The big freeze, snow storm and sledding

We had an storm that brought freezing rain several days before Christmas. If you look close to the first picture you can see that the tree is completely covered in ice. Damian said that he had to kick a layer of ice off his car just to get into it after work. Crazy weather!

The next few days rained and rained and rained then the day after Christmas it snowed. We got about a foot. It was crazy!!!
We also went sledding with some friends and then had them over for hot chocolate. It was so much fun and they finally got to meet Damian. (Not many people from my ward have met him yet and so I finally got a witness that he does exist) Sorry there aren't any pictures of sledding, I took my camera but ended up forgetting in the car. Oh well. Thanks Keli and family for inviting us to go alone with you, we had a blast.

Sure do love those Christmas cookies!

One of our Christmas traditions is to make Christmas cookies to share and enjoy. The girls had tons of fun decorating them and did a fabulous job. They were super yummy!!!

Baby update (18 weeks)

18 weeks and counting!!

I went to the doctor on Monday and they said that everything looked good. They checked the baby's heart beat which was 155 bpm. My next visit will be in 3 weeks and will be the visit I get my ultrasound, so if I am going to find out what were having then that would be the visit to do it at. I am still up in the air about finding out the sex but Damian and the girls really, really want to know. He is planing to go with me to the doctors appointment and if I decide not to find out then he will have me leave the room while he does. I guess he does not like surprises as much as I do.

I'll let you know what happens in 3 weeks.

Wow Grandma Great!

My Grandma made the girls the most beautiful princess dresses. The are so pretty and the girls love to spin and dance when ever the have them on. She is really an amazing seamstress and make some of the cutes outfits for my girls. We love getting outfits from Grandma Great.

Of course the girls wanted their pictures taken in the dresses so we did a little photo shot in front of the fire place. I didn't take the time to do their hair so just ignore the mess, just focus on the dresses.

I had the hardest time getting them to smile but they do look really pretty.

Again ignore the crazy hair!

Thank you, thank you, thank you Grandma Great for the adorable dresses and all the hard work that went into making them. The girls love them so much!!!

Christmas dresses

Every year since Aniela was born we have got the girls matching Christmas dresses. They love to match and love all the attention they get from it. Sad new though, this will probably be the last year we get to do this because Areya has graduated to the little girls section and so it will be really hard to find ones that match next year.

Here they are sitting in front of the Christmas tree.

Areya

Aniela

Christmas 2009

Gingerbread house

One of the things we like to do this time of year is make a gingerbread house. The girls have so much fun and enjoy picking it a part for weeks after.

See how proud they are of all their hard work.

Areya working hard.

Aniela trying to get the icing out.

Th girls enjoying a job well done by eating the cookies they decorated

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Sewing project

My mom got me a sewing machine a few years ago and I am attempting to sew. I'm not very good and need all the practice I can get so I made bean bags for the girls. I think they turned out pretty well. I still have a hard time sewing a straight line but I guess that comes with practice. Here are the girls trying out their new bean bags. They are having a great time with them and did a great job helping me fill them with beans.

Now to decide what project to attempt next. Any ideas?

Bowling with the Clayton's

The Clayton's (a family in our ward) invited us to go bowling with them. The have 3 girls the youngest two are the same ages as my girls. Areya and Maggie are best friends and always have a great time together. What a good big sister Areya is to Aniela. She is so willing to help her when needed. ( or in this case bowl for her)At any rate the girls had a great time. Thanks Keli for the invite, we should do it again some time.

Thanksgiving 2009

Damian had to work again this Thanksgiving so we had our family Thanksgiving early. Here they are enjoying all the yummy food. It was really nice to spend time together as a family. I love them so much and am extremely grateful to have each of them in my life.

Here is the food that we made for the special day.

On Thursday we were invited over to a friends house. It was nice to have someone to share Thanksgiving with. Thanks Keli and Sean for having us over, we had a great time!

Preggo pictures

Ok here are the pictures. Remember that I am only 14 weeks. (3 months) Most women don't get this big until they are 5 or 6 months.

