Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Together Forever
Monday, December 26, 2011
Number FOUR
I am pregnant!
I have never been so sick! (It hit really early this time, 5 weeks) I lost 15lbs. before I started to gain it back. Dan and I decided we needed to tell the kids when I was about 8 weeks so they would understand why I couldn't do much and was missing church. We told them we needed to keep this our secret for awhile. Dan and I fully expected that Tess wouldn't be able to keep this secret for long. It is just to exciting. I am proud to say, she kept our secret! Well in her own way...
The next day Tess came out of of preschool so proud of herself for keeping our secret. She explained, "Don't worry Mom, I told them you had something in your belly but I didn't tell them what it was!!!"
Tess's primary teacher came to me several weeks ago and told me this funny story... The lesson that week was on fasting. Candis, the teacher, explained that mommy's who are pregnant can't fast because they need to eat for the baby. At that Tess's arm shot up in the air, she was grinning from ear to ear. When Candis called on her Tess immediately turned bright red, her happy face changed to an AH-OH face, and she quickly responded "I Love my Mommy!" Candis put two and two together and congratulated me.
Tess prays every night that the baby will be a boy so Jake can have a brother- but she doesn't feel that way herself. Tonight in her prayers she asked that Heavenly Father send us a boy, "even though she doesn't want one". What a good girl!
I have never been so sick! (It hit really early this time, 5 weeks) I lost 15lbs. before I started to gain it back. Dan and I decided we needed to tell the kids when I was about 8 weeks so they would understand why I couldn't do much and was missing church. We told them we needed to keep this our secret for awhile. Dan and I fully expected that Tess wouldn't be able to keep this secret for long. It is just to exciting. I am proud to say, she kept our secret! Well in her own way...
The next day Tess came out of of preschool so proud of herself for keeping our secret. She explained, "Don't worry Mom, I told them you had something in your belly but I didn't tell them what it was!!!"
Tess's primary teacher came to me several weeks ago and told me this funny story... The lesson that week was on fasting. Candis, the teacher, explained that mommy's who are pregnant can't fast because they need to eat for the baby. At that Tess's arm shot up in the air, she was grinning from ear to ear. When Candis called on her Tess immediately turned bright red, her happy face changed to an AH-OH face, and she quickly responded "I Love my Mommy!" Candis put two and two together and congratulated me.
Tess prays every night that the baby will be a boy so Jake can have a brother- but she doesn't feel that way herself. Tonight in her prayers she asked that Heavenly Father send us a boy, "even though she doesn't want one". What a good girl!
I am 13 weeks. Just this week my belly has popped out, I look pregnant!
Despite all the sickness, I am, WE are very excited!
Despite all the sickness, I am, WE are very excited!
Christmas
This year December wasn't as busy or fun filled for me as years past because I have felt so yucky. However, with the help of Dan, I did manage to decorate the house, do some holiday crafts with the kids and make gingerbread houses. Here's the proof:
After saying good bye to the cousins I put Abby to bed first and then helped Jake and Tess prepare for Santa.
As they were laying in bed I told them about when I was young I laid sooo still and quiet so that I could listen for the bells on Santa's sleigh. Wow did that do the trick. Never in their lives have they immediately been quiet! Tess went right to sleep and Jake listened until he and his Dad DID in fact hear Santa's bells! Then right to sleep he went.
Dan worked hard the entire week before Christmas to get things done so that we wouldn't have to stay up so late/early on Christmas Eve. Even after all his hard work I went to bed at about 1A.M. and he followed at 230A.M.! The kids woke up at 7am and we had our OJ and headed down stairs to see if in fact Santa did come.
He came! Jake got a hot wheels race track, Tess got an art easel, and Abby got a crib for her baby dolls (and CANDY). We enjoyed playing with Santa's gifts for awhile and then we sat around the tree opening the other gifts. This year we had the kids buy each other gifts. It was fun to watch their reactions to each others gifts. Here is Abby's:
I didn't get many pictures on Christmas day. I did manage to take a picture of the kids favorite gift from Grandma and Grandpa Breinholt:
Abby was so funny carrying around her "guitar" while doing her treasure hunt and finding presents. Jacob learned his first song that morning. Thanks Mom and Dad!
We had a fun morning although I don't remember ever being so tired on Christmas morning!!
After our traditional breakfast we quickly got ready for church. Having Dan drive with us, sit with us, and come home with us from church was such a treat! The kids snuggled up to him during Sacrament meeting. When Dan came back from the stand after singing in a Christmas number Abby excitedly, and loudly, exclaimed "YEAH! Daddy you're back, I get to sit with you!" It was AWESOME!
Her are some pictures us playing with Christmas gifts later in the week:
Dan helped the kids build a really long fun race track. It was fun to hear the squeals of delight when it worked!
We got a wheat grinder for Christmas as well. We have made lots of whole wheat bread this week. YUM! Here is a picture of Jake and Tess working together to test out the new hand crank.
