Thursday, July 30, 2009

A Trip to Utah

I'm so far behind in the blogging world, its getting a little ridiculous. BUT I refuse to give up trying. :) Last month we were able to go to Utah for a couple weeks and spend time with some family and old friends. We always really LOVE Utah in the summer. My brother Steve and his little family were there from California at the same time which made it EVEN BETTER. Beware....there are lots of pictures...but its really the best way to recap the trip.

We were able to go boating out on the beautiful Utah Lake with my sister Lindsey and our friends Eric and Amber and their family. It was TONS of fun! I gave it my best shot at my first time wake boarding and I'll admit I was pretty bad at it. But it was fun nonetheless. Even Mckenzie had a good time and jumped in the water as often as we would let her...which was great because then she was all tuckered out for the last half of the day.



We really did see TONS of old friends, and some family and cousins we don't get to see nearly enough. However I regret to say, I was a horrible picture taker on this trip and only got a few pics..but here they are.

Our friends Dallas and Abi and their BRAND NEW baby Miley. Doesn't Abi look AMAZING for having that baby just 5 days earlier?!


Kenz with her cousin Jesse. Two CUTE kids!

Grandma and Grandpa Schaack and Mckenzie

The 3 grand-daughters. There was lots of backyard fun at Grandma and Grandpa Schaacks! AND its always a treat to have Grandma Cook around!


More water fun! Kenzie LOVED this slide at the pool! She really probably went on it a good 50 times in a row! We couldn't pull her away.



We made the trip down to Bridal Veil Falls which was fun! Sad to say, but I don't I had ever actually been there. I have driven by countless time, but never as a destination. The only downer was I came totally unprepared without water shoes for Kenz. It was a little frustrating but as you can see...it didn't stop her from getting her feet wet. Thanks to her Aunt Alli, Lindsey, and grandma!

And Mckenz got her first ride on a 4 wheeler just before the long drive back to Texas.. Thanks to Braxton and Kambree for sharing! I am SO BUMMED we didn't get pictures with these friends. Thanks again Sara and Tara for putting us up....it was SOO fun to see and catch up with both of you and your cute families again!

Monday, May 18, 2009

She's Here!




Hooray! She's finally here!! Brinley Marie Jepson was born on Thursday, May 14 at 1:29 pm. She weighed in at 7 lbs 11 oz and 21 inches long. She was a LONG 3 days late, and we were starting to get nervous because Russ had National Boards on Friday and Saturday this last weekend, but she came Thursday just in time--so we didn't have to worry! And when she finally did decide to come she came quick and made for a good story. :) (told in detail below)

THE STORY
Quick Hollywood version-- Crazy couple almost has baby in car--they run into the hospital, wife in wheelchair, yelling "The baby's coming!" I was the "crazy lady in the next room" creating all sorts of commotion and drama--and gave birth to a baby girl 5 minutes later. (for those of you who don't want details--which I am sure is many.)

