Leah and Mike's Visit

My cousin Leah, her husband Mike and their 2 girls came up to visit us last weekend. It was so fun to have them here. There isn't a ton do to in Great Falls in the winter so we spent a lot of time inside visiting, playing games, watching movies, etc. We did venture out and see the Shortest River in the World (it was a little cold, 15 degrees so we only stayed a little bit) and go out to dinner on Friday. Then on Saturday we took the kids to Home Depot for the kids craft. It was a fun weekend and we really wish we lived closer to Leah and Mike, we always have such a great time with them.
Blake and Addy had so much fun playing together and Spencer could not get enough of "baby" Brooklyn. The first thing he would ask when he woke up in the morning or after nap was for baby. Poor Brooklyn always had Spencer in her face! The only downside to the weekend was that there is an inspection going on right now so Dan was at work A LOT. But he was home for dinner and games at night.Blake and Addy playing Disney Bingo.

Spencer and Addy swinging.
The group at Shortest River in the World.
Blake and Addy building at Home Depot.
Cute Brooklyn watching the building at Home Depot.
Addy, Blake and Spencer with their finished race car stand.

Children's Museum

Blake has been bugging us to go to the Children's Museum for weeks now. We finally got the chance once Dan got home from work today. Dan and I still think it's ridiculous that they charge the same price for the adults as the kids (like we're really playing on the stuff) but the boys had a great time. After the museum we went to the pet store (not to get a pet, just for the boys to look...it's the closest thing we have to a zoo here) and out to dinner. It was a fun afternoon until Blake started acting really sick. We rushed home from dinner and got him some Motrin...hopefully he'll be feeling better tomorrow.

I think we're cRaZy!!

Let's hope he stays in there!!!

January

In a way this month has flown by; yet in another way it has been slowly creeping by. I am glad that it will be February next week, January is always a downer month. The weather here has been great for January (we had like a week of temps in the 50's). We did have a nice little (meaning a foot) snow storm this last weekend, but today the roads are clear and the snow isn't melting into the yucky mud yet, it is still pretty.
I am starting to really feel pregnant. I have had sciatic nerve issues with all my pregnancies and it is slowly starting with this one. I am getting more and more uncomfortable every day, but to be 33 weeks and just now feeling like this is good...I am not complaining. We are ready for this little guy to come. I have the nursery ready, announcements made, etc.
The boys keep me busy laughing, crying, going insane, etc. I love that I can stay home with them but I do look forward to bedtime every day! :)
There's my random thoughts for the day. I'll leave you with some pictures of my cuties....My little cheese-ball saying "cheese."

I caught him before he said "cheese" and got an innocent looking pic of him.

Blake in one of his many costumes. He is in costume 50% of the day!

Scripture Specs

Spencer got these in nursery today...he's loving them.

Bunk Beds

We got the boys bunk beds yesterday. They are SO excited about them. Spencer does great climbing up the ladder but down is a different story. He sits at the top and calls for us to get him down...that's not going to get annoying! :)
For now Spencer is still in the crib...not quite ready to have him in the big bed yet, that's too much freedom for this 2 year old!

Look what I got

I got all of this at Old Navy tonight. Let me break it down for you. 3 pairs of pants, 4 pairs of shoes, 4 medium weight jackets, 2 sweaters, 8 shirts and 4 big winter coats. Before the clearance prices it would have cost $505.50. You're going to die when you hear how much we paid for all of this....$20.92.

Are you jealous? That is 96% off, I really feel like we robbed them.

30 Weeks

30 down, 10 to go!

2009 in Review

For journaling purposes...

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
Went camping at Glacier National Park, went to a country concert (Rodney Atkins), and moved literally 3 houses down the street.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I've never been good at making resolutions...maybe next year.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My sister-in-laws Maggie and Mandy; my cousins Katie, Leah, Summer, Holly, Jennie and Katie; and I know I'm forgetting someone...

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My Grandma Hobbs died in October after a 19 month battle with pancreatic cancer and my Granny died in November at the age of 98.

5. What countries did you visit?
Canada

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
More patience.

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
A lot happened this year between weddings, funerals, births and pregnancies. This was a big year that a lot of dates will be remembered.

8. What was your biggest personal achievement of the year?
My family

9. What was your biggest failure?
Feeling like I could have been a better wife and mom.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Thankfully no.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
A mini-van

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Same answer as last year...Blake and Spencer

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Same answer as last year...Blake and Spencer

14. Where did most of your money go?
Savings account and Mutual Funds

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Carrie coming home from her mission, four weddings in one year and all of my family at my house for Christmas and Dan's Captain Ceremony.

