Merry Christmas!

We had such a wonderful Christmas. Although we really missed

my side of the family, we celebrated the season, and enjoyed

every minute. The kids were up super early, and after digging

ourselves out of our driveway, we made it Grandma and Grandpa

Klein's by 9:45 a.m. They encountered another set of fun presents

there. Then, after Jake took our friends to the airport, we headed

to Great Grandma's house to spend some time with extended

family. After a great dinner, we finally headed back to our own

home, and we've been trying to figure out where to put all of our

new stuff all day today. I think we need to go through all the kid's

toys, and box up some unused ones. We had such a great 2008.

It was full of challenges, and trials, but many more blessings. How

grateful we are for that day, so long ago, when our Savior was born

in a lowly stable. I can't wait to see what 2009will bring!! I hope all

of you had a Merry Christmas. We love you all!

Christmas Eve Festivities

The kids decorated their cookies for Santa. They had a lot of sprinkles on them! I told them tey were probably going to make Santa's tummy sick!

Christmas Eve came in with a vengeance, by dumping lots of white snow, over the foot of snow we already had. At first, we thought we would have to cancel our festivities, but we braved the snow, and had a good time. It is very rare for this area to have a White Christmas. We were planning on having a Progressive Dinner, starting at our house, going to Jeremy and Monique's, and ending at Grandma and Grandpa's, but, because of the weather, we did just one house. We had lots of yummy food, and everyone got to open 1 traditional Christmas present. It was fun, and a good kick-off to the mayhem of Christmas day that followed.

Playing a mean game of Ticket to Ride, and snacking on the appetizers. (Look at Mo's cute belly! I hope I look like that at 24 weeks!)

Opening their gift. Sam and Tay both got little pony villages from Aunt Jessi

Grandma made all the kids these Christmas Eve crowns. Rohne got some jewelry too. Here he is displaying the cool Planet Hero he got from Jer & Mo.

When we got home, we let the kids open their new pajamas to wear to bed that night.

"Do you think Santa will mind if I eat just one?"

What to do on a Snow Day?

So, the news has been threatening snow for a couple days now. I was beginning to think it was just a bluff. That is until, we woke up this morning. We had a good couple inches, and it snowed the whole day. I'll bet we have at least 4 inches of new snow, and it's still coming down. Jake didn't go into work today, because of the weather. He decided to go to the store for a few things this morning, and got the car stuck in our driveway. That will be fun to dig out. . . .

Snow Angels are the best. Especially from my little Angels. Wait, are they Angels? I'd rather not say.

Because all Tay wanted to do, was eat the snow, I thought I would bring her inside, and just give her a bowl full. She thought it was great.

They do play well together occasionally. This is when Rohne was reading 5 Little Monkeys to his older sister. I tried to get it on video, but they started being too silly. And, yes, my daughter dresses herself, and it's usually not weather appropriate. She also loves to pick out things that are way too little for her, and wear them.

The most exciting thing of all, is Jake's new Christmas present. He bought it for himself, after we had decided not to get things for each other for Christmas. But, what can ya do? He has been working really hard lately, and I guess he deserves it. I guess. And, he does claim that it's something for our whole family, not just him. Can you tell what it is from the video? I bet you can!

No more paci = No more naps, Poor Me

So, I wasn't going to post about this, because it hasn't been my proudest mothering moment. And, I guess I didn't want anyone to know how slacking I really am. But, here ya go. . . We just took away Rohne's pacifier. Yes, he just turned 3, and we are just doing it now. I have had the hardest time with this, and I kept justifying it over and over. He has been so sick, he doesn't sleep very well as it is, he just loves it so much, etc. In fact, one night, we decided to take it away, had a "Bye Bye Paci" party and all, and when the crying wouldn't stop, I gave it right back. Well, I knew it was finally time when the Dr. said it could be affecting his speech. He has all the content, but he wasn't using his tongue correctly to form the words. This time I stuck to my guns, and it's been almost a week now. It has been a hard week. It takes him forever to fall asleep at night, he wakes up crying for me, and he won't nap any more. This is not an easy thing for a pregnant Mommy to take. Today, I desperately needed some down time, so I put on a Barbie movie for the kids, and laid down in my bedroom. I wondered why I didn't hear screaming coming from my precious little girl for so long. He is usually torturing her, especially when I'm not around to corral him. After my relaxation, I went out in the living room to find him zonked out on the couch. It is now 4:50 p.m., and it's going to be a long night tonight, but he desperately needs the sleep. Oh, poor paci, poor, tired Mommy.

