Well, life is chaotic. Not a bad chaos, but way too many things happening all at once- that is for sure. The past 2 months have been BUSY!!! So the blog went guiltily undone. At least the kids got fed...well most of the time...
First: For those who don't know yet (I haven't told many people besides family) Spencer and I are expecting an addition to the family in April. I am pregnant! 17 weeks into this pregnancy and I'm finally getting over the morning/daytime/evening/nighttime sickness. I really didn't loose my food all that much, I was just nauseous ALL the time. Tired and Grumpy too. I am hoping to get one of those cute pregnancy trackers up on the blog soon.
Second: Spencer had a TDY (away assignment/training) in Florida for 5 weeks. He was gone from Oct 5th - Nov 7th. It is hard when he misses birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries, and ballet recitals, but HALLOWEEN!!!! He was not excited about missing Halloween. He really liked his training, and that made it easier for him to be away from the family. Come on though.... how hard is it to enjoy a white sandy beach-side hotel, weekends off, and no kids? Training or Vacation? Hard to tell. While he was gone he decided to grow a mustache (because there is nothing else to do in sunny Florida?) to show his father.
Aidan and Abby at Apple Annie's Orchard
Aidan and Kate with their Pumkins from the patch
Wow! Aidan is getting BIG!
Third: I got a new job. I am still working at Carondelet St Joseph's Hospital, but I switched departments. I went from working in the ICU to working in the ED (I like the floors with acronyms) The Emergency Department has been a fun change.... very interesting things to deal with and I walk my butt off. I come home with sore legs most nights. Maybe it will help keep some of the pregnancy weight off? One can only hope. I started in September and wasn't able to take the 5 weeks off while Spencer was in Florida. My friend Becky stepped in (bless her soul...she's pregnant too) and watched my kids 3 days/nights a week while I went to work the night shift (7pm-7am).
Fourth: A lady in our ward needed a place to live for 2 weeks before her job transferred her out of town. We have an extra room, so I said "yes" to our Bishop's request. She was a sweet lady and an easy roommate to live with... Her household chore while she stayed was keeping the dishes washed. What a blessing! It really helped the house stay sane and orderly that is for sure. My kids called her "Grandma", but soon found out she wasn't as willing to play the part as their real Grandmas.
The kid's grandma Brown came the week of Halloween and spoiled the kids rotten. If it weren't for my mom's help the kids costumes wouldn't have gotten done! We had lots of fun with my mom here. It was a needed break from my hectic schedule. We made costumes, carved pumpkins, trick-or-treated, went to a movie, went shopping for maternity clothes, and watched Abby at her last day of swim lessons. She even helped me clean up Aidan's puke off the floor the day he had the stomach flu..... now that is a real grandma!!!
Abby and her Grandma Brown decorating a pumkin
Aidan in his Dinosoar/Dragon costume
Abby as princess Cinderella
Spencer came home the 7th of November only to play Mr Mom for 4 days while I worked extra shifts (I have a commitment to work 4 shifts per pay period). I squeezed in the extra shifts so we could go to Louisiana to see Spencer's Step-Sister get married.
Well, as I said... my plate is full, but I think I found a small space to slide in a "blog salad".
It is a good thing Spencer brought his phone with him so we could locate him among the 6000+ racers that were at the starting line. The weather promised to be a beautiful 75 degrees.
When we found Spencer and Josh they were waiting anxiously to start the race. There was a huge crane holding up the officiators so they could see the whole group of racers. The national anthem was sung (a really beautiful rendition), and then they were Off........ well sort of.
When there are 6000+ racers it takes a long time for the start of the line to get going. The race officially started at 7:00 sharp..... Spencer and Josh were off and moving by 7:12!!! Everyone has a microchip that they wear and it doesn't start timing until they are through the arch at the beginning.... so I guess it wasn't a big deal that it took that long to get going.
The kids and I went up the route about 35 miles and waited for Spencer to pass us. Abby sat by me repeating the phrase "White shirt, red sleeves, black bike.....white shirt, red sleeves, black bike...." Someone would ride by with a white shirt and she would get excited.... then realize last minute that the were on a yellow/red/or green bike. We were excited when at about 9:15 we saw Spencer ride past.
He stopped for a quick pit stop to tweak his shoes, grab a banana, use the port-o-potty and then head out again. He wasn't riding with his buddy Josh, and we found out later that Josh had to drop out of the race due to the stomach flu...... bad mental picture there...
Spencer finished the 109 mile ride in 6 hrs and 59 min. He averaged 15.6 miles per hour. (that includes stopping to help his buddy, two river bed crossings that were 1/4 mile each- on foot, and two quick pit stops) Great job Spencer!!!! What a fun first race. 
Spencer finished in the "Silver" group, and has his first cycling medal to hang on the wall/ put in a drawer/ lose.... He told me that he will be wearing it to Church on Sunday and work on Monday.