We had a fun dinner and movie night this week. We got to eat dinner in the living room and watch a new family movie Santa brought. The Absent Minded Professor, I just call it Flubber.
We got the kids a new Wii game: Just Dance for kids. It is AWESOME! Jake played with it the first day for 4 hour straight! He was nice and sweaty by the end. It is a great way to get some energy out and exercise on a cold/rainy indoor day!
Tess and I studied Christmas around the world for her Social Studies/Map unit. We learned about Germany, Holland, Norway, Israel, and Spain. Thanks Aunt Aimee!
(Swedish tradition: the oldest daughter serves the family cookies and cocoa wearing a festive crown.)
CHRISTMAS EVE
We missed my sisters, Aimee and Liz this year! They have been with us the last THREE years! (With Tate being sealed to Steve and Steph on the 27th it just didn't make sense, schedule wise, for them to come.) Christmas Eve was pretty easy this year, we enjoyed Panini sandwiches and chocolate fondu with the Warner family. We acted out the nativity and ended the night by about 730.
C.C. and Benny as Mary and Joseph
Angel Tess
Jake and Abby as the Wise Men! Jake enjoyed strutting his stuff in his asian robe!
After saying good bye to the cousins I put Abby to bed first and then helped Jake and Tess prepare for Santa.
As they were laying in bed I told them about when I was young I laid sooo still and quiet so that I could listen for the bells on Santa's sleigh. Wow did that do the trick. Never in their lives have they immediately been quiet! Tess went right to sleep and Jake listened until he and his Dad DID in fact hear Santa's bells! Then right to sleep he went.
Dan worked hard the entire week before Christmas to get things done so that we wouldn't have to stay up so late/early on Christmas Eve. Even after all his hard work I went to bed at about 1A.M. and he followed at 230A.M.! The kids woke up at 7am and we had our OJ and headed down stairs to see if in fact Santa did come.
He came! Jake got a hot wheels race track, Tess got an art easel, and Abby got a crib for her baby dolls (and CANDY). We enjoyed playing with Santa's gifts for awhile and then we sat around the tree opening the other gifts. This year we had the kids buy each other gifts. It was fun to watch their reactions to each others gifts. Here is Abby's:
Jake got her a new baby doll.
I didn't get many pictures on Christmas day. I did manage to take a picture of the kids favorite gift from Grandma and Grandpa Breinholt:
We had a fun morning although I don't remember ever being so tired on Christmas morning!!
After our traditional breakfast we quickly got ready for church. Having Dan drive with us, sit with us, and come home with us from church was such a treat! The kids snuggled up to him during Sacrament meeting. When Dan came back from the stand after singing in a Christmas number Abby excitedly, and loudly, exclaimed "YEAH! Daddy you're back, I get to sit with you!" It was AWESOME!
Her are some pictures us playing with Christmas gifts later in the week:
We got a wheat grinder for Christmas as well. We have made lots of whole wheat bread this week. YUM! Here is a picture of Jake and Tess working together to test out the new hand crank.
We had a fun dinner and movie night this week. We got to eat dinner in the living room and watch a new family movie Santa brought. The Absent Minded Professor, I just call it Flubber.
We got the kids a new Wii game: Just Dance for kids. It is AWESOME! Jake played with it the first day for 4 hour straight! He was nice and sweaty by the end. It is a great way to get some energy out and exercise on a cold/rainy indoor day!
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Christmas Tree
In the past we have bought our real Christmas trees at Lowes. This weekend we headed to Gravers Tree farm to chop one down ourselves. The weather couldn't have been better and Jake found the perfect one...
Playing
and
Smelling
the pine needles!
Abby waited patiently while Tess and Jake took turns helping to cut down the tree.
Our Douglas Fir
Tree topped and letters to Santa ready for our house elf ("Little Fly Guy" from the Elf On the Shelf book) to take back to the North Pole.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Friday, November 25, 2011
Jacob's 7th Birthday
It is crazy to think that SEVEN years ago today Dan and I spent our Thanksgiving at the hospital in Aiken welcoming our little Jacob into the world. I remember feeling so excited when we found out that day was THE day!
This year Jacob had Aunt Hollie, Uncle Cris, Grandma and Grandpa Larry and the Warner family to celebrate with him.
Jacob had Lucky Charms for his breakfast in bed and then spent the morning playing with his new toys: a remote control Air Hog Helicopter and Hot-wheels.
Then Dan took Jake and Tess, Benny and C.C., Hollie and Cris, and Grandma and Grandpa downtown to the Air and Space Museum. They even got to watch the planetarium show. Then everyone came home to pizza, birthday cake and ice cream.
This year Jacob had Aunt Hollie, Uncle Cris, Grandma and Grandpa Larry and the Warner family to celebrate with him.
Jacob had Lucky Charms for his breakfast in bed and then spent the morning playing with his new toys: a remote control Air Hog Helicopter and Hot-wheels.
