Pay It Forward

Pay It Forward
Pay it forward...The rules
1. Be one of the first THREE (3) bloggers to leave a comment on this post, which then entitles you to a handmade item from me - something crafty or yummy, only I know.
2. Winners must post this challenge on their blog, meaning that they will Pay IT Forward, creating a handmade gift- anything! for the first THREE (3) bloggers who leave a comment on their post about the giveaway!
3. The gift that you send to your friends can be from any price range and you have 365 days to make and/ or ship your item. This means you should be willing to maintain your blog at least until you receive your gift and have shipped your gifts. And, remember: it's the spirit and the thought that counts!
4. When you receive your gift, feel free to post about it, sharing appropriate pictures and comments! If you are not one of the first three to comment on this post, you can still play along. Go ahead and start your own Pay It Forward chain, and encourage your friends to do the same!SO, REMEMBER...Pay It Forward!Let's help make this a wonderful world to live in and show our friends how much we care for them :)

Saw this post on Kirsten's blog and thought it was awesome. It gets me excited thinking about what I will make for the 3 that leave a comment. Granted, the gifts I make will be sent after the move and after Julia arrives but I will do it!

35 Weeks and Counting!

Alright here is proof, Steve and Josh, that Julia is still a girl!!! We are definitely not having a boy! In less than 5 weeks our fourth little princess will arrive. We are so excited!

Is this the best shot of her face or what? Look at how full her cheeks already are! I love that you can see her lips perfectly. Her estimated weight is already 5 and a half pounds. Looks like we might have another 8 pounder. ;)

Our sweet little Julia. I can't wait to meet her.

Here are the upcoming dates for our family:

February 24-26th: Zeb takes the bar. Hooray!

March 7th: Move to Dallas 

March 9th: Claire starts her new school.

March 27: Julia's due date.

April 1: Zeb starts his new job.

Valentine's Day Fun

My Valentine's Day started early with me waking from a deep sleep to the sound of crinkling money. For those of you that know me I don't do well waking from a deep sleep to something different than the norm. When I was finally coherent Zeb told me Happy Valentine's Day and I pulled the money out from under the covers. He gave me money to get Su! Big Shot die cut machine and new dies. Talk about surprise. I am VERY excited to order it! Thanks, babe!

After an unsuccessful attempt at a walk with Cindy and her Mom (way too cold...the kids just cried) I had a doughnut delivery from Emma (we bought heart shaped doughnuts from Daylight Doughnuts). They were delish. Thanks for picking them up Emma!

Then Zeb came home from studying to let me go to the Friendship Luncheon that Minda hosted. It was so great to be waited on and enjoy a nice meal with adult conversation and no interruptions. You are awesome, Minda. Thanks again!

Here are some of our Friends here, we missed our friends that couldn't make it!

Minda made a yummy cake and we sang to Jana for her Birthday (it's this Saturday)! Great times.

Then for dinner Zeb and I got a babysitter and we went out the 2 of us. We went earlier than senior citizens but we didn't have to wait to be seated (all part of the 4:45 plan)! ;)

We had a great time and loved every minute.

After we got home we packed the kids in the car and went to the Ward Valentine's Dance. There weren't that many people there so we ended up getting the girls out of the nursery and dancing with them. It was so much fun.

Audrey went from adult to adult. She loves so many people in our ward and boy do they love to hold her.

The girls had a blast dancing with their Daddy.

We entered the drawing for some door prizes and won $20 to a restaurant here in town. SWEET!  The girls each got to have a big decorative balloon to take home. They loved that and they are actually still floating in our house. 

We had an awesome Valentine's Day!!!!! How was yours?

Fun Times!

While my mom was here she gave each of the girls haircuts. Claire has wanted hers cut since before Christmas so she was so excited my my could cut it. I was a little unsure of cutting it short again but I have to admit....I love it one her. Hallie's bob is adorable as well. Thanks, mom!

My mom also brought these really neat knitting helpers and taught them how to knit. Claire loved every second of it and at one time said, "My knuckles hurt really bad, but I just don't want to stop." Addicted already! ;)

Picture time with Gram. 

My mom got here a day earlier than Zeb's parents so she had Friday to spend with us. Claire had been sick with a cold and fever and was going to stay home Friday. When Claire's fever broke Thursday early in the morning she realized she might have to go to school. She walks into our room at 5a.m. and says, "I'm not sick anymore but I don't want to go to school. I want to stay home and spend time with Gram." I told her she could stay home and to go back to bed! How cute.

Here they are with Papa. 

Zeb and his Dad went to an outdoors store here in Waco that turned out to be total WT. Nice. We had great visits with my mom and his parents and are so glad they came. 

...And a picture with Granny.  After taking my mom to the airport on Sunday we got to spend the rest of the day with Granny and Papa at Josh and Carol's place in Denton. It was so great.

We love you!

Zeb...the Graduate!

Well, the day finally arrived!!!! When the music started playing for the graduates to walk to their seats it hit me. Zeb really is graduating!

Just before the ceremony started I was reading through the program. I came upon a page where there were sentiments from each of the graduates. I had no idea the graduates did this and when I saw Zeb's name and read what he said, boy did the flood gates open. 

