Dear Thursday,

A few notes to the universe:

Dear Allergies,
We meet again, old nemesis. Only a few weeks ago and I was blissfully enjoying my contact/makeup wearing life with no thought to itchy eyes, a scratchy throat, or a runny nose. Now that you've come back to my life I haven't worn my contacts (regularly) in weeks and it just doesn't seem worth putting makeup on if I'm just going to rub it all off. I don't like taking medication during pregnancy, but I've given in and started taking some allergy medicine and I'm already feeling much better. So take that! Now, please go away and leave us alone (until next fall... I suppose.)
p.s. Please leave Austin alone. He's so little that I don't feel like I can give him anything. But he's waking up early in the morning because he can't sleep - and I think it's his nose/allergies.


Dear Rain,
I love you. Your cool weather and pit-pat on my window has me breaking out my fall clothes and prepping to put away all the kids summer clothes. At least it would if I wasn't so tempted to just sit and cuddle under a blanket with a good book (while my children play happily on the floor next to me, ha).

Dear Friday,
Today is Thursday. Which means you, Friday, will be here tomorrow. But when you come, you will bring with you the 2nd birthday of my sweet Austin-boy. I'm feeling all sorts of sentimental and mushy and I was wondering if you could hold off for maybe a couple more hours so I can have my baby-Austin for just a little longer before he turns into toddler-Austin?

Dear Pac-Fia,
I'm not sure what to do about you and your relationship with my little Austin-boy. Do I take you away for good when he turns two? Do I let him keep you because he likes you and it saves me time and energy? I'm not sure. Also - I love that you've advanced from being called "fwa". I've only recently realized Austin was trying to say "fier" as in "pacifier", and now that he calls you "pass (big pause) fia" I really love it.

Dear Santa,
I'm sorry, but I've officially decided that we will not be doing the Santa thing at our house. At least not the extent that I feel pressured to incorporate it. After spending about an hour with Lydia crying in her closet because she found out that Paw Patrol (her favorite cartoon) isn't "real" and she won't really be able to drive to their home and visit them - I realized that there's no way I would want to have to have this conversation with her after I, myself, had pushed the "realness" of a character like Santa Claus.

Dear Washing Machine,
When I walked into the Laundry Room to find water all over the floor I was understandably concerned for your well being. Seeing your door seal falling off around the edges made me even more worried. However, after some good youtube tutorial watching I realized I probably didn't need to buy a new door seal (about $100), I could just follow step by step and reinstall your old one. Now you're working great and I'm so happy we are back to our regular routine!

Dear YouTube,
Thank you for the above mentioned assistance in repairing my washing machine. I'm not sure what anyone did without you. (Probably paid a repair person a whole bunch of money to come and "fix" the washer.) You're the best.

Shantel's 29th Birthday

It was my birthday this week, and although I know I don't have time enough to write all that I want to about the day/week - I did want to record a few things. 

We all know that I love birthdays. I think they are fun and I think they are special. And this birthday I certainly felt loved and special. Birthday donuts and a special pre-birthday date to Boondocks. Multiple friends who took me out to lunch, another who treated us to Ice Cream. Treats and gifts ranging from delicious Chocolate Mousee cake to a jar of pickles (I've been craving!) to facewash that I've been wanting but refusing to pay the price tag. A sweet friend even made an amazing birthday cake after stalking my pinterest board and realizing how much I love yellow/grey and ruffles.  I can't believe how many thoughtful friends I have.

David was out of town for the week of my actual birthday so we spent several days in Morgan where I got to attend the wedding of a dear friend, Hayli Dickey. She and Ben Nelson were married on my actual birthday and it was a wonderful day. My mom watched my kids so I could go do wedding things pretty much all day and it was so nice. (I did her invitations and it was so fun to see how beautifully they complimented the wedding.) 

My dad thoughtfully had a birthday cake for me that night and let me blow out candles so I could get my birthday wish.

After David got home from his work trip, he planned the best birthday date ever. He took me to Porter's Place - a restaurant that I had wanted to try for a long time. It was everything I could have hoped it would be. It was just like the BlueBird in Logan but... seedier. Ha. Not in an uncomfortable way, just in a "wild west" way. They had a whole menu of fun non-alcoholic specialty drinks and some yummy food - add in the atmosphere and it made for the best birthday dinner. 

Dinner was followed by some clothes shopping and the purchase of an incredible (and large) painting of the Savior to hang in our bedroom.  The night ended with the hilarious play "See How they Run" at the Hale in Orem. I couldn't have asked for a better birthday celebration. 

My last year in my twenties - I'm going to live it up! It's already started out full of love and happiness and I'm so full of gratitude for the amazing people that surround me. 

Coming Soon...

Shantel and I are excited to announce...

We are thrilled to have a beautiful baby on the way. Lydia and Austin are such treasures in our lives and we are excited to have a sibling joining them soon.

Since we announced so close to the Olympics, we decided to make some special treats at our Peaden Family Olympic watching party to let everyone know about the announcement.

Shantel's first appointment was a few weeks ago and it was amazing to see our little baby in the ultrasound. We hung the baby ultrasound pictures on our calendar and now when Austin sees it, he points and says, "baby." I think he may be the most excited of anyone for a little baby brother or sister.