Third Tri-mester

Here is what I am thinking about today:

- wow, I really slept horribly last night.

- when are we going to buy a new crib?

- is Brooklyn really ready for big girl panties?

- it will be such a happy day when Roman starts kindergarten...he really loves school! but, alas, this will not happen until next August.

- i'm tired

- it would be really cool to have sister missionaries back in our area sometime

- can't believe almost all the sisters that did serve in our area are either a. engaged, b. married, or c. married, with a baby...that's a shout out to you, Sis. Flo!

- wow, I've almost been married for nine years ... my, how time flies.

that is all, for now.

Lions ... Tigers ... and Peacocks! Oh My!

Pictures of our trip to the Henry Doorly Zoo, in beautiful Omaha, Nebraska!

Got to be Careful, Y'all! And the Omaha Zoo...

So, I like to read the news. CNN, ABC, the Onion ... you name it. Anyhoo, I was checking out CNN this morning and this report came up: WHO IN THE WORLD DOES THIS?! I ask you. So, it freaked me out a little bit. Has me thinking twice about posting pics of my kids. Here is what I am saying, please don't use my children's photos as adoption ads. It will make me angry. Very angry. Go to google, find a picture of a kid and use that, ok? I don't need the stress. And now on to the real reason for the new post: our trip to the Omaha Zoo with the Swartz family!! We had a good time, saw some animals, fed some budgies and ran from peacocks, but the real fun came when we had to sleep in the same room with three little muchkins. Ahh, that was heaven (read: sarcasm). I highly recommend what we did in Utah, which was get two rooms. But, I'll save that for another post. In the meantime, enjoy the pics!

Baby No. 4

Has been far too long since I wrote something here, for all my adoring fans to read. I hope this post finds all three of you well and that your life is as blessed as mine is. I have a wonderful husband and children I adore. In that same vain, it is with pleasure that I tell you were are expecting our fourth child January 20, 2010. I am excited and happy. A little nervous and tired, but looking forward to adding to our already boisterous family. Roman is hoping for a little brother and me, well, I'd just really like a healthy little baby, no requirements. I had another ultrasound today and was able to actually see the baby moving around. Active little sucker! We got some beautiful pics and it just never really gets old welcoming another member into your family. So, again, I hope this news finds you well and if you follow me on Facebook, you already knew, but that's ok. I liked the picture below so much that I stole it from my friend Jen's blog. Hope she doesn't mind!

Being a Working Mom

Ok, so I know I don't have that many followers, but for whatever it's worth, I'm going to record my thoughts about being a working mom for the past seven months. Now, in the last eight years I've been married I have worked. I've also stayed home for periods of time with my children. So, speaking from experience, I can see the draw of both worlds. However, add into the mix both Jared and I traveling at separate and sometimes the same time, and you've got a whole new ball of wax. This post isn't meant to be a whine fest. I realize I chose this path. Jared and I chose this path, on guidance from Heavenly Father. A job opportunity didn't come up and we jumped at it. A job opportunity came up and we prayed fervently and took our time making the decision because we realized it was going to be a huge change for our family. But we feel we are doing the right thing. Is it hard? Is it frustrating? Do I sometimes wonder if we made the right decision? YES! and YES! Of course! I think, that if I never wondered about those things that there would be something wrong with me. It IS frustrating and I do wonder if we made the right decision. What I go back to though, is that we prayed about it, and we felt it was the right thing to do for our family. So, that said, I wonder what others think about my decision. Both those who have and do work outside the home and those who do not. I don't wonder because I'm going to change my mind based on your assessment, but, I'm just a curious person by nature. This time period has been hard for Jared and I. And there are times we have both felt like our relationship has suffered because of the time apart. But, when we got married, we didn't say we'd stick it out until it became unbearable and then hit the road. We signed up for eternity. That was the deal. So that's were I'm at right now. It's hard, but we both have one trip left and then neither of us travels again for another 2-3 months. I guess I just wanted people to understand that while I sometimes wonder if my decision was the correct one, that I don't doubt the feeling I felt when I prayed about making it. Our kids have been amazing! And we have been extremely fortunate to have a very nice lady and her husband help us with the kids. Not to mention some really good friends who have stepped up when we really needed it. All-in-all, I can't really complain about how the last seven months have gone. In retrospect, I was aprehensive about working, but in more ways than one, I can see more blessings that I ever would have thought possible. Thanks for reading. Your comments are most welcome.

In Pennsylvania ... and more pictures

I am currently in Carlisle, PA ... working for the next 10 days. I flew into Baltimore yesterday and spent three hours driving up. It was beautiful. It was also really nice to just be by myself, listening to the music loud and enjoying some alone time. It's hard sometimes to get that. So when I do, I savor it. I hope everyone is doing well. I really don't have that much to say on this post. Except that, if there is someone in your life who you haven't been paying enough attention to, start now. If they are important, you will make the time. I know I have been slacking in that area. Here's to hoping we all give someone special a hug today.

Fun With the Family (Also, I am a Slacker)

Sooo, it's been awhile. I'm not even sure if anyone reads this anymore. But, in the hope that there is, perhaps, one person who does, I'll give you an update. Things have been pretty busy in the Hawkins Household the past couple of months. Jared and I have both been traveling quite a bit. In fact, he left this morning to spend two weeks in beautiful Biloxi, Mississippi! Wouldn't be that bad, except that he arrived home on the 8th from Texas, after having been gone since March 18th. I had been in Carlisle, Pennsylvania from March 25 to April 4, so my mom came into town to take care of the kids. I am grateful for my blessings. And that's all I have to say about that. But, here are some pictures of our recent trip to Monkey Bizness. It is a play place for kids with those blow-up, bouncy house things, we love it there!

Travel

So, some of you who read my blog and are also my friend on Facebook, have probably noticed that I've been traveling quite a bit. I started a new job about four months ago working for a consulting firm. My homebase is in Leavenworth, but about once a month I make a trip to the Washington, DC area in support of events for our client. I am typing this latest blog entry from my hotel room in Vienna, Virginia, at the close of a two-week stay. It has been my longest trip yet and it has definitely been the hardest. One week away from Jared and the kids is hard enough, but two weeks feels like an eternity and I am very much looking forward to seeing them all tomorrow. I enjoy my job and know that it's what I am supposed to be doing right now, but that doesn't mean it's easy. What's more is that over the next few months my travel is probably going to be become more frequent. Mix that in with the travel Jared does for his job and you'll understand that I am feeling quite anxious and a little overwhelmed. But Jared and I have each other's backs. And that is what I love so much about him. That no matter how crazy I get, or how hopeless I might feel a situation is; I know he will be there to lift me up, just like I am there for him. Our situation might not seem ideal. Heck, it doesn't even seem manageable. But we feel so blessed with all the blessings that have come with mine and Jared's job that we do our best not to complain. Sometimes I fail at that. Ok, I fail a lot at that. But, in those times when I feel most down and am at my wits end, I know I can always call out to my Heavenly Father and He is there for me, and for my family.