In this one I am holding my shirt down so you can't see the bottom of my belly.

I guess the good news is that I haven't be very sick and I am still at or below my pre pregnancy weight.

Thanksgiving projects

The girls and I have been working on a few Thanksgiving decorations for our house. Aniela made her turkey out of a paper plate, paper and feathers. It turned out pretty cute.

Areya had to do a turkey for school and it will be displayed for parent teacher conference next week. Her turkey is a girl, notice the purple bow around it's neck.

Last of all are my projects which I made at cub scouts. I think they turned out pretty cute.

Happy Halloween

Ok I know I am a little late getting these posted but better late then never. This year the weather was pretty cold so the girls both had 3 layers under their costumes and then I still made them ware their winter coats.

Trick or Treating starts at 4 and goes until 7 here, and after we got that first group of kids at our door there was no stopping Areya. The houses in our neighborhood are pretty spaced out so a group puts their trailers on the back of their riding lawn mowers and drive the kids around and have a little parade. We were invited to join. The girls love riding on the tractor (mower) and it meant a lot less walking for them.

Areya was a Southern Bell

Aniela was my Little Lady Bug

Hope that everyone had a safe and Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin carving 2009

The girls and I had such a great time carving pumpkins. Aniela loved digging the guts out and it was so funny to see the faces Areya made while doing hers.

We also painted a few which the girls could not get enough of. If I wouldn't have stopped them each pumpkin would have close to 10 coats of paint each. We really missed having Tj & Shaylee over to carve pumpkins with. We miss you guys!

Baby #3

I finally made it to the doctor a few weeks ago. Here are the ultra sound pictures they took of our little peanut.

10 Weeks

Sorry Areya but it looks like there's just one baby in there. They said that I have a pretty large cyst on my left ovary and think it will go away on it's own. I have been feeling pretty good, not to much puking this time around. I did lose about 5 lbs but am quickly gaining it back. I guess I did pretty good figuring out my due date because it was right on May 17, 2010.

Right now I am 13 weeks and have my next doctor visit a week from today. I am a bit annoyed with this doctors office though. They are making me attend a class that teaches "The do's and don't of pregnancy". You would think after having a few I would be good to go and not need the class but I guess it is mandatory and they won't let me go to my next baby visit until I attend. The other part that bugs is that no husband/no kids are allowed so I have to find a babysitter for the girls.

Anyway, I forget how much growing a baby takes out of you. I can't seem to get enough sleep and I am way to moody. My poor girls (and probably Damian) are ready to trade me in for a new happy mommy. Don't worry guys only 6 1/2 more months to go.

I know they say that you show sooner with your second and third ones but I can't believe how big I'm getting already. People have started to notice my belly (and at this stage if they don't know your expecting then they think your packing on the pounds) and I have gotten a few comments. I'll let you know how my next appointment goes and I will try getting a few pictures of my baby bump to show all of you.

Jelly Belly Factory

Some friends of ours went to the Jelly Belly factory just over the boarder of Wisconsin and it looked like fun so we decided to try it out for ourselves. They offer free tours of the warehouse and show you how they make the beans along with the many other kinds of candy they make. It was amazing how much work goes into making the candy.

At one point you pass under these giant Jell Belly's hanging from the ceiling that are like 6 feet tall.

At the end of the tour they give you a sample bag and drop you of at the candy shop where they have a sample bar and ton and tons of candy for sale. The sample bar was neat, it gives you a chance to try any of the flavors you want before you buy them. They also had flavors like dog food, ear wax, diaper wipes and moldy cheese. Damian was brave enough to try the moldy cheese. He spit it out pretty quick after but he did give it a try. Here is the link if anyone is interestred. http://www.jellybelly.com/visit_jelly_belly/wisconsin_factory.aspx

This is the part of our take home loot. Damian got a little carried away.

On our way home we stopped and ate at Culver's. (Note to Utah readers: it is kind of like Warrens) The food was really good and they make their own custard which was really yummy!