Vacation Time ! ! !

We just returned from our latest adventure. I feel like all we have done the last little while is travel, but it has been fabulous. Before Tory and I became parents, we traveled all the time and tried to take one really big vacation every year, but we calmed down and put down roots when we got our little miracle from heaven. We only have one little problem, we still love to get out, so this last couple of weeks has been so awesome.

We were able to spend some time vacationing with my oldest sister and her family in Central Oregon. (Side note, I really didn't take as many pictures I usually do, you know like only about a 100 or so, I was too busy relaxing and enjoying myself.)

Here is one of the few pictures of our whole family together, it was at this awesome museum about everything from Native Americans who originally lived in the area to the pioneers and Basque culture that came and settled. The exhibits outside were live reenactments of life in the 1890s, but we were there on a special weekend that they had a Civil War exhibit (not that the Civil War took place in Central Oregon, but still cool.)

Here is one of evening activities, pick up game of softball. I of course sat out and just cheered, but it totally killed me since softball is my all time favorite sport.

Here Michelle sits with me, you can see the disappointment in her face too that we can't join the game. Maybe next year.

One afternoon the girls were exhausted and Ella loved sitting with Michelle, well I happened turn and find Ella sitting on Michelle's lap. The best part is that Michelle thought it was the funniest thing ever, what cute cousins.

Here is Ella doing her favorite thing of the trip, pushing Michelle around in her stroller. The funniest thing was when we were in the parking lot a car started coming so we warned Ella to be careful, so what does she do, abandons Michelle in the stroller and runs back to her mom. Good thing Michelle has no fear and is well trained in defending herself.

The Civil War heroes. The war is over and they are waiting to return to their families back home.

I couldn't resist taking this picture. It is a symbol of why I was born in this era. I truly am thankful for flushing indoor toilets, if you don't believe ask Tory about our first camping trip together, now there is funny story.

This garden from the 1890s was amazing. It makes me feel awful that our garden is so weed infested, maybe after I get done posting this I will go brave the insane heat outside and weed.

My older sister was totally awesome. Most mornings and after afternoon naps she would come get Michelle so that I could get some some sleep if I wanted. I usually just felt guilty and would just get up and go find them. One morning I heard a bunch squeals coming from, my younger sister, Christines's room. Michelle and Ella were having a sleepover with Tino.

Also most mornings while Tory and I were getting ready for the day my sisters would volunteer to watch Michelle, which also meant by the time I got out they had her bathed, dressed, and were doing her hair. Well this morning they turned my beautiful little girl into Super Rock Chick Michelle. She was all ready for the role after watching us all play Guitar Hero all weekend.



This last picture is actually just a funny story. If you can't tell what that black thing is on my sister's back, it is completely squished-to-death spider. We were watching the boys play Guitar Hero when my sister felt a tickle on her arm and started trying to get off the hair she supposed it was. I turned and realized it was actually a spider trying to attack her and grabbed the magazine that sitting on the coffee table and started beating her until the spider stopped twitching. She wondered what kind of maniac sister I was, I was just trying to save her life. Then we realized the magazine I had grabbed was the Ensign and the Conference Edition none the less. I felt awful using such sacred doctrine to commit murder, but at least I saved my sister's life.

I really wish I would have taken more pictures (I will just have to steal some from Tino and Shellie because I know they took a lot), but it honestly felt so good to just relax. The one night I truly wish I would have taken more pictures was our last night of vacation, our Luau night. Shellie decorated the deck with a bunch of Hawaiian decor and then had flower leis for each one us. They barbecued pinapple and had VIRGIN pina coladas, oh how yummy. Oh Vacation Time, why does it ever have to end.

And the Votes Have Been Tallied

Luckily for us, Tory and I did not have to worry about the difference in the popular versus electoral vote, or trying to sway specific states to increase our number of super delegates at the convention. We just had to let time take its course and then see.

Also, I hope those of you that voted in the other direction do not have hurt feelings, if you do, blame it on Tory. With Michelle he kept telling me that he really wanted a girl. He never lets me forget how it was his desire that somehow led to our beautiful Michelle. This time he has been just as firm on what he wanted and again that desire led to another amazing child in the making. Well for all those anxious readers we found out today we are having a . . .



























BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The appointment was loads of fun, really it was. But the whole ultrasound I felt so bad for our baby because it was being super squished by my overexpanded bladder. You know how they tell you to drink like 5 gallons of water so that it makes you feel like that big water tanker on the railroad and then they use the probe that they learned to use in some secret chinese torture camp to take all those pictures with. Ya, the normal ultrasound experience, but we really did enjoy ourselves. He was also not in the normal breech or head down position either. He was laying straight across my belly, head in one hip, bum in the other. He kept showing off his cool pilates moves too, by taking his feet up to his head then swinging them back down, the jack-knife exercise. That is why I probably have been feeling all those crazy kicks.

The last good news is that the baby checked out healthy. All the body parts and organs that they need to look at show no signs of problems and they told us that he appears to be developing appropriately. In fact all his measurements averaged him to be 19 weeks and 1 day gestationally, exactly what I was today. So here is to a good day.

The Men in Our Lives

This post is dedicated to the men in Michelle's and my lives. We are so thankful for them.


I will honestly admit that I think that I am the luckiest person on the earth to have the man I do for my husband. No one else could ever fill his shoes (they are a size 13, but that is not what I am talking about). He is the one that keeps me anchored when times are tough, but also reminds me that we can find happiness in EVERY moment if we just look. I never could have found a better person to my best friend and companion or a better or loving father for our children if I had kept looking for eternity.

