Hugeness

Here I am with 7 weeks to go. Just gigantic :)

Here I still have 3 weeks to go. Goodness.

I am setting up Sloane's birth story with my hugeness because it plays a big role. I always measure big, and I always have big babies. This time was a little different, I was measuring really big the whole pregnancy. With the high risk situation I had to have about 8 ultrasounds and consistently I was measuring huge. I really didn't think I was that much bigger than my other babies, but towards the end they started freaking me out!

The day before my due date, the ultrasound estimated that Sloane weighed in at 10 lbs. 15 oz.

All that I wanted from this birthing experience was to not have to be induced again. I just wanted so badly to come on my own time, but when they told me that she was an 11 pounder, I started to doubt if I could hold out and thought about caving to be induced. I remember so clearly birthing Gus at 9 lbs. 11 oz. and thinking that I literally was tearing in half and struggling so to push his big noggin out. I just didn't think I could handle too much bigger than him, so over a pound bigger was really weighing on my mind.

I decided to go with my gut and trust that she wasn't that big and the ultrasound was wrong. Glad I did. It was blissful to come on my own, naturally :)

Christmas 2011

It is no secret that Christmas is my absolute favorite time of year. The weather, the festivities, the family gatherings, the lights and the MUSIC!! Just to name a few things that I love. Well, the weather has been awful around here...NO SNOW!! Nothing makes me more upset than this. This holiday season we have been so sick too and it has really cut into our Christmas-ing. We live a lot father away from family now and don't seem to see them as much any more either. No lights this year since big Hoss man won't get on a ladder to save his life and I am a little less stable in my pregnant glory. Now music is a must and a constant around our house. Even with all these things not being exactly as I like them for Christmas, guess what? Christmas is still the greatest time of year! We just hung out a lot as our little family and rubbed fat mama's feet :) It was great! Christmas is ALWAYS great!

Christmas was awesome around our house this year. I think the kids made out like bandits as usual and I must say, the Jolly Red guy was pretty great to me this year :)

Who knew they would love toed socks so much!

Love that boy.

The Lights of Indy

We decided to surprise the kids with dinner and a little trip to downtown to see the lights, it was no temple square but a fun sparkly time nonetheless :)

These pictures are pretty much a blurry mess, but its all we've got!

It was beyond freezing but we had a great time. I was just glad that I could find a coat in the closet big enough to cover the belly!

We even saw the Fat Man himself on a Harley!

Sing it Sister!

I don't think I have seen Taite this excited about something in a long time. The first grade was putting on a Christmas Music presentation. It is ALL we heard about for the longest time. She practiced and practiced her songs and filled our house with Christmas music for months! It was great. They had to wear jammies and Taite suggested that it would be "so much more fun" if I made them for her :) Well I threw this together and she seemed pleased so I guess that is all that matters. Funny girl.

It was a great night and I was so proud of her. Their teachers put make-up on all the kids (um even bright blue eye stuff on the boys?! ) she was in heaven!

Love you Taiter girl!

The Big 1-0!!!

Happy

Birthday

Ellery!!!

How can I have a 10 year old?! Crazy! This little goober is a joy in my life. I say it all the time that "every Mom deserves an Ellery" and boy do I mean it. She is an angel on earth and we are so happy that she is in our family.

Ellery is very smart and does extremely well in school. She is very spiritual and loves to learn about the gospel. I never have to ask Elle to do much, she is already on it. Ellery tries to constantly be helping me and finds things to do without being asked. She makes my life so much easier. I hope she knows how much I love her. I love her so very much!

And she has MAD ball skill like her Mama ;)

Elder Bair

There is something that we have come to absolutely LOVE about living outside of Utah, the missionaries! Maybe that is our fault for not making more of an effort when we were in Utah, but it seemed that there were just so many members to go around. We lived in a branch for 3 years before moving and if you have never lived in a Branch, it is a special experience. Small numbers make for very tight friends :) It was an amazing experience and you definitely rely on the missionaries in a special way too. We got into a habit of having them over every Friday night for dinner, I can not tell you what a blessing that small habit has been for our family. We have had great experiences and our kids LOVE having those relationships and learning from the missionaries. Hopefully we give a little back to them as well.