16.What song (s) will always remind you of 2009?
Then by Brad Paisley (Carrie and Jeff danced to it at their wedding)

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? 
b) thinner or fatter? 
c) richer or poorer?
a) depends on the day :)....usually happier
b) FATTER....I am 7 months pregnant!
c) Richer...Dan just got promoted!!!

18.What do you wish you’d done more of?
Crafting/scrapbooking and getting to the temple more often.

19.What do you wish you’d done less of?
Having to say good-bye to friends. Thanks to Dan's job I know this is going to be a part of life, but we said good-bye to A LOT of friends this year.

20. Did you fall in love in 2009?
Been falling since 2003...

21.What was your favorite TV program?
Bachelor/Bachelorette (don't judge me), Biggest Loser, BYU football

22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nope

23.What was the best book you read?
I read a lot this year. I really liked The Kingdom and The Crown series though.

24. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I got to play the piano a lot in Primary....made me realize how much I really enjoy that. I am grateful my parents didn't let me quit when I was younger.

25. What did you want and get?
To get pregnant

26.What did you want and not get?
A baby girl at the 20 week ultrasound. I am totally fine and excited about another boy, but every mom wants a little girl.

27. What was your favorite film of this year?
New Moon, 17 Again and Fireproof were a few of my favorites

28.What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 26. We had just moved into our new house a few days before. Carrie and Jeff were here to help us move so during the day I went and took their engagement pics and that night we got a babysitter and the 4 of us went out to dinner at Jakers. Carrie made me a fruit pizza for my birthday cake.

29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Knowing we were for sure moving in the summer. Not knowing when we're out of here kind of stresses me out.

30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
I'm a Stay at Home Mom...do we really have a "personal fashion concept"?

31. What kept you sane?
My church, my family and my friends

Happy 2010

We have had a fun start to our 2010. Yesterday we took the boys to see the new Alvin and the Chipmunks (which was so cute by the way). They did pretty good considering it was Blake's 2nd time in a movie theater and Spencer's first. After the movie we went to McDonald's playland for dinner. The kids meals toys were Alvin and the Chipmunks, look how well we coordinate our plans! :)
Then this morning we went to Home Depot for the kids workshop and the boys made little calendars.
In the movie.
At the playland
At Home Depot.

Spencer's New Years Resolution was to get rid of his pacifier so we clipped it last night and he's not adjusting great, but he could be worse. It took him 2 hours to fall asleep last night and he's still trying to get down for his nap this afternoon. Let's hope tonight goes well.
Happy New Year!!!

New Years Eve

Tonight we went to our Stake New Years Eve party. They had carnival games, balloon animals, a bounce house, noise makers, Rock Band, you name it. I thought we would for sure be gone by 8 but the boys were having a lot of fun so we stayed till almost 9:30. They did a countdown at 9 for the kids which was perfect.

Our house is too Quiet

All our company left today, Dan went on an alert and the boys and I were left alone in a quiet house. Everyone's trip ended kind-of yucky when almost all of us got sick on Saturday or Sunday. I have been doing laundry and disinfecting like crazy! Good thing the sickness came after the holidays. On Saturday Dan and I went after Christmas shopping with Carrie and Jeff while Dad and Janice stayed home with the sickos (mom and Trav) and watched the boys for us. It was fun to get out of the house without the boys for a little bit and just be with Carrie and Jeff.
We loved having all our company here and we are sad that the holidays are over. Kind of scary to think that the next thing to look forward to is the baby...is it really that close? I'm not ready for that. :)

Merry Christmas

Santa was good to us this year. After opening presents, eating fruit soup and quiche and taking naps the boys went sledding. It was such a nice day to spend surrounded by family.The boys waiting to go out to the living room and see what presents they got.

He came!!!
New Racetrack...big hit!
Us with our stockings.
Some gifts.
The 3 chefs. Blake and Spencer both got chef aprons and hats.
Sledding with Uncle Travis.

Christmas Eve

Tonight we all opened our new p.j.'s. We sang Christmas songs, ate goodies and played games. Of course we read the Christmas story from the Bible and Blake and Spencer would find the people from their Little People Nativity as we read. After the boys went to bed we all did some more wrapping, got the quiche and fruit soup ready for morning and called it a night.

Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center

We've lived here for 3 1/2 years and have never gone to the Lewis and Clark museum that is 5 minutes from our house. So we went this morning. It was a fun way to spend the morning and we all learned a lot. Spencer LOVED all the horses (or yee-haws as he calls them) and would point out every one!We are going to send this picture to Kyle and tell him we were all just upstream a little bit from him. That is the Missouri River behind us that goes straight to St. Louis.
Brother and Sister
The boys with some yee-haws.
Oh how Spencer loved this.
Playing a little dress-up.