Long Detailed version--(caution--may be a bit TMI for some--but for those who want it--here it is!)
I woke up at around 8 Thursday morning with mild contractions spacing any where between 5 and 10 minutes apart. This was not unusual at all; I had had these several mornings throughout the week and they usually stopped by the time I ate breakfast... and so I just got up and started to go about the day. Russ was planning on studying at the school that morning with a friend and I told him to go--no big deal.
My mom was coming in around noon that day, and I knew I needed to get organized and clean my house a bit. My mom called at 9 and said she was boarding the plane, and I told her I was having some contractions--about every 5 minutes- but they still weren't that strong. I stayed busy cleaning my house, and by about 10:30 I got in the shower---thinking surely they would stop by the time I got out. They however got a little stronger by the time I got out , but I still wasn't convinced I was in "labor". So I got ready, and by the time I was done drying my hair, I was starting to get a little uncomfortable. ( I was turning off the hair dryer during contractions and pacing a little) So at that point.. it was about 11:40am I decided that maybe i shouldn't be the one to pick my mom up from the airport in 20 minutes. I was okay if I was walking around but wasn't sure I should drive. So I called Lisa(my sis-in-law) and kind of told her what was going on and asked if she would pick up my mom; she said she would and came and got Kenz as well. Right after my mom called and said that she had landed early---I told her I had decided to send Lisa, but I would see her soon. The contractions were still making me uncomfortable enough that I started timing them again, and they were still about 5 minutes apart--with an occasional one that would come at a 3 minute interval instead--but I thought they were still spaced pretty well. But at that point I decided to call Russ and told him I was still contracting and to maybe head home sometime soon. He got home 15 minutes later and by that point --the contractions were taking a lot of my concentration. I told him that we needed to head to the hospital, which was 15 minutes away. We were gathering some things, and my mom and Lisa got to our house, and we told them we were going and we left.
THE GOOD PART---
The ride to the hospital became quite interesting. I had another strong contraction and started feeling some pressure. About 5 minutes into the drive I told Russ I felt like I needed to poop. He blurted "NO POOPING!" We kept driving--hitting every red light possible; I was having contractions ever 3 minutes at this point and about 5 minutes away, I started panicking and told Russ the baby was coming soon! Russ started to speed up and become a bit more aggressive in his driving. We got to the hospital within a few minutes, we parked and Russ asked if I wanted a wheelchair. I started to say No-I could walk---but I got another really hard contraction and instead yelled the baby is coming!! Russ took off running to get a wheelchair and got back in record time--I got in and he quickly wheeled me up to Labor and delivery. He calmly told the nurses at the desk that his wife was having a baby. They looked at us like--no big deal--everyone is having a baby here--but I could feel the next contraction coming and I blurted "No---really the baby's coming now!" They all jumped up at that and showed a room across the hall to wheel into. My water broke as we got through the doorway, and they told me to get on the bed and they would check and see where I was at. I said, "Its coming, its coming!" And the nurse patiently replied,"Let me just check and see whats going on." She quickly checked me and said, "Yep, you're fully dilated and the baby's head is right there. " In my head I said "Told you so". Then I started another contraction and the nurses were trying to get the monitors and computer working in the room(which was hopeless), get a dr. in there, and one was wanting to put an IV in my arm which she quickly decided was worthless because another nurse called out that the head was crowning, which was SO INTENSE. They kept telling me to lay down and push, and I told them I couldn't lay down-- I had to sit. A doctor came in just as the head was coming out and he caught the baby. Within 5 minutes of getting to the hospital, we had our sweet Brinley!! It was CRAZY!!! Talk about an adrenaline rush. :)
Anyway...that's the story. It all happened SO FAST!! Brinley is so sweet, and we love her so much! We feel so blessed and lucky to have her with us now!! We are healthy and recovering from the ordeal, Russ got his Boards all done with. We really do feel so blessed and are so happy to have this all over with!

Kenz loves her so much and has asked a time or two if we would like "to pet her". :)

Russ getting in precious "study time" Friday night.

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Happy B-Day (yesterday....lol)

Happy Birthday Megan!!!

I know i am posting this a day late...i didn't forget her bday people. Come on now!!!! I meant to put this up yesterday. Oh well. We had a pretty crazy but good day yesterday celebrating her big 27th bday. We actually spent the day tending a bunch of kids for 4-5 hrs. It was all capped off with a great i mean great dinner made by some real good cook (not) she married..lucky her! That means i dont have to cook for another year. Sweet! Happy Birthday again honey.








This is what happens when she is out with the girls all night. I get bored and continue to blog. (Last time this year folks you can count on that). She is going to kill me for putting the 'dreaded' pregnant picture on for others to see. Better do something she wouldn't do. But she is getting close. 1-2 more weeks.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Mckenzie's Easter Fun






(Russ Blogging) Wow so I must be really really bored to actually sit down and try and figure this all out but i guess i should give megan a break every once and a while especially since she is 38 weeks pregnant and deserves every break possible. j/k she loves the blog thing....I guess i have never really given it the time/thought.