Well, we definitely have had one Elder who has been special to our family...Elder Bair. He is a stud and our kids adore him. We were so fortunate to have him in the Branch for many months and he was transferred. When we moved shortly after we were so excited to learn that Elder Bair was in our new ward! We got to have him for many more months. What a joy.

Well now he has moved on again and the kids are pretty bummed. Maybe we will luck out and move into his next area again! If not, make sure to come back and visit before you go home Elder Bair! Matt needs a couple of more opportunities to turn you from an Idaho farmer to an Indiana one :)

If you don't know the Elders or Sisters, or of course the couple missionaries in your ward or branch ~ you have GOT to get to know them! It is such a blessing for you and them.

Birthday Fun!!

Alright, the next couple of things I have missed are birthdays for Taite, Matt and Gus! Look at this crazy bunch :)

Can you tell we all love Daddy more than just about anything? Well, surely by now everyone knows how I feel about this big hunk of a man. My Hoss. Happy Birthday babe, I love you so very much.

The kids really put some thought into gifts for their Daddy this year. Cy was beyond excited to give Matt a new model airplane! They love to put them together...together :)

Many of you know that Matt is a little obsessed with canning (I'm so lucky!) He makes the greatest, most delicious applesauce that the kids LOVE. Bailey wanted to get him an apple peeler to make the process a little quicker :)

Then there is my Gus. This kid is the most hilarious thing in my life. He is so full of energy and happiness, he is a spaz in all the right ways. I just love to sit back and watch the entertainment he so lavishly supplies!

With Taite, Matt and Gus having birthdays so close together Gus was beyond excited that is was finally his turn after watching the other two get to open their presents! He was cracking us up because the whole time he was unwrapping a gift he just kept saying "and...and....and...AND!" building with such excitement, it was hilarious! He was so thankful for each gift and said thank you a million times to each and every person. What a cutie.

His obsession with tractors is still alive and well.

I think I know where he gets his love of tractors. These two spent a good 20 minutes inspecting all the functions of the realistic John Deere gift :)

Oh my little Gus, I can't believe he is 3. He has two speeds, crazy energetic or snuggle time. I love them both! I love him so much, just can't imagine life without him!

Taite turns 6!!

Isn't she just the cutest thing ever? I think so. Her personality is just that too, sweet sweetness :) But as Matt would quickly point out, she also has a very feisty side that can quickly come out...like on the basketball court! She has become quite the baller!

Taiter is a joy in our family. I am so thankful for her.

Someone has a habit of blowing out the candles before the birthday girl has a chance :)

When we moved we weren't able to take our cat with us, Taitem was heartbroken to leave Shorty behind. But he was very comfortable out in the country and had become almost as much our next door neighbor's cat as he was ours. We decided to give him to our neighbors. Taite was so sad though so Matt and I pulled off a big surprise and got her some kittens for her birthday. She was SO very excited. The little girl cat is her very own and the other kitten is the whole family's, she did get to name them both though, Simon and Katie.

She heads out to spend some time with Katie as soon as she gets home from school. Too cute.

She will no doubt have mad athletic skills...but she is still all girl this one :)

LOVE you Taite!

First Day

Wow, the first day of school this year was a mess. We had just moved days before and we were totally crazy! The pictures were lame because we were running from one place to the next just trying to meet their teachers a little before the bell. Our town does something a little different, K-3rd grade is in one elementary and then 4 -6th are by themselves. So Ellery is all by herself and it is a race to get them to their schools on time. Normally they ride the bus, but since we missed orientations and open houses we tried to go early and say hello to their teachers. It was madness. But we are settled in and we could not be happier with the fantastic school system here in Plainfield :)