We started overhearing things like, "Is it alive??" "Yes, it's just not moving." and "Don't throw the frog!" Most of the adults just chose to ignore most of the frog chatter after that. Especially when a campfire was kindled and they talked of throwing things in the fire....

P and Logan

Can we say 'runner's high'?

 These two were thrilled to leave 26 young children behind and go for a 6 mile run.

P and Logan, ready with transportation to go to the funeral.

These two didn't really appreciate how cute they were and refused to smile or sit still for a picture together.

Sorry, Suspenders, you can't escape this picture.

The nice Veterans area of the cemetery.

See? Here is dad again, taking pictures AND video with that iPhone.

Cassens Blood: Helen (with the nice US flag from Grandpa's casket), Lee, Laura, Caleb, Ian, Logan, Bradley, Danny, myself, Penelope, Aleah, Scott, Dad

We are left with good memories of Grandpa & Grandma Cassens. At the funeral we heard that they were a good example for us to look up too, but now we must be the good example and make the right choices for our children and those who look up to us.

Babaw's Girl

We made a quick trip to South Dakota for my Grandpa Cassens' funeral. Penelope and 'Babaw' (grandma) were pretty inseparable. Once she even pushed Wayne away and said 'NO!' when he tried to take her from grandma.

 You get lots of Cheetos when you are at Babaw's.

 Riding the tractor.

 Watering the horses

Hot Stone Massage

 I checked on Penelope one warm day this week. She was outside sitting in the shade with Orangie.

 Then I noticed Orangie was getting some petting/pounding....with a rock.

 Orangie just laid there, getting her 'hot stone massage' and relaxing in the shade. Penelope was quite pleased with herself.

Mother's Day Potluck Wrap-Up

So...

Here were the predictions:

3 different chiles
1 dish with wild meat
6 bags of chips
1 potato casserole
no vegetables
1 jello salad
2 tubs of ice cream

And this was the food:
1 chile
1 baked bean dish
elk burgers
bbq pork
only one bag of chips - with the chile
1 veggie
2 jello-ish salads
about 3 more salads
about 5 desserts - no ice cream

There were more salads and desserts than I expected. HOWEVER... I believe nearly everyone cheated! There was one good sport manning the grill for the elk burgers, and I suppose a few others I'm sure pitched in. However, I doubt the rest of the men had much to do with the food other than the eating of it! Not to mention any names...SLC.