What I have to look forward to in the coming weeks

(Warning: very unattractive picture above.)

1. Ginormous, bulging, belly
2. Horrendously, swollen, yucky, ankles, and feet
3. Wearing only sweats around the house, unless I actually have to go somewhere
4. Beautiful, voluptuous cheeks (on my face, and hind end)

5. A really pretty hospital gown
6. Nursing pillows, pads, ointment, etc.
7. Lots of pain, pushing, and medication. (Yes, I am an epidural gal)
8. Sleepless nights, crying baby, nasal aspirators, onesies, the whole deal.

BUT. . . . This is what I get in the end.

My own little newborn to snuggle and cuddle. And, babies are such a blessing!!!

Just for those of you wondering, I will be 13 weeks tommorrow, and the due date is June 25th. This was not a planned pregnancy. We were both very shocked, and it has taken me a little while to get used to the idea. I really wanted to be ready this time, but the Lord has his own timetable for things like this. We do feel very blessed that it happened so easily. I have loved ones I pray for daily, for them to get pregnant, and I sooo wanted it to happen to them first. I had such easy pregnancies with the first two. No morning sickness, relatively good energy, etc. Needless to say, this one has been quite different. I'm sick 95% of the time, and can hardly chase around my 2 crazy kids. I am really cranky, and emotional. Thank goodness my husband is so patient. I am getting fatter by the hour, I feel like, and gaining weight rapidly. I just know I am going to be HUGE with Bambino #3. Many more updates to come in the future concerning this new development.

Because I'm tired of seeing a dead rat as my last post. . . .

Here's a little Christmas cheer. From my swimming suit clad kids to yours. Enjoy!

Oh Rats!

Last night when I was taking a much needed, solitary trip to the grocery store, I got a call from my husband. It sounded something like this.

"I'm trying to get the kids to go upstairs, because I am staring at a rat right now."
"What?! A real rat? Is it alive?"
"Well, it's not moving, but it's in the laundry room, by the bed posts."
"Okay, I am officially freaking out right now, what are you going to do with it?"
"I haven't figured that out yet. I hope it's dead."
"Yeah, me too. Call me when you have it taken care of. And, take a picture of it."

So, it did turn out to be dead. We have had some mice killer down there for awhile, because we have seen traces of these little rodents. The problem with this house is that there is an opening from the crawl space into the basement, and it is right by my washer and dryer. I guess that's what you get when you live in a house that was built in the 1920's. Now, do you realize why my laundry piles up to the ceiling before I start doing it? I hate going down there!! Spiders and grimey, germy rodents are the basis of my nightmares!! Disgusting!!

Look at that gross tail! Jake actually saved it in a box for me to look at when I got home, and I about fainted. From the sight, and smell!!

Putting up Christmas

Like most everyone else in the country, we got out our Christmas decorations this past weekend. We kind of wanted to either get a fresh tree, or buy a new artificial one, because we just have a dinky, little tree. But, we decided to save the moolah, and just put the little one up. It turned out to be a good idea, because my kids have almost knocked it down a half a dozen times already, and they decorate, and re-decorate it all day long. We plan on finishing up the decorating, inside and out, in the next couple days. The one thing that made me sad, is that I can't seem to find my Christmas village. Maybe we've moved one too many times, and it got lost somewhere along the way. That was always my favorite thing to put up too.

Taylee has a very hard time keeping the little dollies on as decorations. She just wants to play with them.