Yes People...We're Still Alive

So why such a blogging drought?

I guess you could blame it on lack of wireless internet access, lack of excitement in our lives, or just pure lack of motivation on my part.
But seeing as how my last post was over a month ago (holy cow!!) I've been feeling a little pressure to update. I won't mention any names.
We've been home from Virginia for more than two months and after over-staying our welcome in my Dad's basement, we finally found a different basement to invade. Ok, it's actually a small apartment in Smithfield, but what can I say - I guess we're bound to be basement dwellers. We just unpacked our last box and we're slowly settling back into a routine.
So, without boring you too much, I'll attempt to catch up on our lives. (Kysha, if you read this I'm admitting to copying your style right now. I liked how it was to the point)

Nate has been:
- very busy with school (because he graduates this spring, a few of his classes are very demanding, and the rest are so undemanding (is that a word??) that he feels attendance isn't quite necessary a lot of the time)

- job hunting. for something part time that would work with his class schedule. he actually found a promising marketing company that is just getting it's start in Cache Valley and will hopefully start sometime next week (hooray! a job that deals with all this school we've been paying for).

- getting over a weird 24 hour flu/2 week cold.

- catching up on his college football dynasties (or whatever they're called) on the Playstation. In his words, "The Aggies may suck in real life, but I'm determined to make them good on here."

- and being very accommodating in the meal preparation area when almost any smell would make me gag.

Laci has been:
- cherishing the days I don't wake up nauseous. (I'm actually feeling 100% better lately, as long as I eat every 4 or so hours)

- enjoying the semester off school! I'll go back...someday.

- anticipating the start of the Jazz's new season. (just so I can watch Kyle Korver again!)

- keeping busy at work in the special needs/speech/behavioral preschool. Kids REALLY DO say the darndest things. Side note-funny story:

The other day it was my turn to take the kids to their bathroom break. When I went to help one little boy with his zipper after he'd done his business, I was shocked to see he wasn't wearing any underwear. "Uh...Gavin, what happened to your underwear???" I asked trying not to sound too alarmed. "Oh, (sigh) my mom didn't have any for me," he started, (moms usually get blamed for anything and everything, and most times -like in this case- you can tell the kids are trying to blame mom for a mistake on their part) "and I'm such a big boy now I didn't think I needed to wear any today." He said matter-of-factly. "Oh, well even big boys wear underwear ALL the time." I emphasized. Thankfully he's been wearing it since!

Baby has been:
- growing and growing! and is almost 17 weeks old.

- growing so much in fact that only one of my pairs of pants now fits. (I've just recently tried some maternity pants (heaven) but still don't feel big enough to wear them too often.)

- accumulating furniture to be painted, and even a cute new diaper bag! (the first thing I've dared to buy before we find out what it is)

- preparing to be identified as male or female on November 3rd!!

And in other family news:
- My sister Bekka finished her varsity tennis season as a junior playing 2nd doubles. She and her partner went undefeated in region play and went on to place 2nd at state!! Way to go Booie!

-Elder Cade completed his two months in the MTC and arrived in Vina del Mar, Chile 2 weeks ago. For all the extended family out there (or anyone interested) - I'm starting a blog to share Cade's emails, pictures, etc. As of right now it's just a website but check back and I promise I will try and update it regularly. eldertcwinchile.blogspot.com

- Allie, my littlest sis, is enjoying her 5th grade year so far and especially playing softball at recess. She informed us the other day that she hopes our baby is a boy so she can "teach it to play catch".

- Dad has been missing his #1 farmhand and dare I say realizing how much he took Cade for granted. Nate, however, has volunteered to "cowboy up" and is excited for winter so he can learn how to feed the cows. It might be a long 2 years :)

Hopefully that wasn't an overload of boring information! Now that we're moved in and settled I'll have to dig out my camera charger so I can be ready to take Halloween pics to post. It won't be another month, I promise. So until then...

As Cade says when he finishes his letters-
"Paz!"
Spanish to English translation = "Peace"