Merry Christmas!

It is Christmas Eve, and I love it! I hope everyone will have an amazing Christmas.

Here are pictures of the kids in their Sunday Christmas outfits and our Christmas card.

My beautiful Hailey

My handsome Kaleb

My adorable Karly

My amazing kids

My wonderful family!!

Busy Busy Busy

This past week has been busy, but also a lot of fun! I was going to just post the pictures with each event, but then just decided to do a slide show. Ok, on Sunday we had a little get together with some friends of ours and their families. First, the kids dressed up and acted out the nativity story. Hailey was Mary, Kaleb was Joesph and Karly was a little lamb:) Stephen was an angel, but I didn't get any pictures of that. The other kids there were Shepard's and wise men. All the kids did great and had a lot of fun. I was really proud of Hailey, Kaleb and Karly, b/c the listened to the story and did what they were supposed to. I loved watching them. After that we went and decorated gingerbread houses, which was awesome. The kids really did a good job, but also ate a lot of candy. I thought we took more pictures of the houses, but I only got Kalebs. It really was a fun night. Monday, for family home evening we read from the scriptures and then made some yummy pretzel candy. I have to say that a borrowed the pretzel candy idea from a friends blog(thank you Jessica). The kids did a good job and really had a blast making them. It was super easy and we loved eating them the next day. On Tuesday, Kaleb had a "Carol Sing" at his preschool, so Stephen, my dad, Karly and I went. Kaleb did sing, but only parts of the songs. He still looked very cute up there. I did get video and that is below.

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Hailey has done these programs, but it was a lot fun to watch Kaleb do them this year. Also, on Tuesday, Hailey had a basketball game. Stephen is her coach and they have a great time. Hailey has some good skills, but she is also a little spacey:) I do love to watch her play though, here is a little video of her playing.

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On Wednesday we had the most exciting news!! We went the doctor for an ultrasound and found out we are having a.......BOY!!! We are all so happy, especially Kaleb. He kept saying that is MY baby brother, he is going to be my best friend. It was so sweet. Hailey and Karly are just as excited. So, now we are even 2 girls and 2 boys:) It was so cool to see the baby and listen to the heartbeat. He kept putting his fingers in his mouth, I loved it!!

Thursday the kids had dentist appointments and neither had cavities! The dentist said that the kids have great teeth. Sorry, I don't have pictures of that:) We really have had a great week and look forward to Christmas!!!! Whoo hoo, Christmas is in 6 days!! I love this time of year!

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Tent time!

Today Kaleb asked me if I would make a tent for him and Karly. I made the tent and they just sat in there reading for about 30 min. , it was great!

I did take a picture of the whole tent, but it got deleted. Karly is actually reading a cookbook, and Kaleb is reading Batman.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

Before I begin, I just have to say that I am big fan of the REAL Christmas trees. I love walking in my house and smelling that wonderful pine smell. I love going to the tree lot with kids and finding that perfect tree each year. It is wonderful! Ok, so we finally got our Christmas tree last Monday, and then decorated it Saturday. It was a lot of fun and the kids loved it. Hailey and Kaleb did a good job hanging the ornaments and Karly really helped by just handing them to us. She didn't even really bother to put them on. I did decorate the house with the little decorations we have as well. I love Christmas time!!

Here is a picture of Stephen and Kaleb putting the star on the tree. (Hailey put the angel on my parents tree).

Random Things and Thanksgiving

Well, things around here are going alright. I guess you can say we are hanging in there. I would ask that you all would say some prayers for our family, as Stephen is out of a job. The company he was doing contract work for cancelled his contract suddenly, after telling him they wanted to extend the contract through January. We are doing ok, but would love the prayers. So, now on to some happier things...

About a week ago, I was getting the kids ready for bed and Kaleb looks at me and says, "Mommy, you're prettier than sparkles." It just made me feel so good. My little boy is such a sweetie!

On Monday Hailey lost her first tooth, finally. I say finally b/c this tooth has been loose since September! The girl was so excited. It was like, this was the most exciting thing that ever happened. She put the tooth under her pillow and the tooth fairy gave her 4 quarters. No other teeth are loose, but she does check everyday.

I love Thanksgiving, it really is one of my favorite holidays. I think it is b/c my mom cooks the best dinner ever, and we all hang out as a family. This Thanksgiving was wonderful! We stared off the day watching Stephen play in the turkey bowl with men from our ward. Stephen did great, and had a lot of fun. The kids had fun riding their bikes and scooters around the track at the field. After that we showered, packed our bags and headed to my parents. My mom was already under way with the food and so we ate a light lunch and watched some football. I made the chocolate pie and my mom finished up the cooking. I do have to add that my dad makes the best sweet potato casserole and that is something I also look forward to:) Dinner was fantastic and I ate so much! After dinner had settled we had some pie and watched "Get Smart". Then off to bed early, b/c my mom and I get up to go shopping on Friday!

Black Friday is so much fun to me. My mom and I get up around 4:30am and head to Wal-mart. We do not wait in line and usually get toys and maybe a few other things. It was crowded, but nobody was pushy or rude, and we really didn't have to wait to check out. Next, we head to Target, which is always so nice! They have a ton of people working, who are ready to help when you need it. I easily got what I needed and was done by 7:30am. We also go the mall, but wait till later and take the kids and husbands with us. It was great and I got all my Santa gifts and all of Stephens gifts. The weekend was fun and now I am looking forward to Christmas!

