Has hell really frozen over???

Did the universe stop moving??? I didn't feel it, but I've had to wonder ever since our last doctor's appointment. The verdict is in, the truth is out.....the Peña's are having a girl!! What?!?! Can it be real? I thought only testosterone ran through Peña veins. Girls are so rare in this family???? We really couldn't believe it even after we saw it, even after Tyler got his Chuck E. Cheese cheesy face, even after he grabbed his brother around the neck and said "did you hear that Zach???? We're having a cheerleader!!!!!" even after we tried to tell ourselves that people have girls everyday. So Susan was nice enough to sneak us back in this morning for a better look. (Brooke, your mom is the best!) She was so stubborn yesterday and had her legs all tucked into her butt, but today she gave us a better show. Her feet were in the way for a while, but then there it was.....no boy parts!! We looked from every angle...top, middle, bottom and back. There just isn't anything there. At least nothing our other two have. So now we have a 99% chance that it will be wearing pink. Eli is still convinced it will come out needing blue but for now we'll just get ready for big changes in our boy proof house. The boys are so excited now....we'll see what they think when they start parking their hotwheels and throwing their baseball gloves next to some pretty pink princess shoes!! Even if it was a boy we would have been excited...maybe just a little more prepared. It will be a good change for all of us.......I keep saying I need more patience. I guess heavenly father thought that meant I needed to learn to live through emotional breakdowns and moodswings instead of black eyes and bugs.

Fun in the Sun

Fun on the slip n slide



Nothing like a cold, fresh drink of water


Payson helped keep an eye on everyone


Our future swimsuit model

It has been so nice over the last few days. The kids are loving the good weather and are so excited to be able to get their swimsuits on. I decided to get a couple of pictures of them having fun before it gets cold again and they're stuck inside. Friday we just put on the sprinklers but Tyler was the only one that had a good time. It was still a little cold for the littler kids. Over the weekend we picked up the slip n slide and it was a huge hit! They didn't want me to turn it off. Payson wasn't so sure about the water but he loves being outside and was a good sport. The other three would have played all day. I've really enjoyed the nice weather and am looking forward to the summer months ahead. Looks like we'll have to wait just a little bit longer since the weather man says the rain is on its way and it should only be about 55 degrees tomorrow!!!! You've got to love living in Idaho!

Happy, Happy Birthday!

Oh my goodness, the day finally came. I have hit the ripe old age of 30!!! After a year of relentless teasing about diapers, walkers, etc. from Eli, the big day finally came. It was one of the best birthdays I've had in a long time. Eli made a huge breakfast for me, and cleaned and did dishes all day and wouldn't let me lift a finger. Then he made steak dinner......it was soooo good. After that, some of the family came over for the big party. I got so spoiled!!! I don't know if I deserved it, but it was so great. Eli even gave in and got me the cricuit I wanted so bad. He is so sneaky, all that time I thought I was getting Mario Kart to play with the boys!! They probably would have liked it a little better, but one day they'll appreciate all the great things I can make for their scrapbooks now. Once presents were over we had the best cake. Eli made strawberry shortcake and it was awesome! Definitely better than any I've made. It was a day I'll remember forever (if my memory doesn't give out on me any time soon)! All the attention made getting older a little bit easier to bare. Thank you honey for everything!

Down at the Hollow

Looking for his echo with Grandpa Kim

Eating the smarties out of his head
Last weekend we went out to the hollow on Grandpa Kim's farm. It is always so much fun. The weather was perfect so we brought some hot dogs and marshmallows and just kicked back. Eli's mom and brothers came too so it was really nice. The boys always love it. There are two golden eagles that have been there since my dad was a kid. (I don't know if it is the same two, but they have always been there). It was really neat because they flew really close to us this time. We saw a rock chuck too. It was kind of cool because that was the first place I saw my first one when I was little and this was the first one my boys had seen and I swear it was right in the same place. It is such a perfect little spot to just go and relax. The boys had fun playing catch with their uncles, and Zach loved eating the marshmallows, even though I think more got on his hands than in his mouth. Oh, and about the picture of Tyler. My Grandpa Roy used to knock on our heads when we were little and if we had been good, somehow he magically pulled a ton of candy out. Well, my dad must have the same gift because every time we see him, candy starts raining from our kids heads. He's not quite as sly, but I guess my kids are the first so he gets to practice on them. Being out there really makes me want it to get warm so we can start camping with the kids. All they need to be happy is a stick and a fire....just watch your hair!