He wrote:

"Through discouragement or accomplishment, stress or a smile, you've always been by my side. Your work is far more significant than any test I have ever taken. Yet despite the magnitude of your task, you've always had the time and strength to see me through." 

Luckily I closed the flood gates quickly since I would have sobbed pretty hard and for quite a while! ;)

Here he is after he was hooded. I love the excitement you can see on his face.

One question: Why do they make the robes so incredibly puffy?

Josh and Carol drove down with their 4 kids to be here. What troopers! I love this picture of the six girls. Thanks for coming!

Well Zeb, I can't believe the day came and went. For three years, (well the eight we have been married), we have been talking about this day. I can't even express the deep respect and admiration I have for you and what you have accomplished. The strength and dedication you have shown in school, to your family and in church has been nothing short of amazing. You have balanced your life in a way that not many others can or could. I love you from the bottom of my heart. I am so proud of you...

Here he is with Devin and Chad. They all started and finished law school together!

My mom flew here for the special day. It was so wonderful to spend time with her. Thanks so much for coming, Mom. We love you! I am also happy to report that my dad had his last round of chemo a few days before and is finished with his treatments! 

Zeb's parents drove here for graduation. Talk about support! The girls were on cloud nine all weekend with 3 of their grandparents here. Thank you for all of your love and support.

After graduation we got a babysitter and went out to dinner with the parents. I fed the girls before we left and here is Audrey showing what we feel like after law school. Wiped out and exhausted. Although we are tired, it is hard to describe the emotions of being done. We did it! We made it through and are so happy it is behind us.

Titanic

As you may know, Ryan Gregerson (my PC [practice court] partner) and I were assigned to the Titanic case - obviously a case based on the sinking of the Titanic and a case no Baylor Law Student ever wants to be assigned.  Our trial was 5 days long from about 1-5 each day in front of a lay jury at the federal courthouse in Waco.  I'll spare you all of the gruesome details about how much work and stress it was, but I will tell you that when the jury verdict was read Ryan and I couldn't have been happier.  In a case with two plaintiffs and two defendants, with the plaintiffs and other defendants all making claims against us, we left the court room with zero liability!  Pretty good feeling!  In fact, Ryan and I nearly engaged in a man-embrace to share tears of joy when the judge read the verdict, but there was no real money involved, so we held back our emotions.  Here are some of the pics from the trial.  Enjoy.

Here's one with me telling the judge that 

grapefruit are supposed to be large and round.

I think my hands are over exaggerating the 

size of most grapefruit, but you get the idea.

(Not really, the case had nothing to do with grapefruit)

Here's me sporting a sweet double chin!

The best part is that I was impeaching the crap

out of this guy - double chin and all.  In fact,

I was so good that I sent him into a state

of temporary paralysis.  Notice the stiff arms and

distant stare.  As you can see, the judge was 

rather concerned.  

This is a picture of another bench conference.

Tim (the guy holding up his left hand) is about

to backhand the guy in the tan suit.  I really picked

a bad spot because the backhand caused a 

string of spit to fly from tan-suit man's mouth

and cover my tie.  At Baylor we're taught to be

aggressive.

Here is a picture of all but two of the attorneys.

the two ends are defense attorneys for the two 

defendants, and the people in the center

are the plaintiff's attorneys.  The guy on the left

has a detonator control in his hand and he's

going to click it if his witness sucks.  He should

have clicked it.

And last but not least, this is the picture that

scored me a sweet make out session with Leah

after the trial was over.  She said this picture

helped her get over the one with the double chin.

Frankly I think I just look angry, but I'm told

that I looked just like this all week.

What's going on?

With Zeb...

We are happy to report that Zeb finished his last set of law school finals last Saturday!!! What a relief that is. I still can't believe he graduates in 5 days! We have talked about it for so long that it isn't real that it's only a few days away.

The girls...

Audrey plays really well with her older sisters and gives me long stretches of time to myself. It is really nice. One morning last week when Claire was at school she played great with Hallie. Here is what they were up to:

Here they are with their swimming suits reading. Note Adurey's tights over her suit. She is a character and comes up with the greatest outfits. They are always changing their clothes which keeps them well entertained. However, picking them all up after isn't as fun! Her outfits always keep me laughing!

Claire has been working towards eating lunch with her teacher. Once a student reaches 2,000 minutes of reading at home they get to eat lunch with Mrs. Guy. They also get to watch cartoons while eating ice cream during the lunch period. Claire reached her 2,000 minute mark TODAY! Way to go, sis!

And Me...

Everyone keeps telling me I need another belly shot.  I always get after my sister Steph about posting belly shots and pretty much anyone that is pregnant. I love too see pregnant tummy's, but I will say that it feels really weird to post a picture of yourself and write about it. I can see why weeks go by without a shot. Too bad I can't just look at everyone else's pictures and never post my own! ;)

I am almost 33 weeks and I still can't believe it. I am so excited, yet nervous. Tina did tell me that 4 is really no different than 3. And I know Rachel would agree. Let's hope I can do this and feel the same way! 

That's all for now! Just think, the next post will be Graduation pictures! CRAZY!