My big, fat, swollen ankle

So, on Thursday the 6th while playing basketball I rolled my right ankle. I have rolled my left ankle about 4 times, but nothing like this. I have just now started to walk without a limp, but still have a hard time getting up the stairs and balancing on that foot. When it happened it hurt, but I seriously thought no biggie I've done this before, but I obviously really trashed it. I did have it x-rayed and thank goodness it was not broken and I actually have been going to a chiropractor for rehab.(side note, if you live in the Raleigh area, Hahn Family Chiropractic is AWESOME!!). Anywho, thank goodness for my amazing husband who for the first few days, pretty much carried me everywhere! He is so wonderful:) And a big thanks to my parents for helping out so much. I think what bugs me the most and that I can't play basketball for about a month, maybe longer:( I just have to wear ankle braces on both feet now. I have posted some pictures for you to see my big, fat, swollen ankle!

ankle the night of the sprain and the ankle the next morning

big, fat, and swollen and the lovely bruise that only got worse

Time to Catch Up!!!

WOW! I have been so lazy with the blog. It just seemed like every time I wanted to blog, something else came up or I just didn't want to do it. So, now you can just sit back and enjoy the update. OK, lets see.... mission, baby, birthday, beach, fair, and Halloween. Here I go!

Mission- Well, my little brother Kyle left for his mission early on Oct. 15th. We had a family dinner at Outback the night before, and then went to the Stake President where he was set apart. It was really neat because the kids were there to see him get set apart and then after say goodbye. All the kids gave him hugs and told him they would miss him, but Hailey would not let go. She just kept holding on, and Kyle started crying which made me cry. It was such a sweet moment. The next morning, my parents came to get me at 5am and we left for the airport. Since it was so early, my 2 older brothers, my parents, and I were the ones to go see him off. We gave our hugs, shed a few more tears and said goodbye. Kyle is doing great and is now in Colorado. I am so proud of him and I love him tons!

Baby- Hmmm, what could baby mean?? Oh yeah, I am pregnant....again:) Yes, that is right baby #4 is on the way. I had my first doc. appt. on Oct.15th and everything is going great. My due date is May 23rd. I have to say that this pregnancy was a surprise, but I guess Heavenly Father knew this little spirit needed to come. I haven't been feeling to great, but that is slowly fading as I am now approaching 12wks. The kids are super excited and cannot wait for their new baby to come.

Birthday- So, Oct. 15th was a busy day, b/c that was also my birthday!! I am now 25 yrs. old! My birthday was fantastic, thanks to my wonderful husband who totally spoils me. He stayed up late and decorated the house for me, made me strawberry pancakes for breakfast, scheduled me for a haircut at the salon, took me out to dinner, and got me my favorite dessert... cookie cake:) oh, he also got me flowers and took care of the kids and I didn't have to lift a finger!! Yea, sorry ladies he is all mine! And, he bought me the Harry Potter movies, and some new work out pants. Seriously, he is the greatest!! My family also spoiled me, the gave me some more movies that I had wanted and my parents bought me some new camp chairs. It was a fantastic birthday!!

Beach- My family had a free weekend at a beach house, so we went Oct. 16th -19th. It was wonderful. That Friday the weather was great and we sat on the beach all morning. The adults played football (Stephen, my dad and I won) and the kids played in the sand. Stephen and my brother Brent went in the ocean and Hailey soon followed. It was too cold for me! That night, we celebrated my birthday, my mom and my nephew Sean's birthday. Saturday, the temperature dropped and it was rainy, but we still had fun. We went to the aquarium, and a boat museum, and then out to dinner. Sunday we went to the point of Emerald Isle and the kids flew kites. It was such a fun, relaxing trip!

Fair- Oh how I love the NC State Fair!!! It is seriously one of my favorite things to do in October. We got there at noon and left at 10:30pm. It was a blast. The kids rode rides, played with the animals, got loaded up with stickers, and we all ate lots of delicious foods! My favorites this year were the ham biscuits (as usual) and the ribbon fries, which were a mix between potato chips and fries, YUM! Of course I have craved them ever since and can't get them anywhere! The highlight for me is the FIREWORKS!! This is why we stay all day. I would love to drive out to fair grounds every night just to see them! It was a fabulous day and I can't wait for next year!

Halloween-This was good Halloween. The kids had decided what they wanted to be and actually didn't change their minds. Kaleb was Harry Potter, Hailey was Hermione, and Karly was crookshanks(Hermione's cat). They looked awesome!!! We went to my parents neighborhood first and took the kids around, and then headed to our ward party. Kaleb won the costume contest and was so happy. I think he was more happy to get the trophy. The kids played some games, Hailey won a 2liter soda for the ring toss, they went through the spook alley, which Kaleb did not like, and then did Trunk-or-Treat, where they got loads more candy! Karly was so cute she would hold out her bucket, smile when she got candy, and then did the sign language for thank you. Oh, and Stephen was a basketball player and I was a referee, I know very original for us:) Overall it was a great Halloween!

Oh my goodness, that was a lot of typing. I have just put together a slide show of everything so I hope you enjoy!

Make a Smilebox slideshow