How Many Kids........

For those that don't know, I watch my neighbors two kids four days a week. It has been such a blessing for us to have me at home and everyday is such an adventure. Our other neighbor behind us just started watching four kids plus her own three. So between the two of us there are a zillion kids running around in the backyard (now that it is finally thinking about being warm). Today seemed like a regular playground. We had nine kids ages five and under outside all together, and they were having a ball. They managed to all jump on the tramp together at the same time without anyone getting hurt. When they got bored with that, they found another neighbors swing. I had to grab the camera to have proof that seven kids can fit on a porch swing at the same time. You can count the heads if you don't believe it. And everyone of them are smiling. We live in such a great neighborhood and are so thankful we are surrounded by great neighbors on all sides that are quickly becoming even better friends. I can't wait to see what the hot summer days have in store for us and our clan!

Our Engagement Story

Well, I finally got tagged by someone. My friend Jaime started a tag to find out everyone's engagement story so here it goes. Eli and I had dated FOREVER....through me being in Florida and him going on his mission. Through our letters we were pretty sure things were going to work out, enough that I had planned quite a bit of our wedding already (that is so embarrasing!). Anyway, he came home in the middle of October and we picked up where we had left off. Things were great and we had talked about getting married a little, but nothing was official. I was starting to wonder if he really thought we were still supposed to be together. We had decided to go to Utah for the weekend to visit some of his mission buddies. I was working in Idaho Falls and Eli was just supposed to pick me up when I got off so we could head out. He ended up being so late! I had carpooled down so I had no wheels and was stranded. I got off at 4:00 and was still waiting for him at 6:00. He had called and blamed it on my sister because she had him run her around town. I wasn't mad, but a little irratated and ready to get on our way. He finally showed up and the trip began. We were having a great time and stayed with a really good family friend, Aimee Walker. The first night we were there, he had gone to sleep and I stayed up talking to her. She asked me what was going on so I told her that I wasn't sure and wasn't getting any signals from Eli that he was ready to get married and that I was starting to worry about it. (The best part is that he had only been home 2 weeks! What was wrong with me)! She told me that it would work out and that I was to worried about it. Little did I know that Eli had already bought the ring. We went to one of his friend's homecomings on Sunday and walked around temple square with some other friends and really just had a fun time. On our way home we drove up to the Bountiful Temple. It was a tradition for us any time we were in Utah before Eli left on his mission and I was excited to go up there with him again. It has always been my favorite, and the view is so pretty. When we got there, we walked around and sat down on a bench and were just looking at the view when he got down in front of me and pulled the ring out and asked me to marry him. I wish I could remember what we had been saying and exactly how he asked. He was nervous and I got all teared up just like a little crybaby girl. It was so perfect, and I really ended up being surprised. I found out that he had kept the ring in his tiny pants pocket the whole weekend and was so paranoid that it was going to get lost. On our way down to Salt Lake, his dad had called and they were talking in Spanish and I thought it was just to irritate me, but he was asking Eli if he'd asked me already and how he was going to do it. Oh, and the reason he was late picking me up from work was because he'd gone to ask my dad's permission and he wasn't home so he had to wait for him. My sister totally covered for him. I was so clueless, but it was great. We got married 4 weeks later....why waste time! And here we are almost 7 years later. I can't believe it was that long ago!!! Now I tag Heather S., Amber G., Michelle A., Cherish, M., Brooke R.

The End of a Season

A great view of Sawtell

It is probably about time that I put a little something about Eli on the blog. Most of you that know us, know how much he loves to snowmachine. This winter has been extra good to him thanks to all of the wonderful snow we got. A couple of weeks ago, I finally packed up the gear and put it back into storage only to get it out again. My dad and Eli decided to go on one last run last weekend and had a great time. The day couldn't have been more perfect. We really do live in such a beautiful area and I'm so glad he's taken so many great pictures on his rides.

He couldn't escape without one last crash though. You can see in the picture how far the machine rolled. No worries though, he escaped with only a bruised leg, and no damage to the machine. Only 7 more months till next season! Love you honey!