Then Dan took Jake and Tess, Benny and C.C., Hollie and Cris, and Grandma and Grandpa downtown to the Air and Space Museum. They even got to watch the planetarium show. Then everyone came home to pizza, birthday cake and ice cream.
We ended his special day playing on the Wii together.
Last weekend we had Jacob's Birthday Party.
I let Jake plan his party. We played the M&M game, Elephant Bowling, Junk-n-your-Trunk, pin the rocket ship on the astronaut, we had a pinata, a treasure hunt, and turkey cupcakes. Jacob loves to learn about space and has read a lot with Dan about BLACK HOLES recently. So that is what Jake decided the pinata should be and Dan and the kids had a great time making it. Dan found lots of fun pictures to tape to it...I especially liked the cow!
Jacob and his best friend from school, Agustin.
I think Jacob had a really fun birthday this year. He is a very special LOVED boy!
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving
Recently I have thought a lot about family and how grateful I am for their support and love.
We are loving having Bonnie and James close by. The kids love their cousins and Bonnie and James have come to my rescue with watching kids several times lately.
A couple days ago I talked to my sisters, Emily and Aimee, while they were driving from Tucson to Albuquerque for Thanksgiving. Aimee and Brad completed a rode biking race together. I love that they biked the 68 miles together. And Emily was their with her kids being the supportive sister she is. As I talked with both of them on the phone I really felt their support of all I am doing here thousands of miles away from them.
This year, with Bonnie and James just living down the street, Hollie and Cris and Grandma and Grandpa Larry decided to make the trek up here for Thanksgiving. They got here yesterday and we are really enjoying getting to know Grandpa Larry better and catching up with Hollie and Cris. It didn't take Abby any time to warm right up to Grandpa Larry. She found herself a book, climbed up next to him on the couch, handed him the book and put her head on his shoulder ready to be read to. It was cute. I am so grateful for the family I married into.
Today Dan took everyone on a walk in the woods while I stayed home to cook. The time came to prepare the turkey and get it in the oven and Dan wasn't back yet. The turkey was his job since I am a bit squeamish with touching birds! But alas, I had to do it. I gaged just reading instructions online about needing to pull out a heart, neck ect. I decided to call my mom for help. She came to the rescue...I think we will both laugh about this experience once I get over actually vomiting in the trash! I was so grateful she answered her phone to help me. I never did get the neck out, turns out cooking a turkey with the neck still in it doesn't ruin it. Thanksgiving dinner was yummy and exciting.
I am very thankful for the support and love my family gives!
(Pictures to come)
We are loving having Bonnie and James close by. The kids love their cousins and Bonnie and James have come to my rescue with watching kids several times lately.
A couple days ago I talked to my sisters, Emily and Aimee, while they were driving from Tucson to Albuquerque for Thanksgiving. Aimee and Brad completed a rode biking race together. I love that they biked the 68 miles together. And Emily was their with her kids being the supportive sister she is. As I talked with both of them on the phone I really felt their support of all I am doing here thousands of miles away from them.
This year, with Bonnie and James just living down the street, Hollie and Cris and Grandma and Grandpa Larry decided to make the trek up here for Thanksgiving. They got here yesterday and we are really enjoying getting to know Grandpa Larry better and catching up with Hollie and Cris. It didn't take Abby any time to warm right up to Grandpa Larry. She found herself a book, climbed up next to him on the couch, handed him the book and put her head on his shoulder ready to be read to. It was cute. I am so grateful for the family I married into.
Today Dan took everyone on a walk in the woods while I stayed home to cook. The time came to prepare the turkey and get it in the oven and Dan wasn't back yet. The turkey was his job since I am a bit squeamish with touching birds! But alas, I had to do it. I gaged just reading instructions online about needing to pull out a heart, neck ect. I decided to call my mom for help. She came to the rescue...I think we will both laugh about this experience once I get over actually vomiting in the trash! I was so grateful she answered her phone to help me. I never did get the neck out, turns out cooking a turkey with the neck still in it doesn't ruin it. Thanksgiving dinner was yummy and exciting.
I am very thankful for the support and love my family gives!
(Pictures to come)
Sunday, November 6, 2011
The MATHEW'S
Chris and Sue Mathew's are like family to us. Three years ago they were assigned to be our home teachers. When I was extreemly sick while pregnant with Abby Sue came to the rescue over and over. Each time I've had surgery or am in a bind with the kids Sue comes to the rescue! They are so kind and giving and the kids LOVE them! Yesterday they treated us to a yummy lunch and a fun, leaf filled afternoon.
Tess loves Emma, their dog. Sue is really good about helping the kids adjust to and play with Emma each time we come.
Today was Stake Conference. Chris sat with us and Abby was content to sit on his lap peacefully off an on for the entire 2 hours. Jake and Tess also took turns sitting next to him. We sure do love them!
The kids were burying Chris in the leaves.
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