5K, Birthday BOY, & Thanksgiving

Can you tell this is SUCH a busy time of year??? We did all the above just in the past week! I have to admit though, I'd ever change it...it's so much fun. Last Saturday I ran the Jingle Bell 5k and loved it! Jeff didn't run, but Lindsay did! :) I ran the whole thing and came in at 30 minutes. Not bad for a 20 week pregnant gal? It was soo cold {look at the SNOW!} and my throat was throbbing by the end! OH and when we got home Jeff put up the Christmas lights...he did a fab job. 

THEN Sunday was Boston's 2nd BIRTHDAY! I can hardly believe it. We had his party Sunday afternoon with family and close friends. It was the usual--goodies, cake, candles, presents, pictures etc...I'm sure you get it! 

After he opened these trucks, he kind of checked out of the opening presents thing...

His gf...he had his arm around her and everything.

See???

His new bike grandma got him...he still can't really ride it, but maybe in the Spring!

And this was just kind of funny...I found him laying this way playing with my iphone. He's so smart with that thing it's incredible.

And then of course, Thanksgiving!!! We spent it with my family this year and it was loud and crazy as usual. Always a blast though. We attempted to get some family pictures for Christmas cards before we ate and we did an okay job...I realized I didn't get that many but you guys get the picture of Thanksgiving!

Then one last 'hurrah' we went to Dockside with 27 people last night for dinner. It was really good! I always get bummed out when Holidays are over...especially when family goes home. But luckily we have Christmas just around the corner!!

For your enjoyment, here we are singing Boston 'Happy Birthday'....it's super cute and he loves it. Happy week!!!

Mahalo Hawaii

For all of you Hawaii impaired, 'mahalo' means thank you. :) :) I'm partly making fun of my bro-in-law, Dave, who used it all the time and mostly sometimes wrong. It was really funny. By the end of the trip he was using it correctly, but for the first day or two he was using it as 'Hi'...so funny. 

So we are back from paradise. It was such a great experience. I was scared to death to fly over water and, just like my luck, the first 1.5 hours of flying there was totally rocky and I started to cry. Yes, you read that right, I cried. I was SO nervous. I was VERY happy to see Hawaii and all the islands. It was beautiful there...our house was fabulous--not to mention we had a great view. We were there with Jeff's WHOLE family celebrating Lyle's retirement. I really loved it. We stayed up late most nights {8:30pm ha ha} and laughed a lot and talked so much. It was especially nice for me since I was the last to be married into the family and I felt that I didn't know everyone as well. 

My favorite beach was Mauna Kea {not sure if that's the beach name, but that was the hotel}. The softest sand, most turquoise water I've ever seen, pretty good snorkeling AND just a beautiful view. On Sunday, we went to church and were welcomed with open arms. They really are the nicest people in the world! The kissed us many times...and sang to us. The singing part was actually emotional, I don't know what it was!! 

The BEST part of the whole trip was swimming with the dolphins in the middle of the ocean. We kayaked to Captain Cook's monument and that's where we saw the dolphins. I didn't bring my camera, but my brother-in-law did so I'll post those when he emails them to me. :) There were SOO many dolphins. We got out of our kayaks in the prettiest blue water and swam with them. When I say 'we' I mostly mean the other guys because I didn't feel 100% comfortable swimming in the ocean. I did get out tho! My favorite part was the baby ADD dolphin. He kept jumping out of the water and spinning every direction! Cutest thing I've ever seen. The adult dolphins were also jumping out of the water, too. That was seriously soo cool. 

Other days we went to the wet side of the island and saw beautiful lush green trees--saw some surfers, ate at a fun local sandwich place...and of course, lounged on the beach. The last day I got WAY too much sun and had kind of a heat stroke at the airport--that really was the worst. It was also so nice to spend alone time with Jeff as well. Every couple needs it!! I was very, VERY happy to see Boston tho. He was so good for Grandma and once he saw me he wanted to come home!!! Enjoy the pictures!!!!!

Mauna Kea

Playing football on the beach. :)

Big Island Candy Co.

Akaka Falls...so beautiful.

Oh we also took family pictures...they turned out great, too! These were a couple I snapped with my camera, but we'll have more later.

Captain Cook's Monument...this is where we saw the Dolphins.

Jeff took this picture, how nice right?? I was exhausted...and of course I was eating before bed. Pretty funny.

The Gertsch Family

The gals!! This was our last day...where I'm pretty sure I got sun poisoning. You can probably tell by our red bodies...:) Oh we also did races this day! So funny. The Gertsch brothers had to race to see who was fastest. They are so funny. Then the girls/boys had relays. Jeff was the fastest boy, Staci for girls, BUT Jeff and I won the relay. :) :) AND we raced in the ocean, that one did not work out so well...and we had some causalities during the girls race...

Men of the Gertsch family {minus Adam, who Kristy forgot wasn't there}

That was a SUPER long post but it was Hawaii so it had to be! We owe a HUGE thanks to Lyle and Nola--happy retirement Lyle! We had such a blast...

And this was how happy Boston was when we returned home. 

We've been enjoying Hawaii...

