24 Weeks {Today}

So a girl can only take it for so long.

Since I started school, I have done nothing crafty...I mean nothing that I wasn't in a rush to throw together at the last second. So today, for my reward of writing a paper that I have dreaded for far too many weeks, I got out the paper and long forgotten scrapbook supplies and set to work.

I saw something similar to this in the "Better Homes and Gardens" magazine, and thought it was doable.

It is quite festive and makes me smile!

and now my creative juices are flowing, I am antzy to do something more....but what?

Another thing is that I been having a discussion with Ryan about the size of my girth.

I really feel like I am about as big as I usually am when I deliver.... His words exactly...

"Oh no!!! You have a long way to go!"

Really, should you say that to me?

Since my memory is failing me, and I have no pictures from past pregnancies to compare to, I decided I should document this one, because it may be my last.... or I may want to compare next time ;)!

So courtesy of Mara...

Me at 24 weeks

I am really trying not to complain, but can I just say that my other pregnancies were so great...

I thoroughly enjoyed them.

This one, not so much, I guess it is a lesson for me so I know what other women go through, but I must say I was fine taking their word for it!

Heartburn...not so fun! Especially when all I crave is spicy.

Morning sickness....Thank goodness it is gone...not fun! But 14 weeks is a long time when your nauseated everymorning you wake up, So glad I didn't have it with the other six.

Lack of Sleep...usually the inability to get comfortable at night comes with the last 4 weeks of pregnancy, not starting at 4 months.

I still love it though, there is nothing like laying down at night and feeling a little baby kick inside...Love it.

Can't wait...yet I feel like time is going so fast. I know it will be here before I can blink.

I have three classes halfway done, and six others to finish.

Plan to have all of school done by the time the baby comes.

Smile!!!

Out My Window

It is so freezing cold here, and each morning I look out my window to see this most beautiful bird perched in the branches of my tree. Everytime I see it I think of how God takes care of all his creatures. The tree outside my window is a crab apple tree. The fruit has long since been froze and wilted, yet they are a small treat for this beautiful bird. All of nature perfectly follows God's laws, and in return for their obedience, they are watched over and provided for.

Consider the lilies of the field, consider the birds in the sky!

And it is the same for you and I.

The Lord is my shephard, he leadeth me to green pasutres...if only I will follow.

Girls!

My shadow in the bathroom!

Cinderella with Cinderella!

Show me those pearly whites!

"Pink Ja-Wa"

Seriously so cute!
Love her style!

{2}wo Year Olds

Emma is at it again. She has invented a new word. "Suvvy" You know, soft and fuzzy...ssuvvy. She got a new jacket for christmas with a sherpa lining...it's her suvvy jacket and when she crawls in our bed to 'nuggle with us she like to lay on her daddy's suvvy pillow. Everyone has now started referring to their sherpa jackets as their suvvy jackets and their microfleece pillows as their suvvy pillows. The power of a two year old!

What can I say! I love two year olds, that's why there always needs to be one in the house...coRRect? There is just so much they are discovering and learning, and I love to see life through their eyes. When she was born, we were debating a middle name...should it be Hope or Grace. We liked both, but ultimately Hope won out. I say it is because I HOPED she was not be the last...Ryan says it is because he HOPED she was. It was only a joke, and if you could see how whooped he is over his kids, especially his girls, you would understand why, even though he thinks six is a lot of kids, he decided number seven was due to come! So about the time Emma is four, and starting to get to be a know it all {it is inevidable, it comes to them all}, we will have another "going on" two year old. In May, Arkoudas number 7 will join our family! When we told the kids, I half thought they would be like, whatever. no excitement, but on the contrary. They couldn't believe it, they jumped up and down and were so excited...even the older boys...they kept saying..."Are you serious...your not just joking!" It was so fun.
My parents come home from their mission in May, so hopefully my mom will get to be there this time!(I can HOPE!)

Caleb's {NINE}! 2011

Noah made brownies while we were gone to sushi, so we could have brownies and peppermint icecream when we got home...only problem, he got busy playing his ipod touch and they got a little burnt...

How many fingers...

Look at that grin...the shirt says it all! Oh, I mean the smile says it all.

Fishing pole from Grandma and Grandpa, now all the boys have their own.

He also got a wireless router...he was so thrilled, whatever!

Caleb's Sushi

One of our favorite traditions is to take the birthday kid out for a dinner of their choice by themselves. It is so fun, each kid has their own personality and food type. Caleb has been saying for so long that he wanted to try sushi. So for his birthday.... The unsuspecting...He chose the Great Falls roll, because it had eel in it...

Definately not his mother's child. It also had crab, cream cheese, cucumber and avocado.
He was a sport. I don't think he loved it, but I know he loved the idea of it. He ate most of it, and claimed to want to save some to see if any of his brother's were man enough to try it.
Result:
Sam: wouldn't even smell it
Noah: tried the eel, but wasn't impressed
Max: tried so hard to "man up" and try it, he licked it and said, no thanks
Mara and Emma: wouldn't even look at it.


Eat the Wasabi!

And they were nice enough to bring him his own icecream for a birthday treat!

what a great time we had with Caleb!

(Ka-lEEb)

Christmas Morning!

Merry Christmas To All!

We have now officially joined the world of BARBIE.

Opening their I-pod touches!

They can't contain the excitement!

"You'll shoot your eye out!"

Caleb and Max both got DSi's from Ryan's parents.

She is always wearing this now!

Bitty Babies for the girls!

{Christmas Eve Pajamas!}

As soon as everyone was gone, Dad handed out the jammies from Yiaya and Papou!
Everyone was so excited because they knew it was time for jammies and bed so Santa could come!

Once they were dressed and ready to go, they all headed downstairs to sleep in the playroom together. (Sam and Noah still slept in their bed, just across the hall)

Twas' the night before Christmas!

{Christ}mas Eve Dinner

We had the Birkland's and the Prosser's over for Christmas Eve Dinner

Crab legs, chicken parmesean, french bread, salad, appetizers and apple cider were on the menu

Not to mention pumpkin bread triffle and chocolate silk pie for dessert.After dinner, we opened white elephant gifts.

Some were fun!

Some were funny! Max was not thrilled to get a horsey dressed as a girl!
He was a good sport though!

Kevin ended up with the tiny speedo!

He secretly left it in Ryan's scriptures for him to find later!