The Perfect Tree

This is an outing we look forward to all year. Its rich with tradition for our family. We leave to get a "perfect tree" each year at the local tree farm while playing our favorite Christmas CD and singing along. When we get there, we make sure to walk lots and breathe in the fresh smell of pine and of course we are choosy. The more we walk, the greater the chance of getting a "perfect tree." When we get home, Daddy puts it in the stand while I start chocolate chips cookies in the oven. Once those are going, we start the Christmas music and decorate to the smell of freshly baking Chocolate chip cookies. After its all done, the next child in line gets to "top" the tree with the angel. This year was Kenna's first turn. We had so much fun and the tradition is something we all look forward to each year.

Enjoying the crisp pine air
So much fun
Standing in front of the "perfect tree"

There they are with the tag to our tree

A sleigh ride for kids at Greenspot tree farm

Daddy putting the lights on

Ohhh look at all those ornaments, full of so many memories

My little basketball man, so excited to hang his ball

Great job guys

And the grand finale.....cookies by the light and smell of the fresh Christmas tree

Oops an even grander finale....Kenna's first year topping the tree! (she was a wee bit scared to be lifted so high)

Deckin' the Halls

Better watch out, better not cry

I love getting the Christmas spirit going and decorating promptly the day after Thanksgiving. This year was a little rough because I was here alone with the kids since Nate went fishing cause he didnt want to decorate and we had a few mishaps and a few decorations died before they ever made it up.....ie the snowman lost its head:( All in all though, the kids and I had a great time creating memories.

I love that blanket, it says "Love Never Melts."
The stocking holder with all the stockings
One of the nativities
The tv all decorated

Ehehehe, dont ya wanna just go potty

Or....take a shower

Our family Chrismtas pics. Hard to see, but they turned out really good.

The book basket all filled with our Christmas favorites

Snowman bathroom

Happy Holidays

One of the Christmas trees

Thanksgiving 2008

My mom, Me and Kenna and sister Jenahe
Janahe and I, shes preggs too

Tanner and Kenna in their Turkey day best

Ahhhh
With Aunt and Uncles

Kenna and her coisin Joie

Daddy reading to Kenna

Nate and I

The kids with their other Aunt and Uncle

Loved this one

My girls

We had such a nice Thanksgiving weekend. We kicked off Thanksgiving on Wednesday at the in laws and had a great time with all the extended family who wore the kids out for us. Then Thursday, we had my family over and I cooked literally from the time I got up til dinner. Our menu was Turkey, Stuffing, green bean casserole, holiday bread(homemade from scratch), rolls, mashed potatoes, potatoes augratin(from scratch), cranberry sauce, gravy, candied yams, pumpkin and cherry pie. It was a feast and we ate it for 3 days straight afterwards. I never got sick of it! mmmm, cant wait til next year.

Madelynn

We had our big U/S at 19 weeks, last Saturday. Madelynn is still all girl and her measurements and everything seemed to be right on target. My uterus is a tad swimmy and large, but to expected as this is my 10th pregnancy. Anyhow, I am finally starting to really poke out too. This phase of pregnancy has been wonderful. I am eating well again and enjoying all the energy.

Here she is rubbing her eyes
Her sweet profile. She has big lips!
waving hi

Another profile shot of my sweet baby girl.

20 weeks, AKA 5 months today! I am getting bigger, but I swear I really do look bigger in clothes than I do bare belly.

Sandy

We went looking for a nice family dog this week because Nate will be back to shift work soon and I wanted a dog to sleep inside and bark if anyone were to bother my house. By the third shelter, it was getting late and we felt like we wouldnt be finding a dog as kids were sleepy and hungry and the day was winding down. Well, to our suprise, we see Sandy and ask to play with her a bit. They pulled her out and the man exclaims, "Well, she is being put down tomorrow so if you want her, you will have to get her tonight." Oh the guilt we felt. I prayed that she would be what we are looking for and pass the cat test(we have cats) because I couldnt bare the though of controlling her destiny like that. She ended up passing the cat test with flying colors, walks better on a leash than any dog we have ever owned and was a totally gentle lovebug with the kids. I knew she was meant to be. We really love her, she's a total sweetheart.

The New Kitchen Table

SO EXCITED to help Daddy
Tanner really got in there and worked

Everett, Wyatt and Kayla all helped some too

Almost together now

WALA! Final product! The pic makes it look small, but notice its almost touching both walls on either side of the dining room, its good sized

This one should last. We bought it raw and Nate stained it all to match our kitchen cabinets and then had the kids help him in putting it together. We got a great deal on it since it wasnt yet stained also. It seats us all nicely and we could even squeeze 3-4 more in if need be so that is awesome. I love the benches cause you aren't confined to a certain number. I think it turned out very beautiful. We have definately moved more towards french country in our home and this suits it well I think! But even better than style, this baby is built to last.

Madelynn's birthday!

I had a cardiology apt last Friday and OB this Friday. Cardiology said it looks like the heart issue is SVT to him, but in either case with the problem already starting again, he wanted me to plan another early delivery because these issues tend to get very difficult towards the end of the pregnancy as they did with Kenna. He also talked about doing the ablation after delivery which would be great as my last cardiologist ended up deciding not to do it and I have come to regret that. Anyhow, I am already on L and D's schedule for March 26th 2009! I can't believe I have the date already. I will be 36 weeks and 5 days so a tad further along than I was with Kenna. I am praying she will be healthy and all will go well. I will be getting a steriod shot at 34 weeks exactly for her lungs as an extra precautionary which makes me feel so much more at ease to deliver early. My dr is awesome! This will make for 2 sweeties in Septermber, 2 in January and 2 in March. I think its pretty neat that all the kids have a birthday buddy so far:0) I wonder what our next baby's birthday month will be?

While I am on a Cheapy Roll

I just couldn't help but post these outfits. I got all 4 from Ross for Wyatt, Everett, Tanner and Kenna for Christmas and my grand total was only 48 dollars!! I was really excited to find 4 piece dress up outfits for the boys for only 11 bucks each and Kennas was around the same. I did have to order one for Kayla, but I got hers for about 15 bucks on Walmart.com so I was happy with that. Not bad for everyone's Christmas clothes for church. The nice thing is, the boy's clothes will be able to be worn after Christmas as well.