We are so thankful for Tory's dad, Grandpa Thornton. He is the one who helped shape Tory into the great man he is today. He taught him the importance of family and that your wife and children are the most important things you have in the this life. We are so lucky for his example in the past and today.

We cannot tell you how grateful we are for my dad, Grandpa McCracken. He has always been there for us. He has always fully supported every decision I have ever made and helped me reach every goal I have set my mind too. He taught me that no hope or dream is unreachable and to never stop going. We will also be forever grateful for a specific two and half weeks he gave up in February of 2007. I don't think that we could have made it through the darkest part of our lives if he had not been there for us.

We thank you, all the Dads in our lives. Like we mentioned before when the going gets impossible we just call in the calvary for rescue. Thank you for always being our calvary, we love you.

That's my Baby

15o days to go, Hooray!

Last night was a pretty exciting night. I have been feeling the baby flutter around for a few weeks now, my doctor said it is one of the blessings of being thin. But Tory has been pretty jealous. He is so awesome and really loves being apart of my pregnancies and so he has been waiting, not always so patiently, for his chance to feel the baby. Everytime I make a comment about feeling the little person move inside me he runs over and places his hand on my belly trying to feeling any movement. I always remind him that most dad's don't get to feel any of the movements until after 20 weeks and that he needs to be more patient. Well, last night the baby must have been super happy about the chocolate cake I had that evening because it was swimming laps in my belly. I had Tory come over and try and feel, of course as soon as his hand touched my belly the baby calmed down. I was pretty sad, then it happened, Tory got kicked super hard. He was soooooooooo excited. He then proceded to talk to the baby and tell it how much it is loved and how excited everyone is to meet it and all sorts of super cute daddy stuff.

So there we go. This baby is quite the overachiever already, it must be all that ice cream and chocolate cake I have been enjoying lately.

Brother or Sister

We haven't yet found out if we are having a boy or girl, but hope to find out in about a week. We decided to try out a poll and hope to see some votes. We are not going to give out any hints like how fast the heart rate is, if I am carrying high or low. Just take a chance and vote.

My latest Adventures

So my parents have been negligent in keeping this blog updated, so I have decided to take it upon myself to let the world know what my family has been up to. This blogging thing is way easier than my mom lets on, so here I go. (By the way, my Mommy and the baby are doing good, she is trying to take it easy and staying hydrated, is she still having braxton hicks-yes, but she is trying to be very careful not to push herself).

We just went on major road trip to go cheer on and help my uncle compete in a major mountain bike race. It was so cool. My dad got to help be a part of the "pit crew." I think watching "Cars" over and over really helped him out.

Here I am hanging out with Grandma in the tent. It was hot, so I got to run around naked.

Ella ended up having to babysit me for a while. She is amazing, she read me books and kept the bugs away. She is such a great cousin.

Daddy left his sunglasses in the tent and so I decided I needed to be a movie star.

And once again, I am naked. It was really warm the last day we were there so Mommy and Daddy decided to let me make some vitamin D. I decided I love the sun.

Here is the last picture of this adventure. One awesome picture of all of us.

Then we went to Grandma and Grandpa's house, and had more awesome adventures.

I had just woke up (that is why my hair is so wild) and decided that I needed to check out my ventilator settings. I can never be too sure, I need to make sure everything is just right.

I only had to make some minor adjustments.

So here is the reason my parents decided to make the trip to my grandparents house, my super cool aunt, Tino, graduated from High School. Hooray Tino, you made it.

My Grandparents have the most amazing back yard. They have this totally amazing swingset and a trampoline(or as some of my cousins call "the jumpoline".) This yard is a grandkids dream come true.

Here I am jumping, I had to wait for all the other grandkids to get off before I could get on. Mommy was too afraid of me being bounced off. It was so fun, that I didn't stop jumping even after I got off the "jumpoline".

While at Grandma and Grandpa's house I discovered a truly amazing thing, the dress-up bag. What a cute fairy I make with those super cute wings and skirt.

Hanging out with cousins is the best and having our first sleepover at Grandma and Grandpa's house, what could be better. What cute girls we are.

Here is my Grandma giving piano lessons to my cousin. I really love the piano and was trying to let them know what a good job they were doing.

This is my grandparents and all the cousins. There is one cousin that was there but couldn't be in the picture, but the baby is still baking in mommy's tummy, so we will have to wait for another picture later this year. This was the start of the Annual McCracken Family reunion. Lots and Lots of family and fun.

Here is Daddy and me in front of the statue of Jesus Christ.

Here we are having the best dinner ever. PIZZA!!!!!!!!!!! Our family keeps growing an growing. They put a bunch of tables together in one long row, practically went from one end of the restaurant to the other. Big families are the greatest.

Here I am sitting with Grandma at the bowling alley, watching the amazing athletic display of my family.

Well, when we went bowling, I had to just sit out. But as I sat back and watched all my other cousins bowl, I decided that I needed a turn to.

Here I am setting up my ball and lining everything up, I have been studying bowling at one of my friends house when we play his WII.

I pushed the ball by myself, with just a little help from Daddy.

I got a strike on my first bowl!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mommy and Daddy were screaming so loud that other people started to stare, but they were so proud at my new found talent. I wish you could see all the pins down, but since the alley was dark, it was too hard to get a picture.