It's been so much fun here. I'll do a big post when we return (yes we're still here) but for now I wanted to post some pictures. We are currently driving to Kona to go kayaking...I think this will be the best part!! Jeff and I take off Wednesday morning so we still have two full days!!! We had the best time at church yesterday, they were so welcoming and sang to us at the end of Sacrament. While they were singing they all gave us Lei's and kissed us-- such a neat experience. Anyway! Enough for now!!

Hawaii bound!!

Jeff and I are currently sitting in the Seattle airport waiting to board our flight to Hawaii. You guys, we woke up at 3am...not a fun way to start vacation, but whatever. Boston stayed at grandma's last night and I would be lying if I said I didn't cry when saying goodbye. Its easier now that I already said bye to him, but when I think of him I get a little sad.

Oh and we are so excited because Jeff's parents got their mission call!!! 23 months in Samoa...yes Samoa. They're leaving January 21st. We really are so happy for them!!

In other news, we had our 20 week ultrasound yesterday! The cutest thing I saw was when she was moving her mouth... I've never seen that before!! They'll confirmed girl, which is so exciting, but Jeff and I aren't agreeing on names!!!! We still have time... She is so healthy which is SO nice to hear that because I've had some thyroid issues this time around. She has all limbs, healthy heartbeat, and the cutest littlest nose. We wanted to have the ultrasound before we left because when we get back it's Thanksgiving which is craziness, so 19 weeks weeks today!!! Aloha!!

Life is so busy sometimes...

I feel as though life is going 1,000 mph...anyone else feel that way??? About 9 months ago we booked our trip to Hawaii, and we leave this Thursday! I SWEAR it feels like we just booked our flights! I really am excited {despite what Jeff says} but I'm also super nervous about leaving Boston for 7 days. I guess it's normal for every mom?? I really have lost sleep over it. He'll be with my mom so I'm not worried about his care, but just that I won't see him for 7 days!!!

Speaking of Boston, he is the funniest guy around. He talks so much and I can really understand him now. He still is obsessed with Lion King, and asks for it all the time during the day. One of my favorite things he does is when Jeff gets home he immediately asks for 'bootball,' and those two go downstairs and play football/basketball. But every time I go down and see what they're up to, they're just wrestling. Jeff also taught him 'down, set, hut hut'--but Boston says the 'hut hut' part. Jeff then throws him the ball and he takes off running, I need to get that on video. Oh this is funny...for some reason he always thinks there is baby sleeping in our bed, so when he goes into our room he goes 'shhh bebe'....???? I just go along with it.

My pregnant self is doing just fine! I'll be 19 weeks on Thursday. I have my anatomy ultrasound Wednesday which is always exciting. We'll confirm the gender, too. Man I tell ya what! I feel this baby move constantly. I can't remember the first time I felt her but I know it was around 14/15 weeks. Those were just kicks tho, but now I feel her actually move around. Jeff feels her daily, which I'm sure is fun for him. No more weird sicknesses, but can't seem to ever be full. I think this is a problem...:) Jeff is sometimes amazed at how much I eat...I have a few stories but will leave them out. BUT I swear I'm not huge and haven't gained TOO much weight.

I'm also doing the Jingle Bell 5k in two weeks. Jeff and I ran that last year together, but he's sitting out this time {wuss}. He says he'll 'watch' Boston....sure Jeff. Speaking of Jeff, he's doing really well. I see him a lot more than last semester which is so nice. We can see the end guys!!! 5 months or so. It will be soooo nice to have a job. 

Anyway, I don't have a really recent picture of myself but this was taken...a week ago?? Ish? I can't really remember but this is 17/18 weeks. 

Of course Boston jumped in! Anyway, that's about it for now. I'll have an anatomy ultrasound post before we take off to Hawaii!! Yippee! 

Halloween

Halloween was the so fun this year, mainly because Boston thoroughly enjoyed trick-or-treating. That was probably my favorite part, too. He was just so cute knocking on the doors, and holding his basket out and saying 'trick-or-treat.' Jeff stayed home to give candy out, but I told him he for sure missed out. 

Lindsey, Lucy, Boston, and I also went to a pumpkin patch last Thursday. I wanted to be kind of cool and take him to do all the fun things. He chased the chickens that were roaming, and was terrified of the donkey/ponies...wouldn't even go near. Him and Lucy play great together too so that was fun having them there. 

Oh and we also did trunk or treating with our Church. That's always fun to go to! 

This part was hilarious...they both were saying 'ouch' or 'my foot' or 'I'm falling'...but they were too slow when walking...ha ha Linds and I got a good laugh.

These are from when did trunk-or-treating...notice any similarities? 

 The top is last year and bottom is this year...ya I know, I'm not a cool mom.

The next are from actual Halloween. We sure had fun, really. We made caramel apples, 'bloodthirsty' punch, cheese ball and pizza. I felt sick at night, but oh well, on Halloween you always feel that way, right? I let Boston eat too much candy, too...but it's Halloween!

Look at all his candy! ha ha or lack there of...he did so well though. Up and down the street and then some...that's pretty good for an {almost} 2 year old walking, right?? 

Speaking of--Boston's 2 in less than three weeks...geez! And we go to Hawaii next Thursday...AND Thanksgiving is soon! Oh and I'm also doing a 5k...November will be lots of fun!