Here is some pictures that are a few weeks old that i thought were pretty cute. This was Mckenzie's easter night coloring eggs, waking up easter morning to her basket and lamb. Yes, i know a lamb rather than a bunny is a little strange!!! She really wanted it so why not!! She takes it everywhere and sleeps with it every night so i guess it was a good find. Here are a few pictures of her in her Easter dress. She is a cuttie and so much fun. We are really excited to be having another liitle girl here this week or next. I never thought i would have 2 girls and no boys. Guess they are just going to have to start golfing wether they like it or not. I definitly have to get them away from all the cinderella, princess dress up, ballerina, rock star ways...no its all good. I love my girls!!!!

I took Mckenzie to our little apartment lake nextdoor to our place and took her fishing. She caught her 1st little fish. It was really funny to watch. Now she wants to go everyday. Good times

Sunday, March 29, 2009

TEE Time and TEA Time

This is basically the summary of the last month at our house. Mckenzie got a couple birthday gifts from grandparents a month ago....

The first- a little golf set with balls and clubs. (princess pink of course).
The second--a tea set (Disney princess yet again)

She really LOVES to play with both of them! Its cute how serious she takes the advice that Russ gives her. She often corrects me when I'm not holding the club right, or if I don't swing well. Eye-hand coordination has been a little slow coming for this little one--so its fun to watch her actually enjoy something that requires it .



And we've had SO many tea parties over the last few weeks. Most of them have taken place in her "backyard" since water usually gets dumped everywhere at some point. But she has really enjoyed this little game of poring the water into each cup, drinking it all, and starting all over again. And that's where I come in. She knows she can't drink as many cups of water as she likes to poor, so she needs me to help her gulp it down.

A few days ago she was invited to a little Tea Party with a couple of her little girlfriends and she was SO excited. We let them wear their little dress up clothes and shoes, and I have to be honest- they were pretty cute. They got to poor their own water and eat PBJ's and grapes and cookies. It really doesn't get any better does it? It was a lot of fun! Thanks for the good time girls!






Thursday, March 26, 2009

SHAMPOO

We took our first trip ever to Sea World last weekend. (well, I guess Russ had been before as a kid) but for Mckenz and I--it was a true first! It was such a good time! We had to drive down to Austin anyway Friday to meet with a chiropractor about an office, and since Russ has been so busy the last couple weeks with Boards-we decided (or I decided) that we were in need of a little fun family together time. Russ's brother, Bryan and wife Laurie and family were thinking of Sea World as well--so Saturday we all went!

So Sea World is FABULOUS! I highly recommend it to anyone, even if you are 8 months pregnant. (more than I can say for Six Flags which only has rides-which are GREAT if you're not prego). Mckenzie was so happy all day! We loved all the shows, and feeding the sea lions, exhibits, and the little park for kids to play on. Its got a little something for everyone I think. We probably didn't even see half of it. BUT its the same price to buy a season pass as a one day ticket--so we can't wait to go back!!

The Shamu show that we saw at the end of the day was probably our favorite. Mckenzie was exhausted and I could see how heavy her eyes were getting...but she was trying SO hard to not blink so she didn't miss anything. AND Mckenzie INSISTS that Shamu is really called Shampoo. No matter how much we try to tell her, "No, it really is Shamu", we always get a firm, "NO, SHAMPOO!" She won't give in. So SHAMPOO it is- for now...Until we feel like arguing with the 3 year old again.

Feeding the sea lions some tasty little fish.




This is the only family we shot we got. Not the most flattering for me-but hey...not many pictures are at this point in the game.


"Shampoo"

Kenzie on the pirate ship. Really its a dream come true to a 3 year old.